Raisi’s death is poised to have profound implications for the trajectory of one of the Middle East’s most influential roles, as he was once seen as a possible heir to the 85-year-old Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. What’s the difference between Iran’s Supreme Leader and President? The Supreme Leader, referred to as the “Guardian Jurist” within Shia Islam, wields absolute authority in Iran, overseeing all pivotal state decisions. Iran’s Constitution mandates that the First Vice President assumes interim leadership following a President’s death. For legitimacy, the next Supreme Leader must resonate with the populace that endorses the prevailing religious governance.

He presented the stark realities with statistics: only 15% of the global agenda for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is on track for fulfilment by 2030, while a significant 55% is severely off track. Mohieldin pointed out that current growth rates are insufficient for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. She stressed the importance of providing concessional development financing, direct investments, and technical advice and consultations to enable sustainable financing. Al-Mashat pointed out that achieving sustainable financing demands unity among all stakeholders and global collaboration to tackle the issues facing the world economy. She underlined that the Ministry is diligently working on the implementation of 11 sustainable development goals.

CAIRO -20 May 2024: Egypt’s Al-Azhar Al-Sharif and its scholars mourned on Monday Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, along with Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian, and their companions, who passed away following the helicopter crash accident that took place, Sunday. Egypt’s Presidency and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also mourned the late Iranian President and his Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian. Sisi also prayed to God Almighty that the deceased Iranian President and the departed may rest in God’s mercy, and grant their families patience and solace. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian have died in a helicopter crash in the northwestern province of East Azarbaijan, Iranian Press TV confirmed, Monday. Funeral ceremony for the late Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi is to be held, Tuesday in the city of Tabriz.

The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) reports that annual urban headline inflation decreased to 32.5% in April 2024, down from 33.3% in March. April’s annual food inflation rate slowed to 40.5%, the lowest since December 2022, following a peak of 73.6% in September 2023. Annual core inflation decelerated to 31.8% in April from 33.7% in March, reflecting a reduced impact from core food prices. Monthly core inflation was recorded at 0.3% in April, a decrease from 1.7% in the same month of the previous year. , adding to monthly headline inflation, primarily due to clothing, footwear, and personal care products.

Basil Rahmi, CEO of the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise Development Agency (MSMEDA), expressed the agency’s dedication to supporting innovation and entrepreneurship. Further, Rahmi detailed MSMEDA’s collaboration with various state bodies to extend financial and technical support to entrepreneurs, aligning with the Prime Minister’s directives. A notable initiative is the inaugural venture capital program, established in partnership with the World Bank Group. The program also aids new and seasoned investment funds experienced in venture capital and bolsters high-growth potential companies and innovative ventures. This included projects that benefited from MSMEDA’s services, particularly those aimed at increasing employment for women in Upper Egypt, supported by the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation.

The exclusion from the list, which will be discussed during the 112th Session of the International Labour Conference (ILC) in June, demonstrates Egypt's commitment to global labor standards, he added. During this period, the Conference Committee on the Application of Standards (CAS) will convene to discuss the 2024 Report of the Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations. The report addresses observations on the implementation of ratified Conventions by specific member states, covering topics such as freedom of association, forced labor, and child labor elimination. CAS will examine a list of 40 cases compiled by social partners to possibly provide recommendations for governments to address the identified issues. The proposed legislation aims to enhance job security for workers and foster investments, as stated by the Ministry of Labor.

Additionally, the government supports locally manufactured goods that can compete with foreign products in terms of quality and price. Chief among these challenges is the persistent scarcity of certain essential raw materials required for production in the market. Despite the availability of currency, importing raw materials still poses numerous obstacles due to the absence of the final product in the local market. Aboulmakarem advocates for streamlining the import process for raw materials and promoting the establishment of factories dedicated to producing these materials. Additionally, he stressed the urgency of expediting export support procedures and ensuring timely disbursement of support to exporters.

CAIRO – 19 May 2024: Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry will travel to Greece on Sunday to strengthen Egyptian-Greek relations and engage in discussions on regional and global matters, especially efforts to resolve the ongoing Gaza war. According to Ahmed Abu Zeid, the spokesperson for Egypt's Foreign Ministry, Shoukry's visit to Greece reaffirms the strategic ties between the two countries. It also underscores the mutual commitment of Egypt and Greece to further enhance their robust and growing relationship, he added. During his visit, Shoukry will hold extensive discussions with Georgios Gerapetritis, the Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs, to monitor the progress and bolster the bilateral cooperation program. The Copelouzos Group is responsible for constructing and operating the renewable energy sources in Egypt generating 9.5 GW of power.

This came within the framework of the meetings of the WB’s mission to review the project. Fouad said that the meeting tackled accrediting environment experts to link it with the system of accreditation and registration of the Ministry of Environment, adding that this comes within the framework of upgrading the system of qualification and appointment of individuals.

Egypt’s Minister of Health and Population, Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, underscored the state’s dedication to creating a comprehensive strategy for advancing the nursing sector. This commitment extends to supporting and training medical personnel, ensuring their seamless integration with the state’s healthcare efforts for citizens. During his speech at an event hosted by the Egyptian General Nursing Union to celebrate International Nurses Day, Minister Abdel Ghaffar highlighted the irreplaceable role of nurses. To sustain nursing services, the Ministry of Health and Population has devised equitable plans for distributing new appointments within nursing bodies. Minister Abdel Ghaffar emphasized integrated plans to enhance nursing efficiency and build the capabilities of nursing cadres.

The Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), announced on Saturday that it successfully lured an Israeli force and detonated a bomb, resulting in the deaths of five soldiers and injuries to others. The incident occurred east of the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. Earlier on the same day, Al-Qassam confirmed that it had killed an additional 15 Israeli soldiers in an operation east of Rafah. They also targeted a tank in the Al-Tanour neighbourhood, located to the east of Rafah in the far south of the Gaza Strip. Abu Ubaida, the military spokesperson for the Al-Qassam Brigades, criticized the Israeli leadership, accusing them of recklessly endangering their soldiers.

Egypt has denied Israeli media reports that it has withdrawn from joining South Africa in a lawsuit against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The lawsuit seeks to address Israel’s alleged violations of its obligations under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip. The Ministry cited the “increasing severity and scope of Israeli attacks against Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip” as the reason for its intervention. It further highlighted “systematic practices against the Palestinian people,” including the targeting of civilians, destruction of infrastructure, and forced displacement. The ministry cited the “increasing severity and scope of Israeli attacks against Palestinian civilians” as the impetus for its decision.

CAIRO – 17 May 2024: World Health Organization spokesperson said, Friday that the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, cannot be allowed to continue. He added that the health systems, infrastructure, and service facilities in the Gaza Strip must be supported, stressing the necessity of an immediate ceasefire, after the major crisis that Gaza witnessed over the past months, causing civilian suffering and the spread of many diseases. The quantities of fuel entering Gaza are not sufficient to operate the Strip’s hospitals, and some Gaza hospitals have been completely closed,” WHO spokesperson said. On the other side, the military wing of the Islamic Resistance Movement of Hamas (Al-Qassam Brigades) has attacked Israeli forces, injuring and killing a number of them. The Al-Qassam Brigades announced that their fighters targeted a special zionist force holed up in a building using a TBG shell east of the city of Jabalia, in the northern Gaza Strip, on Friday.

Temperatures in the shaded areas of Egypt will flirt with, record, or even surpass the 40-degree mark, at least until Thursday. In Greater Cairo, expect highs ranging from 37 to 39 degrees all week long, with lows hovering around 23-24 degrees. Moving to northern Upper Egypt, brace yourself for some truly scorching temperatures that may exceed 40 degrees, reaching a toasty 42 degrees on certain days. As for southern Upper Egypt, home to the captivating wonders of Luxor and Aswan, get ready for the hottest temperatures in all of Egypt. Highs will sizzle at 41-43 degrees, while lows will offer a bit of relief at 27-28 degrees.

The Israeli occupation forces committed four massacres, killing dozens of Palestinians, including 31 martyrs who were transported to hospitals and 90 injured within the last 24 hours. On the other side, the military wing of the Islamic Resistance Movement of Hamas (Al-Qassam Brigades) has attacked Israeli forces, injuring and killing a number of them. The Al-Qassam Brigades announced that their fighters targeted a special zionist force holed up in a building using a TBG shell east of the city of Jabalia, in the northern Gaza Strip, on Friday. Meanwhile, Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades stated on Friday that their fighters were able to bombard an Israeli vehicle position east of the central governorate with heavy caliber mortar shells. The Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades also targeted positions of Israeli soldiers and vehicles with standard mortar shells on the combat axis east of "George" Street in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip.