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.



EU Urges Immediate Halt to Israel-Hezbollah War

European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, left, meets with Lebanese parliament speaker Nabih Berri, right, in Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024. (AP)
European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, left, meets with Lebanese parliament speaker Nabih Berri, right, in Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024. (AP)
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EU Urges Immediate Halt to Israel-Hezbollah War

European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, left, meets with Lebanese parliament speaker Nabih Berri, right, in Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024. (AP)
European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, left, meets with Lebanese parliament speaker Nabih Berri, right, in Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024. (AP)

Top EU diplomat Josep Borrell called for an immediate ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah war while on a visit to Lebanon on Sunday, as the group claimed attacks deep into Israel.  

The Israeli military said Iran-backed Hezbollah fired around 160 projectiles into Israel during the day. Some of them were intercepted but others caused damage to houses in central Israel, according to AFP images.  

A day after the health ministry said Israeli strikes on Beirut and across Lebanon killed 84 people, state media reported two strikes on Sunday on the capital's southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold.

Israel's military said it had attacked "headquarters" of the group "hidden within civilian structures" in south Beirut.

War between Israel and Hezbollah escalated in late September, nearly a year after the group began launching strikes in solidarity with its Palestinian ally Hamas following that group's October 7 attack on Israel.

The conflict has killed at least 3,754 people in Lebanon since October 2023, according to the health ministry, most of them since September.  

On the Israeli side, authorities say at least 82 soldiers and 47 civilians have been killed.  

Earlier this week, US special envoy Amos Hochstein said in Lebanon that a truce deal was "within our grasp" and then headed to Israel for talks with officials there.  

In the Lebanese capital, Borrell held talks with parliamentary speaker Nabih Berri, who has led mediation efforts on behalf of ally Hezbollah.

"We see only one possible way ahead: an immediate ceasefire and the full implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701," Borrell said.  

"Lebanon is on the brink of collapse", he warned.  

Under Resolution 1701, which ended the last Hezbollah-Israel war of 2006, Lebanese troops and UN peacekeepers should be the only armed forces present in the southern border area.  

The resolution also called for Israel to withdraw troops from Lebanon, and reiterated earlier calls for "disarmament of all armed groups in Lebanon."