CAIRO – 11 February 2024: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed, in a statement Sunday, condolences to the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain on the victims of the terror attack that occurred in the General Gordon military base in Mogadishu on Saturday. The three Emirati soldiers and the Bahraini officer, who were training counterparts from the Somali Armed Forces, were shot dead – while praying - by a defector from Al Qaeda-linked Al Shabab terrorist group who had joined the Somali army. Further, two others were injured, as reported by the CNN. Egypt also affirmed its full support and solidarity with Somalia in the face of terrorism and in combating all forms of extremism, calling for concerting international efforts to uproot terrorism and wipe out sources of funding and harboring.

Egyptian sources said a delegation from Egypt visited Tel Aviv on Friday to discuss the situation in Rafah with Israeli officials. They said Egyptian officials opposed Israeli attempts to persuade them to cooperate in some way with the ground invasion. The Qatari Foreign Ministry condemned the Israeli threats to storm Rafah in the strongest terms, and warned of a humanitarian catastrophe in Rafah, which had become a haven for hundreds of thousands of displaced people. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health in Gaza said the Israeli aggression on the Strip had killed 28,64 people and injured 67,611 since 7 Octobet. It held the US administration, the international community, and the Israeli occupation fully responsible.

CAIRO – 11 February 2024: The Ministry of Health and Population indicated in a press statement Sunday that Egypt had received 2,200 injured Palestinians from Gaza Strip, and that 1,300 surgeries had been carried out. The statement - released on the occasion of a visit paid by the Qatari health minister to coordinate the delivery of medical aid to Gazans - clarified that the injured Palestinians are transferred to 47 hospitals located across eight governorates. Egypt has been the supplier of 70-80 percent of aid to Gaza, while the rest was granted by other countries and international organizations. The shipments were delivered to Arish International Airport on 461 jets, and handled by the Egyptian Red Crescent.

A week after the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) raised its basic interest rates by 2%, only a few banks have followed suit, according to Daily News Egypt. The National Bank of Egypt (NBE) and Banque Misr were the first to increase their interest rates, followed by some private banks. As a result, the interest rates on variable-return certificates and some loan products that are linked to CBE’s basic interest rates automatically rose by 2%. Banque du CaireBanque du Caire decided to raise the return on the “Mega Savings” savings account to 25%. The monthly return is 21%, the quarterly return is 22%, the semi-annual is 23%, and the annual return is 25%.

The 13th edition of Luxor African Film Festival kicked off on February 9. This edition witnessed a heartfelt tribute to a master storyteller who is Khairy Beshara. The veteran Egyptian director was honored in appreciation of his massive contributions to Egyptian and Arab cinema. The 13th edition of the festival also honored Egyptian star Hassan El Raddad.

Egypt’s Minister of Trade and Industry Ahmed Samir met with his Bulgarian counterpart Bogdan Bogdanov and his delegation to discuss ways to enhance trade and industry cooperation and attract Bulgarian investments to the Egyptian market. Samir said that there are great opportunities for Bulgarian companies in areas of strategic importance to both countries, such as automotive components, artificial intelligence, tourism, petrochemicals, and pharmaceuticals. The minister emphasized the need to form a joint Egyptian-Bulgarian Business Council to advance and develop investment cooperation and increase the volume of economic cooperation. Samir also said that the Egyptian government is keen to strengthen bilateral relations with Bulgaria, which is one of Egypt’s most important economic partners in the European Union. Bogdanov, the Bulgarian Minister of Economy and Industry, expressed his country’s interest in strengthening ties and cooperation with Egypt, which is one of the pivotal countries in the Middle East and Africa region.

CAIRO - 10 February 2024: US news website Axios reported that President Joe Biden is sending Central Intelligence Agency Director Bill Burns to Egypt on Tuesday to discuss a new deal to secure the release of the remaining Israeli hostages in Gaza. Egypt received last week a response from Hamas to a proposal for a long-term ceasefire and prisoners swap's deal, which Egypt has seen as "positive," while Israel rejected it. Negotiations between Israel and Hamas are still underway, with Egypt and Qatar mediating. Last month, the death toll recorded more than 23 thousand Palestinians were killed since the beginning of the Israeli aggression on Gaza Strip in October. Burns visited Europe in late January for talks with representatives of Israel, Qatar and Egypt.

The current actions of the United States in the Middle East can be characterized as a series of missteps. Over the past 70 years, American administrations, instead of adopting clear political approaches, often resorted to a form of bullying. Hatem SadiqIsrael, perceiving the unprecedented American support as an opportunity, swiftly sought to eliminate its arch-enemy, Hezbollah, or at least limit Hassan Nasrallah’s forces indefinitely. The situation, therefore, underscores the need for a nuanced understanding of the complex dynamics in the Middle East. The historical missteps of American administrations, including supporting political and military Islamist movements, have eroded confidence in their efficacy in the Middle East.

CAIRO - 10 February 2024: The deaths among Palestinians since the beginning of the Israeli aggression on Gaza Strip rose to 27,708 martyrs, and leaving a total of 67,147 injuries, announced the Palestinian Ministry of Health. Later, Raed Al-Nims, the media officer for the Palestinian Red Crescent, said that 60 new medical centers were out of service as a result of the Israeli aggression, the targeting of medical buildings in the strip, as well as the direct bombing of ambulances and medical teams. Al-Nims added, during a telephone interview with Al-Qahera TV News channel, that the multiple waves of displacement in the Gaza Strip are further deteriorating the humanitarian conditions in Gaza, and that the spread of epidemics and infectious diseases has become a real danger threatening children and all displaced people in the Gaza Strip, especially with the lack of medical supplies and clean water. The Palestinian Red Crescent media official confirmed that epidemics had spread in the strip due to the overcrowding of displaced people in one area, and the decomposition of a number of bodies buried under the rubble.

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry defended the fairness of the February 8th general elections, expressing surprise at the “negative tone” of some international statements regarding the polls. Independent Candidates Aligned with Khan Triumph:Independent candidates affiliated with former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), emerged as the biggest surprise, winning the most National Assembly seats with 98 (22 still unclaimed). This defied pre-election expectations favoring the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN) party, which currently holds 69 seats. The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) follows with 51 seats. This leaves the selection of the next prime minister open to negotiation and coalition-building among the various parties.

However, from the escalating conflict in neighbouring countries to economic pressures and strategic threats, Egypt finds itself navigating a complex geopolitical landscape. These groups pose a potential and continuous threat to Egyptian security, requiring constant vigilance and strategic preparedness from Egypt’s side. Ethiopia: Water, Water, WaterEgypt’s challenges extend beyond its immediate vicinity, with external factors also presenting significant threats. This situation is a critical issue for Egypt, as it has significant implications for its security and economic interests. In fact, one could argue that the challenges Egypt faces are unprecedented, even when considering occupation times.

(Reuters) - Bayern Munich still have room for improvement and must up their game on Saturday at unbeaten league leaders Bayer Leverkusen, who have been playing close to their performance limit, said Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel on Friday. Champions Bayern, chasing a 12th consecutive league title, are in second place in the Bundesliga, two points behind Leverkusen, who are undefeated in all competitions this season for a 30-game unbeaten run. Bayern, who are on 50 points, 10 ahead of third-placed VfB Stuttgart, have lost twice in the league this season. Next week Bayern travel to Italy's Lazio for their Champions League round of 16 first leg. We have almost as many points but they are very close to their performance limit.

CAIRO – 9 February 2024: Foreign Ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE, Qatar, and Jordan, besides Secretary General of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization Hussein Al Sheikh, met in Riyadh to discuss the developments of the genocidal Israeli war on the Gaza Strip. The meeting affirmed that putting an end to the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip is a must, saying it is quite important to take irreversible steps to implement the two-state solution and recognize the State of Palestine on the lines of June 4, 1967, reported the Saudi News Agency (SPA). The Ministers stressed that the Gaza Strip is an integral part of the occupied Palestinian territory, and expressed their categorical rejection of all forced displacement. Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah called for an immediate and complete ceasefire, ensuring the protection of civilians under international humanitarian law, and lifting all restrictions that impede the entry of humanitarian aid into the Strip, SPA added. The Ministers voiced their support for The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), and urged all its supporters to play their role in supporting humanitarian missions for Palestinian refugees.

File- Humanitarian aid reached the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing in cooperation with the Red Crescent. CAIRO – 9 February 2024: Egypt rejects politicizing the file of humanitarian aid in the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip and also rejects using of the humanitarian situation as a tool of war, said Egypt’s Presidential Spokesman Ahmed Fahmy said in comments to Al Qahera News on Friday. He added that since the outbreak of the crisis in Gaza, Egypt has been conducting intensive contacts with all parties to exercise restraint, prevent escalation. The Presidential Spokesman continued that Egypt’s role was very clear in opening the Rafah border crossing around the clock. Fahmy’s comments came in response to US President Biden’s claims that Egypt refuses to open the Rafah border crossing.

Egypt Leading Gaza Humanitarian Efforts:The statement underlined Egypt’s unwavering commitment to providing humanitarian assistance to Gaza. Egypt’s Leadership in Humanitarian Response:The Presidency underscored Egypt’s leadership role in mobilizing and delivering aid, driven by a deep sense of humanitarian responsibility towards the Palestinian people. Ensuring 80% of aid reaching the Gaza Strip originates from Egypt, both through government and civil society initiatives. Call for Gaza Ceasefire, Two-State Solution:The statement reiterated Egypt’s unwavering commitment to achieving a swift ceasefire in Gaza to protect civilians facing immense hardships. It emphasized continued leadership in organizing and mobilizing humanitarian aid, urging all parties to collaborate and facilitate its delivery.