Latest in Politics Highlight
Latest in Politics
Guardians of the source of the Blue Nile
Mireia Cano’s photographs capture daily life on the Ethiopian riverbank CAIRO: When the Fables of the Nile expedition set out to follow the Blue Nile from its source in Ethiopia through Sudan and on to Egypt, the photographer Mireia Cano joined them for the beginning of their journey from Lake Tana to Debre Markos. Armed …
Cairo International Airport goes high tech
CAIRO: Thanks to a newly approved, $22 million contract, Cairo International Airport’s embryonic Terminal 3 will be among the most technologically advanced in the world. Some of the planned high-tech gadgets, which go into use when Terminal 3 opens in early 2008, are computerized self-serve kiosks, “fast-track biometric immigration gates and an efficient, number-crunching resource …
Resettle or return
Sudanese refugees frustrated by hardships in Egypt dream of being resettled, but there are few slots for thousands of refugees. CAIRO: Sudanese refugees who escaped from the bloody conflict in Darfur say that anything is better than the atrocities in their country. But as they find a safe haven in Egypt, they end up unemployed …
Egyptian regulator to unveil takeover code on Nov. 1
Reuters DUBAI: Egypt s capital markets regulator will introduce a takeover and acquisition code governing publicly listed companies on Nov. 1, the exchange chairman said. Hani Sarie-Eldin said the Egyptian Capital Market Authority (CMA) drafted the policy due to growing interest in Egyptian companies from regional and global investors. In 2005, nine Egyptian firms, mainly …
Pharonic support
Ministry of Trade struggles to enforce cement price cap
Rachid promises tough measures ; some producers lower factory price to LE 300 CAIRO: Almost one month after the government capped the ex-factory and retail prices of cement at LE 290 and LE 330 per ton, respectively, none of the local producers have complied. Non-compliant producers include the 95 percent government-owned National Cement Company (NCC). …
Telecom Egypt seeks bigger Vodafone Egypt stake
CAIRO: Telecom Egypt said on Tuesday it would seek to increase its stake in Vodafone Egypt by up to 24.4 percent in a deal worth LE 5.856 billion ($1.02 billion). Telecom Egypt already holds a 25.5 percent stake in Vodafone Egypt, one of two mobile phone operators in the country of 73 million. Telecom Egypt …
Median interbank rate steady at 9 percent
CAIRO: The median overnight interbank rate on the pound was 9 percent on Tuesday, barely changed from Monday 9.022 percent, with bankers shunning interbank trade in favor of central bank auctions. It s better for me to participate in the auctions, one banker said. Banks tend to prefer to invest in higher-yielding central bank instruments, …
Gaza's human calamity
While the world’s gaze remains focused on Lebanon, less than 200 kilometers south in Gaza, a human time bomb is ticking. Some 1.4 million people in Gaza – more than half of them children – are packed inside one of the world’s most densely populated areas with no freedom of movement and no place to …
Informant's letter to Clinton irrelevant to bomb-plot case, government says
Associated Press NEW YORK: Recent complaints by a discontented paid police informant to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton should have no impact on a subway bomb-plot case, federal prosecutors argue in court papers. A letter sent to Clinton last month by Egyptian-born Osama El Dawoody in which he complains about his treatment contains no new information …
Casper & Gambini's gets thumbs up for friendly service and great food
CAIRO: Earlier this week, during my lunch hour, I called some of my friends to see who was available for a quick lunch out of the office. Every time I’d call someone they would say, “Sorry just ate at Casper & Gambini’s … It was so good, you have to try it. After scrolling through …
British Council brings smart political satire to Cairo Opera House
CAIRO: Performed over 150 times in 25 countries across the globe and winning several awards, The Summit performed by Ralf Ralf is a smart theatrical piece of political satire that portrays the current divided political landscape and international community in an accurate and amusing way. The piece acts out a summit meeting between two politicians …
Colombians held by Bedouins arrive at embassy in Cairo
BOGOTA, Colombia: Six Colombians kidnapped by tribesmen and held for months in the Egyptian desert while trying to cross illegally into Israel have arrived safely at Colombia s embassy in Cairo, authorities said. Colombian Deputy Foreign Minister Camilo Reyes said the five missing women and one man arrived at the embassy Monday in a taxi, …
Gamal Mubarak slams U.S. ambitions in the region, proposes nuclear development
Ruling party holds major conference amid skepticism over reform plans to pave the way for his son to succeed CAIRO: A meeting of Egypt s ruling party Tuesday offered President Hosni Mubarak a chance to consider new steps toward reform amid widespread criticism that moves for greater democracy have stalled in this top U.S. ally. …
UN report reveals steady poverty rates in world's most vulnerable countries despite 10-year action plan
CAIRO: Poverty rates remain steady or are simply falling slightly in the world’s most vulnerable economies, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan argues in two United Nations releases prepared for the General Assembly High-Level Meeting on the Least Developed Countries (LDCs). While the LDC’s as a group are experiencing high growth rates of six percent or …
Anti-pope protests subside but anger remains
CAIRO: Protests against remarks about Islam by Pope Benedict XVI tapered off in the Middle East on Tuesday but anger remained and there were calls for demonstrations on Friday, the Muslim day of prayer. Angry protests against the pontiff s remarks seen as critical to Islam were held from Indonesia to Iraq on Monday and …
Women's rights approached from different perspectives
Thebes presents contradictory takes on a vital issue from experts CAIRO: Improvements in women rights are not always related to the nature of ideologies or the status of democracy prevalent in a country. The issue is more relevant to the dominant social culture that often imposes conservative terms on both liberal leftist ideologies and political …
Press round-up: Pope's comments on Islam makes headlines around the world
School starts without a tour by the minister of education CAIRO: Independent and national newspapers focused heavily on Pope Benedict s comments on Islam and the Prophet Mohammed and the consequences of such comments. In a visit to Germany, Pope Benedict XVI quoted a criticism of Islam and the Prophet Mohammad by a 14th century …
Mubarak says Israel could free many Palestinians
CAIRO: President Hosni Mubarak said the number of Palestinian prisoners Israel is ready to release in exchange for a captured soldier is higher than expected, the official MENA news agency reported Monday. Egyptian contacts and efforts are progressing, and according to the outline of the agreement, which has not yet been finalized, the soldier will …
Vodafone to bid for international gateway license
Licensing fee still not set by NTRA; license to be offered by end of year CAIRO: Vodafone Egypt (VFE) has unofficially announced its decision to bid for one of the two international gateway operators licenses to be offered by the National Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (NTRA) by the end of this year. The move comes just …
Egypt lawmakers demand Vatican ties be frozen
Pope s apology fails to stem Muslim anger CAIRO: Egyptian lawmakers on Monday demanded diplomatic ties with the Vatican be suspended in protest at Pope Benedict XVI s use of a medieval quotation describing Islam as evil and inhuman. The pope must offer direct and unequivocal apologies, said a statement issued after a meeting of …
Moving pictures
Deck stacked against visually disabled
IBM and PAVI program graduate seven instructors for visually impaired in computer application CAIRO: IBM and the Parents Association of People with Visual Impairments (PAVI) celebrated the graduation of seven certified instructors and four trainers of computer skills for the visually disabled. Yet, during the joyful event, many of the graduates expressed their dismay that …
Back to basics for aspiring writers
Creative writing workshop encourages young writers to express themselves in their native language CAIRO: In an attempt to resurrect a passion for Arabic writing, Maadi’s Kotob Khan bookstore recently launched a creative writing workshop for young Arabic speakers and writers-to-be. The program examines the rough works of young Egyptian aspiring writers; around 12 participants, mostly …
The weather is beautiful
Bring your imagination along CAIRO: “An absurd play composed of split second disjointed scenes that bring out the circus in the streets and the street in the circus, says the synopsis of the play El-Gaw Gameel, (The Weather is Beautiful) by Nada Thabit. The script is actually an improvised version of the French play by …
Kodak shifts focus in Egyptian market
CAIRO: In a move to improve slumping profits, photography giant Kodak is handing over a major chunk of its Egyptian operations to a new, domestically-based group, company officials announced this week. Vision International S.A.E., created from the ashes of Kodak’s former management team in Egypt, will handle the distribution, sales and servicing of the photo …
Egyptian dance brings life to City of the Dead
Agence France-Presse CAIRO: In the depths of Cairo s City of the Dead, Umm Essam unveils her latest creation: a blood-red bellydance costume, complete with golden pearls. But there are no models or podiums in this dressmaker s tiny workshop hidden deep in the alleys of one of the city s oldest cemeteries. At the …
Still not your ideal swimming pool, Nile cleaned up
CAIRO: The waters of the Nile are running cleaner this week after dozens of volunteers taking part in a United Nations-sponsored drive removed more than a ton of trash from the river. “It’s a big amount of garbage, says Essam Nada, executive director of the Arab Office for Youth and Environment, a local group which …
Tourism numbers fall for third month running
CAIRO: The number of people visiting Egypt fell 5.5 percent year-on-year in July, according to figures available on Monday, the third consecutive monthly drop since April bombings in a Red Sea resort. The figures released by Egypt s Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) show the number of tourists visiting Egypt fell to …
Fresh music to suit all tastes
SOS Music Festival a success for all concerned CAIRO: The first ever SOS Music Festival took place on Friday, showcasing a wide variety of new Egyptian music for an enthusiastic crowd at Cairo International Conference Center s Chinese Garden. Brain Candy opened the event, warming up the crowd in the afternoon sun with their distinctive …