Market cultures clash in Istanbul
The clichés are apposite: Istanbul is where cultures collide. Europe meets Asia; Christian history meets Islam. It is also where financial market cultures clash. Encouraging local capital and currency markets…
Islamic groups battle to shape Egypt
©Reuters Graffiti near Tahrir Square in Cairo depicts the Muslim Brotherhood with the word ‘liars’ in Arabic A battle between rival religious power centres over Egypt’s institutions and the nature…
Cameron meets Putin in Syria peace quest
David Cameron made a fresh attempt on Friday to forge international consensus over the crisis in Syria by holding talks with President Vladimir Putin of Russia. In the Black Sea…
Egypt’s foreign reserves raise fears
Egypt foreign reserves lost value at an accelerated rate last month, even as a cash injection from abroad raised the fund’s net worth for the first time since October. Egypt’s…
US seeks Bahrain talks on workers’ rights
The US said Bahrain may have violated labour provisions in their trade agreement when unionists and political opponents were sacked after protests and a general strike in 2011. The office…
UK pushes to amend EU Syria arms embargo
Britain indicated on Wednesday that it will press ahead with plans to try and amend the EU arms embargo on Syria, despite the decision by the US and Russia to…
Saudi minister calls for subsidy cuts
Consumer subsidies are “distorting” Saudi Arabia’s economy, a top finance official said on Tuesday, in a stark sign of how state largesse is undermining the ambitions of the Gulf’s most…
Bahrain sets sights on benchmark debt sale
Bahrain has hired banks for a sovereign bond sale as it seeks to take advantage of lower borrowing costs and increased comfort from investors about its political crisis. The government…
UK pushes for Kuwait commercial ties
Kuwait and Britain will next week launch a landmark effort to boost mutual trade and investment, in the latest phase of an aggressive push by London to expand commercial ties…
Case for a Little England stance on Syria
©Reuters Some western governments, led by the British, are increasingly eager to give military assistance to anti-Assad forces in Syria. William Hague, UK foreign secretary, told the House of Commons…