The life and times of Bahaa Taher
In a small corner at a coffee shop in Downtown Cairo, novelist Bahaa Taher welcomed his zealous fans, who approached him for autographs and pictures as he sipped his favorite…
Rushdie receives knighthood from British queen
LONDON: Queen Elizabeth II on Wednesday gave British author Salman Rushdie the knighthood which caused protests by Muslims around the world when it was announced last year.Rushdie, 61, was knighted…
Egyptian archaeologists find ancient painted coffins
CAIRO: A team of Egyptian archaeologists have discovered several painted wooden coffins, including some dating back to the 13th century BC rule of Pharaoh Ramses II. These coffins were found…
Zimbabwe's plight, South Africa's responsibility
Morgan Tsvangirai's withdrawal from the presidential run-off scheduled for June 27, and his decision to seek the protection of the Dutch embassy in Pretoria, has secured for Zimbabwe's President Robert…
New treaty for Iran and Israel
It is often said in the Arab world that the road to Jerusalem goes through Washington, with the implicit assumption that only the Americans can bring the Israelis to the…
Is war as diplomacy obsolete?
Five years ago in May, President Bush, standing on the deck of an aircraft carrier, proudly declared mission accomplished in Iraq and stated that major combat operations were over. The…
Downtown Cairo buildings get a facelift
CAIRO: The newly-created Cairo governorate council of trustees launched a campaign this week to remove all advertising banners and posters from façades of old buildings in downtown Cairo. The council…
Government to reopen the labor rights center
CAIRO: The Ministry of Social Solidarity issued a decree Thursday to reopen the Center for Trade Union and Workers Services (CTUWS) following an Administrative Court ruling last March which recognized…
Journalist side-lined for criticizing government in Al-Ahram column
CAIRO: Local press reports allege that Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif has twice disqualified journalist and poet Farouk Goweida from nomination for membership of the Supreme Council for Culture over the…