The Supreme Committee for Nile Water (SCNW) convened on Wednesday under the chairmanship of Egypt s Prime Minster Moustafa Madbouly and the attendance of Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Mohamed Abdel Ati, as well as a host relevant experts, representatives of the state ministries concerned, the General Intelligence Service (GIS) and the Administrative Control Authority (ACA). The committee discussed several phases of the lengthy trilateral negotiations on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), which yielded no agreement , Cabinet Spokesman Nader Saad said. The futile negotiations prompted the Egyptian side to put forward a technical proposal which takes into account Ethiopia s energy needs without detriment to Egyptian water interests , the Cabinet said, without further explaination to the details of this proposal. The committee asserted the need to wrap up the negotiations as scheduled, especially after a six-party meeting among the foreign and water and irrigation ministers of Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia has been delayed from August 19-20 to September 15-16 upon the latter s request, the spokesman noted. Last April, Egypt’s Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources and Mohamed Abdel-Ati said that negotiations on the Ethiopian Grand Renaissance Dam (GERD) are continuing, although no new developments have been reached . The minister said that a meeting in Cairo of the irrigation ministers of Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan has been postponed due to the recent events and changes in the government of Sudan. The ministers were set to seek an agreement on GERD filling and operation rules.

Egyptian and Chinese naval forces carried out joint military drills off Egypt s Mediterranean Coast, Egypt s army said in a statement on Wednesday. A number of Egyptian naval units and Chinese navy guided-missile destroyer Xian (153) took part in the training activities, the statement added. The military exercises involved counter-terrorism and anti-piracy activities and measures to combat unusual threats and inspect suspected vessels. The exercises aim to "coordinate efforts to combat challenges and threats to support maritime security and stability efforts and secure global maritime transport lines," the statement said. Egypt has carried out similar military exercises with a host of countries over the past few years including the US, France, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Jordan, and Bahrain. These programmes are meant to exchange experience and boost military-to-military relationships with armed forces of other countries. In November, armed forces and observers from eight Arab countries met in Egypt for the Arab Shield-1 military exercise, which was dubbed the largest in the region. Last September, Egypt hosted joint US-Egyptian military drills called Bright Star 2018 in the country s North Coast. Land, naval and air forces from Egypt, the US, Greece, Jordan, the UK, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Italy and France as well as 16 observing countries took part in the drills, and approximately 800 US military service members participated in Bright Star 2018 for the second year in a row.

Members of Egypt s armed forces have left to Russia to take part in joint military drills with Russian and Belarusian air troops that start on Tuesday, Egypt s military said in a statement. Egyptian paratroopers and Russian and Belarusian airborne forces will take part in the military training exercises which run until 29 August, the army said on Tuesday. The Protectors of Friendship-4 exercises involve light, medium and heavy airdrop of personnel, equipment and vehicles. Egypt hopes the training will help "enhance the skills of its forces…and unify combat concepts and teamwork," the statement added. The previous joint military drills between Egypt and Russia, Protectors of Friendship-3, were held in Cairo in October 2018. Egypt has carried out similar military exercises with a number of other countries over the past few years including the US, France, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Jordan, and Bahrain. These programs are meant to boost military-to-military relationships with armed forces of other countries and exchange experiences with other nations. In November, armed forces and observers from eight Arab countries met in Egypt for the Arab Shield-1 military, which was dubbed the largest in the region. Last September, Egypt hosted joint US-Egyptian military drills called Bright Star 2018 in the country s North Coast. Land, naval and air forces from Egypt, the US, Greece, Jordan, the UK, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Italy and France as well as 16 observing countries took part in the drills, and approximately 800 US military service members participated in these exercises for asecond year in a row.

The Egyptian Cabinet and Parliament Speaker Ali Abdel Aal congratulated Egypt s U 19 team for winning the World Championship for the first time after defeating Germany 32-28 in the final game in Macedonia on Sunday. Following the final game on Sunday, Egypt s President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi congratulated the country’s U19 handball team , praising their "heroic and manly performance. The president also praised the team s technical staff, describing the team as a role model for determination and will to achieve victory. In a statement on Monday, Parliament speaker Ali Abdel-Aal hailed the great achievement of the young Pharaohs. He added this triumph underlines the outstanding efforts exerted by the coaching team. The Cabinet also congratulated the Egyptian U19 national team on winning the 2019 IHF Men s Youth World Championship for the first time ever. The Cabinet lauded the national team s heroic performance, as well as huge efforts exerted by the coaching staff. The great achievemnet was also praised by a numgber of sports and youth officials in the country. It is the first time that Egypt win an U 19 World Championship title and the first time that a non-European team be crowned world champions. Sunday s triumph marks the biggest handball feat for Egypt since the national U21 team won the world title in 1993 when the tournament was staged in Cairo. Egypt s U19 team have won the World Championship for the first time ever, defeating Germany 32-28 in the final in Macedonia on Sunday. The young Pharaohs dominated the game from the outset, going to the locker room with a comfortable six-goal advantage (19-13). Despite their slow start in the second half, Egypt still managed to maintain their upper hand and make history. The national U21 team won the world title in 1993 when the tournament was staged in Cairo.

Egypt condemned on Sunday Houthis drone attack on Shaybah oil field in eastern Saudi Arabia. In a statement, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry reiterated the country s solidarity with Saudi people and government and support of all measures it takes in all attempts meant to preserve the kingdom s stability and security. It warned of attempts to target vital facilities in the kingdom, including energy infrastructure

Petroleum Minister Tarek El-Molla said preparations are underway for implementing an integrated work plan to expand the use of natural gas as vehicle fuel and encourage citizens to turn their cars into bi-fuel vehicles that are capable of running on two fuels (natural gas and gasoline) through offering payment facilities. In a statement on Wednesday, El-Molla added that the ministry s plan targets transforming 50,000 vehicles into gas-powered ones on an annual basis. The plan comes in support of a vision adopted by the political leadership and government to replace gasoline and diesel engines in private cars and public transport vehicles with natural gas ones via coordination among the ministries concerned, El-Molla said. In this regard, the minister noted that the plan includes establishing gas supply stations nationwide and providing new financing mechanisms needed to turn vehicles into gas-powered ones.

Starting Wednesday and for a month, a photo of renowned Egyptologist Zahi Hawass will decorate Times Square in Manhattan, New York, inviting Americans to visit Egypt. Times Square is one of the best-known locations in New York and the United States, visited by 80 million people during the summer vacation period. The photo of Hawass will show for 30 days starting tomorrow, when two celebrations (daytime and night) will take place. The unveiling will be attended by renowned Egyptian and American figures as well as American archaeologists from the Metropolitan Museum and Egyptian diplomats headed by Egyptian General Councillor Hisham Al-Naqib. Hawass will be shown in his trademark blue jeans, shirt and Indiana Jones-style hat. The photo will appear every two minutes in Times Square with a message underneath from Hawass inviting Americans to come to Egypt and enjoy its unique heritage and culture.

Egypt has hosted over the past two days an important meeting between the Sudanese Alliance for Freedom and Change (AFC), including the Sudanese Revolutionary Front, "with the aim of achieving peace in the country as an issue that concerns all brothers in Sudan, and to support the constitutional document scheduled to be signed on 17 August," the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a press statement released late on Monday. The ministry s statement said that the participants exchanged views and agreed to present the outcome of the meeting to the leaders of the AFC in Khartoum.

The government of Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouli is mobilising on multiple fronts to translate the recommendations passed by the seventh National Youth Forum into action. The two-day Forum, held at the New Administrative Capital on 30 and 31 July under the auspices of President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi, focused on reviewing the results of Egypt’s IMF-inspired economic programme and its impact on citizens across Egypt. Speaking on 30 July, President Al-Sisi said: “When we decided to implement the economic reform programme we were in the position of a surgeon who must operate to save a patient. At the end of 2016 some cabinet ministers feared the reforms would trigger a backlash on a wide scale. I told them that if the people rejected the reform programme then they should tender their resignations and the next day I would call an early presidential election.” “We had two choices at the time. Either reform the economy or step down and let others get on with it. Now, after three years of economic reforms, I think everybody feels Egypt is in a much better position.” At the end of the forum Al-Sisi announced a number of recommendations, including speeding up the implementation of the Decent Life Initiative which he said “aims to improve living conditions in Egypt’s poorest villages”. First proposed by Al-Sisi in January, the initiative involves upgrading houses, improving infrastructure and providing job opportunities for young village residents. Following a cabinet meeting on 1 August Madbouli said the government was earmarking LE2 billion for the Decent Life Initiative. “It will also receive $500 million in funding from the World Bank, supplemented by financial donations and contributions from national banks, NGOs and investment projects.” Madbouli said the government would continue to support social protection programmes and the subsidy system while establishing an accurate database to determine who should benefit. Social Solidarity Minister Ghada Wali announced that an estimated 1,000 families will be added to the Takaful and Karama welfare programmes at the beginning of the new fiscal year. She said her ministry had established a database of seven million households and would use it to ensure families receive the benefits for which they are eligible. The Central Agency for Public Mobilisation and Statistics (CAPMAS) revealed in a report on 1 August that the percentage of Egyptians living in extreme poverty — set at $1.3 daily — rose from 27.8 per cent in 2015 to 32.5 in 2018. On the same day the Ministry of Social Solidarity and Ministry of Endowments signed a cooperation protocol to furnish 1,000 housing units at Cairo’s Asmarat project. Asmarat rehouses residents moved from slum areas. Minister of Endowments Mokhtar Gomaa said the ministry will allocate LE30 million to provide the furniture necessary for the 1,000 flats. The protocol, said Madbouli, follows a recommendation made by the seventh National Youth Forum. “All the recommendations,” he added, “aim to combat poverty and promote sustainable development.” Madbouli also revealed government agencies have been instructed to begin the national digitisation project and the first roll out would be in Port Said. On 30 June President Al-Sisi said creating a comprehensive database of citizens was an essential component of national security. He told the National Youth Forum that artificial intelligence would be used to digitalise government services and that, when complete, the picture it provides of the financial and health conditions of Egyptians, would allow service providers to identify their needs and offer proactive help before it is applied for. “The system will replace the extensive surveys we had to rely on in the past when offering social services,” said Al-Sisi. Parliamentary spokesman Salah Hassaballah said one of the most positive aspects of the forum is that it is now held on a regular basis, but in different locations, and “following each forum recommendations are adopted, most of them geared towards offering social protections to the most vulnerable in society”. Hassaballah told a press conference on 1 August that one of the forums’ most significant decisions was to form working groups of young people to follow up on the forums’ recommendations. The taskforces, he said, would strengthen communication between young people and a wide variety of state bodies. During the forum Al-Sisi announced recommendations that included turning a simulation model of the cabinet into a permanent dialogue mechanism with the involvement of the government, establishing a task force comprised of young people to follow-up, under cabinet supervision, on the implementation of national mega-projects, and adopting a plan to redevelop Alexandria’s Ras Al-Teen area.

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi toured the Al-Masa resort in the under-construction New Alamein City on the Mediterranean on Sunday, Presidential spokesman Bassam Rady said in a statement. During the tour on first day of the Islamic festival of Eid-Al-Adha, El-Sisi inspected the construction work at the city, which will feature residential buildings, a yacht marina and the north coast s biggest hotel. Earlier, the president performed the Eid prayer at the resort s main mosque. El-Sisi was accompanied by a number of top government officials, including Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and Defence Minister Mohamed Zaki. New Alamein City is one of a number of new cities the government is constructing to draw investments and boost the economy.

In a statement on Monday, President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi extended his condolences to the families of victims and branded the explosion that killed and maimed so many at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) a "cowardly terrorist incident." Immediately following the Ministry of Interior’s first statement addressing the explosion, in which the blast was blamed on a car collision, speculation swirled as to whether such a powerful explosion could have been the result of a car accident. Soon afterwards the Interior Ministry clarified its earlier statement, saying one of the cars involved in the collision was “carrying explosives prepared for use in a terrorist attack”. The later statement also said initial examinations showed the blast occurred when the explosive-laden vehicle collided with three vehicles while driving the wrong way down the street in front of the NCI, and that the vehicle implicated in the explosion had been reported stolen months before in Menoufiya. “Initial investigations indicate that the banned Muslim Brotherhood’s militant group Hasm was behind the preparation of the car which it planned to use in a terrorist operation,” said the Interior Ministry statement. Security experts agree the site of the explosion, the NCI, was not the intended target. Major General Fouad Allam, former head of the National Security Apparatus, says most likely the explosives were being moved to another location for a pre-planned attack. Brigadier General Khaled Okasha, director of the Egyptian Centre for Strategic Studies (ECSS), agrees. “I suspect the driver of the car noticed enhanced security measures in Al-Qasr Al-Aini Street. He was driving a stolen car, laden with explosives, and in his panic tried to avoid the tightened security by driving the wrong way down the Nile Corniche,” Okasha told Al-Ahram Weekly. Okasha speculates the terrorist operation for which the explosives were originally destined would have taken place in the next few hours or days. “Hasm would not venture to transfer this quantity of explosives unless the operation was going to be conducted within a few hours or days,” he says. Eid Al-Adha, one of the two most important religious holidays in the Islamic calendar, falls on Sunday, and in recent years such holidays in Egypt have all too often been accompanied by terrorist acts. The number of fatalities, and the damage caused to the NCI, indicates a large quantity of explosives. Allam estimates that around 300kg must have been needed to cause such a large blast. “It is a cause of great concern that such a large quantity of explosive material could reach the centre of Cairo, and in a stolen car, without being detected,” he says. “We need to overhaul the ways in which stolen vehicles are traced and identified, even when their colour and plates have been changed.” The use of a bomb-laden car, warns Okasha, suggests “Hasm is developing its capabilities.” The group, he says — Hasm essentially operates as the Muslim Brotherhood’s armed wing — appears to be cloning Islamic State (IS) operations. “An alliance between terrorist groups has grown steadily apparent. There has been a degree of openness between terrorist groups in recent years. It is possible that IS elements have trained Hasm operatives and what we are seeing is a transfer of expertise.” Since 2013 Egypt has been fighting an insurgency led by IS, formerly known as Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis in Sinai. Hundreds of soldiers and police have been killed, the vast majority in North Sinai. Though Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis has been at the forefront of militant groups launching attacks against security targets smaller militant groups — most notably Hasm and Lewaa Al-Thawra — emerged in 2016, carrying out terrorist operations in Cairo and Giza governorates. Hasm claimed responsibility for a number of terrorist acts in their first two years of existence, and military experts were unanimous in concluding the group was an offshoot of the Brotherhood. In February 2017 the Cairo Court for Urgent Matters designated Hasm a terrorist group. Their first major operation, the failed assassination attempt on former mufti Ali Gomaa, was in August 2016. A second failed assassination, this time on the prosecutor-general’s deputy Zakaria Abdel-Aziz, was staged in October of the same year. Abdel-Aziz’s convoy was driving in New Cairo when a car bomb exploded near the motorcade. There were no injuries. In the attempt on Gomaa’s life, the cleric escaped unharmed when four masked gunmen exchanged fire with his bodyguards while he was on his way to Al-Fadel Mosque, 50 metres from his home. On Monday Hasm denied any links to the explosion and in a statement it ironically extended its “sincere condolences and sympathy to the families of the victims”. Okasha believes Hasm’s denial of responsibility is little more than a public relations exercise. Aware of the public outrage that followed the deadly explosion in which many of the NCI’s patients were caught up, the group opted to wash its hands of any involvement, in public at least. “The bombing caused great pain among the public, and I think Hasm decided it was better to distance itself from any involvement in such a barbaric act,” says Okasha. Popular TV host Amr Adib has managed to raise LE71 million to renovate the NCI during his talk show on MBC Masr TV. Donors have included public figures such as Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, who donated LE50 million. Other top donors include Egyptian billionaire Naguib Sawiris, who donated LE1 million, businessman and construction tycoon Hisham Talaat Mustafa, who donated LE10 million, as well as companies and groups like Garhi Steel, which donated LE3 million. *A version of this article appears in print in the 8 August, 2019 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly under the headline: Black Sunday

President Abdel-Fatah El-Sisi inaugurated on Wednesday the new Phosphatic and Compound Fertilizers Complex in Ain Sokhna in the governorate of Suez, which would be the largest industrial establishment for producing fertilizers in North Africa. The new complex, which was constructed in 36 months over an area of 400 feddans, includes nine factories, an administrative and a residential city, and an ores storage complex. "The establishment of the complex aims to maximize the value of Egyptian phosphate ore by converting it into phosphate fertilizers," Chairman of El-Nasr Company for Chemicals Major General Mokhtar Abdel-Latif said during the opening. Abdel-Latif said the new complex annually processes 500,000 tonnes of raw sulphur as well as two million tonnes of raw phosphate to produce fertilizers. "The complex achieves self-sufficiency for Egypt in these fertilizers and also enables the government to export the surplus," Chairman of Al-Nasr Company for Chemicals said. Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, House of Representatives Speaker Ali Abdel-Aal, Defence Minister Mohamed Zaki, a number of ministers and senior state officials attended the ceremony. More to follow

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi said that the Egyptian state is determined to defeat "brutal terrorism," nearly one day after a deadly blast in central Cairo killed at least 20 people. In an official statement on Facebook, El-Sisi stressed that the state is determined to "pull out terrorism by the roots." The Egyptian president expressed his condolences to the Egyptian people and the families of the victims. El-Sisi s statement came shortly after the interior ministry said that the deadly blast took place when a vehicle laden with explosives collided with three other cars near the National Cancer Institute in Manyal, killing 20 people and injuring 47. The ministry said the explosives laden vehicle was reported stolen a few months ago in Menoufiya. The ministry said that the terrorist group Hasm, which is affiliated with the banned Muslim Brotherhood, was behind the blast. According to the ministry, the vehicle was on its way to carry out a terrorist operation, although the target of the planned attack is unclear. Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly has tasked Egypt s leading construction company with immediately starting repairs on the National Cancer Institute (NCI) building, which was damaged in the explosion. Madbouly called on the Arab Contractors company to make speedy repairs given that the institute provides important services for many patients. The prime minister also followed up on the condition of the injured. Thirty patients at the NCI have been transferred to other hospitals due to the damage caused by the blast. The US embassy in Cairo has said in a statement that it strongly condemns the bombing. "We stand with Egypt in its fight against terrorism and we extend our condolences to the families of the victims and wish for a speedy recovery to those who were wounded," read the statement on the embassy s Facebook page. The EU has also condemned the attack. "I strongly condemn this deplorable terrorist act that caused the death of 20 innocent people and the injury of 50," Ambassador of the European Union to Egypt Ivan Surkos said on his Twitter account on Monday. Surkos also stressed the EU s solidarity with Egypt in the fight against terrorism, saying that the EU "stands side by side with Egypt."

The death toll from a car crash in central Cairo has risen to 20, with dozens injured, Health Minister Hala Zayed said on Monday, hours after the accident which led to a huge blast outside of the country s National Cancer Institute (NCI). Forty-seven people were injured in the accident, the minister said. The interior ministry said hours after the blast that several people were killed and injured after four cars collided, which led to an explosion. The ministry said that the explosion occurred after a speeding car moving against traffic collided with three cars. Cairo University, which manages the NCI, has dismissed reports that the explosion occurred inside the institute.

Egypt s armed forces Chief-of Staff Lieutenant General Mohamed Farid visited soldiers in North Sinai mandated with executing measures to besiege and eradicate militants, under the forces counter-terrorism activities. Farid inspected a number of security checkpoints and the permanent operations unit in the governorate, to follow up on updates on the round-the-clock military operations executed by the anti-terrorism forces. The chief-of-staff met with the forces, delivering the appreciation of commander-in-chief President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and Defence Minister General Mohamed Zaki. Both El-Sisi and Zaki expressed their appreciation for the heroic acts of the forces, which have contributed in uprooting terrorism and restabilising life in North and Central Sinai. Farid praised the good coordination and cooperation between the armed forces and the police on monitoring and tracing terrorist cells and on successful pre-emptive strikes against terrorist elements. He stressed that the residents of Sinai are the first line of defence for Egypt s national security.

Some 39,000 Egyptian pilgrims have so far arrived in the holy city of Mecca to perform the Hajj annual pilgrimage, an official told state news agency MENA. All Egyptian pilgrims are in good condition, head of the Hajj delegation Amr Lotfy said, adding that members of a medical delegation sent by Egyptian authorities will be available at all hotels where Egyptians are staying. More than 70,000 million Egyptians are expected to go on this year s Hajj pilgrimage, due to take place from 9 to 14 August, Egyptian officials have said. All capable Muslims are required to perform the Hajj pilgrimage, one of the five pillars of Islam, once in their lifetime. Saudi authorities said more than 2.37 million Muslims from around the world took part in last year s hajj.

Egypt s President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi thanked the Egyptian people for the achievements achieved over the past five years during the inauguration of the seventh edition of the National Youth Conference on Tuesday. In his opening speech, the Egyptian president said that the youth conferences Egypt hold regularly have given a huge amount of positivity and hope. The seventh edition of the National Youth Conference kicked off in the New administrative capital for the first time under the auspices of the president. The first session of the two-day event began with a short documentary featuring Egyptian youths who gave beaten the odds and achieved success nationally and internationally, including Farrah El-Dibany, the first Egyptian and Arab mezzo-soprano in Opera De Paris, and Mariam Azab, who won Egypt s first gold media in Equestrianism at the Special Olympics World Games in Abu Dhabi in March 2019. The first session also included three speakers representing successful young Egyptians like Sherif El-Abd, the second Egyptian to climb Mount Everest. During the second, delegates discussed various issues including economic reforms, transportation and housing. Participants drew a comparison between the economic situation before 2014 and following the reforms that started in 2016. El-Sisi said he would have called for early presidential elections had the Egyptian people rejected the economic reforms first phase in November 2016. "I told the cabinet [ministers] to prepare and tender their resignations the next day in case the people showed discontent with the first phase of the economic reforms in November 2016," he said. "Also, I would have called for early presidential elections." In November 2016, Egypt floated its currency among other measures taken as part of a $12 billion loan deal with the IMF, which is now close to being concluded. On Ethiopia s Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, which has raised fear that Egypt s Nile water share could decrease, El-Sisi said the country is up for more negotiations. "Currently we are implementing a plan for water treatment to fulfill the country s water needs," El-Sisi said.

Egypt s social solidarity ministry revealed on Tuesday that an Egyptian pilgrim has passed away upon arrival in Mecca, Al-Ahram Arabic news website reported. Khaled El-Gharbawy, 66, from Daqahliya governorate was travelling to Mecca to perform the hajj pilgrimage. According the Ministry of Social Solidarity, Gharbawy, who was accompanied by his wife, suffered from kidney failure and liver fibrosis. His family has requested that he be buried in Mecca, and his wife is continuing with her pilgrimage. The pilgrimage to Mecca, or hajj, is one of the five pillars of Islam, and is a religious duty for all Muslims to perform at least once in their lives if they can afford it. The hajj season is expected to start on 9 August 2019 according to the Islamic lunar calendar. The death of pilgrims from heat exhaustion, fatigue and other natural causes is a regular occurrence during the hajj.

Grand Imam of Al Azhar Ahmed El-Tayyeb has mourned the death of Saudi Prince Bandar bin Abdel Aziz, who passed away Sunday night. Tayyeb also extended condolences to Saudi King Salman bin Abdel Aziz, Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman and the Saudi people.

President Abdel-Fattah El Sisi has directed the government to keep up efforts necessary for completing the establishment of fourth-generation cities as part of a national urban development strategic plan. This came during the president s meeting on Saturday with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and Minister of Housing, Utilities and Urban Development Assem El-Gazzar. The plan seeks to increase populated areas, minimize overcrowding in cities and old governortes and deal with the steady growth in population, the president noted during the meeting. El-Sisi asserted the need to follow high standards of quality and state-of-the-art technologies for all the smart cities under-construction nationwide, Presidential Spokesman Bassam Radi said. During the meeting, El-Sisi was given an overview of the urban infrastructure of the new cities being established at the national level, including the New Administrative Capital, New El-Alamein City, New Mansoura City, East Port Said and New Bir El-Abed City in North Sinai, Rady added. The meeting also took up the latest developments in the road and utility projects in progress nationwide, the executive procedures for rationalizing water consumption and a national project for improving unsafe squatter areas, the spokesman noted. Moreover, Minister El-Gazzar posted the president on the results of his recent visit to Beijing, during which he signed an agreement to receive the second tranche of a $3 billion loan, arranged by several Chinese banks, to fund the establishment of the central business zone in the New Administrative Capital.

Prominent Egyptian actor and leading cinema figure Farouk El-Fishawy died early on Thursday at the age of 67 after a struggle with cancer disease. El-Fishawy reportedly entered hospital earlier this week after his condition has suddenly deteriorated. He entered a deep coma due to liver complications on Wednesday. The Egyptian actor revealed in October 2018, during the opening of the Alexandria Mediterranean Film Festival’s 34th edition, that he has cancer without revealing further information. After being honored, he said that his doctor informed him of this news, adding that he will strongly battle the disease. “I will treat the disease as if it is a headache and next year I will be here again at the very same festival,” Fishawy told the attendees. The funeral service will take place Thursday at Mostafa Mahmoud mosque in Cairo following noon prayers. El-Fishawy’s last work was his participation in the successful Egyptian play “King Lear” alongside veteran actor Yehia El-Fakharani. He performed on theatre stage after 18-year break; his last play was in 2001. The famed actor starred in over 130 movies since the beginning of his cinema career in a1976. He was considered one of the charming actors in the Egyptian film industry. He also starred, co-starred and appeared in 80 TV series and 15 plays and theatre acts. The late actor was married to famed actress Somaya El-Alfy. His son Ahmed El-Fishawy is one of the current working prominent actors Egyptian cinema. The National Theater Festival announced it will honour El-Fishawy during its 12th edition scheduled to be held August 17.