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 council’s 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.

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 th