BBC News Middle East

ReutersCopyright: Reuters

Egypt - the Arab world's most populous nation - has begun the process of vaccinating its more than 100 million citizens against the coronavirus. The country has recorded nearly 9,000 deaths from the disease.

The first recipients of a vaccine were a doctor and a nurse. They were given a Chinese-made injection.

Vaccines from Britain and Russia will be included in the inoculation programme as it unfolds.

Egypt’s health minister said the country was aiming to produce an injection locally, with a view to distributing it to the rest of Africa.

There have been warnings that the continent is in danger of being left behind, as richer parts of the world strike vaccine-supply deals and drive up prices.

Read more:

• Africa's long wait for the Covid-19 vaccine

@OlfaHaamdiCopyright: @OlfaHaamdi

The newly appointed head of Tunisia’s state airline has been making waves because of her frank comments about the situation at TunisAir and her criticism of a union-organised sit-in.

Olfa Hamdi, a 35-year old businesswoman and engineer, said those participating were not TunisAir employees, were preventing others from working and were not helping the situation at the cash-strapped state carrier.

“When I took over TunisAir, I found planes that were grounded over $200 [£146], I found scared people, and people who couldn't take decisions, I found a painful situation… and you know, I’ve paid from my own pocket for catering to work and flights to take off," she said.

“I found men crying! I have been working for 10 days, 10 days… and then I’m met by the unions, who bring me people who are not the sons of TunisAir, for a sit-in in our operational centre, which carries a security risk.”

The secretary-general of the union hit back in a local radio broadcast, saying those at the sit-in were contracted to TunisAir and had worked more than six years there but had had no work since the coronavirus pandemic.

Ms Hamdi said she sympathised, but her comments underlie the fact that TunisAir is facing bankruptcy and its state of affairs has worsened since the global pandemic.

Her tirade was videoed and has caused a stir online, with many supporting her courage for speaking out, but others questioning the manner in which she did it.

At one point she told a man, who could be heard but not seen in the video, to “shut up”, when he tried to comment.

The mixed public reaction has also spurred debate about sexism, with some wondering if a man would have been met with the same criticism.

Science Photo LibraryCopyright: Science Photo Library

The Egyptian cabinet has approved the toughening of a law banning female genital mutilation (FGM) by raising the maximum penalty to 20 years in prison.

A survey in 2016 found that almost 90% of Egyptian women between 15 and 49 had undergone FGM, despite a ban that was imposed in 2008.

Under the new amendments to the law, anyone requesting FGM would also face jail.

The law still has to be passed by both parliament and the president.

Women's rights groups say the ban has never been properly enforced.

More on FGM:

• What is FGM, where does it happen and why?
• FGM: Egyptian father 'used coronavirus lie to trick daughters' into procedure