Latest news with #Egypt-based
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
2nd case of ‘religious conversion' filed in Dehradun,6 named; ‘link with Muslim Brotherhood' suspected
Dehradun: Amidst the ongoing probe into an alleged religious conversion case registered around 10 days ago in Dehradun, police on Saturday filed a second case involving six persons, including a woman, for allegedly converting a 28-year-old woman and attempting to send her to the UAE with "forged documents to marry a Muslim man". According to Dehradun SSP Ajai Singh, police have also found links to Egypt-based radical organisation, Muslim Brotherhood, which is banned in many countries. "The second case was registered under sections 3 and 5 of the Uttarakhand Freedom of Religion Act, in the city's Premnagar police station on a complaint lodged by the brother of the woman, a resident of Bareilly, who came to Dehradun for studies. The accused were identified as Abdul Rehman alias 'Mahendra Pal Singh'; his two sons Abdul Rahim and Abdullah, all residents of Delhi; Abdur Rehman alias 'Rupendra Singh' from Dehradun; Aisha alias 'Krishna Sahu' from Goa; and Suleiman, currently staying in Dubai and originally from Dehradun. Five of them were already arrested by UP police," the SSP said. He added: "During the first case in Ranipokhari around 10 days ago, a 21-year-old woman, 'Mariam', who was being influenced by perpetrators of this organised gang, was counselled by police. She told the cops about another woman named Sumaiyya (name after conversion). She was contacted and counselled too, during which she narrated the whole episode on how she came in contact with the gang members who have links to suspected aides in Pakistan, UAE and Egypt via a WhatsApp group. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Woman sells ring given by ex, then jeweler tells her 'This can't be true' Daily Sport X Undo " Sumaiyya, 28, told police during her counselling that she first came to know about the conversion process through a Muslim friend "who made her recite religious verses over a video call one day and named her 'Sumaiyya'". The friend also invited her to her home in Kashmir about a year ago during Ramzan, claimed Sumaiyya. She met a few Kashmiri men there who made her join the aforementioned group. Sumaiyya was thereafter introduced to a Pakistani-developed app termed 'Ludo Star', and came in contact with some people from the neighbouring country including a cleric Tanveer Ahmed. Sumaiyya claimed that "Ahmed offered to teach her the Quran and Arabic language through online classes". Through the app, she also became friends with another Dubai-based Pakistani, Tehseen, through whom she said she paid fee to Ahmed for the classes. As per his suggestion, she deposited the money in the bank account of Dubai-based Dehradun resident Suleiman who then transferred it to Ahmed's account in Pakistan. The SSP further shared that one of the accused, Abdul Rehman, who came in contact with her on the Whatsapp group, insisted she come to Delhi to undergo the official procedure of changing her faith due to the existing UCC and the anti-conversion law in place in the hill state. She went to Delhi thrice during which Abdul, through his two sons, got forged IDs including Aadhaar with her converted name Sumaiyya and his Delhi address imprinted on it. It was also found that the accused lured her by offering to get her paintings sold in the UAE. The three had allegedly planned to send her to the UAE after availing a passport with her new forged ID, but she was traced down by police. A probe is on to bring the five arrested accused to Uttarakhand as per legal procedure, said Singh.
CairoScene
10-07-2025
- Business
- CairoScene
Burullus Gas Company Begins Production From Sparrow West-1 Well
Production has begun from the Sparrow West-1 well by Burullus Gas Company as part of the WDDM project, targeting an output boost of up to 130 million cubic feet per day in the Mediterranean. Jul 10, 2025 Egypt-based Burullus Gas Company has commenced production from the Sparrow West-1 well in the Mediterranean Sea as part of ongoing efforts to enhance natural gas output. The well, located in the West Delta Deep Marine concession, is the second to come online in Phase 11 of the development project operated by Rashpetco in collaboration with Shell and Petronas. This update follows the successful connection of the Siena DE-1 well, with both contributing to a combined output of 80 million cubic feet of gas per day over the past three weeks. Sparrow West-1 is projected to produce approximately 40 million cubic feet of natural gas per day, with initial testing confirming technical expectations. The development plan aims to increase daily gas output by up to 130 million cubic feet once all scheduled wells are online. Work is currently underway to accelerate the launch of a third well, targeted for production by September. The new production is expected to improve network efficiency and bolster the performance of adjacent wells. It also supports efforts to meet peak domestic demand during the summer months and to curb reliance on imported gas. The Ministry of Petroleum reaffirmed its commitment to advancing investment in the gas sector and strengthening cooperation with international partners to optimise local resources and production capacity.
Yahoo
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Gaza march activists say participants in Egypt beaten, detained
CAIRO (Reuters) -Organisers of a march to the Egyptian border with Gaza said on Tuesday that three participants were abducted by plainclothes officers in Cairo amid a wave of arbitrary detentions, deportations and abuse by security forces. Egypt's interior and foreign ministries did not immediately respond to the allegations. Reuters could not independently verify the reported detentions or conditions. The Global March to Gaza, launched this month, brought over 4,000 activists from more than 80 countries to Egypt in an attempt to peacefully approach the Rafah border crossing and draw attention to Gaza's deepening humanitarian crisis. Since their arrival, dozens of participants said they have faced airport interrogations, deportations and roadblocks preventing access to the Sinai peninsula, which provides the land route to Gaza. In a statement on Tuesday, organisers said three international participants were forcibly taken from a Cairo cafe on Monday by security officers who did not identify themselves. Those named were Jonas Selhi and Huthayfa Abuserriya, both from Norway, and Saif Abukeshek, a Spanish citizen of Palestinian origin and one of the march's organisers. The statement said that according to Selhi, all three men were blindfolded, beaten and interrogated. Abukeshek, he said, faced especially severe abuse. His whereabouts remain unknown, while Selhi and Abuserriya have since been deported to Norway, organisers said. Two security sources denied to Reuters that any detainees were treated violently as long as they adhered to procedures and security instructions until their deportation. The sources said that approximately 400 people have been deported, while fewer than 30 remain awaiting deportation and are being held. "We urge the Egyptian authorities to immediately release Saif Abukeshek and all other detained march participants," the statement said, adding that the group had suspended its Egypt-based plans and made efforts to coordinate with authorities. Egypt's foreign ministry had previously said travel to the Rafah area required prior approval to ensure safety. Organisers say they sought to coordinate through proper channels.
CairoScene
17-06-2025
- Business
- CairoScene
Octane Raises $5.2 Million to Expand Fleet Payments Platform in MENA
Octane Raises $5.2 Million to Expand Fleet Payments Platform in MENA Egyptian fleet-expense startup Octane has raised $5.2 million in a funding round led by Shorooq Partners, Algebra Ventures and SC Holding to grow its operations in Egypt and the wider MENA region. Octane, an Egypt-based digital platform for managing fleet and on-road expenses, has secured $5.2 million in a funding round led by Shorooq, Algebra Ventures and SC Holding. Founded in September 2022, Octane offers a closed-loop digital wallet that consolidates fuel, maintenance, spare parts, and petty cash payments into a single platform. The solution provides fleet operators with real-time control and analytics, helping reduce avoidable fuel and mileage costs by double-digit percentages. It currently supports diesel, petrol and CNG payments, with EV charging capabilities being piloted. Since its launch, Octane has built the largest fleet-payment network in Egypt, with coverage across 2,400 petrol stations and 400 CNG outlets nationwide. Over 1,600 corporate clients, representing a combined fleet of around 250,000 vehicles, use the platform to manage on-road expenses. The startup now employs 200 staff members and was recently recognised with an EEA Award for Rising Entrepreneurs of the Year. "At Octane, we're focused on giving fleets the rails they need to manage day-to-day payments with precision,' said Amr Gamal, Co-Founder and CEO of Octane. 'This funding lets us broaden our acceptance network, expand AI-powered fraud-detection and route-optimisation features, and stay ahead of the shift toward cleaner, more efficient mobility, without adding complexity for our customers.' Octane enters a global market that is seeing increased demand for integrated fleet-expense solutions. While established players like Corpay and WEX have demonstrated the viability of consolidated payment models, newer fintechs such as Coast and Fleetio are driving digital-first adoption. Octane aims to bring this model to Egypt and the region, integrating local tax and compliance needs with advanced automation and insight tools.
Reuters
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Gaza march activists say participants in Egypt beaten, detained
CAIRO, June 17 (Reuters) - Organisers of a march to the Egyptian border with Gaza said on Tuesday that three participants were abducted by plainclothes officers in Cairo amid a wave of arbitrary detentions, deportations and abuse by security forces. Egypt's interior and foreign ministries did not immediately respond to the allegations. Reuters could not independently verify the reported detentions or conditions. The Global March to Gaza, launched this month, brought over 4,000 activists from more than 80 countries to Egypt in an attempt to peacefully approach the Rafah border crossing and draw attention to Gaza's deepening humanitarian crisis. Since their arrival, dozens of participants said they have faced airport interrogations, deportations and roadblocks preventing access to the Sinai peninsula, which provides the land route to Gaza. In a statement on Tuesday, organisers said three international participants were forcibly taken from a Cairo cafe on Monday by security officers who did not identify themselves. Those named were Jonas Selhi and Huthayfa Abuserriya, both from Norway, and Saif Abukeshek, a Spanish citizen of Palestinian origin and one of the march's organisers. The statement said that according to Selhi, all three men were blindfolded, beaten and interrogated. Abukeshek, he said, faced especially severe abuse. His whereabouts remain unknown, while Selhi and Abuserriya have since been deported to Norway, organisers said. Two security sources denied to Reuters that any detainees were treated violently as long as they adhered to procedures and security instructions until their deportation. The sources said that approximately 400 people have been deported, while fewer than 30 remain awaiting deportation and are being held. "We urge the Egyptian authorities to immediately release Saif Abukeshek and all other detained march participants," the statement said, adding that the group had suspended its Egypt-based plans and made efforts to coordinate with authorities. Egypt's foreign ministry had previously said travel to the Rafah area required prior approval to ensure safety. Organisers say they sought to coordinate through proper channels.
