United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo delivered a speech on Thursday in Cairo at the American University on America policy’s in the Middle East, noting that the Trump administration hopes to establish a coalition consisting of GCC states, Egypt and Jordan. “The Trump Administration is also working to establish the Middle East Strategic Alliance – or ‘MESA’ to confront the region’s most serious threats, and bolster energy and economic cooperation. This effort is bringing together members of the Gulf Cooperation Council, as well as Egypt and Jordan. Today we ask those countries to take the next step in solidifying MESA,” Pompeo said in the speech. Pompeo noted that the “the age of self-inflicted American shame is over” and that America will pursue a more activist policy, adding that it is a “force of good” for the region. He added that the only way to end the rivalries and conflict in the region is by containing and defeating Iran, and vowed “expel every last Iranian boot” from Syria. “For those who fret about the use of American power, remember this: America has always been, and always will be, a liberating force, not…
Massive Explosion Hits Paris
A loud explosion hit central Paris on Saturday morning on Rue de Treviso in the 9th district at around 9am local time. The cause of the explosion is yet unknown, yet police have told local media that it was due to a gas leak in a bakery. Photos and videos of the blast on social media show a large building on fire with flames coming from its base and debris strewn across the street. https://twitter.com/croissandeau/status/1084001876968906752 Multiple injuries have been reported, though the number is still unconfirmed. Emergency services rushed to the scene to battle the blaze. Paris police tweeted to warn the public to “avoid the area and allow the passage of the emergency vehicles.” https://twitter.com/prefpolice/status/1084003108353642496 https://twitter.com/MomesMolli/status/1083999067024154624 …
Saudi Arabia’s Shura Council Bans Child Marriages
Saudi Arabia’s Shura Council, the top advisory body to the government, released a statement on its website on Wednesday that it approved regulations for banning the marriage of girls and boys under the age of 15, and those under 18 will need approval from a specialized court, Reuters reports. The ruling received support from two thirds of the council. Shura Council member Latifa Al-Shaalan called the decision “a good step forward” and that “reaching it was not easy”, adding that the kingdom is very close to put in place stronger legal measures against marriage for those under 18. https://twitter.com/LatifahAshaalan/status/1082918099886718976 While the council does not have legislative powers, it can still propose laws to the cabinet and the king, council member Lina Almaeena told Reuters. “There were no marriage limitations before, so for this to be passed and prohibit marriage for a child under 15 is a huge accomplishment because you will be protecting young boys and girls,” she said. Recently, Saudi Arabia has been facing public backlash over Rahaf Mohammed’s case, which sparked criticism over its male guardianship laws, where a woman must have permission from a male…
Identity Theft: Why Am I Less of an Egyptian for Living Abroad?
Identity is at the forefront of struggles and complexities that plague the lives of Egyptians, whether they are actually living in Egypt or abroad. Recently, Rami Malek earned a Golden Globe award for his masterful performance in the biopic Bohemian Rhapsody, and although the award was much deserved, many took to social media to express that Malek was not a real Egyptian, although the star has often claimed pride in his heritage and roots. This is also something that I have personally experienced. “You’re so American.” “Your Arabic is so cute.” “How can you call yourself Egyptian if…” If these are words similar to anything you’ve uttered, I urge you to read on. I, like roughly 9.5 million others, are a product of the Egyptian diaspora who are currently living outside of Egypt. My parents emigrated from Egypt in 1972 to the United States, where I was born 15 years later. Raised in New Jersey with my two siblings, I spent my childhood and formative years into adulthood in the States. My parents left to create a life of opportunity and security for their family. They arrived to the United…
German Student Deported from Egypt Following Release
According to local news outlet Sada El Balad, Egyptian authorities have deported Mahmoud Ezzat Abdul Aziz from Egypt to Germany on Thursday. The news of the Göttingen-originating student Mahmoud Aziz ‘s detention in Cairo airport, on the 27 of December while traveling with his brother Malik Aziz, was confirmed by German Foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Adelbahr. Abdul Aziz was a student at the Islamic University in Saudi Arabia, and had been detained upon arrival. Local authorities justified the arrest due to having received notice that the student was attempting to join terrorist elements in the Sinai. However, Egyptian authorities also confirmed that Abdul Aziz had not committed any crimes and, as he forfeited his Egyptian nationality, was freed from detention. Alternatively, the fate of 18-year-old Isa El Sabbagh, who was detained on December 17 at Luxor airport, remains unclear. El Sabbah, who had forfeited his Egyptian nationality in 2007, was en route to visit his grandfather. Families of both disappeared men had claim that their sons were not politically active and thus local authorities lacked justification for their detention. However, Sada El Balad reported that authorities had found maps of North…
Egypt’s Wildlife Rescue Team Saves Rare Wolf Species From Extinction
As part of the Ministry of Environment’s plan to prevent illegal wildlife trade and save animals from extinction, a group from Alexandria Turtle Rescue team succeeded in saving an endangered Egyptian jackal wolf and returning it to its natural habitat in Wadi El Rayan, Al Ahram reports. Minister of Environment Dr Yasmin Fouad stressed that the wolf was inspected and all the necessary measurements were taken to ensure its safety and ability to continue its life in its natural habitat. Fouad added that this is in line with the ministry’s efforts to implement environment law no.4 of 1994 to protect endangered species along with the international agreements that were signed by Egypt on biodiversity conservation. Mau Gawad Hamada from Alexandria Turtle Rescue team noted that the wolf was sold online in Fayoum before it was rescued and taken to Wadi El Rayan. The minister praised the role of the Alexandria team for notifying the incident and in fighting against illegal wildlife trade, and noted that it is a sign of the successes of the ministry in spreading awareness on the citizen’s role in protecting the environment. Among…
Egypt Will Be One of the Top 10 Emerging Economies According to Bloomberg
Bloomberg published the Standard Chartered Bank report where Egypt was ranked seventh on the list of the world top 10 economies by 2030 making it the only economy making the list in the region. The report examined the current emerging markets and predicted the size of the economy by using the purchasing power parity exchange rates (PPP) and nominal gross domestic product (GDP). Standard Chartered economists led by David Mann wrote that the predictions are “underpinned by one key principle: countries’ share of world GDP should eventually converge with their share of the world’s population, driven by the convergence of per-capita GDP between advanced and emerging economies,” Bloomberg reported. The forecasted size of the Egyptian economy is USD 8.2 trillion allegedly exceeding that of Russia, Japan and Germany. Egypt has been taking towards reviving its economy in the past few years through the economic reform program lead to budget allocations and subsidy cuts. The World Bank highlights that the reform policies will influence Egypt’s growth rate which is expected to be 5.6 percent in 2019. The economic growth is also influenced by the consumption rates and patterns as well as…
German Foreign Ministry: Egyptian-German Students Detention Confirmed
German authorities have confirmed allegations that a 23-year-old German-Egyptian student was detained by Egyptian authorities according to German news outlet, Deutsche Welle. The news of the Göttingen-originating student Mahmoud Aziz, who was detained in Cairo airport on the 27 of December while traveling with his brother Malik Aziz, was confirmed by German Foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Adelbahr. According to Adelbahr, German authorities have been unable to see or access Mahmoud, and no reason has been given for the student’s arrest. The detention of both individuals has been confirmed by Thilo Schröter, First Secretary of the German embassy who told Egyptian Streets that ”the German embassy [in] Cairo has received confirmation that the two individuals are in custody of egyptian authorities.” ”The embassy continues to seek consular access and will continue to follow up on the cases,” added Schröter. Both brothers, dual citizens of Egypt and Germany, were en route to visiting family in Cairo; they had failed from the city of Medina (Saudi Arabia) where they were enrolled in an Islamic studies program. The men are descended from a German mother and an Egyptian father. According to independent outlet MadaMasr, the German…
Artifact Smuggled from Karnak Temple is Now Returned to Egypt
Egypt’s Ministry of Antiquities retrieved the stone-carved artifact dating back to 1500 B.C. smuggled from Karnak Temple from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 9 January. The stone-cared artifact was on display at the Karnak Temple in Luxor. It was smuggled out of Egypt in September and was placed on display at an auction house in London. Once found, the artifact was returned to the Egyptian Embassy in London who transferred the piece to the Ministry of Antiquities in Egypt. Shaaban Abdel-Gawad, General Supervisor of Antiquities Repatriation Department at the Ministry of Antiquities, said that the antique carved the cartouche of King Amonhotep I, the second king of the 18th Dynasty. The Egyptian Embassy in London, in coordination with British authorities, ensured the safe delivery of the artifact to the Egyptians. In the statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also praised the UK authorities for their cooperation and their concerns about preserving Egyptian heritage. Smuggling ancient artifacts has been a submerging issue in country, especially in the last few years. In 2017, the statue of King Djedefre was illegally transferred abroad from the area surrounding the Great Sphinx. In August of this year, the Swiss Federal…