Obama goes South
By Jorge Castañeda MEXICO CITY: US President Barack Obama’s current swing through Latin America will probably be short on substance, long on rhetorical flourishes and symbolism, and may include a few…
Israeli civil society, democracy and political change
By Naomi Chazan At precisely the same time that civil society has emerged as the catalyst in democratically-driven upheavals in the Arab world, Israel's civil society is increasingly threatened. There is…
Civil society group makes recommendations for future voting
CAIRO: After monitoring the voting process during a public referendum in Egypt on Saturday, the Egyptian Association for Community Participation Enhancement issued a report outlining its observations and recommendations. The…
UN ready to help Egypt’s democratic transition, says UN chief
CAIRO: The United Nation's Secretary General Ban Ki-moon hailed the January 25 Revolution, adding that the UN and the international community are ready to help in the democratic transition of…
Army promises to investigate torture allegations
CAIRO: Unidentified army leaders promised to investigate allegations of torture by Military Police after rights groups issued a statement condemning comments by their chief General Hamdy Badeen denying the allegations.…
ILO aims to play role in Tunisia, Egypt social reforms
GENEVA: The International Labor Organization said Monday that it aims to play a key role in helping Egypt and Tunisia reform their social policies, after the two countries sought help…
Yemen’s envoys to Egypt, Arab League defect: diplomat
CAIRO: Yemen's ambassadors to Egypt and the Arab League on Monday defected from the regime to join a rapidly growing protest movement demanding that President Ali Abdullah Saleh resign, a…
John Kerry says US supports democracy, efforts for reform
CAIRO: “Egyptians have set an example … helped define the hope and presented an opportunity for other countries to look forward,” said US Senator Kerry in a press conference at…
Vote break down: Sweeping support in the Delta; more ‘no’ votes in cities
CAIRO: Breakdown of referendum results showed sweeping support for the constitutional amendments in Delta governorates while the call was close in urban cities. Out of about 45 million Egyptians eligible…
Suez Cement counts cost of unrest
CAIRO: Suez Cement, Egypt's biggest listed cement maker by market value, said the political unrest that ousted Hosni Mubarak cost it and a subsidiary LE 80 million. "The firm lost…