Egypt: Thousands Protest President Morsi's Decree. Egypt launches attacks on militants in first Sinai airstrikes in decades. At least 20 suspected Islamic militants have been killed in a major security crackdown by Egypt near the border with Israel.
Security forces on both sides of the border are on high alert. NBC's John Ray reports. By NBC News and wire reports Egyptian military attack helicopters fired missiles on suspected Islamic militants in the Sinai Peninsula on Wednesday, officials and residents said, in the first Egyptian airstrike in the territory in nearly three decades. The use of air power marked a sharp escalation in Egypt's fight against Islamic militants who have become increasingly active in the mountainous, desert peninsula bordering Israel in the wake of the ouster of autocratic Hosni Mubarak in February 2011. No precise casualty figures from the government strikes were immediately available.
"We have succeeded in entering al-Toumah village, killed 20 terrorists and destroyed three armored cars belonging to terrorists. AFP - Getty Images Ahmed Youssef / EPA More news about Israel on NBCNews.com. Tourism in Egypt. Tourism is one of the most important sectors in Egypt's economy.
More than 12.8 million tourists visited Egypt in 2008, providing revenues of nearly $11 billion. The sector employs about 12% of Egypt's workforce.[1] Statistics[edit] Income from tourism (1982–2003) In 2000, there are about 5.5 million foreign tourist arrivals. On the other hand, in 2013, Egypt is ranking the 85th position of world's best country in terms of tourism and traveling, while in 2011, it was the 75th.[3] In 2010, the receipts for the international tourism in Egypt is $13,633,000,000. Major attractions[edit] The celebrated tourist attractions of Egypt are the millennia-old monuments for which the Nile Valley is world famous. 2011 Egyptian revolution. The Egyptian Revolution of 2011, locally called January 25 Revolution (Arabic: ثورة 25 يناير thawret 25 yanāyir, Revolution of 25 of January) and sometimes referred to as the Lotus Revolution,[21] was a diverse movement of demonstrations, marches, plaza occupations, riots, non-violent civil resistance, acts of civil disobedience and labor strikes which took place following a popular uprising that began on 25 January 2011.
Millions of protesters from a variety of socio-economic and religious backgrounds demanded the overthrow of the regime of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. There were also important Islamic, liberal, anti-capitalist, nationalist, and feminist currents of the revolution. During the uprising the capital city of Cairo was described as "a war zone"[28] and the port city of Suez saw frequent violent clashes. The protesters defied the government-imposed curfew and the police and military did not enforce it. Naming[edit] Background[edit] Opportunity for great travel experiences as tourism drops in Egypt. Now is the time to visit the pyramids of Giza, cruise the Nile and explore the Valley of Kings without the shopping mall experience and at a lower cost than before, reports Andrea Calabretta. There is nothing like being alone inside a pyramid to make you feel both terrified and awed.
To reach the burial chamber in the third of the Great Pyramids at Giza, you have to scramble down a wooden ramp, the air becoming thinner as you go, then continue along a tunnel-like passage and down a set of stairs. It’s dimly lit, warm, and a bit claustrophobic. Eventually, you reach the vaulted tomb, made of solid granite blocks, supporting the massive edifice above. The mummy and the original burial treasures are long gone—but you can still feel the unique sensation of standing within the only remaining wonder of the ancient world. Such an experience would never have been possible before the revolution of January 25, 2011. Indeed, we found it worthwhile to look beyond the headlines.