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.



EU Condemns Israel's West Bank Control Measures

The Israeli settlement of Har Homa, seen from the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (AP)
The Israeli settlement of Har Homa, seen from the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (AP)
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EU Condemns Israel's West Bank Control Measures

The Israeli settlement of Har Homa, seen from the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (AP)
The Israeli settlement of Har Homa, seen from the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (AP)

The European Union on Monday condemned new Israeli measures to tighten control of the West Bank and pave the way for more settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory, AFP reported.

"The European Union condemns recent decisions by Israel's security cabinet to expand Israeli control in the West Bank. This move is another step in the wrong direction," EU spokesman Anouar El Anouni told journalists.


Atrocities in Sudan's El-Fasher Were 'Preventable Human Rights Catastrophe'

Sudanese displaced people who left El Fasher after its fall, sit in the shade in Tawila at the Rwanda camp reception point on December 17, 2025. (Photo by AFP)
Sudanese displaced people who left El Fasher after its fall, sit in the shade in Tawila at the Rwanda camp reception point on December 17, 2025. (Photo by AFP)
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Atrocities in Sudan's El-Fasher Were 'Preventable Human Rights Catastrophe'

Sudanese displaced people who left El Fasher after its fall, sit in the shade in Tawila at the Rwanda camp reception point on December 17, 2025. (Photo by AFP)
Sudanese displaced people who left El Fasher after its fall, sit in the shade in Tawila at the Rwanda camp reception point on December 17, 2025. (Photo by AFP)

The atrocities unleashed on El-Fasher in Sudan's Darfur region last October were a "preventable human rights catastrophe", the United Nations said Monday, warning they now risked being repeated in the neighbouring Kordofan region.

 

"My office sounded the alarm about the risk of mass atrocities in the besieged city of El-Fasher for more than a year ... but our warnings were ignored," UN rights chief Volker Turk told the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

 

He added that he was now "extremely concerned that these violations and abuses may be repeated in the Kordofan region".

 

 

 

 


Arab League Condemns Israel's Decisions to Alter Legal, Administrative Status of West Bank

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 Israel's Decisions to Alter Legal, Administrative Status of West Bank

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)

The General Secretariat of the Arab League strongly condemned decisions by Israeli occupation authorities to impose fundamental changes on the legal and administrative status of the occupied Palestinian territories, particularly in the West Bank, describing them as a dangerous escalation and a flagrant violation of international law, international legitimacy resolutions, and signed agreements, SPA reported.

In a statement, the Arab League said the measures include facilitating the confiscation of private Palestinian property and transferring planning and licensing authorities in the city of Hebron and the area surrounding the Ibrahimi Mosque to occupation authorities.

It warned of the serious repercussions of these actions on the rights of the Palestinian people and on Islamic and Christian holy sites.

The statement reaffirmed the Arab League’s firm support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, foremost among them the establishment of their independent state on the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.