Kuwait eyes 13 pct budget rise amid industrial unrest
By Sylvia Westall / Reuters KUWAIT: Kuwait's state budget for next fiscal year envisages a spending increase of about 13 percent from the current year's plan, state news agency KUNA reported…
Etisalat eyes mobile remittances in Gulf
By Matt Smith / Reuters DUBAI: UAE telecoms operator Etisalat, which saw $1.8 billion moved over its network last year via money transfers, has sought regulatory approval to expand its financial…
EU leaders pay tribute to Coptic pope
By AFP BRUSSELS: European Union leaders on Sunday paid tribute to Egypt's Coptic Pope Shenouda III, spiritual leader of the Middle East's largest Christian minority, stressing his commitment to national…
Arabtec says no need for SWF funds
By Praveen Menon / Reuters DUBAI: Arabtec has no plans to renew talks with Abu Dhabi state fund Aabar Investments about a taking a stake in the Dubai builder because its…
Kidnappers free 2 Brazilian women in Sinai
By Ashraf Sweilam / AP AL-ARISH: Armed tribesmen freed two Brazilian women and an Egyptian police officer who was with them late Sunday, hours after abducting them in the Sinai desert,…
IMF official says Egypt talks to last a few weeks
By Patrick Werr and Marwa Awad / Reuters CAIRO: Talks over an International Monetary Fund loan for Egypt are continuing and will take a few weeks, rather than days, to conclude,…
Copts mourn Pope Shenouda with eyes set on unclear future
By Reem Abdellatif CAIRO: Just hours after his announced death on Saturday, thousands of inconsolable Coptic Christians flocked to the Cairo and Alexandria Cathedrals, uniting to mourn the death of a…
Five candidates that may succeed Pope Shenouda
By Essam Fadl CAIRO: Competition will intensify among five leaders of the Egyptian Coptic Orthodox Church to replace the late Pope Shenouda III, who passed away Saturday. The Holy Synod agreed…
Campaign aims to issue national IDs for 2 million Egyptian women
By Safaa Abdoun CAIRO: A national campaign to issue national IDs for 2 million Egyptian women kicked off in Qaliubiya, dubbed “Your National ID: Your Rights.” “Our objective is to issue…
Politicians warn of Islamists monopolizing Constituent Assembly
By Heba Hesham CAIRO: Political powers denounced the criteria set by both houses of parliament for selecting members of the Constituent Assembly, tasked with drafting a new constitution. The People’s…