Latest in Politics Highlight
Latest in Politics
Theater company uses experimental techniques to bring their messages home
CAIRO: The new Rooabet space at the Townhouse Gallery downtown was the venue earlier Tuesday night for a unique and arresting event staged by El-Warsha Theater Company. The evening was composed of a medley of different performances, with songs, poetry and dramatic readings of texts coming together in a collage informed by recent events in …
World Bank slams MENA education system
CAIRO: Despite increased funding, education standards in the Middle East and North Africa get a failing grade and are falling behind those in other developing regions, according to a new World Bank report. While cash has been funneled into building schools, recruiting teachers and developing curricula, the current educational scheme offers little reward for students …
Movie sparks controversy but draws crowds with harsh depiction of Egypt
Associated Press CAIRO: It s an odd choice for Egyptian popular entertainment: a bleak movie about corruption, torture and political stagnation in a country where cinematic happy endings are the norm. But audiences are still packing the theaters at a time of widespread discontent in the Arab world. The Yacoubian Building has been raising controversy, …
Meet the talented members of the Tiatro troupe
Tiatro is an independent theatrical troupe that was formed by 26-year-old Omar El-Moutaz Bellah in 2001. They started with five members and have now reached 120, 15 of whom come from other countries. Interestingly, none of Tiatro’s members was originally a theater person. The relatively young El-Moutaz Bellah – commonly referred to as Egypt’s Hitchcock …
Bitter taste of reality
Out of time and place, but distinctly relevant to the here and now CAIRO: Al-Batreeq: Hathayan Fil Ro b Wal Horria (The Penguin: Hallucinations about Freedom and Terror), written and directed by Omar El-Moutaz Bellah, was recently performed at Metropole Theater on the periphery of the 18th Cairo International Festival for Experimental Theater by Tiatro …
U.S. could cooperate with Egypt on nuclear energy
President s son proposes peaceful nuclear program CAIRO: The United States could cooperate with Egypt if it decides to develop nuclear energy, the U.S. ambassador to Cairo said on Thursday. Gamal Mubarak, son of the president and a ruling party official, said this week Egypt should consider exploiting nuclear power as a new source of …
Leading human rights organization voices strong criticism toward government
CAIRO: The Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR) announced the release of its 16th Annual Report on human rights abuses in Egypt and of Egyptians abroad in a press conference on Thursday. Founded in 1985, the Cairo-based organization has a national membership of 2,300 and 17 provincial branches located throughout Egypt. Since 2006, EOHR has …
Word on the Street
People call for more stringent action by Arab governments against Papal comments CAIRO: On a visit to Germany, Pope Benedict XVI quoted a criticism of Islam and the Prophet Mohammed by a 14th century Byzantine emperor, who wrote that all that the Prophet Mohammed had brought was evil and inhuman, specifically his command to spread …
In the spirit of Ramadan
ALEXANDRIA: Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar is a month Muslims await from year to year. In keeping with Islamic traditions, Egypt witnesses an increase in good deeds throughout the day and full mosques during the night. People all over Egypt anticipate the arrival of the month of Ramadan. Many people embrace the …
Prosecutor in Egyptian cleric case testifies before committee
ROME: A prosecutor leading the investigation of the alleged CIA kidnapping of an Egyptian cleric in Milan testified Wednesday before parliament s secret services committee. The proceeding was closed to the public, but Armando Spataro s statements apparently contradicted last month s testimony by the head of Italy s military intelligence, committee members indicated. Nicolo …
Cairo-to-Camps highlights fund-raising
Activists differ on their level of confidence in governments CAIRO: Members of the American University in Cairo club Cairo-to-Camps held an event on Wednesday, Sept. 20 which highlighted the many ways to raise awareness and aid money for the people of Lebanon. Each summer, the club sends a delegation of volunteers to perform community service …
Egypt resumes diplomatic relations with El Salvador
CAIRO: Egypt has resumed its diplomatic relations with El Salvador after the Central American country s decision last month to move its embassy in Israel from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv, the Foreign Ministry said Wednesday. The statement said Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul-Gheit and his Salvadoran counterpart Francisco Lainez announced the resumption of diplomatic relations …
Bush and Mubarak back UN force in Darfur
WASHINGTON: U.S. President George W. Bush and President Hosni Mubarak on Wednesday discussed the need to deploy a UN force in Sudan s Darfur region, a White House official said. The president spoke to Egyptian President Mubarak earlier today about Sudan. They discussed the urgency of stopping the killing in Darfur, a White House official, …
Oil spill threatens Suez Canal
ISMAILIA: Clean up crews on Thursday worked to stop the spread of 5,000 tons of crude oil which leaked into Egypt s Suez Canal from an oil tanker, officials said. A Liberian-flagged tanker with a cargo of 84,000 tons collided with a bank of the canal on Wednesday, breaching its hull and causing the spill, …
Celebrity wedding
State-run press lauds National Democratic Party
Opposition theorizes on prospective “inheritance of power CAIRO: As the fourth National Democratic Party (NDP) convention started this week, opinions were divided on the stance toward the ruling party and its plans. Opposition and some independent papers claim that Gamal Mubarak is planning to inherit the presidency, while state-run newspapers strongly refuted the assertion as …
Trade Holding Co. finalizes Omar Effendi negotiations with Anwal
Pending general assembly approval: early retirement for 1,200, elimination of up to 24 branches CAIRO: A negotiation committee appointed by the Trade Holding Company (THC) to finalize the sale of Omar Effendi to Anwal Group reported Tuesday an agreement has been reached for Anwal to pay LE 50 million in early retirement compensation for 1,200 …
TV producers more than generous with Ramadan offerings
Egyptian and satellite channels gear up for the biggest season of the year “Ramadan Kareem. We use these words to greet each other at the start of the month of fasting. The phrase translates as “Ramadan is generous, marking the surplus in everything: food, dessert, traffic jams and most of all the number of terrestrial …
Reliving a piece of history
An insider view into the new TV production Halim One of the central figures of his age, he was an intricate part of the government. Despite dangers, he never traveled with a motorcade or even a bodyguard. I became absorbed in him for two reasons: this is a man who seemed to have no fear …
History and future agenda of political party system discussed at high-level seminar
CAIRO: Concurrently as the National Democratic Party held its annual conference, One World Foundation for Development and Civil Society Care hosted a seminar on the history and future of the Egyptian political party system, featuring the chiefs of several prominent parties and top-level officials. Maged Sorour, director of the One World Foundation and Civil Society …
CRIME SCENE
Murders top crime pages throughout the week CAIRO: Crime pages in local newspapers this week read like a thriller. While other crimes took place, murders overshadowed most other news. A carpenter killed a lawyer in Alexandria after an argument over furniture. The victim’s brother asked the carpenter to make living room furniture for him and …
The Landscape of Civilization
Chinese artist uses calligraphy to convey his message CAIRO: Documenting the development of civilizations can be achieved in various ways, but Chinese artist Qin Feng has chosen to accomplish this end through the art of calligraphy. Feng’s Landscape of Civilization series (2003-2008) consists of 100 ink books (“album leaves ), and he has put together …
Islamophobia and racism discussed at the UN Human Rights Council
Report cites international incidents confirming existence of Islamophobia and its alarming implications CAIRO: Many dismiss Islamophobia as the product of a conspiracy theory blown out of proportion or simply as unreal. But according to a United Nations report released this year, the existence of Islamophobia is demonstrated by documented evidence. Citing discriminatory practices in secular, …
Analysts say Bush wasting his time with address to Mideast population
Agence France-Presse CAIRO: Arab commentators on Wednesday dismissed U.S. President George W. Bush s appeal for democracy directly to the people of the region as a patronizing and doomed effort to give a new face to Washington s reviled policies. In a speech at the UN General Assembly Tuesday, Bush conveyed his message by addressing …
For top quality go for a "Nasrallah" date, but you may want to avoid the "Olmert"
Agence France-Presse CAIRO: Cairo fruit-sellers have a tradition of giving nicknames to their selections of dates before Ramadan and this year the leader of Lebanon s Hezbollah militia topped the unofficial popularity ratings, with the “Nasrallah the most expensive in town. The charismatic Shiite cleric, who earned great support from Arabs during his movement s …
Mahdi Akef accused of incitement to murder
Center for Humanitarian Dialogue files lawsuit against Muslim Brotherhood leader CAIRO: The Center for Humanitarian Dialogue, an Egyptian human rights group, has filed a lawsuit against the Muslim Brotherhood s Supreme Guide Mahdi Akef for incitement to murder. In a public conference that was held at the lawyers syndicate, Akef commented on what he called …
Beauties in El Gouna
Telecom Egypt announces Vodafone Egypt share offer
CAIRO: Telecom Egypt on Wednesday announced its offer to buy up to 24.4 percent of Vodafone Egypt in a move to increase its stake in the mobile phone operator. British group Vodafone will not be reducing its 50.1 percent stake in Vodafone Egypt, a source close to the deal has said. Telecom Egypt, which already …
Nile Basin Initiative secures $750 million in funding
Public-private-partnerships now vital to move project forward CAIRO: The ministers of irrigation of Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia, making up the Eastern Nile basin, announced Tuesday they have secured $750 million in loans and grants to implement the seven-year-old Nile Basin Initiative (NBI). The announcement came at the conclusion of talks, which were scheduled in August, …
Egypt's top Muslim leader demands clearer papal apology
Associated Press CAIRO: The grand sheikh of Al-Azhar Mosque, the Sunni Arab world s most powerful institution, demanded on Tuesday that Pope Benedict XVI apologize more clearly for insulting Islam. The pope s remarks were insulting to Islam and Muslims, and (he made) a religious and scientific mistake, Grand Sheikh Mohammed Sayed Tantawi told papal …