Egypt’s Sharm El-Sheikh to Host COP27 in November 2022

 Egypt's President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi speaks during the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland, Britain, November 1, 2021.
Egypt's President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi speaks during the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland, Britain, November 1, 2021.
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Egypt’s Sharm El-Sheikh to Host COP27 in November 2022

 Egypt's President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi speaks during the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland, Britain, November 1, 2021.
Egypt's President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi speaks during the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland, Britain, November 1, 2021.

Egypt will host the COP27 United Nations Climate Change Conference in 2022 in the Red Sea resort of Sharm El-Sheikh in November.

World leaders and heads of state and governments are expected to attend the summit.

Representing the African continent, Egypt’s hosting of the event will boost its status and attain the government’s efforts to enhance its position as a hub for major international conferences.

Public sector and other civil society institutions in Egypt are preparing for the event and launched the “National Climate Change Strategy-2050.”

The government is also planning to cooperate with various international companies to enhance its contribution to green energy plans.

Cairo organized a special session on climate change during the fourth edition of the World Youth Forum that was concluded on Thursday.

During the session, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly announced Egypt's plans to double its use of renewable energy by 30%.

Sharm El-Sheikh in South Sinai hosted all editions of the World Youth Forum. Also, the city hosted in November 2021 the 21st session of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern African Countries (COMESA).

European and Arab leaders also held their first summit in February 2019 in Sharm El-Sheikh where kings, heads of state and governments and ministers from 50 different countries participated.



Israel Launches Heavy Airstrikes in Damascus, Vowing to Protect Druze

Syrian security forces deploy amid ongoing clashes in the southern city of Sweida, 16 July 2025. EPA/MOHAMMED AL RIFAI
Syrian security forces deploy amid ongoing clashes in the southern city of Sweida, 16 July 2025. EPA/MOHAMMED AL RIFAI
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Israel Launches Heavy Airstrikes in Damascus, Vowing to Protect Druze

Syrian security forces deploy amid ongoing clashes in the southern city of Sweida, 16 July 2025. EPA/MOHAMMED AL RIFAI
Syrian security forces deploy amid ongoing clashes in the southern city of Sweida, 16 July 2025. EPA/MOHAMMED AL RIFAI

Israel launched powerful airstrikes in Damascus on Wednesday, blowing up part of the defense ministry and hitting near the presidential palace as it vowed to destroy government forces attacking Druze in southern Syria and demanded they withdraw. 

The attacks marked a significant Israeli escalation against the administration of interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa. They came despite his warming ties with the US and his administration's evolving security contacts with Israel. 

Describing Syria's new rulers as barely disguised extremists, Israel has said it will not let them move forces into southern Syria and vowed to shield the area's Druze community from attack, encouraged by calls from Israel's own Druze minority. 

The US said the fighting would stop soon. 

"We have engaged all the parties involved in the clashes in Syria. We have agreed on specific steps that will bring this troubling and horrifying situation to an end tonight," Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on social media. 

The United Nations Security Council will meet on Thursday to address the conflict, diplomats said. 

"The council must condemn the barbaric crimes committed against innocent civilians on Syrian soil," said Israel's ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon. "Israel will continue to act resolutely against any terrorist threat on its borders, anywhere and at any time." 

WARPLANES OVER DAMASCUS 

Scores of people have been killed this week in violence in and around the predominantly Druze city of Sweida, pitting fighters from the Druze minority against government security forces and members of Bedouin tribes. 

Reuters reporters heard warplanes swoop low over the capital and unleash a series of massive strikes mid-afternoon. Columns of smoke rose from the area near the defense ministry. A section of the building was destroyed, the ground strewn with rubble. 

A Syrian medical source said the strikes on the ministry killed five members of the security forces. 

An Israeli military official said the entrance to the military headquarters in Damascus was struck, along with a military target near the presidential palace. The official said Syrian forces were not acting to prevent attacks on Druze and were part of the problem. 

"We will not allow southern Syria to become a terror stronghold," said Eyal Zamir, Israel's military chief of staff. 

Sharaa faces challenges to stitch Syria back together in the face of deep misgivings from groups that fear extremist rule. In March, mass killings of members of the Alawite minority exacerbated the mistrust. 

On Monday, Syrian government troops were dispatched to the Sweida region to quell fighting between Druze fighters and Bedouin armed men. The troops ended up clashing with the Druze militias. 

New clashes broke out in the city, according to a Reuters witness, after the Syrian interior ministry and a Druze leader, Sheikh Yousef Jarbou, said a ceasefire had been reached. 

Sweida residents said they were holed up indoors. "We are surrounded and we hear the fighters screaming ... we're so scared," a resident of Sweida said by phone. 

Cracks of gunfire interspersed by booms could be heard in the background. "We're trying to keep the children quiet so that no one can hear us," the man added, asking not to be identified for fear of reprisals. 

Syria's health ministry said dozens of bodies, including fighters and civilians, had been found in a hospital in the city. 

The Syrian Network for Human Rights said 169 people had been killed in this week's violence. Security sources put the toll at 300. Reuters could not independently verify the tolls. 

Druze, followers of a religion that is an offshoot of Islam, are spread between Syria, Lebanon and Israel. 

Following calls in Israel to help Druze in Syria, scores of Israeli Druze broke through the border fence on Wednesday, linking up with Druze on the Syrian side, a Reuters witness said. 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the Israeli military was working to save the Druze and urged Israeli Druze citizens not to cross the border. The Israeli military said it was working to safely return civilians who had crossed. 

Israeli Druze man Faez Shkeir said he felt helpless watching the violence in Syria. "My family is in Syria - my wife is in Syria, my uncles are from Syria, and my family is in Syria, in Sweida, I don't like to see them being killed. They kicked them out of their homes, they robbed and burned their houses, but I can't do anything," he said. 

A Syrian government statement on Wednesday said those responsible for lawlessness in Sweida would be held accountable. It said the government was committed to protecting the rights of the people in Sweida. 

Sharaa has repeatedly promised to protect minorities.