UK Labor chief Corbyn apologizes for election debacle
Corbyn, 70, has pledged to stand down as the decimated party’s leader and the maneuvering to replace him has begun. But he also said his party’s ambitious, big-spending policy platform was popular and blamed the British media for its portrayal of Labor. I’m proud that no matter how low our opponents went, we refused to join them in the gutter,” Corbyn wrote. Labor lawmaker Lisa Nandy told the BBC she is “seriously thinking about” running to become the party’s next leader. ___Image: British opposition Labor Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, right, waits for the declaration of his seat in the 2019 general election in Islington, London, Friday, Dec. 13, 2019.
Source:Egypt Independent
December 15, 2019 11:26 UTC
The incidents of 2011 destabilized international peace and security: Egypt’s FM
Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said on Sunday that the issues resulting from the incidents of 2011 and beyond have aided in the destabilization of international peace and security within the Arab region. Shoukry’s statements came during the session “International Peace & Security: Current Challenges”, on the first day of the World Youth Forum held in Sharm el-Sheikh, in the presence of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. The foreign minister did not elaborate on the incidents he mentioned, though he is likely referring to the Arab Spring revolutions that started in December 2010 and early 2011, triggered by the Tunisian revolution. Egypt’s January 25 Revolution was part of the Arab Spring. Shoukry said that changes were made in an unorganized manner, leading to the national state’s failure in achieving internal security and security for citizens.
Source:Egypt Independent
December 15, 2019 10:41 UTC
Libya’s diplomatic mission disowns GNA following maritime border deal with Turkey
The Libyan diplomatic mission in Egypt and all its diplomatic attachés have disowned the Government of National Accord (GNA) following the signing of an agreement on the demarcation of the maritime borders with Turkey on November 27, the GNA announced on Friday. The mission said that all the staff, topped by the ambassador, the charge d’affaires, the consul, and the attachés working at the embassy, do not recognize the GNA and urged other Libyan embassies to follow suit. The speaker of the Libyan House of Representatives Aguila Saleh Issa said Thursday that he also disagreed with the agreement, asking the UN to disown the GNA which did not give the oath in front of the parliament. Aguila said that the agreement accelerated the military operation in Tripoli, adding that the House of Representatives will support the political solution and reconciliation following the end of the operation. Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
Source:Egypt Independent
December 15, 2019 09:33 UTC
New Zealand eruption death toll rises to 18
The death toll from New Zealand’s White Island volcano eruption rose to 18 Sunday, including two people whose bodies have not been recovered, police said. He added that searchers were “satisfied that the area we searched near the jetty is clear of the bodies”. The death toll now stands at 18 after an Australian victim who had been repatriated to Sydney died in hospital almost a week after the deadly eruption. Police on Sunday named seven victims who have been officially identified including New Zealand tour guide Tipene James Te Rangi Ataahua Maangi, 24. The disaster has raised questions about why tourists were allowed on a volcano where experts had recently raised threat levels.
Source:Egypt Independent
December 15, 2019 08:03 UTC
UN climate talks stagger towards ‘mediocre’ outcome
A UN climate summit in Madrid stumbled towards the finish line Sunday after marathon talks between countries exposed deeper divides than ever over how to enact humanity’s plan to avert global warming disaster. Veteran observers of UN climate talks were stunned by the state of play. Alexandria Villasenor, a 14-year-old climate activist, said she was “disappointed” in the lack of action at COP 25. “It seems like it’s inching along but it’s not the strong call for climate ambition that we needed to come out of this,” said Catherine Abreu, executive director of Climate Action Network Canada. “It will be a pretty mediocre outcome.”The COP 25 summit was also meant to finalise a chapter on carbon markets in the Paris rulebook.
Source:Egypt Independent
December 15, 2019 08:03 UTC
Tensions mount over French transport strike
Tensions between the French government and unions opposed to pension reforms mounted Sunday as a crippling transport strike entered its 11th day. Strike organizers have announced a massive protest for Tuesday when tens of thousands are expected to take to the streets again. Philippe told the Parisien daily in an interview for its Sunday edition that the French would not accept being “deprived” of festive transport options. Under the French constitution, members of the government are prohibited from carrying out “any professional activity” in addition to their official functions. The average French person retires at just over 60 — years earlier than most in Europe or other rich OECD countries.
Source:Egypt Independent
December 15, 2019 05:37 UTC
Royal pharaonic sphinx uncovered in Tuna al-Gabal
An Egyptian archaeological mission has uncovered a small royal statue of a Sphinx during archaeological survey work in Tuna al-Gabal cemetery in the city of Mallawi, Minya. A statement by the Egyptian Antiquities Ministry said that the statue is made of limestone with a height of 35 cm and a length of 55 cm. It has clear and beautiful features and details, reflecting the skill of the ancient Egyptian sculptor. The mission also found sets of amulets made of blue faience pottery for the goddess Bes, ostracon from pottery, clay pots of various shapes and sizes, and an alabaster bottle. The survey and archaeological excavations will continue to find out the reason for the presence of this statue in this mysterious area.
Source:Egypt Independent
December 14, 2019 15:14 UTC
Egypt court begins hearing for conductor who threw men off train
The Tanta Criminal Court on Saturday began hearings into the case of a train conductor charged with manslaughter after forcing two men to jump off a moving train, leading to the death of one and serious injury to the other. The Egyptian Public Prosecution referred defendant Magdy Ibrahim for urgent trial on November 2, having “intended to harm the victims”. The court session on Saturday adjourned the trial until February 15 to hear the testimonies of eyewitnesses and the defense requests of the defense for the defendant. The conductor then forced the vendor to jump out of the train alongside his friend Ahmed Samir, 25, after they told him they had no money. The conductor reportedly confessed to forcing the victims out of the train during police investigations.
Source:Egypt Independent
December 14, 2019 14:15 UTC
Qatar sees ‘small progress’ in resolving Gulf dispute, still believes in GCC
DOHA (Reuters) – There has been small progress in resolving a bitter dispute between Qatar and some of its neighbors, the Gulf state’s foreign minister said on Saturday, just days after its premier visited Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt cut diplomatic and trade links with Qatar in June 2017, accusing it of backing terrorism. Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser Al Thani attended an annual Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit held in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, its highest representation at the meeting since 2017. Asked whether there was progress at the meeting of regional leaders, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani told Reuters at the Doha Forum in Qatar that there has been “small progress, just a little progress”. The row has shattered the GCC alliance, a bloc of Sunni-ruled Arab monarchies in the Gulf that have close ties with the United States, including hosting American military bases.
Source:Egypt Independent
December 14, 2019 14:03 UTC
Baghdad mob kills teen gunman and strings up his corpse
BAGHDAD (AP) — An angry mob killed a 16-year-old and strung up the corpse by its feet from a traffic pole after the teen shot and killed six people Thursday, including four anti-government protesters, Iraqi officials said. Dozens of people pointed their cellphones at the body dangling high above them in a central Baghdad square. Last Friday, 25 protesters were killed when gunmen in pickup trucks opened fire in Baghdad’s Khilani Square. That same week, mysterious knife attacks targeted over a dozen anti-government protesters in Tahrir Square, the hub of the protest movement. Image: Posters of Anti-government protesters who have been killed in demonstrations are displayed in Tahrir Square during ongoing protests in Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019.
Source:Egypt Independent
December 14, 2019 13:30 UTC
Protests rage as US, UK warn on travel to northeast India
Protests against a divisive new citizenship law raged Saturday as Washington and London issued travel warnings for northeast India following days of violent clashes that have killed two people so far. Protests took a violent turn in West Bengal state, where a portion of a railway station complex was set on fire. “We were watching news all day on TV about the protests when my nephew left home in the evening. On Friday university students in Delhi clashed with police, who used batons and tear gas shells to quell the protests. Rahul Gandhi of the opposition Congress party has called the law “an attempt to ethnically cleanse the northeast”.
Source:Egypt Independent
December 14, 2019 13:07 UTC
Washington pulled apart by partisan divide over ‘facts’
In Washington these days, there are facts, alternative facts and disputed facts. It also seems like there are Democratic facts and Republican facts. The acrimonious impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump have put the spotlight on the stark partisan split in the nation’s capital over where the truth lies. The Washington Post maintains a Fact Checker database of “false or misleading claims” made by Trump since taking office. Image: AFP/File / MANDEL NGAN US President Donald Trump has made thousands of “false or misleading claims” since taking office, according to a fact-checking database compiled by The Washington Post
Source:Egypt Independent
December 14, 2019 13:07 UTC
Aswan bus crash kills 2, injures 6
Two people were killed and six others were injured, including two tourists, in a bus crash on southern Aswan on Saturday. A security statement said that the accident occurred when two buses collided with each other on the Abu Simbel tourist road near Karkar village. Egypt has a road traffic fatality rate of 42 deaths per 100,000 people, according to the World Health Organization. CAPMAS added that accidents in 2018 left 3,087 people dead, 11,803 injured and 13,441 vehicles damaged. The human element was the main cause of accidents, accounting for 76.8 percent of total accidents in 2018, followed by vehicles accounting for 15.7 percent and the environmental element accounting for 2.7 percent.
Source:Egypt Independent
December 14, 2019 12:52 UTC
In Pics: Sisi takes bike tour in Sharm el-Sheikh on WYF sideline
President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi went on a bike tour on Saturday in the Red Sea city of Sharm el Shiekh on the sideline of the World Youth Forum - Press PhotoCAIRO - 14 December 2019: President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi went on a bike tour on Saturday in the Red Sea city of Sharm el Shiekh on the sideline of the World Youth Forum.According to a statement issued by Presidential Spokesperson Bassam Radi, Sisi is set to open the World Youth Forum later in the day.The WYF will be held for the third time between December 14-17.The agenda of the 3rd edition of the WYF was released on Tuesday indicating that the conference will consist of 16 panels discussions.There are seven sessions on technology, three sessions on the Mediterranean, two sessions on Africa, one session on women, one session on climate change, one session on peace and security, and one session on arts.The forum management planned to organize theatrical shows set to be presented starting December 13 with the opening, to bring together promising artists from all over the world to present their talents and represent their cultures through a variety of cultural and artistic activities.Sophia, the most advanced robot and first artificially intelligent (AI) robot to be granted a citizenship will participate in the WYF as well.
Source:Egypt Today
December 14, 2019 12:11 UTC
In Pics: MSMDEA holds exhibition of heritage products on WYF sideline
On the sidelines of the World Youth Forum, the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise Development Authority (MSMEDA) holds on Saturday an exhibition displaying the products of owners of heritage and manual projects - Press PhotoCAIRO - 14 December 2019: On the sidelines of the World Youth Forum, the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise Development Authority (MSMEDA) holds on Saturday an exhibition displaying the products of owners of heritage and manual projects throughout the forum during the period December 14 to 17.Executive Director of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (MSMEDA) Neveen Gamea said that the holding of this exhibition comes in the context of interest in heritage and manual industries because of their cultural and economic importanceShe pointed out that the Project Development Authority contributes, by financing these types of projects, to develop and support them financially and technically, and promote the products in an appropriate manner in various countries of the world. It also aims to provide job opportunities for youth in different governorates.“Through the exhibition, we present a realistic picture of successful young entrepreneurs in accessing the fields of self-employment to be a catalyst for the youth participating in the forum, and encouraging them to entrepreneurship and setting up small projects in various fields in addition to introducing the participants in the forum to the various activities of the Authority.The exhibition highlights products that express Egyptian heritage in general and Sinai products in particular. It includes many heritage and artistic products, including ‘carpets and kilims, handmade, furnishings, copper, lanterns, leather, glass products, women's and silver accessories, ceramics and Sinai products.’The WYF will be held for the third time between December 14-17.The agenda of the 3rd edition of the WYF was released on Tuesday indicating that the conference will consist of 16 panels discussions.There are seven sessions on technology, three sessions on the Mediterranean, two sessions on Africa, one session on women, one session on climate change, one session on peace and security, and one session on arts.The forum management planned to organize theatrical shows set to be presented starting December 13 with the opening, to bring together promising artists from all over the world to present their talents and represent their cultures through a variety of cultural and artistic activities.Sophia, the most advanced robot and first artificially intelligent (AI) robot to be granted a citizenship will participate in the WYF as well.
Source:Egypt Today
December 14, 2019 12:02 UTC