Nehal El-Sherif

Arab World's armed forces personnel decline

2015-12-17T15:13:00.001+02:00

Originally published here

Data shows that the percentage of armed forces personnel has declined over the past decade.

By Nehal ElSherif

The percentage of Armed Forces personnel of the total labour force in most Arab countries has decreased since 2000, according to data by the World Bank.

After the 2011 uprisings spread across the Arab World demanding political, economic and social changes, the militaries of the different countries came under spotlight.

As the region gets ready for the fifth anniversary of the mass protests in January, Arab army forces are in the headlines due to the newest alliance formed to combat terrorism in the region.

Jordan’s armed forces personnel showed the sharpest drop from a 12.2 per cent of the labour force in 2000 to 6.7 per cent in 2013.

Interactive table on Tableau here

“A number of these armed forces are being trained by or engaged in joint exercises with the US armed forces and the US has for many years been advocating the slimming down of Arab armies. The US thinks in terms of the most efficient fighting machines and cost-effectiveness,” said Rosemary Hollis, Professor of Middle East Policy Studies at City University.

Other countries, including the oil-rich Gulf States, also showed a decrease in their percentages, though with a lower rate when compared to Jordan.

The reason, Hollis said, is that the Arab side tends to be influenced by factors different from the West.

“One reason is that the armed forces can be used as way to employ otherwise unemployed youth and potentially give opportunity for social mobility,” she added.

In Egypt, for example, the armed forces run a number of factories, and many people see it as more than just a fighting machine.

Meanwhile, Tunisia was the country with the lowest percentage in 2000 at 1.46 per cent of the total labour force. In 2013, it was 1.2 per cent.

Hollis said each state has a different aspect in terms of the traditional place of the armed forces within the country.

“In Tunisia, they are almost remarkable for not being a major factor in sustaining the state,” she added.

Unlike other countries, the army did not interfere when mass protests in 2011 forced then president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali to flee the country. Hollis expects that recent attacks targeting tourists would prompt the US and European countries to help Tunisia “boost the security sector as opposed to increasing the number of armed forces personnel.”

Data for the West Bank and Gaza was only available between 2005 and 2012. Also, data was missing for Libya in 2010-2011.

Link to interactive graph with 18 countries

Data source: World Bank

Suez Canal revenues lowest in 10 months

2015-12-16T14:25:00.000+02:00

By Nehal ElSherif

Egypt's Suez Canal revenue fell in November to US$408.4 million, the lowest since February, according to data on the Suez Canal Authority’s website.

Original graph for monthly revenue in 2015 on Tableau here

The decline is due to fewer vessels crossing the fastest shipping route between Europe and Asia. There were 1,401 vessels crossing in November compared to 1,500 and 1,515 in October and September respectively.

These figures add doubt to hopes raised by the newly opened expansion of thewaterway, which aimed at increasing revenues through cutting down the time needed for each vessel to cross.

The shipping route is one of Egypt’s main sources of foreign currency.

However, journalist Niveen Wahish said that the decline in traffic can not be evaluated on a month by month basis, the true indicator of whether traffic has dropped or not is to look at the annual figure.

Compared to November 2014, revenues and traffic declined this year.

"As for whether the expansion will help the economy as much as people expected, that is very much dependent on growth in global trade; if it picks up then Egypt will benefit," said Wahish, who is an economic editor at Egypt's largest newspaper Al-Ahram.

The UK-based market research Euromonitor International said that the Suez Canal expansion could boost growth once global trade flows pick up.

The government said the expansion would boost annual revenues from the canal from US$5.3 billion in 2014 to $13.2 billion in 2023.

The Suez Canal saw a sharp increase in its revenues between 2003 and 2008. The financial crisis and the slowing global economy led to a sharp drop in revenues from $5.3 billion in 2008 to $4.3 billion in 2009.

This graph shows both the annual revenues and number of vessels in the Suez Canal between 2000 and 2014.

Data collected from Suez Canal Authority Website

Female life expectancy in Sub-Saharan Africa lowest despite regional growth

2015-12-16T10:30:00.000+02:00

By Nehal ElSherif

Sub-Saharan Africa had the lowest life expectancy for women since 1960, despite a growing economy and a decreasing poverty rate.

Data shows that life expectancy at birth for women was 58 years in 2013.

Data shows different regions on geographical and political divisions. The red shows the lowest age average and the dark green shows the highest.

The United Nations said this week that there were significant developments in Sub-Saharan Africa, yet to improve further the region must address wide inequalities and provide better opportunities for women.

Sub-Saharan Africa has experienced the fastest annual growth rates in the Human Development Index (HDI) among all regions since 2000, though women still need better access to work, health and education.

“Africa is experiencing higher levels of wellbeing and economic growth. Now governments must focus on better working conditions to improve lives and livelihoods, supporting the creation of jobs to sustain people and communities, and providing preconditions for greater labour participation by women and young people,” said Abdoulaye Mar Dieye, Assistant Administrator and Director of UNDP’s Regional Bureau for Africa.

Botswana had the lowest age average in 2013 at 46.6. It was also the only state where the age decreased by 11 per cent when compared to 1960.

These numbers show that there are still many challenges in the region despite economic growth that reached 4.6 per cent in 2014, growing faster than Europe, Central Asia and Latin America. Also, the poverty rate in Africa fell from 56 per cent in 1990 to 43 per cent in 2012.

Data source: World Bank - there was no available data for around 15 countries including Greenland, this is why it is not available on the map. Other countries such as Israel, data for some years in between 1960 and 2013 were not available.

Punk or Not, in Data Journalism, it’s the Information that’s vital | #DDJ

2015-12-09T21:13:00.001+02:00

Punk or Not, in Data Journalism, it’s the Information that’s vital | News & Analysis | Data Driven Journalism

CASHLESS OR LESS CASH

2015-10-01T21:05:00.000+02:00

Originally published here 8/20/2015

Circulating less cash might help Denmark’s economy, but will not eliminate the informal market

By Nehal El-Sherif

Besides studying in Denmark’s second city Aarhus, Mathias works from time to time helping friends renovate apartments. It allows him to earn some money, which he usually spends quickly. Doing that kind of work – which Danes call ‘sort arbejde’ or black work – Mathias gets paid in cash, and consequently does not pay taxes on it.

Reading reports that Denmark is moving towards being a cashless economy, Mathias is not worried that he will not be able to do this work, nor is he worried about the next generations. The 27-year-old student expects that people will find a way or another to go through it.

"It might limit the immediate possibility of sort arbejde, but I think people will find some way to do work which will be disguised as something else in terms of payment," said Mathias, who preferred not to give his last name.

In May, international media heavily reported that Denmark is moving towards becoming a cashless economy, after the government proposed a law that would allow shops to have the right to deny taking cash payments. The law, if passed, would go into effect early 2016. Few years ago, Sweden already allowed some places, including buses, not to accept cash.

Many see this proposed law as a huge step towards a cash-free society. Therefore, it would be expected that such scheme limits the black economy. However, people like Mathias do not agree. Some officials see it as a step to improve security in Denmark as well as ease the transaction and payment process for retailers.

More security, less costs for retailers

If the law is passed, clothing shops, gas stations and restaurants will not be forced to accept cash. The proposal is part of an initiative proposed by the Ministry of Finance, which includes a list of measures that aim at providing better conditions for companies and result in easing the payment procedures, reducing costs and increasing productivity. All of this should lead to a boost in the companies’ growth and the bigger economy, eventually.

The proposal is supported by the Danish Chamber of Commerce, which agrees that giving shops the option to refuse cash will have positive effects on retailers and the economy.

"I think it is a good idea for two reasons. First, for smaller businesses, which are thinking about implementing new instruments and new innovative ways of paying, to reap the benefit of such instruments," said Sofie Findling, a Consultant at the Danish Chamber of Commerce.

Besides the innovation perspective, Findling stresses on the security element. "Especially to shops that are open late at night, I think this proposal might secure employees in specific areas of the retailing industry," she added.

According to Statistics Denmark, a website affiliated with the government, there were 4,120 cases of burglary targeting shops and companies across the country in the first Quarter of 2015, while there were more than 8,000 cases of Household burglary for the same period.

Mathias, who studies history and political science, acknowledged that the idea of limiting the use of cash would increase security in the country.

"I recognize the idea for places like gas stations, which are more prone to theft. So, if criminals know that there will not be money there, then crime rates would be lower," he said.

Another advantage for this scheme would be decreasing the cost of banknotes and coins, according to the Chamber of Commerce.

"We know that cash is relatively expensive to handle. If we benchmark cash against electronic payment, cash payments are more expensive, so there are some economic benefits to the proposal as well," said Findling.

In 2012, Denmark’s National Bank released a report about the costs of the different types of payments in the country that took place in 2009. It said the banks' costs related to payment services totaled almost DKK 4.4 billion in 2009, with about half of the costs being attributed to cash payment schemes.

"Cash handling is more labor-intensive than other payment services, which is the reason for the banks' considerable costs related to cash," read the report. "Deposits and withdrawals involve the highest costs and are also considered to be most labor-intensive."

For retailers, costs of cash and card payments at point of sale totaled around DKK 2.4 billion and DKK 1.6 billion respectively. More than half of the costs of cash payments were related to the time spent on internal procedures, which include payroll costs for cashiers as well as the counting and packaging of cash.

If the proposed law is passed, shops would still incur costs for card payment, but at least it will save them the price of dealing with cash.

So in the end, besides printing less banknotes and coins, this scheme would lead to a decline in the costs attributed to finalizing the cash transactions at banks and in shops.

Easy to implement

It would not be hard to implement this law in Denmark, a country where cash dealings were estimated at 25 percent of all payments by 2012, a decline from 80 percent in 1990, according to the National Bank. The use of paper-based payments decreased because it was taken over by the national debit card, Dankort, which slowly became the principal payment instrument since its launch in 1983. The card is the most frequently used payment method in retail stores, accounting for more than 60 per cent of turnover.

These numbers reflect views given by Mathias, who says he uses electronic cards in almost all his purchases. "I use my credit card a lot more than I use cash and that is not a problem for me," he said.

Thomas, a 31-year-old who lives in Aarhus, echoed what Mathias said. "Normally I pay with card, I always have it on me and between friends, I use MobilePay or also in a market," said Thomas, as he flashed his Dankort card from his wallet.

More than 2 million Danes are already using MobilePay, accounting for over third of the population. The fact that sending and receiving money is free of charge could also be seen as a reason behind its success.

Danske Bank launched this application in the country two years ago and clients of other banks can also use it. More shops have been introducing the option to purchase items using MobilePay, allowing customers to scan their phone over a small machine to count the products they have, before approving the payment of the total amount with only a swipe by their finger.

Thomas also agrees that the law would make it safer for small shops. "But for the general population, I don’t think it is good, because then you will be forced to have your credit card with you all the time and some people don’t do this."

When he goes to flea markets, Thomas prefers to pay with cash because he does not feel it would be very safe to use his Dankort, and if he were out of cash, he would opt for paying with MobilePay.

Problems facing the scheme

While this law may seem favorable for some people, it would take a long time to have it spread across the country.

Findling of the Chamber of Commerce believes that as long as there are customers and retailers who prefer cash, then Denmark will not make the transition towards a cash-free country in the near future.

"In general, it is very important to remember that as along as there are customers who wish to pay with cash, I am convinced that shops in Denmark will continue to accept cash. So, if there are tourists - and in general Danes – who would like to keep paying with the banknotes, then we are not going to see a cashless society in the near future," she said.

Besides tourists, the older generation of Danes might also prefer to keep using cash. Mathias’ mother is one of these people, who would feel uneasy if they suddenly found themselves being forced to use electronic cards for payments.

"While (such scheme) would make a lot of things more simplistic, it will be harder for a lot of people, like my mom. The way she spends her money is definitely not through a card, but the cash in her wallet. For her to go to a store to get a soda or gas and to be only able to pay with a credit card will not be possible for her. It is actually limiting," he said.

Around 40 per cent of the adult Danish population rarely pays in cash and in general citizens now carry less cash in their wallets. A recent survey by the National Bank found out that those who prefer cash payments are mostly elderly citizens and people with below-average incomes who regard cash as a useful budget management tool. Consumers in this group are more hesitant to adopt new payment methods, such as mobile payment or buying things online.

"Now, I can’t see this scheme spreading because the older generation are not used to computers or have the flair for technology as younger people do. Maybe in 25 years, it could work," said Thomas, who studied building management in Aarhus and is currently looking for a full-time job.

While the law could help increasing security in the country, Internet security remains an issue, especially after an accident last year led to 900,000 social security numbers (CPR) leaked, which was a major security breach.

The cards payment system broke down several times over the past years, mostly for very short time and in limited areas; yet, Danes frequently mention a major collapse of the system around a year ago for few hours, which left no one being able to buy with cards or to withdraw money.

While the company responsible for such systems, Nets, described it as a temporary technical problem, such cases would completely paralyze a cash-free country – or even town.

"I think there are still some issues that need to be overcome before we actually see this move towards a cashless society, one of course is the security of data. This issue is already being handled and the Danish banking industry is very aware of this," said Findling, of the Chamber of Commerce.

"The other thing is of course anonymity. One thing that cash payments can do that electronic payments still lack is the possibility for the payer to be anonymous, and I think this is one of the areas that we really need to look into if we are looking to become a cashless society. Again, I don’t think that is going to happen overnight or in the 5, 10, 15 years. But at one point, if this is where we are heading towards, this is an issue that we need to look more into," she added.

There is also the fear of Internet fraud. According to the European Central Bank, total card fraud in the Euro area hit €1.3 billion in 2012, more than 14 percent increase compared to the year before.

Innovative before cashless

Reading reports in different media, people might get the feeling that a cash-free Denmark is a soon-to-be reality. However, there are many issues that would hinder this transition in the near future. It would also be a small step in the government’s hope to eliminate the informal sector of the business dealings.

The law does not include big chains of supermarkets for example, although the Chamber of Commerce would have liked to see the proposal widen its scope to give the option of refusing cash to all kinds of businesses.

"I think the factors that should be in place to develop and apply this system is that consumers feel safe with electronic payments, cards or mobile and of course if there is a wish in the retailing system. So, if these two factors are in order and if the banking infrastructure is working, I think this would be applicable in any economy," said Findling.

"If I were to say anything about the future I think there will be more instruments available in the market, which retailers will start accepting," she added.

Can it affect the black economy?

When literally translated, 'sort arbejde' means black work. It refers to the black economy, where people work and get paid in non-taxable business dealings. Such dealings are not reflected in a country's gross domestic product (GDP). While it somehow is expected to happen in developing countries, surprisingly the informal sector of the economy is not that small in Denmark. Many people tend to do jobs and get paid under the table; Mathias and Thomas are a sample of a larger number of Danes.

A survey in 2009 found that 70 per cent of the Danish population accepted ‘sort arbejde’ despite the government’s attempts to eliminate it through a campaign it called "Fair Play" that was launched in 2004 with some penalties as well as raising awareness strategies.

Thomas and Mathias said this is common in the construction and housing sectors. "It is illegal," they both acknowledged, but they also believe it is good for the economy to circulate the money instead of saving it at the bank; and easier for people to finish jobs that otherwise would have cost them four times the amount of money.

A relative of Thomas used to be a hairdresser and now she does not work in a shop but still does her work at home for friends and family. Thomas said it is good for her and her customers because it is cheaper than going to a shop. "It does not hurt anybody if you know what I mean," he said.

Both young men do not think that the new law – if it leads to a cashless economy – would stop them or the next generations from doing this sort of nontaxable work. Taking few seconds to think about it, Thomas found the alternative fairly quickly: MobilePay.

"I am getting cash now, but in MobilePay you can’t really see what the money is for. If I work, I still can get paid through MobilePay. If you get a certain amount a lot, then (the authorities) can see it, but then they have to get police approval to investigate. They simply don’t know if I am going twice a week to a restaurant and share a bill or to a birthday and share the price of a present," said Thomas.

Mathias, on the other hand, preferred another form of payment.

"Let’s say I want to do this work, if I work with friends I could say I want a new TV and new books, and that’s probably easier. If I am the employer, I can make a transaction in this case and put it in the books saying I bought a bike from this person for the amount I owe him. That’s not illegal. So I think it is still possible even though a cash system would not be as valid as it is now," said Mathias.

Planet Mundus Short – Egypt and the Unseen Billions

2015-08-04T14:49:00.000+02:00

What would you do if you had 30 Billion dollars? Egypt’s president Abdel Fattah Al-Sissi uses it to revive the economy of his crisis-shaken country. While international institutions and the money lending governments of the Gulf States might see this, many Egyptians remain unsure and skeptical.

For them, lacking transparency and deteriorating living standards raise questions about the sense of how the aid money is used.

In this Planet Mundus Short, Nehal El-Sherif and Kim Schönrock talk to Egyptians on the street as well economist David Butter, who is an Associate Fellow at the London-based policy institute Chatham House; and Niveen Wahish, economic editor at Egypt’s Al-Ahram newspaper, to paint a picture of the economic and social situation in the North-African country and to figure out: Where does the money go?

Podcast: #10: Seeking the Truth: Justice for Journalists in the Philippines

2015-06-10T19:52:00.000+02:00

"With great power comes great responsibility," Uncle Ben once told his nephew Spiderman. Like the famous Peter Parker, journalists in the Philippines must also understand this mantra when they tackle certain aspects of news — particularly politics. The country has developed a dubious reputation for its culture of impunity, preventing the carrying-out of justice in cases like the 2009 Maguindinao Massacre. On 23 November, 58 people were gunned down; at least 34 of them were journalists.
Hosted by Nehal El-Sherif.

'Jews of Egypt' takes Denmark by storm

2015-02-18T23:45:00.000+02:00

Story published in the Egyptian Mail newspaper on November 18, 2014 on the screening of the documentary Jews of Egypt at the Aarhus film festival in Denmark.

Will Podemos Bring Change to Spain's Lost Generation?

2015-02-18T23:31:00.000+02:00

Planet Mundus report Nehal El-Sherif is the host for this week, and she shall be guiding you through the latest turning point on Europe’s political roller coaster.

The Islamic State: long-term threat now a Western target

2014-08-22T18:16:00.000+03:00

By Nehal El-Sherif

Cairo (dpa) – After swift advances in June, the jihadist Islamic State group took over many towns and cities in northern Iraq and eastern Syria. The question now is whether they can hold them in the face of Western retaliation.

The group began to lose control over some villages in northern Iraq - as well as the Mosul Dam - after August 8, when the US military began airstrikes to support Iraqi and Kurdish forces.

The al-Qaeda splinter group seized the Mosul Dam earlier this month. Iraq's largest dam, it is located on the Tigris River, which also runs through the capital, Baghdad. Its capture raised concerns that the jihadists would bomb the dam, flooding nearby towns.

Kurdish Peshmerga forces and Iraqi troops took full control of the Mosul Dam after US airstrikes hit Islamist State positions around the dam and near the Kurdish capital, Erbil.

The IS reacted to the defeat by releasing a video showing a masked extremist with a British accent beheading US reporter James Foley, who went missing in Syria in November 2012. The group also threatened to execute a second American reporter, Steven Joel Sotloff, if US President Barack Obama did not end the strikes.

The United States has continued with its airstrikes despite the terrorist group’s threat.

Secretary of Defence Chuck Hagel said that, while the US airstrikes have slowed the Islamic State's progress in Iraq, the US expects them to regroup and stage new offenses.

"We are pursuing a long-term strategy because ISIL clearly poses a long-term threat," he told reporters at the Pentagon, using the group's old acronym.

France had already provided Peshmerga forces with weapons, while Germany and Italy have pledged to help arm the Kurdish fighters.

The radical group has its origins in the Iraqi branch of al-Qaeda, which after 2003 fought US occupation forces as well as the new government's army and police.

The group, which used to be known as the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), split from the international terrorist network last year when its leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, defied al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri and insisted that he would lead an Islamic State spanning Syria and Iraq.

In July, al-Baghdadi announced the Islamic State as a self-styled Islamic caliphate and proclaimed himself its ruler.

The radical group has expanded its control over parts of Iraq since June, forcing minorities in these areas to escape into the northern mountains.

They have recently overrun towns dominated by the Yezidi minority, with witnesses saying that those who stayed were either killed or forced to convert to Islam.

Militants have also taken control of several Christian towns in northern Iraq.

The advances have prompted many to flee for Kurdish-held territory.

The jihadist group has benefited from anger among Iraq's Sunni Muslim minority about what they say are discriminatory laws and massive anti-terrorist sweeps by the Shiite-led government.

In January, with the help of Sunni tribes, militants seized control of vast areas in western Anbar province. After tightening their grip on these cities, insurgents captured the country's second-biggest city, Mosul, in June.

As they took control of Sunni Arab regions of northern and western Iraq, the group fomented violence, aimed mainly at security forces and Shiite civilians.

In Syria's north-eastern al-Raqqa province, the group acts as a full-fledged government, imposing a harsh interpretation of Islamic law, but also providing public services. Its determination to control territory wrested from the Syrian government has led to fierce fighting with rival rebel groups.

The Islamic State says that, by opening the borders between eastern Syria and western Iraq, it will be the nucleus of a global caliphate.

Sisi’s religious conquest - openDemocracy

2014-08-10T17:42:00.000+03:00

You can read it here
Originally published on 20 June 2014

Egypt's al-Sissi says attack on soldiers "will not go unanswered"

2014-07-23T01:05:00.000+02:00

By Nehal El-Sherif, dpa

20.07.2014

Cairo (dpa) - Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi vowed Sunday that an attack on a security checkpoint in south-western Egypt that killed 22 soldiers will "not go unanswered."

"The Presidency wishes to make absolutely clear that the heinous crime that took these brave souls and spilled their blood will not go unanswered," al-Sissi said in a statement.

"Terrorism will be uprooted from every part of Egypt," he added.

He declared three days of mourning starting Sunday.

On Saturday, 21 soldiers were killed and four wounded near the town of Farafra. The army raised the toll to 22 on Sunday.

Unidentified gunmen fired rocket-propelled grenades on an ammunition depot at the checkpoint. The attackers were killed in the explosion.

Security forces defused two bomb-laden vehicles and seized weapons inside them.

The attack took place shortly before sunset, when Muslims break their fast during the holy month of Ramadan, similar to a 2012 attack that killed 16 soldiers in Sinai.

The army blamed Saturday's attack on a terrorist group, while some media reports said they were smugglers. The area is close to the Libyan border.

Last month, five soldiers were killed in an attack blamed on smugglers in the same area.

Egypt has seen a series of attacks, mainly targeting security forces, since the army deposed Islamist president Mohammed Morsi last year.

Egypt's al-Sissi vows retribution after two police officers killed

2014-07-01T08:36:00.002+02:00

By Nehal El-Sherif, dpa
30.06.2014

Cairo (dpa) – Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi vowed to continue fighting terrorism and pledged retribution after two police officers were killed when bombs went off near the presidential palace in Cairo.

The attacks fell on the anniversary of mass protests that led to the ouster of Islamist president Mohammed Morsi.

“On this memorable day, the first anniversary of the June 30 revolution, black terrorism still tries to stand in front of the will and aspirations of the people,” al-Sissi said in a televised speech to mark a year on the anti-Morsi protests.

He described Monday’s blasts as “terrorism that belongs to no nation or religion that does not hesitate in shedding the blood of children or those fasting."

A team of explosives experts were trying to diffuse two bombs near the palace when one of them went off, killing Colonel Ahmed Amin Ashmawy and injuring several policemen, the Ministry of Interior said.

Another bomb went off shortly afterwards as police were cordoning off the area to search for other possible explosive devices. The blast killed Lieutenant Colonel Mohamed Lotfy al-Sayed.

“Today, we lost new martyrs. I pledge before God and their families, the state will get fair and rapid retribution," he said.

The incident occurred at the same place where, a year earlier, thousands had staged protests against Morsi's one year in office.

The attacks, on the second day of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan, came days after synchronized bombings took place in Cairo's subway, leaving several people wounded.

Ex-army chief al-Sissi, who was sworn in as president earlier this month, has also vowed to protect Islam from extremists “attempting to defame Islam by linking it to violence and terrorism.”

He said the country will work on "correcting the religious discourse" and pass needed laws to "deter anyone who thinks of threatening our nations".

“We will show them, with deeds not words, that there is something worth living for,” he said, referring to suicide bombers.

Egypt has seen a spate of attacks, targeting mainly security forces, since the army deposed Morsi, on July 3.

An Islamist alliance, formed after Morsi's ouster, called on its followers to protest next Thursday, marking the anniversary of Morsi's ouster.

The military-backed government has blamed the unrest on Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood and designated it a terrorist organization.

The group has repeatedly denied links to violence and accused authorities of oppression.

Last week, a militant group said in a statement that it had planted bombs around the palace, but aborted the attack when people in civilian clothes filled the area.

In the statement, dated June 27, Ajnad Misr group, or Soldiers of Egypt, called on civilians to stay away from the area since government forces did not diffuse them.

The Sinai-based jihadist group appeared in January when it released statement vowing to launch attacks against security forces in retaliation for the government's crackdown on Islamists. It has since claimed responsibility for several attacks.

Egyptian defence meets international outrage on Al Jazeera sentences

2014-06-25T11:53:00.000+03:00

By Nehal El-Sherif, dpa

24.06.2014

Cairo (dpa) – Egyptian media on Tuesday condemned international outrage over seven-year sentences handed to three Al Jazeera International journalists, including one prominent television host who charged that working for the broadcaster was tantamount to belonging to a terrorist group.

“Al Jazeera - and its employees - is just like any website for the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant or al-Qaeda,” Ibrahim Eissa said during his television show that aired late Monday. "Can we consider those who make a few speeches on these websites as journalists? ... No. We cannot by any means consider this seditious forger, misleading broadcaster as media.”

He said the sentences were not an attack on press freedom, as charged by other countries, human rights and media groups, while TV presenter Ahmed Moussa denied international accusations that Monday's sentences were politically motivated.

Moussa addressed foreign governments, saying, "Democracy, which you do not understand, means separation of powers, so the president and the government do not interfere in the judges' work and vice versa. I tell you, Egypt will not bow to any threats."

In contrast, hundreds of journalists across the world carried placards reading “Journalism is not a crime” and held a minute of silence Tuesday morning to protest the sentences against Egyptian-Canadian Mohammed Fahmy, Al Jazeera's Cairo bureau chief; Australian journalist Peter Greste; and Egyptian producer Baher Mohammed.

They were convicted of providing material support to the banned Muslim Brotherhood, which Egypt's government has labelled a terrorist group, and "producing fabricated coverage of events in Egypt."

A group of Egyptian rights groups called the verdicts a "violation of law and fair trial procedures" because the prosecution failed to prove its case. They said they were the harshest sentences handed down by "Egypt's courts against journalists for doing their job."

The sentences were issued amid a crackdown by Egyptian authorities against Al Jazeera, which began last year after the military's ouster of Islamist president Mohammed Morsi, who had been a member of the Brotherhood. The government and its supporters accuse the Doha-based broadcaster of being biased in favour of the Brotherhood.

The crackdown was also launched as relations between Cairo and Doha, the only Gulf backer of Morsi, have deteriorated since he was deposed.

Local newspapers tried to tone down reports on the ruling with the official al-Akhbar newspaper presenting it as part of a series of trials for Brotherhood members.

The privately owned al-Shorouk ran the ruling as a top story on its front page with a headline reading, "Strict rulings pursue the Brotherhood."

Another private daily, Al-Masry Al-Youm, wrote, "Al Jazeera journalists sentences: international anger and Egyptian calmness."

Press freedom organizations and foreign governments reacted with outrage, and several European countries called in Egyptian envoys to protest the verdict.

"Egypt cannot be allowed to normalize its international relationships so long as it continues to jail journalists," wrote Joel Simon, executive director of the Committee to Protect Journalists.

But Eissa described the international criticism of the verdicts as part of “a big media game to distort Egypt’s [image]."

Eissa - a fierce supporter of Abdel Fattah al-Sissi, who was the army chief when the military ousted Morsi and succeeded Morsi as president this month - insisted the verdict “has nothing to do with press freedom.” To back up his argument, he pointed to the Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice newspaper, which was allowed to operate until the Islamist group was declared a terrorist group in December.

“Was there anyone put on trial or even summoned for investigation because of publishing any article in these newspapers, which contained horrible insults and treason accusations?" he asked. "Absolutely not.”

Another TV host, Amr Adib, also supported the verdicts but warned they could affect Egypt’s foreign relations and scare off potential investors.

"There is high price we are paying abroad now," he said. "... Take care. It is not easy or simple. English or Australian investors will tell us, 'You've jailed our journalists. I will not invest in your country.'"

Al-Sissi goes cycling, urging Egyptians to save fuel

2014-06-14T14:32:00.006+03:00

By: Nehal El-Sherif
13.06.2014

Cairo (dpa) - Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi led hundreds of students in a cycling marathon on Friday to urge Egyptians to lower their fuel consumption to help the country's ailing economy.

Dressed in sportswear and cycling gloves, al-Sissi was joined by Prime Minister Ibrahim Mehleb and the ministers of defence, interior and youth and sports.

"If you are driving a car you will pay around 4 pounds (0.55 dollars) for every 20 or 25 kilometres and Egypt pays 8 pounds," al-Sissi said in an address before the marathon began at 5:30 am.

"So, if I could walk or used a method like this [bicycle], then in a day I will be giving Egypt 16 pounds. Imagine if 3,000 people decided to do that," he added.

"We will not be able to build our country in any other way," he added.

In the 2011-2012 budget, energy comprised 72 per cent of the country's entire subsidy allocation.

The former head of the army's appearance Friday comes as a surprise to Egyptians, as the country's previous leaders have never taken to the streets in such a casual, non-authoritarian fashion.

In addition to perhaps indicating a new style of leadership in Egypt, al-Sissi's presence on a mere bicycle could also be taken as an attempt to portray an improvement in security in the country.

Though security guards could be seen cycling around him during the "marathon," al-Sissi's presence at the head of more than 2,000 people moving around Cairo displays an almost democratic vulnerability, especially as he made no public appearances while campaigning for the presidency for security reasons.

In his pre-marathon speech he called on Egyptians to unite around a common goal and set aside differences.

He also reiterated his call on the government to combat and eradicate sexual harassment, a major issue in the country after several cases of sexual assault were reported last week while thousands were celebrating al-Sissi's inauguration.

Reports of sexual harassment in Egypt have increased sharply in recent years. A 2013 survey by UN Women showed that more than 80 per cent of women in Egypt do not feel safe in the streets or on public transportation.

Sexual harassment heated issue in Egypt after Cairo assault

2014-06-10T09:07:00.000+03:00

By Nehal El-Sherif
09.06.2014

Cairo (dpa) - Seven men were arrested Monday for multiple acts of sexual assault against women after a graphic video circulating online showed one woman being rescued naked from a mob during celebrations of the new president's inauguration.

The Interior Ministry said the men - aged between 15 and 49 - are under investigation for harassing several women in Cairo's central Tahrir square Sunday night.

The pressure group I Saw Harassment said Monday that there were at least five cases of collective sexual assault monitored in Tahrir Square, four of them requiring medical support from nearby hospitals, and one requiring psychological support.

In the online video, policemen as well as men in civilian clothes seem to try to free a bleeding naked woman from a mob and escort her to an ambulance.

The prosecutor general in addition asked for all footage taken in Tahrir to be handed over to the authorities for investigation.

The harassment cases prompted the army forces deployed in the area to evacuate the square after thousands gathered to celebrate President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi assuming power.

The I Saw Harassment group also criticized local media for not taking reports of sexual assault seriously.

The group made reference to an incident Sunday night when a reporter on the privately-owned Tahrir Channel attempted to talk about the assaults but was interrupted by the programme host who said: “They are happy, the people are having fun."

The incident comes days after the government passed a law stipulating harsher punishments for sexual harassment, including between six months and five years in prison those found guilty.

Reports of sexual harassment in Egypt have increased sharply in recent years. A 2013 survey by the United Nations women's rights organization UN Women showed that more than 80 per cent of women in Egypt do not feel safe in the streets or on public transportation.

Al-Sissi elected Egypt's president with nearly 97 per cent of vote

2014-06-04T11:35:00.000+03:00

By Nehal El-Sherif, dpa

03.06.2014 story picked up here and here

Cairo (dpa) – Former army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sissi was officially declared Egypt's new president on Tuesday after the electoral commission confirmed that he secured almost 97 per cent of the vote in last week's elections.

Al-Sissi thanked Egyptians in his first address as the country's new leader and urged them to focus on rebuilding the country.

"I would like to thank those who lined up in front of polling stations to write the future of Egypt," he said in a speech aired on state television. "Now it is time to work, to take Egypt to a better tomorrow and bring back stability."

Celebrations ensued in central Cairo's Tahrir Square, where thousands of supporters gathered chanting “Sissi, Sissi” as they waved pictures of the former defence minister and the national flag.

The square, the heart of the 2011 uprising that forced longtime leader Hosny Mubarak out of power, had been closed since the morning for the planned celebrations.

Others gathered in several areas in Cairo to celebrate the new president with fireworks.

More than 23.7 million voters cast their ballots in favour of al-Sissi, which equates to about 96.9 per cent of the vote, the electoral commission said.

His rival, leftist politician Hamdeen Sabahy, received 3 per cent of the vote.

Turnout reached 47.45 per cent of Egypt's 54 million registered voters, the commission said. There were some doubts over the accuracy of the figure due to the slow voting process observed during the three-day election.

The commission said it took several measures to ease the voting process, including increasing the number of polling stations, "which explains questions about the intensity of voters in front of the polls."

But the turnout dampens al-Sissi's sweeping victory and adds the challenge of preserving his popularity while working on recovering the Egyptian economy weakened by unrest over the past three years.

In 2012, some 52 per cent of voters took part in the presidential elections won by Islamist Mohammed Morsi, who was deposed by al-Sissi last year in the wake of mass protests demanding his ouster.

The presidential election is the latest stage on the "roadmap" to democracy set out by authorities after Morsi was deposed. Parliamentary elections are also due to begin by mid-July.

Al-Sissi would only start performing his functions once he takes the oath of office. No date has yet been set for that ceremony.

The former defence minister's popularity soared after the ouster of Morsi, as his supporters see him as able to end the turmoil that has hit Egypt over the last three years.

Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah was the first to congratulate al-Sissi and pledged to hold a donor conference for Egypt, the official SPA news agency reports.

Abdullah said the donor conference would be held in an attempt "to help [the country] overcome its economic crisis," a statement carried by the agency says.

Since Morsi's toppling, oil-rich Gulf countries have committed some 20 billion dollars to Egypt, and many expect this support to continue.

Kuwait and Bahrain's leaders also were swift to congratulate al-Sissi, while the president of the United Arab Emirates said in a statement that his country would "continue to support Egypt and stand by its side under all circumstances."

Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood boycotted the elections and condemned it as illegitimate.

Egyptian authorities accused the brotherhood of responsibility for the increasing violence, which mostly targeted security forces, and delared it a terrorist group.

A security crackdown on Islamist supporters left hundreds killed and thousands detained, including Morsi, since July.

A number of youth groups active in the 2011 revolution against Mubarak also called for a boycott as they expressed fears of lack of freedom of expression under the new president.

Egypt fears low turnout at presidential vote amid boycott calls

2014-05-27T11:18:00.001+03:00

The Egyptian government urges voters to make a strong showing in presidential elections amid a growing trend among young people to stay away.

By Nehal El-Sherif, dpa
25.05.2014

Cairo (dpa) – Egypt's interim rulers and pro-military broadcasters have launched a high-profile campaign to urge people to vote in the presidential election on Monday, the seventh vote since the 2011 uprising that toppled Hosny Mubarak.

Patriotic songs and TV ads are often played on state-run and private media.

A strong show at the polls will lend legitimacy to former army chief Abdel-Fattah al-Sissi, who is widely expected to win the vote.

Al-Sissi last year deposed Islamist president Mohammed Morsi and launched a deadly crackdown on supporters of his Muslim Brotherhood group, now banned under anti-terrorism laws.

“What did Egypt gain from your silence? Don't deny it your vote. You are shaping tomorrow on your terms, it is a good omen," sings Emirati singer Hussein al-Jasmi in a video clip showing Egyptians dancing as they carry placards reading "vote" and "participate."

An ad campaign on the privately-owned Al-Qahira Wal Nas TV also urges people to vote "to prove to the world" that the June 30 protests that led to Morsi's removal "were not a coincidence."

In January, the government hailed a 38.6 per cent turnout in the constitutional referendum, though that figure was low compared to previous polls, including the constitutional amendments in March 2011 and the 2012 presidential election, won by Morsi.

After more than three years of turmoil, some Egyptians are apathetic to an election whose outcome is almost certain. Leftist politician Hamdeen Sabahy, the only other candidate in the election, is almost certain to lose to al-Sissi.

“I believe the elections are not based on democratic principles, there are no equal opportunities for the candidates, and neither has presented something that would allure me to choose one of them,” said activist Mina Thabet.

Al-Sissi's popularity rose in July when he announced Morsi's overthrow after millions took to the streets to demand that Egypt's first democratically elected president step down.

Thabet, who co-founded the Maspero Youth Union three years ago to defend the rights of Coptic Christians, was a fierce opponent of Morsi and supported his overthrow.

He cites a security crackdown on Morsi's supporters that expanded to target secular activists as the military-backed interim government has restricted freedoms, targeting journalists and political activists critical of its work.

In November, the government adopted a controversial law that required organisers to give three-day notice to police before holding demonstrations, and granted law enforcement agents the power to ban any rally deemed a threat to public safety.

One month later, a court sentenced three prominent activists to three years in prison on charges of organizing illegal protests and attacking police officers.

“This atmosphere gives me very negative indications for the coming period. Democracy does not start at the ballot box, it starts with respecting diversity in opinions and ends with elections,” Thabet said.

"I ask all Egyptians, especially women, to prove their deep sense of patriotism by going to vote," al-Sissi said in a pre-election address. "I also ask the young people to participate regardless of who you want to vote for."

The Muslim Brotherhood, which maintains that Morsi is the president and labels his removal a coup, is boycotting the vote.

In a recent poll by the Egyptian Centre for Public Opinion Research (Baseera) 80 per cent of people surveyed said they would vote, while 12 per cent said they would boycott. The remaining eight per cent were undecided.

Egypt's April 6 Youth Movement, which played a key role in the protests against Mubarak and Morsi, said it would boycott the election, describing it "a farce."

Several senior members of April 6 have been imprisoned, including founding member Ahmed Maher.
"Today we are facing an event that has confirmed all our fears and warnings: military rule is back in a clear, direct way,” the group said.

The Strong Egypt party, led by moderate Islamist Abdel-Moneim Aboul Fotouh, also said it would boycott the election.

The party opposes al-Sissi. Three of the party’s members were sentenced to three years in absentia in February, a month after they were arrested while distributing flyers calling for a No vote in the constitution referendum.

"Al-Sissi will win anyway, no one doubts this. So, what difference will I make by going (to vote)?" asked Salem, 50, standing in his Cairo kiosk where he sells candies and cigarettes.

Economic challenges on the horizon for Egypt's next president

2014-05-20T22:26:00.000+03:00

By Nehal El-Sherif, dpa

16.05.2014 | picked up by China Post

Cairo (dpa) – More than three years ago, Egyptians took to the streets demanding "bread, freedom and social justice."

After two presidents were ousted and unrest spread in the Arab world's most populous country, millions of Egyptians seem willing to sacrifice freedom for the fulfilment of the two other two demands.

Neither ex-army chief Abdel-Fattah al-Sissi nor his only challenger, leftist politician Hamdeen Sabahy, has unveiled a clear plan to achieve these demands after the May 26-27 presidential elections.

Al-Sissi, whose popularity soared after he announced the overthrow of Islamist president Mohammed Morsi in July, is widely expected to win.

Economist Rashad Abdou sees a "problem" in Sabahy's election programme.

"Since he knows that his election chances are slim, he is making excessive promises to help workers, create jobs and support small- and medium-scale enterprises ... But he does not specify how he will get the money to do all of this," Abdou told dpa.

"Al-Sissi's programme also lacks a lot of things, since he was a military man and had little or no relationship with other state sectors," he added.

Since Morsi's toppling, oil-rich Gulf countries have committed some 20 billion dollars to Egypt, and many expect this support to continue if al-Sissi takes office.

While the Gulf aid has given Egypt some economic relief, it will not fix the country’s problems, according to Steven A. Cook, a senior fellow for Middle Eastern Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations.

"By financing new spending with grants from the Gulf, Egypt is merely shifting fiscal problems into the near future," he wrote in a recent paper. "Second, receiving more assistance only masks problems that are rooted in irrational and conflicting economic policies."

These policies, including unsustainable food and fuel subsidies and a tax policy that does not produce enough revenue, place significant pressure on the government's budget, according to experts.

"The (next) government will have to strike a balance between the need to stimulate growth and to achieve fiscal sustainability," said David Butter, an associate fellow of the Middle East and North Africa Programme at Chatham House.

"I would expect efforts to continue to rein in energy subsidies and the government will look to increase tax revenue, though not necessarily through measures such as hiking the corporate tax rate, as this could be counter-productive," he added.

For years, critics have said Egypt's subsidies on basic commodities do not benefit those in need and even foster corruption.

In a bid to change this, the incumbent government has announced plans to start a smart card-rationing system for two vital commodities: bread and fuel.

Earlier this month, Supplies Minister Khaled Hanafi said a smart-card system for bread distribution rolled out in the coastal city of Port Said reduced wheat consumption by 30 per cent.

There are similar plans for fuel: to end subsidies on 95-octane gasoline and set quotas for other subsidized fuel.

In the 2011-2012 budget, energy comprised 72 per cent of the whole subsidy allocation, while food subsidies accounted for 14 per cent.

A bigger challenge for the next president will be cutting subsidies for energy-intensive industries such as steel and cement that widely benefit from the subsidy of natural gas.

Abdou believes cutting subsidies is vital. However, he does not think it would eventually benefit the lower classes.

"The finance minister said the budget deficit will reach 340 billion pounds (around 48.5 billion dollars) this year," said Abdou, who heads the Cairo-based Egyptian Forum for Economic and Strategic Studies.

"Yet, the rich are actually stronger than the state. So, they will add cost difference to the price of their product, thus affecting the low-income earners."

More than 40 per cent of Egypt’s 85-million-strong population live below the poverty level of 2 dollars per day, according to unofficial figures.

To achieve social justice and ease the economic crisis, Abdou said the government needs to start a dialogue with the business sector and impose a certain profit margin to rein in inflation, which stood at 9.1 per cent last month.

The government has recently increased prices of natural gas for factories and houses, sparking public fears about a fresh spate of price hikes.

International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde has described Egypt's energy subsidy reforms as "encouraging" and called on the next president and parliament to press ahead with reforms.

"I think no matter who is in charge, economic reforms will be a must," she told CNN.

"And if that is done thoroughly, decisively, I'm sure there will be growth and investment. But the reform stage is certainly a condition to that."

Egypt’s tourist hub Luxor hopes for post-election boom

2014-05-10T09:03:00.002+02:00

Residents of Egypt's southern city of Luxor, where many of the world's greatest monuments are believed to be located, hope the next president will help bring back tourists, who have stayed away due to more than three years of turmoil.

By Nehal El-Sherif, dpa

06.05.2014

Luxor, Egypt (dpa) – Haj Mahmoud carries some blue scarab pendants, the famous ancient Egyptian symbol and amulet, and hands them as gifts for the few visitors arriving at the Valley of Queens in the southern city of Luxor.

Wearing a grey gallabiya (flowing gown) and a white scarf wrapped over his head, the traditional costume in southern Egypt, the old man hopes the gifts will lure visitors to buy souvenirs from his shop, and may be also ward away the evil eye off his dying business.

Braving the scorching sun of May, Mahmoud is one of a few locals who continue to open their shops outside one of Luxor’s most famous tourist sites, despite the scarcity of visitors.

“May God ease our lives and make things better soon,” he says as he points to the sky. “After elections, hopefully, it will start getting back to how it was," he adds, referring to presidential polls scheduled for late May.

The tourism industry, once a pillar of Egypt's economy, has been reeling due to turmoil that has gripped the country for more than three years.

According to official data, tourist arrivals in Egypt in the first two months of 2014 dropped by 28 per cent to 1.3 million in comparison to same period last year.

Unrest and bombings that have increased in recent months have been blamed for the decline in numbers of foreign visitors.

European countries have issued several travel alerts against visiting certain areas in Egypt, including the Sinai where most deadly insurgency attacks have taken place.

Most travel warnings were issued after a February attack on a tourist bus in Sinai's Taba resort town, near the border with Israel, that killed three South Koreans and their Egyptian driver.

"One of the problems is that there is no negative travel advice for Luxor, but inevitably as the travel companies will tell you that when people see a negative ban even on one part of the country, especially older people … they get nervous,” James Moran, the head of Delegation of the European Union to Egypt, said during a recent visit to Luxor.

“This is why we are here today to some extent show people all is fine in Luxor; come and visit this fantastic place,” he added.

Tourism was first hit by the 2011 uprising against long-time president Hosny Mubarak, which pushed revenues down by 30 per cent, compared to those in 2010.

The situation got worse as violence increased after the army's ouster of Islamist president Mohammed Morsi in July.

In the run-up to the May 26-27 presidential elections, bombings have surged in Egypt, though no violence has hit Luxor.

Ex-army chief Abdel-Fattah al-Sissi, who led Morsi's overthrow, is a lead presidential candidate whose supporters see him as able to end the unrest in the country.

Mansour - who works on a horse-drawn carriage, a popular ride in Luxor - and his little boy also hope for “some tourists” after the elections.

“I am tired of this slow business. My family is tired. Even the horses are tired. There is not enough food for them,” Mansour says as he points to two frail brown horses next to him. “The president should bring back security, so we would get more tourists.”

A hotel receptionist said that even a 2013 air balloon crash in Luxor that claimed 19 lives did not affect the rate of visitors as the unrest in other parts of the country did.

Luxor’s worst attack was in 1997 when almost 60 tourists were killed in an attack by radical Islamists on the Temple of Hatshepsut. The attack caused a collapse in the local tourism industry, the mainstay of Luxor's economy.

Minister of Tourism Hesham Zaazou said the rates of occupancy in tourist hotels in Luxor right now are lower than expected.

“The rate is between 10-12 per cent, but it is better in other parts of Egypt,” he said.

Zaazou pins hopes for a revival on the autumn season starting September, when more people usually head to sunny tourist destinations.

"This is a safe city, and its people have always been good to foreigners since they depend on tourism to earn a living."

Spanish version here and here
German translation here and here

Egypt's al-Sissi discloses two assassination attempts

2014-05-06T13:39:00.000+02:00

By Nehal El-Sherif, dpa

05.05.2014

Cairo (dpa) - Former army chief Abdel-Fattah al-Sissi on Monday revealed two assassination plots against him, in his first TV interview in his campaign ahead of this month's Egyptian presidential elections.

The two attempts were uncovered since July, when he announced the ouster of Islamist president Mohammed Morsi.

"I am not afraid," al-Sissi said in the interview, aired late Monday on two channels.

Al-Sissi's campaign is expected to depend mainly on media interviews, and not street rallies, due to security concerns, leading into the May 26-27 elections.

He is widely expected to win, as supporters say he is the only person able to end the violence and bring back stability to Egypt.

Al-Sissi became Egypt's most popular politician since the army ousted Morsi, who was beset by mass protests against his own one-year-rule.

During the interview, the ex-defence minister denied that the military rules Egypt.

"The army did not rule before to rule now," he said. "During the past 30 years, did the army have a role in ruling the country? No."

"The army worked on its main role to protect the country and contribute in the (country's) development if it was possible."

Asked if the army will have a role in ruling Egypt if he was elected president, al-Sisi said: "No, of course not, really."

His statements come amid criticism by some activists and politicians that his presidency will take Egypt back to military rule.

In 1952, a group of army officers who named themselves the Free Officers Movement overthrew the Egyptian monarchy and established a republic. Since then, Egypt's first four presidents all came from the military.

The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces ruled Egypt for a year and half after the ouster of president Hosny Mubarak in 2011.

Morsi was the first civilian leader.

Al-Sissi said he decided to run because of the threats facing Egypt "from inside and outside," amid the increasing violence since Morsi was toppled.

Hundreds of people have been killed in political violence in the since July amid a deadly security crackdown on Morsi's supporters.

Over the last 10 months, hundreds were killed and thousands detained, including leaders of Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood.

Islamist militants in Sinai have targeted security forces since the 2011 uprising that overthrew Mubarak.

The attacks have intensified and spread to mainland Egypt since the army deposed Morsi. The government said more than 400 members of the security forces have been killed in militant attacks and clashes over the last year.

During the interview, al-Sissi ruled out any prospects of reconciliation with the Brotherhood, which the government declared a terrorist organization in December.

"The Brotherhood's problem is not with me, but with the Egyptian people," he said, adding that there will be "nothing called the Brotherhood" during his rule.

The field marshall's only opponent in the elections is leftist politician Hamdeen Sabahy.

Sabahy got third place in the 2012 elections, which Morsi won.

Libya parliament confirms appointment of Ahmed Maiteeg as new premier

2014-05-06T00:37:00.002+02:00

By Pol O Gradaigh and Nehal El-Sherif

05.05.2014 - published here

Cairo (dpa) - Libya's parliament on Monday confirmed the appointment of Ahmed Maiteeg as prime minister, the official Lana news agency reported.
The General National Congress published a formal resolution confirming the appointment and giving Maiteeg 15 days to nominate his cabinet, the report said.
"Ahmed Omar Maiteeg was appointed head of the transitional government and asked to form his cabinet and present it to the General National Congress for a confidence vote within 15 days from this decree," read the document signed by Speaker Nuri Abu Sahmein.
Abu Sahmein called his deputies and heads of the parliamentary committees for national security, defence, internal and foreign affairs for an emergency meeting to discuss the security situation in the country.
The decree came after a dispute about the validity of the procedures that led to Maiteeg taking the oath of office on Sunday evening.
The 42-year-old businessman received a vote of confidence from 121 of the parliament's 200 members after a lengthy session. However, many legislators were initially absent.
That led acting congress president Ezzedine al-Amawito to say overnight that the last few ballots were invalid because they were cast after he closed the session, leaving Maiteeg seven votes shy of the 120 required.
Al-Awami instead asked acting premier Abdullah al-Thini, who resigned three weeks ago citing an attack on his family, to stay on as caretaker premier.
London-based newspaper Al-Hayat reported Monday that Maiteeg is seen by some members of Congress as close to the Islamist camp, but quoted sources close to the new premier as denying that he had any partisan affiliations.
Al-Thini had been appointed by Congress after it voted out the last person in the job, Ali Zeidan.
Zeidan, who had been in conflict with the assembly's dominant Islamist faction for months, was weakened politically by his failure to prevent a tanker loaded with crude oil from setting sail from a rebel-controlled oil terminal in eastern Libya.
Libya's interim authorities, riven by factional struggles, have been unable to gain control over the myriad revolutionary brigades that sprung up during the 2011 revolt against longtime ruler Moamer Gaddafi.

Yemeni army officer, French national shot dead in Sana'a attacks

2014-05-06T00:33:00.002+02:00

By Pol O Gradaigh and Nehal El-Sherif, dpa

05.05.2014

Cairo (dpa) - A Yemeni army officer and a French national were shot dead Monday in separate attacks in the Yemeni capital Sana'a, local media reported.
Gunmen in a car opened fire on the vehicle in which the Frenchman was travelling. Two more foreigners were wounded in the shooting, a security official told Barakish news website.
EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton condemned the killing of a member of the team providing security to the EU delegation in Yemen.
"The EU's presence in Yemen aims only to assist the country in its transition to democracy and in its economic development. To target persons engaged in this effort is evil and senseless," she said.
"The EU calls on the government of Yemen to take all necessary measures to restore security in the country, without which no progress on other challenges facing Yemen will be possible."
The UN Security Council condemned the attack: "Terrorism in all its forms and manifestations is criminal and unjustifiable."
In a separate attack, gunmen shot Mohammed Qauzia, identified as a security officer in a military language school, near his workplace, local news website al-Masdar Online reported.
A bomb exploded near an army bus with no reports of casualties.
No one has claimed responsibility for the attacks, which come as the army presses its offensive against remote hideouts used by members of Yemen's al-Qaeda affiliate in the southern provinces of Shabwa and Abyan.
The official Saba news agency reported Sunday that troops had killed 37 al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) fighters, mostly foreign nationals, in clashes in Shabwa.
Yemeni security forces last week launched a major offensive in the rugged interior of the southern provinces.
The AQAP leadership and many of its fighters are thought to have been holed up in the region since mid-2012, when the military and allied tribal fighters forced them out of a string of southern towns they had occupied for about a year.
AQAP has been targeted in recent months by renewed US drone raids, carried out with the consent of the Yemeni government.

Libyan parliament elects businessman as new prime minister

2014-05-05T17:58:00.002+02:00

By Nehal El-Sherif, dpa

04.05.2014

Picked up here

Cairo (dpa) - Businessman Ahmed Maiteeg was elected Sunday as Libya's new prime minister after receiving 121 votes in parliament, the official LANA news agency reported.

He was then sworn in and given two weeks to form a cabinet.

His election came in the second session of the day after an earlier session failed to secure him the 120 votes needed among the 200 members for victory.

Maiteeg, 42, is a businessman born in the coastal city of Misurata who studied economics in London. He is supported by the Islamist bloc in parliament, according to the broadcaster Al Arabiya.

He won against political analyst Omar al-Hassi. The two were selected from a group of seven candidates in a previous session last week.

The first round of voting was held Tuesday but was interrupted when gunmen fired shots in the air outside the parliament building and lawmakers were evacuated out the back door.

Some members of the General National Congress were challenging Sunday's vote. A member told al-Wasat news website that the vote was illegal because the speaker had declared the session over, then was pressured to continue and hold another round of voting.

The member, who was not named, said Maiteeg's supporters pressured some members who originally voted for al-Hassi to change their ballots in the second round.

The votes were held to replace prime minister-designate Abdullah al-Thini, who resigned three weeks ago, citing an attack upon his family.

Al-Thini had been appointed by Congress only the week before after it voted out the last person in the job, Ali Zeidan.

Zeidan, who had been in conflict with the assembly's dominant Islamist faction for months, was weakened politically by his failure to prevent a tanker loaded with crude oil from setting sail from a rebel-controlled oil terminal in eastern Libya.

Libya's interim authorities, riven by factional struggles, have been unable to gain control over the myriad revolutionary brigades that sprung up during the 2011 revolt against longtime ruler Moamer Gaddafi.

King Tutankhamun’s tomb replica opens in Egypt

2014-05-02T14:28:00.000+02:00

By Nehal El-Sherif, dpa

30.04.2014 - picked up here, here and here

Luxor, Egypt (dpa) – A replica of Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun's tomb was officially inaugurated on Wednesday, with authorities hoping it will boost the tourism industry hit by more than three years of unrest and political instability.

Built by Madrid’s Factum Arte Foundation, the replica was created to help preserve the original tomb, which was discovered in 1922 by British archaeologist Howard Carter.

The facsimile was set up next to Carter's house, near the Valley of the Kings in the southern tourist city of Luxor.

"The replica's importance is to decrease pressure of visitors going to original tomb," Tourism Minister Hesham Zaazou said.

He added that tourists would still be allowed to visit the original tomb, but it would be more expensive.

"It is still early. But I believe that half of the visitors will visit the replica either because it will be cheaper or out of curiosity to compare it with the original."

Deterioration of the original tomb is believed to have been caused by warmth and moisture brought into the tomb by visitors.

"The original tomb was painted to last for eternity, but it was not painted to be visited," said Adam Lowe, Factum Arte director, who was in charge of setting up the facsimile.

"It is my dream that it will last for 3,000 years."

Lowe said the replica tomb could receive about 30 people at a time.

The replica is the first stage of a larger project that involves creating exact replicas of tombs of the 19th dynasty pharaoh Seti and Queen Nefertari, the wife of Ramses II – both sites are currently closed to the public.

Known as Egypt’s boy pharaoh, Tutankhamun, who took the throne at the age of nine, has fascinated Egyptologists and the general public since his mummy and the treasures hidden in his intact tomb were unearthed.