Connect with us

Culture

Archaeologists unearth 5 centuries-old Pharaonic tombs in Egypt. See video

Published

on

Archaeologists have discovered 5 finely decorated, well-preserved paintings at a cemetery in Saqqara, just outside the Egyptian capital Cairo, officials said on Saturday.

The five tombs, unearthed earlier this month, date back to the Old Kingdom (1570 B.C. and 1069 B.C.) and the First Intermediate Period that spanned more than a century after the collapse of the old kingdom, according to the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.

 

https://twitter.com/TourismandAntiq/status/1505489341698686979?s=20&t=rQOBG8hzO_4Cuc0yan-Rrg

Mostafa Waziri, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, said Egyptian archaeologists started excavation on the site in September.

The tombs, he said, were for senior officials including regional rulers and supervisors of the palace in ancient Egypt.

“All of those five tombs are well-painted, well-decorated. Excavations did not stop. We are planning to continue our excavations. We believe that we can find more tombs in this area,” he told reporters.

The tombs were found near the Step Pyramid of Djoser, in the Saqqara necropolis, 24 kilometres (15 miles) southwest of Cairo.

Footage, shared on the ministry’s social media pages, showed burial shafts leading to the tombs. Walls were seen decorated with hieroglyphic inscriptions, images of sacred animals and after-life items used by ancient Egyptians.

 

https://twitter.com/TourismandAntiq/status/1505489155689750532?s=20&t=rQOBG8hzO_4Cuc0yan-Rrg

The Saqqara site is part of a sprawling necropolis at Egypt’s ancient capital of Memphis that includes the famed Giza pyramids as well as smaller pyramids at Abu Sir, Dahshur and Abu Ruwaysh. The ruins of Memphis were designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in the 1970s.

Culture

Moroccan doctors stage nationwide protest in ‘Week of Anger’

Published

on

Moroccan doctors across the country on Tuesday staged a nationwide protests in what is known as “Week of Anger,” accusing the government of ignoring their calls for reform in public healthcare.

In a public announcement on Monday, the Independent Union of Public Sector Doctors (SIMSP) said the strike action would include more walkouts from December 30 to January 5.

The SIMSP said the nationwide strike would affect all public health facilities except emergency and intensive care units to ensure that some level of care remained available.

“During this time, doctors will not be at diagnostic centres and they will also boycott administrative tasks and refuse to issue medical certificates,” the SIMSP said.

The union added that a large march is planned for December 29 in Rabat, aimed at opposing laws on strikes and pensions.

The doctors’ union noted that their demands have been ignored by the Ministry of Health.

The union stated that their requests to government has remained unanswered. It also criticized a new framework for doctors, calling it scandalous as it threatens job security and opens the door to unfair dismissals.

The doctors’ demands include extra grades for doctors beyond the current scale, higher salaries, and an end to limits on promotions.

The union also wants the government to honour agreements made in 2011, 2023, and 2024.

According to the union, the doctors are also upset with the 2025 budget plan, which they say fails to address the health sector’s funding issues, expressing concerned about plans to shift salaries from central budgets to local health groups and warning that this could lead to instability.

The union added that doctors will continue to boycott school health programmes and what they call “improvised” surgical campaigns. They insist on maintaining high medical standards while pushing for change.

Continue Reading

Culture

Ghana’s Afua Asantewaa begins second GWR sing-a-thon attempt

Published

on

Ghanaian singer, Afua Asantewaa, on Saturday, began her second attempt at breaking the Guinness World Record (GWR) for the longest singing marathon by an individual.

The sing-a-thon which began in the early hours of Saturday, December 21, at Heroes’ Park, Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi, will run until December 25, and will see the determined songstress perform non-stop, focusing exclusively on Ghanaian songs.

According to Asantewaa’s manager, Madam Gladys Osei Owiredu, the audacious initiative is aimed at showcasing the rich cultural heritage of Ghanaian music to a global audience.

Owiredu confirmed that preparations for the event had been extensive but expressed confidence in Asantewaa’s readiness to finally break the record.

“I can confirm that she is ready for the task ahead. It’s been challenging—by way of preparations—but I can say she is ready,” Owiredu said.

Asantewaa’s second attempt follows her first effort in December 2023, which fell short of surpassing the current record of 105 hours held by India’s Sunil Waghmare.

But despite the setback, her team remains optimistic about breaking the record this time with corporate sponsors including International Maritime Hospital, Ghana Gas, Nasco Electronics, and Zoomlion Ghana Limited rallying behind her, underscoring the importance of the attempt in amplifying the global significance of Ghanaian music.

Continue Reading

EDITOR’S PICK

Culture7 hours ago

Moroccan doctors stage nationwide protest in ‘Week of Anger’

Moroccan doctors across the country on Tuesday staged a nationwide protests in what is known as “Week of Anger,” accusing...

Metro7 hours ago

Zambian drug agency declares ex-President Lungu’s daughter wanted

The Zambian Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) has declared the daughter of former president Edgar Lungu, Tasila Lungu, wanted in connection...

Metro8 hours ago

‘Pray for leaders to serve you diligently,’ President Tinubu tells Nigerians

President Bola Tinubu has called on Nigerians to develop the habit of praying for their leaders to enable them serve...

Musings From Abroad1 day ago

World Bank doubts Ethiopia-IMF debt assessment

Some officials of the World Bank have questioned if the study supporting Ethiopia’s debt restructuring may be “faulty” after criticising...

Metro1 day ago

Death toll from Cyclone Chido in Mozambique hits 94

he death toll from the Cyclone Chido which stuck Mozambique last week has risen to 94 with hundreds still missing....

Tech1 day ago

Facebook returns to Uganda after 4-year ban

After four years of being in the cooler as a result of suspension by government, Facebook, now Meta, is making...

Metro1 day ago

Nigeria on the right path despite hardship, criticism— President Tinubu

Nigerian President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has insisted that the country is moving in the right direction despite the criticism of...

Metro2 days ago

Zambian NGO decries persistent corruption, says governance in 2024 marked by mixed fortunes

A Non-Governmental Organization in Zambia, the Gender Organizations Coordinating Council (NGOCC), has decried what it described as persistent corruption in...

Sports2 days ago

Sad day for African football as promising Kenyan star passes on

he African football fraternity was thrown into mourning following the untimely demise of promising Kenyan striker, Ezekiel Otuoma, who died...

Metro2 days ago

Nigeria: Police dismiss Amnesty Intl’s report on killing of protesters, demand apology

The Nigeria Police has rejected a report by Amnesty International that accused the force of killing protesters during the #Endbadgovernance...

Trending