Egypt, EU sign 2 agreements worth €135m to provide jobs, battle illegal immigration
The first agreement aims to help Egypt’s growth through providing job opportunities, while the second agreement aims to battle illegal immigration. As for the second agreement, which aims to battle illegal immigration, Nasr said the it amounted to €60 million and aims to battle illegal immigration, smuggling and human trafficking through trying to battle the social and economic reasons for the spread of the phenomenon. Finally, for the cost of €1.4, assistance will be provided for civil organizations aiming to battle illegal immigration in Cairo and Alexandria. Egypt has been working with the EU on battling illegal immigration for a while. At that time, Sisi suggested battling illegal immigration has to come through a comprehensive plan to battle the causes of the phenomenon.
Source:Egypt Independent
October 18, 2018 11:15 UTC
Russian min.: Talks bet. Egypt, EAEU on free trade zone to start by year end
A ship transiting through the Suez Canal - Photo courtesy of SCAMOSCOW - 18 October 2018: Russian Minister of Economic Development Maxim Oreshkin on Thursday revealed that talks between Egypt and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) on the establishment of a free trade zone will begin before the end of 2018.An agreement on the planned free trade zone is scheduled to be signed during 2019, Oreshkin said.In a related context, the Russian minister added that Moscow is interested in inking a free trade agreement with Cairo, given the ongoing project to build a Russian industrial zone in the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone).Russian companies are looking forward to making the best use of such free trade deal through allowing the entry of Russian equipment into the SCZone with paying reduced customs tariffs, he noted.In a joint press conference with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi on Wednesday, President Abdel Fattah El Sisi said that investments worth USD 7 billion will be channeled into the Russian industrial zone in the SCZone.The project is expected to secure about 35 job openings, President Sisi added.
Source:Egypt Today
October 18, 2018 11:15 UTC
4K divorce questions sent to Dar al-Iftaa every month
FILE - Divorce illustrationCAIRO – 18 October 2018: At least 4,200 questions exclusive to divorce are sent to Dar al-Iftaa every month, the Grand Mufti said Thursday, a figure that corresponds to an increasing rate of spousal separation in the country.Grand Mufti Shawqi Allam said at a panel discussion on the role of fatwas in resolving domestic problems and reducing divorce rates that “official statistics indicate that divorce rates increase on daily basis, especially in the past five years. This makes us all truly responsible.”He added that some people “lurk” in the society to push it into chaos and instability and “disrupt the very concept of family,” calling this a “red line.”A total of 198,269 registered divorces occurred in 2017, according to the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS). However, only 1.7 percent of Egyptian women and 0.9 percent of men are divorced.Although the divorce rate has increased in Egypt in the past years, it does not amount to be one of the highest in the world.The increase, however, has alarmed officials, including President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi.The president called for for invalidating oral divorce in January 2017, where a man can say to his wife “anti taleq” (you are divorced), and she becomes one. They later do the paperwork to make the divorce official.A few days after Sisi’s proposal, Al-Azhar issued a statement perpetuating oral divorce as a general rule, providing religious and historical evidence. Both Al-Azhar and Dar al-Iftaa, however, have intensified their efforts to counter divorce, issue fatwas that facilitate reunion and, in some cases, to invalidate oral divorce.
Source:Egypt Today
October 18, 2018 11:03 UTC
Higuain says Juventus made him leave
"The decision to leave was not mine. I gave everything for Juventus, I won several titles, after which Cristiano arrived. The best solution was Milan ".Still, he said there were no hard feelings. "Higuain, who will take part in his first derby against Inter Milan on Sunday, has scored four goals in his first nine games for Milan. "Milan have given me something more after a World Cup which wasn't great," he said.
Source:Egypt Today
October 18, 2018 09:45 UTC
Search continues for Egyptian kidnapped in Nigeria
Egypt’s Foreign Ministry is coordinating with the Egyptian Embassy in Abuja, and the Nigerian authorities, to uncover the fate of a kidnapped Egyptian citizen in Nigeria, according to Assistant Foreign Minister for Consular Affairs Khalid Rizk. Rizk told Al-Masry Al-Youm that a Nigerian Sudanese citizen is suspected of involvement in the abduction of Egyptian Reda Hassanein, as the two were involved in an old dispute. However, Rizk said that there was no definitive information on Reda’s whereabouts, or the identities of his abductors.
Source:Egypt Independent
October 18, 2018 09:33 UTC
Foreign investments rises in Egypt by 24% during H1 2018: UNCTAD
FILE – UNCTAD logoCAIRO – 18 October 2018: The United Nations Trade and Development Board (UNCTAD) said that Egypt remains the first destination in Africa during the first half of 2018, as total foreign investment inflows hiked to 24 percent compared to the first half of 2017.UNCTAD added in a report that foreign direct investment (FDI) dropped globally by 41 percent in the first half of 2018 to only $470 billion, down from $794 billion in the same period of 2017.The report pointed out that the largest decline was concentrated in developed countries, where FDI inflows declined sharply by 69 percent to about $135 billion, while the participation rate of developing economies in global foreign direct investment reached a record rate of about 66 percent.Minister of Investment Sahar Nasr said that Egypt is reaping the fruits of the economic reform program, noting that reforms contributed to increasing foreign direct investment, and improving its recent ranking in the Global Competitiveness Report as well as the report of the United Nations Trade and Development Board.This progress came as a result of the efforts to improve the legislative framework of the investment environment during the last period and to keep abreast of the economic legislation of the best international applications, which contributed to the jump of Egypt's six centers, which means that Egypt's ability to achieve a high rate of per capita GDP, Nasr added.Egypt embarked on a bold economic reform program that included the introduction of taxes, such as the value-added tax (VAT), and cutting energy subsidies, with the aim of trimming the budget deficit.The country floated its currency in November 2016 before it clinched a $12 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).Regarding Global Competitiveness Index (GCI), Egypt came in the 94th place in the 2018 GCI among 140 world countries, recording 63.4 points, and gaining 0.4 point compared to the rating of 2017.It also occupied the 24th position among 140 states in the GCI report in the market size.The GCI report tackles 12 main pillars, including financial system, institutions, labor market and business dynamism.
Source:Egypt Today
October 18, 2018 09:22 UTC
Donia Samir Ghanem participates in Dubai governor's initiative
Donia Samir Ghanem-File Photoسعيده جدا بمشاركتي في حفل اطلاق مشروع مدرسة، لخدمة الطلاب في جميع الدول العربيه.. www.madrasa.org 😍 واستنوا اغنية #مدرستي قريبا ان شاء الله 😍 9,328 Likes, 24 Comments - Donia Samir Ghanem (@donia.samir.ghanem) on Instagram: "سعيده جدا بمشاركتي في حفل اطلاق مشروع مدرسة، لخدمة الطلاب في جميع الدول العربيه.. www.madrasa.org 😍..."CAIRO - 18 October 2018: Egyptian actress Donia Samir Ghanem expressed her happiness on her official Instagram account for participating in the initiative of Dubai Governor, Mohamed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, to launch a school serving all students across the MENA region.“I am extremely delighted to participate in the opening ceremony of the new school that serves all students of the Arab world; wait for the school’s song soon!” Donia posted on her Instagram account.The Egyptian actress will return to the film industry after a hiatus of two years, since her last movie “Laf we Dawaran” (Turning in Circles), in which she starred alongside Ahmed Helmy.Ghanem is currently preparing for her new film directed by Ahmed el-Gendy and written by Mostafa Sakr. Donia is holding meetings with the director and the writer to decide on the rest of the cast.Donia Samir Ghanem is an Egyptian actress and singer. She is the daughter of veteran actor Samir Youssef Ghanem and actress Dalal Abdel Aziz.Donia began her acting career in 2001 when she was 16, where she had her first role in a TV series called “Lil Adala Wogouh Katheera” (Justice has many faces).Her film debut was in 2005 with comedian Mohamed Henedi in the movie “Ya ana ya khalty” (It's either me or my Aunt), which gained unexpected success.Donia stood out for her ability to imitate other Arab singers. Donia's first song was called "Far2 el Sen" (Age difference). The star was a member of the judging committee in the fourth season of The X Factor Arabia, along with Lebanese stars Elissa and Ragheb Alama.
Source:Egypt Today
October 18, 2018 09:11 UTC
Exxon Mobil bets big on China LNG, sidesteps trade war
Exxon Mobil Corp is placing big bets on China’s soaring liquefied natural gas (LNG) demand, coupling multi-billion dollar production projects around the world with its first mainland storage and distribution outlet. An Exxon spokesperson declined to provide an executive to discuss the company’s LNG investments in China. Exxon said last month it would participate in the construction of an LNG import terminal in Huizhou, Guangdong region and provide supplies to it. This makes it only the second foreign major with such a stake in an LNG terminal. BP Plc is the only other foreign major with a stake in a Chinese LNG terminal.
Source:Egypt Independent
October 18, 2018 09:11 UTC
2 Dutchmen sentenced to life for smuggling drugs in their intestines
Hurghada Beach – ReutersCAIRO – 18 October 2018: The Red Sea Criminal Court sentenced two Dutch citizens to life imprisonment on Oct. 17 for smuggling a kilo of MDMA drug into Hurghada.The two foreigners, named Marvin and Kevin, were accused of drug smuggling and trafficking. The trial and investigations have been ongoing for a year.In June 2013, five foreigners were sentenced to death for smuggling drugs, according to Reuters.British citizen Charles Raymond Ferndale, 74, and three other citizens of the Seychelles were detained; however, the fifth defendant, a Pakistani, escaped during the arrest and was sentenced in absentia.The convicted men were arrested in 2011 with three tons of hashish in their possession on board a ship off Egypt’s eastern coast, according to the court official. The British Foreign Office said it was “extremely concerned” with the sentence.The court also fined the defendants a total of LE 94 million ($13.46 million).
Source:Egypt Today
October 18, 2018 09:11 UTC
French finance minister to shun Saudi conference over missing journalist
PARIS (Reuters) – French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire added his name to a growing list of government ministers and prominent business executives cancelling their attendance at a Saudi Arabia investment conference over the fate of a Saudi journalist. Le Maire said Saudi authorities needed to explain the disappearance of Jamal Khashoggi after he went to the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2. “No, I will not be going,” Le Maire told Public Senat TV. Paris and Riyadh enjoy close diplomatic ties and commercial relations spanning energy, finance and arms. Le Maire said he had informed his Saudi counterpart of his decision not to travel to Riyadh on Wednesday.
Source:Egypt Independent
October 18, 2018 09:00 UTC
Whizzpopping worlds collide at Roald Dahl Museum
A museum in the same village of Great Missenden where Roald Dahl lived reopens to the public on Saturday, following an extensive renovation triggered by a flash flood-AFP / Robin MILLARD18 October 2018: From a battered armchair in a hut tucked away in the English countryside, author Roald Dahl dreamed up worlds that have enchanted youngsters across the globe.Stuffed with hundreds of weird and wonderful mementos, the garden hut was where the children's novelist wrote his fantastical tales.A museum including a recreation of the hut, in the same village of Great Missenden where Dahl lived, reopens to the public on Saturday following an extensive renovation triggered by a flash flood. "You can get the books and movies around the world but we are in the place where the stories were generated. That's the magic of coming here," said museum director Steve Gardam.The museum offers visitors a glimpse into the man and method behind some of the best-loved stories of the 20th century, including "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory", "Matilda", "The BFG" and "James and the Giant Peach".The novels written by Dahl, who died in 1990 aged 74, have sold more than 250 million copies worldwide and have been turned into blockbuster films.He invented hundreds of words and terms, such as whizzpopping, Oompa-Loompas, gobblefunk, snozzcumbers and scrumdiddlyumptious.- Hero fighter pilot -Born in Cardiff in Wales in 1916 to a Norwegian family, Dahl's writing career began with weekly letters home from boarding school, creatively circumnavigating his unhappiness.Dahl went on to work for oil giant Shell in Dar es Salaam in what is now Tanzania, then served in the Royal Air Force (RAF) during World War II.An air ace, he was badly injured in a crash landing in Libya in 1940. Later in the war, he worked for British intelligence in Washington.The museum, located in a former coaching inn on the village high street and the home of Dahl's complete archive, is a combination of his real and fantasy worlds.At the entrance, visitors walk through giant Wonka chocolate bar doors and are assailed by the smell of cocoa.Inside, they can find objects such as his RAF flying helmet, logbook, binoculars and annotated map of Egypt.Dahl needed back operations due to his war injuries and kept a vial of his spinal shavings in his writing hut -- plus the ball of his replaced thighbone.The interior of the hut was transferred to the museum from the family home in the village.The replica also contains family pictures, cigarette butts, his glasses and cane, plus a heavy ball of foil made up from chocolate bar wrappers that he added to daily.Even dust from the spartan hut -- years of pencil shavings and eraser fragments -- was transferred across.- Matilda versus Trump -The revamped museum aims to show how Dahl was inspired by the village in which he lived from 1954 until his death.Many of the landmarks of Great Missenden appear in Dahl's novels.The village contains the high street of crooked houses that the BFG marched along; the petrol pumps from "Danny, the Champion of the World", plus Matilda's orphanage and library.Dahl is buried in the churchyard, along with a snooker cue, a favourite power tool and a bottle of claret. Well-wishers often leave pencils.To celebrate this year's 30th anniversary of "Matilda", The Roald Dahl Story Company -- the family firm which owns his copyright -- surveyed fans on who the forthright schoolgirl would be taking on nowadays.US President Donald Trump topped the list and a cartoon fibreglass statue of Matilda facing down a blustering Trump now stands in the museum courtyard.
Source:Egypt Today
October 18, 2018 08:37 UTC
Hong Kong mega bridge launch announcement sparks backlash
China has finally announced the opening ceremony for the world’s longest sea bridge, which will connect Hong Kong, Macau and the mainland, but critics hit back Thursday over the secrecy surrounding the project. Local media received invites from Beijing’s liaison office in Hong Kong Wednesday to an “opening ceremony” in Zhuhai on Tuesday, with no further details given. Hong Kong’s transport department had no immediate answer Thursday when AFP asked whether it would be fully commissioned Tuesday. Members of the transport panel have been invited to a bridge inspection Saturday, according to Tanya Chan, another panel member. “The Hong Kong government is always out of the picture and is under the control of the Chinese government,” she said.
Source:Egypt Independent
October 18, 2018 07:41 UTC
EU leaders plan to beef up borders to stop flow of migrants
BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union leaders are set to push ahead with plans to boost cooperation with North African countries and beef up the bloc’s borders in an effort to stop migrants entering Europe. A draft statement prepared for their summit Thursday emphasizes the need to step up cooperation with countries that people leave and transit through to seek shelter or better lives in Europe. They said that work with those countries on “investigating, apprehending and prosecuting smugglers and traffickers should be intensified.” They also called for a joint smuggling task force to be set up. Well over 1 million migrants entered Europe in 2015, most of them Syrians and Iraqis fleeing conflict, but numbers have dropped significantly since the EU began outsourcing the challenge to Turkey.
Source:Egypt Independent
October 18, 2018 06:22 UTC
UN Syria envoy to try to move on constitution before leaving
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — UN special envoy Staffan de Mistura said Wednesday that he will make a final effort before stepping down next month to advance toward a new constitution for Syria — a key step in ending the country’s civil war. He told council members that objections by the Syrian government are still holding up the launch of the committee meant to draft a new constitution. De Mistura said he has been invited to Damascus next week to discuss the committee’s formation. “I would hope then to be in a position to issue invitations to convene the constitutional committee, hopefully during November,” de Mistura said. “And therefore it is so important to make sure that … the political process takes place.
Source:Egypt Independent
October 18, 2018 06:22 UTC
France closes Muslim Shia center on grounds of terrorism
French troops - ReutersCAIRO – 18 October 2018: French authorities issued Wednesday an Official decree to close the Shia Muslim center “Zahra France”, located in Grande-Synthe north of France, and freeze its assets for six months.The decree was preceded by a police raid on the organization premises on October 2, where 11 members of the organization were detained and questioned. The raid took place on the grounds that the organization supports terrorist groups such as Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Palestine.The French police departments issued a statement then explaining the reasons behind the security raids on the Shia center, accusing the group of promoting ideas and ideologies against the French Republic’s values, besides supporting terrorist groups.Zahra France center was founded in 2005, its activities focused on social and religious aspects, However the founder of the center, Yahia Gouasmi, started a political party in 2009 which ran for the European elections then, the party was accused of adopting anti-Semitic ideas by other French parties.
Source:Egypt Today
October 18, 2018 03:56 UTC