A White House statement said Biden and Xi had “a broad, strategic discussion,” including areas where interests and values converge and diverge. The conversation focused on economic issues, climate change and COVID-19, a senior US official told reporters. “President Biden underscored the United States’ enduring interest in peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific and the world and the two leaders discussed the responsibility of both nations to ensure competition does not veer into conflict,” the statement said. But the official also acknowledged that the United States’ ability to change China’s behavior may be limited, and that Washington must largely focus on shoring up the US competitiveness and rallying partners and allies. “We also think that essentially Beijing’s actions are quieter than their words,” the official said.

Sept 10 (Reuters) - Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo is capable of playing until he is 40 as he has adapted his playing style to extend his career, former captain Wayne Rooney said. Ronaldo, 36, spent six seasons at Old Trafford between 2003-09, winning eight major trophies, and rejoined United from Juventus last month on a two-year contract. "His ability is obviously one thing, but then he's also looked after himself massively ... he's still in great condition. It wouldn't surprise me if he's playing until he's 40, like Ryan Giggs did, and still scoring goals. Ronaldo, who scored 118 goals for United during his first spell, is expected to feature when they take on Newcastle United in the Premier League on Saturday.

BUENOS AIRES, (Reuters) - Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick to give Argentina a 3-0 win over Bolivia in a World Cup qualifier on Thursday, lifting him above Pele as South America's top international scorer with 79 goals. Messi got the opener after 14 minutes in Buenos Aires, dancing around the Bolivian defence before curling the ball into the net from just outside the box. His 77th, 78th and 79th goals marked his seventh hat-trick for the national side and took him two above Pele in the South American scoring charts. “I was really anxious, and I really wanted to enjoy it," Messi said. Jean Meneses pulled one back for Chile in the 56th minute but Luis Dias restored Colombia’s two-goal lead with 16 minutes left.

The expansive rules mandate that all employers with more than 100 workers require them to be vaccinated or test for the virus weekly, affecting about 80 million Americans. And the roughly 17 million workers at health facilities that receive federal Medicare or Medicaid also will have to be fully vaccinated. Federal workers who don’t comply will be referred to their agencies’ human resources departments for counseling and discipline, to include potential termination. Combined, the White House estimates those requirements cover 2.5 million Americans. Thursday’s order is expected to affect nearly 2 million more federal workers and potentially millions of contractors.

A dispute over the waters of the Helmand River is a conflict that has been going on for more than a century between Iran and Afghanistan. Iran accuses Afghanistan of violating its water rights, arguing that far less water than the amount agreed in a 1973 treaty flows into Iran. More water has been flowing into Iran again since the Taliban took power, according to local Iranian media. Hopes of cross-border cooperationIn February 2021, Tehran and Kabul agreed on a roadmap to reach an understanding on sharing water from the Helmand River. The plan called for establishing hydrometric stations to monitor how much river water flows to Iran.

(Reuters) - Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk has shaken off a minor ankle injury sustained while on duty with the Netherlands and will be available for their Premier League visit to Leeds United this weekend, manager Juergen Klopp said on Thursday. Knee surgery kept Van Dijk sidelined for most of last season and this year's European Championship where the Netherlands were eliminated in the last-16 by the Czech Republic. "With Virgil, that was obviously a scary moment, you can imagine," Klopp told Liverpool's website. Klopp said he asked Van Dijk to send a video of himself not limping, but added that the defender had assured him he was "200% fit". "Yesterday he was not here (at the training centre) but he was in Liverpool again," Klopp said.

The Suez Canal Authority quickly addressed an incident where one of the ships crossing the canal, named the CORAL CRYSTAL, temporarily ran aground within the north convoy, Suez Canal Authority head Osama Rabei said. The ship carried 43,000 tons, he added, and assured that the authority swiftly resolved the issue and fixed the ship’s course. Navigation movement was not affected, as other ships were directed to cross from the eastern branch of the canal. The canal is operating as usual according to Thursday navigational reports, which showed a crossing of 61 ships from both directions, with a total net tonnage of 3.2 million tons, including 37 ships crossing from the northern direction with a total net tonnage of two million tons, and 24 ships from the south with combined tonnage of 1.2 million tons. Rabie stressed that the authority possesses the necessary capabilities to deal with all malfunctions, in addition to infrastructure prepared for emergency situations, especially after the inauguration of the new Suez Canal project and development projects for the construction of a series of garages on the new waterway.

Egypt has become the latest member of the Africa Finance Corporation, opening up the path for potential investments tallying up to one billion dollars. “With the increasing importance of public-private partnerships in advancing the African continent and Egypt in particular, we are pleased to accede to membership of a renowned and trusted pan-African institution like the Africa Finance Corporation,” Egypt’s Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said. The most populous nation in North Africa, Egypt has previously seen investments from the AFC worth over $100 million in infrastructure projects such as Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation. The meeting, which involved Prime Minister Madbouly and Finance Minister Mohamed Maait, saw the signing of an instrument of adherence to the AFC’s membership. Since its establishment, it has invested $8.7 billion in projects in 35 African nations.

The committee in charge of managing the Zamalek Club headed by Hussein Labib issued a press statement before the African Handball Super Cup match between Zamalek and Al-Ahly, scheduled for Friday, at Hassan Mostafa Hall in 6 of October City, welcoming any reconciliation between the two clubs. It called on all conscious fans and media establishments to announce their reject of any fanaticism and stress the values of sportsmanship and fair competition instead. The committee also affirmed its respect for all parties, and denied animosity or disagreement with anyone despite disagreements. Tensions between Al-Ahly and Zamalek club leaders had reached a high when, back in October 2019 the Al-Ahly Sporting Club addressed the Chief of the Presidential Staff, the Public Prosecutor, the Prime Minister, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Interior Minister, calling on them to intervene to deter Zamalek president Mortada Mansour from “spreading lies” and defaming the family of Mahmoud al-Khatib, chairman of Ahly. Ahly said in a statement that Mansour is now defaming families and spreading lies through phone-ins with satellite channels.

CAIRO – 9 September 2021: The annual core inflation rate recorded 4.5 percent in August 2021, compared to 3.6 percent in July 2021, the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) said in a statement Thursday. The Consumer Price Index in Egypt has recorded a monthly rate of negative 0.3 percent in August, compared to negative 0.2 percent for the same month last year, and to 0.6 percent in July 2021, the statement added. Core inflation discounts or strips out certain categories that are considered more volatile. The Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) said earlier Thursday that Egypt’s annual consumer price inflation recorded 6.4 percent in August 2021, compared to 3.6 percent in August 2020.

CAIRO – 9 September 2021: The Cairo Opera Orchestra will host the international soprano Amira Selim in the launching ceremony of its new artistic season on September 11 at 8 p.m. on the Grand Theater. The orchestra will be led by Maestro Nair Nagy, and accompanied by the Cairo Opera Choir. The concert presents classic works of leading international composers. It is noteworthy that the Cairo Opera Orchestra was established in 1994 to accompany various other opera groups in their performances. It provided the opportunity for talented Egyptian musicians and extended the scope of artistic activities by presenting a series of symphonic concerts in various countries around the world.

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Some 200 foreigners, including Americans, flew out of Afghanistan on an international commercial flight from Kabul airport on Thursday, the first such large-scale departure since US and foreign forces concluded their frantic withdrawal at the end of last month. Americans, green card holders and other nationalities including Germans, Hungarians and Canadians were on the flight, the official said. “I can clearly say that this is a historic day in the history of Afghanistan as Kabul airport is now operational,” said Qatari special envoy Mutlaq bin Majed al-Qahtani. “Call it what you want, a charter or a commercial flight, everyone has tickets and boarding passes,” al-Qahtani added, noting that another commercial flight would take off on Friday. A foreign diplomat, likewise speaking on condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to brief the media, said another 200 foreigners, including Americans, would depart in the next couple of days.

AFP - Mikel Arteta admitted Arsenal's Premier League match against Norwich on Saturday is a "must-win" game after their worst start to a league season for 67 years. The Gunners have failed to score and conceded nine goals in demoralising defeats to Brentford, Chelsea and Manchester City. Arteta's position as manager is under increasing threat, with the Spaniard reportedly given four more Premier League games to save his job. "We have to reset now, we need to restart, hopefully get everybody back on track and start to win football games." The former Arsenal midfielder, who was appointed manager at the Emirates in December 2019, was asked whether Saturday's match was a "must-win" game.

CAIRO – 9 September 2021: Egypt has a pioneering experience implemented by the Ministry of International Cooperation by matching development funds with the UN goals for sustainable development, using the curricula and the global framework of the United Nations and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, Minister of International Cooperation, Rania Al-Mashat said Thursday. This came during the first workshop of the Egypt-ICF, on its second day, which discussed the experience of the Ministry of International Cooperation in matching development finances with the UN goals for sustainable development. She pointed out that the most sustainable development goals in development finance are $5.9 billion in 34 projects in energy, as well as 36 projects with a value of $5.7 billion in industry, innovation and infrastructure, and $4.9 billion in clean water and sanitation. This is a practical application of the second principle of economic diplomacy, according to the minister, adding, "This step, taken by the Ministry of International Cooperation, was very necessary and supportive of national efforts to achieve sustainable development." Al-Mashat stressed the need to agree on standards for accountability, communication, guidance and learning, explaining that the Ministry of International Cooperation's ongoing development financing portfolio includes 377 projects, worth $25.6 billion, aimed at enhancing development efforts and progressing towards sustainable development goals by 2030.

CAIRO - 9 September 2021: The Health Ministry said that 399 new coronavirus cases were detected in Egypt on Wednesday, bringing the total number of infections to 291,172. In a statement on Monday, Spokesman for the Health Ministry Khaled Megahed said 13 patients have died from the virus over the past 24 hours, raising the death toll to 16,824. As many as 765 patients were discharged from hospitals after receiving necessary medical care, taking the number of recoveries to 244,062, he added. Egypt’s Health Minister Hala Zayed warned that Egypt might witness a hike in Coronavirus infections by the end of September and next October. She reiterated that a protocol has been developed for the treatment of the coronavirus cases with the best treatment services to overcome the pandemic.