Egypt to Organize ‘Arab Labor Conference’ With Participation of 21 Countries

Minister Hassan Shehata held a meeting on Friday to prepare for the work of the forty-eighth round of the Arab Labor Conference (Egyptian Cabinet)
Minister Hassan Shehata held a meeting on Friday to prepare for the work of the forty-eighth round of the Arab Labor Conference (Egyptian Cabinet)
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Egypt to Organize ‘Arab Labor Conference’ With Participation of 21 Countries

Minister Hassan Shehata held a meeting on Friday to prepare for the work of the forty-eighth round of the Arab Labor Conference (Egyptian Cabinet)
Minister Hassan Shehata held a meeting on Friday to prepare for the work of the forty-eighth round of the Arab Labor Conference (Egyptian Cabinet)

Egypt is preparing to host this month the work of the forty-eighth round of the Arab Labor Conference (ALC) to be attended by the labor ministers, delegations, organization and unions of 21 Arab countries.

The conference will focus on issues of economic and social development, artificial intelligence and new work patterns, and the digitization and governance of social protection systems.

Egyptian Minister of Manpower, Hassan Shehata, discussed on Friday with a delegation from the Board of Directors of the Egyptian Trade Union Federation, the heads of trade unions, and workers’ representatives in the parliament and the Senate, the ongoing preparations for the ALC in its new version.

Following the meeting, Shehata affirmed that his ministry is keen to communicate and coordinate with all social partners.

According to a Cabinet statement, the Minister stressed that the Trade Union Federation is one of the most important players in the country’s production process.

“Preserving the Federation’s independence and activating its role, and involving it in all workers-related decisions, legislation and regulations come at the Ministry's priorities,” Shehata said.

He added that coordination, which respects all local, Arab and international standards, aims to assure more stability in the workplace, and therefore, increase production and benefit the development process.

In September, Egypt hosted the 47th ALC session, which highlighted issues of stimulating innovation and the spirit of competition, especially among entrepreneurs and owners of small and medium-sized enterprises, in addition to the path towards sustainable development and empowerment, and promoting innovation and digital transformation.

The attendees stressed the importance of promoting new and advanced mechanisms to achieve comprehensive Arab integration by facilitating intra-regional trade, the exchange of goods and services, as well as facilitating the movement of labor between Arab countries.

Separately, Shehata discussed on Friday the preparations to host the 43rd session of the Organization of the African Trade Union Unity (OATUU) General Council, expected to be held from 17 to 20 October with the participation of 100 trade union figures.



Reports: US to Withdraw All Troops from Syria

A US Army patrol in the Syrian city of Qamishli (Reuters file photo)
A US Army patrol in the Syrian city of Qamishli (Reuters file photo)
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Reports: US to Withdraw All Troops from Syria

A US Army patrol in the Syrian city of Qamishli (Reuters file photo)
A US Army patrol in the Syrian city of Qamishli (Reuters file photo)

The United States is planning to withdraw all of its 1,000 troops from Syria over the next two months, according to US media reports.

Washington will end its presence in the country after the Syrian government extended its control over the country and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces once key to fighting ISIS pledged to integrate into the state, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Television network CBS also reported on the plan, citing unnamed US officials.

The decision comes after US forces recently withdrew from some bases
in Syria including Al-Tanf and Al-Shadadi, which were used in the US-led international coalition's fight against ISIS, AFP reported.

The US is building up its military capabilities near Iran, where officials have vowed to respond to any attack by laying siege to American military outposts in the region.

US media reported Wednesday that Washington will be ready to launch strikes against Iran as early as this weekend, though Trump has reportedly not made a final decision yet.

The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment.


Canada Eases Sanctions on Syria

13 February 2026, Bavaria, Munich: Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada, arrives at the Bavarian Hof for the 62nd Munich Security Conference. Photo: Felix Hörhager/dpa
13 February 2026, Bavaria, Munich: Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada, arrives at the Bavarian Hof for the 62nd Munich Security Conference. Photo: Felix Hörhager/dpa
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Canada Eases Sanctions on Syria

13 February 2026, Bavaria, Munich: Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada, arrives at the Bavarian Hof for the 62nd Munich Security Conference. Photo: Felix Hörhager/dpa
13 February 2026, Bavaria, Munich: Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada, arrives at the Bavarian Hof for the 62nd Munich Security Conference. Photo: Felix Hörhager/dpa

Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Anita Anand said on Wednesday that Canada had amended its economic sanctions on Syria ‌to ease ‌restrictions related ‌to the ⁠import and export ⁠of goods, investment activities and the provision of financial and other ⁠services, according to Reuters.

"The amendments also ‌remove ‌24 entities and ‌one individual from ‌the Syria Regulations to reduce barriers to economic activity and ‌to enable transactions with state-affiliated entities ⁠in ⁠key sectors critical to Syria’s recovery," Anand said in a statement.


Tetteh: Despite UN Engagement, No Progress in Libya Roadmap

Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya Hanna Tetteh Getty)
Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya Hanna Tetteh Getty)
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Tetteh: Despite UN Engagement, No Progress in Libya Roadmap

Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya Hanna Tetteh Getty)
Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya Hanna Tetteh Getty)

The UN’s top envoy for Libya, Hanna Tetteh, has informed the Security Council that despite active United Nations engagement, the Libyan House of Representatives and the High Council of State have failed to make progress on the first steps of the agreed political roadmap, including establishing a mechanism to select the board of the High National Elections Commission (HNEC) and advancing electoral legislation.

Briefing the Council in New York on Wednesday, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General said: “Their inability to use their agreed mechanism and follow-on unilateral actions has further eroded their credibility."

Tetteh added that Libyan public perceptions reflect a growing belief that the bodies are “unable or unwilling” to deliver.

She told Council members that she has begun consultations with key actors on an alternative two-step approach aimed at restoring momentum. Should a smaller group of Libyan representatives fail to agree on the roadmap’s milestones, she warned, a broader convening would be required. “We cannot wait indefinitely,” she emphasized.

The UN envoy also issued a stark warning about escalating tensions within Libya’s judicial system.

She said “contradictory, parallel judicial decisions put into jeopardy the unity of the legal and judicial systems,” cautioning that the situation “is a red line that if crossed can undermine the unity of the state.”

She urged Libyan leaders to refrain from further escalatory steps and called on the Council to hold accountable those taking actions that threaten to fracture the judiciary.

Tetteh also warned that transnational criminal networks continue to expand, turning Libya into a major transit hub for drug trafficking and sustaining illicit economies linked to corruption and armed groups.