First Wizz Air flight from Abu Dhabi lands at Alexandria’s Borg el-Arab Airport
Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, the newest national airline of the United Arab Emirates, landed its first flight from Abu Dhabi at Alexandria’s Borg el-Arab Airport on Monday. The airline will offer flights between the two cities three times a week, providing an ultra-low fare travel option for tourists and residents in both the UAE and Egypt. Wizz Air Abu Dhabi has the youngest fleet composed of four brand new Airbus A321neo aircraft, offering the lowest amount of fuel burn, emissions, and noise, Schaick said. The launch of Wizz Air Abu Dhabi comes as the UAE works to diversify its economy and become less dependent on oil and gas output, which accounts for roughly 30 percent of the country’s GDP. He added that Wizz Air has great confidence in Egypt’s ability to employ precautionary measures against COVID-19.
Source:Egypt Independent
February 22, 2021 11:48 UTC
Pubs, haircuts, gyms must wait as UK lifts lockdown slowly
People will be allowed to meet one friend or relative for a chat or picnic outdoors beginning the same day. Three weeks later, people will be able to meet outdoors in groups of up to six and amateur outdoor sports can resume. But restaurants, pubs, gyms and hairdressers are likely to remain closed until at least April. Three weeks later, people will be able to meet outdoors in groups of up to six outdoors. But restaurants, pubs, gyms and hairdressers are likely to remain closed until at least April.
Source:Egypt Independent
February 22, 2021 11:48 UTC
Video: Biannual sun illumination shines on Ramses II statue in Abu Simbel
Tourists both foreign and domestic witnessed a biannual sun alignment on Monday, which lighted up the statue of King Ramses II in Aswan’s Abu Simbel temple. Hundreds of tourists queued in order to watch the sunlight penetrate sixty meters into the temple, lighting up the king’s face. The sun also shone on the statues of the sun gods Re-Horakhte and Amon-Re, seated next to Ramses II. Ramses II was the third pharaoh of Egypt’s 19th Dynasty. He is regarded as the most powerful and celebrated pharaoh of Egypt, and was the husband of the famous Queen Nefertari.
Source:Egypt Independent
February 22, 2021 11:17 UTC
Egypt detects 608 new coronavirus cases, 55 fatalities
An employee shows the Moderna coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine at Northwell Health's Long Island Jewish Valley Stream hospital in New York, U.S., December 21, 2020. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz/File PhotoCAIRO - 22 February 2020: Egypt's Ministry of Health announced on Sunday that that 608 new coronavirus cases were detected, upping the total number of confirmed cases since the outbreak in the country began to 178,151. In a statement, Spokesman for the Health Ministry Khaled Megahed said 55 patients have died from the virus over the past 24 hours, raising the death toll to 10,353. Egypt is to receive 300,000 doses of China’s Sinopharm vaccine as a gift from China to Cairo, later on Monday according to spokesperson of Ministry of Health Khaled Megahed. Earlier in February, Egypt has approved the emergency use of Chinese sinopharm vaccine and the UK- AstraZeneca vaccine according to Minster of Health Hala Zayed.
Source:Egypt Today
February 22, 2021 11:15 UTC
Health ministry official warns of third wave of coronavirus, urges caution
On Monday, head of the central administration for preventive affairs at Egypt’s Ministry of Health, Dr. Mohamed Abdel Fattah, warned of a third wave of coronavirus in Egypt. Abdel Fattah said, during an interview with TV host Asmaa Mostafa on the “This Morning” show, that two things must happen to prevent a third wave of the virus. First, he said, the public must adhere to precautionary measures. Second, people must receive the vaccine, Abdel Fattah asserted, explaining that herd immunity is a huge factor in limiting the spread of the virus. Egypt has secured a total of 100 million doses of the coronavirus vaccine, almost half of what it needs to vaccinate the entire population.
Source:Egypt Independent
February 22, 2021 10:41 UTC
Egyptian ministry establishes Equal Opportunities Unit to ensure gender equality
CAIRO - 22 February 2021: Dr. Hala El-Said, Minister of Planning and Economic Development, issued decision No. 9 of 2021 establishing the Equal Opportunities Unit in the Ministry headed by Dr. Shaima Serraj. The Minister of Planning and Economic Development indicated the importance of establishing equal opportunities units in the various departments of the ministry. This is in support of the fifth goal of the sustainable development goals on gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls. In this context, Dr. Shaima Siraj, Director of the Equal Opportunities Unit, held an introductory meeting Sunday about the unit, its objectives, and its pillars of work, in the presence of representatives of the Ministry's sectors and affiliated agencies.
Source:Egypt Today
February 22, 2021 10:41 UTC
Very cold weather for Tuesday across Egypt
Thursday is predicted to kick off with very cold weather across Cairo, the delta governorates and the northwesterly costs, accompanied by moderate to heavy rains. Moderate rains are expected to fall on the Red Sea Mountains, south Sinai and northern Upper Egypt, while moderate to light rains are anticipated on the northwesterly coasts. Active winds will blow across Egypt, disturbing maritime navigation in the Red Sea. Maximum temperatures:-Greater Cairo, delta governorates, western north coast: 18C-South Sinai, eastern north coast, northern Upper Egypt: 20C
Source:Egypt Independent
February 22, 2021 10:10 UTC
Protests swell after Myanmar junta raises specter of force
YANGON, Myanmar (AP) — Protesters gathered in Myanmar’s biggest city on Monday despite the ruling junta’s threat to use lethal force against people who join a general strike against the military’s takeover three weeks ago. The junta had warned against a general strike in a public announcement Sunday night on state television broadcaster MRTV. Suu Kyi came to power after her party won a 2015 election, but the generals retained substantial power under a military-drafted constitution. Image: Anti-coup protesters raise their hands with clenched fists during a rally near the Mandalay Railway Station in Mandalay, Myanmar, Monday, Feb. 22, 2021. A call for a Monday general strike by demonstrators in Myanmar protesting the military’s seizure of power has been met by the ruling junta with a thinly veiled threat to use lethal force, raising the possibility of major clashes.
Source:Egypt Independent
February 22, 2021 09:56 UTC
Egypt secures 100 mn coronavirus vaccine doses
The Egyptian Minister of Health and Population Hala Zayed announced on Sunday that the ministry has secured 100 million doses of various COVID-19 vaccines. During a joint press conference with Hossam Hosny, head of the ministry’s scientific committee to combat coronavirus, Zayed added that 40 million doses of these vaccines have been contracted via Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance. According to Zayed, Egypt is looking in all directions to provide access to vaccines for the public. So far, it has secured doses from AstraZeneca, Sinopharm, and Russia’s Sputnik-V.Next week, Egypt will receive 8.6 million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine from Gavi, the minister said, adding that the country was set to receive a gifted shipment of 300,000 doses of China’s Sinopharm vaccine within a few days. Zayed stressed that the coronavirus committee is closely following the situation in Egypt, which is witnessing stability for the third consecutive week in terms infection and death rates.
Source:Egypt Independent
February 22, 2021 09:33 UTC
Danish trio Who Made Who is performing live at Abu Simbel Temple on February 22
CAIRO - 22 February 2021: Presenting Egypt’s ancient wonders in modern mediums has never been more appropriate than it is today. Over 20 million viewers across all platforms from all over the world tuned in to watch modern music and history paired together for the first time. The production team has managed to gracefully showcase the site’s incredible beauty, motivating their audience to visit Egypt through reaching 1 million simultaneous live views on Facebook live. On February 22 , the Danish trio Who Made Who is performing live at Abu Simbel Temple. They are performing to the world celebrating the unique solar alignment on the face of King Ramses II in his temple in Abu Simbel.
Source:Egypt Today
February 22, 2021 09:11 UTC
COVID-19 in Egypt: 608 new cases on Sunday, total now 10,353
Egypt’s Health Ministry on Sunday confirmed 608 new coronavirus cases, bringing the country’s total up to 178,151, ministry spokesperson Khaled Megahed announced. The total number of COVID-19-related deaths has now reached 10,353 nationwide, after the ministry announced 55 deaths. And 543 patients were discharged from quarantine at isolation hospitals, raising Egypt’s total number of fully-recovered cases to 137,837. Egypt’s second wave hit its peak on December 30, when the health ministry reported 1,411 new cases. The first doses, like in the rest of the world, are reserved for healthcare workers, the elderly, and at-risk persons.
Source:Egypt Independent
February 22, 2021 08:26 UTC
Hong Kong leader gets China’s Sinovac vaccine to bolster public confidence
HONG KONG (Reuters) – Hong Kong’s leader Carrie Lam received China’s Sinovac vaccine on Monday together with top officials at a live televised event to bolster public confidence ahead of the vaccine’s rollout in the global financial hub this week. Sinovac is the first COVID-19 vaccine to be introduced in Hong Kong, ahead of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine set to arrive in the Chinese special administrative region before the end of February. Lam, dressed in a white t-shirt, was filmed receiving the first vaccine in a centre set up at Hong Kong’s central library. A January survey by the University of Hong Kong found that fewer than 30% of people questioned said they would accept the Sinovac vaccine. Hong Kong has secured a total of 22.5 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer, Sinovac and AstraZenca.
Source:Egypt Independent
February 22, 2021 07:52 UTC
Israel shuts Mediterranean shore after oil devastates coast
In 2014, a crude oil spill in the Arava Desert caused extensive damage to one of the country’s delicate ecosystems. The Environmental Protection Ministry and activists estimate that at least 1,000 tons of tar, a product of an oil spill from a ship in the eastern Mediterranean earlier this month, have already washed up on shore. Yoav Ratner, coordinator of the ministry’s oil spill contingency plan, said that there were still many “unknown unknowns” about the extent of the ecological damage and therefore it was difficult to say how long clean-up would take. Arik Rosenblum, director of the Israeli environmental group EcoOcean, said that the Environmental Protection Ministry is “fighting this situation and many other situations with their hands tied behind their back” because of inadequate legislation. They cautioned that this disaster should be a wake-up call for opposition to a planned oil pipeline connecting the United Arab Emirates and Israeli oil facilities in Eilat — home to endangered Red Sea coral reefs.
Source:Egypt Independent
February 22, 2021 06:45 UTC
China urges US to lift trade restrictions, stop interference
“We know that the new US administration is reviewing and assessing its foreign policy,” Wang told diplomats, scholars and journalists at the Lanting Forum. China faces more opposition than ever in Washington due to its trade record, territorial disputes with neighbors, and accusations of technology theft and spying. As is standard in Chinese foreign policy, Wang put the onus for improving relations squarely on the shoulders of the US and offered no direct proposals for major breakthroughs, even while encouraging increased dialogue. Wang said China had “no intention to challenge or replace the United States” and was ready to peacefully coexist and seek common development. Foreign Minister Wang Yi called on the U.S. Monday to lift restrictions on trade and people-to-people contacts while ceasing what Beijing considers unwarranted interference in the areas of Taiwan, Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Tibet.
Source:Egypt Independent
February 22, 2021 05:48 UTC
PSG fall behind in title race with defeat to Monaco
PARIS (Reuters) - Third-placed Paris St Germain lost ground in the Ligue 1 title race when they slumped to a 2-0 home defeat against Monaco on Sunday after wins for their main rivals. Fourth-placed Monaco, who have now won eight of their last nine league games, prevailed through goals by Sofiane Diop and Guillermo Maripan to move within two points of PSG. Mauricio Pochettino's PSG were still without the injured Neymar and Angel Di Maria, while key midfielder Marco Verratti started on the bench. It's not just about the Champions League" Verratti said. Promoted RC Lens moved up to fifth on 40 points thanks to a 2-1 home win against bottom club Dijon.
Source:Egypt Today
February 21, 2021 22:07 UTC