Cairo Criminal Court convicts Alaa Hassanein, Hassan Rateb in 'Massive Artifact Looting' case
CAIRO – 21 April 2022: Cairo Criminal Court sentenced Thursday former Parliamentarian Alaa Hassanein to 10 years in prison, and Businessman Hassan Rateb to five years in prison in the case known as the "Massive Artifact Looting." The Public Prosecution's arraignment charged Hassanein with illegally excavating artifacts, and committing the crimes of trafficking and smuggling them through a gang he had formed. As for Rateb, he is convicted of funding Hassanein and his gang to commit such crimes. The prosecution said it seized four deep digging sites, noting that the antiquities committee confirmed that the digging work was made to excavate antiquities. After hearing the witnesses and the attorney's pleading in February and March, the court designated April 21 to issue the verdict.
Source:Egypt Today
April 21, 2022 23:55 UTC
Why Russia wants to close off Mariupol steel plant
Russian President Vladimir Putin has on Thursday scrapped plans to storm the Azovstal steel plant in the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol. All they have to do is just keep that last piece cordoned off and virtually the city is already theirs.”The plant is currently sheltering hundreds of soldiers and civilians. After numerous failed attempts to establish safe corridors, four evacuation buses managed to leave Mariupol on Wednesday, according to Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk. “Even though the Russians don’t go after them [the Ukrainian troops inside the plant], because they have them surrounded, they can’t get even food or water, much less ammunition,” Davis added. Ukrainian officials have denied that the southeastern city has fallen to Russia.
Source:Egypt Independent
April 21, 2022 23:22 UTC
Situation in Kharkiv “tense” following “massive shelling”
Ukraine’s second largest city of Kharkiv was under heavy shelling overnight, its mayor said on Thursday. “The situation is stressful, because overnight there was very massive shelling,” said Ihor Terekhov. There was a direct hit in another residential building.”Terekhov said that those left homeless by Russian bombardment have been moved to kindergartens, schools and boarding schools, adding that the situation was “tense but under control.”There are no evacuation planned, he said. According to Terekhov, around a million people remain in Kharkiv today. He said that about 30% of the pre-war population had left, primarily elderly people and women with children.
Source:Egypt Independent
April 21, 2022 18:23 UTC
Egyptian Public Prosecution refers murderer of Christian priest to trial
The Egyptian Public Prosecution referred a man to the criminal court over killing Father Arsanios Wadeed Rizkallah, a priest of the Church of the Virgin Mary in Muharram Bey, Alexandria. The Public Prosecution established evidence against the suspect from the testimony of 17 witnesses, and what was proven by the report of the Regional Council for Mental Health that the suspect at the time of committing the crime had full awareness and choice, and that he did not suffer from any symptoms of mental or psychological disorder at the time of the crime, which makes him accountable for it. It also established evidence against him according to what was proven by the reports of the Forensic Medicine Authority regarding the anatomical procedure on the body of the victim. The genetic fingerprints of DNA extracted from blood contaminations found with the knife seized in the possession of the suspect matched with the genetic fingerprints extracted from the blood of the victim. This is in addition to what the Public Prosecution has seen from its examination to the crime scene, and what it saw with CCTV overlooking it, as well as other evidences.
Source:Egypt Independent
April 21, 2022 00:51 UTC
Inflation, currency fluctuation create opportunities for world firms to invest in Egypt’s real estate sector
However, inflation, in some ways, and currency fluctuation created opportunities for international investors to invest in Egypt’s residential, commercial, and industrial properties, said Alexander Edwards, the Exhibition Director of Cityscape Egypt. Daily News Egypt sat down with Edwards to learn more about the upcoming edition of Cityscape Egypt. How many companies will participate or sponsor the Cityscape Egypt exhibition? What is new in the Cityscape Egypt 2022 exhibition? That’s the question everyone wants to ask; we have got some really exciting things planned for Cityscape Egypt 2022 in September.
Source:Daily News Egypt
April 20, 2022 21:00 UTC
Egypt begins restoration of Ben Ezra Synagogue
The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced on Monday that it has begun working to restore the Ben Ezra Synagogue in Old Cairo. The Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, Mostafa Waziri, said that the synagogue is located inside the Babylon Fortress, and is of great importance as it is the oldest synagogue in Egypt and the Middle East. He added that a joint committee had been formed in cooperation with the projects sector of the Supreme Council of Antiquities to start the project to restore the synagogue, as the last restoration work was done in 1991. The head of the Islamic, Coptic and Jewish Antiquities Sector at the Supreme Council of Antiquities, Osama Talaat, said the temple was named after religious scholar and Jewish philosopher Ezra. The Assistant Secretary-General for the Restoration of Antiquities and Museums and Chairman of the Committee, Mostafa Abdel-Fattah, explained that the restoration work began in the Holy of Holies area.
Source:Egypt Independent
April 20, 2022 17:38 UTC
'Egypt showed much lenience in negotiations on GERD filling, operation': Irrigation Minister
CAIRO – 20 April 2022: Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources Mohamed Abdel Aty asserted Tuesday, in a meeting with the Japanese ambassador, that Egypt showed much lenience throughout the decade-long negotiations on the filling and operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) built on the Nile River. That is why it would not forfeit its demand for a legally binding agreement on the operation and filling of the hydropower project. The dispute among Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia dates back to May 2011 when Ethiopia started building the dam; Egypt voiced concern over its water share [55.5 billion cubic meters]. Constructions in the Grand Renaissance Dam started on April 2, 2011 at a cost of $4.8 billion. The first and second fillings were carried out in 2020 and 2021, respectively, making the total 8 billion cubic meters.
Source:Egypt Today
April 20, 2022 15:14 UTC
Food containing Omega-3 can relieve migraine, study
This benefit has been shown to be further enhanced when the diet includes a reduced amount of Omega-6 fatty acids. Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids are involved in regulating pain and inflammation. There are three main types of Omega-3 fatty acids: Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). These essential fatty acids are not processed in the body and we have to get them through food and supplements. Migraine Again website stated that Omega-6 fatty acids are also essential but tend to be found in more processed foods.
Source:Egypt Today
April 20, 2022 13:03 UTC
Number of Egyptians using internet increased by 68% during Ramadan 2022
The Information and Decision-Making Support Center, affiliated with the cabinet, monitored a report on the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, during which it tracks Egyptians’ use of the Internet during 24 hours in Ramadan 2022, and compared it to the same period in Ramadan 2021. It was found that there was an increase in the use of mobile Internet services by 68% in light of the increase in the number of mobile Internet users by 11 million users, and an increase in the use of fixed Internet services by 39% in light of the increase in the number of fixed Internet users by 980 thousand users. The highest average daily used activities were as follows:3.5 million hours per day short entertainment videos posted, recorded an increase of 158%. 12.9 million hours of entertainment content, recorded an increase of 76%. 181 million online shopping visits, recorded an increase of 47%.
Source:Egypt Today
April 19, 2022 23:52 UTC
Egypt keeps contacting int'l partners to ensure success of COP27: Ambassador Ahmed Abu Zeid
CAIRO – 19 April 2022: Egyptian Ambassador to Canada Ahmed Abu Zeid said that Egypt keeps in close contact with all international partners, the private sector and civil society to ensure the success of the next UN Climate Change Conference, COP27, to be hosted in the Red Sea resort city of Sharm El Sheikh in November. His remarks came during his participation Tuesday in a panel discussion on the occasion of launching the second edition of a climate dialogue held by a number of Canadian civil society organizations working in international climate action. Abu Zeid stressed that Egypt seeks to maintain the momentum generated at the UN Climate Change Conference, COP26, in Glasgow last year to remind countries of their pledges to cut carbon emissions and provide the necessary funding for developing countries to fulfil their national commitments . The Egyptian diplomat shed light on the importance of assisting developing and African states to achieve development, in parallel with the efforts to address climate change. Abu Zeid called for coordinating efforts among different world countries to develop new initiatives in the fields of green economy, renewable energy and green hydrogen, noting that Egypt recently launched a new initiative that focuses on improving and supporting women's capacity to participate in discussions and shape environmental policy and action at all levels, preserving the environment and combating climate change.
Source:Egypt Today
April 19, 2022 23:46 UTC
Egypt introduces 1st psychotherapy clinic dedicated to abused women dubbed 'Safe Woman Clinic'
The "Safe Woman Clinic" is planned to be replicated in 21 other neighborhoods as a first phase in 2022, and nationwide in coming years. The ministry announced earlier in April that 23,906,809 females were screened for breast cancer, hypertension, diabetes, and obesity since the launching of the Women Health Initiative in July 2019. The Egyptian Center for Strategic Studies (ECSS) published in 2021 data on women empowerment in Egypt focusing on political, economic, and social aspects as well as security. It ranks 102nd in terms of education among women; 103rd in women political empowerment; 140th in women economic empowerment; and, 85th in women health. As for the House of Representatives, women are allocated by the constitution a minimum of 162 seats (28.5%) out of 568 seats.
Source:Egypt Today
April 19, 2022 23:02 UTC
More than 800K visitors in a year after inauguration: Official
The event, which attracted global attention, coincided with the opening of the Mummies Hall and the main hall of the museum. Egypt Today sat with Dr. Ahmed Ghoneim, CEO of the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization after a year has passed of the inauguration. Dr. Ghoneim said that the number of visitors to the museum during the year exceeded 800,000, which is a record figure. Foreign visitors come from different countries of the world, including Latin American countries, while for Egyptian visitors, he said that they come from various governorates of Egypt, whether individually or collectively, or through trips organized by schools, associations and others. It was also found by following the ages of visitors that different age groups are keen to visit the museum, from children and school students to the elderly.
Source:Egypt Today
April 19, 2022 23:02 UTC
Al-Sisi directs achieving rational management, safe use of groundwater in Egypt
President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi met with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and followed up on irrigation projects across the nation in the presence of Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Mohamed Abdel Atty on Monday. Presidential Spokesperson Bassam Rady stated that the country’s water situation, needs, and its provision for agricultural projects and consumption were reviewed, as well as the position of a number of projects being implemented, especially projects to strengthen water facilities and the protection and development of beaches. The president also directed to work on achieving the rational management and safe use of groundwater in Egypt in order to ensure the availability of this non-renewable water resource for future generations, as well as developing a plan to explore underground reservoirs. He also reviewed cooperation efforts with brotherly African countries in the field of irrigation, especially Nile Basin countries, as Egypt is keen on a bilateral level to provide them with technical support in this regard, especially by digging groundwater wells, developing waterways, and establishing specialised centres for weather forecasts. © 2022 Daily News Egypt.
Source:Daily News Egypt
April 19, 2022 17:19 UTC
Egyptian Public Prosecution denies criminal suspicion in the death of Hadhoud
The Egyptian Public Prosecution on Monday issued a statement denying any criminal suspicion in the death of Ayman Hadhoud, an economic researcher and member of the Supreme Authority of the Reform and Development Party. Its statement iterated that his death was due to “a chronic heart condition”. Egyptian and international human rights organizations called for an investigation into the incident, in light of the controversy surrounding the circumstances of the death of Hadhoud, whose family said he had disappeared since February. They only learned earlier in April of his death in the Abbasiya Psychiatric Hospital in March. The Public Prosecution completed investigation procedures into the incident after issuing its first statement on the matter on April 12.
Source:Egypt Independent
April 19, 2022 16:49 UTC
Egypt aims for cooperation with Cuba on vaccine production
Meeting of Acting Minister of Health and Population Khaled Abdel Ghaffar and Cuban Ambassador to Egypt Tania Aguiar Fernandez on April 17, 2022. Press PhotoCAIRO – 18 April 2022: Acting Minister of Health and Population Khaled Abdel Ghaffar received Subday Cuban Ambassador to Egypt Tania Aguiar Fernandez to examine chances of cooperation in the field of vaccine production. The minister and the ambassador also discussed areas of possible cooperation in the sectors of healthcare and scientific research. Abdel Ghaffar noted that all types of vaccines can be produced in Egypt by VACSERA factories. Abdel Ghaffar had announced earlier in February that Egypt produced over 30 million doses of Sinovac/VACSERA COVID-19 vaccine.
Source:Egypt Today
April 19, 2022 00:05 UTC