Egypt - The African Mirror

Jan

2024

Attack-minded Egypt enter AFCON with renewed confidence

AFCON 2023

EGYPT hope a new attacking approach will bear fruit as they launch a fresh bid to win a record-extending eighth Africa Cup of Nations title in the Ivory Coast, putting behind them the disappointment of two recent near misses. They kick off their campaign against Mozambique in Abidjan on Sunday, having had to settle for silver medals in 2017 and 2021, with a shock round of 16 loss to South Africa on home soil in 2019. Both recent final appearances were achieved via stout defensive displays as Argentine coach Hector Cuper and Portuguese boss Carlos Queiroz made this the foundation…

Jan

2024

By The African Mirror

Egypt agrees with AD Ports to develop Red Sea tourism terminals

BUSINESS

EGYPT initialed an agreement with Abu Dhabi's AD Ports Group to develop, operate and maintain terminals for passengers and cruise lines at the Red Sea ports of Hurghada, Safaga and Sharm El Sheikh, its transport ministry said. The contract will also commit AD Ports Group to develop yacht and cruise ship tourism in Egypt, the ministry statement said. "This contract will contribute to operating cruise lines between Zayed Port and Safaga, Hurghada and Sharm El-Sheikh and, later, Arabian Gulf ports, Aqaba and Europe and Asia," the statement added, without giving the value or duration of the contract. Egypt last week signed…

Jan

2024

By PATRICK WERR

Egypt plans expansion of new capital as first residents trickle in

NEWS

EGYPT is preparing to spend billions doubling the size of a lavish new capital it is building in the desert 45 km (28 miles) east of Cairo, where the first residents are trickling in, the head of the company overseeing the project said. The city is the biggest of a series of mega-projects that President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi says are needed for economic development and to accommodate a growing population of 105 million, but critics say diverts resources and increases Egypt's debt burden. Government employees transferred in July to ministries and offices built in the new city's first phase, eight…

Dec

2023

By NIDAL AL-MUGHRABI, DAN WILLIAMS and AHMED MOHAMED HASSAN

What is Egypt’s proposal for Gaza?

NEWS

EGYPT has held talks between Hamas and its allied Islamic Jihad to try and broker a permanent ceasefire in Israel's war in the Gaza Strip, which has killed tens of thousands, laid waste to the Hamas-governed territory, and displaced the majority of the 2.3 million Palestinian residents. Here are the various proposals Egypt is presenting: RELINQUISH POWER Egypt is proposing that Hamas and Islamic Jihad relinquish power in the Gaza Strip in return for a permanent ceasefire, said two Egyptian security sources. Hamas and Islamic Jihad officials have rejected such a proposal, the Egyptian sources said. Officials of the two…

Dec

2023

By PATRICK WERR

Egypt raises $800 mln from hotels in divestment drive – PM

BUSINESS

EGYPT'S sovereign wealth fund has signed an $800 million deal to sell a stake in seven prominent hotels to Egypt's Talaat Moustafa Group (TMG) in its drive to raise funds and foreign currency, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said. Revenues from selling stakes in state assets have reached $5.6 billion so far, said Madbouly, whose government is grappling with a long-running shortage of foreign currency and a rising debt burden. He provided no breakdown of the revenues. The stake sales, which some expect to accelerate after a presidential election earlier this month, are seen as crucial to Egypt's chances of easing prolonged pressure…

Dec

2023

By NIDAL AL-MUGHRABI, BASSAM MASOUD and DAN WILLIAMS

Hamas leader visits Egypt amid intensive talks on new ceasefire

WORLD

THE leader of Hamas made his first visit to Egypt for more than a month on Wednesday, a rare personal intervention in diplomacy amid what a source described as intensive talks on a new ceasefire to let aid reach Gaza and get hostages freed. Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, who normally resides in Qatar, typically intervenes in diplomacy publicly only when progress seems likely. He last travelled to Egypt in early November before the announcement of the only agreement on a ceasefire in the war so far, a week-long pause during which more than 100 hostages were released. Islamic Jihad, a…

Dec

2023

By PATRICK WERR

Egypt faces painful choices after Sisi’s re-election

NEWS

A steady deterioration of the economy puts Egypt under pressure to take long-awaited measures following a presidential election, foremost among them a currency devaluation and a hike in interest rates, along with faster state asset sales. Analysts believe the government postponed painful steps until after Abdel Fattah al-Sisi swept to a third six-year term in a December 10-12 vote that saw no serious challengers and was overshadowed by the war in Gaza. The focus now turns to how to deal with an overvalued currency, near-record inflation and massive debt, both domestic and foreign. "There are a lot of big choices for the government to…

Dec

2023

By The African Mirror

Egypt says talks over Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam have failed -statement

NEWS

EGYPT said the latest talks over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) had failed but it would monitor the process of filling and operating the dam. "Egypt reserves its right, in accordance with international charters and accords, to defend its water and national security in case of any harm," Egypt's Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation said in a statement. In a statement, Ethiopia's foreign ministry said Egypt had "misrepresented" Ethiopia's positions in the talks, adding that Egypt's "colonial era mentality and erected roadblocks against efforts toward convergence". Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said in…

Dec

2023

By The African Mirror

Egypt’s Suez Canal Authority monitoring tensions in Red Sea

NEWS

EGYPT'S Suez Canal authority said that it was closely monitoring the impact of tensions in the Red Sea after recent attacks by Yemen's Houthis on vessels in the southern part of the basin. Two major freight firms including MSC, the world's biggest container shipping line, said on Saturday they would avoid the Suez Canal as Houthi militants stepped up their assaults. The authority is "closely following the consequences of current tensions," the body's chairman, Osama Rabie, said in a statement. Maritime traffic in the canal was currently normal, he added, without going into further detail. Iran-aligned Houthis have launched attacks against vessels…

Nov

2023

By BONFACE ORUCHO, BIRD STORY AGENCY

NBA App gets a boost in Africa with new docuseries

BASKETBALL

NBA Africa's first original docuseries, dubbed 'Born & Bred', a five-part documentary telling the stories of five NBA prospects from Africa, has premiered on the NBA App. The series tells the stories of NBA prospects from Angola, Egypt, Nigeria, Senegal, and South Sudan and it features exclusive footage and interviews with the prospects, family members, friends, and coaches. According to Franck Traore, NBA Africa Head of Basketball Operations, the series showcases "the inspirational stories of prospects from across the continent who have come to NBA Academy Africa to take the next step in their basketball development journeys and lives.” NBA…