ABU DHABI — Shaikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairperson of the Family Welfare Foundation, received a delgation of diplomats’ wives from Dubai and the Northern Emirates here yesterday. They had come to extend Eid greetings to Shaikha Fatima.

By Kate Gaier 6:45 pm January 1, 2007 An arrest is made in a year old murder case in Cairo... but the motive is still anyone's guess. Neighbors say Pearl Johnson was a kind-hearted woman. Even though she was disabled, she would help anyone.

Al-Qaida's number two man is aiming some New Year's criticism at the leaders of Egypt and the Palestinians. But Ayman al-Zawahri's statement hasn't been authenticated.

Panaji, Jan 1 Muslim brethren celebrated Bakr-Id with ritualistic fervour in Goa. Friends and relatives besides people from other faiths wished the members of Muslim community Eid Mubarak on the auspicious occasion. Prayers were offered at mosques throughout Goa during the day.

Israeli officials on Monday denied claims that they were close to a deal that would secure the release of a captured soldier held by Palestinian militants, citing excessive demands by the Islamic Hamas.

Natural Resources

In addition to the agricultural capacity of the Nile Valley and Delta, Egypt's natural resources include petroleum, natural gas, phosphates, and iron ore. Crude oil is found primarily in the Gulf of Suez and in the Western Desert. Natural gas is found mainly in the Nile Delta, off the Mediterranean sea shore, and in the Western Desert. Oil and gas accounted for approximately 7% of GDP of fiscal year 2000-01.

Export of petroleum and related products amounted to $2.6 billion in the year 2000. In late 2001, Egypt's benchmark "Suez Blend" was about $16.73 per barrel ($105/m³), the lowest price since 1999.

Crude oil production has been in decline for several years, from 45,200,000 t in 1993/1994 to 37,000,000 t in 1999/2000. Oil production in late 2001 was about 118,000 m³ (740,000 barrels) per day. To minimize the growing domestic demand of petroleum products (approximately 23 million metric tons [mmt]) Egypt is encouraging the production of natural gas. Natural gas output continues to increase and reached 18 mmt of oil equivalent in 2001.

Over the last 20 years, more than 217 oil exploration agreements have been signed and multinational oil companies spent more than $27 billion in exploration companions. These activities let to the findings of about 18 crude oil fields and 16 natural gas fields. As a result of these findings, crude oil reserves as of September 2001 are estimated at 445 million m³ (2.8 billion barrels), and proven natural gas reserves are 1,600 km³ (55 trillion ft³) with a likely additional 1,800 km³ (65 trillion ft³). Texas-based Apache Oil Company is the largest American investor in Egypt, with a total investment of more than $1.6 billion since 1996.

Egypt's excess of natural gas will more than meet its domestic demand for many years to come. The Ministry of Petroleum has established expanding the Egyptian petrochemical industry and increasing exports of natural gas as its most significant strategic objectives.

Egypt and Jordan are cooperating to establish the Eastern Gas Company to export natural gas to Jordan; the expected date of completion is by mid-2003. It is estimated that Egypt will be able to export to Jordan 1.1 to 3 km³ of gas per year. Total investment in this project is about $220 million.