CAIRO – 28 July 2024: Egypt strongly warned of the perils of opening a new war front in Lebanon following the recent attack on the Majdal Shams town Israel-occupied Golan Heights in Syria. In a statement on Sunday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned that expanding the war to the Lebanese territory could escalate into an all-out regional war. Furthermore, Cairo reiterated its warning of the dangers of the continuation of the Israeli war against the Gaza Strip. Egypt called for an urgent and comprehensive ceasefire to end the humanitarian suffering in Gaza as soon as possible. “According to reliable intelligence information in the possession of the IDF, Hezbollah is behind the attack,” the army said in a social media post.

A recent study suggests that the ancient Egyptians may have employed a unique hydraulic lifting system to build the Pyramid of Djoser, the oldest among Egypt’s renowned pyramids. Pharaoh Djoser, a ruler of the Third Dynasty during the Old Kingdom of Egypt, commissioned the step pyramid around 2680 BCE. However, the study proposes that the enclosure wall of Gisr el-Mudir, near Djoser’s pyramid, acted as a “catchment dam,” capturing water and sediments. Researchers, including engineers and water scientists, analyzed features around the Pyramid of Djoser using satellite radar images and historical reports. The study focused on Djoser’s pyramid rather than the more famous Giza pyramids, aiming to trace ancient Egyptian construction techniques.

ICC prosecutor Karim Khan announced in May he was seeking arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and three Hamas leaders – including Gaza chief Yahya Sinwar – over charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The court has no means of enforcement, however ICC members have an obligation to cooperate fully with its decisions. If the warrants are granted, Netanyahu and others could risk arrest when traveling to the 124 countries that are ICC members – including Germany and the United Kingdom. The international court still must assess submissions from other powers before making a decision on whether to grant the request for arrest warrants. The UK’s governing Labour party and its leader, former human rights lawyer Keir Starmer, have faced pressure from supporters to take a tougher stance on the Gaza war.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) hit a series of Hezbollah targets including weapons caches and “terrorist infrastructure,” the statement said. In addition to the 12 deaths, at least 29 people were injured in the attack in Majdal Shams, a village that is home to a large Druze community. On Sunday, Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant visited Majdal Shams and told local leaders the country and army were mourning with them. Israeli security forces and local residents gather at a site of the rocket attack in the Golan Heights area on July 27, 2024. People are seen at the site of a rocket attack in Majdal Shams village on July 27, 2024.

Egypt’s Minister of Local Development, Manal Awad, has ordered the swift completion and operation of projects under the presidential Decent Life initiative. Of the 292 local administration projects, including 117 fire stations, 100 markets, and 75 public transportation stops, 59 are still under construction. To date, 27 public transportation stops, 26 fire stations, and 19 markets have opened to the public, with coordination underway to operationalize the rest. The ministry is working with governorates to address remaining issues and open the remaining 90 complexes soon. The Decent Life initiative, which includes over 27,000 projects, is nearing completion, with most projects finished and the remainder in final stages, the statement added.

Egypt’s newly merged Ministry of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation and the World Bank have vowed to deepen their partnership as the North African country presses ahead with economic reforms. The World Bank has already approved a $700m tranche for the program. The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the World Bank’s private sector arm, will also play a key role in the partnership. The meeting comes as the World Bank prepares to provide $6bn in financing to Egypt over the next three years. The funds will be allocated to support economic reforms and private sector development.

Egypt’s Minister of Finance, Ahmed Kouchouk, has emphasised the country’s adept handling of complex geopolitical impacts while implementing a comprehensive program to enhance economic performance. He expressed optimism regarding the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Board’s approval of Egypt’s economic reform program during the third review scheduled for July 29. Additionally, efforts are underway to reduce inflation rates, ensuring price stability, improving living standards, and supporting business competitiveness. Simultaneously, the government is streamlining tax and customs procedures to rebuild trust between the business community and tax administration, ultimately improving services for taxpayers. The Minister of Finance reaffirmed the government’s commitment to driving structural reforms and encouraging private investments in renewable energy, technology, water desalination, and infrastructure sectors.

CAIRO – 27 July 2024: Rome is set to host a crucial gathering on Sunday, bringing together senior officials from Egypt, Qatar, and Israel to confer with CIA Director William Burns. Meanwhile, Tel Aviv insists any deal must allow Israeli forces to resume military operations post-truce until Hamas is neutralized. The US offer proposes a phased approach to end the Gaza war and secure the release of all Israeli captives held in the enclave. These talks also occur alongside a visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Washington. In a meeting with Biden, Netanyahu was also urged to reach a resolution with Hamas based on the US-supported agreement.

CAIRO - 27 July 2024: Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel-Aty said that the Ministry and its diplomatic missions abroad will provide all means of support and assistance to Egypt's candidate for the position of Director-General of UNESCO Khaled Anany. They discussed the support campaign for nominating Anany, the former Egyptian Minister of Antiquities, for the UNESCO post after he obtained the Arab League and the African Union’s support. On the 5th of April, 2023, Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouli announced that the former Antiquities minister Khaled el Anany will be nominated for the post of UNESCO director-general during the period between 2025 and 2029. Madbouli asserted Khaled el Anany’s candidacy for UNESCO post reflects the distinguished relations between Egypt and the international organization. The elections for choosing new UNESCO director-general will be held in the Paris-based international organization in 2025.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday strongly condemned the ongoing violent acts by Israeli forces in the city of Khan Younis, Gaza, which have caused the displacement of approximately 150,000 Palestinians. In a statement, the prime minister highlighted that the siege of Khan Younis has halted the supply of food and other essential commodities to the area. He noted that Pakistan had effectively advocated for the Palestinians’ right to self-determination and against Israeli oppression in a statement at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The prime minister reiterated his call for the implementation of recent ICJ decisions and United Nations resolutions regarding the situation. Shehbaz Sharif also mentioned that Pakistan had dispatched approximately 1,200 tonnes of relief goods to Palestine via Pakistan Air Force planes and another 1,500 tonnes through three ships.

CAIRO - 26 July 2024: Al-Qahera News TV Channel reported quoting Palestinian media that the Israeli occupation forces are blowing up residential buildings east of Al-Qarara town in Khan Yunis, south of the Gaza Strip. The Israeli occupation forces continue to launch hundreds of raids and artillery shelling and commit crimes in various parts of the Gaza Strip, committing bloody massacres against civilians, and horrific crimes in the areas of incursion, amid a catastrophic humanitarian situation as a result of the siege and the displacement of more than 90 percent of the population. The Israeli occupation aircraft destroyed entire residential blocks in the Gaza Strip, as part of the comprehensive destruction policy pursued by the occupation in its ongoing aggression on the Gaza Strip. Thousands of martyrs and wounded have not yet been recovered from under the rubble due to the continued bombing and the dangerous field conditions, in light of the stifling siege of the Strip and strict restrictions on the entry of fuel and urgent vital aid to alleviate the catastrophic humanitarian conditions.

CAIRO - 26 July 2024: Egypt voiced its sincere condolences to the Ethiopian people for the victims of the landslides in the south of the country, said Egypt's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ahmed Abu ZeidMore than 250 people were killed in landslides in southern Ethiopia- Gofa Zone- on Sunday and Monday. However, the United Nations warned that the death toll could reach 500 people. Egypt also expressed its sincere wishes for a speedy recovery for the injured.

CAIRO - 26 July 2024: The Egyptian General Authority of Meteorology (EMA) warned of disruption of maritime navigation in the Mediterranean Sea and waves rising from two to three meters. EMA called on vacationers and beach goers to be vigilant and follow the beach instructions, the authority said in a statement on Friday. Egypt witnessed on Friday a slight decrease in temperatures, ranging from 2 to 3 degrees in the north of the country and Upper Egypt. Satellite images indicated rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and active winds is likely to occur Abu Simbel , Aswan, and Halaib and Shalateen. Dr. Mahmoud Shaheen, Director General of the Department of Meteorology and Early Warning of Weather Hazards, revealed that Egypt witnessed a hot weather on Friday.

CAIRO - 25 July 2024: Egyptian Minister of Finance Ahmed Kouchouk stressed that despite the indicators that the global economy is witnessing a state of stability, there are still varying levels of recovery and that global economic challenges still represent severe pressures on emerging economies and developing countries. Minister Kojok added that the challenges are due to the high cost of financing and the decline in foreign direct investment flows directed to emerging countries. He also explained that the "protective trade policies" pursued by some advanced economies create additional obstacles to the movement of developing countries' exports. The Minister stressed the importance of directing reforms to support the competitiveness and productivity of the Egyptian economy. He also noted that the new government places at the top of its priorities enhancing the growth of the private sector by increasing the competitiveness and productivity of the Egyptian economy through providing more economic opportunities in a competitive and investment-attractive climate.

CAIRO - 25 July 2024: The Egyptian Ambassador to Argentina, Dr. Mohamed Kazem, stressed the close historical ties between the two countries, pointing out that the two countries celebrated this year the 77th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. This came in a speech delivered by the ambassador during the celebration held on the occasion of the 72nd anniversary of the glorious July Revolution, in the presence of the leaders of the Argentine Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in addition to representatives of many ministries, the government of the capital, Buenos Aires, the state representation headquarters, parliamentarians, and leaders of religious and cultural centers. Professors of Egyptology at Argentine universities, as well as leaders of the Egyptian community and heads and members of diplomatic missions. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Immigration and Affairs of Egyptians Abroad said on Thursday that the ambassador highlighted the renaissance Egypt is witnessing in various fields, calling on Argentines to flock there for the purpose of tourism as well as to benefit from the investment opportunities available in many sectors, especially in the Suez Canal Economic Zone. For her part, Ambassador Marcia Levache, Undersecretary of the Argentine Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Political Relations and representative of the Argentine government at the ceremony, delivered a speech characterized by warmth and appreciation for the Egyptian government, people and civilization, as she addressed the long history and distinction of bilateral relations between Egypt and Argentina, praising the pivotal role that Egypt plays in its regional environment.