Economy
Sharm El-Sheikh just the beginning?
The state of the economy is the number one concern of policymakers, the press and the public in the lead up to a meeting of donor nations set to take place in Sharm El-Sheikh on February 5 and 6.
Egypt is expected to ask for some $2.5bn from the 37 international financial institutions and donor countries expected to descend on the Sinai resort town for the money talks.  Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Fayza Abul-Naga says Egypt needs the money "to fill in the imbalance in the balance of payments, stemming from a fall in foreign currency revenues."
9-11 and the subsequent drop in tourism revenue rank high on the list of causes for the crisis. But according to the Oxford Business Group, Egypt's World Bank director, Mahmood Ayub said in mid-January that thanks to its low level of external debt, Egypt's economic problems were "not unmanageable."
Still, the Sharm El-Sheikh meetings may be accompanied by increased pressure by the donors to interfere in government management of the funds, as well as its fiscal policies, which some blame for the sudden jump in the value of the pound vis a vis the dollar. a fluctuation which has again caused the prices of imported cigarettes, for example, to rise to a staggering LE5.50 a pack just as January drew to a close.
The rise in cigarette prices was especially noticeable since the price had just gone up from LE4.50 to LE5.00 at the beginning of the month. Both price hikes were featured on the front page of Al-Ahram. The second hike would not be accompanied by a hike in the prices of locally-made cigarettes, for now, the item said. 
The cigarette price-hike is significant because of the huge swathe of the population that smokes. Other goods have increased in price as well, while rumors indicate that government subsidies of basic staples may be reduced.
Perhaps a recent cartoon by Fathy Abul Ezz in Al-Ahram best sums up the mood: it's cold and raining and a guy is trying to warm his hands over a fire. Meanwhile, his cold, empty pockets are reaching out for the fire as well...
(February 4, 2002)

UPDATED FEBRUARY 5, 2002:
Cameroon defeats Egypt 1-0 in quarterfinals,
sending team back to Cairo. 

Sports
Look out for Cameroon
Soccer has become the sole provider of cheer, it seems, if the announcer's commentary during the last few moments of Egypt's 2-1 victory over Zambia on Thursday night is any indication. Anxiously urging the team to maintain their lead, the announcer's tone clearly indicated that anything but a victory would induce a bout of depression in an already down public mood. The team won, thus pushing forward to the African Nation's Cup quarterfinals, where they will be playing Cameroon on Monday. Again, eyes will be on television screens across the country in anticipation of a win to buoy the public mood...
But defeating Cameroon will certainly be no easy task. The team is currently deep in practice mode, examining Cameroon's previous matches in the tournament, and setting up their game plan. Egypt is the only remaining Arab country in the tourney this year.
(February 4, 2002)

New developments
Suad's BMW for sale
The spirit of Suad Hosny -- the legendary actress who died in mid-2001 -- will be the star of an auction to be held at the Sheraton Heliopolis on Friday February 15. Organized by Arabic pay TV channel ART, the auction will feature dozens of items belonging to the much-loved actress, who fell to her death from atop a London apartment building in a case still being investigated by Scotland Yard.
Was it suicide? That will surely be on people's minds as they watch Hosny's dresses, jewelry, and even her BMW being auctioned off for charity. A bevy of cinematic luminaries will be on hand for the event, which will also feature a tribute to the Cinderella of the Arabic Screen, as Hosny was known to her fans.
(February 4, 2002)

Education
Discriminatory university reversals
An administrative court has ruled that some of Al-Azhar University's admissions policies are discriminatory. The university's faculties of medicine and pharmacy were accepting male students whose grades were lower than the female students accepted into the same faculties, it seems. The court affirmed that the rule is against the law since it gives male students an unfair advantage.
Meanwhile, at the American University, authorities will have to allow a a female student who wears the niqab (full body and face covering) to enter university grounds. An administrative court ruled in favor of Iman Taha, who was prevented by security guards from entering the campus and the library because of her niqab. The court declared that Taha's wearing the niqab was a personal choice in which the university had no say. Last year, a French school in Alexandria was also involved in a controversy after it prevented two younger girls from attending school because they were wearing hijab, or scarfs, over their hair.
(February 4, 2002)

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