Latest in Politics Highlight
Latest in Politics
Egypt should hold rates until inflation tamed says IMF
CAIRO: The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) should resist further interest rate cuts until low inflation is the norm, despite a plunge in consumer prices since 2005, the International Monetary Fund said in a statement on Tuesday. IMF directors cautioned that any additional interest rate reductions should wait until liquidity growth decelerates further and low …
Study in static dynamism
Shayma Aziz exhibits her collection of stills that encapsulate movement CAIRO: Shayma Aziz’s Contrast in Still Motion is a striking exhibition using rust or black and white dyes to highlight a sequence of still figures fashioned from charcoal. The Falaki Gallery her work is exhibited in could more accurately be described as simply a hallway …
Archeologists discover ancient Greek carvings
CAIRO: Egyptian archeologists have discovered carvings with Greek inscriptions dating back to the era of the second century Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius, the Supreme Council of Antiquities announced Tuesday. The carvings are believed to form part of the altar of a temple and were unearthed while archeologists were excavating in the area around Pompey s …
Integration is the secret ingredient
Mona Zaki’s personal life combines with her career and community service for a successful mix CAIRO: You don’t need to spend more than five minutes in Dr. Mona Zaki’s office to understand who she is. Once you step into the Garden City office, where she operates her self-founded company Global Strategic Consultants (GSC), a drawing …
Crew of Egyptian ship stranded
Red-tape keeps cargo ship docked CHARLESTON, South Carolina: A legal fight has left an Egyptian cargo ship and its crew of 29 stranded in Charleston. The Edco was ordered by a federal court here last month to be held until the company that owns the ship can respond to a lawsuit filed by Hong Kong-based …
Egypt says mediation for soldier's release was sabotaged
U.S. seeks more consultation with Egypt; calls for release of Israeli soldiers CAIRO: President Hosni Mubarak said in an interview published Wednesday that his mediation efforts for the release of an Israeli soldier captured by Gaza militants were sabotaged by an unnamed party. I had reached an honorable solution to the crisis of the captured …
NDP wants to exclude independents from elections
Muslim Brotherhood protests, claiming move directed at Islamists CAIRO: In a review of government-proposed constitutional amendments, National Democratic Party (NDP) upper house of parliament members suggested that election candidacy be restricted to official party members, consequently excluding independents. “There is no place for independents on the Egyptian political arena, one NDP member was quoted as …
English Premiership to court Egyptian international
Rovers boss Hughes eyes Mido LONDON: Blackburn manager Mark Hughes revealed on Tuesday that he is trying to sign Egypt striker Mido from Italian club Roma. Mido, 23, is available after Tottenham decided not to sign him following a loan spell at White Hart Lane last season. Hughes is keen to bring Mido back to …
Much anticipated premiere of "Halim" runs smoothly
Film premier is a tribute to Abdel Halim Hafez and Ahmed Zaki CAIRO: As the tunes of Abel Halim Hafez’s songs echoed throughout the Cairo Opera House, the country’s most prominent actors and celebrities walked down the red carpet leading to the opera’s main theater, where the “Halim premier took place last Monday. Although it …
Financial executives foresee weaker correlation with Gulf stock markets
Managed funds and increased institutional investment are keys to stability CAIRO: Everything looks different in hindsight. Not long ago spectators marveled at the miracle of the Egyptian stock market. During a two year rally, encouraged by the global economic recovery and a new government keen on market liberalism, investors poured their savings into stocks and …
Israel batters Gaza with more air strikes, death toll tops 50
Two Palestinians die at closed Egypt-Gaza border GAZA CITY: Israel battered the Gaza Strip with more air strikes on Tuesday as the government gave the green light to intensify the offensive that has killed more than 50 Palestinians in a week. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert defended the operation, aimed at securing the release of …
Mubarak refuses to intervene in Coptic Church affair
Dissident priest offers own program to bridge gap between religions CAIRO: President Hosni Mubarak on Tuesday said he would not intervene in the affairs of Egypt s Coptic Orthodox Church, after the controversial announcement by a priest to form a splinter Church. I do not intervene in religious affairs, Mubarak said in an interview with …
Parliament narrowly approves Danish aid
CAIRO: Parliament narrowly approved an aid agreement with Denmark after a heated debate dominated by memories of a dispute over cartoon pictures of the Prophet Mohammad published in a Danish newspaper last year. Acting speaker Abdel Aziz Mustafa said the agreement passed by a show of hands on Monday evening, but opposition members of parliament …
Human Rights Watch condemns press law
CAIRO: A new Egyptian press law that allows judges to jail journalists for offences such as insulting public officials or heads of state violates international standards for press freedom, Human Rights Watch said on Tuesday. The law, passed on Monday and billed as a reform measure by the government, eliminates imprisonment for some publishing offences …
Halim Premiere
Defense official says Italy did not participate in alleged CIA kidnapping of cleric
ROME: The Italian government and its intelligence services were not aware of and did not participate in the alleged CIA kidnapping of an Egyptian cleric in Milan, a Defense Ministry official told Senate committees Tuesday, amid growing evidence that the Americans did not act alone. Former Premier Silvio Berlusconi, in power at the time of …
A memorable cup
CAIRO: The 2006 World Cup will go down in the books as a tournament which features egregious mistakes by referees, unprecedented bookings, as well as solid defensive tactics which overshadowed most offense, allowing a number of defenders to shine. The side that won the most coveted cup in the world of sports was in fact …
Hundreds stranded at Egypt-Gaza border-Red Cross
JERUSALEM: Nearly 580 Palestinians in need of medical care have been stranded for up to two weeks inside a terminal on the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing with the Gaza Strip, the Red Cross said on Monday. Because of a border dispute between Israel and the Palestinians, the Red Cross has proposed escorting …
Man prevented from attacking church-goers
CAIRO: Guards stopped a Muslim from carrying out a knife attack on Christians at a church in Egypt on Tuesday, security sources said. Police arrested Mohammed Masoud Khalil after he was stopped by guards at the door of St. George s church in the southern Egyptian town of Qous, the sources said. Police said he …
"Lumpy skin disease" threatens food security, say agricultural experts
CAIRO: Agricultural and veterinary experts have issued warnings that the continued spread of so-called “lumpy skin disease (LSD) among livestock could threaten food security, along with the livelihoods of thousands of cattle farmers. “Egypt needs to work hard or else there could be serious problems with food security, said Dr. Taleb Ali, regional animal health …
El Sawy promotes kids' talents
Introducing new meaning to summer vacation CAIRO: If you think local children don’t have great artistic potential, think again. Al Sawy’s first concert of the “My Vacations Program captivated the audience with the talent of these young performers. For the fourth year in a row, the summer program has proved to be successful, with over …
Powerful images reflect plight of women
Red Lilies by Eman Osman contemplates shades of red CAIRO: Hidden on the crowded street of Talaat Harb in downtown Cairo is a showcase of masterpieces by Eman Osman that reflect political and social life in aesthetically pleasant paintings. Although the show, entitled “Red Lilies, is showing at the premises of the Manulana Azad Center …
Parliament passes controversial press law despite protests
CAIRO: Parliament passed a controversial press law on Monday despite protests by journalists and opposition activists who say it puts new limits on press freedom. The government-drafted law, billed as a reform and passed by a show of hands, eliminates imprisonment for some publishing offences but continues to let judges send journalists to jail in …
Coptic pope plays down challenge by dissident bishop
CAIRO: Egypt s Coptic pope sought Monday to reassure his followers Monday upon returning from a trip abroad that raised concerns over his health and saw a dissident bishop trying to set up a rival church. The church has 20 centuries of history behind it. It has remained solid and was never harmed by the …
Egyptians freed in Iraq
KUWAIT: Three Egyptians kidnapped in Iraq have been freed, Kuwait s private television Al-Rai reported on Sunday. They are being received by Egyptian authorities at the Iraqi-Kuwaiti border, Rai said. The three were freed following intensive efforts by the Egyptian embassy in Kuwait. It was not immediately clear when the men were abducted. A television …
Mortgage refinance company established with LE 200 million capital
Additional funding of $37.1 million to be provided by World Bank CAIRO: In an attempt to address the shortage of long-term funds in the housing market, the central bank and 24 private and public financial institutions jointly established a new mortgage refinance company. The Egyptian Company for Mortgage Refinancing (ECMR) has been created with an …
Israeli PM to press ahead with Gaza raids
Thousands stranded along Egypt-Gaza border JERUSALEM: Prime Minister Ehud Olmert rejected on Monday international criticism of Israel s offensive in Gaza and demands by militants to free Palestinian prisoners in exchange for an abducted Israeli soldier. Olmert, speaking to foreign media, said operations in Gaza to press for the soldier s release and an end …
Catering to all tastes
Andre Porchet explains upcoming strategy regarding competition, new products and potential acquisitions CAIRO: It doesn t require much thought to connect the timing of Nestle s recent launch of a high-end product within its chilled dairy sector, to the expected competition with local newcomer and international leader of manufactured yogurt, Dannon. But according to Nestle …
Abdel Moneim Madbouly, renowned Egyptian comedian, dies at 85
CAIRO: Abdel Moneim Madbouly, a comedian and playwright who entertained millions of Arabs for more than 60 years, died Sunday in Cairo. He was 85. Madbouly died of heart failure at the Arab Contractors Hospital in Cairo, where he had been treated for heart problems, Egypt s official news agency reported. He wrote, directed and …
Egypt's role in the UN propelled by aid initiatives
CAIRO: Egypt has stepped up its aid initiatives with the United Nations World Food Program (WFP), assisting Niger, Sudan and other African countries, providing aid relief. The Egyptian government has been a regular donor to WFP activities for many years, contributing $1.69 million since 2001 and assisting recently in Sudan. Allan Jury, head of WFP …