Armenia: Serzh Sargsyan resignation a blow to Russia foreign policy
Former Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan has taken over in the interim. Sargsyan’s downfallSargsyan had been serving as prime minister for less than a week, but that was after serving two terms as the country’s president from 2008 to 2018. On April 17, parliament elected Sargsyan prime minister. In 2015, large numbers of Armenians took to the streets to demonstrate against high electricity prices, causing Sargsyan to change course. The prime minister was sitting at a small table in a hotel, next to his challenger.
Source:Egypt Independent
April 24, 2018 09:56 UTC
Young Copts to prepare food tables during Ramadan
They visited children in orphans’ homes, 57357 Hospital for cancer treatment, Abu al-Rish Japanese hospital and nursing homes. “As the month of joy, [Ramadan], is about to start and we are one people, we decided to go down and help in al-Rahman food tables. Several young men reacted to Sami’s post and asked for his help in preparation of food tables in Ramadan. This year, we decided to help our Muslim brothers in preparations of al-Rahman food tables in Cairo…. We will walk in the streets and distribute lanterns and gifts to children.
Source:Egypt Independent
April 24, 2018 09:45 UTC
Govt seeks to contain opponents of clinical trials bill
Meanwhile, Emad Eddin held a meeting with Chairman of the Doctors Syndicate Hussein Khairy to discuss the matter. The bill aims to counter random testing, conducted by hospitals on part of international pharmaceutical companies that use Egyptian patients as “test mice,” according to Emad Eddin. Metainy meanwhile said that opponents of the bill are not totally against it as they have been calling for issuing the law since 2005. Egypt is the second largest country in Africa that hosts clinical testing of drugs on patients, funded by multinational companies, according to state-run Al-Ahram news website. Ahram added that in February 2016, there were 57 clinical trials underway, and more than half of these trials were for tumors.
Source:Egypt Independent
April 24, 2018 08:48 UTC
Dozens injured after earthquake in southeast Turkey
Turkish officials say dozens were slightly injured after an earthquake in southeastern Turkey. The earthquake struck Samsat village in the province of Adiyaman early Tuesday at 3.34 a.m. local time (0034 GMT). Turkey’s health minister said of those injured, 35 were still receiving treatment, according to official Anadolu news agency. Anadolu quoted victim Zeynep Berk whose house collapsed on her and four others. Turkey’s Kandilli Earthquake Monitoring Center recorded at least 13 aftershocks.
Source:Egypt Independent
April 24, 2018 08:26 UTC
‘Speaking truth to power’: Female activists dominate top environmental prize
The Goldman Environmental Foundation has announced the seven recipients of the 2018 Goldman Environmental Prize, the world’s largest and most prestigious award for grassroots environmental activists. Frontline activismThe most celebrated recipient of the Goldman Environmental Prize in recent years was Honduran activist Berta Caceres, the leader of a successful campaign by indigenous Lenca people to stop the construction of the massive Agua Zarca Dam. Activists from Colombia, France, Vietnam, the Philippines, South Africa and the United States have been recognized. “That river has been an industrial dumping ground for 75 plus years,” said Walters in a video interview with the Goldman Prize. “As a result of this court case, the people of South Africa have to be consulted,” said McDaid outside the courthouse.
Source:Egypt Independent
April 24, 2018 08:03 UTC
Mummified body found in Iran could be father of last shah
The discovery in Iran of a mummified body near the site of a former royal mausoleum has raised speculation it could be the remains of the late Reza Shah Pahlavi, founder of the Pahlavi dynasty. Hassan Khalilabadi, the head of Tehran City Council’s cultural heritage and tourism committee, says it’s “possible” the mummy is of Reza Shah. Reza Shah pushed to modernize Iran before being deposed and dying in exile during World War II. His son, Mohammad Reza Shah, became Iran’s last shah before the 1979 Islamic Revolution installed the country’s Shiite-dominated theocracy. His grandson, the U.S.-based exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, warned Iran on Twitter: “not to hide anything.”
Source:Egypt Independent
April 24, 2018 07:52 UTC
Google to launch messaging service similar to WhatsApp
Google is planning to launch a free-of-charge texting app called ‘Chat’ to compete with messaging service WhatsApp. The new app has similarities with WhatsApp, in the sense that they both let the users know they’ve received a message. Amnesty International’s Technology and Human Rights researcher Joe Westby released a statement slamming Google and the new ‘Chat’ service. “It is difficult to see why any Android user would choose to use the new Chat service. Google already has many f successful apps such as Gmail, Google Docs, Google Drive and Google Playstore and of course Google search engine.
Source:Egypt Independent
April 24, 2018 07:30 UTC
Business and pleasure on menu for Macron’s second day in US
A sit-down between President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron followed by a joint news conference highlight the business portion of the French leader’s second day in Washington. The pageantry of Macron’s official state visit, the first of the Trump presidency, comes Tuesday night with a lavish state dinner at the White House. Monday night was more relaxed, featuring a helicopter tour of Washington landmarks and a trip to the Potomac River home of George Washington for dinner. Pomp and ceremony aside, Trump and Macron disagree on some fundamental issues. A prime dividing point is the multinational Iran nuclear deal, which Trump wants to abandon.
Source:Egypt Independent
April 24, 2018 04:52 UTC
EU, UN seeks aid boost for Syria at major conference
The EU and UN on Tuesday begin a two-day conference to drum up fresh aid pledges for wartorn Syria and reinvigorate the faltering Geneva peace process as the conflict enters its eighth year. We’ve had inside Syria some 700,000 displaced during a period of four months,” one senior EU official said. Top UN and EU officials will hold talks with aid groups working in Syria and neighbouring countries on Tuesday to get their views before government ministers arrive on Wednesday. “We have let Syrian children down. But the EU still insists the Geneva process is the best way to bring an end to the war.
Source:Egypt Independent
April 24, 2018 02:48 UTC
Barcelona wins UEFA Youth League
File- Barcelona players celebrating the victoryCAIRO – 24 April 2018: Barcelona defeated Chelsea 3-0 on Monday in the UEFA Youth League final at Colovray Stadium in Nyon, Switzerland.Barcelona’s Venezuelan striker, Alejandro Marqués, had a fantastic game and led his team to the title, scoring the first two goals, while Abel Ruiz scored the third goal for the Catalan team.“It's always a sense of pride to defend this badge. Not just today; we've had a fantastic season and we've managed to cap it with the win today," Barcelona captain Óscar Mingueza told press after the game.Barcelona has had an amazing run in the competition, as they ended the group stage on top of their group.The Catalan team defeated Paris Saint Germain 1-0 in the round of 16 thanks to a goal from Carles Pérez.They also won 2-0 over their local rivals, Atletico Madrid, in the quarter-finals. Marqués and Collado scored the goals.Barcelona had a tough clash in the semi-finals, but they defeated Manchester City 5-4 after a dramatic match. Perez scored two goals, while Ricard Puig, Marqués and Collado scored the other three goals.Barcelona achieved the title for the second time in their history, having first achieved the title in 2014 after defeating Benfica 3-0 in the final.
Source:Egypt Today
April 23, 2018 23:26 UTC
Terrorism is likely motive behind Toronto van attack -U.S. source
Firemen cover a victim after a van struck multiple people at a major intersection in Toronto's northern suburbs on Monday. Photo: REUTERS worldCAIRO - 24 April 2018: Investigators are examining terrorism as the likely motive behind a van attack in Toronto that killed nine people on Monday, a U.S. security source said.The source said there was no reason to believe that the incident in which a Ryder rental van plowed into a crowd was an accident
Source:Egypt Today
April 23, 2018 22:07 UTC
Egypt to impose LE 10,000 fine on those harassing tourists
FILE - Egyptian Parliament holds general sessionCAIRO – 24 April 2018: Parliament approved Article 53 regulating the penalties of harassing tourists within the draft Protection of Antiquities Law, which was finally passed on Monday without any amendments, despite some MPs’ requests to toughen the punishment measures.Under the new law, “Unless there is a tougher penalty stipulated in any other law, whoever harasses tourists or visitors of archaeological sites or museums, with the intention of begging or promoting, offering or selling a good or service, shall be punished with a fine of not less than LE 3,000 ($169) and not more than LE 10,000.”MP Ehab al-Tamawy called for toughening the punishment to reach a fine of LE 20,000. Minister of Antiquities Khaled El-Enani and MP Osama Heikal, head of the Culture and Media Committee in Parliament, supported Tamawy’s suggestion, but other MPs refused to increase the penalty.Parliament Speaker Ali Abdul Aal said, “There is no such penalty in any other country and the toughening of the punishment will not eradicate the phenomenon. Increasing the awareness about the nuisance of such acts among the society can contribute to ending them.”The new law comes in line with the tourism authorities’ efforts to prepare for the summer season amid the return of direct Russian flights to Egypt.
Source:Egypt Today
April 23, 2018 21:59 UTC
Egypt Parliament Daily Brief
Abdel Aal’s comments came during the plenary session on Sunday, during which Parliament discussed the amendments to National Authority for Tunnels Law. In support of his argument, Abdel Aal gave the example of a developed European country that had previously embraced this way by opening up to foreign investments.This country, according to Abdel Aal has become very successful and has high interests in Africa now. “Partnerships between the private sector and foreign partners are no longer worrisome,” Abdel Aal stated.During the Plenary session, Parliament a bill submitted by the government to amend some provisions of Law No. Parliament approved on Sunday the government-drafted law to amend some provisions in Agriculture Law No. The fund, according to the new law, will be responsible for providing low-income housing units in the areas that will be selected by the government.
Source:Egypt Today
April 23, 2018 19:30 UTC
Yemen war: Houthi political leader killed in coalition air raid
The political leader of Yemen’s Houthi rebel group, Saleh al-Samad, was killed last week in an air strike carried out by Saudi Arabia-led coalition, Houthi-run al-Masirah TV reported. Samad was second on the coalition’s most wanted list of Houthi leaders. Houthis name successorSamad was killed on Thursday in an airstrike by the coalition in the coastal Hodeida province. ‘Forces of aggression’ responsibleAbdul-Malek al-Houthi, the leader of the rebels, said Samad was killed on a road with six companions after meeting with local officials. Yemen civil war: The Saudi-led coalition launched an offensive against the Shiite Houthi rebels in 2015 to reinstate the internationally-recognized government of President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, who was ousted from capital Sanaa by the rebels.
Source:Egypt Independent
April 23, 2018 18:33 UTC
Game-changing Insights into the Real Estate Market
Real Estate - File PhotoCairo - 23 April 2018: As the real estate market continues to improve in Egypt, new trends are shaping the market in 2018. All of those privileges attract the pioneers of business to expand their investments in Alexandria. This has always attracted students from all over the world to live in New Cairo near their studies. On one end, there are warning signs of a bubble forming while on the other end, there is lack of supply. This means that a shift in supply trends is crucial for the health of the real estate sector in Egypt.
Source:Egypt Today
April 23, 2018 15:11 UTC