Several recently privatized companies are collapsing, says Al-Ahram's lead story today. According to the paper, the Ministry of Manpower and Immigration recently issued a report on the failed companies. MP Zakaria Azmy has since requested that the report be delivered to the attorney general's office, in an effort to protect the “rights of the government as well as the workforce.” Al-Ahram quotes Azmy describing the report as a form of “persecution against privatization,” reportedly refusing government involvement in the companies after they had been “looted and robbed.” Azmy's words came during yesterday's parliamentary session, in which several MPs repeatedly accused the government of displaying “extreme negligence towards companies that have been privatized, without any concern for workers' rights,” according to Al-Ahram. Al-Ahram also follows up on what is presumably the last chapter in Minister of Education Ahmed Zaki Badr's unsuccessful attempt at bringing order to what he labeled last week “the worst school” in Egypt. Following a surprise visit to Al-Kholafaa' Al-Rashideen School for Boys in Helwan--which ended with Badr disciplining several under-performing teachers by transferring them to remote schools--the minister has seemingly gone back on his words, calling for a “cessation of decisions to transfer of teachers.” During a press conference held yesterday at the Ministry's general office, Badr said he reversed his earlier decision in order to “avoid any disruptions in the educational process.” The minister of education also stated that penalties imposed by him on certain teachers would be “lightened,” before asserting that further visits would be made to the school in order to correct the “many wrongs that everyone has admitted to.” Al-Akhbar leads with a story under the headline “Cancellation of ration cards by June.” Minister of Social Solidarity Ali el-Meselhi announced yesterday that in approximately two months' time, ration cards will be permanently replaced by smart cards, which the minister claims have are already being distributed in nine governorates. The state-owned paper reports that the first stage of distribution included five million cards, a fifth of which were allocated to residents of Cairo, with 376,000 for Giza. “Egypt joins world scientists in revealing secrets of the origin of the universe,” reads a headline running across the bottom of Al-Akhbar's front page. In a report frustratingly light on details, Al-Akhbar mentions the “official membership” recently “won” by Egypt, granting it a place in “one of the most significant physics experiments in modern history--the Large Hadron Collider.” Tarek Hussein, head of the Scientific Research Academy stressed the importance of this new membership, stating “Egypt is the first Arab and African nation, and third developing nation, to be participating in this project.” Al-Shorouq leads with “Obama's plan to create a Palestinian state within two years.” According to the paper, several Arab and regional diplomatic sources have claimed that the US president is preparing to adopt a “new direction” in dealing with the Israeli-Palestinian crisis, aiming for the establishment of a Palestinian state that would include areas of Jerusalem. Al-Shorouq reports that Obama is also preparing several “innovative ideas” in order to most effectively deal with the “sensitive” issue of Palestinian refugees. Sources also state that at this point in time, Obama's plan is “almost complete,” and will present “the United States' vision of a final, definitive settlement to crisis.” Independent papers also spotlight reports on the chaos that broke out downtown on 6 April after police violently reacted to a peaceful demonstration. “International organizations and global media: 6 April has unveiled the ugly side of the Egyptian system,” states Al-Dostour's headline, printed over a series of pictures depicting confrontations between protesting youth and security forces. Al-Wafd and Al-Shorouq also reported on the aftermath of the melee. Al-Wafd reports that the arrested protesters have been charged with “inciting public misconduct” and “disturbing the peace,” while Al-Shorouq claims that approximately 90 individuals had been arrested during the protest. All three papers claim that despite the attorney general's statement earlier today granting the release of 23 individuals, none had actually been released as of Wednesday evening.
