Latest in Politics Highlight
Latest in Politics
Cliffhanger in the Valley of the Kings
Agence France-Presse LUXOR: Egyptologists are holding their breath over the mystery surrounding the first tomb discovered in Luxor s Valley of the Kings since that of the boy king Tutankhamun in 1922. News of the surprise discovery in February by an American team from the University of Memphis has had repercussions far beyond this famous …
International conference on investment features workshops on public-private partnerships
CAIRO: Minister of Investment Mahmoud Mohieddin, heading an Egyptian delegation consisting of Dr. Ziad Bahaa El-Din, chairman of the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI) and the vice chairman of GAFI, was in La Baule, France, yesterday for the annual three-day International Investment Conference, where he delivered a speech on reforms undertaken by …
Egypt's call center industry in the spotlight
CAIRO: Analysts, journalists, technology and communications professionals from around the world gathered in Cairo yesterday for the first of three days of the Offshore Customer Management International Conference. The conference highlights key developments in the Egyptian call center industry and examines administrative, cultural and regulatory issues that affect the industry. This is the event where …
Young talent
ŠΘ # # # Many of the works on display were produced under examination conditions and the pieces had to be finished within two days, here, Najla Ismail with her colorful design of the Sydney Opera House and Habiba Moawad # # Nabila Abdel Nabi with her stunning portrait of an Egyptian woman, which …
Israel promises Egypt to give talks a chance
SHARM EL-SHEIKH: Israel promised Egypt on Sunday it would give negotiations with the Palestinians a chance but in the end it reserved the right to find other ways to end conflict with its neighbors. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, on his first visit to Egypt since taking office, also apologized for the Israeli troops who …
Let the games begin
Part 2 CAIRO: In group D, it is quite apparent that Portugal, alongside Mexico, will make it through to the second round. Both teams are superior to Iran and Angola in regard to their World Cup experience. Iran takes part for the third time after an eight year absence, while Angola is appearing in the …
Egyptian police break up Brotherhood meeting
CAIRO: Egyptian police raided a Cairo study center connected with the opposition Muslim Brotherhood and arrested nine leading members of the Islamist group, police and the Brotherhood said on Monday. After giving the Brotherhood a margin of freedom last year, Egyptian authorities have started to crack down on the movement, calling it a secret organization …
Inquiry opens into Egypt's worst ever shipping disaster
CAIRO: The inquiry into the February 3 sinking of the ferry Al-Salam 98, which went down with the loss of more than 1,000 lives, opened Monday in the Red Sea port of Safaga, a legal source said. The hearing began in the absence of the main accused, Mamdouh Ismail. He owns Al-Salam, the firm which …
Israel imprisons several hundred refugees
Sudanese had walked across its border with Egypt MAASIYAHU PRISON: Militiamen burned down his village, killing his father, uncle and cousin. He was imprisoned in Sudan and hunted down in Egypt. The Sudanese architect believed Israel could put an end to his misery. Instead, one year later, the 30-year-old man is in a cell at …
Press Round-up
Outrage over shooting of policemen leads headlines CAIRO: Reactions to Friday’s border incident where two Egyptian policemen were shot dead by Israeli border guards still dominate the news. According to national daily Al-Akhbar, Egypt’s lower house has vociferously condemned the attack, calling for an advancement of the investigation into the incidents in order to “put …
Artist's authentically reflects society
Little black and white figures give insight into social reality CAIRO: “You don’t feel naive optimism; in a way there is a critical reality but in a way a peaceful observation and a very strong acceptance, says artist Hisham El Zeiny, referring to the new exhibition Installation by fellow artist Hani Rashed. The showroom in …
Gulf countries turning sights toward Egypt
CAIRO: An Egyptian-Saudi holding company for real estate has been established under the name of Al Oula Egypt, with a paid-in capital of LE 500 million. Al Oula Development, one of Saudi Arabia’s largest real estate companies, together with other Gulf partners, will retain 50 percent ownership of this new company, while a consortium made …
The question of subsidies
CAIRO: As parliament continues to debate the state budget for the next fiscal year, booming oil prices have raised questions about how to deal with the rising cost of subsidizing energy. Minister of Finance Youssef Boutros-Ghali warned the Shura Council last month of the danger of funding additional petroleum products and natural gas subsidies with …
U.S. democracy institute asked to shut down all operations
CAIRO: Egypt has told the U.S.-based International Republican Institute (IRI) to stop its activities in Egypt, saying comments by its representative were interfering in the country s internal affairs. The Foreign Ministry said on Sunday it had summoned country director Gina London and told her to suspend all activities until the organization, which monitors political …
Al-Wafd elects new leader
CAIRO: Egypt s oldest opposition party, Al-Wafd, on Friday elected a new leader, who promised to open up the internal debate over how to revive an organization that was trounced in last year s elections. Mahmoud Abaza, 58, a lawyer, was assured of victory as he was the only candidate who stood in the leadership …
Muslim Brotherhood initiative controversial
CAIRO: Regardless of its popularity among the grassroots population, Muslim Brotherhood policies and reform initiatives are still surrounded by controversy, especially among intellectuals; the idea of a constitution derived from Islamic law has given birth to speculation over the group’s political, economic and social policies. The reform initiative, penned by senior leaders and members of …
Mubarak, Olmert meet to strengthen ties
By Agence France-Presse SHARM EL SHEIKH: Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and President Hosni Mubarak were to meet in Sharm El-Sheikh Sunday in the first talks between the two leaders since Olmert assumed his position. I intend to strengthen ties with Egypt, the largest Arab country in the region, Olmert told Israeli public radio before …
Shot Egyptians thought Israelis smugglers: initial report
JERUSALEM: Two Egyptian policemen who were shot dead by Israeli troops may have thought they were pursuing smugglers, according to a preliminary report conducted by the army and reported by public radio Sunday. The report suggests that the Egyptians, believing Israeli soldiers were smugglers, opened fire at them from a distance of around 80 meters …
Let the games begin
CAIRO: The numbers are lining up to make this a sensational event: 32 nations representing six continents, 64 games of highly competitive football, 12 remarkable venues, 1,112,000 tickets sold via the Internet, with anticipated ticket sales revenues worth 200 million euros and tight security precautions. The football scene worldwide eagerly anticipates the 18th World Cup, …
Arab democratic reforms slow as Iraq distracts U.S.
Associated Press BEIRUT: The daily carnage in Iraq is claiming another casualty; Arab reformers who have increasingly become the target of governments that no longer feel pressured by the United States to change. Ten intellectuals were recently thrown in jail in Syria. In Egypt, more than 600 people protesting in support of two reformist judges …
Raul scores in Spain's 2-0 win over Egypt in World Cup warm-up
ELCHE: Raul Gonzalez ended a seven-month goal drought to help Spain to a 2-0 win over Egypt in a World Cup warm-up on Saturday. Raul, who last netted on Oct. 26 in a Real Madrid game, struck from close range in the 14th minute at Martinez Valero Stadium after Egypt goalkeeper Essam Al Hadari fumbled …
Married in Style
Present and Tense: Pink warriors
My loyalties have been put to the test once again. Amnesty International has called me to corroborate the recent arrests of bloggers and the alleged sexual abuse of at least one activist. A half hour later, Ahmad from the interior ministry was on the phone asking me to refute what he called “gross misrepresentation of …
Mortgages on the increase
Reforms to improve mortgage process designed to boost investments CAIRO: By March 2006, 490 mortgage loans worth a total of LE 178 million had been granted by the two sole mortgage finance companies in Egypt, Al-Taamir and Al-Masria, according to the Ministry of Investment. Mortgage loans granted by banks also increased, amounting to LE 125 …
Gym mythology
It’s time to separate fact from fiction and understand the truth about gym myths CAIRO: Myths come from various “trustworthy sources. Fitness magazines, gym rats and supplement and equipment companies are all a part of putting personal opinion, and not scientific back up. Discard the common myths to understand what has become gym tradition and …
Glam careers
The exciting, innovative jobs common in the local market CAIRO: Let’s face it; all jobs are not created equal. While every job comes with its perks and drawbacks, some are just more glamorous than others. A look at the local scene highlights a number of the most exciting, creative and, yes, the sexiest careers out …
Analysis: A dysfunctional opposition
CAIRO: Thursday’s protest was, by all accounts, a protest about a protest about a protest. The demonstration raised a lot of questions that must be answered in order for the opposition to maintain a viable dissent movement. Thursday saw about 50 demonstrators move from the corniche in Garden City, next to the Four Seasons hotel, …
More Sinai bombings suspects detained
CAIRO: Egyptian security forces have arrested two men wanted in connection with a spate of deadly attacks in the Sinai region over the past two years, the official MENA news agency reported Friday. A third man gave himself up voluntarily, as the search for suspects in the peninsula continued. Security forces arrested Mohammed Hadi Salim …
Washington denounces arrests of activists in Egypt
WASHINGTON: The U.S. State Department on Thursday said it was deeply concerned about the arrest and alleged torture of two civil society activists in Egypt and urged authorities there to investigate the matter. We are troubled by the recent reports that Mohammed Al-Sharqawy as well as Karim Al-Shaer were arrested and, during their arrest and …
Two Egyptian policemen shot dead by Israeli army
CAIRO: Israeli soldiers shot and killed two Egyptian policemen who strayed over their common border Friday, days before a key meeting between Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and President Hosni Mubarak. This morning, June 2, the bodies of two policemen with the force assigned to guard the international border in Sinai were found 200 meters across …