Tag: Egypt

  • Egyptian comedian combats Piers Morgan with satire

    Egyptian comedian combats Piers Morgan with satire

    Egyptian comedian Bassem Youssef is being hailed all over social media after a recent interview on Piers Morgan show.

    Bassem, an Egyptian comedian, political satirist, and television host, replied to the British television host with a satirical tone throughout his 26-minute conversation with the controversial and outspoken presenter.

    The interview was centred on the current Israel-Palestine escalation and, like any other Western news show, there was a sense of undermining of the Palestinian suffering, to which Bassem responded with sheer brilliance.

    Piers quoted the October 7 attacks, which he believes “supersedes anything else” in the Israel-Palestine “conflict”, adding that “the question then becomes again about proportion” and that October 7 was “on a different level altogether, quite deliberately by Hamas, designed to provoke “.

    He asked Youssef, “If you were Israel and that had happened to you, what would you think would be the appropriate way for the country to respond”.

    “I would do exactly like Israel did: Kill as many people as possible since the world is letting me do it,” Bassem responded. “I mean, I can do it because I can,” he said.

    “Let’s for a minute imagine a world without Hamas. What will this world look like? Let’s give this world a name and let’s name this word the West Bank. Hamas has absolutely no control in the West Bank… Only through August, 37 Palestinian kids were killed. No music festival, no paragliding, no Hamas. Since the occupation of the West Bank, 7,000 Palestinians were killed; no music festival, no paragliding, no Hamas. I can go on and on and on and on.”

    At this point Morgan interrupted, saying that “You’re preaching to the choir” to which Youssef responded, “Don’t interrupt me and interrupt my points. Because this has to be fair because if you want to only hear your opinion, I can just condemn Hamas and go home. I can do that… Do you want to do that or do you want to have a much more nuanced conversation?”

    When asked, “How do we get from where we are now to peace,” Youssef said, “You need to change the perception.”

    “If you have already decided someone is good, he can do no evil and if you decide that someone is evil, it’s good to kill them.
    killing them is good… it is not like something new.”

    He added that the West first treats people “like savages”, giving examples of the native americans:

    “They’re savages, kill all the savages and when they are almost extinct you start feeling sorry for them like animals.

    So, maybe the solution is we kill as many Palestinians as possible so the few of them who remain do not bother you.”

    When Pier Morgan asked Youssef to leave since he gave “half of the show” to Bassam Yousef, Yousef left after making another dig.

    “By the way, my wife’s family’s alright and they sent us a house, its bombed, it beautiful , it’s going to be a good halloween theme,” he said of his in-laws who are in Gaza.

    Morgan: “I’m very sorry for what your family is going through in Gaza.”

    Youssef: “I haven’t actually met them. They didn’t come to my wedding. They couldn’t because they are stuck in Gaza and she never saw them because, you know, Gaza is not a destination. We hear their voices, they die, it’s fine.”

    Morgan said, “Bassam, I wish your family all the very best, thank you for joining me. I appreciate it.”

    Youssef replied, “I don’t, thank you.”

    You can watch the entire interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4idQbwsvtUo

  • Risk of another poliovirus outbreak

    Risk of another poliovirus outbreak

    More evidence of poliovirus was found in five samples in Peshawar and Karachi and so, the chances of a poliovirus outbreak in the country have now increased.

    According to the Ministry of Health, polio virus found in the five samples in Karachi are genetically linked to the virus in Afghanistan. Whereas, the genetic testing of the virus found in the positive sample from Peshawar is ongoing.

    Previously, five Union Councils of Karachi have been declared at high risk of polio virus.Other places of detection include Hangu and Pishin.

    Earlier this week, Egyptian authorities made it mandatory for travellers from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and other countries to provide a polio vaccination certificate.“

    As informed by the Egyptian Authorities, passengers travelling to Egypt from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Malawi, Mozambique and Congo are requested to provide an international certificate of vaccination specifically polio vaccine, OPV or IPV (both are acceptable),” Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said in an advisory on its website on Monday.

    Additionally, last month, the International Health Regulations (2005) Emergency Committee as well as the World Health Organisation (WHO) expressed concerns over Pakistan’s efforts in eliminating polio virus.

  • Shehbaz meets with world leaders during climate change conference

    Shehbaz meets with world leaders during climate change conference

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif on Monday attended the inaugural ceremony of the United Nations (UN) Climate Implementation Summit at the coastal city of Sharm El-Sheikh in Egypt.

    The “Sharm El-Sheikh Climate Implementation Summit” is part of the 27th UN Climate Change Conference (COP27).

    The premier separately met with the Presidents of Iraq, Tajikistan and Indonesia Abdul Latif Rashid, Emomali Rahmon, and Joko Widodo, respectively. He also conducted a meeting with Lebanese PM Najib Makati.

    In his meeting with the President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, Shehbaz Sharif thanked him for the assistance sent as aid for flood victims.

    In his meeting with the European Union Commissioner Ursula von der Leyen, PM Shehbaz appreciated the spirit of EU nations for their support extended to the flood-hit population of Pakistan. The premier also met with UN chief Antonio Guterres.

    The PM arrived in Egypt on Sunday to participate in the conference that has drawn delegates from 197 countries.

    Before his departure, PM Shehbaz took to Twitter to say that he would raise the matter of the devasting effects of climate change in Pakistan.

    Last month, it was announced that PM Shehbaz would be the vice-chairperson for COP27.

    The conference is taking place at a time when millions of people in Pakistan, and millions more in other parts of the world, are facing severe adverse impacts of climate change.

    For the first time in the history of COP27, the members would discuss whether rich countries should compensate poor nations most exposed to the adverse effects of climate change.

  • PM Shehbaz left for Egypt to attend Climate Change Conference

    PM Shehbaz left for Egypt to attend Climate Change Conference

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif has left for Egypt to attend the United Nations (UN) Climate Change Conference (COP27).

    The premier is accompanied by Foreign Minister (FM) Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, other cabinet members and senior officials.

    Before his departure, PM Shehbaz took to Twitter to say that he will raise the matter of the devasting effects of climate change in Pakistan.

    “I will urge the world to deliver on its commitment on climate finance & loss and damage fund. Without financial support, the developing countries will continue to remain exposed to the multifarious threats of climate change. We are asking for climate justice”, he tweeted.

    The premier highlighted that Pakistan’s post-disaster needs assessment has shown that its journey to recovery and rehabilitation can be held back by public debt, rising international energy and food prices and lack of access to adaption funds.

    “The world should treat Pakistan as a case study,” he concluded in a series of tweets.

    Last month, it was announced that PM Shehbaz would be the vice-chairperson for COP27.

    The conference is taking place at a time when millions of people in Pakistan, and millions more in other parts of the world, are facing severe adverse impacts of climate change.

  • Son thrown into Nile river by his mother returns after 22 years

    Son thrown into Nile river by his mother returns after 22 years

    Unaware that he would come back as a young man searching for his father, a lady dropped her infant, named “Islam,” into the Nile River with the intention of getting rid of him.

    Although the incident took place in Egypt 22 years ago, it was recently made public.

    According to Egyptian media, the mother allegedly threw her son into the Nile River because he was an illegitimate child that she had with an unidentified man. He was saved by fisherman after she threw him and they took him to an orphanage where he stayed until he was a young man.

    After a number of years, the mother believed she had finally atoned for her mistake, but Islam discovered the circumstances surrounding his adoption and began looking for his biological parents.

    He ran into his aunt, who told him what his mother had done and showed him the way to her residence in Tanta. Islam went back to his aunt and stayed with her in her home because the mother had left as soon as she heard about his visit.

    He persisted in trying to find his father despite the mother’s repeated attempts to elude him and her threats to have him from her path, particularly when he received a call from an unknown person who revealed his parents’ identities to him.

    After finding his father, Islam claimed that his mother phoned him live on local television and expressed her want to see him.

  • India to become the most populous country in 2023

    India to become the most populous country in 2023

    India will become the world’s most populous country next year i.e 2023, beating China, according to a United Nations (UN) report. Currently, India’s population stands at 1.412 billion, compared to China’s 1.426 billion.

    The findings were released by the UN on July 11 to mark World Population Day.

    The latest projections also suggest the world population is expected to reach eight billion by mid-November 2022, 8.5 billion in 2030 and 9.7 billion in 2050, 10.4 billion people during the 2080s and to remain at that level until 2100.

    India is also among eight countries where the population is expected to be concentrated in 2050. The other seven countries are Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines and Tanzania.

    UN Secretary-General António Guterres said, “This year’s World Population Day (July 11) falls during a milestone year when we anticipate the birth of the Earth’s eight billionth inhabitant. This is an occasion to celebrate our diversity, recognise our common humanity, and marvel at advancements in health that have extended lifespans and dramatically reduced maternal and child mortality rates.”

    In a tweet, he added, “On ensuring our world can support our needs and those of future generations. On protecting human rights and the ability of all individuals to make informed choices about whether and when to have children.”

  • Man sets Guinness World record of Helicopter spin

    A man made a Guinness World Record for the maximum helicopter spins at the same time as skysurfing. His video has gone viral, reports ARY News.

    Guinness’ website mentioned that KĒBĒ Keith Edward Snyder of the United States (US) attempted the record for the most helicopter spins while skysurfing on November 01, 2021, over the Pyramid, Egypt.

    The official website of Guinness mentioned that the US national, KĒBĒ Keith Edward Snyder, attempted the unique record for the most helicopter spins while skysurfing on November 01, 2021.

    This is not the first time for KĒBĒ to jump from a height of 13,500 feet, but this time he was focusing to set a world record. He attempted 160 spins to set the world record.

    Synder said, “I would like to challenge what is now my own record. I’ve already gotten a little bit faster. But I’d like to bring that speed up in the mid-body. I’d also like to investigate a little bit of the physics of it.”

    He said that he was widely inspired by the former skysurfing world Champion Rob Harris to set this milestone.

    When he first saw Rob Harris, he said as stated on the Guinness website, “He was smiling and in the background, there’s a video of him skysurfing. He was spinning so incredibly fast and smooth.”

    “What is that guy doing and what does he understand for him to be smiling? I wanted to understand that. And so my journey began.”

    Since the clip was uploaded on YouTube, it gained more than 60,000 views and the numbers keep increasing. Netizens are praising the feat.

  • Man strips naked to win bet, spreads horror among villagers

    Man strips naked to win bet, spreads horror among villagers

    A man in his 40s allegedly stripped naked and walked around in an Egyptian village to win a bet from a friend, Gulf News reported.

    The villagers tried to cover him up but the man refused to get covered, leading people to question his mentality and motives.

    “Children gathered around him as he walked naked across the village. People thought he had been caught doing something immoral and had not enough time to put on his clothes,” Mohammed told Egyptian newspaper Al Watan.

    “The scene was nauseating. He prevented anyone from covering him. He refused to put on any clothes,” added the witness.

    Later, he received 25,000 Egyptian pounds from a person who had earlier made a bet with him. “He then sat down while still naked in front of his house, counting the money,” Mohammed said.

    Read More: Wife steals frozen human bodies after fighting with husband

    “He is not a poor person,” Nabil Awwad, another local of the village, said. “The alleged offender owns a flock of sheep worth thousands of pounds,” he told Egyptian news portal Masrawy.

    “What struck our attention was that whenever we tried to cover him with clothes, he took them off, insisting to continue walking naked,” Awwad added.

    The act forced the village’s shocked women to stay indoors, the portal said.

  • VIDEO: Doctors sing to calm scared patient before surgery

    VIDEO: Doctors sing to calm scared patient before surgery

    An Egyptian patient was scared before her surgery so the doctors sang a song for her to divert her mind, Gulf News reported.

    They sang a popular song by Egypt’s Mohamed Hamaki called ‘Don’t leave again’ to take her mind off the procedure.

    The video shows the patient expressing discomfort and pain and then she starts enjoying the song along with the doctors.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zbis4MYmzjw&t=19s
  • ‘A physically challenged girl doesn’t need anyone,’ three Pakistanis on solo trip to Egypt

    ‘A physically challenged girl doesn’t need anyone,’ three Pakistanis on solo trip to Egypt

    Pictures of three physically challenged Pakistani friends on a tour to Egypt are doing the rounds on social media. The three women are Tanzeela, Afshan and Zarghona. Tanzeela is from Lahore, Afshan hails from Peshawar and Zarghona lives in Quetta.

    Talking to BBC Urdu, Tanzeela said that she is physically challenged since her childhood. She says, “I have no legs below the knees and I have been in a wheelchair all my life,” but so far she has travelled 20 countries in a wheelchair.

    “I wanted to prove that a disabled girl doesn’t need anyone, she can be independent, she can make her own decisions,” she said talking about travelling alone.

     Tanzeela said, “Allah has created us all independent, but in our country, a differently-abled person is made dependant on others and he cannot go anywhere without the help of anyone, from restaurants to public washrooms.” She added that there are no facilities for physically challenged persons to go anywhere alone. They have to ask for someone’s help to go to the restaurants or public washrooms. There is no privacy and if there is no privacy, then your self-confidence is completely destroyed.

    “I thought I would take a step forward and set an example for other people.”

    The other friend, Afshan told BBC Urdu that 75 per cent of her body was paralysed because she was not vaccinated against polio when she was a child. Physiotherapy has made her healthy enough that she can now sit in a wheelchair.

    Sharing her feelings about travelling alone, she said that women with disabilities are often looked upon with pity. “It is a common notion about them that they cannot go anywhere so I decided to show the world that when you have the courage, then nothing is impossible.”

    Afshan said that we used to see girls travelling outside Pakistan but never saw anybody mentioning facilities provided to the physically challenged people who want to travel to other countries. “Nobody mentioned whether the conditions are the same in foreign countries as in Pakistan or better for people like us.”

    Zarghona was seven months old when she contracted polio and was unable to walk.

    “I have never travelled from Quetta to Islamabad or Karachi alone before this and I used to have some attendant with me. Even if I go somewhere in Quetta, I have to take someone with me,” she said.

    This is her first trip alone. She has previously travelled with different groups to three countries. “I was very excited to see Tanzeela and Afshan and I dared to travel alone,” she added. “If they can travel alone, why can’t I?”