According to a Facebook post by Giza Zoo’s official page, forty-year-old Naeema the elephant has passed away due to a heart attack earlier this week. Naeema was the only remaining elephant in Giza Zoo. The great African elephant suffered from pain prompting her to lay down on her side before passing away on Sunday. The zoo was previously home to a 60-year-old Asian elephant which also passed away in 2016. Another modern elephant officially attested to exist in Egypt was Karima, a female elephant who lived in Alexandria zoo until the age of 63. Although African and Asian elephants bear many similarities, the two species of the largest mammal walking the earth can be distinguished by the shape of their ears, head, and tusks. Elephants, along with various large mammals such as hippopotami, lions and rhinoceroses naturally existed at different periods in ancient Egypt, when the climate was wetter and especially more Savannah-like at the beginning of Egyptian history, prior to their gradual extinction. “There certainly will be efforts with the agriculture ministry to bring new animals,” to the zoo,” Ragaey said as per Al Ahram. The Giza Zoo functions…
Egypt’s Best Weightlifter Retires as Weightlifting Federation Suspended for Doping
Mohamed Ihab, Egypt’s most decorated weightlifters in modern history, announced his retirement on Tuesday shortly before the Egyptian Weightlifting Federation was suspended by Egypt’s local Olympic Committee over new allegations of doping. In statements to Filgoal.com, Ihab said that he had decided to retire as a result of the International Weightlifting Federation’s decision in September to ban Egypt from participating in weightlifting competitions for two years. “I decided to retire after Egypt’s recent ban. My target was to achieve a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics, but it is difficult to lift the ban,” said Ihab, referring to the fact that it is likely Egypt’s weightlifters will be banned from participating in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics unless Egypt is successful in reversing the ban. Ihab said that “if a miracle happens and the ban is lifted”, he would return to weightlifting. Otherwise, Ihab plans to complete his Master’s studies and commence a career as a coach. Ihab, who started weightlifting when he was just eight-years-old, won a bronze medal at the Rio Olympics in 2016. Ihab broke numerous Egyptian records and won a total of 48 medals (35 gold, eight…
Egyptian Actor and Comedian Talaat Zakaria Dies at 58
Renowned actor and comedian Talat Zakaria passed away in Cairo on Tuesday at the age of 58 due to a health problem that dates back to 2007, when he suffered an inflammation in one of the arteries of the brain. Zakaria’s daughter Emi, posted on her Facebook account, “Please, he needs your prayers.” While his son Omar posted on his Instagram account “Please, pray for my father”. Born in Alexandria, Zakaria is a graduate of the Higher Institute of Dramatic Arts in 1984. He started on the stage, where he joined the Alexandria theater group before starring in his first film in 1984 entitled “Hadi Badi” starring Artist Samir Ghanem, Dalal Abdel Aziz and Nora. In 2006, Zakaria played his first leading role in the film “Haha wa Tuffaha” with the artist Yasmine Abdel Aziz, which witnessed his rise from a second role representative to a leading comedy position in Egyptian cinema. His films left an imprint on Egyptian audience with works including “Sayyad Al-Yamam”, “Sayed Al-Atefi”, “Abu Ali”, “Mr. Abu Arabi Wasl”, “Harim Karim”, “El-Feel Fil Mandeel”, “Tabbakh El-Raes” and Ew’a weshak. He also had a dream of portraying the…
Breast Cancer Symptoms Every Woman Needs to Know
For Breast Cancer Awareness Month, women around the world are encouraged to undergo early tests to spot any changes as soon as possible. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, as it was reported in 2017 that around 34% of Egyptian women suffer from the disease, according to Mohamed Emara, Director General of Baheya Foundation for Early Detection and Treatment of Breast Cancer. Emara noted that the rate of recovery from breast cancer can reach to 98 percent if the disease is detected in its early stages. Earlier this year, the Ministry of Health and Population launched the Women’s Health Initiative earlier this month for early detection of breast cancer, hypertension, diabetes, osteoporosis and heart disease, targeting around 30 million women above the age of 18. The second phase runs until the end of this month in Cairo, North Sinai, Red Sea, Ismailia, Suez, Kafr El-Sheikh, Menoufia, Beni Suef, Sohag, Luxor and Aswan. The third and final stage will start on 1 November and will include Giza, the New Valley, Gharbia, Dakahlia, Sharqia, Minya and Qena. With the different types of breast cancer also come a variety of…
Ethiopia Denies GERD Negotiations Reaching a Dead End
After the spokesperson of the Egyptian Ministry of Water Recourses and Irrigation, announced that the discussions with Ethiopia surrounding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) reached a “dead end” Ethiopia denied these accusations and asserted its efforts to resolve any issues stalling the discussions with Egypt and Sudan. “Ethiopia stands ready to resolve any differences and outstanding concerns by consultation among the three countries,” Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed tweeted in English. “The Government of Ethiopia will reinforce its effort to make the ongoing trilateral dialogue a success. It also expects a similar commitment from the two downstream countries, Egypt and Sudan.” A new round of negotiations kicked off last Friday in Khartoum with ministries from Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia to determine the fate of their water supply. According to the spokesperson of the Egyptian Ministry of Water Recourses and Irrigation, Ethiopia refused to consider Egypt’s proposal regarding the operation of the dam. Ethiopia’s proposal is considered “a setback to all the principles previously agreed upon for the filling and operation of the dam,” the ministry’s spokesperson emphasized, adding that “the proposal didn’t include the minimum annual drainage of the…
Three Camping Spots Near Cairo You Should Visit
Camping trips are a great way to disconnect from our daily-routine. Now that summer is over, we can no longer look forward to the sunny beach for a getaway weekend. But luckily, Egypt is filled with a variety of other landforms that are suitable fall and winter making perfect so a short trip away from the hectic city life. One of the best ways to escape the city is by going on a camping adventure. Because of Egypt’s unique geography, there are a variety of places across the country that accommodate camping trips. We have compiled a list of great camping spots scattered near the capital that are ideal for an evening underneath the stars and moonlight. Wadi Degla Popular for hiking, Wadi Degla is located minutes away from Maadi in central Cairo. However, many are unaware that the protectorate is also a camping location for many Cairenes making is one of the most accessible camping spots in the capital. In the late 90s, the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency labeled Wadi Degla as a protectorate to preserve it from environmental threats and deterioration. The protectorate is also home for Egypt’s wildlife such…
Egypt’s Cities Under the Sea
Conversations in Egypt about the climate crisis are not as loud as they ought to be. Sea level rise, in specific, is hardly addressed, even though the country is bound to be severely affected. As global warming increases, Egypt’s coastal cities, along with other regions, come under threat. The images below show what Egypt would face, according to a report by nonprofit organization Climate Central, if carbon emissions result in global temperatures to rise by 2° Celsius, the current international target by 2100, by 3° Celsius, or by 4° Celsius, the temperature forecast if no action is taken to restrict carbon emissions. Damietta With a population of over one million, Damietta is where the Nile River meets the Mediterranean Sea. Climate Central estimates that 90 percent of Damietta’s current population lives in areas that would eventually be underwater if the Earth warms by 4°C by 2100. Alexandria Egypt’s largest coastal city and second-largest city, Alexandria stretches about 32 km along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. The city’s low elevation on the Nile delta makes it highly vulnerable to rising sea levels. Following a 4°C warming scenario, 70 percent of…
‘Smart Lady Africa’: The Social Platform Dedicated to Creating Women Leaders
“Only 4% of CEOs around the world are women, so what’s really happening here?” Adeagbo Funmilola tells Egyptian Streets, “we keep talking about gender equality, but the fact remains that even the ones who go to school and earn education, many of them stop halfway and do not continue anymore.” Born in Nigeria, Funmilola is a social entrepreneur passionate about gender equality and educating women on personal development, leadership and helping them to become global leaders. She was part of the African Presidential Leadership program, which was launched coinciding with the 2019 Egyptian Presidency of the African Union, and is the founder of ‘ The Smart Lady Africa’ and the director of the new NGO ‘Empower Her for Africa’, which educates young girls on the sustainable development goals and personal development. ‘Smart Lady Africa’ is a social platform providing women with the right information and awareness of opportunities out there, and educates them on leadership, entrepreneurship and personal development. “I really have a passion for helping women. The fact remains that even the ones who go to school and earn education, many of them stop halfway and do not continue…
Discussions with Ethiopia Regarding the GERD Are Gridlocked
Discussions surrounding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) hit a brick wall as Ethiopia refuses to consider Egypt’s proposal regarding the operation of the dam, according to the spokesperson of the Egyptian Ministry of Water Recourses and Irrigation. A new round of negotiations kicked off last Friday in Khartoum with ministries from Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia to determine the fate of their water supply. Ethiopia’s proposal is considered “a setback to all the principles previously agreed upon for the filling and operation of the dam,” the ministry’s spokesperson emphasized, adding that “the proposal didn’t include the minimum annual drainage of the dam, or ways to deal with the cases of drought and prolonged drought that might occur in the future.” Ethiopia refuses to discuss the rules under which it can operate the dam limiting the conversation to the filling phase of the dam and the rules of operation during the filling phase only. According to Article 5 of the Declaration of Principles Agreement, Ethiopia is violating the agreement signed in 2015 by the three Nile Basin countries. In return, Egypt called an international mediator to help reach a fair agreement…