Egypt’s Dar Al-Iftaa announced on Monday evening that Eid Al-Fitr will commence on Wednesday 5 June, with Tuesday 4 June being the last day of Ramadan. “The [new Moon] was not visible across the country. Tuesday will be the last day of Ramadan,” announced Egypt’s Grand Mufti Shawki Allam in a statement on Monday. The announcement has resulted in confusion across the Muslim world, with countries declaring different dates as the first day of Eid Al-Fitr. Australia, which was the first, said that Eid Al-Fitr will fall on Wednesday 5 June. Indonesia, Japan, Pakistan, Thailand and Malaysia joined Egypt and Australia in similarly declaring Wednesday 5 June as Eid Al-Fitr. However, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and other Gulf nations announced on Monday evening that Tuesday 4 June would be the first day of Eid Al-Fitr per observations by their respective Moon-sighting committees. Nigeria and a number of other countries also announced Tuesday 4 June as the first day of Eid Al-Fitr. Might just buy my own telescope with all this Eid date confusion at this point — istifaan (@eatbiryani) June 3, 2019 The different dates caused confusion…
5 Egyptian Actors Who Made it onto Western TV Shows
For the past while, two Egyptian actors Rami Malek and Mena Massoud have been dominating the screens of television and cinema with their remarkable performances skyrocketing their career. However, there are several other actors who have been influencing global audiences with their roles. Zeeko Zaki Alexandria-born Zeeko Zaki immigrated to the United States when he was one-month-old. Growing up, he spent his summer holidays in Egypt. He became interested in acting during his first year of high school. After starring in several school plays, Zaki took a break from acting during his university years. Upon graduation, Zaki decided to go back to acting by auditioning for a play, catching the attention of American actress Susan Walters who kick started his career. The 29-year old actor is currently starring as the lead role in the CBS show FBI which was created by Emmy Award-winning Dick Wolf and Craig Turk. Zaki has also appeared in minor roles recently, however this show has been his breakthrough. Zaki co-stars in FBI alongside Missy Peregrym, Zeeko Zaki, Jeremy Sisto, Ebonée Noel and Sela Ward. Ramy Youssef Ramy Youssef is a stand-up comedian who comes from…
Egypt Plants 590 Trees to Reduce Pollution in Eastern Delta
Egypt’s Ministry of Environment planted 590 fruitful trees in the eastern Delta on Saturday to reduce pollution and celebrate World Environment Day, according to a statement on its Facebook page. The ministry of environment branch in the eastern Delta is implementing the nationwide initiative to plant one million trees across the republic, which aims to contribute to the reduction of air pollution and climate change. The Agricultural Professions Syndicate also started implementing President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s initiative to plant one million fruit trees in poorer areas, parks, public squares, schools in various cities and villages last year, starting in five areas in Old Cairo (The Religions Complex’s road, Amr Ibn al-Aas Mosque, Abu Sufyan Square, Hassan al-Anwar Street and the Al-Malek al-Saleh area), and in 10 areas in Imbaba district of Giza governorate. The initiative has two main goals, one is to achieve food security in poor areas, while the second is to reduce the effect of climate change and spread awareness of its risk among young people. Earlier in March, Egypt’s Ministry of Environment announced the establishment of the first monitoring station for instant air pollutants in El Minya…
Egypt Breaks World Record for Longest Iftar Table
Following previous announcements of Egypt’s attempt to break a new Guinness record, the country has managed to snag a new world record for the longest iftar table on June 1. The record, breaking UAE’s 2,893.64 meters table record last June, went to enormous three-kilometer table which hosted almost 7,000 people in the new Administrate capital. The Administrative Capital for Urban Development (ACUD) made the announcement for the attempt to make the longest ‘iftar table’ in the world earlier this month. An iftar ‘mercy’ table is a cherished tradition in Muslim countries during the holy month of Ramadan where the city’s poor and unprivileged are invited to break fast freely through the assistance of fortunate citizens. The event, attended by a representative from the Guinness World Records, was followed by entertainment as well as a chance to tour the existing facilities of the new capital. Although the record was celebrated briefly on social media, many users took to criticizing the attempt for mis-allocation of funds; criticism also opened way to inquire about the status of the capital’s funding by Chinese investments companies which has been rumored to be halted. The new administrative…
In Photos: Mohamed Salah Celebrates Incredible Champions League Victory
Mohamed Salah became the first Egyptian ever to triumph the UEFA Champions League final after Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in the final. Salah scored the opener while Divock Origi secured the final in the 87th minute with a second goal. “I don’t know what I can exactly say in this moment but I can say I am very happy with the victory and winning that title. This is a kind of things that doesn’t happen quite often,” Salah told BeIN Sports. “It is an great regard for me and now I will be looking forward to winning the title again next year and may become the first Arab to win it twice,” he said….
Coptic Museum Inaugurates ‘Holy Family Journey’ Exhibition Today
On the occasion of the anniversary of the Holy Family’s arrival to Egypt, the Coptic museum located in Fustat is launching a temporary exhibition on June 2. The Coptic Museum is organizing a temporary exhibition on Sunday, June 2 under the title “Holy Journey” on the occasion of the anniversary of the arrival of the Holy Family to Egypt. According to Egypt Today, the exhibition will feature models illustrating the path of the journey as well as a variety of artifacts that allude to the journey as per Head of the Museums Sector Elham Salah. The exhibition will also be accompanied being a number of musical performances that will be taking place in the museum, as well as workshops guided tours and educational lectures. The Coptic museum is a cherished and iconic establishment near the Hanging Church. Not only does it contain artifacts which record the transition of Egypt’s history and culture from Greco-Roman to early Christianity and then Islamic, the museum’s impressive artwork collection in the world. The end of the 19th century saw a peaking interest in Coptic art which has lead to the increased collection and retrieval of…
First Egyptian Woman to Join the Premiere League Wins a ‘Golden Boot’
Egyptian striker and first woman to join the Premiere League with Stoke City, Sarah Essam, has landed a Golden Boot provoking fans to question why she is not receiving the same recognition as the famous Egyptian male striker Mohamed ‘Mo’ Salah. “Another great achievement in my football career. Another positive step taking me closer to many things I’ve always been dreaming of. Believe. Couldn’t have done without all teammates/staff, always been a privilege playing with this badge on my shirt,” Essam tweeted. Here’s to another update for your CV. 📝⚽️@SarahEssam64 @scfc_ladies pic.twitter.com/b9CHVtcvTE — Salma Salaheldine (@salmasalah93) May 24, 2019 At the young age of 16, Essam began her journey in the football scene when she began playing for Egypt’s national team. The now 20-year-old striker started making waved when she first joined Stoke City in 2017. In 2018, Essam landed the title and award from London Arab Foundation for the “Arab Woman of the Year: Achievement in Sport”. Her performance in the last season, where she remarkably scored 12 goals in 12 appearances, landed her a ‘Top Scorer’ award for her team ‘Stoke City Ladies’ Development Team, and two ‘Player…
Green Walls in Cairo: Elevating Quality of Life and Promoting Urban Sustainability
Cities all across the world are constantly growing, evolving and diversifying, and many face common urban challenges, such as pollution, overcrowding and traffic. At the same time, many cities – and Cairo forms a prime example – have recognized and increasingly come to emphasize the need for green spaces. The latter are not simply aesthetically appealing, with a great deal of research proving that plants are vital for the physical and psychological well-being of humans, they are also important for fostering a healthy and sustainable city. Thanks to advancements in technology, it has become increasingly possible to bring innovative and green infrastructures to cities across the region, for instance by installing so-called green walls and more generally, by making green spaces an essential component of urban planning. Cairo is one of many cities “embracing green technologies to combat condensed pollution,” says Malik Tag, Business Manager of Cairo-based company Schaduf, which has actively been involved in the development of green wall projects across the capital and beyond. Given their many benefits such as low maintenance costs and energy efficiency, installing green walls has become a popular investment for a growing number…
Arab Leaders Call For ‘Boycott’ of Countries That Recognize Jerusalem Israel’s Capital
An Islamic summit hosted by Saudi Arabia on Friday asserted its support behind Palestinians ahead of a US-led peace plan and called for a “boycott” of countries that have opened diplomatic missions in the city. The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) meeting, which was held in the holy city of Mecca, denounced controversial US moves to transfer its embassy to Jerusalem and recognize Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights. The 57-member bloc, in the absence of Iranian and Turkish leaders, condemned “any illegal and irresponsible decision that recognizes Jerusalem as the capital of Israel” and reiterated “rejection of any proposal for peace settlement that does not accord or conform with the legitimate, inalienable rights of the Palestinian people”. “The Palestinian cause is the cornerstone of the works of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, and is the focus of our attention until the brotherly Palestinian people get all their legitimate rights,” King Salman stated. “We reaffirm our unequivocal rejection of any measures that would prejudice the historical and legal status of Quds (Jerusalem).” The OIC also backed Saudi Arabia in the tensions with Iran, as King Salman warned that “terrorist” attacks…