Big plans for a little publishing house
"It all began in jail, says Mohammed El Sharqawi. "The government had put a lot of bloggers in jail and so we talked together about starting a publishing house to…
Europe's irrelevance and the future of the G-8
Two weeks after the Group of Eight leaders met in Germany an impression remains that they wrought a political miracle in Heiligendamm. Three things were supposedly saved at the G-8…
Iran's and Syria's plan: an interpretation
Many Lebanese, particularly in the majority camp, have been preoccupied with the court being set up to try suspects in the assassination of the late Rafik Hariri. The resignation of…
A peace envoy whom we can do without
I was in Europe earlier this week speaking with current and former officials, experts and diplomats about the situation in the Middle East, when the news broke of the appointment…
UN Cairo office marks anti-drug day
CAIRO: As part of the campaign against substance abuse, the United Nations Information Center marked international anti-drug day with a conference at their Cairo office on Tuesday.Maher Nasser, manager of…
From women's empowerment to peace
JERUSALEM: The academic year of 1995-1996 was most eventful for Israelis. November saw the assassination of our Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and several months later, a spate of bus bombings…
A fading craft finds a new market abroad
CAIRO: The flat across the dusty alley from Ahmed Naguib Ahmed's appliqué workshop is a makeshift warehouse filled with unsold work from craftsmen throughout the neighborhood of Al-Khayamiyya Street, "Tent…
Hatshepsut's mummy identified, announces Hawass
CAIRO: The mummy of the only female queen that ruled ancient Egypt has been identified following a century of rigorous search, announced antiquities supremo Zahi Hawass Wednesday at a press…
Anti-smoking elicits mixed reactions
CAIRO: The new anti-smoking bill passed by parliament last week, though much-awaited by many, was received with disgruntlement by many others. The bill finally banned smoking for minors (citizens under…