The power of education
BY REHAM BARAKAT The power cut in Heliopolis over the past few days, which is a negative thing, strangely left me with a positive thought. It reminded me of 16-year-old Egyptian Azza Abdel Hamid. She was the winner of the 2011 European Union contest for young scientists who discovered a way to turn plastic into biofuel. Yes, I thought, maybe a generation of young Egyptians will conjure up positive and effective solutions for alternative energy that will help plunge Egypt into a more progressive and environmentally-friendly future where we have less power outages and modern sustainable energy resources. Another example…
Qandil Cabinet sworn in
BY SAFAA ABDOUN AND SARAH EL SIRGANY Cairo: Following weeks of speculation, leaks and rumors, a new Cabinet was sworn in under the leadership of Prime Minister Hisham Qandil Thursday. Thirty-five ministers comprise the first government under President Mohamed Morsi, including some familiar faces and others criticized for being holdovers from the old regime. Retaining his post since 1991, Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, head of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) has kept the defence portfolio despite talk in the past week of conflict between Morsi and SCAF over a proposal to replace him. The new Cabinet,…
Proposed ministers reflect ‘continuity’
BY SARAH EL SIRGANY Cairo: The preliminary list of new cabinet of ministers show continuity more than reform and is disappointing, observers said. “The government reflects more continuity, rather than change,” said Omar Ashour, director of the Middle East Studies at Exeter University. At least four ministers from the previous cabinet will remain under the leadership of the recently appointed premier Hesham Qandil, according to a list published by the official news agency MENA. These include Momtaz El-Saeid in finance and Mohamed Kamel Amr, minister of foreign affairs. These top or “sovereign” ministries were expected to be issues of contention…
