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Tunisia’s promising new constitution
The emerging Tunisian constitution is profoundly encouraging on multiple fronts, especially equal rights
Amnesty International concerned about environment surrounding referendum process
Watchdog organisation is apprehensive about ongoing human rights violations
White House sees a partner in Assad
By Tony Badran, Now. As 2013 drew to a close, the Wall Street Journal published a lengthy and damning chronicle of President Obama’s handling of Syria. And while 2013 was a particularly catastrophic year for US policy in Syria, 2014 promises to be even worse. For if last year marked Washington’s official abandonment of the Syrian opposition, this …
Nuremberg is valid precedent for Iraq War Trials
By Dr Cesar Chelala As the number of deaths continues unabated in Iraq –the worst since 2008—so do calls for the prosecution of those that led both the United States and Great Britain into war, former US president George W. Bush and former prime minister Tony Blair. In December alone there were 44 deaths in just one day, over 766 …
The monster that won’t die
Al-Qaeda is making yet another appalling comeback
An unregulated security threat
By Andrew Tabler, Now. As more and more Syrians flee to neighboring Lebanon, the situation there is a growing national security concern not only for Lebanon, but the entire region. While Hezbollah and Iran are supporting the Assad regime in Syria, their increased vulnerability in Lebanon should give them pause, as the recent bombing of …
Message on international anti-corruption day
By Ban Ki-Moon Corruption suppresses economic growth by driving up costs, and undermines the sustainable management of the environment and natural resources. It breaches fundamental human rights, exacerbates poverty and increases inequality by diverting funds from health care, education and other essential services. The malignant effects of corruption are felt by billions of people everywhere. …
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Nelson Mandela: Death of a Giant
By Dr. Cesar Chelala Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela’s death signals not only the passing away of a gifted politician. It is the death of one of the most significant figures of the 20th century. It is not only the death of a man; it is the physical –although not the spiritual- death of a person whose …
As nuclear debate intensifies, multinational repositories can address world’s growing waste stockpile
By Behnam Taebi Across much of the world, nuclear power continues to spawn controversy. For instance, concern over the Fukushima site continues, and a risky, unprecedented operation has just begun to remove thousands of fuel rods. Meanwhile, despite the landmark international deal agreed on Sunday that saw parts of Iran’s nuclear programme frozen for six months, some critics wonder …
Masters of war
By Dr Cesar Chelala In a move consistent with his past positions on international issues, Senator Robert Menendez, the Democratic Chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, accused the White House of using “over the top” rhetoric and “fear mongering tactics” to try to stop new sanctions on Iran. These new sanctions were to …
Deputy Prime Minister criticises Protest Law
Retracting our mistake is not wrong: Bahaa El-Din
21 Alexandrian girls “prisoners of conscience”: Amnesty
Human rights organisations condemn the 11-year verdict served to female Morsi supporters
Iranian breakthrough and Obama foreign policy success
By Andrew Hammond A historic interim deal was reached on Sunday 24 November in Geneva which will see Iran’s nuclear programme curbed, at least temporarily, in exchange for limited, phased international sanctions relief. This sets the stage for the possibility of a comprehensive agreement in 2014. Pre-empting criticism from some countries including Israel and Saudi …
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US State Department criticises Egypt’s Protest Law
International human rights organisations condemn the sweeping power the law grants security forces
Egypt criticised for international trade agreements
The Egyptian state is still unable to hold corruptors accountable or return plundered rights: ECESR
Sky opens for international squash in Egypt
Former world number one Darwish, 32, will now face compatriot Mohamed Abul-Ghar in one of four all-Egyptian last 16 round clashes.
Obama knows best
By Tony Badran, Now. America’s allies are troubled. At the negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme that took place in Geneva last week, the US administration came close to giving the Iranians significant sanctions relief while allowing them to continue uranium enrichment and construction on the plutonium reactor – thereby preserving Iran’s short-cut to a nuclear …
Is Egypt out to topple Hamas?
By Daniel Nisman On 11 November, the ninth anniversary Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat’s death, an internet-mobilised protest campaign called “Tamarod” will kick off in the Gaza Strip. The group is based on Egypt’s Tamarod movement, which enabled the ousting of President Morsi, and similarly aims to topple the coastal strip’s ruling Islamist Hamas party. Since seizing …
Mansour in Kuwait, ahead of UAE visit
This is the interim president’s second regional tour; both tours come within a month
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Why Muslims should love secularism
Though secularism is widely misunderstood as anti-religious and iconoclastic, all it means is the neutrality of the state on religious affairs
A bad environment negatively affects children’s health
By Dr Cesar Chelala Millions of children die every year as a result of environment-related diseases. Their deaths could be prevented by using low-cost and sustainable tools and strategies for improving the environment. A World Health Organization (WHO) study showed that 13 million deaths worldwide could be prevented by improving the environment. In some countries, …
US Freezing of Military Aid to Egypt: How Much of a Dent?
By James M. Dorsey THE OBAMA administration’s decision to impose sanctions on Egypt’s military-appointed government following the killing of 51 anti-military protestors in Egypt illustrates the US’ limited leverage on one of its closest allies in the Middle East and North Africa. It also reflects its difficulty in striking a balance between acknowledging that the …
Educate girls to alleviate poverty
By Dr Cesar Chelala Inequality and unequal access to education holds millions of girls and women back across the world. While the “gender gap” in education has narrowed over the past decade, girls are still at a disadvantage, particularly in getting access to high school education. And women still constitute two-thirds of the world’s illiterate …
What’s behind the Nairobi and Peshawar attacks?
By Akbar Ahmed Washington, DC – The outrageous killings at the Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi, Kenya and the All Saints Church in Peshawar, Pakistan last month once again prompted legitimate questions about what can be done to stop terrorist violence. While many commentators instinctively pointed to an Islamic motif in the attacks, the perpetrators …
Hezbollah is No Resistance
By Anno Bunnik Extremist movements and parties tend to disguise their true colours. The English Defence League, notorious for its racism, calls itself a ‘Human Rights’ Organisation. Dutch politician Geert Wilders, bent on banning the Quran, mosques and immigration, heads the ‘Freedom’ Party. Hezbollah, the self-proclaimed champion of Islamic ‘resistance’ is not alone in its …
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Draft protest law criticised
Political groups and human rights movements call on interim president to scrap bill approved by cabinet
How happy are we?
Modern-day life might seem daunting, but the World Happiness Report is recording an improvement in well-being
International education in Egypt – the transition towards more transparency
By Henri Kors When I joined ISTER Ltd. and came to Egypt, I was not surprised at the lack of transparency given by the majority of the international schools in the country. After all, there was no organisation or body that was monitoring the entire process of the Teaching & Learning Environment. Hence, the journey began. …
Egyptian leaders express support for refugees
Politicians cite Egypt’s “pan-Arab” role
PM announces plans to develop Sinai
President Morsi approves EGP 4.4bn worth of investments in Sinai