Egypt Establishes Spiritual, Political Status of New Administrative Capital

President Sisi tours the Islamic Cultural Center in the New Administrative Capital.  (Egyptian Presidency)
President Sisi tours the Islamic Cultural Center in the New Administrative Capital. (Egyptian Presidency)
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Egypt Establishes Spiritual, Political Status of New Administrative Capital

President Sisi tours the Islamic Cultural Center in the New Administrative Capital.  (Egyptian Presidency)
President Sisi tours the Islamic Cultural Center in the New Administrative Capital. (Egyptian Presidency)

The Egyptian government established the spiritual and political status of its New Administrative Capital (NAC) and is gradually transferring the ministries, legislative, and security institutions there.

On Thursday, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi met with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and cabinet members at the Strategic Leadership Center in the New Administrative Capital.

Spokesman for the Presidency Ahmed Fahmy stated that the meeting discussed the government's plan to relocate ministries and various state agencies and institutions to the new capital.

According to the spokesman, Sisi directed intensifying efforts to ensure the government's move to the capital was smooth.

He noted that it could only be achieved through the modernization of buildings and premises and the qualification of workers, and the provision of training programs to government personnel to teach them modern methods of administration.

"These efforts, in turn, would contribute to establishing an efficient and effective administrative body," he said.

The spokesman added that the president was briefed on developments in implementing the first phase of the Decent Life initiative to develop the Egyptian countryside and preparations for the start of the second phase.

Sisi inaugurated on Thursday – the first day of the holy fasting month of Ramadan - Egypt's Islamic Cultural Center in the New Administrative Capital.

The Center boasts a public library, places for memorizing the Quran, 160 shops, and an upper courtyard accommodating 55,000 worshippers. The mosque can accommodate a total of 130,000 worshippers.

The Center includes a rare copy of the Quran of the companion Othman bin Affan.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister met a French delegation of politicians and journalists at the government headquarters in the new capital.

Madbouly told the French delegation that the NAC is the fruit of six years of achievements, as the area was once a complete desert.

He discussed the projects the Egyptian state had adopted over the past period in what he described as "the axis of major projects."

The PM explained that in light of Egypt's population increase, the government had no choice but to expand construction to new areas.



Hezbollah Says Refuses to Disarm Until Israel Withdraws from South Lebanon

Hezbollah supporters listen to a televised speech by the movemen't leader Naim Qassem in Beirut's southern suburbs on July 6, 2025. (Photo by ANWAR AMRO / AFP)
Hezbollah supporters listen to a televised speech by the movemen't leader Naim Qassem in Beirut's southern suburbs on July 6, 2025. (Photo by ANWAR AMRO / AFP)
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Hezbollah Says Refuses to Disarm Until Israel Withdraws from South Lebanon

Hezbollah supporters listen to a televised speech by the movemen't leader Naim Qassem in Beirut's southern suburbs on July 6, 2025. (Photo by ANWAR AMRO / AFP)
Hezbollah supporters listen to a televised speech by the movemen't leader Naim Qassem in Beirut's southern suburbs on July 6, 2025. (Photo by ANWAR AMRO / AFP)

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem reiterated Sunday the group’s refusal to lay down its weapons before Israel withdraws from all of southern Lebanon and stops its airstrikes.

Qassem spoke in a video address as thousands gathered in Beirut’s southern suburbs to mark Ashoura.

Since the ceasefire with Hezbollah in November, Israel has continued to occupy five strategic border points in southern Lebanon and to carry out near-daily airstrikes.

“How can you expect us not to stand firm while the Israeli enemy continues its aggression, continues to occupy the five points, and continues to enter our territories and kill?” Qassem said in his video address. “We will not be part of legitimizing the occupation in Lebanon and the region. We will not accept normalization (with Israel).”

In response to those who ask why the group needs its missile arsenal, Qassem said: “How can we confront Israel when it attacks us if we didn’t have them? Who is preventing Israel from entering villages and landing and killing young people, women and children inside their homes unless there is a resistance with certain capabilities capable of minimal defense?”

His comments come ahead of an expected visit by US envoy Tom Barrack to Beirut to discuss a proposed plan for Hezbollah’s disarmament and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the rest of southern Lebanon.