Losing tourism to pig cull
The UK-based Compassion in World Farming (CWF), an animal charity which coordinates a network of 34 animal welfare groups in 27 countries, has warned that Egypt risked damaging its lucrative tourism industry as a result of its mass slaughter of pigs following the global outbreak of swine flu. CWF said “the most horrific methods” had been used to kill thousands of pigs in Egypt, including dumping them in mass graves and burying them alive. “Britons and people from around the world have joined in protest against this atrocity in Egypt, with many saying they’ll no longer consider Egypt as a possible holiday destination,” the group’s chief executive, Philip Lymbery, said. “Egypt’s government needs to act quickly to stop this appallingly cruel and totally unnecessary cull. Otherwise, the country’s tourist industry could be among the casualties.” In 2007, more than one million Britons visited Egypt, more than from any other country, according to Tourism Ministry and UK Embassy figures.
Electricity loans
Egypt has obtained loans worth USD1.28 billion from Arab and world financial institutions to set up two power plants with a total capacity of 2000 megawatts. Energy Minister Hassan Younis has said. The loans came from the Kuwait Fund for Economic Development, the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development, the African Development Bank, and the World Bank. The plants are to start operation by 2012 – 2013.
Third metro line
Up to 60 per cent of the first phase of work in the third underground metro in Cairo has been completed, Transportation Minister Mohammed Lotfi Mansour said following a surprise tour he recently conducted to inspect the work. Investments of the first and second phases of the third line of the Greater Cairo metro line, which is scheduled for completion in October 2011, amounts to some EGP8.5 billion, he said. The third phase is 11.6km long and will link the central Cairo station of Ataba to Imbaba in Giza.
First class Medal
Sultan Qaboos Ben Said of Oman has granted prominent Egyptian agricultural scientist Adel Beltagi the Sultan Qaboos first class medal for culture, science and arts in appreciation of his efforts in agricultural research and development. Beltagi is the current president of the international forum for agricultural research at the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). He is also the president of the Agricultural and Development Research Council in Egypt.
Community service with the UK
Last Sunday the British Council in Egypt celebrated the end of the first stage of the scientific exchange programme organised by the Council in Assiut, Upper Egypt, for three months. Some 18 volunteers from Egypt and the United Kingdom joined local charities and institutions in community service programmes for combating poverty, eradicating illiteracy, fighting narcotics, and disseminating environmental awareness.