The ninth session of the Aswan International Festival of Culture and Arts was inaugurated in the city of Aswan on Tuesday and is scheduled to continue until February 22, coinciding with the phenomenon of the sun falling perpendicular on the sanctuary of the Temple of Abu Simbel. The activities began with a parade of boats in the Nile River in the city of Aswan, amid international and local participation of folklore troupes. Eighteen folklore troupes, comprising 400 male and female artists and including eight international troupes, will present their performances at the opening of the festival Tuesday evening, at Fawzy Fawzy Theater in Aswan. The artistic troupes participating in the ninth session of the Aswan International Festival of Culture and Arts are from Bangladesh, Palestine, Sudan, Sri Lanka, Greece, Poland and Mexico, along with 11 Egyptian troupes from Aswan, Port Said, Sohag, Marsa Matruh, Sohag, Minya, Sharqiya and Arish.

CAIRO - 15 February 2022:Al Azhar Grand Imam Ahmed el Tayyeb has emphasized the importance of constant coordination among religious institutions in the world, especially as regards pressing and emerging issues. Tayyeb voiced hope that the 32nd conference of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs would come out with recommendations that help spread the concept of citizenship regardless of creed, color or gender. Al Azhar imam made the remarks as he received Minister of Awqaf Mohamed Mokhtar Gomaa, in addition to a delegation of Islamic affairs ministers, muftis, and top scholars taking part in the conference. The meeting discussed joint cooperation between Al Azhar and the Ministry of Awqaf on qualifying imams and preachers from inside and outside Egypt, the role of Al Azhar international academy in training and qualifying imams and preachers, in addition to the need to continue developing training programs to meet the relevant needs of each society. It also touched on the role of Azhar institutes in Muslim countries in spreading true values of the Islamic religion.

CAIRO – 14 February 2022: Deputy Cairo Governor Gihane Abdel Moneim stated Monday that Beni Helal slum area located near Cairo Citadel Aqueduct has been entirely demolished. The area consisted of 164 flat-buildings housing a total of 618 families, who were granted fully-furnished residential units at Al Asmarat neighborhood lying Eastern Cairo. Asmarat is the largest alternative-housing project in Egypt, consisting of three phases containing a total 18,420 units. The cost of constructions in Asmarat alone is LE3.6 billion, while the value of the land on which it is built is LE2.5 billion.

CAIRO - 14 February 2022: Minister of Economy and Trade of the Libyan Government of National Unity Mohamed al-Hawij said Saturday that the Libyan market is open for all investors, adding that his country is eager to benefit from the Egyptian development experiment. Speaking to MENA on the sidelines of a conference to announce the resuming of Libya’s membership in the Council of Arab Economic Unity, al-Hawij said the Libyan market is open for all investors, with the aim of restoring the Arab trade competitiveness. The Libyan minister said that Libya has restored its stability after agreeing on the new government and all the Egyptian companies and labor could return to the country. The Libyan High Council of State (HCS) will hold a meeting on Saturday to vote on a new roadmap to solve the political crisis in the North African country. The new roadmap was set by the Libyan High Council of State and the Parliament.

CAIRO - 13 February 2022: Minister of Planning and Economic Development Hala el Said said on Sunday that the report titled: "Financing Sustainable Development in Egypt" is the first of its kind to deal with development finance at the national level. Delivering a speech on this occasion, Said said the report was developed under the umbrella of the Arab League, which chose Egypt to be the first country to prepare the report. Despite recent successes attained in Egypt, the issue of development finance remains one of the main challenges facing the country, she noted. Said pointed out that the 13-chapter report is characterized by comprehensiveness, presenting an objective and in-depth analysis of various development finance issues that affect the achievement of the UN sustainable development goals. The report provides an analytical review of various development and economic sectors and their impact on the development situation in Egypt, she noted.

MADRID (Reuters) - A last-minute goal from substitute Mario Hermoso gave Atletico Madrid victory in a seven-goal thriller as they beat Getafe 4-3 at home on Saturday. Luis Suarez won the first of three first-half penalties within the first 10 minutes, however his spot-kick was saved by Getafe keeper David Soria. Nevertheless, Atletico appeared in control as strikes from Angel Correa and Matheus Cunha put them 2-0 up after 27 minutes. However, the reigning champions fell behind after a mad 15 minutes in which they conceded two penalties for handball. Borja Mayoral and a Enes Unal double from the spot put the visitors into an unlikely lead before Correa equalised in added-on time at the end of the first half.

of Tourism & AntiquitiesCAIRO – 13 February 2022: Under the title "Top Ten Countries with the Most Wonderful Tourist Places", The Travel, one of the famous tourism portals, chose the Egyptian tourist destinations among the best tourist destinations to visit. The site explained that Egypt possesses countless archaeological and tourist sites that distinguish it from any other place in the world. The site also noted that there are many other tourist and archaeological sites in Egypt, including Siwa Oasis, Valley of the Kings, and Abu Simbel Temples. The Travel list further includes Greece, Germany, Mauritius, Italy, Austria, Egypt, Kenya, Finland, Costa Rica and Montenegro. It is worth mentioning that the Daily Telegraph ranked Egypt the second most popular destination among British citizens in 2022, and the traveling site, Tripadvisor, chose Hurghada among the top 10 tourist destinations to visit in 2022.

CAIRO – 12 February 2022: Egypt seeks to produce 42 percent of its power from renewable resources, a large portion of which would be solar power, Ghada El-Gendy, the Executive Director of the Arab Renewable Energy Company, affiliated with the Arab Organization for Industrialization (AOI). Egypt has a pioneering experience in implementing a solar power plant in Uganda under the supervision of the Egyptian Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy, Gendy said in an interview with Extra News. Hamza told CBC that all countries that have an electric interconnection with Egypt will benefit from the cooperation. Europe needs electric power and Africa has huge amounts of renewable energy resources, he said, adding that Egypt’s energy sector has a bright future. Despite the energy Egypt is exporting to several countries, there is a surplus of 11,000 megawatts, which Egypt rather calls “reserve,” according to Hamza.

An Egyptian aid ship left the port of Damietta, on Friday to Lebanon upon orders from Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. Ambassador Nader Saad, the spokesperson for the Egyptian Cabinet, said that the ship is carrying 487.5 tons of aid, including 122 tons of foodstuffs, 265.5 tons of medicines and medical supplies, and 100 tons of relief materials. An escalating economic crisis afflicts Lebanon, which has been described as one of the worst in the world since the 1850s. The massive public deficit and the collapse of the national currency caused a permanent shortage amid a constant rise in prices. Political disagreements have delayed efforts to form a government to negotiate a rescue deal with international financial institutions.

The House of Representatives is entrusted with enacting laws, granting legitimacy to the executive authority, and exercising its oversight role,. Egypt continues to communicate with all Libyan parties with the aim of bringing their views closer, ensuring the preservation of the country’s security and stability. A matter of importance is meeting the aspirations of the Libyan people, supporting comprehensive national reconciliation efforts between the Libyan Brothers. Also unifying Libyan institutions, as it continues its efforts within the framework of its co-chairmanship of the Libyan Economic Working Group, in a way that achieves the interests of the Libyan people, Hafez added. Regarding the exit of all foreign forces, foreign fighters and mercenaries from Libya without exception and within a specific time frame, Hafez said.

an Egyptian relief aid ship has left the port of Damietta on Friday morning to Lebanon- press photoCAIRO -11 February 2022: Under the directives of President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, an Egyptian relief aid ship has left the port of Damietta on Friday morning to Lebanon, said the Egyptian cabinet in a statement. The ship carries 487.5 tons of aid, including 122 tons of foodstuffs, 265.5 tons of medicines and medical supplies, and 100 tons of relief materials, the statement said. The Cabinet Spokesperson Nader Saad said that the Cabinet coordinated with the concerned ministries and state agencies to provide this assistance, besides coordination with the Lebanese government to provide what the Lebanese people need. On February 4, 2022, Egyptian Nevin El-Kabbaj, Vice President of the Egyptian Red Crescent Society and Minister of Social Solidarity announced that Egypt would send Lebanon urgent relief aid to face the repercussions it is witnessing recently. The World Bank said in June 2021 that “Lebanon is enduring a severe and prolonged economic depression,” adding “the economic and financial crisis is likely to rank in the top 10, possibly top 3, most severe crises episodes globally since the mid-nineteenth century.”

CAIRO - 11 February 2022: President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi headed on Friday morning to the French city of Brest, to participate in the “One Ocean Summit,” said Egyptian Presidential Spokesperson Bassam Rady in a statement. The summit is one of a series held on environment issues, organized by France at an initiative by President Emmanuel Macron, since 2017, Rady added. “President’s participation in this important event comes at an invitation by President Macron. During the “One Ocean Summit”, President El-Sisi intends to focus on the impact of climate change on coastal and marine ecosystems, Rady said. President Sisi is also to stress the need to boost efforts toward reducing emission from the shipping and maritime sector, which will contribute to the implementation of the goals of the Paris Agreement on climate change.

With her Jan. 22 arrest, Osman joined hundreds of activists and protest leaders targeted since a military coup last October removed a transitional government from power. Following the coup, security forces launched a deadly crackdown on protesters. Sudanese security forces have also been accused of using sexual violence against women taking part in the demonstrations. It is not the first time security forces have been accused of using rape — such attacks occurred under al-Bashir and also under the military during the transitional period. After the coup, the military reinstated the agency’s powers, which include detaining people without informing their families.

CAIRO – 11 February 2022: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi said the UN Climate Conference (COP27), which Egypt will host next November in Sharm El-Sheikh, will witness a constructive dialogue based on best practices to reach ambitious results and initiatives to preserve seas and oceans. Sisi made the remarks during a speech in the “One Ocean Summit” held in the French port city of Brest, which seeks to step up international efforts to protect the seas and oceans from the negative impacts of climate change. The Egyptian state, as president of COP27, calls for intensifying global efforts aimed at protecting sustainability and diversity of marine life in seas and oceans, the president affirmed. He added that the Egyptian state provides technological support to reduce the use of plastic and takes strenuous steps to turn to renewable energy and expand green hydrogen production. This contributed to the decline in the oxygen percentage in oceans and deterioration of marine life, the president added.

This year, the summit focuses on issues related to the seas and oceans, including preserving its vital systems. Rady referred to the vital role Egypt will play regionally and internationally in efforts and initiatives to confront climate change and protect the marine environment. This will culminate with the 27th session of the Conference of Parties to Climate Change in Sharm el-Sheikh in November 2022. Sisi will focus during the One Ocean Summit on the impact of climate change on the ecological balance in the seas, oceans and coastal areas, he added. According to Rady, Egypt plans to shed bring up these important topics during the Climate Change Summit in Sharm el-Sheikh.