For his most recent contributions to the field of molecular life sciences, young Egyptian PhD student Mohamad EL Brolosy was awarded the Max Bernsteil International Prize” by the Max Birnstiel Organization and the Pathology Institute in Vienna. Along with two other winners, the 27-year old’s research on the occurrence of genetic abnormalities set him apart from 100 candidates for the prize. Having set out to understand the reason as to why certain individuals can be affected by certain genetic abnormalities, El-Brolosy’s scientific research was conducted through animal experiments, namely mouse and zebrafish models where he hereby identified the molecular machinery that drives the distinction. The Egypt-born budding scientist’s education was first at the German University in Cairo prior to pursing graduate studies in Göttingen. The annual International Birnstiel Award, which will be conferred for the first time this year to doctoral students in molecular life sciences, grants its awardees a certificate, trophy and €2,000. Most importantly the awardees are given the chance to present their findings to an international audience of distinguished biologists at the Vienna BioCenter PhD Symposium in Vienna (Austria) on November 7-8. The award and the foundation…
Pushing African and Arab Beauty to the World: Meet Egypt’s First Modeling Agency
In a photo captured by Rania Shereen, Egyptian model Iman El Deeb, who appeared in features of notable fashion magazines such as Vogue Italia, oozes raw and natural African beauty with her gorgeous dark curls, golden brown skin and unplucked eyebrows. She stares into the camera with her dark colored eyes with confidence and ease, as the rays of the sun’s light give her a stunning radiant glow. Her distinctive and natural look is rarely seen in most fashion runway shows, magazines or advertisements – both globally and locally. According to a 2015 diversity report by TheFashionSpot.com, out of 143 fashion shows and more than 3,700 models cast during New York Fashion Week’s September shows that year, more than 70 per cent of models were white. This exclusion can date back to the past, as society’s understanding of beauty was profoundly changed following European colonization and imperialism, which popularized the ‘white’ standard of beauty. Nell Irvin Painter, an artist and historian who wrote The History Of White People, notes that early racial theorists, like Christoph Meiners and Johann Blumenbach, labeled “white,” or “Caucasian,” as being the most beautiful of the races, as…
Egypt Issues Arrest Warrant for Italian Diplomat Accused of Smuggling Antiquities
Earlier today, Egypt’s attorney general ordered the arrest of Italy’s former honorary consul in Luxor, Ladislav Otakar Skakal, on charges of smuggling and trafficking in antiquities, Sky News Arabia reports. According to Reuters Africa, Egypt ordered the former diplomat to be tried in absentia. The news came in a statement by the public prosecutor’s office, which also added that the country has asked Interpol to issue a red notice against Skakal, requiring law enforcement in member states to apprehend the suspect and deliver him to Egypt. The prosecution contends that Skakal has attempted to smuggle 21855 artifacts from Egypt into Italy, shipping the illicit items in diplomatic cargo through the port of Alexandria, according to Sky News Arabia. The plot was foiled by port authorities in Salerno and the artifacts were returned to Egypt in July 2018. They were later put on display at the Egyptian Museum, according to Reuters Africa. Investigators revealed that upon searching Skakal’s residence in Egypt, authorities found numerous ancient Egyptian artifacts. The defendant also kept artifacts in a security deposit box, according to the public prosecution’s statement. Skakal had plotted the theft with a high…
Egypt Launches Clean Up Campaign to Remove ‘Garbage Mountain’ in Ismailia
Egypt launched a clean up campaign in Ismailia Governorate to remove the infamous “garbage mountain”, a 20 acres vacant downtown area in front of the Ismaili Social Club which was turned into a garbage dump. This is part of a nationwide clean up campaign launched by the Egyptian government. This area was noted as “garbage mountain” by many social media users who were frustrated by the trash piling up. Deputy Governor of Ismailia, Ahmed Essam was on a field tour, accompanied by Major General Gamal Masoud, Assistant Secretary General of the Governorate, Wael Hamza, President of Ismailia Center and City, Norhan El Sayed Eid, Third District Chief, and a number of executive leaders, to follow up and inspect the implementation of the campaign that has been in the works for a few days. During the tour, the Deputy Governor stressed the need to intensify the efforts of removing the accumulated garbage and waste from the area. After removing the trash, the plan is to turn the location into a visually appealing space for the residents free of pollution. Minister of Environment Yasmine Fouad has said that Egypt recycles 20 percent…
On the Friendship Between Naguib Mahfouz and Israeli Writer Sasson Somekh
When it comes to cultural exchange between Egypt and Israel, it is usually boiled down to the controversy of normalizing relations with a state that is guilty of war crimes and illegal annexation of Palestinian territory. While boycott can be an effective strategy in shedding light on injustices, and carries empathy towards the struggles of those who are stripped from their rights, it is not yet acknowledged that cultural diplomacy can also play an important role in achieving various other goals, from national security to political peace. Cultural diplomacy is more than just the exchange of ideas, information, art, and language among different nations; it can also act out as a positive force in spreading a certain political cause by presenting it in a more interesting and understandable form. In other words, to present a political cause to a foreign audience, one must also present the culture of its people with it in order to create more depth, connection and understanding of the cause. A symbol of good cultural relations is the relationship between Sasson Somekh, who recently passed away August of this year, and Naguib Mahfouz. Born initially in…
Five of Cairo’s Most Popular Rooftop Bars
What better way to enjoy the cool weather while over looking the spectacular view of the sunset casting over Cairo than sitting on a rooftop. Most of the rooftops in Cairo are bars and cafes where people can enjoy a snack or a drink with the light breeze brushing against their faces accompanied by a beautiful view. Here is a list to some of the most popular rooftop bars and restaurant across the capital that are worth visiting. Odeon Palace Lying near the famous Talaat Harb Street on Abdel Hamid Street is Odeon Hotel whose rooftop is one of the most popular bars in Cairo. This 1970s-styled bar operates 24 hours with a spacious indoor and outdoor seating area the overlooks the heart of Cairo. It is an easy meeting spot for many Downtown residents. Some enjoy the spot alone with a book to keep them company, others host parties. This bar also serves a variety of alcoholic drinks, food that you can nibble on while drinking as well as shisha. Rooftop Bar Zamalek Rooftop Bar rests on top of a slightly sketchy 2-star hotel on the island of Zamalek…
Swvl Launches in Second Pakistan City Following Africa Expansion
According to Reuters, popular Egyptian transportation start-up Swvl is set to expand its operations into two cities in Pakistan, after weeks of unconfirmed rumors regarding the start-up’s next steps. The firm, which secured US$ 42 million for its African expansion plan, is also set on ensuring operations in Nigeria’s Lagos city prior to the end of 2019. “We will enter Lagos before the end of the year, and our eyes are on Dar es Salaam and Abidjan,” said co-founder and CEO Mostafa Kandil to Reuters. Pakistan is Swvl’s third market after Egypt and Kenya, with operations already running in Lahore since July before also expanding to Islamabad. There, it competes with local business rival Airlift. It’s time to move on.#ItsOnlyLogical pic.twitter.com/AyH3wnZAov — Swvl Kenya (@SwvlKenya) September 10, 2019 Kandil also told Reuters that the company aims to expand into South East Asia, starting with the city of Manila, in the Philippines, by the first half of 2020. The Cairo-headquartered app-based bus, whose main rivals are the soon-to-be-merging Uber and Careem ride hailing applications in the Middle East, was first launched in April 2017 with a current paid up capital of…
Egypt Plans Nation-Wide Citizen Input Workshops to Discuss State Budget
A number of sources told Al-Masry Al-Youm that the Egyptian government is currently developing a program to involve citizens from across the nation in the decision-making process on certain budgetary issues, Egypt Independent reports. The nation-wide program is reportedly slated to be piloted in Alexandria in October, with the slogan ‘Act positively and help Alexandrians’, sources told Al-Masry Al-Youm. Sources said the initiative would include citizens from each governorate in discussions on national and municipal projects listed in the state’s budget, and solicit their opinions on budgeting priorities. Sources also added that later stages of the initiative would incorporate civic education and awareness training, in accordance with Egypt’s Vision 2030. It is unclear, however, whether citizens’ recommendations in those meetings would be binding. The participatory budgeting initiative comes after the Ministry of Planning, Monitoring and Administrative Reform issued recommendations stressing the importance of citizen’s participation in municipal development. According to Shorouk News, the program is a joint initiative by the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Planning, Monitoring and Administrative Reform, and municipal authorities in Alexandria. A number of civil society representatives from Alexandria and members from different political parties…
Egypt Condemns Drone Attack on Two of Saudi Arabia’s Aramco Oil Facilities
Egypt’s Foreign Minister released a statement last night following the Aramco facilities drone condemning the attack while echoing Egypt’s support in fighting terrorism and maintaining stability. On Saturday night, a drone hit two major facilities administered by the state-owned Aramco located in Abqaiq and Khurais. Subsequently, Saudi Arabia cut its oil and gas production. Saudi Oil Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said that the strikes reduced Saudi’s crude oil production by 5.7 million barrels per day, amounting for about half the country’s oil production. However, he clarified that the plants’ oil stocks will compensate for the loss. Yemen’s Houthi movement claimed responsibility for the strikes, saying it sent 10 drones to carry out the attacks. Houthi military spokesman Brigadier General Yahya Sarih has vowed to increase attacks in the kingdom. But, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo accused Iran of carrying out the strikes in a tweet calling it an “unprecedented attack on the world’s energy supply,” saying there was no evidence that Yemen was the source of the attacks. Tehran is behind nearly 100 attacks on Saudi Arabia while Rouhani and Zarif pretend to engage in diplomacy. Amid all…