September 3, 2022

Well-known Tibetan painter of religious art dies at 82

Tenpa Rabten, a prominent painter of Tibetan religious scrolls called thangkas, has died at the age of 82, RFA has learned.

Rabten, who passed on the knowledge of his traditional art form to hundreds of students, died Monday in the Tibetan capital Lhasa, according to sources in the region.

Born into a family of artists in 1941, Rabten was introduced to thangka painting at a young age. His grandfather Aepa Tsering Gyawu was the personal artist to the 13^th Dalai Lama, Thubten Gyatso, and was one of the many artists who designed imagery for the Tibetan currency notes used before China’s takeover of Tibet in 1951.

Copy of 640.jpg — Tempa Rabten in the process of completing a painting of Padma Sambhava, the 7th Century Indian Master who brought Buddhism to Tibet. Photo: Gelukpa

Rabten’s father, Drungtok Kelsang Norbu, was a professor at the Creative Training Institute under the Kashag, Tibet’s pre-takeover governing council.

A significant amount of Tibet’s cultural heritage was destroyed during China’s 1966-1976 Cultural Revolution, and Tibetan artists like Tenpa Rabten were forbidden to produce traditional religious art. However, Rabten later wrote thousands of articles about traditional Tibetan painting, and served beginning in 2014 as a mentor in the Chinese National Artists Association.

In 1980, Rabten founded a private fine arts school providing free education for underprivileged students, eventually training around 200 artists. He also taught as a professor of traditional Tibetan painting at Tibet University in Lhasa and received international recognition, including awards given in China and Japan, honoring his contributions to the arts.

Copy of observe.jpg — Tibetan 100 Sang currency note, first printed in 1913 during the era of the 13th Dalai Lama. The artist who designed of the note was Tenpa Rabten’s grandfather, Apa Tsering Gyau who was the master painter for the Tibetan government in Lhasa. Denominations of all Tibetan currencies were in use until 1959. Photo: Gelukpa

Speaking to RFA, Buchung Nubgya, a Tibetan living in New York, said that many of his own teachers were close friends of Tenpa Rabten and shared the same enthusiasm for their profession. He had met Rabten several times himself, he said.

“There have been many teachers of thangka painting, but Tenpa Rabten was someone who nurtured hundreds of students under his personal guidance, and he contributed immensely to the preservation of Tibetan traditional painting,” Nubgya said.

“His passing is an irreparable loss for Tibetan tradition.”

Copy of 640 (6).jpg — Tenpa Rabten’s artwork depicting the Buddhist deity Chakra Sambhara. Photo: Gelukpa

Thangka paintings date back to the 7th century. They are not only valued for their aesthetic beauty, they also serve as educational and meditational aids, as each detail has a meaning that refers to concepts in Buddhist philosophy.

Thangka also have ceremonial use. Some Tibetan monasteries possess huge Thangka scrolls that are unrolled on certain holidays for public viewings and the ceremonies.

The traditional art has been preserved and passed through the lineage of Thangka masters and their students. Sometimes the lineage remains with the family and is passed from father to son. An original Thangka painting is a rarity and can cost between $1,000 and $15,000 depending on its size and intricacy.

Translated by Tenzin Dickyi for RFA Tibetan. Written in English by Richard Finney.

September 3, 2022

‘It was Taiwanese who sold Taiwanese:’ Cambodian trafficking ring survivor

Beginning in the second half of 2021, Taiwanese nationals were lured by high-paying jobs to Cambodian scam rings where they were detained, beaten, resold, and otherwise enslaved. According to a rough estimate by Taiwan’s National Police Agency, there are likely thousands of victims.

Why are Taiwanese flocking to Cambodia in droves? How did this fantasy journey become a nightmare?

One journalist spent weeks interviewing victims who escaped after being trafficked to Cambodia. From their personal experiences, we learn how they fell prey to traffickers and scammers.

On July 10, a 24-year-old woman named Pippi (pseudonym) boarded a flight from Phnom Penh to Taipei after fleeing what had been seven days of hell in Cambodia — the most terrifying experience of her life.

Pippi had been traveling in the Philippines at the end of June when she was lured to a Cambodian group specializing in international fraud after a fellow Taiwanese citizen offered to set her up with a high-paying job on a social media site.

Pippi agreed to take the job and flew to Cambodia, where she was met at the airport in Phnom Penh at 2 a.m. on June 25 by a large Taiwanese man, who took her to a hotel.

“After I arrived in Phnom Penh, my passport was confiscated, and the person who introduced me immediately ‘blocked’ me [on their phone]. Only then did I realize that I might have been deceived.”

The man urged Pippi to rest, while he secretly contacted the trafficking ring that would trade her. She was awoken at 7 a.m. by two local handlers and before she knew what had happened, she was on her way to the so-called “Fraud Park” of Sihanoukville.

Over the course of the following week, Pippi was sold four different times. She said four members of the trafficking rings subjected her to routine abuse, including electrocution and sexual assault.

“It was Taiwanese who sold Taiwanese,” Pippi told RFA in an interview from Taipei.

“They told me that I had been sold. Then they demanded that I help them trick the next person into coming to Sihanoukville for their company. If I didn’t do it, they said they would beat me or sell me to another ring.”

Pippi was held by the trafficking ring in a special economic zone in southwestern Cambodia’s Sihanouk province, which is home to the country’s largest port, the Sihanoukville Autonomous Port.

Repeatedly sold and abused

The industrial park where Pippi was held is called “Huangsha Park,” a complex of commercial buildings, hotels, and entertainment centers. Video footage she claimed to have shot from a window in the room where she was detained appears to show buildings under construction, unfinished shacks, and a lot overgrown with weeds.

Huangsha Park offers “external” and “internal” security for its tenants – the former being armed guards posted at the entrances and exits of buildings in the complex, and the latter being muscle for trafficking rings that want to send a message to their enemies, Pippi said. Most of the rings operating out of industrial parks in Cambodia have established good relations with local authorities, making it difficult for anyone to get far if they’ve managed to escape the complex.

Pippi told RFA that she was sold for U.S. $25,000 to members of a trafficking ring who shocked her with stun batons when she refused to obey orders. That same evening, she was sold for the same amount to members of another trafficking ring who sexually assaulted her before selling her to a third ring for $28,000 two days later.

Lastly, she was sold for $27,000 to members of a fourth ring, the leader of which ordered her to “kill pigs,” or scam people into sending money on dating sites. Pippi said she was given a 35-page “Scam Manual,” which included scripts used to convince people to invest in virtual currency through dating software. The manual also provided information on how to use foreign tourism, such as South African safaris, to find potential victims.

When Pippi again refused to obey, her fourth captor withheld food and water from her and raped her, she said. The fourth gang failed to confiscate Pippi’s cell phone, however, and she was able to post a message to social media that included photos of injuries to her hands from beatings and a call for help. Pippi’s sister also notified the emergency contact center of Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“By the fourth time [I was sold], I was unable to utter a word. They probably thought I was mentally ill,” Pippi recalled weakly.

She told RFA that the fourth ring “didn’t bother” to take her phone and passport because they intended to sell her to a fifth ring. Pippi was able to contact a Taiwanese YouTuber who brought her situation to the attention of multinational humanitarian organizations. After being informed of Pippi’s whereabouts, the provincial government ordered local police to the industrial park to rescue her.

Pippi, a pseudonym, was held by a trafficking ring and took this photo of 'Huangsha Park' in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, where she was detained. Credit: Pippi — Pippi, a pseudonym, was held by a trafficking ring and took this photo of ‘Huangsha Park’ in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, where she was detained. Credit: Pippi

Targeting victims

After graduating from a higher vocational college in Taiwan, Pippi originally worked as a fitness coach and in the medical field. She unexpectedly became pregnant at the age of 21 and gave birth to a daughter who she struggled to raise alone. Amid coronavirus shutdown restrictions, Pippi lost her job and began to look overseas for opportunities to earn money fast, which put her at risk of exploitation by trafficking rings.

In June, through the introduction of a friend, Pippi contacted a Taiwanese agent known as “Luo Luo” on a WeChat account. The agent first suggested working at a hotel and told Pippi, “My biggest responsibility is to keep you safe and make you money.” The transcript of the conversation also said, “We don’t confiscate passports, require signed contracts, or disturb your private life,” and then put forward a U.S. $25,000 “promissory note” with a photo of a youthful Chinese man.

Because the agent was also Taiwanese, Pippi let down her guard and allowed herself to be led, step by step, into the trap of human trafficking. When Pippi arrived in Sihanoukville, Luo Luo and her friends were no longer in contact.

Pippi wasn’t the only young victim. Many of the victims targeted are those who have been marginalized in their primary job market, burdened with debt, anxious about economic security, or want to make a fast pile of cash, sources said.

When Pippi returned to Taiwan, she had to take sleeping pills just to fall asleep. Sometimes she still dreams of being electrocuted at night. When she goes out to meet up with friends, she takes sedatives to calm down. She tries to avoid meeting with men alone, terrified that the same nightmare will happen again.

“I’ve been lied to so many times and now I can’t trust anyone,” she said.

But Pippi didn’t want to only be a victim. Once she returned home, she worked hard to find a job, went to the gym every day, and sought counseling, hoping to return to a normal life as soon as possible. However, she remains so anxious that she can’t sleep at night or wakes up crying.

She said she felt compelled to tell her story through social media to warn others, even it results in her being attacked online or called naïve. Later, she recounted her story at a press conference held by Taiwanese lawmakers.

“I don’t want other people to suffer the same trauma as I did,” Pippi said, explaining why she came forward.

While she heals from her traumatic experience, Pippi continues to speak out on the dangers of human trafficking and regularly reports news and information on victims to NGOs.

“My dad said, it’s okay if you can’t do anything well, just don’t cheat, don’t steal, and be a good person,” she said.

“I’ve been through it, and although I’m not an influential figure, I think I can at least contribute to society.”

September 3, 2022

Tai Ji Men’s Bell of World Peace and Love Rings in Silicon Valley

Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy San Jose’s 21st Anniversary: U.S. Congressman Ro Khanna and California State Senator Dave Cortese Rang the Bell to Pray for the World

U.S. Congressman Ro Khanna Rings the Bell of World Peace and Love

Tai Ji Men’s Bell of World Peace and Love Rings in Silicon Valley

U.S. Congressman Ro Khanna rang the Bell of World Peace and Love and made a wish “to have good relations with all countries working on climate” during a town hall meeting in Sunnyvale, California on August 28, 2022. (AP Images)

SAN JOSE, Calif., Sept. 02, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — “I am very touched and I think it’s a celebration for all of us, for our community, in service of peace and the goals and values we all share,” stated U.S. Congressman Ro Khanna after he rang Tai Ji Men’s Bell of World Peace and Love. Witnessed by hundreds of people, Congressman Khanna rang the Bell and made a wish “to have good relations with all countries working on climate” during a town hall meeting in Sunnyvale, California on August 28, 2022. Tai Ji Men was invited to host the ancient and sacred bell-ringing ceremony, enabling the congressman’s wish to spread around the world through the peaceful sound of the Bell, ending the gathering on a very positive note.

That also marked the culmination of Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy San Jose’s 21st anniversary as it just held an anniversary celebration in Saratoga that afternoon. Over 150 community leaders and people got together to connect and consolidate their kind thoughts and happy energy. There were also congratulatory messages and videos from friends and members of Tai Ji Men in 22 nations. The event was live streamed in Chinese and English, with thousands of views.

The celebration began with a beautiful cultural performance—a jovial auspicious lion dance and an uplifting celestial drum performance, which electrified the whole room and infused the attendees with tons of happy energy to alleviate the fear and anxiety caused by the pandemic.

Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, the leader of Tai Ji Men, delivered welcome remarks, emphasizing, “In the post-pandemic era, we need to maintain a healthy body and mind to cope with constant changes in the environment, apply our conscience, and carry out good deeds in everyday life to help global citizens stay mentally positive. I would like to encourage everyone to make decisions guided by conscience, stay calm, develop great wisdom, take love as a driving force, and unite as one. I wish for the end of wars and the pandemic. Let’s create a beautiful and sustainable future together!”

Over the past 21 years, the academy has been actively promoting a culture of conscience, love, and peace locally, nationally, and globally. In appreciation of its outstanding contributions to their communities and the world, many community and political leaders as well as international scholars participated in the event in person or by sharing a video message.

Those in attendance included Justin Jeong, the field representative at Congresswoman Anna Eshoo’s district office; Cupertino Vice Mayor Liang Chao; Cupertino Councilmember Hung Wei; Fremont Mayor Lily Mei; Fremont Vice Mayor Teresa Keng; Fremont Councilmember Yang Shao; Milpitas Vice Mayor Carmen Montano; Juliette Gomez, a candidate for Milpitas City Council; Palo Alto City Mayor Pat Burt; Palo Alto City Councilmember Greer Stone; Mrs. Stone; Palo Alto City Councilmember Greg Tanaka; Martin Hou, Deputy Director of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in San Francisco; Los Gatos-Saratoga High School Board President Katherine Tseng; and others.

Many visionaries who were unable to attend the event congratulated, commended, and thanked Tai Ji Men for its remarkable contributions via video messages, including Redwood City Councilmember Diane Howard; San Jose Councilmember Matt Mahan; Santa Clara Mayor Lisa Gillmor; Michel Ching-long Lu, Ambassador of Taiwan to Haiti (2000-2002) and Taiwan’s representative to France (2007-2015); Prof. Massimo Introvigne, an Italian sociologist and the managing director of the Center for Studies on New Religions; Ivan Arjona-Pelado, president of the Foundation for the Improvement of Life, Culture and Society in Spain; Camelia Marin, deputy director of Soteria International in Denmark; Willy Fautre, director of Human Rights Without Frontiers in Belgium; Marco Respinti, director-in-charge of Bitter Winter; Alessandro Amicarelli, president of London-based European Federation for Freedom of Belief; Laura Amicarelli, a retired teacher; Dr. Karolina Maria Hess, assistant professor in the Centre for Comparative Studies of Civilisations, Jagiellonian University in Poland; Ms. Stefania Cerruti, external relations manager of the Major Emergencies and Disasters International School; Rosita Soryte, representative of European Federation for Freedom of Belief; and others.

Dr. Hong presented to each of the distinguished guests a Compass Clock of Conscience, which has a profound meaning as it represents time, direction, and goal, guides people toward the right path of life, and reminds them to seize every moment to follow their conscience and do good deeds to achieve a sustainable future of love and peace.

On behalf of Congresswoman Anna Eshoo, Justin Jeong, the field representative at her district office, extended her most sincere and special congratulations to Dr. Hong and Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy San Jose for its 21st anniversary. “Thank you for everything that you guys do for the community and to spread your mission of promoting health in both the physical, mental or spiritual,” he said, emphasizing, “I do have to say that Congresswoman Eshoo is very supportive and loves everything that the Academy does.”

Fremont Mayor Lily Mei presented a certificate of recognition to Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, the leader of Tai Ji Men, congratulating and commending Tai Ji Men. She stated, “I think right now, more than ever, we need people to have a compass, for kindness, for compassion, for our community. And I wish you all continued blessings of peace and wellness, which is so important in this moment.”

Palo Alto City Mayor Pat Burt stated, “As I have listened to the comments, it has reminded me of a famous saying from a speech that President Kennedy made more than 50 years ago. And in it, he said: we all breathe the same air, we all share the same small planet, and we all cherish the future of our children. And this is what I think your celebration and your organization is doing much to promote. In this era, where sustainability and climate change and peace among nations is so important and so threatened, we must all work together for these problems.”

On behalf of the Milpitas City Council, Vice Mayor Carmen Montano and Juliette Gomez, a candidate for Milpitas City Council, congratulated the academy and presented a commendation to Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, the leader of Tai Ji Men. Vice Mayor Montano said, “Tai Ji Men Qigong is the practice of finding balance between body and mind, and to cultivate a higher level of consciousness, physical and emotional health, as well as spiritual enlightenment.”

Cupertino City Councilmember Hung Wei stated, “We are very honored to represent the City of Cupertino to congratulate Dr. Hong and Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy for 21 years of service, not just for the youth, but also for the adults to bring health, wealth, wisdom, happiness and joy to all members of our community.”

At the celebration, Tai Ji Men members shared how practicing qigong has improved their health, parent-child relationships, family life, and other aspects of life, as well as their experiences of serving their communities and spreading love to the world. In response to their sharing, Cupertino Vice Mayor Liang Chao stated that with the ongoing pandemic, many people are facing mental health issues and social isolation, adding, “I think a lot of them would need the service that Tai Ji Men is providing.”

To commemorate the academy’s 21st anniversary in the 21st century, a solemn ancient ceremony of ringing the Bell of World Peace and Love was conducted. Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, the leader of Tai Ji Men, rang the Bell and made three wishes: for everyone’s conscience to awaken, for love and peace to prevail, and for the world to unite as one. The peaceful sound of the Bell spread from Silicon Valley, the world’s leading technology and innovation hub, to awaken the conscience of global citizens, inspiring them to follow their conscience, protect the environment, and ensure global sustainability as they advance technological development!

On this special occasion, a video was played featuring the highlights of Tai Ji Men’s recent ceremonies of ringing the Bell of World Peace and Love. On August 26, California State Senator Dave Cortese rang the Bell at Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy San Jose and made a wish “for peace among every nation” as he congratulated the academy on its 21st anniversary. He presented to Dr. Hong a State of California Senate Certificate of Recognition, which reads, “Senator Dave Cortese hereby recognizes and commends Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy for twenty-one years of service for providing education physical, mental and spiritual health in California’s District 15 and promoting the culture of peace with love and conscience worldwide.”

As of August 2022, a total of 427 influential leaders from 128 nations have rung the Bell, including 49 heads of state and government, seven Nobel Peace Prize laureates, UN ambassadors, and other leaders from all walks of life, exerting their positive influences to transform the world.

The event also featured a story told by Prof. Massimo Introvigne, an Italian sociologist and the managing director of the Center for Studies on New Religions, at a gala dinner in Vienna, Austria in October 2019 to celebrate the United Nations’ adoption of the International Day of Conscience. He was very touched by Tai Ji Men’s cultural performances there and related this profound story: The Buddha came across a burning house with three young people inside who were unaware of the situation. Despite his desire to save them, the Buddha realized that trying to reason with them would be pointless because they wouldn’t understand. He lured them to escape the burning house by providing three beautiful chariots for them to board, and they did so, thus saving themselves. Prof. Introvigne emphasized, “Our world is burning. There is a lot of smoke, a lot of fire. We are at serious risk to die. We do not realize it. If somebody were to talk to us, we will not understand. That is exactly the mission of Dr. Hong and Tai Ji Men.” “Let’s board the chariot Dr. Hong is offering to us. Let’s board the chariot and get saved. I believe that is the lesson of the Day of Conscience. That is the lesson of Tai Ji Men.” This video gives Prof. Introvigne’s interpretation of why over the past 20 plus years Tai Ji Men shifu (master) and dizi (disciples) have been encouraging the people of the world to activate their conscience, do good deeds, and board the beautiful chariots together to escape danger and move toward a beautiful world of love and peace.

To promote a culture of conscience, Tai Ji Men invited the attendees to join millions of others to endorse several declarations on peace and conscience. To date, the Declarations for Human Rights of World Citizens and Peace have been endorsed by over 3.7 million people in 200 nations, and a CD with two million signatures was submitted to the UN in 2004. The Declaration for the Movement of An Era of Conscience and the Declaration of International Day of Conscience have been signed by over 330,000 people in 200 nations. All are encouraged to endorse these meaningful and positive declarations, watch the anniversary celebration online and take conscience-driven actions to improve themselves, their communities, and the world!

Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy: Tai Ji Men is an ancient menpai (similar to school) of qigong, martial arts, and self-cultivation. It has carried forward the wisdom of Taoist philosophy, one of the highest philosophies of humankind. It is an international nonprofit cultural organization. Its contemporary zhang-men-ren (grandmaster), Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze established the Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy in 1966, and since then it has grown to 15 academies worldwide.

Dr. Hong teaches his dizi (similar to disciples) methods to achieve physical, mental, and spiritual balance, and tens of thousands of families have benefited from his teaching. At Tai Ji Men, martial arts and wisdom have been passed down from the shifu (master) to his dizi. Through this time-honored tradition, the shifu and dizi promote the Tai Ji Men culture and martial arts around the world while embodying what is true, good, and beautiful as well as spreading the ideas of conscience, love, and peace. Over the past half-century, the shifu and dizi have self-funded trips to over 300 cities in 101 nations to conduct more than 3,000 cultural performances and exchanges and have been recognized as “International Ambassadors of Peace and Goodwill.”

Media Contact:
Lily Chen
Representative
info@taijimenla.org
626-202-5268
http://www.taijimen.org/TJM2016G_ENG/index.php

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3abc5b05-9807-4f27-bbda-fa7625bc7537

The photo is also available at Newscom, www.newscom.com, and via AP PhotoExpress.

September 3, 2022

UK to Begin Rollout of New COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign

The U.K. will begin its autumn COVID-19 vaccination campaign in the coming weeks after authorizing booster shots made by Pfizer and Moderna that have been modified to target both the original virus and the widely circulating omicron variant.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency said Saturday that it had approved the Pfizer vaccine for use in people aged 12 and older after finding it was both safe and effective. The agency authorized the Moderna vaccine last month.

The government will offer the vaccine to everyone age 50 and over, as well as front-line health care workers and other groups considered to be particularly at risk of serious illness as the National Health Service prepares for a surge in infections this winter.

“These innovative vaccines will broaden immunity and strengthen our defenses against what remains a life-threatening virus,” Health Secretary Steve Barclay said in a statement. “If eligible, please come forward for a booster jab as soon as you are contacted by the NHS.”

Previous COVID-19 vaccines targeted the initial strain, even as mutants emerged. In the new “bivalent” boosters, half of the shot targets the original vaccine and half offers protection against the newest omicron variants.

Source: Voice of America

September 3, 2022

Egypt’s Low-Price School Supplies Fair Offers Parents Relief From Rising Costs

CAIRO, As the countdown to the Egyptian new school year has begun, a fair that features discounted school supplies is being held in the capital, Cairo, to offer parents some relief from rising living costs.

“I bought some notebooks, pens, water bottles and other supplies for my two children. The prices are lower than the outside market and it’s such a relief amid price hikes,” said Sayyid Magdy, an Egyptian father, coming to the “Ahlan Madares” (Welcome Schools) fair, with his 12-year-old boy.

The annual fair is held during Sept 1-9 this year, at the Cairo International Convention Centre, by the Ministry of Supply and Internal Trade.

“We have now more than 200 exhibitors, featuring shoes, leather products, outfits, stationery, schoolbags, glasses and foodstuff. We have also six banks providing solutions and installments for buying school supplies and paying school fees,” said Sherif Yehia, one of the fair organisers and board members of the Cairo Chamber of Commerce.

Yehia pointed out that, exhibitors don’t have to pay anything to join the fair and the only thing they have to offer is a discount of at least 30 percent for customers.

“Discounts sometimes reach 50 percent or more, without affecting the quality of products. Therefore, as you can see, the turnout of customers is very high,” the organiser told Xinhua, noting, this is the sixth consecutive year to hold such a fair.

At one of the booths, parents and their children were buying pens, pencils, rulers and notebooks with coloured covers.

Salesman Mostafa Saad, a worker at the booth, said, the fair offers real opportunities to buy school supplies at low costs, ahead of the school year that starts in early Oct.

“The fair makes it very easy for parents and offers them big discounts. This can be seen in the non-stop selling and the high turnout of customers. I will have to ask our factory for another batch of notebooks because they are selling very well and running out,” the young man said.

The fair comes as a relief from rising prices for many Egyptians, amid the current worldwide wave of inflation, prompted by the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian conflict.

Rania Ibrahim, a doctor who was shopping at one of the stationery booths, described the fair as “excellent,” after she bought a writing board, several pencil cases and notebooks for her children.

“The fair has everything we need. So, it doesn’t only save money but also saves the time of going to different stores to buy different school supplies,” the mother said.

Source: Nam News Network

September 3, 2022

Five Killed, 50 Injured In Bus Accident In Egypt

CAIRO, At least five people were killed and 50 others injured yesterday, when a double-decker bus overturned in the north-eastern governorate of Suez, according to Egyptian police.

The accident happened on Egypt’s Cairo-Ain Sokhna road, and all the injured have been taken to hospitals, according to the Emergency Police Operations Room.

Earlier in the day, three people were killed and 10 others injured, when a minibus, driving illegally across a closed railway crossing point, crashed into a passing train in the northern Egyptian city of Faqous, according to local media reports.

In Egypt, traffic accidents are common and claim thousands of lives every year. Most of the accidents are caused by speeding, poor maintenance of roads, and lax enforcement of traffic laws.

Over the past few years, Egypt has been upgrading its road network by building new roads and bridges and repairing old ones to reduce traffic accidents.

Source: Nam News Network