Alain Navarro
Guest Author
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/ 26 March 2007

Egypt battlefield set for golf boom

The steaming sands of El-Alamein, where German and Allied tanks fought fiercely during World War II, are being readied for a boom in tourism, but only once the landmines are cleared. The potentially lucrative tourism industry on Egypt’s north coast is being cautiously developed on one of the most heavily mined bits of real estate in the world.

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/ 28 January 2007

Darfur threatens Sudan’s AU ambitions

A year after an international outcry over the civilian death toll in Darfur forced Sudan to forego its ambitions to chair the African Union, the now four-year-old conflict threatens to dash its hopes once again. There is growing pressure on African leaders to pass Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir over once again when they meet in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Monday.

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/ 26 October 2006

Behind which veil?

To veil or not to veil is no longer the question in Egypt. From abject neighbourhoods to chic suburban enclaves Muslim women are instead mulling whether to opt for a strict coverall, or a hipper headscarf. After three decades of Islamic revival, bare-headed women have become a slender minority — and many of them are Coptic Christians

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/ 25 October 2006

Black cloud threatens Egyptians’ health

For the seventh year running, a mysterious black cloud has appeared over Cairo, triggering serious health concerns for the polluted city’s 16-million residents. Emissions of nitrogen dioxide, which cause serious health risks above certain levels, have reached record heights in the city, from the banks of the Nile, past the industrial suburbs of the delta and even in the desert areas.

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/ 16 January 2006

French ‘asbestos’ ship poised for Suez crossing

Egyptian technicians on Monday were to inspect an old French aircraft carrier, heading for an Indian scrapyard, ahead of its planned transit through the Suez canal after a delay caused by controversy over the warship’s asbestos insulation. In a further potential legal snag, India’s Supreme Court on Monday banned the ship from entering Indian waters before February 13.

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/ 6 September 2005

‘The boss’ seen cruising to poll victory

With the battle to keep his throne all but won, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak’s main struggle on the eve of Wednesday’s landmark election was to secure a strong enough turnout to legitimise his victory. Mubarak wrapped up his campaign for the country’s first contested presidential election with an appeal to Egypt’s 32-million voters to go the polls but observers predict many could stay at home.