‘Ramses and the Gold of the Pharaohs’ exhibition sells out in Australia

“Ramses and the Gold of the Pharaohs” — an exhibition featuring pieces from the collection of the Egyptian Museum — is currently on show at the Australian Museum in Sydney, where it has reportedly sold out. (Supplied)
“Ramses and the Gold of the Pharaohs” — an exhibition featuring pieces from the collection of the Egyptian Museum — is currently on show at the Australian Museum in Sydney, where it has reportedly sold out. (Supplied)
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Updated 06 January 2024
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‘Ramses and the Gold of the Pharaohs’ exhibition sells out in Australia

‘Ramses and the Gold of the Pharaohs’ exhibition sells out in Australia
  • Sydney fourth stop so far for traveling exhibition
  • Exhibition showcases 182 artifacts, some of which date back to reign of King Ramses II (1279-1213 BCE)

CAIRO: “Ramses and the Gold of the Pharaohs” — an exhibition featuring pieces from the collection of the Egyptian Museum — is currently on show at the Australian Museum in Sydney, where it has reportedly sold out all tickets for this month.

Sydney is the fourth stop so far for the traveling exhibition, and has garnered “a high level of interest among Sydneysiders and Australians in general since the first day it opened,” according to Dr. Mostafa Waziri, secretary-general of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, who claimed the exhibition was on track to “break visitor records.”

Fadi Sayed, one of the exhibition’s organizers, told Arab News: “We are very pleased with the sale of all the exhibition tickets.” 

The exhibition showcases 182 artifacts, some of which date back to the reign of King Ramses II (1279-1213 BCE), including the king’s sarcophagus as well as discoveries from the Egyptian mission in the Bubastion area in Saqqara.

“In addition, there are items from several Egyptian museums showcasing some distinctive characteristics of ancient Egyptian civilization from the Middle Kingdom to the Late Period, including statues, jewelry, cosmetic tools, paintings, inscribed stone blocks, and some colored wooden coffins,” Sayed added. 

The exhibition has attracted nearly 1 million visitors so far since opening in Houston, Texas, in November 2021, according to the organizers. It was also on display in San Francisco and Paris before opening in Sydney in November last year.


Journalists’ group urges Houthis to rescind death sentence against Yemeni media worker

Journalists’ group urges Houthis to rescind death sentence against Yemeni media worker
Updated 5 sec ago
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Journalists’ group urges Houthis to rescind death sentence against Yemeni media worker

Journalists’ group urges Houthis to rescind death sentence against Yemeni media worker
  • Militia issued ruling against Taha Ahmed Rashid Al-Maamari last month
  • International Federation of Journalists says it condemns ‘arbitrary sentencing’

AL-MUKALLA: The International Federation of Journalists on Tuesday demanded that the Houthis reverse the death sentence issued against a Yemeni media worker and stop harassing journalists in areas under their control.
The federation said the militia sentenced Taha Ahmed Rashid Al-Maamari, the owner of Yemen Digital Media and Yemen Live for Media Production and Satellite Broadcasting, to death and confiscated his property. It also accused it of using the judiciary to harass journalists and media workers both inside and outside the country.
“We condemn the tactics carried out by the de facto authorities in Sanaa, including the arbitrary sentencing against our colleague Al-Maamari, which only seeks to prevent journalists from doing their jobs and to discourage media owners from investing in the media industry in Yemen,” IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger said in a statement.
Last month, a Houthi court in Sanaa sentenced Al-Maamari to death and ordered the confiscation of his property, including a house and media company, on charges of collaborating with Houthi opponents. The decision was condemned by the Yemeni Journalists Syndicate, Yemeni government officials and activists.
Bellanger urged the Houthis to rescind the sentence and return Al-Maamari’s property. He also issued an appeal to the global community.
“We call on the international community and journalists’ groups across the world to advocate for overturning the unjust ruling and campaigning for the release of all imprisoned journalists in the country,” he said.
Al-Maamari, who has lived in Spain since 2015, has repeatedly denied the Houthis’ accusations, which began in 2018 when the group raided his company’s offices and seized equipment.
Since seizing power in Yemen a decade ago, the Houthis have shut down dozens of media outlets, abducted journalists, tried and sentenced some to death, and forced many others to flee areas under their control.
The militia recently abducted hundreds of Yemenis, including several journalists, for celebrating the 1962 revolution online or waving the Yemeni flag in Sanaa and other Houthi-controlled cities.
On Tuesday, the Yemeni Journalists Syndicate said the Houthis were still holding 10 journalists. It demanded their release and urged the militia to stop leveling “fabricated” charges against journalists.
Meanwhile, Rashad Al-Alimi, chairman of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, said on Wednesday that the expected reopening of the Russian Embassy in the southern city of Aden, Yemen’s interim capital, would boost the country’s decades-long relationship with Russia, according to news agency SABA.
During a meeting with Alexander Kinshak, director of the Middle East and North Africa at the Russian Foreign Ministry, who is currently visiting Aden, Al-Alimi expressed his hope that reopening the embassy would help calm hostilities, strengthen Yemen’s relations with Russia, unite the international community behind the Yemeni government and help confront Houthi attacks on ships.
Yemeni officials said Russia planned to open an embassy in Aden early next year.
The news came as foreign diplomatic delegations from Russia, the EU and Norway were visiting Aden to meet Al-Alimi, his government and members of the public.
The internationally recognized Yemeni government has urged countries to reopen their embassies and diplomatic missions in Aden, saying that its military and security forces have restored peace and security to the city after years of insecurity, explosions and assassinations.


Israel says Lebanon negotiations will only be held ‘under fire’

Israel says Lebanon negotiations will only be held ‘under fire’
Updated 16 October 2024
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Israel says Lebanon negotiations will only be held ‘under fire’

Israel says Lebanon negotiations will only be held ‘under fire’
  • “Hezbollah is in great distress,” Gallant said near the border

JERUSALEM: Israel will not stop fighting a now weakened Hezbollah before it can safely return its citizens to their homes near the Lebanese border and any ceasefire negotiations will be held “under fire,” Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said on Wednesday.
“Hezbollah is in great distress,” Gallant said near the border, according to a statement from his office. “We will hold negotiations only under fire, I said this on day one, I said it in Gaza and I am saying it here.”


Iran warns of ‘decisive’ response if Israel strikes, urges UN action

Iran warns of ‘decisive’ response if Israel strikes, urges UN action
Updated 16 October 2024
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Iran warns of ‘decisive’ response if Israel strikes, urges UN action

Iran warns of ‘decisive’ response if Israel strikes, urges UN action
  • Tehran fired about 200 missiles at Israel on Oct. 1 in revenge for the killing of two of its closest allies
  • Israeli defense minister warned last week retaliation will be ‘decisive, precise and surprising’ for Iran

TEHRAN: Iran’s top diplomat has warned UN chief Antonio Guterres that Tehran is ready for a “decisive and regretful” response if Israel attacks his country in retaliation for a missile attack.

The Islamic republic fired about 200 missiles at Israel on October 1 in revenge for the killing of two of its closest allies, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, as well as an Iranian general.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant vowed last week that his country’s retaliatory measure would be “deadly, precise and surprising.”

“Iran, while making all-out efforts to protect the peace and security of the region, is fully prepared for a decisive and regretful response to any adventures” by Israel, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said during a phone call with Guterres, according to a statement from his office on Wednesday.

During the call on Tuesday evening, Araghchi also appealed to the United Nations to use its resources “to stop the crimes and aggressions of the Israeli regime and to send humanitarian aid to Lebanon and Gaza.”

Over the past week, the Iranian foreign minister has visited Lebanon, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iraq and Oman in an effort to ease tensions.

Araghchi arrived in Jordan on Wednesday before traveling to Egypt and Turkiye, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said in a post on social media platform X.

The developments come against the backdrop of a war between Israel and Iran-allied Palestinian militant group Hamas that has been raging for more than a year and has expanded to include Lebanon in recent weeks.


Iran atomic agency says Israeli attack on nuclear sites ‘unlikely’

Iran atomic agency says Israeli attack on nuclear sites ‘unlikely’
Updated 16 October 2024
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Iran atomic agency says Israeli attack on nuclear sites ‘unlikely’

Iran atomic agency says Israeli attack on nuclear sites ‘unlikely’
  • The agency spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi said: “In the event of an attack on a key site: be sure it will not succeed”
  • His remarks came ahead of an expected Israeli response to Iran’s firing of around 200 missiles at Israel on Oct. 1

TEHRAN: Iran’s atomic energy agency said Wednesday an Israeli attack on key nuclear sites was “very unlikely” and the country would be able to “quickly compensate” for any potential damage.
“It is very unlikely to happen,” said the agency spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi in a video interview with the Nournews agency.
“In the event of an attack on a key site: be sure it will not succeed,” he said.
“And if they (Israel) do such a stupid thing, it is very unlikely that they will cause serious damage to us and even if we assume that they can cause some damage, the country can quickly compensate for it,” he added.
His remarks came ahead of an expected Israeli response to Iran’s firing of around 200 missiles at Israel on October 1.
Tehran said it was a retaliation for the killing of Iran-aligned militant leaders in the region and a general in its Revolutionary Guards.
The missile barrage came after an Israeli air raid killed Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah and IRGC top general Abbas Nilforoushan in Beirut on September 27.
It also followed the killing of Palestinian group Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh on July 31 in Tehran in an attack widely blamed on Israel.
Israel has since vowed to retaliate, with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant vowing that Israel’s response will be “deadly, precise and surprising.”
US President Joe Biden, whose government is Israel’s top arms supplier, has warned Israel against striking Iran’s nuclear or oil facilities.
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel — and not its top ally the United States — would decide how to strike back.
“We listen to the opinions of the United States, but we will make our final decisions based on our national interest,” it said Tuesday.
Iran has warned that any attack on its “infrastructure” would provoke an “even stronger response,” while Revolutionary Guards General Rassul Sanairad said an attack on nuclear or energy sites would cross a red line.


Israeli strikes hit children in Gaza before receiving second polio vaccines, family says

Israeli strikes hit children in Gaza before receiving second polio vaccines, family says
Updated 16 October 2024
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Israeli strikes hit children in Gaza before receiving second polio vaccines, family says

Israeli strikes hit children in Gaza before receiving second polio vaccines, family says
  • “The time for second vaccine was here, but the (Israeli) occupation did not let them live to continue their lives and their childhood,” said Asmaa
  • Yamen, along with four of his cousins — the oldest of whom was 10 — were killed when Israel hit their family home on Sept. 24 in the Nuseirat camp in central Gaza

GAZA: Holding his teddy bear, Gazan mother Asmaa Al-Wasifi mourned her 10-year-old son, who was killed in an Israeli strike before he could take his second polio shot.
The United Nations began the second round of its polio campaign in central areas of the enclave on Monday, though many Gazans said the effort was futile given the ongoing Israeli campaign to crush Hamas.
“The time for second vaccine was here, but the (Israeli) occupation did not let them live to continue their lives and their childhood,” said Asmaa, crying as she went through her son’s clothes and schoolbooks.
Yamen, along with four of his cousins — the oldest of whom was 10 — were killed when Israel hit their family home on Sept. 24 in the Nuseirat camp in central Gaza.
The children had received their first polio vaccines three weeks earlier in a UN campaign that prompted rare daily pauses of fighting between Israel and Hamas militants in pre-specified areas.
The campaign began after a baby was partially paralyzed by the type-2 polio virus in August, in the first such case in the territory in 25 years.
Yamen’s grandmother Zakeya, who lost at least 10 of her family members, called for the war that has ravaged the tiny enclave of 2.3 million people for more than a year to end.
“We don’t want any drinks or any aid. We want them to give us safety and security — for the war to end,” she said.
Efforts to secure a ceasefire so far have faltered, with Israel and Hamas unable to agree on key demands.
Her son Osama, 35, said his wife’s body was unrecognizable after the strike that also killed their four children.
The children had just had fresh haircuts to get ready for school, he added.
“They were happy like butterflies... Ten minutes later, the targeting happened. I found them all in pieces,” he said.