Karnak Café is Mahfouz's angriest novel
CAIRO: It's hard to approach Naguib Mahfouz's Karnak Café without remembering Ali Badrakhan's harrowing 1975 film adaptation of this book about Nasser-era Egypt and our 1967 defeat to Israel. This…
THE REEL ESTATE: An invigorating breath of French breeze
How do the French do it? is question that may persistently nag the mind whenever one watches a sweeping, enchanting French story like the latest Francis Veber s directed film…
End the 'old boy' deal to choose a World Bank president
The whole sorry Wolfowitz affair looks like it is finally drawing to a close. It is hard to believe he will stay on much longer at the World Bank, and…
What is Caesar's and what isn't in the Arab world
It is hard to get away from a central fact of Middle Eastern politics and statehood: the significant role played by the military and security forces in the business of…
Despite early hope: like father, like son
The first time I met Anwar Al-Bunni, in June 2005, one of Syria's numerous state-owned newspapers had just called him a traitor. Over tea that he made himself and countless…
Poland's revolution is consuming its democratic child
Recently, the European Parliament condemned the Polish government's attempt to strip Bronislaw Geremek of his parliamentary mandate. A leader of Solidarity, a former political prisoner, and the foreign minister responsible…
A way forward to help the Palestinians
More than a year has passed since the European Union suspended its direct budget support to the Palestinian Authority (PA) in response to the formation of the Hamas-led government. Although…
Acknowledgement of historical peacemaking
WASHINGTON: At the present time, there is a fundamental perceptual difference between the so-called peace camps among Israelis and Palestinians, on the one hand, and, on the other, those who…
Delhi residents suffer from power cuts as monsoon approaches
NEW DELHI, India: Unlike the Indian cricket team that at least looks stronger on paper but fails to deliver, New Delhi's local power generating units are neither strong on paper…
Falling trees: Last week's sandstorm told all of the need to maintain these essential beauties
CAIRO: It might sound like a harsh reality but we have to accept it as the bitter truth: the old inspiring green trees can sometimes turn into real-life killers. Yes,…