TIG Post

Tag: Egypt

  • US, Israel oppose UN-endorsed Arab intentions to rebuild Gaza

    US, Israel oppose UN-endorsed Arab intentions to rebuild Gaza

    The Arab League has officially endorsed a plan, led by Egypt in coordination with Palestine, to rebuild Gaza. This initiative establishes a structured framework for reconstruction while firmly opposing any forced displacement of Palestinians.

    Highlighting the plan’s importance, Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit stated “Presenting a clear, practical and realistic alternative for the proposal of displacing Palestinians, which is a plan prepared by Egypt in cooperation with Palestine and it became, after its approval by the summit minutes ago, an Arab plan that is completely approved by all Arab countries, societies and nation.”

    The initiative focuses on clearing debris, restoring vital infrastructure, and securing global financial backing through a World Bank-managed trust fund. Additionally, it envisions long-term urban expansion, incorporating eco-friendly housing, industrial hubs, and major transportation projects such as a commercial port and an airport.

    Beyond physical restoration, the plan lays out a political and security strategy for Gaza’s future. Aboul Gheit emphasized that this is not just a technical project but a comprehensive framework that reinforces Gaza’s legal status as part of a future Palestinian state alongside the West Bank.

    To rally international support, Egypt will convene a global conference in partnership with the United Nations.

    At the same time, the Arab League has urged the UN Security Council to authorize a peacekeeping mission in Gaza and the West Bank to ensure regional stability.

  • Shooting near border of Rafah kills an Egyptian guard

    Shooting near border of Rafah kills an Egyptian guard

    An Egypt security officer has been shot and killed near the Rafah border crossing. The military is now investigating the incident.

    Israel’s army is looking into reports of the gunfire between Israeli and Egyptian soldiers.

    “A shooting happened on the Egyptian border a few hours ago on Monday. ” The situation is being looked into and talks are happening with the Egyptians, the Israeli military said in a statement.

    Israel took over the Rafah border crossing from Gaza recently while they were fighting in the area. Egypt didn’t like this and said it was wrong.

    Egypt is afraid that the people in southern Gaza might have to leave because of the attack. They also say that Israel is not letting enough aid get to Gaza, but Israel says this is not true.

    Egypt and Israel agreed to stop fighting in 1979 and started working together to keep their borders safe. They especially focus on the areas between Israel, Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, and the Gaza Strip. They together stopped things from going in or out of Gaza after Hamas took over in 2007.

    There have been very few times when there were problems with safety between the two countries.

    In October 2023, two weeks after the war in Gaza began, Israel said one of its tanks accidentally hit an Egyptian position near the Gaza border. Egypt said that some Egyptian border guards got hurt, but not badly.

    In June 2023, three soldiers from Israel and one security officer from Egypt were killed in a fight at the border.

  • Car rolls off ferry and into Nile River killing at least six Egyptian women

    Car rolls off ferry and into Nile River killing at least six Egyptian women

    Six women from Egypt died on Tuesday when a car carrying around 24 people fell off a ferry into the Nile River near Cairo.

    The crash in Monshat el-Kanater town in Giza province hurt nine passengers, the Health Ministry announced. Giza is one of three areas that make up the larger city of Cairo.

    The government said six people with injuries were helped at the scene and three were taken to hospitals. It didn’t explain their injuries.

    Giza’s governor, Ahmed Rashed, said that they found the microbus in the Nile and they are still trying to rescue people as of Tuesday afternoon.

    It wasn’t clear why the accident happened right away.

    According to the Akhbar newspaper, around 24 people, mostly women, were in the car going to work when the accident happened.

    Ferry, train, and car crashes happen a lot in Egypt because things aren’t taken care of well and there aren’t many rules. In February, a boat with workers sank in the Nile in Giza, and at least 10 out of the 15 people on it died.

  • Canadian-Israeli man shot dead in Egypt

    Canadian-Israeli man shot dead in Egypt

    An Israeli man with Canadian citizenship was killed in a shooting in Alexandria, Egypt. Investigators believe it was a criminal act. But a new militant group says they did it because of the fighting in Gaza.

    An Egyptian security source told Reuters that a man was killed because someone wanted to steal from him. The source did not connect the shooting to the victim’s ethnicity.

    The Canadian government said that the man who was shot was a resident of Egypt. The ministry and the source did not give any more information.

    A new group called “Vanguards of Liberation” said they did the attack in response to Israel’s military actions in Gaza and its plan to take over the Rafah crossing on Egypt’s border with Gaza. It said that the victim, Ziv Kipper, was accused of working for Israeli intelligence.

    The claim said that the group responsible for the killing was named after a policeman named Mohamed Salah Ibrahim, who shot three Israeli soldiers before being killed near Egypt’s border with Israel in June 2023, according to a statement from SITE Intelligence group.

    The group shared a picture claiming to be of Kipper being shot in his car.

    Egyptian security sources said they do not know about the group or if it was involved in the incident.

    The Canadian embassy in Cairo did not answer requests for comments right away.

    A person from the Israeli Foreign Ministry said the person who died was both Canadian and Israeli. The Israeli embassy in Cairo is talking to Egyptian officials who are looking into what happened.

    The shooting happened on Tuesday when Israeli forces took control of the main border crossing between Gaza and Egypt in Rafah. Over 1 million displaced Palestinians have sought shelter in Rafah during Israel’s seven-month offensive.

    Last October, during the war in Gaza, a group of Hamas militants attacked southern Israel. Shortly after, two Israeli tourists and their Egyptian guide were shot and killed in Alexandria. This was the first attack on Israelis in Egypt in a long time.

    A policeman who admitted he couldn’t control himself was taken to jail for what happened.

  • Delegation from Hamas on its way to Egypt to carry on with cease-fire talks

    Delegation from Hamas on its way to Egypt to carry on with cease-fire talks

    Hamas is sending some people to Egypt to talk about stopping the fighting in Gaza. This is good news because it shows that different countries are working together to find a way to make peace between Israel and Hamas.

    After many months of starting and stopping talks, it seems like the ceasefire efforts are at a very important point. Egyptian and American mediators say there are signs that both sides are starting to agree in the last few days. But it is not yet clear if Israel will agree to end the fighting without achieving its goal of destroying Hamas.

    The new UN report shows that if the Israel-Hamas war ends now, it will take until 2040 to rebuild all the homes destroyed in Gaza by Israeli attacks. It said that the damage to the economy will make it hard for the country to grow for a long time, and it will get even worse if the fighting keeps going on.

    The US and Egyptian mediators have suggested a plan to Hamas, which Israel seems to agree with. The plan has three steps: first, a six-week ceasefire and the release of some Israeli hostages. Then, negotiations for a long-term peace agreement, which might involve Israel pulling out of Gaza. An Egyptian official shared this information. Hamas wants to make sure that Israel will completely pull out of their territory and that the war will stop completely.

    Hamas leaders have been giving different messages about the plan in the last few days. However, on Thursday, the top leader of the group, Ismail Haniyeh, said in a statement that he talked to Egypt’s intelligence chief and emphasized that they are looking at the ceasefire proposal in a positive way.

    Hamas is going to Cairo to finish talking about making a deal. Haniyeh also spoke to the prime minister of Qatar.

    The brokers are optimistic that the agreement will stop a conflict that has hurt many Palestinians, destroyed a lot, and caused big problems for people in the area. They also hope that an agreement will stop Israel from attacking Rafah, where more than half of Gaza’s 2.3 million people have taken refuge after leaving other areas where there is fighting.

    If Israel decides to stop fighting in exchange for all the hostages being released, it would be a big change. After Hamas attacked Israel on Oct 7, Israel’s leaders said they will keep attacking and sending troops until they get rid of the militant group. They also say that Israel needs to have soldiers in Gaza and control security after the war to make sure that Hamas doesn’t build again.

    In public, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu keeps saying that this is the only way things should end.

    He promised that even if there is a pause in fighting, Israel will still attack Rafah, which he believes is the last place where Hamas is strong in Gaza. He said again that he is determined to do it during his talks on Wednesday with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Blinken was in Israel to try to make the deal happen.

    The fate of the agreement depends on whether Hamas will agree to wait and see what happens after the initial six-week break in fighting. This would at least delay a feared attack on Rafah.

    Egypt has been telling Hamas privately that the agreement will bring a complete end to the war. The Egyptian official said that Hamas thinks the text is not clear enough and wants it to say that Israel must completely leave all of Gaza. The official talked about the discussions happening inside, but didn’t want to give their name.

    Wednesday evening, the news didn’t seem as good. A leader of Hamas, Osama Hamdan, said he wasn’t sure. He told Hezbollah’s Al-Manar TV that they are still talking, but will stop if Israel invades Rafah.

    Blinken pushed Hamas to agree and said Israel had made big concessions.

    “We can’t argue or negotiate any more. Time is running out. ” “The agreement is in place,” Blinken said on Wednesday before he left for the US.

    An Israeli attack from the air killed at least five people, including a child, in Deir al-Balah in central Gaza. The Associated Press journalists saw and counted the bodies at a hospital.

    The war started on October 7th. Hamas fighters attacked southern Israel, killing more than 1,200 people, mostly Israelis, and took about 250 others as hostages. Some were released during a ceasefire in November.

    The Israel-Hamas war started when militants attacked southern Israel on Oct 7, killing about 1,200 civilians and taking about 250 people hostage. Hamas still has about 100 people as hostages and the bodies of more than 30 others.

    Israel’s attack in Gaza caused a lot of damage and a humanitarian crisis. Thousands of Palestinians in northern Gaza are at risk of not having enough food to eat, as reported by the UN. Over 80% of people have been forced to leave their houses.

    The report says that the economy is in bad shape and many Palestinians are becoming poor.

    It was reported that by 2024, the economy of Palestine, which includes Gaza and the West Bank, has decreased by 25. 8% If the war keeps going, the loss will be a very high 29 percent by July, it said. Israel’s decision to revoke work permits for the West Bank has negatively affected the economy there.

  • Nigeria’s top bank initiates $1.8 billion fundraising drive to fuel expansion efforts

    Nigeria’s top bank initiates $1.8 billion fundraising drive to fuel expansion efforts

    Access Holdings Plc, the parent company of Nigeria’s largest bank by assets, intends to raise approximately $1.8 billion to fuel its expansion plans over the next four years, aiming to establish itself as one of Africa’s premier financial institutions.

    The ambitious fundraising initiative involves raising $1.5 billion or its naira equivalent through the issuance of shares, bonds, or other financial instruments to support a growth strategy spanning five years, initiated last year.

    Additionally, Access plans to generate up to 365 billion naira ($257 million) by offering shares to existing investors.

    “What we are going into the market right now is for a rights issue,” Bolaji Agbede, acting group chief executive officer, said on the call.

    The acting group CEO, Bolaji Agbede, emphasized that the current market activity pertains to a rights issue during an investor conference call held in Lagos, Nigeria’s economic hub.

    Access Bank aims to venture into new territories such as Morocco, Egypt, and the United States, aiming to double its assets’ share beyond its domestic market by 2027 and secure a position among Africa’s top five banks. Presently, the bank operates across 22 countries, including the United Arab Emirates and the UK.

    Agbede assumed the role of acting group CEO following the recent passing of co-founder and former CEO, Herbert Wigwe.

    In a recent development, Access announced the acquisition of National Bank of Kenya Ltd. from KCB Group Plc, enhancing its presence in East Africa’s largest economy.

    Roosevelt Ogbonna, CEO of Access Bank Plc, emphasized the importance of establishing an optimal capital structure to support the organization’s strategic objectives over the next five years, focusing on swift execution.

    This capital mobilization initiative aligns with a directive from the Central Bank of Nigeria, urging domestic banks to bolster their capital reserves to withstand potential risks arising from the naira’s significant depreciation, which has plummeted by 70% over the past year.

    Ogbonna highlighted that the additional capital infusion will empower banks to pursue significant initiatives, while also mitigating and managing associated risks effectively.

  • Air pollution crisis grips Nigeria, South Africa, and Egypt through power sector

    Air pollution crisis grips Nigeria, South Africa, and Egypt through power sector

    According to a recent report by environmental NGO Greenpeace, Nigeria, South Africa, and Egypt are experiencing the highest levels of air pollution in Africa.

    These countries have also recorded a significant number of the continent’s nearly one million annual air pollution-related deaths.

    The report highlights that exposure to air pollution is the second leading risk factor for death in Africa.

    South Africa, in particular, has been identified as a major air polluter on the continent, with high associated health risks.

    The country is home to two of the world’s largest and six of Africa’s biggest nitrogen dioxide emission hotspots.

    Of particular concern are the thermal power stations in South Africa, operated by state power provider Eskom, which are among the world’s 10 largest sulphur dioxide emission points.

    This contributes significantly to the country’s air pollution levels.

    “The pollution from coal plants like those operated by Sasol in our region has not only tarnished our health, leading to failed health assessments and chronic diseases… but it has also clouded our future, leaving us jobless as companies opt to hire from outside, citing our unfitness for work, ” Fana Sibanyoni, an activist from the coal-rich Mpumalanga province.

    The region’s multiple coal mines and coal-fired power stations have been linked to extreme air pollution levels.

  • European Union declares aid package worth US$8 billion for Egypt

    European Union declares aid package worth US$8 billion for Egypt

    The European Union has stated its intention to offer Egypt 7.4 billion euros to help with its money problems. They are worried that problems in nearby countries could cause more people to come to Europe, so they want to help Egypt to prevent this.

    The agreement was signed on Sunday in Cairo by the Egyptian President and the President of the European Commission. People were not happy about it because of Egypt’s human rights record. Leaders from Belgium, Italy, Austria, Cyprus, and Greece came to the ceremony.

    “Your visit today was a very important step in the relationship between Egypt and the European Union,” el-Sissi told European leaders who came to visit. He said the deal has changed our partnership a lot.

    The aid package will give money to the most populous country in the Arab world for the next three years. It includes both gifts and money that will need to be paid back. This information comes from the EU’s mission in Cairo. Most of the money, which is about five billion euros (US$5. 4 billion), is financial help for the country, says a document from the EU mission in Egypt.

    The mission said that both sides have increased their cooperation to the level of a “strategic and comprehensive partnership,” which will lead to more collaboration between Egypt and the EU in different economic and non-economic areas.

    “The European Union agrees that Egypt is a good partner and plays an important role in keeping the peace and security in the Mediterranean, Near East, and African region,” a statement said after the meeting.

    Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni praised the deal as “very important” because Italy was a big part of making it happen.

    “This initiative demonstrates our desire to improve and support a new way for both sides of the Mediterranean to work together,” she said at the meeting between Egypt and the European Union in Cairo.

    The Joint Declaration, also known as the deal, wants to encourage democracy, freedom, human rights, and equality between men and women. This is what the European Commission says. Both sides will work together more to deal with problems involving migration and terrorism.

    The EU will help Egypt’s government make its borders stronger, especially with Libya. Many people from Africa and the Middle East come to Libya and then try to cross into Egypt because they are running away from poverty and war. The 27 countries will help the government host Sudanese people who have run away from a year of fighting between rival generals in their country. Egypt has welcomed over 460,000 people from Sudan since April of last year.

    The agreement is happening because people are worried that Israel might attack Gaza’s town called Rafah. This could make a lot of people move to Egypt. The war between Israel and Hamas has been going on for six months and has led to over one million people seeking refuge in Rafah.

    Egypt has nine million people from other countries living there. About 480,000 of them have officially asked for protection as refugees or asylum-seekers. Many of those people who moved to a new place have started their own businesses, and some work in the informal economy as street vendors or house cleaners.

    For many years, Egypt has been a safe place for people from sub-Saharan Africa who are running away from war or being poor. Egypt is a popular place for some people because it’s the closest and easiest country for them to get to. For some people, it’s a stopping place before they try to cross the dangerous Mediterranean Sea to get to Europe.

    Although the Egyptian coast is not used often by human traffickers to send crowded boats to Europe, Egypt still deals with migration from the area. There is also concern that the Israel-Hamas war could impact Egypt.

    The agreement will give a lot of money to Egypt’s economy, which has been struggling because the government has been cutting back on spending, the coronavirus, the effects of Russia invading Ukraine, and the recent war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

    Earlier this month, Egypt agreed with the International Monetary Fund to get more money as a loan. The loan went from $3 billion to $8 billion after long talks. The IMF agreement involved making changes to the economy, like letting the value of the Egyptian pound go up and raising the main interest rate by a lot.

    The EU agreement is similar to deals with Tunisia and Mauritania. They promised to strengthen their borders in exchange for money. Tunisia and Mauritania were important places where migrants started their journey across the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean to Italy and Spain. People also criticized them for mistreating migrants.

    International human rights groups criticized the package because of Egypt’s record on human rights. Amnesty International asked European leaders not to help with human rights abuses in Egypt.

    “Eve Geddie, who works for Amnesty International in Europe, said that EU leaders need to make sure the Egyptian government sets clear goals for protecting human rights. ” Geddie said that Egypt is not letting people speak freely in the media and is stopping people from expressing themselves. They are also trying to control what civil society does.

    When asked if these deals were right or wrong, a spokesperson for the European Commission said there were problems in these countries but still supported the partnerships.

    “Yes, we are aware of the criticism about human rights in those countries and it’s clear that this is a problem,” he told the journalists.

    “Should we stop talking to those countries. Will it make things better. Or should we try to work with them to make things better for people living there and for migrants coming to those countries. ” he asked

  • I couldn’t secure a job in Egypt because I couldn’t speak English – Woman recounts

    I couldn’t secure a job in Egypt because I couldn’t speak English – Woman recounts

    Comfort Adu, a Ghanaian woman living in Egypt, shared her story of being deceived into traveling there in search of a lucrative job.

    Despite her efforts, she has been unemployed for over a year and was eventually sold to another agent due to her limited English proficiency.

    According to Comfort, she initially found employment upon arriving in Egypt, but her difficulties with the language led to her losing the job. Her agency struggled to find her alternative employment, leaving her without a place to stay or enough food to eat.

    “On my first day here, I found out from the other women that not knowing English would make it hard for me to acquire a job. I approached my agent about it, but he said no. I obtained a job a week later, but I had to quit since they didn’t feed me,” the woman remarked.

    Comfort was later sold by her agency to another, under the guise of it being a training exercise for her next job. She was forced to pay $2000 to retrieve her passport after it was confiscated.

    “He assured me that she would train me for my next job and teach me English. I heard they sell people here, so I inquired whether he was going to do the same for me. He refuted it. The woman confirmed that he owed her, and I was to work and pay that debt off,” she narrated.

    Comfort alleges that the agent promised her a monthly salary of GHS4000 in Egypt in exchange for charging her GHS35,000. However, despite her payment, she remained unemployed for over a year.

  • Egyptians make fun of Biden for referring to Sisi as “president of Mexico”

    Egyptians make fun of Biden for referring to Sisi as “president of Mexico”

    The US President Joe Biden made a funny mistake by calling the Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi “the president of Mexico“.

    President Biden said that at first, the president of Mexico, Sisi, did not want to let humanitarian materials go into Gaza. He said this during a press conference on Thursday when talking about the fighting between Israel and Gaza.

    The president of Mexico is named Andrés Manuel López Obrador.

    Egyptians have given President al-Sisi the nickname “El Meksiki” which means “The Mexican” to avoid censorship.

    “You can’t freely say negative things about the president in Egypt. That’s why some people started calling him ‘El Meksiki’ (‘the Mexican’ in Arabic) because it sounds like ‘al-Sisi’ and this way they can criticize him without getting censored,” one person explained on X (formerly Twitter).

    In the US, people are worried about President Biden’s health and ability to think clearly. But the President says he is fit to do his job.

  • I moved away from Egyptian pyramids to study in Dumfries – Student

    I moved away from Egyptian pyramids to study in Dumfries – Student

    When the University of Glasgow opened its Crichton campus in Dumfries, the people studying there were not the same as before.

    At that time, one of its main goals was to offer college education in a place where people usually had to move away for that.

    After 25 years, the focus has changed and now it has staff and students from over 40 countries.

    Attracted to the classes available, how do they feel about living in the southern part of Scotland.

    Noura Seada, 32, is from Giza, Egypt, near the pyramids, but she found something special at Crichton that she couldn’t find in her home country.

    She said she got a masters degree in Egyptology and now she wants to study something about sustainability because there are no programs about it in her country, but there are many about tourism.

    “Many people love to visit Egypt for vacation, but we don’t always think about how to protect the environment while we travel there. ”

    She found the perfect course in sustainable tourism and now she is happy to live in a place that is very different from Egypt, which is loud and crowded.

    But she still hasn’t tried a new type of cooking.

    She said, “A lot of my friends have told me about haggis, but when I learned what it is, I decided not to try it. ”

    “I want to try vegetarian haggis sometime. ”

    Sreekumar Vattekkattu Pradeep Kumar, 21, is from Kerala in southern India and is studying how to manage environmental risks.

    He thinks Dumfries is a great place to live.

    “He said that it’s not really about the location, for him it was the program that made him decide to go to university. ”

    I am willing to live anywhere if I am interested in what I am learning.

    However, he sees some things that are the same as his home.

    “I live in a very isolated village in India, so I really like the peaceful atmosphere here,” he said.

    “It’s super peaceful and a great place to hang out. ”

    Aimee Becker, a 23-year-old from Austin, Texas, was interested in the sustainable tourism course in Dumfries after doing various hospitality jobs.

    “I saw how trash was thrown away and not much was being done to protect the environment,” she said.

    “That’s when I found a program in Dumfries that matched exactly how I was feeling, so I decided to choose that program online. ”

    She said the town was better than she expected.

    “It has all you need, but in a smaller size,” she said.

    “It’s been enjoyable and relaxing, so you can take it easy if you want, but there are still things to do if you like to stay busy. ”

    I like the parks and the people in the area. It’s my favorite part.

    Another student, Swathi Sreeja Prashanth, 23, from Kerala, India, chose to attend the University of Glasgow because her brother was studying there.

    “I checked out other places, but when I saw the opportunities and the campus, I decided to choose this one,” she said.

    She likes how things are not rushed in southern Scotland.

    “It’s much quieter and more peaceful here than where I come from,” she said.

    “India is really busy and there is a lot going on – when I arrived here, it felt really refreshing. ”

    “I like being in Dumfries because it’s peaceful, the people are friendly, and it’s surrounded by nature. ”

    The amazing seasons in Scotland were a bit surprising. She said it took a long time for her to get used to the weather.

    The weather can change quickly from sunny to stormy to snowy. You never know what it will be like. In India, it doesn’t snow, so it’s like a really extreme weather condition here.

    ‘Very different’

    The head of the campus, Prof Fabrice Renaud, said that there are many different kinds of people at the Dumfries campus and they have made it better.

    “For 25 years, the University of Glasgow has been in the town and we are happy to be a popular university for the local community,” he said.

    “We have seen an increase in international students choosing our campus because they like the programs we offer, in addition to our focus on our local community. ”

    “We have created a special collection of things based on top-notch research and using the area around us. “

  • Herve Renard snubs Ghana to sign agreement with Egypt as head coach – Report

    Herve Renard snubs Ghana to sign agreement with Egypt as head coach – Report

    Ghana’s aspirations of securing French coach Herve Renard as the head coach for the Black Stars have faced a significant setback, with reports indicating that Renard has reached an agreement with Egypt.

    Multiple credible sources suggest that Renard is on the brink of being appointed as the next head coach of Egypt.

    According to these reports, Renard, currently in charge of the French women’s team, has verbally committed to the Egyptian Football Association to assume the coaching role after the 2024 Olympic Games.

    During the Olympics, he is set to lead France’s women’s national team.

    Renard’s name has been prominently featured in Ghanaian media since the coaching vacancy arose on January 24, 2024.

    Following Chris Hughton’s dismissal, who led Ghana in the 2023 AFCON, where they failed to secure a single victory, the search for a new coach has been underway.

    The Black Stars’ disappointing performance in the AFCON included a 2-1 defeat to Cape Verde in the opening game and 2-2 draws with Egypt and Mozambique in the subsequent group matches.

    With just two points and a goal deficit, Ghana experienced another early exit from the AFCON, mirroring their fate in the 2021 edition.

    Given the unsatisfactory results in Ivory Coast, the Ghana Football Association decided to part ways with Chris Hughton.

  • DR Congo beats Egypt to book quarter-final slot in 2023 AFCON

    DR Congo beats Egypt to book quarter-final slot in 2023 AFCON

    In another heartbreak for Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations, DR Congo advanced to the quarter-finals after a dramatic penalty shootout, with goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi scoring the winning penalty.

    The Pharaohs, who had experienced a spot-kick defeat to Senegal in the 2021 final, faced a similar fate after a 1-1 draw in regular and extra time, ultimately losing 8-7 on penalties.

    Mostafa Mohamed, filling in for the injured Mohamed Salah, continued his goal-scoring form with his fourth goal in as many matches, equalizing from the spot after Meschack Elia’s opener. Egypt had to endure extra time following Mohamed Hamdy’s 97th-minute red card.

    Despite Mohamed missing a penalty in the shootout and goalkeeper Mohamed Abou Gabal also faltering, DR Congo’s Mpasi remained composed, securing a place in the quarter-finals against Guinea.

    The match saw early threats from Elia for DR Congo, with Egypt’s Ahmed Hegazi missing a crucial headed chance. Elia later capitalized on defensive lapses to give DR Congo the lead, but Mohamed’s penalty restored parity.

    DR Congo had chances through Elia and Cedric Bakambu, while Egypt, despite dominating possession, struggled to create clear opportunities. Ahmed Sayed Zizo and Marwan Attia tested Mpasi in the second half, but neither side could find a late winner.

    Egypt’s hopes suffered a setback with Hamdy’s sending-off, and despite DR Congo’s Arthur Masuaku and Samuel Moutoussamy missing chances, the shootout ended dramatically with both goalkeepers taking decisive penalties.

  • Salah returns to Liverpool for injury treatment

    Salah returns to Liverpool for injury treatment

    Mohamed Salah is heading back to Liverpool for treatment on a muscle issue he picked up while playing for Egypt.

    The prolific scorer for the Reds is expected to be absent for his country’s next two matches at the Africa Cup of Nations in the Ivory Coast, following the injury sustained during Thursday’s 2-2 draw with Ghana.

    Liverpool, currently leading the Premier League, faced initial challenges in creating opportunities during their Sunday game against Bournemouth in the absence of Salah.

    However, the team managed to secure a commanding 4-0 victory, with second-half braces from Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota contributing to a five-point lead at the top of the league.

    Klopp insisted after the game that it “makes sense” for Salah to fly back to Merseyside from AFCON and the Egyptian FA have confirmed the decision. 

    The Reds chief said: “That’s the plan. If that’s already decided 100%, I don’t know. But that’s the plan.

    “However long he’s out, probably everybody sees it like this, it makes sense that he’s doing the rehab with us or with our people. 

    “I spoke with him directly after, the night when it happened. He’s in contact with our doctor. I think he will be back.”

    An Egyptian FA statement, posted on Liverpool’s official website on Sunday evening, later confirmed: “It was decided that the player will return to England after the Cape Verde match tomorrow to complete his treatment, with the hope that he will join the national team in the semi-final of the AFCON if we qualify.”

    After consecutive draws against Mozambique and Ghana, Egypt is set to face Cape Verde on Monday evening in a crucial match as they aim to advance from Group B in the tournament.

    The outcomes of this match will play a pivotal role in determining Egypt’s standing and qualification prospects in the competition.

    Asked if Salah would go back to the tournament should his country reach the knockout stage, Klopp said: “I would say if Egypt qualifies for the final, if he’s fit before the final, then probably yes. “Why not? That’s clear. It’s the tournament.”

  • Social media users praise Kudus for excellent work in Ghana-Egypt derby

    Social media users praise Kudus for excellent work in Ghana-Egypt derby

    The Black Stars engaged in an exciting draw with the Pharaohs, but their position in the Africa Cup of Nations remains precarious.

    Ghana twice relinquished their lead, enabling Egypt to stage a comeback and secure a 2-2 draw in a Group B match on Thursday.

    Mohammed Kudus, the standout performer for Ghana, scored two goals in a match where Mohamed Salah was sidelined due to injury.

    Despite Kudus’s impressive performance, the draw leaves Ghana in a challenging position in the tournament. However, praises for Kudus continue to grow.

    Here are some accolades Kudus is enjoying on social media.

  • There is no individual mistake, we win or lose as a team – Mohammed Salisu

    There is no individual mistake, we win or lose as a team – Mohammed Salisu

    Ghana defender Mohammed Salisu has called for unity within the team following their recent game at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

    In the second Group B game against Egypt, the Black Stars twice lost their lead, resulting in a 2-2 draw. Despite Mohammed Kudus netting a brace for Ghana, individual mistakes allowed Omar Marmoush and Mostafa Mohamed to capitalize and equalize for Egypt.

    Salisu has urged his teammates not to point fingers at one another, emphasizing the importance of unity and solidarity within the team despite the challenges faced in the match.

    “We win as a team, we lose as a team, there is no individual mistake. When we make mistakes, we do it as a team. When you mention a player, you kill him for the next game. The most important thing is to focus on the next game,” he said.

    The outcome of Thursday night’s match leaves the Black Stars at the bottom of Group B with just one game remaining to play. Ghana is scheduled to face Mozambique on Monday, January 22.

    The upcoming match against Mozambique holds significance for the Black Stars as they strive to secure a better position in the group standings and potentially advance in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament.

  • Egypt capitalised on our mistakes, we must limit them even though they are part of the game – Chris Hughton

    Egypt capitalised on our mistakes, we must limit them even though they are part of the game – Chris Hughton

    Ghana’s head coach, Chris Hughton, refrained from singling out individuals for blame after the Black Stars‘ 2-2 draw against Egypt.

    The four-time Africa Cup of Nations champions experienced a pulsating draw against the North African side, with Mohammed Kudus scoring a brace in his AFCON debut.

    Despite Kudus’ efforts, the Ghanaian team was unable to secure all three points, as errors from the players allowed Omar Marmoush and Mostafa Mohamed to capitalize and equalize for Egypt.

    In a departure from placing blame on specific individuals, Hughton opted to downplay the errors, stating that they are a part of the game.

    “As a coach of a group of players, you feel frustrated because in performance…mistakes in the game are part of the game and you hope you make less mistakes than the other,” he said after the game.

    “Sometimes teams can make a lot of mistakes and the opposition doesn’t capitalise on them. Unfortunately, through the mistakes we made today, the opposition was able to capitalise on them.

    “But we have to accept [it’s] part of the game. You have to try to limit the amount of errors or mistakes that you make. And of course, the team that limits it the most is a team that has a better chance of winning.”

  • 2023 AFCON: Ghana in last position in Group B after draw with Egypt

    2023 AFCON: Ghana in last position in Group B after draw with Egypt

    West Ham United’s standout player, Mohammed Kudus, scored two goals as Egypt and Ghana settled for a 2-2 draw.

    Despite the shared points, Rui Vitoria’s team climbed to the second position in the Group B standings, amassing two points from two matches.

    In contrast, Ghana finds itself in the last position, with only one point earned from two games. Both teams have yet to secure a victory in their initial two group-stage matches of the tournament.

    The result adds to Egypt’s earlier 2-2 draw with Mozambique, while Ghana suffered a 2-1 defeat against Cape Verde in their respective opening matches.

    With the competition unfolding, both sides will be eager to secure victories in their upcoming group-stage clashes to enhance their prospects of advancing to the next stage of the tournament.

  • ‘Star boy’ Kudus shines bright but not enough for Ghana to outshine Egypt

    ‘Star boy’ Kudus shines bright but not enough for Ghana to outshine Egypt

    In their second group-stage match at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), the Black Stars faced Egypt and experienced a rollercoaster of events, ultimately settling for a 2-2 draw despite initially holding a lead.

    The encounter saw Mohammed Kudus shine with a brilliant performance, netting two goals for Ghana. However, lapses in concentration and individual errors proved costly for the Black Stars, leading to them relinquishing their advantage and sharing points with the Pharaohs.

    Ghana started the game with an aggressive approach, pressing the Egyptians, but struggled to break through their solid defense. Kudus had an early attempt from outside the box, easily dealt with by the opposing goalkeeper.

    Throughout the first half, both teams created few scoring opportunities, with Egypt dominating possession. The dynamic of the match shifted when Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah had to be substituted due to a suspected hamstring injury, forcing Ghana’s coach Rui Vitoria into a first-half change.

    Shortly after Salah’s departure, Kudus seized the opportunity to make a significant impact. The West Ham United player received a well-timed pass from Salis Abdul Samed and skillfully maneuvered past his marker to score a sensational debut goal in the AFCON, giving Ghana the lead with a sublime curling shot.

    In the second half, Egypt nearly clawed their way back into the game, but their goal from a setpiece was disallowed due to an offside decision. Ghana’s goalkeeper, Richard Ofori of Orlando Pirates, was then called into action, making a crucial save to deny the Egyptian side.

    The Pharaohs eventually found the equalizer when Marmoush seized an opportunity created by a back pass from Inaki Williams. Marmoush rounded off the goalkeeper and calmly slotted the ball into an empty net, leveling the score.

    However, Ghana quickly responded, with Kudus showcasing his scoring prowess once again. This time, he received a well-timed pass from Denis Odoi and efficiently restored the Black Stars’ lead. Unfortunately, Ghana struggled to hold on to their advantage for the second time in the match.

    Trezeguet made a decisive play by dispossessing substitute Osman Bukari and setting up a teammate for the equalizing goal, making it 2-2. Despite late attempts from both sides, neither team could secure a victory by the end of full time, and the match concluded with the points being shared.

    With the drawn result, the Black Stars now face a crucial situation, relying on their upcoming match against Mozambique to secure qualification to the next round of the competition. The outcome of this final group-stage game will play a pivotal role in determining Ghana’s fate in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

  • AFCON 2023: Black Stars doesn’t have “good” tactics – Emmanuel Adebayor

    AFCON 2023: Black Stars doesn’t have “good” tactics – Emmanuel Adebayor

    Emmanuel Adebayor, the former Togo international, emphasises that the Black Stars must approach the upcoming game against Egypt with the right mentality to secure a positive result.

    After a disappointing loss to Cape Verde in their opening match on Sunday, Ghana aims to rebound against the seven-time champions.

    Adebayor acknowledges the team’s technical proficiency but points out that there is a missing element related to how the players approach the game.

    “Technically, they are good, but tactically, they were not in shape; they are not the best. Technicality and tactics are not important anymore when you are playing in the Africa Cup of Nations.

    ‘What is important in the AFCON is the envy and mentality,” Adebayor told Sienu TV.

    “The mentality has to be right, the enthusiasm of the game; you have to go out there and know that you are representing a country.”

  • AFCON: Chris Hughton to alter starting XI for Egypt game

    AFCON: Chris Hughton to alter starting XI for Egypt game

    The head coach of the Ghana national football team, Chris Hughton, is reportedly planning to make changes to his starting eleven for the upcoming game against Egypt in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

    The information, gathered from sources in Abidjan where the team is based, suggests that changes will be made following Ghana’s 2-1 loss to Cape Verde in their first Group B match.

    The initial starting eleven against Cape Verde was missing key players Mohammed Kudus and Inaki Williams.

    However, it is expected that Mohammed Kudus will return to the starting lineup after recovering from injury. Additionally, Alidu Seidu may come in to replace the experienced Denis Odoi at right-back.

    Ghana needs a positive result against Egypt to enhance its chances of advancing to the knockout stage of the 2023 AFCON. The match is scheduled to kick off at 8 pm local time.

  • Black stars supporters in Ivory Coast spotted in intense prayer ahead of Egypt game

    Black stars supporters in Ivory Coast spotted in intense prayer ahead of Egypt game

    In anticipation of the crucial match against Egypt, a video circulating on social media captures the sight of Ghanaian fans in the Ivory Coast engaging in open prayers, hoping for success for the national team.

    Ghana is set to face Egypt in their second Group B match of the ongoing tournament after a disappointing loss to Cape Verde in their opening game.

    The Black Stars are in need of a swift response to boost their chances of advancing to the knockout stages, as another defeat would be a significant setback.

    Meanwhile, there have been reports that some Ghanaian supporters, who were transported by the government to the Ivory Coast for the AFCON, have been compensated with $400.

  • Kudus trains with team ahead of Egypt clash

    Kudus trains with team ahead of Egypt clash

    The Ghana Football Association’s Communications Director, Henry Asante Twum, has provided an update on Mohammed Kudus’ fitness ahead of the Black Stars’ second group game against Egypt in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

    Kudus, who missed the opening game against Cape Verde due to a slight knock, is reportedly making good progress in his recovery.

    According to Twum, Kudus has been actively working with the physiotherapists and has already participated in full-team training with the squad.

    While the medical team is still evaluating his condition, Twum expressed optimism that Kudus will be ready for the crucial match against Egypt, with expectations for him to be available by Wednesday or Thursday.

    Given the importance of the upcoming game and the need for a victory, Kudus’ potential return is seen as a positive development that could bolster the Black Stars’ chances of advancing to the next round in the tournament.

  • AFCON: Egypt promises a different play style in clash with Ghana

    AFCON: Egypt promises a different play style in clash with Ghana

    Rui Vitoria, Head Coach of Egypt, has sent strong warning to the Black Stars ahead of their next game against Ghana in the second group game of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) on Thursday, January 18 at the Félix Houphouët-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan.

    The seven-time African champions narrowly escaped defeat after a spirited Mozambique side almost edged them but were unlucky to have Mohamed Salah convert from the spot to snatch a late draw.


    Egypt’s Head Coach, Rui Vitoria, has issued a stern warning to the Black Stars in anticipation of their upcoming match against Ghana in the second group game of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

    The clash is scheduled for Thursday, January 18, at the Félix Houphouët-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan.

    The seven-time African champions narrowly avoided defeat in their previous game, facing a spirited Mozambique side that came close to securing a victory. However, luck was on Egypt’s side, as Mohamed Salah converted from the spot to secure a late draw.

    “Mozambique has a solid team; I said it before meeting them and that’s what happened today.

    “They gave us a lot of tactical problems with this low pack. This team has excellent elements in midfield. They found gaps in us and they took advantage of it,” Vitoria said.

    “It’s going to be a different story. We would have to reduce the spaces and be more concentrated because, against an experienced team like Ghana, the slightest mistake is paid dearly,” he added.

    On their defensive errors, Vitoria said they would need to urgently work on them as they would be punished severely against teams like Ghana if they were not prepared.

    Coach Vitoria says their opponents gave them a lot of tactical problems and they were up against a team that had a good midfield.

  • Egypt manages a draw against Mozambique after late goal from Salah

    Egypt manages a draw against Mozambique after late goal from Salah

    Mohamed Salah played a crucial role in ensuring Egypt avoided defeat, scoring from the penalty spot to secure a 2-2 draw against Mozambique in Group B of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

    The seven-time AFCON champions got off to a strong start with Mostafa Mohamed finding the net within two minutes to give them the lead.

    However, quick goals from Witi and Clesio in the second half brought hope for Mozambique to secure their first victory in the tournament.

    With the game hanging in the balance, Edmilson Macandza’s challenge on Mostafa Mohamed led to a late penalty for Egypt. Salah stepped up and calmly converted the spot-kick in the seventh minute of added time, securing the draw for his team.

    The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) played a role in suggesting a review of the challenge, prompting referee Dahane Beida to assess the situation on the screen. Salah’s precise penalty, striking the inside of the left-hand upright, salvaged a point for Egypt.

    In their next matches, Egypt is set to face Ghana on January 18, while Mozambique will go up against Cape Verde.

  • More injured people should be permitted to cross Rafah – Gaza administration

    More injured people should be permitted to cross Rafah – Gaza administration

    The government in charge of Gaza wants Egypt to open the border so they can send 6,000 injured people to get medical help in other countries as soon as possible.

    It says that the health sector and hospitals in Gaza are in really bad shape.

    The statement says that Israeli attacks have destroyed 30 facilities and now there are more than 58,000 people who are sick.

    It means that right now only 10 to 20 injured people are allowed to go through the border every day. It asks Egypt to make things better so that they can allow “hundreds and thousands” of people to go through instead of just a few dozen.

    The media office is asking for help from all countries in the world to stop the war and is specifically asking the international community and the US to put pressure on Israel.

    “We ask everyone to take their moral and humanitarian duty seriously as civilians, children, and women in the Gaza Strip are being killed in front of the world. “

  • Mothers in Gaza use terrible method to quiet the cries of malnourished children

    Mothers in Gaza use terrible method to quiet the cries of malnourished children

    A mother hears her baby crying for food, so she grabs an empty pot nearby.

    “Everything is going to be okay,” she said softly, pretending to mix a meal to help her child feel better. The food will be ready in a little while.

    Living in the war-torn Gaza, the woman knows that there is no food for her hungry baby, and she doesn’t know when there will be any.

    Many Palestinians are scared they will starve because they are constantly being attacked. The World Health Organization (WHO) says 93% of people are dealing with serious hunger and not enough food, leading to high levels of malnutrition.

    There isn’t enough food and water, and shelters are almost full. Without fuel, there is no electricity.

    “There’s a big fight happening, everyone knows that. ” “But there is a big problem with hunger that the world hasn’t noticed,” said charity worker Yusuf Kalam in an interview with Metro. couk

    He saw security points and aid trucks waiting for a long time at the Rafah Border in Egypt, near Gaza.

    Yusuf, who works as a manager at Muslim Aid, says: “People in Gaza are unsure if they should wait for help or leave and risk their safety. ”

    “Many people are gathering on the roads, in churches, and in schools because there is not enough shelter available. ”

    “Many people in Gaza feel like they are not getting enough help and that the world has left them behind. ” But actually, help is available, it’s just not reaching the people who need it.

    The Rafah border is not a big business area, it’s a place for people to walk across. The roads and buildings there are not ready for the many trucks and help for people in Gaza that are trying to arrive.

    Since fighters from Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, Gaza has been completely surrounded, and there is not enough water and electricity.

    In other places, there were videos of food being set on fire, said to be done by Israeli soldiers.

    Human Rights Watch found out that people in Gaza are being starved on purpose as a way of fighting.

    Yusuf said that kids are going to bed without enough food to eat. Someone told me about a mother who had an empty pot. She kept stirring it until her hungry baby fell asleep.

    There are other stories I’ve heard that are too scary to tell. Some individuals felt really upset after seeing something at the Rafah crossing. They are not sure if they should wait for help or take a dangerous journey to a border with their families.

    I met a woman whose daughter is still in Gaza. The mother had to leave because she had a different passport, but her daughter did not have to leave. She can’t reach her because there are problems with the connection, and it’s making everyone unsure of what to do.

    500 people are staying in a school that was only built for 100. Illnesses are spreading. When people don’t have enough food, their bodies become less able to fight off sickness.

    MP said that the family stuck in a church in Gaza only have one can of corn left.

    I heard that some people are pooping in the street because they have nowhere else to go. People are gathering on the streets.

    Yusuf, who is 33 years old, had trouble sleeping when he came back to London after working for a few days at the border. His little girl woke up at night and he hugged her tightly in the dark.

    “I suddenly remembered detailed pictures of the events in Gaza,” he remembers. I was trying to calm my crying daughter and put her to sleep in a quiet room, but I couldn’t stop thinking about the loud noises and scary things that parents in Gaza have to deal with every day. I feel really messed up and scared.

    “I have never seen anything like the situation in Gaza in the ten years I have been working in the humanitarian sector. ” Please simplify the following text. “Rewrite this text in simple words:’”

    Yusuf has to stop thinking about his feelings and respond to disasters at work.

    This year, he went to Gaziantep after big earthquakes happened in southern Turkey and northern Syria. There, he said the scene looked like the end of the world. However, he said that in Gaza, things felt different. The disaster happened because of people, not nature.

    “In Turkey, people didn’t feel as hopeless or abandoned,” he says. “What I’m seeing now is the very worst of people. ” I have never seen something so sad and hopeless. The fighting is getting worse and there are still so many people dying, it’s really shocking.

    These are actual people who are in danger. They breathe the same air as us and their bodies are made of the same things.

    Yusuf and his coworkers at Muslim Aid got help from people who gave donations. They used the donations to get food, water, and ambulances and bring them to Gaza.

    British aid workers put life-saving medicine and equipment and room for a stretcher in vans. Each one had a clear sign that said ‘ambulance’ so they wouldn’t get involved in any fighting.

    During his time in Egypt, Yusuf heard about people suffering, but he also heard about people being kind to each other. He heard about doctors using phone flashlights for surgeries, aid workers working non-stop, and donors giving all they could to help end suffering.

    Muslim Aid got £20,000 from a man in the UK who donated all his money to help them.

    “In the dark, when it feels like there’s no hope, Yusuf says you can see a ray of light. ”

    ‘That light is us – as people – helping each other. It’s easy to feel discouraged by what’s happening or the politics, but if you pay attention to the good news, you can feel hopeful.

    NGO people meet in Westminster to ask for a ceasefire right away.

    Humanitarian breaks have helped aid to reach Gaza, but there is still fighting since a weeklong stop in fighting ended on December 1, 2023.

    Muslim Aid, Oxfam, and Amnesty International are asking for fighting to stop so that people can stop suffering. Aid workers want to find new ways to quickly feed the hungry people in Gaza.

    The entire city has been ruined. Soon, people will ask what will happen next in Gaza. Yusuf is asking how we can help these people find new homes and rebuild their lives. He wants to know what that process will be like and when it will happen.

    Right now, the most important thing is to make sure that people stay alive until we figure out the answers to those questions. We’ve seen 20,000 people die.

    When do we decide that we have had enough.

  • Israel pledges to persist with challenging military operation in Gaza

    Israel pledges to persist with challenging military operation in Gaza

    The Israeli military has committed to continuing its “protracted” and “difficult” operation in Gaza, expanding ground operations in both the southern and northern Gaza Strip.

    Despite calls for a ceasefire and humanitarian truce, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the war will persist until all Israeli goals are achieved.

    The US, while emphasizing the critical need to protect civilians, has not requested a ceasefire.

    The UN Security Council approved a resolution for large-scale aid deliveries to Gaza but did not explicitly call for a ceasefire.

    Talks in Egypt for a new truce have yet to yield results.

    The Hamas-run health ministry says more than 20,000 people have been killed and 54,000 injured in Gaza since the war began. Most of the dead are women and children, Hamas says.

    Israel says it takes steps to avoid civilian casualties, and blames Hamas for embedding itself in densely-populated areas.

    Meanwhile, the IDF has announced that 14 of its soldiers have been killed in fighting in Gaza since Friday, bringing the total to more than 150.

    Responding to the deaths, Mr Netanyahu said on Sunday that the war was exacting a “very heavy price” on Israel, but that there was “no choice but to keep fighting”.

    Israel says 700 Palestinian militants have been arrested since it launched its military operation and invasion of Gaza with the aim of eliminating Hamas.

    The Israeli operation began after Hamas fighters crossed from Gaza into southern Israel on 7 October, killing 1,200 people and taking about 240 hostages.

    Internally displaced Palestinians prepare bread sing firewood in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip. Photo: 23 December 2023
    Image caption,Many Palestinians have been forced to flee northern Gaza to the territory’s south

    Mr Netanyahu and Mr Biden discussed Israel’s operation in Gaza in a phone call on Saturday.

    Mr Biden “emphasised the critical need to protect the civilian population including those supporting the humanitarian aid operation, and the importance of allowing civilians to move safely away from areas of ongoing fighting”, the White House said.

    Mr Netanyahu “made it clear that Israel would continue the war until all of its goals have been achieved”, the Israeli PM’s office said.

    In its update on Sunday, the Hamas-run health ministry said at least 166 people had been killed and 384 injured in the previous 24 hours.

    The Israeli military has kept up its bombing campaign in Gaza – ordering civilians to flee.

    On Saturday, it said one of its fighter jets had killed Hassah Atrash, a man it accused of smuggling weapons into Gaza to arm Hamas. There was no confirmation from Hamas.

    The Israeli military has said it has almost full operational control of the north of the Gaza Strip, and is stepping up operations in the south.

    The UN said the latest evacuation order affected 150,000 people in the middle of the territory.

  • Egypt election: Growing discontent as Sisi runs for third term

    Egypt election: Growing discontent as Sisi runs for third term

    Once, a lot of people thought that Egypt’s leader, Abdul Fattah al-Sisi, would save the country. But now, people see him in a new way.

    A decade ago, Egyptians were happy to see the general become the president, but now they are not as happy as they thought they would be.

    As Mr Sisi tries to become president for the third time in a row, many people are worried about the bad economy.

    Nadia is having a hard time making enough money because Mr. Sisi’s government is making changes to the economy.

    The 57-year-old woman has six children and sells newspapers to make ends meet.

    Nadia, who lives in a small apartment in a crowded part of Cairo, told me that she hasn’t bought meat in three years. She feels like life is getting more expensive every day.
    Nadia is a widow and a mother of six. She sells newspapers in Cairo.

    “I get really scared to go to sleep sometimes because I know when I wake up, things will cost more,” she says with a weak smile and sad eyes.

    The most recent official numbers show that in October, Egypt’s prices went up by 38. 5%This is a little less than the 40. 3% increase reported last month.

    These numbers are very high in the Arab world’s biggest country, and the actual rise in prices that regular people experience is often even higher than what the government says.

    ‘Nobody remembers us’

    But because things cost more, Nadia is making less money.

    More than 10 years ago, she used to sell almost 200 newspapers every day, but now she only sells about 20.

    Nadia says that making a meal today costs between 300 and 500 Egyptian pounds, but a few years ago it was much cheaper, about a sixth of the price.

    “She says that even fruit costs too much. ”

    In the last nine months, the Egyptian money has dropped by more than half in value compared to the US money.

    The Egyptian economy relies a lot on buying things from other countries. This has made the prices of basic things go up a lot, so many families can’t afford them. People have also started trading foreign money in secret.

    Nadia is not feeling very hopeful and seems worried.

    “No one cares about the poor. ” She feels like nobody sees us. We are being ignored.

    Promises of wealth and success.

    Ever since Mr Sisi became president in 2014, a lot of money has been spent on big construction projects. This happened after he led the military to remove the previous president, Mohammed Morsi, from power.

    They made the roads bigger and added bridges, and they also built a new capital city near Cairo that cost a lot of money but hardly anyone lives there.

    Critics say that being careless with money has used up a lot of the country’s economic resources and caused very high levels of debt that have hurt the economy a lot.

    The president’s followers think that building cities has made life better for people and will bring in important money from other countries, leading to better times ahead.

    Walid Gaballah, an economist and a member of the Egyptian Society for Political Economy, Statistics and Legislation, thinks that these projects have created jobs and helped to reduce unemployment in Egypt.

    He also thinks that global forces are partly responsible for the current economic crisis.

    “The money the government saved from their reforms was used for the coronavirus pandemic. ” “Then the war in Ukraine happened and many foreign investors took their money out of Egyptian banks,” he said.

    The government has talked a lot about how it’s putting money into programs to help poor and vulnerable Egyptians.

    But people are still unhappy about how their lives are getting even harder.

    According to official numbers, almost 30 out of every 100 people in Egypt, which has a population of 100 million, live in poverty. Since 2016, the government borrowed over $20 billion from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to help with its budget.

    At the same time, the government has been making cuts to save money and improve the economy of the country. Many important things no longer have government help, like gas, so their prices are going higher.

    Single horse competition

    Many Egyptians are unhappy, but there are not many options in this election. It seems like only one candidate will win.

    Opposition groups are upset because they can’t work well, because the government is always trying to stop them from speaking out.

    Three not well-known politicians are trying to become president but most people think that Mr Sisi will win easily and have another six years in office.

    Former MP Ahmed Tantawy was a top contender in the election, but he quit because he didn’t get enough support from the public.

    In October, he said that the authorities arrested almost 100 people from his campaign to stop him from running.

    Mr Tantawy is being judged for printing and sharing election papers without permission.

    Scared to go back home

    Human rights campaigners are upset about strict security rules, just like opposition politicians. They say it is getting harder to prove when people are mistreated.

    Mina Thabet, an activist living in the UK for almost six years, says that it is risky to fight for human rights in Egypt. He told me this over Zoom.

    He still remembers the bad things that happened when he was held in Egypt in 2016. People said he was part of a group that is not allowed and told lies, which is what the government often accuses its critics of.

    “I had my eyes covered and my hands tied up. ” A police officer has hit me and said they would take off my clothes and hurt me.

    Mr Thabet went to the UK to study one year after he was released. He didn’t want to go home because he was scared he might go back to jail.

    “I had a good sleep for the first time after I left Egypt,” he said.

    He thinks the election is just a continuation of Mr Sisi’s strict rules, which he says do not allow any opposition.

    “Many people in Egypt who stand up for human rights are having their money frozen or being stopped from traveling. ” You can’t do your work without worrying about getting in trouble or being treated unfairly.

    MrThabet said he will only go back to Egypt when he feels like it’s safe to work and share his opinions without worrying about the government punishing him.

    The people in charge have ignored this criticism because they think it is just about politics.

    They created a group that has given permission for many political prisoners to be released, and they plan to do more to make the country’s human rights better.

    Local and international human rights organizations say that many people who were put in jail for their political beliefs. The government disagrees with this number.

    In Cairo, there are posters of Mr Sisi on every street.

    His team is working to show voters that things will get better in the future. But a lot of people here are curious if his winning again would actually make any difference.

  • Sisi of Egypt leads polls as vote counting process gets underway

    Sisi of Egypt leads polls as vote counting process gets underway

    Egypt’s election officials are now counting the votes after the presidential elections ended.

    Voting started on Sunday and finished at 9 p. m on Tuesday, with over 67 million people signed up to vote.

    Current President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi wants to be re-elected for a third time in a row.

    Many Egyptians think Mr Sisi will easily win a new six-year term as president, even though there are three other candidates running for the position.

    Initial results show that Mr. Sisi is currently winning.

    The final results will be announced on 18 December.

    More update on this story soon…

  • Relief organisations warn of dire humanitarian situation in Gaza

    Relief organisations warn of dire humanitarian situation in Gaza

    “The situation for people in Gaza is really bad and aid groups are saying they urgently need more help. Not enough aid is reaching the area. ”
    Recently, only 20% of the aid needed has been able to reach the area. A lot of it cannot be given out because of the big Israeli bombings, according to Melanie Ward from Medical Aid for Palestinians.

    She said that the help coming in is very little, and it is the worst disaster that anyone working in Gaza has ever seen.

    The only border crossing that is open right now is at Rafah, which is on the border of Egypt. The UN’s humanitarian agency, OCHA, said that they are giving out some aid to people there, but only a small amount.

    Hardly any help has been able to reach the northern part of Gaza because of the heavy fighting and restrictions on the main road.

    Help organizations gave more food and supplies to people in Gaza during a pause in fighting that ended on December 1st. Some hostages were also let go during this time. But things have gotten even worse since the fighting started again.

    More update on this story soon…


  • Unrest in Egypt rises as Sisi runs for third term

    Unrest in Egypt rises as Sisi runs for third term

    Many people used to think Egypt’s leader Abdul Fattah al-Sisi was a hero, but now they see him differently.

    A decade ago, Egyptians were happy and cheered for the general who became president. But now, they are not as happy as they thought they would be.

    Mr Sisi is running for president for the third time in a row next week. Most people are upset about the bad economy.

    Nadia is having a hard time making enough money because Mr. Sisi’s government is making changes to the economy.

    The woman is 57 years old, her husband passed away, and she has six children. She struggles to earn enough money by selling newspapers on the street.

    In her tiny apartment in a crowded part of Cairo, Nadia tells me that she hasn’t bought meat in three years. She thinks that life is getting more and more expensive every day.

    “I’m afraid to sleep because I know prices will be higher in the morning,” she said with a sad smile.

    The most recent numbers show that Egypt’s prices went up by 38. 5% in October, which is a little less than the 40. 3% increase from the month before.

    These numbers are very high in the most crowded country in the Arab world, and normal people often experience even higher inflation than what the government reports.

    ‘No one remembers us. ‘

    However, as the cost of things has gone up, Nadia’s earnings have gone down.

    More than ten years ago, she sold almost 200 newspapers every day. But now she only sells about 20 newspapers.

    Nadia says that cooking a meal today costs between 300 and 500 Egyptian pounds, but a few years ago it was about six times cheaper.

    “She said that even fruits are very expensive. ”

    In the last nine months, the money in Egypt is worth much less compared to the US dollar.

    Egypt’s economy relies a lot on imported goods. This has caused the prices of everyday things to go way up, making them too expensive for a lot of families. People have also started trading foreign money on the black market.

    Nadia does not feel very hopeful and is clearly worried.

    No one cares about the poor. She says it feels like no one sees us and we are being forgotten.
    Promises of success and wealth

    Ever since Mr. Sisi became president in 2014, a lot of money has been spent on big building projects after he got rid of the previous president, Mohammed Morsi.

    New roads and bridges have been built, and a new expensive capital city has been made near Cairo, but not many people live there yet.

    Critics say the government’s bad money management has used up a lot of the country’s money and caused very high levels of debt that have harmed the economy a lot.

    The president’s followers think that cities getting bigger has made life better for people and will bring in foreign money, leading to better times ahead.

    Walid Gaballah, an economist and member of the Egyptian Society for Political Economy, Statistics and Legislation, thinks these projects have made a lot of jobs and helped to solve Egypt’s problem with people not having jobs.

    He thinks that global forces are partly to blame for the current economic problems.

    The money saved from the government’s reforms was used up by the coronavirus pandemic. “Then the Ukraine war happened, and lots of people from other countries took their money out of Egyptian banks,” he explains.

    The government keeps talking about how it spends money on programs to help the poorest and most vulnerable people in Egypt.

    However, people are still unhappy about their living conditions getting even worse.

    Approximately 30 out of every 100 people in Egypt live in poverty, according to government data. Since 2016, the government took out over $20 billion from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to help with its budget.

    At the same time, the government has put in place spending cuts to improve the country’s economy. Many important items, like fuel, no longer get financial help, which makes their prices go higher.

    A race with only one competitor.

    Many Egyptians are not happy, but they don’t have many options in this election. It seems like only one person has a chance to win.

    Opposition groups are saying they can’t work well because the government keeps stopping them from speaking out.

    Even though there are three unknown politicians running against the president, most people think that the president will easily win another six years in office.

    Ahmed Tantawy, a former MP, was a likely candidate in the election. But he quit because he couldn’t get enough support from the public.

    In October, he said that the government arrested almost 100 people from his team to stop him from running for office.

    Mr Tantawy is being tested in court for printing and sharing election papers without permission.

    Worries about going back home.

    Human rights campaigners are also upset about strict security rules, just like politicians from the other party. They say it is getting harder to record and prove that abuses have happened.

    “Talking about human rights in Egypt is risky,” said Mina Thabet, an activist who has been living in the UK for almost six years. He told me this over Zoom.

    He remembers the bad things that happened when he was kept in Egypt for a month in 2016. He was accused of being part of a banned group and spreading lies, which is something the government often accuses its critics of doing.

    “I can’t see because my eyes are covered and my hands are tied. ” A police officer hurt me and said they would take off my clothes and hurt me more.

    Mr Thabet went to the UK to study one year after he was released. He chose not to go home because he was afraid he might go to jail again.

    He said, “I slept well for the first time after I left Egypt. ”

    He thinks the election is just another way for Mr Sisi to continue his strict policies, which do not allow any opposition.

    “A lot of my friends who stand up for human rights in Egypt are having their money blocked, or they can’t travel anywhere. ” You can’t do your work without being afraid of getting in trouble.

    Mr Thabet says he will only return to Egypt when he can work and speak freely without fear of the government punishing him.

    The people in charge have always ignored this criticism and said it was just about politics.

    They made a group that has given forgiveness to many political prisoners, and they said they will do more to make the country’s human rights better.

    Local and global human rights groups say there are many political prisoners in jail, but the government disagrees.

    His team is working hard to persuade people that things will get better in the future. Many people here are wondering if his re-election would make any real difference.

  • 5-year-old boy dies after slipping into swimming pool while on vacation in Egypt

    5-year-old boy dies after slipping into swimming pool while on vacation in Egypt

    A 5-year-old boy died after falling into a swimming pool in Egypt during his first holiday abroad. Kelan Logan-Derench, of Sutton Coldfield, had a “tragic accident” on Saturday, family friend Serena Whitehead said.

    He is said to be on vacation with his family members. Ms Whitehead set up a crowdfunding page to raise money to bring Kelan home and organize a funeral, raising more than £12,600 towards the £15,000 target.

    She said he fell into the pool just a day after arriving in Egypt and “heartbreakingly, nothing could be done to save him and he sadly lost his life”.

    Mrs Whitehead, a friend of Kelan’s mother, described him as “a cheeky, mischievous and happy boy”, adding that the whole family was “completely devastated”. Writing on GoFundMe, she said:

    “The least we can do as friends of the family and the community is to help them by providing financial support so they can bring Kelan home and organize a funeral. ” Give him the ceremony he deserves.

  • Israel to receive hostages via Egypt

    Israel to receive hostages via Egypt

    After a rough beginning, the truce is starting to become more stable.

    We are seeing more help going to the Gaza Strip, and Palestinians are able to move around more safely.

    We are waiting for 4:00 PM local time (2:00 PM GMT). At that time, 13 out of 50 Israeli hostages will be given to the International Committee of the Red Cross.

    They will be taken out through Egypt’s Rafah crossing and there are specific rules for what happens next.

    People crossing from Egypt to Israel will meet Israeli security officers. Their identities will be checked, and they will have a medical check. Then, they will be flown to Israel by helicopter.

    After that, it will be a few hours until the first Palestinian prisoners are released from Israeli jails as agreed.

  • Salah nets four goals as Egypt kicks off World Cup qualification with thrilling display

    Mohamed Salah showcased a stellar performance, scoring four goals as Egypt opened their World Cup qualifying campaign with a anticipated 6-0 victory over Djibouti.

    Salah’s remarkable feat propelled his overall goal tally for Egypt to 53 in 93 appearances as they aim for a spot in the 2026 finals after missing out on the Qatar World Cup last year.

    Meanwhile, Nigeria, missing the injured Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, faced an unexpected setback with a 1-1 draw against Lesotho in a rainy encounter in Uyo.

    Lesotho, positioned 113 places below Nigeria in the FIFA rankings, took a surprising lead with defender Motlomelo Mkhwanazi’s goal, only to be equalized by Semi Ajayi from Kelechi Iheanacho’s corner.

    In other matches, Mozambique secured the first away victory of the African qualifying campaign, beating Botswana 3-2 in Group G. Algeria, the favourites in the group, had an unconvincing 3-1 home win over Somalia, prompting coach Djamel Belmadi to make halftime substitutions.

    https://www.youtube.com/shorts/M9PqfMTvDfQ

    Gabon rallied from a goal down to defeat Kenya 2-1, with Denis Bouanga equalising on the hour mark and Guelor Kanga securing an 88th-minute winner in Franceville.

    Burundi also clinched a victory in Group F, edging the Gambia 3-2 in a match played in Tanzania due to Burundi’s lack of a suitable stadium.

    Sudan hosted their Group B clash against Togo in Benghazi, Libya, due to the civil war in their country.

    The match ended in a 1-1 draw, with Sudan taking an early lead through a penalty, equalized by Kevin Denkey of Togo.

    The Group D clash between the Cape Verde Islands and Angola concluded in a goalless draw, characterised by missed chances.

    The first two rounds of African qualifiers span from Wednesday to the following Tuesday, with the next set of matches resuming in June.

    In the qualifying format, nine groups determine direct qualifiers for the 2026 finals in Canada, Mexico, and the U.S., while the four best runners-up have an additional chance through a two-tier playoff system.

  • Man drives car fueled by vegetable oil from Gaza to Egypt

    Man drives car fueled by vegetable oil from Gaza to Egypt

    Ibrahim AlAgha, a man from Ireland and Palestine, has been talking to the BBC for the last month while stuck in Gaza.

    Today, he sent a message to say he was safely taken to Cairo through the Rafah crossing. He will soon fly back to Dublin with his wife Hamida and their three children who were born in Dublin.

    The trip to the border was hard. He says it was very costly to find a driver willing to take them there.

    The driver said he put a mix of vegetable oil in the diesel car because there’s not enough fuel in Gaza. “Ibrahim said it stank, but it was fine. ” “They combine it with other oils and it works well. ”

    Ibrahim’s children sat in the trunk with the suitcase while he, his wife, her parents, and his brother sat in the front seats.

    When they arrived at the border, they went into Egypt and waited for 11 hours to be checked by the officials.

    “When I left Palestine and came to Egypt, I was crying because everyone’s lives are in danger and I was also thinking about all the good times in the city that has been destroyed,” he says. “Saying goodbye was really, really sad. “

  • About 100 British citizens scheduled to depart Gaza

    About 100 British citizens scheduled to depart Gaza

    Almost 100 people from Britain have been given permission to leave Gaza and go to Egypt on Friday.

    The Palestinian border authority has a list of approved foreigners in the UK. There are 127 people on this list, and 92 of them are British citizens.

    Out of the remaining 35 names, most of them are Palestinians. There are two people who are listed as dependents from Ireland, and one woman from Morocco.

    Around 200 people from the United Kingdom are thought to be in Gaza.

    We are not sure yet if the Rafah border will be open on Friday. However, on Wednesday, some people from other countries and Palestinians who are injured started to be allowed to leave Gaza and go to Egypt through the crossing.

    A few British people have already left along with many other foreigners leaving Gaza this week.

    Since 7 October, the border crossings in and out of Gaza have been shut down. This happened because Hamas, a terrorist organization banned in the UK, attacked Israel. They caused the death of over 1,400 individuals and held 240 people as hostages.

    After that, the Israeli army has carried out a very large bombing attack on Gaza, isolated the area completely, and just now started a ground attack on the northern part of Gaza. The health ministry in Gaza, which is controlled by Hamas, says that over 9,000 individuals have lost their lives.

    On Friday, the security minister, Tom Tugendhat, stated that the British government is being careful in providing an exact count of the number of people who can be rescued. This is because they do not have control over the border or the situation inside Gaza.

    “What we want to avoid is giving people unrealistic expectations that they will be able to cross today,” he said during an interview on BBC Breakfast.

    Mr Tugendhat said that there is a list of people who have been given permission to leave Gaza quickly. The Egyptian and Israeli governments have agreed to this.

    He said that the UK government has approved the list to include British citizens, as well as dependent or entitled individuals.

    The UK has sent a group of Border Force members to Cairo and consular officials to Arish, close to Rafah. They are there to help UK citizens who have left Gaza.

    Dr Abdel Hammad, a surgeon from Liverpool, was able to leave through the Rafah crossing into Egypt on Thursday, according to his family.

    The UK government said that two aid workers from the UK successfully crossed the border into Gaza through a crossing called Rafah. This crossing is not under the control of Israel.

    The Foreign Office stated on Thursday that some people from the UK were able to cross the border between Gaza and Egypt. However, they didn’t give any information about the exact number.

    A person with citizenship in both the UK and the US, who was in Gaza with her family, said that her British-Palestinian husband was allowed to cross the border because he was with his family and on the list of US citizens who could leave.

    Dr Emilee Rauschenberger, a teacher who lives in Salford, said that things are very disordered and confusing in Rafah. Many people are finding it difficult to travel to the southern part of Gaza because they don’t have cars or any other means of transportation.

    She said on BBC Radio 4’s Today show on Friday that there was no way to separate people who could leave from those who wanted to but couldn’t, causing a lot of stress.

    After waiting for a long time on the Gazan side of the border, the family successfully entered Egypt. In Egypt, they received food, water, and medical attention.

    Dr Rauschenberger was informed by the British embassy in Egypt that approximately 10 British citizens, who she believes are employed by aid agencies or other international organizations, also crossed over on Thursday.

    The UK government has shared a list with the Israeli and Egyptian authorities. This list includes British citizens and their family members and is organized based on their medical vulnerability.

    Dr Ahmed Abou Foul, who works in Birmingham, said that 16 of his family members are in the process of trying to leave Gaza. This includes eight children.

    He feels both good and bad about the news because his two young nieces and their moms cannot go since their names are not on the list.

    Dr Abou Foul said on BBC Breakfast that his family is puzzled about why they were not included, despite being promised by the Foreign Office.

  • WHO applauds Egypt for allowing patients from Gaza

    WHO applauds Egypt for allowing patients from Gaza

    The leader of the World Health Organization is happy about the decision to send severely injured individuals from Gaza to Egypt.

    Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus wrote on social media that he has been working with Egypt’s Health Ministry to plan and provide assistance for medical evacuations, and this support will continue.

    He says: “We need to quickly increase the amount of medical help that is allowed to go into Gaza. ” We need to keep hospitals safe from being attacked and used for military purposes.

    The gate between Gaza and Egypt is now open for the first time in over three weeks since Israel’s blockade began.
    So far, at least 20 people from Palestine who are sick and need medical help, and 110 people who have citizenship in two different countries, have left the area called Gaza.

    About 88 injured Palestinians and approximately 500 foreigners will be allowed to leave in the initial stage.

    In Gaza, the phone and internet services are completely turned off, according to the provider Paltel.

    Israel says that 11 soldiers died on Tuesday during fighting in Gaza. This brings the total number of Israeli military deaths since October 7th to 326.

    Israel has been attacking Gaza since the 7 October when Hamas carried out attacks, resulting in the deaths of 1,400 people. Additionally, 239 people were taken as hostages.

    The health ministry in Gaza, which is controlled by Hamas, has announced that over 8,700 individuals have died as a result of Israel’s bombing in retaliation.

  • Ambulances from Gaza arrive in Egypt as bridge eventually opens

    Ambulances from Gaza arrive in Egypt as bridge eventually opens

    The first ambulances carrying injured people from Gaza have entered Egypt through the Rafah border, as confirmed by the media.

    In Cairo, our team reported that at least seven people have entered Egypt, and they expect more people to come.

    We heard that today, 88 Palestinians who got hurt will be allowed to go away, and also around 500 people from other countries will be allowed to leave.

    More update on this story soon…

  • Gaza border opens allowing 110 dual nationals to enter Egypt

    Gaza border opens allowing 110 dual nationals to enter Egypt

    It has been confirmed that at least 20 civilians who were hurt have entered Egypt at the Rafah crossing.

    Our colleagues in Cairo have told us that 110 people with citizenship from two different countries entered Egypt from Gaza.

    Just to remind you, today we expect about 80 patients from Palestine and around 500 people with dual nationality or from other countries to be allowed to go from Gaza to Egypt.
    Earlier, when the border opened, twenty trucks filled with aid were able to enter Gaza.

    More update on this story soon…

  • At least 20 ambulances and 150 passengers enter Egypt

    At least 20 ambulances and 150 passengers enter Egypt

    There are around 350 people at the Rafah border crossing into Egypt waiting to have their IDs checked. Up until now, 150 people have crossed the border by taking buses.

    There is no electronic system or passport stamping right now – everything is not working. There is currently a civilian Palestinian officer who checks passports. Only the people on a list of approved individuals are allowed to leave.

    From here, they will be taken directly to Egypt where they will go through passport control.

    There is another gate for cars to go through about 20 meters away from me.

    We have seen many ambulances going to Egypt. They are carrying people who are very hurt.

    From there, they will be moved to a field hospital that is about 10km (6 miles) away and then sent for more medical care.

  • Car crash in Egypt results in 32 fatalitie, 63 injuries

    Car crash in Egypt results in 32 fatalitie, 63 injuries

    A tragic accident on the Cairo-Alexandria road in Egypt’s Beheira governorate led to the loss of 32 lives and left dozens more injured, according to the health ministry.

    The collision, which took place on Saturday morning, involved a passenger bus and several cars, some of which ignited into flames. Many of the victims suffered severe burns.

    Health authorities dispatched approximately 20 ambulances to the scene, and those wounded were transported to medical facilities in Wadi al-Natrun and Al-Nubaria.

    Egypt frequently experiences road accidents due to poor road conditions and non-compliance with traffic regulations.

  • Brits in Gaza ready for assistance from UK officials in Egypt

    Brits in Gaza ready for assistance from UK officials in Egypt

    Rishi Sunak says that there are teams from the UK Border Force in Egypt to help British citizens who are trying to leave Gaza.

    The UK prime minister, talking to reporters in London, says the British government really wants to bring those people back and take them home.

    “If it is possible for our citizens to cross the Rafah crossing, we are prepared to let them go in and bring them back. ”

    But Sunak says that the situation in Israel and Gaza is still difficult, which means that it is not possible to quickly evacuate people from there.

  • 17 aid trucks cross into Gaza from Egypt

    17 aid trucks cross into Gaza from Egypt

    For the second consecutive day, aid convoys have entered Gaza from Egypt as Israel continues its intensified airstrikes in the conflict sparked by Hamas’s attack.

    On Sunday, seventeen aid trucks crossed into the Gaza Strip to provide essential assistance to the besieged Palestinian territory.

    The conflict has left Gaza in dire need, with extensive damage and limited access to vital supplies.

    The United Nations expressed concern after the first convoy of 20 trucks passed through on Saturday, estimating that the aid delivered was only 4% of Gaza’s daily imports before the war began.

    They emphasized that a significantly larger number of aid trucks, at least 100 per day, is required to meet the needs of the 2.4 million Gazans, half of whom are children, who have been deprived of essential supplies

  • Rishi Sunak travels to Egypt on a Middle East tour

    Rishi Sunak travels to Egypt on a Middle East tour

    The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Rishi Sunak, is having discussions with the President of Egypt, Abdul Fattah al-Sisi.

    Today, Sunak had a meeting with the Amir of Qatar in Saudi Arabia as a part of his visit to the area.

    A representative for the Prime Minister said that the UK’s main focus is on opening the Rafah crossing to allow humanitarian aid to pass through.

  • Egypt becomes Gaza’s final remaining route out

    Egypt becomes Gaza’s final remaining route out

    Egypt is being urged to take action as Gaza, which is located nearby, is getting heavily attacked by Israel. This is happening because of the violent attack that Hamas carried out in Israel on October 7th.

    After Hamas attacked, Israel stopped people from going in or out of Gaza and stopped them from getting fuel, electricity and water.

    This means that the Rafah crossing is the only way for people to leave Gaza and for supplies to come into it.

    However, the crossing has been shut for most of the previous week. Both people from Gaza and foreigners are unable to go across. Additionally, a large amount of important aid for the people in Gaza is accumulating on the Egyptian side of the border.

    An official from Palestine said to CNN that Egypt closed the gates of the border by using concrete blocks. Egypt said that reports of them closing their side of the crossing are not true. They also mentioned that the Palestinian side of the crossing was damaged by Israeli airstrikes many times.

    The Egyptian Foreign Minister, Sameh Shoukry, said to CNN on Saturday that while the crossing was open, the roads on the Gaza side were not working because of bombings from the air.

    The Biden administration spoke with Israel and Egypt to make sure that Americans and other people can leave Gaza safely.

    But Egypt is worried about the idea of many Palestinian refugees coming to live in the country, especially since there are already many migrants there. Over two million Palestinians live in Gaza, a crowded coastal area that is being heavily bombed by Israel.

    Israel’s military wants the 1. 1 million people living in northern Gaza to leave their homes and go south, says the United Nations. Israel also has 300,000 reserve soldiers at the border, which suggests they may plan to attack on the ground.

    Hamas attacked Israel on October 7 and caused the death of 1,300 people. In response, Israel retaliated and has killed 2,329 people in Gaza. As the fighting gets worse and Israel blocks important things from getting in, organizations that protect people’s rights are worried that a big disaster might happen to the people in need.

    There are people and things that are unable to cross the border.

    Usually, very few people can pass through the Rafah crossing. Only people from Gaza who have permission and foreigners are allowed to use it to go between Gaza and Egypt. However, the border has been completely closed off recently.

    Western countries are trying hard to open the crossing in Gaza and get their citizens out. The United States told its citizens in the area to go to Rafah if the crossing opens and they can do so safely.

    At the same time, many Palestinians from other countries came to the border, but they had to wait on the streets for a long time, said the Palestinian border official on Saturday.

    “Sorry, the crossing is not open. ” The official said that no traveler, whether they have Arab or foreign residency or not, is allowed to cross the border.

    US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said on Sunday that Egypt agreed to let Americans pass through Rafah. However, Hamas prevented a group of these Americans from crossing.

    A news channel called Alqahera News, which is controlled by the government, said on Saturday that Egypt is not allowing people from the US and other countries to use the crossing. This is because there is no agreement yet about helping the strip with aid, according to sources from Egypt.

    At the same time, aid is being sent to Egypt and diplomatic efforts are being made to help people in Gaza.

    Helpful planes from Jordan, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the World Health Organization, and the Red Cross have reached the Egyptian city of El-Arish. This city is around 45 kilometers (23 miles) away from Rafah. This news was shown on Egyptian state television on Saturday.

    According to an official from the Egyptian Red Crescent, they have lots of supplies in their warehouses to help people in need. They have also made arrangements to store more aid in the El-Arish stadium.

    According to Tedros Ghebreyesus, the head of WHO, a plane from the World Health Organization arrived in Egypt on Saturday. The plane was carrying medical supplies. However, the group is still waiting to be allowed to pass through the border for humanitarian reasons.

    Shoukry explained that Egypt has attempted to send help to Gaza, but they haven’t been given the right permission to do it.

    Egypt announced on Sunday that it will work harder to assist relief organizations in providing aid to Gaza. However, the Egyptian presidency made it clear that protecting national security is of utmost importance and cannot be compromised.

    During a military graduation ceremony, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi compared the current situation in his country to a house surrounded by a neighborhood that is engulfed in flames. He said that rumors about Egypt not wanting to help the Palestinians are not true.

    “We are ensuring that assistance, such as medical or humanitarian help, reaches the strip during this challenging period,” Sisi stated. He also expressed his sympathy.

    However, he cautioned that there are only certain things Egypt can do to offer assistance.

    Of course we understand and feel sorry for you. But we need to be cautious and think wisely in order to achieve peace and safety without spending too much, he said. Egypt already has 9 million migrants living there. The biggest groups in the country’s migrant population come from Sudan, Syria, Yemen, and Libya, as stated in a report by the United Nations’ International Organization for Migration in 2022.

    Egypt’s government said that Israel’s request for people to leave their homes is against the rules of how to treat people in a time of war. They said that this would risk the lives of over 1 million Palestinians.

    The Jordanian official said to CNN on Thursday that Jordan and Egypt are putting pressure on the Israeli government to let aid go into Gaza through the Rafah crossing.

    Egyptian media outlets are worried about the idea of letting Palestinian refugees come into the country. They are afraid it could cause Gazans to be moved out of Sinai against their will.

    Sisi agreed with those feelings on Thursday. He said that there is a big danger for Gaza which could bring an end to the Palestinian cause. It is important for the people of Gaza to stay strong and keep living on their land.

    Jordan’s King Abdullah met with Blinken on Friday. He cautioned against any efforts to remove or displace Palestinians from their territories.

    Most of the people living in Gaza today are Palestinians who were forced to leave their homes during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war when Israel took control of their land. The war that happened resulted in the creation of Israel. However, Palestinians feel very sad about it and call it the Nakba, which means “catastrophe. ” This is because over 700,000 Palestinians were either kicked out or had to run away from their homes in what is now Israel.

    Many thousands of Palestinians went to live in Gaza after the war when it came under the control of Egypt. Israel took control of a piece of land from Egypt during the war in 1967 and started moving Jewish people there. However, in 2005, Israel removed its soldiers and settlements from that area.

  • Biden signs agreement with Egypt to permit help

    Biden signs agreement with Egypt to permit help

    US President Joe Biden has made an agreement with Egypt to provide some assistance to Gaza in order to help with a serious problem related to the well-being of people, during the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

    While visiting Tel Aviv, Mr. Biden stated that Israel has the right to retaliate for the Hamas attack that caused the fighting.

    The president of the United States said that Israel had been treated very unfairly, but he also mentioned that it is important not to let anger control us.

    He also supported Israel’s claim that an explosion at a Gaza hospital on Tuesday was not caused by an air attack from Israel.

    Palestinian officials are saying that a big explosion happened at Gaza’s Al-Ahli Arab Hospital, and it caused the death of 471 people. They believe that Israel is responsible for this tragic event. The incident has made the conflicts in the area even worse.
    During a short visit to Tel Aviv, lasting less than eight hours, Mr. Biden agreed with the Israeli claim that the explosion was likely caused by a Palestinian rocket that went off course.

    The president of America expressed his strong feelings of sadness and anger about the explosion.

    Israel has blamed Islamic Jihad, a group in Gaza that carries out violent actions. Islamic Jihad said they did not cause the explosion.

    Israel and Palestine have conflicting reports about the number of people who have died. A spokesperson from the foreign ministry, named Lior Haiat, mentioned on a social media site called X that a number of people, approximately “several dozen,” seemed to have been killed.

    While on his way back home, Mr. Biden had a phone conversation with the Egyptian President, Abdul Fattah al-Sisi, to talk about providing assistance to Gaza.

    Mr Biden said that Mr. Sisi agreed to open the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza so that around 20 trucks carrying help for people in need can go into Gaza.

    Egypt said that their president and Mr. Biden agreed to give aid to Gaza in a way that will last for a long time.

    Mr Biden did not say when the border crossing will open, but White House spokesperson John Kirby said it will happen in a few days once the roads are fixed.
    Mr Biden also said that $100 million in US funding will be provided to support Palestinian civilians.

    According to someone who knows about this, the US president is thinking about asking Congress for $10 billion to help Israel. This may happen on Friday.

    Many people are in great need of food, water, fuel, medicine, and other important things because Israel put up a blockade in the area 10 days ago.

    Israel responded after the Palestinian group Hamas attacked and killed 1,400 people in a surprise attack from Gaza on October 7th.

    According to Palestinian health officials, around 3,000 people have died in the Israeli attacks on Gaza as revenge. Over one million Palestinians have left their houses in Gaza – approximately half of the people.

    The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said that Israel will not stop food and other things from going into southern Gaza from Egypt.

    Israel said that it will not let any help pass through its land until Hamas releases the people it is holding hostage.

    MrBiden is going to talk on TV to the whole country from the White House on Thursday at 8:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time (12:00 AM Greenwich Mean Time).

    According to White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre, Mr. Biden will talk about how we are dealing with Hamas’s attacks on Israel and Russia’s ongoing cruel war on Ukraine in his speech.

    On Thursday, the Prime Minister of Britain, Rishi Sunak, is scheduled to go to Israel.

    The US president visited Tel Aviv and was warmly welcomed by Mr Netanyahu. They held a joint press conference together.

    MrBiden compared the Hamas attack on Israel to the 9/11 attacks in the United States.

    MrBiden said that even though the scale may vary, he is confident that the horrors experienced in Israel have stirred up a deep and instinctual emotion, much like they did in the United States. But I want to warn you: even though you may feel that rage, try not to let it completely overwhelm you.

    After the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001, we were very angry in the United States. And while we looked for fairness and achieved fairness, we also made errors.

    Referring to the explosion at the hospital, Mr. Biden said to Mr. Netanyahu that it seems like the other group, not him, is responsible based on what he has seen.

    Reporters asked Mr. Biden why he thought Israel was not responsible, and he answered that he saw evidence from his defense department.

    A high-ranking American official told CBS, who works closely with the BBC in the US, that the US has its own intelligence separate from Israel’s. This intelligence includes intercepted communications and satellite photos, which strongly suggest that Israel did not carry out the strike with a high level of certainty.

    The person in charge said there were signs that the rocket may have been mistakenly fired by a group in Gaza.

    MrBiden wanted to go from Israel to Jordan to meet with King Abdullah, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, and Egypt’s President Sisi. However, he canceled this part of his trip after the hospital explosion.

    Jordan cancelled the meeting and strongly criticized what they called “a terrible disaster and a horrible crime of war”.

    The White House said that both parties agreed to cancel that part of the visit.

  • Egyptian aid waiting to enter Gaza

    Egyptian aid waiting to enter Gaza

    Around 20 large vehicles carrying essential items like food, clean water, and medicine might soon get permission to go into Gaza.

    Israel stopped supplying electricity, water, food, and medicine to Gaza after Hamas militants attacked on October 7th.

    Since then, the 2. 1 million people living in Gaza have been quickly running out of necessary items.

    However, important groups that help people warn that giving aid will only make a small impact.

    “The UN says that at least 100 trucks of help are needed to support the many people living in Gaza,” explained Shaina Low from the Norwegian Refugee Council to the BBC.

    Right now, it is believed that only 20 people will be allowed in.

    Even before the war began, 1. 2 million people depended on food assistance from UNWRA, according to Juliette Touma, the spokesperson of the UN organization in Amman, who spoke to the BBC.

    Many people in the Gaza Strip are very poor. Even before the war started, the situation was really bad. “It’s turning into a sorrowful situation,” she expressed.

    US President Joe Biden and Egypt‘s President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi agreed to send a small amount of aid through Egypt’s Rafah crossing.

    After a short trip to Israel, Mr Biden talked to Mr al-Sisi on the phone.

    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday that Israel will not stop goods from Egypt from reaching the people living in southern Gaza.

    But the government only said yes to letting food, water, and medicine in – not things like fuel that are really needed.

    A report from the United Nations about Gaza stated that fuel is very important, and not having enough fuel is making the water crisis worse. The machines that make saltwater clean and the machines that pump water can’t work without fuel.
    The aid agreement provides some hope for the many people in Gaza. Before these discussions, it was not known how any help would reach regular people.

    Israel has stated that it will not let any help come through its land until Hamas sets free the people they are holding as captives. Also, no aid has been able to move through the Rafah crossing in Egypt.

    In an interview with the BBC’s Newshour, Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry explained that the crossing into Gaza had been bombed four times, and there was no permission given for trucks and vehicles to enter Gaza safely.

    “He said he wants to find out why the crossing is being attacked and who is attacking it. ”

    It is not clear when exactly people who need help will receive aid. The road at the Rafah crossing needs fixing first so that trucks can go through.

    However, according to Mohsen Sarhan, who works at the Egyptian Food Bank, there is not much time left before supplies run out. He said there were 120 trucks ready to bring help and they were waiting at the border to cross safely.

    We are really mad because we found out that people in that area don’t have any water left. They don’t have any more body bags available. They don’t have anything left.

  • Egypt agrees to let first aid vehicles into Gaza

    Egypt agrees to let first aid vehicles into Gaza

    Egypt has agreed to let trucks with supplies go into Gaza. People all around the world are getting more and more angry about Israel locking up Gaza as punishment for the violent Hamas attacks that happened almost two weeks ago.

    The continuous attacks on Gaza by Israel have caused more and more people in the Middle East to express their anger through protests. This has also increased concerns that the war could lead to a bigger conflict involving other countries in the region.

    While returning from his trip to Israel, US President Joe Biden announced that Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi agreed to open the Rafah crossing into Gaza for humanitarian assistance. The crossing is not under Israel’s control.

    Biden said that around 20 trucks from an aid convoy that has been waiting for many days at the closed border gate will be allowed to enter Gaza. Biden said that the roads near the crossing have big holes from Israeli airstrikes, so they need to be repaired before the trucks can go through. He said that the work could be completed in eight hours on Thursday before the first aid supplies are delivered on Friday.

    We are talking with different groups to make sure that we can send essential items to the people in need. Currently, we are in the middle of these discussions. “We’re trying our best to bring them in as quickly as possible,” said UN deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq to CNN on Wednesday.

    We don’t know how much the first delivery will help the Gazan people who are suffering from a severe crisis that is affecting many people and getting worse, according to the World Health Organization.

    “We are hopeful that the aid deal will not fail,” said Richard Brennan, a representative from WHO, on Thursday. He added that there are many challenging factors in starting this aid operation.

    This is not a short race. This is only the beginning. This is a long race. He said it was a very long and difficult task, with the goal of distributing aid to 100 trucks per day.

    Biden said that the crossing would only allow aid to enter, not people being evacuated. This means that the 2. 2 million Palestinians, including foreign nationals and dual citizens, who are stuck in Gaza have an uncertain future as they have no way to leave.

    Over the past week, more and more Palestinians in Gaza have been asking for help. They moved towards the south because Israel told them to leave the north. However, they discovered that there was no safe place in the crowded area.

    As the airstrikes continue nonstop, hospitals are running out of medicine and fuel to keep their lights on. The medical staff is overwhelmed and trying their best to save lives.

    UN agencies are saying that stores are almost out of food and Gaza’s last seawater desalination plant has stopped working. This means there is a higher chance of more people getting sick or dying from lack of water and diseases passed through water.

    For almost 17 years, Israel has stopped air, land, and sea access to Gaza, which has resulted in the strip being mostly cut off from the rest of the world. Things were already verybad before the war – and are getting even worse quickly after Israel stopped providing things to Gaza following the attack by Hamas, the group that controls the strip.

    The murder and kidnapping spree resulted in the death of around 1,400 people in Israel. Most of the victims were regular people,not soldiers. This terrible event is considered the worst killing of Jewish people since the Holocaust. Hamas has taken control of about 150 people and is holding them against their will.

    Since the past few days,around 3,500 people have been killed in Gaza, as confirmed by Palestinian health officials. Among the victims, there are many women and children who have lost their lives.

    People in Arab nations were already getting really angry. However, it became very violent after a large explosion happened in Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza on Tuesday. Gaza authorities said that this explosion caused the death of hundreds of innocent people.

    Palestinian officials say Israel bombed the hospital, but Israel says it didn’t.

    Israel presented evidence on Wednesday that proves a rocket misfire by the Islamic Jihad militant group.

    Biden supported that explanation on Wednesday, referring to information from US intelligence. A representative from the National Security Council said that after looking at pictures from above, intercepted messages, and public information, it seems like Israel is not to blame.

    Islamic Jihad, a group that goes against Hamas, stated that they are not responsible.

    However,many Arab countries expressed disapproval and blamed Israel’s military for bombing the hospital. This led to thousands of protesters gathering in Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Egypt, and Tunisia, shouting slogans against Israel.

    Other countries and international organizations, like the United Nations, have shown shock and sadness at the number of deaths and advised that we should wait until we have all the facts before blaming anyone.

    The explosion happened shortly before Biden was scheduled to go to the Middle East. This caused a lot of panic and confusion among the people working for him. As a result, the important meeting with Arab leaders in Jordan had to be rescheduled.

    But Biden said his talk with Egypt’s Sisi, which happened while their plane was refueling,went well. “See, I came here to finish a task, and I finish edit,” he said to CNN.

    He did not provide detailed information about the efforts made to rescue Americans and other civilians from Gaza, but mentioned that he was optimistic about the progress being made in those attempts.

    There are worries that protests against Israel are increasing in the Middle East, and this could lead to more conflicts,especially on Israel’s border with Lebanon. In that region, a militia supported by Iran is in control and has been fighting with Israel’s military recently.

    The spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces is Lieutenant[Name]. Colonel Jonathan Conricus spoke to CNN on Thursday and said that Hezbollah had done something very serious. He said that the group shot many missiles at tanks from Lebanon and tried to secretly enter Israel but failed.

    Conricus said that Hezbollah is causing trouble for Lebanon by involving it in a conflict that doesn’t concern it and will not bring any benefits.

    Chinese leader Xi Jinping told Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly on Thursday that China is ready to work with Egypt to bring more certainty and stability to the region, as reported by state media.

    Xi told Madbouly that the international and regional situation is changing a lot and is very complicated.

  • Foreign minister of Germany visits Egypt

    Foreign minister of Germany visits Egypt

    Today, the German Foreign Minister, Annalena Baerbock, will go to Cairo. She will have a conversation about the difficult situation for people in Gaza. Her journey is expected to end later in the day.

    Baerbock mentioned that she is discussing with Egypt and the United Nations about creating safe areas in Gaza for regular people. This is important because the Israeli army told over one million civilians to relocate to the south as they expected a ground attack.

    Egypt is in charge of the Rafah crossing, which is the only way to get into or out of the enclave.