The Hamas moment has come; thank Fatah for that
Hamas' capture of the Gaza Strip last week has created, along with Iran, a second radical Islamist state in the Middle East. The region, probably the Arab-Israeli conflict, and certainly…
An 'incongruous' force enters Darfur
There is, at last, a "breakthrough in the crisis in Darfur. The Sudanese government has given "unconditional acceptance to a 20,000-strong force of United Nations and African Union peacekeepers. Under…
From religious extremist to peacemaker
WASHINGTON,DC: Today s world seems to have gone insane in the name of God. Violence and extremism take centre-stage in international news and much of it speaks in religious terms.…
With a Grain of Salt
I was elated with the news that the US is planning to cut its aid to Egypt by $200 million for its bad human rights record.Such a fortunate step should…
Independent films push the envelope
Independent Film Festival showcases the best of Egyptian and British Indies Last Tuesday the British independent film producer Mark Booth from B3 Media Productions - a nonprofit media arts production…
Souad Massi rocks Cairo
For a moment in the large hall at the Cairo Citadel, it felt as if all the alternative music fan in the capital had gathered for the most anticipated musical…
Mind, body and soul collide in modern dance fest
At the Gomhuria Theater last Saturday I found myself seated in a circle with about 70 other people. In the center was the stage but the lights were directed towards…
It's a Phiasco
New production company plans to invigorate local independent music scene, and moreTim El Abd, one of the four creators of 'Phiasco Productions,' exudes the confidence of a man who knows…
Tradition and modernity meet head on in Makan
In front of Rasha was a huge upside-down bowl resting in a tub of water. The Karabash, she said, was traditionally used in the kitchen, and after the women finished…
It's in the genes: Up-close with pianist Yasmine Abdel Wahab
Only six years ago, the young granddaughter of Egypt's most prominent musician, the late Mohamed Abdel Wahab, decided to explore her artistic side, drastically changing her life.Yasmine Abdel Wahab quit…
