Ai Weiwei on art, exile and refugee film ‘Human Flow’
In the most tender moments of “Human Flow,” Ai Weiwei’s epic documentary on the worldwide migrant crisis, he is seen hugging, cooking with and cutting the hair of refugees. “Human Flow,” his powerful expression of solidarity with refugees around the world, demonstrates the staggering scale of the refugee crisis and its profoundly personal human impact. Ai travels from teeming refugee camps to barbed-wire borders, witnessing refugees’ desperation and disillusionment as well as hope and courage. But with a human being, you look at him, you know what kind of person he is,” says Ai. I can cook in their camp.”“Human Flow” is far from Ai’s first work on the refugee crisis.
Source:Egypt Independent
October 16, 2017 13:07 UTC
Tourist visas are not for employment in UAE: Foreign Ministry
Egyptian_Foreign_Ministry_-_YOUM7_(Archive)_-_Sami_Waheeb_RESIZEDCAIRO – 16 October 2017: Assistant Foreign Minister for Consular Affairs and Egyptian Expatriates, Khaled Rizk, emphasized that travelling into the United Arab Emirates by tourist or visitor visas does not grant permission to work there.Travelers who seek jobs using these kinds of visa will be fined and prohibited from entering the UAE again, Rezq stressed.Egyptian citizens planning to travel to the UAE are prohibited from using tourist or visitor visas for seeking employment there, a statement issued Monday by the Foreign Ministry explained.
Source:Egypt Today
October 16, 2017 12:56 UTC
In Pictures: Iraqi Flags flapping on oil facilities in Kirkuk
Iraqi Army raises Iraqi flags on oil facilities in KirkukIraqi Army Forces in KirkukIraqi Flags in KirkukCAIRO – 16 October 2017: Iraqi Army Forces raised the official Iraqi flag on all oil facilities in Kirkuk after they regained control from the Peshmerga forces on Monday, according to a statement by the Iraqi military media department.The Iraqi security forces restored control over Kirkuk city, where they imposed security measures and order, while maintaining the protection and safety of all Iraqis upon orders issued by Prime Minister Haidar Al-Abadi.
Source:Egypt Today
October 16, 2017 12:56 UTC
Retrial of Morsi on jailbreak charges delayed
Mohamed Morsi - File photoCAIRO, Oct 16 (MENA) - Cairo Criminal Court has adjourned until Saturday the retrial of former president Mohamed Morsi and other members of the terrorist Muslim Brotherhood group on prison break charges.The defendants face charges of attacking police facilities and killing police officers in the wake of the January 25 Revolution in collaboration with the international Muslim Brotherhood organization, Lebanon's Hezbollah and Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).In November 2016, the Cassation Court overruled previous sentences that were handed down against the defendants by Cairo Criminal Court, ordering a retrial.In June 2015, Cairo Criminal Court had sentenced to death Morsi, supreme guide of the MB group Mohamed Badie, his deputy Rashad el Bayoumi, MB member Mohie Hamed, MB leader Esssam el Eryan and former parliament speaker Mohamed el Katatny.Twenty other defendants had been sentenced to life in prison in the same case.
Source:Egypt Today
October 16, 2017 12:45 UTC
President Sisi increases funding for entrepreneurs by LE 400 mn
President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi decided to increase the funds allocated for the Ministry of Telecommunications and the armed forces’ programs by LE 400 million with the purpose of providing advanced training on the latest technologies for entrepreneurs. President Sisi added that the country will open three technological parks in the Upper Egypt after four previously established technological parks acquired high rates of turnout among youth. He also directed media outlets to broadcast and publish success stories of young men to spread an atmosphere of hope and confidence in Egyptian society. President Sisi asked the government to form the committee which will select the outstanding young men and set the training programs to qualify them. Before the ceremony started, President Sisi heard a brief on the school students’ inventions and viewed a live broadcast of inaugurating an invention complex in the technological park in Assiut al-Gadeda governorate.
Source:Egypt Independent
October 16, 2017 12:45 UTC
3 policemen killed in central Sinai terrorist attack
A senior security source at the Interior Ministry announced the death of three policemen in a terrorist attack on a branch of the National Bank of Egypt in central Sinai on Monday. In a statement to the Middle East News Agency on Monday, the security source said that a number of terrorists attacked the bank and planted five explosive devices in the vicinity of the branch. The bank security reportedly exchanged fire with the perpetrators, killing a number of the attackers. The security source said that bomb squad dismantled the five improvised explosive devices and combed the surrounding area to hunt down the attackers. Edited Translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
Source:Egypt Independent
October 16, 2017 12:33 UTC
13 Egyptian startups make it onto Forbes’ top 100 in the Arab World
This year, Forbes, compiled lists to rank the brightest startups and investors across the Arab World. The list of 100 Startups in the Arab World was comprised of startups that have championed the most innovative ideas and received the most external funding in the last year. Ranked at 48th in Forbes’ list was Yaoota, founded in 2014 by Founded Sherif ElRakabawy and Mohamed Ewis. Other Egyptian startups that got listed by Forbes’ were yearis ElMenus, Aqarmap, Yumamia, Goodsmart and Zee3. Forbes placed seven Egyptian startups on the 50 Startups To Watch In The Arab World list, including mass transit system SWVl, Moviepigs online streaming, Taskty home maintainances services, Raye7 car pooling system, Mum, Bosta, and Biodiesel Misr
Source:Egypt Independent
October 16, 2017 12:11 UTC
At least 33 people died in police crackdown in Nairobi -rights groups
At least 33 people died in the Kenyan capital Nairobi during a police crackdown on opposition supporters after elections in August, including a child and a pregnant woman, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch said on Monday. Kenyan police disputed the rights groups’ report, which brings the nationwide death toll in the crackdown to at least 45. Human Rights Watch had earlier documented 12 killings after the vote by police in western Kenya, the main opposition stronghold. The report is likely to bolster the case of Kenyan activists and rights groups who accuse police of brutality and extrajudicial killings but say few officers are charged and convictions are extremely rare. A group of UN human rights experts called for the government’s ban on protests to be listed and denounced a “pattern of police brutality” in response to recent demonstrations.
Source:Egypt Independent
October 16, 2017 12:11 UTC
Jakarta governor sworn in amid calls from hardliners for ‘Islamic lifestyle’
Groups like the hardline Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) hope that Baswedan will impose a more “Islamic lifestyle” in the city of more than 10 million people. While religion was an important factor during the election, most Jakarta residents are also concerned with issues such as chronic traffic congestion and regular flooding. “The hope is for Jakarta to move forward so it’s cleaner and the poor receive help,” said Wisnu, a 42-year-old courier. “I don’t feel Anies-Sandi need to pay back those (Islamist) groups in any way,” he said, referring to the new governor and his deputy. Baswedan made public appearances with the leaders of the rallies and FPI but denied pandering to Islamist groups to win support.
Source:Egypt Independent
October 16, 2017 11:37 UTC
In Madagascar, plague outbreak now threatens largest cities
As plague cases rose last week in Madagascar’s capital, many city dwellers panicked. The plague outbreak has killed 63 people in the Indian Ocean island nation. Madagascar has about 400 plague cases per year, or more than half of the world’s total, according to a 2016 World Health Organization report. A 34-year-old man in another Indian Ocean island nation, the Seychelles, contracted the pneumonic plague while in Madagascar. It was the first-ever plague case in the Seychelles, said the country’s public health commissioner, Dr. Jude Gedeon.
Source:Egypt Independent
October 16, 2017 11:15 UTC
Newsmaker: Malaysian teacher seen as new ’emir’ of pro-Islamic State militants
Intelligence officials describe Malaysian Mahmud Ahmad as a financier and recruiter, who helped put together the coalition of pro-Islamic State (IS) fighters that stormed Marawi City in May. Ano urged the 30 militants remaining in a shrinking combat zone to surrender and free hostages as troops stepped up their fight. Intelligence officials in Malaysia believe Mahmud left Marawi months ago. RECRUITMENT AND FINANCINGSitting in the inner circle of the Marawi command center, Mahmud controlled recruitment and financing, the IPAC report said. Ahmad El-Muhammady, a lecturer at the International Islamic University of Malaysia (IIUM) and a counter-terrorism advisor to the police, said Mahmud often solicited funds for IS operations.
Source:Egypt Independent
October 16, 2017 11:07 UTC
German ambassador warns that internet controls could harm companies, isolate China
China’s internet restrictions have struck a “new blow” against foreign companies working there, Germany’s ambassador said on Monday, warning that such moves could undermine Beijing’s political and commercial ties with the world. The Cyberspace Administration of China, which regulates the internet, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. China’s cyber law also mandates companies store crucial data within China and pass security reviews. After pushback from overseas business groups, China agreed to an 18-month phase-in period from June, but fundamental concerns about the law remain. Beijing has tightened controls on Chinese society since Xi assumed power, from online censorship to a crackdown on activists and non-governmental organizations.
Source:Egypt Independent
October 16, 2017 11:07 UTC
Pakistan deports Turkish school network’s former director and family
Pakistan has deported a former director of a chain of private Turkish schools along with his family, former school officials said on Monday, the day set for a court hearing on the deportation. “The Turkish family was taken into custody by a team of security officials,” the official added. “On October 13, the certificates were renewed by the U.N. for an additional year, but the next day Mesut’s family was deported,” the official said. The Turkish embassy in Pakistan has refused to renew the passports of former PakTurk employees living in the country, or issue documents for newborn children, he added. PakTurk educates more than 10,000 students in Pakistan but has employed no Turkish nationals since the South Asian nation asked them to leave.
Source:Egypt Independent
October 16, 2017 11:03 UTC
Italy’s new ambassador to Cairo: Rome to send 1.1 million tourists to Egypt
During a meeting by the Egyptian-European Business Council on Sunday, Cantini said that there are opportunities to develop and promote tourism between Egypt and Italy and to bring more Italian tourists to Egypt. Cantini said that Egypt is absorbing Italy’s efforts to reach 1.1 million Italian tourists coming to Egypt. Italy appointed Cantini as an ambassador to Egypt in September, more than a year after it recalled the former ambassador Maurizio Massari in the wake of Ph.D. student Giulio Regeni’s murder in Cairo. Regeni’s murder has strained relations between Egypt and Italy, as Italy maintains that Egyptian authorities did not fully investigate Regeni’s disappearance and murder. The Italian ambassador to Egypt left Cairo in protest last year.
Source:Egypt Independent
October 16, 2017 11:03 UTC
Clinton brands WikiLeaks boss ‘tool of Russian intelligence’
Clinton told Australian Broadcasting Corp. in an interview broadcast on Monday that the Australian whistleblower had “become a kind of nihilistic opportunist who does the bidding of a dictator,” Russian President Vladimir Putin. “He’s a tool of Russian intelligence, and if he’s such a … martyr of free speech, why doesn’t WikiLeaks ever publish anything coming out of Russia?” she said. Clinton was complaining about WikiLeaks’ publication during the 2016 election campaign of politically damaging emails from the Democratic National Committee. “WikiLeaks is unfortunately now practically a fully owned subsidiary of Russian intelligence,” she said. CIA Director Mike Pompeo in April denounced WikiLeaks as a “hostile intelligence service” and a threat to US national security.
Source:Egypt Independent
October 16, 2017 10:41 UTC