Japanese PM to Visit Egypt

Egyptian Prime Minister, Mostafa Madbouly, at the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) (Egyptian Government)
Egyptian Prime Minister, Mostafa Madbouly, at the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) (Egyptian Government)
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Japanese PM to Visit Egypt

Egyptian Prime Minister, Mostafa Madbouly, at the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) (Egyptian Government)
Egyptian Prime Minister, Mostafa Madbouly, at the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) (Egyptian Government)

Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is scheduled to visit Egypt on Saturday as part of an African tour to discuss regional developments.

The Prime Minister will discuss with senior Egyptian officials ways to promote cooperation between the two countries in various fields, namely renewable energy, food, agriculture, education, and tourism.

The meetings will also address regional and global challenges and the ways to confront them.

Japanese Ambassador to Cairo Oka Hiroshi, confirmed that the Japanese Prime Minister's visit comes within the framework of the continued efforts by both countries to achieve sustainable development and regional and international cooperation and to enhance regional security and stability.

The ambassador told the MENA news agency that Kishida will start his Middle East and Africa trip with his Egypt visit, reflecting the importance of the relations between the two countries.

The visit aims to promote cooperation between the two countries, said Hiroshi, adding that Japan considers Egypt an essential partner in the Middle East and Africa.

He said it also comes amid the growing strategic importance of the partnership between the two countries in facing regional, economic, and security challenges.

According to the ambassador, bilateral economic relations have witnessed remarkable development recently, as Japan is one of Egypt's most important trade partners.

Japan's foreign direct investments in Egypt doubled last year, and Japanese companies seek to explore business opportunities in Egypt.

Japan also provides financial and technical support for development projects in Egypt and works to achieve sustainable development.

The Japanese ambassador pointed out that Egypt is an essential partner for Japan in the Middle East, as it enjoys a strategic location and has significant natural resources, especially in renewable energy, and a high level of local manpower.

He said Egypt is also a gateway to trade and investment in the region.

In August last year, Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly participated in the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) summit. He affirmed that the African continent is facing "severe economic challenges."

During his speech at the summit, Madbouly urged the international community to support African national agricultural policy goals to achieve self-sufficiency and sustainable development. He cautioned against the impact of a food crisis on peace and security.

Madbouly also reiterated that real economic development requires boosting peace and security and adopting a comprehensive approach that prevents the recurrence of conflicts.



Syrian Defense Ministry Begins Reshaping Military Affairs in Daraa

Meeting in Busra al-Sham, Daraa Countryside, attended by Col. Binyan al-Hariri (Daraa News Network)
Meeting in Busra al-Sham, Daraa Countryside, attended by Col. Binyan al-Hariri (Daraa News Network)
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Syrian Defense Ministry Begins Reshaping Military Affairs in Daraa

Meeting in Busra al-Sham, Daraa Countryside, attended by Col. Binyan al-Hariri (Daraa News Network)
Meeting in Busra al-Sham, Daraa Countryside, attended by Col. Binyan al-Hariri (Daraa News Network)

The Syrian Ministry of Defense has begun reorganizing military affairs in the southern province of Daraa, days after the Eighth Brigade — a former opposition group integrated into the army — surrendered its weapons to government forces.

The move comes as part of Damascus’s efforts to tighten its grip over southern Syria, particularly in areas previously outside its full control.

Separately, the Interior Ministry said it had seized a large cache of weapons and ammunition hidden inside a vehicle and arrested the driver as he attempted to smuggle the arms into the neighboring province of Sweida.

Daraa police said late on Sunday they discovered another stockpile of weapons concealed under piles of hay in a truck in the eastern town of al-Sahwah.

Authorities seized a significant weapons cache, including Katyusha artillery shells, anti-tank Malutka missiles, heavy machine guns, and ammunition, in a smuggling attempt from Damascus to Sweida.

The haul was intercepted by security forces, with images released by the General Security Directorate showing the captured items.

The vehicle, which was stopped by security patrols, was reportedly en route from the Syrian capital, Damascus, to Sweida when the arms were discovered. Authorities transported the confiscated weapons to the security center in the town of Izraa for further investigation.

Reports from Daraa have varied, with some claiming the shipment was intended for the group of Ahmad al-‘Awda, leader of the Eighth Brigade, based in Busra al-Sham in southern Daraa. Others suggest the weapons were meant for his affiliates and were to be sent later to Sweida.

There are also concerns that some members of the Eighth Brigade, who had previously retained their weapons after the group's dissolution announcement, may use the arms to stir unrest in the region.

The Syrian Ministry of Defense began accepting recruitment applications on Monday from residents of the eastern Daraa countryside. The registration process is taking place at one of the ministry’s offices west of Busra al-Sham.

Local sources in Daraa reported that the recruitment campaign will extend to other villages and towns in both central and western Daraa in the coming days. A training course for new recruits is expected to begin within two weeks.

The recruitment drive follows a meeting held on Sunday in Busra al-Sham, which included Col. Binyan al-Hariri, commander of the 40th Division, along with senior officials from the Ministry of Defense and former leaders from the area.

The meeting aimed to organize military affairs and register both new and former personnel into the Ministry of Defense.

According to local reports, the upcoming training will include new recruits from Busra al-Sham and its surrounding areas.