Jakarta, the city of music
Indonesia's strategic location is undeniable. Positioned between two oceans and two continents, with the equator running through it, Indonesia is a gateway between the northern and southern hemispheres, a hub…
The Return of Franco-German Leadership
PARIS: Whoever wins September's parliamentary election in Germany, the time has come once again for a major Franco-German initiative. Regardless of their economic conditions or their confidence - or lack…
Turning of the tide with Afghan elections?
WASHINGTON, DC: The future of Afghanistan - and with it, global security - is being decided as the results from the Aug. 20 Afghan elections are trickling in, with current…
Winds of change in Turkish-Kurdish relations
ISTANBUL: After decades of conflict and repressive policies, Turkey appears to be taking crucial steps toward introducing a peace initiative to resolve longstanding unrest among its Kurdish population. But for…
Decoding Egypt: 2011
Egypt is in a transitional phase. Presidential elections are scheduled for 2011, but Egyptians are still uncertain about whether incumbent President Hosni Mubarak is intending to run for a sixth…
Lawyers' Syndicate dissolves affiliate syndicates
CAIRO: A board decision by the Lawyers' Syndicate dissolved all affiliate syndicates nationwide, Hamdy Khalifa, syndicate chairman, said."The term for the boards of the affiliate syndicates officially ended four months…
Cairo University's Staff Club president says dissolving the board is meaningless
CAIRO: The president of the dissolved administrative board of Cairo University s Staff Club said yesterday that he is optimistic that the decision to dissolve the board will be quashed…
Pope investigates source of 'death prophecy'
CAIRO: A prophecy suggesting that Pope Shenouda would die last Sunday left members of the Egyptian Orthodox Church and the larger Coptic community worried about the authenticity and the source…
Rights groups file complaints against religious books
CAIRO: Two human rights groups filed complaints against Al-Azhar's Islamic Research Center for publishing four books that they say tarnish the image of Islam. The United Group (UG) and Al-Andalus…
German prosecutors seek life for Marwa Al-Sherbini killer
BERLIN: German prosecutors said on Tuesday they would push for a life sentence against a man charged with the brutal Islamophobic murder of a pregnant Egyptian woman.Prosecutors in the eastern…