Latest in Politics Highlight
Latest in Politics
Designocracy: democratizing design for everyday life, design for everyday people
CAIRO: In a stylistically orchestrated address, Karim Rashid, spoke to a full audience at the Cairo Opera House about the direction of 21 century design. In coordination with the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Industrial Modernization Center sponsored Rashid’s lecture as part of a continued effort to support global integration of the Egyptian industrial …
Cleopatra, Viagra and the new souvenirs
It would seem the seasons changed over the weekend, the warm weather giving over to the khamaseen blowing in from the Libyan Desert; these winds coincide with the height of the tourist season. The annual arrival of 8 million tourists to Egypt has resulted in the opening of a number of new money exchangers in …
A beacon of hope, until you get to Guantanamo
In commemorating the 230th anniversary of America’s independence last July, President George W. Bush noted that the patriots of the Revolutionary War believed that all men are created equal, and with inalienable rights. Because of these ideals, he proclaimed, the United States “remains a beacon of hope for all who dream of liberty and a …
Once on the left, Russia now drives in the middle
Think of the new Russia as a highway: People used to drive on the left side of the road; now, officially, they are supposed to drive on the right, but the changeover has been uncomfortable (especially for the authorities). So the country straddles the middle – which is understandable, but also dangerous. That’s a paradox …
It works for North Korea; why not Iran?
The very sensible six-nation agreement reached with North Korea earlier this week to end its nuclear armaments program came at a time when more details were being circulated about an Iranian offer to the United States in Spring 2003 to address all bilateral issues that have chilled relations between Tehran and Washington. The contrast between …
Another Missed Opportunity
It has been famously said that the Palestinians never missed an opportunity to miss an opportunity. The recent meeting, hosted by Saudi King Abdullah, held in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, between Mahmoud Abbas, the President of the Palestinian Authority, Ismail Haniya, the Palestinian Prime Minister, and Khaled Meshal, Hamas s political guru, seems to prove the …
Could Nowheristan become Everywheristan?
CAIRO: Michel Elefteriades is a busy man. “I am a clown, a philosopher, a warrior and an artist. This, besides being the self-proclaimed emperor of a “supernation, he hopes will take over the world. Literally.. “Nowheristan is his imagined utopian empire, complete with constitution, embassies, a political structure and citizens with passports. The idea is …
Blind children discover the Egyptian Museum through touch and sound
CAIRO: Fifteen young girls sat around two tables in a classroom at the Egyptian Museum, molding rakes and water pumps out of red clay. They are participating in the museum’s program to teach schoolchildren about Egyptian agriculture during Pharaonic times. In many museums, one might expect posters and pictures on the walls to inspire the …
Egypt-brokered Darfur accord signed at France Africa summit
CAIRO: Under French pressure, and presided over by Egypt and Ghana, the leaders of Sudan, Chad and the Central African Republic signed an accord in an attempt to stop the violence in Darfur from spilling over into neighboring countries. The agreement crowned a mini-summit that took place under the umbrella of the larger African summit …
Fake officer caught in the act
CAIRO: A police officer coincidentally caught out man disguised as a policeman as he posed as a major in one of the capital’s streets, Al Gomhuria daily reported. Captain Islam Mukbel, of the Nasr City police station, was on patrol along with two detectives and some soldiers. Their patrol car collided with a man who …
Up close with warlord Samir Geagea
Christian warlord Samir Geagea led the Lebanese Forces militia during the 15-year-long Lebanese civil war. At one time, it was the largest militia in the conflict. After the 1989 Taif Accord brought peace to the country, Geagea ran afoul of the government. In 1994 he was convicted of planning several assassinations during the conflict and …
Zamalek's late show downs Qadsia
CAIRO: Zamalek boosted their Arab Champions League hopes after beating Kuwait’s Qadsia 4-2 at Cairo International Stadium in a thrilling encounter on Thursday. Abu Kone stunned the home crowd in the 17th minute before Ghanaian midfielder Awuley ‘Junior’ Quaye leveled the score seven minutes before the interval. Abdul-Halim Ali put Zamalek ahead five minutes after …
Egypt holds 56 Brotherhood Islamists after clampdown
CAIRO: Fifty-six Muslim Brotherhood (MB) members have been detained early Thursday amid an ongoing clampdown on the group. Security sources said the men were arrested on charges of belonging to an outlawed group and possessing anti-government literature. The Brotherhood, which operates openly despite being officially banned, is Egypt s most powerful opposition group. State-run newspaper …
SPORTS TALK: It's anybody's game
There’s a certain egalitarianism to championships that depend on just one game: On the condition that some semblance of equality exists between the two teams, like the underdog having just as much chance of winning as the favorite, making the game intriguing because of its unpredictability. Such question marks do not usually hover over a …
Naga Hammady Copts protest Kyrollos trial at Cairo Cathedral
CAIRO: About 1,000 Coptic Orthodox Christians from Naga Hammady, Qena held a protest at the St. Mark Cathedral Thursday in response to Pope Shenouda III’s decision to subject Archbishop Kyrollos to a church trial. Protestors were concerned Kyrollos would be removed from his position following a compliant signed by 11 priests accusing him of mistreating …
Fantastic four
Sci-tech: Hey sugar lips, or is that sugar hips?
The key to long-term good health and sustainable weight loss Ah, the science of nutrition. It often seems more like a pseudo-science by the rate at which we’re told that one food is the superfood, then told the opposite the following year. The low-carbohydrates Atkins-style diets are now behind us. They produced a fast rate …
Red wine: A drink a day keeps the doctor away?
Is red wine the secret to longevity or a potent poison? The balance of alcohol’s benefits versus its sinister sins on our health is as complex as it is controversial, and has been documented throughout civilization in many religions including Islam and Christianity. Red wine lovers will be pleased to know that there is now …
Dead heads, ancient ruins and trendy restaurants
Jordan’s tiny kingdom offers a wealth of treats for visitors AMMAN: For centuries, the sick, the poor and the pale have flocked to the Dead Sea to soak up the mythical vibe and marinate in its salty waters, which are said to have healing powers. But as the number of luxury resorts, expensive hotels and …
Decoding Facebook: The virtual little black book
Cairo’s student population has jumped aboard the Internet social sensation with the amiable, yet addictive Facebook. Designed in 2004 by two students from Harvard University, Facebook has become one of the fastest growing networks among teens and young adults in the US and the most widely subscribed to by college students. In September 2006, the …
SPOTLIGHT: Comedy night wedding
The crafty way to relieve stress
Zakhareef, offers introductory arts and crafts classes Are you crafty? Rasha Rashad, founder of Zakhareef showroom and workshop, definitely fits that description. Of course not in the sense that she’s cunning or conniving, but in the sense that she’s a skilled crafter and now – through Zakhareef – a patron of the art too. The …
Egyptian woman dies of bird flu, 13th death
Reuters CAIRO: A 37-year-old Egyptian woman who tested positive for the bird flu virus has died in a Cairo hospital, bringing the number of deaths from the disease in Egypt to13, a government health official said on Friday. A World Health Organization expert said a delay in reporting symptoms was largely behind the most recent …
Plump up your lips and get the pout of your dreams
Would you like an Angelina Jolie or an Adriana Lima? Fashion has always been influenced my A-list models and actresses, from their outfits, to their hair styles, and now the latest: their lips. We’re not talking plastic surgery here. Injecting collagen into your lips is a simple procedure you can decide to do on the …
Stocks rise, Ezz Dekheila jumps
CAIRO: Shares rose for the third straight session on Thursday, with Ezz Dekheila gaining nearly 10 percent on unconfirmed reports the company may buy treasury stocks, traders said. Traders said Ezz Dekheila had released an official statement saying it may buy the stock stocks at its next general meeting for shareholders, pushing the price of …
OstazOnline: a solution to the problem of private tuition
Over 2,000 students are currently learning via this powerful alternative to personal tutoring CAIRO: OstazOnline is an e-learning service for students from K4 to K12 studying the Egyptian curriculum. OstazOnline has adopted state-of-the-art technology to provide the educational system in Egypt with a new tool to enhance education. This project is considered a step towards …
Business Recap: Government launches tender offers for 2210 PPP schools around Egypt
CAIRO: The Ministers of Education, Finance and Investment issued a joint announcement Wednesday for the construction and maintenance of 2210 schools to be built throughout the country, in an attempt to reactivate the dormant public-private partnership (PPP) system in executing basic infrastructure projects. The value of the government s school initiative is estimated at LE …
Dreamy dancers and stately gentlemen
Explore the alternative reality of French artist Katherine Bakhoum at Safar Khan A belly dancer, young men wearing tarabeesh (fez) and people dancing in the street, almost flying. Such images dominate the current exhibit by Katherine Bakhoum. Bakhoum’s style, with its intricate, concrete details transforms simple oriental signatures into majestic melancholic masterpieces. Born to an …
Case undergoing investigation of Misr Cement Qena transactions for insider trading
MCQ shares up nearly 40 percent in 10 days CAIRO: Misr Cement Qena (MCQ) shares stabilized Thursday just above the LE 71 mark despite the Cairo and Alexandria Stock Exchange s (CASE) announcement it is investigating transactions made over the past week on suspicion of insider trading on the stock market. The Ministry of Investment …
Filmmaker in a league of her own
Warm, friendly and spontaneous, documentary filmmaker Tahani Rached, is one of those intriguing characters you’d want to spend hours picking their brain. Every word she says shows her love for people in general, and women in particular. It is no surprise that most of her movies are about strong women in diverse settings and cultures …