When I first announced to my prospective dining partner, a hulking Hungarian by the name of Igor, that we were off to eat pan-Asian fast food in Heliopolis, he furrowed his pale brow as only someone called Igor can, and announced: “I don’t do Chinese. Nevertheless, assured that he would be dining for free, and …

TOKYO: As world oil prices skyrocket, thousands of households in energy-poor Japan are taking part in an ambitious experiment to use fuel cells to light and heat their homes. Since the prime minister s official residence became the first house in the world to be equipped with a domestic fuel cell in 2005, about 3,000 …

Last weekend Hurghada Marina, a project that has been in the works for the past 10 years, celebrated its grand opening complete with a fireworks display and performances by two local and four international bands. The new marina is being touted as an agent of change for the Red Sea holiday destination, which in the …

It must have been some time in the 1980’s that I first discovered we had foxes living on the empty building site next to our Maadi apartment block. At that time, the site was not actually empty; it was full of wooden scaffolding poles and iron bars and other suchlike things. All this stuff was …

Standing on the sand bank in the red sea, I turn to face the shore. I let the water whirl around my ankles; it’s the perfect temperature. I’m about 100 meters out, and the clear blue waters, which had reached my knees, are now just over my ankles. Behind and beneath me is a coral …

CAIRO: Ladies of Cairo, its time to frost yourself! Korloff Paris, one of the world’s leading jewelry and precious items boutiques, opened its doors in Cairo on June 11 at CityStars. Korloff’s Artistic Director and Chief Executive Officer Daniel Paillasseur came especially to Egypt to celebrate the opening. “Egyptian ladies love diamonds and jewelry, especially …

I don t envy video game designers who have to work on movie tie-ins. Artists have to duplicate the look of a film with a much smaller budget. Writers have to stick pretty closely to someone else s script, even as they stretch a two-hour story into an eight-hour game. There s not much room …

Designers definitely miss the good old days, when a gallon of gasoline cost less than a liter of mineral water, when eating an apple while driving wasn’t illegal, and when people used to speak to each other more than they type on keyboards. And since they cannot do anything about gas prices, regulations, or the …

Let’s face it graduates, it hasn’t been easy getting to this day. Graduation – a crucial and exhilarating moment in our lives, a major turning point at which we throw up our caps and start facing the real world. And we all want to do this looking our best. Forget about those party-poopers who think …

Most people will agree: pets are extremely lovable, and provide their owners and families with a lot of love. Pets tend to make a happy home. But while pets are often lavished with attention, the streets of Cairo are awash with homeless dogs and cats that barely get a second look. Mindful of this situation, …

A paralysed man using only his brain waves has been able to manipulate a virtual internet character, Japanese researchers said Monday, calling it a world first. The 41-year-old patient used his imagination to make his character take a walk and chat to another virtual person on the popular Second Life website. The patient, who has …

With a military salute, crowds thronging the streets and the cream of global couture in attendance, France s prince of fashion , Yves Saint Laurent, was given a grand send-off at his funeral Thursday. A bevy of celebrities including Catherine Deneuve, France s ex-supermodel first lady Carla Bruni, and Farah Diba, widow of the last …

It was like a dream come true for shopaholics in Cairo. Just when everyone was thinking, “Could City Stars get any better? it blew us all away and added one more international brand to its collection, which is making Egyptians more and more fashion-conscious everyday. Hennes & Mauritz (better known as H&M) arrived in Cairo …

CAIRO: Automech Akhbar Al Youm fulfilled its mission this year with a mixture of dreams and reality: a selection of Italian, German and Japanese supercars, some good bargains, and very charming hostesses. With car models for all budgets and a variety of auto loan packages, cars are more affordable than ever. Exhibitors used every single …

DAYTON, Ohio: In a business that s attracting older car buffs and creating new fans with the young, Don Boeke is among the masters. The longtime car customizer has reincarnated Porsches, Corvettes, Packards and Bentleys, repairing, painting and often pinstriping them. Today, he is getting increasing pleasure from taking his craft outside the garage. He …

Does it come with airbags? This question is being asked more and more in local car showrooms. It’s only logical, especially considering the chaotic traffic and the high accident rates. For many car buyers now, safety comes first. Airbags were first introduced unsuccessfully in the 1970s by Ford and General Motors as an alternative to …

With a more dynamic and competitive market than ever, Automech Akhbar El Yom is launching its 13th edition today, bringing together over 400 exhibitors from 16 countries, singer Nadia Ali performing at the opening and an expected figure of half a million visitors to the six-day event. This year is marked by the comeback of …

There are cars we see nearly every day on every corner of every street. They are what you call in popular terms best sellers. And unlike other countries, they are not bought because they are the cheapest, the safest, the best looking, the most powerful, or the most fuel-efficient. Here in Egypt, different factors determine …

CAIRO: In the summer of 2004, Mövenpick Hotels and Resorts announced the take over of a resort on Elephantine Island near Aswan. The property then underwent a complete revamp and was dubbed Mövenpick Resort Aswan, where the contemporary design is punctuated with elements of Nubian style. “The newly renovated Mövenpick Resort Aswan reflects the high …

As a California native, I grew up on places like Taco Bell, eating some of the finest, greasiest, originally wonderful Mexican food. You can imagine what I sorrowfully encountered when I first came to Cairo: no Mexican food. I asked around and sampled some platters claiming to be “Mexican at local eateries like Lucille’s and …

Aggressive insulin treatment or lifestyle changes at the onset of diabetes can sharply curb the incidence and impact of the disease over the long haul, according to two studies released Friday. Intensive insulin therapy through daily injections for Type 2 diabetes, which affects some 250 million people worldwide, is typically started late in the course …

Parallel to the transformation of the fashion scene in Egypt, whereby designer items are available here right off international catwalks, the local furniture market is witnessing a similar boom, with the introduction of high-end international designer brands. Lava, an events and exhibitions organizing company, has brought all these brands and their distributors together to display …

Backpack-toting dreamers from more than 600 startup firms spent a recent morning at an Internet-age version of summer camp brainstorming about new online waves and how to ride them to success. Camp organizers have described gatherings as the physical meeting of online communities, so people can shake hands, network and share what they know in …

When we mentioned the All African Challenge Trophy (AACT) in our last column we frankly saw it as a natural extension of regional championships that might have been played for years in Africa, quite like those that exist throughout the world. What we found in Katameya when the competitors arrived was something quite different. The …

I am being stalked. I was lolling in my bed a few nights ago. Correction. I was deep in sleep a few nights ago, and my mobile phone suddenly rang on loud, nearly knocking me out of bed with its hideously high-pitched drone. I answered. Why, exactly, I’m still asking myself. There were a few …

Everyone with high blood pressure should own a home monitor and do regular pressure checks, the American Heart Association and other groups urged Thursday in an unprecedented endorsement of a medical device for consumers. High blood pressure is a leading cause of heart attacks, strokes and death. Having it checked a few times a year …

When you stub out that last cigarette, vowing never to light another, you need not feel alone. Chances are your spouse, your best friend and even your co-workers will follow suit. Even people in your milieu who you don t know very well are likely to be influenced by your decision to go cold turkey. …

Your mother can teach you all she knows about cooking, but it is not until you’ve learnt at the hands of a professional chef that you can really show off your skills at a dinner party. Last Tuesday I was invited to a cooking session featuring French Chef Daniel where I learnt a few tricks …

One of the best features of Nintendo s Wii is the Virtual Console, a downloadable library of more than 200 classic games. It s a great resource for young gamers who want to see what they missed, and for geezers who wonder if old favorites were as great as they remember. What the Virtual Console …

If you love any of the gourmet steak or seafood dishes that are exquisitely prepared and served at such 5-star Cairo establishments as the Four Seasons, JW Marriott, or Grand Hyatt, but prefer the atmosphere of a private and intimate dinner party chez toi, then you’re in luck. The company that has been providing the …