Iran slams Gulf Arab ‘interference’ over disputed islands
By Marcus George / Reuters DUBAI: Iran accused its Gulf Arab neighbors on Wednesday of interfering in its internal affairs after they described a visit by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to…
South Sudan joins IMF, World Bank
By AFP WASHINGTON: South Sudan, the world's newest nation, joined the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund on Wednesday, becoming the sister institutions 188th member. IMF chief Christine Lagarde…
Egypt grand mufti visits Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque
By Agencies JERUSALEM: Egypt's grand mufti, Ali Gomaa, visited Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque compound on Wednesday along with Jordanian Prince Ghazi, a senior Muslim official in the Holy City said. Azzam…
Syria bids to reassure UN over shaky truce
By AFP DAMASCUS: Syria sought on Wednesday to reassure the United Nations over its willingness to implement a ceasefire despite violence and casualties still reported in various parts of the…
ICC envoy visits Libya amid Qaddafi son trial debate
By AFP TRIPOLI: International Criminal Court prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo arrived in Tripoli on Wednesday in a surprise visit, an AFP photographer said. The fate of slain dictator Moammer Qaddafi's son…
Egypt stock market likely to drift; Saudi to resume gains
By Nadia Saleem and by Tom Pfeiffer / Reuters DUBAI: Egypt's stock market is likely to drift in coming days while investors await the outcome of protests planned for Friday…
Futures slip after strong gains, earns eyed
By Chuck Mikolajczak / Reuters NEW YORK: US stock index futures dipped on Wednesday after the S&P 500 tallied its biggest gain in a month and ahead of another round…
Analysis: Slower takaful growth prompts strategy rethink
By Bernardo Vizcaino / Reuters DUBAI: Growth of the takaful or Islamic insurance business is slowing, industry statistics show, increasing pressure on the sector to boost efficiency, roll out new…
IMF inches toward deal on boosting bailout funds
By Lesley Wroughton and Glenn Somerville / Reuters WASHINGTON: The International Monetary Fund appeared to be inching toward a deal on increasing its financial firepower on Tuesday, with Japan, Sweden…
PE firm Amwal Alkhaleej eyes Saudi exit, targets Egypt
By Dinesh Nair / Reuters DUBAI: Saudi private equity firm Amwal Alkhaleej will exit at least one investment in the kingdom this year through an initial public offering, and is…