|
|
register now
for site updates
(type your email here)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Politics/headline news
Trying to convince the Taliban
Responding to a call from the head of UNICEF to intervene in the Taliban's decision to destroy ancient Buddha statues in Afghanistan, President Hosni Mubarak sent a high-level envoy to Kabul this week. Egypt's Mufti, Nasr Farid Wassel, is in Afghanistan for a meeting with Mullah Omar, leader of the Taliban. A wide array of Islamic scholars and writers in Egypt have condemned the Taliban's decision to destroy the statues, arguing that the group's claims about safeguarding Islam from idol worship, have no solid basis in jurisprudence. Egypt takes good care of its huge trove of pre-Islamic antiquities, and it is hoped that the Mufti's arguments may have some impact on the Taliban. Reports in the press have indicated, however, that the destruction of the statues is already well underway.
Sports
Big win for the Pharaohs
Egypt's national soccer team trounced Algeria 5-2 in an exciting match at Cairo Stadium on Sunday night. The contest started off quickly, with an Egyptian goal in the first 16 minutes. By the end of the first half the score was 3-2. Egypt dominated the second half of the world cup qualifier, thus bringing their point total in their division up to 6. They are in second place in Group C, trailing first place Senegal on goal difference, and still face tough odds to qualify for the tournament.
Economy
Huge phone numbers
Egypt Telecom plans on investing LE21 billion in the next five years, as it expands both its land line coverage to an anticipated 5 million additional customers across the country, and continues to introduce additional services to its set of offerings. The figures are from a tiny item on the front page of Al-Ahram, as the slow countdown to the highly-anticipated IPO begins. The expectation these days is that the oft-delayed sale of a large chunk of the national phone company to ordinary investors should be taking place in October 2001.
Miscellaneous
Judging a book by its cover
The cover of the Arabic translation of novelist Ahdaf Soueif's Booker Prize-nominated novel The Map of Love has been reprinted, according to Akhbar Al-Youm, after the author expressed her disappointment with the cover chosen by the General Egyptian Book Organization (GEBO). The original English-printing of the acclaimed novel, an interwoven tale of cross-cultural romance spanning an entire century, had a pyramids motif as its theme. Soueif, a well-known Egyptian writer living in the UK, was visited by Samir Sarhan, the head of GEBO, during his recent trip to London, and presented with several copies of the reprinted edition with the original book's cover, the paper says.
Television
Um Kulthum = career ender
Actress Sabrine, who reached the pinnacle of her popularity after playing legendary Arabic diva Um Kulthum in a TV series a few Ramadans ago, has retired and donned the veil. Sabrine's decision to leave the world of acting had been in the works ever since she received such a tremendous amount of critical and popular acclaim for Um Kulthum. Where would she find a role which would give her the same level of prestige? Probably nowhere, thus making bowing out at the top a highly desirable option. Sabrine's decision, however, apparently put director Magdi Abu Emieira, with whom she had discussed playing the lead role in an upcoming TV series Ada Al-Nahar (The Morning Passed), in a bit of a bind, delaying the show's schedule while he frantically searches for a replacement.
Events/exhibitions
Sculpture symposium wraps up
Every year a group of prominent sculptors from around the world gathers in Aswan for nearly two months to create granite sculptures. The 6th annual Aswan Sculpture Symposium is a conscious attempt to recreate the ancient Egyptians' artistic spirit and enthusiasm for the art of sculpting. This year's symposium featured 17 artists from eight nations. The sculptors used some 160 tons of granite, and their works will join those of previous years -- some 78 statues made by 62 artists, of whom 22 are Egyptian. The cornucopia of sculpture is displayed in the garden of Aswan's Nubian Museum.
Worth a move there?
Ismailia is going a little festival-happy this year. The sleepy Suez Canal town, which will be hosting a caricature festival over the next few weeks, is planning on hosting a strawberry festival in the near future, reports Al-Wafd. Later on in the year, Ismailia will be begin hosting its International Documentary Film Festival again, after a several-year hiatus, and in the fall, the International Folklore Festival, as usual, will bring its colorful shows into town for two weeks of fun.
Inventions
Encouraging young minds
Several regional exhibitions are being planned in an attempt to showcase youthful inventions and entrepreneurial spirit across the country. Businessmen and academics will be attending the exhibitions with a view to choosing the inventions that can best be implemented to help society. The regional events are a lead up to a major invention exhibition set to take place in August in Cairo, reports Al-Ahram. Elsewhere in the paper, we are also informed that The Technology Research Academy is awarding two annual prizes for the best inventions. Being given away under the auspices of Suzanne Mubarak, the prizes will be worth LE5000 each.
Browse previous news items by day
Wednesday 21/2--Friday 23/2--Tuesday 27/2--Saturday 3/3
Wednesday 7/3--Friday 9/3
Did you like this article? Send your comments to comments@cairolive.com
|
|
|
|
