Egypt News
Egypt denies Iranian offer to restore shrines - (51 days ago)
Egypt’s Ministry of Antiquities has denied signing agreements with Iran concerning the restoration of Islamic shrines or any other monuments, in a press statement on Wednesday. In the statement, Minister Mohamed Ibrahim Ali denied local news reports that authorities had agreed with Iranian officials to renovate shrines widely believed to contain the bodies of members of the Prophet
Analysts argue silencing of free voices detrimental to regime - (51 days ago)
The regime’s attempts to silence local satirist Bassem Youssef, often described as the Egyptian Jon Stewart, landed President Mohamed Morsy on the original Jon Stewart show, with a reach and popularity far beyond Youssef’s “El-Bernameg.” Being mocked on the most popular political satire show worldwide is one of many ways that the recent wave of legal persecution by the
Wednesday papers: Exploding canisters, expired chicken - (51 days ago)
Privately owned newspaper Al-Shorouk leads this morning with, “Angry cylinders explode in the government’s face.” In a swift act of anger, Butane gas distributors expressed their disapproval of the price hikes implemented on Monday by breaking into the Ministry of Supply yesterday and chanting against the Muslim Brotherhood and the government. According to the paper, Magdy
MIDEAST MONEY-Egyptians buy into real estate to escape currency dive - (51 days ago)
After buying gold plates for 100,000 Egyptian pounds ($14,700), Naer Wahid is considering whether to use the rest of his savings to acquire, with his sisters, an apartment or plot of land outside Cairo.Like many Egyptians, the tour guide is tired of seeing his savings shrinking along with the value of the local currency, which has been in decline since president Hosni Mubarak was ousted in early
Salafis to lobby against rapprochement with Iran - (51 days ago)
The Salafi Dawah and the Nour Party are launching campaigns against Egypt’s warming ties with Iran, leading Salafi sources have told Al-Masry Al-Youm. The groups will stage a series of Friday protests outside the residence of Iranian Ambassador Mojtabi Amani, which will be followed by demonstrations outside the Muslim Brotherhood’s headquarters. Sources also added that a panel, led
Politicians criticize Shura Council for permitting religious slogans - (51 days ago)
Political groups have hit out at a decision by Egypt’s upper house to remove religious slogans from a list of prohibited electoral campaign practices, with one Salafi leader calling it a sign of “political bankruptcy.” “I feel we are experiencing an era of political bankruptcy, slogans will not work anymore”, said Yousry Hammad, deputy chairman of the Salafi Watan
Damascus violence forces even most resolute Syrians to flee - (51 days ago)
A new exodus is flowing from Syria as fighting edges closer to the heart of Damascus - those who swore they would never flee are selling their belongings to escape a battle now raging on their doorsteps. Many Syrians in the capital had long asserted that the uprising-turned-civil war would not breach the city center. Others insisted they would stay, no matter the consequences. But fear
Cairo Airport turns lights down, airlines change schedules - (51 days ago)
Cairo Airport authorities started on Wednesday the implementation of a plan to reduce the consumption of energy after midnight as part of a plan to face an electricity shortage expected in the summer. Airliners meanwhile are adjusting their schedules to avoid the night hours when the airport will be partially closed. Airport authorities have already started reducing the lighting in arrival and
Political powers to protest IMF loan - (51 days ago)
A number of political powers and movements are staging a protest on Wednesday in front of the High Court to oppose Egypt's request for a US$4.8 billion loan from the IMF. The protesters will later march to the Cabinet to protest borrowing policies and the austerity measures the government is planning as the IMF delegation visits Egypt. The protests come as an IMF delegation arrived in Cairo
Hostilities flare along Israeli-Gaza border - (51 days ago)
Israel pressed Hamas on Wednesday to rein in rocket-firing militants in the Gaza Strip after the most serious outbreak of cross-border hostilities since a ceasefire ended an eight-day war in November. The Israeli military said two rockets fired from the Gaza Strip struck southern Israel on Wednesday, causing no casualties, hours after it launched its first air strikes in the Palestinian enclave
UPDATE 1-EFG-Hermes makes Q4 loss of 21 mln Egy pounds - (51 days ago)
EFG-Hermes, Egypts biggest investment bank, reported a net loss of 21 million Egyptian pounds ($3.08 million) for the fourth quarter, saying one-off expenses and a tax charge had inflated its costs.The bank had made a 31-million-pound profit in the same quarter a year earlier.Operating costs grew 14 percent to 407 million while revenue rose 7 percent to 447 million pounds, EFG said on
US has 'real concerns' over Morsy's government - (51 days ago)
The United States has "real concerns" about the direction being taken by the Egyptian government following recent arrests and political violence, Secretary of State John Kerry said Tuesday. "We have put a series of real choices to the government of Egypt, but in the end they have to make those choices," Kerry told reporters, adding it was "a key moment for Egypt.
Ministry: 170 Egyptians married Syrian women since January 2012 - (51 days ago)
Official Justice Ministry statistics issued Tuesday revealed that 113 Egyptians married Syrian women in 2012, and 57 in the first quarter of 2013, totaling 170 marriages. “Procedures require that the Syrian Embassy approves the marriage, and that the wife has residence in Egypt,” said ministry spokesperson Ahmed Sallam, adding that the ministry has no statistics about informal
EFG-Hermes records Q4 net loss of 21 mln Egyptian pounds - (51 days ago)
EFG-Hermes reported a 21 million Egyptian pound ($3.08 million) net loss in the fourth quarter, Egypts biggest investment bank said in a statement on the stock exchange on Wednesday. The bank made a 31-million-pound net profit in the same quarter a year earlier. It posted a net profit of 211.14 million pounds for 2012, down from 295.11 million in
Egypt threatens to cancel licence of TV station hosting satirist - (51 days ago)
The Egyptian government has threatened to cancel the licence of an independent TV channel for hosting a popular satirist who was questioned by prosecutors over accusations that he insulted President Mohamed Mursi, state media said on Tuesday. Bassem Youssef, who rose to fame with a satirical online show after the uprising that swept the previous president, Hosni Mubarak, from power in
April 6 Youth calls for 'Day of Anger’ Saturday - (52 days ago)
The April 6 Youth Movement called for a 'Day of Anger’ Saturday to mark the anniversary of its establishment. In a Tuesday statement on its Facebook page, the movement said people should demand the overthrow of the administration once again. The group claims the government is to blame for killing protesters and arresting revolutionary youth and activists, contending that things will
Ismaili football fans storm pitch after major loss - (52 days ago)
Police used tear gas to disperse Ismaili Club fans after they stormed the pitch Tuesday following a match between Ismaili and an Algerian team at a stadium in New Cairo. The fans were incensed their team had lost the match, failing to qualify for the Arab Federation Cup. According to security sources, people in stands tried to assault Ismaili's coach and staff as well as star player
Monufiya students protest cancelled activist seminar - (52 days ago)
Dozens of Monufiya University students staged a protest Tuesday in front of the school's Faculty of Law to protest the cancellation of a discussion hosted by activists Alaa Abdel Fattah and Khaled Tellaima. In an act of defiance, Abdel Fattah and Tellaima held the talk in front of the dean's office. Abdel Fattah, Tellaima and the Monufiya Tagammu Party's Secretary Haitham
Govt fires back at US Embassy tweet of video criticizing Morsy - (52 days ago)
The government fired back at the US Embassy via social network Twitter Tuesday following a post criticizing the arrest of satirist Bassem Youssef. "It's inappropriate for a diplomatic mission to engage in such negative political propaganda," the president's office tweeted in response to the US Embassy's promotion of a video featuring American comedian Jon Stewart lambasting authorities for
Shura Council approves religious slogans in campaigns - (52 days ago)
The Shura Council approved the use of religious slogans in election campaigns on Tuesday during a discussion on laws governing political rights, according to state newspaper Al-Ahram. But it wasn't a smooth vote. The newspaper said opposition and independent MPs debated the amendment fiercely and walked out after losing the vote. The amendment's proponents were mainly Islamist
Students storm grand sheikh's office over mass poisoning - (52 days ago)
Some 500 Egyptian students broke into the headquarters of the country's top Islamic university on Tuesday to demand the resignation of its president following a mass food poisoning on campus, a security official said. Around 460 Al-Azhar University students were hospitalized on Monday after eating at a cafeteria on campus, according to the Health Ministry. Most of the students were
Ex-officials return LE70 mln in illegal newspaper gifts - (52 days ago)
Sources at state daily Al-Gomhurriya revealed Tuesday that 32 former officials had returned a collective LE70 million to prosecutors for illegal gifts handed out as bribes by government media. According to the newspaper, ex-President Hosni Mubarak paid LE2 million, while former Defense Minister Hussein Tantawi returned LE31, 479. Ex-presidential staff Zakariya Azmy paid back LE76,000. The
Butane distributors protest price hikes in Cairo - (52 days ago)
Dozens of butane gas cylinders distributors blocked Qasr al-Aini Street briefly in front of the Ministry of Supply to protest against price hikes implemented Monday. Protesters demanded Supply Minister Bassem Kamal rethink the increase. Filling butane cylinders for use in the home now costs LE8, up 60 percent, while commercial butane costs LE16 per cylinder, a price jump of 100
Public Prosecution halts sex assault investigation - (52 days ago)
The Kasr El-Nil Public Prosecution halted an investigation Tuesday into the alleged mob sexual assault of a female decorator in Tahrir Square in January. Unnamed judicial sources said that the woman had refused a medical examination, while the forensic investigation team failed to identify the perpetrators. The woman reported that a group of people had surrounded her and tore off her clothes
Authorities arrest 15 suspected militants in North Sinai - (52 days ago)
The Armed Forces arrested 15 people on Tuesday accused of being members of a militant group that illegally brandished assault weapons and marched parade-style through the North Sinai cities of Rafah and Sheikh Zuwayed two days ago. In a statement published on the Interior Ministry's official Facebook page, officials say more than 50 members of a Salafi jihadist group from Egypt and Gaza
CBC demands Bassem Youssef 'tone down language' - (52 days ago)
The Free Zones Investment Affairs Authority issued an official warning to the CBC television network Tuesday after receiving multiple complaints over comedian Bassem Youssef's show, El Bernameg. According to Abdel Moneim al-Alfy, the authority's deputy chief, Youssef must tone down his offenssive language to be more family and culturally appropriate to be in line with its license. Alfy did not
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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
