Egypt’s National Election Authority (NEA) said that it will announce the timetable for the upcoming presidential election on Monday. “The NEA will maintain an equal distance from all presidential candidates,” he said during the press conference. The timeline of the electoral process will include all procedures and timings related to the presidential election, starting from the invitation of voters to the announcement of the final election results by Egypt’s National Elections Authority. Bendari stated that the committee will allow representatives of presidential candidates to attend the vote-counting process in all the subcommittees and the general committees. He added that the authority has a database related to local and international organizations and media outlets that can monitor the presidential elections.

Egypt and the European Union co-chaired the 13th Ministerial Meeting of the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF) in New York on Wednesday. The GCTF is a multilateral forum for exchanging experiences and best practices in the fight against terrorism and extremism. In his speech, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry highlighted the magnitude of the suffering that the people of some countries continue to face from the threat of terrorism and its repercussions, especially in light of the development of the forms and practices of terrorist organizations and groups. This is in order to prevent more innocent victims, stop the waves of displacement, and ensure the realization of human rights guaranteed by international conventions. This requires working within the framework of a comprehensive approach to correct the path of these elements and correcting their erroneous ideas that are contrary to the true religions and their tolerant teachings.

CAIRO – 20 September 2023: Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry has warned against repeating past mistakes that led to providing terrorist groups with safe havens, enabling their members to move from one region to another. Shoukry made the remarks while co-chairing the 13th Ministerial meeting of the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF) with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission Josep Borrell on Wednesday. As a co-chair of the meeting, Cairo has placed rehabilitation and reintegration of ex-terrorists as a main issue on the meeting Agenda, Abu Zied added. The Global Counterterrorism Forum is an informal, apolitical, multilateral counterterrorism platform. The GCTF is currently co-chaired by Egypt and the European Union.

CAIRO - 20 September 2023: The National Election Commission of Egypt recently announced the fundamental rules and regulations concerning the candidacy for the presidency of Egypt. These regulations encompass eight critical points that an individual must fulfill to be considered for the coveted role. The candidate must be of Egyptian nationality, and born to Egyptian parents. By the opening of the candidacy window, the individual should not be younger than 40 Gregorian years. Procedural rules for accepting the candidacy:For a presidential candidacy to be accepted, the candidate should be endorsed by at least 20 members of the House of Representatives.

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) is in advanced talks to acquire three private Egyptian companies in the healthcare, education, and real estate development sectors, according to sources close to the deals. The sources said that the PIF saw promising investment opportunities in the Egyptian market that were in line with its investment strategy. In August 2022, the PIF acquired minority stakes in four Egyptian companies listed on the Egyptian Stock Exchange (EGX) for a total of $1.3 billion. The PIF purchased a 25% stake in eFinance from the National Investment Bank, valued at EGP 7.27 billion. Furthermore, the PIF acquired a stake of approximately 25% in MOPCO from three government agencies: the Ministry of Finance, the National Investment Bank, and the Egyptian Natural Gas Company (GASCO).

The G20 Summit in New Delhi ended a few days ago, and the most prominent event was the launch of the Economic Corridor project by India, Saudi Arabia, and the United States. The project aims to connect India, the Middle East, and Europe through railways and sea lanes, to boost trade and economic integration. The Economic Corridor project is a step that Washington will view positively due to its increasing rapprochement with New Delhi. Certainly, the Economic Corridor project is an attempt to create an alternative to China, represented by India, which has cheap labour. It is too early to say definitively whether the Economic Corridor project is a political or economic one.

CAIRO - 19 September 2023: The Liberal Socialists Party announces its full support for President Sisi’s candidacy for a new presidential term. The Liberal Socialists Party affirms its full support for the nomination of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi for a new presidential term, to complete the process of construction and development, maximize the national economy, lay the foundations for developing all aspects of society, in education, health, and complete political construction.

CAIRO - 19 September 2023: The President of the Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce called on President Sisi to run for a new presidential term in the upcoming elections. Ahmed Al-Wakil, President of the General Federation of Chambers of Commerce, appealed, on behalf of more than 5 million merchants, manufacturers, investors and service providers, to His Excellency President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to run for a new presidential term. The text of the appeal was as follows:"On behalf of the boards of directors of the Egyptian Chambers of Commerce and its General Federation, and on behalf of more than 5 million merchants, manufacturers, investors, and service providers, the pillar of the Egyptian economy, and 18 million of their partners who work for them, we appeal to His Excellency President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to run for a new presidential term to ensure political and security stability, and to continue moving forward with the legislative and procedural revolution, and accelerating structural, financial and monetary reforms. Let us begin with his leadership in harvesting the results of the renaissance that Egypt has witnessed in infrastructure, to create together decent job opportunities for the dear people of Egypt in their homeland, and to achieve the prosperity that we all aspire to and that the people of the country deserve." Several leading figures from renowned political parties have also announced plans to run for elections, including Abdel-Sanad Yamama, head of El-Wafd Party and Hazem Oman, head of the People’s Republican Party.

Egyptian social media has been abuzz after a video clip showing a group of Turkish men beating Egyptian tourists in the Taksim area of Istanbul went viral, sparking strong condemnation and calls for justice. The footage showed a Turkish group beating two Egyptian tourists in the streets due to a dispute over a restaurant bill. Users of “X”, formerly Twitter, circulated the video to express their anger at the incident. A user commented on the video, saying: “Why? The Turkish police announced in an official statement that it has attacked the attackers of the Kuwaiti tourist and opened an investigation into the incident.

The government is considering selling stakes in two listed companies, Misr Fertilizer Production Company (MOPCO) and Delta Sugar Company, as part of its divestment plan from some public enterprises, according to informed sources. Delta Sugar Company is one of the largest sugar producers in Egypt, with a market share of about 40%. The company’s main shareholder is the Egyptian Sugar and Integrated Industries Company, affiliated to Holding Company For Food Industries, which owns 55.73% of the company. Delta Sugar Company also owns stakes in Faiyum Sugar Works Company (26.8%) and Nobaria Sugar and Refining Company (30%). The company’s main shareholders are Abu Dhabi Developmental Holding and the Saudi Public Investment Fund, which acquired stakes in MOPCO last year.

Egypt: The Sovereign Fund of Egypt (TSFE) has started preparing Misr Technology Services (MTS) for a public offering by the first half of next year, according to informed sources. The sources told Daily News Egypt that the offering will involve the Ministry of Finance selling part of its stake, which exceeds 50% of the company. The pre-IPO fund aims to maximize the value of the companies and enhance their governance and performance. The shareholders include the Ministry of Finance, the Egyptian Financial Facilities Management Company, the National Investment Bank, the Egyptian Company for Investment Projects, and Amiral Management Corporation. MTS is the technical arm of the Ministry of Finance in the field of customs and taxes.

Egypt has strongly denounced the raid on the Al-Aqsa Mosque by a group of Israeli extremists, who were protected by the Israeli police forces. The Al-Aqsa Mosque is the third holiest site in Islam and is located in the occupied East Jerusalem. According to reports, dozens of extremist settlers stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque on Monday, from the side of the Moroccan Gate, under heavy guard by the Israeli police. The Islamic Waqf Department in Occupied Jerusalem said that the settlers received explanations about their alleged temple on the site of the mosque. The Israeli forces and police imposed severe restrictions on the entry of worshippers to the mosque from Jerusalem and other parts of the occupied Palestinian territory.

Khartoum is – was – a city that did not know war or fighting in its recent history. I’m a scholar of Sudanese architecture who was born and raised in Khartoum by an architect father. Khartoum: City of hopeLike many African cities, Khartoum is divided into pockets of wealth and poverty. Leaving Khartoum means leaving behind assets, income-generating opportunities, access to education and healthcare. A war in Khartoum means not only the displacement of people and the destruction of buildings and infrastructure, but also the loss of a rich heritage.

In Libya’s case, I believe that the management of the dams was not good. The dam design must suit the topography. In Libya’s case, bad management appears to have been the cause of the dam’s collapse. When those responsible for the water management of the dam ignore heavy rainfall then one can expect such disasters to occur. Different scenarios are given according to the water level in the reservoir of the dam to prevent dam failure.

CAIRO – 18 September 2023: Armed Forces' Spokesman Gharib Abdel Hafez reported the death and injury of nine army personnel including officers after a carrier unit loaded with ammunition overturned suddenly in northern Egypt. The incident took place during military drills in Robbiki area south of the 10th of Ramadan City. All necessary measures have been taken in coordination with the relevant authorities, said the spokesman. The Armed Forces extend their sincere condolences and sympathy to the families of the martyrs and wish a speedy recovery for the injured, Abdel Hafez added. The spokesman did not specify the number of the injured.