Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi approved amendments to the country's emergency laws on May 9, 2020. AP Photo
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi approved amendments to the country's emergency laws on May 9, 2020. AP Photo
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi approved amendments to the country's emergency laws on May 9, 2020. AP Photo
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi approved amendments to the country's emergency laws on May 9, 2020. AP Photo

Coronavirus: Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El Sisi gets expanded powers to deal with outbreak

Emergency law amendments allow president to ban all gatherings and to offer financial support

Associated Press

May 09, 2020

  • English
  • Arabic

Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El Sisi on Saturday approved amendments to the country's state of emergency that grant him and security agencies additional powers, which the government says are needed to combat the coronavirus outbreak.

The new amendments allow the president to take measures to contain the virus, such as suspending classes at schools and universities and quarantining those returning from abroad. They also include expanded powers to ban public and private meetings, protests, celebrations and other forms of assembly.

The amended law would also allow the president to postpone taxes and utility payments as well as provide economic support for affected sectors.

Egypt, with a population of 100 million, has reported at least 504 deaths out of about 8,500 confirmed cases.

_______________

Coronavirus in the Middle East

Health workers check passengers and crew who arrived on an Emirates flight from London at Dubai International Airport. AFP
Health workers check passengers and crew who arrived on an Emirates flight from London at Dubai International Airport. AFP
Iranians wearing masks gather outside their buildings after a 5.1-magnitude earthquake was felt in the capital Tehran. AFP / ISNA
Iranians wearing masks gather outside their buildings after a 5.1-magnitude earthquake was felt in the capital Tehran. AFP / ISNA
Iraqi children play with a toy gun in the northern city of Mosul, as Iraq eases restrictions put in place for the pandemic. AFP
Iraqi children play with a toy gun in the northern city of Mosul, as Iraq eases restrictions put in place for the pandemic. AFP
Health officers speak as they prepare to collect swab samples from confined people who are believed to have been in contact with coronavirus patients, in Istanbul. AFP
Health officers speak as they prepare to collect swab samples from confined people who are believed to have been in contact with coronavirus patients, in Istanbul. AFP
Tunisian volunteers distribute free Iftar meals at the Ariana near Tunis during Ramadan. AFP
Tunisian volunteers distribute free Iftar meals at the Ariana near Tunis during Ramadan. AFP
Head of Fatih District Health Department Melek Nr Aslan briefs her staff before they leave to collect swab samples from confined people who are believed to have been in contact with coronavirus patients, in Istanbul. AFP
Head of Fatih District Health Department Melek Nr Aslan briefs her staff before they leave to collect swab samples from confined people who are believed to have been in contact with coronavirus patients, in Istanbul. AFP
The Mosaharati calls on Muslims to wake up to eat Suhoor, the last meal before a sunrise to sunset fast during Ramadan, in Damascus, Syria. EPA
The Mosaharati calls on Muslims to wake up to eat Suhoor, the last meal before a sunrise to sunset fast during Ramadan, in Damascus, Syria. EPA
An elderly Lebanese woman shows appreciation to entertainers at a retirement home at Ain Wazein, in the Chouf mountains south-east of the capital Beirut. AFP
An elderly Lebanese woman shows appreciation to entertainers at a retirement home at Ain Wazein, in the Chouf mountains south-east of the capital Beirut. AFP
A Syrian man gives food to the Mosaharati in Damascus. Syria has alleviated the curfew imposed on the country to prevent the spread of the coronavirus and reopened religious places for the first time during Ramadan. EPA
A Syrian man gives food to the Mosaharati in Damascus. Syria has alleviated the curfew imposed on the country to prevent the spread of the coronavirus and reopened religious places for the first time during Ramadan. EPA
The columns of the Roman Temple of Jupiter in the Lebanese city of Baalbeck in the eastern Bekaa valley are lit with the symbols of the Red Cross and Crescent. AFP
The columns of the Roman Temple of Jupiter in the Lebanese city of Baalbeck in the eastern Bekaa valley are lit with the symbols of the Red Cross and Crescent. AFP
A Palestinian street vendor prepares corn before breaking the fast at sunset during Ramadan, in Gaza City. AFP
A Palestinian street vendor prepares corn before breaking the fast at sunset during Ramadan, in Gaza City. AFP
A picture provided by the Embassy of India in Riyadh shows Indian expats inside a plane upon their departure at King Fahad International Airport heading to Kozhikode. Some 150 Indian passengers, mainly consisting of pregnant women and stranded workers, left Riyadh on a special flight amid the Covid-19 pandemic. AFP / Embassy of India in Riyadh
A picture provided by the Embassy of India in Riyadh shows Indian expats inside a plane upon their departure at King Fahad International Airport heading to Kozhikode. Some 150 Indian passengers, mainly consisting of pregnant women and stranded workers, left Riyadh on a special flight amid the Covid-19 pandemic. AFP / Embassy of India in Riyadh
A picture provided by the embassy of India in Riyadh shows Indian expats queuing at departure section in King Fahad International Airport heading to Kozhikode. AFP / Embassy of India in Riyadh
A picture provided by the embassy of India in Riyadh shows Indian expats queuing at departure section in King Fahad International Airport heading to Kozhikode. AFP / Embassy of India in Riyadh
People wearing protective face masks read verses from the holy Quran at a mosque during Ramadan in Sana'a, Yemen. EPA
People wearing protective face masks read verses from the holy Quran at a mosque during Ramadan in Sana'a, Yemen. EPA
A Yemeni child in Sana'a, Yemen, where the World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned coronavirus is spreading fast. EPA
A Yemeni child in Sana'a, Yemen, where the World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned coronavirus is spreading fast. EPA
A Muslim singer wears his sufi clothing before singing Islamic songs (Anasheed) at his home in Cairo, Egypt. EPA
A Muslim singer wears his sufi clothing before singing Islamic songs (Anasheed) at his home in Cairo, Egypt. EPA
Libyans exercise at the beach before iftar, or breaking the fast, during Ramadan in the capital Tripoli. AFP
Libyans exercise at the beach before iftar, or breaking the fast, during Ramadan in the capital Tripoli. AFP

_______________

The amendments also allow military prosecutors to investigate incidents when army officers are tasked with law enforcement or when the president orders it. The country's chief civilian prosecutor would have the final decision on whether to bring matters to trial.

Parliament approved the amendments last month.

Egypt has been under a state of emergency since April 2017, and the government extended it late last month for another three months. The law was originally passed to give the president broader powers to combat terrorism and drug trafficking.

The government said the amendments were needed to address a legal “vacuum” revealed by the coronavirus outbreak.

In response the pandemic, Egypt has halted international air travel and shut down schools, universities, mosques, churches and archaeological sites, including the famed Giza pyramids. A curfew is in place from 9pm to 6am. The partial lockdown is to continue for another two weeks, until the end of Ramadan.

Kareem Shaheen on Canada

White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogenChromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxideUltramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica contentOphiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on landOlivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour

The more serious side of specialty coffee

While the taste of beans and freshness of roast is paramount to the specialty coffee scene, so is sustainability and workers’ rights.

The bulk of genuine specialty coffee companies aim to improve on these elements in every stage of production via direct relationships with farmers. For instance, Mokha 1450 on Al Wasl Road strives to work predominantly with women-owned and -operated coffee organisations, including female farmers in the Sabree mountains of Yemen.

Because, as the boutique’s owner, Garfield Kerr, points out: “women represent over 90 per cent of the coffee value chain, but are woefully underrepresented in less than 10 per cent of ownership and management throughout the global coffee industry.”

One of the UAE’s largest suppliers of green (meaning not-yet-roasted) beans, Raw Coffee, is a founding member of the Partnership of Gender Equity, which aims to empower female coffee farmers and harvesters.

Also, globally, many companies have found the perfect way to recycle old coffee grounds: they create the perfect fertile soil in which to grow mushrooms. 

LILO & STITCH

Starring: Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders

Director: Dean Fleischer Camp

Rating: 4.5/5

On Women's Day
UAE currency
Whiile you're here
Saudi National Day
Sri Lanka v England

First Test, at Galle
England won by 211

Second Test, at Kandy
England won by 57 runs

Third Test, at Colombo
From Nov 23-27

Wicked: For Good

Director: Jon M Chu

Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater

Rating: 4/5

PROFILE OF SWVL

Started: April 2017

Founders: Mostafa Kandil, Ahmed Sabbah and Mahmoud Nouh

Based: Cairo, Egypt

Sector: transport

Size: 450 employees

Investment: approximately $80 million

Investors include: Dubai’s Beco Capital, US’s Endeavor Catalyst, China’s MSA, Egypt’s Sawari Ventures, Sweden’s Vostok New Ventures, Property Finder CEO Michael Lahyani

The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo

The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
​​​​​​​Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km

While you're here
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
  1. Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
  2. Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
  3. Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
  4. Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
  5. Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
  6. The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
  7. Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269

*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year

While you're here
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Red flags
  • Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
  • Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
  • Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
  • Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
  • Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.

Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching

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The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

Nepotism is the name of the game

Salman Khan’s father, Salim Khan, is one of Bollywood’s most legendary screenwriters. Through his partnership with co-writer Javed Akhtar, Salim is credited with having paved the path for the Indian film industry’s blockbuster format in the 1970s. Something his son now rules the roost of. More importantly, the Salim-Javed duo also created the persona of the “angry young man” for Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan in the 1970s, reflecting the angst of the average Indian. In choosing to be the ordinary man’s “hero” as opposed to a thespian in new Bollywood, Salman Khan remains tightly linked to his father’s oeuvre. Thanks dad. 

How to register as a donor

1) Organ donors can register on the Hayat app, run by the Ministry of Health and Prevention

2) There are about 11,000 patients in the country in need of organ transplants

3) People must be over 21. Emiratis and residents can register. 

4) The campaign uses the hashtag  #donate_hope

Pharaoh's curse

British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.