Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, on Saturday (Oct 21), said that the international community must sidestep an intensification of the conflict between Israel and Hamas and develop a roadmap towards the two-state solution.

She made the remarks during her address at the Cairo International Summit for Peace in the Middle East.

"Although our starting points are far apart, our interests overlap perfectly: that what is happening in Gaza does not become a much wider conflict, a religious war, a clash of civilisations," Meloni said speaking in Italian.

"I have the impression that this was the real aim of the Hamas attack, not to defend the rights of the Palestinian people, but an attack that would create an unbridgeable gap between the Palestinians and the Israelis, meaning that the target is all of us, and we cannot fall into this trap, which would be very stupid."

The Italian prime minister met Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Cairo and travelled to Tel Aviv to meet her Israeli counterpart&nbsp;Benjamin Netanyahu.

During her conversation with Abbas, the two leaders raised concerns about the need to make efforts for a de-escalation of the war between Israel and Hams and for a two-state solution, referring to the idea of establishing two separate and independent states, one for Israelis and one for Palestinians.

"I hope that there is a responsibility on the part of the whole international community, and it seems to me that there is, to speed up this process and provide a structural solution to the conflict," Meloni said.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-joe-biden-dials-american-hostages-released-by-hamas-649777">US President Joe Biden dials American hostages released by Hamas</a>

She further emphasised that a two-state solution must have an exact timeframe.

<h2>Guterres urges ceasefire</h2>

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, while addressing a Cairo summit, urged for a "humanitarian ceasefire" in the ongoing conflict demanding "action to end this godawful nightmare".

He said that the Palestinian enclave of 2.4 million people was living through "a humanitarian catastrophe" with thousands dead and more than a million displaced.&nbsp;

"We meet in the heart of a region that is reeling in pain and one step from the precipice," he told the meeting that included the leaders of Egypt, Iraq, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates as well as of Italy, Spain and Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, on Saturday (Oct 21), said that the international community must sidestep an intensification of the conflict between Israel and Hamas and develop a roadmap towards the two-state solution.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, on Saturday (Oct 21), said that the international community must sidestep an intensification of the conflict between Israel and Hamas and develop a roadmap towards the two-state solution. She made the remarks during her address at the Cairo International Summit for Peace in the Middle East. "Although our starting points are far apart, our interests overlap perfectly: that what is happening in Gaza does not become a much wider conflict, a religious war, a clash of civilisations," Meloni said speaking in Italian. "I have the impression that this was the real aim of the Hamas attack, not to defend the rights of the Palestinian people, but an attack that would create an unbridgeable gap between the Palestinians and the Israelis, meaning that the target is all of us, and we cannot fall into this trap, which would be very stupid." The Italian prime minister met Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Cairo and travelled to Tel Aviv to meet her Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu. During her conversation with Abbas, the two leaders raised concerns about the need to make efforts for a de-escalation of the war between Israel and Hams and for a two-state solution, referring to the idea of establishing two separate and independent states, one for Israelis and one for Palestinians. "I hope that there is a responsibility on the part of the whole international community, and it seems to me that there is, to speed up this process and provide a structural solution to the conflict," Meloni said. Also read: US President Joe Biden dials American hostages released by Hamas She further emphasised that a two-state solution must have an exact timeframe. Guterres urges ceasefire UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, while addressing a Cairo summit, urged for a "humanitarian ceasefire" in the ongoing conflict demanding "action to end this godawful nightmare". He said that the Palestinian enclave of 2.4 million people was living through "a humanitarian catastrophe" with thousands dead and more than a million displaced. "We meet in the heart of a region that is reeling in pain and one step from the precipice," he told the meeting that included the leaders of Egypt, Iraq, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates as well as of Italy, Spain and Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Italian PM Giorgia Meloni urges international community to avoid escalation of Israel-Hamas war

The Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza will open on Friday (Oct 20), according to state-linked television Al Qahera News.&nbsp;

Truckloads of aid carrying food and medical supplies designated for Gaza, on Thursday (Oct 19), remained on the Egyptian side of the border after United States President Joe Biden struck a deal with Israel to allow relief into the war-torn region.

Biden, during his visit to Tel Aviv on Wednesday (Oct 19), said that Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi had agreed to "let up to 20 trucks through, to begin with," to the heavily bombarded Gaza Strip, starting Friday, giving authorities time to repair roads.

As per news agency AFP, 150 trucks were waiting at Rafah, the only passage in and out of Gaza which is not controlled by Israel.

This was in addition to the ones in the Egyptian city of El Arish, where planes loaded with relief supplies had been arriving.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/modi-pledges-humanitarian-aid-to-palestinians-in-talks-with-palestinian-authority-president-abbas-648839">Modi pledges humanitarian aid to&nbsp;Palestinians in talks with President Abbas</a>

<h2>WHO says trucks 'loaded and ready to go'</h2>

Meanwhile, World Health Organization on Thursday (Oct 19) welcomed Israel's announcement and said that their five trucks were loaded and ready to go.

"Our trucks are loaded and ready to go," WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a press conference. He said he hoped the supplies would be delivered as soon as the Rafah crossing opened, "hopefully tomorrow".

On Wednesday, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu's office released a statement saying that items like "food, water and medicine" would be permitted into the besieged Palestinian enclave.

"In light of (US) President (Joe) Biden's demand, Israel would not foil the supply of humanitarian aid via Egypt," the prime minister's office said.

"Israel will not allow any humanitarian aid from its territory to the Gaza Strip as long as our hostages are not returned," the statement read.

"Israel demands Red Cross visits with our captives and is working to mobilise broad international support for this demand," it added.&nbsp;

Israel had cut off supplies of water, electricity, fuel and food to Gaza after the militant group Hamas launched an unprecedented attack against Israel on Oct 7.

United Nations humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths has estimated that about 100 trucks per day were needed to meet the needs in Gaza.

Humanitarian workers at the border have warned that the relief must be allowed into the region as soon as possible as the perishable items, that were a part of the aid, had begun to spoil. They also cautioned that the basic supplies have run dangerously low in the conflict-torn region.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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The Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza will open on Friday (Oct 20), according to state-linked television Al Qahera News. Truckloads of aid carrying food and medical supplies designated for Gaza, on Thursday (Oct 19), remained on the Egyptian side of the border after United States President Joe Biden struck a deal with Israel to allow relief into the war-torn region.

The Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza will open on Friday (Oct 20), according to state-linked television Al Qahera News. Truckloads of aid carrying food and medical supplies designated for Gaza, on Thursday (Oct 19), remained on the Egyptian side of the border after United States President Joe Biden struck a deal with Israel to allow relief into the war-torn region. Biden, during his visit to Tel Aviv on Wednesday (Oct 19), said that Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi had agreed to "let up to 20 trucks through, to begin with," to the heavily bombarded Gaza Strip, starting Friday, giving authorities time to repair roads. As per news agency AFP, 150 trucks were waiting at Rafah, the only passage in and out of Gaza which is not controlled by Israel. This was in addition to the ones in the Egyptian city of El Arish, where planes loaded with relief supplies had been arriving. Also read: Modi pledges humanitarian aid to Palestinians in talks with President Abbas WHO says trucks 'loaded and ready to go' Meanwhile, World Health Organization on Thursday (Oct 19) welcomed Israel's announcement and said that their five trucks were loaded and ready to go. "Our trucks are loaded and ready to go," WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a press conference. He said he hoped the supplies would be delivered as soon as the Rafah crossing opened, "hopefully tomorrow". On Wednesday, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu's office released a statement saying that items like "food, water and medicine" would be permitted into the besieged Palestinian enclave. "In light of (US) President (Joe) Biden's demand, Israel would not foil the supply of humanitarian aid via Egypt," the prime minister's office said. "Israel will not allow any humanitarian aid from its territory to the Gaza Strip as long as our hostages are not returned," the statement read. "Israel demands Red Cross visits with our captives and is working to mobilise broad international support for this demand," it added. Israel had cut off supplies of water, electricity, fuel and food to Gaza after the militant group Hamas launched an unprecedented attack against Israel on Oct 7. United Nations humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths has estimated that about 100 trucks per day were needed to meet the needs in Gaza. Humanitarian workers at the border have warned that the relief must be allowed into the region as soon as possible as the perishable items, that were a part of the aid, had begun to spoil. They also cautioned that the basic supplies have run dangerously low in the conflict-torn region. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Rafah border crossing to open on Friday as pressure for aid to reach besieged civilians mounts

Israel would allow aid into Gaza through Egypt, announced Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office on Wednesday (Oct 18). The statement said that only items like "food, water and medicine" would be permitted into the besieged Palestinian enclave.

"In light of (US) President (Joe) Biden's demand, Israel would not foil the supply of humanitarian aid via Egypt," the prime minister's office said, announcing a cabinet decision.

The statement by the PM's office further noted that aid to civilians in the southern Gaza Strip would be allowed "so long as these supplies do not reach Hamas" which rules Gaza.

"Israel will not allow any humanitarian aid from its territory to the Gaza Strip as long as our hostages are not returned," it added.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/jordan-and-egypt-refuse-to-accept-palestinian-refugees-as-israel-continues-retaliatory-strikes-648436">Jordan, Egypt refuse to accept Palestinian refugees as Israel ramps up strikes</a>

It is pertinent to note that while Israel said that it would allow aid via Egypt, it also claimed that supplies would not come from its own territory until Hamas released the hostages it took in an unprecedented attack on Oct 7, which meandered into a war.

"Israel demands Red Cross visits with our captives and is working to mobilise broad international support for this demand," the statement added.&nbsp;

US President Joe Biden had urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to allow aid for Gaza during his visit to Tel Aviv.

<h2>Seeking 'unprecedented' aid for Israel this week, says Biden</h2>

Biden, during a press briefing in Tel Aviv on Wednesday (Oct 18), said that he would ask Congress for "unprecedented" aid for Israel.

The US president said that he was committed to the promise made by his country over a decade ago to make sure his ally has a "qualitative edge" over foes on the battleground.

"We're going to make sure you have what you need to protect your people, to defend your nation," Biden said as he closed a brief solidarity visit.

"Later this week, I'm going to ask the United States Congress for an unprecedented support package for Israel's defence," he said.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Israel would allow aid into Gaza through Egypt, announced Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office on Wednesday (Oct 18). The statement said that only items like "food, water and medicine" would be permitted into the besieged Palestinian enclave.

Israel would allow aid into Gaza through Egypt, announced Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office on Wednesday (Oct 18). The statement said that only items like "food, water and medicine" would be permitted into the besieged Palestinian enclave. "In light of (US) President (Joe) Biden's demand, Israel would not foil the supply of humanitarian aid via Egypt," the prime minister's office said, announcing a cabinet decision. The statement by the PM's office further noted that aid to civilians in the southern Gaza Strip would be allowed "so long as these supplies do not reach Hamas" which rules Gaza. "Israel will not allow any humanitarian aid from its territory to the Gaza Strip as long as our hostages are not returned," it added. Also read: Jordan, Egypt refuse to accept Palestinian refugees as Israel ramps up strikes It is pertinent to note that while Israel said that it would allow aid via Egypt, it also claimed that supplies would not come from its own territory until Hamas released the hostages it took in an unprecedented attack on Oct 7, which meandered into a war. "Israel demands Red Cross visits with our captives and is working to mobilise broad international support for this demand," the statement added. US President Joe Biden had urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to allow aid for Gaza during his visit to Tel Aviv. Seeking 'unprecedented' aid for Israel this week, says Biden Biden, during a press briefing in Tel Aviv on Wednesday (Oct 18), said that he would ask Congress for "unprecedented" aid for Israel. The US president said that he was committed to the promise made by his country over a decade ago to make sure his ally has a "qualitative edge" over foes on the battleground. "We're going to make sure you have what you need to protect your people, to defend your nation," Biden said as he closed a brief solidarity visit. "Later this week, I'm going to ask the United States Congress for an unprecedented support package for Israel's defence," he said. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Israel to let aid into Gaza via Egypt, announces Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Egypt and Jordan have refused to take refugees from Palestine even as both blamed Israel for the attacks on a Gaza hospital that left around 500 dead as per Hamas health ministry claims.

Thousands of Palestinians are currently stuck at the Rafah crossing at the border of Egypt, the only access to the besieged territory not controlled by Israel. As Israel's retaliatory strikes continue to pummel northern Gaza, many Palestinians have moved south of the region and are trying to cross to Egypt.

The border was closed down on October 10 after it was allegedly hit by Israeli warplanes on the Palestinian side three times.

Following a meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin, Jordan King Abdullah II on Tuesday categorically said that neither Egypt nor Jordan would take in an influx of Palestinian refugees. &nbsp;

<h2>'This is a red line'</h2>

Addressing reporters in Berlin on Tuesday, King Abdullah II said, “This is a red line ... no refugees to Jordan and also no refugees to Egypt.”

“This is a situation that has to be handled within Gaza and the West Bank,” he said. “And you don’t have to carry this out on the shoulders of others.”

Abdullah stressed that there is an urgent need to temper down the escalation of the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.

“The whole region is on the brink,” Abdullah said. “This new cycle of violence is leading us towards the abyss,” the Jordanian Monarch added.

"All our efforts are needed to make sure we don't get there," he said.

<h2>Egypt's president&nbsp;agrees with Jordan's king</h2>

Echoing similar views, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi reasoned why they can't let Palestinians in.

"The displacement of Palestinians from Gaza to Egypt means the same displacement will take place for Palestinians from the West Bank into Jordan," Sisi warned.

"Subsequently, the Palestinian state that we are talking about and that the world is talking about will become impossible to implement -- because the land is there, but the people are not. Therefore, I warn of the danger of this matter."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-supports-israels-report-on-gaza-hospital-strike-condemns-hamas-648337">Gaza hospital strike 'done by other team', Biden tells Netanyahu during Israel trip</a>

Sisi said Egypt "did not close" the crossing, but that "developments on the ground and the repeated bombings by Israel of the Palestinian side of the crossing have prevented its operation".

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/un-sanctions-prohibiting-iran-from-trading-missiles-and-drones-expire-648405">UN sanctions prohibiting Iran from trading missiles and drones expire</a>

Hundreds of lorries carrying aid have been waiting for six days on the Egyptian side of the crossing, which Israeli aircraft has bombed four times.

Scholz told reporters Berlin and Cairo "are working together to get humanitarian access to the Gaza Strip as quickly as possible."

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Egypt and Jordan have refused to take refugees from Palestine even as both blamed Israel for the attacks on a Gaza hospital that left around 500 dead as per Hamas health ministry claims.

Egypt and Jordan have refused to take refugees from Palestine even as both blamed Israel for the attacks on a Gaza hospital that left around 500 dead as per Hamas health ministry claims. Thousands of Palestinians are currently stuck at the Rafah crossing at the border of Egypt, the only access to the besieged territory not controlled by Israel. As Israel's retaliatory strikes continue to pummel northern Gaza, many Palestinians have moved south of the region and are trying to cross to Egypt. The border was closed down on October 10 after it was allegedly hit by Israeli warplanes on the Palestinian side three times. Following a meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin, Jordan King Abdullah II on Tuesday categorically said that neither Egypt nor Jordan would take in an influx of Palestinian refugees. 'This is a red line' Addressing reporters in Berlin on Tuesday, King Abdullah II said, “This is a red line ... no refugees to Jordan and also no refugees to Egypt.” “This is a situation that has to be handled within Gaza and the West Bank,” he said. “And you don’t have to carry this out on the shoulders of others.” Abdullah stressed that there is an urgent need to temper down the escalation of the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. “The whole region is on the brink,” Abdullah said. “This new cycle of violence is leading us towards the abyss,” the Jordanian Monarch added. "All our efforts are needed to make sure we don't get there," he said. Egypt's president agrees with Jordan's king Echoing similar views, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi reasoned why they can't let Palestinians in. "The displacement of Palestinians from Gaza to Egypt means the same displacement will take place for Palestinians from the West Bank into Jordan," Sisi warned. "Subsequently, the Palestinian state that we are talking about and that the world is talking about will become impossible to implement -- because the land is there, but the people are not. Therefore, I warn of the danger of this matter." Also read | Gaza hospital strike 'done by other team', Biden tells Netanyahu during Israel trip Sisi said Egypt "did not close" the crossing, but that "developments on the ground and the repeated bombings by Israel of the Palestinian side of the crossing have prevented its operation". Also read | UN sanctions prohibiting Iran from trading missiles and drones expire Hundreds of lorries carrying aid have been waiting for six days on the Egyptian side of the crossing, which Israeli aircraft has bombed four times. Scholz told reporters Berlin and Cairo "are working together to get humanitarian access to the Gaza Strip as quickly as possible." WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Jordan and Egypt refuse to accept Palestinian refugees as Israel continues retaliatory strikes

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Cairo on Sunday (Oct 15) and will head back to Israel on Monday for his second visit in less than a week following his visit to six Arab countries, said the State Department. Meanwhile, Egyptian&nbsp;President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s office said he is in talks with international and regional partners to enable aid deliveries into Gaza.

This comes as convoys of humanitarian aid are getting stacked up near Egypt’s border with the Gaza Strip, a report by the news agency AFP citing witnesses on Sunday, as it is unable to enter the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israels-military-gives-three-hour-deadline-to-civilians-to-evacuate-northern-gaza-amidst-impending-attack-647194">Palestinian enclave</a> amid bombardment by Israel.&nbsp;

During his visit, Blinken said that the border crossing between Gaza and Egypt "will be open" to send&nbsp;aid into the Palestinian enclave.&nbsp;

<h2>Blinken in Cairo</h2>

Washington’s top diplomat arrived in Egypt following his visit to Saudi Arabia where he held what he described as “very productive” talks with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.&nbsp;

During the meeting, the Saudi crown prince stressed the need to find ways to stop the conflict and respect international law, including by lifting the Israeli blockade on Gaza, according to the Saudi state news agency SPA.&nbsp;

"We're putting in place with the United Nations, with Egypt, with Israel, with others, the mechanism by which to get the assistance and to get it to people who need it," said Washington's top diplomat in Cairo.&nbsp;

The&nbsp;United States had appointed an envoy, veteran former diplomat David Satterfield, to work on aid to Gaza, said Blinken.&nbsp;

“Secretary Blinken will return tomorrow for further consultations with Israeli leaders,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters as Blinken arrived in Cairo.

<h2>‘Collective punishment’: Sisi&nbsp;on Israeli action&nbsp;in Gaza</h2>

Sisi told Blinken that Israel’s reaction to Hamas’ attack has gone beyond self-defence and amounted to collective punishment.&nbsp;

The remarks were made in televised comments during a meeting with Washington’s top diplomat in Cairo where he also said that he rejected the targeting of any civilians in the conflict.

<h2>Egypt ramps up efforts to get aid to Gaza</h2>

A statement from the Egyptian president’s office which was issued following a meeting of the national security council said Egypt rejected any plan to displace Palestinians “to the detriment of other countries” and Cairo’s own security was a red line.

Egypt’s president has also proposed a summit to discuss the crisis, according to the statement.

The Egyptian presidency has also said that it is ramping up efforts to deliver <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/true-humanitarian-crisis-gazans-walk-30-km-south-many-sheltering-at-al-shifa-hospital-reluctant-to-move-646463">aid to Gaza </a>as humanitarian aid from several countries is building up in Egypt’s Sinai peninsula due to a failure to reach a deal enabling its safe delivery into the Palestinian enclave.&nbsp;

<h2>Humanitarian aid stuck on border</h2>

Images show a convoy of trucks carrying humanitarian aid as well as volunteers lined up near the Rafah crossing – the only passage in and out of the Gaza Strip not controlled by Israel – which has been closed since Tuesday (Oct 10).&nbsp;

On Sunday, witnesses told AFP that concrete blocks installed by the Egyptians to fortify the border following Israel’s bombings were still in place indicating that no passage was being considered any time soon.

In an interview with CNN, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said that while the Rafah crossing was open, the roads leading to it in Gaza were “inoperable” due to Israeli bombardment.

The United Nations aid chief Martin Griffiths on Saturday said that the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israeli-strikes-kill-gaza-civilians-including-children-on-safe-routes-reports-646972">humanitarian situation</a> in Gaza is now “fast becoming untenable,” with no power, water or fuel in Gaza, and food is running dangerously low.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Cairo on Sunday (Oct 15) and will head back to Israel on Monday for his second visit in less than a week following his visit to six Arab countries, said the State Department.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Cairo on Sunday (Oct 15) and will head back to Israel on Monday for his second visit in less than a week following his visit to six Arab countries, said the State Department. Meanwhile, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s office said he is in talks with international and regional partners to enable aid deliveries into Gaza. This comes as convoys of humanitarian aid are getting stacked up near Egypt’s border with the Gaza Strip, a report by the news agency AFP citing witnesses on Sunday, as it is unable to enter the Palestinian enclave amid bombardment by Israel. During his visit, Blinken said that the border crossing between Gaza and Egypt "will be open" to send aid into the Palestinian enclave. Blinken in Cairo Washington’s top diplomat arrived in Egypt following his visit to Saudi Arabia where he held what he described as “very productive” talks with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. During the meeting, the Saudi crown prince stressed the need to find ways to stop the conflict and respect international law, including by lifting the Israeli blockade on Gaza, according to the Saudi state news agency SPA. "We're putting in place with the United Nations, with Egypt, with Israel, with others, the mechanism by which to get the assistance and to get it to people who need it," said Washington's top diplomat in Cairo. The United States had appointed an envoy, veteran former diplomat David Satterfield, to work on aid to Gaza, said Blinken. “Secretary Blinken will return tomorrow for further consultations with Israeli leaders,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters as Blinken arrived in Cairo. ‘Collective punishment’: Sisi on Israeli action in Gaza Sisi told Blinken that Israel’s reaction to Hamas’ attack has gone beyond self-defence and amounted to collective punishment. The remarks were made in televised comments during a meeting with Washington’s top diplomat in Cairo where he also said that he rejected the targeting of any civilians in the conflict. Egypt ramps up efforts to get aid to Gaza A statement from the Egyptian president’s office which was issued following a meeting of the national security council said Egypt rejected any plan to displace Palestinians “to the detriment of other countries” and Cairo’s own security was a red line. Egypt’s president has also proposed a summit to discuss the crisis, according to the statement. The Egyptian presidency has also said that it is ramping up efforts to deliver aid to Gaza as humanitarian aid from several countries is building up in Egypt’s Sinai peninsula due to a failure to reach a deal enabling its safe delivery into the Palestinian enclave. Humanitarian aid stuck on border Images show a convoy of trucks carrying humanitarian aid as well as volunteers lined up near the Rafah crossing – the only passage in and out of the Gaza Strip not controlled by Israel – which has been closed since Tuesday (Oct 10). On Sunday, witnesses told AFP that concrete blocks installed by the Egyptians to fortify the border following Israel’s bombings were still in place indicating that no passage was being considered any time soon. In an interview with CNN, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said that while the Rafah crossing was open, the roads leading to it in Gaza were “inoperable” due to Israeli bombardment. The United Nations aid chief Martin Griffiths on Saturday said that the humanitarian situation in Gaza is now “fast becoming untenable,” with no power, water or fuel in Gaza, and food is running dangerously low. (With inputs from agencies) Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Israel-Hamas war: Blinken visits Cairo; Egypt steps up efforts to break impasse over Gaza aid

Even as questions are being raised over Israel’s apparent intelligence failure, a senior Egyptian intelligence officer has claimed that the country’s security agencies downplayed the repeated “warnings” Cairo had issued over Hamas’s potential strike.

The official, whose identity has not been revealed, told AP news agency that the Israeli officials focused on the West Bank and ignored the threat that “something big” was being planned from Gaza.

The majority of the supporters of Benjamin Netanyahu's government comprise Jewish settlers in the West Bank. They had demanded the government to crack down on rising tensions in the region for the last 18 months.

Egypt, which has historically acted as a mediator between Israel and Hamas, had communicated to Israel about the threat multiple times, the official claimed, adding “but they underestimated”.

“We have warned them an explosion of the situation is coming, and very soon, and it would be big. But they underestimated such warnings,” the unnamed official was quoted as saying.

<h2>Israel responds&nbsp;</h2>

However, Israel’s Prime Minister's Office categorically dismissed the official’s claims as “totally fake news”.

“The report to the effect that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received a message in advance from Egypt is absolutely false,” the prime minister’s office tweeted.

“No message in advance has arrived from Egypt and the Prime Minister has neither spoken, nor met, with the head of Egyptian intelligence since the formation of the government, neither directly nor indirectly.”

This development comes at a time when Israeli security agencies, who were caught off guard by attacks, are scrambling to crack down on the Hamas terror group.

<h2>Media seeks answers&nbsp;</h2>

Several local media have also raised questions about security agencies'&nbsp;apparent failure in pre-empting the terror attacks.

Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that neither the Israeli Defence Force nor the Israel Security Agency — commonly known as the Shin Bet — issued any warnings that the terrorist organisation was about to launch the assault.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-at-war-hamas-threatens-to-televise-the-killing-of-captive-israelis-644671">Hamas slammed for threatening to televise the killing of captive Israelis</a>

Last week, senior IDF and defence ministry officials publicly said that Hamas was not particularly interested in open conflict, the outlet reported.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/defence-shares-soar-amid-israel-hamas-conflict-644714">Defence shares soar amid Israel-Hamas conflict</a>

“This is a major failure,” said Yaakov Amidror, a former national security adviser to&nbsp;Netanyahu.

“This operation actually proves that the (Israeli intelligence) abilities in Gaza were no good.”

(With inputs from agencies)

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Even as questions are being raised over Israel’s apparent intelligence failure, a senior Egyptian intelligence officer has claimed that the country’s security agencies downplayed the repeated “warnings” Cairo had issued over Hamas’s potential strike.

Even as questions are being raised over Israel’s apparent intelligence failure, a senior Egyptian intelligence officer has claimed that the country’s security agencies downplayed the repeated “warnings” Cairo had issued over Hamas’s potential strike. The official, whose identity has not been revealed, told AP news agency that the Israeli officials focused on the West Bank and ignored the threat that “something big” was being planned from Gaza. The majority of the supporters of Benjamin Netanyahu's government comprise Jewish settlers in the West Bank. They had demanded the government to crack down on rising tensions in the region for the last 18 months. Egypt, which has historically acted as a mediator between Israel and Hamas, had communicated to Israel about the threat multiple times, the official claimed, adding “but they underestimated”. “We have warned them an explosion of the situation is coming, and very soon, and it would be big. But they underestimated such warnings,” the unnamed official was quoted as saying. Israel responds However, Israel’s Prime Minister's Office categorically dismissed the official’s claims as “totally fake news”. “The report to the effect that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received a message in advance from Egypt is absolutely false,” the prime minister’s office tweeted. “No message in advance has arrived from Egypt and the Prime Minister has neither spoken, nor met, with the head of Egyptian intelligence since the formation of the government, neither directly nor indirectly.” This development comes at a time when Israeli security agencies, who were caught off guard by attacks, are scrambling to crack down on the Hamas terror group. Media seeks answers Several local media have also raised questions about security agencies' apparent failure in pre-empting the terror attacks. Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that neither the Israeli Defence Force nor the Israel Security Agency — commonly known as the Shin Bet — issued any warnings that the terrorist organisation was about to launch the assault. Also read | Hamas slammed for threatening to televise the killing of captive Israelis Last week, senior IDF and defence ministry officials publicly said that Hamas was not particularly interested in open conflict, the outlet reported. Also read | Defence shares soar amid Israel-Hamas conflict “This is a major failure,” said Yaakov Amidror, a former national security adviser to Netanyahu. “This operation actually proves that the (Israeli intelligence) abilities in Gaza were no good.” (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Egypt intelligence official claims Israel ignored its warning on Hamas attack

At least two Israeli tourists and one Egyptian were killed after an Egyptian policeman opened fire on Israeli tourists in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria, on Sunday (Oct 8), said Egypt’s interior ministry.&nbsp;

This comes as Israel is in the midst of facing a surprise attack by the Palestinian militant group Hamas while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel is in a state of war which has since prompted Western countries to ramp up security for its Jewish residents amid rise in tensions.&nbsp;

<h2>What happened in Egypt?</h2>

The policeman fired “at random” using “his personal weapon” at an Israeli tour group visiting Pompey’s Pillar site in Alexandria, the state-affiliated private television Extra News said, quoting a security source, as per AFP.&nbsp;

The suspected assailant who had also injured one other person has since reportedly been detained. The security forces quickly cordoned off the site of the attack, as per local media reports.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-palestine-crisis-live-unsc-to-meet-as-death-toll-climbs-to-over-300-643864">Israel-Palestine war LIVE: PM Netanyahu in huddle with military chiefs to assess situation</a>

Images and videos of the incident on social media showed two figures lying motionless on the ground while a woman was heard screaming for the ambulance. Another person was seen being helped by a group of men.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Israel’s Zaka rescue service confirmed that two people have been killed in Alexandria, as per the Associated Press.

The Israeli foreign ministry also&nbsp;confirmed two Israelis and an Egyptian tour guide were killed by a local and said it is looking into the reports about the incident. "In addition, there is a wounded Israeli in moderate condition," it added, in a statement.&nbsp;

Two Egyptian security sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters that the suspected gunman was a police officer.&nbsp;

<h2>Israel ‘at war’</h2>

Sunday’s attack came as Israel in the midst of battling the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a surprise attack on Saturday morning. This brazen attack has sent ripples of concern throughout the region and the world.

Notably, while Egypt made peace with Israel decades ago, anti-Israeli sentiment runs high in the country, especially during bouts of violence in the region. Egypt has also long served as a mediator in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/countries-condemn-hamas-surprise-attack-from-gaza-express-solidarity-with-israel-643706">&nbsp;Western countries condemn Hamas' surprise attack from Gaza, express solidarity with Israel</a>

After the attack on Israel, Egypt warned of “grave consequences” and called for “both the Palestinian and Israeli sides to exercise the highest degrees of restraint”. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Saturday warned about a “vicious cycle” of violence in the region.&nbsp;

Sisi received a call from his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, Egypt’s presidency said, and the two discussed “coordinating efforts to stop the escalation in the Gaza Strip between the Palestinian and Israeli sides”.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
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At least two Israeli tourists and one Egyptian were killed after an Egyptian policeman opened fire on Israeli tourists in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria, on Sunday (Oct 8), said Egypt’s interior ministry.

At least two Israeli tourists and one Egyptian were killed after an Egyptian policeman opened fire on Israeli tourists in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria, on Sunday (Oct 8), said Egypt’s interior ministry. This comes as Israel is in the midst of facing a surprise attack by the Palestinian militant group Hamas while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel is in a state of war which has since prompted Western countries to ramp up security for its Jewish residents amid rise in tensions. What happened in Egypt? The policeman fired “at random” using “his personal weapon” at an Israeli tour group visiting Pompey’s Pillar site in Alexandria, the state-affiliated private television Extra News said, quoting a security source, as per AFP. The suspected assailant who had also injured one other person has since reportedly been detained. The security forces quickly cordoned off the site of the attack, as per local media reports. ALSO READ | Israel-Palestine war LIVE: PM Netanyahu in huddle with military chiefs to assess situation Images and videos of the incident on social media showed two figures lying motionless on the ground while a woman was heard screaming for the ambulance. Another person was seen being helped by a group of men. Meanwhile, Israel’s Zaka rescue service confirmed that two people have been killed in Alexandria, as per the Associated Press. The Israeli foreign ministry also confirmed two Israelis and an Egyptian tour guide were killed by a local and said it is looking into the reports about the incident. "In addition, there is a wounded Israeli in moderate condition," it added, in a statement. Two Egyptian security sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters that the suspected gunman was a police officer. Israel ‘at war’ Sunday’s attack came as Israel in the midst of battling the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a surprise attack on Saturday morning. This brazen attack has sent ripples of concern throughout the region and the world. Notably, while Egypt made peace with Israel decades ago, anti-Israeli sentiment runs high in the country, especially during bouts of violence in the region. Egypt has also long served as a mediator in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. ALSO READ | Western countries condemn Hamas' surprise attack from Gaza, express solidarity with Israel After the attack on Israel, Egypt warned of “grave consequences” and called for “both the Palestinian and Israeli sides to exercise the highest degrees of restraint”. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Saturday warned about a “vicious cycle” of violence in the region. Sisi received a call from his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, Egypt’s presidency said, and the two discussed “coordinating efforts to stop the escalation in the Gaza Strip between the Palestinian and Israeli sides”. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Policeman in Egypt kills two Israeli tourists, one Egyptian in Alexandria: Reports

A huge blaze erupted at a police complex in the Egyptian Suez Canal city of Ismailia early on Monday, (Oct 2), wounding at least 38 people as per local media reports.

Videos which have been doing rounds on social media from the spot where the incident took place, showed the city’s security directorate engulfed in flames.

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حريق ضخم يلتهم مديرية أمن الاسماعيلية 
يارب سلم <a href="https://t.co/DnW5IEVPOW">pic.twitter.com/DnW5IEVPOW</a>
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&nbsp;

Out of 26 injured, 24 had suffered from "asphyxiation" and two from burns, local media reported citing the health ministry. Twelve others were treated at the scene.

Fifty ambulances were deployed by the health ministry to the scene, which were later joined by military emergency services including two planes, as per state media reports.

According to local civil defence sources, parts of the building had collapsed under the fire. The cause of the blaze was not immediately known.

(With inputs from agencies)

 
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A huge blaze erupted at a police complex in the Egyptian Suez Canal city of Ismailia early on Monday, (Oct 2), wounding at least 38 people as per local media reports.

A huge blaze erupted at a police complex in the Egyptian Suez Canal city of Ismailia early on Monday, (Oct 2), wounding at least 38 people as per local media reports. Videos which have been doing rounds on social media from the spot where the incident took place, showed the city’s security directorate engulfed in flames. حريق ضخم يلتهم مديرية أمن الاسماعيلية يارب سلم pic.twitter.com/DnW5IEVPOW — mohamed el kholy (@MElKholy) October 2, 2023 × Out of 26 injured, 24 had suffered from "asphyxiation" and two from burns, local media reported citing the health ministry. Twelve others were treated at the scene. Fifty ambulances were deployed by the health ministry to the scene, which were later joined by military emergency services including two planes, as per state media reports. According to local civil defence sources, parts of the building had collapsed under the fire. The cause of the blaze was not immediately known. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Huge fire erupts at police facility in Egypt's Ismailia, several injured

Egypt will hold a presidential vote on Dec. 10-12, the elections authority said on Monday, with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi widely expected to win reelection despite an economic crisis including record inflation and foreign currency shortages.

Sisi, 68, can stand for a third term due to constitutional amendments in 2019 that also extended the length of presidential terms to six years from four, opening the way for him to stay in office until at least 2030.

Election results are expected to be announced on Dec. 18 and, in the event of a run off round, final results should be announced on Jan. 16 at the latest, the election authority said.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/egypts-president-pardons-jailed-activist-ahmed-douma-others-627001">Egypt’s president pardons jailed activist Ahmed Douma, several others</a> 
 
Though Sisi has not formally announced his candidacy, pro-government parties have started a campaign including billboards around Cairo backing his reelection.

Sisi was declared winner of both the 2014 and 2018 elections with 97% of the vote. In 2018 he faced just one opponent, himself an ardent Sisi supporter, after the main challenger was arrested and other hopefuls pulled out, citing intimidation.

Four other candidates have expressed an intention to run this time, most prominently a former member of parliament, Ahmed Eltantawy, who says security services have arrested some of his associates and blocked him from holding election events. Officials have not responded to his allegations.

Former army chief Sisi became president in 2014, the year after he led the overthrow of democratically elected Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood, following protests against Mursi's rule.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/dollar-strapped-egypt-resorts-to-selling-state-assets-to-gulf-nations-562249">Dollar-strapped Egypt resorts to selling state assets to Gulf nations</a>

Analysts say Sisi retains the backing of the security services, most importantly the army, which has become more powerful and expanded its economic influence.

Sisi's presidency has been marked by a crackdown on dissent across the political spectrum.

Sisi and his backers said the measures were needed to bring stability after the 2011 ousting of former president Hosni Mubarak in the "Arab Spring" uprisings and pave the way for economic development.

Activists say tens of thousands have been jailed since 2013, often without fair trials, and that the crackdown has continued despite the pardoning of some high-profile prisoners and the launch of a national political dialogue. 
 
&nbsp;

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Egypt will hold a presidential vote on Dec. 10-12, the elections authority said on Monday, with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi widely expected to win reelection despite an economic crisis including record inflation and foreign currency shortages.

Egypt will hold a presidential vote on Dec. 10-12, the elections authority said on Monday, with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi widely expected to win reelection despite an economic crisis including record inflation and foreign currency shortages. Sisi, 68, can stand for a third term due to constitutional amendments in 2019 that also extended the length of presidential terms to six years from four, opening the way for him to stay in office until at least 2030. Election results are expected to be announced on Dec. 18 and, in the event of a run off round, final results should be announced on Jan. 16 at the latest, the election authority said. ALSO READ | Egypt’s president pardons jailed activist Ahmed Douma, several others Though Sisi has not formally announced his candidacy, pro-government parties have started a campaign including billboards around Cairo backing his reelection. Sisi was declared winner of both the 2014 and 2018 elections with 97% of the vote. In 2018 he faced just one opponent, himself an ardent Sisi supporter, after the main challenger was arrested and other hopefuls pulled out, citing intimidation. Four other candidates have expressed an intention to run this time, most prominently a former member of parliament, Ahmed Eltantawy, who says security services have arrested some of his associates and blocked him from holding election events. Officials have not responded to his allegations. Former army chief Sisi became president in 2014, the year after he led the overthrow of democratically elected Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood, following protests against Mursi's rule. ALSO READ | Dollar-strapped Egypt resorts to selling state assets to Gulf nations Analysts say Sisi retains the backing of the security services, most importantly the army, which has become more powerful and expanded its economic influence. Sisi's presidency has been marked by a crackdown on dissent across the political spectrum. Sisi and his backers said the measures were needed to bring stability after the 2011 ousting of former president Hosni Mubarak in the "Arab Spring" uprisings and pave the way for economic development. Activists say tens of thousands have been jailed since 2013, often without fair trials, and that the crackdown has continued despite the pardoning of some high-profile prisoners and the launch of a national political dialogue. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Egypt to hold presidential elections in December, Sisi expected to win

Ethiopia on Saturday (September 23) said that it has started a second round of negotiations with Sudan and Egypt over the controversial mega-dam which has been built on the River Nile by Addis Ababa, which has been the reason for long-running tensions between the three countries. 
 
This month, Ethiopia announced that the Grand Renaissance Dam's fourth and final filling was completed, which was immediately condemned by Cairo, as it denounced the step as illegal. 
 
Sudan and Egypt fear that the massive $4.2-billion dam will harshly decrease the share of Nile water they have been receiving and have appealed to Addis Ababa repeatedly to stop filling it till the countries reach an agreement. 
 
After being at loggerheads for years over the issue, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in July agreed to finalise a deal within four months, as they resumed the talks in August.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ethiopia-announces-completion-of-filling-of-disputed-nile-dam-634655">Ethiopia announces completion of filling of disputed Nile dam</a>

"The second round of the tripartite negotiation among #Ethiopia, #Egypt, and #Sudan on the... annual operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (#GERD) has commenced today, September 23, 2023, in Addis Ababa," said Ethiopia's foreign ministry on X, formerly Twitter. 
 
"Ethiopia is committed to reaching a negotiated and amicable solution through the ongoing trilateral process,” he added. 
 
So far, the protracted negotiations over the construction of the dam, which have continued till 2011, have failed to finalise an agreement between Ethiopia and its downstream neighbours.

<h2>Egypt's existential threat?</h2>

The dam has been long viewed by Egypt as an existential threat as the country relies on the River Nile for 97 per cent of its water requirement. 
 
The dam has been central to the development plans of Ethiopia and in February 2022, Addis Ababa said that it started generating electricity for the first time. 
 
The huge hydroelectric dam at its full capacity can generate more than 5,000 megawatts of electricity. The hydroelectric dam is 1.8 kilometres long and 145 metres high. 
 
This will double the production of electricity in Ethiopia to which only half of the 120 million people of the country currently have access.

WATCH |&nbsp;Gravitas: Libya suffers under heavy rain, bursting dams | Who built the faulty dams?

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The stance of Sudan, which is mired currently in a civil war, has fluctuated in the years ahead. 
 
The United Nations stated that Egypt could "run out of water by 2025" and regions of Sudan, where the Darfur conflict was mainly a war over access to water, have become increasingly vulnerable to drought because of climate change.&nbsp;

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Ethiopia on Saturday (September 23) said that it has started a second round of negotiations with Sudan and Egypt over the controversial mega-dam which has been built on the River Nile by Addis Ababa, which has been the reason for long-running tensions between the three countries.

Ethiopia on Saturday (September 23) said that it has started a second round of negotiations with Sudan and Egypt over the controversial mega-dam which has been built on the River Nile by Addis Ababa, which has been the reason for long-running tensions between the three countries. This month, Ethiopia announced that the Grand Renaissance Dam's fourth and final filling was completed, which was immediately condemned by Cairo, as it denounced the step as illegal. Sudan and Egypt fear that the massive $4.2-billion dam will harshly decrease the share of Nile water they have been receiving and have appealed to Addis Ababa repeatedly to stop filling it till the countries reach an agreement. After being at loggerheads for years over the issue, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in July agreed to finalise a deal within four months, as they resumed the talks in August. ALSO READ | Ethiopia announces completion of filling of disputed Nile dam "The second round of the tripartite negotiation among #Ethiopia, #Egypt, and #Sudan on the... annual operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (#GERD) has commenced today, September 23, 2023, in Addis Ababa," said Ethiopia's foreign ministry on X, formerly Twitter. "Ethiopia is committed to reaching a negotiated and amicable solution through the ongoing trilateral process,” he added. So far, the protracted negotiations over the construction of the dam, which have continued till 2011, have failed to finalise an agreement between Ethiopia and its downstream neighbours. Egypt's existential threat? The dam has been long viewed by Egypt as an existential threat as the country relies on the River Nile for 97 per cent of its water requirement. The dam has been central to the development plans of Ethiopia and in February 2022, Addis Ababa said that it started generating electricity for the first time. The huge hydroelectric dam at its full capacity can generate more than 5,000 megawatts of electricity. The hydroelectric dam is 1.8 kilometres long and 145 metres high. This will double the production of electricity in Ethiopia to which only half of the 120 million people of the country currently have access. WATCH | Gravitas: Libya suffers under heavy rain, bursting dams | Who built the faulty dams? The stance of Sudan, which is mired currently in a civil war, has fluctuated in the years ahead. The United Nations stated that Egypt could "run out of water by 2025" and regions of Sudan, where the Darfur conflict was mainly a war over access to water, have become increasingly vulnerable to drought because of climate change. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Egypt, Ethiopia, Sudan resume talks over controversial Nile dam

Egyptian authorities freed local journalist Karim Asaad, who was&nbsp;arrested after he published a story on his fact-checking service about the alleged involvement of the country’s officials in smuggling cash, weapons and “suspected gold” to Zambia, said the publication, on Sunday (August 20).&nbsp;

<h2>What do we know about the arrest?</h2>

Egypt's&nbsp;national press union&nbsp;leader Khaled Elbalshy, after Asaad's arrest,&nbsp;took to Facebook and said that he had “contacted the authorities” and that Asaad “is doing okay” and “will return home in the coming hours”.&nbsp;

In an update, Elbalshy said, “Karim Asaad is out and on his way home.” This was also confirmed by his fact-checking service Matsada2sh, late Sunday.&nbsp;

According to a previous statement by the independent website Matsada2sh, Asaad was apprehended at his residence in Greater Cairo on Saturday at around 1:00 am (local time) after being questioned over his coverage of a case allegedly involving five Egyptian officials.

“Our colleague…was arrested after security forces dressed in civilian clothes stormed his home,” said the statement by Matsada2sh. It added, “They physically assaulted his wife, threatened their young child, raided the apartment, and then led him away, forcefully disappeared, to an undisclosed location.”

Prior to his arrest, Matsada2sh said that “the only questions the assailants asked our colleague were related to our breaking coverage of the Zambia-Egypt plane story.”&nbsp;

The forces also demanded Asaad access Matsada2sh news agency’s accounts and delete two articles related to the identity of the Egyptian officials on board the plane which has since been seized in Zambia, said the fact-checking service.&nbsp;

However, there was no immediate official confirmation of the situation, according to AFP.

“So far, the only reaction from the government was to arrest...one of the only sources of information on this topic,” said activist Lobna Darwish of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights, on social media, earlier.&nbsp;

<h2>What was the story about?</h2>

On Tuesday, Zambia’s Drug Enforcement Commission announced the seizure of “a chartered aircraft carrying dangerous goods” at&nbsp;Lusaka airport. According to the Zambian officials, the plane was carrying nearly $5.7 million in cash; pistols and ammunition; and 127 kilograms of “suspected gold”.&nbsp;

Ten suspects have been arrested in relation to the case, nine of them foreigners, said the Zambian authorities, in a statement.&nbsp;

Independent Egyptian journalists published the documents from the Zambian probe over social media that name the Egyptian suspects including army and police officers. However, the Egyptian state media has claimed that the plane in question was privately owned and that it only transited through Cairo.

<h2>Press freedom in Egypt</h2>

According to Egypt’s national press union, at least 23 journalists are behind bars.

The World Press Freedom Index by media watchdog Reporters Without Borders ranks Egypt 166th out of 180 countries.&nbsp;

Matsda2sh, founded in London in 2018 by the late Egyptian journalist Mohamed Aboul Gheit, also said that since the arrest their website, staff, and social media pages have been “subjected to a coordinated attack”.&nbsp;

“We hold the Egyptian government responsible for the safety and well-being of our team,” said Matsda2sh, in an earlier&nbsp;statement.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
 
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Egyptian authorities freed local journalist Karim Asaad, who was arrested after he published a story on his fact-checking service about the alleged involvement of the country’s officials in smuggling cash, weapons and “suspected gold” to Zambia, said the publication, on Sunday (August 20).

Egyptian authorities freed local journalist Karim Asaad, who was arrested after he published a story on his fact-checking service about the alleged involvement of the country’s officials in smuggling cash, weapons and “suspected gold” to Zambia, said the publication, on Sunday (August 20). What do we know about the arrest? Egypt's national press union leader Khaled Elbalshy, after Asaad's arrest, took to Facebook and said that he had “contacted the authorities” and that Asaad “is doing okay” and “will return home in the coming hours”. In an update, Elbalshy said, “Karim Asaad is out and on his way home.” This was also confirmed by his fact-checking service Matsada2sh, late Sunday. According to a previous statement by the independent website Matsada2sh, Asaad was apprehended at his residence in Greater Cairo on Saturday at around 1:00 am (local time) after being questioned over his coverage of a case allegedly involving five Egyptian officials. “Our colleague…was arrested after security forces dressed in civilian clothes stormed his home,” said the statement by Matsada2sh. It added, “They physically assaulted his wife, threatened their young child, raided the apartment, and then led him away, forcefully disappeared, to an undisclosed location.” Prior to his arrest, Matsada2sh said that “the only questions the assailants asked our colleague were related to our breaking coverage of the Zambia-Egypt plane story.” The forces also demanded Asaad access Matsada2sh news agency’s accounts and delete two articles related to the identity of the Egyptian officials on board the plane which has since been seized in Zambia, said the fact-checking service. However, there was no immediate official confirmation of the situation, according to AFP. “So far, the only reaction from the government was to arrest...one of the only sources of information on this topic,” said activist Lobna Darwish of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights, on social media, earlier. What was the story about? On Tuesday, Zambia’s Drug Enforcement Commission announced the seizure of “a chartered aircraft carrying dangerous goods” at Lusaka airport. According to the Zambian officials, the plane was carrying nearly $5.7 million in cash; pistols and ammunition; and 127 kilograms of “suspected gold”. Ten suspects have been arrested in relation to the case, nine of them foreigners, said the Zambian authorities, in a statement. Independent Egyptian journalists published the documents from the Zambian probe over social media that name the Egyptian suspects including army and police officers. However, the Egyptian state media has claimed that the plane in question was privately owned and that it only transited through Cairo. Press freedom in Egypt According to Egypt’s national press union, at least 23 journalists are behind bars. The World Press Freedom Index by media watchdog Reporters Without Borders ranks Egypt 166th out of 180 countries. Matsda2sh, founded in London in 2018 by the late Egyptian journalist Mohamed Aboul Gheit, also said that since the arrest their website, staff, and social media pages have been “subjected to a coordinated attack”. “We hold the Egyptian government responsible for the safety and well-being of our team,” said Matsda2sh, in an earlier statement. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Egypt journalist freed after arrest over report alleging officials’ involvement in smuggling case: Reports

Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has pardoned a number of prisoners, including prominent activist and leading figure of the country’s 2011 uprising, Ahmed Douma, on Saturday (August 19), reported the state TV and confirmed his lawyers. Douma, who was sentenced to 15 years in prison four years ago for rioting and attacking security forces, has received a presidential pardon, said his lawyers.&nbsp;

<h2>Presidential pardons and Douma’s release</h2>

A member of the presidential pardons committee, lawyer Tarek Elawady, said that the president has “used his constitutional powers” to pardon several prisoners, including Douma, as per AFP. This also comes months ahead of the upcoming presidential election scheduled for 2024.

Douma, now 37, like several other prominent activists in Egypt was jailed following a crackdown, in 2013. This was after the military ouster of toppled autocrat Hosni Mubarak’s successor, Islamist Mohamed Morsi.&nbsp;

Speaking about the activist’s release, prominent rights lawyer Khaled Ali took to social media and said he was waiting outside Badr prison on the outskirts of the capital Cairo for Douma.&nbsp;

<h2>Work of the ‘devil’: Douma’s case and sentencing</h2>

While delivering the activist’s verdict the judge said Douma was part of a crowd that broke into parliament and damaged part of it and described the act as them doing the work of the “devil”. Douma was sentenced by court in 2019, on charges of clashing with security forces in the capital.&nbsp;

The 15-year sentence, in 2019, was lessened after the previous 25-year sentence was handed down, in 2015. Egypt’s top appeals court later in 2019, upheld the 15-year sentence, which also included a fine of six million Egyptian pounds ($372,000 at the time).

The 37-year-old was among the key activists from the revolution who continued to remain behind bars, including British-Egyptian pro-democracy blogger Alaa Abdel Fattah, who has been jailed for nearly a decade now.&nbsp;

The incumbent president and former army chief who spearheaded Morsi’s ouster has been accused of leading a relentless crackdown on both pro-democracy campaigners and Islamists during his time in office.

While the incumbent president has pardoned numerous prominent figures over the past year, critics argue that recently arrested people have taken their place.&nbsp;

A report by AFP citing Egyptian rights monitors said since April 2022, officials have released 1,000 political prisoners but also detained nearly 3,000.

Last month, Egyptian rights researcher Patrick Zaki and lawyer Mohamed el-Baqer were also pardoned by al-Sisi.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
 
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Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has pardoned a number of prisoners, including prominent activist and leading figure of the country’s 2011 uprising, Ahmed Douma, on Saturday (August 19), reported the state TV and confirmed his lawyers.

Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has pardoned a number of prisoners, including prominent activist and leading figure of the country’s 2011 uprising, Ahmed Douma, on Saturday (August 19), reported the state TV and confirmed his lawyers. Douma, who was sentenced to 15 years in prison four years ago for rioting and attacking security forces, has received a presidential pardon, said his lawyers. Presidential pardons and Douma’s release A member of the presidential pardons committee, lawyer Tarek Elawady, said that the president has “used his constitutional powers” to pardon several prisoners, including Douma, as per AFP. This also comes months ahead of the upcoming presidential election scheduled for 2024. Douma, now 37, like several other prominent activists in Egypt was jailed following a crackdown, in 2013. This was after the military ouster of toppled autocrat Hosni Mubarak’s successor, Islamist Mohamed Morsi. Speaking about the activist’s release, prominent rights lawyer Khaled Ali took to social media and said he was waiting outside Badr prison on the outskirts of the capital Cairo for Douma. Work of the ‘devil’: Douma’s case and sentencing While delivering the activist’s verdict the judge said Douma was part of a crowd that broke into parliament and damaged part of it and described the act as them doing the work of the “devil”. Douma was sentenced by court in 2019, on charges of clashing with security forces in the capital. The 15-year sentence, in 2019, was lessened after the previous 25-year sentence was handed down, in 2015. Egypt’s top appeals court later in 2019, upheld the 15-year sentence, which also included a fine of six million Egyptian pounds ($372,000 at the time). The 37-year-old was among the key activists from the revolution who continued to remain behind bars, including British-Egyptian pro-democracy blogger Alaa Abdel Fattah, who has been jailed for nearly a decade now. The incumbent president and former army chief who spearheaded Morsi’s ouster has been accused of leading a relentless crackdown on both pro-democracy campaigners and Islamists during his time in office. While the incumbent president has pardoned numerous prominent figures over the past year, critics argue that recently arrested people have taken their place. A report by AFP citing Egyptian rights monitors said since April 2022, officials have released 1,000 political prisoners but also detained nearly 3,000. Last month, Egyptian rights researcher Patrick Zaki and lawyer Mohamed el-Baqer were also pardoned by al-Sisi. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Egypt’s president pardons jailed activist Ahmed Douma, several others

Saudi Arabia on Wednesday (Aug 16) executed a US national who was convicted of torturing and killing his Egyptian&nbsp;father, as per state media reports. The latest sentence has brought to 19 the toll of foreign nationals sentenced to death this year in the country.

As per the official Saudi Press Agency, Bishoy Sharif Naji Naseef was executed in the Riyadh region.

Citing court documents, SPA said that the court found out that Naseef beat and choked his father and wounded him after he died, further adding that he also used drugs and made attempts to kill another person.

The mode of the death sentence was not mentioned by the Gulf kingdom but in the past, the country has often beheaded those given the capital punishment.

"We are aware of those reports and are monitoring the situation but don't have any specifics," State Department spokesman Vedant Patel told reporters.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-unidentified-attackers-hurl-hand-grenade-at-police-vehicle-in-karachi-626259">Pakistan: Unidentified attackers hurl hand grenade at police vehicle in Karachi</a>

He stated that a United States consular official last visited Naseef in the month of July.

<h2>World's third most prolific executioner&nbsp;</h2>

Often denounced for extensive use of capital punishment, Saudi Arabia was the world's third most prolific executioner last year, according to&nbsp;Amnesty International.

Since King Salman took over in 2015, more than 1,000 death sentences have been reported in the country, as per a report published earlier this year by the European Saudi Organisation for Human Rights and the UK-based group Reprieve.

Nearly 91 people, out of which 19 are foreigners, have been put to death this year, as per an AFP news agency tally based on state media reports.

The total number of executions reported in the year 2022 was double than what was reported in the year 2021. From 69 in 2021, the figure rose to 147 in 2022.

Executions for crimes related to drugs resumed in the year 2022, putting an end to a suspension that stayed for almost three years.

In the year 2022, an episode sparked a global outcry where&nbsp;81 people were executed on a single day for terror-related offences in the Gulf Kingdom.

(With inputs from agencies) 
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Saudi Arabia on Wednesday (Aug 16) executed a US national who was convicted of torturing and killing his Egyptian father, as per state media reports. The latest sentence has brought to 19 the toll of foreign nationals sentenced to death this year in the country.

Saudi Arabia on Wednesday (Aug 16) executed a US national who was convicted of torturing and killing his Egyptian father, as per state media reports. The latest sentence has brought to 19 the toll of foreign nationals sentenced to death this year in the country. As per the official Saudi Press Agency, Bishoy Sharif Naji Naseef was executed in the Riyadh region. Citing court documents, SPA said that the court found out that Naseef beat and choked his father and wounded him after he died, further adding that he also used drugs and made attempts to kill another person. The mode of the death sentence was not mentioned by the Gulf kingdom but in the past, the country has often beheaded those given the capital punishment. "We are aware of those reports and are monitoring the situation but don't have any specifics," State Department spokesman Vedant Patel told reporters. Also read: Pakistan: Unidentified attackers hurl hand grenade at police vehicle in Karachi He stated that a United States consular official last visited Naseef in the month of July. World's third most prolific executioner Often denounced for extensive use of capital punishment, Saudi Arabia was the world's third most prolific executioner last year, according to Amnesty International. Since King Salman took over in 2015, more than 1,000 death sentences have been reported in the country, as per a report published earlier this year by the European Saudi Organisation for Human Rights and the UK-based group Reprieve. Nearly 91 people, out of which 19 are foreigners, have been put to death this year, as per an AFP news agency tally based on state media reports. The total number of executions reported in the year 2022 was double than what was reported in the year 2021. From 69 in 2021, the figure rose to 147 in 2022. Executions for crimes related to drugs resumed in the year 2022, putting an end to a suspension that stayed for almost three years. In the year 2022, an episode sparked a global outcry where 81 people were executed on a single day for terror-related offences in the Gulf Kingdom. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Saudi Arabia executes US national convicted of torturing, killing his Egyptian father

Egypt's economy is currently facing a significant challenge as inflation reaches its highest level in history.

Data from the state-run Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) reveals that inflation soared to an annual rate of 36.5 per cent in July, marking a notable increase from the previous month's 35.7 per cent.

The primary factor driving this wave of inflation is the sharp and concerning rise in the costs of food and beverages, which have surged by an alarming 68.4 per cent.

In response to the surge in&nbsp;inflation, the Egyptian central bank has increased the main interest rate&nbsp;by 100 basis points to 19.25 per cent. Experts, including analysts at Goldman Sachs Group, have&nbsp;forecasted&nbsp;inflation&nbsp;to remain above 30 per&nbsp;cent for the rest of the year.

The inflationary pressure has been particularly acute in Egypt, partly due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. As a major global wheat importer, Egypt heavily relies on supplies from the Black Sea region.

Egypt's acute shortage of foreign currency has further aggravated the situation and three devaluations of the Egyptian pound since early 2022 have added to the inflationary pressure.&nbsp;

Additionally, country's government debt is projected to reach around 93 per cent of the GDP in 2023. To address these challenges, the International Monetary Fund granted a $3 billion bailout to Egypt in December 2022. As part of the IMF-imposed conditions, Egypt is&nbsp;currently privatising&nbsp;loss-making public assets.&nbsp;

Despite these challenging circumstances, there is a glimmer of optimism on the horizon. Some analysts anticipate a 'sharp decline' in inflation over the course of 2024, which could provide some relief to the struggling economy.

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Egypt's economy is currently facing a significant challenge as inflation reaches its highest level in history. Data from the state-run Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) reveals that inflation soared to an annual rate of 36.

Egypt's economy is currently facing a significant challenge as inflation reaches its highest level in history. Data from the state-run Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) reveals that inflation soared to an annual rate of 36.5 per cent in July, marking a notable increase from the previous month's 35.7 per cent. The primary factor driving this wave of inflation is the sharp and concerning rise in the costs of food and beverages, which have surged by an alarming 68.4 per cent. In response to the surge in inflation, the Egyptian central bank has increased the main interest rate by 100 basis points to 19.25 per cent. Experts, including analysts at Goldman Sachs Group, have forecasted inflation to remain above 30 per cent for the rest of the year. The inflationary pressure has been particularly acute in Egypt, partly due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. As a major global wheat importer, Egypt heavily relies on supplies from the Black Sea region. Egypt's acute shortage of foreign currency has further aggravated the situation and three devaluations of the Egyptian pound since early 2022 have added to the inflationary pressure. Additionally, country's government debt is projected to reach around 93 per cent of the GDP in 2023. To address these challenges, the International Monetary Fund granted a $3 billion bailout to Egypt in December 2022. As part of the IMF-imposed conditions, Egypt is currently privatising loss-making public assets. Despite these challenging circumstances, there is a glimmer of optimism on the horizon. Some analysts anticipate a 'sharp decline' in inflation over the course of 2024, which could provide some relief to the struggling economy. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Egypt hits highest inflation level amid currency crisis

A huge fire broke out at the historic neo-Islamic ministry building in central Cairo, on Saturday (August 5), no casualties have occurred due to the blaze, as per media reports. This comes days after the government employees were moved to premises in a new capital city under construction.&nbsp;

<h2>About the incident</h2>

The blaze engulfed the Egyptian Ministry of Religious Endowments’ building or Awqaf, in central Cairo, and appeared mainly confined to the top floor. However, the flames were seen shooting out of a second-floor window as well, according to a report by Reuters. 
&nbsp;

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Egypt?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Egypt</a>'s Ministry of Religious Endowments building in central <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cairo?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cairo</a> was engulfed in flames on Saturday, days after its employees moved to the new capital. The main part of the historic building was built in 1898. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Awqaf?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Awqaf</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/fire?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#fire</a> <a href="https://t.co/UOSP86BpsK">pic.twitter.com/UOSP86BpsK</a>
— Our World (@MeetOurWorld) <a href="https://twitter.com/MeetOurWorld/status/1687803660854558721?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 5, 2023</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

<h2>Response to the fire</h2>

At least seven firetrucks were deployed and it took several hours to extinguish the fire. Cairo Governor Khaled Abdel Aal said civil protection forces have put out the fire and are working to prevent it from reigniting.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/egypt-at-least-nine-killed-after-five-storey-apartment-building-collapsed-in-cairo-616684">Egypt: At least nine killed after five-storey apartment building collapses in Cairo</a>

There were also no injuries reported due to the blaze, a ministry spokesman told Reuters, adding a committee was being formed to determine its cause and the amount of damage sustained.&nbsp;

The building is said to be historically significant as it was built in 1898, with wings added on either side in 1912 and 1927. However, most of the ministry’s employees moved to the new capital, away from the clutter and chaos of Cairo, in late July.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/five-dead-as-building-collapses-in-egypt-373651">Five dead as building collapses in Egypt</a>

The employees were moved as the government has sought to repurpose some former ministry buildings, under Egypt’s Sovereign Fund, a process the government hopes will draw badly needed investment and help regenerate central Cairo.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
 
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A huge fire broke out at the historic neo-Islamic ministry building in central Cairo, on Saturday (August 5), no casualties have occurred due to the blaze, as per media reports.

A huge fire broke out at the historic neo-Islamic ministry building in central Cairo, on Saturday (August 5), no casualties have occurred due to the blaze, as per media reports. This comes days after the government employees were moved to premises in a new capital city under construction. About the incident The blaze engulfed the Egyptian Ministry of Religious Endowments’ building or Awqaf, in central Cairo, and appeared mainly confined to the top floor. However, the flames were seen shooting out of a second-floor window as well, according to a report by Reuters. #Egypt's Ministry of Religious Endowments building in central #Cairo was engulfed in flames on Saturday, days after its employees moved to the new capital. The main part of the historic building was built in 1898. #Awqaf #fire pic.twitter.com/UOSP86BpsK — Our World (@MeetOurWorld) August 5, 2023 × Response to the fire At least seven firetrucks were deployed and it took several hours to extinguish the fire. Cairo Governor Khaled Abdel Aal said civil protection forces have put out the fire and are working to prevent it from reigniting. ALSO READ | Egypt: At least nine killed after five-storey apartment building collapses in Cairo There were also no injuries reported due to the blaze, a ministry spokesman told Reuters, adding a committee was being formed to determine its cause and the amount of damage sustained. The building is said to be historically significant as it was built in 1898, with wings added on either side in 1912 and 1927. However, most of the ministry’s employees moved to the new capital, away from the clutter and chaos of Cairo, in late July. ALSO READ | Five dead as building collapses in Egypt The employees were moved as the government has sought to repurpose some former ministry buildings, under Egypt’s Sovereign Fund, a process the government hopes will draw badly needed investment and help regenerate central Cairo. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Video | Egypt: Fire breaks out at historic government building in Cairo

Russia has tightened its sanitary and quarantine measures for flights from Egypt as&nbsp;the latter is&nbsp;witnessing&nbsp;the outbreak of an unidentified disease, said a report by Russian news agency TASS, on Monday (July 17) citing officials from the country’s sanitary watchdog, Rospotrebnadzor.

<h2>What do we know about the mysterious outbreak?</h2>

Over the weekend, the Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population issued a statement after residents of Qena governorate, in upper Egypt reported a mysterious disease which has affected about 250 people in the al-Aleqat village, reported the Egypt Independent.&nbsp;

The cases were first reported on the Egyptian television channel, MBC Masr, by prominent journalist Amr Adib, on Saturday, who said that 200 people have been infected by an unidentified disease with symptoms like high fever, headache, fatigue, and stomach pain.

According to Egyptian health officials, patients’ symptoms do not have a uniform pattern and are mild to moderate, therefore do not require hospitalisation. The symptoms, which sometimes include&nbsp;bone pain, lasted between three to five days.

<h2>What could have caused it?</h2>

The Egyptian health ministry, in its statement, also confirmed that its teams from the epidemiological surveillance were sent to investigate the reports and samples were taken from both the patients as well as their environment.&nbsp;

Additionally, they are also using preventive and therapeutic medicine. The Egyptian officials also noted that these symptoms are common to many diseases such as cold and influenza, gastroenteritis and fever, which can spread due to high temperatures.&nbsp;

However, they can disappear with rest, fever reducers, and by keeping yourself hydrated, said the officials, according to the media report.&nbsp;

<h2>Russia takes measures against ‘unidentified disease’</h2>

“In light of the current situation, Rospotrebnadzor has tightened sanitary and quarantine controls with respect to flights from Egypt, including using the Perimeter automated information system,” said the Russian sanitary watchdog, on Monday, as quoted by TASS.&nbsp;

According to the Rospotrebnadzor, symptoms noted by the Egyptian authorities resemble those of dengue fever. The Russian agency also said that they are in contact with Egyptian officials about the situation as well as international organisations to learn about the disease and its risks of trans-border proliferation, and preventive and epidemic measures.

The Russian watchdog also issued an advisory to Russian tourists planning to visit Egypt asking them to wear clothes that “maximally protect the skin,” use mosquito repellents, and put mosquito nets over doors and windows to avoid getting insect-borne infectious and parasitic diseases.&nbsp;

Dengue fever is caused by the dengue virus, which is transmitted via Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, the Rospotrebnadzor noted. It added dengue fever cannot be caught from being close to an infected person, it can be contracted only from the bite of an infected mosquito.&nbsp;

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Russia has tightened its sanitary and quarantine measures for flights from Egypt as the latter is witnessing the outbreak of an unidentified disease, said a report by Russian news agency TASS, on Monday (July 17) citing officials from the country’s sanitary watchdog, Rospotrebnadzor.

Russia has tightened its sanitary and quarantine measures for flights from Egypt as the latter is witnessing the outbreak of an unidentified disease, said a report by Russian news agency TASS, on Monday (July 17) citing officials from the country’s sanitary watchdog, Rospotrebnadzor. What do we know about the mysterious outbreak? Over the weekend, the Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population issued a statement after residents of Qena governorate, in upper Egypt reported a mysterious disease which has affected about 250 people in the al-Aleqat village, reported the Egypt Independent. The cases were first reported on the Egyptian television channel, MBC Masr, by prominent journalist Amr Adib, on Saturday, who said that 200 people have been infected by an unidentified disease with symptoms like high fever, headache, fatigue, and stomach pain. According to Egyptian health officials, patients’ symptoms do not have a uniform pattern and are mild to moderate, therefore do not require hospitalisation. The symptoms, which sometimes include bone pain, lasted between three to five days. What could have caused it? The Egyptian health ministry, in its statement, also confirmed that its teams from the epidemiological surveillance were sent to investigate the reports and samples were taken from both the patients as well as their environment. Additionally, they are also using preventive and therapeutic medicine. The Egyptian officials also noted that these symptoms are common to many diseases such as cold and influenza, gastroenteritis and fever, which can spread due to high temperatures. However, they can disappear with rest, fever reducers, and by keeping yourself hydrated, said the officials, according to the media report. Russia takes measures against ‘unidentified disease’ “In light of the current situation, Rospotrebnadzor has tightened sanitary and quarantine controls with respect to flights from Egypt, including using the Perimeter automated information system,” said the Russian sanitary watchdog, on Monday, as quoted by TASS. According to the Rospotrebnadzor, symptoms noted by the Egyptian authorities resemble those of dengue fever. The Russian agency also said that they are in contact with Egyptian officials about the situation as well as international organisations to learn about the disease and its risks of trans-border proliferation, and preventive and epidemic measures. The Russian watchdog also issued an advisory to Russian tourists planning to visit Egypt asking them to wear clothes that “maximally protect the skin,” use mosquito repellents, and put mosquito nets over doors and windows to avoid getting insect-borne infectious and parasitic diseases. Dengue fever is caused by the dengue virus, which is transmitted via Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, the Rospotrebnadzor noted. It added dengue fever cannot be caught from being close to an infected person, it can be contracted only from the bite of an infected mosquito. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Russia ramps up security protocols for flights from Egypt after outbreak of mysterious disease

At least nine people were killed in the Egyptian capital city of Cairo, on Monday (July 17) after a five-storey apartment building collapsed, reported the state media citing local officials, as search and rescue operations continued.&nbsp;

<h2>What do we know so far?</h2>

The building was said to be located in the Hadayek el Kobba neighbourhood, around 3.2 kilometres north of central Cairo, a densely built area of informal housing.&nbsp;

The state-run MENA news agency reported that search and rescue teams have recovered at least nine bodies from the rubble.&nbsp;

Additionally, four survivors were taken to the hospital, said the news agency, but their condition was not immediately known. MENA also reported that the local authorities evacuated a neighbouring apartment building.&nbsp;

Local media reports said&nbsp;that the police have since cordoned off the area while rescue teams were seen looking for possible survivors.&nbsp;

Egypt’s Ministry of Social Solidarity, on Monday, announced that it will give $1,940 (60,000 Egyptian pounds) to the families of the nine victims. The ministry also said that it would deliver aid to the injured and was monitoring the damage to nearby properties due to the collapse of the building.&nbsp;

<h2>What caused the collapse?</h2>

After the initial inspection, Cairo’s deputy governor, Hossam Fawzi, said that the building collapse was caused due to the removal of a number of walls&nbsp;by one of the ground floor residents&nbsp;during earlier maintenance work, reported the Associated Press.&nbsp;He added that the man has since been detained and will be investigated.&nbsp;

<h2>Building collapses are common in Egypt</h2>

The recent incident comes a day after four people lost their lives and 13 others got injured in another building collapsed in northern Egypt. According to reports, building collapses are quite common in Egypt due to poor construction standards and lack of maintenance in many areas.&nbsp; 
 
While the government has recently sought to crack down on illegal buildings after years of lax enforcement, they are also reportedly in the midst of building new cities and neighbourhoods to rehouse those living in at-risk areas.

It is also noted that developers seeking bigger profits frequently violate building permits, especially in prime locations and big cities like Cairo and the Mediterranean port city of Alexandria.&nbsp;

Last month, at least 10 people were killed after a 13-storey building collapsed in Alexandria.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
 
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At least nine people were killed in the Egyptian capital city of Cairo, on Monday (July 17) after a five-storey apartment building collapsed, reported the state media citing local officials, as search and rescue operations continued.

At least nine people were killed in the Egyptian capital city of Cairo, on Monday (July 17) after a five-storey apartment building collapsed, reported the state media citing local officials, as search and rescue operations continued. What do we know so far? The building was said to be located in the Hadayek el Kobba neighbourhood, around 3.2 kilometres north of central Cairo, a densely built area of informal housing. The state-run MENA news agency reported that search and rescue teams have recovered at least nine bodies from the rubble. Additionally, four survivors were taken to the hospital, said the news agency, but their condition was not immediately known. MENA also reported that the local authorities evacuated a neighbouring apartment building. Local media reports said that the police have since cordoned off the area while rescue teams were seen looking for possible survivors. Egypt’s Ministry of Social Solidarity, on Monday, announced that it will give $1,940 (60,000 Egyptian pounds) to the families of the nine victims. The ministry also said that it would deliver aid to the injured and was monitoring the damage to nearby properties due to the collapse of the building. What caused the collapse? After the initial inspection, Cairo’s deputy governor, Hossam Fawzi, said that the building collapse was caused due to the removal of a number of walls by one of the ground floor residents during earlier maintenance work, reported the Associated Press. He added that the man has since been detained and will be investigated. Building collapses are common in Egypt The recent incident comes a day after four people lost their lives and 13 others got injured in another building collapsed in northern Egypt. According to reports, building collapses are quite common in Egypt due to poor construction standards and lack of maintenance in many areas. While the government has recently sought to crack down on illegal buildings after years of lax enforcement, they are also reportedly in the midst of building new cities and neighbourhoods to rehouse those living in at-risk areas. It is also noted that developers seeking bigger profits frequently violate building permits, especially in prime locations and big cities like Cairo and the Mediterranean port city of Alexandria. Last month, at least 10 people were killed after a 13-storey building collapsed in Alexandria. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Egypt: At least nine killed after five-storey apartment building collapses in Cairo

Official data released on Monday revealed that Egypt's year-on-year headline inflation reached an unprecedented 35.7 percent&nbsp;in June, exceeding the previous record of 32.7 percent in May. This sharp acceleration highlights the acute economic challenges faced by the country since early last year and marks the highest inflation rate witnessed since 2017.

Since March 2022, Egypt has experienced significant challenges, as it has faced a scarcity of foreign currency and undergone multiple currency devaluations. The resulting inflationary pressure has further exacerbated the hardships experienced by Egyptians, who have witnessed a gradual erosion of their living standards in recent years.

Analysts had forecast a significant increase in annual urban consumer price inflation for June, attributing it to an unfavorable base effect and a rise in consumer demand during the annual Eid al-Adha festival.&nbsp;

The central bank of Egypt&nbsp;reported that core inflation, which excludes fuel and certain volatile food items, also reached a new record high of 41 percent, surpassing the previous month's figure of 40.3 percent. This persistent surge in inflation may exert pressure on the central bank to raise interest rates at its upcoming meeting scheduled for August 3. Notably, the bank has maintained interest rates unchanged in its last two meetings, following a cumulative increase of 1,000 basis points since March 2022.

In the aftermath of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Egypt, the Arab world's most populous nation, took decisive action to address its economic vulnerabilities. This included a significant currency devaluation of over 50% since March 2022. The realization of these vulnerabilities prompted Egypt to seek financial assistance from the International Monetary Fund, resulting in a successful application for a $3 billion loan.

The first review of the IMF program, which was scheduled to take place, has been delayed due to uncertainties surrounding Egypt's commitment to implementing a flexible currency exchange rate and the government's efforts to bolster the private sector. Notably, these endeavors include the sale of stakes in state-owned enterprises.

In an attempt to mitigate the impact of inflation, the Egyptian government has taken steps to raise electricity tariffs, which could reinforce price pressures through the summer. Reuters quoted Allen Sandeep from Naeem Brokerage, who suggested that a rise in power tariffs in July might lead to an extended period of elevated annual inflation. However, even without the power rate hike, there may still be a degree of cooling in July due to the favorable comparison with the previous year's figures.

Official data released on Monday revealed that Egypt's year-on-year headline inflation reached an unprecedented 35.7 percent in June, exceeding the previous record of 32.

Official data released on Monday revealed that Egypt's year-on-year headline inflation reached an unprecedented 35.7 percent in June, exceeding the previous record of 32.7 percent in May. This sharp acceleration highlights the acute economic challenges faced by the country since early last year and marks the highest inflation rate witnessed since 2017. Since March 2022, Egypt has experienced significant challenges, as it has faced a scarcity of foreign currency and undergone multiple currency devaluations. The resulting inflationary pressure has further exacerbated the hardships experienced by Egyptians, who have witnessed a gradual erosion of their living standards in recent years. Analysts had forecast a significant increase in annual urban consumer price inflation for June, attributing it to an unfavorable base effect and a rise in consumer demand during the annual Eid al-Adha festival. The central bank of Egypt reported that core inflation, which excludes fuel and certain volatile food items, also reached a new record high of 41 percent, surpassing the previous month's figure of 40.3 percent. This persistent surge in inflation may exert pressure on the central bank to raise interest rates at its upcoming meeting scheduled for August 3. Notably, the bank has maintained interest rates unchanged in its last two meetings, following a cumulative increase of 1,000 basis points since March 2022. In the aftermath of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Egypt, the Arab world's most populous nation, took decisive action to address its economic vulnerabilities. This included a significant currency devaluation of over 50% since March 2022. The realization of these vulnerabilities prompted Egypt to seek financial assistance from the International Monetary Fund, resulting in a successful application for a $3 billion loan. The first review of the IMF program, which was scheduled to take place, has been delayed due to uncertainties surrounding Egypt's commitment to implementing a flexible currency exchange rate and the government's efforts to bolster the private sector. Notably, these endeavors include the sale of stakes in state-owned enterprises. In an attempt to mitigate the impact of inflation, the Egyptian government has taken steps to raise electricity tariffs, which could reinforce price pressures through the summer. Reuters quoted Allen Sandeep from Naeem Brokerage, who suggested that a rise in power tariffs in July might lead to an extended period of elevated annual inflation. However, even without the power rate hike, there may still be a degree of cooling in July due to the favorable comparison with the previous year's figures.

Egypt's inflation pyramid: inflation surges to 35.7 percent in June

Egypt and Turkey have appointed ambassadors to each other's capitals for the first time in a decade to restore normal diplomatic relations, their foreign ministries announced on Tuesday.

The two nations' relations broke down in 2013 after Egypt's then-army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi led the ouster of the Muslim Brotherhood's Mohamed Mursi, an ally of Ankara. Egypt expelled Turkey's ambassador and accused Ankara of backing organisations bent on undermining the country.

They have not had ambassadors since, though Sisi, now Egypt's president, and his Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan agreed to reinstate them in May.

Also read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-invites-egyptian-president-to-g20-summit-during-state-visit-to-egypt-608566">&nbsp;PM Modi invites Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to G20 summit in New Delhi</a>

Amr Elhamamy will become Egypt's ambassador in Ankara while Turkey nominated Salih Mutlu Sen to become its ambassador in Cairo, the foreign ministries said in a joint statement.

The appointments marked an important milestone in the normalisation of relations, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said following the announcement.

"From now on, our relations will continue to improve rapidly in political, economic and all other fields. This is the will of our president and government," Fidan told a news conference.

Watch: Egyptian FM in Syria, set to visit Turkey for first time in over a decade

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Consultations between senior foreign ministry officials in Ankara and Cairo began in 2021 as Turkey sought better ties with Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Israel and Saudi Arabia.

Normalisation between Ankara and Cairo accelerated after Sisi and Erdogan shook hands in Doha at the World Cup in 2022.

After a series of further steps towards rapprochement, Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry visited Turkey to show solidarity after the massive earthquakes that killed more than 50,000 people in Turkey and Syria in February.

Also read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-warns-against-pressure-to-support-swedens-nato-bid-611877">Turkey warns against 'pressure' to support Sweden's NATO bid</a>

Turkey's foreign minister made a return visit to Egypt the following month.

The two countries have also been at odds over Libya, where they backed opposing factions in an unresolved conflict, and also over maritime borders in the gas-rich Eastern Mediterranean.

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Egypt and Turkey have appointed ambassadors to each other's capitals for the first time in a decade to restore normal diplomatic relations, their foreign ministries announced on Tuesday.

Egypt and Turkey have appointed ambassadors to each other's capitals for the first time in a decade to restore normal diplomatic relations, their foreign ministries announced on Tuesday. The two nations' relations broke down in 2013 after Egypt's then-army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi led the ouster of the Muslim Brotherhood's Mohamed Mursi, an ally of Ankara. Egypt expelled Turkey's ambassador and accused Ankara of backing organisations bent on undermining the country. They have not had ambassadors since, though Sisi, now Egypt's president, and his Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan agreed to reinstate them in May. Also read: PM Modi invites Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to G20 summit in New Delhi Amr Elhamamy will become Egypt's ambassador in Ankara while Turkey nominated Salih Mutlu Sen to become its ambassador in Cairo, the foreign ministries said in a joint statement. The appointments marked an important milestone in the normalisation of relations, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said following the announcement. "From now on, our relations will continue to improve rapidly in political, economic and all other fields. This is the will of our president and government," Fidan told a news conference. Watch: Egyptian FM in Syria, set to visit Turkey for first time in over a decade × Consultations between senior foreign ministry officials in Ankara and Cairo began in 2021 as Turkey sought better ties with Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Israel and Saudi Arabia. Normalisation between Ankara and Cairo accelerated after Sisi and Erdogan shook hands in Doha at the World Cup in 2022. After a series of further steps towards rapprochement, Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry visited Turkey to show solidarity after the massive earthquakes that killed more than 50,000 people in Turkey and Syria in February. Also read:Turkey warns against 'pressure' to support Sweden's NATO bid Turkey's foreign minister made a return visit to Egypt the following month. The two countries have also been at odds over Libya, where they backed opposing factions in an unresolved conflict, and also over maritime borders in the gas-rich Eastern Mediterranean. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Egypt, Turkey appoint ambassadors to upgrade diplomatic relations

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his state visit to Egypt, met his Egyptian counterpart Mostafa Madbouly and discussed the deepening cooperation across areas like trade and investment, and renewable energy.

PM Modi and the Egyptian PM held a roundtable meeting with seven cabinet ministers and senior officials in attendance.

Taking to Twitter, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, "Advancing India-Egypt civilisational relations! In his first engagement in Cairo, PM @narendramodi held a meeting with the newly set up India Unit in the Egyptian Cabinet @CabinetEgy, headed by PM Mostafa Madbouly. Seven Cabinet Ministers and senior officials were present at the meeting."

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Advancing 🇮🇳-🇪🇬 civilisational relations! 
 
In his first engagement in Cairo, PM <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a> held a meeting with the newly setup India Unit in the Egyptian Cabinet <a href="https://twitter.com/CabinetEgy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CabinetEgy</a>, headed by PM Mostafa Madbouly. 
 
Seven Cabinet Ministers and senior officials were present in the… <a href="https://t.co/NeKveGY5m3">pic.twitter.com/NeKveGY5m3</a>
— Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/MEAIndia/status/1672646011087630339?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 24, 2023</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

"Discussions focused on deepening cooperation across a range of areas including trade &amp; investment, renewable energy, green hydrogen, IT, digital payment platforms, pharma and people-to-people ties. PM thanked Egypt for setting up this dedicated high-level India Unit and appreciated the whole of government approach," he said in another tweet.

<h2>PM Modi meets Grand Mufti of Egypt in Cairo</h2>

The Indian Prime Minister, on Saturday, also met the Grand Mufti of Egypt, Shawki Allam.

Allam, in a conversation with news agency ANI, said that this was his second meeting with PM Modi and that he has seen great development in India.

"I was honoured to meet PM Modi today, this was our second meeting. Between the two meetings, I have seen that there is great development in India. PM Modi reflects the wise leadership for a big country like India," the Grand Mufti said.

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PM <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a> met His Eminence Prof. Shawky Ibrahim Allam, Grand Mufti of Egypt. 
 
They discussed the strong cultural &amp; people to people relations between India and Egypt. Discussions also focused on issues related to social and religious harmony in society and countering… <a href="https://t.co/ucFFVkDVYA">pic.twitter.com/ucFFVkDVYA</a>
— Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/MEAIndia/status/1672658088602509318?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 24, 2023</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

"Wise policies are being adopted by PM Modi in bringing co-existence between the various factions in India. At the religious level, we have strong cooperation with India. The Indian side is also going to provide an Information Technology Centre of Excellence here. We have lots of scope of cooperation," the Grand Mufti said.

The Grand Mufti also presented a special gift to Prime Minister Modi.

The Ministry of External Affairs, in an official release, said that the discussions between the two were mainly focused on issues related to social and religious harmony in society.

<h2>Indian PM meets CEO of Hassan Allam Holding</h2>

PM Modi had a productive discussion with Hassan Allam, CEO of Hassan Allam Holding Company which is one of the largest Egyptian companies operating in the Middle East and North African region on 24 June 2023 in Cairo.

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PM <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a> had a productive meeting with Mr. Hassan Allam, the CEO of Hassan Allam Holding Company. They discussed subjects pertaining to economy and forging closer cooperation in sectors like infrastructure and construction. <a href="https://t.co/kKLBWrGvCG">pic.twitter.com/kKLBWrGvCG</a>
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/PMOIndia/status/1672707639900512256?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 24, 2023</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

They discussed possibilities of forging closer cooperation with Indian companies in renewable energy, green hydrogen, infrastructure and construction sectors.

The official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, Arindam Bagchi wrote, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets Mohamed Medhat Hassan Allam, CEO of Hassan Allam Properties in Cairo, Egypt. PM @narendramodi held a fruitful meeting with Hassan Allam, CEO of Hassan Allam Holding Company, one of the largest Egyptian companies operating in the Middle East &amp; North African region."

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PM <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a> held a fruitful meeting with Hassan Allam, CEO of Hassan Allam Holding Company, one of the largest Egyptian companies operating in the Middle East &amp; North African region. 
 
Possibilities of forging closer cooperation with Indian companies in renewable energy,… <a href="https://t.co/5zVweNvwwF">pic.twitter.com/5zVweNvwwF</a>
— Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/MEAIndia/status/1672676920411168769?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 24, 2023</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

<h2>Modi meets prominent Yoga instructors in Cairo</h2>

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met prominent yoga instructors, Reem Jabak and Nada Adel in Cairo on Saturday.

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Prominent Yoga practitioners and instructors from Egypt, Reem Jabak and Nada Adel met PM <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a> in Cairo. The Prime Minister expressed admiration for their dedication to popularise Yoga. <a href="https://t.co/IOjKrOCOO9">pic.twitter.com/IOjKrOCOO9</a>
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/PMOIndia/status/1672709901943197696?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 24, 2023</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

"PM @narendramodi held a warm conversation with two young prominent Yoga instructors, Reem Jabak and Nada Adel, in Cairo," the official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, Arindam Bagchi tweeted.

"PM praised them for their commitment to Yoga and encouraged them to visit India. They informed PM of great enthusiasm for Yoga in Egypt," added the tweet.

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PM <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a> held a warm conversation with two young prominent Yoga instructors, Reem Jabak and Nada Adel, in Cairo. 
 
PM praised them for their commitment to Yoga and encouraged them to visit India. They informed PM of great enthusiasm for Yoga in Egypt. <a href="https://t.co/6aMGTloE4F">pic.twitter.com/6aMGTloE4F</a>
— Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/MEAIndia/status/1672687271034617856?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 24, 2023</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

PM Modi will visit the Al-Hakim Mosque on Sunday where he will spend nearly half an hour. The mosque, which is located in the Egyptian capital Cairo, is the fourth oldest mosque in Egypt and the second largest after the mosque of ibn Tulun. The mosque is also an important religious site for the Dawoodi Bohra community in Cairo.

He will also visit the Heliopolis War Grave cemetery to pay tribute to the Indian soldiers, who made the supreme sacrifice fighting for Egypt during the First World War.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his state visit to Egypt, met his Egyptian counterpart Mostafa Madbouly and discussed the deepening cooperation across areas like trade and investment, and renewable energy.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his state visit to Egypt, met his Egyptian counterpart Mostafa Madbouly and discussed the deepening cooperation across areas like trade and investment, and renewable energy. PM Modi and the Egyptian PM held a roundtable meeting with seven cabinet ministers and senior officials in attendance. Taking to Twitter, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, "Advancing India-Egypt civilisational relations! In his first engagement in Cairo, PM @narendramodi held a meeting with the newly set up India Unit in the Egyptian Cabinet @CabinetEgy, headed by PM Mostafa Madbouly. Seven Cabinet Ministers and senior officials were present at the meeting." Advancing 🇮🇳-🇪🇬 civilisational relations! In his first engagement in Cairo, PM @narendramodi held a meeting with the newly setup India Unit in the Egyptian Cabinet @CabinetEgy, headed by PM Mostafa Madbouly. Seven Cabinet Ministers and senior officials were present in the… pic.twitter.com/NeKveGY5m3 — Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) June 24, 2023 × "Discussions focused on deepening cooperation across a range of areas including trade & investment, renewable energy, green hydrogen, IT, digital payment platforms, pharma and people-to-people ties. PM thanked Egypt for setting up this dedicated high-level India Unit and appreciated the whole of government approach," he said in another tweet. PM Modi meets Grand Mufti of Egypt in Cairo The Indian Prime Minister, on Saturday, also met the Grand Mufti of Egypt, Shawki Allam. Allam, in a conversation with news agency ANI, said that this was his second meeting with PM Modi and that he has seen great development in India. "I was honoured to meet PM Modi today, this was our second meeting. Between the two meetings, I have seen that there is great development in India. PM Modi reflects the wise leadership for a big country like India," the Grand Mufti said. PM @narendramodi met His Eminence Prof. Shawky Ibrahim Allam, Grand Mufti of Egypt. They discussed the strong cultural & people to people relations between India and Egypt. Discussions also focused on issues related to social and religious harmony in society and countering… pic.twitter.com/ucFFVkDVYA — Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) June 24, 2023 × "Wise policies are being adopted by PM Modi in bringing co-existence between the various factions in India. At the religious level, we have strong cooperation with India. The Indian side is also going to provide an Information Technology Centre of Excellence here. We have lots of scope of cooperation," the Grand Mufti said. The Grand Mufti also presented a special gift to Prime Minister Modi. The Ministry of External Affairs, in an official release, said that the discussions between the two were mainly focused on issues related to social and religious harmony in society. Indian PM meets CEO of Hassan Allam Holding PM Modi had a productive discussion with Hassan Allam, CEO of Hassan Allam Holding Company which is one of the largest Egyptian companies operating in the Middle East and North African region on 24 June 2023 in Cairo. PM @narendramodi had a productive meeting with Mr. Hassan Allam, the CEO of Hassan Allam Holding Company. They discussed subjects pertaining to economy and forging closer cooperation in sectors like infrastructure and construction. pic.twitter.com/kKLBWrGvCG — PMO India (@PMOIndia) June 24, 2023 × They discussed possibilities of forging closer cooperation with Indian companies in renewable energy, green hydrogen, infrastructure and construction sectors. The official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, Arindam Bagchi wrote, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets Mohamed Medhat Hassan Allam, CEO of Hassan Allam Properties in Cairo, Egypt. PM @narendramodi held a fruitful meeting with Hassan Allam, CEO of Hassan Allam Holding Company, one of the largest Egyptian companies operating in the Middle East & North African region." PM @narendramodi held a fruitful meeting with Hassan Allam, CEO of Hassan Allam Holding Company, one of the largest Egyptian companies operating in the Middle East & North African region. Possibilities of forging closer cooperation with Indian companies in renewable energy,… pic.twitter.com/5zVweNvwwF — Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) June 24, 2023 × Modi meets prominent Yoga instructors in Cairo Prime Minister Narendra Modi met prominent yoga instructors, Reem Jabak and Nada Adel in Cairo on Saturday. Prominent Yoga practitioners and instructors from Egypt, Reem Jabak and Nada Adel met PM @narendramodi in Cairo. The Prime Minister expressed admiration for their dedication to popularise Yoga. pic.twitter.com/IOjKrOCOO9 — PMO India (@PMOIndia) June 24, 2023 × "PM @narendramodi held a warm conversation with two young prominent Yoga instructors, Reem Jabak and Nada Adel, in Cairo," the official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, Arindam Bagchi tweeted. "PM praised them for their commitment to Yoga and encouraged them to visit India. They informed PM of great enthusiasm for Yoga in Egypt," added the tweet. PM @narendramodi held a warm conversation with two young prominent Yoga instructors, Reem Jabak and Nada Adel, in Cairo. PM praised them for their commitment to Yoga and encouraged them to visit India. They informed PM of great enthusiasm for Yoga in Egypt. pic.twitter.com/6aMGTloE4F — Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) June 24, 2023 × PM Modi will visit the Al-Hakim Mosque on Sunday where he will spend nearly half an hour. The mosque, which is located in the Egyptian capital Cairo, is the fourth oldest mosque in Egypt and the second largest after the mosque of ibn Tulun. The mosque is also an important religious site for the Dawoodi Bohra community in Cairo. He will also visit the Heliopolis War Grave cemetery to pay tribute to the Indian soldiers, who made the supreme sacrifice fighting for Egypt during the First World War. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

PM Modi meets Egyptian counterpart Mostafa Madbouly, discusses trade, investment, renewable energy

As he wraps up his state visit to the United States, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will make a stop in Egypt on June 24 and 25. During his visit to Egypt, the two countries will strengthen the ties and boost co-operation in many fields, including security, trade, investment and more. 
 
While the diplomatic talks between the two countries go on, PM Modi will visit&nbsp;the Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah mosque on June 24.&nbsp;It is located in the Egyptian capital Cairo. It is the fourth oldest mosque in Egypt and the second largest after the mosque of ibn Tulun.

The Al-Hakim-Amr Allah mosque was constructed under&nbsp;the Fatimid dynasty. The sixth Fatimid Caliph Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah gave orders to build the mosque in 990 AD.

Watch | PM Modi in US: India and US announces strategic and defence deals

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The centuries-old structure has stood the test of time. But the passage of it has not been kind to the structure. When French armed forces were in Egypt, they used the mosque as a barrack.&nbsp;

The mosque was restored by Dawoodi Bohra community in Cairo with help from Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.

<h2>So why exactly is PM Modi visiting this mosque?</h2>

The mosque is an important religious site for Dawoodi Bohra community. India has a large population of Dawoodi Bohra community. Besides, PM Modi has a connect with the community. His home state of Gujarat has Dawoodi Bohra population. PM Modi has often thanked the community for helping him govern the state of Gujarat.

In 2011, when he was chief minister of Gujarat, he invited the community to celebrate the 100th birthday of their religious head Syedna Burhanuddin. When Syedna passed away in 2014, Modi went to Mumbai to pay his respects and meet the successor Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, who is the current head of the community. PM Modi has always shared cordial relationship with Syedna Saifuddin.

PM Modi has often praised business acumen of the community and their social reforms measures. He has also mentioned how the community helped and hosted Mahatma Gandhi during Dandi March, an iconic event in India's freedom struggle.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pm-modi-addresses-top-ceos-in-us-underlines-impact-of-indian-americans-at-luncheon-608004">PM Modi addresses top CEOs in US, underlines impact of Indian-Americans at luncheon</a>

The community has supported PM Modi as well. In 2014, the community turned up in good numbers for PM Modi's overseas events. These events included one in Madison Square Garden (New York) and Olympic Park Arena in Sydney.

PM Modi's visit to Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah mosque is likely to strengthen his bond with the Dawoodi Bohra community. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

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&nbsp;

As he wraps up his state visit to the United States, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will make a stop in Egypt on June 24 and 25. During his visit to Egypt, the two countries will strengthen the ties and boost co-operation in many fields, including security, trade, investment and more.

As he wraps up his state visit to the United States, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will make a stop in Egypt on June 24 and 25. During his visit to Egypt, the two countries will strengthen the ties and boost co-operation in many fields, including security, trade, investment and more. While the diplomatic talks between the two countries go on, PM Modi will visit the Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah mosque on June 24. It is located in the Egyptian capital Cairo. It is the fourth oldest mosque in Egypt and the second largest after the mosque of ibn Tulun. The Al-Hakim-Amr Allah mosque was constructed under the Fatimid dynasty. The sixth Fatimid Caliph Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah gave orders to build the mosque in 990 AD. Watch | PM Modi in US: India and US announces strategic and defence deals × The centuries-old structure has stood the test of time. But the passage of it has not been kind to the structure. When French armed forces were in Egypt, they used the mosque as a barrack. The mosque was restored by Dawoodi Bohra community in Cairo with help from Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. So why exactly is PM Modi visiting this mosque? The mosque is an important religious site for Dawoodi Bohra community. India has a large population of Dawoodi Bohra community. Besides, PM Modi has a connect with the community. His home state of Gujarat has Dawoodi Bohra population. PM Modi has often thanked the community for helping him govern the state of Gujarat. In 2011, when he was chief minister of Gujarat, he invited the community to celebrate the 100th birthday of their religious head Syedna Burhanuddin. When Syedna passed away in 2014, Modi went to Mumbai to pay his respects and meet the successor Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, who is the current head of the community. PM Modi has always shared cordial relationship with Syedna Saifuddin. PM Modi has often praised business acumen of the community and their social reforms measures. He has also mentioned how the community helped and hosted Mahatma Gandhi during Dandi March, an iconic event in India's freedom struggle. Also Read | PM Modi addresses top CEOs in US, underlines impact of Indian-Americans at luncheon The community has supported PM Modi as well. In 2014, the community turned up in good numbers for PM Modi's overseas events. These events included one in Madison Square Garden (New York) and Olympic Park Arena in Sydney. PM Modi's visit to Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah mosque is likely to strengthen his bond with the Dawoodi Bohra community. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

PM Modi will visit mosque in Cairo during Egypt trip, here's what's special about it

India&nbsp;is weighing a proposal to begin barter trade in goods like fertiliser and gas with Egypt as part of a wider deal that could see New Delhi extending a credit line worth several billion dollars to Cairo, sources told Reuters.

An agreement is likely to be announced later this month during&nbsp;Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first visit to Egypt, which faces a prolonged foreign currency shortage, a source with knowledge of the matter said.

"The agreement would allow Egypt to make purchases in rupees and bartering is being considered as a means to settle this debt through the sale of Egyptian products that might be of use for&nbsp;India," the source said.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indias-credit-line-to-boost-egypts-race-to-economic-stability-603606">India's credit line to boost Egypt's race to economic stability</a>

India's foreign ministry is consulting with departments on their appetite for fertiliser and gas from Cairo as part payment for the credit line, an&nbsp;Indian official said.

New Delhi is keen to diversify its fertiliser imports, especially after 2021, when some&nbsp;Indian states faced shortages due to Chinese export restrictions and a record price surge.

As part of the facility, Egypt is keen to take wheat supplies, among other items, but New Delhi is unlikely to ship the grain due to its wheat export ban, the&nbsp;Indian official added.

India, the world's second-largest wheat producer, banned wheat exports in May 2022 to help control rising domestic prices, rescinding a plan to export 3 million tons of wheat to Egypt in the year 2022/23. Egypt now depends mostly on Russia for the grain.

"It's a negotiation. Which companies will be involved and in which commodities? All of that is still in discussion," Egypt's supply minister Ali Moselhy told Reuters.

"There are a lot of discussions but up until now the model is not defined," said Moselhy, who did not specify the size of a possible credit line.

The other sources from&nbsp;India&nbsp;and Egypt did not wish to be identified as they are not authorised to speak to the press.

WATCH |&nbsp;Egypt may start paying for Indian imports in rupees

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India's external affairs ministry, finance ministry, trade minister, and Egypt's foreign ministry and trade ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

India&nbsp;exported $4.11 billion of goods to Egypt in the last fiscal year, while importing $1.95 billion.

Egypt has deferred payments for its large wheat purchases, in some cases by months, due to shortage of funds, Reuters reported last month.

Egypt is trying to stabilise an economy hit by the pandemic and high commodity prices, prompting foreign investors to pull about $20 billion out of its financial markets.

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India is weighing a proposal to begin barter trade in goods like fertiliser and gas with Egypt as part of a wider deal that could see New Delhi extending a credit line worth several billion dollars to Cairo, sources told Reuters.

India is weighing a proposal to begin barter trade in goods like fertiliser and gas with Egypt as part of a wider deal that could see New Delhi extending a credit line worth several billion dollars to Cairo, sources told Reuters. An agreement is likely to be announced later this month during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first visit to Egypt, which faces a prolonged foreign currency shortage, a source with knowledge of the matter said. "The agreement would allow Egypt to make purchases in rupees and bartering is being considered as a means to settle this debt through the sale of Egyptian products that might be of use for India," the source said. ALSO READ | India's credit line to boost Egypt's race to economic stability India's foreign ministry is consulting with departments on their appetite for fertiliser and gas from Cairo as part payment for the credit line, an Indian official said. New Delhi is keen to diversify its fertiliser imports, especially after 2021, when some Indian states faced shortages due to Chinese export restrictions and a record price surge. As part of the facility, Egypt is keen to take wheat supplies, among other items, but New Delhi is unlikely to ship the grain due to its wheat export ban, the Indian official added. India, the world's second-largest wheat producer, banned wheat exports in May 2022 to help control rising domestic prices, rescinding a plan to export 3 million tons of wheat to Egypt in the year 2022/23. Egypt now depends mostly on Russia for the grain. "It's a negotiation. Which companies will be involved and in which commodities? All of that is still in discussion," Egypt's supply minister Ali Moselhy told Reuters. "There are a lot of discussions but up until now the model is not defined," said Moselhy, who did not specify the size of a possible credit line. The other sources from India and Egypt did not wish to be identified as they are not authorised to speak to the press. WATCH | Egypt may start paying for Indian imports in rupees India's external affairs ministry, finance ministry, trade minister, and Egypt's foreign ministry and trade ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment. India exported $4.11 billion of goods to Egypt in the last fiscal year, while importing $1.95 billion. Egypt has deferred payments for its large wheat purchases, in some cases by months, due to shortage of funds, Reuters reported last month. Egypt is trying to stabilise an economy hit by the pandemic and high commodity prices, prompting foreign investors to pull about $20 billion out of its financial markets. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

India considers barter trade with crisis-hit Egypt in credit line talks

Egypt has formally applied to join the five-member BRICS bloc of emerging economies, the Russian ambassador to Cairo, Georgy Borisenko, told Russian state news agency TASS.

"Egypt has applied to join the BRICS group, because one of the initiatives that BRICS is currently engaged in is the maximum transfer of trade to alternative currencies, whether national or the creation of some kind of joint currency. Egypt is very interested in this," Borisenko was quoted as saying.

BRICS comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.

In June, the foreign ministers of BRICS member states held a meeting in Cape Town, which also saw the attendance of top diplomats from 12 other countries, including Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

The&nbsp;BRICS has been seeking to expand their membership as many experts have predicted that the bloc will dominate the world economy by 2050.

<h2>Is BRICS raging against the US Dollar an exercise in futility?</h2>

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The Russian envoy further said that Egypt has been looking to boost trade and economic cooperation with Russia.

"New payment mechanisms are being created for trade transactions," Borisenko added.

The BRICS nations account for 40 per cent of the world’s population and almost a third of the global economy. The members of the group have recently outpaced the G7 in terms of economic growth.

<h2>Egypt’s journey towards de-dollarisation</h2>

The development comes after Egypt joined the BRICS bank, the New Development Bank (NDB). The Egyptian lawmakers had welcomed the agreement in January, saying it could help the crisis-hit country to reduce demand on US dollars.

The call to ditch the dollar in settling overseas trade has been getting louder with more countries joining the league. Egypt has become the latest entrant to shed the US currency in trade with several member states of the BRICS economic bloc.

On Tuesday, Egyptian Supply Minister Ali Moselhy said that the cash-strapped country is looking to pay for imports from India, China and Russia in their local currencies instead of the US dollar.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/us-fed-ends-its-interest-rate-hike-campaign-after-10-consecutive-increases-604549">US Fed ends its interest-rate hike campaign after 10 consecutive increases</a>

“Nothing of the sort has been implemented but there are discussions so that we can trade in local currencies of countries like India, Russia or China,” Egyptian Supply Minister Ali Moselhy was quoted as saying by&nbsp;Reuters.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-war-belarus-begins-taking-delivery-of-russian-nuclear-weapons-604512">Ukraine war: Belarus begins taking delivery of Russian nuclear weapons</a>

This comes at a time when Egypt is trying to stabilise its economy after the Russian invasion of Ukraine last year rocked its tourism industry, raised commodity prices and prompted foreign investors to pull about $20 billion out of its financial markets.

Inflation has risen sharply over the last year in Egypt after a series of currency devaluations, a prolonged shortage of foreign currency, and continuing delays in getting imports into the country.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Egypt has formally applied to join the five-member BRICS bloc of emerging economies, the Russian ambassador to Cairo, Georgy Borisenko, told Russian state news agency TASS.

Egypt has formally applied to join the five-member BRICS bloc of emerging economies, the Russian ambassador to Cairo, Georgy Borisenko, told Russian state news agency TASS. "Egypt has applied to join the BRICS group, because one of the initiatives that BRICS is currently engaged in is the maximum transfer of trade to alternative currencies, whether national or the creation of some kind of joint currency. Egypt is very interested in this," Borisenko was quoted as saying. BRICS comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. In June, the foreign ministers of BRICS member states held a meeting in Cape Town, which also saw the attendance of top diplomats from 12 other countries, including Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The BRICS has been seeking to expand their membership as many experts have predicted that the bloc will dominate the world economy by 2050. Is BRICS raging against the US Dollar an exercise in futility? The Russian envoy further said that Egypt has been looking to boost trade and economic cooperation with Russia. "New payment mechanisms are being created for trade transactions," Borisenko added. The BRICS nations account for 40 per cent of the world’s population and almost a third of the global economy. The members of the group have recently outpaced the G7 in terms of economic growth. Egypt’s journey towards de-dollarisation The development comes after Egypt joined the BRICS bank, the New Development Bank (NDB). The Egyptian lawmakers had welcomed the agreement in January, saying it could help the crisis-hit country to reduce demand on US dollars. The call to ditch the dollar in settling overseas trade has been getting louder with more countries joining the league. Egypt has become the latest entrant to shed the US currency in trade with several member states of the BRICS economic bloc. On Tuesday, Egyptian Supply Minister Ali Moselhy said that the cash-strapped country is looking to pay for imports from India, China and Russia in their local currencies instead of the US dollar. Also read | US Fed ends its interest-rate hike campaign after 10 consecutive increases “Nothing of the sort has been implemented but there are discussions so that we can trade in local currencies of countries like India, Russia or China,” Egyptian Supply Minister Ali Moselhy was quoted as saying by Reuters. Also read | Ukraine war: Belarus begins taking delivery of Russian nuclear weapons This comes at a time when Egypt is trying to stabilise its economy after the Russian invasion of Ukraine last year rocked its tourism industry, raised commodity prices and prompted foreign investors to pull about $20 billion out of its financial markets. Inflation has risen sharply over the last year in Egypt after a series of currency devaluations, a prolonged shortage of foreign currency, and continuing delays in getting imports into the country. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Egypt has applied to join BRICS, says Russian envoy

Three previously missing British tourists have been reported dead after a motor yacht caught fire in Egypt’s Red Sea, on Sunday (June 11). The deaths were confirmed a day later by a spokesperson for&nbsp;Scuba Travel.&nbsp; 
 
The British Foreign Office had previously said&nbsp;they are in contact with the local authorities after the incident and supporting those&nbsp;involved.&nbsp;

<h2>What happened?</h2>

A statement by the Red Sea governorate said, “15 English passengers, 10 members of the crew, and two tour guides” had been rescued while the search for three people missing was underway. Furthermore, the officials also said that the survivors were brought to safety in the nearby diving resort of Marsa Shagra which is about 21 kilometres from the town of Marsa Alam.&nbsp;

The condition of those rescued was not immediately clear. Images and videos of the incident show a white motor yacht named ‘Hurricane’ with flames erupting from it and thick smoke billowing into the sky. 
 
Content warning: The visuals may be disturbing to some users. It may contain some profanity as well. Viewer discretion is advised. WION is not responsible for the content of the video.&nbsp;

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/News?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#News</a>: Safari boat full of tourists on the red sea in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Egypt?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Egypt</a> has caught on fire resulting in at least 3 British tourists being missing and others being injured and missing. <a href="https://t.co/Id3AOex3yP">pic.twitter.com/Id3AOex3yP</a>
— Sotiri Dimpinoudis (@sotiridi) <a href="https://twitter.com/sotiridi/status/1667874052797595648?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 11, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Ahmed Maher, a diving manager at Marsa Shagra village, said “We saw smoke from the boat, it was around 9 km from the beach…A nearby boat rescued them and dropped them off.”&nbsp; 
 
Kuwaiti tourist Abdulrahman A. Alsarheed, an eyewitness to the incident, as per Reuters said&nbsp;flames engulfed the boat’s tail in a “matter of minutes” and said that their&nbsp;yacht took 12 tourists on board along with the crew.&nbsp;Alsarheed was said to be on a water safari at the same time of the incident.&nbsp;

<h2>Three British tourists killed due to the fire&nbsp;</h2>

A spokesperson for Scuba Travel, the tour operator for the trip, confirmed the deaths and said “It is with great regret that we, as tour operator, with heavy hearts, must accept that three of our much-valued dive guests, perished in the tragic incident. Our sincere and heartfelt condolences go out to their families and friends at this very sad time.”&nbsp;

The spokesperson also said that the three British tourists were among the 15 “qualified diving enthusiasts” and a part of the week-long stay on board the ship when the fire broke out at about 8:30 am (local time).&nbsp;

“At the time the fire broke out, 12 divers were participating in a briefing on board, while those missing had apparently decided not to dive that morning,” said the spokesperson, in a statement. It added, given the “severity of the fire” the 12 divers present at the briefing were immediately evacuated to another boat nearby.&nbsp;

<h2>Do we know what caused the fire?</h2>

According to the statement from the Red Sea State governor’s office the boat which had been on a trip since June 6 in an area just north of Marsa Alam caught on fire after an electrical short circuit. The boat in question was on a six-day cruise and due back Sunday when it caught on fire some 25 kilometres north of Marsa Alam.

<h2>Egypt’s Red Sea</h2>

The Red Sea is said to be a major tourist destination in Egypt which contributes more than 10 per cent to the country’s GDP while the sector employs two million people.&nbsp;

Last week, a Russian tourist was killed off at one of Egypt’s Red Sea resorts after being attacked by a tiger shark in the waters near the city of Hurghada.

This incident prompted the closure of the 74 km stretch of the coastline with officials&nbsp;announcing it would remain off-limits until Sunday.&nbsp;Egypt’s environment ministry later said that they have caught the shark and are examining the reasons for this rare attack.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
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Three previously missing British tourists have been reported dead after a motor yacht caught fire in Egypt’s Red Sea, on Sunday (June 11). The deaths were confirmed a day later by a spokesperson for Scuba Travel.

Three previously missing British tourists have been reported dead after a motor yacht caught fire in Egypt’s Red Sea, on Sunday (June 11). The deaths were confirmed a day later by a spokesperson for Scuba Travel. The British Foreign Office had previously said they are in contact with the local authorities after the incident and supporting those involved. What happened? A statement by the Red Sea governorate said, “15 English passengers, 10 members of the crew, and two tour guides” had been rescued while the search for three people missing was underway. Furthermore, the officials also said that the survivors were brought to safety in the nearby diving resort of Marsa Shagra which is about 21 kilometres from the town of Marsa Alam. The condition of those rescued was not immediately clear. Images and videos of the incident show a white motor yacht named ‘Hurricane’ with flames erupting from it and thick smoke billowing into the sky. Content warning: The visuals may be disturbing to some users. It may contain some profanity as well. Viewer discretion is advised. WION is not responsible for the content of the video. #News: Safari boat full of tourists on the red sea in #Egypt has caught on fire resulting in at least 3 British tourists being missing and others being injured and missing. pic.twitter.com/Id3AOex3yP — Sotiri Dimpinoudis (@sotiridi) June 11, 2023 × Ahmed Maher, a diving manager at Marsa Shagra village, said “We saw smoke from the boat, it was around 9 km from the beach…A nearby boat rescued them and dropped them off.” Kuwaiti tourist Abdulrahman A. Alsarheed, an eyewitness to the incident, as per Reuters said flames engulfed the boat’s tail in a “matter of minutes” and said that their yacht took 12 tourists on board along with the crew. Alsarheed was said to be on a water safari at the same time of the incident. Three British tourists killed due to the fire A spokesperson for Scuba Travel, the tour operator for the trip, confirmed the deaths and said “It is with great regret that we, as tour operator, with heavy hearts, must accept that three of our much-valued dive guests, perished in the tragic incident. Our sincere and heartfelt condolences go out to their families and friends at this very sad time.” The spokesperson also said that the three British tourists were among the 15 “qualified diving enthusiasts” and a part of the week-long stay on board the ship when the fire broke out at about 8:30 am (local time). “At the time the fire broke out, 12 divers were participating in a briefing on board, while those missing had apparently decided not to dive that morning,” said the spokesperson, in a statement. It added, given the “severity of the fire” the 12 divers present at the briefing were immediately evacuated to another boat nearby. Do we know what caused the fire? According to the statement from the Red Sea State governor’s office the boat which had been on a trip since June 6 in an area just north of Marsa Alam caught on fire after an electrical short circuit. The boat in question was on a six-day cruise and due back Sunday when it caught on fire some 25 kilometres north of Marsa Alam. Egypt’s Red Sea The Red Sea is said to be a major tourist destination in Egypt which contributes more than 10 per cent to the country’s GDP while the sector employs two million people. Last week, a Russian tourist was killed off at one of Egypt’s Red Sea resorts after being attacked by a tiger shark in the waters near the city of Hurghada. This incident prompted the closure of the 74 km stretch of the coastline with officials announcing it would remain off-limits until Sunday. Egypt’s environment ministry later said that they have caught the shark and are examining the reasons for this rare attack. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Video | Three previously missing British tourists confirmed dead after fire on boat in Egypt’s Red Sea

Heavy clashes, gunfire, and shelling resumed in the Sudanese capital after the end of a 24-hour ceasefire between the two warring factions, on Sunday (June 11), as some residents have also reported air strikes.&nbsp;

The fighting that broke out between the Sudanese army led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) chief Mohamed Hamdan Daglo has been going on for nearly two months now, and has since killed thousands and displaced millions.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Egypt has announced a new policy which would require all citizens of neighbouring Sudan to obtain visas before entering their border, said the foreign ministry, on Saturday, citing a crackdown on “illegal activities” including fraud.

<h2>What is happening in Sudan?</h2>

In a series of attempted and failed truces and ceasefires, the one that recently expired offered some respite to the residents in the capital city of Khartoum who were able to leave their houses and stock up on food and other essentials.

Additionally, people in the country have also said that the fighting has intensified in recent weeks including in the densely populated neighbourhood of Haj Youssef in Bahri.&nbsp;Bahri is one of three adjoining cities, along with Khartoum and Omdurman.

Notably, the ceasefire had been announced by the United States and Saudi Arabia mediators who said if they failed to adhere to it, it may break off mediation efforts.&nbsp;

This comes as several ceasefire agreements have been violated and both sides blamed each other for doing so. The mediators said they “share the frustration of the Sudanese people about the uneven implementation of previous ceasefires”.&nbsp;

<h2>Fighting continues after brief respite</h2>

The ceasefire ended at 6:00 am (local time) and as per reports only minutes later, on Sunday, the capital city was rocked with explosions from shelling and clashes. The artillery fire resumed in the north of Omdurman while clashes erupted in southern and central Khartoum, reported Reuters, citing residents.&nbsp;

The one-day lull was “like a dream” that evaporated, said Nasreddin Ahmed, a resident of south Khartoum, as per AFP. Similarly, Musab Saleh, a 38-year-old resident of southern Khartoum, said that the “truce made us relax a bit, but the war and fear are returning today,” reported Reuters.&nbsp;

<h2>Egypt toughens visa restrictions for Sudan</h2>

The Egyptian foreign ministry announced new visa restrictions for Sudanese citizens which has reversed the longstanding exemption for children, women and elderly men. According to the local monitoring group, at least 1,800 people have died due to the fighting, while more than 1.9 million have been displaced.&nbsp;

Thousands of people have fled Sudan and taken refuge in neighbouring countries,&nbsp;including&nbsp; Egypt where more than 200,000 people are reported to have fled since the conflict began. As per the new rules, those Sudanese who had previously been exempted from visas which included women of all ages, children under 16 and anyone over 50.

However, the ministry has stressed that the new requirements were not designed to “prevent or limit” the entry of Sudanese nationals but rather to stop “illegal activities by individuals and groups on the Sudanese side of the border, who forged entry visas” for profit.&nbsp;

It added, “Egypt has welcomed more than 200,000 Sudanese citizens since the start of the crisis…adding to the approximately five million Sudanese citizens who were already present (before the conflict).”&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
 
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Heavy clashes, gunfire, and shelling resumed in the Sudanese capital after the end of a 24-hour ceasefire between the two warring factions, on Sunday (June 11), as some residents have also reported air strikes.

Heavy clashes, gunfire, and shelling resumed in the Sudanese capital after the end of a 24-hour ceasefire between the two warring factions, on Sunday (June 11), as some residents have also reported air strikes. The fighting that broke out between the Sudanese army led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) chief Mohamed Hamdan Daglo has been going on for nearly two months now, and has since killed thousands and displaced millions. Meanwhile, Egypt has announced a new policy which would require all citizens of neighbouring Sudan to obtain visas before entering their border, said the foreign ministry, on Saturday, citing a crackdown on “illegal activities” including fraud. What is happening in Sudan? In a series of attempted and failed truces and ceasefires, the one that recently expired offered some respite to the residents in the capital city of Khartoum who were able to leave their houses and stock up on food and other essentials. Additionally, people in the country have also said that the fighting has intensified in recent weeks including in the densely populated neighbourhood of Haj Youssef in Bahri. Bahri is one of three adjoining cities, along with Khartoum and Omdurman. Notably, the ceasefire had been announced by the United States and Saudi Arabia mediators who said if they failed to adhere to it, it may break off mediation efforts. This comes as several ceasefire agreements have been violated and both sides blamed each other for doing so. The mediators said they “share the frustration of the Sudanese people about the uneven implementation of previous ceasefires”. Fighting continues after brief respite The ceasefire ended at 6:00 am (local time) and as per reports only minutes later, on Sunday, the capital city was rocked with explosions from shelling and clashes. The artillery fire resumed in the north of Omdurman while clashes erupted in southern and central Khartoum, reported Reuters, citing residents. The one-day lull was “like a dream” that evaporated, said Nasreddin Ahmed, a resident of south Khartoum, as per AFP. Similarly, Musab Saleh, a 38-year-old resident of southern Khartoum, said that the “truce made us relax a bit, but the war and fear are returning today,” reported Reuters. Egypt toughens visa restrictions for Sudan The Egyptian foreign ministry announced new visa restrictions for Sudanese citizens which has reversed the longstanding exemption for children, women and elderly men. According to the local monitoring group, at least 1,800 people have died due to the fighting, while more than 1.9 million have been displaced. Thousands of people have fled Sudan and taken refuge in neighbouring countries, including Egypt where more than 200,000 people are reported to have fled since the conflict began. As per the new rules, those Sudanese who had previously been exempted from visas which included women of all ages, children under 16 and anyone over 50. However, the ministry has stressed that the new requirements were not designed to “prevent or limit” the entry of Sudanese nationals but rather to stop “illegal activities by individuals and groups on the Sudanese side of the border, who forged entry visas” for profit. It added, “Egypt has welcomed more than 200,000 Sudanese citizens since the start of the crisis…adding to the approximately five million Sudanese citizens who were already present (before the conflict).” (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Sudan: Fighting resumes after 24-hour ceasefire expires; Egypt toughens visa rules

Egypt has reopened a 13th-century mosque after long period of restoration. The mosque had fallen into disrepair. It went through, over the years, used as a soap factory, a slaughterhouse and even a fort. The mosque is situated in capital Cairo.&nbsp;

The mosque of Al-Zhahir Baybars was built under Mamluk rule in 1268. It spans an area of three acres just north of Cairo. This makes it Egypt's third-largest mosque.

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The mosque underwent mechanical and chemical restoration to bring it back to its original condition, said Tarek Mohamed El-Behairy, who supervised the restoration.

"Some parts were destroyed, some parts have been dismantled because they were structurally unsuitable to remain in the mosque," he said. He was quoted by Reuters.

"But we were very keen, even in the reconstruction process, to work according to the correct archaeological style."

<h2>Co-funded by Kazakhstan</h2>

The restoration cost USD 7.68 million. It was co-funded by Kazakhstan. The agreement for the restoration work was struck in 2007.

The mosque was either closed or was used for non-religious purposes. This led to its disrepair.&nbsp;

During Napoleon's campaign in Egypt it was used as a military fort, then under Ottoman rule in the 19th century as a soap factory. Later, when the British invaded Egypt in 1882, it was used as a slaughterhouse.

Al-Zahir Baybars was a prominent figure in Egypt's history credited with cementing Mamluk rule in Egypt which spanned three centuries up to 1517.

A ceremony was held in Kazakhstan to mark the opening of the mosque and to celebrate the country's role in restoration. The Astana Times reported that&nbsp;

Kazakhstan’s Senate Chairperson Maulen Ashimbayev, Minister of Culture and Sports Askhat Oralov were present for the ceremony among others.

“Relations between the Kazakh and Egyptian peoples have deep historical roots dating back to the time of the Mamluks. Sultan Beibars paid special attention to constructing mosques and madrasahs and developing science and education,” said Ashimbayev. He was quoted by The Astana Times news outlet.

“Today is a very important day for Kazakhstan and Egypt. We not only rediscover one of Cairo’s landmarks, but also strengthen the cultural and spiritual bond between the two nations. Sultan Beibars is an important figure in the history of our countries, that is why I would like to thank the Egyptian side for cooperation in preserving the cultural heritage important for all of us,” said Oralov. He was quoted by The Astana Times.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Egypt has reopened a 13th-century mosque after long period of restoration. The mosque had fallen into disrepair. It went through, over the years, used as a soap factory, a slaughterhouse and even a fort.

Egypt has reopened a 13th-century mosque after long period of restoration. The mosque had fallen into disrepair. It went through, over the years, used as a soap factory, a slaughterhouse and even a fort. The mosque is situated in capital Cairo. The mosque of Al-Zhahir Baybars was built under Mamluk rule in 1268. It spans an area of three acres just north of Cairo. This makes it Egypt's third-largest mosque. The mosque underwent mechanical and chemical restoration to bring it back to its original condition, said Tarek Mohamed El-Behairy, who supervised the restoration. "Some parts were destroyed, some parts have been dismantled because they were structurally unsuitable to remain in the mosque," he said. He was quoted by Reuters. "But we were very keen, even in the reconstruction process, to work according to the correct archaeological style." Co-funded by Kazakhstan The restoration cost USD 7.68 million. It was co-funded by Kazakhstan. The agreement for the restoration work was struck in 2007. The mosque was either closed or was used for non-religious purposes. This led to its disrepair. During Napoleon's campaign in Egypt it was used as a military fort, then under Ottoman rule in the 19th century as a soap factory. Later, when the British invaded Egypt in 1882, it was used as a slaughterhouse. Al-Zahir Baybars was a prominent figure in Egypt's history credited with cementing Mamluk rule in Egypt which spanned three centuries up to 1517. A ceremony was held in Kazakhstan to mark the opening of the mosque and to celebrate the country's role in restoration. The Astana Times reported that Kazakhstan’s Senate Chairperson Maulen Ashimbayev, Minister of Culture and Sports Askhat Oralov were present for the ceremony among others. “Relations between the Kazakh and Egyptian peoples have deep historical roots dating back to the time of the Mamluks. Sultan Beibars paid special attention to constructing mosques and madrasahs and developing science and education,” said Ashimbayev. He was quoted by The Astana Times news outlet. “Today is a very important day for Kazakhstan and Egypt. We not only rediscover one of Cairo’s landmarks, but also strengthen the cultural and spiritual bond between the two nations. Sultan Beibars is an important figure in the history of our countries, that is why I would like to thank the Egyptian side for cooperation in preserving the cultural heritage important for all of us,” said Oralov. He was quoted by The Astana Times. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Egypt reopens historic 13th century mosque post years of restoration

In Pics | Egypt historic mosque reopens after years of restoration

Documentaries and history books have told us about King Tutankhamun, who was one of the most prominent pharaohs of ancient Egypt. Now, scientists have reconstructed his face after 3,300 years, unveiling what he would have looked like during his reign.&nbsp;

A new <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/371120172_Pharaoh_Tutankhamun_a_novel_3D_digital_facial_approximation">study</a> published in the Italian Journal of Anatomy and Embryology mentioned that teams from Australia, Italy and Brazil utilised a digital model of his mummified skull and managed to re-create the face of King Tut.&nbsp;

As quoted by reports, Brazilian graphics expert and co-author Cicero Moraes said, "He looks like a young man with a delicate face. Looking at him, we see more of a young student than a politician full of responsibilities, which makes the historical figure even more interesting."&nbsp;

Moraes said that the team's lack of direct access to the former pharaoh's head made modelling extremely challenging.&nbsp;

But fortunately, the researchers were able to access documents from prior studies that included references to skull measurements as well as photographs of King Tut.&nbsp;

Moraes explained, "It was detective work, where traces of information were concatenated in order to provide us with a three-dimensional model of the skull."&nbsp;

"With the proportion data and some important cephalometric measurements, it was possible to take the digital skull of a virtual donor and adjust it so that it became the skull of Tutankhamun," Moraes added.&nbsp;

<h2>About King Tutankhamun's life&nbsp;</h2>

Tutankhamun is a vital part of ancient Egyptian history. He accomplished&nbsp; a lot in his short life after he ascended to the throne around the age of nine and reigned until his death around the age of 19.&nbsp;

Tutankhamun (also known as Tutankhamon, Tutankhamen or, Tutankhaten) was the antepenultimate pharaoh of the 18th Dynasty of ancient Egypt.&nbsp;

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A new 3D rendering brings King Tut to us like never before. Researchers have conducted a groundbreaking study that sheds light on the mysterious life and death of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tutankhamun?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Tutankhamun</a>, the legendary boy pharaoh of ancient <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Egypt?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Egypt</a>.<a href="https://t.co/8f305uxO3V">https://t.co/8f305uxO3V</a>
— Ancient Origins (@ancientorigins) <a href="https://twitter.com/ancientorigins/status/1664394535340765186?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 1, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<h2>Sarcophagus of Pharaoh Ramses II unveiled in Paris&nbsp;</h2>

Last month, the sarcophagus of ancient Egyptian pharaoh Ramses II was unveiled to reporters in Paris on Thursday following its rare journey outside of Egypt. The ornate coffin will be on show to the public in the French capital from April 7 to September 6. Benedicte Lhoyer, a scientific advisor to the exhibition, told AFP the "exceptional" loan was thanks to "an unprecedented cooperation between France and Egypt".

The Ramses II exhibition is on a tour that includes the United States and Australia, but only France is receiving the sarcophagus, in recognition of the assistance from French scientists who helped save the mummy from decay following a previous visit to Paris in 1976. The mummy itself has stayed behind this time, since Egyptian law now forbids transporting royal mummies abroad.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

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Documentaries and history books have told us about King Tutankhamun, who was one of the most prominent pharaohs of ancient Egypt. Now, scientists have reconstructed his face after 3,300 years, unveiling what he would have looked like during his reign.

Documentaries and history books have told us about King Tutankhamun, who was one of the most prominent pharaohs of ancient Egypt. Now, scientists have reconstructed his face after 3,300 years, unveiling what he would have looked like during his reign. A new study published in the Italian Journal of Anatomy and Embryology mentioned that teams from Australia, Italy and Brazil utilised a digital model of his mummified skull and managed to re-create the face of King Tut. As quoted by reports, Brazilian graphics expert and co-author Cicero Moraes said, "He looks like a young man with a delicate face. Looking at him, we see more of a young student than a politician full of responsibilities, which makes the historical figure even more interesting." Moraes said that the team's lack of direct access to the former pharaoh's head made modelling extremely challenging. But fortunately, the researchers were able to access documents from prior studies that included references to skull measurements as well as photographs of King Tut. Moraes explained, "It was detective work, where traces of information were concatenated in order to provide us with a three-dimensional model of the skull." "With the proportion data and some important cephalometric measurements, it was possible to take the digital skull of a virtual donor and adjust it so that it became the skull of Tutankhamun," Moraes added. About King Tutankhamun's life Tutankhamun is a vital part of ancient Egyptian history. He accomplished a lot in his short life after he ascended to the throne around the age of nine and reigned until his death around the age of 19. Tutankhamun (also known as Tutankhamon, Tutankhamen or, Tutankhaten) was the antepenultimate pharaoh of the 18th Dynasty of ancient Egypt. A new 3D rendering brings King Tut to us like never before. Researchers have conducted a groundbreaking study that sheds light on the mysterious life and death of #Tutankhamun, the legendary boy pharaoh of ancient #Egypt.https://t.co/8f305uxO3V — Ancient Origins (@ancientorigins) June 1, 2023 × Sarcophagus of Pharaoh Ramses II unveiled in Paris Last month, the sarcophagus of ancient Egyptian pharaoh Ramses II was unveiled to reporters in Paris on Thursday following its rare journey outside of Egypt. The ornate coffin will be on show to the public in the French capital from April 7 to September 6. Benedicte Lhoyer, a scientific advisor to the exhibition, told AFP the "exceptional" loan was thanks to "an unprecedented cooperation between France and Egypt". The Ramses II exhibition is on a tour that includes the United States and Australia, but only France is receiving the sarcophagus, in recognition of the assistance from French scientists who helped save the mummy from decay following a previous visit to Paris in 1976. The mummy itself has stayed behind this time, since Egyptian law now forbids transporting royal mummies abroad. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Scientists reconstruct ancient Egyptian King Tutankhamun's face

Egypt unearths human and animal mummification workshops

Israeli National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, on Sunday (May 21) visited the Al-Aqsa mosque for the second time since he took office and declared that Israel was “in charge” of the disputed holy site in Jerusalem. The move has since drawn condemnation from Palestinians and also comes amid recent escalations and a rise in tensions between Israel and Palestine.&nbsp;

<h2>Ben-Gvir’s visit to Al-Aqsa mosque</h2>

The comments came during an early morning visit to the compound that lies in the Old City of Jerusalem which is known as Temple Mount to Jews and deemed Judaism’s most sacred site and vestige of two ancient temples of the faith. “I’m happy to ascend the Temple Mount, the most important place for the people of Israel,” said Ben-Gvir.&nbsp;

As per the long-standing agreements Jews are permitted to visit the site, but not to pray at Temple Mount. However, the site has recently witnessed an influx&nbsp;of Jewish visitors who have increasingly been defying the ban, more or less openly. This has also sparked fears among Palestinians who have called it a provocation in the past.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-why-has-israeli-minister-ben-gvirs-visit-to-al-aqsa-mosque-sparked-outrage-549442">Explained: Why has Israeli minister Ben-Gvir’s visit to Al-Aqsa mosque sparked outrage?</a>

The Israeli minister’s visit also comes days after Israelis marked Jerusalem Day which celebrates Israel’s capture of east Jerusalem, including the Old City, following the Middle East war in 1967. “All the threats from Hamas will not help, we are in charge here in Jerusalem and all of the Land of Israel,” said Ben-Gvir.&nbsp;

The national security minister also went on to post an image of himself on Telegram at Al-Aqsa mosque and wrote, “Jerusalem is our soul.” He added, “The threats of Hamas will not deter us, I went up to the Temple Mount!” The visit was also later confirmed by the Israeli police who said that it passed without any incidents.&nbsp;

<h2>Israeli Cabinet meeting in Old City</h2>

Hours after the controversial visit, on Sunday, top politicians from Israel also held a rare Cabinet meeting in the tunnels beneath the Western Wall. “Time and again, my friends and I have been forced to repel international pressure on the part of those who would divide Jerusalem again,” said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as quoted by AFP, at the beginning of the meeting.&nbsp;

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/senior-israeli-minister-visits-al-aqsa-mosque-594825">Senior Israeli minister visits Al-Aqsa mosque</a>

He also said how some leaders in Israel were “prepared to give in to those pressures” but “we have acted differently” and also reportedly went on to celebrate the expansion of Israeli settlement in east Jerusalem which is deemed illegal by the international community. This comes also after several people&nbsp;expressed concerns over the newly elected government of Netanyahu and his right-wing allies, particularly over their relations with Palestinians.

<h2>Palestine&nbsp;calls visit&nbsp;'playing with fire'</h2>

A spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said that the Israeli minister’s “incursion at an early hour, like thieves, into the Al-Aqsa Mosque courtyards will not change the reality and will not impose Israeli sovereignty over it.” The president’s office also called the “harming” of Al-Aqsa mosque “playing with fire”.&nbsp;

Abbas’s spokesman, Nabil Abu Rudeineh said the region will be pushed “into a religious war with unimaginable consequences that will affect everyone.” He also called Ben-Gvir’s visit a “blatant attack” on the mosque.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-thousands-of-israelis-participate-in-contentious-flag-march-in-jerusalem-rattles-palestinians-593867">In pics | Thousands of Israelis participate in contentious 'flag march' in Jerusalem, rattles Palestinians</a>

The militant group that rules the blockaded Gaza Strip, Hamas’ spokesman said Israel would bear the consequences for the “savage assault” on the Al-Aqsa mosque. It added, the move “confirms the depths of danger looming over Al-Aqsa, under this Zionist fascist government and the arrogance of its ministers from the extreme right.”&nbsp;

The Jordanian Waqf Islamic affairs council, which serves as the custodian of the mosque, called the Israeli minister’s visit a “blatant storming and desecration of the blessed Al-Aqsa mosque”. “No less dangerous is the call by the occupation (Israeli) government to hold its meeting this morning in the Western Wall area,” said the Waqf, in a statement.&nbsp;

Jordan’s foreign ministry called the visit a “provocative step” which is “condemned” as well as a “dangerous and unacceptable escalation.” It added that the move, “represents a flagrant and unacceptable violation of international law, and of the historical and legal status quo in Jerusalem and its holy sites”.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/middle-east/israeli-palestinian-gaza-truce-holds-after-hunger-strikers-death-588470">Israeli-Palestinian Gaza truce holds after hunger striker's death</a>

The incident comes after the fighting between Israel and Gaza militants ended just last week following an Egypt-mediated truce between the two factions. At least 34 Palestinians and one Israeli were killed during the hostilities which went on for days. Egypt’s foreign ministry on Sunday asked Israel to “immediately stop the escalatory practices which inflame the pre-existing state of tension in the occupied (Palestinian) territories.”&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
 
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Israeli National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, on Sunday (May 21) visited the Al-Aqsa mosque for the second time since he took office and declared that Israel was “in charge” of the disputed holy site in Jerusalem.

Israeli National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, on Sunday (May 21) visited the Al-Aqsa mosque for the second time since he took office and declared that Israel was “in charge” of the disputed holy site in Jerusalem. The move has since drawn condemnation from Palestinians and also comes amid recent escalations and a rise in tensions between Israel and Palestine. Ben-Gvir’s visit to Al-Aqsa mosque The comments came during an early morning visit to the compound that lies in the Old City of Jerusalem which is known as Temple Mount to Jews and deemed Judaism’s most sacred site and vestige of two ancient temples of the faith. “I’m happy to ascend the Temple Mount, the most important place for the people of Israel,” said Ben-Gvir. As per the long-standing agreements Jews are permitted to visit the site, but not to pray at Temple Mount. However, the site has recently witnessed an influx of Jewish visitors who have increasingly been defying the ban, more or less openly. This has also sparked fears among Palestinians who have called it a provocation in the past. ALSO READ | Explained: Why has Israeli minister Ben-Gvir’s visit to Al-Aqsa mosque sparked outrage? The Israeli minister’s visit also comes days after Israelis marked Jerusalem Day which celebrates Israel’s capture of east Jerusalem, including the Old City, following the Middle East war in 1967. “All the threats from Hamas will not help, we are in charge here in Jerusalem and all of the Land of Israel,” said Ben-Gvir. The national security minister also went on to post an image of himself on Telegram at Al-Aqsa mosque and wrote, “Jerusalem is our soul.” He added, “The threats of Hamas will not deter us, I went up to the Temple Mount!” The visit was also later confirmed by the Israeli police who said that it passed without any incidents. Israeli Cabinet meeting in Old City Hours after the controversial visit, on Sunday, top politicians from Israel also held a rare Cabinet meeting in the tunnels beneath the Western Wall. “Time and again, my friends and I have been forced to repel international pressure on the part of those who would divide Jerusalem again,” said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as quoted by AFP, at the beginning of the meeting. ALSO WATCH | Senior Israeli minister visits Al-Aqsa mosque He also said how some leaders in Israel were “prepared to give in to those pressures” but “we have acted differently” and also reportedly went on to celebrate the expansion of Israeli settlement in east Jerusalem which is deemed illegal by the international community. This comes also after several people expressed concerns over the newly elected government of Netanyahu and his right-wing allies, particularly over their relations with Palestinians. Palestine calls visit 'playing with fire' A spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said that the Israeli minister’s “incursion at an early hour, like thieves, into the Al-Aqsa Mosque courtyards will not change the reality and will not impose Israeli sovereignty over it.” The president’s office also called the “harming” of Al-Aqsa mosque “playing with fire”. Abbas’s spokesman, Nabil Abu Rudeineh said the region will be pushed “into a religious war with unimaginable consequences that will affect everyone.” He also called Ben-Gvir’s visit a “blatant attack” on the mosque. ALSO READ | In pics | Thousands of Israelis participate in contentious 'flag march' in Jerusalem, rattles Palestinians The militant group that rules the blockaded Gaza Strip, Hamas’ spokesman said Israel would bear the consequences for the “savage assault” on the Al-Aqsa mosque. It added, the move “confirms the depths of danger looming over Al-Aqsa, under this Zionist fascist government and the arrogance of its ministers from the extreme right.” The Jordanian Waqf Islamic affairs council, which serves as the custodian of the mosque, called the Israeli minister’s visit a “blatant storming and desecration of the blessed Al-Aqsa mosque”. “No less dangerous is the call by the occupation (Israeli) government to hold its meeting this morning in the Western Wall area,” said the Waqf, in a statement. Jordan’s foreign ministry called the visit a “provocative step” which is “condemned” as well as a “dangerous and unacceptable escalation.” It added that the move, “represents a flagrant and unacceptable violation of international law, and of the historical and legal status quo in Jerusalem and its holy sites”. ALSO READ | Israeli-Palestinian Gaza truce holds after hunger striker's death The incident comes after the fighting between Israel and Gaza militants ended just last week following an Egypt-mediated truce between the two factions. At least 34 Palestinians and one Israeli were killed during the hostilities which went on for days. Egypt’s foreign ministry on Sunday asked Israel to “immediately stop the escalatory practices which inflame the pre-existing state of tension in the occupied (Palestinian) territories.” (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Israel ‘in charge’ of Al-Aqsa mosque, says security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir during visit

India-Egypt relations have been on the upswing. The year started with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi visiting New Delhi as the chief guest for the Republic Day parade as the two sides produced a roadmap for bilateral relations and set the tone for cooperation in areas from “pharma to military industries to security to information technology".

India-Egypt relations have been on the upswing. The year started with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi visiting New Delhi as the chief guest for the Republic Day parade as the two sides produced a roadmap for bilateral relations and set the tone for cooperation in areas from “pharma to military industries to security to information technology". Now, in an exclusive conversation with WIONs diplomatic correspondent Siddhant Sibal on the sidelines of the sixth Indian Ocean Conference in Dhaka, Aly Houssam El-Din El-Hefny, secretary general of the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs has reflected on the same. When quizzed about the increased momentum between the two countries, El-Hefny said relations were growing stronger. "Excellent thing to think of. Obvious that relations had to develop further. Cordial relations. Serious push lately. Sisi's visit important. Political, economic issues, investments, terrorism radicalism, military cooperation. More exercises between the two. Relations getting diversified," said El-Hefny. Military co-operation between the two nations Asked if Egypt was planning to purchase military equipment from New Delhi to strengthen its forces, El-Hefny, who has previously served as the Egyptian ambassador to China, Hungary, Mexico, Belize and Mongolia remained optimistic. "It is for the military to decide. We have accumulated expertise in the military and there is room for exchange (on military tech)." Notably, in January, prior to El-Sisi’s attendance at India’s Republic Day celebrations, the two countries held their first-ever military joint exercise in Rajasthan. ALSO READ | President El-Sisi visits as R-Day chief guest, Egypt remains Delhi’s indispensable Afro-Arab ally India's G20 presidency With India undertaking the G20 presidency this year and holding the summit later this year, Cairo said it was invited by India because the government in New Delhi believes the African country can add value to the summit. "Very important, India is of the opinion that Egypt has to be invited because its an important economically developing nation and has a prosperous future. Egypt will add value to the G20 summit. We will be able to attend our experience and analysis with others at the forum." WATCH | WION Exclusive: Egypt's ambassador to India Wael Hamed speaks to WION × Egypt is a significant gateway to markets in Africa and Europe. According to India's Ministry of External Affairs, bilateral trade reached a record high of $7.26 billion in 2021–22. Under former Indian prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser, relations between India and Egypt improved, particularly following India's support for Egypt during the 1956 Suez Crisis. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Exclusive: 'Cairo can add value to summit': Top Egyptian official on receiving G20 invitation from New Delhi

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