The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) has announced that the size of microfinance offered by banks and financial institutions increased to EGP 64.6bn for 4.5 million beneficiaries in June 2022, compared to EGP 6.4bn in December 2016. It also pledged EGP 2bn to the credit risk guarantee company to cover part of the risks associated with financing SMEs. In addition, the CBE said that banks operating in the Egyptian market pumped financing worth EGP 48.3bn to about 436,900 customers within the framework of the real estate financing initiative for low and middle-income individuals until the end of September 2022. The CBE explained that this initiative will continue under the management of the Ministry of Finance. © 2022 Daily News Egypt.

CAIRO - 5 January 2023: Egypt announces that the second phase of trainings held for pharmacists to rationalize the use of antibiotics has begun, and will last for two weeks, starting from January 1. The attendees will be pharmacists working in the Ministry of Health and Population hospitals. The Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population announced it trained 6,327 pharmacists in 11 governorates, during the year 2022, as part of the national strategy to rationalize the use of antibiotics and medicine, and within the framework of raising the efficiency of pharmacists working in the government sector, to provide the best service to the Egyptian patient. Hossam Abdel Ghaffar, the official spokesman for the Ministry of Health and Population, said that the training included the governorates of "Cairo, Fayoum, Beni Suef, Sharkia, Suez, Giza, Qalyubia, Menoufia, Alexandria, Kafr El-Sheikh, and Gharbia," where 2,511 pharmacists were trained in clinical pharmacy, and 1,758 pharmacists were trained. control programs, in addition to holding 41 training courses in administrative programs for 1088 pharmacists.

At least 10 people were killed and seven others wounded in twin bombings suspected to have been carried out by al-Shabab in the central Somalia town of Mahas early Wednesday, a regional government official and witnesses confirmed. He said two cars laden with explosives targeted government officials inside the house, adding that most of the casualties were civilians. No group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack but the terror group al-Shabab has been conducting deadly strikes in the country against government officials and African Union peacekeepers since 2007. Mahas is one of the districts where the government and regional forces flushed out al-Shabab in the past months. The Al-Qaida allied terror group has lost many areas previously under its control, but it is still capable of staging attacks in Somalia.

CAIRO - 5 January 2023: The Egyptian government has allocated investments for the Red Sea Governorate, according to the 22/23 year plan, at about 4.4 billion pounds, of which 57.6% is funded by the public treasury. Its most important projects are as follows:1- Sanitation- Expansion, replacement and renewal of sewage stations and networks in the Red Sea Governorate. - Replacing and renewing drinking water stations and networks in the Red Sea Governorate. 4- Street lighting and road paving- Supporting the needs of local units in the city of Qusayr, completing social services buildings, and vocational rehabilitation centers for the disabled. He further added that it seeks attracting internal and external investments, in order to achieve sustainable development and prosperity for the people of Upper Egypt, and to implement development projects with the participation of its people in the governorates of Upper Egypt.

Inter Milan players celebrate after the match REUTERS/Alberto Lingria(Reuters) - Napoli's 11-match winning streak and unbeaten start to the Serie A season ended on Wednesday when Edin Dzeko's second-half goal secured Inter Milan a 1-0 victory. Arkadiusz Milik's stoppage-time free kick earned Juventus a 1-0 win at Cremonese on Wednesday, their seventh in a row without conceding a goal. "We knew this was going to be a tricky match because Cremonese run hard and harry you constantly. Juve are third in the table with 34 points, one clear of Inter in fourth. But it is just a little step we needed to take to move toward bigger goals," Milan coach Stefano Pioli said.

Egypt’s Minister of Health and Population Khaled Abdel Ghaffar directed the preparation of an integrated study to establish an integrated centre for psychological and addiction treatment, to become a fundamental focal point for the treatment of those who are unable, in accordance with the ministry’s strategy to improve the public health of citizens. Hossam Abdel Ghaffar, the official spokesperson for the Ministry of Health and Population, stated that the minister was keen during the meeting to review the secretariat’s plan for establishing centres of excellence for the treatment of autism spectrum. 20 centers are scheduled to be established in the governorates of the republic within 5 years. Abdel Ghaffar added that the meeting dealt with reviewing the executive plan for training workers in citizen service offices in hospitals. The minister also directed a quick preparation of an integrated plan for automation and digitization for all sectors and bodies of the ministry to start implementing it with the concerned authorities, especially the monitoring and follow-up sector.

The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) announced on Tuesday evening that its net international reserves increased to $34.003bn in December 2022, compared to $33.532bn in November 2022, a growth of about $468m. It is the largest increase in Egypt’s international reserves since August. It is also the fourth consecutive increase in reserves, bringing the total rise to $860m from September to December. According to the Central Bank’s website, the value of gold listed in its international reserves increased to $7.326bn, compared to $7.078bn in November 2022, an increase of $248m. Egypt’s foreign reserves consist of a basket of major international currencies, including the US dollar, the euro, the pound sterling, the Japanese yen, and the Chinese yuan.

CAIRO - 4 January 2023: Egypt's Population has reached on Sunday 104.395 million people inside the country, according to what was announced by the population clock of the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS), which is linked to the birth and death registration database at the Ministry of Health and Population. Last year, the population had reached (102.812 million people) on January 1st, 2022, and thus a population increase (the difference between the number of births and deaths) of 1.583 million people has been achieved during the period from 1/1/2022 to 1/1/2023 days. The slight increase in the number of births during the year 2022 compared to the year 2021, is evident from the development of the numbers of natural increase during the period (2018-2022). (249) births per hour, i.e. (4.15) births per minute, which means one birth every (14.4 seconds).

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CAIRO - 4 January 2023: The Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population confirmed that the epidemiological situation of Corona is stable, and no new mutants of the virus have been detected that pose a danger. The ministry noted that winter is the most active season for viruses that infect the respiratory system, stressing the importance of obtaining vaccines such as Corona, influenza and pneumococcal vaccines. Dr. Hossam Hosni, head of the scientific committee to combat corona at the Ministry of Health and Population, said that the epidemiological situation is completely stable, and no new mutants of the virus have been detected, and the new mutant appeared in China has not been detected in Egypt until now. New Mutant Chaos in ChinaHealth experts have warned that the chaos in China over the new Corona mutant “doomsday” could bring the world back to square one in combating the epidemic, according to the British newspaper Daily Mail. As COVID-19 infections surge in China, coronavirus experts gathered at the World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday to discuss next steps, the UN health agency revealed in a press release.

January 2, marks the death anniversary of iconic writer Wahid Hamed. “ You didn’t live in the era of Wahid Hamed, but Wahid Hamed is the one who lived in your era” Hamed said to the seminar attendees. Wahid Hamed is considered one of Egypt’s most renowned writers not just in Egypt but in the Arab world as well. Hamed also established a production company titled Wahid Hamed Film Productions, to produce his and others’ works. AAM honored Wahid Hamed and his son, Marwan Hamed, at its sixth Annual Awards Dinner on November 7, 2018 in Washington, D.C.

SANTOS, Brazil, Jan 2 (Reuters) - The Brazilian coastal city of Santos, which sporting giant Pele turned into a byword for soccer brilliance during a glittering club career, started bidding goodbye to its hero on Monday with a 24-hour wake. Mourners lined up to see Pele's body in an open casket in the center of the field at the Vila Belmiro stadium, home of the Santos Football Club. "Pele leaves millions of Santos fans across our country. He was the creator of Brazilian soccer," said Antonio da Paz, a fan outside the stadium for the memorial that began at 10 a.m. (1300 GMT). "Pele is eternal," Infantino told reporters.

(Reuters) - Al Nassr coach Rudi Garcia said the signing of Cristiano Ronaldo was a big step forward for Saudi Arabian football after the Portuguese forward arrived in Riyadh ahead of his official unveiling on Tuesday. Ronaldo, who was a free agent following his acrimonious split with Manchester United in November, joined Al Nassr last week on a 2-1/2 year deal estimated by media to be worth more than 200 million euros ($213.30 million). "The signing of a player the size of Cristiano Ronaldo is extraordinary and contributes to the development of Saudi football," said Garcia, who previously managed Lille, AS Roma, Olympique Marseille and Olympique Lyonnais. The first goal is to work so he can adapt to our team, to enjoy playing for Al Nassr, and to entertain the fans." Ronaldo will be unveiled at Al Nassr's home ground Mrsool Park, where 25,000 fans are expected to turn up.

CAIRO - 2 January 2023: The Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population will launch 9 medical convoys within the initiative of the President of the Republic "Haya Karima" for free examination and treatment in various medical specialties. The Ministry of Health and Population said that the medical specializations available in the convoy include: "women, childbirth, family planning services, children, internal medicine, nose, ear, orthopedics, surgery, dental, heart and skin ophthalmology, in addition to radiology and analysis services." The Ministry of Health and Population added that the governorates where the convoys are scheduled to take place include the governorates of Sharqiah - Ismailia - Dakahlia - Beheira - Matrouh - Minya - Luxor - New Valley. It is noteworthy that the nation-wide developmental initiative, Haya Karima provides free medical and treatment services to citizens, while cases requiring care are referred to hospitals.

CAIRO – 2 January 2023: Minister of Education and Technical Education Reda Hegazy honored Sunday Grade 2 Student Omar Zaki after his win of the first place in the mental arithmetic competition held by UNESCO in Taiwan and that comprised 100 contestants. Zaki, 7, is resident of Mansoura city, which is the capital of Daqahliyah governorate, and student at a private school. The child had earned a scholarship to study a robotics course at Mansoura University's School of Engineering given his sharp intelligence. Egypt got re-elected in November as a member of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) after garnering 130 votes during Wednesday’s elections. The ministry’s spokesman, Ahmed Hafez, said this win crowns efforts made by the ministry and Egyptian embassies and envoys to garner votes in favor of re-electing Egypt as UNESCO executive board member.