The Commercial International Bank Egypt (CIB) has signed a financing and partnership agreement to support Elsewedy Electric Power Systems Projects (PSP) in the execution of a combined-cycle power plant in Hungary, providing financing worth €58m (around $62.9m). The project is the largest combined-cycle power generation development in Hungary in decades and underscores CIB’s growing role in financing strategic infrastructure projects while advancing sustainable finance solutions. For Elsewedy Electric, the project marks its first major investment in Europe and represents a significant milestone in the group’s global expansion strategy. Within this framework, CIB is acting as the sole financier for Elsewedy Electric’s share of the project, extending credit facilities valued at nearly €58m. This demonstrates the strength of Egyptian financial institutions and their capacity to support the international growth of national champions.

A suicide bomber killed dozens of people and injured more than 160 during Friday prayers at a Shiite Muslim mosque in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad, authorities said. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack via two posts on its Telegram channel, and included the name and picture of the alleged bomber. An injured man is taken to a hospital following an explosion at a mosque in Islamabad on Friday. A bombing in Islamabad in November, which killed 12, was the deadliest suicide attack to rock the city in nearly two decades. “It was a horrible scene of my life which I could never have imagined,” 24-year-old Shoaib told CNN from PIMS Hospital Islamabad, where he was visiting his wounded cousin.

Yet amid a new Iran crisis, it’s getting harder to see how he emerges with the kind of crisp, easy win that he craves. In his second, he sent US stealth bombers on a daring round-the-world trip to pulverize Iran’s nuclear sites. Why Iran is especially vulnerableIn this photo obtained by The Associated Press, Iranians attend an anti-government protest in Tehran, Iran, on January 9, 2026. “I think if you look at his own precedent on three major occasions, he rolled the dice with Iran in 2018 — he left the nuclear deal. But it’s hard to see any deal that the president will offer Iran that it will be prepared to accept — and vice versa.

This regional consensus appears cautiously optimistic, provided that the Peace Council’s framework remains tethered to a sovereign Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders. Both leaders emphasised that while the Peace Council offers a new mechanism, the ultimate goal must remain a comprehensive political settlement that addresses the root causes of the conflict. The Israeli Factor and the 18 February PreludeThe timing of the Washington summit is surgically precise, with a critical precursor scheduled just twenty-four hours earlier. These points remain contentious within Netanyahu’s own cabinet, and the outcome of the 18 February meeting will likely dictate the tone of the broader Peace Council assembly the following day. The Peace Council’s success hinges on its ability to turn billion-dollar membership fees into the roads, schools, and hospitals of a reconstructed Gaza.

Banks and mortgage finance companies participating in Egypt’s low- and middle-income mortgage initiatives have injected total financing of EGP 99.547bn, benefiting around 683,296 people as of January 2026, according to the Social Housing and Mortgage Finance Fund. Middle-income mortgage initiativeUnder the middle-income mortgage initiative, 11 banks injected EGP 4.617bn in financing for around 12,790 beneficiaries by the end of January 2026. Bank NXT provided EGP 105.919m for 256 beneficiaries, followed by the United Bank with EGP 46.112m for 125 beneficiaries. Tamweel provided EGP 50.391m for 453 beneficiaries, while Egyptian Mortgage Finance injected EGP 43.042m for 429 beneficiaries. Al Ahly United provided EGP 19.973m for 200 beneficiaries, followed by Arab African International Mortgage with EGP 12.211m for 109 beneficiaries.

President Donald Trump said the United States had “very good talks” with Iran after delegations from both countries participated in indirect discussions in Oman Friday. Friday’s meetings in the Gulf Arab state of were the first round of negotiations between the two sides since the US and Israel struck the Islamic Republic last summer. Those talks effectively came to an end after Israel struck Iranian nuclear and military sites in mid-June, after which the US struck three Iranian nuclear facilities. Albusaidi then conveyed the plan to the US delegation led by Witkoff, and the American response will be delivered to the Iranian side during the talks, Iranian media added. When US bombers struck Iranian nuclear facilities in the summer, Iran launched an unprecedented missile strike in Qatar, targeting al-Udeid Air Base, the largest US military installation in the Middle East.

On the plush, cabin-lit interior of Air Force One on Friday night, President Donald Trump struck a rare chord of cautious optimism. For Tehran, domestic enrichment is a matter of national sovereignty; for Washington, it is a “red line” that signifies a latent nuclear weapons capability. Araghchi was explicit in his post-meeting briefing, stating that Tehran would only discuss the nuclear file. President Trump authorised the imposition of tariffs—potentially as high as 25%—on any nation that continues to purchase goods or services from Iran. President Trump’s dual-track strategy—offering a seat at the table while moving a carrier strike group into the Arabian Sea—has forced Tehran into a corner.

Egypt launched its first national “Startup Charter” on Saturday, seeking to mobilise $1bn in financing over five years and create approximately 500,000 direct and indirect job opportunities. “Egypt’s Startup Charter is not merely a theoretical document, but rather a flexible, executable tool that evolves continuously,” Al-Mashat said, noting it serves as a foundation for updating legislation to match technological shifts. A central pillar of the charter is the issuance of the first officially approved unified definition of startups. The charter also introduces a “Startup Scale-Up Empowerment Programme” aimed at mature startups. Speaking at the 13th annual RiseUp Summit at the Grand Egyptian Museum, Madbouly described the charter as an executive tool to transition Egypt toward a knowledge-based economy.

A member of the National Council for Human Rights in Egypt, Saeed Abdel-Hafez on Friday criticized remarks by the head of the Communications Committee in the House of Representatives, Ahmed Badawy, regarding internet packages. Badawy urged citizens with heavy video watching habits to mind their data allowance, as they tend to deplete their data in record time. However, Abdel-Hafez said that this argument was weak and unbecoming of the constitutional and legal responsibility borne by a member of parliament. Blaming citizens for consuming too much data is a simplistic and superficial justification, he stressed. Internet speeds in Egypt are “extremely high,” he assured, noting that the coming period will witness further improvements in internet services and infrastructure in general.

The Spokesperson for the Ministry of Religious Endowments in Egypt Osama Raslan on Friday shot down claims of an alleged ban on broadcasting the Quran for Maghrib and Fajr prayers via external loudspeakers in mosques during Ramadan. During a phone interview on the program “al-Hekaya”, Raslan said that the regulations governing the use of external loudspeakers in mosques during Ramadan remain unchanged and have been in place for years. These regulations prohibit the use of external loudspeakers outside of the times for the Adhan (call to prayer) and Iqamah (second call to prayer), he noted. Raslan explained that the Taraweeh prayers in mosques will be broadcast using internal, not external, loudspeakers, which will be sufficient and audible to those praying in the mosque’s courtyard. External loudspeakers have been a source of competition at times, he noted, especially when mosques were under the control of certain groups.

The Israeli army has continued violating the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, coinciding with ongoing escalation of fighting in the north and south amidst a backdrop of political turmoil in Israel. The Israeli army renewed its artillery bombardment of the eastern areas of Khan Yunis city in the southern Gaza Strip. Later, the Israeli army radio reported that forces targeted a residential building in the southern Gaza Strip, claiming it was in response to gunfire directed at its soldiers in northern Gaza. The Israeli army also carried out demolition operations and airstrikes within its controlled areas east of Khan Younis. The poll also revealed that 65 percent of Israelis believe Hamas will continue to govern Gaza Strip, either fully or partially, despite the ongoing war.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty held high-level discussions with his Omani counterpart and the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on the Iranian nuclear file, following a new round of indirect negotiations between Washington and Tehran. In a telephone call on Friday evening, Omani Foreign Minister Badr Al-Busaidi briefed Abdelatty on the progress of talks held in Muscat. The Egyptian minister emphasised the need for continued international and regional efforts to lower tensions and prioritise diplomatic solutions. He noted that Egypt remains committed to intensive contacts to reach settlements that bolster regional and international security. The Iranian delegation was led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, while the US was represented by Special Envoy Steve Witkoff.

Disney and 20th Century Studios have officially pulled back the curtain on the sequel to the 2006 cultural touchstone, releasing a first-look trailer and setting a global premiere for May 1, 2026. Set in 2026, the narrative pivots to a high-stakes professional collision between Miranda Priestly and her former protégé, Emily Charlton. Director David Frankel noted that the sequel is an evolution rather than a retread. “We wanted to honor the original’s soul while exploring how these characters have matured over two decades,” Frankel stated. Describing the return to set as “profoundly emotional,” she noted that the shared history between the cast made the comeback feel inevitable.

The Egyptian Cabinet has dismissed reports regarding the permanent removal of Alexandria’s iconic Ramleh Tram, clarifying that the line is undergoing a comprehensive rehabilitation and modernization effort rather than a shutdown. The Ministry of Transport’s overhaul aims to modernize the aging infrastructure, which had previously led to declining ridership and increased urban congestion. Increased frequency: Reducing waiting times (headway) from 9 minutes to just 3 minutes. Strategic integration: The modernized tram will serve as a backbone for Alexandria’s Green Sustainable Transport strategy. It is designed to integrate seamlessly with the Alexandria Metro at the Victoria and Sidi Gaber stations, creating a unified transit network.

According to the EMA, Friday will see cold conditions in the early morning and at night, transitioning to warm temperatures during the day. In the capital, Greater Cairo is expected to record a high of 25°C and a low of 16°C. Dense morning fog: Water vapor and fog will reduce visibility on roads leading to and from Northern Egypt, Greater Cairo, and the Suez Canal cities between 4:00 AM and 9:00 AM. Light precipitation: There is a possibility of light rain across the North Coast and Sinai, with a marginal chance of isolated showers reaching Greater Cairo. Meanwhile, the Mediterranean Sea will remain moderate (1.5–2m waves), and the Red Sea will see light-to-moderate conditions (1–1.5m waves).