Amidst the ongoing COP28 discussions on climate action, Mindsalike Media Brunch, in partnership with Vantage Communications, hosted a pivotal event last Sunday, December 17th, at Founders Spaces. The gathering shone a spotlight on Egyptian startups leading the charge in sustainability and environmental advancements in the region. Karm Solar, Egypt’s largest private solar utility company, showcased its commitment to providing innovative solar solutions for on-grid and off-grid applications. Geocycle, a global leader in sustainable waste management, highlighted its mission to minimize landfill and incineration. The Mindsalike Media Brunch served as a platform for knowledge-sharing, networking, and fostering collaboration among stakeholders dedicated to a greener future.

(Reuters) - FIFA provided $2.79 billion to its member associations and confederations for investment in soccer development over the first two cycles of its Forward Development Programme, the world governing body said in a report on Friday. Two iterations of the programme - a three-year and four-year cycle - have been completed since it was launched in May 2016, with FIFA committing money to a diverse array of local projects. "With the third cycle of the FIFA Forward Development Programme now underway, we have the perfect opportunity to reflect on the programme's achievements since its launch in 2016," FIFA President Gianni Infantino said. In the period up to and including 2022, around 80% of the funds - $2.24 billion - went to FIFA's 211 member associations, with the remainder going to the confederations and regional associations, the report said. FIFA said member association will receive up to $8 million to support their development activities during the third edition of the programme, which began its four-year cycle in January.

In a Moscow arena where sparks fly as readily as sporting passion, sixteen teams from Russia, India, China, and Turkey battled it out in the international “Battle of the Robots” engineering championship, TV BRICS reported. These fierce robot wars weren’t just a thrilling spectacle – they served as a high-octane rehearsal for the upcoming “Games of the Future,” a large-scale event showcasing cutting-edge engineering and technological innovation. Metal clashed, whirring motors sang their mechanical battle hymns, and the audience roared with every strategic maneuver and stunning upset. “Robot Battle is not only an interesting show,” declared Valery Falkov, Russia’s Minister of Education and Science, “it is advanced engineering development.”So, buckle up. The future of robotics is here, and it’s packing a punch.

The Chairman of the Supreme Committee to Combat Coronavirus, Hossam Hosny, revealed several important methods to avoid contracting the newest variant of the coronavirus, dubbed “JN.1”:Obtaining booster dose vaccination for the groups most affected by the infection. Maintaining good ventilation and wearing masks in crowded, poorly ventilated places. Make sure to undergo testing if any symptoms appear, or if you are in contact with a person infected with coronavirus or influenza. Ensure respiratory etiquette, for example covering your mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing. What you need to know about the latest strain:Egypt’s Ministry of Health and Population issued a statement on Monday assuring that it was following up on reports received from the World Health Organization, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and global health authorities regarding the discovery of a sub-strain of the Omicron variant dubbed “JN.1”The statement included some details related to the new Omicron variant:

Two Egyptian restaurants have been selected among the list of the 18 best restaurants in the world for 2023, according to TripAdvisor. The awards also include two brand new menus for 2023, honoring the best restaurants for families and vegetarians. The Sachi Heliopolis Restaurant in Cairo came in tenth, while ninth place went to PIC Valencia Restaurant in France. In eighth place came the Paul Ainsworth Restaurant, Padstow, United Kingdom, while the Akira Back Restaurant in Bangkok, Thailand came in seventh, and the Avartana Restaurant – Chennai (Madras), India came sixth. And first place went to the Bougainville Restaurant in Amsterdam.

Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly attended on Wednesday 20/12/2023 the inking ceremony of a framework agreement to upgrade the green hydrogen project at the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone). The deal was sealed among the Sovereign Fund of Egypt, the SCZone, the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company, the New and Renewable Energy Authority, Saudi developer company ACWA Power. The agreement was signed in the presence of Electricity Minister Mohamed Shaker, who stated that a plan of action will be outlined for the first phase, which should produce 600,000 tons of green ammonia annually at a total cost exceeding four billion dollars.

Candidate Farid Zahran won third place in the 2024 presidential elections with a total number of 1,776,952 votes, or 4% of total valid votes. Candidate Abdul-Sanad Yamama got the fourth place with a total number of votes of 822,606 votes, or 1.9% of total valid votes, according to the National Elections Authority. Ahmed Bandari, Director of the Executive Body of Egypt’s NEA said in his speech that 2024 Egypt's elections was a 'great example' of elections that showed political and constitutional awareness,He added that the world witnessed unprecedented voting rates in Egypt's 2024 presidential elections. The 2024 presidential election is the fifth multi-party presidential elections that the country has witnessed in its modern history. The 2024 elections gain their importance from being a major step in the country’s path towards democratic transformation, party pluralism and political competitiveness.

The World Bank said it would provide 100 million U.S. dollars in additional financing to help more than 200,000 Somali households benefit from cash transfers to help them cope with flooding and food insecurity. The World Bank said the program would further reinforce the linkages between the social protection program, available health and nutrition services, and the labour market. Ali Nadeem Qureshi, World Bank senior social protection specialist, said the long drought and recent floods have hit Somalia hard. Qureshi stressed that the World Bank is committed to helping the government respond to the immediate needs of the people while strengthening the national adaptive social protection system. An estimated 8.25 million people — half of the population — in Somalia presently require humanitarian assistance after having been affected mainly by drought and floods, the World Bank said.

Amidst escalating climate concerns, a powerful yet underutilized resource sits poised to accelerate the global transition to net zero: the Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM). Concerns about the quality and effectiveness of carbon credits, coupled with the market’s ever-evolving complexity and a lack of clear economic incentives, can deter potential participants. Companies must integrate carbon credits seamlessly into their overall decarbonization programs, ensuring they complement, not replace, direct emissions reduction efforts. Orchestrate the effort: Successful VCM engagement requires internal commitment. “Wider adoption can unlock billions for critical climate initiatives like protecting vital ecosystems and developing cutting-edge carbon removal technologies.

CAIRO - 21 December 2023: Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly held a meeting Wednesday to review a proposal submitted by a Chinese company to utilize the water left over from seawater desalination projects to extract minerals. At the beginning of the meeting, the Prime Minister welcomed the offer submitted by the Chinese company regarding the benefiting from the water left over from seawater desalination operations through a specific technique for extracting minerals and separating them. This comes in light of the expansion of seawater desalination projects during the current stage. The meeting witnessed a review of a number of available seawater desalination plants that can be used to implement this project. In this regard, the components of these plants, the quantities of residual water expected from seawater desalination, the aspects of benefiting from the quantities of water resulting from desalination, and the expected economic returns were explained.

CAIRO – 21 December 2023: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un sent a congratulatory message to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi for winning the presidential election, reported the Egyptian state’s news agency MENA. "I extend my congratulations to you on your re-election as President of the Arab Republic of Egypt,” the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) quoted the North Korean leader as saying. World leaders have congratulated the Egyptian president on winning the elections last week. Sisi, president since 2014, was re-elected for a third six-year-term until 2030. Sisi won the elections with 39.702.541 votes or 89.6% of total valid votes, according to the National Elections Authority.

Despite macroeconomic headwinds, import restrictions, and volatile currencies, Africa’s smartphone market surged 12% year-on-year in Q3 2023, reaching 17.9 million units shipped. TRANSSION maintained its leading position with a 48% market share, fueled by a 9% annual growth and strategic expansion in emerging markets, particularly through its focus on sub-$100 devices. Similarly, Egypt witnessed a robust 19% growth after overcoming challenges posed by strict import restrictions in the previous year. A cautious outlook, but long-term optimismWhile Q3 2023 witnessed strong growth, Canalys expects a muted single-digit expansion in 2024. Looking ahead, 2G connectivity is expected to plateau, while 4G and 5G see robust growth.

The European Union (EU) is in talks with the Egyptian government and relevant authorities to provide a new funding package that includes loans, grants, and credits to address the economic challenges caused by the conflict in Gaza and other geopolitical issues, according to the Head of the European Union Delegation to Egypt, Ambassador Christian Berger. Berger revealed that Egypt’s agri-food exports to Europe increased by 50% during the current year compared to last year. Regarding the progress of the electric interconnection line between Egypt and Europe, Berger said that the interconnection project was granted the status of a “project of common interest” last October. The Ambassador highlighted the current joint presidency of Egypt and the European Union of the Global Counter-Terrorism Forum (2023-2025). Berger pointed out that the EU has announced cooperation with Egypt in the fields of defense and security, such as the Counter-Terrorism Forum, which Egypt took over from Morocco this year.

The death toll from the Israeli aggression in Gaza has risen to 19,667, while the number of injured has reached 52,586, according to the latest figures from the Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip. The Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip urged human rights organizations to launch an urgent investigation into the massacre committed by occupation soldiers at Kamal Adwan Hospital in the northern Gaza Strip. Moreover, the Palestinian Red Crescent said that the Israeli occupation forces had surrounded its ambulance centre in Jabalia, with 127 people inside, including paramedics and displaced people. Also on Wednesday, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said that children in the Gaza Strip did not receive 90% of their natural water needs. In the meantime, the Israeli army admitted that 29 soldiers had been wounded in the battles in the Gaza Strip in the past 24 hours, after announcing the death of two officers in the south of the Gaza Strip.

Ismail Haniyeh arrived in Cairo on Wednesday for talks on a ceasefire with IsraelThe leader of Hamas visited Egypt on Wednesday as hopes grew that Israel and the Palestinian Hamas group may be inching toward another truce and hostage release deal in the Gaza war. The Qatar-based Hamas chief, Ismail Haniyeh, arrived in Cairo for discussions on the "aggression in the Gaza Strip and other matters", the group said in a statement. Vowing to destroy Hamas, Israel began a campaign of bombardment, and then a ground invasion, that Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry says have killed 19,667 people, mostly women and children. The United States, while strongly backing Israel, has also urged it to protect civilians in Gaza. The United States announced a new multinational naval task force on Monday to protect the waterway, through which more than 10 percent of global trade transits.