Egypt falls to 8-week low over protests
CAIRO: Egypt's benchmark share index dropped to its lowest close since May 10 on continuing concern anti-government protests will escalate after an address by the prime minister on Monday evening…
Tug-of-war over Iraqi Jewish trove in US hands
A trove of Jewish books and other materials, rescued from a sewage-filled Baghdad basement during the 2003 invasion, is now caught up in a tug-of-war between the United States and…
Rabindranath Tagore immortalized in philatelics and embroidery
By Sankalita Shome Rabindranath Tagore, the Indian Nobel Laureate in Literature, is no stranger to Egypt; he was great friends with renowned Egyptian poet Ahmed Shawqi and the words that he…
Root causes behind Israeli-Palestinian Impasse
By Alon Ben-Meir On the surface, the current stalemate in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process seems illogical. After all, each side knows, with the exception of the Netanyahu government, that the basic…
Is Afghanistan ready?
By Shashi Tharoor NEW DELHI: US President Barack Obama’s announcement of the start of American troop withdrawals from Afghanistan, and his administration’s increasing emphasis on reconciliation with the Taliban, have been…
Najib Mikati’s mission impossible
By Karim Emile Bitar Speaking to an American audience in 1969, amid tensions between Canada and the US, Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau, arguably one of the twentieth century's most…
A tale of two defaults
By Daniel Gros BRUSSELS: Once upon a time, there was a country plagued by large deficits, high inflation, and decades of economic stagnation. When economic problems once again became particularly acute,…
Egypt gas pipeline to Israel bombed for fourth time
AL-ARISH: Unknown gunmen bombed Tuesday the main gas pipeline behind Arish Airport, which feeds natural gas to Israel, for the fourth time in six months and the second time in…
After much hesitation, Wust El Balad performs in Ramallah
CAIRO: “Would they call us traitors? Would the government spy on us upon our return? Would the local press try to manipulate our actions to tarnish our image?” These were…
Egypt’s latest crisis puts pressure on leadership
By Hamza Hendawi / AP CAIRO: The head of Egypt's security forces has defied orders by the prime minister to fire police officers accused of killing protesters during the nation's popular…