Oil in town
Yahoo photos from the OPEC
conference in Cairo...
Meanwhile, yet another gas
discovery increasing Egypt's reserves... Plus, huge amounts of natural gas being exported
to Spain.
Money matters
Egypt issued a
decree yesterday scrapping a government requirement that companies
sell 75 per cent of their foreign
exchange export earnings to banks within a week of receipt.
Canal conundrums
3 per cent increase
in Suez Canal fees for next year.. Meanwhile, oil spill
on the canal...
Unfortunate
complications
Orascom, which had some of its Baghdad based employees kidnapped
earlier this year, now has some of its employees taken into custody.
Update from Baghdad
Orascom employees in Iraq released.
Tension still in air
Pope goes into seclusion to highlight Coptic grievances.
Port tales
Suez Canal authorities have contained
an oil spill in the waterway and stopped it moving towards Port
Said...
Meanwhile, Egypt
opens major port in
Damietta.
Business roundup
Frankfurt airport operator wins contract to manage
Cairo airport...
Big plant opened by plastic
giant Alcoa in Egypt.
AMEX to sell
its banking operations in Egypt.
Gold ahoy
Centamin looks set to start digging
for gold in Egypt again...
Problem ship
Maltese tanker leaked oil into the Mediterranean off Egypt's north
coast on Saturday because of a ship
malfunction, an
official with a governmental environment affairs agency said.
Money time
Big investment conference
begins this week.
Iraq in Sharm
Washington expects this
week's international conference on Iraq being
held in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh
to send a strong
and unified message of support for the country.
BBC makes the meeting's
agenda simple
and clear...
Daily star op-ed sees hope...
Chinese media provides
conference preview...
Plus, another piece says "Iraqis, who still suffer
from the worsening security situation, are
hardly interested in an international conference on Iraq."
Meanwhile,
Al-Hayat op-ed suggests that Egypt's hosting of the conference at
Allawi's request represents a major
change in Arab strategic thinking.
More apologies and
protests
More apologies
and excuses from Israel.
Haaretz reports on Foreign
Minister Abul Gheit's phone
call to his Israeli counter part -- Egypt tells Israel to
pick more
disciplined troops..
Azhar protest says
""The pigs'
apology doesn't quench our rage."
Plus -- "Thousands
of students rallied
across Egypt on Sunday in the third consecutive day of protests..."
Meanwhile, Abul
Gheit and intelligence chief Omar Suleiman have cancelled
their scheduled visit to Israel next week
Border clash
A sudden, unexpected event....
3 Egyptian policemen killed
by Israeli army on border at Rafah...
First of all,
there's Egyptian anger
over the killings -- foreign ministry calls move irresponsible...
and Cairo lodges a formal protest..
Meanwhile, Sharon apologizes...
Plus, BBC looks at
the incident's timing
in light of the Gaza withdrawal. Egypt demands a full investigation.
Question: Why was
Sharon's admission of having pushed
for war with Egypt in 1967 released and publicized just a day
earlier?
Taking action
Egypt formally asks the US for five
of its Guantanamo detainees to be released.
Interesting stance
NY Times protests US delay
in implementing Egyptian-Israeli QIZ agreement...
Larger role?
CS Monitor looks at Egypt's
increasing role
as Palestinian Israeli peace broker
Safety valve?
The Egyptian government has said Uganda
is free to construct more dams to beat the increasing load
shedding so long as a study is first carried out to avoid negative
impacts.
Big release
Egypt
Releases 700 Islamic Militants
New hope for
old talks?
Industry
Minister Rashid off to Washington to discuss reviving
free trade area talks..
Powell coming
Details on what Powell and Abul Gheit will talk
about in Sharm El-Sheikh later this month.
Arafat post funeral
Arab
League holds symbolic
Arafat funeral
After the funeral, Suha
stayed in Egypt,
but according to today's papers, she has now left town for
Tunisia.
How's econ?
Industry Minister Rachid at Brookings: "As one of the first members of the
private sector to be brought into the Egyptian Cabinet in many
decades, he said, he
embodies the government's recognition of a need for change."
Meanwhile, petrol companies to be privatized...
Plus is the World Bank happy
with Egypt's reform moves?
Politics at home
The opposition alliance wants more
public access.
Reform
Another -- somewhat obscure -- political party gets licensed.
Greater margins?
BBC reform overview quotes Mohamed El-Sayed Said as saying
""I do believe that there is a very
remarkable shift in the interaction between the state and
political society."
Change of tone?
A group of Arab intellectuals wants
prominent Muslim clerics known for inflammatory views tried by an
international court on charges of encouraging terrorism
Plus, Reuters looks at the interesting
El-Banna family's relationship
with Islam...
New party
politics
Newly licensed political
party Al-Ghad holds its first
meeting, during which it urges the government to approve even more
parties, and says its own newspaper will appear in January...
Meanwhile, commentators
say the approval is a
ruse meant to please Washington, and that Al-Ghad is actually close
to the regime.
Finally...
Ayman
Nour's Al-Ghad party given license -- only the third time that a new
party has been authorized in Egypt in almost three decades.
Plus,
lots of party and political talk being covered everywhere... Mona Makram Ebeid slams
the
NDP in a Daily Star column... The Khaleej Times covers the Muslim
Brotherhood iftar, where more
political freedom is called for... And yet another detailed
look at the opposition and would be parties activities, with a focus
on Ayman
Nour and El-Ghad. Plus, another group calls
for Mubarak to step
down... (VOA picks
up the story). AP meanwhile, looks at political
conversations going on at Al-Azhar after Friday prayers... And
an Italian site covers opposition parties being
upset about their Abdin protest rally being cancelled.
More harm than good
Harsh
assessment of Egypt's education system in The Daily Star.
Education reform
"Egypt's cabinet has
approved the country's first comprehensive strategy linking
the development of scientific research and higher education."
Plus, a plan to
bring high speed internet to primary schools emerges...
Lots of reform talk
Is al-Wasat party a front for the Muslim Brotherhood? In any case,
its application to become a political party was rejected
again.
Meanwhile the party's
founder, Abul-ela
Madi, is in the States participating in a Muslim Christian
dialogue.
VOA looks at the reform scene,
while All Africa covers EOHR's condemnation.
New York's top Jewish
weekly magazine takes an in-depth look at reform in Egypt,
speaking to Mahmoud
Mohieddin, Osama El-Baz, and Essam El-Erian.
And yet another civil
society attempt
at reform..."Hisham Kaseem, editor-in-chief of the daily al-Masry
al-Youm, believes the US pressure for reform has provided a safety
net for Egyptian activists following decades of iron rule."
What party?
Political parties committee rejects
al-Wasat party's application again.
Meanwhile, The Village Voice does an American-style rendering
of the Ayman Nour story.
Still
talking about reform
Christian Science Monitor says the best thing about all the reform
talk surrounding the NDP conference was the opening up of
discussion on previously taboo
issues.
Getting realistic about reform
The Washington Post sums up the just-concluded NDP conference:
"It should come as no
surprise that we did not deal with the issue" of term
limits, Gamal Mubarak told reporters Thursday, explaining that it
was not a priority. "We should not reduce talk of reform to
only narrow issues. We are not thinking of changing the
constitution."
The conference's economic
reform moves got slightly better press. The announcement that
state-run companies could be run by foreigners
emerged, as did reports that companies in Dubai were happy about
the potential tax
cuts.
Other coverage included VOA
providing a harsh prognosis of the political
aspects of the conference, and AFP
doing an all around piece on the education
sector's reform potential...
NDP conference in full
effect
The Guardian looks at the NDP's "progressive"
ideas, which don't include amending the constitution.
BBC takes a thoughtful
look at the issues gripping the nation with a peg on the NDP
conference and the rise of Gamal Mubarak.
AP says "Mubarak,
Son Promise Reform in Egypt".
Pakistani media says
reforms are being activated to avoid
US pressure...
In the lead up to
today's National Democratic Party conference...
Khaleej Times says it's all
Gamal... So does AFP.
Plus, here's Voice of America's take...
and an in depth Guardian piece on Cairo's contradictions,
bundled up with reform and the way things are and might be...
Reform...
Gamal Mubarak, who heads the ruling National Democratic Party's
Policies Committee, has ruled
out discussion of amending the constitution at a party
congress later this month.
Privatization soon?
Sweeping bank
reforms in the meantime...
Reducing "gomrok"
AFP reports: "The tariff
cuts - from 14.9 percent to nine percent - will see state
revenue drop by about three billion Egyptian pounds (460 million
dollars) over the next 18 months, Boutros-Ghali said.
"The tariff cuts apply
to all imported goods, with the exception of alcoholic drinks,
tobacco products and cars with an engine size greater than 2,000
cc. Cars whose engine size is under 1,600 cc will benefit from a
cut in duty from 104 percent currently to 40 percent."
Major
increase in diesel prices...
...from 40
to 60 piastres per litre...
Trying to form a party
Washington Post delves into the budding
political party scene...
Daily Star profiles Mona Makram Ebeid and her new
political party...
Money in the bank
Egyptian bank CIB
to be listed on UAE stock exchange.
The big analysis
AP tries to cover it all -- reform, the new cabinet, and Gamal
Mubarak -- using the Mogamma
as a symbol.
Better students on the
way?
IOL covers Mubarak's back to school education reform message -- students
desperately need to be more on
par with global standards...
Port renaissance?
Big talk about billions
of investments in new revamped Suez free zone..
New attitude at the housing office?
Washington Post reports on the government earmarking "more
than 100,000
buildings nationwide for demolition because of substandard
construction..."
Stepping up privatization
The
BBC seems excited about the fact that "six state-run engineering
firms are being considered for a sell-off
in September".
Not quite?
Interesting International
Herald Tribune analysis
of democracy and reform pegged on tour minister's first press
conference...
Burying Arafat
Millions around the world
tuned in this morning to watch Yasser Arafat's funeral in Cairo.
All the feeds were coming live
from Egyptian TV.
Reuters says presidents and dignitaries
from more
than 50 countries were in attendance.
Among those in attendance were:
King Abdullah II of Jordan, President Bashar Assad of Syria, Sultan
Hasanal Bolkiah of Brunei, President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa,
European Union Foreign Policy chief Javier Solana and Pope Shenouda III,
head of Egypt's Coptic Orthodox Church.
Arafat's widow, Suha, and their
rarely seen 9-year-old daughter, Zahwa, also figured prominently, with
one story noting that Zahwa was directly spoken to by an announcer:
"Don't cry, Zahwa. Your father never cried. He was a man of
patience and endurance... Don't cry, Zawha. All the Arab children share
with you your pride and dignity today."
AP continues to be first
out of the gate with coverage.
BBC's version also mentions the controversy
over how he died.
Plus, the Toronto Star takes note
that the masses
were kept away for security concerns.
Arafat's body
arrives in Cairo...
AP has all the details
on the funeral arrangement for Friday... including the unique TV traffic
report telling people which roads not to take. A longer version
of the same story is running on ABC...
The government, meanwhile,
has announced three days of mourning.
So far, word is that the South African president
will attend.
Meanwhile, the news
agencies sound out reactions in Cairo: "Another
Abdel Nasser has died," said taxi driver Mahmoud Ibrahim,
comparing the Palestinian leader to the towering Arab nationalist
who ruled Egypt from his 1956 coup until his death in 1970.
Earlier, Bush called
Mubarak to "discuss steps he would take to 'cooperate
more actively' with Middle East peacemaking."
No sidelines
Contrary to earlier reports,
Powell says he has no
plans to hold talks with Iran during the Sharm El-Sheikh Iraq
meeting later this month.
Jam broken
Suez Canal finally reopened after stuck tanker finally dislodged...
Sudden release
60 detained Muslim brothers released.
Eye on Arafat
Egypt
said it was likely
to host Palestinian
faction talks to draw up a council for running Palestinian affairs and
the peace process with Israel....
Meanwhile, Cairo denied
that Arafat's funeral would take place in Egypt, while a Turkish
paper claimed
he would be moved to a hospital in Cairo.
Lots of denials
AP
reports that "Egypt denied
it has a secret nuclear weapons program in an angry response to reports
that the U.N. atomic watchdog is investigating the discovery of
plutonium particles near an Egyptian nuclear facility."
Transport
delay
Suez Canal closed
by broken tanker.
Harsh response
Reporters without borders critical
of pummeling of El-Arabi journalist...
Bad planning
Saudi paper critical of Egyptians left
stranded during umra by travel agents who did not provide proper accommodations...
Business looking East
New Free Trade agreement with Sri
Lanka on the way...
Plus, Orascom says it will invest even more in Bagladesh telecom if government
sets up a more
level playing field...
Still not much
Pittsburgh paper provides some
reactions to Bush victory from Cairo...
Reverse spin
Cairo based NGO puts
an Arab spin on the new US anti-Semitic law.
Big numbers
80
per cent of Egypt's 6.75 million mobile phone users are on a
pre paid card system
A new
beginning?
Mubarak among world
leaders who congratulate
Bush...
Wild accusations
"Egypt's ambassador to the UN atomic agency blasted as
"totally baseless" a French newspaper report Tuesday that the
Egyptian head of the agency, Mohammed al-Baradei, was helping
Cairo hide a secret nuclear program."
More problems
Israel
closes Rafah crossing for security reasons.
Harassing the press
Opposition journalist abducted,
stripped and left in desert. Was it because of his anti-Mubarak and
interior ministry articles in El-Arabi? Plus, AFP's take.
Meanwhile, the Journalists
syndicate is angry,
and world media are covering the event...
Taba in the
news again
Taba bombers are not
linked to Al-Qaeda, Egypt says. AP's
version as well as the BBC's
are nearly identical.
Plus, a New Jersey paper
says tourism
is resilient in the face of the attacks.. and a strange New Zealand
Herald story exposes,
then justifies, seemingly lackadaisical security procedures.
Iraq overload
Commentators tell AFP that the US elections will have a major
effect on the upcoming Sharm Iraq conference.
Meanwhile, 100 Iraqi bureaucrats
come to Cairo for training.
Plus, The CS Monitor gauges
a shift
in attitude towards support for an overly violent Iraqi resistance,
and Colin Powell talks to Nile TV about the upcoming Sharm El-Sheikh
conference on Iraq, calling the insurgency "barbarous
activity".
Palestine
Mubarak calls an ailing Arafat to wish
him well.
US prez
MSNBC does the whole who
would Arabs vote for thing? from Cairo...
Plus, have you seen my
story on the same?
Big money
Egyptians abroad send $3
billion back home. Most of the money comes from the US.
Meanwhile, Egyptian born NY
stock
hustler in legal trouble for pre and post Sept 11 sales.
Philadelphi talk
BBC looks at the complicated situation vis a vis Israel
and the Egyptian border at Gaza.
Digging galore
Gold at Sukkari mine soon
-- this press release is optimistic...
Big industry
An in-depth look at the cotton
industry, with all the latest figures...
Taba mastermind?
AP takes a detailed look at the radical
change in personality experienced by the man Egyptian
authorities are saying masterminded the Taba bombing.
Plus, plots
that are too simple to anticipate: paper
looks at the ifs, ands and buts of the Taba investigation results
Meanhwile in Gaza...
Haaretz reports that "Israel
leans
toward accepting Egypt's offer of border troops".
Passing messages
In NY, Sheik Omar's lawyer's trial
continues to heat up... Similar takes from the W Post
and NY Times.
To-do list
IMF chief gives Egypt an economic
recovery to-do list.
Taba culprits
5
arrested for Taba blasts... Egypt says a Palestinian
was the ringleader.
According to AP:
"The government identified the mastermind of the attacks as Ayad
Said Saleh, a Palestinian who had lived in the Sinai and who died in the
Oct. 7 explosion at the hotel along with a fellow plotter, Egyptian
Suleiman Ahmed Saleh Flayfil. The pair, identified through DNA testing,
were trying to leave the scene but their timed explosives detonated
prematurely, the statement said... Two other suspects were said to be at
large: Mohamed Ahmed Saleh Flayfil, brother of Suleiman Flayfil, and
Hammad Gaman Gomah. Mohamed Flayfil was accused of carrying out the
attack on one of the campgrounds and Gomah was accused of carrying out
the third bombing."
Meanwhile, the bodies
of 2 more Russians who died in the blasts are identified...
Plus,
the Guardian provides plenty
of details regarding Egypt's plans for more troops at the
border with Israel -- a reaction to both Sharon's Gaza plan and
the blasts at Taba.
Ramallah blues
Egyptian doctors diagnose
Arafat with flu...
Darfur hope?
Sudanese discussions in Cairo supposedly
going well...
Iraqi plans...
Jordan's King Abdallah promotes
upcoming Iraq conference... Here's what Abul Gheit wants the conference
to talk about.
The devil we know
Reuters looks at Egyptian
opinions on Bush versus Kerry for US president...
Much talk on Iraq
The US is happy
about the upcoming regional conference on Iraq, set to take place in
late November in Sharm El-Sheikh. Egypt says no decision has yet been
made on whether Iraqi opposition groups will be allowed
to attend.
The NY Sun suggests that
the Egypt Iraq conference will provide a boost
for Bush -- showing US diplomacy is still alive.
At an annual Ramadan iftar,
meanwhile, the Muslim brotherhood chief declares
support for Iraqi resistance...
Hostages galore
The 2 remaining kidnapped Orascom engineers in Baghdad are finally
freed...
Meanwhile, a first
hand account of being kidnapped in Iraq is told by a
previously freed Egyptian engineer.
Nile brew
Sudanese MPs
begin to make Nile waves...
Expanding markets
Sawiris in Bangladesh to launch new
Egyptian-owned cellular operator.
Globalization in Siwa
BBC looks at the Italian
embroidery connection that's making some of the oases' youngest
girls rich...
Talking about Sudan
News from the Darfur
summit in Libya... Chinese media reports on what
the Egyptian foreign minister said there... Plus, comprehensive
coverage of the event from ABC.
Very interesting
Rami Lakah to buy major
French daily newspaper...
More Taba
J
Post looks at Egyptian claims that Israel
was behind the Taba bombings...
Israel
denies it had anything
to do with the Taba attacks...
Meanwhile, British tourists
are staying,
says the Telegraph...
PLUS,
FOR ALL THE
LATEST
TABA COVERAGE,PLEASE CHECK OUT...
All
kinds of analyses:
More Taba theories emerge...
Lots of
conferences
It looks like Iraqi
opposition groups wont
be invited to Egypt's Iraq conference...
Plus, Foreign
Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit makes comments
in the lead up to the Darfur summit in Libya. Islam online,
meanwhile, does a story on ethnically
Egyptian Darfurian Christians...
Iraq conference
details...
"France and Egypt want an international conference on Iraq
next month to examine
the continued deployment of US-led troops there as part of a
wide-ranging agenda" No miracles
expected at conference, says Osama El-Baz.
What wheat
"Exporting
UK wheat to Egypt came a step closer this week when
representatives from the UK grain industry met their Egyptian
counterparts to explain how UK wheat suits the requirements of the
Egyptian milling industry."
New tour
Mubarak in Italy
to discuss terrorism, Iraq...
Op-eds
A columnist makes the case for potential
downturn in US-Egyptian relations.
Meanwhile, a Post columnist celebrates empowerment
of the people, thanks to Bush.
Setting a date
Now big Egypt-based Iraq conference date
has been set for November 25.
More important things to
do
Somewhat tepid reaction
to second US presidential debate...
Struggling for work
1000
illegal Egyptian job seekers sent home by Libya...
Chinese futures
Chinese
to be taught in Egyptian universities and schools...
Plus, easing the trade imbalance
with China...
Peg gone
End
of dollar-pound black market days....
Gaza more
Rafah peace meetings next Tuesday?
Meanwhile, Egyptian working
paper on the crisis is on the way.
Moving on Sudan
Egypt to take part in Darfur mini
summit in Libya.
Meanwhile, Ahram's
interview with Bashir about US involvement in Darfur crisis starts
to make waves...
Enough is enough
Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul-Gheit demanded an immediate
halt of the Israeli "onslaught"
in Gaza, the official MENA news agency reported...
Meanwhile...
UK's Straw cancels
visit to Egypt because of busy October 6 celebrations...
Help wanted
Washington Post looks at 21 missing men's odyssey
to find work...
Plus, according to
the Turkish press, more
boatloads of Egyptians are trying to make their way illegally to
Greece looking for work
What debate?
Pundits -- including Salama Ahmed Salama -- comment on the significance
of the US presidential debate.
They are okay
Orascom says the two engineers still kidnapped are doing well..
Meanwhile, more diplomatic exhortations
for their release...
Talking about Israel
More diplomatic calls on Israel to really
withdraw from Gaza.
Plus, parliamentary foreign
relations expert Mustafa El-Feki says Israel using Iraq chaos to spy
on neighbors.
Global world
Big boat contract to Egypt cheers
up small US town.
Big business
Thirty leading Egyptian IT
companies taking part in Gitex IT fair in Dubai.
Iraq hostage update
Some of the Orascom hostages freed...
AFP covers the joy
and relief all across the country as most of the latest batch
of Egyptian hostages in Iraq are released...
AP photo
of released hostage back home...
More Gaza
Egypt plans to speak candidly
with Israel about Gaza pullout plans.
More regional roles
More details about the upcoming Iraq
conference to be held in Egypt in November...
Big plans
Trying to go from 6 to 12
million tourist arrivals a year...
Orascom
hostages update
Khaleej Times reports on diplomatic
moves to secure the hostages' release. Orascom imposes a news blackout
on hostage info. Egyptians and other Arab expats living and
working in Baghdad are getting scared...
And suddenly, MENA reports that one hostage has been freed.
Meanwhile,
AFP reports that Egypt said Monday it will host an international conference
on Iraq elections next month.
Synchronized
azhan...
Zaqzouq speaks to AP about the unified
call to prayer plan. Mufti Ali Gomaa also endorses the synchronized
azhan plan. But VOA says not everyone is happy.
The latest victims
The biggest story at the moment involves the Egyptians who were kidnapped
from their mobile phone company office in Baghdad. It became
clear, as more details emerged,
that they worked for Orascom-owned Iraqna.
A company spokesman in Baghdad
also spoke to the press about the crisis.
Meanwhile, at the UN
The race for
a security council seat
heats up... Plus, a photo of Foreign Minister Abul-Gheit speaking
at the General Assembly, and more on this issue from AFP.
Gaza stop and go
Arafat security advisor
in Cairo and BBC does a roundup of the current status
of the Gaza plan. Meanwhile,
Palestinian security officers did
not make it to Egypt for training.
Big business
Will Egypt join OPEC?
Indian tea makers very excited
about prospect of lower import duties...
Egypt, meanwhile, is anticipating
much more tourism from an outward looking China...
Major stirring...
Ragab El-Banna's ideas on Islam and modernity made controversial
by Al-Azhar's decision to ban them, posits the Christian Science
Monitor.
Proper choice?
Islamophobe Daniel Pipes and prominent Egyptian Copts to speak at
Coptic conference in Switzerland, according to this press
release...
Meanwhile...
Two academics critiquing the details
of a Washington Post article on the Muslim Brotherhood.
Ally time
Stronger military
ties with China...
Legal quest
Egyptian Canadian suing
Canada to clean his name...
Smart move
Alcatel moves
into the Smart Village.
Meanwhile...
An overview
of Egypt Brazil trade issues...
Darfur ramifications
Village voice looks at Sudanese refugees
in Cairo.
Trying to unite
AP summarizes the results of Mubarak's Wednesday visit
to Syria
Nuke watch
"Egypt is stepping up measures to detect radiation
from an ageing Israeli nuclear reactor near its border, Egyptian
officials have said."
Money unties
United
Arab stock exchange to emerge in Cairo next year?
Diplomacy...
Egypt's foreign minister criticizes the international
community's approach to dealing with the Middle East, calling it
"narrow."
Egypt, US discuss Syria
in Cairo...
Egyptian construction firms
encouraged
to work in Iraq...
Phone card competition
Moftah
el-zero raises the competitive bar.
Israeli legal wrangles
A number of Egyptian ex-prisoners who had been
released from Israeli jails are appealing to
the state councils administrative judiciary court to demand opening
the files of the murder and torture of Egyptian
soldiers during the 1956 and the 1967 wars.
Israeli prosecutors indicted
six Egyptian students suspected of entering the country to kidnap
Israeli soldiers and commandeer a tank, Israeli media and police
officials said.
Aiming high
Citing its regional and international clout, Egypt seeks a permanent
place on the UN Security Council
Olympic
bid?
Gamal Mubarak's appearance on a large poster
with Egypt's Olympic champion in Tahrir Square is spotlighted by
AP. "The new billboard is the first to give the son such
prominence", the news agency reports, "but the real
question was whether Gamal Mubarak had the support of the
military". "The answer to that was not yet clear,"
it concludes.
Ongoing September 11
Summary of Archbishop
of Canterbury's speech
at Al-Azhar on September 11. CNN's take on how Egyptians commemorated
the anniversary
Lots of Arabs and Egyptian
still think 911 was a conspiracy,
CNS reports.
Tragic trip
Previously unknown kidnapped Egyptian found dead
in Iraq.
On the anniversary of 11
Sept
Mohamed Atta's father speaks
up again...
Hearts and minds
All
Africa analysis: "In the battle for the 'hearts and
minds' of everyday Egyptians, it's not that the government won,
it's more that the militants lost..."
Trouble next door
Egypt disputed Israeli allegations
of Syrian complicity in a bombing in Israel
last week and said it was illogical for Israel to threaten to
retaliate against Syria.
Tainted
AP posits that the Chechen hostage taking episode has catalyzed
major Muslim inner
searching. Same article rewritten in a different
order...
Mubarak expresses condolences...
Iraq goes global
Egyptian embassy caught up in Nepal
violence over Iraqi killings of Nepalese...
Ransom paid
Egyptian truck driver among latest round of freed
hostages in Iraq...
The roots of hate
Another take on low
US standing in Egypt , this time from the Christian Science
Monitor
The roots of fear
Chechan women barred
from flight leaving Egypt after fears of terror...
OT expands
...buys "small Bangladeshi operator Sheba
Telecom for $50 million in cash and about $10 million in debts,"
Reuters reports...
A moderate message?
Muslim Brotherhood denounces
Iraqi kidnapping methods.
Don't worry
Foreign Minister Ahmed
Abul Gheit tackles South African fears
that Egypt is not paying enough attention to its continental
brethren.
Another Egyptian businessman in trouble abroad
This time
it's the former
CEO of a technology company in the States...
Getting involved
259
Iraqi officers being trained in Egypt...
Interesting opinions
Bush deserves to be in the Guinness Book for how badly
he has transformed the US's image in the world -- so says one of the
intellectuals interviewed in this Washington Post Cairo- centric piece
about impressions of America in the Middle East...
Another nugget from Cairo: "The trappings of the American good life are no
longer an advertisement for the American way of life. And it
seems the world, which America helped globalize, ended up feeling
global, not American."
The story diverges at the end into a discussion of how photos of
children in
conflicts are viewed on both sides of the world that reminds me a bit of
something that appeared on Cairo live way back -- remember the essay on
whether "these faces
are the Guernica of
our time?"
In trouble
Videos of Sheikh Omar Abdel-Rahman and his American lawyer talking
in prison is shown to a NY courthouse as part of the lawyer's
own trial.
A simpler solution
"Egypt's Petroleum Minister Sameh Fahmy has
ordered the destruction of an offshore natural gas platform that was
still blazing for the 11th
straight day Saturday, ministry officials told AFP."
Investigating the zero
Egypt 2010 World Cup bid financial
irregularities being probed...
Plus, a bit
more from Sports Illustrated.
Lots of gas
70 million cubic feet (MMcf) of natural gas and 2,330 barrels of
condensate per
day...
Good news
Egypt's exports to China on the up
and up.
An alternate view
US congressman Lantos defends his proposal
to redirect US military aid to Egypt into economic assistance...
Breaking all over the
place
Khaleej Times picks up the
AP story on the Khaled
Bishara and Link.net court case involving fraud and USAID...
Plus, ITP's take.
Just a rumor?
UK arrest of architect Hamza inspires investigation
of Housing Minister Suleiman. A cabinet spokesman later denied
this...
Still banning books
2
more books banned by Al-Azhar...
Fossil fuel action
Indian company in big Egypt natural
gas deal. Canadian company wants to boost Egypt oil
operations...
PLUS -- Indian jeweler
wants role in Egypt.
Mediterranean oil platform blaze
nearly extinguished, a week later
Egyptian fishermen
in trouble in Malta.
Complex help
Japan
to train Iraqi engineers in Egypt.
Trouble abroad
Dow Jones delves into the complicated US legal case involving
Link.Net CEO Khaled
Bishara.
Meanwhile, Egyptian
businessman Mamdouh Hamza is finally out on bail
in London.
Various attempts...
El-Baradie announces Vienna
talks on Mideast nuclear disarmament
set for January... Israel's role still unclear...
AFP reports that "Algeria,
Egypt
and Libya informed the Arab League they were ready
to send armed troops to Sudan's crisis-ridden region of Darfur, an
official from the pan-Arab body said Sunday."
Oil to burn
Another gas-related
fire... this time on a platform near Port Said.. This source
claims it was the earlier rig fire that caused
the platform to blaze...
Seeking justice
Reuters covers the plight
of one of the Egyptian detainees
in Guantanamo.
Egypt one of the countries
to have signed secret deals with the US to give Americans immunity
from the International Criminal Court...
High profile
Getting an MBA
in Egypt makes Business Week.
No international-
ization
Egypt continues to try to contain
the situation in Sudan.
What's real?
Is the latest Iraq beheading -- allegedly involving an Egyptian --
real or fake?
Alert
Oil rig sinks
off Egypt's shore...
Tour news
Interesting multi-use
travel pass now available for British travelers to Egypt.
Plus, a general overview of latest
tourism figures.
A question of trust
The Economist cuts to the chase
in a Cairo-centric analysis of US-Arab relations.
Last Egyptian hostage in
Baghdad to be freed soon?
In depth
A look at Arab
tourism on Cairo's hot summer
nights.
Different interpretation
Egypt denies US General Tommy Franks' claim that Mubarak confirmed
Iraqi
possession of WMD.
Sudan heats up
The Muslim Brotherhood wants the Arab league to hold a summit
on Sudan.
Egypt tells Sudan to deal
with the UN resolution on Darfur, and confirms that its military observers
will be sent there.
Plus, Egyptian relief
aid heads for Darfur.
Real mandates for real
prime ministers?
The Economist gets real
about the recent cabinet reshuffle.
Plus, the Daily Star does an excellent commentary on the future of
politics
and economy.
In with the new...
FT looks at some of the ways the new young, reform minded economists
on the new cabinet may be trying to shore up direct
foreign investment to Egypt. (May require registration)
Carrot versus stick
US and Egypt at odds
over how to deal with Darfur, says VOA.
Meanwhile, African visits for Abul-Gheit as stronger continental
ties are sought.
More Egypt air developments
Now a new
call center to better handle customer traffic...
Another strange arrest
Top young Egyptian internet professional in trouble in US
on fraud
charges.
Powell in town
The US Secretary of State wants Egypt to put pressure
on Khartoum about Darfur.
Meanwhile, an in-depth IHT article on Powell's Cairo trip highlights the US
State Secretary's meeting with civil
society -- where it was all about US bias on Israel-Palestine.
PLUS:
the situation at the Gaza border terminal
with Egypt is 'catastrophic',
reports The Washington Times.
Iraq, Iraq, Iraq
Egypt denies paying ransom
for the diplomat's release.
The kidnapping will not affect Egypt-Iraq
relations, the Foreign Minister says. The freed captive himself
gives an extensive interview, describing how he talked
politics with his kidnappers.
Meanwhile,
no
troops for UN force in Iraq -- Egypt prefers
not to participate in this force at the moment.
In the news
At Gamal Mubarak's first
major news conference, AP opens the succession issue up wide.
NBC News opts to go hardcore
with a major report on the issue as well.
Money, money, money
A MasterCard survey shows how Egyptians worry about money.
Profound exchange of views
Egyptian officials talk to Qaddafi about Libya-Darfur
ties. More on the meeting
from AFP...
Meanwhile, Powell is
on his way
to Cairo to talk about Palestine.
Hostage
released
Abul-Gheit thanks the Iraqi people
for helping to release the kidnapped diplomat. The ex-hostage says
his faith
impressed the kidnappers. Plus, he's already back at work.
His release offers hope,
Reuters thinks, but the Detroit Free Press shows the damage
may already be done.
Boycott didn't make a difference?
Interesting results on Egyptians' fast
food eating habits.
Three cheers
Egyptair goes modern
-- signs partnership with Gulf Air for passengers' ease...
Egypt has it all
New tourism minister talks business
at first press conference... Plus more details
from AFP.
Complicated situations
Sky news provides coverage of the Egyptian
diplomat taken hostage in Iraq. Egypt vows not to send troops
to Iraq in response.
AND:
Sudanese media covers Egypt's comments on the dangerously
impending Darfur
intervention...
Getting better
Italian
tourism to Egypt to be better distributed, reports MENAFN.
CELEBRATING A REVOLUTION
Gamal Abdel-Nasser and the Free Officers overthrew King Faoruk 52
years ago today.
READ MORE
HERE
Another driver taken
Chinese media reports that Egypt
is making contacts to secure release of its latest hostage in Iraq.
Cairo Iraq conference
Allawi
asks Egypt to deploy Iraq troops, reports the Washington Times.
No surprise
Cairo U professor tells VOA it's no surprise
the measure to transfer US military aid into economic assistance was
defeated in Congress.
Analysis 101
Slate does a confusing, confused take on the presidential succession
issue, arguing that Egypt is turning extremely fundamentalist.
Meanwhile, the San Francisco Chronicle argues that Egypt's Islamists are
becoming more moderate
-- and still not being let in to the legitimate political process. Daily
Star does a slightly better job
on the succession question.
Looking for work
Italy looking for Egyptian manpower.
Free at last
Released Egyptian hostage in Iraq says he was never mistreated.
"More hurt than angry?"
Washington Post does a thoughtful look at angry
mosque preachers in Egypt, trying to figure out what they really think of
America...
Still cabinet
Business Report quickly sums up new Prime Minister Ahmed
Nazif's economic
agenda.
Staying the course
New Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul-Gheit's first public statement.
Same old skit?
Islam Online covers the US Religious
Freedom commission's
meetings with Al-Azhar officials.
New cabinet ramifications
AP looks at Gamal Mubarak's influence
on the selection of Nazif's new cabinet.
Nazif says he want to implement unconventional
solutions to Egypt's problems...
Will new 39-year old Investment
development minister Mahmoud Mohieddin bring
in the bucks? BBC takes a look.
Meanwhile, Egypt's stock market
is up
on the new appointments, reports FT.
The Economist does a good sum up
of the potential problems set to face the "fresh-faced"
Nazif.
Here's BBC's take.
AFP looks at the new cabinet's
"to-do"
list.
Plus -- an AP photo
of Nazif after being sworn in.
Close call?
How to divide
the aid to Egypt being heavily debated in the House, amongst
US politicos.
...and Sudan
Egypt might send monitoring
personnel to Sudan, says the Presidential spokesman
Sacrifice...
Saudi company to leave Iraq to save
kidnapped driver's life.
Poor showing
Egypt ranks low -- 120th
out of 177 -- in the UN's list of best places to live.
Legal woes
Was an anti-torture clinic harassed
by the government?
Egyptian imam in Philadelphia
still in trouble
Cabinet time...
With the Tourism Minister finally selected, Mubarak is set to swear
in the new cabinet on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the critics emerge,
and say Nazif is not
quite right.
Chinese media, however, takes a
more positive
view.
Reform again?
A Cairo conference urges a follow
up on Alexandria reform suggestions, and VOA covers a Middle
East reform conference in Washington where the nature
of Egyptian democracy is discussed.
Captive bid
Arab News reports that the "Saudi sponsor of an Egyptian truck
driver kidnapped in Iraq said yesterday it had offered kidnappers $15,000
for his release and the captors were considering the proposal."
Better luck next time
UAE firm beats
out Egypt's Orascom for Saudi mobile service.
NEW PM
UPDATE
(12 July 2004)
-AFP notices that new Prime Minister Nazif's name means clean...
-Guardian sees hope
in the "modernising technocrat..."
-Arab Times explores Gamal
Mubarak's influence
on the new cabinet.
Full cabinet list in Arabic
on zahma.com
Bring in the new
VOA nicely sums up reactions
to new Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif's appointment -- some positive,
some negative.
Reuters calls Nazif a computer
expert.
Hindustan Times provides
Nazif's CV,
and says his appointment "may signal a shift in the course of
economic growth, moving toward a knowledge-based economy from the
traditional one."
AFP photo
of Nazif, who the agency says is known for integrity and
inefficiency.
Nazif's first plans
announced by AP.
Abul Gheit named Foreign
Minister.
Another hostage
Trying to get another Egyptian driver taken hostage in Iraq released.
Kidnappers want a million
dollars. Plus, Tantawi condemns...
Amr
Moussa is on a 
Plus,
here's a photo of antiquities chief Zahi Hawass with an impressive
King Tut background at a 
Egypt's
world champ squash star 
Welcome
Ramadan...
