Atletico Madrid’s Wanda Metropolitano, which can hold 67,000 people, will be at about 30% capacity for the game due to COVID-19 restrictions. The fixture with European Championship holders Portugal is the first of two friendlies Spain will play in the run-up to the rescheduled Euro 2020. They will host Lithuania on June 8 at the Estadio Butarque, also in Madrid. They will play all three of their Group E games at Seville’s La Cartuja stadium, which will also be at 30% capacity. Spain coach Luis Enrique named his squad for the tournament on Monday, leaving out captain and all-time appearance maker Sergio Ramos.

The head of the Suez Canal Authority Osama Rabie announced Monday that the Suez Canal Authority is engaged in a lawsuit dispute against the container ship Ever Given over compensation, and has agreed to reduce costs down to $550 million. “We reduced the compensation amount by 40 percent to US$ 50 million out of $ 916 million, with facilities including $200 million in cash payment, and the rest being $350 million with facilities,” he explained. During a phone interview with host Lamis al-Hadidi on her show Kalema Akhera (Last word), Rabie said that the company that owns the ship has failed to appreciate the effort that went into saving the ship. “Frankly, they did not appreciate the effort we did, and that we succeeded in floating the ship in six days without any losses, whether regarding the ship or the human element, and we did not receive the necessary appreciation and understanding from the company that owns the ship for the effort we have made as it offered to only pay $150 million, which is a meager sum. It does not cover the losses caused by its ship.”He explained that the authority is only looking for compensation for its losses incurred from the disruption to navigation and trade.

US Special Envoy for Libya Richard Norland in an interview with Extra NewsCAIRO - 25 May 2020: On Monday, US Special Envoy for Libya Richard Norland said Egypt had played a significant role in empowering the political process in Libya, noting that all security problems in the North African country can be addressed should a government be formed there. Speaking to the Extra News channel, Norland said "Egypt and the US have common interests as regards the stability of the situation in Libya," noting that Cairo, in addition, has security interests and concerns “and we understand that.”Those concerns can be dealt with via the presence of a stable government in Libya, the removal of foreign forces from the country, and helping it regain control over its lands, he added. Norland said the US will provide support in line with the Libyan desire to expel foreign fighters from the country. The US envoy indicated that he had held important meetings with Egyptian officials, as well as with the speaker of the Libyan Parliament, Aguila Saleh. He indicated that he would meet with Saleh to discuss the constitutional foundations for the upcoming elections next December.

An official from Egypt’s Ministry of Health confirmed that the ministry is working to provide in-home vaccination services for eligible groups. A center has been allocated in each of Egypt’s governorates for the service, he added. Galal said that those wishing to apply for a home vaccine must register on the ministry’s official website, and then call the hotline. After confirming the person’s circumstances, a healthcare worker qualified to give the vaccine will be sent to their home. Approximately 1.3 million Egyptians have received a first dose of the coronavirus vaccine since the Health Ministry began its vaccination campaign in January.

May 25 (Reuters) - Cristiano Ronaldo said he has realized one of the goals he set for himself when he joined Juventus in 2018 and valued everything the club had achieved this season despite their run of nine straight Serie A title coming to an end. Ronaldo, 36, has one year remaining on his contract at Juventus but there has been a flurry of media speculation that the Portuguese forward could be leaving in the summer. Juventus were deposed as champions by Inter Milan and only climbed into the top four on the final day of the campaign on Sunday to secure Champions League qualification. “This year we couldn’t win Serie A, congratulations to Inter for the well deserved title. However, I have to value everything that we achieved this season at Juventus, both in collective and individual terms,” Ronaldo wrote in an Instagram post.

(Reuters) - Sevilla’s Czech Republic goalkeeper Tomas Vaclik has confirmed he will leave the club when his contract expires next month. This term, however, he lost his place to Yassine Bounou and was restricted to five league appearances. Through a statement on social media, Vaclik cited a lack of playing time as the reason he would depart. “Although last season has been challenging for me, I’m leaving the club with the greatest respect and admiration. “I’m convinced I can still play at the highest level, and I’m looking forward to new opportunities ahead.”

(Reuters) - Real Betis captain Joaquin has signed a new one-year deal, the the Seville-based club announced on Monday, which ensures he will be playing La Liga football into his 40s. Joaquin, who turns 40 in July, made his debut for his boyhood club Betis at 19 in 2000 before joining Valencia six years later. He also had spells with Malaga and Fiorentina before returning in 2015. He is second on the all-time list of appearances in Spain’s top flight having played 579 games, behind former Barcelona goalkeeper Andoni Zubizarreta (622), and will be the only player from the 2002 World Cup still playing in La Liga next season. Far from playing a minor role as a club ambassador, the winger was an integral part of the team for manager Manuel Pellegrini last term, making 30 appearances in all competitions as Betis finished sixth to secure Europa League football.

CAIRO – 24 May 2021: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi received a phone call from US President Joe Biden on Monday evening, discussing the latest development of the controversial Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on Monday, said Egyptian Spokesperson Bassam Radi in a statement. The dispute among Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia dates back to May 2011 when Ethiopia started building the dam; Egypt voiced concern over its water share [55.5 billion cubic meters]. The dam is located on the Blue Nile with a capacity of 74 billion cubic meters and is expected to generate up to 6,000 megawatts of power. The first filling was carried out in 2020 with 4.9 billion cubic meters. Currently, Ethiopia intends to do the second filling in July with at least 13.5 billion cubic meters.

CAIRO – 24 May 2021: Advisor to President on health affairs, Mohamed Awad Tag El-Din, affirmed that there is no reason to be concerned about the black fungus spreading in Egypt. He added that the black fungus is a well-known strain that may happen to some people while taking antibiotics. Member of the same committee Mohamed al-Nadi told Al Watan newspaper that Egypt has three black fungus cases in three different governorates. Further, Former Minister of Health and Member of the Health Committee at the House of Representatives Ashraf Hatem told Al Watan newspaper Sunday that severe viral infections coupled with heavy use of antibiotics and cortisone cause fungus infection, including black fungus. Data coming from India indicate that black fungus has been common among diabetic COVID-19 patients, and has killed 50 percent of those who got infected with it.

Meteorologists predict hot weather on Tuesday during the daytime over Greater Cairo, Lower Egypt, South Sinai and northern Upper Egypt, with moderate weather expected on northern coasts and very hot on southern Upper Egypt. The weather will be mild by nightfall over Greater Cairo, Lower Egypt, northern coasts, and northern Upper Egypt, while moderate on South Sinai and southern Upper Egypt. Maximum temperatures:Alexandria: 29CCairo and Hurghada: 33CSharm el-Sheikh: 34CQena: 37CLuxor: 38CAswan: 39CMist will impact visibility in the morning in North Coast, Suez Canal cities, Greater Cairo, and the Nile Delta region. Active winds are expected on parts of Greater Cairo, Lower Egypt, and South Sinai. Waves in the Mediterranean Sea will be low to moderate, ranging between one and 1.75 meters in height with northwestern to northeastern surface winds, while waves in the Red Sea will be moderate, ranging between 1.5 and 2.25 meters in height with northwestern surface winds.

REUTERS: Mario Mandzukic has announced he is leaving AC Milan after a six-month spell with the Serie A club that was disrupted by injuries. The 35-year-old Croatian joined Milan as a free agent in January on a deal until the end of the 2020-21 campaign. “It was a pleasure to play for AC Milan - I am thankful to the club management for giving me the opportunity, to the coaching staff for their dedicated work and to my teammates who are not only excellent players but a great group of guys,” Mandzukic wrote on Instagram. “I am happy that we have managed to get this great club back to Champions League where it belongs and I wish everybody at the club only the best in the future.”Mandzukic made 11 appearances for Milan in all competitions without finding the net as Stefano Pioli's side finished second in Serie A, but missed almost two months with a muscular problem.

CAIRO – 24 May 2021: In the evening of Sunday, the Palestinian Authority (PA) in Gaza Strip began receiving the aid offered by Long Live Egypt Fund at Rafah Crossing. The fund launched accounts in all banks in Egypt bearing the number of 037037 to receive donations locally and abroad for the reconstruction of Gaza Strip and to finance aid caravans. And, on May 10-20, Israel shelled and carried out airstrikes against Gaza Strip. The strikes also caused the destruction of more than 2,000 residential units in Gaza Strip while 15,000 others were partially damaged, according to AP. As a consequence, 100,000 Palestinians lost their homes, including 50,000 who fled from the North to the South of Gaza Strip.

CAIRO – 24 May 2021: Gross domestic product (GDP) of the Egyptian economy in the current fiscal year 2020/2021 is expected to reach LE 6.4 trillion, according to Minister of Finance Mohamed Maait. He confirmed that the economic gains achieved by Egypt pushed the government to complete the development march, and to proceed with the implementation of structural reforms to strengthen the structure of the national economy. Capital Intelligence recently maintained Egypt's credit rating at the level of “B +” with a stable outlook. Fitch has praised the state budget project for the new fiscal year for adopting widely credible goals that enhance the government's fiscal and economic reform agenda, and reduce the debt burden in the medium term. He pointed out that the Fitch report expected a decrease in the total deficit to 6.7 percent of GDP by the end of June 2022, compared to 7.9 percent at the end of June 2021.

The Ministry of Health announced that 40 million doses of the Chinese “Sinovac” vaccine will be produced in Egypt this year through VACSERA’s factories, with the first batch of two million doses scheduled within a month from now. The ministry referred to increasing demand by citizens for coronavirus vaccines, which has prompted it to raise vaccination centers to more than 400 nationwide. The total number of citizens registered to receive the vaccine has reached 3.5 million, while two million people have been vaccinated so far, the ministry said on Monday. Whoever does not get the vaccine on the day specified by the vaccination center has a four-day grace period to receive it. The committee’s statement said that there are “relatively few” cases of young people who received the vaccine suffering from heart issues, which might be completely unrelated to the vaccination.

CAIRO – 24 May 2021: A delegation of Chinese experts that arrived in Egypt are set to remain for three weeks to produce the first batch of Sinovac vaccine; estimated at 2 million doses. Spokesperson for Health Ministry Khaled Megahed said that the process of vaccine production goes through multiple stages, starting from conducting analysis of raw materials, then packaging, approval, stability studies, and doses will be subject to analysis at the laboratories of the Egyptian drug authority, to ensure their safety and efficacy. He also said that Vacsera Company is ready to produce COVID vaccine, given the availability of financial and technical capabilities. Megahed added that the Egyptian political leadership provides unlimited support to manufacture the vaccines, so that Egypt becomes a hub for manufacturing vaccines for African countries after covering the local need.