Egypt

Commentary: Thumbs up for the Egyptian economy

Al-Ahram Weekly, by HANY ABOU-EL-FOTOUH

Hany Abou El-Fotouh finds optimism in recently released data

Several international organisations and rating agencies have praised the progress made in the past two years in the Egyptian economy.

Two years ago, I was skeptical about the progress of the economic reform programme. I was not alone in this impression since the harsh measures that were taken left most Egyptians helpless in the face of soaring price hikes. Sadly, the grievances of average citizens were aggravated by the greed of merchants and weak controls over prices and markets.

The Egyptian economy has come a long way in the past eight years. Following the revolution in 2011, growth fell sharply to below two per cent, and unemployment jumped to over 10 per cent, one of the highest levels in 10 years. Subsequent governments decided not to tackle the main economic problems in order to dodge the discontent of the already unhappy population furious with government performance and inadequate living conditions. They preferred to take to several populist measures to pacify the discontented public. Such measures included spending more on subsidies and government employment and increasing wages. Thus, the fiscal deficit jumped to 8.6 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP), leading to an increase in inflation to 11 per cent. The external current account deficit increased to nearly $5 billion and the unemployment rate had risen to 12.9 per cent in 2015.

Successive governments continued to make unwise policy mistakes; the biggest was keeping the Egyptian pound stable. This resulted in the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) losing over $20 billion of its foreign exchange reserves between December 2010 and May 2012. Although in the first half of the fiscal year 2010-2011 the growth rate reached 5.2 per cent, it declined to 4.2 per cent in the first quarter of 2011, then reached virtually zero growth in the last quarter of the fiscal year, resulting in an overall growth of only 1.8 per cent in that fiscal year.

On the back of these developments, the three major credit rating agencies — Moody’s Investors Service, Fitch Ratings and Standard & Poor’s — downgraded Egypt’s sovereign credit rating.

After the 30 June Revolution, President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi faced a big challenge: how to revive the economy to achieve sustained high economic growth of at least 6-7 per cent and reduce unemployment. This required the implementation of major economic and institutional reforms. It was expected that these reforms take time before yielding results.

In November 2016, the government, in collaboration with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), launched an economic reform program which aimed at restoring the economic stability of Egypt and paving the way for higher long-term growth. The government has carried out bold reforms since then. Among the tough economic measures were the liberalisation of the foreign exchange market and energy subsidy reforms.

Now, as the economic reform programme is nearing completion — June 2019 — the picture is totally different.

The economy grew at an accelerated pace in the second quarter of the fiscal year 2019. GDP now stands at 5.3 per cent and is projected to reach 5.8 per cent in 2020.

World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) revealed that the travel and tourism sector contributed 11.9 per cent of Egypt GDP during 2018 and is expected to grow a further 5.4 per cent in 2019. Furthermore, WTTC showed that tourism was responsible for 9.5 per cent of all Egypt’s employment, providing 2.5 million jobs.

The unemployment rate decreased to 8.90 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2018, the lowest level in nine years. It was as high as 12.40 per cent in 2013.

Foreign currency reserves have risen steadily, reaching $44.06 billion by the end of February 2019. 

The Egyptian pound strengthened to its highest in over two years, boosted by the improvements in tourism, exports, substitution of natural gas imports with domestic production, Egyptian expat remittances, increased foreign investors’ appetite for Egyptian treasury bills and improving the balance of payments.

Over and above, international credit rating agencies have changed their views of the progress of the Egyptian economy. Fitch recently upgraded Egypt’s credit rating from B to B+. Fitch’s report says, “Egypt will continue to generate better economic outcomes beyond the IMF agreement.” Likewise, Moody’s Investors Service has upgraded Egypt’s credit outlook rating from “stable” to “positive” following the positive outcome of the “ambitious” economic reform programme, along with political stability which has led to structural improvements in Egypt’s fiscal and current account balances, with primary deficits dropping and debt beginning to shrink. As for Standard & Poor’s (S&P), it raised the global rankings of Egypt’s sovereign credit rating from B- to B in May 2018.

Nonetheless, the picture is not entirely rosy. The public debt stands at 98 per cent of GDP, which remains high though sustainable. Servicing the debt accounts for about 30 per cent of fiscal spending, almost 10 per cent of GDP. 

The improvement in the economy should be reflected in the daily life of ordinary people. Only then will the average citizen have fully reaped the rewards of the economic reform programme.

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The writer is CEO of  Alraya Consulting.

ACCIONA develops water and energy projects in the country

Acciona, (Acciona develops water and energy projects in the country) 

Egypt is, after South Africa, the second African country where ACCIONA Energy is deploying renewable facilities, which the company plans to spread along the continent.We are currently building a big photovoltaic complex with three plants totaling 150 MW of rated capacity (186 MWp peak capacity), located in the Aswan region.

ACCIONA Agua will capture water from the River Nile, transport it 40 kms, and treat it in a Potable Water Plant with a daily capacity of 500,000 cubic meters. The company also builds the wastewater treatment plant at Gabal Al Asfar, on the outskirts of Cairo, making it the biggest deal of its type in Africa. Other projects in Egypt are wastewater treatment plant of Abnoub & el Fath and the 100,000 cubic metre one at Kattaneya and five potable water stations with a total capacity of over 600,000 cubic metres an estimated population of 6.1 million.

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BUSINESS DIVISIONS IN THIS COUNTRY

  

 

                              WATER

 

                              ENERGY

PROJECTS

BENBAN PHOTOVOLTAIC COMPLEX

Three twin plants from 186 MWp in Aswan (Egypt), in alliance with Swicorp. Together, they produce clean energy equivalent to the consumption of some 150.000 Egyptian households, avoiding the emission of 297.000 tons of CO2 annually in fuel-oil plants. Each plant is equipped with 190.774 polycrystalline silicon modules

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT BENBAN PHOTOVOLTAIC COMPLEX

EGYPT WWTP

The project consists of four WWTP in Egypt. Together, the plants treat 150,000 m3/day of wastewater from an urban area with a population of 500,000 and reuse them in irrigation. The four plants all have a water line and a sludge line.

MORE INFROMATION ABOUT EGYPT WWTP

'Paris seized by Egyptomania' as Tutankhamun, the Treasures of the Pharaoh show opens

Ahram Online

Paris joined in the fascination with the treasures of the ancient Egyptian boy-king Tutankhamen last weekend with the opening of a major exhibition in the French capital 

Half a century after the success of the last exhibition of the treasures of the ancient Egyptian boy-king Tutankhamun to hit the French capital, a new exhibition, this time at the Grande Halle de la Villette rather than the Petit Palais, is displaying more than 150 treasured pieces from the tomb of the young Pharaoh to thousands of appreciative visitors to the exhibition in Paris.  

Paris was seized by Egyptomania this week when the “Tutankhamun, the Treasures of the Pharaoh” exhibition opened for its second stop after opening in Los Angeles in the US last year.

Streets, shops, buses, the metro, the façade of buildings, hotels and restaurants were all plastered with posters of the symbolic golden coffin of the boy-king, one of the pieces in the exhibition, or of a gilded wooden statuette depicting the king riding a black leopard, or of the Ka, a wooden guardian statue with gilded head-dress and skirt and gold jewellery studded with coloured precious stones.

 

Tutankhamun's symbolic sarcophagus (40 cm tall) Photos: Vincent Nageotte

 

The mystery of the golden king has stirred up worldwide curiosity since the discovery of his tomb in 1922, and now the “Tutankhamun, the Treasures of the Pharaoh” exhibition in Paris is fascinating visitors yet again. It features 150 pieces, 60 of which have never before been seen outside Egypt, and its theatrical design and exhibition scenario helps to reconstruct the path of the king into the afterlife.

The gate of the Villette exhibition ground was glittering with the name of Tutankhamun this week, while the Grande Halle’s galleries were transformed into an ancient Egyptian necropolis with dark walls and soft lighting. Giant screens showed films documenting the work of British archaeologist Howard Carter in discovering the intact tomb of Tutankhamun and its treasures, taking visitors back in time to the early 20th century, with strains of oriental music filling the air in the display areas.

Before going into the exhibition, visitors enter an immersive environment that begins with an introductory film on a 180-degree screen meant to transport them to the Valley of the Kings on the west bank of the Nile at Luxor where Tutankhamun’s tomb was discovered.

The camera sweeps across the mountainous and desert landscape. Groups of men studying maps, digging rocks, or sifting sand are shown. Visitors then enter the first room of the exhibition proper, where images, lighting and sound are used to create the impression of the imminent finds. 

Scarab. (Photos: Vincent Nageotte)

 

During the nine-gallery exhibition that follows, guests pass through the six gates of the underworld as they travel with the king on his journey to eternity. Along the way, they encounter good-luck amulets, weapons meant to fight off demons, alabaster containers of oils that the ancient Egyptians believed enabled the king to see and hear in the underworld, and figurines of gods meant to guide and protect him. 

The second gallery is dedicated to the gods. It is here that one finds the most impressive pieces, including the king’s guardian, a powerful black-and-gold statue that has watched over the king’s sleep for nearly three millennia, and a delicate miniature sarcophagus that contained his embalmed viscera. 

Then comes the king’s rebirth, illustrated by an arch of light evoking the journey of the god Re from sunrise to zenith. This room presents the fabulous treasures found in the boy-king’s burial chamber, including bracelets, tiaras, amulets and ornaments in which gold and precious stones mingle. 

The penultimate part, using video and digital images, evokes the discovery and study of the mummy. The last room leaves visitors facing a colossus in stone representing the boy-king.  

Amulet. (Photos: Vincent Nageotte)

 

TECHNOLOGY

3D scans of objects are shown on video screens on top of the display cases, so viewers can zoom in and spin objects on screen for an interactive experience. 

“There’s a lot more technology in this exhibition when it comes to being able to help tell the story. With these videos, visitors really get to see these objects in a way they have never seen them before,” John Norman, director of exhibitions of the IMG company that organised the show, told Al-Ahram Weekly.

For the next six months, the Grande Halle de la Villette will display 150 magnificent objects from the collection that has captivated French audiences since its first tour there in the 1967, he said. Dramatically laid out in nine galleries, it relates the story of one of the most interesting and perplexing kings in ancient Egyptian history almost 3,300 years ago. Each section showcases the dazzling craftsmanship of ancient artisans that characterised the earlier Tutankhamun exhibition.

Norman said the exhibition used multimedia displays to stimulate interest in the science related to archaeology. Visitors also learn how the scientific analysis of the boy-king’s 3,000-year-old mummy had revealed new information about his health and lineage, as well as how cutting-edge archaeological tools were assisting in discovering tombs and analysing existing ones in ways never before imagined.

 

Egypt and France culture ministers, El-Enany and Reister (C) at the exhibition (Photos: Vincent Nageotte)

 

The last galleries in the show focus on the discovery of the tomb itself and the history of Egyptian archaeology, along with new scientific analyses of the mummy. These are provided through a video table showing scan data of Tutankhamun’s mummy. The scans are from 2005, but advances in technology have made it possible to glean more information from them, including that Tutankhamun had a club foot and an impacted wisdom tooth. 

New DNA testing shows that the young king also suffered from malaria and had a badly broken left leg above the knee that pierced his skin. This likely resulted in the infection that caused his death.

The exhibition takes visitors through the afterlife, visualising it through objects from the tomb. It combines technology, music and animation in novel ways. “We have used a lot of technology in the exhibition,” Norman added, describing it as “a very theatrical experience”. He said that each gallery space had its own music to ground viewers in ancient Egypt and provide context for the exhibition.

Egypt’s Minister of Antiquities Khaled El-Enany, who officially inaugurated the exhibition along with French Minister of Culture Franck Riester, described the exhibition as an “appetiser” for French audiences to encourage them to travel to Egypt to admire the rest of the king’s collection in its final resting place at the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), due to open in 2020. 

“It is a message of peace and security from Egypt to the whole world,” El-Enany said.

He also highlighted the strong friendship between Egypt and France, adding that archaeology had always had a special place in the hearts of the French, who had contributed a lot to it over the last two centuries since French Egyptologist Jean-Francois Champollion deciphered hieroglyphs in 1822.

During his speech, El-Enany highlighted the recent discoveries and inaugurations of archaeological projects carried out by the ministry last year. He also invited the French public to witness the announcement of three new discoveries within the next few months and to visit Egypt to see the transportation of the royal mummies from the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square to the new Museum of Egyptian Civilisation in the Cairo district of Fustat. 

 

First day visitors to the exhibition queuing at the gate

 

Some 200,000 tickets have already been sold for the Paris exhibition, with 5,000 people visiting the exhibition on its first day and queuing outside la Villette. It is expected that the number of visitors to the Paris exhibition will reach one million people before it travels to its third stop in London.

“The exhibition is soothing and most moving,” whispered Séverine, one of the first-day visitors to the exhibition. She said the darkness of the exhibition design provided “a beautiful atmosphere which brings out the gilding”. 

“What is impressive in this exhibition is seeing that almost everything is intact,” Séverine continued, fascinated, like fellow visitor Sylvain, with the figurine of Horus, one of the oldest Egyptian deities, and amazed by the details and materials used. “To know the techniques that they had at that time is just incredible,” he said.

Sylvain had anticipated the crowds, and like his friends he had bought a ticket in November for the exhibition. Jean-Marie, at the exhibition with his children, had also bought tickets three months ago to be sure to be able to get in. He had good reason to be present on the first day, as he had also been half a century ago at the first Tutankhamun exhibition in Paris at the Petit Palais.

“I visited the exhibition 50 years ago when I was ten years old, which is the current age of my daughter,” he said. In 1967, “the exhibition of the century” attracted more than 1.2 million visitors, a record never equalled. “I absolutely wanted to pass this on to my children because it is a great moment of emotion for me. It is of an absolute and timeless beauty,” Jean-Marie told the Weekly.

Tutankhamun seduces all generations, however. “What is amazing is that there is gold everywhere. It is a precious material, and you get the impression that the ancient Egyptians had lots of it,” said one 13-year-old visitor. 

Janette, an 80-year-old visitor on the second day along with her two friends, was found in a corner of the exhibition crying. “We are very sad,” Janette told the Weekly.

“Fifty-two years ago when the Tutankhamun exhibition was first in Paris we came to visit it. We were then four friends, and now we are only three as our fourth friend passed away a few months ago. We were hesitant whether to buy tickets and go to the exhibition, but we decided to do so in order to make our fourth friend happy. But upon our arrival we could not stop crying as we see her all around us,” Janette concluded.

Covers of french magazines devoted their issues to tutankhamun's exhibition. Photos: Vincent Nageotte

 

Who should speak on behalf of Egyptians?

A barrage of Egyptians and non-Egyptians has appeared on Capitol Hill and at the White House to speak on behalf of Egyptians. Who gives them the right and the opportunity to do just that, and should we care?

Many a time, since 2012, Muslim Brotherhood members visited the White House and Capitol Hill. It is generally acknowledged that President Obama and Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton, were totally behind the Muslim Brotherhood, often hosting Muslim Brotherhood members, but why are the MB members seen, until today, flaunting the Rabaa sign as they stand before the American flag or praying in various American offices? Are these visits solicited or unsolicited visits? 

Many a group affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood have wanted their views to reach American lawmakers. The United States Council of Muslim Organization (USCMO) is one of many organizations that aim to advance the agenda of the Muslim Brotherhood. They organize the Muslim Advocacy Day, when Islamists from across the United States lobby for their agendas.

During this lobbying event, the Egyptian Americans for Freedom and Justice, EAFAJ, whose Facebook site denounces Egypt’s regime and calls for “justice for Egyptians” lobbies US lawmakers not to support the designation of the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization.

Many attendees are identified as members of the MB. One such attendee was Ayat Oraby, an avid Muslim Brotherhood supporter. She happens to be the one who condemned the military for “killing Muslims on behalf of the Zionist enemy.”

And recently, Egyptian actors Khaled Abol Naga and Amr Waked were amongst a panel of other renegades lobbying the US Congress lawmakers to take action against Egypt.

The “Egypt Advocacy Day” was promoted as a “Two-Day Advocacy on Capital (sic) Hill.” They aimed “to advocate against the proposed constitutional amendments that severely undermine judiciary independence and invite military intervention to unseat elected presidents.”  The site confirms, “Registration and room and board will be covered. Scholarships available on a per-need basis for travel,” leaving me wondering who pays for such expenses.  

In one session, Waked vowed to continue his activism for a free and democratic Egypt. "This is not going to go down, not on our watch. We have to deliver this message to them very clearly: we do not fear you; you are going down." Obviously, such discourse is why Egyptians, angered and furiated, reacted the way they did against the actor. I am also sure that Waked's opinion will never be the cause of Egypt’s downfall. If anything, it merely creates antagonism against him.  

Abol Naga urged “activists to never forget the power of the popular uprisings that rocked the Arab World in 2011, toppling several leaders across the Middle East and North Africa,” and, my two cents, destroyed many countries except Egypt.

Generally speaking, these renegades don’t get access to US lawmaker listeners; at most they meet their staffers, and many of the photos circulated by the MB members are sheer propaganda in the hopes of leaving the impression that they are indeed accessing congressmen.

Besides, according to Soapbox Consulting, a firm that gets lobbyists in the door of a lawmaker, it isn’t an easy matter to access congressmen. “The firm may get you a meeting with a staffer but rarely with a congressman.” Still, it would be interesting to know who subsidizes such events or hires a consulting firm to get them access to a congressman. 

It is not only renegade Egyptians who flagrantly speak to US officials about Egypt, but others are also allowed if not invited to do the same. In 2017, Michele Dunne of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace testified in front of Congress where she encouraged members of Congress to reconsider their approach and stop sending US Aid to Egypt.

Michele Dunne is an avid speaker against Egypt, its leader, its military, and its judicial system. Egypt does face a serious threat from terrorism she said, "But the unprecedented human rights abuse and political repression practiced by the government since 2013 is fanning the flames rather than putting them out."

Michelle Dunne’s testimony is official and is taken quite seriously by US lawmakers. It would be enlightening for congressmen to listen to the other side of the coin, someone who appreciates what is happening in Egypt. Here is a response to one of Michele Dunne's outcries, "An open letter to Michele Dunne." 

For a change, and definitely a change for the better, why aren’t those who represent the majority of Egyptians getting similar invitations to speak to US lawmakers? Why isn’t Congress listening to the other side, those who see the gains that have taken place and Egypt’s stance against terrorism?

If it’s Egyptians that live abroad, I see thousands, maybe even millions, who would do a better job of explaining where Egypt is going and how far it has gone. I’d call on Professor Farouk El Baz. Professor El Baz serves on the Board of Trustee of the Alexandria Library (Bibliotheca Alexandrina), the Arab Science and Technology Foundation, the Egyptian Center for Economic Studies, the Egyptian-American Affairs Council. I see him as a fair and just speaker on Egyptian affairs.

Maybe Mohamed El-Erian, the chief economist who remains in close ties with Egypt, would be a perfect representative of Egypt. At the Egypt Economic Development Conference (EEDC), El-Erian said that he saw “huge opportunities” for Egypt.

If it’s the words of non-Egyptians, then let’s call on Christine Lagarde, managing director of the IMF. According to Lagarde:

Egypt's ... growth rate is now among the highest in the region, the budget deficit is on a declining trajectory, and inflation is on track to reach the Central Bank of Egypt’s target by the end of 2019. Unemployment has declined to around 10 percent, which is the lowest since 2011, and social protection measures have been expanded.

I would be the first to say that these Egyptians and non-Egyptians would focus on economic improvements, stability, and security, but who would deny that the chaos renegade Egyptians call for would have destroyed the hard work fulfilled?

As far as the adversaries are concerned, I wouldn’t give these adventurous but futile endeavours much thought. Still, I would have better representation by worthwhile visitors whose testimony would override the negativity exuded from their efforts. 

Statement by IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde on Egypt

Statement by IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde on Egypt

January 25, 2019

Christine Lagarde

Ms. Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), issued the following statement today:

“The Egyptian authorities embarked on an ambitious economic reform program in 2016 that is being supported by an IMF financial arrangement. Since then, Egypt has made substantial progress as evident in the success achieved in macroeconomic stabilization. Its growth rate is now among the highest in the region, the budget deficit is on a declining trajectory, and inflation is on track to reach the Central Bank of Egypt’s target by the end of 2019. Unemployment has declined to around 10 percent, which is the lowest since 2011, and social protection measures have been expanded.

“It is important to build on the progress achieved thus far and to press ahead with structural reforms that facilitate private sector-led growth and job creation, as well as measures to increase transparency and accountability that help improve governance. This will help attain higher and more inclusive growth and will ensure better living standards for all Egyptians.

“The IMF staff team has now finalized the details required to present the fourth review for Egypt’s Extended Fund Facility arrangement to the IMF’s Executive Board. The Board will meet in the coming weeks to discuss the review and I will recommend that the Board approve the review.

“I would like to take this opportunity to commend the patience and commitment of the Egyptian people to the reform process. This will pave the way for higher and more inclusive growth for the long term, and I reiterate that the Fund stands ready to help achieve a more prosperous future for Egypt.”

IMF Communications Department

MEDIA RELATIONS

PRESS OFFICER: RANDA ELNAGAR

PHONE: +1 202 623-7100EMAIL: [email protected]

ما هو جرم الشركة الصينية هواوى؟

 الاهرام اليومي بقلم عزة رضوان صدقي

(لينك: ماهو جرم الشركة الصينيه هواوي)

حجزت السلطات الكندية فى مطار فانكوفر فى 9 ديسمبر الماضى المدير المالى لشركة الاتصالات الصينية هواوى, منج وانزو، وهى ابنة مؤسس الشركة أثناء توقف طائرتها للترانزيت خلال توجهها إلى مدينة المكسيك. والاحتجاز كان تجاوبا مع اتفاقية ترحيل المتهمين بين الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية وكندا، وبما أن أمريكا قد اتهمت شركة هواوى بتهمة انتهاك العقوبات المفروضة على إيران ضمنا لاتهامات أخرى، وجب على المسئولين فى مطار فانكوفر القبض على منج وانزو. وبعد جلسات استجواب دامت ثلاثة أيام أُطلق سراح منج وانزو بكفالة قيمتها 10 ملايين دولار بشرط الإقامة الجبرية فى منزلها فى فانكوفر واتباع قيود السفر المفروضة عليها لحين النظر فى قضية ترحيلها إلى أمريكا

أثار القبض على منج وانزو غضب بكين، فاستدعت السفير الأمريكى محتجة على ما بدر من واشنطن وطلبت من كندا العدول عن تسليم منج وانزو إلى أمريكا واتهامها بالمشاركة فى المناورة. وهنا تفاقمت المعركة بين كندا والصين، وعلى نمط العين بالعين اعتُقل مواطنان كنديان فى الصين بتهمة تهديد الأمن القومى الصينى، وكذلك حُولت قضية كندى آخر - كان قد حُكم عليه بالسجن لمدة 15 سنة فى قضية الاتجار بالمخدرات - إلى حكم بالإعدام، وهى وسائل للضغط على كندا، وإن كانت كندا مكتوفة اليدين أمام اتفاقية ترحيل المتهمين مع أمريكا، خاصة أن العلاقات السياسية والتجارية بين أمريكا وكندا متوترة. وقد بدأت كندا عقد جلسات قضية ترحيل منج وانزو فى دعوى ينتظر أن تكون طويلة وذات آثار سياسية وخيمة

دعنا نبحث عن الحقائق.. من حق أمريكا معاقبة إيران وفرض عقوبات عليها وإقناع البلاد الأخرى بعدم التعامل معها، ولكن هل يحق لها اعتبار من يتعاملون مع إيران جناة؟ مثلا تفرض أمريكا عقوبات على كوبا مشابهة للعقوبات التى تفرضها على إيران، ولكن لم تعاقب البلاد الأخرى لمزاولة المعاملات التجارية مع كوبا.. إذن لماذا تعاقب الصين وشركاتها على التعامل مع إيران؟ بالطبع التهمة الموجهة إلى هواوى هى تهمة واضحة للضغط المتعمد على الصين، بالإضافة لكونها وسيلة أخرى لقمع إيران إلى حد أبعد. كذلك هناك دوافع سياسية وتجارية خلف هذه المناورة. هواوى شركة اتصالات تصنع الهاتف الذكى والمودم والوايفاى والتابلت، وأصبحت رائدة فى إنتاج الجيل الخامس من التكنولوجيا اللاسلكية، وأصبحت بمثابة الند للشركات الأمريكية إن لم تكن قد جاوزتها فى التفوق.. وللعلم فإن مبيعات شركة هواوى قد تجاوزت مبيعات شركة أبل لتصبح ثانى أكبر مصنع للهواتف الذكية فى العالم بعد سامسونج.. فهل هيمنة هواوى على الأسواق العالمية تحتاج إلى محاولات مستميتة لتحطيمها من قبل الغرب؟

ولكن اتهامات اخرى تقول إن بإمكان شركة هواوى تصنيع ما يسمح للصين بالتجسس والتنصت، مما يسمى الباب الخلفى لهذه الأجهزة. وقد نفى والد منج وانزو ومؤسس هواوى أن شركته تصنع أجهزة تجسس قائلا: أحب بلدى ولكن لن أفعل ما يضر بأى دولة فى العالم، ولم يثبت حتى الآن استخدام هواوى أجهزة تجسس أو تنصت.. وبما أن هواوى لا يمكنها إثبات السلبى فقد سمحت للحكومات بتقييم أجهزتها.. لنقف قليلا عند هذه التهمة: ألا يعلم جوجل وأجهزة البحث الأخرى بكل ما يدور فى ذهن مستعمليه؟ ولكن أمريكا لا تعتبر هذا تنصتا.

هذا بينما تصاعدت الحرب التجارية الشرسة بين بكين وواشنطن إلى مستوى خطير، ففى الآونة الأخيرة فرضت واشنطن عدة جولات من الرسوم الجمركية على المنتجات الصينية، وردت الصين بالمثل على الواردات الأمريكية.. فهل قضية هواوى هى نزاع قانونى وشرعى أم محاولة من واشنطن للضغط على الصين تجاريا؟

نفى مسئولون أمريكيون أن تكون الاتهامات ضد هواوى مرتبطة بالحرب التجارية، ولكن الرئيس ترامب أكد ذلك قائلا: سأتدخل بالتأكيد بل أعتقد أنه ضرورى التدخل (فى قضية منج وانزو) إذا كنا سنفوز بصفقة تجارية كبيرة. إن استعداد الإدارة الأمريكية للتنازل عما تعتبره أمنها القومى فى سبيل الكسب التجارى ما هو إلا إثبات أن كارثة هواوى مصطنعة وذريعة من أجل الحصول على مزايا تجارية. كما ضغطت أمريكا على حلفائها وحذرتهم من ممارسة نشاط تجارى مع هواوى، وهذا الوعيد قد شجّع الشركات والحكومات الغربية على عدم التعامل مع هواوى، واتبعت حكومات اليابان وأستراليا ونيوزيلندا وكندا وبعض الدول الأوروبية نفس المنوال

قضية ترحيل منج وانزو إلى الولايات المتحدة لتواجه تهما جنائية متعددة تحمل كلٌ منها عقوبة قصوى بالسجن لمدة 30 عاما، قد تستمر شهورا أو سنوات. لعل وعسى القوى المتعاركة تحاول إنقاذ ما يمكن إنقاذه سريعا، لأن عاقبة محاكمة منج وانزو سوف تكون وخيمة

إن قضية منج وانزو هى عاصفة مفتعلة تحاول الولايات المتحدة عن طريقها مقايضة الصين وجعلها تخضع لتنازلات تجارية لم تكن فى حسبانها، وسوف تربح أمريكا الجولة إلا إذا كان لدى الصين هى الأخرى مساومة تستطيع عن طريقها الفوز. قد يكون جُرم هواوى الوحيد هو قوتها

لمزيد من مقالات د.عزة رضوان صدقى

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The crazed in all shapes and sizes

Al-Ahram Weekly, by Azza Radwan Sedky

After last week’s attack on two mosques in New Zealand, it is time the world came to terms with the rising tide of far-right and white-supremacist terrorism, writes Azza Sedky

The world is grieving after last Friday’s attack on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand. The terrorist gunned down 50 worshippers, women and children included, as 50 others were injured. It was an unprecedented but premeditated atrocity that gripped the usually peaceful nation of New Zealand, leaving it, and the world, in mourning, shock, and a state of terror.

The attack was harrowingly publicised on social media. Using a body or helmet camera strapped to his head, the terrorist live-streamed the killings in shameful arrogance and posted the footage on Facebook.

The Washington Post described the footage as showing “the gunman driving to the mosque clad in tactical gear, his car full of weapons. It shows the shooting from his perspective, a chilling record of mass violence that police have warned people not to share. The shooter fires hundreds of rounds of bullets at defenceless worshippers inside and outside the Al-Noor Mosque, where the majority of the bloodshed occurred, retreating at one point to his car for another weapon. He doubles back on injured victims to make sure they are dead. The violence lasts about six minutes.”

As their country grieves, New Zealanders are trying to make sense of what happened. The naiveté associated with the phenomenon of “it can’t possibly happen here” has been shattered as the protective bubble has burst.  

The prime minister of New Zealand called the attacker an “extremist right-wing terrorist,” describing the attack as “one of New Zealand’s darkest days.” She also said that those with “extremist views” had no place in her country or the wider world. The Australian prime minister, Scott Morrison, said that the atrocity was the work of an “extremist, right-wing, violent terrorist.”

The world has been inundated with similar massacres. What came as a surprise this time round was the immediate designation of terrorist of a non-Muslim attacker. The world had earlier fallen into the trap of believing that terrorism was limited to radical Islamists and that it happened in particular locations — Europe, the Middle East, and maybe the US — but this attack throws such stereotypes by the wayside. Contrary to what has been considered the norm, this was an attack by a non-Muslim against Muslims, people of peace in the midst of prayer.

In reality, Muslims have suffered as much if not more than non-Muslims as far as terrorist attacks are concerned. Simultaneously, and according to many specialists, terrorism is inflicted by fewer Muslims than others, while terrorist acts by Muslim perpetrators receive the most media coverage. In Sri Lanka and Burma, Buddhists kill Muslims with terrible frequency, and Israeli settlers commit crimes against Palestinians on a daily basis, and yet we hardly hear of such tragic events in the mainstream media.

In 2015, a bomb was set off in a mosque in Kuwait, killing at least 27 people and wounding hundreds of others. In 2017, gunmen attacked a mosque in Arish in Egypt and also set off a bomb, killing 235 people and wounding over 100 others. In 2017, an assault on a Quebec City mosque in Canada took the lives of six Muslim worshippers and injured 19 others, leaving the country reeling in shock.

There are far-right extremists who, like the attacker in Christchurch, have proven to be even more sadistic. Anders Behring Breivik, a right-wing extremist responsible for the deaths of 77 people in Norway in July 2011, was at first considered to be a terrorist. However, once he was identified as a white male, he was referred to as a “deranged extremist” instead.

One definition of the term “terrorism” is “the unlawful use of violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, in the pursuit of political aims”. The definition does not specify the gender, ethnicity, colour, or religion of the doer. It specifies the act itself, and the Christchurch massacre falls into the category of a terrorist act.

One thing is certain: whether they are Muslim extremists, anti-immigrant fascists, far-right white supremacists, or Ku Klux Clan lunatics, the crazed come in different shapes and sizes. This has always been the case, and it is high time we recognised this and stopped identifying terrorism with Muslims alone.

According to journalist Dean Obeidallah in the US Daily Beast, the “media simply do not cover non-Muslim terror attacks with the same gusto. Why? Stories about scary “others” play better. It’s a story that can simply be framed as good versus evil, with Americans being the good and the brown Muslims the bad.” Muslims at large are being tarred by one incriminating brush because the media intentionally and consciously stereotypes Muslims as evil-doers and those capable of the worst of actions.

Hate speech, white supremacist jargon, and attempts to brand all Muslims as terrorists and ban some from travelling to the US are fear-mongering tactics that incite the crazed and instill Islamophobia. They create an atmosphere against Muslims, asylum-seekers, and immigrants and embolden those who seek revenge.

Yet, some still don’t appear to see this reality. After the Christchurch massacre, US President Donald Trump said that he did not see white nationalism as a rising threat around the world. Then an independent Australian MP, Fraser Anning, sparked outrage for blaming the immigration of Muslims for the Christchurch mosque shooting.

Anning said that while any form of violence could never be justified, the growing fear of the “increasing Muslim presence” was behind the massacre. “The real cause of bloodshed on New Zealand streets today is the immigration programme which allowed Muslim fanatics to migrate to New Zealand in the first place,” he said.

Yet, the vigils held around the world in memory of the victims prove that there is still empathy in the world today. Christchurch residents have been shocked to the core and been seen weeping profusely as they leave flowers in solidarity. Political leaders from around the world have denounced the massacre. The Eiffel Tower in Paris was blacked out in solidarity. As for the above-mentioned Australian MP, the country’s prime minister has moved to censure him for victim-blaming Muslims.

Let us mourn the dead, while at the same time realising that there are crazed terrorists amongst us.

 

Egypt calls on US not to interfere in its affairs

Middle East Monitor (Link: Egypt calls on US not to interfere in its affairs)

Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri on 24 October 2018 [ASHRAF SHAZLY/AFP/Getty Images]

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry yesterday called on the United States to respect the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of foreign countries, after a State Department reportcriticised the country’s human rights situation.

In a statement, the ministry criticised the section on Egypt in the State Department’s annual report on the human rights situation for 2018 and described it “as neither objective nor credible”.

“Egypt does not recognise the legitimacy of such reports, which rely on unverified data and reports provided by non-governmental organisations and movements driven by hostile political positions.”

On Wednesday, the US State Department’s annual report on human rights conditions in the world said: “the Egyptian government committed unlawful or politically motivated killings”.

According to the report, “violations in Egypt include extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, torture, life threats, harsh prison conditions and restrictions on press freedom and the internet.”

The ministry said the report “is not based on any proofs or evidence, and is not objective or credibility”, stressing on the importance of respecting the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other states.

Egypt faces criticism at the local and international levels over human rights abuses including enforced disappearance and torture in places of detention, but the Egyptian authorities have repeatedly denied committing “extra-judicial killings”.

Scathing testimonies

On the same day, practically the same hour, two western leaders had to cope with scathing testimonies against them. The testimonies of an ex-cabinet member and an ex-lawyer may well lead to paramount repercussions against the leaders of Canada and the US.

Most North Americans were glued to social and standard media to get the latest on the two testimonies as they flipped between Canadian and US news outlets to get the full stories on both sides of the border.

Let’s start with the Canadian one. Judy Wilson-Raybould served as Attorney General of Canada and Minister of Justice in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s current cabinet from 2015 until January 2019. Judy Wilson-Raybould had become the symbol of Trudeau’s commitment to, first, gender parity, and, second, reconciliation with the indigenous peoples of Canada as she is the first Indigenous person to hold such a prize position in a Canadian cabinet.

On January 14, 2009, Wilson-Raybould was demoted from Attorney General to Minister of Veteran Affairs. Three weeks later, she quit Trudeau’s cabinet in the wake of a scandal known as the SNC-Lavalin Corporation affair. 

The story began when the Globe and Mail of February 9 alleged that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his office pressured Attorney General Wilson-Raybould not to press charges against SNC-Lavalin, a Montreal-based engineering corporation, charged with fraud and corruption. In essence, the government was, one, interfering in the attorney general’s resolutions, and, two, intentionally turning a blind eye to illegal activities. In both matters, if the allegations are true, the government was not implementing due process.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau denied any wrong doing, insisting that he was only worrying about the fate of 9,000 SNC-Lavalin employees. SNC-Lavalin had threatened to move abroad to avoid punishment, should it be found guilty of fraud it is alleged to have committed overseas.

Judy Wilson-Raybould testified before the Commons Justice committee on Wednesday, February 27, 2019, confirming the accusations. She verified that she and her staff suffered consistent and sustained pressure to avoid prosecuting SNC-Lavalin.

Will all this hurt Prime Minister Trudeau and the Liberals? Undoubtedly. The narrative is on the side of Wilson-Raybould as Canadians found her testimony genuine, convincing, and painstakingly thorough.

Undoubtedly the crisis will affect the results of the forthcoming October 2019 elections, too, since many Canadians are questioning the cabinet’s transparency, trustworthiness, and ability to deliver on its original promises. Another female cabinet member resigned citing, “loss of ‘confidence’ over government’s handling of SNC-Lavalin.”   Liberals are also slipping in the polls as the crisis continues.

Calls for an RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) investigation are brewing.

This, while Andrew Scheer, the Leader of the Conservative Party and Leader of the Official Opposition since 2017, has reiterated his call for the resignation of Justin Trudeau several times.

While Wilson-Raybould was testifying in Canada, across the border in the US, Michael Cohen, President Trump’s ex-lawyer, personal confidant, and “fixer” as he has been dubbed, was testifying, too, and calling President Trump a “con man,” a “cheat,” and a “racist.”

In an eight-hour long testimony in front of the House Committee, Cohen implicated President Trump in incriminating wrongdoings including the following: prompting Cohen, even if not directly, to lie to Congress, lying to an investigator, and organizing hush money payments during the presidential campaign.

According to Cohen, President Trump at one point deflated his assets to reduce his real estate taxes, while in another inflated his assets to borrow money. Much of all this is considered fraud especially during an election period.

Cohen also alleged President Trump was aware of the WikiLeaks release of Hilary Clinton’s stolen emails, to which Trump had denied any knowledge of. 

A few months back Michael Cohen pleaded guilty to eight federal crimes and was convicted of perjury and fraud. He is to serve a three-year sentencing for lying to Congress though Cohen says he acted at Trump’s direction.  Republicans explicitly played on Cohen’s tarnished character during his testimony.

Will all this hurt President Trump? Undoubtedly. It will create even more pressure on the president as further allegations formulate and trigger more public hearings and testimonies, all a public relations nightmare for the president.

Several persons including two of Trump’s children have already been asked to produce documents regarding knowledge of Trump’s activities during and after elections as part of a wide-ranging inquiry into potential Trump corruption. The most dangerous charges may well be his lying and finance violations while campaigning.

The two testimonies and the consequences prove that leaders often err, no question about that. Still, under these formidable layers of lies, deceit, and erosion of trust is the essence of democracy. No one is above the law; yes, the opposition in Canada and the Democrats in the US may well be on a witchhunt to incriminate both leaders, but the fact that anyone can go after a President or a Prime Minister in a reasonably civilized fashion is a revelation.

 

And the sagas will continue. 

 

Human Rights Watch, Egypt, and the Oscars

Well done, Nervana! (Excerpt: read on Human Rights Watch, Egypt, and the Oscars)

International human rights organisation Human Rights Watch (HRW) published a recent article titled: ‘Egypt should win an Oscar for hypocrisy over praise for Rami Malek.’ Neela Ghosal, a senior researcher in the organisation, wrote that Egypt’s positive reaction to Egyptian actor Rami Malek winning the Oscar for his role in the film “Bohemian Rhapsody” as gay music legend Freddie Mercury of Queen, was hypocritical.

Ghosal, who described Mercury as “unabashedly, flamboyantly queer,” cited a quote from Malek’s acceptance speechin which he said, “We made a film about a gay man, an immigrant, who lived his life just unapologetically himself.” To support her claim that Egypt was being hypocritical, Ghosal said that if the Egyptian government and its apologists “want to own a piece” of Malek’s Bohemian Rhapsody triumph, they should “own up to the facts” about the appalling treatment of homosexuals in Egypt. In her view, Rami Malek “gave life, joyfully, to a queer icon,” but Egypt, under President Sisi, would not allow either Freddie Mercury to thrive on its soil, or a Malek to celebrate him.

Even if we acknowledge the writer’s view that Mercury’s sexual orientation was the core part of the film, the researcher’s argument is still deeply flawed.

Firstly, the celebration of a young man of Egyptian origin, who was passionately proud of his Egyptain roots, is not hypocritical and has nothing to do with homosexuality. Secondly, the idea that the Egyptian government has no right to celebrate Rami Malek’s Oscar, unless it recognizes homosexuality is frankly absurd. By that logic, the Egyptian government must recognise prostitution, sex outside marriage, and all other taboos in Muslim societies in order to celebrate any film that addresses those issues with any degree of positivity.

Perhaps the researcher did not follow the history of Egyptian cinema. For over a century, Egyptian film-makers have challenged taboos and produced daring movies about various controversial topics, including homosexuality. Films such as “Cat on Fire” and “The Yacobian Building” bluntly deal with homosexuality, and despite creating an uproar and controversy, both were eventually approved by the governent censorship authority. Furthermore, film critics and the vast majority of Egyptian audiences praised both Nour El Sherif, the main actor in Cat on Fire, and Khaled El Sawi for playing the daring roles of gay men. Along with homosexuality, Egyptian cinema has addressed other social taboos, such as sex workers, and even portrayed them as victims.