Bahrain denies hunger striker’s health is critical
By AP MANAMA: Bahrain is claiming that a jailed activist on a two-month hunger strike shows no signs of critical medical problems and has been taking fluids orally or by…
Iraq parliament approves rights commission
By AFP BAGHDAD: Iraqi MPs have approved the first independent human rights commission in the country's history, which is to track rights violations here, lawmaker Ashwaq Al-Jaff said on Tuesday.…
Islamist attack on Yemen army checkpoint kills 13
By Mohammed Ghobari / Reuters SANAA: At least eight Yemeni soldiers and five militants were killed when Islamist gunmen attacked an army checkpoint in the central Maarib province on Tuesday, a…
Libya violence puts poll timing at risk: analysts
By Dominique Soguel / AFP TRIPOLI: Violence in Libya risks escalating and could even derail elections if the interim government fails to impose its authority by disarming militias and strengthening the…
Lady Chichester and Danny Wyler on Royal Opera’s ‘Beloved Friend’
By Joseph Fahim The Royal Opera House’s highly touted production “Beloved Friend” was the highlight of the 8th Abu Dhabi Festival, which closed on April 7. Based on the letters exchanged…
Syria violence endangers Annan’s ceasefire deadline
By Oliver Holmes / Reuters BEIRUT: Syrian troops bombarded two restive cities on Tuesday, pursuing an assault on President Bashar Al-Assad's foes instead of halting the use of big guns and…
ElBaradei to co-found new Egypt ‘revolutionary’ party
By Mennatallah Fouad Youssef CAIRO: Top Egyptian dissident and Nobel laureate Mohamed ElBaradei will set up a political party with other opposition figures to represent "revolutionary" forces, a co-founder told AFP…
Britain can extradite radical cleric Abu Hamza to US: court
By Agencies STRASBOURG: Britain can extradite jailed radical Muslim preacher Abu Hamza Al-Masri and five other alleged terrorists to the United States, the European Court of Human Rights ruled Tuesday.…
Army ‘neutral’ towards candidates for president
By AFP CAIRO: Egypt's ruling military is not fielding a candidate in next month's presidential election, the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) chief Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi said…
Challenges and opportunities
By Yoram Meital Developments in the Sinai Peninsula during the past year clearly reflect dramatic changes in Egypt and highlight the delicate situation at the Israeli-Gazan-Egyptian border junction. Egypt is…