Egypt and Spain sign agreement on elevating relations to strategic partnership

Egypt and Spain sign agreement on elevating relations to strategic partnership

Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Affairs and Minister of Industry and Transport, Kamel Al Wazir, during the bilateral summit between Spain and Egypt, where various cooperation agreements in strategic sectors were established, along with a joint statement on the situation in Gaza at Moncloa Palace in Madrid, Spain, February 19, 2025. Photo by David Cruz Sanz/AlterPhotos/ABACAPRESS.COM

Egypt receives Chinese-built dry bulk carrier

STORY: Egypt receives Chinese-built dry bulk carrier SHOOTING TIME: Jan. 13, 2024 DATELINE: Jan. 14, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:38 LOCATION: Cairo CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the exterior of "Wadi Al-Arish" and its interior STORYLINE: Egypt's Minister of Transport Kamel Al-Wazir announced on Saturday that the National Navigation Company, an affiliate of the Ministry, has received the latest Chinese-built dry bulk carrier "Wadi Al-Arish." The ship, which can carry up to 82,000 tons, will officially join the national commercial fleet of the National Navigation Company during January 2024. The ship is 229 meters long, 32.26 meters wide, and has a draft of 14.5 meters. The minister pointed out that the ship features advanced navigational equipment and technologies, and also meets the current and future environmental requirements. The minister indicated that the national commercial fleet is now composed of 14 ships responsible for securing the transportation of the strategic goods imported into Egypt,

Political Graffiti In Israel

Political Graffiti In Israel

06/17/2023 Ramla, Israel. A sign in Hebrew saying "The management is not responsible for any damage caused to the vehicle!" Against the background of a Palestinian building that was apparently abandoned in 1948 following the war. The building was the hammam of Sheikh Radwan Khalil al-Wazir, one of the founders of the Fatah movement. Photo by Yahel Gazit/Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

Int'l consortium starts development of new container terminal in Egypt

STORY: Int'l consortium starts development of new container terminal in Egypt DATELINE: July 31, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:46 LOCATION: Cairo CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the new container terminal 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): KAMEL EL-WAZIR, Egyptian Transport Minister STORYLINE: An international consortium has started the development of a new container terminal of Ain Sokhna Port on the Red Sea in northeastern Egypt. During a ceremony at the port on Saturday, Egyptian Transport Minister Kamel el-Wazir delivered the terminal to the representatives of the consortium comprised of China's Hutchison Ports, a leading port investor, developer and operator, Chinese state-owned COSCO Shipping and the French shipping company CMA CGM. The process comes as part of two mid-March agreements signed by Egypt and the consortium on the development and operation of the container terminals at Ain Sokhna Port in Suez Province and Dekheila Port in Alexandria Province. SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): KAMEL EL-WAZIR, Egyptian Transp

Afghan youth volunteers promote education among poor children

STORY: Afghan youth volunteers promote education among poor children DATELINE: July 8, 2023 LENGTH: 00:02:42 LOCATION: Kabul CATEGORY: EDUCATION SHOTLIST: 1. various of students studying at the Today Child Mobile School 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Pashto): WAZIR KHAN, Volunteer teacher 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Pashto): SAFA, Student STORYLINE: Over 1,000 students have benefited from a volunteer-run educational center that teaches basic literacy skills to village children from poor families on the outskirts of Kabul, Afghanistan's capital. The center, called "Today Child Mobile School," was founded by 23-year-old Wazir Khan a year ago in Khak, a destitute village near Kabul. He offers free education to the children of needy families. Each class is composed of 100 to 200 children, mostly from extremely unprivileged families. SOUNDBITE 1 (Pashto): WAZIR KHAN, Volunteer teacher "Today Child Mobile School is virtually a mobile school and has been providing education to children over the past year. The children didn't have access

AFGHANISTAN-KABUL-EDUCATION-CHARITY CLASS

AFGHANISTAN-KABUL-EDUCATION-CHARITY CLASS

(230707) -- KABUL, July 7, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Children attend a charity class provided by a simple educational center named "Today Child Mobile School", in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, May 9, 2023. Amid lack of educational facilities to pupils in Afghanistan's rural areas, Wazir Khan, 23, has volunteered to open a school for village children to teach the sons and daughters of the most unprivileged families. Located in Both Khak, a poor village in the outskirts of Afghanistan's capital Kabul City, Khan established a simple educational center named "Today Child Mobile School" one year ago to provide education for the children of needy families free of charge. TO GO WITH "Feature: Afghan youth volunteers promote education among poor children". (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua)

AFGHANISTAN-KABUL-EDUCATION-CHARITY CLASS

AFGHANISTAN-KABUL-EDUCATION-CHARITY CLASS

(230707) -- KABUL, July 7, 2023 (Xinhua) -- This photo taken on May 9, 2023 shows a charity class provided by a simple educational center named "Today Child Mobile School" in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan. Amid lack of educational facilities to pupils in Afghanistan's rural areas, Wazir Khan, 23, has volunteered to open a school for village children to teach the sons and daughters of the most unprivileged families. Located in Both Khak, a poor village in the outskirts of Afghanistan's capital Kabul City, Khan established a simple educational center named "Today Child Mobile School" one year ago to provide education for the children of needy families free of charge. TO GO WITH "Feature: Afghan youth volunteers promote education among poor children". (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua)

AFGHANISTAN-KABUL-EDUCATION-CHARITY CLASS

AFGHANISTAN-KABUL-EDUCATION-CHARITY CLASS

(230707) -- KABUL, July 7, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Children attend a charity class provided by a simple educational center named "Today Child Mobile School", in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, May 9, 2023. Amid lack of educational facilities to pupils in Afghanistan's rural areas, Wazir Khan, 23, has volunteered to open a school for village children to teach the sons and daughters of the most unprivileged families. Located in Both Khak, a poor village in the outskirts of Afghanistan's capital Kabul City, Khan established a simple educational center named "Today Child Mobile School" one year ago to provide education for the children of needy families free of charge. TO GO WITH "Feature: Afghan youth volunteers promote education among poor children". (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua)

AFGHANISTAN-KABUL-EDUCATION-CHARITY CLASS

AFGHANISTAN-KABUL-EDUCATION-CHARITY CLASS

(230707) -- KABUL, July 7, 2023 (Xinhua) -- This photo taken on May 9, 2023 shows a charity class provided by a simple educational center named "Today Child Mobile School" in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan. Amid lack of educational facilities to pupils in Afghanistan's rural areas, Wazir Khan, 23, has volunteered to open a school for village children to teach the sons and daughters of the most unprivileged families. Located in Both Khak, a poor village in the outskirts of Afghanistan's capital Kabul City, Khan established a simple educational center named "Today Child Mobile School" one year ago to provide education for the children of needy families free of charge. TO GO WITH "Feature: Afghan youth volunteers promote education among poor children". (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua)

AFGHANISTAN-KABUL-EDUCATION-CHARITY CLASS

AFGHANISTAN-KABUL-EDUCATION-CHARITY CLASS

(230707) -- KABUL, July 7, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Children attend a charity class provided by a simple educational center named "Today Child Mobile School", in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, May 9, 2023. Amid lack of educational facilities to pupils in Afghanistan's rural areas, Wazir Khan, 23, has volunteered to open a school for village children to teach the sons and daughters of the most unprivileged families. Located in Both Khak, a poor village in the outskirts of Afghanistan's capital Kabul City, Khan established a simple educational center named "Today Child Mobile School" one year ago to provide education for the children of needy families free of charge. TO GO WITH "Feature: Afghan youth volunteers promote education among poor children". (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua)

AFGHANISTAN-KABUL-EDUCATION-CHARITY CLASS

AFGHANISTAN-KABUL-EDUCATION-CHARITY CLASS

(230707) -- KABUL, July 7, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Children attend a charity class provided by a simple educational center named "Today Child Mobile School", in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, May 9, 2023. Amid lack of educational facilities to pupils in Afghanistan's rural areas, Wazir Khan, 23, has volunteered to open a school for village children to teach the sons and daughters of the most unprivileged families. Located in Both Khak, a poor village in the outskirts of Afghanistan's capital Kabul City, Khan established a simple educational center named "Today Child Mobile School" one year ago to provide education for the children of needy families free of charge. TO GO WITH "Feature: Afghan youth volunteers promote education among poor children". (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua)

Death toll from NW Pakistan explosions rises to 17

STORY: Death toll from NW Pakistan explosions rises to 17 DATELINE: April 26, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:24 LOCATION: Islamabad CATEGORY: OTHERS SHOTLIST: 1. various of the blast site 2. various of the hospital STORYLINE: The death toll from Monday's twin explosions in a police station in Pakistan's Swat district of the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province rose to 17 on Tuesday, with at least 70 others injured, health and police officials said. Confirming the casualties, KP Health Secretary Mahmood Aslam Wazir told Xinhua that the death toll increased after several injured succumbed to their injuries and more bodies were recovered from the debris of the police station building that collapsed following the powerful blasts. He said that at least eight people among the injured are in critical condition, adding that hospitals across the district have been put on high alert and all the medical staff are directed to report to their respective duties in order to cope with any emergencies. The deceased include

Taliban attacks in Afghanistan

Taliban attacks in Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan - Photo shows an unused grenade and sandals left inside a building under construction in central Kabul on April 16, 2012, where Taliban insurgents holed up and fired rockets toward the central Wazir Akbar Khan neighborhood, where a number of embassies are located.

Taliban attacks in Afghanistan

Taliban attacks in Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan - Photo shows a building under construction in central Kabul on April 16, 2012, where Taliban insurgents holed up and fired rockets toward the central Wazir Akbar Khan neighborhood, where a number of embassies are located.

Ex-Pakistani diplomat Wazir

Ex-Pakistani diplomat Wazir

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - Former Pakistani diplomat Ayaz Wazir speaks in an interview with Kyodo News in Islamabad on Nov. 29, 2011. Wazir served as director general of the Afghanistan bureau at the Pakistani Foreign Ministry.

7 killed, 41 wounded in Kabul mosque explosion

STORY: 7 killed, 41 wounded in Kabul mosque explosion DATELINE: Sept. 24, 2022 LENGTH: 00:00:31 LOCATION: Kabul CATEGORY: POLITICS/BREAKING SHOTLIST: 1. various of the explosion site STORYLINE: Seven people were killed and 41 others wounded after a bomb explosion ripped through a mosque in the Afghan capital of Kabul on Friday. Placed on a vehicle, the deadly bomb exploded in front of the main entrance of the Wazir Mohammad Akbar Khan Mosque in Kabul's Police District 6 on Friday afternoon, Kabul Police spokesman Khalid Zadran confirmed on his Twitter account. The bomb targeted the worshippers who were leaving the religious place after Friday prayers, Zadran said. "The security forces of the IEA (the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan) are working resolutely to identify and punish the perpetrators," Zadran said. Zabihullah Mujahid, chief spokesman of the Taliban-run administration, condemned the attack, terming it as "an unforgivable crime." No group or individual has claimed responsibility for the blast.

AFGHANISTAN-KABUL-BLAST

AFGHANISTAN-KABUL-BLAST

(220923) -- KABUL, Sept. 23, 2022 (Xinhua) -- People gather at the site of a blast in Kabul, Afghanistan on Sept. 23, 2022. Seven people were killed and 41 others wounded after a bomb explosion ripped through a mosque in the Afghan capital of Kabul on Friday. Placed on a vehicle, the deadly bomb exploded in front of the main entrance of the Wazir Mohammad Akbar Khan Mosque in Kabul's Police District 6 on Friday afternoon, Kabul Police spokesman Khalid Zadran confirmed on his Twitter account. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua)

AFGHANISTAN-KABUL-BLAST

AFGHANISTAN-KABUL-BLAST

(220923) -- KABUL, Sept. 23, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Afghan security force members stand guard near the site of a blast in Kabul, Afghanistan, Sept. 23, 2022. Seven people were killed and 41 others wounded after a bomb explosion ripped through a mosque in the Afghan capital of Kabul on Friday. Placed on a vehicle, the deadly bomb exploded in front of the main entrance of the Wazir Mohammad Akbar Khan Mosque in Kabul's Police District 6 on Friday afternoon, Kabul Police spokesman Khalid Zadran confirmed on his Twitter account. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua)

AFGHANISTAN-KABUL-BLAST

AFGHANISTAN-KABUL-BLAST

(220923) -- KABUL, Sept. 23, 2022 (Xinhua) -- People gather at the site of a blast in Kabul, Afghanistan on Sept. 23, 2022. Seven people were killed and 41 others wounded after a bomb explosion ripped through a mosque in the Afghan capital of Kabul on Friday. Placed on a vehicle, the deadly bomb exploded in front of the main entrance of the Wazir Mohammad Akbar Khan Mosque in Kabul's Police District 6 on Friday afternoon, Kabul Police spokesman Khalid Zadran confirmed on his Twitter account. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua)

U.S. deserves blame for mess it leaves in Afghanistan: former Pakistani diplomat

STORY: U.S. deserves blame for mess it leaves in Afghanistan: former Pakistani diplomat DATELINE: Sept. 17, 2022 LENGTH: 00:02:15 LOCATION: Islamabad CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. SOUNDBITE (English): MUHAMMAD AYAZ WAZIR, Former Pakistani career diplomat and ambassador to Afghanistan STORYLINE: Afghanistan, which is in urgent need of post-war reconstruction, has been facing a worsening humanitarian crisis, economic depression and terrorist attacks since the takeover by the Taliban in August last year. The U.S.-led military coalition invaded Afghanistan under the excuse of fighting terror in October 2001, and abruptly withdrew in August last year. A former Pakistani diplomat says that the U.S., which hastily withdrew from Afghanistan in disregard of its responsibilities and obligations, deserves much blame for the mess it left behind. SOUNDBITE (English): MUHAMMAD AYAZ WAZIR, Former Pakistani diplomat and ambassador to Afghanistan "U.S.-led NATO forces in Afghanistan, they did destruction, nothing else

Egypt plans to raise prices of metro and train tickets: transport minister

STORY: Egypt plans to raise prices of metro and train tickets: transport minister DATELINE: July 26, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:03 LOCATION: Cairo CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of metro stations in Egypt STORYLINE: Egyptian Transport Ministry plans to raise the prices of metro and train tickets, Kamel Al-Wazir, the minister of transport, announced on Sunday, following the increase in the fuel prices. The plan is scheduled to be presented to the cabinet and parliament for approval in the near future. Al-Wazir noted that there are no other option rather than to raise the prices after the increase of debts totaling 88 billion pounds to banks and 5 billion to the Ministry of Petroleum. The increase approved by the Ministry of Transport was the fourth of its kind during a six-year period, which began in 2017 when the ministry decided to raise the ticket from EGP 1 (about 0.05 U.S. dollars) to EGP 2 for all lines. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Cairo. (XHTV)

Tunisian health expert warns of possibility of new wave of COVID-19

STORY: Tunisian health expert warns of possibility of new wave of COVID-19 DATELINE: June 22, 2022 LENGTH: 00:00:57 LOCATION: Tunis CATEGORY: HEALTH SHOTLIST: 1. Various of vaccination site 2. Various of a hospital for COVID-19 patients 3. Various of the view of streets in Tunis STORYLINE: Hashemi Al-Wazir, Director of the Pasteur Institute in Tunisia, said on Tuesday that the confirmed cases of the COVID-19 in several regions in the country are rising recently, adding the possibility of a new wave of the pandemic cannot be ruled out. As a member of the country's scientific committee for fighting COVID-19, Al-Wazir told local media that many people have been vaccinated for more than 6 months, and the protective effect of the vaccine is waning. He stressed that the number of daily confirmed cases in some areas, including in the capital Tunis, is on a constant rise. Although Tunisia has lifted its epidemic prevention and control measures, the medical expert advised people to wear masks in enclosed spaces.

Egypt, France sign financing agreement on metro trains construction

STORY: Egypt, France sign financing agreement on metro trains construction DATELINE: March 29, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:21 LOCATION: Cairo CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the Egyptian cabinet headquarters 2. various of Egyptian and French sides signing a deal in the presence of Egyptian Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly (taken by cabinet) 3. various of Metro Line 1 STORYLINE: Egypt and France on Monday signed a financing deal that will allow France to manufacture 55 air-conditioned trains for Cairo's Metro Line 1. The deal, totaling 776.9 million euros, also covers maintenance work for the project for eight years. France's Alstom Co. will implement the project. The agreement was signed by Egypt's Transport Minister Kamel el-Wazir and France's Minister of the Economy and Finance Bruno Le Maire, and witnessed by Egyptian Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly. Wazir said the deal comes as part of the ministry's plan to improve the quality of services offered to passengers. Metro Line 1, the oldest metro lin

Egypt to provide 300 gas-powered, electric buses to COP27 delegation in Sharm El-Sheikh

STORY: Egypt to provide 300 gas-powered, electric buses to COP27 delegation in Sharm El-Sheikh DATELINE: March 20, 2022 LENGTH: 0:01:07 LOCATION: Cairo CATEGORY: SOCIETY/ENVIRONMENT SHOTLIST: 1. Still of a meeting between Minister of Transportation Kamel El-Wazir and Minister of Local Development Mahmoud Shaarawy 2. various of electric buses 3. various of Egypt's Sharm El-Sheikh STORYLINE: The Egyptian government announced on Saturday that it will allocate 300 natural gas-powered and electric buses as transportation means for the delegations participating in the upcoming 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27), which will be held in Egypt's Sharm El-Sheikh in November. The decision aims to transform Sharm El-Sheikh into an eco-friendly city in preparation for the event. The announcement was made during a meeting between the Egyptian Minister of Transport Kamel El-Wazir and the Egyptian Minister of Local Development Mahmoud Shaarawy. Several projects have been launched to prepare for the C

Iraq summons Iranian ambassador to protest missile attack in Erbil

STORY: Iraq summons Iranian ambassador to protest missile attack in Erbil DATELINE: March 14, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:38 LOCATION: Baghdad CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of damaged houses 2. SOUNDBITE (Arabic): ZIRYAN WAZIR, Injured citizen STORYLINE: The Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday summoned the Iranian ambassador to Iraq to protest against Iran's ballistic missile attack on Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish region's capital Erbil. The attack has "caused damage to civilian facilities and homes of citizens, in addition to spreading fear among the residents of those areas," the ministry said in a statement. The ministry reiterated its "condemnation of the flagrant violation" of the sovereignty and territory of Iraq, stressing that such attacks will cast a shadow over the regional situation and make it more complicated. The Kurdistan regional government said 12 long-range ballistic missiles were fired at 1 a.m. local time on Sunday (2200 GMT Saturday) from the east outside Iraqi bord

Taliban attacks in Afghanistan

Taliban attacks in Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan - Photo shows an unused grenade and sandals left inside a building under construction in central Kabul on April 16, 2012, where Taliban insurgents holed up and fired rockets toward the central Wazir Akbar Khan neighborhood, where a number of embassies are located. (Kyodo)

Taliban attacks in Afghanistan

Taliban attacks in Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan - Photo shows a building under construction in central Kabul on April 16, 2012, where Taliban insurgents holed up and fired rockets toward the central Wazir Akbar Khan neighborhood, where a number of embassies are located. (Kyodo)

Ex-Pakistani diplomat Wazir

Ex-Pakistani diplomat Wazir

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - Former Pakistani diplomat Ayaz Wazir speaks in an interview with Kyodo News in Islamabad on Nov. 29, 2011. Wazir served as director general of the Afghanistan bureau at the Pakistani Foreign Ministry. (Kyodo)