Still bidding
Egyptian firm Orascom bidding to be second Saudi mobile operator.

Home at last
Reuters reports on Mubarak walking unaided from the plane upon his arrival back in Egypt. He was greeted by a throng of admirers, says BBC.

Dangerous place
Another Egyptian driver kidnapped -- and the government urges people not to go work in Iraq.

Meanwhile, Turkish media reports on Cairo-based Iraqi neighboring countries meeting.

Strange days
Egypt caught up in US-Australia Guantanamo prisoner abuse case.

Big time stocks
Dow Jones launches its Arabia 50 Titans fund... includes Orascom, Vodafone, CIB and several other Egyptian firms.

Consumer rights
Lebanese take action to lower their cellular calling rates -- article includes interesting comparative prices of mobile calls across the Middle East.

First visit
The new Iraqi president and PM are expected in Cairo later this month, reports UPI.

Presidential health update
The latest news from the Munich clinic is that Mubarak met the German foreign minister, and discussed Iraq, amongst other things.

Focusing on Egypt
An Egyptian commentator in the Washington Post is highly critical of Arab media extremism  -- "If Arab moderates were to become prominent in the West, they would certainly become prominent at home," he writes. Meanwhile, the Post's Style section features an article on 4th of July in Cairo --  a somewhat tongue in cheek piece that explores hospitality, US flag burning and internal Egyptian politics.

Good news at last?
Significant boosts for Egypt's stock market.

Trade balances
Good quality peppers driving Vietnam to be top pepper seller to Egypt, this article says..

Meanwhile, Europe is the top importer of Egyptian cotton yarn.

Prison transfers
Reuters reports extensive Islamist prisoner releases...

Meanwhile, an Egyptian is caught up in an odd US immigration smuggling ring.

Defending Saddam
Flamboyant Egyptian Islamist lawyer Montasser El-Zayat tells UPI he is prepared to defend both Zarqawi and Saddam in court if he has to...

More handover reactions...
Egypt's cautious reaction to the transfer of power in Iraq is noted by IHT.

Home soon
Mubarak may be home this weekend, says his German doctor. He also informs us that the President is no longer taking painkillers.

Will tax increases affect British tourism to Egypt? 
In the end, the Telegraph doesn't think so.

Legal complications
Interesting new dietary revelations in Sheikh Omar Abdel-Rahman's lawyer's case...

Meanwhile, possible links between the Sheikh and " dirty bomber" Padilla being explored.

Details from Germany
Chinese media looks at Mubarak's TV favorites in the hospital in Germany. African media reports that the President has taken his first post-operative steps... Expected home within days, says Yahoo and AFP.

Political dynamics
The Daily Star's take on Safwat El-Sherif's departure from the cabinet --- paving the way for the emergence of the NDP's young guns...

June 30
Arab reactions -- including Egypt's -- to the handover in sovereignty in Iraq.

Big money
Nissan announces $100 million investment in Egypt.

Presidential health update
Mubarak's back surgery in Germany is successful, reports BBC and CNN. 

More on Mubarak's TV appearance from IHT. Previously, German doctor tells Reuters that operation must happen soon.

New projects
Sharm El-Sheikh Nile water meeting ends with agreements.

New planes
Egyptair picks up a few airbuses.

Politics as usual?
AP in Cairo reports on a meeting between Powell and Arab journalists in Washington.

New career
Safwat El-Sherif new job.

President on TV
AP provides the best update on Mubarak's TV appearance from the hospital in Germany. VOA looks at the ramifications of Mubarak's illness.

Mass detention
25 Jihad members arrested for allegedly planning attacks

Mubarak in Germany
The President may be able to avoid surgery by treating his back problem instead. The Egyptian embassy in Berlin tells Reuters he's in great spirits. AFP goes in depth, even providing a pic of the clinic. 

Meanwhile, BBC reports on Mubarak 's decision to delegate power to Ebied.

Shura
The NDP dominates the elections.

Big deals
Indian management institute plans campus in Cairo.

Turkish firm amongst seven bidding to build Cairo airport's new terminal.

An operation in Germany
President Hosni Mubarak has travelled to Germany for a back operation, reports Reuters and CNN, quoting MENA. Plus -- official comments from the Health Minister about the procedure to take place.

Previously, Mubarak met Tenet.

Good news
Egyptian truck driver hostage in Iraq released. 

Finally!
Cabinet to resign. New ministers announced by start of July.

Still talking about the G8
Maher tells Turkish media Egypt did not attend G8 because they didn't feel the region's issues would be taken seriously.

Held up
Still unclear if the Egyptian hostage in Iraq has been set free. The Turkish hostage with him was allowed to call home.

Behind bars
Sadat killer begins prison hunger strike.

NY Times details the Cairo connections to Sheikh Omar Abdel-Rahman's American lawyer's legal troubles in NY... Previously, complications in the US case, and more from NYT.

Sad tales
Continuing Egyptian Iraqi dinar investor woes indicate how access to more information would have been key to avoiding catastrophe.

G-8
Egypt is important -- Newsweek does an in-depth analysis of the current political situation in Egypt vis a vis democracy and reform.

Turkish media sounds out Egyptian opinions on reform moves discussed at G-8.

Meanwhile, AP looks at continuing detention of some Muslim brothers and death of one of its members while in jail.

Iraq
Kidnapped on the first run -- AP looks at the case of the Egyptian hostage in Iraq, putting it in the perspective of the many unemployed Egyptians desperate for work abroad... 

But why is the kidnapped man smiling in this photo? Perhaps it's because he's about to be set free. Monday's Ahram says he was, while Akhbar says not yet.

Loans and reforms
Big World Bank loans for Egypt... 

Bank urging reform at the same time

Controversy
Egypt's Muslim Brothers say member dies in custody, reports Reuters and Islam Online

Forcing change
The first coverage emerges of the new controversial Al-Masri Al-Youm newspaper... 

At the G8 summit
Details of what the revised Mideast initiative might entail.

Previously -- Condoleeza Rice playing down Egypt's absence.

Withholding judgment
Maher and Moussa interviewed by AP for reactions to new UN role in Iraq.

Still thinking about it
Reactions in Cairo form the basis of this long and thoughtful story gauging the impact of Abu Ghraib, one month later.

Money
Big Europe loan for Jordan gas pipeline

G-8 and reform
NY Times on why Egypt declined to attend the G8. Plus, a more detailed Boston Globe look at reform...

300 mil
Reuters provides more on the $300 million in Iraq war US aid freed for Egypt.

Weapons
Egypt claims weapons shipment found by Turkey.

Hostages
Scant details of Egyptian taken hostage in Iraq.

Azhar confiscation debate
More details on Al-Azhar's new right to confiscate books...AP goes in depth, comparing move to Saudi Arabia's thought police, but suggesting the power is meant to target radical religious --  not secular -- material.

Nile till 2017
Khaleej Times reports on the latest official remarks from Egypt on the Nile water talks. Meanwhile, AFP runs a very interesting satellite photo of the Nile.

Bad news
Egyptian kidnapped in Iraq.

Odd timing?
Turkey seizes weapons on ship bound for Egypt

$300 million in Iraq war related US aid freed up

No new treaty
More meetings to discuss Nile use

Discount sky
Pan-regional budget airline Air Arabia begins flying from Alexandria. 

Tragedy
Sad tale of the Egyptian boy killed in the Khobar terror attack in Saudi Arabia. 

Money on fire
Egypt tobacco expenditure part of major WHO report... and more here.

Had to happen... 
Brotherhood MP complains about Israeli gas deal

Look who's back
Ibn Khaldoun report praising democratic progress in Iraq gets press.

Down under
Australia becoming major wheat supplier to Egypt. Plus, some there still not happy with the way animals are slaughtered in Egypt.

Plus, more very angry Egyptian reactions to the Iraq torture pics.

Again?
Egypt scrutinized by US religious freedom commission.

Gaza efforts... 
Sharon thanks Mubarak for Egyptian help in recovering soldiers' remains.

Tourism up!
CNN calls Egypt "remarkably resilient".

News?
AP exposes some of the weaknesses of anti-US media rhetoric

Money
This article about Jordan contains the helpful factoid that Egypt ranks fifth worldwide in dollar value of remittances from expats working abroad -- to the tune of $2.9 billion per anum.

New hotels
Hilton opening five new properties in Egypt 

Plus, Saudi backed Fairmont Hotel to open Nile side in Cairo

The big interview
Everybody is all over Al-Ahram's post-torture pics interview with George W Bush -- part of the current White House Arab PR offensive. 

The White House transcript of the the interview -- conducted by Al-Ahram chief editor Ibrahim Nafie -- makes for an interesting read. 

The interview summary that made the rounds of world press is by AP.

Meanwhile, BBC watches Bush apologize on Arab TV with a middle class Egyptian family.

Egyptian-Iraqi tidbits
The sorry aftermath of the Iraqi dinar trading frenzy

Just a few more details about the new Egyptian-owned satellite channel in Iraq

Check-up time
Brief Mubarak-Bush phone call 

More torture tremors...
Wafd and other publications porn torture photos subject of complaint by US Embassy

Plus, interesting Washington Post take on Egyptian reaction to torture photos... says scandal will harm the anti-torture movement locally

Flare-up
Another Christian-Muslim friction containment move by police...

Big day
Big News Network notices major newspaper coverage of Mubarak's birthday

Flash
Iran site rumors that Mustafa El-Fiqi set to replace Ahmed Maher as Foreign Minister due to Maher's ill health...

Picture of Maher meeting with Jack Straw in London May 4

Meanwhile, Egyptian Foreign Ministry training some new Iraqi diplomats... 

Close call
Egyptian -- Mohamed El-Erian -- places second in bid to head IMF

Looking at IPR
Egypt elevated to US "priority watch list" for excessive pirating of DVDs, etc...

Torture, cont.
Middle East Online notices Wafd's allegations of Iraqi women being raped, and says the paper did not source the photos it published accompanying the article.

Canadian-Egyptian sues US military over torture allegations...

Ongoing case
Reporters -- including one from Cairo -- may be called upon to testify in NY case of Omar Abdel-Rahman's lawyer... Jurors are also currently being selected.

"Beyond disgust" -- Arab League reacts to US hypocrisy, calling for freedom, then torturing detainees

An alternative opinion from Wahid Abdel Meguid, of the Ahram Centre for Political and Strategic Studies, who told AP that many Arabs are "psychologically prepared to condemn the United States as an enemy and forget the enemy within. This is a crystal-clear double standard."

Salary woes
A May Day protest demanding higher wages is "curbed" by police, says AFP.

Meanwhile, 52 Egyptians trying to get to Europe via Libya stopped by Libyan authorities...

Pulling rank
Egypt praised in latest US global terror report.

Meanwhile, Egyptians accused of planning Italy terror attack acquitted by court...

Fighting the fools
A major Islamic conference currently taking place in Cairo deals with terror q's... 

In his opening speech, Mubarak says violence-loving fanatics are fools.

Another big conference
Egypt to host first major IT forum in Africa...

Big business
Telecom Egypt aims to compete more strongly against Menatel and other private pay phone operators...

Egypt called on Syria and Lebanon to reduce port fees on Egyptian ships as a reciprocal measure.

Tough talk
Intelligence chief to meet Arafat post quartet meeting May 4.

More from the Sinai Liberation Day speech from AP.

Political vacuums
International Crisis Group report about allowing more Islamists into official Egyptian politics highlighted by Reuters.

Suppressed anger
Mubarak tells a French paper that Arabs now hate the U.S. more than ever

He also predicts chaos if Israel goes through with its unilateral plans...

Abdullah's cancelled visit is portrayed as a symbol of this feeling of betrayal. Post Sharon-Bush regional analysis of the situation is steadfast by AP, hardcore by Reuters, with a minor touch by UPI.

Politics-Palestine
Official and unofficial reactions to the Rantissi assassination.

Politics-Iraq
If anyone has any chance (in Iraq), it is the Arabs.' ... Talk of sending Arab troops to Iraq emerges...

Meanwhile, the announcement that Spain would pull its troops from Iraq seems to have emerged from Egypt

Politics-Theater
More about the anti-American play all the news agencies love to hate.

Great parallels?
A trade mission from Baltimore is going to Egypt to explore options of building a Baltimore style inner harbor and aquarium in Alexandria -- which is Baltimore's sister city.

Trip aftermath
After Mubarak's meeting with Germany's Schroeder, calls are made for Palestinians to play a bigger role in the determination of their future...

Mubarak meets the twins in Texas.

Jewish groups still skeptical after meeting with Mubarak. The ADL, which boycotted the meeting, is even more harsh.

Post meeting interviews
Mubarak appears to enjoy his interview with the Washington Times -- key points are Egypt's offer to train Iraqi police and his humorous response to question about Iraq being better off without Saddam

Extensive excerpts from the Q and A

PLUS: The BBC provides a rather grim and foreboding look at the geopolitical climate surrounding the Bush-Mubarak talks. DC

BUSH-MUBARAK UPDATE...
White House transcript of Mubarak-Bush press conference in Crawford, Texas today.

Summary of press conference by Reuters, AFP, and AP

Visit notes
Why Mubarak wont meet Sharon while both are in the US to meet Bush.

Dollars and sense
Foreign Trade Minister Youssef Boutors Ghali pens an op-ed piece for the Washington Times... defending Egypt's economic reform process, while excusing setbacks by saying they were a necessity.

Meanwhile, details on current economic conditions provided by a recently released report.

PLUS the debate over USAID and economic and political reform continues to rage...

Iraq in Egypt
Egyptian analysts explain why Arab officials are unlikely to harshly criticize the US for the current escalations in Iraq. Meanwhile, the standard protests erupt after Friday prayer at Al-Azhar...

Meanwhile, Shiite power in Iraq stirring calls for Shiite recognition in Egypt, reports the Chicago Tribune.

PLUS Egypt's Interior Minister says current Iraqi tensions will inspire more terrorists... in same article he is also quoted as saying he is not opposed to an end to Egypt's emergency law.

Reactions to Bush Sharon deal
The LA Times sums it up: Moussa says Bush's support cancels all frameworks... Powell tries to reassure Maher... analysts says Mubarak surely feels betrayed.

Other politics
A few Egyptian reactions to Bush's Iraq speech...

No more emergency?
Boutros Bourtos Ghali says the new government-aligned Human Rights Council, of which he is the chairman, will ask for Egypt's emergency laws to be abolished as its first order of business. 

Meanwhile, Ghali defends Egypt's attempts to respect human rights in a Washington Post opinion piece.

Sudden decision
Reuters reports: "An Egyptian member of parliament announced his resignation on Monday because he had failed to bring about reform - an unusual move in a country where legislators rarely step down on matters of politics."

Pre and post-trip talk
A Chinese paper speculates about the meaning behind Mubarak, Sharon and Abdullah's meetings with Bush this month.

Meanwhile, Mubarak scheduled to go to Germany and France afterwards

Good business
Nice increase in Egypt's trade exports to the US, thanks to textiles...

Big trip
Mubarak's April 9-16 Houston stay celebrated by local TV station.

White House Easter Egg hunt will be sans Bush because of meeting with Mubarak at Crawford ranch.

No problem after all?
Ugandan water minister says Egypt and Uganda have reached full agreement on Nile water use...

Change of venue
Will the Arab summit be held on the moon? President Hosni Mubarak, speaking on state television, said it was up to Arab leaders to decide on the venue, but as far as he was concerned, it could be held "in Egypt, Yemen, Tunisia, in any Arab country, and even on the moon."

At the same time, Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher says, ""We have to concentrate on the essence and that is to get over what happened and look to the future."

Meanwhile, Maher was hospitalized with heart trouble... plans are now for him to follow Mubarak to Washington rather than go ahead of him

Peace, inc
Boston Globe wants Egypt to play an even bigger role in Mideast peace -- "When President Mubarak comes to Crawford, Texas, to see President Bush next week, it will be a test of President Bush's learning about the Middle East. Will he abandon the American approach of scolding Mubarak and Egypt for what he and they have not done, or will he attempt to enlist President Mubarak in a joint effort to move the Israeli-Palestinian problem from its present nadir to a place of possibilities?"

Resurgence
Stock market hits four-year high

Nile tension heats up
Museveni speaks up publicly about rejecting the 1929 treaty governing the river's use.

Oxford Business Group's take on the current Nile water-use tension is also quite interesting -- They posit that Egypt is "in an ironic position: from a leading anti-colonial state under President Gamal Abdel Nasser, it is now defending a treaty widely recognised as unfair by Britain's former colonies."

Changes in the air?
Will Shiias be recognized in Egypt? Islam Online reports that a professor is trying...

Meanwhile, Powell denies the US had anything to do with Tunisia's cancellation

Islam online says Israel is happy about the summit delay.

Big money
Forbes provides details of a huge Orascom contract in Iraq.

A year later
2000 protestors surrounded by 5000 security forces in Tahrir Square on anniversary of war protest.

Compare that to last year's Tahrir protest.

Great quote
A parliamentarian named "Mamdouh Abdel Razek, a reformist member of Egypt's People's Assembly," is quoted in an otherwise bland USA Today article about the ramifications of the war on Iraq -- He says, "If you fail in Iraq, we're all dead meat."

More conciliatory words from Egypt's irrigation minister... a Kenyan paper's take

Meanwhile, Reuters says "Bankers, not tanks, will settle Nile row."

Reuters reports presidential adviser Osama el-Baz as saying "there was no need to change the Camp David treaty which only allows Egypt to deploy civilian police armed with light weapons near the border with Israel and the Gaza Strip," while Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher told reporters: "On the subject of adding a new appendix to the agreement, this is not rejected in principle if it is needed." 

Meanwhile...
Egypt and Israel may be embarking on QIZ projects -- meant to increase trade with the US by forcing Arab countries to make goods with Israeli input. Jordan has already benefited from the idea with US trade volume up from $20 to $600 million in just a few years. 

"Still," says the New York Times, "the prospect of working with Israel is a tough sell."

One clear example of this is the current brouhaha over the 25th anniversary of Camp David... "An Egyptian parliamentary delegation, visiting Israel next week to mark 25 years of peace, has drawn fire from opposition," reports the Gulf News.

Pressure time
US jumps into the Gaza fray -- AP reports that America is urging Egypt to play a greater role in Gaza if Israel withdraws.

Egyptian adventures
Americans vewing Venus in Hurghada..

Egyptian spice dukka celebrated by Australian media.

Politics as identity
San Fran Chronicle story on Control Room explores the idea of the director's Egyptian American identity.

Flashback -- Waleed Moursi, a young Egyptian filmmaker in California, wins a major Academy Award. Plus, more..

Still confident
Even after a heartbreaking loss to Ivory Coast and a third place ranking, Egypt's foreign coach is still confident that the national soccer team can make it to the world cup. The next match is July 4 against Benin.

A non-political attempt
Egyptian teenagers highlighted by USA Today item on Seeds of Peace.

Stop thief
More modern tomb robbers...

Tragedy
Aswan building collapse kills 6, injures 18.

Still unknown
Mido's moves still up in the air

Always Egyptomania
NY dance performance centers on story of a woman entranced by a picture of an ancient Egyptian goddess in a cigarette poster...

Tragedy again
Another bus accident outside Cairo

It all began here, continued
The origin of watermelons...

... and first use of donkeys.

Global recognition
Very in-depth review of Youssef Chahine's new film Alexandria New York from Variety via Yahoo.

Bridges time
Appreciating Chinese culture in Egypt

Weird coincidence
African tries to get Egypt visa by forging minister's signature.

Surprises galore
Pravda picks up a Shark El Awsat report about pregnant female students sitting for exams and having to deliver their babies right there and then... Lots of interesting spelling choices here...

Magnificently decorated ancient tombs in the middle of a poor neighborhood in Helwan.

Olympics
More details on the Cairo torch run... Plus, a photo of the torch at Pyramids from Greek media.

Latest populations stats
75 million by 2007

Change of heart
Mido and others will join the national soccer team for an important 20 June World Cup qualifier against Ivory Coast in Alexandria.

Olympics time
The torch's trip through Cairo...

Spotlight
Roger Ebert reviews Control Room, and also mentions Youssef Chahine's new film.

Previously, Jehane Noujaim gets more major coverage in the New York Times and The Daily Star

Memories
New York businessman remembers interesting tale that took place when he was a child in Cairo.

She's got it
Women at pyramids watching Venus cross the sun makes top photos on Chinese media. Plus, another photo courtesy of Yahoo and AP.

Pharoanic cartoons
Discovery does ancient Egyptian humor story...

I want to play
More bickering between Hossam Hassan and new coach.

Travel notes
Kids' trips to Cairo? A Brit paper describes one's ups and downs.

Much more thoughtful tour account by an American.

Mistake?
Egyptian in trouble in the Philippines

A start
Egyptian themed culture thriving in Cincinnati?

Legacy librarian
Interesting Daily Star profile of the Alexandria Library thus far, with a glowing focus on director Ismail Serageddin . It looks like the library is starting to pull its weight as an international symbol -- having "hosted 500 events since its opening and [with] an average of 800,000 yearly visitors." 

Good news
In depth piece on the formerly conjoined twins in Texas -- this one comes from Knight Ridder via The Dallas Morning News via Good Housekeeping via iVillage...

Big win
Egypt tops world cup qualifying group after resounding 3-0 win over Sudan

New concert source emerges
Big British boy band Blue to perform in Cairo, al-Jazeera reveals.

Look up!
Egypt is one of the world's best places to watch Venus in the sky on Tuesday at noon...

Training curators and cataloguing artifacts
The Egyptian museum basement gets audited and upgraded.

Spiritual tunes
Egypt, Africa, spirituality and Islam blend together in Youssou N'Dour's latest album -- called Egypt... A recent concert gets reviewed by the Telegraph, revealing Fathy Salama's efforts on N'Dour's new tracks.

Pure belly
Sting - Cheb Mami producer Miles Copeland invents an American pop fad -- the Belly Dance extravaganza. Although heavily influenced by Egypt, the producer disparages the current state of Egyptian belly dance.

Aiming to expunge
The latest on the Cairo grandmother involved in a cross continental child custody tragedy story is detailed by The Baltimore Sun.

Another battle
UPI notices legal fight against bureaucratic business corruption connections.

Reading too much
AFP tries to inject a lot of politics into the wedding of Adel Imam's daughter and the son of a leading Muslim Brother

Olympics in Cairo
More about Egypt's role in the grand torch relay in the lead up to the Athens Olympics

Soccer mania
Hossam Hassan's return to the national squad in the lead up to the big world cup qualifier match on Sunday in Sudan is highlighted by ESPN. 

BBC takes note of new policy regarding Arab events

Miracles happen
Latest progress report and photo of formerly conjoined Egyptian twins in Texas.

Was it intentional?
Egyptian worker in Kuwait sentenced for Iraq war attack

Changing environments
Marsa Alam made into eco tourism zone -- Egypt's third so far... Meanwhile, the Bedouins of Farafra adapt to modernity.

Latest brouhaha 
An Azhar committee's attempt to censor an old Nawal El-Saadwai book makes the New York Times Arts Briefing. Meanwhile, here's AP's take.

More soccer woes
Financial pinch forces five a side football team to drop big tourney.

Even in India
New Kolkata pyramid in Indian amusement park one twelfth the size of Khufu

A great opportunity
Why a British travel writer with an Egyptian wife has decided to move to Cairo...

How can this still be happening?
"Five people were burned to death and 14 others injured when a gas canister blew up on a commuter bus in Cairo, police said."

How long will we continue to allow dangerous practices to take place with no enforcement or accountability and then cry when tragedy strikes? 70 people were on the bus, it seems, one of whom had the canister with him.

Misc...
Mouse on Egyptair?

The new Azhar Park is dubbed Cairo's Central Park... this huge new park is certainly a plus for the neighborhood, but, as the article makes clear, it's the future that really matters..

Making the Internet Arabic
"There are two ways to create this multilingual internet. Either we teach English to over 4.5 billion non-English speaking people distributed across the world, or we incorporate the world's various languages and language variations into the Internet's infrastructure," Khaled Fattal told Reuters in Cairo.

Jazeera spotlight
Egyptian American Jehane Noujaim's documentary about Al-Jazeera is now scheduled for national release in the US... She gives an interesting interview to indiewire...

Meanwhile, here are some interesting notes on Jazeera from Reuters, with a few quotes from AUC prof Abdallaa Schliefer.

Misc...
Hamdy Khalfallah, a dishwasher at the Cairo Marriott Hotel, is among 12 employees honored by Marriott worldwide, according to this press release.

A major Indian blockbuster is to be dubbed into Arabic by experts in Egypt...

Mido...
... always causing problems?

Bridge?
A very in-depth look at an Egyptian-American family.

Crazy tragedy...
Man allegedly drowns daughters in canal in fight over family expenses.

More misc...
Super trip to Egypt offered as credit card reward for really big spenders.

More adventurous Nile rafters courtesy of AP... Plus, a photo from Yahoo

More on Egypt from the Linux slash dot crew...

Go figure
Reuters tries to figure out why so many Egyptians and other Arabs are heading to work in Dubai

Good news
Egypt to be fully polio free in a few months

Ancient history
The embarrassing antics of the real life English Patient

King Farouk's old Liberty Head nickel still making news...

Dogs on ancient Egyptian tomb walls provided inspiration for modern breeding techniques...

Do they have a chance?
Miss Lebanon and Miss Egypt feted by the Chinese press.

At Cannes
Youssef Chahine angry at conservative changes in both Egypt and America at Cannes, reflects these in his new film "Alexandria New York".

Party time
Live from the Arab grammies...

Meanwhile, "Ummi Misafra" ... and Egyptian rap makes Reuters after winning award in Dubai.

...plus, a new book about moderate Egyptian Islamists.

Silly and sad
Illegal Greek immigration scam ends with swimming marathon back to Alex coast.

Misc tidbits
"Noisy" Russian planes can continue to land at all Egyptian airports but one until mid 2005, according to this item.

A specialized Linux computing event recently held in Egypt was hugely successful -- techno nerd site Slashdot's description said, "To the best of our knowledge, the most successful LUG-driven event in the middle-east, certainly the biggest, and one hell of a day that we'll all remember"

Korea Times does a feature on Abir Helmy, the wife of the Egyptian ambassador there.

Important stop
Cairo to be one of the cities where the Olympic torch passes through on its way to Athens.

A la mode
More Egyptian-inspired fashion hits the runways.

Egyptian forensic expert...
Details foul play in report about a British girl's murder nearly two decades ago in Kenya

Egyptian comic... 
"Why would they want somebody funny and likable who’s from the Middle East?"

Crime
10 years jail for stabber of Austrian and Norwegian in Old Cairo

Lots of culture
Interesting Daily Star feature about William Wells and the downtown Townhouse Gallery...

Ancient Alex U found -- once again, proving college has always been the same

The poll heard round the world
Washington Times quotes an obscure poll indicating that pop stars are more popular than politicos for Egyptian youth

Statues everywhere
More tremors from the big antiquities smuggling case -- statues found in tunnels underneath villas...

CDMA huh?
Chinese company to run minor new mobile phone network in Egypt

More river runs
National Geographic's story about the wild Nile rafters

Broadband continent
Highway Africa reports that "World support for Africa getting its people connected to the Information Society is a key theme at the "Advantage Africa" telecoms forum."

Angry fan
Mohamed Mounir attacked on stage while performing...

Drugs, anonymous
Nekheila drug bandits about to face trial

Other sports
More from the Sinai bowling tourney

Big deal
NY Times profiles Azza Fahmy

Few viewers
Egypt ranked lowest (18 per cent) in survey of Arab watchers of US satellite channel Al-Hurra

See Cairolive's take on the channel...

Tough break
Changes in Cairo airport VIP lounge rules ruffle some Arab diplomats...

Bad trip
Arnold's Israel trip irks some Egyptian-Americans in Cali...

Updates
AFP does a story on the two men who did the Nile trek... quoting actress Maali Zayed in the process...

A look at the winner of the recently completed European golf tournament in Sharm El-Sheikh

... and a bowling tournament in Sinai...

Big job
Egyptian Hossam Sukkari to head BBC's Arabic service...

Dead man waiting
Strange story about a corpse held up at the airport for days...

Big adventure
Explorers complete wild Nile trek, which will soon be made into an IMAX film.

Big finds
Major mummy find in Sakkara.

Ancient Egyptian documents part of controversial new Christ book.

Endangered nature?
A Reuters look at culture and tourism in Siwa.

Young pros
BBC profiles the young Ekramy Jr, a star goalkeeper who may become the second Egyptian to play for powerhouse Dutch team.

Tough break
Cell phone lighter causes unnecessary woes for Egyptian passenger on US flight.

Celebrate
Photo of the new Miss Egypt celebrating her win.

End of an era
Veteran actor Mahmoud Mursi passes away -- AFP says "cinema loses one of its brightest stars..."

Strange trips
40th anniversary for daring woman pilot from Ohio who landed in the wrong place in Egypt on her round-the-world flight.

How a missionary helped give birth in Egypt and became a childbirth junkie after that...

Global recognition
Egypt's Sahar El-Hawary has been honoured by the International Olympic Committee...

A famous fashion designer's book proclaims Luxor as the origin of the word, and concept of, luxury

Tolerance 101
Education gets same dynamic -- authorities deny bowing to US pressure.

Confused youth
An interesting report from Reuters about Cairo teens obsessed with a videogame that depicts Arabs as terrorists.

Big tee
Major European golf tour currently taking place in Sharm El-Sheikh... More details of the actual golf taking place here.

New team
Egypt soccer squad named by new coach.

Bad smog
An intense look at air pollution by Reuters

Miscellaneous
US East coast cicada plague screams out "Pharaoh"

Great timing?
South African TV presenter delays legal trouble back home with trip to Egypt.

Soccer inc.
Sports court to hear fan-less match dispute.

Interest in Mido shown by Spanish club Zaragoza

A constant source
A new Rosetta Stone found by German team?

Plus, National Geographic takes an intense look at newly discovered ancient Egyptian love poems.

Having fun
25,000 people enjoy Enrique Iglesias's Media City concert... 

Was the organization better than Sting's? Al Hayat provides an interesting account.

Something to work on
The Tehran Times celebrates Egyptian-Iranian cultural ties.

Odd situation
Trouble on Qatari airways flight brings touchdown in Cairo.

Let through
The Matrix finale makes it past the censors with just a few cuts.

Obituaries
The Daily Star mourns two Lebanese journalists who had ties to Egypt.

Egyptomania lives on
More Egypt myths continue to inspire Hollywood filmmakers

The drifter
Now Mido wants to leave Marseilles.

Strange spelling
Omani article on tourism meeting features most interesting spelling of Hurghada (Ghardaqa) I have seen -- "Alqhardaka"

Meanwhile, the Daily Star explores Sherif El-Ghamrawi and Basata.

Iraqi TV
Details about the Sawiris Video Cairo partnership for a new TV station in Iraq.

Miscellaneous
A look at the the team that recently won the World College Model United Nations championships held in Sharm El-Sheikh

1 million Viagra pills being smuggled into Egypt via Port Said seized by authorities.

Egyptian-Iranian cultural ties to be bolstered?

Meanwhile, Libya's bid given cold shoulder by FIFA head Blatter

More soccer
Controversy continues to swirl over Egypt's new Italian national soccer team coach

Meanwhile, Egyptian coach goes to Africa.

Home time
Texas conjoined twins discharged from hospital, at home with parents, could be back in Egypt by the end of the year.

Kudos
New Jehane Noujaim movie about al-Jazeera out... already winning awards.

Tut II
Funerary treasures of King Tutankhamun, shown outside Egypt for the first time in a quarter century, are set to dazzle museum visitors in Switzerland. Insured for $650 million, the golden mask is not part of show, the negotiations for which took three years.

Full frontal
Spanish archeology team discovers first ever full frontal carving of a pharaoh

Strange lot
Interesting perspective on the types of visitors at an ancient Egypt exhibit in Canada.

Court rules
AFP reports that "A French archaeologist charged with trying to smuggle antiquities out of Egypt was ordered released on bail Tuesday after seven months in custody awaiting trial, his lawyer said."

Egyptomania
US funding of Bab Zewaila restoration project highlighted by AP

King Tut liked red wine, says this article on a specialized wine site.

Popular Rosicrucian religion based on Ancient Egyptian themes.

Strange influences
Ancient Egyptian rabbit myths inspire Canadian singer.

Soccer overload
All Africa.com credits Mubarak with wooing FIFA members to support Egypt's 2010 bid.

Big match postponed for fear of fan troubles -- match was to be played without fans in Port Said, but league was scared that fans outside stadium would riot in pretest.

Egyptian club Ismaili have said that if Caf do not award them the title they will take their case to football's world governing body, reports the BBC. This report, however, says FIFA will not look at the dispute.

Passionate
Somewhat confusing AP story about Arab -- and especially Egyptian -- reactions to The Passion

Looking good
FIFA vice president very positive about Egypt's ability to host the World Cup. "I am impressed with what I have seen and experienced over here," Warner told the Egyptian daily newspaper, Al Ahram. "Your country is more than qualified to host the World Cup."

Sick cookies
Rancid biscuits cause over a hundred children to fall sick at schools across Egypt.

Healthy quest
Handicapped biker looking for someone to sponsor his planned trek around Egypt

Technology for the blind emerges in Egypt...

"We were able to bring a cast from the original face to put here but I hope that the British Museum, one day, will be able to return to us the original, and take the cast back," said Zahi Hawass, chief of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities.

PLUS -- a photo of the sarcophagus

Hand-over woes
Christian Science Monitor says Sinai environmental project goes downhill after EU support ends...

Lending a foot
Egypt helps African soccer by training players in Cairo.

Global play
The New York Times steps in with another rollicking review of Khaled El-Sawy's anti-American play "Messing with the Mind".

The play also gets a rousing review by AP.

Plus, Egyptian TV shows becoming popular in Iraq

An embarrassing discovery?
Aha's tomb reveals that servants and court members may have been sacrificed when the Pharaoh died.

Useful news
Instructions on how to get into Al-Azhar if you're Malaysian.

Second wind
Rave reviews for two Omar Sharif movies out at the same time.

Passion is not enough
Film about Jesus's early years in Egypt is planned...

Glass fame
Swarovski crystals feeling the heat from unnamed Egyptian manufacturers, but we all know they probably mean Crystal Asfour...

Global Egypt
An interesting dynamic emerges when Egyptian ideas go global...

It looks as though a no smoking ban in New York restaurants may affect the city's trendy hookah cafes... even though their owners say they should be exempt since, like cigar bars,  more than ten percent of their revenue comes from tobacco sales.

Meanwhile, here's an in-depth look at an Egyptian restaurateur in New York, and the ancient Egyptian inspiration he uses for his cooking.

Meanwhile... Will Ottoman heirs in Turkey get payback from Egypt to the tune of a quadrillion lira? 

I wanna look like a star
Nose jobs are the most popular form of increasingly popular plastic surgery in Egypt. They cost between LE3000-3500, this Gulf News piece says.