brief me newsletter - 4th edition

8/8/2019 Brief Me Newsletter - 4th Edition

1/8

ISSUE #4 3 - 31 JAN 10 WEEKLY UPDATE FREE

January 12s earthquake of 7.0magnitude hit Haiti so hard. Estimatesaccording to Red Cross, death toll50,000 till Jan 16, however the interiorminister said it could reach 200,000. The

capital Port-au-Prince the countrysmost populous city (more than 1.2million people) has suffered tremendousdevastation.

In the absence of the government andthe presence of the United Nations,survivors continued to be pulled fromthe rubble, mass graves were lled, andstreets piled up with unclaimed bodies, asense of a collapsing state.

Desperately needed aid includingfood and water was pouring Saturdayhowever the airport in the capital

Port-au-Prince continued to be jammedwhich had caused logistics obstacles indelivering supplies as well as pilled upbodies in the street which had blockedroads in front of relief efforts.

Nonetheless aids are desperatelyneeded outside the capital.

Frustration and anger rose turned toviolence in some places, for which U.N.peacekeepers patrolling the capitalwarned aid convoys to add securityagainst looting.

The international community wasresponding and the U.N. planned a largemedical facility at the city stadium

US aircraft carrier arrived Friday. USNavy hospital ship and other more shipswere expected to come.

The Earthquake left the childrenhomeless, orphans and even in worsesituation, as they became morethreatened of kidnapping than before.

On Saturday 30 Jan, Ten Americans were

charged of trafcking (smuggling childrenout of their homelands). They werecaught on their way to the border with33 children, no documentation on themat all, and no proof that these childrenare orphans.

The United States will resume shortlyemergency medical evacuation ights,for critically injured Haitian quakevictims. The ights stopped on

Wednesday 28th due to some logisticalissues.

Haiti: earthquake, logistics difficulties and peacekeeping

BROUGHT TO YOU BYNANICE ARAFAT

HAITI ON THE MAP PULLING PEOPLE OUT OF THE REBBEELS

BRIEF ME!

DEAD BODIES EVERYWHERE


2/8

BURJ DUBAI SETS RECORDS OF THE TALLEST BUILDING

BURJ KHALIFA FORMERLY KNOWN AS BURJ DUBAI IN UNITED ARAB EMIRATES IS THETALLEST MAN MADE TOWER EVER BUILT, AT 828 M. CONSTRUCTION BEGAN ON 21SEPTEMBER 2004, OPENED OFFICIALLY ON 4 JANUARY 2010. THE TOTAL COST FOR THEBURJ KHALIFA PROJECT WAS ABOUT $1.5 BILLION. BURJ DUBAI SMASHED THE PREVIOUSWORLD RECORD, WHICH WAS HELD BY TAIWAN'S 508M TAIPEI 101. IT IS ABOUT TWICE THEHEIGHT OF THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING.

THE TOWER SIGNALS A RECOVERY OF REAL ESTATE MARKET BEATEN BY THE WORLDECONOMIC CRISIS IN DUBAI, WHERE PRICES HAVE COLLAPSED BY AS MUCH AS 50PERCENT. HOWEVER MANY DEVELOPERS ARE HAVING TROUBLE FINDING OCCUPANTS FORTHEIR BUILDINGS. ACCORDING TO ANALYSTS IT IS A UNIQUE BUILDING BUT IT IS NOTGOING TO STIMULATE DEMAND.

IN A TWIST MOVE CHINA PENALIZES U.S. OVER ARMS SALES TO TAIWAN

EIJING TOOK A SERIES OF MEASURES IN RETALIATION TO THE ARMS DEAL OF WASHINGTON TO TAIWAN; MOSTMPORTANT WAS THE SANCTIONS MEASURE ON AMERICAN COMPANIES SUPPLIED THE DEAL.

ELATIONS BETWEEN WASHINGTON AND BEIJING SOURED LATELY; US CRITICIZED CHINA FOR NOT TAKING TOUGHEROSITION TO SANCTION IRAN FOR ITS NUCLEAR PROGRAM. ALSO WARNED CHINA THAT IT MIGHT FACE DIPLOMATICSOLATION AND ECONOMIC INSECURITIES. MORE ISSUES TENSIONED RELATIONS ESPECIALLY CLIMATE CHANGE,ESTRICTION ON INTERNET AND CHINAS STAND AGAINST THE WORLD PRIMACY OF THE DOLLAR.

MORE CONFIDENT NOW, THE FOREIGN MINISTRY IN BEIJING ANNOUNCED SATURDAY THAT SOME MILITARY EXCHANGEROGRAMS BETWEEN USA AND CHINA WOULD BE CANCELED. THE CHINESE WERE ENCOURAGED BY THEIR-LEADINGECOVERY FROM A RECESSION CONTRARY TO MOST ADVANCED INDUSTRIAL DEMOCRACIES.

BRIEF INFO

CLIMATE ISSUE:

CHINA AND THE UNITED STATES THEWORLDS TWO LARGEST CARBON POLLUTERS HAVE WAGED A WAR OF WORDS AT

COPENHAGEN. THEY HAVE CLASHED ON KEYISSUES SUCH AS HOW TO SHARE OUT THEBURDEN OF SLASHING GREENHOUSE GASES(GHGS) AND WHETHER THE UNITED STATESOWES DEVELOPING COUNTRIES A "CLIMATEDEBT".

THE DOLLAR ISSUE:

POST THE ECONOMIC CRISES THAT USA BANKINGSYSTEM HAD CAUSED, CHINAS AND OTHER MAJORNATIONS WITH SURPLUS RESERVES HAVE CALLED

CONSTANTLY FOR NEW WORLD RESERVE CURRENCYAND FOR THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND TOISSUE A NEW SINGLE SUPER-SOVEREIGNCURRENCY REPLACING THE US DOLLAR. ANALYSTSSAID THAT CHINA IS ACTUALLY TAKING STEPS, THEYUAN OR RENMINBI (CHINAS CURRENCY) IS NOWTRADED AGAINST A BASKET OF CURRENCIES,INCLUDING THE DOLLAR.


3/8

An Egyptian guard was killed and fourPalestinians were wounded on Jan 6during a riot against Egypt's

interference with the lifeline aid convoyas well as the anti-smuggling barrierthat Egypt began constructing a monthago on the Gaza border.

Egypt under US and Israel pressure ismaintaining a blockade of the borderfor preventing the smuggling of weapons and wide range of productsthat could help in making rockets to bered at Israel.

Gaza strip suffered since the blockadeimposed by Israel in 2006 after militantsseized its soldier. Blockade was

tightened after Hamas Islamists whooppose international efforts to achieveIsraeli-Palestinian peace, took controlover Gaza from President MahmoudAbbass Fatah movement.

Hundreds of Palestinians had turnedout to protest against the wall, whichthey called Wall of Death, shootingerupted after scores of Palestinianprotesters hurled rocks at the soldiers.

The violence was the most seriousbetween Egyptian and Hamas forcessince Cairo began constructing the

underground steel barrier.The blockade has drawn internationalcondemnation especially after the 22day-Israeli war on Gaza on 27December 2008 in which 1,400Palestinians and 13 Israelis were killedand Gaza homes and infrastructurewere destroyed.

Violence on Egypt-Gaza borders, Egyptian guard killed

LOC AL NEWS

MOHAMED BADI


4/8

TONS OF DEAD FISH SOLD IN MONEEB AND SABROMANTMARKETS

TONS OF DEAD FISH FLOATED ON THE SURFACE OF THE MOHEET AND MARIOUTEYACANAL DUE TO THE LARGE-SCALE SANITIZ ATION THE 6TH OF OCTOBER IRRIGATIONDEPARTMENT HAD CONDUCTED IN THE CANAL.

RESIDENTS OF THE AREA COLLECTED THE DEAD FISH, DESPITE WARNINGS FOR THEIR

DANGEROUS TO THE HEALTH, TOOK THEIR WAYS THE MARKETS NEAR BY IN THEMONEEB, HARRANEYA AND SHABRAMONT AREAS.

SEVERAL FISHERMEN HEADED TO THE ENVIRONMENT MINISTRY AND THE HARRANEYAPOLICE STATION TO FILE REPORTS OF THE INCIDENT, THEY CONFIRMED THAT THEYRENTED FROM THE GENERAL AUTHORITY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF FISH RECOURSES.

MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE DECIDED TO BAN FISHING IN THE AGRICULTURALSEWAGE WITH HIGH LEVELS OF POLLUTION WHETHER IT IS INDUSTRIAL WASTE ORSEWAGE, AND ESPECIALLY IN AREAS WITH HIGH MORTALITY OF FISH LIKEMARIOTEYA CANAL. THE RESULTS OF TESTS CARRIED OUT BY THE MINISTRY LABSTHAT THE DEATH OF THE FISH IN THE CANAL WAS DUE TO THE REMNANTS OFMOLASSES RESULTING FROM THE SUGAR FACTORY OF HAWAMDIA.

A NUMBER OF HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS DECIDED TO FILE LAWSUITSAGAINST 4 SIDES SAID TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR POISONING DEATH OF THE FISHKILLS; THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES, THEDIRECTORATE OF IRRIGATION COUNTY 6 OCTOBER AND THE SUGAR COMPANYHAWAMDIA.

EGYPTS LOCAL PUBLIC DE BT WAS ALARMING

A REPORT OF THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE REVEALED THAT EGYPTS LOCALPUBLIC DEBT EXCEEDED LE689, WHICH REPRESENTED 58.5% OF GROSSDOMESTIC PRODUCT (GDP).

SOME EXPERTS SAID THE LOCAL DEBT WAS STILL WITHIN THE SAFELIMITS AS LONG AS IT DIDNT EXCEED 50 PERCENT OF GDP, HOWEVER ITWAS ALARMING BECAUSE IT MEANT THAT THE INDIVIDUALS SHARE OFDEBT EXCEEDS LE9000.

THE FIRST EVER RULING AGAINST NILE POLLUTION

Amid the government growing interest of the environment, Imbaba court for the rst timever sentenced to one year in prison, the Managers of both branches of the Nile Company

or Food Industry (Enjoy), for dumping industrial waste into the Nile in Imbaba district Giza.

n a sudden inspection to the Industrial Site, they discovered the violation of the companyo the national environment law. The Minister of state for Environment affairs Maged

George ordered the continuation of inspection to the industrial sites, drainage canals andditches that discharge industrial waste into the Nile in order to stop such illegal activities.

More such lawsuits are to be led in the near future. Patients who suffered kidney failuresdue to contaminated water in Damietta are taking their problem to court against ofcials.

Close-up


5/8

Gulf of Aden

CONFLICT IN

YEMEN

In an international conference in London, ministers and ofcials from 20 countries gathered, as said, to bring unity andstability to Yemen, and to discuss the economic and political condition of the poorest Arab state.

The conference came amid fears in the Arab world that Yemen might become a "failed state", accused of harbouring al-Qaeda (as western media trying to paint it), and might end up suffering the same fate as Iraq, Afganistan, Pakistan oreven Somalia. The Arab voices accused the UK and the US of beating the drum of war aiming to turn Yemen as a basein the Gulf of Aden to protect Western interests in the region.

Yemen and its western partners agreed in the conference, where the Arab League was not invited, to ght together thethreat of Al-Qaeda and appointed Riyadh for the next meeting in February.The conict is essentially between Yemen's Sunni-majority government against Shia ghters, a conict that has addedsignicance for many Arab countries worried about the rising inuence of Shia-ruled Iran. Saudi Arabia concernedabout the violence along its southern border since it ared up in August, which the Houthis accused of providingsupport to Yemen's military, has become involved in the conict and shelling suspected Houthis positions in November2009.After failure attempts to rein stability, Ali Abdullah al-Saleh, the Yemeni president, said on August 10, 2009, that the

ghters had no intention of implementing the peace deal signed. He accused them of destroying homes and farms andblocking food distribution.Washington supplied the Yemeni army with military intelligence and equipment, and the US media have reported thatits attacks were aimed against Al-Qaeda targets in the Arabian Peninsula.The UN said the Yemeni government's war against the Houthis has displaced more than 200,000 civilians and killedhundreds of people.In a latest development, The Houthi rebels have been forced out of Saudi Arabia, said Prince Khalid Bin Sultan.

Brief Info:The conict in Yemen had begun since 2004, when the government of Yemen had carried out a campaign against the Shia

Muslim rebels (the Houthis) in the north of the country.The conict has actually historical roots. In 1962, a revolution toppled the shia Zaydi Hashimtes that ruled Yemen for more than1000 years. Their stronghold in the north Saada was economically ignored since. The Shia Houthi was named after Hussein Al Houth, a religious leader belonged to the Zaydi Hashimites who ruled Yemen, however was killed in his hide out.

Moreover the strong Wahhabis voice (Islamic sect in Saudi Arabia adopting a strict version of Sunnis) that helped the Yemeni government during the Civil War in 1994 against the separatist in the south, had offended the Shia Houthis in the north against Saudi Arabia.


6/8

On Tuesday 12, Iran Foreign Ministeraccused the Zionist regime, The Us andits allies in Iran of the bombing of the

nuclear scientist. This was what USdenied and called it absurd.

Primary investigations revealed that thebomb was planted on a motorcycleoutside the scientist Ali-Mohammadi'shome in Tehran, triggered by a remotecontrol device, which had caused his

instant death. Mr. Mohammadi taughtneutron nuclear physics at TehranUniversity.

According to Iran, such actions wouldnot affect Iran's nuclear program anddenitely would not cause any obstaclein the way of the country's scienticand technological development. Ratherthey will speed up.

Iran: US and Israel were behind the scientists bombing

MASSOUD ALI-MOHAMMADI

Offended by a Turkish TV series thatdepicted Israeli agents as babykidnapers, Israeli Deputy ForeignMinister Danny Aylon summoned theTurkish Ambassador on Monday 11 tocomplain, and deliberately seated theTurkish envoy in a low chair andremoved the Turkish ag from a table.

In response, Turkeys president,Abdullah Gul, threatened to recall theTurkish ambassador unless an Israeliformal apology was issued, which cameat the last minute of a deadline onFriday when Mr. Aylon apologized. Later

on Sunday the Israeli Defense Ministersaid during his visit to Turkey that theact was a mistake, Mr Ayalon had"overstepped his mark", and urged forthe norms of diplomacy.

Turkish Foreign Minister Recep TayyipErdogan replied in the news conferencethat Turkey was not thinking of takingthe matter any further.

Relations soured and deterioratedbetween the used to be strategic allies

in the region since Turkey condemnedIsrael's Gaza offensive in 2008-09.

Could Barak visit to Ankara putbehind soured relations?

Brief information about the Turkish series...

The scriptwriter Bahadir Oezdener is working on a movie to be released in thesecond half of this year which will focus on Palestinian suffering in the Gaza Stripand "depict Israel as it is -- with bloody hands, merciless... outing all humanvalues" he continues "What we do is ction... But what about what they do, theircrimes against humanity? They are real".Ozdener is the scriptwriter of "Valley of the Wolves", the long-running televisionseries that sparked a diplomatic row with Israel. In the episode that angeredIsrael, the protagonist storms an Israeli diplomatic mission to rescue a Turkish boykidnapped by the intelligence agency Mossad, with one scene showing bloodsplaying over the Star of David as he kills an Israeli agent.Israel slammed the show for depicting "Israel and Jews as baby-snatchers and warcriminals," but Ozdener expressed no remorse.

VALLEY OF THEWOLVES: IRAQ

BAHADIR OEZDENER
http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/g/abdullah_gul/index.html?inline=nyt-perhttp://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/g/abdullah_gul/index.html?inline=nyt-perhttp://edition.cnn.com/http://topics.edition.cnn.com/topics/Iranhttp://edition.cnn.com/http://topics.edition.cnn.com/topics/Iran


7/8

A TECHNICAL ANALYSIS APPROACH TOTHE EGYPTIANBENCHMARK INDEX EGX 3O

THE DIRECTION OF THE INDEX, SINCE DECEMBER 2009, WASGOING ON AN UP TREND FROM THE LEVEL OF 5868 TILLREACHED THE HIGHEST POINT IN TODAY'S SESSION AT 7067.THE INDEX WAS GOING ON AN UPWARD CHANEL. THECHANEL'S UPPER BOUNDARY IS 7200 AND THE LOWERBOUNDARY IS 6650.

THE INDEX SUCCEEDED RECENTLY IN FEBRUARY TO BREAK THEPREVIOUS PEAK AND THE RESISTANCE OF 7050 AS WELL ANDCLOSED AT 7062. IF THE INDEX SUSTAINS ABOVE 7050 THENEXT TARGET WILL BE 7200.

STOCKS RANIA EL MARIA CORNER

2010 AFR ICA CUP OF NATIONS

THE 27TH AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS, HELD IN ANGOLA BEGAN ON 10 JANUARY2010 AND CONCLUDED ON 31 JANUARY.

IN THE TOURNAMENT, THE HOSTS ANGOLA WERE TO BE JOINED BY 15 NATIONSWHO SUCCESSFULLY ADVANCED FROM THE QUALIFICATION PROCESS, BUT THEWITHDRAWAL OF TOGO AFTER A TERRORIST ATTACK ON THEIR BUS UPONARRIVING FOR THE TOURNAMENT REDUCED THE NUMBER OF PARTICIPATINGNATIONS TO 15. A TOTAL OF 29 GAMES WERE PLAYED, INSTEAD OF THESCHEDULED 32 GAMES. EGYPT WON THE TOURNAMENT, THEIR SEVENTH ACNTITLE IN HISTORY AND AN UNPRECEDENTED THIRD TIME IN A ROW, BEATINGGHANA 10 IN THE FINAL.

DURING THE SEMI FINALS, EGYPT GOT THE BETTER OF ALGERIA IN THISTYPICALLY BAD TEMPERED ENCOUNTER WITH HOSNI ABOU RABOU NETTING THEFIRST GOAL AFTER ALGERIA HAD BEEN REDUCED TO TEN MEN WHEN HALLICHEWAS SENT OFF. MOHAMED ZIDAN SCORED A SECOND TO KILL OFF ANY CHANCE

OF COMEBACK FROM THE DESERT FOXES WHOS WOES CONTINUED WHEN THEYFOUND THEMSELVES DOWN TO NINE MEN WHEN NADIR BELHADJ WAS REDCARDED. AN ABDEL-SHAFY GOAL ENDED THE GAME AS A CONTEST AND GAVEEGYPT AN UNASSAILABLE THREE GOAL LEAD. TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY FAOUZICHAOUCHI WAS THE THIRD PLAYER TO SEE RED FOR ALGERIA AND GEDOSCORED A FOURTH.


8/8

FASHION CORNERFor women that 'stand out' look is just about to get awhole lot easier thanks to the hottest trend for shoesin 2010: thigh high boots.Yes, over-the-knee boots are back with a vengeance butthis 2009/2010 shoe trend won't stop there. In fact, thetop of your boots will be going much higher: thigh-highboots are undoubtedly the hottest shoe trend for womenin the Autumn (Fall)/Winter season, but make sure youdon't wear it in the wrong way. Avoid two main things withany pair of over-the-knee or thigh-high boots you decideto invest in: thick heels and a glossy patent finish.

Recommended MaterialsGenuine leather, of which you're safest investment choiceis classic matt black or brown. If you want more uniquecolor leather, your other big choices for 2009/2010 areolive greens, grays or cream/neutral tones. One othermaterial you might look at incorporating into your 2010

over-the-knee boot collection is shearling or wool lining.

StylesClassic: for a classic or elegant take on the over-the-knee boot, your best bet is to go for a slim-fitting suedepair with a round or tapered toe.Rock: the right pair of tight black leather over-the-kneeboots screams rock-chic; tough, but tempting.Wearing your thigh-high boots with leggings or stockingsand goes very well with lose tops.

Brief Me! team

Editor-in-Chief Nanice ArafatManaging Editor Reem Ismail

Contributing writers:Stocks Corner Rania El MariaSports Section Ramy Abdel FattahFashion Corner Rana Abdel Fattah

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