Minister in New Zealand EGYPTIAN Minister of Immigration and Expatriate Affairs Nabila Makram headed to New Zealand on Tuesday to visit the 11 Egyptians injured in the two Christchurch mosques terrorist attacks. Egyptian Prosecutor-General Nabil Sadek on Saturday ordered a judicial inquiry into the attack, among the victims of which were four Egyptians. A white nationalist extremist shot dead 50 people at two Christchurch mosques in New Zealand during Friday prayers on 15 March. The shooter, 28-year-old Brenton Tarrant, stood trial on Saturday in a city court on murder charges. Two other suspects remain in custody. Sadek requested the preparation of a memorandum, including the prosecution-general demands, to be sent to “competent” judicial authorities in New Zealand, a statement issued by Sadek's office said. Sadek requested official copies of the investigation into the incident alongside forensic reports and footage from recordings and surveillance cameras at the scene. 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Poll results announced DIAA Rashwan, head of the State Information Service (SIS), became Press Syndicate chairman in elections held on Friday 15 March. Rashwan won 2,810 votes while his chief rival Refaat Rashad of Akhbar Al-Youm collected 1,545 votes, the judicial committee supervising the polls announced. The committee added that out of the 4,588 journalists who voted, 235 votes were invalid. Eleven candidates competed for the syndicate chair and 52 for six seats in the council. The six winners were Khaled Miri, Mohamed Shabana, Hisham Younis, Mahmoud Kamel, Hammad Al-Romhi and Mohamed Yehia. The elections were originally scheduled for 1 March, but as the legal quorum was not complete, a two-week delay was needed. Rashwan promised to improve the financial situation of journalists and spoke about the possibility of journalists working for online news services to be able to join the syndicate. Rashwan, whose campaign slogan was “to strengthen unity”, said he will work to foster constructive dialogue on public issues. Rashwan, syndicate chairman from 2013 to 2015 and a former head of Al-Ahram Centre for Political and Strategic Studies, dismissed rumours that he was the candidate of the government. 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Tracing drugs on campus MINISTER of Higher Education Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar announced that campaigns to detect drug usage will be carried out at universities, adding that his ministry has already drawn up the campaign framework. Abdel-Ghaffar said that awareness activities will be organised by students and employees to warn against the dangers of drug use. Students and employees will also be given the opportunity to apply for medical treatment. A plan to treat students and employees in universities will be carried out. Those who refuse to undergo treatment will be dismissed, he said. Universities will provide the Supreme Council of Universities with periodic reports on the number of people and percentage proven to be using drugs. According to Abdel-Ghaffar, the cabinet is working on legislative amendments to require that state employees take drug tests. 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Top railway official sacked NEWLY-appointed Transport Minister Kamel Al-Wazir on Sunday sacked deputy chairman of the Railway Authority for the financial and administrative affairs sector Mustafa Sultan, sources at the ministry stated. Accusations of committing gross financial infringements were levelled at the dismissed senior official. But sources at the Railway Authority denied receiving an official dismissal decree so far. During a tour of Sidi Gaber railway station, Al-Wazir stressed his keenness to remove obstacles preventing proper services to citizens. Addressing workers, Al-Wazir said he would not allow corruption or negligence in the ministry's various sectors.
