The Luxor International Airport on Saturday evening received its first international charter flights coming from Spain, with 132 tourists on board, as part of the Ministry of Civil Aviation’s plan to revitalize tourism. The Cultural Tourism Marketing Committee in Luxor distributed roses and other gifts to the tourists. EgyptAir agreed with some tourist agents in Spain to run a series of charter flights from the capital Madrid to Luxor during the coming period, starting from Saturday. Two weekly flights will operate on Saturday every week starting August 7. Egyptian airports applied precautionary and preventive measures recommended globally, some countries have eased travel restrictions, which resulted in 11 airports in Egypt obtaining a health accreditation certificate for safe travel.

CAIRO – 2 August 2021: The German-made 209/1400mod-class submarine S-44 arrived at the Alexandria naval base from the Port of Kiel to join the Egyptian naval forces, the Egyptian military spokesman said on Monday. This step represents a reinforcement for the capabilities of the Egyptian naval forces, protection for the country’s economic resources in the Mediterranean and Red seas as well as the Suez Canal, the spokesman said in a statement. The step also represents protection of naval security in a way that enhances security, stability and peace in the region, he added. The acquisition of the S-44 and other similar submarines represents an unprecedented leap for the Egyptian Navy and contributes to raising its global rating, the statement added. Ahmed Khaled, commander of the Naval Forces, stressed that the Navy continues its quest to possess the latest naval armament systems to remain committed to protecting the Egyptian coasts and economic interests.

CAIRO - 2 August 2021: Members of the Egyptian Air Forces participating in the Egyptian-Emirati joint air exercise [Zayed-3] arrived at Al Dhafra Air Base, Monday in the United Arab Emirates. The joint drills are taking place with the participation of several multi-tasking combat aircrafts of various models and expected to continue for several days. This joint training comes as part of supporting and strengthening military cooperation and joint coordination between the Egyptian and Emirati armed forces through the implementation of several joint exercises in various specialties. The Egyption and Emirati last joint air exercise [Zayed-3] lasted for two weeks and was concluded in May. Mohamed Abbas Helmy, the commander of the Egyptian Air Forces and Saeed Al Shehhi, deputy commander of the UAE Land Forces attended the closing stage along with other army leaders from both countries, Refae added.

A German-made S-44 model 209/1400 submarine arrived at Alexandria Naval Base on Monday, coming from the port of Kiel in Germany, the Egyptian Navy announced. The accession of the submarine represents the Navy’s growing combat abilities and competence in preserving stability and security in the Mediterranean and Red Seas, as well as in the Suez Canal. Egypt received the submarine according to an agreement with Germany according to which it will receive a total of four submarines between 2017 to 2021. In a speech celebrating the arrival of the submarine, Lieutenant-General Ahmed Khaled, Commander of the Naval Forces, stressed that the Navy’s keenness to possess the latest naval armament systems and its commitment to protecting Egypt’s coasts and economic interests. The ceremony also included a massive naval parade alongside Alexandria’s coast, which included more than fifty different naval units, including submarines and frigates.

The Egyptian Meteorological Authority announced that very hot weather will continue across the country, with temperatures ranging between 40C and 42C in Cairo and Upper Egypt. Hotter temperatures are predicted in southern Upper Egypt. Temperatures at night will also rise and humidity will increase forming mist, especially on agricultural roads close to water channels. Egypt has been gripped in the midst of a heatwave this week. Temperatures in Cairo are expected to range 39C and 42C, while in the south in the country temperatures will hit 44C during the daylight hours.

An expert team from Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities is working restore Karnak temple’s Great Hypostyle Hall, ahead of the imminent opening of the temple’s Rams Road, the ministry announced. It added that work on the first pillar in the hall is roughly 60 percent complete. The team is aiming to restore the original colors of the pillars in the hall, while removing blemishes from damage and erosion. Also included in the restoration work is the pillared hall of Luxor Temple and the statue of King Tuthmosis II, located in the eighth edifice of Karnak Temple, he added. Sonbol stressed that the work in the two temples was carefully studied to ensure the most appropriate restoration methods are being employed.

CAIRO – 2 August 2021: Czech Foreign Minister Jakub Kulhanek said on Sunday that his country shares with Egypt the same concerns about the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) dispute. In a press conference with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, Kulhanek said Czech strongly encourages negotiations to reach solutions based on talks. Kulhanek hailed the actions Egypt has taken to ensure the safety of the tourists amid the pandemic, noting that 300 Czech tourists before the pandemic have been visiting Egypt every year. He said this has encouraged tourists from Czech to come to Egypt, adding that Egypt does not need to impose restrictions on tourists, but rather apply measures that help them. Egypt conducts medical tests on tourists upon their arrival and it consults with the Czech Republic in this regard, the minister continued.

Luxor received its first charter flight coming from France on Sunday, following the resumption of inbound tourism to Egypt since July 1, 2020. The Egyptian Tourism Authority said that the plane coming from Paris was carrying 178 French tourists. An authority statement expllained that the members of the authority’s office in Luxor welcomed the tourists and presented them with roses, souvenirs and pamphlets about various Egyptian tourist destinations – all while adhering to all precautionary measures and health safety controls. It added that a charter flight is scheduled to operate once a week from France to Luxor until November of this year. On Saturday evening, Luxor received the first charter flight from the Spanish capital, Madrid, to Luxor, which was carrying 114 tourists.

CAIRO – 2 August 2021: Egyptian Ministry of Health reiterated its calls on women to seek early detection test of breast cancer, saying that 60 percent of breast cancer cases that were detected early do not need chemotherapy. Early detection units work from Saturday through Thursday, from 9 am to 3 pm. Citizens can reach the nearest health unit by searching the 100 Million Healthy Lives website. The 100 Million Healthy Lives campaign screens Egyptians for breast cancer, Hepatitis C and chronic diseases. The Ministry of Health and Population vowed to completely eliminate the disease from Egypt in 2022.

TOKYO, Aug 2 (Reuters) - Takefusa Kubo has been instrumental in Japan's push for an Olympic medal, and now the promising playmaker is ready to give Spanish football a reminder of why he already has spells at the country's biggest clubs. "I've been taking it one game at a time so far, but this is where I bring it 100 per cent - no, 120 per cent, 150 per cent. Spells at J.League clubs FC Tokyo and Yokohama F Marinos followed before a return to Spain soon after his 18th birthday. Life back in Spanish football has seen his form fizzle rather than explode. "I have a lot of team-mates in Spain," said Kubo.

There were no such problems for her two compatriots in the 100m clean sweep as Elaine Thompson-Herah and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce advanced safely through. Defending champion Thompson-Herah began her bid to complete the sprint double-double by calmly moving up through the field to finish a comfortable third in 22.86. Fraser-Pryce, 200m silver medallist in 2012, won her heat in 22.22, despite barely running the longer event since winning the world title in 2013. The big names, however, will be more than aware of the potential threat of Namibian 18-year-olds Beatrice Masilingi and Christine Mboma. Britain's world champion Dina Asher-Smith was absent after a hamstring injury forced her to withdraw following the 100m semi-finals.

CAIRO – 1 August 2021: President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi received Czech Foreign Minister Jakub Kulhánek on Sunday, where they expressed great interest in developing cooperation and localizing industry. Kulhánek said Czech wants to push relations forward with Egypt, being a fundamental pillar for stability in the Middle East and the Mediterranean, as the two discussed Egypt’s efforts against illegal immigration and terrorism. Earlier, Kulhánek and his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry attended the Egyptian-Czech Business Forum Sunday to discuss means to support investment in the two countries. Kulhánek praised Egypt’s health measures to protect its visitors, as well as vaccinating all those who work in the tourism industry against the novel coronavirus. Egypt conducts medical tests on tourists upon their arrival and it consults with the Czech Republic in this regard, the minister continued.

MILAN (Reuters) - Italians were elated and not a little stunned on Sunday as compatriots Lamont Marcell Jacobs and Gianmarco Tamberi claimed upset victories in sprint and high jump events at the Olympics. Jacobs won the men's 100 metres final to become the first Italian to take the most coveted title in athletics, while Tamberi shared the men's high jump gold. Jacobs' mother Viviana, speaking from the hotel she runs near Italy's Lake Garda, said she had had a feeling on Sunday morning that something big was going to happen, but not as big as this. Jacobs, who was born in the United States to an Italian mother and a U.S. serviceman father, was brought up by his mother after his parents separated when he was a baby. "I really liked the way he ran ... it took me back 60 years," 82-year-old Berruti told news agency Ansa after Jacobs' success.

CAIRO – 1 August 2021: Head of the Suez Canal Authority, Osama Rabie, witnessed, on Sunday, the signing of a shareholder agreement between Timsah Shipbuilding Company, and Healthy Milk and Healthy Family Companies, to establish an Egyptian joint stock company “Suez Canal Healthy Company for Food Industries” to implement businesses and projects related to food industries. The new company aims to participate in the implementation of presidential directives to achieve food security and bridge the nutritional gap in animal protein through the expansion of livestock breeding activity, to produce breeds and fattening, and to establish meat factories, dairy and juice factories, and fruit sorting and drying stations, according to a statement issued by the authority. For his part, Osama Rabie affirmed his keenness to expand the scope of work in the companies affiliated with the authority within the framework of the existing development and modernization plan and to establish new industrial entities in partnership with private national companies to add new activities needed by the Egyptian market in various sectors that contribute to providing job opportunities for young people and achieving self-sufficiency in products and important indispensable industries. The memorandum of understanding was signed by a representative of the Suez Canal Authority, Mohamed Saeed, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Timsah Shipbuilding Company, while Mustafa Lotfy Abdullah, representing the Healthy Milk Company, and Mohamed Mustafa Lotfy, representing the Healthy Family Company.

CHIBA, Japan (Reuters) -France won the men's team foil competition after beating the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) 45-28 to earn a record eighth gold medal in the event for the country at the Olympics. The five-time Olympian said he had focused on enjoying the last time he would fence, making the gold medal win the last bout of his career. "We didn't know this story, we just think about our team," le Pechoux said. By winning silver, the Russians failed to defend the gold medal they won in Rio 2016. He had put pressure on le Pechoux in the semifinals, racking up 10 points before France's final point - which le Pechoux said was "very hard."