Latest in Politics Highlight
Latest in Politics
Cairo-based Union of Arab Doctors holds a strong campaign for the Palestinian cause
CAIRO: The Union of Arab Doctors, in association with the Egyptian doctors’ syndicates, have raised more than LE 2 million in aid to the Gaza Strip in their campaign titled “Palestine will not starve. The union nevertheless says more monetary aid is needed and more projects are yet to be initiated. The syndicates and the …
Palestinian president heads to Egypt, Jordan
RAMALLAH: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas left the West Bank on Friday for top-level meetings in Cairo and Amman as part of a brief regional tour, a source in his office said. Abbas is scheduled to meet President Hosni Mubarak on Saturday before heading to Amman to meet King Abdullah II of Jordan on Sunday. The …
Journalists protest colleagues' trial
CAIRO: Several dozen journalists protested in Cairo Thursday in solidarity with three colleagues charged for denouncing alleged fraud in the country s legislative elections in November. Wael Al-Ibrashi and Hoda Abu Bakr from the weekly independent Sawt Al-Umma and Abdel Hakim Hamid, editorial director of the weekly Afaaq Arabiya, which is close to the Muslim …
Present and Tense: My Guantanamo
I envy Frankie, and not just because of the rustic mansion he’s bought in a sleepy island in the Bahamas. I envy the simplicity of his lifestyle. It’s all about setting up boundaries and enforcing order. You cross the boundaries and he sends his lieutenants to sort you out. A Mafioso from the Bronx has …
Cleric wants to return to Italy
ROME: The lawyer for an Egyptian cleric allegedly kidnapped by the CIA in Milan in 2003 said his client, now in a Cairo prison, wants to return to Italy and sue the former government of Silvio Berlusconi, according to a newspaper interview published Friday. Earlier this week, the head of a European investigation into allegations …
Ah, the night before
Beatles fans flash back to the “Swingin’ 60s for one night CAIRO: Not quite “Beatlemania, but a small fan club gathered at the Nile Hilton Thursday night to listen to the leading Beatles tribute band, “The Complete Beatles, perform. But first, we were treated to a three-course dinner by Executive Chef Denis Gourand. The meal …
Teaching dependence
Education NGO decries private lessons ALEXANDRIA: Everyone adopts habits in their early years that shape their personality and that they carry with them for the rest of their lives. A child s environment at school and at home, where many of these habits are formed, may foretell their future capacity in the workplace and interaction …
Keep the water close
Mild dehydration can go unnoticed so be alert to symptoms CAIRO: If the rolling heat waves and summer advertising jingles are anything to go by, the summer season is already in full swing. But before whipping out the beach balls and the bathing suits, it’s time to think about literally staying cool in the summer. …
Premier of China kicks off Africa tour in Egypt
Agence France-Presse CAIRO: Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao kicks off a tour of Africa in Egypt on Saturday, celebrating Sino-African political ties in the nation where they began, before resuming the hunt for mineral wealth in six other countries. On May 30, 1956, Egypt became the first African state to establish diplomatic relations with the People …
Too expensive for a uniting event
High subscription prices put World Cup out of reach of most Egyptians CAIRO: World Cup fever is raging throughout the globe, and the Middle East is no exception. For one month every four years, the world stops for the most anticipated sports event in history, as indicated by the 1.7 billion people who tuned in …
Egypt refers controversial judiciary bill to parliament
CAIRO: Egypt s government Wednesday approved and sent to parliament a draft law on the authority of the judiciary, setting the stage for a fresh standoff with pro-reform judges who said they were not consulted. After a meeting today chaired by Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif, the cabinet referred the bill containing amendments to the law …
Rithmo opening
ŠΘ # # # The crowds were entertained and danced all night to the tunes of the renowned DJ and singer Joe Ashkar, here, Ola, Doreen Tawakol, Sherin Sokar, Maha and Reem Abaza # # Ahmed Beltagy and Ahmed Houssam
China's Wen to visit Egypt in regional tour
Agence France-Presse BEIJING: China will begin round three of an intense diplomatic campaign in Africa on Saturday when Premier Wen Jiabao embarks on a hectic seven-nation tour of the continent. Wen will spend one week traveling through Egypt, Ghana, the Republic of Congo, Angola, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda, pushing ever harder his nation s …
Report slams rights violations in Egypt
CAIRO: May was the worst month in the past quarter century for the freedom of expression, says a report recently released by the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (HRinfo). According to the report, the actions the government took between April 24 and May 25 were among the worst months in the country’s history. “What …
Word on the Street
Leaders of tomorrow CAIRO: While political reform is foremost on the minds of most Egyptians, the younger generations are now faced with another, more urgent matter: exams. This year, the exams have coincided with the World Cup, and while not everyone will be able to watch the Cup due to the rights held by Arab …
Just ban it?
Minister of Culture confirms that “The Da Vinci Code will be banned from Egyptian cinemas CAIRO: The rumors that the blockbuster hit “The Da Vinci Code is to be banned from Egyptian cinema were confirmed by Minister of Culture Farouk Hosni, who made the announcement during a session of parliament on Tuesday. No surprise there. …
World Cup on everyone's mind
Coverage focuses on high school exams, violence in Palestine CAIRO: The Thanaweya Amma finals, the World Cup and the newest court order in the infamous MP loans case dominated news throughout the week. Meanwhile, state-run newspapers and their opposition counterparts were running contradictory news about the new judiciary law. Thanaweya Amma, the term for the …
Detained activist denied medical care: lawyer
CAIRO: Egyptian authorities have refused to allow detained activist Mohammed El Sharqawy to receive treatment for injuries he incurred during a beating by the police, his lawyer said Thursday. His life is in real danger, said lawyer Gamal Eid of his client, who has alleged that Egyptian police sodomized him with a foreign object following …
The Slamdance experience
A young Egyptian filmmaker gives a personal account of his experience at an international film festival CAIRO, November 2005: For a young filmmaker, getting the opportunity to showcase your work at an international film festival is big. I had recently obtained my One-Year Directing Diploma from the New York Film Academy, where I wrote, directed …
Summer screen sensations
Arabic movies dominate movie theaters this season and vie for their share at the box office CAIRO: Despite the start of the World Cup, the season of summer films has started with a bang. Five Egyptian films have overrun the multiplexes nationwide as their producers and distributors gamble with all their assets: catchy one-liners, singers …
Portraits of the city
Michael Haag captures Cairo’s main attraction in his pictorial guide CAIRO: I was flipping through the book when a photograph of a downtown building grabbed my attention; its interior was stunning. I had driven by the Tiring department store in Ataba sq. countless times, with little more than a cursory glance. Not once did I …
GAFI chief suggests collective resolution of disputes between businesses and the government
CAIRO: General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI) Chairman Ziad Bahaa El-Din suggests closer ties between the authority and business associations in resolving private sector disputes with the government. It allows us to move from the state of mind of dealing with individual issues and individual problems towards dealing with collective problems, says Bahaa …
Brotherhood calls for referendum on peace with Israel
Call seen as support for Palestinian government CAIRO: In a recent interview with DREAM television, supreme leader of the Muslim Brotherhood, Mohammed Mahdi Akef, said that the peace agreement made by President Anwar Sadat should be cancelled. Akef called on the government to put the treaty to the people in a referendum. The Egyptian-Israeli peace …
Nancy at Hilton Dreamland
ŠΘ # # # Many of Egypt’s actors, actresses, businessmen and socialites attended the party and danced to Nancy’s music till the early hours of the morning, here, Ahmed Bahgat and partner # # Tamer Hagras and Anna Taraboulsy
Activists continue to face difficulties
CAIRO: Youth for Change activist Mohamed El Sharkawy continues to face impediments in his fight for proper medical treatment at Mahkoum Tora prison. In a recent letter written by him, Sharkawy complains of medical negligence. The letter, dated June 12, tells of his mistreatment. According to Sharkawy, he was once again sent to state security …
Fighting inner stereotypes
Global Summit for Women discusses career equality, stereotypes CAIRO: After a decades-long struggle for career equality, women have managed to increase their percentile in the workforce. Statistics show that more women enter the global workforce each year. They have even managed to push forward legal changes aimed at workplace equality. But while reassessment of goals, …
Neighborhood Policy delayed by wording on human rights and weapons of mass destruction
EU Ambassador says the ball is in the Egyptian court CAIRO: The European Union and Egypt have failed to reach agreement on the final text of an action plan for the union s Neighborhood Policy during Tuesday s meeting between Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmed Abul Gheit and his European counterpart, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, in Luxembourg. …
Rivals Al Ahli, Zamalek meet in Egyptian Cup final
CAIRO: Unbeaten champions Al Ahli will meet perennial rivals Zamalek in Friday s Egyptian Cup final after both sides triumphed in their respective semi-final matches. Al Ahli s, who have not lost in a domestic competition for two seasons, beat Haras Al-Hodoud 1-0 on Tuesday thanks to international defender Mohamed Abdelwahab s 40th-minute free kick. …
Google launches Arabic news browser
CAIRO: Google Inc., the company that runs and owns the world’s largest search engine, announced yesterday the launch of Google News in Arabic. Google News in Arabic will enable users to view the latest news headlines and related photos, as well as search and browse 500 Arabic news sources in the Middle East. According to …
Sale of Egypt Aluminum sale postponed indefinitely
CAIRO: The Egyptian government has indefinitely postponed the privatization of Egypt Aluminum, the investment minister was quoted as saying in remarks published on Tuesday. Mahmoud Mohieddin on Monday told a parliamentary committee of the postponement until an unspecified time, Al-Ahram newspaper reported. It did not explain the postponement, which was part of a government program …