The Equal Opportunities Unit of the Department of Women, Motherhood and Childhood in Minya Governorate, Upper Egypt, organized an awareness seminar on “Women’s Economic Empowerment”, in the village of Abyouha, in Abu Qurqas City, which was named as free of violence against women. The seminar came as part of the “Safe Village Free of Violence against Women” initiative, as part of the “Decent Life” presidential initiative. The Director of the Equal Opportunities Unit in the governorate Fatima al-Zahraa explained the criteria for selecting the village of Abyouha as a safe village free of violence against women. The percentage of women in the village is 47 percent, she explained, adding that the main objective of the Equal Opportunities Unit is to provide services to women and children in all aspects. The seminar also explained the training courses on entrepreneurship for women within the village for economic empowerment and their ability to succeed and advance economically.

KIEV, Jan 15 (MENA) - Russia has already lost about 115,290 troops in Ukraine (630 over the past day). The relevant statement was made by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. Between February 24, 2022 and January 14, 2023, the enemy’s total combat losses included also 3,106 tanks (+2 over the past day), 6,183 armored fighting vehicles (+10), 2,094 artillery systems (+4), 437 multiple launch rocket systems, 219 anti-aircraft warfare systems, 286 aircraft, 276 helicopters, 4,846 motor vehicles and fuel tanks, 17 warships/boats, 1,872 unmanned aerial vehicles (+5), 187 special equipment units (+1). A total of 749 enemy cruise missiles (+26) were shot down.

(Reuters) – Fourth-placed Inter Milan secured a 1-0 home win over strugglers Hellas Verona thanks to an early goal from striker Lautaro Martinez in a Serie A game with few chances on Saturday. Substitute Kristjan Asllani came close to scoring a second goal for Inter in the closing stages but his shot from outside the box curled just outside the post. Verona tried to put some pressure on Inter in the final minutes of the game as they desperately searched for an equaliser but they failed to create any clear chances. The result left Inter level on 37 points with third-placed Juventus and 10 behind leaders Napoli after 18 games. Verona are second-bottom with nine points, six adrift of the safety zone.

Alireza Akbari, a dual British-Iranian citizen and former Iranian official, has been executed, the Iranian judiciary-affiliated outlet Mizan reported on Saturday. He was hanged for crimes including “corruption on earth,” according to tweets from Mizan, which did not specify when the execution took place. “I am appalled by the execution of British-Iranian citizen Alireza Akbari in Iran,” Sunak wrote on Twitter. “The execution of British-Iranian Alireza Akbari is a barbaric act that deserves condemnation in the strongest possible terms. Through this politically motivated act, the Iranian regime has once again shown its callous disregard for human life.”The UK government had urged Iran not to execute Akbari.

(Reuters) - Wolverhampton Wanderers have signed Gabonese midfielder Mario Lemina from Nice on a contract until 2025, the Premier League club said on Friday. "The transfer includes a further 12-month option and comes after Lemina spent the first half of the campaign playing regularly for Ligue 1 side Nice," Wolves said in a statement. Wolves coach Julen Lopetegui told reporters earlier on Friday: "Mario is a good player. "He knows the English league and has the profile to be a good player for us ... Wolves are 19th in the Premier League and host West Ham on Saturday.

CAIRO - 14 January 2023: Egypt will adopt a five-year initiative worth LE 150 billion to support the agricultural and industrial production sectors, especially by reducing their loans’ interests, in the face of the repercussions of the global crises, the Cabinet has announced. The initiative will come into effect after the cabinet’s approval this week, the Cabinet said in a statement on Wednesday. Mohamed El-Sewedy, head of the Federation of Egyptian Industries (FEI), affirmed that the initiative will suit the largest segment of manufacturers and farmers. Madbouly stressed that initiative will be implemented as soon as it is approved by the Cabinet during this week meeting. This includes more than $613 million worth of goods required for industrial purposes, including food products, primary industrial supplies, and spare parts, the statement said.

CAIRO – 14 January 2023: The Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone) announced on Saturday that the development plan of Al-Arish Port in northeastern Egypt will be concluded in 2024. The port is being developed in cooperation with the Armed Forces’ Engineering Authority, the Suez Canal Authority (SCA), and national contracting companies, including Arab Contractors and El-Gharably, Gamal El-Din said. Development of the port will help it become able to receive modern ships with huge payloads, Gamal El-Din said. Madbouly stressed the great strategic importance of Al-Arish Port given its unique location on the Mediterranean Sea and its position as part of the SCZone. The state is keen on reopening the port after its renovation in order to enhance the economic development in Egypt, especially in North Sinai, said North Sinai Governor Mohamed Abdel Fadeel Shousha during the visit.

The Ministry of Public Business Sector announced that some 136,000 quintals of cotton were sold in auctions held on Thursday. In a statement released on Friday, the ministry said those actions were conducted in the governorates of Beheira, Kafr El-Sheikh, Sharqia, Gharbia, Dakahlia, Menoufia and Ismailia. The highest selling price per quintal was EGP 7,785 in Kafr El-Sheikh governorate. The new system guarantees fair prices for farmers, as cotton selling is implemented through auction, and the pricing policy is in line with global cotton prices.

CAIRO -14 January 2023: The Pharaohs sent a strong message to all the participating teams in the 2023 IHF World Men's Handball Championship after having a fantastic start to the competition on Thursday night. Egypt defeated Croatia 31-22 in their first game in the competition to take a steady step towards securing the top of the group after defeating the toughest opponent in the group. Ali Zein put on a spectacular performance in the game that earned him the Man of the Match award. Egypt plays in Group G alongside Croatia, Morocco and the USA. The Pharaohs will face Morocco in the next match before finishing the group stage against the USA, who achieved their first ever win in the competition on Friday against Morocco.

(Reuters) - A second-half strike by forward Paulo Dybala secured AS Roma a 1-0 win over Genoa in the Coppa Italia last 16 on Thursday and kept the capital club on course to win the competition for the 10th time. Substitute Dybala put Roma ahead in the 64th minute, the Argentine sending a powerful shot from a tight angle inside the far post after replacing midfielder Lorenzo Pellegrini at halftime. Earlier on Thursday, Fiorentina advanced to the quarter-finals with a 1-0 win over Sampdoria. Serie A leaders Napoli host bottom-placed Cremonese on Tuesday. Atalanta, Lazio and Juventus play their last-16 ties next Thursday.

The move comes in the framework of combating black market activities in medicines – Image courtesy of PixabayCAIRO – 13 January 2023: Egyptian Minister of Health Khaled Abdel Ghaffar and the World Health Organization (WHO) Representative in Egypt Naeema Al-Jasseer discussed ways of cooperation in developing the drug and vaccine production system with the WHO and other international companies. The meeting discussed work on transferring expertise and advanced manufacturing of mRNA technology in the production of medicines, especially for the treatment of chronic diseases, as well as vaccines and serums, Abdel Ghaffar said in a statement on Thursday. In February 2022, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced that six African countries including Egyptian Tunisia would receive “mRNA” technology to produce vaccines against the Coronavirus locally. At the European Union - African Union summit in Brussels, Tedros Adhanom announced the first African six countries that would receive this technology. President Sisi’s appreciation was voiced in his speech at the WHO Session on Vaccine Technology and Health Systems, on the sidelines of the EU-AU summit in Brussels in February.

CAPMAS stated that the top 10 importers of Egypt's exports are Spain (dlrs 3.1bn), Turkey (dlrs 3.1bn), Italy (dlrs 2.8bn), the United States (dlrs 2bn), Saudi Arabia (dlrs 2bn), Netherlands (dlrs 1.7bn), South Korea (dlrs1.95bn), France (dlrs 1.6bn), China (dlrs 1.6bn) and the United Arab Emirates (dlrs 1.5bn). As for the top 10 commodities that Egypt exported during the first 10 months of 2022, they are as follows: liquefied natural gas (LNG), at a total value of dlrs 7.9 billion, fertilizers (dlrs 2.7 billion), crude oil (dlrs 2.6 billion), petroleum products (dlrs 2.6 billion), ready-made garments (dlrs 2.1 billion), plastics (dlrs 1.6bn), fresh fruits (dlrs 1.4 billion), various doughs and food preparations (dlrs 818.1 million), potatoes (dlrs 370.6 million) and carpets and hand-woven kilim rugs (dlrs 342.7 million).

CAIRO – 13 January 2023 A Cairo terrorist court, on Thursday, handed down 7 defendants sentences of life imprisonment and three others to 15 years in prisons for charges of belonging to the Islamic State terrorist group (ISIS) in a case dubbed in media as “ISIS, Bulaq.”Meanwhile, another defender was acquitted of the same charges, the court ruled. According to the prosecution, the convicts face charges of forming a terrorist group that aims for disturbing the public order and endangering the safety, interests and security of society. On May5, 2022, an Egyptian court, presided by Judge Mohamed Sherine Fahmy, sentenced four people to life imprisonment, a woman to three years in prison, and acquitted three others in the case known as “Spying for Daesh,” on Sunday. The criminal court put three convicts on the terrorist lists, charging them with collaborating with the terrorist organization “ISIS”.

CAIRO – 13 January 2023: Heavy rain has continued to hit eastern Alexandria in northern Egypt since last evening with authorities working to remove rainwater pools from streets. Alexandria is currently witnessing the annual Greater Faida Storm, which is known for heavy rains and runs for around a week starting 13 January. Since five in the evening, the rain has returned to the various regions of Alexandria and heavy rains hit the regions of Al-Amriya, Al-Gomrok, and Al-Montazah. The EMA has warned of the start of a low-pressure area companies with moderate rain that becomes heavy at many times. He pointed out that several pools of rainwater are expected if the heavy rain continues for the next several hours.

The official price of the US dollar at the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) increased by more than EGP 0.50, recording EGP 27.5538 for buying and EGP 27.6256 for selling on Monday, compared to EGP 27.0112 for buying and EGP 27.1131 for selling last Thursday. With this new increase, the price of the US currency increased by about EGP 2.84 within three working days at banks. The price of the American currency reached EGP 27.40 for buying and EGP 27.45 for selling at the National Bank of Egypt and Banque Misr. It reached EGP 27.45 for buying and EGP 27.55 for selling at the Commercial International Bank. The price of the Kuwaiti dinar jumped to EGP 89.9267 for buying and EGP 90.2374 for selling, while the price of the Saudi riyal reached EGP 7.3272 for buying and EGP 7.3521 for selling.