275 Articles
UNDP understand and regret Fahmy s decision, stresses allegations are incorrect CAIRO: Actor Hussein Fahmy quit his post as United Nations goodwill ambassador in objection to the organization s inability to hold Israel accountable Israel for its aggression towards Lebanon. Meanwhile, Cairo-based UN officials stress that the organization has an effective humanitarian role to play …
Rage and frustration mark local reaction to Qana massacre CAIRO: When the Saudi fatwa was issued last week denouncing support of Hezbollah on the grounds of the Shiite-Sunni differences, the general attitude was rejection. Nonetheless, the fatwa found supporters here and there. But a unified stance, at least among the Arab masses, was imminent; unfortunately, …
Wahed Men El-Nas wavers between artistic and commercial cinemas ByDaily Star Egypt staff Wahed Men El-Nas (One of the People)Director: Ahmed Nader GalalScriptwriter: Belal FadlStars: Karim Abdel Aziz, Menna Shalaby, Mahmoud El Gindy, Ahmed Rateb and Ezzat Abu Ouf CAIRO: Before buying tickets to watch Wahed Men El-Nas (One of the People), someone advised my …
Austrade s Peter Linford discusses the office s strategy for the next year, dismisses long term effect of Israeli-Lebanese conflict CAIRO: With the Israeli offensive in Lebanon, political and economical instability mark the region. Financial growth that was achieved in the past year is now jeopardized. But according to Peter Linford, after assessing the work …
Arab inaction and increase in gas prices take the lead CAIRO: Arab inaction toward the Lebanese crisis, an increase in local gas prices and Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif s statements dominated editorials throughout the week. Some writers like Fahmy Howeidy in Al Ahram surveyed the crisis in general, commending Hezbollah and criticizing the American-sponsored Israeli …
CAIRO: For Hossam Mostafa, July 12 started out as any other day in Beirut. The summer season was promising; tourism rates were on the rise and music and cultural festivals were about to kick off. Legendary singer Fayrouz was to give the opening performance at the Baalbak Festival on the same night. Everyone was expecting …
No effort spared to ensure safety of priceless ancient statue CAIRO: The transfer of the Ramses statue from its downtown residence is pending on one more test slated to take place this Thursday. Two specially made vehicles will carry a mock statue, of the same size and weight, from Tahrir to the Giza Plateau. Last …
Middle Eastern entries take the lead with “stronger content CAIRO: Egyptian and Middle Eastern contestants claimed the top prizes in the Dream Deferred essay contest on civil rights in the Middle East. Contestants were asked to address the repression of civil rights in the region, focusing on the importance of individual rights, how grassroots reform …
Laying blame, discussing fallout and effect on tourism all topics for discussion CAIRO: With coverage of the ongoing Israel-Lebanon conflict dominating the front pages of all local newspapers, the topic was also the focus of a high percentage of editorials throughout the week. While editorials disagree in assigning blame for the recent escalation, all united …
WFP offers solutions for poverty and illiteracy in rural Upper Egypt CAIRO: In rural Upper Egypt, where poverty and illiteracy intertwine and are a sever hindrance to improving living conditions, targeting both problems in one plan is a practical solution. The United Nation’s World Food Program (WFP) is currently working, in collaboration with Egyptian partners, …
“An El Esheq Wal Hawa a must-see “An El Esheq Wal Hawa (“About Love and Affection )Director: Kamla Abu ZekryScriptwriter: Tamer HabibStars: Ahmed El Sakka, Mona Zaki, Menna Shalaby, Magdy Kamel, Tarek Lotfy, Ghada Abdel Razek, Boushra, Khaled Saleh CAIRO: Love is a weird thing, I don t understand it, mutters Salma (Menna Shalaby) to …
Violence escalates between Israel, Palestine and Lebanon; rebel priest provokes censure CAIRO: The local media has provided different takes on the president s intervention in amending the new press law; some applauded while others were skeptical. Meanwhile, escalation of violence between Israeli, Palestine and Lebanon has been making continuous headlines. Receiving less coverage, but still …
Ahmed Zaki and Abdel Halim Hafez share the silver screen HalimDirector: Sherif ArafaWriter: Mahfouz Abdel RahmanActors: Ahmed Zaki, Haytham Ahmed Zaki, Sulaf Fawakhergi, Mona Zaki and Ezzat Abu Ouf CAIRO: As the opening credits roll, the shaky camera follows late actor Ahmed Zaki in his Abdel Halim Hafez persona while he performs on stage. Scenes …
Director Sherif Arafa discusses the challenges of making “Halim CAIRO: Since Good News For Films first announced its plans to produce a film depicting the life of Abdel Halim Hafez, the public has not underestimated the challenges taken on by the participating filmmakers. Just to pinpoint a few of the recognized challenges: Finding a fresh …
Mona Zaki’s personal life combines with her career and community service for a successful mix CAIRO: You don’t need to spend more than five minutes in Dr. Mona Zaki’s office to understand who she is. Once you step into the Garden City office, where she operates her self-founded company Global Strategic Consultants (GSC), a drawing …
Film premier is a tribute to Abdel Halim Hafez and Ahmed Zaki CAIRO: As the tunes of Abel Halim Hafez’s songs echoed throughout the Cairo Opera House, the country’s most prominent actors and celebrities walked down the red carpet leading to the opera’s main theater, where the “Halim premier took place last Monday. Although it …
Andre Porchet explains upcoming strategy regarding competition, new products and potential acquisitions CAIRO: It doesn t require much thought to connect the timing of Nestle s recent launch of a high-end product within its chilled dairy sector, to the expected competition with local newcomer and international leader of manufactured yogurt, Dannon. But according to Nestle …
The art of regulating feelings to be in control of your emotional responses CAIRO: Do you often lose your temper with your irresponsible colleague? Can t you fight the urge to help other people although you always feel frustrated when they don t return the favor? Are your spouse s irritating habits threatening your future …
Editorials point to recent incidents as threats to freedom of expression CAIRO: The new publishing law, under discussion in parliament, has dominated editorials throughout the week. The topic also brought into the spotlight other stories related to freedom of expression, including last week’s story of the student who was reprimanded for criticizing American policies in …
Chairman Mohammed Hassan Omran talks to The Daily Star Egypt about the recent bid and future plans CAIRO: The number that the Etisalat-led consortium offered to win the third mobile network license is still having its effect on the market. The consortium won the bid by putting forth a LE 16.7 billion offer, exceeding all …
CAIRO: The much-anticipated bid for the third mobile license was awarded to the Etisalat consortium, which offered LE 16.7 billion, plus six percent of annual revenues paid to the government as license fees. Besides the UAE telecom operator, the consortium includes Egyptian partners Egypt Post, National Bank of Egypt (NBE) and Commercial International Bank (CIB). …
People with disabilities need more attentive media CAIRO: In a park one child approaches another to play with him. Immediately the mother of the first child grabs him and tells him not to talk with the second child anymore. When asked why she did that, the mother answered that she s afraid the second child …
New judiciary law and Ibrahim Eissa s imprisonment dominate news CAIRO: The new judiciary law, the year-long jail sentence Al-Destour editor Ibrahim Eissa received for insulting the president, and the coverage of Pope Shenouda s illness showed a widening gap between independent, opposition and state-run press. This gap was topic for discussion in several editorials. …
LE 1 and 50 piaster coins are interesting novelties but still a hassle CAIRO: When Yehia Mohamed showed a cab driver the newly introduced LE 1 and 50 piaster coins, the driver immediately asked to take them; Mohamed had no option but to hand them to the eager driver. About a month after their introduction …
“Awqat Faragh (Leisure Time) Director: Mohamed MostafaStory and Script: Mohamed Moqbel and Amr GamalActors: Randa El Beheiry, Ahmed Hatem, Safa, Karim Qassem, Ahmed Haddad, Amr Abed CAIRO: After buying a cigarette from a kiosk, Ahmed asks his friend about what to do. Gradually the conversation flows to their relationships and sexual conquests. In the same …
CAIRO: A group of high school students attempted to collectively commit suicide because the questions on their thanaweya amma exam were too difficult. Related incidents simultaneously took place throughout the country last weekend, as students and sometimes their parents revolted in protest over the difficulty of one of the thanaweya amma exams. It may sound …
Anti-rumors law hotly debated; “The Da Vinci Code ban criticized CAIRO: The number one news story throughout the week was the parliamentary discussion of and voting over the new judiciary law. The gap in interpreting events continued to exist between state-run and opposition papers, albeit to a lesser degree compared to previous weeks. The coverage …
Council officials say their job is not to defend detained female protestors or support particular candidates CAIRO: After three female protestors were detained for about a month following their participation in pro-democracy and solidarity demonstrations, the role of women’s rights organizations and their effectiveness are being tested, with the state-run National Council for Women (NCW) …
Valerie Morris stresses the importance of mentoring CAIRO: You must reach back in order to move forward, is advice Valerie Morris first heard from her mother at an early age. In order to do well for yourself, you must do it for other people, she had told her. Fighting back tears as she remembers her …
What’s behind the uproar of The Da Vinci Code, the Bahai, Danish cartoons and the rumors-law? CAIRO: It s either one way or another, one extreme or the other. That is how we run things in Egypt. We either don t acknowledge bird flu or we kill all the birds; The Da Vinci Code is …