Latest news with #Aswan
Zawya
2 days ago
- Health
- Zawya
Egypt, Novartis explore expanding collaboration in oncology, cardiology
Egypt - Ahmed El-Sobky, Chairperson of Egypt's General Authority for Healthcare and supervisor of the Universal Health Insurance Project, met on Sunday with Gehan El-Emary, Chairperson and Managing Director of Novartis Egypt, to follow up on the progress of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed in February. The MoU, which aims to enhance cancer care, broaden cardiology collaboration, and promote medical training, has seen significant developments, according to an official statement from the Authority. El-Sobky highlighted the authority's goal to transform the Aswan Oncology Center into a leading regional and research hub for cancer treatment, with the involvement of international partners, including Novartis. During the meeting, El-Sobky extended a formal invitation to Novartis officials to visit the center and explore potential areas for further collaboration on-site. The meeting also focused on efforts to modernize clinical protocols for heart disease and breast cancer, alongside expanding training programs for healthcare providers in line with global best practices. El-Sobky emphasized the importance of increasing the number of physicians benefiting from these programs in partnership with Novartis to strengthen healthcare delivery across Egypt. In addition, the two sides discussed the possibility of launching a certified digital training platform designed to equip family doctors with the tools and skills necessary to manage non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and chronic heart conditions. They also explored innovative strategies to raise public health awareness and ensure continuity of care in underserved areas. Gehan El-Emary expressed pride in the growing partnership between Novartis and the General Authority for Healthcare, noting the tangible successes achieved through their joint initiatives. She reaffirmed Novartis's ongoing commitment to expanding its collaboration with the Authority, particularly in the areas of early detection, cancer care, cardiology, and chronic disease management.
The National
21-07-2025
- Politics
- The National
Egypt sets up trains for Sudanese refugees to return home
Egypt 's railways on Monday launched a special train service for people from Sudan to return home, despite the conflict in their country. Train 1940 left Cairo on Monday morning, heading to Aswan, where passengers will continue their journey on to Sudan via the Aswan High Dam Port. Television coverage of the first trip showed hundreds of Sudanese lining up to board the train, carrying their belongings. The same train will carry regular passengers back to Cairo every Tuesday before returning to Aswan the following Sunday. The train, equipped with third-class air-conditioned carriages, is intended to ease travel for those seeking to return to their homeland, Egypt's railway authority said. It is part of a project to assist Sudanese citizens who have sought refuge in Egypt since the outbreak of the Sudan conflict in April 2023. Egyptian government figures indicate more than 1.5 million Sudanese have entered the country since the civil war started. The initiative follows calls earlier this year by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), which regained control of Khartoum in March, for displaced citizens to return. President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly have also said the number of refugees in Egypt is exerting strain on the country's economy and resources. However, returning home is not without challenges. In a report on Sudan's humanitarian crisis, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) described the situation as the "largest and most devastating displacement crisis in the world". The conflict has displaced more than 12 million people, including 3.8 million who have fled to neighbouring countries and 8.5 million who remain internally displaced in Sudan. The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) reported in late April that the number of Sudanese citizens returning home from Egypt surged by 44 per cent in three weeks, rising from 115,000 to more than 165,000. The increase came after the SAF's recapture of Khartoum and parts of central Sudan, which prompted many refugees to attempt to return. Despite this, the IOM described the conditions facing those going back as challenging and fraught with risk, with obstacles including a lack of access to food, health care and other basic services. The UNHCR report said areas such as Khartoum, Darfur and Kordofan remained dangerous, with widespread destruction, violence and severe food shortages. Many who return find themselves in regions with little infrastructure and limited humanitarian assistance, leaving them vulnerable to further displacement. The journey itself is also perilous. According to the UNHCR, a lack of security on roads and at border areas increases the risk of being subjected to attacks, extortion or harassment. Transport is disrupted by road closures, fuel shortages and inflation, making travel expensive and unsafe for many. While the train service provides a means for Sudanese in Egypt to return, humanitarian organisations warn that conditions in Sudan remain dire. UNHCR has called for increased international funding to address the growing needs of displaced people, with only 21 per cent of a $1.1 billion appeal target for Sudan and neighbouring countries having been reached as of March.
Zawya
15-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
AMEA Power successfully commissions landmark battery energy storage system in Egypt, following successful financial close
Commissioning follows recent financial close, marking a major milestone in AMEA Power's growing energy storage portfolio Dubai, United Arab Emirates – AMEA Power, one of the fastest-growing renewable energy companies in the region, is pleased to announce the successful commissioning of Egypt's first-ever utility-scaled Battery Energy Storage System (BESS). The 300 MWh facility, fully powered by solar PV energy, was delivered ahead of its scheduled commercial operation date (COD). This milestone follows the project's recent financial close, marking a significant step forward in AMEA Power's strategy to enhance energy security and grid stability in emerging markets. The battery storage facility is an extension of AMEA Power's operational 500MW Solar PV Plant in Aswan Governorate, Egypt, commissioned in December 2024. It remains the largest operational single-site solar PV plant in the country. This integrated solar-plus-storage development aligns with Egypt's 2035 Integrated Sustainable Energy Strategy and reflects AMEA Power's ongoing commitment to accelerating the clean energy innovation and sustainability across the continent. 'We are proud to bring this landmark battery storage project online, strengthening the resilience of Egypt's electricity grid while supporting the country's renewable energy ambitions,' said Hussain Al Nowais, Chairman of AMEA Power. 'This commissioning milestone reaffirms our long-term commitment to Egypt as a key partner in driving innovation and sustainability across Africa.' The commissioning of this BESS project marks AMEA Power's first utility-scale storage project in North Africa, reinforcing the company's capabilities in delivering large-scale, integrated renewable energy and storage solutions. The project was financed by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), highlighting the importance of strong strategic partnerships in advancing energy projects in Africa. About AMEA Power Headquartered in Dubai, AMEA Power is a developer, investor, owner and operator of renewable energy projects. As one of the fastest-growing renewable energy companies in the region, AMEA Power has assembled a world-class team of industry experts to deliver projects across Africa, the Middle East, and emerging Asia. With projects in 20 countries, a 6GW+ project pipeline, and 2,600MW+ in operation and under construction, the company is rapidly expanding its investments in wind, solar, energy storage, and green hydrogen, demonstrating its long-term commitment to the global energy transition.
Daily Mail
09-07-2025
- Science
- Daily Mail
Archaeologists uncover rare Egyptian rock carving that reveals secrets of ancient kings
Archaeologists have uncovered a rare Egyptian rock carving that could reveal the secrets of the ancient kings. Found carved into a stone near the southern Egyptian city of Aswan, researchers believe the etching may date back to the fourth millennium BC - centuries before the first pyramids. The remarkably well-preserved carvings show a figure seated on an ornate boat, pulled by five other individuals while another steers with an oar. This seated figure bears the features of the earliest Egyptian kings, such as the long, pointed fake beards worn by the pharaohs. According to a new study, published in the journal Antiquities, this seated figure is a member of the ancient Egyptian political and military elite from the First Dynasty period. This time was a critical moment for the ancient Egyptians as it saw the beginnings of political unification across Egypt. This ultimately culminated in the formation of the Egyptian state under the first pharaoh, Narmer, in 3100 BC. However, the researchers are certain the figure is not Pharaoh Narmer, meaning the true identity of this warrior elite remains a mystery. The fascinating carving was found in a large outcropping of sandstone in an area which has been used as a quarry since at least 330 BC until the present day. Multiple carvings from different periods have been found around the quarry, but this latest discovery is the first to date back as far as the First Dynasty. The picture was found covered with rubble along a narrow recess accessible by a sandy ledge. When it was created, anyone standing by the carving would have a great view down to the Nile below. The boat in the carving is depicted facing North, which would be upstream if it were travelling up the Nile. The researchers suggest that this may explain the presence of the five figures pulling the boat along with ropes. The fact that this carving depicts a boat is significant because they are among the most frequently recurring motifs in ancient Egyptian art. Study author Dr Dorian Vanhulle, an Egyptologist at the Musée du Malgré-Tout in Belgium, says: 'The boat is ubiquitous and invested with complex ideological and symbolic meanings.' Dr Vanhulle was able to determine the age of the image by comparing it to other depictions of boats from various periods. This analysis suggests that the figure was carved during the period that Egypt was transitioning into the Early Dynastic period, following the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt. This period saw the birth of ancient Egyptian culture as we would recognise it today, with the emergence of the first political structures and the development of writing. However, how this transition came about and what society looked like for the people involved remains something of a mystery. In depictions from the period, groups of figures capped with feathers are gradually replaced by images showing a single figure wearing a crown. Archaeologists know that early forms of power in the country were centred around local or regional authorities, which were often in conflict. Evidence suggests that the transition was unlikely to have been peaceful and was likely driven by violence. Dr Vanhulle says: 'State formation in Ancient Egypt and the processes that led to it are still difficult to conceptualise.' Archaeologists believe that the carvings were commissioned by a member of Egypt's early political elite during the transition into the Early Dynastic Period, before the reign of first Pharaoh Narmer in 3100 BC This carving gives a valuable insight into how the country's political elite spread their influence and proclaimed their power. Importantly, the carving bears a strong resemblance to the official imagery produced towards the beginning of Pharaoh Narmer's reign. This, combined with the carving's excellent quality, suggests that it was commissioned by someone important. Dr Vanhulle says: 'The rock panel is an important addition to the existing corpus of engravings that can help us to better understand the role of rock art in the crucial events that led to the formation of the Egyptian state. 'Rock compositions became a tool for the authorities to communicate, mark the landscape and assert their power.'
Gizmodo
09-07-2025
- General
- Gizmodo
5,000-Year-Old Rock Carving Is Among the Oldest Known Depictions of an Ancient Egyptian Ruler
An ancient rock engraving in the Lower Nile Valley may offer a rare glimpse into the origin of Egyptian kings. The art panel depicts an elite individual with features resembling those of early Egyptian rulers, from the very beginning of political unification across Egypt. Around 6,000 years ago, Egypt underwent a dramatic political transformation, ultimately leading to the formation of the Egyptian state under the first pharaoh, Narmer, around 3100 BCE. Researchers still know relatively little about this pivotal period in history. In a study published in the journal Antiquity, archaeologists analyzed a rock engraving near Aswan, Egypt, finding evidence that it may have been used to communicate an individual's power during the onset of Egypt's First Dynasty. 'State formation in ancient Egypt and the processes that led to it are still difficult to conceptualize,' Dorian Vanhulle, an egyptologist at the Musée du Malgré-Tout and author of the research, said in a statement. 'The rock art of the Lower Nile Valley has the potential to help identify and analyze the earliest forms of political power in this region and how the landscape was exploited to express and consolidate authority. However, the number of relevant examples is limited.' To date the panel, the researchers compared the engraving to similar imagery in contemporary art and craftsmanship. Their analysis suggests that the engraving was made in the early fourth millennium BCE, during the transition from the Protodynastic to the Early Dynastic period. The engraving portrays five figures dragging an ornate boat, one of the most ubiquitous motifs in Egyptian iconography. The boat is propelled by a standing figure holding a rudder-oar and appears to be transporting a seated figure. This seated figure closely resembles depictions of powerful individuals on prestigious objects found at ancient centers of power during the formation of the Egyptian state. Notably, the figure features an elongated jaw that suggests a false beard, a symbol associated with kingship during the First Dynasty. 'During the Predynastic and Protodynastic periods (c. 4500–3085 BC), which foreshadowed Pharaonic Egypt, the boat motif was ubiquitous and carried complex ideological and symbolic meanings,' Vanhulle said. The high quality of the engraving suggests it was likely commissioned by a powerful figure, the researchers wrote. They also emphasized that the rock panel is a valuable addition to the limited body of engravings that help illuminate the events leading to the unification of Egypt. Rock engravings were a key medium through which political figures expressed their power, the researchers note, and they provide insight into how local communities viewed elite individuals during the formation of the Egyptian state. The researchers stress that much more artwork remains to be recorded and analyzed—and that this work is urgent, as many of these images are at risk of disappearing. 'The landscape of the valley and its desert margins is currently being irreparably altered by, among other threats, mining and quarrying activities,' Vanhulle said. 'The urgency of conducting rescue missions, such as the one that led to the discovery of this panel, cannot be underestimated.'
