Category: Government Policy

Caretaker Minister of Justice, Judge Henry Khoury, on Wednesday welcomed Lebanese Ambassador to Algeria, Dr. Mohamed Saad, at his office in the Ministry.

The meeting focused on exploring avenues to activate and strengthen bilateral relations between Lebanon and Algeria.

Following the meeting, Minister Khoury highlighted that discussions addressed “Algeria’s significant readiness to assist Lebanon across various domains.”

He expressed hope for progress, particularly after the initiation of Algerian airline flights operating between the two countries at a frequency of two flights per week.

Additionally, the Minister affirmed that “several judicial agreements are currently under consideration between the two nations, pending final review and preparation for mutual signature.’

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

House Speaker, Nabih Berri, on Wednesday convened with Lebanese Army Commander, General Joseph Aoun, at the second presidential residence in Ain el-Tineh.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Caretaker Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, on Wednesday convened with Caretaker Minister of Public Health, Dr. Firas Abiad, at the Grand Serail to address the pressing issue of securing necessary funding for the coverage of cancer and chronic illness medications.

‘We have reaffirmed our commitment to the agreement reached at the end of last year under the guidance of Prime Minister Mikati, in collaboration with Finance Minister Dr. Youssef Khalil and the Acting Governor of the Lebanese Central Bank, Saad Andary. This agreement aims to allocate LBP 1 trillion per month dedicated to covering the expenses of medications catering to cancer and chronic diseases,’ Abiad said on emerging.

Highlighting the urgency of the matter, Minister Abiad emphasized, ‘We have reiterated today the importance of prioritizing this issue as a pivotal agenda item in the forthcoming initial session of the Council of Ministers. This strategic step aims to ensure the necessary provisions are in place for fulfilling the demand for essent
ial medications.’

The Minister of Public Health went on to reaffirm the gravity of this matter to both the Prime Minister and the Ministry.

‘This issue is of utmost importance to us. We are collectively committed to guaranteeing uninterrupted access to medication for patients. We are making every effort to mitigate patient suffering and are focusing on prompt funding solutions to secure medications, while concurrently devising medium-term mechanisms to avert future market shortages,’ Abiad explained.

Additionally, discussions included proposals by international and local associations to extend medical assistance in Lebanon to a group of injured Palestinian children from Gaza.

On this level, Minister Abiad reiterated Lebanon’s solidarity with the Palestinian people amid an unprecedented Israeli onslaught that has extended into Lebanese territory, posing a threat to various urban and rural areas.

He concluded by affirming that discussions will persist to highlight Lebanon’s potential role in providing heal
thcare support to Palestinian children in need.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Caretaker Minister of Information, Ziad Makary, on Wednesday received a delegation representing the Union of Online Press Websites in his office at the ministry.

After the meeting, colleague Mohammed Nimer, speaking on behalf of the delegation, stated, ‘The visit primarily comes as a gesture to mark the New Year. We briefed the Minister of Information on the role of the union representing electronic press websites and their media status in the upcoming phase.’

Nimer pointed out that Minister Makary expressed concerns ‘regarding the possibility of not passing the media law with the feedback conveyed by the Ministry of Information.’

He emphasized the necessity of passing this law as soon as possible to protect journalists and media professionals, especially those working in online platforms.

‘It is not acceptable to treat a journalist as a criminal and thus imprison them within the security apparatus without holding them accountable before the competent authority represented by the Press Court at the curre
nt stage until the enactment of the new law,’ Nimer said.

He then stressed that the union ‘will continue to exert pressure until the approval of the media law,’ urging the Parliament to expedite its discussion and approval.

Nimer also emphasized that this is a fundamental necessity to maintain Lebanon’s image and its media freedom.

He finally mentioned ‘significant support and encouragement on this matter from the Minister of Information with the aim of safeguarding journalists.”

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Maronite Patriarch, Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros al-Rahi, is currently meeting with Caretaker Minister of Information, Ziad Makary, in Bkerki.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

The House of Representatives has given its final approval to a draft law presented by the government to amend some articles of Law no. 139 of 2021 on establishing a fund to deal with medical emergencies.

The approval came during the house’s general session on Tuesday 2/1/2024 under Speaker Hanafi Gebali as the MPs reviewed a report from the health, legislative and budget committee on the issue.

The law aims at increasing the finance for treating those who suffer from hereditary and rare diseases in light of presidential initiatives to treat Egyptians free of charge at the state expense.

Source: State Information Service Egypt

Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli asserted the importance of the role played by the State Information Service (SIS) in contacting the world countries over the past phase and its contribution in highlighting Egypt’s prominent role in various important issues, noting that its importance is emanating from its direct affiliation to the presidency.

This came during a meeting held by the premier on Tuesday 2/1/2024 to discuss steps to restructure the SIS in the presence of Justice Minister Omar Marwan, First Undersecretary of the House of Representatives Ahmed Saad ElDin, Head of the Supreme Council for Media Regulation (SCMR) Karam Gabr, Head of the National Media Authority (NMA) Hussein Zein, Head of the National Press Authority (NPA) Abdel Sadeq Al Shorbagi and Head of SIS Diyaa Raswan and a galaxy of officials from the Finance and Communications ministries and other bodies concerned.

The premier said that there is a current interest in restructuring the SIS in cooperation with the Central Agency for Organizati
on and Administration (CAOA) and the SIS with the aim of upgrading its work.

Justice Minister Omar Marwan, for his part, said that the restructuring of SIS, in accordance with the vision of the Justice Ministry, comprises several axes; the financial, the administrative and the legislative sides, in addition in expansion in the activities of its distribution inside and abroad.

Meanwhile, the House’s first undersecretary said there is an agreement on the special vision for restructuring the SIS in order to achieve the State’s objectives from upgrading its activities.

Also, Rashwan reviewed the historical background of the SIS and its missions as well as its centers established across the country.

Source: State Information Service Egypt

El Arish International Airport received on Tuesday 2/1/2024 a Pakistani aid aircraft sent to the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

The aircraft is loaded with 20 tonnes of food and medical supplies, said Khaled Zayed, the head of the North Sinai branch of the Egyptian Red Crescent.

He added that Pakistan provided over 200 tonnes of humanitarian and medical assistance to the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip

Source: State Information Service Egypt

Russian Ambassador to Egypt Georgy Borisenko asserted the importance of Egypt’s membership in BRICS which started in 2024.

Egypt will contribute to taking important decisions on developing the world in the future especially in the field of economy and coordination on its foreign policy, Borisenko said in statements on Tuesday 2/1/2024.

The member states of the bloc want to establish a multipole system to be more just instead of the single-pole system, he said, pointing out that the BRICS started using local currencies in trading and implementing economic development projects.

Using the local currencies will be useful to all the countries that joined BRICS recently including Egypt to solve the problem of hard currency, he said.

The BRICS member states are working on creating suitable circumstances for mutual investments with the countries, he said, adding that Egypt would get more investments and capitals from China, India and Russia.

He said that 2023 witnessed an intensified political dialogue between
Egypt and Russia, adding that there is continuous dialogue between the foreign ministers of both countries.

The Russian investments in Egypt are estimated at 4.5 billion dollars in addition to 7 billion dollars expected to flow into the industrial zone investments, he said.

The trade exchange between both countries reached 6.1 billion dollars in 2022, he said, adding that it would reach 7.2 billion dollars by the end of 2023.

On tourism, he said that the number of Russian tourists who spent their vacations in Egypt reached 1.5 million tourists by the end of 2023, adding that 18 daily flights between the Russian cities and the resorts in Egypt.

Source: State Information Service Egypt

Prime minister Mostafa Madbouli met, 2-12-2024, with Minister of Supply and Internal Trade Ali Al-Moselhi to follow up on the mechanisms for implementing market control decisions.

Madbouli underlined the importance of securing various commodities and following up the implementation of recent decisions on controlling markets and pinpointing seven.

Source: State Information Service Egypt

House of Representatives Speaker Hanafy el Gebaly on Tuesday 2/1/2024 praised President Abdel Fattah El Sisi’s directives during the UN Climate Change Conference (COP27), which took place in Egypt’s Sharm El Sheikh city, towards localising the projects of green hydrogen and its derivatives.

The move seeks optimisation of energy alongside luring both direct and indirect foreign investments in this vitals domain.

The development of green hydrogen projects aims to promote the participation of the private sector in serving the society and national economy, the speaker said while addressing a parliamentary session held ahead of debating a draft law submitted by the government on incentives of green hydrogen projects and its derivatives.

The bill falls within the framework of state’s continued encouragement of investments and supporting competitiveness as well as its commitment to Article (32) of the constitution which stipulates utilization of renewable energy resources and stimulating investing in them, Gebal
y said.

Source: State Information Service Egypt