Japan's new government unveiled a massive $226.5 billion stimulus plan Friday in the latest bid to boost the world's number three economy, with plans to rebuild disaster-hit areas and beef up the military.

Japanese investors welcomed the news, with the Nikkei index surging to a 22-month high and the yen tumbling, but analysts questioned its long-term effect and warned it could lead to more misery further down the line.

Algerian GuideME has been selected as one of the semi-finalists teams for this year’s MIT Enterprise Forum Arab Startup Competition for the Ideas Track.

While participating in a local competition in Algeria, two electrical engineers Badreddine Zebbiche and Sidali Rezetane had less than 24 hours to design a solution for the visually impaired, their enthusiasm lead them to creating“ Guide ME”, a new idea with huge potential .

The head of Egypt's central bank, Faruq el-Okda, has resigned and will be replaced by his ex-deputy Hisham Ramez, the president's spokesman Yassir Ali said on Thursday at a news conference attended by both men.

Ali said Ramez will replace Okda in February. "I am very happy with this civilized transfer," Okda told reporters.

The United States has publicly expressed concerns about Britain's plans to renegotiate its relationship with the EU, with a senior official saying Washington favors a "strong British voice" in Europe.

The comments by Philip Gordon, the U.S. assistant secretary for European affairs, come ahead of a major speech by Prime Minister David Cameron this month in which he is expected to promise a referendum on Britain's membership.

The eurozone could emerge from its debt crisis this year, Standard & Poor's said in a report Wednesday.

"This could be a decisive year in determining whether the eurozone... can emerge from its sovereign debt troubles," the rating firm said in a statement on the report, titled "The Eurozone Debt Crisis: 2013 Could Be A Watershed Year".

U.S. financial institutions are being pounded with high-powered cyber attacks that some suspect are being orchestrated by Iran as payback for political sanctions.

"There is no doubt within the U.S. government that Iran is behind these attacks," James Lewis, a former official in the state and commerce departments and now a computer security expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told the New York Times.

Tycoon Li Ka-shing has retained the top spot as Hong Kong's richest man, Forbes magazine said Thursday, as the city's red-hot property market boosted wealth among the super-rich despite a global slowdown.

The 84-year-old Li, nicknamed "Superman" for his business prowess, added a whopping U.S.$8 billion to his wealth last year and is now estimated to be worth $30 billion, Forbes said as it announced Hong Kong's top 50 rich list.

European aircraft maker Airbus said Wednesday that Lebanese flag carrier Middle East Airlines had finalized its order of 10 passenger planes in its A320neo family that carry a list price of $1 billion.

In a statement, Airbus said the deal involved five A320neo and five A321neo planes, with options on eight additional planes.

Our brain is the headquarters of our central nervous system. Representing a mere 2% of our body weight, it uses approximately 20% of blood and oxygen resources available in our bodies. Understanding the development and function of the brain remains one of the great challenges of this millenium. This is the challenge of neuroscience!

Sheryn Knaider has a very unusual job title. “Motivologue”, Knaider is a certified coach in Neuroscience and consultant in motivational and creative intelligence. “Motivologue” is a Canadian word for people who drive and motivate others who desire change. Knaider obtained a Master in Motivational Neuroscience, a specialization which integrates the latest research on the nervous system to enhance motivation.

French auto giant PSA Peugeot Citroen said that global sales plunged by 16.5 percent in 2012 owing to contracting demand in debt-crippled southern Europe and the suspension of its activities in Iran, in a statement on Wednesday.

"PSA Peugeot Citroen recorded worldwide unit sales of 2,820,000 assembled vehicles, down 8.8 percent. Together, sales of assembled vehicles and CKD (completely knocked down) units totaled 2,965,000, down 16.5 percent," the group said.