CAIRO – 15 January 2021: Egypt and the United Kingdom have affirmed their joint commitment to accelerate the fight against climate change as COP26 President Alok Sharma met on Saturday with Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, the president-designate of COP27. The meeting has agreed on the need for strengthening cooperation between the UK and Egypt to confront the impacts of climate change and build on the current global climate action, a joint statement read. We aim to pursue a lasting legacy that ensures the UNFCCC process continues to drive ambitious action to address climate change and its impacts,” the statement added. "To this end, we agree to continue close consultations in the months ahead, both on the ministerial and technical levels." Egypt’s Minister of Environment Yassmine Fouad announced earlier this month that the ministry has a four-axis plan for hosting the COP27.

In December 2021, Egypt’s Cabinet approved to give COVID-19 vaccine booster shots for those who were fully-vaccinated more than six months ago. The Acting Minister said that 23 million booster doses will be provided until June 30, 2022. Egypt is witnessing a rise in the number of infections with the Omicron mutant, said Abdel Ghaffar on Friday evening. “Omicron infection is predominant in Egypt,” he added in comments to Al Hekaya talk show on MBC Masr channel. In a statement, Spokesman for the Health Ministry Hossam Abdel Ghaffar said 34 patients have died from the virus over the past 24 hours, raising the death toll to 22,097.

Anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 will be sent into isolation and unable to compete until cleared for discharge. The prevention protocols will be similar to those at the Tokyo Games this summer, but much tighter. That won’t be a stretch in Beijing, with China having maintained a “Zero COVID” policy since early in the pandemic. Upon arrival at the airport in Beijing, participants will have their temperatures taken and be tested with throat and nasal swabs. As for local fans, Beijing organizers say they’re finalizing rules for their attendance.

CAIRO - 15 January 2022: Egypt is witnessing a rise in the number of infections with the Omicron mutant, said Acting Minister of Health Khaled Abdel Ghaffar on Friday evening. “Omicron infection is predominant in Egypt,” he added in comments to Al Hekaya talk show on MBC Masr channel. The Acting Minister continued that headache, soar throat and difficulty in swelling food are the most common symptoms associated with Omicron, adding that and there is a similarity between Omicron symptoms and and influenza’s. Egypt reported on Friday 1,079 new coronavirus cases, upping the total number of confirmed cases reported in Egypt since the beginning of the outbreak to 397,778, according to figures released by the Ministry of Health. As many as 893 patients were discharged from isolation hospitals after receiving necessary medical care, taking the number of recovered cases to 331,607 so far, the spokesman said.

CAIRO - 15 January 2022: Planning Minister Hala el Said said on Friday Egypt is keen on following the participatory approach in its development process and making use of the role of civil society, the private sector, and international organizations. Said's remarks came during a session under the title of "Development Partners", held on the sidelines of the Fourth Edition of the World Youth Forum in Sharm El-Sheikh. Egypt enjoys close relations with all development partners and is keen to permanently cooperate with all international organizations, Said noted, pointing the country has a growing portfolio with development partners in various sectors such as housing, environment, transportation, small business, education, energy, and health in line with Egypt Vision 2030. The minister underlined that Egypt was the only country in which the development and service initiatives and national projects did not stop despite the coronavirus, mainly the Decent Life project. Also, Egypt was the only country during the coronavirus period that launched a structural economic reform program to enhance the competitiveness of the Egyptian economy, localize the local industry, increase the competitiveness of Egyptian exports, support the transformation to the green economy and enhance the role of the private sector, she added.

Potential concessions are complicated by the fact neither Putin nor President Joe Biden wants to be seen as backing down before either domestic or foreign audiences. For Western analysts, it seems a situation in which Putin will have to compromise if conflict is to be avoided. They have cast their demands as an “absolute imperative” and have argued that the Western failure to meet them makes talks on other issues irrelevant. And he insisted that it’s the US that’s formulating the position in talks while other allies just march on its orders. “Anyone who thought that NATO was no longer relevant to European security has been taught a lesson in the last few months.

CAIRO-15 January 2022: The Pharaohs and Guinea-Bissau face off in Garoua on Saturday in Matchday 2 of Group D of Africa Cup of Nations. Guinea-Bissau has never tasted the winning joy in AFCON as their seven matches in the history of the competition ended in three draws and four losses. The Bissau Guineans secured a draw in their opening match in the group against Sudan and they were the closer side to win the match after missing a penalty in the last 10 minutes of the game. They are expected to fight on Saturday to get their first-ever win against the record champions of the competition. The game will start at 9:00 PM ( Cairo Time).

On its official Facebook page, the Foreign Ministry offered its sincere condolences to the family of the late diplomat. Ambassador Roshdi was an impressive example to follow in hardworking and total dedication to his work, the ministry added.

Netflix platform released its ad for its latest Arab production, the movie “Ashab, Wala Aaz”, which will start showing on January 20, 2022. “Ashab Wala Aaz” is the first Arab film produced by Netflix. The film is directed by Wissam Samira and is his first cinematic directorial experience and is produced by Front Row Filmed Entertainment, Film Clinic Express, Empire Entertainment and Yalla Yalla. It’s produced by Mayada al-Haraki, music composer Khaled Mouzannar, written by Wissam Samira and Gabriel Yammine. The film will be shown on Netflix on January 20, 2022 in 190 countries translated into 31 languages ​​and dubbed into three languages.

Gianni Infantino in the stands during the AFC Champions League final REUTERS/Ibraheem Al Omari/File Photo(Reuters) - The 2022 Asian Champions League final will be played on a home-and-away basis in February next year to accommodate the involvement of the continent's teams in the World Cup, the Asian Football Confederation has announced. Qatar's hosting of the World Cup finals in November and December means the Asia Champions League's usual slot in the schedule is unavailable. "Asian teams who are likely to qualify for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 are expected to put in place extensive preparation plans for the competition," the AFC said in a statement. The Asian Champions League has been severely disrupted by the pandemic, with the 2020 edition moved to Qatar following the COVID-19 outbreak while much of the 2021 competition was held in a series of biosecure hubs across Asia. Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal are the defending champions after winning a record fourth title in November when they defeated South Korea's Pohang Steelers.

CAIRO – 14 January 2021: Egypt’s Health Ministry started examining one million doses of the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine, which arrived in Egypt hours ago through Cairo International Airport, provided by Argentina. This comes within the state's plan to diversify and expand the provision of coronavirus vaccines, in order to preserve the state's gains in addressing the pandemic. Egypt has been able to secure all types of coronavirus vaccines, including Sinovac, Sinopharm, AstraZeneca, Sputnik, Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, and Moderna, as part of the state's plan for diversification and expansion in providing coronavirus vaccines. Egypt reported on Thursday over 1,000 new coronavirus cases for the first time since May 30, according to figures released by the Ministry of Health. The Health Ministry said 1,011 new coronavirus infections were detected, upping the total number of confirmed cases reported in Egypt since the beginning of the outbreak to 396,699.

Lebanon’s pound has collapsed since 2019 when the economy crumpled under a mountain of debt. “I tell everyone that if there is a protest or demonstration against this situation, go to the street. The Lebanese pound, which was freely exchanged in shops and banks at 1,500 to the dollar until the crisis erupted in 2019, has crumbled and was trading on the unofficial market on Thursday at about 31,500. It made the Lebanese hungry, it made all citizens poor, citizens can’t afford filling up with fuel anymore. Where are we heading?” said Fadi Abou Chakra, spokesman for Lebanon’s fuel stations union.

KHARTOUM, Jan 13 (Reuters) – At least one protester and one police officer were killed and dozens of people injured on Thursday during another day of demonstrations against military rule in Sudan, medics and police said. In the nearby city of Bahri medics said one protester had been killed by a gunshot to the stomach. Dozens of protesters were being treated for gunshot wounds and other injuries in Khartoum and neighboring cities, the medics said. Medics aligned with the protest movement say at least 64 protesters have been killed in Sudan since the coup, mainly as a result of live bullets and teargas from security forces. Military leaders say their coup has saved Sudan from chaos and say they will protect people’s right to peaceful protest.

On Monday, in Mansha’at al-Qanater area in Giza, a truck carrying a large number of workers on a farm fell into a water channel, along the Rashid branch of the Nile River, at the area of ​​al-Qatta village, leading to the death of two people. Medical and security sources told Al-Masry Al-Youm that two bodies were recovered, 14 citizens were rescued, and seven others were still missing.

ReutersCAIRO – 13 January 2022: The head of the Scientific Committee to Combat Corona at the Ministry of Health Hossam Hosni, revealed that Egypt has booked 70,000 doses of the new Pfizer drug “Paxilovide,” which is used to treat moderate cases. Hosni indicated that it is a drug treatment to counter the symptoms of infection with the Corona virus, and will be provided in Egypt by the end of this month. “There is no need to be afraid of new mutations or even those expected to appear, as medicines and vaccines can help combat them,” Hosni added. Hosni pointed out that the coming period will witness an expansion in vaccines, especially the third dose. The Ministry of Health and Population continues to raise its preparations in all governorates, follow up the situation first-hand regarding the “emerging corona virus”, and take all necessary preventive measures against any viruses or infectious diseases.