People pray while observing safe distancing at the Al Emam Aly Mosque in Cairo. EPA
People pray while observing safe distancing at the Al Emam Aly Mosque in Cairo. EPA
A waiter carries an order at a cafe in the Egyptian capital Cairo after authorities relaxed the lockdown measures in place to curb the spread of coronavirus. AFP
A waiter carries an order at a cafe in the Egyptian capital Cairo after authorities relaxed the lockdown measures in place to curb the spread of coronavirus. AFP
A worker prepares an order at a cafe in the Egyptian capital Cairo after authorities relaxed the lockdown measures in place to curb the spread of coronavirus. AFP
A worker prepares an order at a cafe in the Egyptian capital Cairo after authorities relaxed the lockdown measures in place to curb the spread of coronavirus. AFP
A note asking people to follow the instructions of the Health Ministry is pictured on the door of a cafe in the Egyptian capital Cairo. AFP
A note asking people to follow the instructions of the Health Ministry is pictured on the door of a cafe in the Egyptian capital Cairo. AFP
A worker disinfects the door of a cafe in the Egyptian capital Cairo. AFP
A worker disinfects the door of a cafe in the Egyptian capital Cairo. AFP
A customer gets his temperature measured by a worker in a cafe in Cairo. EPA
A customer gets his temperature measured by a worker in a cafe in Cairo. EPA
A waiter serves customers in a cafe after months of lockdown in Cairo. Reuters
A waiter serves customers in a cafe after months of lockdown in Cairo. Reuters
A woman looks at clothes at a store after months of lockdown in Cairo. Reuters
A woman looks at clothes at a store after months of lockdown in Cairo. Reuters
Youth play football at a local sport centre after months of lockdown in Cairo. Reuters
Youth play football at a local sport centre after months of lockdown in Cairo. Reuters
Churchgoers wear face masks and maintain a minimum social distance between each other as they attend a mass at the Armenian Catholic Church in Cairo. EPA
Churchgoers wear face masks and maintain a minimum social distance between each other as they attend a mass at the Armenian Catholic Church in Cairo. EPA
A girl reads a book in a cafe in Cairo. EPA
A girl reads a book in a cafe in Cairo. EPA
People take part in a dawn prayer inside Amr Ibn Al-As mosque in Cairo on June 27, 2020 as Egypt eased restrictions on public prayers, imposed to contain its coronavirus outbreak. EPA
People take part in a dawn prayer inside Amr Ibn Al-As mosque in Cairo on June 27, 2020 as Egypt eased restrictions on public prayers, imposed to contain its coronavirus outbreak. EPA
Worshippers are required to wear masks alongside other safety guidelines such as limited capacity at mosques, the use of personal prayer mats, temperature screening and social distancing. EPA
Worshippers are required to wear masks alongside other safety guidelines such as limited capacity at mosques, the use of personal prayer mats, temperature screening and social distancing. EPA
People pray while observing safe distancing at the Al Emam Aly Mosque in Cairo. EPA
People pray while observing safe distancing at the Al Emam Aly Mosque in Cairo. EPA
Egyptians attend the Fajr prayer inside the Al Rahman Mosque in the Cairo's Maadi neighbourhood. Reuters
Egyptians attend the Fajr prayer inside the Al Rahman Mosque in the Cairo's Maadi neighbourhood. Reuters
A worshipper records the dawn prayer inside Amr Ibn Al-As mosque in Cairo. EPA
A worshipper records the dawn prayer inside Amr Ibn Al-As mosque in Cairo. EPA
Worshippers wait to perform dawn prayers at the Amr Ibn Al-As in Cairo. EPA
Worshippers wait to perform dawn prayers at the Amr Ibn Al-As in Cairo. EPA
A volunteer wearing a face mask sprays disinfectant inside a mosque before it reopens to the public after three months. Reuters
A volunteer wearing a face mask sprays disinfectant inside a mosque before it reopens to the public after three months. Reuters
A volunteer disinfects the entrance to a mosque in Cairo. Reuters
A volunteer disinfects the entrance to a mosque in Cairo. Reuters
A volunteer sprays disinfectant in bathrooms at a Cairo mosque as it prepares to receive worshippers. Reuters
A volunteer sprays disinfectant in bathrooms at a Cairo mosque as it prepares to receive worshippers. Reuters
A volunteer wearing a face mask sprays disinfectant inside a mosque in Cairo. Reuters
A volunteer wearing a face mask sprays disinfectant inside a mosque in Cairo. Reuters

Worshippers at mosques 'ecstatic' as Egypt allows public prayers

Churches, cafes, restaurants and cinemas also allowed to reopen despite rising coronavirus cases

Hamza Hendawi
Hamza Hendawi
Cairo

June 27, 2020

  • English
  • Arabic

The suburban Cairo mosque was full soon after the call for the noon prayers rang out on Saturday, forcing some worshippers to pray on the plaza or the lawn outside. But that was not because their numbers were more than the opulent mosque could ordinarily hold; social distancing meant that each one required more space.

In times of grave crisis, such as the deadly Covid-19 pandemic that has menaced Egypt for the past five months, religious practices ordinarily observed are sometimes shelved in good faith. The oft repeated Quranic verse and saying of the Prophet Mohammed that urges Muslims to stand shoulder-to-shoulder during war and prayers, like a wall whose bricks are closely cemented together, has become somewhat perilous to apply.

The temporary suspension of embracing that command was cited by the imam as a sign of Islam’s greatness.

“It was a very difficult time for all of us, but we are back and we offer our thanks to Allah,” said the imam, whose call for the prayers did not include “pray at home”, the phrase inserted when mosques were closed in March.

“Contrary to what many believe, our religion is very flexible,” said the young imam after he led up to 100 men in prayer at a mosque that could easily accommodate 500 to 600.  “We have missed the houses of God and we are back now. It’s a blessing for which we are filled with gratitude and we should try and keep it by observing rules,” he told worshippers who showed up wearing blue surgical masks and carrying their own prayer rugs as part of precautions against the coronavirus.

Egypt on Saturday reopened mosques for worshippers for the first time since it ordered them shuttered three months ago, ending one of the most debated and emotionally charged measures to contain the spread of Covid-19.

_______________

Coronavirus in the region

Men sit at a traditional cafe in the historic city of Shaqlawah, about 48 kilometres northeast of Erbil, in the northern Iraqi Kurdish autonomous region. AFP
Men sit at a traditional cafe in the historic city of Shaqlawah, about 48 kilometres northeast of Erbil, in the northern Iraqi Kurdish autonomous region. AFP
A mask-clad man stokes burning wood by teapots at a traditional cafe in the historic city of Shaqlawah, about 48 kilometres northeast of Erbil, in the northern Iraqi Kurdish autonomous region. AFP
A mask-clad man stokes burning wood by teapots at a traditional cafe in the historic city of Shaqlawah, about 48 kilometres northeast of Erbil, in the northern Iraqi Kurdish autonomous region. AFP
Girls attend a Koran class as Palestinians ease the Covid-19 restrictions, in a mosque in Gaza City. Reuters
Girls attend a Koran class as Palestinians ease the Covid-19 restrictions, in a mosque in Gaza City. Reuters
Anti-government demonstrators hold up placards reading in Arabic: 'No trust' during a silent protest in front the government palace in Beirut, Lebanon. EPA
Anti-government demonstrators hold up placards reading in Arabic: 'No trust' during a silent protest in front the government palace in Beirut, Lebanon. EPA
Saudi movie viewers buy refreshments at VOX Cinema hall in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia after the announcement of easing of lockdown measures. AP Photo
Saudi movie viewers buy refreshments at VOX Cinema hall in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia after the announcement of easing of lockdown measures. AP Photo
A Saudi movie viewer has her temperature taken at VOX Cinema hall in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia after the announcement of easing of lockdown measures. AP Photo
A Saudi movie viewer has her temperature taken at VOX Cinema hall in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia after the announcement of easing of lockdown measures. AP Photo
A Yemeni pharmacist serves his customers behind a glass shield at a pharmacy in Sanaa, Yemen. AP Photo
A Yemeni pharmacist serves his customers behind a glass shield at a pharmacy in Sanaa, Yemen. AP Photo
People sit at a cafe in the capital Rabat, after the authorities eased lockdown measures in some cities. AFP
People sit at a cafe in the capital Rabat, after the authorities eased lockdown measures in some cities. AFP
A worker opens Salah El Din mosque's door for prayers, first prayers of Al-Fajr prayer after months of lockdown in Cairo, Egypt. Reuters
A worker opens Salah El Din mosque's door for prayers, first prayers of Al-Fajr prayer after months of lockdown in Cairo, Egypt. Reuters

_______________

Ironically, the decision to reopen the mosques along with churches, restaurants, cafes, cinemas and theatres came as the country of 100 million people is gripped by the worst stretch of the pandemic, with new cases of Covid-19 numbering well above 1,000 every day.

As of Friday night, authorities had reported 62,755 cases and 2,620 deaths. Of these, 36,203 cases and 1,565 fatalities – more than half of the total – were recorded this month.

The government maintains that Egyptians must learn to live with Covid-19 as best they can until a vaccine is developed, but they must also adhere to preventive measures such as social distancing, wearing masks in public and adopting hygienic practices like frequent washing of hands.

The aim, argues the government, is to prevent a continuing lockdown from causing an economic meltdown that would wipe out hard-won gains made over years of harsh reforms to overhaul the economy such as removing state subsidies on basic goods and services and introducing new taxes. But the grim numbers of Covid-19 cases and fatalities have led some to question the wisdom of reopening the country now.

Some Egyptians are using social media to warn that it is too soon to return to business as usual, urging their compatriots to stay home if they can, especially in the greater Cairo area, home to some 25 million people and more than half of all fatalities and cases since the coronavirus outbreak began in mid-February.

They also warned against frequenting cafes and restaurants, although authorities have instructed owners to operate at just 25 per cent of capacity, the ratio also applied to cinemas and theatres. A nighttime curfew has been lifted and July 1 will see the reopening of airports and the resumption of international and domestic flights. Public beaches and parks, deemed too dangerous, will remain shut.

Amid the debate about the timing of returning life to normal, the reopening of mosques appears to be the one move that is winning almost universal approval in this overwhelmingly Muslim nation. However, the traditional Friday sermon, like the Sunday liturgies, remain banned.

“I was happy to go back today,” said Sayed Mohammed, a 67-year-old businessman who offered the dawn prayers on Saturday at a downtown Cairo mosque frequented mostly by fundamentalist Salafi Muslims. “Some of the men brought their young children, something that’s only done during Ramadan or the major religious holidays. You could see that everyone was ecstatic,” he said.

Facing possible fines or loss of licence if they flaunt the regulations, most cafes in Cairo restricted seating to pavements outside their establishments and diligently enforced the limit on patrons and the mandatory use of masks indoors.

”We are back, and that’s really good, but with 25 per cent capacity, sales will be pretty low,” said a waiter at a coffee house belonging to an international chain.

The specs
 
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Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
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Toilet cleaner

1 cup baking soda 

1 cup castile soap

10-20 drops of lemon essential oil (or another oil of your choice) 

Method:

1. Mix the baking soda and castile soap until you get a nice consistency.

2. Add the essential oil to the mix.

Air Freshener

100ml water 

5 drops of the essential oil of your choice (note: lavender is a nice one for this) 

Method:

1. Add water and oil to spray bottle to store.

2. Shake well before use. 

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'The worst thing you can eat'

Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.

Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines: 

Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.

Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.

Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.

Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.

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Director: Laxman Utekar

Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna

Rating: 1/5

The five pillars of Islam
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How to get there

Emirates (www.emirates.com) flies directly to Hanoi, Vietnam, with fares starting from around Dh2,725 return, while Etihad (www.etihad.com) fares cost about Dh2,213 return with a stop. Chuong is 25 kilometres south of Hanoi.
 

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Our legal columnist

Name: Yousef Al Bahar

Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994

Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers

List of alleged parties

 

May 12, 2020: PM and his wife Carrie attend 'work meeting' with at least 17 staff 

May 20, 2020: They attend 'bring your own booze party'

Nov 27, 2020: PM gives speech at leaving party for his staff 

Dec 10, 2020: Staff party held by then-education secretary Gavin Williamson 

Dec 13, 2020: PM and his wife throw a party

Dec 14, 2020: London mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey holds staff event at Conservative Party headquarters 

Dec 15, 2020: PM takes part in a staff quiz 

Dec 18, 2020: Downing Street Christmas party 

Saudi National Day
On Women's Day
Company profile

Company: Eighty6 

Date started: October 2021 

Founders: Abdul Kader Saadi and Anwar Nusseibeh 

Based: Dubai, UAE 

Sector: Hospitality 

Size: 25 employees 

Funding stage: Pre-series A 

Investment: $1 million 

Investors: Seed funding, angel investors  

Europe's top EV producers
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  3. Netherlands (20%)
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Source: VCOe 

'I Want You Back'

Director:Jason Orley

Stars:Jenny Slate, Charlie Day

Rating:4/5

The specs

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PULITZER PRIZE 2020 WINNERS

JOURNALISM 

Public Service
Anchorage Daily News in collaboration with ProPublica

Breaking News Reporting
Staff of The Courier-Journal, Louisville, Ky.

Investigative Reporting
Brian M. Rosenthal of The New York Times

Explanatory Reporting
Staff of The Washington Post

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Staff of The Baltimore Sun

National Reporting
T. Christian Miller, Megan Rose and Robert Faturechi of ProPublica

and    

Dominic Gates, Steve Miletich, Mike Baker and Lewis Kamb of The Seattle Times

International Reporting
Staff of The New York Times

Feature Writing
Ben Taub of The New Yorker

Commentary
Nikole Hannah-Jones of The New York Times

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LETTERS AND DRAMA

Fiction
"The Nickel Boys" by Colson Whitehead (Doubleday)

Drama
"A Strange Loop" by Michael R. Jackson

History
"Sweet Taste of Liberty: A True Story of Slavery and Restitution in America" by W. Caleb McDaniel (Oxford University Press)

Biography
"Sontag: Her Life and Work" by Benjamin Moser (Ecco/HarperCollins)

Poetry
"The Tradition" by Jericho Brown (Copper Canyon Press)

General Nonfiction
"The Undying: Pain, Vulnerability, Mortality, Medicine, Art, Time, Dreams, Data, Exhaustion, Cancer, and Care" by Anne Boyer (Farrar, Straus and Giroux)

and

"The End of the Myth: From the Frontier to the Border Wall in the Mind of America" by Greg Grandin (Metropolitan Books)

Music
"The Central Park Five" by Anthony Davis, premiered by Long Beach Opera on June 15, 2019

Special Citation
Ida B. Wells

 

'Doctor Strange in the Multiverse Of Madness' 

   

 

Director: Sam Raimi

 

Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Elizabeth Olsen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Benedict Wong, Xochitl Gomez, Michael Stuhlbarg and Rachel McAdams

 

Rating: 3/5

 
'Top Gun: Maverick'

Rating: 4/5

 

Directed by: Joseph Kosinski

 

Starring: Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Miles Teller, Glen Powell, Ed Harris

 
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