Tarek Atia's web log
Find out how the world media sees Egypt...

MAY 2004

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

Gaza again and again
Egypt to play major role in Israel's Gaza pullout, reports AP. More on what that participation might entail from Indian and Chinese media...

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.

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...

Web posted by Tarek Atia Monday, May 31, 2004 11:00 CAIRO

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SPECIAL
Ancient Egypt extravaganzas Egypt extravaganzas

Latest discovery: a look at the world's oldest university in Alexandria.

Of course: Ancient Egyptian belief played  a part in formation of wedding ring concept.

Did wind power help to build the pyramids... one "pyramidiot" thinks so, and will try to prove it on the Discovery Channel.

The lure of an ancient Egyptian clean shave...

More antiquities to be returned to Egypt.

Web posted by Tarek Atia Saturday, May 29, 2004 20:00 CAIRO

Gaza more...
Details about what Egypt will be doing to smooth the Gaza transition...

Plus, Erekat says, "All what had been said about redeploying Egyptian security forces on the borders are just untrue rumors". 

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." 70 people were on the bus, it seems, one of whom had the canister with him.

How long will we continue to allow dangerous practices to take place with no enforcement or accountability and then cry when tragedy strikes? 

Summing it up
A quote in an article about Egypt's economy sums things up pretty well -- "Buying food for a family has never been so difficult," says housewife Mona Fahmy. "Every time I shop the prices have gone up, but my husband's salary never changes."

More Russian-Egyptian business cooperation on the way...

Too radical?
Egyptian imam at Philadelphia mosque taken into custody for unknown reasons... News reports speculate that it may have had to do with his fiery sermons.

Meanwhile, the US wants to extradite Abu Hamza al-Masri from London... Once again, says the Independent, it's the radicals who get all the publicity...  More on his past...

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..

Web posted by Tarek Atia Saturday, May 29, 2004 14:00 CAIRO

Lots of politics
Although invited, Mubarak won't attend the G8 summit in Georgia, citing a prior commitment as the reason. The RSVP follows the Arab summit's refusal to endorse an Egyptian resolution on reform.

Meanwhile, Egypt is playing a major role in a possible Israeli pullout from Gaza... The Egyptian intelligence chief talks to Sharon about it.

Here is an in-depth look at the government/Muslim Brotherhood dynamic from the Globe and Mail...

PLUS -- the controversial lawsuit against President Mubarak for not appointing a vice president has been thrown out by the court, reports AP.

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...

Web posted by Tarek Atia Wednesday, May 26, 2004 14:00 CAIRO

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

Gaza again and again
Egypt to play major role in Israel's Gaza pullout, reports AP. More on what that participation might entail from Indian and Chinese media...

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.

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...

Web posted by Tarek Atia Monday, May 31, 2004 11:00 CAIRO

SPECIAL
Ancient Egypt extravaganzas

Latest discovery: a look at the world's oldest university in Alexandria.

Of course: Ancient Egyptian belief played  a part in formation of wedding ring concept.

Did wind power help to build the pyramids... one "pyramidiot" thinks so, and will try to prove it on the Discovery Channel.

The lure of an ancient Egyptian clean shave...

More antiquities to be returned to Egypt.

Web posted by Tarek Atia Saturday, May 29, 2004 20:00 CAIRO

Gaza more...
Details about what Egypt will be doing to smooth the Gaza transition...

Plus, Erekat says, "All what had been said about redeploying Egyptian security forces on the borders are just untrue rumors". 

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." 70 people were on the bus, it seems, one of whom had the canister with him.

How long will we continue to allow dangerous practices to take place with no enforcement or accountability and then cry when tragedy strikes? 

Summing it up
A quote in an article about Egypt's economy sums things up pretty well -- "Buying food for a family has never been so difficult," says housewife Mona Fahmy. "Every time I shop the prices have gone up, but my husband's salary never changes."

More Russian-Egyptian business cooperation on the way...

Too radical?
Egyptian imam at Philadelphia mosque taken into custody for unknown reasons... News reports speculate that it may have had to do with his fiery sermons.

Meanwhile, the US wants to extradite Abu Hamza al-Masri from London... Once again, says the Independent, it's the radicals who get all the publicity...  More on his past...

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..

Web posted by Tarek Atia Saturday, May 29, 2004 14:00 CAIRO

Lots of politics
Although invited, Mubarak won't attend the G8 summit in Georgia, citing a prior commitment as the reason. The RSVP follows the Arab summit's refusal to endorse an Egyptian resolution on reform.

Meanwhile, Egypt is playing a major role in a possible Israeli pullout from Gaza... The Egyptian intelligence chief talks to Sharon about it.

Here is an in-depth look at the government/Muslim Brotherhood dynamic from the Globe and Mail...

PLUS -- the controversial lawsuit against President Mubarak for not appointing a vice president has been thrown out by the court, reports AP.

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...

Web posted by Tarek Atia Wednesday, May 26, 2004 14:00 CAIRO

Making history? 
First, there was some pre summit optimism ... then a few post summit realities... 

The Washington Times says, "Differences among the Arab leaders that plagued summit preparations were brushed aside or glossed over to maintain unity." Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa says the Arab nation's strategic choice bears testimony to a steadfast belief in the unity of human destiny. 

2010 cont...
Sports Minister Alieddin Hilal says the reason Egypt didn't get any votes in its bid to host the 2010 World Cup was that it refused to bribe any of the FIFA executive board members. Today's Wafd says the minister later lessened the impact of this claim...

Mido...
... always causing problems?

Inquiry
Egypt has agreed to an inquiry into the treatment of two men extradited from Sweden

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...

Web posted by Tarek Atia Monday, May 24, 2004 11:00 CAIRO

Lead up...
Maher predicts a "fruitful summit"... This article also contains an interesting quote from Al-Ahram -- "The problem of the Arabs is that they meet to discuss what others want from them - but they have never met to discuss what they want themselves."

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...

Web posted by Tarek Atia Friday, May 21, 2004 23:00 CAIRO

The first RSVP
Mubarak says he will go to the Arab summit.

The current dynamic
An impressionistic piece from a Canadian magazine about the current state of anger at, and disillusionment with, the US

In Jordan, Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher says, "The apologies made by U.S. officials including Secretary of State Colin Powell at the World Economic Forum are not sufficient." Justice must be meted regarding the Abu Ghraib torture scandal, he says. 

Reactions from Maher and Arab League chief Amr Moussa to the idea of sending Arab troops to Iraq.

Economic talk
AFP looks at the growing budget deficit.

Meanwhile, Egypt exports to Japan up...

PLUS Cultural marketing cooperation with China commences...

2010 fallout
Africans in Cairo happy that South Africa won...

Egyptians diplomatically congratulate South Africa...

Was weather a factor? Khaleej Times wraps up reactions on the street, in parliament, and elsewhere... 

A changing dynamic?
New centre party applies for legitimacy... composed of former Muslim brothers, it will know in 4 months whether its moderate Islamist aims will be legitimized.

Sadat killer should be released, court says.

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

Web posted by Tarek Atia Wednesday, May 19, 2004 13:00 CAIRO

The big story
South Africa gets 14 votes, Morocco 10, Egypt none....

BBC's take.....and yet more from IOL

AND -- More from BBC -- "Not one supporter of Egypt's bid. I can't comprehend what's happened," said EFA secretary general, Adly al-Qaei. "I never felt that our chances were great but I never imagined that we wouldn't get a single vote. We had all the capabilities to organise the tournament, but we couldn't convince a single member."

And, for the most comprehensive of all, looking at reactions from all the nations that won and lost, is Sports Illustrated's take

Meanwhile, Libyan media not too happy with the results...

Domestic politics
Mass Muslim brotherhood arrests...

Regional news
Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher wonders what sort of Gaza Sharon "wants to leave", at economic conference in Jordan where Powell also criticized Israeli demolitions of Gaza homes.

Update on Berg reaction
Islam Online does a story on al-Azhar scholars denouncing the beheading..

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.

Web posted by Tarek Atia Monday, May 17, 2004 12:00 CAIRO

Nice try
The FIFA site's headline sums up everything -- "It's South Africa" that will host the 2010 World Cup, and not Egypt. 

Politics
AP claims Arab media not willing to condemn Iraq beheading...

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.

Books, etc.
The Daily Star reviews the latest in Egyptian pop literature...

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

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

Web posted by Tarek Atia Saturday, May 15, 2004 15:00 CAIRO

2010 ongoing press...
Strong last second PR on BBC and IOL

FIFA outlines the rules...

FT diplomatically disses Egypt's bid... 

Meanwhile, the Egyptian delegation itself remains upbeat as they head for Zurich.

Tourism up!
CNN calls Egypt "remarkably resilient".

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. (Registration required).

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?"

Web posted by Tarek Atia Thursday, May 13, 2004 16:00 CAIRO

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.

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

2010 update
Bickering in the lead up to May 15th... bitter rumblings from Morocco, and Ghali quits Egypt's bid team.

Allafrica provides a closer look at how the voting might go, suggesting lost Tunisian votes may go to Egypt or Morocco.

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

New hotels
Hilton opening five new properties in Egypt 

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

Web posted by Tarek Atia Tuesday, May 11, 2004 12:00 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

Still aiming for local Mondial
Egypt continues its own PR offensive -- pre vote lobbying for the World Cup 2010 bid -- talking money, here to Malay Mal online, and safety to BBC.

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."

Web posted by Tarek Atia Sunday, May 9, 2004 12:00 CAIRO

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

Saga ending?
Egyptian grandma jailed in international child custody case may soon be heading back to Egypt

Not good enough
BBC reports on Egypt reaction to FIFA 2010 bid technical report

Elsewhere, Egypt emphasizes its safety in lead up to big vote.

More soccer
Football court first of its kind in Africa

Egypt will go into their opening World Cup qualifier without Ahmed 'Mido' Hossam. The match against Sudan takes place June 6 in Khartoum.

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

Web posted by Tarek Atia Friday, May 7, 2004 13:00 CAIRO

Better than expected?
FIFA'S technical report has been released, with Egypt ranked second to South Africa, in the preliminaries to the 15 May final decision on who will host the 2010 World Cup.

The executive summary, however, clearly shows that it is still a close call. It says there is "potential for an excellent World Cup to be staged in Egypt" and that "Egypt is capable of organizing a very good World Cup", language very similar to the one used for South Africa, and far more complimentary than the other three countries being analyzed. 

The rest of the report -- which can be found on PDF format at FIFA's website, (or check out BBC's handy summary) is very interesting as well, with Egypt getting positive nods in almost all fields -- safety, enthusiasm, media facilities, etc.. It also includes details like the inspection committee being surprised by the thousands of people who often turned out just to welcome the committee. 

Modern games
Wadi Degla soccer club interested in buying English second division club team

Egyptian international soccer player based in Portugal embroiled in fake passport woes...

Privatizing soccer -- national team coach's big salary being paid for by anonymous businessmen?

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 Mhaer 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.

Web posted by Tarek Atia Wednesday, May 5, 2004 23:00 CAIRO

Scandal and shame
Arab press reacts to Iraqi prisoner torture photos...

"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."

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

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...

Drugs, anonymous
Nekheila drug bandits about to face trial

Soccer, soccer, soccer...
FIFA technical committee leak reveals Egypt placing second to South Africa on World Cup 2010 specs...

Sports Minister doesn't want to give up on Egypt 2010 bid despite all the bad press..

Egypt bid to host 2010 dismissed by Moroccan official

Boutros Boutros Ghali to lead Egyptian delegation to FIFA next month.

AND... Another Egyptian heads for top European soccer club play...This time it's Ahmed Fathy and Arsenal. He left for the UK right after his team, Ismaili, lost in Tunisia.

Other sports
More from the Sinai bowling tourney

Web posted by Tarek Atia Monday, May 3, 2004 11:00 CAIRO

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...

Propaganda
Israel to build massive trench at Rafah border with Egypt

Old buildings
FT does an interesting feature on Alexandria and its premiere preservationist

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...

Pulling rank
Egypt praised in latest US global terror report.

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

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...

Web posted by Tarek Atia Saturday, May 1, 2004 10:00 CAIRO

CLICK HERE FOR MORE WEB LOG

ARCHIVE 14 -- APRIL 2004

ARCHIVE 13 -- MARCH 2004

ARCHIVE 12 -- FEBRUARY 2004

ARCHIVE 11 -- JANUARY 2004

ARCHIVE 10 -- DECEMBER 2003

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