Rafah crossing to reopen for pilgrims next week
CAIRO: Egypt will temporarily reopen the Rafah border crossing with Gaza next week to allow Palestinians to travel to Mecca, Saudi Arabia to perform the umrah, or lesser pilgrimage.For Muslims,…
With fat revenues and thinning stocks, some Egypt execs say they are 'guilty by association'
CAIRO: As word of bankruptcy at Lehman Brothers and a takeover at Merrill Lynch, two of the world s largest and most influential financial firms, rippled across the globe Monday,…
Egyptian pound caves in as foreign investors pull out
CAIRO: The Egyptian pound fell to its weakest level in five months, prompting concerns that the troubled global economy could lead the pound to falter further by the year's end.…
THE REEL ESTATE: Ramadan and death of Egyptian TV Part I
My first memories of Ramadan have always been closely associated with TV. Looking at my ancient video collection, I discovered taped episodes of Rahmy's hugely popular children's series "Bogy and…
New generation, new challenges in Bahrain
MANAMA: First impressions mean a great deal. Mine go back three years in Bahrain at an Arab Business Council meeting. The voice seemed nearly out of place, a mid-Atlantic accent…
Unleashing African growth
The recent failure of the World Trade Organization's Doha Round and the long-standing failure of aid need not need spell disaster for African economies. The tools for promoting growth and…
European social democracy's powerless power
At first glance, European social democracy appears to be in crisis. Gordon Brown's slump in the United Kingdom; the brutal shock of Spain's economic downturn; the difficulties of renewing Socialist…
Holy month or a commercial season? Survey reveals Muslims' attitudes towards Ramadan
CAIRO: Sixty seven percent of Muslims feel that Ramadan is becoming too commercial, revealed a recent survey assessing Muslims perception of the holy month. Online research firm Maktoob Research surveyed…
Homeless Duweiqa victims forcibly removed following protest
CAIRO: Families made homeless by the Duweiqa rockslide who had set up camp at a public garden in central Cairo opposite the Cairo Governor's Abdeen office, were forcibly removed by…
Special Series: Ramadan: The challenge of Ramadan for new Muslims
CAIRO: For the majority of new converts to Islam, abstention from food and drink in the Muslim fashion is one of their biggest challenges as they set out to observe…