Israeli central bank governor takes second term
Stanley Fischer has accepted a second term as governor of the Israeli central bank, ending months of speculation
Disunity threatens Iran sanctions plan
A strategy to rein in Iran’s nuclear ambitions is under stress as western states struggle to build a consensus for a fourth round of sanctions at the United Nations
War of building permits and eviction orders
In the past two years, a total of 93 Palestinian men, women and children in a single street have been cast out of their homes
Global anger at Israeli settlement policy
International community formally condemns plan to expand Jewish settlements in occupied east Jerusalem, in the latest sign of a growing rift between Israel and some of its closest allies
Europe should rethink its aid to Palestine
Spanish hopes of moving the peace process definitively toward a final settlement look like overblown bluster, writes Richard Youngs. But Europe could help, by supporting the grassroots
Gaza militants fire rocket into Israel
Thai worker killed in Israeli farm close to the Gaza Strip in the first lethal attack from the coastal territory since the end of the war last year
Byblos plays to its historic strengths
The ancient Lebanese port just north of Beirut is trying to attract more tourists by offering an unusual mixture of tranquil tradition and modern hedonism
EU ponders action on Iran censorship
The move comes amid concerns that foreign broadcasters, including Britain’s BBC Persia and Germany’s Deutsche Welle channels, effectively have been blocked from the Islamic republic
Art adds more local colour in recession
Dubai’s fine art fair is an international event but the economic downturn has resulted in fewer European galleries attending, allowing space for talent from closer to home
Sovereign wealth funds open up books
The effect of IMF guidelines to improve funds’ transparency and corporate governance is starting to be seen
Syrian murder, Israeli planes not linked: official (Reuters via Yahoo! News)
Two Israeli airforce planes that made a low-level pass over Budapest this week had nothing to do with the killing of a Syrian man in the Hungarian capital on the same day, Hungarian officials said on Friday.
Iran’s regime contains opposition
Tehran seems to have learnt how to curb street protests, but Iranian analysts and western diplomats doubt the regime has suppressed the opposition’s challenge
Islamic scholar named Egypt’s new top cleric (AP via Yahoo! News)
Egypt’s president named a moderate, Western-educated Islamic scholar the country’s new top cleric on Friday, the state news agency reported.
