Bedouin Banking
I am trying to explain the principles of the Credit Crunch to the Bedouin. What sub-prime debt is and why the banks are in such trouble. The problem is explaining…
Weekly Stock Review: Stock market fluctuates with OCI
CAIRO: Volatility dominated the market this week, with the index mostly moving in line with market heavyweight Orascom Construction (OCI), which advanced four times and declined twice in the last…
THE REEL ESTATE: Oscars 2008: Nothing much to get excited about
After reaching a decade-long high with its nominated films last year, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has stumbled back to earth with this year's nominees that essentially…
With a Grain of Salt: More Sidewalks for Sale in Maadi
I didn't realize the terrible amount of sidewalk encroachments or the gravity of the suffering of local residents in Maadi, until I was flooded with hundreds of letters, e-mails and…
Ethics and Obama
TUBINGEN: Many say that the world financial crisis could not have been foreseen. Perhaps not by financiers and economists, but others who were watching how markets were developing - often…
President Obama, come to Cairo
The war in Gaza has demonstrated the futility of the prevailing Middle East paradigm: a cycle of violence and retaliation begetting more violence and more bloodshed. Setting aside the debate…
Editorial: Transparency and Ayman Nour
CAIRO: In an eventful week Egypt witnessed two major strike actions and the Prosecutor-General suddenly ordered the release of jailed opposition leader Ayman Nour. The Pharmacists' Syndicate's tête-à-tête with the…
UAE cbank says targets plan to reduce interest rates
DUBAI: The United Arab Emirates central bank said on Thursday it was working with the finance ministry to find a way to reduce interest rates charged by banks on corporate…
In pop culture, new heroes emerge in Arab world
CAIRO: Abu Essam s footsteps echo loudly as he walks through the narrow alleys of Damascus old city. Around him in 1930s' Syria, tall stone buildings block the scorching sun.Cautiously,…
Information minister adds free speech advocate to blacklist
CAIRO: Minister of Information, Anas El Fiqi has allegedly banned journalist and columnist Gamal Fahmy from appearing on popular anchor Mahmoud Saad's radio show "Esma'a El Khabar (Hear the News),…