CAIRO – 6 October 2024: First Lady Entissar Amer extended greets to the Egyptian people on the anniversary of the 6th of October 1973 war, commending the “greatest epics of heroism and dignity” demonstrated by the Armed Forces on that day. “On the 51st anniversary of the glorious October victory, I extend the highest expressions of pride and honor to the heroes of the Armed Forces who, with their pure blood, wrote the greatest epics of heroism and dignity,” Amer said in a social media post. The president also greeted a number of senior state officials, leaders of the main branches of the Armed Forces, and other military commanders. October war victoriesThe October victory was launched by Egypt and Syria, bolstered by military, political, and economic Arab support against Israel in 1973. Egyptian forces penetrated 20 km east of the Suez Canal and Syrian forces entered deep into the Golan Heights.

The Israeli occupation army continued its atrocious operations on Sunday, launching airstrikes on the southern suburbs of Beirut and southern Lebanon, besides attempting to invade some border areas, as the large-scale aggression entered its 14th day. Meanwhile, Hezbollah announced in a statement early on Sunday that it carried out 17 operations on Saturday against the Israeli military. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) announced that it supports the displaced Lebanese and will provide cash assistance to about 200,000 people. Border towns in southern Lebanon are experiencing a wave of displacement due to ongoing Israeli bombing. Displacement operations have increased as the bombing has expanded to include areas in Beirut.

Post for Investment, the investment arm of Egypt Post, and AXA Egypt have signed a strategic partnership agreement. Amr Talaat emphasized that this agreement represents a significant step forward in expanding financial services to citizens via the Egyptian Post, further supporting financial inclusion. The provision of microinsurance adds another layer to the financial services portfolio offered by the Egyptian Post. By leveraging its advanced infrastructure, technology, and wide geographical spread, the Egyptian Post will enable the new company to deliver microinsurance services effectively and easily. He added, “Since 2016, AXA has provided microinsurance services in over 20 countries, with Egypt being one of the first.

NEW DELHI – India is set to join the International Energy Efficiency Hub, a global initiative aimed at promoting energy efficiency and sustainability, according to a statement by the Indian Ministry of Power. The hub, launched in 2022, brings together governments, businesses, and international organizations to work collaboratively on energy efficiency solutions. “India’s participation in the International Energy Efficiency Hub signifies our commitment to promoting energy efficiency and sustainability at a global level,” the statement said. The International Energy Efficiency Hub is a key component of the global effort to address climate change and ensure energy security. India’s involvement highlights its commitment to sustainable energy solutions and its role in promoting international cooperation on energy efficiency initiatives.

South Africa leadership intends to accelerate the transition to renewable energy sources, according to Kgosientsho David Ramokgopa, the country’s Minister of Electricity and Energy. Speaking at a seminar on green energy in Midrand, Ramokgopa stressed that accelerating the renewable energy program is strategically important for South Africa. He emphasized the need to expedite the process of building capacity and swiftly address administrative challenges related to permits and licenses. Ramokgopa’s comments come after South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa signed into law a bill to regulate the country’s energy industry. The new regulations introduce a number of significant changes to South Africa’s fuel and energy complex.

Egypt welcomed the call by French President Emmanuel Macron to stop arms exports to Israel against the backdrop of the serious violations of international law and international humanitarian law committed by the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon, which resulted in tens of thousands of civilian casualties and injuries, most of them women and children. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs appreciated France’s position in support of Palestinian rights and the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state on the lines of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with the two-state solution and relevant international resolutions. The French President called on Saturday to stop delivering weapons to Israel to fight in Gaza, considering that the priority is a political solution to the war that has been ongoing for a year between the Hebrew state and the Hamas movement. “I think the priority today is to return to a political solution and stop delivering weapons to fight in Gaza,” Macron told France Inter radio. He stressed during this interview, which was recorded on October 1, that France “does not deliver” weapons.

The Israeli bombing of the Al-Tabi'in School, which was housing displaced Palestinians in the Al-Daraj neighborhood east of Gaza City on August 10, 2024- Photo taken from Palestinian journalists in GazaCAIRO – 10 August 2024: Egypt strongly condemned the Israeli bombing of the Al-Tabi'in School, which was housing displaced Palestinians in the Al-Daraj neighborhood east of Gaza City. In a press release issued on Saturday, Egypt denounced the ongoing Israeli attacks on civilians in the Gaza Strip, highlighting a severe disregard for international and humanitarian law. This situation perpetuates the severe human suffering of Palestinians amid an international humanitarian crisis that the global community has been unable to resolve. The Palestinian Civil Defense reported that the Al-Tabi'een School, which was attacked at dawn today, was housing approximately 2,400 people. Israel also attacked several places in the Gaza Strip, killing more people over the last 24 hours; It attacked Jabalia al-Balad in north of the Strip, west of the Nuseirat camp in central Gaza Strip, and tents for the displaced on al-Mazra'a Street in Deir al-Balah Governorate, central Gaza Strip.

Laila al-Shantnawy has been appointed as an arbitrator on the Special Court for Sport for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. This historic appointment marks a significant milestone as she becomes the first Egyptian woman to hold this position since the court’s inception, according to the Women of Egypt website. Moreover, al-Shantnawy is the sole representative from both Africa and the Arab world on the court for this Olympic edition. A distinguished Egyptian lawyer, arbitrator, and mediator, she holds degrees from Cairo University and institutions in Germany and England. Expressing her profound pride and fulfillment, al-Shantnawy shared that serving as an arbitrator at the Paris Games has been a lifelong aspiration.

CAIRO – 9 August 2024: Hamas has asked to release the imprisoned Fatah leader Marwan El Barghouti and other Palestinian faction leaders in the first round of the prison swap deal that is being under indirect negotiations with Israel, sources told Sky News Arabia on Friday. Hamas’ demand has been supported by mediators and the US as Barghouti has great popularity in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, sources added. Barghouti is a prominent leader in the Fatah Movement and participated in the first Intifada in 1987 and the second Intifada in 2000. He was arrested several times by Israel for his anti-occupation activities and also survived several assassination attempts by Israeli occupation forces. Barghouti has been seen as a threat to the current Palestinian Authority led by President Mahmoud Abbas, in case he was released and run for the legislative election of the authority.

CAIRO – 9 August 2024: Egypt renewed on Friday its categorical rejection of all Israeli attempts to displace the residents of the Gaza Strip and push them towards Egyptian territory to ‘empty the Palestinian issue of its context’. According to a high-ranking source the Egyptian position towards the Palestinian issue is firm and clear and cannot be compromised. The source affirmed that Israel's promotion of allegations about the existence of tunnel openings inside Egyptian territory ‘is completely untrue’. In the statement, Egypt, Qatar, and the US have offered their assistance in bridging any remaining gaps to meet the requirements of both sides. The war was triggered by a Hamas attack on Israeli communities near Gaza on October 7, during which Palestinian fighters captured around 250 Israelis and foreign nationals.

CAIRO – 9 August 2024: President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has discussed Egypt's efforts to end the war in Gaza and facilitate a prisoner exchange during a phone conversation with the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Keir Starmer, on Thursday. He underscored Egypt's vision for restoring security and stability in the Middle East, which is currently grappling with escalating tensions. In response, Starmer commended Egypt's pivotal role in this regard and affirmed his commitment to closely coordinate with Egypt to uphold security and stability in the region. The British Prime Minister also expressed the UK's eagerness to collaborate with Egypt to navigate through the current critical phase in the Middle East. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office confirmed that Tel Aviv has agreed to resume talks on August 15 at the request of the three countries.

In Israel’s northern city of Nahariya, a sense of anxiety lingers among residents as they struggle to maintain daily life with the threat of war with Lebanon’s Hezbollah edging closer to their doorsteps. Almost 62,000 residents of border communities have been displaced since Hezbollah and Israel started exchanging fire in October after Israel launched its war in Gaza. Clashes at Lebanon-Israel border Fighting continues on Lebanon’s southern border with Israel where Hezbollah — a Lebanese armed group backed by Iran — has its main area of operations. Since the start of the Hamas-Israel war on October 7, Israel’s flare-up with Hezbollah has intensified in this border region. On Tuesday, an Israeli interceptor missile malfunctioned amid a Hezbollah drone attack, causing an impact on the Route 4 highway near Nahariya.

CAIRO – 9 August 2024: The leaders of Egypt, Qatar, and the United States have issued a joint invitation to Israel and Hamas to participate in critical discussions on Thursday, 15 August, in either Doha or Cairo to negotiate a ceasefire agreement in Gaza. In the statement, Egypt, Qatar, and the US have offered their assistance in bridging any remaining gaps to meet the requirements of both sides. In November, a prisoner exchange brokered by Egypt, Qatar, and the US resulted in the release of about 100 Israeli captives in return for about 240 Palestinian prisoners. However, unrelenting Israeli strikes have led to the deaths of some of the roughly 100 captives still held in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office announced overnight Friday that Tel Aviv has agreed to resume Gaza ceasefire discussions on August 15 at the request of Egypt, Qatar, and the US.

In a significant step towards financial inclusion, Maya Morsy, the Minister of Social Solidarity, has announced the launch of the Touch Card by the National Bank of Egypt. This specialized payment card has been crafted to empower visually impaired individuals, enabling them to conduct financial transactions with greater independence. The card is meticulously designed to seamlessly integrate with existing point-of-sale systems and ATMs. The innovative design of the Touch Card features distinctive notches on the sides, allowing users to easily differentiate between debit and prepaid cards. The Ministry of Social Solidarity provides support to 1.2 million people with disabilities through the ‘Karama’ program, with a total annual budget of 9.8 billion Egyptian pounds.

CAIRO – 8 August 2024: Minister of Foreign Affairs, Immigration and Egyptian Expats Badr Abdelatty made a phone call Wednesday to his Emirati counterpart Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed to exchange views on developments in Gaza Strip and current escalation in the Middle East. The two ministers discussed endeavors to attain a ceasefire, and entry of humanitarian aid to the enclave. There was congruence on the importance of a truce given that the war in Gaza is the main reason behind the increasing tensions and escalation in the region. In that context, Minister Abdelatty presented the outcome of his communication with counterparts in the past few days to contain the crisis, and avoid the expansion of the scope of conflict.