Latest in Politics Highlight
Latest in Politics
Interbank rate steady at 8.2 percent
CAIRO: The median overnight rate on the pound was 8.2 percent on Monday, little changed from Sunday s 8.186 percent, bankers said. Three of nine banks contacted by Reuters had dealt overnight at rates of 8.15 to 8.3 percent. The range was 8.1 to 8.2 percent on Sunday. The central bank offers 8 percent on …
El-Gabali says bird flu will remain for years because of household birds
CAIRO: Minister of Health Hatem El-Gabali said yesterday that although the avian flu virus has been nearly eliminated in farms, the disease is likely to remain in Egypt for years because of birds raised in households. Bird flu in Egypt now is controlled by 98.5 percent compared to our worst days in the middle of …
Stocks fall as investors focus on charts
CAIRO: Egyptian stocks slipped for a third session in a row on Monday, with selling by pessimistic small investors concerned more with charts than fundamentals weighing across the market, traders said. The benchmark Hermes index ended 2.6 percent lower at 45,092.70 points, 35 percent off its Jan. 23 record of 69,830.78. The Case 30 index …
ECHEM allocates $82 million for investments in Fiscal year 2006-2007
CAIRO: The Egyptian Petrochemicals Holding Company (ECHEM) has allocated LE 472.5 million (about $82 million) for investments in its new budget for fiscal year 2006-2007, valued at about LE 556.5 million ($96.57 million). By allocating this amount for investment, the company is targeting to boost up exports of petrochemical products to $1.6 billion by the …
A Night to Remember
Living under a cloud
Mohamed Makhzangi’s arousing report from Kiev following the Chernobyl disaster Memories of a Meltdown: An Egyptian between Moscow and ChernobylBy Mohamed MakhzangiTranslated by Samah SelimPublished by the American University in Cairo Press, 2006 CAIRO: Iran’s nuclear program, along with the world’s reaction to it, is making headlines on almost a daily basis. While heads of …
DJ Pagano live in Cairo
Renowned European DJ plays at Latex CAIRO: These days, Cairo seems to be on the map for many international artists. From pop stars like Ricky Martin, Latin pianists like Raul Di Blasio and classics like Bonnie M, the country has experienced quite a diverse flow of entertainment over the past few months. Last week, European …
Branding for the local market
CAIRO: The world-renowned Superbrands Organization, an independent arbiter on branding, has named El Gouna as Egypt’s 2006 Superbrand. Branding has become the single most important tool when it comes to the success or failure of brands. “The most important asset with which a company can control and shape its destiny lies in the strength of …
Poultry company to expand slaughtering capacity by more than three times with new facility
CAIRO: Cairo Poultry Company is behaving strangely for a business in the midst of one of its industry s worst crises. As chicken retailers and even some producers have struggled to survive since the outbreak of avian flu in February, Cairo Poultry has increased its capital, paid out dividends and recently announced plans to build …
'New Zarqawi' has strong links to Al-Qaeda core: U.S.
WASHINGTON: An Egyptian militant pinpointed by the United States as the new leader of the Al-Qaeda network in Iraq after the death of Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi has strong links to Osama bin Laden s leadership, the military said Friday Abu Ayyub Al-Masri met Zarqawi, who was killed in a U.S. air strike on Wednesday, at …
Report condemns government and UNHCR in refugees' deaths
CAIRO: In a 65-page report, the Forced Migration and Refugee Studies (FMRS) center released their study of what occurred during last year’s three-month sit-in by Sudanese refugees, which ended in bloodshed. The report blames all three parties, the government, United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and the demonstrators. FMRS is a department at the …
Lebanese speaker wants Arab mediation with Syria
CAIRO: Lebanon s pro-Syrian parliament speaker Nabih Berri on Saturday asked President Hosni Mubarak for Arab help in defusing the simmering crisis between Beirut and its former powerbroker Syria. The aim of my visit to Cairo is to seek an Arab mediation that would ensure the implementation of decisions reached during Lebanon s protracted national …
Iran's Larijani says atomic offer contains problems
CAIRO: Iran s chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani said on Sunday there were problems as well as positive points in an incentive package put forward by six world powers to persuade Tehran to stop atomic fuel work. These proposals contain some positive points. At the same time there are problems and ambiguous points, said Larijani, …
World condemns Israel over killing of Palestinian civilians
Brotherhood calls attacks ‘new massacre’ AMMAN: Israel faced international condemnation on Saturday over the killing of eight Palestinian civilians, including three children, while they picnicked on a Gaza beach. The United States, Israel s staunchest ally, voiced its regret for the killing and wounding of innocent Palestinians, while urging both sides to show restraint and …
Hamas brings 4.5 million euros into Gaza
GAZA: A Hamas official openly brought 4.5 million euros into the Gaza Strip through its border with Egypt on Saturday, said a spokesman for a European Union contingent that monitors the crossing point. International donors and Israel have frozen funds to the Palestinian Authority since it came under Hamas control after the Islamic militant group …
Egypt rakes in record Suez Canal income
ISMAILIYA: Egypt s income from Suez Canal transit fees reached a record $324.6 million in May, the canal authority said Sunday. A total of 1,563 ships crossed the canal in May, up from 1,466 for the same period last year, generating an extra $42 million dollars, a canal official said. The tonnage soared by eight …
IT, private sector and government cooperate for advancement of women
CAIRO: The collaboration of the public and private sector was the center of the first sessions of the Global Summit of Women 2006 yesterday. Through a briefing of the ministerial roundtable that preceded the summit, different female ministries and leaders stressed on the importance of the collective efforts of both sectors in achieving development goals, …
Mingling contemporary and traditional music
Iraqi musician Naseer Shama concert features outstanding oud CAIRO: A remarkable live oud recital by Iraqi musician Naseer Shama was held at the American University in Cairo (AUC) as part of the two-day Gender and Empire Conference by the Cynthia Nelson Institute for Gender and Women’s Studies. Shama began with one of his latest compositions, …
Court blocks access to transcripts in bombing trial
ISMAILIYA, Egypt: A court Saturday refused to grant defense lawyers access to key documents in the trial of suspects in the deadly bombings of resorts in Taba and Nuweiba, an AFP correspondent said. The defense had demanded access to transcripts of testimonies given by state security officers, saying they were crucial for its case. However, …
Pool Party
ŠΘ # # # The guests enjoyed a day relaxing and socializing by the pool away from work, here, Fatma, Nisreen and Rania # # Maha Nasr posing with Marwa and Rasha
Competition narrows for third mobile license
CAIRO: The board of directors of Egypt’s National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA) announced today that 9 out of 11 bids for the country’s third mobile license have passed the technical evaluation. The two bidders that have been disqualified were both made up of consortiums. Emac for Information Systems, a company affiliated with Kuwait’s Kharafi Group, …
Present and Tense: We've got company
We were cruising at a leisurely nine knots off the west coast of Nassau, Franki and I, the usual bodyguards, and a few models from my last fashion show in Santa Fe, quality time at last. In a day or two, we’d be at Frankie’s newly-acquired home in Cockburn Town, the mansion he bought three …
Muslim women do not feel oppression: world survey
NEW YORK: Muslim women do not mind the veil but want to vote as they wish, according to a survey released Thursday, in which respondents did not feel oppression in Muslim countries. Lebanon had the highest proportion of women who feel they should be allowed to make their own decisions on voting, at 97 percent, …
A month of magic
A zillion stories have been written about the 2006 World Cup. What’s one more? The conditions are right for an exciting World Cup and what’s more exciting than Brazil, whose attacking resources stand comparison with anything it has produced in its glorious history? With the unparalleled individual ability of their stars, led by the magical, …
Dancing the night away
Share the fever
Cafes and restaurants make changes to suit World Cup fans CAIRO: On June 9, the world had its eyes set on Germany and the opening ceremony of the World Cup. Coinciding with the summer, the tournament poses a little dilemma. One cannot just stay at home to watch the matches and resist going out. Many …
Think big
Costly audio and visual equipment are essential for following World Cup CAIRO: Yesterday’s kick-off of the World Cup found many avid fans of the sport and this particular event scrambling to the nearest café or home with the largest television screen to watch the first game. “The World Cup is not the same without a …
Homemade snacks
CAIRO: Whenever you hear that friends or family are coming over to watch a football game or even a movie, food delivery is always the first choice. Pizza and chips and dips, of course, are all time favorite for large informal gatherings. But adding some homemade snacks to the table gives the guests more options …
Football hues
Colorful trainers at the center of World Cup fashion CAIRO: Fashion and football often come together. Sometimes sports borrow something from fashion or vise versa. Some football players become even more inspiring than fashion icons, setting the trends for the upcoming seasons. With the World Cup 2006 kicking off, the world better be ready for …
Crossing the line between reality and fantasy
World Cup fans sign up for virtual football game linked to the tournament CAIRO: I was sitting with my husband watching a football game. A team scored and my husband had a big grin whispering “yes. A few minutes later the same team scored, his grin suddenly switched to a frown. I didn’t understand and …