Samir Ghanem and the Theatre Lights Trio Starting in 1969, the comedy group Thulathy Adwaa Al-Masrah (or the Theatre Lights Trio) were among the first actors to present fawazir Ramadan (or Ramadan riddles): the quiz shows that have come to define the holy month for Egyptians. Established in the mid-1960s, the trio consisted of Samir Ghanem, George Sidhom and the late Al-Deif Ahmed. Before Fawazir Ramadan, they starred in 10 films and many plays. Fawazir Ramadan was the name of the popular programme that would later be presented by various stars, notably Ghanem. Their show was in black and white and not as spectacular as later fawazir, but it was so successful that many remember to the present day. At the time there were only two TV channels, both state owned. In Ramadan the broadcast would start at 1pm and stop for two hours at Iftar time, resuming straight with the fawazir, which people often anticipated with bated breath. Ghanem and Sidhom went on with the programme for 11 years after the death of Ahmed in 1970. This year Ghanem is presenting the radio fawazeer. “The Head of Food Security Unit, Hussein Mansour has stated that in Egypt there is no halal meat. Studies conducted on 470 slaughterhouses have proved that the butchers' understanding of Islamic slaughter does not go beyond uttering the name of God as they do it. But halal slaughter according to Islamic Sharia prohibits that an animal sees another slaughtered and is a far deeper concept than the act itself as for.” There is no fresh meat in the full sense of the word since meat is cut and stored at room temperature rather than in fridges. Besides, the amount of pollution to which meat is exposed during slaughter, skinning and transportation exceeds international standards by far. Al-Watan The Suez Canal celebration: To pay or not to pay “A friend of mine told me the story of his son who expressed a wish to contribute to the expenses of the celebration of opening the new Suez Canal by paying LE 200 of his savings. That story reflects the appreciation of all Egyptians including children of the great achievement and their confidence in those who planned and called for Egyptians to contribute to the celebration so that it will be an Egyptian project from A to Z.” Sami Abdel-Aziz, Al-Masry Al-Youm “At a time when the government, having declared a budget deficit, is imposing higher taxes to cover the shortage, Mohab Mamish is calling on the people to contribute to an imperial celebration of the new Suez Canal opening. It seems that Mamish has not read any history, otherwise he would know that the celebration conducted by Khedive Ismail for the opening of the canal brought Egypt to the brink of debt, thus placing the economy under foreign oversight and paving the way to the British occupation.” Suleiman Al-Hakim, Al-Masry Al-Youm A municipality chief shoulders the blame alone “On his tour of old Cairo on the first Friday of Ramadan, Prime Minister Mehleb saw piles of garbage around the heritage sites. He issued a verbal order to dismiss the Chief of the Municipality Maged Ali from his post. Although such quick decisions appeal to the people and prompt praise, they raise various questions, namely whether Ali should be dismissed alone or together with the Cairo governor and the Minister of Local Development, for they are equally responsible. Mr Prime Minister, the issue is more complicated than a single minor official remaining in office. It is the issue of corruption that is deeply rooted in all the local councils.” Adel Al-Sanhouri, Al-Youm Al-Sabei Back to the picture? “While Egypt was celebrating Al-Sisi's first year in power and the imminent opening of the new Suez Canal and regaining its regional role, Abdel-Moneim Abul-Fotouh made a public appearance to say otherwise and call for early presidential elections. By this wicked call, he wants to either return to the political scene or spoil the mood of Egyptians.” Ibn Al-Dawla, Al-Youm Al-Sabei Egyptian Essence: Cheating your way through secondary school “The [Education] Ministry's operation room recorded 45 cases of cheating in the first week of the thanaweya amma exams and 55 in the second. However, the overall number of cases is 250, 150 of which are still under investigation.” Al-Shorouk Facebook “I tried yesterday to break my cultural isolation and view one episode of a Ramadan series or programme. The last thing I watched in Ramadan on TV was Layaly Al-Helmia and the Nelly Fawazir. Ugly shows presented by rude and nauseating anchors popped up while I was browsing. I saw luxurious limos, a strange jet, the sky of Dubai, Pousy [the Egyptian actress] and Angelina Jolie! I didn't understand and I didn't make an effort do so. I switched off the TV. God help us.” Hani Shukrallah Twitter marlyn @virtualactivism Very amusing how Ikhwan now are living a victim mentality. They're chanting ‘Morsi's imprisonment will free a country' as if he was Mandela. Louisa Loveluck @leloveluck David Cameron invites Egypt's President Sisi to London the day after Morsi death sentence. Middle East Monitor @MiddleEastMnt #Egypt's Abul-Fotouh calls for early presidential elections. Dima S. @YasminWaQahwa Imo, Abul-Fotouh is one of the very few justice-centered voices in #Egypt's politics. Plaid el-Sisi @Plaid_Sisi I would appreciate it if Abul-Fotouh would keep his opinions to himself. Egypt is fine as of now.
