CAIRO – 19 February 2023: The Egyptian government ended the compulsory pricing of white rice, one month before the end of the deadline, amid increasing prices of basic commodities. It is worth noting that the Cabinet set rice prices of rice in the market not to exceed 18 EGP per kilo of packaged fine white rice, and not to exceed 15 EGP for unpackaged rice. After being a rice exporter, Egypt turned to be an importer to meet the people’s needs amid the monopoly practiced by merchants. The Ministry of Supply announced that it would offer a tender for rice importation to secure strategic storage. The average share per capita is now 39 kilograms per annum.

The meetings were concluded by signing seven memoranda of understanding (MoUs) between the Egyptian private sector and Uzbek government in the sectors of pharmaceuticals, textile, energy, electricity, and healthcare. Uzbek Minister of Investments, Industry and Trade Kudratov Laziz Shavkatovic said that tomorrow's visit of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to Egypt would mark a new push to investment ties between the two states. The minister equally noted that President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi's visit to Tashkent in 2018 represented a leap in the diplomatic and commercial relations. Minister Shavkatovic also stated that he was holding meetings with representatives of the largest Egyptian textile and food processing companies in order to establish manufacturing partnerships. Heiba presented the investment opportunities in Egypt, incentives, and economic reforms carried out over the past year.

Islamabad, Pakistan CNN — At least four people were killed and 14 were injured after militants stormed the police headquarters in the southern Pakistani city of Karachi, according to officials. Militants attacked the police station with hand grenades and shots were fired, an eyewitness told CNN. Pakistan’s Taliban, known as Tehreek e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), claimed responsibility for the attack, according to spokesman Mohammad Khorasani. The attack prompted the Sindh provincial government to declare a state of emergency in Karachi, according to its spokesperson, Sharjeel Memon. Rescue teams have reached the site of the attack, according to video released by Chhipa Ambulance Service, in which gunfire could be heard.

CAIRO – 18 February 2023: The Public Prosecution said it has issued an arrest warrant for suspects who created a fake pharaonic tomb in Upper Egypt’s Beni Suef to defraud buyers of antiquities of their money. In remarks to Egypt Today, Waziri added that all the figurines inside the tomb were made of gypsum and that all the contents of that tomb were not ancient. However, a committee formed by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities moved to the scene along with the prosecution and revealed in a report that the tomb is not ancient, the prosecution said. The hole contained iron rods that were used to reinforce its construction, the committee said. Also, the drawings engraved on the walls of the three rooms and the statues they contain were all modern imitations and not ancient, the committee added.

CAIRO - 18 February 2023: A total of 55 hot air balloon flights took off in the western mainland skies of Luxor Saturday, carrying more than 1,500 tourists from around the world to enjoy the magic of nature and ancient Egyptian civilization. Ahmed Abboud, a representative of the Balloon Federation companies in Luxor, said that with the clock strikes four in the morning every day, the men of the 17 balloon companies that operate in the western mainland airport leave their homes to prepare their balloons that will fly with tourists from around the world at sunrise, and others go to fixed and floating hotels. More than 1,500 tourists from European and Asian countries and around the world rode the hot air balloon flights amid an atmosphere of joy. The representative of the balloon flying companies in Luxor says that all balloon companies launch their flights in the sky on a daily basis amid strict compliance with civil aviation instructions, which maintain the security and safety of the participants by following strict precautionary and preventive measures

Egypt and India have asserted their firm stance on denouncing all forms of terrorism, calling on all the United Nations member states to respect the UN resolutions on this score. The affirmation came at the 3rd session of the Egypt-Indian joint working group, held in the Indian capital New Delhi with the participation of respective Egyptian and Indian officials. The Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Saturday that the meeting reviewed national experiments on combating terrorism and extremism. The two sides underscored the need to continue coordinating efforts to counter terrorism. Both countries also called on the UN member states not to provide any backing, including shelters, weapons, logistics support or crossing of the borders, for terrorists.

CAIRO - 15 February 2023: Egypt will launch the first-ever bid for obsolete energy fields, according to the Minister of Petroleum, Tarek el-Molla. Molla said during a press conference held Wednesday at the Egypt Petroleum Show (EGYPS 2023) that details about the bid will be announced before the end of February. “Its economic model will be determined to increase production from those fields that need unconventional methods and specialized technology to extract the quantities available in these fields,” he added. He noted that the rise in global prices is what encourages pumping investments in this field. Previously, Molla said that Egypt's oil exports rose to reach $18.2 billion during 2022.

CAIRO - 15 February 2023: Elsewedy Data Centers signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Emirati Gulf Data Hub to develop Africa's largest data center complex in Egypt. The MoU also aims to strengthen their bilateral cooperation in the field of information technology and digital infrastructure in the region. The press release revealed that cooperation will also take place between the data centers and all telecom operators and internet service providers in the Arab Republic of Egypt, the data centers will also be connected to the other data centers owned and operated by GDH in KSA, UAE and rest of their data centers globally to enhance their role as a connection point and a regional center for data. “All data centers are green and will be licensed and certified by the LEED international organization concerned with preserving the environment,” it added. This project is expected to attract many private sector companies, banks, ministries, local Egyptian government institutions, as well as many international companies.

Egypt has decided to open the first hosting centre for children who are waiting to be adopted. The facility will host orphans or children who had to be taken away from large and problematic Egyptian or foreign families. The building is located in Cairo and is ready to host up to 200 kids, the report said. Its services will include providing birth certificates and medical tests to verify the health of orphans. The ministry last November had launched a new national adoption program in Egypt with the aim of reducing the number of children who grow up without a family in the country.

Egypt has made the decision to open the nation's first facility for housing youngsters who are up for adoption. A maximum of three months will be spent living in the centre as a temporary residence. Orphans or kids that have to be removed from large, troublesome Egyptian or foreign households will be housed in the facility. Its offerings will include delivering birth certificates and conducting medical examinations to confirm the wellbeing of orphans. In an effort to decrease the number of children who grow up in Egypt without a family, the ministry introduced a new national adoption programme there in November.

In the first trip to promote the Holy Family’s journey outside Egypt, the religious exhibition “Queen” was launched in the Italian city of Vicenza with the participation of 30 countries including Egypt. Egypt participates in the exhibition with a pavilion represented by the Foundation for the Modesty and Development of Heritage and the Egyptian-Italian itinerary. Egypt displayed seven paintings that depict the most important points of the Holy Family’s journey drawn by Dr. Manal Metwally. This type of exhibition is a great opportunity for participants to see the itinerary and journey of the Holy Family that fled and took refuge in Egypt. The itinerary of the Holy Family consists of 27 points that Egypt has been blessed with.

The Cairo Criminal Court has removed Juhayna owner Safwan Thabet from its terrorist list three weeks after his release along with his son from prison. The two suspects have been imprisoned for about two years pending the case on accusations of funding the Muslim Brotherhood. The Al-Waqa’i’ al-Misriyya newspaper published the text of the Cairo Criminal Court’s decision on February 12. The Egyptian authorities arrested Thabeth, 76, at the end of 2020, and two months later arrested his son, Saif. Thabet and his son own Juhayna Food Industries, the largest producer of bottled milk and juices in Egypt.

The Ministry of Immigration and Egyptian Expatriates Affairs announced Saturday that an Egyptian student was successfully rescued after being trapped beneath rubble for 14 hours at the Turkish city of Hatay. A representative of the Ministry in Turkey Shady al-Sarwy explained that the rescued engineering student, Moaz Abdul-Raouf, is safe and has been transferred to Sakarya away from the afflicted area. During a telephone interview with Lamis al-Hadidi on Egypt’s “Last Word” (Kalema Akhera) television show on ON satellite channel, Sarwy added that another engineering student, Aly Osman, lost both of his parents to the earthquake. He confirmed that while Osman is safe, his spirits are low due to his loss. Sarwy assured that all Egyptian students in Turkey remain in safe conditions.

CAIRO - 12 February 2023: ِِAbout $644 billion investments are needed in the energy sector, with an annual average of 4.6 billion until 2023, Secretary-General of the International Energy Forum (IEF), Joseph McMonigle said. McMonigle expected that the world will face fluctuations and a significant rise in energy prices. Egypt Petroleum Show (EGYPS 2023) kicked off Sunday in the presence of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. The EGYPS 2023 takes place from February 13 to 15 at Egypt International Exhibition Center. All CEOs of the energy, oil and gas sector in the world will participate in the EGYPS 2023, in addition to a group of energy ministers, government representatives, high-ranking officials of the European Union, secretaries of major international energy organizations, business leaders and investors in the energy sector to discuss the most important issues to support the progress of the oil and gas sector.

The Islamic Republic marked the 44th anniversary of the Iranian revolution on Saturday with state-organized rallies, as anti-government hackers briefly interrupted a televised speech by President Ebrahim Raisi. Rights activists have expressed concern on social media that many may have been forced to sign pledges not to repeat their “offenses” before being released. On the anniversary’s eve Friday night, state media showed fireworks as part of government-sponsored celebrations, and people chanting “Allahu Akbar! Government television on Saturday aired live footage of the state rallies around the country. His speech was frequently interrupted by chants of “Death to America” – a trademark slogan at state rallies.