UN chief urges Israel to halt settlements
JERUSALEM: UN chief Ban Ki-moon has asked Israel to halt settlement construction in the West Bank as a way to restart Mideast peace efforts. At a news conference Wednesday, Ban…
Optimism on politics drives Egypt higher
CAIRO: Investors feeling more optimistic about the political environment in Egypt pushed its main index higher, traders said. The index gained 0.8 percent, extending a rally this year that has…
Iraq to host Arab summit on March 29
BAGHDAD: The Iraqi capital is to host the next regular Arab summit on March 29, the Arab League assistant secretary general, Ahmed ben Hilli, announced on Wednesday in Baghdad. "We've…
Egypt justice minister rebuffs US envoy
CAIRO: The Egyptian justice minister returned a letter Tuesday from the US Ambassador to Egypt asking him to re-examine the issue of Americans barred from leaving the country. The snub…
British Museum exhibit offers visitors chance to experience Muslim pilgrimage
LONDON: Qaisra Khan and I are standing in the Round Reading Room of the world-renowned British Museum in London. Around us people are busy installing historic artefacts from the Muslim…
Responsibility While Protecting
By Gareth Evans NEW YORK: Ten months ago, the United Nations Security Council, with no dissent, authorized the use of “all necessary measures” to protect civilians at imminent risk of massacre…
What do Egypt’s generals want?
By Omar Ashour CAIRO: “Whatever the majority in the People’s Assembly, they are very welcome, because they won’t have the ability to impose anything that the people don’t want.” Thus declared…
Mood indigo
By Philip Whitfield CAIRO: Trouble comes in threes. Tourism’s tanked. Foreign investors are queasy. This week the neighbors acted up, moving on with Red-Med — the superfast rail link the Chinese…
Human shield blocks thousands from reaching parliament
CAIRO: Thousands of protesters demanding an end to military rule were prevented for several hours from reaching the parliament building by a crowd presumed to be affiliated with the Muslim…
PM gives first address to post-Mubarak PA
CAIRO: Prime Minister Kamal El-Ganzoury told the Islamist-majority parliament on Tuesday that justice for the January 25 uprising’s martyrs will not only be achieved through compensation or providing housing or…