Latest in Opinion Highlight
Latest in Opinion
Trade unions test Qatari sincerity with demands for labour reform
International trade unions have stepped up pressure on Qatar with a series of demands, a majority of which the Gulf state could implement, without having to reform its autocracy or threaten the privileged position of its citizens, who account for a mere 12% of the population. They fear the change could cost them control of …
The history award goes to… the blank slate!
Egypt won three awards last week at the Dubai film festival and thank heavens it was not for those two annoyingly-titled movies that were showcased at the (bungled) Cairo International Film Festival. As luck would have it, I watched the trailer for one of those two movies and could not help but notice a scene …
The Wrong Solution
By Sayed Ghoneim A few weeks ago, I wrote on my Facebook page about the discomfort I felt at the appearance of someone calling himself an “economic expert”, giving his opinions on the constitutionality of the parliament, the political parties in Egypt, and the new French Mistrals delivered to Egypt’s navy. Professor Abdel-Latif Mahmoud, the former …
The strategic plane: Russia in the Mideast energy cauldron
A journalist friend had told me a while ago, without naming who or when, that Russia was ready for a major strategic entrance into the region through its air campaign in Syria, compensating for all those years of being muscled out of the region with the end of the Cold War and the fall of …
A new era of opportunity
By Ban Ki-moon Seventy years ago, the United Nations was created from the ashes of the Second World War. Seven decades later, in Paris, nations have united in the face of another threat – the threat to life as we know it due to a rapidly warming planet. Governments have ushered in a new era …
Despite UN resolution, differences over Syria remain
The UN Security Council has unanimously agreed a resolution to end the war in Syria. A good first step, but not nearly enough, says DW’s Miodrag Soric.
How does the ‘Family of 1952’ perceive ‘the people’? (Part 3)
Let us look at how pro-regime forces, or rather pro-1952 family forces, perceive the people through their explanations for the reluctance of the majority to participate in the parliamentary elections. Firstly, we will notice that the people remain a “sacred” entity to them. However, the people may sometimes behave unfavourably and not meet their expectations. …
Ignore Trump’s bigotry at your peril!
Donald Trump is smashing red lines at the rate of knots, yet his popularity with Republican voters is soaring. Most polls place him way ahead with 35% nationwide; 19% higher than his closest rival. The more vulgar and offensive he is, the more the voters love him. He is successfully exploiting people’s fears of ‘the …
Runoff elections, a curse to our democracy!
In the aftermath of an election, nations that seek continuous improvement would sit back and reflect on lessons that can be learnt from such an event. The actual exercise of decision-making, where the state calls upon the people to partake in the process, is a mini course in the fundamentals of democratic practices. And as …
Opinion: Premature rejoicing in Paris
The agreement reached at the world climate conference has been labeled “historic.” This is an exaggeration, writes DW’s Henrik Böhme: the real value of all those “shoulds” committed to paper remains to be seen. It was perfectly understandable that frenetic cheering erupted among the thousands of delegates present at the uncharming trade fair grounds on …
The state’s religious politics
While I was considering what to write in this week’s article, and as I started doing some research on the ongoing controversy about the appointed and the elected members of parliament, I was shocked by the content of the Friday prayer address to the extent that I lost all interest in any election-related issue. Although …
Fearful of protests, Egypt keeps stadia closed
Egyptian law enforcement authorities and the Egyptian Football Association (EFA), in a reflection of fears that stadia in Egypt could once more emerge as platforms for anti-government protest, have extended a ban on spectators attending matches that has been in place for much of the last five years. The decision dashed expectations that the ban …
We have a treaty – but at what cost?
After two weeks, huge amounts of political rhetoric, and much activity behind closed doors, we have a treaty. While there will be celebrations among activists, the Paris Treaty will do very little to rein in temperature reductions. The Paris Treaty promises to keep temperature rises below 2°C. However, the actual promises made here will do …
Opinion: Play with an open hand, VW
Volkswagen’s top brass has asked for patience as it pursues those responsible for the company’s emissions scandal. But that won’t be enough to guarantee VW’s survival. It needs a visionary plan, says DW’s Henrik Böhme. Of course, no-one expected Volkswagen to have all the answers at Thursday’s press conference. It’s been nearly three months since …
Is climate change to blame for ‘Islamic State’?
In the build-up to Paris, activists and celebrities have been banging the drum for action. Part of this has involved talking up the effects of global warming. US presidential candidate Bernie Sanders’ warns that “climate change is directly related to the growth of terrorism,” while Prince Charles believes that “one of the major reasons for …
What does the Paris treaty look like from Ghana?
The suburb of Alajo is about as far from the posh hotels of Paris as you could get. But the bureaucrats and politicians here in France are negotiating a climate treaty to “help the world’s poorest”, including billions of dollars of guarantees of “climate aid” to developing nations. I have argued in this blog that …
About our unknown heroes
I spoke in my previous article about our heroes who are known for their struggle in defending the unknown heroes. Today, my article is about the unknown heroes behind prison bars. Amr Atef Atef is young physician graduated from Alexandria University and specialised in obstetrics and gynaecology. He was getting ready for his wedding day …
The ‘New World Order’ and the current super-power states
By Sayed Ghoneim The 20th century began with powers scattered between East and West. By the end of World War II and the victory of Western allies and the Soviet Union over the Axis forces, the world became bipolar, divided between the United States and the Soviet Union. Between the two forces, the so-called Cold War …
Overestimating citizens’ wish for climate action
The UN climate chief, Christiana Figueres, would like the world to know that climate change is considered the most urgent issue around the world. Her agency produced a report, Surprising Citizens’ Views on Climate Change, in partnership with national partners like the Danish Board of Technology Foundation, identifying the views on climate change from 80 …
Opinion: China setting an example for others in Africa
China is investing heavily in building up infrastructure and human capital in Africa. Germany should follow its good example. The continent will play a steadily increasing role in Europe’s future. In South Africa on Friday, China’s president announced $60 billion (55 billion euros) in new investments into Africa over a three-year period within the framework …
Fatema Mernissi: Moroccan emblem of Islamic feminism
By Moha Ennaji Morocco just lost the great progressive sociologist Fatema Mernissi, who was one of the cultural and intellectual icons of the country. She spent her entire life defending gender equality, women’s causes, moderate Islam, and the Islamic of mercy, love, and tolerance. She dealt with contemporary issues with scientific rigour, objectivity and boldness, …
What’s the price tag of Paris? Don’t ask the politicians
When you go shopping – whether at the corner store, or at the ritzy Galeries Lafayette or Printemps here in Paris – you expect to know what you are spending on and what you are getting. Strangely, when it comes to global climate treaties, our politicians like to commit to hugely expensive policies without even …
Financial leasing and the SMEs sector landscape in Egypt
By Ahmed El-Kholy A well-developed, diversified and efficient financial system spreads risk over a number of financing institutional bodies, and also provides a sound base for sustainable economic development. Strong evidence has proven that well-developed financial systems grow faster than similar economies lacking one. Countries characterised with diversified financial systems, in addition to developed non-bank …
The baby and the bathwater: Putting history on the map
I watched an offensive diatribe the other day on a private sector satellite channel – typically – that shed considerable doubt on certain religious and historical tenants. As luck would have it, I had an intellectual run-in with the guest on the show so I knew what the deal was but it is still important …
Egypt: End of democracy
Finally the parliamentary elections are over, and in a couple of weeks, we will witness the very first session of the first post-30 June uprising parliament. Concluding the parliamentary elections is one more step in the realisation of the transitional roadmap announced after the ousting of former president Mohamed Morsi on 3 July 2013. It …
What will all the hot air in Paris actually do?
Negotiators and activists are getting increasingly serious about the prospects of finalising a carbon-cutting deal here in Paris. No doubt if they are successful, we will see much back-slapping and exhortations of “success” in seven days. But the bonhomie will hide a rather inconvenient truth: even if it’s successful, any deal negotiated in Paris is …
Opinion: ECB monetary policy runs amok
The European Central Bank’s decision to leave interest rates near zero shows little sign of helping the real economy. The cheap money policy is causing more harm than good, DW’s Rolf Wenkel thinks. The leading interest rate at which the European Central Bank (ECB) lends money to commercial banks for overnight loans has been at …
Europe’s biggest protest – but not the world’s top priority
There is not one single climate activist in sight here at the climate summit venue in Le Bourget on the outskirts of Paris. Understandably, the area is effectively sealed off, so there is not much of an audience. While many planned marches have been cancelled for security reasons, there are still many protestors in the …
Qatari labour reforms: Words but no actions
Words but no actions. That is Amnesty International’s evaluation of promised Qatari labour reforms five years after the Gulf state was awarded the right to host the 2022 World Cup. Qatar’s failure to enact wide-ranging reforms heightens the risk of its hosting rights being called into question against a backdrop of legal investigations into the …
Paris needs to take the “climate” out of “climate aid”
One of the things we are hearing more and more about here in Paris is so-called “climate aid”. There has been a huge push from climate NGOs to convince rich countries to spend a fortune to help poor countries adjust to global warming. This term is a catch-all for money being given from rich countries …