Nine bombings in Sri Lanka targeted Christian churches and hotels in three cities. The death toll has risen to at least 290 people and wounded more than 500 others on Easter Sunday, according to officials. Defense Minister Ruwan Wijewardene described the coordinated blasts as a terrorist attack by religious extremists. The first six explosions occurred in the morning as the Christian minority in the country celebrated Easter Sunday. Three churches – in Kochchikade, Negombo and Batticaloa – were targeted during Easter services for worshipers. Meanwhile, three hotels in Colombo – the Shari La, Kingsbury and the Cinnamon Grand – were also targeted. In the afternoon, a further two explosions were reported. The seventh blast targeted a suburb of Dehiwala (in greater Colombo) and reportedly killed two policemen. The eight blast struck in Colombo and the impacts are currently unclear. Following the seventh blast, Reuters reports Sri Lankan authorities ordered major social media messages shut down. A curfew was also declared from 6PM local time to 6AM local time. Sri Lanka’s police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera said 24 suspects have been apprehended and the attacks appear to have been carried out by suicide…
A Quick and Simple Overview of Egypt’s Constitutional Amendments
Starting from today until Monday, Egyptians across the country will be voting for the recent proposed constitutional amendments. If you are planning to vote, here is a complete overview of the constitutional amendments: Article 102 (first paragraph): This article aims to reduce the number of elected MPs in the House of Representatives (Egypt’s lower house of parliament) from 596 to 450 MPs, with 25 per cent of seats (112 seats) to be reserved for women representatives. Article 140 (first paragraph): The president of the republic shall be elected for six (instead of four) years by the end of his predecessor’s term, though he/she cannot remain in office for more than two consecutive terms. Transitional Article 241: The term of the sitting president (Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi) will end following the date of declaring him an elected president, and he can be re-elected for another six-year term. Article 150: The president of the republic shall be authorised to name one or more than one vice president. Article 160 (first paragraph): If a temporary obstacle makes the elected president unable to perform his/her duties, he/she will be replaced by a vice president or prime…
Biggest Saff Tomb Discovered in Luxor
According to Al Ahram, Egyptians officials have announced the discovery of a significant tomb in the Draa Abul Naga in the West Bank of Luxor. The tomb belongs to Shedsu-Djehuty, a holder of the king’s funerary cones. Adorned in painted walls featuring daily life scenes and deceased before a variety of divinities, the tomb was filled with an anthropoid car tonnage sarcophagus, canonic jars, pots and ushabi figures in wood, clay and faience. Secretary general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities Mostafa Waziri state that the discovery was was “important” as it contributed to the understanding of the archeological and historical map of the site, namely relating to the tombs in Draa Abul Naga. Saff ‘row’ tombs are rock-cut tombs that originated in the Middle Kingdom. They differ vastly from the pyramids and the mastaba structures from the Old Kingdom and the hidden tombs of the Valley of the Kings and Queens. The discovery’s announcement was attended by the governor of Luxor as well as Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and Minister of Antiquities Khaled El Enany. Egypt’s Ministry of Antiquities has been consistently revealing and announcing new archeological discoveries. At…
Mohamed Salah: ‘We Need to Change the Way We Treat Women in Our Culture’
Egyptian player Mohamed Salah expressed in an interview with TIME that there needs to be change in the way women are treated in Egypt and the Middle East, and that he now supports women more than before. “I think we need to change the way we treat women in our culture,” Salah said. “It’s not optional.” “I support the woman more than I did before, because I feel like she deserves more than what they give her now, at the moment.” The 26-year-old Liverpool star was named one of the US magazine’s 100 most influential figures of the year, alongside other athletes including Tiger Woods, LeBron James and Naomi Osaka. Women in Egypt have faced both successes and failures since the main feminist movement in the 20th century, led by the remarkable Huda Shaarawi. Doria Shafik, one of the principal leaders the women’s liberation movement in Egypt in the mid-1940s, granted the right to vote by the Egyptian constitution for Egyptian women as a result of her efforts. According to the constitutional amendments approved by the parliament this month, the parliament approved a 25 percent quota of parliamentary seats to female candidates. However,…
National Referendum on Constitutional Amendments to Take Place from Saturday to Monday
President of the National Elections Authority (NEA) Lasheen Ibrahim announced on Wednesday that the national referendum on the constitutional amendments will take place from April 20 Saturday to Monday in Egypt, and from April 19 Friday to Sunday for Egyptians abroad. On Tuesday, the Egyptian House of Representative approved the proposed amendments to Egypt’s 2014 constitution, including an amendment that possibly extends President’s Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi time in office until 2030. In total, 531 members voted in favor of the new amendments while 22 members rejected and only one member abstained from voting out of the 554 members. Among the amended articles are the 25 percent quota of parliamentary seats to female candidates, introducing the upper chamber of the parliament (the Senate) and reinstating the post of vice president. According to Article 140, the president will be elected for six (instead of four) years, right after the end of his predecessor’s term, and he/she cannot remain in office for more than two consecutive terms. There is also transitional Article 240, which states that the term of the current sitting president (Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi) is to end after six years following the date…
Mo Salah and Rami Malek Among TIME’s 2019 Most Influential 100!
Egyptian football sensation Mohamed Salah has been listed among the TIME’s 2019 most influential people. The 26 year old star also features on the cover of the magazine. Inside, HBO John Oliver paid tribute to the footballer, calling him an “an “iconic figure for Egyptians, Scousers and Muslims the world over.” He features in the Titans section among figures such as a Gayle King and Mark Zuckerberg. In an interview with the magazine, Salah commented on various topics including pressures of fame and unwinding with his daughter at the end of the day. He also addressed the topic of supporting equality. “I think we need to change the way we treat women in our culture,” Salah said. “It’s not optional.” Liverpool sensation Mohamed Salah claimed the 2018 Confederation of African Football Player of the Year award in January. A popular figure among footballers and fans alike, he is well-known for his athletic prowess, football skills and charitable contributions to his home village. Salah is not the only Egyptian sensation in the list by famed magazine TIME. He is joined by recent Oscar-winner and actor Rami Malek who is American of…
Egypt’s First Polo Academy to Launch Its 3rd Annual Tournament This April
With the aim of inspiring the next generation of Egyptian polo players, The Kings Polo Academy is launching its 3rd annual tournament “El Gouna Beach Polo”. The event will take place from April 24th to April 27th at El Gouna, Red Sea. The Kings Polo Academy is the first integrated equestrian academy in Cairo. As the first of its kind, the academy aims to be a hub and center of excellence for the sport of polo not only in Egypt but in the Middle East region. Founded by Mohamed El Sewedy with the support of Farouk Younes the head of the Egyptian Polo Federation, the first Brüggler Silver Cup was launched in 2017 and the second Kings Silver Cup launched in 2018 at El Gouna, Red Sea. For this year’s third annual tournament, four teams of local and international championship players will compete for the kings silver cup for four days; the tournament will wrap up with a gathering celebration with performances from American rappers Tyga and Nelly and the Romanian singer-songwriter Inna. “In Egypt, we have lots of different sports except polo, and this is why we’ve decided that…
Parliament Approves Constitutional Amendments Extending Presidential Term
After much anticipation, Egypt’s House of Representatives has finally voted on some of the proposed, and most controversial, amendments to Egypt’s 2014 constitution. According to state-owned news outlet Al Ahram, the amendments include the approval for the presidential term to be for six years, the reinstitution of the “vice president” post and allocating a quarter of the parliamentary seats to female representatives. For the presidential term, the duration of office has leaped from four to six years; a candidate cannot hold the office position more than twice (article 140). According to these amendments, President Abdelfattah Al Sisi is expected to continue his term until 2024. President Sisi will be able to run for one further term of six years at the end of his current (extended) term in 2024. The amendments also affect the running operations of the House of Representatives with the seat number of MPs being cut down from 596 to 450 MPs (article 102). For the amendments to go into effect, a national referendum has been decided for the dates of 22, 23 and 24 of April. Egyptian nationals living abroad can vote on April 20 and…
Independent Egyptian News Site ‘Mada Masr’ Named 2019 Free Media Pioneer
Online news website ‘Mada Masr’ is this year’s recipient of the 2019 Free Media Pioneer Award for publishing independent news coverage and investigative reports. The Free Media Pioneer Award was established by the International Press Institute (IPI) in 1996 to recognize journalists and media organizations that contribute to ensuring freer and more independent media in their country. “IPI Free Media Pioneers are trailblazing media or press freedom organisations that have opened up new frontiers for the free flow of news and information in their countries,” as stated on its website. The award will be presented along with IPI’s 2019 World Press Freedom Hero Award during a special ceremony on June 5, 2019, in Geneva, Switzerland. Founded in 2013 after the shutting down of Egypt Independent in 2013, former journalists that worked in the old newspaper decided to launch their own independent platform. “We decided we want to publish in Arabic as well as English, that we want to see more data-based reports, more investigative journalism. We want to experiment with different ways of storytelling. And very importantly, develop a business model and deploy a visionary commercial team that helps make…