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TOPIC: egypt

This Happened

This Happened - January 25: The Egyptian Revolution Begins

After the revolution in Tunisia, anti-regime protests spread to Egypt, sparking two weeks of deadly clashes.

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Kherson Pullout, Biden’s “Good Day,” Art Auction Record

👋 Bonjour!*

Welcome to Thursday, where Russia gives up the key city of Kherson, Biden basks in the U.S. midterms and a late Microsoft billionaire’s art auction pulls in $1.5 billion. We also take a closer look at how Sharm el-Sheikh, the Egyptian coastal resort, has been reinvented (again) to host world leaders for the COP27, and it’s come at the expense of the local ecosystem.

[*French]

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Sharm El-Sheikh, What's Lurking Behind COP27 Shine

The Egyptian coastal resort has been reinvented (again) to host world leaders for the COP27, as it aims to cast a climate-financing-hungry Egypt in a favorable light. But the cosmetic changes hide years of harm to the region's ecosystem.

SHARM EL-SHEIKH — Amgad* arrived in Sharm el-Sheikh about 40 years ago, driven by curiosity like many other Egyptian youths at the time to explore this corner of Sinai, newly returned to Egypt in the wake of the 1973 war after a 15 years of Israeli occupation.

What Amgad found was a small Bedouin village sheltered within an immaculate landscape: to the east, the Gulf of Aqaba, teeming with marine creatures and jeweled with coral reefs; to the south, two Egyptian islands — now transferred to Saudi Arabia — that separated Sinai from Saudi Arabia; to the west, valleys and mountains, part of the Great Rift Valley, traversed by the Bedouin tribes who have settled in the area for centuries.

The coastline is home to 200 unique species of coral, 500 species of marine vegetation and various species of fish and marine animals, part of the Egyptian barrier reefs that marine ecology professor Mahmoud Hassan Hanafy tells Mada Masr are among the last sanctuaries for this type of marine life in the world, having demonstrated unique resilience to climate change. Onshore ecosystems also serve to protect marine life, he notes.

If, however, you’re among the thousands converging on the city this month to attend COP27, four decades separate you from the site of natural beauty that Amgad first laid eyes on.

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Clean Hydrogen Production In Egypt: A Big Green Step Or More Hot Air?

As the Mediterranean region awakens to the potential of green hydrogen as a clean alternative, Egypt is still hesitant to invest heavily in the sector. For good reason?

CAIRO — When it opened in Aswan in 1963, the KIMA fertilizer plant was a clean energy producer ahead of its time. Running entirely off the surge of cheap, hydroelectric power spilling over from the Aswan Dam, it produced green hydrogen, used to make green ammonia and ultimately fertilizers, all part of a national politics of the time that was oriented toward self-sufficiency.

That the KIMA plant boasted state-of-the-art green credentials was almost a “coincidence” of the project, says Osama Fawzy, hydrogen consultant and manager of Hydrogen Intelligence platform, who attributes the decision to use renewable power at the fertilizer factory to its proximity to the dam and the relatively low cost of hydroelectric power for Egypt at the time. Yet as the natural gas and oil sectors boomed in the 1970s, KIMA’s specialized hydroelectric equipment deteriorated and was never replaced, and the plant was converted to run on cheaper natural gas in 2019.

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Society
Ahmed Medhat

Birth Rights And Resources: Why Egypt Has A Record High C-Section Rates

Seven out of ten children in Egypt are born by Caesarian section, over three times the world average, according to recent government data. C-sections may be more profitable and easier to schedule for overworked and understaffed medical personnel, but they represent a higher physical and mental health risk for new mothers and babies. Civil society and the government are trying to bring more awareness — but reversing the trend will take time.

PORT SAID — Nahla, a 39-year-old Egyptian, and recent mother recalls the birth: “On my due date in February, 15 minutes after I got into my hospital bed, the unbearable pain had me kneeling on the ground and I received no support from the medical staff present at that moment," she recalled. "I turned to my husband, asking him to immediately take me out of there and drive me to my doctor for a cesarean section."

Nahla’s doctor told her she wouldn’t be able to endure the pain of vaginal birth, advising her to opt for a C-section, which she ultimately did even though there was no medical necessity for it. It was not until later that she learned that she could have undergone vaginal birth with epidurals or other painkillers..

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Society
Mohamed Abu Deif

Egypt's Overcrowded Christian Churches Are A Fire Risk — Building New Ones Is Risky Too

After a fire at a church in August killed 42 people, Egypt's Christians are worried about the fate of their places of worship, which lack proper infrastructure and financial support to meet safety standards. But, as Egypt's Mada Masr reports, this is not a new problem, and it is one that has been ongoing for years, during which Christians were not given permission to set up churches.

GIZA — The St. Demiana Church is only distinguishable from surrounding buildings in the neighborhood of Imbaba, in northern Giza, by the crosses on its windows and the security kiosk and metal gate encircling its perimeter. Before prayers commence, the church is already packed to the brim, as hundreds of families fill the premises leaving almost no standing room.

As people pack in, the parish priest, Father Ghaios Bekhit, conducts a safety check around the premises. He checks on the state of the electric cables attached to the air conditioning units and ensures the functionality of the fire extinguishers.

His vigilance has been triggered by fear of a fire scenario repeating itself in his own parish, in the aftermath of the tragic fire that broke out just 4 kilometers away in the Martyr Philopateer St. Mercurius [Abu Sefein in Arabic] Church in Imbaba, during a morning mass, said to have been caused by an electric short-circuit in an air conditioning unit in the building. According to the Public Prosecution., 42 people were killed in the August 14 blaze, including 15 children.

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Geopolitics
Beesan Kassab, Daniel O'Connell, Ehsan Salah, Hazem Tharwat and Najih Dawoud

Patronage Or Politics? What's Driving Qatar And Egypt Grand Rapprochement

For Cairo, Qatar had been part of an “axis of evil,” with anger directed at Al Jazeera, the main Qatari outlet, and others critical of Egypt after the Muslim Brotherhood ouster. But the vitriol is now gone, with the first ever visit by Egyptian President al-Sisi to Doha.

For the first time since coming to power in 2014, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi traveled to Doha last month on an official visit, a capstone in a steadily building rapprochement between the two countries in the last year.

Not long ago, however, the photo-op capturing the two heads of state smiling at one another in Doha would have seemed impossible. In the wake of the Armed Forces’ ouster of the Muslim Brotherhood government in 2013, Qatar and Egypt traded barbs.

In the lexicon of the intelligence-controlled Egyptian press landscape, Qatar had been part of an “axis of evil” working to undermine Egypt’s stability. Al Jazeera, the main Qatari outlet, was banned from Egypt, but, from its social media accounts and television broadcast, it regularly published salacious and insulting details about the Egyptian administration.

But all of that vitriol is now gone.

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In The News
Meike Eijsberg, Anna Akage and Emma Albright

Lavrov On A Mission In Africa

Timing is everything. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is in Africa this week, which follows straight on the heels of the agreement signed to end the blockade in the Black Sea that had been preventing much needed grain exports to the continent.

Stay up-to-date with the latest on the Russia-Ukraine war, with our exclusive international coverage.

The momentary good will brought by Friday’s agreement between Moscow and Kyiv was shattered over the weekend by Russia’s attack of the Ukrainian port city of Odessa (see item below), which is crucial to reopening exports.

To add to the mixed messaging, both in public and behind closed doors, Lavrov is making an extra effort to show Russian commitment to Africa, aiming to reinforce alliances with nations on the continent to counter the Western unity in favor of Ukraine.

Lavrov landed early Monday in the Republic of Congo after having visited Egypt, and meeting with top officials including Foreign Minister Sameh Shukri and Arab League secretary general Ahmed Aboulgheit.

Egypt is the world’s biggest importer of wheat, relying greatly on Ukraine and Russia for supplies. When the war began on February 24, Russia’s Black Sea fleet blocked the export of tons of grain, resulting in global commodity prices to rise, and sparking fears of a widespread hunger crisis. Many of the worst-affected countries are in Africa.

Lavrov’s tour, which also includes stops in Uganda and Ethiopia, is aimed essentially at rallying African countries to Russia’s side. Most African countries have not condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine as they seek to maintain balance in their relationships with Moscow and Western capitals.

“To this day, we are not lecturing them, unlike the Americans who go around Africa telling everyone ‘do not talk with the Chinese or the Russians,'" Lavrov told state media in an interview before he started his tour. "All they care about is their selfish interests, even when they trade with you.”

Odessa Attack: Russia “Flouting Spirit” Of Russia-Ukraine Grain Agreement

Aftermath of Russian missile strikes on Odessa port

Cover images/Zuma


After agreeing Friday on a grain export deal, Russian missiles struck the port city of Odessa in the south of Ukraine. The Black Sea port was explicitly mentioned in the grain export deal signed in Turkey on Friday, as it was supposed to reopen to resume grain exports. The attack cast doubt on the future of that agreement.

Russia initially denied involvement in the strikes. But 12 hours later, Russia's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova confirmed the Russian strikes, saying they had destroyed "military infrastructure" with "high precision" missiles.

According to Serhii Bratchuk, a spokesman for the Odessa military administration, two missiles hit the infrastructure of the port, and two were shot down by Ukraine’s air defense. This was Russia's President Vladimir Putin "spitting in the face" of the UN and Turkey, said Bratchuk, German daily Die Welt reported.

The grain agreement is meant to spare billions of people from hunger. A catastrophic food crisis could follow if grain shipments – around 20 million metric tons of which are currently held up in Ukraine – are not able to reach the market.

French daily Le Mondewrote that, although Russia has not technically violated the agreement, “they are clearly flouting its spirit.” Meanwhile, the US is working with Ukraine on a “Plan B” to get grain exports safely out of the country, US Agency for International Development (USAID) administrator Samantha Power said Sunday.

Front Cover El Mundo (Spain)

The Ukrainian Hryvnia Currency To Be Withdrawn From Circulation In Kherson

Ukrainian hryvnia banknotes

Karol Serewis/SOPA/Zuma


Rubles will be introduced in the Ukrainian city and region of Kherson, and the Ukrainian hryvnia currency will be banned, reports the Russian edition of TASS, citing the head of the occupied Ukrainian region of Kherson, Kirill Stremousov. Parts of the Kherson and Zaporizhia regions of Ukraine have been under occupation for two months now.

The Ukrainian edition of Economic Pravda writes that the establishment of a "ruble zone" is a standard stage of Russia's occupation of foreign territories, including similar actions during the war in Georgia. In Ukraine, the Russians put the ruble into circulation almost immediately after the so-called "referendum" in Crimea in the occupied areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

Ukrainian War Prisoners In Russia To Be Judged By Syria, Iran, and Bolivia

Russia has proposed that a military tribunal for the Ukrainian POWs be created, but not under the aegis of the United Nations, as it represents the hostile West, but rather in cooperation with the countries that have declared their "independent position": Syria, Iran, and Bolivia.

Moscow-based Kommersant daily reports that the Chairman of the Investigative Committee stated that these countries "demonstrate an independent position on the Ukrainian issue, based on the norms of international law." According to official data, more than 1,300 criminal cases were initiated against Ukrainian war prisoners, while Russia has charged 92 members of Ukraine's military high command with crimes against humanity.

Ukrainian Forces: We Will Recapture Kherson By September


Ukrainian military officials have declared a “turning point” in the battle to retake the southern region of Kherson, currently occupied by Russian forces. Sergiy Khlan, an aide to the administrative head of the Kherson region, said in an interview with Ukrainian television on Sunday: “We can say that a turning point has occurred on the battlefield. We are switching from defensive to counter offensive actions.”

He added that “the Kherson region will definitely be liberated by September.”

The Ukrainian forces hope to execute this military plan with the help of Western-supplied long-range artillery. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy declared a successful counteroffensive during his national address on Saturday, saying Ukrainian forces were moving “step by step” into the city.

The Kherson region was occupied by the Russian army on March 3, and was the first major Ukrainian city to be captured. However, an increase in strikes in recent days against key Russian weapons stores around the southern city has allowed the Ukrainian military to gain advantages in the region.

Moscow Turns To Tehran For Drones

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei receiving Russian President Vladimir Putin in the presence of his Iranian counterpart Ebrahim Raisi (right) in Tehran

Iranian Supreme Leader's Office/ZUMA

Ukraine has scored significant military victories thanks to it Turkish-made Bayraktar drones. In response, Russia has reportedly started importing armed drones from Iran.

There are two key reasons why Russia is now apparently buying from Iran: its own drones cannot keep up. And Iran's drones are technically less sophisticated than those of Western competitors. But they do the job – and are quicker and cheaper to make. Even Iran's nemesis Israel recognizes the powerful potential of Tehran's drone army.

Read the full Die Welt story in English at worldcrunch.com

Eurovision Set In UK Next Year Instead Of Ukraine


Though the reigning Eurovision Song Contest champion is Ukrainian group Kalush, it will take place in the UK next year.

In normal times, the winning nation hosts the contest the following year. But due to the ongoing war, it will be hosted in 2023 by the UK, which came in second place this year. It is not yet known which city will host, but Glasgow and Manchester have so far expressed an interest.

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In The News
Lisa Berdet, Emma Albright and Anne-Sophie Goninet

Ukraine War, Phase 2: The Battle For Donbas Begins

👋 Moien!*

Welcome to Tuesday, where the battle for Donbas begins, tensions are rising in Gaza after Israel’s airstrike and Biden’s mask mandate for air travel is struck down. Meanwhile, Ukrainian journalist Anna Akage zeroes in on the strategic significance of the city of Mariupol in this second phase of the Ukraine war.


[*Luxembourgish]

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Future
Laura-Maï Gaveriaux

The Mirage Of Egypt’s New Capital City

In an area the size of Singapore, Egypt is building its new capital. Constructed under the close control of the military and the head of state, the city embodies the grand ambitions of an increasingly autocratic president. But will it turn out to be a ghost city?

CAIRO — The concrete structure rises to a height of 1,263 feet (385 meters) on the edge of an expressway, where asphalt, as soon as it is laid down, lets out acrid fumes. With its double collar that licks the sky, the Iconic Tower is already the tallest building in Africa. It is also the flagship of this vast assembly of open-air construction sites over 450 square miles, an area the size of Singapore, which will be the location of the new Egyptian capital.

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Ideas
Carlo Petrini*

Butterfly Wings & Wheat: How The Ukraine War Could Spark Global Food Crises

In an interconnected world, we are faced again with the negative implications of the so-called "butterfly effect" when a localized conflict can have far-reaching consequences and trigger lasting crises. For our world's broken food systems, the war in Ukraine should be a wake-up call.

-OpEd-

Could the conflict that erupted in Ukraine cause a new bread revolution in Egypt? Alas yes, the conditions are in place for this — and other similar upheavals — to happen.

Stay up-to-date with the latest on the Russia-Ukraine war, with our exclusive international coverage.

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The outbreak of war in Ukraine — which is upsetting, unexpected and utterly unjustifiable — again leaves us feeling powerless and overwhelmed by circumstances far beyond our control. In a deeply interconnected world, this also forces us to again reckon with the negative implications of the so-called "butterfly effect:" how a dramatic event limited to a specific geographical area can have unexpected consequences in faraway areas of the planet, laying the foundations for serious and lasting crises.

Here, I want to focus specifically on the agri-food sector, in light of a sad fact: conflict and hunger are intimately connected phenomena, when one occurs the other follows almost naturally.

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Society
Nada Arafat

COVID Exposes Harsh Reality Of Egypt's Public Schools

In Egypt, private schools are driven solely by profit. As the economic effects of COVID-19 forces families to choose cheaper schools, many parents are forced to confront the country's endemic education problems. And they're discovering that expensive private schools are better in outward appearance only.

For the past several months, Heba Ismail has been wracked with feelings of anxiety and guilt over her son’s future and mental health.

It all started when her husband lost his job amid the coronavirus pandemic and they could no longer afford the fees for seven-year-old Ali Eddin’s private school. She transferred him to a cheaper experimental public school — a type of school that teaches part of the curriculum in English. However, far from being a smooth transition, Ali Eddin’s experience at the new school was “devastating,” Ismail says, prompting her to keep her son from attending classes and getting him tutored at home. “If I had the money, I would transfer him back to his old school, no question,” she says.

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