Latest Updates of Egypt !
BETHLEHEM, Wednesday, Israeli forces today dismantled a commercial stand in the village of al-Walaja, northwest of the southern West Bank city of Bethlehem, according to a local activist.
Khader Al-Araj, the village’s mayor, told WAFA that a group of Israeli forces raided the southern entrance of the village and dismantled a commercial structure, which occupied an area of 20 meters, under the pretext that it was built without a permit.
Source: Palestine News & Information Agency
JERUSALEM, Wednesday, The Israeli occupation authorities today demolished a house in occupied East Jerusalem and structures in the southern West Bank governorates of Bethlehem and Hebron under the pretext of construction without a permit.
In Jerusalem, the Israeli municipality of West Jerusalem demolished a house located between Jabal al-Mukabbir and Silwan neighborhoods, under the pretext it was built without a permit, which is almost impossible to get. Five people were displaced, said WAFA correspondent.
The Israeli occupation forces also demolished today a shed for sheep in Beit Jala, west of Bethlehem.
Ahmad Salah, an activist, told WAFA that the 150-square-meter shed was located between the towns of al-Khader and Beit Jala, also for construction without a permit.
In the West Bank city of Hebron, the Israeli forces demolished a greenhouse located in an area to the east of the city and destroyed all of its contents, reported WAFA correspondent.
He said the greenhouse occupied an area of one dunum of land.
The soldiers also demolished an agricultural room and retaining walls in the same area.
Source: Palestine News & Information Agency
RAMALLAH , Wednesday, Israeli occupation forces continued for the 12th consecutive day blocking the main entrances of Al-Mugayyier village, to the east of Ramallah, according to local sources.
They told WAFA that Israeli forces continued to block the main entrances of the village, preventing the villagers from entering and leaving it and forcing them to take long detours to reach their destination.
The village has been subjected to repeated violations by Israeli settlers, including assaulting farmers and their proprieties, attacking homes and uprooting and destroying trees.
Source: Palestine News & Information Agency
Minister of Culture, Haifaa Al-Najjar, opened Wednesday evening a photo exhibition on life in Jordan in 1905.
The exhibition, held at the Royal Automobile Museum in Amman, entitled: “Jalabert Exhibition.. A Trip Across Transjordan in 1905”.
This exhibition presents a selection of forty-three rare photographs of Jordan, dating to 1905, showing archaeological sites and scenes of village life.
Kept at the Oriental Library of Saint-Joseph University in Beirut, they were brought back by the Jesuit Father Louis Jalabert (1877-1943) after a visit to Jordan in 1905.
The voyage was part of his project of publishing the corpus of Greek and Latin inscriptions of Syria that he had just conceived.
The exhibition was held in celebration of the heritage initiative supported by the European Union and organized by the French Cultural Institute and the French Institute of the Near East in Amman.
France’s Ambassador, Alexis Le Cour Grandmaison, and EU Ambassador, Maria Hadjitheodosiou, attended the exhibition.
The Exhibition will be open to the public from the 24th of May until the 3rd of June from 10 AM to 7 PM, everyday except Tuesdays.
Source: Jordan News Agency
RAMALLAH, Wednesday, Exports and imports of goods increased in Palestine in February compared to the previous month, today said the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS).
Exports increased in March by 9% compared to February. It also increased by 28% compared to March of last year and reached $148.9 million.
Exports to Israel increased in March by 9% compared to February, representing 87% of total exports in March.
At the same time, exports to other countries increased by 8% during the same period.
Imports also increased in March by 16% compared to February. It also increased by 3% compared to March 2022 and reached $734.4 million.
Imports from Israel increased by 6% in March compared to February, representing 54% of total imports in March
At the same time, imports from other countries increased by 31% compared to February.
The trade balance, which represents the difference between exports and imports, showed an increase in trade deficit by 18% in March compared to February, while it decreased by 2% compared to March 2022 and reached $585.5 million, said the PCBS.
Source: Palestine News & Information Agency
RAMALLAH, Wednesday, Many people play sports for several reasons. The players at the Fighting Zone Club started practicing Muay Thai as a hobby. Little did they know that this will take them to the international Muay Thai championships and bring them back home with gold and bronze medals.
Dana Akef, 21, has been practicing Muay Thai for three years so far. She is considered a vital member of the Ramallah-based Muay Thai Fighting Zone Club, and a several times winner of medals, the latest of which was winning a bronze medal in the Muay Thai World Championship that was held in Thailand in 2023.
Akef said she did not find any difficulty when she started practicing Muay Thai because she used to play Kung Fu from a young age.
‘Despite society usually associating martial arts or rough sports to a woman losing her femininity, practicing Muay Thai helped me a lot in increasing my self-confidence, reducing stress and controlling my emotions,’ she said. ‘One of the main reasons that encouraged me to continue practicing Muay Thai was to stop gender stereotyping in sports.’
Ahmad Abu Dukhan, 25, the technical director and main coach of Muay Thai at the Fighting Zone Club, has been practicing this sport since he was a kid and has won several worldwide championships.
Abu Dukhan said that this sport was born out of a need to defend the kingdom and soldiers back then.
‘Muay Thai, which translates to ‘Thai Boxing’, is the national sport of Thailand. It is a martial art and was born out of a need to defend the lands in Thailand,’ he said. ‘Today, this sport has become widely recognized.’
Muay Thai underwent several changes and developed over the years to eventually become the sport that is known today, Abu Dukhan added.
‘What makes Muay Thai a special sport is the ability to use all parts of the body including kicks, punches, knees, fists and elbows. The most beautiful thing about this sport is that there is no routine and there are certain methods to play it,’ he said.
‘The sport nowadays has an international organization called the International Federation of Muay Thai Associations (IFMA). It’s officially recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC),’ said Abu Dukhan, expressing hope that the Palestinian team will be able to compete in the 2028 Olympic Games.
‘Today, in order to say that the Muay Thai sport has become distinguished in Palestine, is because of many years of hard work, dreams and will. The path was never easy, but as I said, the sweetness of this is in its difficulty, and today the Palestinian Muay Thai player is considered a real competitor,’ he said.
‘Although we won two gold medals for the second time in a row, and this is the first time it happened in the history of sports in Palestine, the road ahead is nevertheless still long and full with obstacles,’ he added.
Abu Dukhan does not like to be called a social media influencer, although he has over 118,000 followers on Instagram and more than 500,000 followers on TikTok.
During a previous interview with WAFA news agency, Abu Dukhan argued that in order for players to become professional at some point, a few changes have to be made so they can participate in world championships.
Explaining these changes, “We have nearly 300 players in the Fighting Zone Club, but only 30 of them are capable of participating in international competitions. To be a professional player in Muay Thai, you need to intensify exercises and training hours, organize your time and pay attention to your diet,’ he explained.
Ahmad Helal, 22, a student at Birzeit University, won the gold medal in the 86 kg category in 2023.
‘I started practicing this sport by chance,’ he told WAFA ‘I have been suffering from being overweight for years. But later I found my passion in this sport which helped a lot in releasing my anger and organizing my time.’
Helal encourages all young people to practice Muay Thai, ‘because it is not just a sport, it is a lifestyle.’ He said that this sport affects not only the physical appearance but also the mental health of the person practicing it.
Commenting on winning the gold medal in the 86 kg category in 2023, Helal said that winning a gold medal and raising the Palestinian flag has a different feeling not because Palestine simply has to exist in a competition but also because Palestinian players, despite all the circumstances imposed by the Israeli occupation, now are able to compete and win.
‘I am looking forward to doing better in this sport and go further, especially after Muay Thai was officially included in International Olympic 2028, which will enable Palestinian players to be included in the list of countries that achieved Olympic medals,’ he said.
Source: Palestine News & Information Agency
ABU DHABI, AD Ports Group today signed an MoU with the world’s largest producer of iron ore and nickel, and one of the largest logistics operators in Brazil, Vale S. A. (Vale), to develop a Mega Hub in Abu Dhabi for industrial complexes that produce low-carbon products for the steelmaking industry for both the local and seaborne markets, with a significant reduction of CO2 emissions.
The agreement will see an allocation of land and related services from KEZAD for the Mega Hub, in addition to the development and management of a state-of-the-art handling facility at Khalifa Port, capable of accommodating Valemax vessels with a handling capacity of up to 50 million tonnes of cargo per annum.
Furthermore, AD Ports Group will develop and manage conveyor infrastructure to transport iron ore and finished products to and from Khalifa Port and KEZAD and will be exploring commercial collaboration with Vale on the marketing and sale of various bi-products of the manufacturing process in the UAE and the wider region.
The agreement also includes a maritime collaboration to explore opportunities related to the management and operation of very large ore carriers (VLOCs) and other possible avenues of partnership.
Speaking about the agreement, Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Managing Director and CEO of AD Ports Group, said, “The UAE is committed to not only finding ways to reduce carbon emissions but also to support all efforts to positively affect the global environment. This signing with Vale represents our commitment to the sustainable objectives as set out by the visionary leadership of the UAE.
“Growth and sustainability must go hand in hand, our collaboration with Vale signifies a key step in our contribution towards meeting the UAE Net Zero 2050 strategic initiative.”
Eduardo Bartolomeo, the CEO of Vale, said, “We are encouraged by this opportunity to build a Mega Hub in the UAE, a country which is strategically positioned to positively influence our drive to significantly reduce CO2 emissions around the globe. Our ability to leverage this new concept of using low-carbon technology in the production of hot briquetted iron (HBI) signals the success of our products globally.”
The Mega Hub initiative contributes to Vale’s commitment to reduce 15 percent of net Scope 3 emissions by 2035. Additionally, Vale seeks to reduce its absolute Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 33 percent by 2030 and achieve net zero by 2050, in line with the Paris Agreement, leading the evolution process towards sustainable mining.
By leveraging their collective strengths, AD Ports Group and Vale are seeking to enhance the overall efficiency of the global supply chain.
Source: Emirates News Agency
ABU DHABI, The UAE has joined global partners such as the US, Japan, and South Korea to commit up to US$275 million towards nuclear energy in Romania. The announcement, made by US President Joseph R. Biden at the G7 Summit in Japan, is the first major nuclear energy initiative to be supported under the Partnership for Accelerating Clean Energy (PACE).
Support from the UAE and partners will go towards deploying a NuScale Small Modular Reactor (SMR) in Romania. The UAE’s engagement comes through the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC), which will leverage its significant expertise in constructing and operating light water reactors and support key procurement, engineering, and project management.
US$100 bn for 100gw clean energy
PACE was launched at COP27, in Egypt, in November 2022. PACE aims to catalyse US$100 billion in financing, investment, and other support to deploy 100 new gigawatts of clean energy capacity by 2035. Building on five decades of energy cooperation, the UAE and US established PACE to promote projects and new technologies to accelerate the energy transition and create economic opportunities globally.
Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and President-Designate of COP28, said, “The world needs to reduce emissions by 43 percent by 2030 to bring the goals of the Paris Agreement within reach. The only way to do this is to work together, build partnerships across regions and with public and private sectors, and invest in transformational, game-changing initiatives. PACE reflects precisely the sort of initiatives that we hope to see come out of COP28.
“This is a landmark moment for PACE. This Small Modular Reactor project will replace an existing coal plant and offer reliable, clean baseload energy. It will also help to reduce emissions in heavy-emitting industrial sectors, and support low-carbon, sustainable economic development. We are proud to be working with our partners to make this possible, and we are excited that this is only the beginning.”
US-UAE shared commitment
Amos Hochstein, US Special Presidential Coordinator for Global Infrastructure and Energy Security, remarked, “This week’s announcement of continued support for the small modular reactor (SMR) project to be deployed in Romania is an example of the value of the US Partnership for Global Infrastructure Investment (PGII) and the US-UAE Partnership for Advancing Clean Energy (PACE). I am delighted that the first flagship deliverable of PACE underscores the US-UAE shared commitment to a new generation of nuclear energy technologies to achieve net zero goals and energy security.”
Mohamed Ibrahim Al Hammadi, Managing Director and CEO of the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC), commented, “Decarbonising the power sector is a critical factor for achieving Net Zero 2050, and the UAE has prioritised this through a proactive transition to clean energy sources with key investments in renewables and nuclear energy.
“In the field of peaceful nuclear energy, the UAE is today a global leader in the development of large-scale new nuclear programmes, with significant expertise developed through the successful delivery of the flagship Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, and this is recognised by the fact that we are partnering today with key entities across the USA, Japan and the Republic of Korea to support the deployment of advanced peaceful nuclear energy.
“ENEC will provide its unique know-how and expertise to support this crucial project with our experts to advance in the deployment of advanced nuclear technologies in Romania. This is one of the many steps ENEC takes as part of our wider ambitions of the UAE Peaceful Nuclear Energy Programme support domestic and overseas nuclear programmes, develop clean molecule generation projects, and drive green investment and green premiums in nuclear energy to drive the Net Zero Economy.”
UAE’s commitment as COP28 host
ENEC will harness its significant institutional knowledge and technical capabilities to offer in-kind contributions to support the deployment of the NuScale technology in Romania by sharing expertise and personnel. ENEC recently signed an MOU with NuclearElectrica in Romania to explore opportunities in advanced nuclear technologies, and related activities for development, deployment, and financing, demonstrating ENEC’s commitment to supporting Romania with these key national infrastructure programmes to secure its clean energy transition.
As the host country for COP28, the upcoming UN climate conference, the UAE has made a just energy transition and access to clean energy technologies as essential priorities in the fight against climate change. The UAE COP28 Presidency has called for broad and inclusive partnerships, such as PACE, to help accelerate clean energy uptake.
The UAE has delivered one of the most ambitious energy transitions in modern history with key investments in solar and the delivery of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant.
Today, Barakah is the largest provider of clean electricity and green certificates in the UAE and the Arab world, generating 30TWh of carbon-free electricity per year from three units, with a total of 40TWh annually with the addition of Unit 4. With Barakah, the UAE drives energy security and grid stability, along with rapidly decarbonising the UAE’s power sector.
Robust action plan for COP28
As the host country for COP28, the upcoming UN climate conference, the UAE has made a just energy transition and access to clean energy technologies essential priorities in the fight against climate change. The UAE COP28 Presidency has called for broad and inclusive partnerships, such as PACE, to help accelerate clean energy uptake.
Dr. Al Jaber has stressed that the world needs to triple renewable energy by 2030 and boost investment in hydrogen and industrial decarbonisation if it is to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement.
COP28 will see the conclusion of the Global Stocktake on the Paris Agreement, offering a mandated review of progress on implementation. The COP28 President-designate has been clear that the UAE will call for a robust plan of action to respond to the Stocktake and to reignite momentum on each of the pillars of the Paris Agreement: mitigation, adaptation, loss and damage, and finance.
Since January, the COP28 leadership team has been on a global listening tour, engaging with stakeholders from civil society to business leaders. Dr. Al Jaber, speaking to both energy executives in Houston and climate leaders in Berlin, was clear: the world needs to go further and go faster. The COP President-designate stressed the urgency of unlocking resources, ensuring access to climate finance, and investing in both proven and new technologies to accelerate the path to net-zero.
ENEC’s nuclear excellence
The Barakah plant has four units, of which three are commercially operating, with the fourth set to join the operating fleet soon and will generate 25 percent of the UAE’s electricity while preventing the release of 22.4 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually. The plant is the largest source of clean electricity in the UAE and wider Arab region, generating electricity equal to billions of dollars of natural gas each year, which can be diverted to higher value uses.
It generates over 80 percent of the clean electricity for the Abu Dhabi Clean Electricity Certification Programme annually, enabling companies such as ADNOC, EGA, and others to produce greener products, demonstrating the impact nuclear energy has on decarbonising hard to abate sectors.
ENEC is now fully focused on operating its plants to the highest standards of nuclear excellence while also using its leading position as a successful nuclear build to drive significant value from its expertise in nuclear energy to identify opportunities in local and international projects and investments in civil nuclear energy and related sectors, as well as generation of clean molecules such hydrogen and ammonia, in addition, to process heat and steam to decarbonise heavy industry (which account for 10 percentof global emissions).
Source: Emirates News Agency