Since smoking is among the activities that faithful Muslims deny themselves from sunup to sundown during Ramadan, the holy month that began Thursday, Muslim doctors are suggesting that American Muslims build on that smoke-free time to quit the habit. Dr Tariq Cheema, executive director of the Association of Physicians of Pakistani Descent of North America, …

In Ramadan, diabetics are faced with the grueling challenge of coordinating their diet without endangering their health or disrupting their calculated daily routine. The Egyptian Society for Child Care Assistance to Young Diabetics (AYD) – in association with the international Pharmaceuticals Corporation Roche, the Diabetes International Advisory Board (Diab) and the French organization AJD – …

On May 17, 2007 at 9:49 am, mountaineer Omar Samra carved his name in history by becoming the first Egyptian to reach the peak of Mount Everest, the highest in the world. The first thought to penetrate his brain amid the blistering frost though wasn t a reflection of the massive accomplishment he had achieved. …

Ramadan rushed in this year before many were ready for it, but a few diligent souls had been planning ahead. “Ahmed, what’s the most interesting Ramadan message you received this year? Laughing Ahmed replied, “Ragab hoosh sahbak 3any. He paused, smiling, before he added, “Like Haifa Wahbe’s song. “Ahmed, do you fast? Nodding, Ahmed said …

It’s like bringing an enlarging table mirror so close to your face that you see all the flaws, big pores, zits about to form and little hairs sticking out from places they should not. It’s like a detailed book of your face – kind of like Facebook. For a good while now, Facebook has been …

Whether you want to relax, look better, or lose weight, nature has the remedy to cure all ailments. The latest in relaxation techniques comes in the form of drums and dolphins. Research shows that the rhythmic sound of drumming has great health benefits. Sounds from the drums supposedly helps energize the nervous system, regulate heart …

The piercing sound of the alarm clock jars me out of bed each morning, and I immediately reach out from under the covers to hit the snooze button so I can catch just a few more moments of much-needed sleep. The back to school season usually means that parents have to forgo an extra hour …

What used to be an almost imperceptible cottage industry in Egypt, alternative and holistic wellness is poised to become one of the fastest growing segments of the healthcare market. This weekend, Spirit of the Middle East is presenting the first Mind, Body, and Spirit Festival of Giving ever held in Egypt. This event is a …

Traveling to Paris is a pleasure: the city of lights, love, culture, beauty and … err L Entrecôte. One of the highlights of the city for a majority of Egyptian tourists visiting Paris is the chance to have dinner at the famous Le Relais de Venise – L Entrecôte. Unlike most popular restaurants, this jewel …

Gwen Stefani s L.A.M.B. collection was the marquee name on the opening day of New York Fashion Week. She packed the biggest venue at the Bryant Park tents Wednesday night with fashion insiders, celebrity friends and even her one-year-old son, Kingston, who sat in the front row on the lap of daddy Gavin Rossdale. The …

While the world mourns the legendary opera tenor Luciano Pavarotti, his life experience takes the spotlight. Here are some quotes that, in a way, survey his take on life. The quotes are taken from his 1995 autobiography: “Pavarotti: My World, by Pavarotti and William Wright. “Every day I remind myself of all that I have …

“Someone told me, it s all happening at the zoo, I hummed the lyrics to the classic Simon and Garfunkel song as I scoured Morad St. for a parking spot. The jovial soundtrack running through my mind set me up for disappointment as I finally entered the gates of the Cairo Zoo last week. Kids …

What do you get when you merge Fergie’s rocking style with Kipling? A “Fergalicious line of handbags that will debut in New York this weekend. The 78-piece collection has three lines and no piece costs more than $200, the New York Post reported Thursday. Nice Scout line includes bags and satchels in earth tones. Naughty …

Getting the kids to bed at a reasonable hour is only part of the challenge, and it’s no longer a simple matter of checking for flashlights under the covers of children who can’t seem to put their book down. With tech gadgets invading the home, more and more children are falling asleep listening to music, …

Watching video online in small, fuzzy boxes is heading the way of rabbit ears. Some highly anticipated websites are being modeled on making the experience of watching video online more like watching television. These sites rely on software that enlarges the interface so that it fills your computer screen – from edge to edge. This …

What s the best time of year to visit Tuscany? How about Sydney, La Paz or Antarctica? A new coffee-table book from Eyewitness Travel, Where to Go When: The Best Destinations All Year Round, is being promoted as the ultimate trip-planner. Whether you re an armchair traveler or a globetrotter, the book offers plenty of …

With summer nearing its end and Ramadan just around the corner, coffee talk is picking up summer flings, love stories, deaths and gossip. “I will never drink again and I will start praying. See, your life can just end in an instant, said Reem in tears. Patting her shoulder, May reassured her friend, “Fine, but …

Dan Furst has created a name for himself in Cairo as the in-depth astrologist who can read your chart and forecast your future. But after chat with him, I realized that astrology is only one of the many talents and interests he has. The American 60-year-old Santa look-alike is an Interfaith Minister, actor, singer, playwright …

CAIRO: Because of the position of the sun during my birth, I am prone to show tolerance, get dreamy, have beautiful eyes, feel detached, and display paranoia. This is only based on my sun sign though, not my moon sign, which depends on my exact time of birth – that, I don’t know. It all …

The Prophet Mohamed (PBUH) once said, “The best of you are those who learn it and teach it. With that in mind, Research and Development International (RDI) created a program called “Hafss , designed to help Muslims whether young, old, man or woman to read the Quran better. RDI presented the project at a conference …

Tip your chair back, relax and get a few hours sleep dreaming of the temples and history that lie ahead. That was what I was hoping to do last Friday when I boarded the night train from Cairo to Luxor. Hopes of that soon faded as I was shown to my seat. Puzzled by the …

For a change I decided to take coffee talk to a new level. I spent this coffee talk session in a balady coffee shop in the heart of Mohandiseen. “So who do you think the second man will be? I heard the old man is sick again, Mohamed said to his group. Looking at Ahmed, …

In a small alleyway in the center of Zamalek lies Karakeeb, an inviting shop shock full of a variety of gadgets and gimmicks. Translated roughly the slang Egyptian word “Karakeeb means clutter, specifically referring to a messy room. There is a mixture of everything at the shop, ranging from beds, mirrors and desks to things …

Plastered across the walls of the main lobby in Cairo’s newest and hippest workout facility, the Maadi-based Knockout Gym, are a series of pictures and posters dedicated to Muhammad Ali. In each display, the American iconic boxer Ali looks triumphant, his gloves raised high in the air in victory, a visual inspiration for the youthful …

With impressive views of the sea and the sweeping Alexandria coastline, Alexandria s Four Seasons San Stefano Kala restaurant is a full scale immersion into the rich culture and cuisine of the Mediterranean Sea. The restaurant is the principle dining facility in the newly opened hotel and brings together dishes from some of the Mediterranean’s …

DETROIT: The 2008 BMW 5 Series was the worst performer in new side-impact crash tests of luxury sedans by the US insurance industry. The Acura RL, Kia Amanti and Volvo S80 all earned the highest safety rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, according to results released Thursday. The Cadillac STS and Mercedes E-Class …

Coffee usually comes in one, sometimes in two but hardly in big numbers, or so this coffee day seemed to prove. Coffee is an excuse to sit in a public place in the comfort of human embrace without having to talk or share your sorrows yet still getting a random helping of life’s funniest moments. …

Coffee, coffee, coffee, I need coffee, and after a long coffee talk hang up, I decided to share some conversation with you that I had with a friend that can entertain you while you are having your morning coffee. So eih ba ah, why didn t you call Mohamed back? He’s really upset, Noha asked. …

Wondering where everyone in Marina is hanging out this summer? Tahiti is this season’s choice spot – both day and night. Marina resort is about 300 km away from Cairo, featuring the longest beach on the entire North Coast. It’s where well-heeled Egyptians flock to escape the summer heat and hit the beach, and there’s …

Every night, before going to bed, Aliaa has a cup of milk or juice. Feeling guilty, she forces herself to get some asleep. She doesn t want to think about what she had just done. She usually only manages two hours of sleep a night. Insomnia is not her ailment. It is merely one of …