Economics and Policy Deposed Egyptian autocrat Hosni Mubarak has been flown out of prison by helicopter, freed after more than two years in jail, with no convictions against him. More from The National Syria’s efforts to step up food purchases are being thwarted by sellers unwilling to risk delays in payments from frozen foreign bank accounts. More from Reuters Elsewhere, Syrian government announced plans to reschedule loans and lift taxes in a bid to prop up the economy. More from The Daily Star The Egyptian pound dropped on the black market Thursday, dragged down as nervous companies switched into dollars after a week of deadly riots. More from Reuters Companies and Business Beirut's Rafik Hariri International Airport saw a 10 percent decline in the number of passengers in July. More from The Daily Star Egypt has appointed Tarek al-Molla as chairman of state-run Egyptian General