International News
Egyptians Head To The Poll Amid Gaza Crisis, Economic Woes
Egyptians are preparing to cast their votes in a presidential election amid the backdrop of the Gaza conflict and a significant economic downturn.
The voting spans three days, starting on Sunday and ending on Tuesday, with current President Abdel-Fattah al-Sissi anticipated to secure a third term.
Despite rising dissatisfaction due to economic challenges, al-Sissi has seen a resurgence in support, largely due to his stance on preventing the potential displacement of Gazans to Egypt amid the Israeli attacks.
He emphasized that any potential migration would undermine the Palestinian cause.
Al-Sissi has consistently warned that relocating Palestinians to Egypt could transform the Sinai Peninsula into a base for attacks against Israel amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas that began on October 7.
Apart from al-Sissi, three other candidates are in the running for the presidential office.
Al-Sissi, a former army chief, refrained from participating in campaign interviews, relying instead on his diplomatic involvements concerning Gaza, which have largely served as his campaign messaging.
Audiences closely followed his press conferences, held alongside foreign dignitaries, as the conflict near Egypt’s northeastern border drew attention away from internal issues like constraints on freedom of expression.
In an event last month, he addressed thousands at Cairo stadium in a show of support for Palestinians.
Meanwhile, towering billboards displaying his image dominate Cairo’s landscape, overshadowing those of the three other candidates.
The three other contenders include Farid Zahran, a leftist politician leading the Social Democratic Party; Abdel-Sanad Yamama, heading the liberal Wafd party; and Hazem Omar, the founder of the liberal People’s Republican Party.
With over 9,300 polling stations spread across Egypt, voting will commence at 9 am (0700 GMT) for a 12-hour duration.
Approximately 67 million Egyptians are eligible to participate in this election, as reported by Egyptian media.
The final official results are anticipated to be declared on December 18.
In a summit in Fiuggi, Italy, G7 foreign ministers are meeting for two days to discuss a variety of global challenges, including the recent arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, who is hosting the conference, stated on Monday that he does not expect difficulty in reaching a consensus on the matter.
“It’s not an immediate and actual problem. I don’t think Netanyahu will come to Italy or anywhere else,” Tajani told Corriere della Sera, downplaying the potential significance of the arrest warrant.
The ICC issued arrest warrants on Thursday for Netanyahu, recently dismissed Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas military leader Mohammed Deif, following allegations of war crimes connected to the ongoing Gaza conflict.
While Israel’s allies have criticized the decision, ICC member states are expected to uphold the warrants, despite ongoing debates about how to address Netanyahu’s case.
Along with the Middle East crisis, the G7 ministers will also discuss key global issues such as the war in Ukraine, the potential impact of a Donald Trump re-election, and the growing tensions surrounding Taiwan, which China considers part of its territory.
This summit, the final G7 foreign ministers’ meeting of the year, comes as Italy holds the G7 presidency until the end of December, making it a critical moment for the group to align on these significant global concerns.
A diving excursion turned tragic on Monday when a tourist boat, Sea Story, sank in the Red Sea, off the coast of Egypt.
Officials confirmed that 17 people are still missing, while 28 others have been rescued.
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The boat was carrying 45 individuals, including 31 international tourists and 14 crew members, when it went down near the popular diving destination of Marsa Alam.
Rescue teams, including coast guard boats and helicopters, are continuing an intensive search for survivors.
Details shortly………….
A DHL cargo plane en route from Germany to Lithuania crashed early Monday near Vilnius Airport, leaving one crew member dead, according to local emergency services.
Renatas Pozela, head of the firefighting and emergency services unit, reported that the plane went down just a few kilometers from the airport.
“The plane was due to land at Vilnius Airport but tragically crashed. One person from the four-member crew has been confirmed dead,” Pozela said.
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The crash also caused a nearby house to catch fire under unclear circumstances.
Fortunately, all residents were safely evacuated, according to Vilmantas Vitkauskas, head of the National Crisis Management Centre.
Emergency teams promptly contained the fire, preventing further casualties.
DHL spokesperson Ausra Rutkauskien confirmed that the plane was part of the company’s fleet.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation, with aviation authorities and crisis management teams working to uncover what led to the accident.
More to follow………..
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