Egypt's bread 'smart cards': financial miracle for age-old problem?

PORT SAID, Egypt (Reuters) - A device resembling a credit card swiper is revolutionising some of Egypt's politically explosive bread lines and may help achieve the impossible -- cutting crippling food import bills.

Authorities who hope to avoid protests over subsidised loaves sold for the equivalent of one U.S. cent have turned to smart cards to try to manage the corrupt and wasteful bread supply chain that has been untouchable for decades.