A woman for all seasons
Since 1981, Stella Arauzo has been in the tutelage of a legend. She was 17 years old when she joined Antonio Gades Spanish dance company, and by 1988 she was…
A world carried in piano notes
British jazz pianist Alex Wilson is one of those infuriating people blessed with not only an abundance of natural talent, but also a fair helping of personal charm.Both were on…
Constructing and deconstructing the fable
Novels are often imbued with dramatic tension to drive along the narrative, but it is rare to chance upon a novel where the tension resides not in the plot, but…
Youssef Zidan discusses controversial "Azazel" at Diwan
Youssef Zidan, author of the controversial novel "Azazel, discussed his best-selling novel in an open forum at the Heliopolis branch of Diwan Bookstore the end of last week. Those expecting…
A role for religion in Turkish and Pakistani politics?
ISTANBUL/ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Turkey stand at a crossroads in their political evolutions. The democratically elected Justice and Development Party (AKP) in Turkey and Pakistan People's Party (PPP) in Pakistan control…
The wave of the future
BEIRUT: Technology has taken many otherwise confined Muslim societies by storm, and there is little anyone can do to stop it. Saudi Arabia is one such place. Though it is…
Obama and the Rise of the Rest
NEW YORK: American elections usually produce a brief euphoria; the public sense of renewal, of future possibilities, acts as a shot of adrenaline. This year, however, the palpable relief and…
World leaders plead for religious tolerance
UNITED NATIONS: World leaders pleaded Wednesday for religious tolerance at a UN conference sponsored by Saudi Arabia, but displayed their own rifts on the sensitive issue.The meeting at UN headquarters…
Emergency declared as German artist gives Cairo a hand
CAIRO: Several fire trucks and rescue workers rushed to a German cultural center in central Cairo on Thursday after hearing a man was hanging from a wall, only to find…
Egyptian doctors banned from working in Saudi Arabia
CAIRO: Manpower and Immigration Minister Aisha Abdel Hadi issued a decree Wednesday banning new permits for Egyptian doctors wanting to work in Saudi Arabia. The decree came amid public upheaval…