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Egypt Today
3 days ago
- General
- Egypt Today
Egypt, Japan, UNIDO launch ‘Reduce' campaign to raise awareness of single-use plastic bag hazards
Egypt, Japan, and UNIDO Launch 'Reduce' Campaign to Raise Awareness of Single-Use Plastic Bag Hazards By Samar Samir CAIRO – 1 June 2025: Egypt's Ministry of Environment will launch a new awareness campaign titled 'Reduce' on Sunday, aimed at educating the public about the environmental dangers of single-use plastic bags. The campaign is being launched in cooperation with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). According to a statement released by the Ministry on Saturday, the campaign seeks to promote awareness of the harmful impacts of single-use plastic bags and encourage the adoption of safer, more eco-friendly alternatives. The initiative aligns with World Environment Day, observed annually on June 5. The launch event will be attended by several dignitaries, including Japanese Ambassador to Egypt Iwai Fumio, who will deliver the opening remarks, and Patrick Jean Gilabert, UNIDO's Regional Representative in Cairo. The campaign officially will also be announced during the event. In addition, Minister of Environment Yasmine Fouad and Minister of Transport Kamel El-Wazir are scheduled to speak. As part of the event, Sharm El Sheikh, in South Sinai, will be officially recognized as the first Egyptian city to join the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) Global Network of Sustainable Cities. Highlighting the urgency of the campaign, a report released in April 2024 by the Egyptian Cabinet's Information and Decision Support Center (IDSC) revealed that Egypt consumed approximately 5 million tons of single-use plastic products during the 2022/2023 fiscal year. Globally, the report stated that only 10 percent of the estimated 7 billion tons of plastic waste is recycled. The remaining waste ends up polluting the environment, incinerated, or buried unsustainably—often transported thousands of kilometers—contributing to an estimated $300–$600 billion in annual economic damage. The proliferation of plastic pollution has been linked to severe harm to ecosystems and human health.
Egypt Today
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Egypt Today
Cairo, Doha committed to continued Gaza mediation with US coordination
Long queues of humanitarian aid trucks waiting for the green light to move from Cairo heading towards the Gaza Strip on January 26, 2025- Samar Samir/ Egypt Today CAIRO – 13 May 2025: Qatari newspaper Al-Sharq affirmed that Cairo and Doha will spare no effort in continuing their mediation efforts in the Gaza Strip, in coordination with the United States. This aims to alleviate the suffering of civilians and create the appropriate conditions for a comprehensive de-escalation, ultimately leading to an end to the war and the humanitarian catastrophe it has caused. In its editorial, Tuesday, titled "Fruitful Qatari-Egyptian-American Efforts," the newspaper stated that the results of the direct negotiations hosted by the State of Qatar between Hamas and the United States, which began to bear fruit yesterday, Monday, with the release of Israeli-American soldier Aidan Alexander by the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, who was held in the Gaza Strip and handed over to his family through the International Committee of the Red Cross, constitute a significant breakthrough towards advancing the resumption of negotiations leading to an end to the war. The newspaper pointed out the welcome of Egypt and Qatar to Hamas' announcement of the release of American hostage Aidan Alexander, who was held by them, considering it a gesture of goodwill and an encouraging step for the parties to return to the negotiating table to achieve a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, the release of prisoners and detainees, and to ensure the safe and unhindered flow of aid to address the tragic conditions in the Strip.
Egypt Today
28-03-2025
- Politics
- Egypt Today
Egypt, Saudi Arabia exchange views on Gaza ceasefire efforts
Long queues of humanitarian aid trucks waiting for the green light to move from Cairo heading towards the Gaza Strip on January 26, 2025- Samar Samir/ Egypt Today CAIRO – 28 March 2025: Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Aty held a phone call on March 27 with his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, to discuss key regional developments, particularly in the Red Sea. According to Egypt's Foreign Ministry, the call was part of the ongoing coordination between the two nations. Discussions focused on the outcomes of the recent Arab-Islamic Ministerial Committee meeting on Gaza, hosted in Cairo, and efforts to continue engaging with international stakeholders following the resolutions of the emergency Cairo Summit. The ministers reviewed ongoing Egyptian-Qatari efforts to establish a ceasefire in Gaza, reinstate the January 19 agreement, and ensure the implementation of its three-phase plan. They also discussed coordination with the United States and the broader Arab-Islamic plan for early recovery and reconstruction in Gaza. The conversation also covered future steps for the Arab-Islamic Ministerial Committee's engagement with international parties. Additionally, the two officials addressed various regional crises in the Red Sea, Sudan, and the Horn of Africa. They agreed on the importance of continued coordination to de-escalate tensions and prevent further instability in the region.
Egypt Today
22-03-2025
- Politics
- Egypt Today
Egypt Provides Largest Share of Humanitarian Aid to Palestinians in Gaza, Says Minister
The largest aid convoy from Egypt to Gaza- Egypt Today- Samar Samir CAIRO – 22 October 2025: Egypt has provided the largest share of humanitarian and relief aid to Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip, according to a statement from the Egyptian Ministry of Social Solidarity and Maya Morsy, Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of the Egyptian Red Crescent. Morsy made her comments during a meeting with the Board of Directors of the Egyptian Red Crescent on Saturday, where the group's efforts to support and assist Palestinians during the ongoing humanitarian crisis were discussed. The meeting reviewed Egypt's response efforts from January to the present, highlighting Egypt's leadership in providing aid to the Palestinian people. The statement also emphasized the services extended to the injured and their companions, including medical examinations, the distribution of medications and hygiene kits, psychological support, health awareness, the restoration of family ties, as well as the provision of children's supplies and food baskets. After the Gaza ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel was reached on January 19, 2025, Egypt resumed sending hundreds of humanitarian aid convoys to the Palestinians. However, the flow of aid was halted when Israel resumed airstrikes on Gaza on March 18, 2025. The meeting also addressed the Egyptian Red Crescent's efforts to respond to the crisis in Sudan and organize relief and development convoys across Egypt's various governorates.
Egypt Today
21-03-2025
- Politics
- Egypt Today
Ethiopian controversial dam to be inaugurated by September 2025: Abiy Ahmed
A Google satellite image for the controversial Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD)- Egypt Today CAIRO – 21 March 2025: Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced, on Thursday, that the controversial Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) will be inaugurated by the next Ethiopian new year, due to start in September 2025. The Ethiopian News Agency (ENA) reported that the Prime Minister, during a questioning before the parliament, announced the inauguration of the dam will be by September. Ethiopia is going to inaugurate the historic Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) by the start of the coming new Ethiopian #Egypt — Ethiopia News Agency (@EthiopianNewsA) March 20, 2025 'Furthermore, he underscored the significance of positive discussions with Egypt, adding that Ethiopia will continue to work together with Egyptians for the benefit of the two countries and people,' the ENA said. The crisis between the three Nile basin countries dates back to May 2011 when Ethiopia started building the dam; Egypt voiced concern over its water share [55.5 billion cubic meters]. Three years later, a series of tripartite talks between the two countries along with Sudan began to reach an agreement while Ethiopia continued the dam construction. In 2015, the three countries signed the Declaration of Principles, per which the downstream countries [Egypt and Sudan] should not be negatively affected by the construction of the dam. In October 2019, Egypt blamed Addis Ababa for hindering a final agreement concerning a technical problem, calling for activating the Article No. 10 of the Declaration of Principles, which stipulates that if the three countries could not find a solution to these differences, they have to ask for mediation. Despite Egypt's repeated rejections, Ethiopia has continued its unilateral acts and filled the reservoir of its dam annually without going back to Egypt or Sudan. Additional reporting by Samar Samir
