State-run newspapers Al-Ahram and Al-Akhbar reported on yesterday's action by the National Democratic Party (NDP) to submit applications to join the parliamentary elections. Ahmed Fathi Sorour, Speaker of People's Assembly, announced himself to be an early applicant to run in the upcoming parliamentary elections. Mofeed Shehab, Minister of State for Legal Affairs and Parliamentary Councils, as well as Zakareyya Azmi, Chief of Presidential Staff, are also candidates. Al-Ahram reported an increasing number of women who stand for elections in different governorates. Youssef Boutros Ghali, Minister of Finance, said the global wheat price hike will not affect subsidized bread, according to Al-Ahram. Ghali said the general budget designated LE13.5 billion for the Supply Commodity Authority in order to make commodities like rice, sugar, cooking oil, and tea, as well as subsidized wheat, available. Sugar prices reached US$575 yesterday in global stock markets, an increase of US$110. Experts attribute the increase to a heat wave in India and Pakistan that caused those two nations to refrain from importing sugar. According to Al-Wafd, Ahmed Yehia, head of grocery division at the Cairo Chamber of Commerce, expects impending price stability as new production enters the market in three months. Al-Ahram, Al-Akhbar, and Al-Gomhouriya reported on the disappearance of the Van Gogh painting Poppy Flowers from the Mahmoud Khalil Museum yesterday. Minister of Culture Farouq Hosni was quoted by three newspapers as saying procedures of retrieving the painting are ongoing. Though Mohsen Shaalan, Head of the Sector of Fine Arts, assured the public the painting had been retrieved, the information was proven innaccurate, according to Hosni. Meanwhile, privately owned Al-Shorouk newspaper, reported that security had thwarted an attempt by two Italians to steal the painting. High-ranking sources told Al-Shorouk that authorities have surveyed lands owned by parliamentary members in Suez, Ismailia, and South Sinai, areas specifically known for investments. Reports will be submitted to the president. Preliminary surveys indicated that these lands have exceeded 150,000 feddans. Al-Shorouk also reported on the Central Auditing Organization (CAO), which submitted a report accusing some members of parliament, the Shura Council, as well as a number of advisers to Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif, of wasting public money by allowing the rich to be supported by the state and, thus, depriving the poor of state funds. Al-Wafd, reported on protests in Fayoum and Qalyoubiya resulting from a water shortage. Hundreds clashed with police after blocking the road that links Fayoum to Qaroun lake. Protesters used microphones to urge citizens to stop paying their electricity bills in protest. Al-Dostour reported recent developments on the hijacked ship, the MV Suez. Abdel Meguid Matar, head of the Red Sea Navigation Company, which owns the ship, said he contacted pirates through Egyptian and Somali mediators. Negotiations succeeded in reducing the ransom from US$20 million to US$4 million. Negotiations toward a further reduction, Matar added, are ongoing. Sailors are in good shape despite the bad treatment they receive, according to Al-Dostour. However, Al-Shorouk reported that two crew members are suffering from diabetic comas due to lack of medicine. Egypt's papers: Al-Ahram: Daily, state-run, largest distribution in Egypt Al-Akhbar: Daily, state-run, second to Al-Ahram in institutional size Al-Gomhorriya: Daily, state-run Rose al-Youssef: Daily, state-run, close to the National Democratic Party's Policies Secretariat Al-Dostour: Daily, privately owned Al-Shorouq: Daily, privately owned Al-Wafd: Daily, published by the liberal Wafd Party Al-Arabi: Weekly, published by the Arab Nasserist party Youm7: Weekly, privately owned Sawt al-Umma: Weekly, privately owned
