The International Monetary Fund managing director Kristalina Georgieva has emphasised the importance of continuing with the agreed-upon reforms in Egypt, despite acknowledging the challenges that the fund's programme has posed for the country.
During a visit to Cairo on Sunday, the IMF chief held a joint press conference at Egypt’s new administrative capital with Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly. Ms Georgieva praised the Egyptian government’s adherence to the reform programme and urged leadership and people to stay the course despite worsening regional conflicts and high inflation.
“Reforms are not easy. I would like to recognise the efforts of the government and recognise the Egyptian people,” Ms Georgieva said, “My message to you is I have full confidence that you will see the benefits of this reform programme in a more dynamic, more prosperous Egyptian economy. We are in the new capital, which shows what can be done with determination.”
Ms Georgieva met with President Abdel Fattah El Sisi before her address alongside Mr Madbouly, according to a statement from the presidency’s spokesman which underscored Mr El Sisi's insistence to Ms Georgieva that the “state’s priority is reducing the burdens on the Egyptian people through combating inflation and rising prices”.
The IMF chief’s visit marks the start of Egypt’s fourth review by the fund, which is expected to launch on Tuesday, according to a speech made by Mr Madbouly on Sunday.
A great deal of speculation had surrounded Ms Georgieva’s visit to Cairo, especially after an October 20 speech by Mr El Sisi during which he directed the government to review its programme with the fund if its conditions were too much for the people to bear.
Mr Madbouly then said on October 23 that the government would be opening discussions into amending the reform programme during the fund’s visit for the fourth review this month.
Discussions are expected to be held between the IMF delegation and the relevant Egyptian authorities over the next two weeks, Ms Georgieva said.
She, however, made no mention that any of the meetings would be addressing any changes to the conditions of the programme.
“It would seem that Ms Georgieva is quite reluctant to make any changes to the loan programme and this will simply mean there will be an extra burden on the Egyptian people. And Mr El Sisi knows this. He knows that some of these reforms are a social threat,” Dr Alia El Mahdi, professor of economics, and former dean of the faculty of economics and political science, Cairo University, told The National.
“I would have imagined that she would have agreed to relax some of the subsidy cuts on electricity and fuel. After four hikes this year on fuel, any further increases are unadvisable for the political and social stability of the country. It is baffling that Mr Georgieva is not taking this into consideration.”
The Egyptian government issued a request to the fund after Mr El Sisi’s speech, asking for an extension on repayment and subsidy cut deadlines mandated by the fund under the programme among other things, according to Dr Kareem Al Omda, a professor of economics at several Egyptian universities.
“The IMF quickly took a firm stance and said it would not be open to reviewing any of the reforms which are actually impacting people’s lives such as subsidy cuts, energy prices and the free-floating currency,” Dr Al Omda told The National.
“Georgieva’s visit should be viewed as a firming up of its stance on the crucial parts of the fund's reform programme. The fund has often had to take such firm stances with the government in the absence of more effective civilian oversight.”
Areas of reform on which the fund was more amenable to allowing extensions, according to Dr Al Omda, were the reduction of the state and military’s dominant role in the economy, the increase of private sector participation and increased financial transparency.
The government’s latest appeal to the IMF for easing the loan conditions pointed to the negative effects of regional conflicts happening on Egypt’s borders, including Israel’s war in Gaza and the civil war in Sudan as extenuating circumstances that necessitate more leniency.
A 70-per-cent drop in Suez Canal revenue as a result of Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping was cited by Mr El Sisi and Mr Madbouly.
Ms Georgieva said she appreciated the strains put on Egypt because of the revenue losses, however, she did not recognise them as significant enough challenges that may warrant a change in the fund’s mandated reforms.
“The fact that the government was appealing to the fund using the war in Gaza as grounds for a policy shift was also shaky in many expert opinions. After all, the IMF programme was finalised in March when the war in Gaza was entering its sixth month and its effects on the Suez Canal had made themselves abundantly clear. If the fund did not put the war in mind then, it’s unlikely that it will do so now.”
Ms Georgieva during her address underscored several economic markers that she said suggested that the economy is on its way towards recovery.
These included a general downwards trend towards inflation, which peaked at 37 per cent in September last year, the government’s rising foreign currency reserves and the shift from an in-kind subsidy system to a cash-based alternative.
On Saturday, Fitch Ratings upgraded Egypt's long-term foreign-currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) from 'B-' to 'B' with a stable outlook, citing an increase in international reserves and a recovery in the net foreign asset position.
The upgrade comes as Egypt's foreign exchange reserves have risen to $44.5 billion, according to Egypt's State Information Service, an increase that was driven by a $24 billion influx of new foreign currency from the Ras El-Hekma deal and an estimated $17 billion increase in non-resident holdings of domestic debt.
During its annual meetings in Washington, which wrapped up last Sunday, the fund introduced a round of reforms which reduced borrowing costs for members by about $1.2 billion annually and reduced payments on the margin of charges and surcharges on average by 36 per cent.
For Egypt, this translates into an $800 million discount on surcharges spread out over the next six years, Dr Al Omda said.
“The only thing that is for certain is that Egypt will pay $800 million less than it had originally intended to after the IMF amended its surcharge policy during its annual meetings in Washington a couple of weeks ago,” he added.
“Anything else mentioned in the public statements by either side should be taken with a grain of salt until they become actual policy. Egypt has thus far followed the reforms strictly and there’s no reason to assume that will change.”
Egypt’s annual urban inflation rate increased to 26.4 per cent in September, remaining very close to what it was in August when it ended a five-month deceleration streak.
The rate rose after August after a series of subsidy cuts which included sizeable increases to electricity prices, up to 50 per cent for some segments, and a fuel subsidy cut in October which included a 17.3 per cent increase on diesel. The fuel price rise was the fourth to be introduced since the start of this year.
The view among experts is that prices will continue to increase over the coming months and that further fuel rises are expected for the first quarter of next year, according to Dr Al Omda.
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE tour of the Netherlands
UAE squad: Rohan Mustafa (captain), Shaiman Anwar, Ghulam Shabber, Mohammed Qasim, Rameez Shahzad, Mohammed Usman, Adnan Mufti, Chirag Suri, Ahmed Raza, Imran Haider, Mohammed Naveed, Amjad Javed, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed
Fixtures: Monday, first 50-over match; Wednesday, second 50-over match; Thursday, third 50-over match
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The five pillars of Islam
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Company%C2%A0profile
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MATCH INFO
Kolkata Knight Riders 245/6 (20 ovs)
Kings XI Punjab 214/8 (20 ovs)
Kolkata won by 31 runs
Zayed Sustainability Prize
The specs: 2018 Audi Q5/SQ5
Price, base: Dh183,900 / Dh249,000
Engine: 2.0L, turbocharged in-line four-cylinder / 3.0L, turbocharged V6
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic / Eight-speed automatic
Power: 252hp @ 5,000rpm / 354hp @ 5,400rpm
Torque: 370Nm @ 1,600rpm / 500Nm @ 1,370rpm
Fuel economy: combined 7.2L / 100km / 8.3L / 100km
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What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
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- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
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RedCrow Intelligence Company Profile
Started: 2016
Founders: Hussein Nasser Eddin, Laila Akel, Tayeb Akel
Based: Ramallah, Palestine
Sector: Technology, Security
# of staff: 13
Investment: $745,000
Investors: Palestine’s Ibtikar Fund, Abu Dhabi’s Gothams and angel investors
KINGDOM%20OF%20THE%20PLANET%20OF%20THE%20APES
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Wes%20Ball%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Owen%20Teague%2C%20Freya%20Allen%2C%20Kevin%20Durand%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Heavily-sugared soft drinks slip through the tax net
Some popular drinks with high levels of sugar and caffeine have slipped through the fizz drink tax loophole, as they are not carbonated or classed as an energy drink.
Arizona Iced Tea with lemon is one of those beverages, with one 240 millilitre serving offering up 23 grams of sugar - about six teaspoons.
A 680ml can of Arizona Iced Tea costs just Dh6.
Most sports drinks sold in supermarkets were found to contain, on average, five teaspoons of sugar in a 500ml bottle.
The%20Hunger%20Games%3A%20The%20Ballad%20of%20Songbirds%20%26%20Snakes
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%C2%A0Francis%20Lawrence%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%C2%A0%3C%2Fstrong%3ERachel%20Zegler%2C%20Peter%20Dinklage%2C%20Viola%20Davis%2C%20Tom%20Blyth%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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Scorebox
Dubai Hurricanes 31 Dubai Sports City Eagles 22
Hurricanes
Tries: Finck, Powell, Jordan, Roderick, Heathcote
Cons: Tredray 2, Powell
Eagles
Tries: O’Driscoll 2, Ives
Cons: Carey 2
Pens: Carey
WITHIN%20SAND
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Book%20Details
%3Cp%3E%3Cem%3EThree%20Centuries%20of%20Travel%20Writing%20by%20Muslim%20Women%3C%2Fem%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EEditors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESiobhan%20Lambert-Hurley%2C%20Daniel%20Majchrowicz%2C%20Sunil%20Sharma%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EIndiana%20University%20Press%3B%20532%20pages%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
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2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
The essentials
What: Emirates Airline Festival of Literature
When: Friday until March 9
Where: All main sessions are held in the InterContinental Dubai Festival City
Price: Sessions range from free entry to Dh125 tickets, with the exception of special events.
Hot Tip: If waiting for your book to be signed looks like it will be timeconsuming, ask the festival’s bookstore if they have pre-signed copies of the book you’re looking for. They should have a bunch from some of the festival’s biggest guest authors.
Information: www.emirateslitfest.com
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FINAL RECKONING
Director: Christopher McQuarrie
Starring: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg
Rating: 4/5
Moving%20Out%202
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDeveloper%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20SMG%20Studio%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Team17%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EConsoles%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Nintendo%20Switch%2C%20PlayStation%204%26amp%3B5%2C%20PC%20and%20Xbox%20One%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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THE%20SPECS
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Six large-scale objects on show
- Concrete wall and windows from the now demolished Robin Hood Gardens housing estate in Poplar
- The 17th Century Agra Colonnade, from the bathhouse of the fort of Agra in India
- A stagecloth for The Ballet Russes that is 10m high – the largest Picasso in the world
- Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1930s Kaufmann Office
- A full-scale Frankfurt Kitchen designed by Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky, which transformed kitchen design in the 20th century
- Torrijos Palace dome
RESULT
Bayer Leverkusen 2 Bayern Munich 4
Leverkusen: Alario (9'), Wirtz (89')
Bayern: Coman (27'), Goretzka (42'), Gnabry (45'), Lewandowski (66')
What is Folia?
Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal's new plant-based menu will launch at Four Seasons hotels in Dubai this November. A desire to cater to people looking for clean, healthy meals beyond green salad is what inspired Prince Khaled and American celebrity chef Matthew Kenney to create Folia. The word means "from the leaves" in Latin, and the exclusive menu offers fine plant-based cuisine across Four Seasons properties in Los Angeles, Bahrain and, soon, Dubai.
Kenney specialises in vegan cuisine and is the founder of Plant Food Wine and 20 other restaurants worldwide. "I’ve always appreciated Matthew’s work," says the Saudi royal. "He has a singular culinary talent and his approach to plant-based dining is prescient and unrivalled. I was a fan of his long before we established our professional relationship."
Folia first launched at The Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills in July 2018. It is available at the poolside Cabana Restaurant and for in-room dining across the property, as well as in its private event space. The food is vibrant and colourful, full of fresh dishes such as the hearts of palm ceviche with California fruit, vegetables and edible flowers; green hearb tacos filled with roasted squash and king oyster barbacoa; and a savoury coconut cream pie with macadamia crust.
In March 2019, the Folia menu reached Gulf shores, as it was introduced at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, where it is served at the Bay View Lounge. Next, on Tuesday, November 1 – also known as World Vegan Day – it will come to the UAE, to the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach and the Four Seasons DIFC, both properties Prince Khaled has spent "considerable time at and love".
There are also plans to take Folia to several more locations throughout the Middle East and Europe.
While health-conscious diners will be attracted to the concept, Prince Khaled is careful to stress Folia is "not meant for a specific subset of customers. It is meant for everyone who wants a culinary experience without the negative impact that eating out so often comes with."
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
How to donate
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
Where to buy
Limited-edition art prints of The Sofa Series: Sultani can be acquired from Reem El Mutwalli at www.reemelmutwalli.com
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Wicked
Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20SAMSUNG%20GALAXY%20Z%20FOLD5
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Squads
Pakistan: Sarfaraz Ahmed (c), Babar Azam (vc), Abid Ali, Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Sohail, Mohammad Hasnain, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Shadab Khan, Usman Shinwari, Wahab Riaz
Sri Lanka: Lahiru Thirimanne (c), Danushka Gunathilaka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Avishka Fernando, Oshada Fernando, Shehan Jayasuriya, Dasun Shanaka, Minod Bhanuka, Angelo Perera, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lakshan Sandakan, Nuwan Pradeep, Isuru Udana, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara
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SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20IPHONE%2014%20PRO%20MAX
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The 15 players selected
Muzzamil Afridi, Rahman Gul, Rizwan Haider (Dezo Devils); Shahbaz Ahmed, Suneth Sampath (Glory Gladiators); Waqas Gohar, Jamshaid Butt, Shadab Ahamed (Ganga Fighters); Ali Abid, Ayaz Butt, Ghulam Farid, JD Mahesh Kumara (Hiranni Heros); Inam Faried, Mausif Khan, Ashok Kumar (Texas Titans
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
