Universities across Egypt start mid-year exams under strict coronavirus measures
Egyptian universities commenced mid-year exams on Saturday amid strict precautionary measures against the spread of the coronavirus. Students will not be allowed to enter the university without a facemask, the ministry warned. All students must also bring their own tools to the exams, with no tools allowed to be shared between students. It stressed that the school’s administration must be notified of any symptoms or sick history before the admission examination committees dedicated to sick students. The mid-year vacation for the current academic year 2020-2021 began on January 10 until February 26.
Source:Egypt Independent
February 27, 2021 09:33 UTC
Adel Imam’s ‘Body Guard’ tops Google searches
The play “Body Guard” (1999), starring Adel Imam, topped Google searches on Thursday, after its first and exclusive display via Shahid VIP streaming platform was announced. “Body Guard” was discontinued in 2010, after it had been shown for 11 consecutive seasons since 1999. Written by Youssef Maaty and directed by Ramy Imam, “Body Guard” is 180 minutes long and stars Adel Imam, late actor Ezzat Abu Ouf, Saeed Abdel Ghany, and Raghda. “Body Guard” was Imam’s last work on stage, after which he shifted to cinematic and television works. “Body Guard” follows prisoner Adham as he makes a deal inside prison with businessman Saad, who is accused of stealing LE700 million.
Source:Egypt Independent
February 26, 2021 14:37 UTC
UN commends Egypt’s ‘Decent Life’ initiative for improving living standards
On Thursday, The United Nation’s office for Sustainable Development said that Egypt’s “Decent Life” initiative has contributed to mitigating the negative effects of the coronavirus and improving the living standards of the country’s most needy groups. The office also confirmed that the initiative works towards meeting the UN’s sustainable development goals, or SDGs. Decent Life is a 2019 initiative under President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi that aims to improve the quality of life in Egypt’s poorest rural communities within the framework of Egypt’s Vision 2030, through reducing multidimensional poverty and unemployment rates. The initiative follows four pillars: improving the standards of living and investing in human capital, developing infrastructure, raising the quality of human development services, and economic development. The office confirmed on its official website that the initiative has succeeded in providing job opportunities by supporting small and medium enterprises.
Source:Egypt Independent
February 26, 2021 14:15 UTC
EU coronavirus summit: Vaccine certificates expected by summer
Commission President von der Leyen, too, stressed progress made so far, noting that 8 percent of the bloc’s adult population had already been vaccinated. Vaccine certificates within three monthsOne of the more contentious issues EU leaders tackled was that of digital vaccine passports for those who have been vaccinated. Here, too, von der Leyen underscored tough talks the EU had with suppliers and noted her confidence that companies would soon be up to speed. Von der Leyen addressed that issue, stressing the work the EU is doing to remain ahead of the curve. Both von der Leyen and Michel laid great emphasis on the EU’s generosity when it comes to its support for the global COVAX network to ensure poorer countries access to vaccines.
Source:Egypt Independent
February 26, 2021 13:52 UTC
Egypt vs Turkey in 2021: who has the stronger military?
A report published by CNN compared Egypt and Turkey military based on the latest statistics for 2021 from the website Global Firepower, an organization specialized in military rankings. Egypt in 2021 fell from 9th place to 13th, while Turkey held on to 11th place for a second year. Air Power:At 1,056, Turkey has just three more military aircrafts than Egypt, the index reported. Helicopters:Turkey has 471 military helicopters, coming in at 7th place in the world, while Egypt has 304, taking 12th place. Turkey ranks 20th, possessing 149 marine vessels, including 12 submarines, 16 frigates, ten corvettes, 35 patrol ships, and 11 mine-specialized vessels.
Source:Egypt Independent
February 26, 2021 13:18 UTC
Officials: Heavy fighting kills 27 people in central Yemen
SANAA, Yemen (AP) — Heavy fighting between rebels and government forces in Yemen’s oil-rich Marib has killed at least 27 people, tribal leaders and security officials said Friday, amid a resurgence of violence in the area. The Iranian-backed Houthi rebels earlier this month renewed their attack on Marib, a stronghold for Yemeni forces allied with the internationally recognized government. Yemeni security officials said that government forces have also advanced on the strategic northern city of Hazm, under air cover provided by Saudi-led forces. The war in Yemen has killed some 130,000 people and spawned the world’s worst humanitarian disaster, leading much of the country to the brink of famine. IMAGE: A girl is pictured at a camp for internally displaced people (IDPs) in Marib, Yemen October 1, 2020.
Source:Egypt Independent
February 26, 2021 13:18 UTC
Henderson out until April as Liverpool's injury woes continue
Reuters - Jordan Henderson has joined Liverpool's lengthening injury list with the Premier League champions saying on Friday their skipper will be sidelined for at least five weeks after undergoing groin surgery. "Henderson has successfully had a corrective procedure carried out on the adductor injury. Henderson will miss league games against Sheffield United, Chelsea, Fulham and Wolverhampton Wanderers, as well as the Champions League last-16 second leg against Leipzig. "Obviously gutted to have picked up an injury but will do everything I can to support the team while working on my rehab," tweeted https://twitter.com/JHenderson/status/1365242008462389251 Henderson. Naby Keita (ankle) also features on Liverpool's injury list along with James Milner (hamstring).
Source:Egypt Today
February 26, 2021 11:15 UTC
Mo Salah projected on Burj Khalifa in new Adidas ad
Liverpool and Egypt’s national football team star Mohamed Salah, 28, published a video on Instagram Thursday, which gained over one million views in 24 hours. In a new Adidas ad, Salah on the façade of the famous Burj Khalifa in Dubai, UAE. He wrote alongside the video: “Welcome to the future of sports.”The beloved Egyptian footballer tops the Premier League scorer list, with 17 goals, two goals ahead of his closest rival, Bruno Fernandes, Manchester United’s top scorer, who has 15 goals.
Source:Egypt Independent
February 26, 2021 10:07 UTC
COVID-19 in Egypt: 589 new cases on Thursday, 8.6 mn doses of AstraZeneca vaccine coming next week
The Egyptian Ministry of Health reported 589 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, as the ministry’s central administration for preventive affairs head Mohamed Abdel Fattah announced that 8.6 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine will arrive in Cairo next week. In a phone interview on the DMC channel Thursday evening, Abdel Fattah confirmed that the ministry has secured 100 million doses of the vaccine. The ministry is currently using China’s Sinopharm vaccine in its campaign. The ministry on reported an additional 46 deaths and 422 recovered cases. Egypt now has now disclosed a total of 180,640 coronavirus cases, 139,494 recovered cases, and 10,541 deaths.
Source:Egypt Independent
February 26, 2021 09:27 UTC
Morocco set to legalize cannabis production for medical use
Past attempts to legalize cannabis farming in Morocco have failed, but the co-ruling PJD party, the largest in parliament, dropped its opposition after the Un drug agency removed the plant from its list of most tightly controlled narcotic drugs. Cannabis is mostly grown in the northern Rif mountains, which in recent years have seen protests over economic inequality. The recreational use of cannabis in Morocco would still be banned. Morocco reduced the amount of land where cannabis is cultivated from 134,000 hectares in 2003 to 47,000 hectares six years ago, the Interior Ministry has said. In December, the UN drug agency’s member states narrowly voted to remove cannabis from the most tightly controlled category of drugs, following the World Health Organization’s recommendation to make research into its medical use easier.
Source:Egypt Independent
February 26, 2021 08:37 UTC
Bahrain becomes 1st nation to grant J&J shot emergency use
The move makes Bahrain’s health regulatory authority the first in the world to authorize the J&J vaccine for general use. In addition to the US, European regulators and the World Health Organization also are considering J&J’s vaccine. In an unusual move, South Africa started administering the J&J vaccine to health workers while it was still in testing. The long-anticipated J&J shot promises to offer the US a third vaccine option and help speed vaccinations by requiring just one dose instead of two. The agency also said J&J’s shot is safe.
Source:Egypt Independent
February 26, 2021 08:26 UTC
Boeing 777 makes emergency landing in Moscow after engine sensor problem
MOSCOW (Reuters) – A Rossiya Airlines Boeing 777 cargo plane made an emergency landing at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport on Friday due to a problem with an engine control sensor, the airline said. The plane was a 15-year-old 777-300ER, according to flight tracking website FlightRadar24, which means it has General Electric engines. Rossiya Airlines Flight 4520, travelling from Hong Kong to Madrid, touched down in Moscow at 0444 local time (0144 GMT), data from Flightradar24 showed. Rossiya Airlines, a unit of Russian state carrier Aeroflot, said the crew requested the landing at the airline’s base airport in Moscow. “The landing took place normally,” Rossiya said in a statement, adding that the flight would continue to Madrid after 0900 GMT on Friday.
Source:Egypt Independent
February 26, 2021 08:26 UTC
Militia official: US strike in Syria kills 1, wounds several
BAGHDAD (AP) — A US airstrike in Syria targeted facilities belonging to a powerful Iranian-backed Iraqi armed group, killing one of their militiamen and wounding a number of others, an Iraqi militia official said Friday. The official told The Associated Press that the strikes against the Kataeb Hezbollah militia, or Hezbollah Brigades, hit an area along the border between the Syrian site of Boukamal facing Qaim on the Iraqi side. A week later, a rocket attack in Baghdad’s Green Zone appeared to target the US Embassy compound, but no one was hurt. The frequency of attacks by Shiite militia groups against US targets in Iraq diminished late last year ahead of Biden’s inauguration. Tensions soared after a Washington-directed drone strike that killed top Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani and powerful Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis last year.
Source:Egypt Independent
February 26, 2021 07:30 UTC
UN praises Egypt's Decent life initiative, says it meets SDGs goals
CAIRO – 25 February 2021: The United Nations has praised Egypt’s “Decent Life” initiative has contributed to mitigating the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic through improving the standards of living conditions of the most needy groups. Decent Life initiative is an initiative endorsed by President Abdel Fattah el Sisi, with the main objective of improving the quality of life in the poorest rural communities within the framework of the Sustainable Development Strategy: Egypt Vision 2030, through decreasing multidimensional poverty and unemployment rates. Up to 20 different authority and Ministry in Egypt are participating in the national initiative with efforts and data. Hayaa Karema is a national project that aims to eliminate poverty and help creating a stable, decent, and healthy life for all Egyptians. Funding medium small and micro enterprises along with providing educational, cultural services are included in the initiative as part of the mega national initiative.
Source:Egypt Today
February 25, 2021 23:26 UTC
Qatar to pour $60 million into new Israel-Gaza gas pipeline
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Qatar pledged $60 million on Thursday to help construct a natural gas pipeline running from Israel into the Gaza Strip, the Qatari government said, a project that aims to ease the energy crisis that long has afflicted the impoverished Palestinian enclave. Natural gas now flowing through a pipeline in Israel from the eastern Mediterranean will be transported via a new extension into Gaza, the Qatari Foreign Ministry announced on its website. The European Union also has pledged over $24,448,800 to fund the pipeline on the Gaza side of the border, the ministry added. The small, energy-rich Gulf nation of Qatar has become a major donor to the Palestinians, providing $20 million to Gaza each month since 2018. Qatar has provided additional funds for development hospitals like roads and hospitals.
Source:Egypt Independent
February 25, 2021 18:33 UTC