Iran tops agenda as Gates arrives in Middle East
AMMAN: US Defense Secretary Robert Gates arrived in Jordan on Monday at the start of a three-nation Middle East tour officials said was aimed at confronting Iran s influence in…
Muslim Brotherhood will run for Shoura elections under the logo "Islam is the solution"
CAIRO: The Muslim Brotherhood, an illegal but tolerated group, announced its intention to nominate 20 of its members to run for the coming Shoura elections that are to take place…
Foreign exchange reserve in Egypt valued at $34 bln
Foreign exchange reserve in Egypt has scored $34 billion, asserting that budget deficit declined from 9 percent last year to only 5.5 percent this year, Minister of Finance Youssef Boutros…
Health insurance not to be privatized
CAIRO: Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif s decision to turn the General Authority for Health Insurance into a holding Company under the name 'the holding company for health care,' is not…
Speed up privatization says businessman
More time and measures needed for Egyptians to feel benefits of reformCAIRO: The pace of privatization in Egypt must be quicker than it currently is, Mohammed Shafik Gabr, Chairman of…
Iraq distracts Bush from issues needing attention
Iraq distracts Bush from issues needing attention David Ignatius As political power ebbs away from the Bush presidency, a number of changes are becoming visible around the world-most of them…
Recalling a thinker of Islam and modernity
Three years ago this week, the late Egyptian thinker, economist, public servant and activist Said Naggar passed away after a long and productive life. I remember Naggar from a time…
Franco-American ties will improve after the French vote
With the American invasion of Iraq in 2003, French-American relations reached a low point. The Bush administration felt betrayed by French diplomatic tactics at the United Nations, while French President…
Crossing the Blue Line: Unifil and the people of southern Lebanon
A-NAQOURA: Bassam Salim isn't really on bad terms with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil). He just has one wish: "They should send them to the other side…