Finland wants jail for execs in Egypt bribe case: reports
By AFP HELSINKI: Finland's state prosecutor is seeking prison sentences for five defendants in a bribery case involving Finnish defense company Patria's dealings with the Egyptian government, reports said Monday.…
A dismal failure of leadership all around
By Alon Ben-Meir NEW YORK: It is hard to describe the state of affairs of the Arab-Israeli conflict at this particular juncture without using adjectives such as "sad," "unfortunate" or even…
The protocols of Rupert Murdoch
By Jonathan Schell NEW YORK: Whenever I hear people on America’s Republican right call themselves “conservative,” I experience the mental equivalent of a slight electric shock. A conservative is someone who,…
Europe’s time to learn
By Harold James PRINCETON: Crises are a chance to learn. For the past 200 years, with the exception of the Great Depression, major financial crises originated in poor and unstable countries,…
Asians in festive shopping spree as West sulks
By Roberto Coloma/ AFP SINGAPORE: Strong currencies and a travel boom are fuelling a festive shopping spree in Asia's retail capitals even though consumers remain wary of a new downturn, economists…
Saudi buyers struggle to find affordable homes, says report
DUBAI: About 28 percent of the homes supplied in the Saudi capital Riyadh over the past 18 months are vacant as homebuyers find them unaffordable, Colliers International said on Monday.…
Iraq rice yield up as water, power supplies grow
MESHKHAB: The yellow fields on the banks of the Euphrates are producing higher yields of aromatic Iraqi No. 1 rice this year thanks to increased water supplies and enough electricity…
218 swine flu cases reported last week, says ministry
CAIRO: A total of 218 cases of swine flu were reported last week, according to the Ministry of Health. Abdel Rahman Shahin, spokesperson for the Ministry of Heath, said in…
Prosecutor releases 42 Omraneya protestors, keeps 42 behind bars
GIZA: Public Prosecutor Abdel-Meguid Mahmoud ordered on Monday the release of 42 Copts held for rioting related charges during fatal clashes over church construction in Omraneya. He renewed the detention…
Egypt accuses one Egyptian and two Israelis of espionage
CAIRO: Public Prosecutor Abdel-Meguid Mahmoud referred an Egyptian businessman and two Israelis accused of spying on behalf of Israel to the State Security High Court. The two Israelis were referred…
