Egypt to Host AfDB Meetings Next May

Egyptian President receives the African Development Bank Chairman. (Egyptian Presidency)
Egyptian President receives the African Development Bank Chairman. (Egyptian Presidency)
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Egypt to Host AfDB Meetings Next May

Egyptian President receives the African Development Bank Chairman. (Egyptian Presidency)
Egyptian President receives the African Development Bank Chairman. (Egyptian Presidency)

Egypt’s preparation are underway for the annual meetings of the African Development Bank (AfDB) in Sharm El-Sheikh next May.

Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi affirmed on Tuesday his country’s keenness on maintaining African interests in all forms and at all levels.

Sisi met with the African Development Bank Chairman Akinwumi Adesina and his accompanying delegation.

The President expressed delight for Egypt’s hosting of the annual meetings of AfDB, according to Ahmed Fahmy, spokesman for the Egyptian presidency.

Sisi pointed out that the meetings would focus on discussing means to encourage continental economic integration in addition to mechanisms to bridge the gap of climate finance in the African continent.

He stated that Egypt is looking forward to increasing cooperation with the AfDB.

The President of AfDB praised Egypt’s developmental projects during the past few years, describing it as "a source of great inspiration for the African people".

He also commended the achievements realized in various development sectors, especially the electricity and water treatment, as well as the development of unplanned residential areas.

In a related context, Sisi received a letter from UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan inviting him to take part in the UN Climate Summit (COP28) to be held in Dubai in December.

UAE Ambassador in Cairo Mariam Khalifa Al Kaabi handed out the letter to the President, Fahmy said.

The letter highlighted UAE's keenness on enhancing joint cooperation between the two countries to benefit from Egypt's successful expertise in organizing the COP27 summit.

Sisi also affirmed the mutual keenness on maximizing cooperation and transfer of Egypt's expertise in this regard in view of the special Egyptian-UAE ties in order to ensure coming out with positive outcomes in the international climate action and taking into consideration the interests of developing and African states.



Syrian Police Impose Curfew in Homs after Unrest

Syrian children play on a damaged tank in Homs, on December 20, 2024. (AFP)
Syrian children play on a damaged tank in Homs, on December 20, 2024. (AFP)
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Syrian Police Impose Curfew in Homs after Unrest

Syrian children play on a damaged tank in Homs, on December 20, 2024. (AFP)
Syrian children play on a damaged tank in Homs, on December 20, 2024. (AFP)

Syrian police have imposed an overnight curfew in the city of Homs, state media reported, after unrest there linked to demonstrations that residents said were led by members of the minority Alawite and Shiite communities.

Reuters could not immediately confirm the demands of the demonstrators nor the degree of disturbance that took place.

Some residents said the demonstrations were linked to pressure and violence in recent days aimed at members of the Alawite minority, a sect long seen as loyal to former President Bashar al-Assad, who was toppled by opposition fighters on Dec. 8.

Spokespeople for Syria’s new ruling administration led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group, a former al-Qaeda affiliate, did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the curfew.

State media said the curfew was being imposed for one night, from 6pm (1500 GMT) local time until 8am on Thursday morning.

The country's new leaders have repeatedly vowed to protect minority religious groups.

Small demonstrations also took place in other areas on or near Syria’s coast, where most of the country’s Alawite minority live, including in the city of Tartous.

The demonstrations took place around the time an undated video was circulated on social networks showing a fire inside an Alawite shrine in the city of Aleppo, with armed men walking around inside and posing near human bodies.

The interior ministry said on its official Telegram account that the video dated back to the opposition offensive on Aleppo in late November and the violence was carried out by unknown groups, adding that whoever was circulating the video now appeared to be seeking to incite sectarian strife.

The ministry also said that some members of the former regime had attacked interior ministry forces in Syria’s coastal area on Wednesday, leaving a number of dead and wounded.