Randa El-Menshawy, previously First Assistant to the Prime Minister for Follow-Up Affairs, has been appointed Minister of Housing, Utilities, and Urban Communities in the new cabinet, succeeding Sherif El-Sherbiny. She began her professional career at the Ministry of Housing in 2009 as a Senior Specialist (Director General level) at the Housing and Building Research Center. She later became Deputy Head of the Center before serving as Executive Office Director to former Housing Minister Ahmed El-Maghraby. Considered one of the closest aides to Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, El-Menshawy led his office during his tenure as Housing Minister. Following his appointment as Prime Minister, she concurrently served as Deputy Minister of Housing and Director of the Prime Minister’s Office, prior to Assem El-Gazzar’s appointment as Housing Minister.

Rolls-Royce has marked the delivery of EgyptAir’s first Airbus A350-900, powered exclusively by Trent XWB-84 engines, as the national carrier advances its long-haul fleet modernisation programme. The aircraft is the first of 16 A350-900s ordered by EgyptAir and is set to play a central role in expanding the airline’s international network and boosting long-haul capacity. Omar Al Adib, Senior Vice President – Civil Aerospace at Rolls-Royce, said the delivery builds on a long-standing partnership between the two companies. “Our relationship with EgyptAir spans more than five decades, during which we have supported the airline through successive generations of aircraft and engine technology,” he said. With the entry into service of the A350-900, EgyptAir continues to build a Rolls-Royce-powered widebody fleet, which already includes 11 Airbus A330ceo aircraft powered by Trent 700 engines and eight Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners powered by Trent 1000 engines.

He served as a financial sector expert for global finance and markets from January 2014 to July 2015. Prior to that, he was the financial sector expert for the East Asia and Pacific region between September 2012 and January 2014. In the domestic financial sector, Rostom worked in credit risk management at the Egyptian Gulf Bank. Ministry of Investment:Head of the financial sector policy unit and the financial services policy unit between 2004 and 2009. Economic Focus and Policy InterestsRostom is noted for his focus on economic policy consistency and the diversification of funding sources.

What confronts the region today is not a romantic struggle, but a hard and unavoidable reality: Israel exists, Egypt exists, and the region will not move forward unless it engages with what is, rather than what it wishes were. Israel cannot eliminate the Arabs, nor can the Arabs destroy Israel. This was never a realistic outcome, and it is even less so in today’s regional and international context. If Israel seeks to become a normal state within the region, it must act like one. Egypt and Israel do not share culture, identity, or historical narrative, but they do share geography and fate.

Diaa Rashwan has been appointed Minister of State for Information in Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouly’s new cabinet, transitioning from a career spanning academia, journalism, and state media management. State Media and DiplomacySince June 2017, Rashwan has served as the head of the State Information Service (SIS), acting as the primary spokesperson for the Egyptian state. Journalism and GovernanceA member of the Journalists Syndicate since 1983, Rashwan has held the position of Syndicate Head for three consecutive terms. Serving on the Supreme Council of the Press (2013–2015) and the National Press Authority (since April 2017). Academic and Research BackgroundRashwan’s professional career is rooted in political research, specifically at the Al-Ahram Centre for Political and Strategic Studies.

A high-level Japanese investment delegation is visiting Egypt as part of ongoing efforts to deepen economic and investment ties between the two countries and advance cooperation on infrastructure and sustainable development projects in Egypt and across Africa. It includes the convening of the Quality Infrastructure Dialogue (QID) on Tuesday, with senior-level participation from both sides. The Quality Infrastructure Dialogue represents a structured institutional pathway aimed at transferring Japanese investment, expertise, and quality standards to Egypt and Africa through joint projects in industrial zones, energy, transport, and water sectors. More than 30 Japanese companies are participating, marking the largest Japanese investment mission of its kind to an African country. The event also features participation from the Japan Overseas Infrastructure Investment Corporation for Transport & Urban Development (JOIN), a public–private investment fund supervised by Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

Beltone Holding has announced the successful completion of its acquisition of Baobab Group, through which Beltone Capital, a wholly owned subsidiary of Beltone Holding, acquired 100% of Baobab for a total consideration of €197.6m. Through the acquisition, Beltone expands its geographic footprint to seven African markets—Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Madagascar, Burkina Faso, Mali, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Nigeria—reinforcing its position as a leading regional financial services provider. Baobab Group is a leading provider of micro and small business finance with a strong focus on digital solutions. The combination is expected to support sustainable growth, expand access to finance, and strengthen entrepreneurship across the communities they serve. Following completion of the transaction, Beltone and Baobab will work closely to develop and scale inclusive, technology-enabled financial solutions that support long-term economic growth across Africa.

Commercial International Bank-Egypt (CIB) on Tuesday reported consolidated net income of EGP 20.1bn in the fourth quarter of 2025, up 57% year on year. Full-year 2025 consolidated net income reached EGP 82.2bn, or EGP 18.2 per share, marking a 49% increase compared with full-year 2024. Consolidated revenues amounted to EGP 33.7bn in the fourth quarter, while full-year consolidated revenues reached EGP 117bn. Net interest income:Full-year 2025 standalone net interest income reached EGP 107bn, up 18% year on year. On a real basis, net of EGP appreciation, loan growth reached 47%, or EGP 184bn.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty met on Tuesday with Senegal’s Minister of African Integration and Foreign Affairs, Cheikh Niang, to discuss strengthening bilateral relations and coordinating positions on regional and international issues ahead of the upcoming African Union summit. In a statement, Egypt’s foreign ministry said Abdelatty praised the growing ties between Cairo and Dakar, describing Senegal as a strategic partner for Egypt in West Africa. He also congratulated Senegal on assuming the presidency of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), as well as its joint presidency with the UAE of the 2026 United Nations Water Conference. On education, Abdelatty noted plans to expand French-language university programmes in Egypt to attract Senegalese students. He also pointed to the upcoming inauguration of Senghor University in Alexandria, which aims to strengthen academic cooperation with Francophone African countries.

Egypt’s annual urban inflation eased to 11.9% in January 2026, down from 12.3% in December 2025, according to the Central Agency for Public Mobilisation and Statistics (CAPMAS). Core CPI inflation declined to 11.2% in January 2026, from 11.8% in December 2025. Monthly core CPI inflation, calculated by the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE), stood at 1.2% in January 2026, compared with 1.7% in January 2025 and 0.2% in December 2025. According to CAPMAS, monthly headline inflation rose to 1.5% in January 2026, up from 0.1% in December 2025. The CBE noted that the recent moderation in monthly inflation developments compared with typical seasonal patterns points to improved inflation expectations and the gradual fading of the effects of previous shocks.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi met on Tuesday with Sergei Naryshkin, chief of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service, to discuss bilateral relations, security coordination, and regional developments, with a focus on the situation in Gaza, the Egyptian presidency said. According to a presidential statement, Al-Sisi asked Naryshkin to convey his greetings to Russian President Vladimir Putin, expressing appreciation for the current trajectory of Egypt-Russia relations and Cairo’s interest in expanding cooperation across political, economic, and security fields. The talks also addressed regional issues, with Al-Sisi outlining Egypt’s position on developments in the Middle East and stressing the importance of maintaining the Gaza ceasefire, ensuring humanitarian access, and accelerating early recovery and reconstruction efforts in the enclave. The Russian official expressed appreciation for Egypt’s diplomatic efforts to end the conflict, facilitate aid delivery, and oppose the displacement of Gaza residents. Both sides agreed on the need to enhance coordination to prevent further escalation in the region and to continue political consultations aimed at achieving peaceful solutions to regional and international crises.

Egypt’s House of Representatives on Tuesday approved a major cabinet overhaul featuring the reinstatement of the Ministry of Information and the appointment of 14 new ministers across key portfolios. In the housing and infrastructure sector, Randa El Menshawy, formerly Assistant to the Prime Minister, has been promoted to Minister of Housing. Her team includes Walid Abbas as Deputy Minister for Urban Communities and Ahmed Omran as Deputy Minister for Utilities. Economic leadership was further reinforced with the appointment of Hussein Issa as Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs and Ahmed Kouchouk as Deputy Prime Minister for the Economic Group. The 14 new ministerial appointments approved by parliament are:Hussein Issa: Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs.

The buildup of U.S. military power in the Middle East is approaching its peak, as uncertainty hangs over the outcome of ongoing negotiations between Washington and Tehran in the Omani capital, Muscat. In recent weeks, widespread speculation has suggested that a potential U.S. attack on Iran would focus on dismantling the regime through intensive airstrikes. Regime change by force is hardly a departure from American foreign policy tradition. The anticipated meeting between President Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday is likely to address this scenario, which Tel Aviv categorically rejects—particularly Iran’s refusal to abandon uranium enrichment. The “flexibility” imposed by necessity today is not a diplomatic luxury or a tactical choice; it is the final lifeline.

Egyptian Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Hani Sewilam, said Egypt is continuing its efforts to secure access to safe water for all citizens as a basic human right, during a meeting with Pedro Arrojo Agudo, the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation. Sewilam said Egypt is facing growing water scarcity, with per capita water availability at around 500 cubic metres per year—less than half the United Nations’ water scarcity threshold. He noted that approximately 98% of Egypt’s water resources originate from the Nile River. The minister said Egypt is implementing projects under its “Second-Generation Water System 2.0” strategy, including the expansion of agricultural wastewater treatment through major plants such as New Delta, Bahr El-Baqar, and El-Mahssama. He emphasised that cooperative, consensus-based approaches among Nile Basin countries remain the only viable path to safeguarding shared water resources and achieving mutual benefits.

CAIRO, Feb 9 (MENA) – President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi inspected the latest addition to EgyptAir’s fleet, an Airbus A350, upon his arrival at Cairo International Airport from Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. Presidential Spokesperson Mohamed al-Shennawy said Civil Aviation Minister Sameh al-Hefny described the aircraft’s induction as a major step in modernizing EgyptAir’s fleet and enhancing the airline’s ability to serve passengers according to the highest international standards. Hefny added that the move is part of the state’s broader plan to develop the civil aviation sector and reinforce Egypt’s status as a leading regional hub for air transport.