As the conflict intensifies, civilians, including vulnerable children and families, face mounting challenges in accessing essential food supplies, with food distribution networks disrupted and food production severely hampered by hostilities. WFP is prepared to respond swiftly with pre-positioned food stocks for people who have been displaced or are in shelters, when the situation allows, as well as resuming its regular food and cash-based transfer assistance to vulnerable people. While most shops in the affected areas in Palestine currently maintain one month of food stocks, these risk being depleted swiftly as people stock up in fear of a prolonged conflict. WFP has been steadfast in providing crucial food assistance, serving approximately 350,000 Palestinians monthly, and extending aid to nearly one million Palestinians in collaboration with other humanitarian partners through its cash-based transfers platform. These developments follow a devastating cut in assistance for 60 percent of WFP food aid recipients since June 2023, due to funding shortfalls, leaving only 150,000 people receiving reduced rations.

Samir made these remarks during a speech delivered on behalf of Mostafa Madbouly, the Prime Minister, during the 21st Annual Meeting of the Indian Real Estate Developers' Association, which took place in Sharm El Sheikh and was attended by a significant number of Indian business leaders. The Minister of Trade and Industry acknowledged India as one of the leading countries in real estate development, with the Indian Real Estate Developers' Association playing an active role in developing this industry in India. He further highlighted Egypt's appreciation for the significant experience of Indian real estate developers and India's importance as a key partner in this field. These measures have contributed to increasing foreign direct investments in real estate and infrastructure projects. He invited participants in the forum to explore investment opportunities in the Egyptian real estate market and translate them into tangible projects in Egypt's real estate development sector.

CAIRO - 8 October 2023:Egypt is in negotiations with three international companies to manufacture mobile phones locally in the near future, according to the Egyptian Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Amr Talaat. Talaat stated in remarks to "Bloomberg", on Saturday, that Egypt aims to grow the telecommunications and information technology sector by more than 16 percent in the current fiscal year 2023/2024. During his speech at the Techne Summit at the Alexandria Library, Talaat mentioned that there are partnerships with many international entities to provide advanced technical training. He added that the Ministry is particularly interested in Egypt's Digital Innovation Centers, which play a significant role in training. It is planned to open more Digital Innovation Centers, with the number expected to reach 25 by 2024.

CAIRO - 8 October 2023: Israel has warned its citizens of travelling to Middle East countries, including Egypt, as well as other countries with travel warnings a day after the Israeli government announced the “state of war” against Hamas fighters in Gaza. The Israeli announcement also comes shortly after an Egyptian policeman opened fire on a group of Israeli tourists in Alexandria, killing two of them as well as one Egyptian and injured another person. Egypt, which receives millions of tourists annually including Israelis, rarely witnesses any attacks against visitors. Over the past years, Egypt and Israeli have been keen to increase their direct flights with Israeli tourists enjoying charming destinations in South Sinai, Cairo and other parts of the country. In 2021, Egypt helped broker a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, putting an end to a major 11-day fighting that claimed around 250 lives, mainly in Gaza.

Samir stated that the real estate sector in Egypt accounts for more than 20% of the GDP, and plays a vital role in driving growth, investment, and job creation. He said that these measures have increased foreign direct investments in the real estate sector and infrastructure projects. He affirmed the Egyptian government’s commitment to improving the business climate in the real estate sector by enhancing transparency, simplifying procedures, and offering many opportunities for growth and investment. He invited the forum’s participants to explore the Egyptian market and establish cooperation projects in the real estate sector. Samir also highlighted Egypt’s membership in the BRICS, which he said was a great opportunity for Egypt and India to strengthen their cooperation in the real estate sector and other fields.

Indian ambassador Ajit Gupte planted small plants on Monday as a symbol of friendship between the two countries to commemorate the 154th birthday of Indian independence leader Mahatma Gandhi in Cairo. Participants also laid flowers at the bust of Gandhi in Horreya Park in Zamalek, which was installed in 2019, and sang some of Gandhi’s favorite bhajans (hymns). Ambassador Gupte and Sultan planted two small plants as a symbol of friendship during the occasion. The birthday of Mahatma Gandhi has been celebrated globally as the International Day of Non-violence since 2007. Every year, events are organized on 2 October to commemorate and uphold Gandhi’s philosophy and principles.

CAIRO – 8 October 2023: Egypt expressed its sincere condolences to Afghanistan over the victims of the 6.3-magnitude earthquake that struck the west of the country Saturday morning, killing more than 2,000 people and injuring 1,240. The Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid stressed Egypt’s full solidarity with the Afghan people in this ordeal, wishing the injured a speedy recovery. A total of 1,320 houses were completely destroyed, and thousands of people were buried under the debris of the buildings as a result of the devastating earthquake.

Israeli media reported that Palestinian fighters infiltrated Israeli settlements near the Gaza border and kidnapped soldiers and settlers, while clashes continued in Ashkelon. This is the most violent escalation between Israel and Gaza since May. Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said that Israel was facing a “war” and that Hamas would pay an “unprecedented price”. Shoukry also spoke with the foreign ministers of Jordan, UAE, France, Germany, Turkey, Russia, and Spain to consult and coordinate on de-escalation efforts. He said that all international and regional efforts should focus on de-escalation and restraint, to prevent more casualties and loss of control.

Amplified calls for the creation of Khalistan date back to when India gained its independence in 1947. At the same time, some Sikh supporters of Khalistan have made comments perceived as anti-national and threatening toward India and its government. And in counterinsurgency operations, Indian security forces were accused of a multitude of human rights abuses. Protesters rally outside the Indian consulate in Toronto against the Indian government’s alleged involvement in the killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on September 25, 2023. “The larger [Sikh] community is standing by the statements from Trudeau and they want action upon this,” said Jasveer Singh, a British Sikh and senior press officer with the Sikh Press Association.

CAIRO - 7 October 2023: A booklet issued by the Story of a Homeland conference included features of the development that took place in the environmental sector in Egypt over the past 9 years. The booklet confirmed that the Ministry of Environment implemented about 179 projects to confront climate change, protect the ozone layer, improve air and water quality, control industrial pollution, protect nature and sustainable management of natural reserves, integrated management of all types of waste, indicating an increase in the resources of the Environmental Protection Fund by 1600%. The booklet confirmed that among the achievements of the Ministry of Environment in the environmental sector is the start of official implementation of converting waste into energy, and encouraging national companies to enter this field, with a total volume of investments ranging between 340 - 400 million US dollars, especially for the first phase, in addition to beginning the implementationA project to improve air quality and combat climate change in Greater Cairo with funding of ($200 million) with the aim of modernizing the air quality monitoring system, establishing an integrated waste management complex, and closing and rehabilitating the Abu Zaabal landfill. In addition to this, supporting the experience of electric transportation in the public sector and its infrastructure, and providing a grant worth $9 million from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) to support the health care component. In the field of reducing air pollution and improving air quality, the Ministry has taken many measures and procedures, including the success achieved in the agricultural waste management system (rice straw), during periods of severe air pollution bouts, and work to encourage investment in the operations of collecting and compressing rice straw with the aim of avoiding burning agricultural waste.

Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of International Cooperation(L) meets with Minister of State for Development Cooperation of France Chrysoula Zakaropoulou, ce(R)CAIRO - 7 October 2023: During her visit to France to attend the Green Finance and Investment Forum organized by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of International Cooperation, met with Chrysoula Zakaropoulou, Minister of State for Development Cooperation of France, in light of efforts to strengthen joint relations with multilateral and bilateral development partners. The meeting witnessed discussion of efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation relations between the Arab Republic of Egypt and the French Republic, and follow-up on the results of the Paris Summit for a new global financial pact. Al-Mashat appreciated the existing cooperation with the French side in financing developmental projects in Egypt, especially the development and rehabilitation of metro lines. Future development cooperation projects were also discussed at the level of capacity building programs, new metro lines, housing, education, vocational training, and small projects. Including €776 million from the French Treasury and €990 million from the French Development Agency.

CAIRO – 7 October 2023: Egypt warned on Saturday of the “severe dangers” posed by the current ongoing escalation between the Israeli and Palestinian sides amid a series of assaults on Palestinian cities. In a statement, the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs called for exercising the utmost restraint and avoiding exposing civilians to further risks. Furthermore, Egypt calls for international actors involved in backing the efforts of resuming the peace process to intervene immediately to halt the ongoing escalation, the ministry said. Israel has declared a “state of alert for war” today after Hamas launched an offensive, its biggest in years, reportedly firing thousands of rockets at Israel. Moreover, dozens of Hamas fighters reportedly infirtlated the Israeli city of Sderot and clashes erupted in multiple locations around Gaza.

Egypt - Madinet Masr has announced that it has surpassed its annual sales goals for 2023 in just nine months, achieving record-breaking sales that exceeded the total sales of any previous year since the company’s establishment. The company expects its sales to reach EGP 20bn for the first time in its history by the end of the year. Additionally, all units in the Kinda project were sold during the first nine months of 2023, generating EGP1.9bn of sales. Moreover, the first phase of the Rai project in Sarai recorded sales worth EGP2.9bn, with a total of 350 units sold within six months. This marks the first project launched by Minka following its acquisition by Madinet Masr.

Lhonak Lake is a large glacial bullet-shaped water body that sits at the foot of a melting glacier. An analysis of the images shows more than 60% of the water held in the lake drained out after the extreme rainstorm triggered a glacial lake outburst. This phenomenon happens when a glacial lake rises too high or the surrounding land or ice gives way and the lake bursts, sending water and debris rushing down mountains. In recent years, the state’s Disaster Management Authority led several expeditions to the site, concluding that a glacial lake outburst would “cause huge devastation downstream” and that “loss of life and property” were likely. Prakash Adhikari/APThe ensuing floods happen with little to no warning and previous glacial lake outbursts have killed thousands of people and destroyed property and critical infrastructure.

- Red Crecent in SyriaThe SYRedCrescent volunteers are at every affected site in Lattakia, responding to the people in buildings that collapsed as a result to earthquake that hit Syria at dawn today. CAIRO - 6 October 2023: Egypt has condemned in the strongest possible terms a terrorist attack on a military collage graduation ceremony in Syria's Homs city that left dozens of people dead and injured. According to a statement by the Foreign Ministry on Friday, Egypt offered its sincere condolences to the Syrian government and people and the bereaved families of the victims, wishing the injured a speedy recovery. Egypt also reiterated its firm stand rejecting all forms of violence and terrorism and terrorizing citizens. It also urged the international community to intensify efforts to uproot terrorism and dry up its financial sources.