Latest in Politics Highlight
Latest in Politics
Press round-up: Local writers react to Israeli-Hezbollah conflict
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 …
Increased public concern over parliamentary performance reflected in opposition to recent laws
CAIRO: In a discussion held at the press syndicate, parliamentarians assessed the parliament s performance in its first session. The discussion was organized by the freedoms committee in the syndicate, which invited parliamentary representatives from different backgrounds. The speakers assessed the first session, which started on December 2005 and ended on July 2006. The ruling …
Hezbollah rides wave of popularity across Mideast
Reuters CAIRO: The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah is riding a wave of popularity in the Arab world because of its confrontation with Israel, despite some misgivings about the group s cross-border raid on July 12. Interviews with Arabs chosen at random from Morocco to the Gulf showed strong sympathy for Lebanon, where more than 300 …
The Nile phenomenon
How Nile Radio Production sent shockwaves through Cairo Three years ago, in July 2003, Cairo witnessed a radio revival. After decades of declining “listenership, Egyptians were pleasantly surprised when Nile Radio Production (NRP) unleashed two new FM stations, a welcome breath of fresh air in a stale industry. Radio’s rebirth is one of the leading …
Egyptian economy gets mixed reviews
Report addresses economic and political reform CAIRO: Once again, the Economic Intelligence Unit has come out with its annual country report on Egypt, and this year the country has gotten mixed reviews. According to the 2007 country report, the Egyptian government seems to have backtracked on its promise to deliver political reform following recent violent …
Israel resumes air strikes in Lebanon
Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul-Gheit calls for immediate cessation of violence BEIRUT: Israeli troops met fierce resistance from Hezbollah militants Thursday as they crossed into Lebanon to seek tunnels and weapons for a second consecutive day as Israel refused to rule out a full-scale invasion. Israeli warplanes also launched new air-strikes on Beirut s southern suburbs, …
Summer's Hit Music
1. Ain’t No Other Man Christina Aguilera2. I Wish I was a Punk Rocker Sandi Thorn3. Get Together Madonna4. Sooner or Later Duncan James5. Mas Que Nada Sergio Mendes featuring The Black Eyed Peas6. Stars Are Blind Paris Hilton7. Where’d You Go? Fort Minor Holly Brook8. Follow Me Home Sugababes9. Something On My Mind MYNC …
Wust El-Balad sells out at the Opera House
CAIRO: Hundreds of youths swarmed outside the Cairo Opera House’s open air theater Wednesday night, hoping to be among the lucky ones to force their way into the completely packed Wust El-Balad concert. Tickets sold out by around 8:00 p.m., and patient but wearied Opera House workers withstood an onslaught of verbal tirades from a …
First Day of Official Infidelity
The world according to Chadi
CAIRO: Located on the second floor of Alexandrina’s Bibliotheca, a well-presented exhibition documents the life and work of Chadi Abdel Salam, (1930-1986) an Egyptian film director and producer, but perhaps most well known for his set and costume design. Chadi worked intensely to create costumes that were as historically accurate as possible, allowing each film …
Competition authority investigates claims against cement and steel producers
CAIRO: The recently-established Egyptian Competition Authority will begin investigating whether cement and steel producers have violated anti-trust laws. The authority announced its intention to launch an investigation this week in response to a referral from Minister of Trade and Industry Rachid Mohamed Rachid, but the latest actions by the government have not come soon enough …
Egyptian student indicted on assault charges following golf club melee
Associated Press GARDEN CITY, New York: A grand jury on Tuesday returned a 10-count indictment against an Egyptian college student accused of driving into a group of people at an upscale golf club last month. His attorney insists he was the victim of a racial attack. Sayed Khaled El-Waraky, a student at American University in …
Two Al Ahli players banned for next Champions League game
CAIRO: Two players from holders Al Ahli, Emad Moteab and Shady Mohamed, have been suspended for the club s next African Champions League match after trying to attack the referee last Saturday, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced. The pair, also fined $1,000 each, attempted to assault Mali s Komlan Coulibaly after the final …
Fifty-five killed in Lebanon blitz as foreigners flee
Israel kills seven in Gaza as Mubarak says end to conflict in sight BEIRUT: At least 55 civilians were killed Wednesday as Israeli jets and gunboats pummeled towns and villages across Lebanon and tens of thousands of people fled a conflict that both sides defiantly warned would have no limit. In the bloodiest day since …
El Sawy Film Festival announces the year's winners
CAIRO: Judges at El Sawy’s second film festival had some tough decisions to make before presenting the awards at the closing ceremony on June 18 at El Sawy’s Hakma Hall. Islam Azazi, director of “Et Hakim Fe Enak or (“Dominate your Eyes ), won the best movie award for long documentary films, bringing with it …
Private sector's share of GDP rises sharply
New economic laws behind shift from public to private sector CAIRO: According to Minister of Finance Youssef Boutros Ghali, the private sector’s contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP) has risen from 30 percent to 80 percent over the past 15 years. In an official statement published by the ministry, Ghali stated that the country’s …
U.S., Egypt resume "strategic dialogue"
Immediate divergence on tactical matters WASHINGTON: The United States and Egypt met in a rekindled strategic dialogue dedicated to strengthening the two countries relationship. Foreign Minister Ahmed-Abul Gheit and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice then clearly showed major differences at least in their tactical outlooks. In brief comments during a photo opportunity, Abul-Gheit used …
Arab governments have different reasons for truce
Reuters CAIRO: Arab governments disagree on who to blame for starting the Middle East violence of the past week but, unlike Israel and the United States, they agree at least that the bombings should end immediately and talks should begin. Lebanese Shiite militant group Hezbollah and its backers Syria and non-Arab Iran believe a truce …
Protestors gather in front of the press syndicate, voice support for Lebanon and Palestine
CAIRO: As Israeli air-strikes continue for the eighth day in Lebanon, Egyptian protestors continue taking to the streets to express their solidarity with Lebanon. About 500 protestors gathered at the stairs of the press syndicate, holding the Hezbollah logo while expressing support for the group, holding pictures of its leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah and the …
Abousariya's symbolic art brings cultures together
Artist combines a European palette with Egyptian cultural influences CAIRO: Lutfi Abousariya’s art exhibition captures the viewer’s attention with its uniqueness, pushing the viewer to understand the symbolic expression behind the paintings. In fact, it’s almost impossible to walk past a painting without stopping to ponder its significance. The artist graduated from the Faculty of …
Hamid El Shaeri launches new album
ŠΘ # # # Mohsen Gaber and El Shaeri # # Those present were entertained by tunes from El Shaeri’s new album
Arab League discusses summit over Lebanon
CAIRO: Arab League representatives gathered in Cairo on Tuesday to discuss the possibility of holding an extraordinary summit over Israel s offensive in Lebanon. The pan-Arab body s secretary general, Amr Moussa, said on Monday that eight members, Yemen, Egypt, the Palestinian Authority, Sudan, Algeria, Qatar, Lebanon and Djibouti had already expressed support for a …
Hero or reckless? Nasrallah seen through Arab eyes
Agence France-Presse CAIRO: Israel s punishment of Lebanon because of Hizbullah has left Arabs torn between criticism for the Shiite movement s head Hassan Nasralah and praise for a man who many say is restoring Arab pride. Arab leaders, commentators and the man on the street alike appear to be in two minds as Israel …
Inadequate skills challenge service liberalization
CAIRO: The liberalization of trade in services on a global scale has lagged behind that of goods, but the potential gain is significant for many countries. In Egypt, services account for nearly half of the nation s economic output, and opening up the market to foreign competition and investment can support the growth of other …
BG signs new concession agreement
Company gets ready for next phase of growth CAIRO: British Gas (BG) has announced that they have signed a new concession agreement with Petronas on Monday. The new concession is right on schedule with the company’s plans for expansion. As one of the heavyweights in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) business in Egypt, BG, which …
Israel pounds Lebanon, Hizbullah rockets hit Haifa
President Hosni Mubarak criticizes Hizbullah and Hamas BEIRUT: Israeli warplanes battered Lebanon on Tuesday, killing 26 people, and more Hizbullah rockets hit the Israeli city of Haifa, with no sign that diplomacy would halt the week-old conflict any time soon. Nine family members, including children, were killed and four wounded in an air strike on …
Sharkiat's music defies classification
Fathy Salama talks about the negative side of the music industry CAIRO: One of the most diverse sounds in Egypt is that of musician Fathy Salama, who has acquired quite a fan base since he first started in the 1980s with his band Sharkiat. His album “Egypt, which he produced, arranged and conducted with famous …
Gaza gateway reopens for humanitarian cases
RAFAH: Egypt and Israel reopened the Rafah border crossing on Tuesday for the first time in three weeks, triggering a rush to the border by thousands of Palestinians who had been waiting in Egypt. About 300 Palestinians entered the Gaza Strip in the first hour of the crossing s opening. Another 5,000 Palestinians were waiting …
Finding new ways to promote investment
Egypt hosting the annual regional conference of WAIPA CAIRO: Egypt, an elected member of the executive committee of the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WAIPA) and the current regional chair of the African group, and re-elected for its second term, was unanimously voted by the members of the executive committee to organize the 2006 …
Program encourages education through food
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, …