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Sisi Launches World Youth Forum, Condemns Terrorism, Discrimination

Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi attends the inauguration of the World Youth Forum in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, on November 5, 2017. (MENA)
Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi attends the inauguration of the World Youth Forum in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, on November 5, 2017. (MENA)
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Sisi Launches World Youth Forum, Condemns Terrorism, Discrimination

Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi attends the inauguration of the World Youth Forum in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, on November 5, 2017. (MENA)
Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi attends the inauguration of the World Youth Forum in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, on November 5, 2017. (MENA)

Egypt’s President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi launched on Sunday the World Youth Forum, calling on the Egyptian and global youth to adopt objective dialogue and peaceful coexistence without discriminating against age, race, sex or party in order to build the future and civilization.

He also said: “Terrorism violates our humanity and resisting it is a human right.”

“Egypt seeks to play its historical role in shaping a vision for peace and stability," he continued, adding that Cairo is engaged in two parallel wars, one against terrorism and another for development and construction.

Held at the Red Sea resort city of Sharm El Sheikh, the forum, which concludes on Thursday, brings together over 3,200 youths from 113 states representing different parts of the world under the slogan of "We Need to Talk."

The event includes 46 sessions and workshops to discuss various key issues, including the employment of youth to achieve sustainable development, as well as fighting terrorism, extremism and illegal immigration.

Sisi asserted that the future vision of Egypt’s youth is derived from their Pharaonic ancestors, who built the first human civilization and set the initial principles of stability and peace in the world.

Among the most prominent participants at the forum were Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Ruler of Sharjah Sultan bin Muhammad al-Qasimi, Yemeni Prime Minister Ahmed Obaid bin Daghr, Lebanese Speaker of the Parliament Nabih Berri, Jordanian Prince Hassan bin Talal and the United Nations envoy to Egypt.

In one year, Egypt has managed to organize five youth conferences, starting from October 2016 in Sharm El Sheikh. Conferences were scheduled to be held periodically in several governorates, including Aswan, Alexandria and Ismailia. The World Youth Forum was the first to include international participants.

A number of state officials and youth representatives gave speeches during the opening session on Sunday evening, including the administrator of the UN Development Program Achim Steiner, who attended on behalf of UN Secretary General Antonio Guiterres.

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Arab World

Rescue Teams Search for Survivors in Building Collapse that Killed at Least 2 in Northern Lebanon

A Lebanese flag is pictured, in the aftermath of a massive explosion, in Beirut's damaged port area, Lebanon August 17, 2020. REUTERS/Hannah McKay
A Lebanese flag is pictured, in the aftermath of a massive explosion, in Beirut's damaged port area, Lebanon August 17, 2020. REUTERS/Hannah McKay
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Rescue Teams Search for Survivors in Building Collapse that Killed at Least 2 in Northern Lebanon

A Lebanese flag is pictured, in the aftermath of a massive explosion, in Beirut's damaged port area, Lebanon August 17, 2020. REUTERS/Hannah McKay
A Lebanese flag is pictured, in the aftermath of a massive explosion, in Beirut's damaged port area, Lebanon August 17, 2020. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

At least two people were killed and four rescued from the rubble of a multistory apartment building that collapsed Sunday in the city of Tripoli in northern Lebanon, state media reported.

Rescue teams were continuing to dig through the rubble. It was not immediately clear how many people were in the building when it fell.

The bodies pulled out were of a child and a woman, the state-run National News Agency reported.

Dozens of people crowded around the site of the crater left by the collapsed building, with some shooting in the air.

The building was in the neighborhood of Bab Tabbaneh, one of the poorest areas in Lebanon’s second largest city, where residents have long complained of government neglect and shoddy infrastructure. Building collapses are not uncommon in Tripoli due to poor building standards, according to The AP news.

Lebanon’s Health Ministry announced that those injured in the collapse would receive treatment at the state’s expense.

The national syndicate for property owners in a statement called the collapse the result of “blatant negligence and shortcomings of the Lebanese state toward the safety of citizens and their housing security,” and said it is “not an isolated incident.”

The syndicate called for the government to launch a comprehensive national survey of buildings at risk of collapse.

Arab World

Israel to Take More West Bank Powers and Relax Settler Land Buys

A view of Israeli settlement of Maale Adumim, in the West Bank, Sunday, June 18, 2023. (AP)
A view of Israeli settlement of Maale Adumim, in the West Bank, Sunday, June 18, 2023. (AP)
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Israel to Take More West Bank Powers and Relax Settler Land Buys

A view of Israeli settlement of Maale Adumim, in the West Bank, Sunday, June 18, 2023. (AP)
A view of Israeli settlement of Maale Adumim, in the West Bank, Sunday, June 18, 2023. (AP)

Israel's security cabinet approved a series of steps on Sunday that would make it easier for settlers in the occupied West Bank to buy land while granting Israeli authorities more enforcement powers over Palestinians, Israeli media reported.

The West Bank is among the territories that the Palestinians seek for a future independent state. Much of it is under Israeli military control, with limited Palestinian self-rule in some areas run by the Western-backed Palestinian Authority (PA).

Citing statements by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Defense Minister Israel Katz, Israeli news sites Ynet and Haaretz said the measures included scrapping decades-old regulations that prevent Jewish private citizens buying land in the West Bank, The AP news reported.

They were also reported to include allowing Israeli authorities to administer some religious sites, and expand supervision and enforcement in areas under PA administration in matters of environmental hazards, water offences and damage to archaeological sites.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said the new measures were dangerous, illegal and tantamount to de-facto annexation.

The Israeli ministers did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The new measures come three days before Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to meet in Washington with US President Donald Trump.

Trump has ruled out Israeli annexation of the West Bank but his administration has not sought to curb Israel's accelerated settlement building, which the Palestinians say denies them a potential state by eating away at its territory.

Netanyahu, who is facing an election later this year, deems the establishment of any Palestinian state a security threat.

His ruling coalition includes many pro-settler members who want Israel to annex the West Bank, land captured in the 1967 Middle East war to which Israel cites biblical and historical ties.

The United Nations' highest court said in a non-binding advisory opinion in 2024 that Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories and settlements there is illegal and should be ended as soon as possible. Israel disputes this view.

Arab World

Arab League Condemns Attack on Aid Convoys in Sudan

A general view shows the opening session of the meeting of Arab foreign ministers at the Arab League Headquarters (Reuters)
A general view shows the opening session of the meeting of Arab foreign ministers at the Arab League Headquarters (Reuters)
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Arab League Condemns Attack on Aid Convoys in Sudan

A general view shows the opening session of the meeting of Arab foreign ministers at the Arab League Headquarters (Reuters)
A general view shows the opening session of the meeting of Arab foreign ministers at the Arab League Headquarters (Reuters)

Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit strongly condemned the attack by the Rapid Support Forces on humanitarian aid convoys and relief workers in North Kordofan State, Sudan.

In a statement reported by SPA, secretary-general's spokesperson Jamal Rushdi quoted Aboul Gheit as saying the attack constitutes a war crime under international humanitarian law, which prohibits the deliberate targeting of civilians and depriving them of their means of survival.

Aboul Gheit stressed the need to hold those responsible accountable, end impunity, and ensure the full protection of civilians, humanitarian workers, and relief facilities in Sudan.