Egypt's Sisi Calls for Protecting Youth from 'Radical Ideologies'

Sisi poses for a photo with the youth and sports ministers. (Egyptian presidency spokesman)
Sisi poses for a photo with the youth and sports ministers. (Egyptian presidency spokesman)
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Egypt's Sisi Calls for Protecting Youth from 'Radical Ideologies'

Sisi poses for a photo with the youth and sports ministers. (Egyptian presidency spokesman)
Sisi poses for a photo with the youth and sports ministers. (Egyptian presidency spokesman)

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi called on Saturday for protecting Arab youth from radical ideologies.

He proposed declaring 2023 as the year of Arab youths to help them confront wrong and extremist ideas.

He made his remarks during a meeting with Arab ministers of youth and sports on the sidelines of their Council’s 45th meeting in Cairo.

Sisi said the youth are vital for Arab national security, underscoring the importance of developing their understanding and awareness in order to boost stability, security and peace and provide factors of progress and success.

According to a presidency statement, Sisi underlined the need to engage Arab youths in the digital transformation process, programming and rapid technological progress, which have a high impact on future job opportunities.

He cited the modern technological universities that Cairo has recently established for this purpose.

Sisi and the Arab ministers exchanged views on the various Arab experiences in youth work and means of benefiting from them to support youth dialogue and provide consultation to develop visions that would address the challenges they face.

The Arab ministers hailed Egypt’s interest in youth and sports under Sisi’s leadership.

They highlighted the various youth initiatives the country has adopted, as well as the national, regional and international events and conferences in this regard, which reflect the youth’s pivotal role in Egypt’s national development strategy.



Biden: Joseph Aoun is ‘First-Rate Guy’

FILE - President Joe Biden addresses the nation from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, July 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, Pool, File)
FILE - President Joe Biden addresses the nation from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, July 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, Pool, File)
TT

Biden: Joseph Aoun is ‘First-Rate Guy’

FILE - President Joe Biden addresses the nation from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, July 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, Pool, File)
FILE - President Joe Biden addresses the nation from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, July 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, Pool, File)

US President Joe Biden welcomed the election of Joseph Aoun as Lebanon's president on Thursday, saying in a statement that the army chief was the “right leader” for the country.

“President Aoun has my confidence. I believe strongly he is the right leader for this time,” said Biden, adding that Aoun would provide “critical leadership” in overseeing an Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire.

Aoun's election by Lebanese lawmakers ended a more than two-year vacancy and could mark a step towards lifting the country out of financial meltdown.

“We finally have a president,” Biden said later, at the end of a meeting on the response to major wildfires in the US city of Los Angeles.

He said he had spoken to Aoun by phone on Thursday for “20 minutes to half an hour,” describing the Lebanese leader as a “first-rate guy.”

Biden pledged to continue US support for Lebanon’s security forces, and for Lebanon’s recovery and reconstruction, the White House said in a readout of Biden’s call with Aoun.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called Aoun's election “a moment of historic opportunity,” which offered Lebanon a chance to “establish durable peace and stability.”

Aoun, who turned 61 on Friday, faces the difficult task of overseeing the fragile ceasefire with Israel in south Lebanon.

Separately, Biden spoke about the hostage talks between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

“We’re making some real progress,” he told reporters at the White House, adding that he had spoken with US negotiators earlier Thursday.

“I know hope springs eternal, but I’m still hopeful that we’ll be able to have a prisoner exchange.”

Biden added: “Hamas is the one getting in the way of that exchange right now, but I think we may be able to get that done. We need to get it done.”