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Pope Shenouda III: Four decades of Coptic history - (430 days ago)
Having been pronounced dead on Saturday afternoon at 88, Pope Shenouda III ended an exceptionally hectic tenure that impacted Copts in many ways over more than four decades.Named Coptic pope of Alexandria on 14 November 1971, Shenouda's first ten years in charge of the Coptic papacy were the most eventful of his lengthy stint, due to disputes and disagreements with late president Anwar Sadat over
The last 10 Popes in Egypt - (431 days ago)
Born Nazeer Roufail in 1923, the future 118th Pope of the Coptic Orthodox of Alexandria graduated from the Faculty of Arts of Cairo University and worked as a teacher as well a reporter before choosing monastic life. As a bishop, Shenouda III and number of his students were suspended in 1966 by Cyril IV because of his campaign for changes and reforms in the church, such as calling for
SCAF, Al-Azhar and presidential candidates react to Shenouda death - (433 days ago)
Egypt’s ruling military council, presidential candidates and religious figures expressed sorrow and offered their respects to Pope Shenouda III, who passed away at the age of 89 on Saturday. The Supreme Council of Armed Forces (SCAF), in a message on its Facebook page, said that it hopes that the Pope’s wishes of “preserving the unity of Egypt and the unity of its social
Egypt's candidates, politicians react to Shenouda death - (433 days ago)
Egypt’s main political forces, presidential hopefuls and religious figures expressed sorrow and offered condolences over the death of Pope Shenouda III who passed away on Saturday at the age of 89. Egypt’s Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ahmed al-Tayeb in a lengthy statement expressed his sympathy with the Christian community over the death of Pope Shenouda, saying that he was a respected
Presidential Vote Becoming Egypt's Most Exciting - (436 days ago)
The Associated PressFrom plumbers to lawyers, dessert chefs to retired master spies, hundreds are trying to join the race for president in what is shaping up to be Egypt's most exciting vote in living memory.The vote is the first since last year's ouster of authoritarian leader Hosni Mubarak in a popular uprising. And Egyptians are reveling in the anything-goes atmosphere after the restricted
Egyptian League cancelation; necessity or punishment? - (438 days ago)
Egyptian football pitches have been virtually abandoned since 1 February, when over 70 Ahly fans were killed in Port Said after the final whistle of a league game.While criminal investigations are still ongoing, the Egyptian Football Association’s elected board, under the presidency of Samir Zaher, had no choice but to resign, leaving a caretaker board, under Anwar Saleh, to make a hard
Idiot's guide to Egypt’s presidential elections 2012 - (438 days ago)
Historical background 1805-1952: Until the military revolution of 23 July 1952, Egypt had been under the hereditary rule of the family of Mohamed Ali who took power in 1805. King Farouk, the last of the Mohamed Ali dynasty, was ousted from power and Egypt declared a republic on 18 June 1953. 1953-1956: Army General Mohamed Naguib was selected by the military to be the first president of
Meet your presidential candidate: Mansour Hassan, the resuscitated - (438 days ago)
For almost three decades, Mansour Hassan, a former stalwart of Anwar Sadat’s regime, remained aloof from the political arena. But today, he seems to be contemplating a glorious return with his bid for president in post-Hosni Mubarak Egypt. Only three days before the nomination period kicked off, Hassan, 75, announced that he will engage in the brewing presidential race. Unlike Amr
Meet your presidential candidate: Selim al-Awa, the opportunist - (440 days ago)
For a man whose political program champions moderate Islam and citizenship, it is unfortunate that Mohamed Selim al-Awa became a household name in 2010 because of comments he made about Egyptian Christians storing weapons in their churches. “Christians hoarding weapons in churches can only mean one thing: that they intend to use them against Muslims,” Awa said during a live interview
Meet your presidential candidate: Ahmed Shafiq, the loner - (441 days ago)
Although he was forced to resign as prime minister in the face of raging protests just one year ago because of his ties to Hosni Mubarak’s regime, Ahmed Shafiq defiantly returns to the scene to run in Egypt’s first post-Mubarak presidential election slated for 23 and 24 May. With a hoarse voice and the quick temper of a military man, the question is whether Egyptians will vote for
Meet your presidential candidate: Hamdeen Sabbahi, the anachronistic - (443 days ago)
When Gamal Abdel Nasser died in 1970, he left behind a progeny of like-minded ideologues who adhered to his form of big-government socialist economies and pan-Arab nationalism. Though they are now a rare breed in the visible spectrum of Egyptian politics, one Nasserist has survived as a prominent political force and is running for president in 2012: Hamdeen Sabbahi. Reaping the fruits of his
Meet your presidential candidate: Abdel Moneim Abouel Fotouh, the reformer - (444 days ago)
Abdel Moneim Abouel Fotouh was the leader of the Cairo University Student Union when he rose up to his feet to accuse then-invincible President Anwar al-Sadat of favoring hypocrites at a public conference in the 1970s. “I am not willing to listen to this talk, because it surpasses the boundaries of politeness...Stop and behave,” responded Sadat angrily. Back then,
Meet your presidential candidate: Amr Moussa, the vacillator - (445 days ago)
With a strong and steady voice, and the ability to alternate at will between the image of the intimidating statesman and the approachable man of the street, Amr Moussa has managed to become the front runner in the presidential elections following a revolution that overthrew the regime he served under. The 76-year-old veteran politician is now on a race to reinvent his image and sell himself as a
Fayza Aboul Naga: The woman behind the US NGO ruckus - (446 days ago)
Her name is much more recognized across the world today than that of the effective ruler of the country or any of his military or executive aides – She is Fayza Aboul Naga, Egypt's Minister of International Cooperation. Western, especially, American officials and diplomats simply hate her – and so does the Western media. They say she is a stumbling block in the face of the
Will new amendment lead to an independent constitutional court? - (453 days ago)
Among the laws that the legislative committee of the People’s Assembly is currently revising is a June decree regarding how the head of the Supreme Constitutional Court is chosen. The law is one of many the Supreme Council of Armed Forces has issued autonomously in the past year.Unlike all other judicial bodies in Egypt, the head of the Supreme Constitutional Court was appointed directly by
Behind the Egypt-US aid crisis - (454 days ago)
The case against 45 non-governmental organisation (NGO) workers is due to resume on Sunday at the North Cairo criminal court. The workers – who include 19 Americans – face charges of illegally receiving foreign funds and for working in Egypt without licensing.Meanwhile, Egypt's authorities have banned US citizen Mary Elizabeth from leaving Egypt; her name is on the list of employees
US-Muslim Brotherhood relations key to Egypt’s economy? - (461 days ago)
Bikya MasrEgypt continues to struggle with violence in the wake of political uncertainty and transition. Yet despite the domestic turmoil, there has been a positive development – the relationship between the United States and the Muslim Brotherhood has improved after decades of mutual distrust. In January, high-level US and Muslim Brotherhood officials met and posed for pictures at the
Parliament Review: A week of comedy and disappointment - (470 days ago)
This week’s parliamentary sessions had the public joking about airing future sessions on comedy channels instead of news, and those who abstained from the polls telling those who participated, in hope of having a legitimate authority representing them, “I told you so.” The Port Said violence that left over 70 dead last Wednesday presented Parliament with its first major
Egypt's Shura Council elections kick off - (481 days ago)
Egypt's Shura Council The Shura Council is the upper house of Egyptian bicameral Parliament. Its name roughly translates into English as "the Consultative Council". The lower house of parliament is the People's Assembly.The Shura Council was created in 1980 through a Constitutional Amendment. The Council is composed of 264 members of which 176 members are directly elected and 88 are appointed by
Twitters role in revolutionary Egypt - isolation or connection? - (486 days ago)
The role of the internet and social media in the January 25 Revolution is undeniable; despite this, some observers believe that Twitter is isolated from the mainstream of Egyptian society and that tweets (Twitter posts) represent only a small segment of the population.Only 27 million Egyptians have access to the internet, according to the latest official numbers, out of a population of
El-Katatni: from prisoner to speaker of parliament - (486 days ago)
On 27 January 2011, Mohamed Saad El-Katatni and tens of other Muslim Brotherhood leaders were arrested as the government of Hosni Mubarak sought to repress the growing popular uprising.Nearly a year later, it is fair to say that the Brotherhood has turned the tables on the toppled regime, with El-Katatni overwhelmingly elected as the new parliamentary speaker, while former president Mubarak faces
Keywords and phrases of the Egyptian revolution - (488 days ago)
Ahram Online compiles a selection of Egyptian words and phrases commonly heard following the 2011 Egyptian revolution. Enjoy.Felool (remnants of the former regime)Felool is one of the most common negative words in post-revolution Egypt. Felool mainly refers to former members of the now-disbanded National Democratic Party (NDP) whom revolutionaries have exerted persistent efforts to force out of
Tahrir Square: Where people make history - (490 days ago)
The bird's-eye view of Tahrir Square became one of the most iconic images of 2011. The square, the epicentre of the January 25 Revolution, witnessed the ebb of flow of post-Mubarak Egypt throughout the year. Initially the focus of millions chanting for the fall of the Mubarak regime, and later the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, Tahrir witnessed violent crackdowns, celebrations, funerals
Egypt's Presidential candidates react to ElBaradei pullout from presidential race - (496 days ago)
The decision of reform leader Mohamed ElBaradei to not run for the Egyptian presidency in protest of the military's failure to achieve the demands of the revolution has sparked a wide range of reactions among other presidential candidates. Here are some of these reactions:Amr MoussaMoussa said he feels sorry that ElBaradei has made this decision, and he appreciates ElBaradei’s role in
Faces will never forgotten - (498 days ago)
Some of Egyptian prominent figures left us in 2011 Political and Military Figures Saad El Shazly Saad El Shazly passed away on February 10 at the age of 88. El Shazly was an influential military figure who became chief of staff during the October 1973 War. Following his public criticism and disapproval of the Camp David Accord, he was dismissed from his post as ambassador to Britain and
2011: Deposed dictators, struggling revolutions - (510 days ago)
On 14 January 2011, long-time Tunisian dictator Zein El-Abidine Ben Ali fled Tunis on an airplane. His sudden departure followed weeks of protest by Tunisian citizens who called on him to leave office.The spark of the Tunisian uprising was ignited by the injustice served to a poor fruit vendor who was harassed by Tunisian police who confiscated his cart, his only source of income. His situation
2011 Year of the Tyrant, 2012 ominous for Syria, Iraq - (519 days ago)
It all began with a slap and a slur hurled at a poor vegetable seller by a policewoman in a provincial Tunisian city. Mohamed Bouazizi set himself alight in a protest that ignited a chain of fires across the Arab world. Twelve months after his death, he would scarcely recognise the region he knew. From the Atlantic coast to the shores of the Gulf, popular uprisings against entrenched
Are street children being paid to incite violence? - (522 days ago)
Since the latest round of violence in downtown Cairo began on Friday morning, claims have emerged from both human rights activists and the ruling military council that street children are being paid to incite violence. Those making the claims, however, have not provided evidence as to who might be paying them, and skeptics question the motives of those making the claims. At its press conference
All Terrorists are Muslims…Except the 94% that Aren’t: report - (527 days ago)
The second round of Egypt’s parliamentary election has begun today. Meanwhile, the results from the first round of the election have realized the riffing speculation that political parties from the Islamist current would take the most seats in the next parliament. Such expectations have led to fears – over how an Islamist-dominated parliament could shape
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BBC SportWhen it's put to him that he might be the most talented athlete in the world to hold a racquet, a bashful Ramy Ashour admits "that's pretty great".The 25-year-old Egyptian is more than just the current squash world number one - his elastic, unorthodox brilliance and charisma could be the key to squash breaking out beyond its four walls and regaining a place on the wider sporting
Ministers in Prime Minister Hisham Qandil's cabinet following the recent reshuffle (new appointees are in italics): 1. Minister of Agriculture Ahmed Mahmoud Ali El-Gizawi2. Minister of Antiquities Ahmed Eissa3. Minister of Aviation Wael Maadawi4. Minister of Communication Atef Helmy5. Minister of Culture
AP— April 15, 2013: Two bombs explode in the packed streets near the finish line of the Boston Marathon, killing three people and injuring more than 140.— January 17, 2011: A backpack bomb is placed along a Martin Luther King Day parade route in Spokane, Washington, meant to kill and injure participants in a civil rights march, but is found and disabled before it can explode. White
The convenient marriage between Iran and the Arab left would have been unthinkable only a few years ago, given the traditional ideological paradoxes between patriarchal Persian Shiism, on the one hand, and leftist orthodoxy on the other.Indeed, a casual viewer of Hizbullah's Al-Manar television, or the Iranian-funded Al-Mayadin TV, these days would probably think that the two Shia propaganda
