Former Egypt President Hosni Mubarak regains freedom after 6 years in detention

Posted on March 24, 2017 by Staff Reporter

Egypt’s ousted president Hosni Mubarak left a military hospital on Friday where he had spent much of his six-year detention, his lawyer said.

Mubarak had been cleared for release earlier this month after a top court finally acquitted him of involvement in protester deaths during the 2011 revolt that ousted him.

“Yes,” his lawyer Farid al-Deeb told AFP when asked if Mubarak had left the hospital on Friday.

Mubarak was accused of inciting the deaths of protesters during the 18-day revolt, in which about 850 people were killed as police clashed with demonstrators.

He was sentenced to life in 2012 in the case, but an appeals court ordered a retrial which dismissed the charges two years later.

Egypt’s top appeals court on March 2 acquitted him of involvement in the killings.

In January 2016, the appeals court upheld a three-year prison sentence for Mubarak and his two sons on corruption charges.

But the sentence took into account time served. Both of his sons, Alaa and Gamal, were freed.

On Thursday, a court ordered a renewed corruption investigation into Mubarak for allegedly receiving gifts from the state-owned Al-Ahram newspaper.

Meanwhile, several key activists in the 2011 uprising are now serving lengthy jail terms, and rights groups say hundreds of others have been forcibly disappeared.

BREAKING: Isis claims attack on Israeli port of Eilat with rockets launched from Egypt.

Posted on February 9, 2017 by Staff Reporter

Isis has claimed responsibility for a rocket attack on the southern Israeli port town of Eilat.

Israel’s Iron Dome anti-missile system shot down three missiles fired from neighbouring Sinai late on Wednesday, the Israel Defence Force (IDF) said. Up to seven are thought to have been fired in total.

The branch of the jihadist group based in the neighbouring province in Egypt is believed to have attacked Israeli targets multiple times in the past.

Egypt adds ex-footballer, Mohamed Aboutrika to terror list.

Posted on January 18, 2017 by Staff Reporter

Egypt has added ex-football star Mohamed Aboutrika to a terror list for his alleged links with the banned Muslim Brotherhood, his lawyer says.

Mr Aboutrika is accused of financially supporting the Brotherhood, which Egypt considers a terrorist organisation.

In 2012, he endorsed the successful presidential bid by Mohamed Morsi, a Brotherhood member.

The move by the 2008 BBC African Footballer of the Year alienated some of his fans.

Any person named on the country’s terror list is subject to a travel ban and faces having their passport and assets frozen.

Mr Aboutrika’s lawyer, Mohamed Osman, said the move was “contrary to the law”, adding that his client had “not been convicted or formally notified of any of the charges against him”.

“We will appeal this decision,” Mr Osman said. Mr Aboutrika has strenuously denied the allegations.

A former star of Cairo’s al-Ahly club and the national team, Mr Aboutrika was dubbed The Prince of Hearts, The Magician and The Saint during his playing days.

But his decision to publicly support Mr Morsi, who lasted just one year in power, split opinion.

In 2015, he had a string of assets, including shares in a number of companies, seized by the Egyptian authorities.

The army’s crackdown on Brotherhood members, left hundreds of people dead and thousands in jail.

Mr Morsi was ousted following days of mass anti-government protests in 2013.

Mr Aboutrika, one of the most successful African footballers of his generation, retired from football in the same year.

Egypt executes prominent Islamist militant Habara amid threats of retaliation

Posted on December 15, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Egypt executed prominent Islamist fighter Adel Habara on Thursday, state media said, days after a top court rejected his final appeal and in defiance of militant threats to ignite “a volcano of jihad” across the country.

Habara, 40, was sentenced to death in 2014 for killing 25 army conscripts in Northern Sinai in August 2013. He was hanged early on Thursday after President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi signed off on the death sentence, state news agency MENA said.

Sisi has launched a fierce crackdown on Islamists since as Egypt’s then-military chief he overthrew the country’s democratically elected president, Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood, in July 2013.

He is battling a raging insurgency in Northern Sinai, led by Sinai Province, the Egyptian affiliate of Islamic State. The militant group has killed hundreds of soldiers and police in regular attacks that have intensified since Sisi took power.

After Habara’s appeal was rejected by the Court of Cassation on Saturday, Islamic State supporters issued warnings to Sisi online not to carry out the execution.

“To the tyrant Sisi, if you dare to execute Sheikh Adel Habara then, by God, you will have ignited a volcano of jihad all over the country and opened the doors of hell on your soldiers and dogs and institutions,” read a message on the Lone Wolves account run by Islamic State supporters on Telegram.

Though Islamic State attacks have largely been focused on security forces in its stronghold of Northern Sinai, a strategic area bordering Israel, Gaza and the Suez Canal, the group has also launched deadly attacks in Cairo.

Islamic State claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing at the country’s main cathedral that killed 25 people on Sunday.

It also said it had brought down a Russian airliner last year, in an attack that killed 224 people and dealt a blow to the tourism sector, by planting a bomb in a soft-drink can.

MENA said Habara had been taken from his cell at the maximum security Aqrab, or Scorpion, jail in Cairo to the Court of Cassation, where he was hanged in the presence of judicial officials.

Egypt Mourns 25 Christians Killed In Massive Church Bombing

Posted on December 12, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Egypt’s Coptic community held a funeral service on Monday for 25 Christians killed in a bombing the previous day at a church next to the main cathedral in Cairo — one of the deadliest attacks targeting the country’s religious minority in recent memory.

The bomb went off during Sunday Mass at a chapel adjacent to St. Mark’s Cathedral, seat of the ancient Coptic Orthodox church. No group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack.

The coffins of the victims were laid in front of the altar, with their names displayed on the side facing the congregation and on the church walls.

Candles and large big crosses made of white roses stood next to the coffins.

The spiritual leader of Egypt’s Orthodox Christians, Pope Tawadros II, led the service. At one point, the visibly distraught pontiff leaned on his staff and quietly prayed in front of the coffins. He had cut short a visit to Greece and flew home on Sunday after the bombing.

“God, protect us and your people from the conspiracies of the evil ones,” prayed the Coptic pope, who venerated the coffins with incense.

Only victims’ relatives were allowed to attend the service at the Virgin Mary and St. Athanasius church in the eastern Cairo suburb of Nasr City. Some of them screamed out in grief or shouted out a victim’s name, while the rest quietly sobbed or sat somberly during the service.

Outside the church, scores scuffled with security forces when they were barred from attending the service. An unspecified number of arrests were made, several witnesses said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they feared for their safety.

http://dailytimes.ng/egypt-mourns-25-christians-killed-massive-church-bombing/

Six Egypt police officers killed in checkpoint blast in Cairo

Posted on December 9, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Six police officers on Friday were killed when bombs exploded at a security checkpoint in Cairo in a road leading to the Pyramids, a media report said.

“The blast also injured three other policemen and three civilians,’’ it noted.

However there was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack near a mosque in Al Haram Street.

Sources added that two bombs, exploded by remote control, were planted in a dust bin under a tree in a garden around the mosque.

The bomb disposal team are combing the crowded street for other possible explosives.

All the roads leading to the Pyramids are blocked in the search for suspects.

In Egypt, bomb attacks are endemic in North Sinai Province, where an Islamic State-affiliated group claim responsibility for most of them.

BREAKING: Egypt court overturns life sentence against ex-president Muahammad Morsi.

Posted on November 22, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Egypt’s Court of Cassation overturned on Tuesday a life sentence against deposed President Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood and ordered a retrial in the case that revolves around accusations of espionage with Palestinian group Hamas.

The court last week overturned a death sentence against Mursi in a separate case, meaning he no longer faces execution.

Democratically elected after the 2011 uprising, Mursi was overthrown in mid-2013 by Abdel Fattah al-Sisi following mass protests against his rule, and was immediately arrested.

He remains in jail on a separate espionage conviction.

Governor Ganduje of Kano sponsors students to study in Egypt.

Posted on November 7, 2016 by Staff Reporter

His Excellency Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje OFR the Executive Governor of Kano State on Sunday (6/11/2016) visited Kano State Students that are studying in October 6 University in Egypt sponsored by the state government. He was received by the Vice Chancellor of the University, the Deputy Chairman of the Board of Trustees, and other top management officials of the University.

The Governor is in Egypt to see for himself the academic performance of the students, their wellbeing and overall situation they are in. There are 40 students in this institution that are studying Medicine, Pharmacy & Radiology most of whom are in their 400 level.

Governor Ganduje expressed his satisfaction on the condition he found the students to be in as well as their academic performances which the school management disclosed are excellent with 80% of the students having distinction in their results. He also stated that despite the economic hardship back in Nigeria and in Kano in particular due to the decline in revenue from the federation account, his administration will continue to settle the huge debt he inherited of their fees till they graduate.

Governor Ganduje urged the students to remain focused on their studies so that they will graduate with flying colors and return home to render their services so as to fill the vacuum in the health sector of the state, especially now that the governor is determined to complete the 2 abandoned hospital projects of Zoo road and Giginyu.

On their part, the students who spoke through one of them Isiaku Umar Faruk thanked the Governor for the visit which he said showed that his Excellency is concerned about their situation but most importantly the Governor’s efforts in settling their outstanding fees and allowances and also appealed to the governor to settle the outstanding payments.

The school management and the students gave his Excellency a plaque each, to honor him for his exemplary leadership in the education sector.

Governor Ganduje was accompanied by the Deputy Ambassador of Nigeria in Egypt His Excellency Mohammed Abdulkadir Maccido, Hon Abubakar Uba Galadima representing Bebeji Local Govt in the state Assembly and also the chairman House committee on Higher Education, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Higher Education Hon Jarma and the Executive Secretary Kano State Scholarship Board.

See How Much Eagles Got For Egypt Trip

Posted on March 31, 2016 by Staff Reporter

It has been revealed that each player of the Super Eagles received $400 as allowances from cash-strapped Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for their trip to Alexandria, Egypt.

This was far short of $1,000 each player usually received as allowances for an away game.

It was further gathered that for the 1-1 home draw in Kaduna, the players were paid in Naira the equivalent of $2,500.

This is a massive drop for some of these players who at the last World Cup in Brazil were on $10,000-a-man.
“Most of the players were unhappy with how they were treated as everyone was for himself after the match in Egypt,” another source informed AfricanFootball.com.

Credit: Thisday

Fans To Watch Important Nigeria vs Egypt Afcon Qualifier For N1000 And N300 Respectively

Posted on March 11, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Nigerian football fans waiting to get a glimpse of action when the Super Eagles tackle the Pharaohs of Egypt should get ready to part with N1000 and N300 for covered and open seats respectively according to the marketing department of the NFF.

The important AFCON qualifier to be played at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna on Friday, March 25 has hosted several matches of the various National Teams over the past decades.

Buhari Departs Nigeria For Egypt Tomorrow

Posted on February 18, 2016 by Staff Reporter

President Muhammadu Buhari will depart Abuja on Friday for Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt to participate in the Business for Africa, Egypt and the World Forum.

A statement by the president’s spokesman, Femi Adesina, said the forum, which opens in the Egyptian resort town on Saturday, is organized by the Egyptian government under the auspices of the African Union Commission.

“The forum’s objective is to accelerate private sector engagement and investment within Africa and promote the development of African ties and partnerships.

“President Buhari, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi of Egypt and the Presidents of Togo, Sudan, Kenya, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea and the Prime Minister of Ethiopia are among confirmed speakers at the forum.

“Other confirmed speakers include the President of the African Development Bank, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina and the President/CEO of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote.

“The president will be accompanied on the trip by the minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama and the minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Okechukwu Enelama.

“He will return to Abuja at the conclusion of the forum,” said the statement.

Credit: PremiumTimes

Islamic State Group Says Bomb Downed Russian Plane

Posted on November 18, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The Islamic State group has said it smuggled a bomb on board a Russian airliner that crashed last month, after discovering a “way to compromise the security” at an Egyptian airport.

The latest edition of its official online magazine Dabiq said IS had initially planned to down a plane belonging to a country from the US-led coalition targeting militants in Iraq and Syria.

The militants decided to instead target the Russian plane departing the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh after Moscow began an air campaign in Syria in late September, the magazine said.

Russian Airline Rules Out Technical Fault, Pilot Error For Plane Crash

Posted on November 3, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The Russian airline whose jet crashed in Egypt killing everyone on board said on Monday the crash could not have been caused by a technical fault or human error.

The crash, in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula on Saturday, could only have been the result of some other “technical or physical action” which caused it to break up in the air and plummet to the ground, said Alexander Smirnov, deputy general director of the airline, Kogalymavia.

“The plane was in excellent condition, we rule out a technical fault and any mistake by the crew,” he told a news conference in Moscow.

He said there had been no emergency call from the pilots to services on the ground during the flight, which took off from the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh and was bound for the Russian city of St Petersburg.

Kogalymavia’s deputy general director for engineering, Andrei Averyanov, said a 2001 incident when the plane’s tail section struck the tarmac on landing was fully repaired and could not have been a factor in the crash.

He said the aircraft’s engines had undergone routine inspection in Moscow on Oct. 26 which found no problems and he said in the five flights before the crash, the crew recorded no technical problems in the aircraft’s log book.

Oksana Golovina, a representative of the holding company that controls Kogalymavia, told the news conference the airline had experienced no financial problems which could have influenced flight safety.

Al Jazeera Journalists Pardoned In Egypt

Posted on September 24, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sissi yesterday pardoned two Al Jazeera journalists jailed for three years in a case that drew worldwide attention to his government’s crackdown on dissent.

Canadian-Egyptian journalist Mohammed Fahmy and the network’s Egyptian producer Baher Mohammed were among some 100 prisoners included in a presidential pardon marking the Islamic festival of Eid al-Adha.

Al-Sissi also pardoned two prominent young female activists, Sana Seif and Yara Salam, who were jailed last year under a law that effectively banned protests without prior police approval.

Fahmy and Mohammed were arrested in late 2013 and charged with publishing false news and collaborating with the banned Muslim Brotherhood.

Read More: thisdaylive

Egypt’s Agric Minister, Resigns, Arrested For Corruption

Posted on September 7, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Egypt’s agriculture minister was arrested on Monday after he resigned upon a request from President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi over alleged corruption case in his ministry, local media reported.

“Upon President Sisi’s instructions, Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab met today with agriculture minister Salah Helal who submitted his resignation, which was accepted,” official news agency MENA reported.

Egypt’s Administrative Control Authority arrested Helal immediately after his resignation, state-run Al-Ahramnews website reported.

Media reports noted that Helal along with several high ranking officials were involved in corruption and bribery cases.

Muslim Clerics Gather In Egypt To Counter Extremist Fatwas

Posted on August 18, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Top Muslim clerics gathered in Egypt on Monday to address extremist religious edicts in the face of an unprecedented threat from Islamic State group jihadists who have declared a “caliphate”.

The muftis — usually the official interpreters of Islam in their countries — are meeting alongside other clerics over two days in Cairo to cope with what the clerics described as a rash of extremist fatwas, or edicts.

“You do not need to be reminded that leniency (in dealing) with fatwas that ex-communicate” Muslims has resulted in “murder and bloodshed,” Ahmed al-Tayyeb, the head of the prestigious Cairo-based Islamic Al-Azhar institution, told the conference.

Read More: yahoo

Boko Haram Started In Egypt, Says Ex-Yobe Gov

Posted on August 10, 2015 by Staff Reporter

A former governor of Yobe State who is currently representing Yobe-East Senatorial District at the Senate, Senator Bukar Abba Ibrahim, on Saturday said the Boko Haram insurgent group was formed in Egypt decades ago contrary to the belief that it started in Nigeria around 2009.

Ibrahim told journalists in Abuja that the ideological movement, which is strictly anti-Western education, had also been in existence in the northern part of the country since the 1970s after the killing of the sect’s spiritual leader in Egypt by President Gammal Abdel Naseer.

The senator said members of the sect from Egypt first landed in Minna, the Niger State capital, before moving to Kano, Yobe and finally settled in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, between 2001 and 2002.

He, however, said the fundamentalists did not start as a full blown militant cum terrorist sect against the country.

Ibrahim explained that Boko Haram militants were different from political thugs who were used by some politicians to form the group, adding that insurgents were against democracy being western idea and by extension, politics.

He said, “The History of Boko Haram dates back to 10, 15, and even 20 years or more ago. This thing didn’t start six years ago as largely claimed. It started earlier.

Read More: punchng

Terrorists Attempt To Blow Up Ancient Egyptian Temples And Pyramids

Posted on June 10, 2015 by Staff Reporter

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Egyptian officials say a suicide bomber has blown himself up at the ancient temple of Karnak in Luxor, a southern city frequented by millions of foreign and Egyptian tourists every year.

They say there is no immediate word on casualties from Wednesday’s late morning attack.

They say police have foiled two other suicide attacks also targeting the Nile-side temple, one of the country’s main tourist attractions, While the other bomber targeted the pyramids at Giza.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

More details Later.

Egyptian Ambassador Describes Nigeria As A Hidden Paradise

Posted on April 30, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The Egyptian Ambassador to Nigeria, Amassador Ashraf Salama who visited Senator Obanikoro today at his office as described Nigeria as a hidden paradise.

“Nigerians are very kind and hospitable people. They have beautiful nature. I always say that Nigeria is a hidden paradise,” he said

Bucket List ..Check! Banky W Visits the Egyptian Pyramids (Photos)

Posted on April 21, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Banky W has ticked one item off his bucket list with his trip to Egypt.The musician, entrepreneur and now, director says he is “trying to see as much of the world as I can before my time is up”

Still wondering how he took the photo above..Optical illusion I guess..

Couple Hosts an ISIS Themed Wedding

Posted on March 7, 2015 by Staff Reporter

An Egyptian couple shocked guests when they staged a jihadist invasion at their wedding ceremony whereby the couple were threatened by knife point.

Video footage of the event shows the best man and other men storming the stage wearing black balaclavas and attire4 similar to those shown on Islamic State videos. The men forced the couple to get into cage similar to the way they burnt a Jordanian pilot to death earlier in the year.

Apparently the only people who knew about the pretend attack in advance were the groom, his best men and the photographer who was told to film everything. The bride was told to expect something different from their wedding.

According to the media, many wedding guests thought the attack was genuine and were terrified.

Read More: Daily Mail

Car Bombs Target Egyptian, UAE Embassies in Libya

Posted on November 13, 2014 by Staff Reporter

Car bombs went off outside the Egyptian and United Arab Emirates embassies in the Libyan capital on Thursday, causing some damage to the long-shuttered buildings but no casualties, officials said.

The near-simultaneous explosions rocked the upscale neighborhood housing foreign missions, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to media.

Both embassies, along with most diplomatic missions and international organizations, have been closed for months as Islamist-allied militias have battled forces loyal to the internationally-recognized government. The Islamist-allied militias now hold Tripoli and the country’s second-largest city Benghazi.

Egypt condemned the attack, saying it harmed the “historic blood ties” between the two nations. “Terrorist groups are using violence to reach political goals,” Egypt’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Credit: AP

Celebrity Photo of the Day!!!

Posted on November 12, 2014 by Staff Reporter

Beautiful singer and hot mum, Alicia Keys stole our page today. First, it was a photo of herself and her adorable son Egypt, reading a story book she wrote; now it is a photo of her lovely self alone, rocking a nice black leather jacket on an all black outfit, with gold boots.

Alicia is one celebrity that is loved by almost everyone… She is what most of us would call original…

Egyptians on Hunger Strike

Posted on September 15, 2014 by Staff Reporter

A growing movement of hunger strikers calling for the release of detainees jailed under a controversial Protest Law, is gaining grounds in Egypt.

Several political parties and journalists began the symbolic nationwide hunger strike on Saturday to demand the release of detainees held for violating a law enacted last year that has been criticized by both domestic and international human rights groups, as well as prominent political figures, as curtailing peoples’ right to protest.

Egyptians Storm Streets in Protest Over Economic Crisis

Posted on September 10, 2014 by Staff Reporter

On Tuesday, protesters took to the streets in many Egyptian cities to express their resentment of the fast deteriorating living conditions for millions of people, and the continuous breach of the human dignity in the country.

The rallies were organized by a new Egyptian youth movement called “We’re fed up.” The movement denounces what they call the dominion of corrupt, powerful and rich elite on Egyptians.

For weeks, the movement has been calling for anti-government protests to highlight the cause of the alienated workers in Egypt, and unprecedented government failures in various spheres.

Egypt’s anti-coup alliance, the National Coalition for Supporting Legitimacy (NCSL), also joined the Tuesday protests, condemning what it calls the Cairo government’s security and legal crackdown on opposition and its failure to curb terrorism.

The Egyptian government has admitted its failure in facing up to critical problems in energy and health sectors as well as the quality of education, where the Arab country recently ranked last among 146 nations in an international report.

Arab League Chief Says Confront ISIS “Militarily & Politically”

Posted on September 8, 2014 by Staff Reporter

The head of the Arab League Nabil Elaraby, urged its members Sunday to confront Islamic State extremists “militarily and politically,” issuing an apparent call to arms. He said that what is needed from Arab countries is a “clear and firm decision for a comprehensive confrontation” with “cancerous and terrorist” groups. The Arab League includes Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Lebanon, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

It wasn’t immediately clear what steps the Arab League would take in supporting the West’s campaign against the Islamic State. Reaching a consensus on how to move could be complicated by Arab world rivalries and member countries’ different spheres of influence.

Elaraby himself noted that the Arab League’s member states have failed to help each other in the past when facing local armed groups, often because of disagreements and fear of being accused of meddling in one another’s affairs. He called the Islamic State a threat to the existence of Iraq and its neighbors. It is “one of the examples of the challenges that are violently shaking the Arab world, and one the Arab League, regrettably, has not been able to confront,” he said.

Gazans Return to Rubbled Gaza

Posted on August 27, 2014 by Staff Reporter

Joyous Gazans cheerfully celebrating return to Gaza on the announce of an unlimited ceasefire by Israel and Hamas. The truce initiated by Egypt has eased the blockade on Gaza, opened borders for aid and lifts the restriction of fishing activities off the coast, as some fishing boats have been seen sailing those restricted areas to resume business today. Also children have resumed playing in the surfs alongside the fishing activities.

The ceasefire has ended the vicious attacks on Gaza which has killed over two thousand people within a period of 50 days.

Normal life activities is quite evident in Gaza as structures damaged by Israeli airstrikes are already being attended to. Gazans also attest to the fact that they have not heard any shelling from Israel or any rockets being fired from Gaza after the ceasefire.

Hamas however, has declared the ceasefire as “Victory for Resistance”, contrary to Israeli’s stance, claiming that Hamas has finally agreed to the offer it had repeatedly refused.

Some world authorities are however skeptical of the truce and some consider it as an opportunity not a certainty.

Both sides have however agreed to return to Cairo for further talks.

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