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日本学術振興会カイロ研究連絡センター
JSPS Cairo Research Station
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Tel. Fax. 02-2736-3752
Egypt's long-term tourists may be forced to leave
By Charlie Cabot / Daily News Egypt July 13, 2011, 5:29 pm
CAIRO: Tourist visas have long been the easiest way for foreigners to live in Egypt, but with increasing unemployment and fears of unregulated immigrant labor, the age of the long-term tourist is drawing to a close.
The immigration department has rejected all recent requests to renew tourist visas, leaving many long time Egypt residents without a legal reason to stay.
“There is some logic to this, if you look at it from their perspective,” said Hayk Hakobyan, who has lived in Cairo for four years under work and tourist visas. “But the way they are doing it I don’t think is very wise.”
The changes have come about in face of a March study revealing that 30 percent of workers in Egypt are foreign, even though the allowed amount in any given institution is 10 percent.
Later in March, Minister of Labor and Immigration Ahmed Hassan El-Boraey announced that work permits would no longer be issued for unskilled foreign workers. However, it seems that many have evaded the process by continuing to work under tourist visas.
But many foreigners who are not stealing labor from Egyptians are getting caught in the crossfire.
“People like me are not supposed to be targeted by this,” said Hakobyan, who has worked in business development. “It’s like they’re shooting birds with a cannon ― they’ll kill a number of birds but not necessarily who they wanted.”
Hakobyan has mutiple Egyptian tourist visas in his passport, but when he went to the Mugamma to get another extension in early June, he encountered difficulty.
“There is a new rule,” a police officer told him. “You have to have a reason to stay. You’re either working here or studying here or married here.”
Hakobyan was considering leaving Egypt anyway for a few months due to the struggling economy and personal reasons, but the unwelcoming attitude of the ministry cemented his decision.
“When they started not renewing my visa, I said ok, well, that’s it,” Hakobyan said.
Others have tried to find ways around the policy, either by securing student visas or work visas. Both have become increasingly difficult to obtain.
“If you’re going to be here to study Arabic, you have to go to a national university and enroll,” the ministry told one American woman, denying her student visa request.
The same woman, who is going to the United States for a few weeks in August, told Daily News Egypt that she is considering getting a new passport just to hide her previous Egyptian tourist visas.
The student visa policy is particularly devastating to the numerous private language schools in the city, which no longer can provide their students with legal reasons to stay.
“Those kinds of schools and programs are going to die,” said James Yakscoe, an American working in Cairo. “The smaller schools don’t stand a chance.”
Yakscoe, as well as most of the expat community, is aware that he is on rocky ground. His company, which specializes in outsourcing and labor, saw two employees get their work visa renewals turned down this past month.
“We’re reapplying and seeing if anything changes,” Yakscoe said. “I’m not exactly hopeful.”
The policies have left many foreigners with the impending choice of staying illegally, and risking trouble when they depart, or leaving.
“It’s possible that I’ll just call it quits and head back home,” Yakscoe said.
The situation is worrisome for the expatriate community as a whole, which exists primarily on tourist visas and which many see as an integral part of the Cairo economy.
“We pay higher rent, we eat at more restaurants ― we definitely contribute to the economy,” said one expat, whose tourist visa renewal was denied in May. “And I feel I’m being pushed out.”
In addition to being bigger spenders, skilled foreign workers argue that they provide services to Egyptian companies that cannot be replaced by Egyptians.
“I reach out to a lot of international donors,” one foreign employee said. “To try to transition those relationships [to an Egyptian] would be difficult.”
“I want to see more Egyptians qualified and having these jobs,” she added. “But they don’t need to take this extreme approach.”
Others have echoed the frustration with the harsh policy.
“It’s frustrating because there needs to be some transition between the system then and now,” Yakscoe said. “To simply cut [the expat community] off is kind of worrisome.”
“Don’t just cut off tourist visas,” another added, suggesting a system more akin to the Gulf countries. “It’s probably going to hurt Egypt more in the long run.”
Although most agree that the new system is imperfect, the ministry shows no signs of backing down. In the meantime, foreigners wait with expiring visas and no clear plans for the future.
“We’re just hoping when we do leave that we don’t get detained at the airport,” one American said. “I think all of us are just waiting to see what happens.”
Western visitors to Egypt must obtain visas before arrival
Thu, 08/09/2011 - 19:45
Egypt will require visas from all travelers prior to arriving in the country, ending decade-long unrestricted entry for American and other western visiters, and some other nationals, the Middle East news agency reported Thursday.
Foreigners in Egypt have already begun to face a clamping down on visa restrictions since 25 January, with some reporting that Egyptian officials have begun rejecting a second three-month visa extension for those already in the country and substituting them for one-month extensions only.
MENA quoted a spokesman for the government as saying that only tourists coming on pre-arranged package tours will have unrestricted entry to Egypt.
Mohamad Hegazy said a new government decree will require that all visitors apply for a visa from an Egyptian embassy abroad.
Hegazy did not explain the motives behind the new measure or say when the new regulation will take effect.
The move appears to be the latest salvo against free entry and residency for foreigners in Egypt following the uprising that toppled President Hosni Mubarak in February.
Nationals of the Arab Gulf states, Latin America, Japan and other wealthy Asian countries, and Australians are among those affected by the new restrictions.
Tens of thousands flock to Tahrir to 'Correct the Path'
Thousands of Egyptian protesters gather at Cairo's iconic Tahrir Square on September 9, 2011 to take part in a mass rally calling for reforms as the ruling military warned it would respond harshly to any violence by activists. (AFP PHOTO/MOHAMED HOSSAM)
AUC striking students refuse negotiations on fourth day
Hundreds of students continue striking at AUC, refusing to negotiate with the university president Lisa Anderson and arguing that she has already refused all demands
Salma Shukrallah , Wednesday 14 Sep 2011
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Students continue striking at AUC refusing negotiations with university
Hundreds of American University in Cairo (AUC) students have entered their 4th day of protests demanding lower fees and higher wages for on-campus workers and security personnel, who joined their protests. Many of the campus walls and entrances are covered with banners in support of what the AUC strike.
The banners read “Strike”, “Our rights”, “2,000 minimum wage” and “No to 9% increase”. Monica El-Wazzan, a student participating in the demonstrations and sit-in, says, “I am participating because the fees increased by 9 percent without any benefits in return: nothing has improved.
I was also informed that the workers here are paid very little and considering that they collect such high it is unfair that those who clean our campus are paid such low salaries”.
Yet he three groups have different demands.
The workers want higher wages, the security demand a minimum wage of LE2,000 while the students are protesting the 9 percent increase in tuition fees.
However, all three chant “One hand” in unison. One of the students holding up the microphone said, “What makes our movement successful is that all the groups stand united and support each others’ demands”.
The students, workers and security guards assembled in front of the Humanities and Social Science (HUSS) Building at 12:30 PM repeating chants “Our university is a university of thieves” and “One hand”.
After being informed by email that university president Lisa Anderson would hold an open forum in the Bassily Hall, they marched towards it. However, as they approached the hall where the meeting was to take place, some students objected and attempted to stop the students from entering.
When asked why, Tarek Hayman said, “The hall takes a maximum of 1,200 while there are about 4,300 people in the strike. We want her to talk to all of us in front of the HUSS building – where the sit-in is held”.
Responding to these objections, students marched back to the HUSS building chanting “Whoever wants to talk to, let them come to the HUSS”. The students set up a stage on which Anderson could hold the forum. However, Anderson and several other members of the administration went ahead and held the meeting at the Bassily Hall.
For her part Anderson said, “We need a forum like that to hear the problems of all those who have complaints at the university and not just the ones who are demonstrating.”
However, students who refused to engage in the forum say Anderson has already turned down all their demands in the email she sent.
In her email Anderson made it clear that there will be no increase in wages and that the university, under the current circumstances, cannot contract temporary workers. Regarding the demand to remove the 9 percent increase in student fees, Anderson stated, “Any continuing student not able to fund his or her tuition will be provided with assistance sufficient to permit him or her to complete his or her degree. This is thanks to the larger pool of financial aid, which is about $26 million, including a recent million-dollar gift earmarked for this purpose. There are still ample funds available and all students requiring assistance should apply. As explained in earlier messages, the University is not able to cancel the increase”.
In the forum, however, Anderson added that the AUC will make sure all complaints are responded to, even if not met, in an appropriate time and manner. She said that “people should know what to expect and when to expect them”. Still, many felt her promise to be more transparent as to why demands are not being was not sufficient. A student who attended the forum said that she expects the increase in fees will be reflected in the quality of educational service offered. She complained that students are added to waiting lists in order to be able to attend a course, since courses are so busy and staff members too few in comparison to students. In addition, classes are usually overcrowded, she added.
While staff members have not joined the strike, one staff member warned Anderson in the forum that if the staff’s own working conditions do not improve soon they will probably have to resort to striking. Confirming what was said, a security guard stated that they had already sent their complaints and demands a month earlier but received no response.
Students, workers and security guards insist on their demands and the president also insists on her refusal, arguing that AUC is doing the best it can and promising a detailed explanation of such circumstances in the future.
Anderson sent out an email in response to the students’ request that they are not to be held accountable for their absence during the protests saying, “All members of the AUC community, including students, are accountable for their actions and the associated consequences. Students who elect to miss class do so of their own volition and fully knowing the associated consequences”.
Tensions between students the president seem to be escalating. The students also put up banners with Anderson’s statement describing demonstrators as “rude, unruly and irresponsible”. Commenting on Anderson’s description, Yousef Mohamed said, “It is disrespectful of a university president to say that about her students”.
Student and worker protesters at the American University in Cairo (AUC) further escalated their demonstration on Thursday by taking down the American flag on campus, as they continue protesting the policies of the university administration and university President Lisa Anderson.
The protesters issued a statement on Friday that harshly criticized the way the university has negotiated, and denied rumors that a protesting student had assaulted the university president.
The protesters have decided to continue their open-ended sit-in before they discuss further steps for escalation.
The students and workers tore down the American flag, which had been raised beside the Egyptian one, in protest against a campus security officer who allegedly assaulted Ahmed Ezzat, vice president of the university student union, following a protester meeting with Anderson.
The demonstrators demanded Anderson apologize for ignoring their demands or else leave the university, claiming that Anderson did not respect them. They said she described their meeting as "ridiculous," and told them she did not have time to listen to "such absurdities."
Student Khaled Zekry said protesters did not burn or rip the flag after taking it down, adding that Ahmed Alaa, president of student union, handed over the flag intact to the director of the services and facilities department.
The Guardian newspaper described the protest as an extension of the education protest movements which started in Egypt this week.
The newspaper also mentioned that the AUC students pay tuition fees eight times the average Egyptian annual income, adding that they belong to the country's elite and are raised to be its future economic and political leaders.
This reputation has begun to collapse since last Sunday, though, after the students began protesting the increased cost of university parking and directing criticism at the university administration, the newspaper added.
The Guardian quoted teacher Moataz Shawky as saying, "We cannot let [the administration] treat the Egyptians like dogs."
Shawky demanded that the university administration respond to the students, also accusing it of allowing snipers to shoot at Tahrir demonstrators from university buildings during the revolution.
Egypt cancels decision on visas before travel
Sep 11 12:06 PM US/Eastern
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CAIRO (AP) - Egypt's tourism minister said Sunday that officials have canceled a proposal requiring tourists and other visitors to apply for visas before arrival in the country.
Monier Fakhri Abdel Nour told the official Middle East News Agency that he informed the Cabinet that "local and outside reactions indicated that issuing such a decision would have severe negative repercussions on the tourism movement in Egypt."
Abdel Nour said the Cabinet had not issued any decision regarding the new rules, calling it only a proposal. He did not say who proposed the new measures.
Earlier, MENA quoted Deputy Tourism Minister Hesham Zazou as saying the Cabinet froze the decision.
The measure would have required tourists and other visitors to apply for visas in advance from an Egyptian embassy abroad instead of buying one upon arrival. It would not apply to tourists traveling in groups.
The proposed new rules would have included nationals from the United States, Europe, Australia, Gulf countries, Africa, Latin America and Asia.
Tourism is a pillar of Egypt's economy and has been badly hurt by the unrest that began with the uprising that toppled Hosni Mubarak in February.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Egypt mobile users warned of three-hour blip as numbers change Thursday
Early morning changeover will make every mobile number 11 digits in length but give users four months to adapt
Ahram Online, Wednesday 5 Oct 2011
Egypt's 76 million mobile phone users can expect a temporary blip in services Thursday morning when caller numbers are revised in a drive to meet surging demand.
The changes, due to take place in the early hours of 6 October, will make every Egyptian mobile phone number 11 digits in length.
The National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA) has warned of a potential disruption to all mobile services between the hours of 3am and 6am, lasting anywhere from 30 minutes to 3 hours.
Existing numbers will continue to work for at least four months, with callers receiving a recorded message advising them to update the number before the call is connected.
Amr Badawi, president of the NTRA, told Ahram Online: "We will be monitoring the situation. When we see people have changed to the new system we will announce the old numbers will be discontinued."
Egypt's three mobile operators -- Mobinil, Etisalat and Vodafone -- have launched concerted media campaigns to alert customers and suggest ways to revise their contacts.
Many phone users will be able to download a free application from their network that will automatically update the numbers in their phone address book.
It will also be possible to download these apps from the mobile companies' websites, following links posted on their Facebook and Twitter pages. Many volunteer programmers have also written their own software which can be found online.
These moves seems geared towards smartphone users, but in theory any phone capable of running Java software will be able to utilise the number-updating software.
Nevertheless, mobile firms are expecting the majority of users -- some 60 to 70 per cent -- to use less advanced methods.
Customers will be able to visit network stores, where staff will be able to install the software or manually change the numbers, while local dealers in more remote areas will be able to do the same for a fee, said mobile operator sources.
In June, government figures estimated the number of Egyptian mobile phone users at 76.43 million.
The changes to mobile numbers were announced last Thursday.
Adjustments are as follows:
Etisalat
Current 10 digit numbers, which all start 01, will take an extra 1. They will now begin 011
Current 11 digit numbers, which all start 0152, will change the 5 to a 1. They will now begin 0112
Mobinil
Current 10 digit numbers, which start 01, will add a 2. They will now begin 012
Current 11 digit numbers, which start 0150, will replace the 5 with a 2. They will begin 0120
Vodafone
Current 10 digit numbers, which start 01, will add a 0. They will now start 010
Current 11 digit numbers, which start 0151, will replace 5 with 0. They will start 0101
症例は、12月24日にWHOの世界インフルエンザサーベイランスネットワーク（WHO Global Influenza Surveillance Network）の国家インフルエンザセンターであるエジプト中央公衆衛生研究所（Central Public Health Laboratories）で確定診断された。
Cairo International Book Fair opens Sunday
Historically full of political drama and incident, this year's book fair comes amid the build-up to the first anniversary of the outbreak of the Egyptian revolution
Mary Mourad and Mohammed Saad, Saturday 21 Jan 2012
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Religious currents won't dominate Cairo International Book Fair: Organisers
Tunisia's guest-of-honour programme at the Cairo Book Fair's announced
Cairo International Book Fair closed 25-26 January for revolution's anniversary
Observers and experienced book fair admirers know quite well that the Cairo International Book Fair isn't just an opportunity to sell books, exchange sales and copyrights, or even a chance to network. The book fair has traditionally played a significant role in political life - and that role was most evident from the extent to which media and regime focus is directed there.
The Cairo International Book Fair stands out because it has been the scene of demonstrations by opposition and intellectuals, the Muslim Brotherhood demonstration after Friday prayers, the Cultural Café forum that hosts intellectuals and political figures, plus significant religious presence in many forms.
According to former minister of culture, Emad Abou-Ghazi, politics got into the book fair for the first time when Israel was invited to participate in the early 1980s following the peace treaty signed in 1979. It was the beginning of Mubarak's era, and the invitation was met with huge resentment from the Egyptian intellectuals, who called for demonstrations at the fairgrounds, which was followed by mass arrests. Mubarak was finally forced to give in to the intellectuals and exclude Israel from participating in 1987.
“The fair was a place to protest when protesting was not legitimate and had no room or associations to protect it,” explained Helmy El-Namnam, the former deputy of the General Egyptian Book Organisation (GEBO), the official body responsible for the fair.
After excluding Israel, demonstrations continued, but over causes such as solidarity with Palestine and against the war on Iraq.
Since 2004, however, other political movements like Kefaya, the April 6 Movement and Independent Judges played a larger role in political opposition. Also, the demonstrations started focusing on local issues; mainly the extension of Mubarak’s term in power, the inheritance agenda of his son, Gamal Mubarak, and extended to relations with America and Israel, according to El-Namnam.
The following are a few of the most significant incidences at the book fair, with experts' opinions as to how it evolved and how it could change in the coming fair.
以下略
内 容：
① 2012年2月22日 エジプト保健省は、WHOに新たに1例の鳥インフルエンザ（H5N1型）ヒト感染例が確認されたと報告しました。患者はミヌフィーア行政区に住む４５歳女性で、２月１０日に発症し、１７日に抗インフルエンザ薬（オセルタミビル）の投与をうけ、体調は回復していっています。18日に、WHOグローバル・インフルエンザ・サーベイランス・ネットワークの国立インフルエンザセンターである中央公衆衛生研究所で、確定診断されました。
② 2012年2月24日エジプト保健省は新たに鳥インフルエンザＡ型（H5N1）の患者1例を報告しました。患者はガルビーヤ行政区に住む1歳女児で、2月14日に発症し、15日に入院してオセルタミビルによる治療を受け、体調は回復しています。感染源への疫学的調査は、現在も行われている最中です。先行の調査では、居住地域の裏庭の家禽からの感染であることが示唆されています。
③ 2012年2月28日−エジプト保健省はWHOに新たに2人の鳥インフルエンザA（H5N1）ヒト感染例が確認されたと報告しました。1人目の患者はベヒラ行政区のAbo Elamatameerに住む32歳の男性で、2月16日に発症、21日に入院し、当日からオセルタミビルを投与されていましたが、28日に死亡しました。2人目の患者はカフル・アッシャイフ行政区のKelleenに住む37歳の女性で、2月18日に発症、23日に入院し、当日からオセルタミビルを投与されていましたが、26日に死亡しました。調査によりますと、どちらも、居住地域の裏庭で飼っている病気あるいは死亡した家禽と濃厚接触して感染したと考えられています。現在これまでに163人の感染者が確認され、うち57人が死亡しています。
アメ大 学費値上げ反対運動 門を閉鎖とのこと。
ｘ
AUC force reopening after students protest rising fees
University management unchain campus gates after disgruntled students escalate their protest against tuition hikes by blocking access early Sunday morning
Yasmine Wali, Sunday 16 Sep 2012
The American University in Cairo (AUC) administration reopened campus gates at 11:30am, after a group of students had forced a temporary closure in protest at rising tuition fees.
A campus newsletter, sent Sunday morning, included a statement condemning the students' actions and called for the university emergency management team to open access to campus immediately.
AUC students had escalated their protest against fee hikes, by chaining the gates and blocking campus entrances with vehicles at around 8:00am Sunday morning, preventing faculty, students and staff from entering.
"We've been protesting for two consecutive weeks and we've been protesting all last year, trying all possible peaceful means. We staged a sit-in and met with the vice president of financial affairs who didn’t provide any assistance or help," complained Hossam Mohsen, a final year student in the Petroleum Engineering Department.
Mohsen added: "We (the students) reached an agreement last year with the administration of financial affairs that included along with other demands that the increase in tuition fees would only be applied to freshman, and this agreement was approved through a [written] contract. The university, however, ignored the agreement and breached the contract."
"This sit-in has already been going on for two weeks since the semester started. Meanwhile, Lisa Anderson, the [AUC] president, travelled two or three days ago, taking the situation lightly. This is why we took this step," stated Mohsen.
Taher El-Moetazbellah, AUC's Student Union president, also stated to Ahram Online that the recent escalation is the fault of the administration for not cooperating with students or acting on their concerns. However, he rejected the means by which the students expressed their protest, blocking campus entrances.
"You cannot gain rights by violating the rights of others," stated El-Moetazbellah, adding: "We are all against the commercialisation of education."
An AUC statement sent to students by email on Thursday denounced the student action. "The attempt to close the campus is in direct violation of university policy and will not be tolerated. Swift action will be taken against all perpetrators."
"The university's Freedom of Expression Policy protects the rights of all members of the community to express their views without infringing on the rights of others. The rights of all students, faculty and staff to enter their university and study, teach and work must be safeguarded and respected," the statement added.
Striking AUC students have been threatening since last Thursday to shut down the campus by blocking the gates if their demands ― mainly the cancellation of fee increases ― go unheeded.
Others students, however, expressed their disapproval of the recent escalation.
"I like the movement and I respect that it is for a great cause, but I don’t like that someone forces me not to enter the campus to attend my classes. We also cannot take anything by force. If AUC administration does not approve of the demands, these acts will not force it … [The administration] will do what it wants at the end," said Hossam Abdel-Gelil, a senior in engineering.
The American University in Cairo (AUC) administration reopened campus gates at 11:30am, after a group of students had forced a temporary closure in protest at rising tuition fees.
A campus newsletter, sent Sunday morning, included a statement condemning the students' actions and called for the university emergency management team to open access to campus immediately.
AUC students had escalated their protest against fee hikes, by chaining the gates and blocking campus entrances with vehicles at around 8:00am Sunday morning, preventing faculty, students and staff from entering.
"We've been protesting for two consecutive weeks and we've been protesting all last year, trying all possible peaceful means. We staged a sit-in and met with the vice president of financial affairs who didn’t provide any assistance or help," complained Hossam Mohsen, a final year student in the Petroleum Engineering Department.
Mohsen added: "We (the students) reached an agreement last year with the administration of financial affairs that included along with other demands that the increase in tuition fees would only be applied to freshman, and this agreement was approved through a [written] contract. The university, however, ignored the agreement and breached the contract."
"This sit-in has already been going on for two weeks since the semester started. Meanwhile, Lisa Anderson, the [AUC] president, travelled two or three days ago, taking the situation lightly. This is why we took this step," stated Mohsen.
Taher El-Moetazbellah, AUC's Student Union president, also stated to Ahram Online that the recent escalation is the fault of the administration for not cooperating with students or acting on their concerns. However, he rejected the means by which the students expressed their protest, blocking campus entrances.
"You cannot gain rights by violating the rights of others," stated El-Moetazbellah, adding: "We are all against the commercialisation of education."
An AUC statement sent to students by email on Thursday denounced the student action. "The attempt to close the campus is in direct violation of university policy and will not be tolerated. Swift action will be taken against all perpetrators."
"The university's Freedom of Expression Policy protects the rights of all members of the community to express their views without infringing on the rights of others. The rights of all students, faculty and staff to enter their university and study, teach and work must be safeguarded and respected," the statement added.
Striking AUC students have been threatening since last Thursday to shut down the campus by blocking the gates if their demands ― mainly the cancellation of fee increases ― go unheeded.
Others students, however, expressed their disapproval of the recent escalation.
"I like the movement and I respect that it is for a great cause, but I don’t like that someone forces me not to enter the campus to attend my classes. We also cannot take anything by force. If AUC administration does not approve of the demands, these acts will not force it … [The administration] will do what it wants at the end," said Hossam Abdel-Gelil, a senior in engineering.
AUC's bitter strike ends as agreement is reached
Students and administration at the American University in Cairo have reached agreement on several key issues, bringing to an end the student blockade of the campus
Osman El-Sharnoubi, Monday 1 Oct 2012
Dozens of Cairo students block road in protest at poor services
Protesting students complained about poor infrastructure on campus, citing rotten meat and frequent power cuts
Ahram Online, Friday 26 Apr 2013
Dozens of Cairo University students cut off Tharwat Street in Giza on Friday in protest at the university’s poor services, Ahram’s Arabic language website reported.
The students demanded that university authorities urgently investigate the state of the university’s facilities, and requested the implementation of student union bylaws.
The protesters complained about repeated power cuts and poor food. Students said that in one case that rotten meat was served at the cafeteria in the girls’ dormitory.
Magdy Wahbah, a business student, told Al-Ahram that he pays monthly LE60 for food in the dormitory in addition to LE300 at the beginning of every year.
The protesters reportedly cleared the road partially to allow a car carrying a sick woman to pass. At the time of publication, police were negotiating with student union members to open the road. According to Al-Ahram, a student union representative said that the decision to block the road had been taken by a few protesters, not the majority.
On 13 April, forty-one student movements from public and private Egyptian universities protested against the ministry of higher education after several crises arose in universities across the country.
Hundreds of students marched from Cairo University to the ministry, calling for the sacking of Minister of Higher Education, Mostafa Mosaad, and the head of the Supreme Council of Private Universities, Gamal Nawara.
Students demanded better security on university campuses, as well as better-quality health and nutrition services for students who live on campus. Protesters cited the recent food poisoning incident in Al-Azhar University, where about 500 students were hospitalised after eating on campus.
Egypt's health ministry lists licensed bottled water brands amid shortage fears
Official safe-to-drink list addresses key consumer concerns amid bottled water shortage following ministry crackdown on companies, Nestle factory fire and Pepsi production cuts
Ahram Online, Tuesday 14 May 2013
Only 18 companies are currently licensed to distribute bottled water in Egypt, the health ministry stated on Tuesday.
According to a ministry press release, the licensed brands are Haya, Safi, Aqua Siwa, Siwa, Aman Siwa, Nahl, Organica, Aqua Sky, Mineral, Nestle, Vera, Baraka, Alpha, Aquafina, Tiba, Aqua Delta, Dasani, and Aqua Paris.
A shortage has hit the market since Nestle and Pepsi, which together captured 71 percent of the bottled water market according to the Egyptian Competition Authority (ECA), cut production in the past months, forcing consumers to turn to other brands.
Nestle, which produces Nestle Pure Life and Baraka bottled water, was forced to halt all of its production processes after a fire devastated its only factory in Banha, Qalioubiya Governorate, in late February.
The production of Pepsi’s Aquafina bottled water was suspended because it did not meet internal quality standards, according to the April ECA report.
A source close to the company hinted that Pepsi had been pressured by the health ministry to cut production until tests confirmed that the well-water used met government standards. Ahram Online was unable to reach company management for comment on the issue.
More than 13 companies had their bottled water production suspended due to contamination of their wells discovered in the past year, says Atef Yaacoub, head of Egypt's Consumer Protection, a fact that has aggravated the shortage.
Regular tests are conducted on unprocessed well-water, as well as the finished product, to make sure the source is free of certain bacteria according to international standards, says Zeinab Bakry, head of the National Nutrition Institute, the health ministry body in charge of licensing bottled water companies.
"Licensed wells can become contaminated by the poor hygiene practices of company workers or by sanitary water leaks from surrounding residential areas, or by the construction of buildings within the sanitary area around the well," explains Anan Helal, head of consumer protection non-governmental watchdog Ein Masr.
Three of the brands on the current safe-to-drink list, namely Aqua Delta, Tiba, and Alpha had been banned from production by the ministry last June after tests revealed their wells had become contaminated.
The ministry is engaged in regular initiatives to seize unlicensed bottled water from the market, said Health Minister Mohamed Mostafa Hamed in the press release, which did not name any examples of unlicensed brands.
６月５日午後０時３０分頃，カイロ市内ゲジーラ島の路上（6th October Bridge，マリオットホテル入口付近）において，邦人旅行者が強盗に遭い負傷しました。本件は，単独で歩行中に，所持していた携帯電話を犯人にひったくられそうになり，抵抗したことから，ナイフで身体を数か所刺されるなどしたものです。
同様の事件はこれまでも起こっており，在留邦人の皆様，旅行者の皆様におかれましては，当館発行の「安全の手引き」を参考にしていただき，外出時は周囲の状況に気を配る，被害に遭った際には無理な抵抗はしない，できるだけ複数で行動するなどの注意を払ってください。
ｘ
BREAKING: Egypt curfew shortened by two hours excluding Fridays
Curfew imposed on 14 Egyptian governorates will now start at 9pm instead of 7pm excluding Fridays, which usually see mass protests and violence
Ahram Online, Saturday 24 Aug 2013
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The curfew imposed on 14 Egyptian governorates will be from 9pm (instead of 7pm) until 6am starting Saturday, the interim cabinet announced, stating that only on Fridays the curfew would start at 7pm.
This decision was announced after Friday’s rallies, staged by loyalists of deposed president Mohamed Morsi, witnessed less violence and a lower turnout of protesters in comparison to previous mass demonstrations on past Fridays.
On 14 August, the interim Cabinet re-introduced a state of emergency, accompanied by a daily curfew starting at 7pm until 6am in 14 governorates for a month.
Morsi was removed by the army on 3 July amid nationwide protests against his rule.
Rival protests by supporters and opponents of the former president, a senior figure in the Muslim Brotherhood, have resulted in many casualties.
Hundreds of Morsi supporters were killed when security forces cleared sit-ins in Cairo and Giza on 14 August.
Egypt curfew further moved to 11pm
Egypt eases the month-long curfew by two more hours to start at 11pm, instead of 9pm, to 6am, except Fridays
Ahram Online, Saturday 31 Aug 2013
A curfew imposed by Egypt's interim government on 14 Egyptian governorates will be from 11pm (instead of 9pm) until 6am starting Saturday evening, state television announced, maintaining that only on Fridays ― the traditional protest day ― the curfew would remain at 7pm.
The curfew, imposed on 14 August when the interim Cabinet re-introduced a state of emergency, entailed a daily curfew starting at 7pm until 6am in 14 governorates for a month. However, it was reduced to start at 9pm on 24 August.
This decision was announced after Friday’s rallies, staged by loyalists of deposed president Mohamed Morsi, witnessed limited violence and a relatively low turnout in comparison to previous mass demonstrations on past Fridays.
Hundreds of Morsi supporters were killed when security forces cleared sit-ins in Cairo and Giza on 14 August, whereafter authorities announced the curfew in an attempt to contain the security situation following the dispersal.
Morsi was removed as president by the army 3 July amid nationwide protests against his rule.
Thirty-eight people have died from the H1N1 virus in Egypt since December, the health ministry announced on Sunday.
Health ministry spokesperson Dr Ahmed Kamel said 318 people had been diagnosed with the virus, commonly known as swine flu, in the same period.
Last week the ministry announced 195 cases and 24 deaths.
Eighty percent of those who died were suffering from one or more pre-existing risk factors, the ministry added.
Kamel said a sample is taken from suspected cases and sent to health ministry laboratories and the World Health Organisation (WHO) for analysis.
The health ministry will be issuing statements on the situation each Saturday and Tuesday.
Since December 2013 there have been 339,483 cases of influenza and 1,376 cases of respiratory diseases in Egypt, according to the ministry.
The death of four doctors over the past month--including at least two from respiratory illnesses--and the infection of two others with similar symptoms, has alarmed the doctors syndicate.
It asked the ministry to form an independent fact-finding committee to determine whether the cause was swine flu, a mutated version of the disease, or another virus.
The ministry said the four doctors who died did not have the H1N1 virus, but the two others did.
Most of the deaths have been of people in vulnerable groups: the elderly, pregnant women, or those with pre-existing immune or respiratory diseases.
Doctors have accused the health ministry of denying the scale of the problem for too long and of failing to implement a proper screening process, which brings its figures into doubt.
The ministry says those with various risk factors: the elderly, pregnant women , or those with immune or respiratory diseases must take care and should visit a doctor if they have a high fever, sore throat and cough for more than 48 hours.
Swine flu is a relatively new strain of influenza that was responsible for a flu pandemic during 2009-2010.
Egypt to raise tourist visa fee by $5
The cost of tourist entry to Egypt will increase starting 1 May 2014
Dalia Farouk, Wednesday 23 Apr 2014
Visa fees for tourists coming to Egypt will increase starting May to reach $20 instead of $15.
According to Hesham Zazou, tourism minister, the increase is slight and is not expected to affect the flow of tourists to the country.
The decision to increase the cost of a tourist visa to Egypt was previously postponed several times. The decision was initially meant to be implemented in November 2013. It was then postponed to February 2014, and finally to 1 May.
According to the tourism ministry, Egypt’s visa is still amongst the cheapest worldwide.
The number of tourists visiting Egypt in the first two months of 2014 dropped 28 percent to 1.3 million in comparison to January and February 2013.
As the security situation in South Sinai has deteriorated under a growing militant insurgency, Germany issued a warning against travel to the peninsula.
Egypt’s revenues from tourism, a key source of foreign currency, dropped drastically after the 2011 revolution amid subsequent political instability and violence.
Egypt will switch to summer time by adjusting the clock one hour forward, except during Ramadan
Ahram Online, Wednesday 14 May 2014
Daylight saving time will be re-applied in Egypt starting Friday at 12am, according to an earlier statement by government spokesman Hossam El-Qeish.
Starting Friday 16 May, Egypt will switch to summer time by adjusting the clock one hour forward. The change will be lifted during Ramadan, however.
In April 2011, the cabinet headed by then-prime minister Essam Sharaf endorsed a decree cancelling daylight saving time.
Daylight saving time was first adopted in Egypt in 1988 as a way to reduce electricity consumption. The electricity and energy ministry later submitted a study to the cabinet revealing that implementing daylight saving time had no impact in this regard.
In Egypt, the standard time is GMT (UTC) + 2 and so GMT + 3 during daylight savings time.
：Egypt: Adjust your clocks one hour forward at midnight
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ttp://english.ahram.org.eg/News/101406.aspx
Egyptians will put their clocks forward - from 12:00am to 1:00am - on Thursday night, from standard timing GMT (UTC) + 2
Ahram Online, Thursday 15 May 2014
Egyptians will be adjusting their clocks one hour forward at midnight on Thursday, as authorities have decided to re-apply daylight saving time.
In Egypt, the standard time is GMT (UTC) + 2 and so GMT + 3 during daylight savings time.
The change will be lifted during the month of Ramadan, when Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset, which falls this year in late June.
The Egyptian cabinet's spokesperson Hossam El-Qweish said earlier in May that Egypt was to re-apply daylight saving time starting this month, after a three-year hiatus.
In April 2011, the cabinet headed by then-prime minister Essam Sharaf endorsed a decree cancelling daylight saving time.
Daylight saving time was first adopted in Egypt in 1988 as a way to reduce electricity consumption. The electricity and energy ministry later submitted a study to the cabinet revealing that the change had no impact in this regard.
Egyptians will put their clocks forward - from 12:00am to 1:00am - on Thursday night, from standard timing GMT (UTC) + 2
Ahram Online, Friday 16 May 2014
Egyptians will be adjusting their clocks one hour forward at midnight on Thursday, as authorities have decided to re-apply daylight saving time.
In Egypt, the standard time is GMT (UTC) + 2 and so GMT + 3 during daylight saving time.
The change will be lifted during the month of Ramadan, when Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset, which falls this year in late June.
The Egyptian cabinet's spokesperson Hossam El-Qweish said earlier in May that Egypt was to re-apply daylight saving time starting this month, after a three-year hiatus.
In April 2011, the cabinet headed by then-prime minister Essam Sharaf endorsed a decree cancelling daylight saving time.
Daylight saving time was first adopted in Egypt in 1988 as a way to reduce electricity consumption. The electricity and energy ministry later submitted a study to the cabinet revealing that the change had no impact in this regard.
Zad and Seoudi - two prominent supermarkets in Cairo - have been closed, with all assets frozen, due to their owners being connected to the banned Muslim Brotherhood
El-Sayed Gamel El-Din, Sunday 15 Jun 2014
Egypt's security authorities raided two major retailers, Seoudi and Zad, on Sunday after their owners were proven to have backed the now-outlawed Muslim Brotherhood.
A judicial committee formed in late 2013 to handle and examine the Brotherhood's confiscated assets has ordered a freeze on the funds of both supermarkets, following the closure of all respective branches.
Zad market, which opened in 2012, is owned by prominent Brotherhood leader and businessman Khairat El-Shater, now in jail on a variety of charges. The market has 15 stores in Cairo's Nasr City district.
Seoudi, however, was established in 1938 and is owned by the businessman Abdel El-Rahman Seoudi, who was arrested in 2007 and later acquitted of charges of belonging to the banned group.
At least nine Seoudi branches have been placed under police surveillance.
A crackdown on Brotherhood members and the group's top leadership since the ouster of president Mohamed Morsi in July 2013 has also seen the group's assets confiscated and frozen.
The Brotherhood was officially declared a terrorist organisation in December 2013 by Egypt's interim authorities.
gypt suspends daylight saving time from 27 June until 1 August
Ahram Online, Wednesday 25 Jun 2014
Clocks will go back one hour starting Thursday night at midnight, two days before the start of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.
The time change will last from 27 June until 1 August.
Ramadan is expected to begin on 29 June, according to the National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics.
Daylight saving time was first adopted in Egypt in 1988 as a way to reduce electricity consumption. The energy ministry later submitted a study to the cabinet showing the move had no impact on energy consumption.
In April 2011, the cabinet headed by then prime minister Essam Sharaf endorsed a decree cancelling daylight saving time.
However, Egypt switched back to daylight saving time on 15 May.
Standard time in Egypt is GMT (UTC) + 2 and GMT + 3 during daylight saving time
Only tourists on organised trips will be exempt from the rule
Ahram Online , Tuesday 17 Mar 2015
Any person wishing to enter Egypt will need to obtain a visa before departure and will not be offered it at the airport upon arrival, Egypt's ministry of foreign affairs announced on Monday.
Individual tourists must obtain visas for tourism purposes from Egypt's diplomatic missions prior to their arrival in Egypt, the statement says.
Organised tourist groups will be the only exception, according to the statement.
The decision will apply from 15 May 2015.
Many nationalities, including Europeans and American, were allowed to obtain an Egyptian visa at the airport upon arrival.
The same decision was taken in September 2011 but the government suspended it after three days due to a public outcry and accusations that it will be a big blow to Egypt’s tourism industry.
"This is an act of state sovereignty,” foreign ministry spokesman Badr Abdel Atti told Ahram Online. “Every country has the right to protect its borders."
But the tourism sector has expressed its concern.
"We do not have diplomatic missions in all cities for independent tourists to apply for a visa,” chairman of Egypt's Federation of Tourism Chambers (EFTC) Elhamy El-Zayat told Ahram Online. “Many people, especially frequent travelers, won't like to send their passports away by mail to get visas, because they may need their passport at any time."
El-Zayat discussed the matter with tourism minister Khaled Rami on Monday, he said.
The EFTC chairman suggested that a new system be implemented to allow tourists to apply for visas online, as either groups or individuals.
On arrival visas will still be available for foreign tourists until an electronic visa system is introduced on a yet to be announced date
Ahram Online , Thursday 2 Apr 2015
：No daylight saving this summer: Egypt's prime minister
h
ttp://english.ahram.org.eg/News/128195.aspx @ahramonlineさんから
Egypt's Cabinet agreed on Monday not to switch clocks for daylight saving time this summer, and carry studies on the possibility of canceling the practice altogether in future years
Ahram Online , Monday 20 Apr 2015
Egypt's cabinet agreed on Monday not to switch clocks for daylight saving time this summer, and carry out studies on the possibility of canceling the practice altogether in future years.
The cabinet previously announced that clocks would go forward one hour starting on 1 May, but suspended the decision until a national opinion poll was carried out to ask citizens whether or not they support daylight saving time.
The polls, according to a cabinet statement, showed that most citizens disapprove of the practice.
Egypt first adopted daylight saving time in 1988 as a way to reduce electricity consumption, but in April 2011 the cabinet endorsed a decree to cancel changing clocks in summer.
The practice returned in May 2014, after fuel shortages led to electricity cuts nationwide.
In the summer of 2014, Egypt changed the clock four times, first applying daylight saving time, and then suspending it during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan to shorten fasting hours from dawn till dusk.
Standard time in Egypt is GMT + 2, and GMT + 3 during daylight saving time.
１ ４月19日，カイロ大学構内において，「反政府」の主張を掲げる一部学生と大学警備隊（民間警備会社）の間で数か月ぶりに衝突が生じ，負傷者も出る事態となりました。
この衝突事案については，SAC(Students Against Coup)を名乗る者が，フェイスブックのアカウント上で，衝突時の状況の映像等を掲出するとともに，今後も同様の行動を続ける旨を述べています。昨年10月頃まではカイロを始めとする各地の大学でデモが頻発していたことから，今後も大学や周辺でデモが発生する可能性があります。
h
ttp://english.ahram.org.eg/News/128509.aspx @ahramonlineさんから
#midjp #エジプト #egyjp
Public polls show that moving the clocks forward during summer is unpopular
Ahram Online , Friday 24 Apr 2015
Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi issued a decision to officially abandon summer daylight saving time, which has for years seen clocks put forward one hour in the summer, his office said Thursday.
The decision came three days after the cabinet approved scrapping the system this year, following a public poll that showed a majority did not support applying daylight saving time in Egypt.
“The decision was made in response to the majority of citizens who have been polled in this regard,” presidential spokesman Alaa Youssef said, as quoted by state news agency MENA.
First implemented in Egypt in 1988, daylight saving time was introduced as a power-saving measure prolonging daylight hours.
It was abolished in April 2011 after the uprising that toppled autocrat Hosni Mubarak, with the government saying at the time the practice was ineffective in curbing power usage after polling the public.
Moving clocks forward each summer was revived in May 2014 in order to ease rolling power blackouts.
In the summer of that year, Egypt changed the clock four times, first applying daylight saving time, and then suspending it during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan to shorten the daily dawn-to-dusk fast.
Egypt is normally two hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) — meaning it was three hours ahead when daylight saving time was applied.
Tok-toks have been banned from several Cairo neighourhoods, the spokesperson for Cairo's governor Khaled Mostafa told Ahram Online on Wednesday.
The ban includes the Cairo districts of Azbakeya, Abdeen, El-Moski, El-Wayli, Bab El-Shaeriya, Boulaq Abu El-Ela, and downtown Cairo.
Tok-toks create choas in traffic, road accidents that police cannot find culprits for, Mostafa said.
"The governorate had never licensed tok-toks in the first place."
“The streets of Cairo have had enough already. This ban today is an initial step that will expand in a couple of months [other areas] in Cairo, including Heliopolis and Al-Nozha,” he added.
The governorate will fine violators LE1,500 fine ($192), confiscate tok-toks until drivers provide ownership documents.
Repeat offenders will never see their tok-toks again, Mostafa said.
Most tok-tok drivers are unemployed youth who use the part-car, part-motorcycle vehicle as an informal means of work.
Owners currently buy the vehicle for about LE22,000 ($2800).
The prices of tok-toks have spiked since the government imposed in 2014 a one-year import ban on motorcycles and tok-toks, along with their manufacturing components.
Tok-toks are Chinese manufactured motorised tricycles with a driver's cabin. They have become popular around the country recent years because they provide cheap transportation for poorer citizens, as well as access in and out narrow alleyways.
Egypt's leading internet service provider company, TE Data, launched new reduced prices for internet services Wednesday, state news agency MENA reported.
TE Data, the internet arm of majority state-owned landline operator Telecom Egypt, said in a statement that it has canceled packages working with internet speeds of 256 kilobits per second (kbps) and 512 kbps.
Prices of the new monthly packages are as follows: LE50 for speed of 1 megabit per second (mbps) and 10 gigabyte download capacity, LE95 for speed of 1 mbps and 100 gigabyte download capacity, LE140 for speed of 2 mbps and 150 gigabyte download capacity, LE220 for speed of 4 mbps and 250 gigabyte download capacity and LE300 for speed of 8 mbps and 300 gigabyte download capacity.
Previously, TE Data offered an internet speed of 512 mbps for LE90 a month.
The government, which owns 80 percent of TE Data, has been pushing for cheaper, faster internet since Minister of Communication and Information Technology Khaled Negm was appointed earlier this year.
The initiative is part of an effort to boost Egypt's 34 percent internet penetration rate, which is low compared to its Arab neighbours, Negm said at an event in June organized by the Canada Egypt Business Council.
TE Data boasts a market share of over 65 percent. Other ISPs have previously said that they could only lower their consumer prices if TE lowered the wholesale fees they pay to rent its infrastructure.
There have been popular calls for better internet prices in Egypt. Last year, a group of young people launched a campaign to improve the speed and lower the cost of using the internet in Egypt.
There are 38.75 million internet users in Egypt. The leading ISPs are TE Data, and the internet arms of leading mobile operators are Mobinil, Vodafone Egypt, and Etisalat Misr.
A pink logo on the cars, and even pink nail polish - it's all part of the look of women-drivers working for Egypt's first women-only taxi service. The Pink Taxi company hires only women drivers and gives rides to only female passengers.
The company was started in an effort to provide a safe taxi service for women in a country with high rates of sexual harassment, said Reem Fawzy, the director of the company
Egypt introduces new rules on foreigners' work ht
tp://english.ahram.org.eg/News/141564.aspx @ahramonlineさんから
Bar 10 exceptions, foreigners working in Egypt must obtain a permit from the ministry of manpower or other state bodies, as part of new regulations Egypt has announced on Monday.
Foreign correspondents working in Egypt and embassy and consulate staff are among those exempted.
The permit granted to foreigners will either allow them to work in Egypt for a year or less, the ministry said in a decree, which was published in the state's official gazette.
They will be required to pay a fee of 3,000 Egyptian pounds (around $383), while applying for the permit. Should a worker renew their permit, the fee will rise starting from the fourth year. Over the years, it can gradually rise to a maximum of 12,000 Egyptian pounds (approximately $1,530).
"It is inadmissible for foreigners to work" without obtaining the permit, the decree said.
Other than the ministry and its offices, state agencies like the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones and the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation can grant the permits to foreigners.
The new regulations also set a cap on the percentage of foreigners working in an institution. The number of foreigners cannot exceed 10 percent, unless an exception is granted by an "exceptions committee."
Should an exception be granted, the organisation will have to pay 10,000 Egyptian pounds annually (around $1,277). The fee will rise by a thousand pounds every year for five years until it reaches a maximum of 15,000 Egyptian pounds (over $1915).
Spinneys continues to expand in Egypt with its recent opening of a new store in Giza on the 18th of September. The store is strategically located on the Pyramids road at the heart of the historic Giza district.
The decision is meant to "ease communication with students" and "advance the educational process", according to the university chairman
Menna Alaa El-Din, Thursday 1 Oct 2015
Cairo University has decided to ban on Tuesday its academic staff from wearing face veils, also known as niqab, inside classrooms.
The controversial decision was made by Gaber Nassar, the chairman of the university, ahead of the start of the academic year next week.
“It is not allowed for the academic staff and their assistants in all faculties and institutions to teach in theoretical or practical classes or to attend laboratories or practical trainings while wearing the niqab,” the policy states.
Nassar says the decision was made for the sake of "general welfare" and is meant to "ease communication with students" and "advance the educational process".
The university’s decision was quickly criticised by several Islamic preachers.
Leading Salafi cleric and deputy head of the Dawa Salafiya group Yasser Borhami said that the decision is "against the constitution and law, and is considered discriminatory against a certain faction for its religious beliefs".
Following the criticism, Nassar said in a phone interview with Ten TV channel that the decision would be restricted to certain subjects, particularly ones that require the articulation of certain sounds, such as like language courses.
He added that the decision will not be applied to subjects that do not require "student-staff" communication.
According to Nassar, the number of teaching staff members wearing the full face veil is only 10 out of about 22,000 members teaching in 24 faculties.
Nassar said the university received reports from some of the faculties’ deans regarding difficulty in communication between the students and teachers wearing the niqab, particularly in language courses.
He also said that the ban aims to enhance the quality of communication and, consequently, education.
Nassar clarified that for teaching staff the ban is restricted to classrooms at the times of lectures, clarifying that members of the teaching staff are still allowed to wear their niqab on campus.
Dawa Salafiya spokesman Abdel-Moneim El-Shahat said the decision does not conflict with Islamic Sharia or the constitution as long as it is "necessary for the public interest".
Hany El-Husseiny, a Cairo University professor and a member of the March 9 Movement for the Independence of Universities, told Ahram Online that while he believes the niqab might act as a barrier to the educational process, decisions should not be made in the way used by Nassar.
“There has to be an open discussion about the whole issue before such a decision is made, especially when it is related to [religious] beliefs or might lead to unnecessary conflict,” El-Hussieny said.
Higher Education Minister Ashraf El-Sheihy said he intends to meet with Nassar in order to know the reasons behind the ban, Al-Ahram Arabic news website reported.
This is not the first time the university has been involved in controversy regarding the banning of the niqab. In November 2009, the university decided to ban students and teaching staff from wearing the niqab on campus or in the university’s dorms.
However, the ban was overturned by a Cairo court in January 2010 following a lawsuit filed by a female professor.
Governor of Cairo Galal Mostafa announced on Wednesday that Egyptians and foreigners will no longer suffer from having to visit the Mugamaa Complex in downtown Cairo for administrative tasks.
In a press release, the Governor said that in a bid to ease traffic and redevelop downtown Cairo, the Mugamaa building, where 30,000 employees work for a number of service ministries, will be completely vacated by mid-2017.
The Mugamaa, which is visited by up to 100,000 citizens on a daily basis, has been described by some as the “ugliest” building in Egypt. However, it is the long queues, confusion with where to go, and general bureaucracy that many visitors often complain about.
The future of the Mugamaa complex remains unclear, with the Governor stating that a number of proposals are being studied to determine the best use of “one of the most famous and historic buildings in Cairo”.
It also remains unclear where Egyptians and foreigners will have to visit instead of the Mugamaa. Recently, in a bid to ease the process for those living in Egypt, the government introduced a mobile application that makes it easier to access a number of services, including the payment of fines and bills.
The Mugamaa, which looks onto Tahrir Square, was built in 1951 on an area of 28,000 square meters and consists of 14 floors and about 1,350 rooms.
Egypt recently launched a number of projects aimed at renovating downtown Cairo. From repainting old buildings and revamping Tahrir Square, to demolishing former President Mubarak’s National Democratic Party’s headquarters near Tahrir Square, the government is keen to boost tourism to the downtown area while providing locals with higher quality services and improving traffic in the heart of Cairo.
カイロ国際ブックフェア
Record number of countries participating in Cairo International Book Fair this year850 publishers from 34 countries will participate in the 47th Edition of the Cairo International Book Fair
Mohammed Saad , Tuesday 26 Jan 2016ht
The 47th edition of the Cairo International Book Fair will kick off on Wednesday 27 January with 850 publishers from 34 countries; the largest number of countries participating in the fair since its inauguration.
It is not yet clear whether Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi will inaugurate the fair, but there is no planned meeting between the president and intellectuals; a tradition set by ousted president Hosni Mubarak and discontinued after his ouster.
Former president Mohamed Morsi had only met with publishers on the inauguration of the one edition that took place during his year in office.
The details of this year's edition – set to conclude on 10 February – were revealed in a press conference held at the General Egyptian Book Organisation (GEBO), the official sponsor and organiser of the event.
The fair's opening date was changed for the second year in a row to avoid coinciding with the anniversary of the 25 January revolution.
The fair's theme this year will be "Culture on the Frontline," with GEBO head Haitham El-Hajj Ali saying, "culture is the main solution to the problems of society and the firewall against the extreme ideas."
Picking a theme for the fair is a new tradition set after the revolution, reflecting the political scene and mostly fighting radicalism with cultural endeavours.
Last year, the fair's theme was 'Culture and Renovation,' which reflected the ongoing demands of members of the political elite and intellectuals in Egypt to reform and renew religious discourse.
Reformist imam Mohamed Abdou (1849 – 1905) was chosen as the fair's person of the year in 2015.
This edition's person of the year is iconic novelist Gamal El-Ghitani, who passed away in October last year.
The countries participating in the fair include 21 Arab states and 13 non-Arab countries, with 550 publisher from Egypt, 250 from the Arab world, and 50 foreign publishers, in addition to 118 kiosks for used books.
There are six more countries participating this year than the second largest edition of the fair.
The list of countries, distributed to journalists by mail, includes the United Arab Emirates and Abu-Dhabi as two separate countries, even though Abu Dhabi is the capital city of the UAE. The American University in Cairo is also listed as a country in the foreign countries section.
Turkey will not participate in the fair this year for the first time in decades, which reflects the escalating political tension between Cairo and Ankara.
El-Hajj Ali said that even though Turkey did not ask to participate in the fair, he would have reacted "negatively" to such a request from a country that "harbours hostility towards Egypt."
He did, however, leave the door open for independent Turkish publishers.
つづき
Although Turkey will not participate in the fair, Qatar, with which Egypt has also had tension, is listed among the participating countries.
The list includes Kuwait, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Oman, Palestine, Jordan, Libya, Yemen, Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia, Algeria, Iraq, Morocco, Syria, Lebanon, Qatar, Eritrea and the guest of honour Bahrain.
The non-Arab countries include Italy, Russia, India, Germany, France, Paraguay, Greece, China and the Czech Republic.
Al-Hajj said that he is holding to the stance of Egyptian intellectuals of rejecting any Israeli participation in the fair, or any kind of cultural relations with the neighbouring country.
The head of the GEBO, who assumed the post less than six months ago, said he will comply with any court ruling concerning books by Muslim Brotherhood authors.
Last year, books by Sheikh Youssef El-Qaradawi, who is currently living in Qatar and is a strong supporter of the Muslim Brotherhood, sparked controversy and were removed from display at the Dar El-Shorouk wing the fair, along with books by the late radical Islamist author Sayed Qutb.
This year's guests will include Chinese novelist Leo Gen Yun, Egyptian thinker Hassan Hanafi, Lebanese writer George Corm, Moroccan writer Hassan Orid, Tunisian Arabic Booker winning novelist Shoukry El-Mabkhout, among many others who will participate in a very busy cultural agenda.
The fair will be open daily from 10am till 7pm for book selling, and until 9pm for cultural events.
Although Turkey will not participate in the fair, Qatar, with which Egypt has also had tension, is listed among the participating countries.
The list includes Kuwait, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Oman, Palestine, Jordan, Libya, Yemen, Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia, Algeria, Iraq, Morocco, Syria, Lebanon, Qatar, Eritrea and the guest of honour Bahrain.
The non-Arab countries include Italy, Russia, India, Germany, France, Paraguay, Greece, China and the Czech Republic.
Al-Hajj said that he is holding to the stance of Egyptian intellectuals of rejecting any Israeli participation in the fair, or any kind of cultural relations with the neighbouring country.
The head of the GEBO, who assumed the post less than six months ago, said he will comply with any court ruling concerning books by Muslim Brotherhood authors.
Last year, books by Sheikh Youssef El-Qaradawi, who is currently living in Qatar and is a strong supporter of the Muslim Brotherhood, sparked controversy and were removed from display at the Dar El-Shorouk wing the fair, along with books by the late radical Islamist author Sayed Qutb.
This year's guests will include Chinese novelist Leo Gen Yun, Egyptian thinker Hassan Hanafi, Lebanese writer George Corm, Moroccan writer Hassan Orid, Tunisian Arabic Booker winning novelist Shoukry El-Mabkhout, among many others who will participate in a very busy cultural agenda.
The fair will be open daily from 10am till 7pm for book selling, and until 9pm for cultural events.
The Egyptian cabinet announced on Thursday that daylight savings time will return to Egypt starting 7 July until the end of October.
Daylight savings time, which had for years seen clocks put forward one hour in the summer, was canceled last April in a decision by Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi.
The system was scrapped following a public poll that showed a majority did not support applying daylight savings time in Egypt.
First implemented in the country in 1988, the system was introduced as a power-saving measure prolonging daylight hours.
It was abolished in April 2011 after the uprising that toppled autocrat Hosni Mubarak, with the government arguing at the time that the practice was ineffective at curbing power usage.
The system was temporarily revived in May 2014 in order to ease consumption after the country saw rolling power blackouts.
In the summer of that year, Egypt changed the clock four times, first applying daylight savings time, and then suspending it during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan to shorten the daily dawn-to-dusk fast.
Egypt is normally two hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) — meaning it was three hours ahead when daylight saving time was applied.
The Deputy Governor of Cairo announced on TV that the iconic building will be shutting down as of June 30th.
Downtown Cairo’s Mugamma Complex will reportedly be shut down as of June 30th, the Deputy Governor of Cairo, Mohamed Ayman, said on Sunday.
The complex, a symbol of bureaucracy and archaic infrastructure in public administration, has long been the centre for administrative practices required for both Egyptian nationals and foreigners. According to Egyptian Streets, the Deputy Governor qualified the decision as being in the public’s interest.
In an interview with Skynews Arabia, Ayman said the building, which is home to 30,000 public employees, could be transformed into a hotel – a decision which would be in line with the current revamping of the city centre that started last year. As Ismaelia for Real Estate embarked on the mission to repaint and renovate 23 historical buildings, including the iconic Radio Cinema, Shorbagui building, and the Old French Consulate, local authorities have also recently launched a number of projects, including the demolition of Mubarak’s National Democratic Party’s headquarters, the painting of numerous buildings, and the refurnishing of Tahrir Square.
A visit to Mugamaa – which has often been labelled a 'nightmare' by Egyptians and foreigners alike due to its endless queues, bureaucratic procedures, and lack of digitisation, – might thus take a different form, although it has not yet been announced where administrative practices will be held next. Estimates indicate that about 100,000 people visit the public building on a daily basis and, though there is a new mobile application to streamline access to certain services, it remains unclear where visitors will be expected to go.
Main image by Vyacheslav Argenberg, licensed under Creative Commons.
Well, there you have it, people: some of the most expensive schools as of 2016. I just know this whole list will shuffle when I do the 2017 list for you guys next year. For all you lazy people out there who just skimmed through, check the following table:
Egypt Independent
Egyptian health officials said on Thursday that the three bottled mineral water comapnies Nestle, Aquafina and Baraka had produced bottled water that was unfit for human consumption.
According to a joint statement from the General Directorate of Food Control and the Central Administration for Environmental Affairs, affiliated with the Health Ministry, several batches of bottled water had been identified that did not meet the Egyptian food standard specification number 1589 of 2007.
The bottles affected are 1.5 L bottles of Nestle, Aquafina and Baraka, 330 ml Nestle bottles, and 600 ml Aquafina bottles.
Tests carried out by the General Directorate of Food Control in Sharqiya and Beheira governorates showed that the above mentioned batches included high levels of algae and E.coli bacteria, posing a threat to human health.
According to the statement, the public prosecution is initiating an investigation into the incident. If the prosecution investigators are able to prove that the batches are unfit for human consumption, they will be recalled from the market, said officials.
In 2012, Professor Gamal Mosaed, an expert on groundwater with the Mineral Resources Authority, told Al-Masry Al-Youm that 40 percent of mineral water in Egypt is unfit for human consumption because it is taken from wells containing toxins. Because many of Egypt's wells are less than 200 meters deep, Mosaed said that means the water of the well is too close to sanitation and irrigation water to be safe for drinking.
He called for a review to the licenses granted to water companies in Egypt. Mosad also accused companies of employing incompetent labs to analyze the water in order to get licensed easily.
Since that time, government agencies have shut down several Egyptian companies that were producing bottled drinking water that did not meet the necessary safety standards.
In some cases, factories were filling bottles with tap water and then illegally applying the labels of well-known mineral water brands. Tests conducted on some water samples showed that they contained live protozoa
Live protozoa found in samples of Aquafina bottled water, produced by PepsiCo, according to what appears to be a leaked internal directive dated May 2016
Products from two of Egypt’s leading bottled water brands have been declared “unfit for human consumption” by the authorities, after laboratory tests on samples revealed they did not comply with standards.
In what appears to be a leaked internal directive dated May 2016, officials said that coliform bacteria (which usually indicate the presence of fecal matter) were found in samples of Nestle Pure Life and Baraka Water bottled water (both brands produced by Nestle Water Egypt), and live protozoa in samples of Aquafina bottled water, produced by PepsiCo, making them “unfit for human consumption.”
Egypt’s Health Ministry spokesman Khaled Megahed admitted that the statement was legitimate in statements widely quoted by local media on Thursday, though he did not answer repeated requests for comment on the matter by Ahram Online.
Nestle, which produces Nestle Pure Life and Baraka Water from the same factory in Banha, in Egypt’s Qalyubiya governorate, said it was working with the authorities to address the allegations.
“Nestlé Waters has become aware of a document in circulation from the Ministry of Health concerning some of the company’s products, Nestlé Waters would like to inform all its customers and consumers that the case is immediately under serious investigation in collaboration with the MOH,” the company said in a statement on Wednesday.
Together, Aquafina and Nestle’s Pure Life controlled 71 percent of the bottled water market, according to an April 2013 report by the Egyptian Competition Authority.
The leaked document calls for halting the circulation in the market of the following; 1.5L Nestle Pure Life bottles produced on 17/03/2016 and 330 ml bottles produced on 13/03/2016, Baraka 1.5L bottles produced on 01/03/2016 and 600 ml bottles dated 10/03/2016, as well as Aquafina 1.5 bottles produced on 17/03/2016 and on 07/03/2016.
The directive also calls for conducting tests on samples from the bottles listed and sending the results to Egypt’s Prosecutor General, to determine a course of action.
According to the document, the samples were tested following a complaint from the government’s Health Directorate in the Nile Delta governorate of Beheira.
Regular tests are conducted on unprocessed well-water and the bottled product, to make sure the source is free of certain bacteria according to international standards, Zeinab Bakry, Chairperson of the National Nutrition Institute, told Ahram Online in a 2013 interview.
Nestle Egypt has started to withdraw some of its bottled water products from the market as a “precautionary measure” after local health authorities declared them contaminated last week, the company said on Saturday in a statement.
The statement noted that the company “is making every effort to ensure the safety of its products and compliance with local and international health and safety standards.”
The company specified that Nestle Pure Life 1.5 litre bottles produced on 17/03/2016, Nestle Pure Life 0.33 litre bottles produced on 13/03/2016, Baraka 1.5 litre bottles produced on 01/03/2016, and Baraka 0.6 litre bottles produced on 10/03/2016 will all be withdrawn from sale.
An official directive dated May 2016 and confirmed last week by health ministry spokesman Khaled Megahed showed that coliform bacteria - which usually indicate the presence of fecal matter - were found in samples of Nestle Pure Life and Baraka Water bottled water produced by Nestle Water Egypt.
Live protozoa were also found in samples of PepsiCo-produced Aquafina bottled water. Both coliform bacteria and protozoa make the bottled water “unfit for human consumption.”
According to an April 2013 report by the Egyptian Competition Authority, Aquafina and Nestle Pure Life controlled 71 percent of the bottled water market.
Egypt's cabinet abolishes daylight saving time ht
p://english.ahram.org.eg/News/232478.aspx @ahramonlineさんから
The cabinet decision came on the heels of a legal amendment initially approved by parliament to scrap the time change system
Ahram Online , Monday 4 Jul 2016
Taxi meters will now start at EGP 4 instead of EGP 3
Ayat Al Tawy , Tuesday 22 Nov 2016
Cairo’s governor has increased the tariffs of the city’s white taxis by 25 percent in the wake of hikes in fuel prices earlier this month, part of a package of government economic reforms.
Taxi meters will now start from EGP 4 instead of EGP 3 for a one kilometer journey, with each subsequent kilometer priced at EGP 1.75, up 35 piastres from the previous rate of EGP 1.40.
The new tariff increases “have been introduced following final approval from the cabinet," read a statement by Governor Atef Abdel Hamid released on Tuesday.
Cabs in the Cairo area had begun operating under the new rates on Monday.
"All prices are going up like crazy and our [fares] have remained the same. That was unfair," a taxi driver in downtown Cairo told Ahram Online.
A committee of experts which imposed the new increases aimed at fair prices for both drivers and passengers, Cairo governorate official Mohamed El-Sheikh said in comments carried by state news agency MENA.
The last time taxi tariffs were increased was in June 2014, when the starting kilometre went up from EGP 2.5 and the subsequent kilometres from EGP 1.25.
White cabs were first introduced in the capital in 2009 to replace rickety black-and-white vehicles which operated without working meters.
Earlier this month, Egypt reduced subsidies of petroleum products leading to an increase in prices at the pump. Lower grade petrol increased by nearly 50 percent to EGP 2.35 a litre, while higher octane fuel rose by over a third to EGP 3.5 per litre.
Natural gas used in vehicles also went up by some 45 percent to EGP1.6 per litre.
The hikes in prices of petroleum products came on the same day the country took the major step of floating the Egyptian pound in hopes of addressing a dollar crunch.
The pound has since slid from EGP8.8 to the dollar to approximately EGP17.5.
The resulting rise in prices has caused concern among many Egyptians.
Egypt is postponing a fee hike in tourist entry visas - a decision announced last week - until July, the country’s tourism ministry said on Saturday.
In statements to state news agency MENA, the ministry said the new fee -- which will increase from $25 to $60 -- will be implemented starting 1 July 2017, instead of a planned 1 March date.
The ministry did not provide a reason for the delay, however, sources in the tourism sector told Al-Ahram Arabic news website that the decision to postpone came after the foreign ministry stepped in to deal with complaints from the tourism sector to the cabinet saying the fee hike was too abrupt.
Representatives from the sector reached out to the cabinet last week to ask it to adjust the timeline for the fee hike, in order to maintain agreements with foreign travel operators based on the old rates.
Egypt last increased its visa fee in April 2014, from $15 to $25.
Some in the tourism sector say the decision should have been announced several months beforehand, expressing fears that the move could affect the country's efforts to revive tourism, a pillar of the economy and a key source of foreign currency.
Egypt has struggled to attract tourists scared off by the political turmoil that followed the 2011 uprising which ousted president Hosni Mubarak.
The country’s revenues from tourism dropped to $3.4 billion in 2016 -- a 44.3 percent decline from the previous year -- the Central Bank of Egypt said in January.
The figure is a far cry from the $11 billion in revenues generated by the sector in 2010, when 14.7 million tourists visited the country.
Egypt's cabinet decided on Tuesday to raise the price of multiple entry tourist visas from $35 to $60, while maintaining the old rate of $25 for single entry visas.
Tourism minister Yehia Rashed said in press statements that the cabinet approved the decision following a meeting headed by Prime Minister Sherif Ismail.
The minister did not specify when the change would be implemented.
In February, Egyptian officials said the country would introduce new visa hikes for both single and multiple entry visas, from $25 to $60 and $35 to $70, respectively.
Shortly after, however, the cabinet decided to postpone the implementation of the new prices from March till July, without giving a reason for the delay.
However, sources in the tourism sector have said that the price measure was postponed after Egypt's foreign ministry received complaints from the tourism sector saying the fee hike was too sudden and would negatively impact the tourism industry.
Egypt last increased its visa fee in April 2014, from $15 to $25.
Egypt has struggled to attract tourists scared off by the political turmoil that followed the 2011 uprising that ousted president Hosni Mubarak.
Tourism took another hit in 2015 after a Russian airliner crashed in Sinai, leading to the suspension of flights from several European countries, including Russia and the UK.
The country’s tourism revenues dropped to $3.4 billion in 2016 – a 44.3 percent decline from the previous year – the Central Bank of Egypt said in January.
The figure is a far cry from the $11 billion in revenues generated by the sector in 2010, when 14.7 million tourists visited the country.
Egypt has blocked 21 websites, including Qatari-based news network Al-Jazeera, for content it said shows support for “terrorism, extremism,” state news agecny MENA reported late Wednesday.
In statements to the agency, a senior security source said the websites were blocked for their intention to spread lies.
The source only named seven of the 21 websites, including Al-Jazeera, Al-Sharq TV Channel Website, Misr El-Arabia, El-Shaab, Arabi 21, Rasd, and Hamas Online, adding that legal action would be taken against these sites.
Cairo accused several of the websites, including Al-Jazeera, of having ties with the now-banned Muslim Brotherhood group, and linked others to being funded by Qatar.
Egypt has long accused Al-Jazeera of carrying out a hostile media campaign against the country since relations between Cairo and Doha soured following the ousting in 2013 of Egypt’s Islamist president Mohamed Morsi, a key ally of the Gulf country.
Other websites that have banned in Egypt include independent news site Mada Masr, which was launched in 2013 by a group of journalists formerly of Al Masry Al Youm’s Egypt Independent, as well as Huffington Post Arabic.
The websites, however, were not explicitly named by the authorities.
Wednesday’s move comes one day after authorities in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) blocked the main website of Qatar's al Jazeera TV, which Riyadh and Abu Dhabi.
UAE-based cab hailing company Careem raised their fares on Monday in Egypt to cope with the recent hike in fuel prices, according to a statement by the company emailed to Ahram Online.
Head of Careem Egypt Operations and Vice President of Careem Care Ramy Kato said in the statement that “Careem works carefully to avoid putting additional burdens on its drivers while maintaining quality standards of our customers.”
The statement said that the updated fare differs from one city to another.
The company currently operates in several areas including Cairo, Alexandria, Mansoura, Damanhour, Sharqiya, as well as the Red Sea’s El-Gouna and the Mediterranean’s North Coast.
For customers in Cairo, a “value ride” has a starting fare of EGP 5.5, with EGP 2.21 per km and a waiting charge of EGP 46 per hour, while Alexandria has a set starting fare of EGP 6.5, with EGP 2.20 per km and a waiting charge of EGP 36 per hour.
“The company has temporarily suspended the peak factor feature for one week, from 13 to 20 July, and will bear the cost of all price differences throughout this period,” Kato said, adding that the welfare of customers is a “top priority” for Careem.
It is unclear if Careem’s rival, San Francisco-based Uber, will follow suit and increase fares.
The Egyptian government recently cut fuel subsidies for the second time in less than one year.
In November 2016, Egypt’s petroleum ministry announced fuel subsidy cuts as part of its fiscal reform programme, after which Careem increased drivers' wages to cope with the fuel price hikes.
Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi inaugurated on Sunday in Cairo the annual Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Conference, where Egypt’s new e-Visa service was launched.
The online e-Visa system will serve visitors looking to travel to Egypt from any of 43 countries, including the United States, Canada, the UK, France and Cyprus.
The eVisa is an electronic travel authorisation that is stored electronically and is linked to a passport number. Applications for the e-Visa are done online.
El-Sisi also inaugurated through video conference the new technological zones in Beni Suef, Menoufiya and Assiut governorates.
During the inauguration, telecommunication and information technology minister Yasser El-Kady presented to President El-Sisi the first Egyptian-made mobile phone as a gift.
Manufactured in the technological zone in New Assuit City, the Sico Smartphone is the first mobile phone to be manufactured in Egypt, with 58 percent of its components manufactured locally, according to Minister El-Kady.
The Android Smartphone is manufactured by Sico Technology, which is a subsidiary of El-Siyad Salem Group.
The company is set to launch eight models of the Smartphone locally as well as in African and Arab markets.
The ICT conference, which has been held annually for the past 20 years, is Egypt's largest conference for information technology.
According to its organisers, at least 500 Arab and international companies in the IT field have participated in the conference, attracting millions of visitors throughout the years.
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Dear frequent travellers, it’s now time to kiss your not so favourite trips to Mogamma goodbye and say hello to Abbasiya!
According to Youm7, the Egyptian Passports, Immigration, and Nationality Administration has been moved from the El Tahrir complex to the old Police Academy in Abbasiya. As of today, Monday 1st of July, 2019, Egyptians and foreigners should visit the new location to get their paperwork done. Services offered include issuing or renewal of passports, getting a security clearance, certificates of movement, applying for immigration, finishing refugee paperwork, applying for foreign and Egyptian nationalities.
It’s worth mentioning that you can now contact the administration via p.academy@moi.gov.eg. We hope that with this relocation we won’t have to worry about the crowds.
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