Egypt

CAIRO, Feb 18 (NNN-MENA) – Egyptian President, Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, held talks yesterday with visiting Pakistani Foreign Minister, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, on boosting security and economic cooperation between the two countries, said the Egyptian presidency in a statement.

Sisi and Qureshi discussed bolstering ties between Egypt and Pakistan “especially in terms of security and economic cooperation, and trade and investment exchange.”

CAIRO, Feb 17 (NNN-MENA) – Arab League (AL) Secretary-General, Aboul-Gheit, and UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Tor Wennesland, discussed developments in Palestine and Israel, in light of the upcoming elections in the two countries.

During a phone conversation, Aboul-Gheit and the new UN envoy exchanged views on the recent developments in the region, ahead of major Palestinian and Israeli elections in the coming months.

17 Feb 2021; MEMO: Egyptian authorities have once again arrested relatives of former political prisoner Mohamed Soltan who lives in the United States as part of a campaign to stop him from speaking out about human rights abuses in the country.

Six of Soltan's relatives were arrested on Sunday morning in Mounofiya and Alexandria, according to a statement released by the Freedom Initiative.

16 Feb 2021; MEMO: Egyptian MP Enas Abdel Halim confirmed that 30 per cent of the country's textiles factories have closed as a result of the recession and deteriorating economic conditions in the country.

Abdel Halim said the remaining factories had reduced production by 50 to 70 per cent.

She explained that Egypt had about 1,260 spinning, weaving and dyeing factories registered in Mahalla, but now only 320 factories are operating, employing 120,000 workers.

16 Feb 2021; MEMO: A delegation of Egyptian officials arrived in Libya yesterday to open the country's embassy.

In a statement to Anadolu Agency, Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammed Al-Qablawi said the delegation of diplomats and security personnel will pay an official visit to Tripoli for a few days.

Al-Qablawi added that Egypt's embassy in Tripoli will be reopened.

CAIRO, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Naval forces from Egypt and Spain conducted joint military exercises in the Red Sea, Egypt's armed forces said on Sunday.

The exercises included activities of sailing formation, transportation and training, which showed the ability, speed and accuracy of the participating units, the Egyptian military said in a statement.

The training contributed to exchanging experiences with the Spanish side as well as benefiting from the bilateral capabilities in achieving common interests, and enhancing mutual naval military cooperation, it added.

CAIRO, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- The Arab League called on all the Somali parties to immediately resume the talks to reach a deal that ensures a national election will be held soon, the pan-Arab body said in a statement on Thursday.

"The Arab League closely follows efforts of the political leaders in the government and leaders of federal member states for concluding an agreement on solving the problems that hinder preparations for the public elections," it said.

CAIRO, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi made a phone call to his Palestinian counterpart Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday evening, to discuss the latest developments of the Palestinian cause, said the Egyptian presidency in a statement.

Sisi reiterated Egypt's support for the Palestinian cause as well as its continuous coordination with Palestinian and international partners "to crystallize a clear vision" to advance the peace process between the Palestinians and the Israelis, said the statement.

10 Feb 2021; MEMO: Food consumption in Egypt has increased threefold since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, the country's Supply Ministry announced yesterday. Ministerial adviser Ibrahim Ashmawy told the media that the volume of national consumption during the fasting month of Ramadan in 2020 was double the month's normal rate.

CAIRO/GAZA, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- Leaders of a dozen of Palestinian factions, including the two main rivals Fatah and Hamas, concluded on Tuesday a two-day reconciliation dialogue in Egypt's capital Cairo and agreed on cooperation in holding the general elections later this year, the factions said in a final statement after the dialogue.

The agreement will hopefully end a 14-year rift between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' ruling Fatah and Hamas that controls the Gaza Strip.