Belal Nawar

Ahmed Aboul-Gheit, Secretary-General of the Arab League, has voiced his support for South Africa’s lawsuit against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Wednesday 10 January. The lawsuit, which accuses Israel of committing genocide and violating the 1948 Genocide Convention, is set to commence its hearings on Thursday, January 11, at The Hague. Aboul-Gheit expressed gratitude to South Africa for taking a stand against injustice and focusing on the Palestinian cause. He affirmed the Arab League’s full support for South Africa’s efforts through all available means. However, he mentioned that the League, as an organization, is not authorized to join the call. At the same time, the South African government has urged Arab countries to refrain from formally joining its lawsuit against Israel. The government cited time constraints as the reason behind this request, explaining that it aims to proceed with the lawsuit independently. The court session is scheduled for Friday, with the preliminary session beginning on 11 January. The South African government expressed concern that additional complaints at this crucial time could potentially lead to a postponement of the session. Therefore, it has emphasized the importance of…

January 11, 2024 Photo Source: ABC News JPMorgan, a major financial institution, has recently announced its decision to remove Egypt from its emerging market government bonds index.

Thousands of people took to the streets of London on Saturday 13 January as part of a global day of action to show solidarity with Palestine and demand a ceasefire in Gaza. The march, organized by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, saw impassioned demonstrators gathering on Queen Victoria Street before making their way towards Parliament Square

In a meeting between Egypt's Minister of Finance, Mohamed Maait, and Hong Kong's Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Christopher Hui, on Sunday, 28 January, it was revealed that Egypt and Hong Kong discussed the issuance of bonds in Egypt's local currency and the signing of an agreement to prevent double taxation. During their

Dollar revenues from Egypt's Suez Canal have experienced a significant decline of 40 percent compared to the same period in 2023, according to statements made by canal authority head Osama Rabie during a telephone interview with journalist Khaled Abu Bakr. The decrease in revenue is attributed to attacks on ships by Yemen's Houthis, leading major

Spain has announced its decision to provide an additional EUR 3.5 million in aid to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). Portugal, in addition to Spain, has also pledged EUR 1 million in aid to the agency, The move comes as major donors, including the United States and Germany, suspended funding due to allegations of employee involvement with Hamas. Spain’s Foreign Minister, Jose Manuel Albares, emphasized the desperate situation faced by UNRWA, warning that its humanitarian activities in Gaza could be paralyzed within weeks. The funding crisis facing UNRWA has raised alarm bells among European leaders and humanitarian organizations. European leaders, including the EU’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, have expressed concerns about the dangers of cutting off funding to UNRWA, emphasizing that defunding the agency would be disproportionate and hazardous. Israel’s allegations that some UNRWA employees, including teachers, have ties to Hamas. However, the Palestinians and UNRWA have accused Israel of falsifying information to undermine the agency’s credibility. UNRWA has taken the allegations seriously, investigating the claims, and has also terminated some staff members. Germany has demanded that UNRWA conclude its internal investigation into…

Saudi Egyptian Developers unveiled on Monday, 19 February the second phase of the Arabesque project, located near the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in the Sour Magra El-Oyoun area. The CEO of Saudi Egyptian Developers, Mohamed Al-Taher, announced that the first phase of the project sold out within two days, and the second phase comprised 340 housing units spread across 13 buildings. These buildings feature a classical style with arabesque art combined with modern elements. With a total of 79 buildings and 1,924 residential units of varying sizes, the project also includes commercial units, as well as a range of amenities and facilities to cater to residents’ needs. These include restaurants, cafes, cinemas, a theater, and a shopping mall. The Arabesque project, owned by the New Urban Communities Authority (NUCA), combines traditional arabesque designs with contemporary touches to create a visually captivating environment. The NUCA has entrusted Saudi Egyptian Developers with the marketing, selling, and customer service operations for the Arabesque project. This venture marks the establishment of the first integrated gated urban community in the Majar al-Oyoun area, situated in the historic area of Old Cairo….

Egypt’s tourism sector in 2024 has seen a notable 6 percent year-on-year increase in tourist arrivals during the first 50 days of the year, according to Ahmed Issa, the Minister of Tourism and Antiquities. Issa shared these statistics and outlined the country’s ambitious goals at the 71st edition of the Africa Regional Conference and Exhibition of the Airports Council International on Monday 26 February in Cairo. The Minister outlined that “Egypt aims to elevate its share of global tourism from 1.6 percent to 1.7 percent by 2028, positioning itself as a premier tourist destination on the global stage. The country is also targeting an annual growth rate of 25 percent to 30 percent in inbound tourism, demonstrating its commitment to sustainable growth.” To achieve these goals, Issa emphasized the need for a three-fold increase in airline seats compared to 2021. He also acknowledged the substantial contribution of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Egyptian airports, which implemented an open skies policy. This policy enables major foreign tourism companies to operate cost-effective flights to Cairo through Sphinx Airport, while also enhancing the overall tourist experience. Egypt has already made significant progress…

During a joint press conference with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte in Cairo on Wednesday 13 March, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi condemned Israel’s actions towards civilians in the Gaza Strip, labeling them as ‘grave violations of international law and humanitarian principles.’ Al-Sisi also emphasized the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire and an end to Israel’s hostile actions. The Egyptian President called upon Dutch Prime Minister Rutte to exert efforts in resolving the crisis, highlighting the fundamental conditions for ending the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and de-escalating tensions in the region. He also criticized the decision of some countries to suspend their contributions to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), stating that the decision contradicts humanitarian norms and values. Furthermore, Al-Sisi condemned Israeli policies in the West Bank, which obstruct the lives of Palestinians through settler violence, demolitions, evictions, military incursions, land confiscation, and settlement activities. Prime Minister Rutte expressed his frustration regarding the absence of a political solution to the ongoing war on Palestinie and emphasized the necessity of establishing an independent Palestinian state living alongside Israel. Rutte disclosed that he had engaged…

(FIFA) has announced on Monday, 18 March that Egypt will be the host country for the FIFA Series, a thrilling friendly tournament taking place from 22 to 26 March. This pilot phase of the event, which has been expanded to include additional teams, will showcase the talents of Egypt, New Zealand, Croatia, and Tunisia on the grounds of Cairo’s New Administrative Capital (NAC). The tournament’s opening game will be between Egypt and New Zealand, set to take place on Friday 22 March. The FIFA Series offers a unique opportunity for teams to test their skills against unfamiliar opponents. This match will also mark the inauguration of the “Egypt Stadium”, a remarkable new venue with a seating capacity of 92,000 situated in NAC. This Stadium stands as the second-largest stadium in Africa, just behind South Africa’s iconic 94,000-seater Soccer City. The FIFA Series focuses mainly on providing national teams with invaluable opportunities to compete against teams from different confederations. It has also taken the initiative to cover the travel costs of the participating teams. Alongside Egypt, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Saudi Arabia (twice), and Sri Lanka have also been selected as hosts for the…