EFA official meets Mohamed Salah over preparations for 2022 World Cup
Egypt’s international and Liverpool FC star Mohamed Salah pledged to join the Egyptian national football team during its camp in March, where the team will witness their first confrontations in the qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup. During the session, Salah said he was looking to participate with the national team to qualify for the 2022 World Cup, in addition to re-team to compete for the African Cup of Nations to be held in Cameroon in 2021. Salah’s issues with the EFA stretch back to before the World Cup in June 2018, when the association used Salah’s photo on the national team airplane without his permission. In addition, the EFA would be responsible for providing appropriate security for the national team to accompany them. The EFA responded by publishing a statement across its twitter accounts, which they later claimed were fake, threatening to refer Salah to a disciplinary committee.
Source:Egypt Independent
January 21, 2020 16:18 UTC
Olympic makeover: all aboard for new sports lighting up Tokyo 2020
Modern upstarts skateboarding and surfing as well as the ancient martial art of karate are among new sports for 2020 ready to inject some street cred into Tokyo. AFP Sport guides you through the new kids on the Olympic block this summer:– Surfing –Arguably the coolest sport never to have appeared at the Olympics, surfing will be one of the hottest tickets at Tokyo 2020 — if there are waves. Try telling that to the lucky few who will be waxing down their boards at Tokyo 2020. – Skateboarding –Another sport very much “down with the kids” is skateboarding, also brought in to help give the fuddy-duddy Olympics a trendy makeover. – Sport climbing –After a spate of white-knuckle documentaries in recent years, sport climbing looks set to become another surefire hit for the Olympics.
Source:Egypt Independent
January 21, 2020 14:15 UTC
Airstrike in northwest Syria kills 9, including whole family
BEIRUT (AP) — An airstrike on a rebel-held village in northern Syria on Tuesday killed at least nine people, including an entire family, Syrian opposition activists said. The strike on Kfar Taal comes amid a government offensive on the northwestern province of Idlib, the last rebel stronghold in the country, and rebel-held parts of nearby Aleppo province. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and Step news agency, an activist collective, said the nine were killed in Kfar Taal before noon. They said the dead included a family of eight consisting of parents and their six children. Idlib province is dominated by al-Qaeda-linked militants.
Source:Egypt Independent
January 21, 2020 14:03 UTC
Ex-Italian honorary consul sentenced to 15 years in absentia
Egyptian Artifacts at the British Museum - Creative Commons - photo by David Woo via flickrCAIRO - 21 January 2020: Cairo Criminal Court sentenced in absentia former Honorary Italian Consul in Luxor Ladislav Otakar Skakal to 15 years in prison, as he has been convicted of attempting to smuggle 21,855 artifacts in a diplomatic container travelling from Alexandria to the Italian port of Salerno.Skakal was referred to court by the Public Prosecution in September after investigations that have started since the incident took place in 2018. The artifacts include 21,660 coins, 151 small statues, 11 pottery works, five mummy masks, a wooden sarcophagus, small wooden ships, two canopy heads, and three Islamic-era ceramic tiles.In October, the prosecution referred brother of Mubarak-era Finance Minister Boutros Ghali and other defendants to the Criminal Court in the notorious case of smuggling thousands of artifacts to Italy.The prosecution also demanded the rapid arrest of Italy’s former honorary consul in Luxor and enlisting him at the Interpol and the black lists of airports due to his involvement in the crime.
Source:Egypt Today
January 21, 2020 13:52 UTC
Minister reveals key figures on social housing units
The social housing project Mahrousa 1 located in Al Jabal Al Asfar in Daqahliyah governorate. CAIRO - 21 January 2020: Minister of Housing, Utilities, and Urban Areas Assem al-Gazar stated that the number of social housing units established until present is 400,000, while those under construction are 290,000.The minister clarified that the units were offered over 12 phases, whereas 1 million citizens applied. Thirty-five thousand units will be put up for reservation soon.The total estimated cost to build the intended 1 million social housing units is LE 195 billion, of which LE 60 billion have been spent. The value of the latter is around LE 150,000.Another support mechanism is subsidizing the interest rate over 20 years with around LE 95,000 per unit. The minister added that both direct and indirect subsidies amount to around 75 percent of the unit’s price.The minister revealed that each unit costs more than LE 400,000, while being sold for just LE 154,000 so as the customer pays only 38 percent of its value.
Source:Egypt Today
January 21, 2020 13:52 UTC
EgyptAir launches new Comfort Class for international flights
EgyptAir, a member of the Star Alliance, announced the launch of the new “Comfort Class” on its international flights for its recently-acquired Airbus A220-300 aircraft. Tickets for this class will be offered on the front seats available in this model – from the first row of seats to the third row. Tickets will be available at lower prices than the Business class tickets that were available on this model, he added. The Comfort Class tickets have been made available starting Tuesday on a number of EgyptAir international destinations, including Beirut, Istanbul, Sharjah, Moscow, Qassim, Amman, Erbil, and Muscat. It will also be available during the coming period on other destinations such as Vienna and Athens.
Source:Egypt Independent
January 21, 2020 13:41 UTC
Tamer Ashour to perform concert in KSA on Jan. 24
Ashour - Press photoCAIRO - 21 January 2020: Singer Tamer Ashour will perform a concert in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, under the auspices of the General Entertainment Authority, on Jan. 24.Ashour is expected to perform a wide selection of his most popular hits, including “Hekayat”, “Wakt el-Wada’”, “Ya Ahlan”, “Kol She’ Rah Menena”, among others.Ashour recently performed two concerts in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, within Al-Mahrousa nights, among the activities of the Riyadh season. The first concert was performed in Oct. 29, 2019 and the second was held on Nov. 13, 2019.On the other hand, Ashour recently separated from his fiancée, Darren Helmy, the former candidate of Miss Universe for 2019. The singer commented on his twitter that he had separated with his fiance, before later deleting the tweet, causing confusion among his fans as to what is the truth.Ashour’s latest album “Ayam” achieved great success and consisted of 12 songs, including: “Ayam”, “Habibi Enta Habibi”, “Mashofnash Khair”, “Min Ghair Ma Ahkelak”, “Qololoh Samah”, among others.
Source:Egypt Today
January 21, 2020 13:24 UTC
Businessman Ahmed Abou Hashima claims circulated clips are ‘fabricated’
Egyptian entrepreneur and CEO of Egyptian Steel and Egyptian Cement Ahmed Abou Hashima has claimed that video clips recently circulated on social media were “fabricated,” adding that he has filed an official claim with authorities over the incident. Users on a number of social media sites recently shared clips claiming to show Hashima having a conversation over video call with an unnamed woman and discussing details of his relationships with various actresses. The videos have become one of the most talked-about topics on Egyptian social media during the past few days. Hashima responded to the scandal in a video posted on his Instagram page: “The videos are fabricated, the judiciary has taken its course and the gang that fabricated the clips has been imprisoned,” he said. “I am a man who stood against an entire country in the case of Ali Salem’s unjust imprisonment in Qatar.
Source:Egypt Independent
January 21, 2020 13:18 UTC
Countries around world gear up response to new coronavirus
Japan confirmed its first patient last week, a man in his 30s who tested positive for the coronavirus after returning from Wuhan. Australian health officials said a man was placed in isolation in Brisbane after developing a respiratory illness after traveling to Wuhan but has now recovered. Neighboring Malaysia has also beefed up screening at Kuala Lumpur International Airport. Deputy health Minister Lee Boon Chye, inspecting health screening at the airport Tuesday, said staff are being trained to handle possible cases. Touhid-ul Ahsan, director of the main Shahjalal International Airport, said doctors at the airport would look for fevers, coughs, breathing difficulties and sore throats.
Source:Egypt Independent
January 21, 2020 13:07 UTC
Clashes erupt anew between protesters, security forces in Baghdad
A demonstrator holds an Iraqi flag at a protest after the lifting of the curfew, following four days of nationwide anti-government protests that turned violent, in Baghdad, Iraq October 5, 2019. REUTERS/Thaier Al-SudaniBAGHDAD, Jan 21 (MENA) - Clashes between Iraqi security forces and protesters broke out anew on Mohammed al-Qasim Highway in central Baghdad, a local security source said on Tuesday.In a statement to Alsumaria news channel, the source added that the security forces fired tear-gas to disperse the protesters, adding that seven demonstrators suffered suffocation and were carried to a nearby hospital.On Monday, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Iraq Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert called on Iraqi authorities to exert the utmost effort to protect the peaceful protesters.She also urged the demonstrators to abide by peaceful protests and avoid violence.
Source:Egypt Today
January 21, 2020 13:07 UTC
Egypt, UK announce 24 million pound sterling economic partnership
Egypt and the United Kingdom announced the establishment of an economic partnership to implement Egypt’s “Vision 2030” initiative. Egypt and the UK are seeking to advance education and health care, and promote trade and investment. Within the framework of this partnership, the UK announced it would provide Egypt with 13 million pound sterling to help achieve comprehensive economic growth, social development, empower youth, support the neediest groups and develop the business environment. The two countries stressed that efforts are underway to implement the programs announced in order to achieve sustainable economic growth in line with sustainable development goals. The statement emphasized Egypt and the UK’s desire to upgrade economic cooperation to implement Egypt’s 2030 vision, which is in line with the United Nations’ goals for sustainable development.
Source:Egypt Independent
January 21, 2020 12:45 UTC
World Economic forum kicks off in Davos with Egyptian participation
FILE - Minister of Tourism Rania al-MashatCAIRO – 21 January 2020: World Economic Forum kicked off Tuesday in the Swiss city Davos, with the participation of the Egyptian Minister of International Cooperation Rania al-Mashat.The forum witnesses the presence of a number of heads of states and governments, ministers and senior economic decision makers from governments, as well as representatives of major international companies and international organizations from all parts of the world.These participations are set to enhance international cooperation and increase partnership between the governments and the private sector to achieve the goals of the United Nations for sustainable development, according to a press release.In this edition, the forum celebrates the 50th anniversary of its annual meetings. Its program includes seven main axes, among which are overcoming environmental challenges that currently threaten our world, society and the future of work, employing technology to serve people, enhancing commercial activities, and ensuring a better healthy future, along with Geopolitical issues and tackling the problem of "inequality in wealth".The agenda of the Egyptian minister includes participating in several sessions on the future strategy in the Middle East, the future of gender equality, technological infrastructure, and economic integration in the Middle East and North Africa, in addition to attending meetings of world economic leaders.In her capacity as Co-Chair, she will also chair a meeting of the forum's Middle East and North Africa board of directors, which brings together representatives from the government and private sector and international economic experts from the region, to serve as a platform for improving the economic situation and increasing inclusive growth in MENA countries.Mashat stressed that she will meet with a number of international financing institutions and Egypt's development partners on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum, to present the priorities of the Egyptian government program during the next stage.“This will come within the framework of strengthening the multi-lateral partnership of Egypt with development partners to achieve the National Development Agenda 2030, which comes in line with the goals of the United Nations for Sustainable Development,” the minister said.She added that it would create complementarity between development projects funded by development partners and private sector investments through strengthening partnerships between the public and private sectors in implementing development projects, and providing appropriate financing packages for the private sector.
Source:Egypt Today
January 21, 2020 12:45 UTC
French campaigners highlight trawlers’ deadly toll on dolphins
They already know that increasing numbers of dead dolphins are washing up on France’s Atlantic beaches. Although the trawlers are fishing for sea bass, Sea Shepherd wants to record whether dolphins — or other cetaceans — have also been caught in their nets. “The problem has been going on for 30 years, but there is a kind of omerta,” says Lamya Essemlali, President of Sea Shepherd France. And because most dead dolphins sink or are carried off to sea, they estimate that in all, 11,300 dolphins died in 2019. Image: AFP / LOIC VENANCE Increasing numbers of dead dolphins are washing up on France’s Atlantic beaches, and activists say fishing trawlers are to blame
Source:Egypt Independent
January 21, 2020 11:26 UTC
EgyptAir launches new travel class "Comfort Class"
EgyptAir aircraft - ReutersCAIRO, Jan 21 (MENA) - EgyptAir, the flag carrier of Egypt, announced on Tuesday launching a new travel class "Comfort Class" on its international flights.Company Chairman Ahmed Adel said that the new class will offer passengers extra privileges and luxurious seating from the first to the third row on the new A220-300 Airbus fleet, according to a statement issued by the company.The privileges include also finalizing travel procedures through Business Class counters, priority for getting on board the plane, a baggage allowance of 32 kgs for each of the two suitcases and 8 kgs in carry-on luggage, in addition to extra mileage points, he said.The Comfort Class will be offered at prices lower than those of Business Travel Class, he added.The new class will be available for passengers as of today for flights to many world destinations including Beirut, Istanbbul, Moscow, Amman and Muscat, he added.
Source:Egypt Today
January 21, 2020 11:03 UTC
In pics: President Sisi meets British PM Tuesday
President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi met with British Boris Johnson Wednesday - Press PhotoCAIRO - 21 January 2020: President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi met British Prime Minister Boris Johnson Tuesday at 10 Downing Street in London, United Kingdom to discuss means of boosting bilateral relations in economic, commercial and investment fields.The meeting tackled regional and international issues of mutual concern, developments in Libya and efforts to combat terrorism and extremism in the region.Sisi will also meet with Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, later in the day. The two leaders inaugurated here on Monday the British-African Investment Summit.
Source:Egypt Today
January 21, 2020 10:52 UTC