As the summer season begins, Matrouh International Airport announced receiving, with flowers and chocolates, its first tourist group of 2021, coming from Bucharest, Romania. The medical team provided the tourist group with advice and information about the coronavirus. The Governor of Matrouh, Major General Khaled Shuaib, received the 29 tourists warmly, welcoming them to his city. Airport officials gifted the tourists with flowers and chocolate, welcoming them to the land of Egypt in general and Matrouh in particular. The General Administration of Tourism and Resorts also presented the group with roses and brochures of Egypt’s most famous tourist and archaeological attractions in the cities of the Matrouh Governorate.

Egypt’s parliament on Monday approved in principle a draft law submitted by the government regarding the issuance of a sovereign sukuk (bonds) law, the Youm7 website reported. Parliament member Bassem al-Khawasi however announced his rejection of the bill due to several concerns, including that segments of the beneficiaries of the sukuk may be foreigners whose affiliation is not guaranteed. He also warned of the risk of corruption since these form of bonds are unclear as to whether they are private or public. Parliament member Abdulaziz al-Nahhas announced on behalf of the al-Wafd Party its approval of the bill, stating that the project achieves its goal in attracting and pumping money. A parliamentary report of the joint committee from the Financial, Economic and Investment Affairs Committee and the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee confirmed that sovereign sukuk as a financing instrument enjoy a large degree of acceptance in the today’s global financial markets.

Egyptian director Mohamed Sami plans complete the filming of his latest movie, “al-Ameel Sefr” (Client Zero), despite a decision from the United Company to no longer work with him. The company announced on Sunday that it would stop dealing with the director and screenwriter without clarifying its reasons. Sami directed the 2021 Ramadan drama “Nasl al-Aghrab”, starring Ahmed al-Sakka and Amir Karara. Before Ramadan, he had filmed a number of scenes from “al-Ameel Sefr” movie, which is starring Nelly Karim and Akram Hosny and produced by Wael Abdullah. Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-YoumPhoto credit: Mohamed Sami on Instagram (@directormohamedsami)

President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi and Chairman of the Sudanese Sovereign Council Abdel Fatah al-Burhan in a meeting in Paris on May 16, 2021. The capacity of the dam's reservoir is 74 billion cubic meters, aimed to generate 6,000 megawatts by installing 16 turbines. 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 billion cubic meters. It is noted that the water shares of Egypt and Ethiopia are 55.5 billion cubic meters, and 18.5 billion cubic meters, respectively.

Egypt has opened its first mobile station in the Middle Eastern region to supply vehicles with compressed natural gas to the public. This comes as part of the petroleum sector desire to provide new outlets to supply cars with natural gas, the Petroleum Ministry said. The new station is distinguished by its ability to supply up to 500 cars every 12 hours, which increases to 1,000 cars per day with refilling. The ministry plans to establish ten new mobile stations across the country, especially in areas where natural gas stations are absent and in places of seasonal consumption such as tourist areas and resorts. Egypt’s Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources announced April that it has launched the first mobile station to supply cars with compressed natural gas, as part of the petroleum sector’s efforts to provide natural gas to vehicles across the country.

Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani held phone talks with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry to discuss developments in the Palestinian situation following Israel’s military escalation. “The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Qatar made a phone call with the Foreign Minister of the Arab Republic of Egypt, during which they reviewed bilateral cooperation relations and the developments of the situation in Palestine,” a statement by the Qatar News Agency read. He stressed that peace in the Middle East cannot be achieved without a just solution to the Palestinian cause. AP news reported that Israeli warplanes launched a new series of heavy attacks at several locations in Gaza City early Monday, hours after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signaled the fourth war with Gaza’s Hamas rulers would continue. The earlier Israeli airstrikes flattened three buildings,” it wrote.

CAIRO – 17 May 2021: During his visit to Paris, President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi received Sunday Eric Trappier, CEO of Dassault Aviation producing Rafale fighter jets. Presidency Spokesperson Bassam Rady indicated in a statement that the president expressed Egypt's appreciation for the extended and fruitful coordination with Dassault Aviation as it reflects the deep defense cooperation between Egypt and France. The president also noted that the military pieces produced by the company are an addition to the capabilities of the Egyptian Armed Forces. On his side, Trappier stressed Dassault Aviation's keenness on developing its existing cooperation with Egypt, which is one of its main partners worldwide. Egypt signed a contract with the French Dassault Aviation company to purchase 30 Rafale fighter jets, announced the Egyptian Armed Forces in a statement on May 3, 2021.

Egypt’s Health Ministry on Sunday confirmed 1,201 new coronavirus cases, bringing the country’s total up to 145,721. The total number of COVID-19-related deaths has now reached 14,327 nationwide, after the ministry announced 58 deaths. And 901 patients were discharged from quarantine at isolation hospitals, raising Egypt’s total number of fully-recovered cases to 181,478. During phone-in on Friday with al-Oula channel of the state-TV, Hosny said that all Egyptian ports are at high-alert to prevent the entry of anyone suspected to carry the Indian coronavirus strain. The Indian strain is severe, has a high mortality rate, and is resistant to vaccines, he warned.

Shokry added that the fall of scores of victims in Gaza Strip composes a threat to peace and security in the Middle East. He underlined that the displacement is part of a systematic policy to reduce the number of the Arab residents in the neighborhood located Eastern Jerusalem. It is noted that Eastern Jerusalem is supposed to be the capital of the aspired Palestinian state. Speaking of Gaza Strip alone, casualties recorded 188 deaths, including 55 children and 33 women, and 1,238 injuries whereas dozens are in critical conditions. On Saturday, the Israeli forces struck a number of towers in Gaza Strip.

CAIRO – 17 May 2021: The Meteorological Authority expected a significant decrease in temperature by seven degrees, after a hot weather prevailed across the country. According to the authority, the weather during the day will be hot in Greater Cairo, Lower Egypt, northern coasts and very hot in South Sinai and southern parts of the country. As for the weather at night, a nice weather will prevail in Cairo and northern coasts. And for temperature degrees on Monday:Cairo records highs of 32 °C and lows of 20 °CAlexandria records highs of 26 °C and lows of 19 °CMatrouh records highs of 24 °C and lows of 19 °CSohag records highs of 39 °C and lows of 24 °CQena records highs of 40 °C and lows of 24 °CAswan records highs of 42 °C and lows of 26 °C

CAIRO – 17 May 2021: Micheline Abu Halqa has launched an initiative to raise people’s awareness towards several mental illnesses that many might not know, or ignore its severity. Her initiative shed the light on a number of mental disorders including: self-harm, mood disorders, panic attacks and borderline personality disorder through photography. A number of youth actors and actresses took part in a photo session Abu Halqa made, featuring various emotions and pain that people with mental illnesses usually experience. A graduate of Faculty of Mass Communication, Micheline Abu Halqa said that the idea of the initiative came as she herself has borderline personality disorder, which she only discovered she has 6 months ago. She further noted that the initiative mainly targets raising awareness of the parents and families who might not be aware of the suffer of their children due to mental illness.

CAIRO – 17 May 2021: Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry received a phone call Sunday from U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken as they discussed the ongoing Israeli aggression against Palestinians. Blinken "reiterated his call on all parties to deescalate tensions and bring a halt to the violence, which has claimed the lives of Israeli and Palestinian civilians, including children," the statement of the U.S. State Secretary reads. Both ministers "highlighted the importance of the strong strategic partnership between the United States and Egypt," the statement added. Speaking of Gaza Strip alone, casualties recorded 188 deaths, including 55 children and 33 women, and 1,238 injuries whereas dozens are in critical conditions. On Saturday, the Israeli forces struck a number of towers in Gaza Strip.

The turnaround represents a glimmer of hope for India, still in the clutches of a devastating coronavirus surge that has raised public anger at the government. Experts also warn that another reason for an apparent peak or plateau in cases could be that the virus has outrun India’s testing capabilities. States across India are preparing to be hit by another torrent of infections and even courts have intervened to help untangle oxygen supplies. Associated Press journalist Rafiq Maqbool in Mumbai, India, contributed. A dip in the number of coronavirus cases in Mumbai is offering a glimmer of hope for India, which is suffering through a surge of infections.

The Egyptian Pavilion participating in 28th Arabian Travel Market 2021 in UAE - Min. of Tourism & AntiquitiesCAIRO – 17 May 2021: The Egyptian pavilion participating in the 28th Arabian Travel Market [ATM 2021], held from May 16-19 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, is designed in a form of an ancient Egyptian temple. The Egyptian pavilion is 305 square meters. Visitors to the Egyptian pavilion were very impressed with its design that combines beach tourism with cultural tourism. The Egyptian pavilion participating in the exhibition is located in Sheikh Saeed Hall with Africa and Europe.

Ireland is increasingly concerned that British Prime Minister Boris Johnson wants to completely rewrite the Northern Ireland section of the Brexit deal, RTE reported on Monday after London said the agreement was not sustainable. Johnson had promised there would be no hard border between Ireland and Northern Ireland as result of Brexit, and unfettered trade between the province and the rest of the United Kingdom would continue. So Britain in March unilaterally extended a grace period on certain checks to minimise supply disruption, a move Brussels said breached the Brexit divorce deal. “Dublin is now concerned that London is pushing for a complete re-writing of the Protocol, beyond simply bringing flexibilities to bear through the ongoing technical discussions with the European Commission,” RTE reported. British negotiator David Frost said last week that the Northern Ireland Protocol would not be sustainable in the long term.