Latest in Politics Highlight
Latest in Politics
The trials of a photojournalist
Thomas Hartwell reflects upon the challenges for professional photographers Thomas Hartwell says he’s not on the front lines anymore – and he doesn’t want to be. The veteran photojournalist, who has made his 27 year long career in freelancing in Cairo, tells the familiar sad tale of large, networked companies overshadowing the little guy. This …
Technical committee announces findings on Qalyoub train accident
CAIRO: The technical committee formed by the Ministry of Transportation to write a technical report on the deadly train accident that took place in Qalyoub on Aug. 21 announced its findings yesterday. The committee released a statement asserting that it consisted of experts and professors not affiliated with the railway body in anyway. Dr. Booles …
CMA to introduce changes on Egyptian stock market regulations in two weeks
The Capital Market Authority (CMA) will introduce new amendments related to mutual fund activities into the executive regulations of the capital market law within the next two weeks. The new amendments are due to be enforced by the end of the year after being presented to market participants for discussion and their approval by the …
Word on the Street
Standoff between the judiciary and the government continues CAIRO: With rumors spreading of more proposed constitutional amendments – specifically to Article 88, which deals with judicial supervision over elections – the ongoing standoff between the government and the judiciary is again heating up. This issue is still occupying the minds of politicians, intellectuals and the …
Poultry prices drop as Avian Flu returns
Industry officials expect production to reach 2 million chickens per day by end of year CAIRO: Egyptian poultry producers are crediting an increase in production of chickens, not the recent reports of new cases of the Avian Flu Virus among birds, with the continuous decline in poultry prices for consumers. The live chicken per-kilo price …
Ten Arab states agree to establish regional water utilities network
CAIRO: Representatives from 10 Arab countries agreed on Wednesday on a common agenda for the future establishment of an Arab Water Utilities Network (AWUN). The project is developed jointly between The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UNESCWA) and the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ). The decision concluded a three-day consultative meeting at …
United Nations Global Environment Facility holds week- long planning meeting in Cairo
CAIRO: The Global Environment Facility (GEF) of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) held a week-long planning meeting at the Conrad Hotel in Cairo. Regional officers from 20 countries attended the conference to discuss current priorities of the GEF and to decide on the next round of programs, among other topics. We are in a …
Egypt's Ghibli raceway hosts Middle East Karting Cup
CAIRO: Although local motorsport is still taking baby steps, Egypt will have the honor of hosting the Middle East Karting Cup. Ghibli raceway, located in Sharm El-Sheikh, will co-host the championship in conjunction with the Kartdrome raceway in Dubai. The move is hailed as a step forward, if not a leap, in the still struggling …
Press Round-up
Opposition slams transportation minister in wake of train crashes CAIRO: News of train crashes dominated this week s national, independent and opposition newspapers. Demands for the transportation minister s resignation rang throughout independent and opposition newspapers, with opposition papers insisting that the minister be held responsible for the accidents. As the independent Al-Masry Al-Youm reported …
Egypt aims to boost oil, gas output 40 percent in 5 years
Reuters CAIRO: Egypt aims to boost its oil and gas output by more than 40 percent in the next five years, the country s oil minister said on Wednesday. In the oil and gas sector, we are planning to increase our production to 100 million tons (a year) in the next five years, compared to …
More than 90 arrested on suspected Islamist links
CAIRO: Security forces have arrested more than 90 Egyptians in the north of the country suspected of links to radical Islamist groups, a lawyer representing them said Thursday. A group of 70 people was arrested in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria, while another group was detained in the Nile Delta town of Damanhour, the lawyer, …
Simple steps to spectacular photos
Pick any iconic subject, the Great Pyramids for example, and I m sure you ve seen countless photographs. Only a few will stand out from the crowd, captivating the viewer. Some photographers have the rare talent of transforming the image they see through the lens of their camera into a vision that supersedes what the …
Palmer performs Houdini act to take world title
Agence France-Presse CAIRO: David Palmer can count himself the bravest and Gregory Gaultier the unluckiest player there has ever been in a World Open final after the Australian beat the Frenchman 9-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-10, 11-2 in front of the illuminated Giza pyramids here on Wednesday. The up-and-down nature of this startling contest hardly paled …
Egypt still trying to release captured Israeli soldier
CAIRO: Egypt said Thursday its efforts to secure the release of an Israeli soldier captured by Palestinian militants had not yet achieved results and denied reports that the conscript was inside Egypt. There is an Egyptian effort to reach an agreement for the release of the soldier in exchange for hundreds of Palestinians … but …
Three clubs on verge of Champions League semi-finals
Reuters JOHANNESBURG: Holders Al Ahli, opponents CS Sfaxien and the Ivorian club ASEC Abidjan can ensure qualification to the semi-finals of the African Champions League with positive results at the weekend. Tunisian provincial club Sfaxien need only draw in Saturday s Group A clash in Cairo to reach the final four. Their Egyptian opponents, however, …
Lebanese contribution to Arab theater to be highlighted at experimental theater festival
CAIRO: The 18th Cairo International Festival of Experimental Theater was officially launched on Wednesday by Minister of Culture Farouk Hosni and festival President Fawzy Fahmy Ahmed in a crowded press conference at the Dar El-Opera complex. Unveiling the line-up for this year’s festival, Hosni stressed that his aim is that the event go from being …
A look through the camera lens
Mohamed Gabr takes us through the ins and outs of commercial photography After tracking down the very busy Mohamed Gabr, I was able to catch him between shoots and he was nice enough to give me a quick tutorial about the world of commercial photography in just under thirty minutes. The charismatic and talented Gabr …
Celebrity Conscience
Vodafone Egypt and Raya Join Forces in TELECOM
CAIRO: In a step to explore the opportunities and synergies between both companies, Vodafone Egypt (VFE) and Raya Holdings (Raya) announced today Raya’s acceptance, in principle, of VFE’s offer to acquire 51% of Raya Telecommunication’s shares for 104 MLE. (One Hundred and four million Egyptian Pounds).Both companies have entered into an exclusive negotiation to finalize …
Key suspect in Egypt mass-mutilation killings found innocent
CAIRO: The principal suspect in the gruesome killing of 10 people, including four children, in an Egyptian village in December 2005 was cleared of all charges by a court on Wednesday. Police had been investigating Mohammed Ali Abdel-Latif, 27, for the brutal murder of four men, two women and four children on Dec. 29 2005 …
Thirty graduate in Boeing-Amideast project management program
CAIRO: Ask any executive in any field about the one skill that the local workforce market desperately needs and the answer will be management. Realizing this, Boeing chose this skill as the focus of it first training and educational project in the Middle East, which celebrated the graduation of 30 students this week. In cooperation …
Ten more killed in Egypt road accidents
One in the north also claims life of Former Arab League official CAIRO: Ten people were killed Wednesday, including a British tourist, and 43 others wounded in two separate bus accidents near the Egyptian port city of Suez, security sources told AFP. Eight Egyptians were killed when their bus overturned in Zaafarana, 256 km south …
Mobinil agrees to suspend EDGE
NTRA says company never obtained permission to offer technology CAIRO: Mobinil has agreed to suspend using Enhanced Data for GSM Evolution (EDGE) technology until its dispute with the National Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (NTRA) is resolved, the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (MCIT) announced yesterday. The announcement followed Tuesday s meeting between Mobinil Chairman Naguib …
Lucent Technologies and TeleTech to Deploy CDMA2000 1xEV-DO
Trial Network to Offer High-Speed Wireless Data Connectivity to Egypt s Schools CAIRO: Egyptian Ministers of Communications and IT and Education Attended the Kickoff of the CDMA2000 1xEV-DO Technology and WiFi Network Trial Deployment The Egyptian Minister of Communications and Information Technology and Minister of Education, Lucent Technologies (NYSE:LU), and TeleTech today announced plans to …
Record Rice Yields for Egypt
WASHINGTON/ROME/KRASNODAR: Egypt has achieved record rice yields with varieties that included hybrids developed locally under an FAO-led project. The world s highest national average rice yield in 2005 was 3.8 metric tons per acre from Egypt, the Executive Secretary of the International Rice Commission, Mr. Nguu Nguyen, told an international scientific conference on sustainable rice …
Technical retail trade pushes Egypt stocks lower
CAIRO: Egyptian stocks fell on Wednesday after retail investors sold on technicals, but bigger stocks were supported by foreigners and institutions trading on fundamentals, traders said. There s no fundamental news, just a technical reason… Yesterday, the 6,185 points level, if broken on the downside is a sign to sell, a trader who declined to …
Egypt arrests 95 over suspected militant links
CAIRO: Egyptian security forces have arrested close to 95 people suspected of links to Islamic militancy in sweeps north of the capital, security sources said on Tuesday. The sources said 25 Egyptians were detained on Sunday in the Nile Delta city of Damanhour and about 70 others were arrested in the port city of Alexandria …
Egypt train crash report cites series of failures
CAIRO: An Egyptian government probe into the causes of Egypt s deadliest rail accident in four years blamed a series of human, technical and administrative failures on Tuesday for the crash that killed 58 people last month. The train crash in the Nile Delta town of Qalyoub on Aug. 21 was the first in a …
Suzy's success
Arab states seek to push Mideast peace plan
Associated Press CAIRO: Arab foreign ministers met Wednesday to promote a plan to revive the deadlocked Middle East peace process amid wide Arab fears the recent war inLebanon helped boost the influence of Iran and the militants it supports. Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa said the 22-nation body will discuss a plan to request …