Arab states, mid-income countries in World Bank focus, says Zoellick
WASHINGTON: World Bank President Robert Zoellick said Arab countries have been underserved by the development lender and that he wants to develop an initiative to get more involved in the…
Experts call for tougher penalties on cement, steel companies
CAIRO: Steel and cement companies charged with following anti-competitive business practices and raising market prices await their destiny amid skepticism of the penalties and actions to be taken against them.…
The road less traveled
The stark emptiness of the photo exhibit at El Sawy Cultural Center caught my attention, as did the images on display.From the loudspeaker, I deciphered there was an open-mic event…
Love, heartache and longing mark Bedouin folkloric performance
ALEXANDRIA: Songs about love and heartache, with poignant lyrics and tender melodies marked the performance of the Burg El Arab Bedouin Folklore Troupe."I love you as much as God loves…
Empowering Europe
Barring a last-minute change of heart, European heads of government will sign off this month on a new agreement to beef up the European Union's foreign policy machinery by strengthening…
Countdown to the November conference
Less than two months remain before the still unannounced November date for the Bush administration s much-discussed but as yet undefined Middle East peace conference (or meeting ), and a…
I will stand up for the Muslim Brotherhood
NEW YORK: The first time I went to interview the Muslim Brotherhood, in 1995, an officer at their headquarters gave me a headscarf to wear. The second time I went…
Away from politics, spending Ramadan in a Christian monastery
WASHINGTON, DC: After 9/11, as many Americans began to learn more about Islam, I embarked on a long journey to learn more about Christianity, visiting churches, attending Bible schools and…
Cairo's Sphinx faces man-made ecological threat
CAIRO: The foundations of the ancient Sphinx in the Giza district of Cairo could be in jeopardy due to a rise in the level of the area's water table, or…
'I don't do Ramadan': The trials and tribulations of Muslims who don't fast
CAIRO: While many Egyptians wait for Ramadan every year with a lot of anticipation, there are some people who dread the month and all the feelings of discomfort and alienation…