World

Amid climate change effects and power outages, cash-strapped Egypt swelters

Already mired in its worst economic plight in years, Egypt is reckoning with another challenge it hasn’t seen for a decade: sporadic power cuts in the midst of a sweltering summer.

With temperatures in many parts of the North African country exceeding 100F (37.8C), Egyptians are again getting used to their lights and air-conditioning flicking out.

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Authorities blame unprecedented pressure on the grid and unforeseen shortages of the fuel needed to generate electricity for Egypt’s more than 104 million people.

A new load-shedding schedule taking effect Tuesday promises advance warning of hour-long blackouts in the neighborhoods of major cities. Officials say as much as $300 million in heavy fuel-oil imports are coming. Still, there’s no definitive time-line for when the issue will be resolved.

Egypt is just the latest Mediterranean country suffering after climate change made July the world’s hottest month on record, with fires, flooding and extreme temperatures spanning the Northern Hemisphere from the US to China.

The cuts are also a stark comedown for a country that not long ago boasted a power surplus it suggested could be sent to Europe. An economic crisis partly spurred by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine complicated that, as authorities sought foreign currency by ramping up exports of locally produced natural gas and ordered public lighting dimmed and clocks moved forward to curb electricity consumption.

Egyptians, reeling from galloping inflation and a currency that’s lost half its value since early 2022, have responded with disgruntlement and humor to the kind of power outages that have long bedeviled the continent’s two other economic powerhouses, South Africa and Nigeria. Residents in Cairo and beyond complain of being trapped in darkened elevators or opening refrigerators full of spoiled food.

‘Honoring’ Edison

When Thomas Edison, the inventor of the lightbulb, died in 1931, “all the electricity in the world was turned off for a minute in his honor,” local billionaire Naguib Sawiris said on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Egypt and Lebanon honor the man every day.”

Egypt exports millions of tons of its liquefied natural gas, as well as some of Israel’s, to Europe each year. This summer it repeated its annual practice of suspending those shipments to meet the seasonal increase in domestic demand.

The problem this time, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly says, is that the power-plant turbines need significantly more fuel when temperatures exceed a certain level. Egypt is now consuming as much as 146 million cubic meters of gas and heavy fuel-oil a day, up from a maximum of 129 million in previous years, according to the premier.

Heat over 35C necessitates load-shedding for an hour or two per day, he said Thursday in a televised address. The government and Italian energy firm Eni, which helps operate Egypt’s giant Zohr offshore gas field, have both said output is unchanged.

Chronic power outages were one of the issues that stoked anger against the previous government.

Since then, Egypt under President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has ramped up capacity with projects including three power plants co-built by Siemens AG and wind farms. Russia is helping construct North Africa’s first nuclear plant on the Mediterranean coast.

Electricity Minister Mohamed Shaker says he hasn’t been spared and is forgoing his home air-conditioning to do his part. “My electricity is cut two or three times a day,” he told local newspaper Al-Shorouk.

Egypt announces emergency actions to tackle power shortages

Egypt summons Denmark’s ambassador over Quran burning incidents

World

Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi meets with CEOs of leading Norwegian companies

H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, has met with a group of CEOs from leading Norwegian companies, as part of their participation in the UAE-Norway Investment Forum, held alongside his official visit to the Kingdom of Norway.

During the meeting, H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed underscored the UAE leadership’s commitment to strengthening economic cooperation with its international partners.

He highlighted that investment in innovation and knowledge is a cornerstone for achieving sustainable development, noting that enhancing collaboration with Norwegian companies across key sectors will open new avenues for mutual economic growth between the two countries.

The UAE-Norway Investment Forum, taking place in Oslo, aimed to highlight available investment opportunities and strengthen trade relations between the UAE and Norway, fostering shared interests and supporting innovation and knowledge-based economic visions.

-wam

World

At the Indonesia International Book Fair 2024, TRENDS inaugurates 10th global office, releases four books

As part of its Asian research tour, partnership with Aletihad News Center, and
primary sponsorship of the Indonesia International Book Fair 2024, TRENDS
Research & Advisory inaugurated its office in Jakarta, marking its 10th location
worldwide. It also released four books in Indonesian.
The inauguration event was attended by ambassadors of the UAE, Bahrain, and
Jordan to Indonesia, chairpersons of the UAE and Indonesian Publishers’
Associations, the Director of TRENDS’ Jakarta office, and a group of researchers
and academics.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali, CEO of TRENDS
Research & Advisory, stated that TRENDS’ international offices—set to reach 15
by the end of 2024—aim to enhance the Center’s research efforts and deepen its
role in disseminating knowledge, thus serving as a global knowledge bridge.
He emphasized, “At TRENDS, we believe in the importance of cooperation
between think tanks and prioritize this endeavor. We believe the TRENDS office in
Jakarta will enhance the exchange of knowledge and ideas between think tanks in
Asia and the Middle East, opening new horizons for collaboration in various
fields.”

Four books in Indonesian
As part of the Jakarta office’s inaugural activities, four books were released in
Indonesian, including the 11th and 12th books of the Muslim Brotherhood
Encyclopedia and Global Trends in AI and Automation and the Future of
Competition between Man and Machine: An Analytical Forward-looking Vision.

Hostility to Arab states
The 11th book of the Muslim Brotherhood Encyclopedia, The Concept of the State
According to the Muslim Brotherhood, highlights its hostile stance toward Arab
states since its inception. The group views them as an obstacle to its ascent to
power. It opposed the modern principles upon which these states were built,
considering them incompatible with the group’s unique interpretation of Islam,
which it claimed to embody exclusively.

Exclusion of nonconformists
The 12th book, The Muslim Brotherhood: Rejection of Tolerance and Exclusion of
Nonconformists, examines the Muslim Brotherhood’s stance towards
nonconformists, individuals, and entities. The book reveals the group’s binary view
of the world, categorizing others as allies or adversaries. It ties these relationships
to the Brotherhood’s internal power struggles and self-serving interests.

Global Trends in AI
The third book, Global Trends in AI, explores significant developments in AI and
its impact on various aspects of life, including the economy, society, and
governance. It also offers a comprehensive analysis of technological advancements
in AI, its applications across sectors, the ethical and social challenges it presents,
and its future trajectory.

Automation

The fourth book, Automation and the Future of Competition between Man and
Machine: An Analytical Forward-looking Vision, addresses the growing challenges
faced by the human workforce in the face of widespread automation and AI
applications. The book concludes that while automation presents a significant
challenge to the labor market, it simultaneously creates new opportunities. It
emphasizes the importance of preparing for this shift through skills development,
continuous education, and adopting economic and social policies that support the
workforce.

Prominent pavilion and active presence
The TRENDS’ pavilion at the Indonesia International Book Fair has attracted
numerous visitors, including academic researchers and officials, such as the
ambassadors of the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan, and Turkey. Additionally,
chairpersons of Arab and Indonesian publishers’ associations, authors, publishers,
and students visited the pavilion. All were impressed with and praised TRENDS’ diverse, valuable publications. They also commended TRENDS’ active
international presence and ability to address global developments with rigorous
analytical research.
Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali honored the esteemed guests, including
ambassadors of the UAE and Bahrain to Indonesia, Wedha Startesti Yudha,
Chairperson of the Indonesia International Book Fair Committee, Arys Hilman
Nugraha, Chairman of the Indonesian Publishers Association, and others,
presenting them with TRENDS’ publications and commemorative shields.
Additionally, he awarded TRENDS’ Research Medal to Ni Made Ayu Martini
Indonesian Deputy Minister of Marketing, Tourism and Creative Economy
It is worth noting that during its current Asian research tour, TRENDS announced
the launch of the TRENDS Research Medal, awarded to individuals who make
significant contributions to the development of scientific research and promote collaboration with TRENDS in strengthening a culture of research across various fields.

World

US determined to prevent full-scale war in Middle East, Joe Biden tells UNGA79

US President Joe Biden highlighted the US Administration’s determination to prevent a wider war that engulfs the entire Middle East region, noting that a diplomatic solution “remains the only path to lasting security to allow the residents from both countries to return to their homes on the border safely”.

In remarks he made today before the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA79), the US President said, “Full-scale war is not in anyone’s interest,” adding that a diplomatic solution is still possible.

He also touched on “the rise of violence against innocent Palestinians on the West Bank”, and the need to “set the conditions for a better future”, which he said featured “a two-state solution, where the world — where Israel enjoys security and peace and full recognition and normalised relations with all its neighbours, where Palestinians live in security, dignity, and self-determination in a state of their own”.

President Biden underscored the ceasefire and hostage deal put forth by Qatar and Egypt, which the UN Security Council endorsed. He said, “Now is the time for the parties to finalise its terms, bring the hostages home,” adding that this would help ease the suffering in Gaza, and end the war.

-WAM