The “Doomsday” coronavirus variant has sparked panic after it infected about 250 million people during the month of December in China. Al-Masry Al-Youm published all the details related to the new variant of coronavirus, which was named Doomsday as a result of its rapid spread. The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention believes that 18 percent of the population has been infected with the Doomsday variant. The newspaper added that nearly a million people are expected to die in China due to the Doomsday variant in the coming months. Doomsday is a new variant of the coronavirus which broke out in Wuhan, China, in late 2019, and led to worldwide closures later to curb its spread.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi spoke about the importance of introducing the personal status law for societal dialogue during the coming period. Sisi called on the Egyptian Minister of Justice, Omar Marawan, to talk about the latest developments in the amendments to the law, and to conduct societal dialogue. Sisi spoke about creating a “family to be a source of spending to children in cases of disagreement between parents. Whoever is able to hold a wedding can pay that amount, which is not a lot,” he added. The Minister of Justice said that all segments of society will be invited to discuss the draft personal status law, and it will be presented to the House of Representatives, the Senate, and the cabinet as soon as it is completed.

CAIRO – 26 December 2022: Chairman of the National Service Projects Organization Major-General Walid Hassan Abou El Magd stated Monday that six plants for the production of nitrogenous fertilizers will be inaugurated in Ain Sokhna soon. Abou El Magd added that another for the manufacturing of chlorine and caustic soda is also under construction in Giza's Abou Rawash industrial zone. The official pointed out that the organization's El Nasr Company for Intermediate Chemicals – founded in 1972 – owns now 39 plants operating in the sectors of chemicals and phosphatic fertilizers. That is because 13 additional plants were built over the past eight years. Abou El Magd's statements came on the sidelines of the inauguration of new plants that produce medical and industrial gases in Abou Rawash Chemicals Complex.

CAIRO – 26 December 2022: Minister of Health and Population Khaled Abdel Ghaffar discussed Monday with the officials of the National Council for Population the creation of records for females to document their health, educational, and professional statuses since birth with the aim of providing adequate services and support. The meeting's recommendations also included teaching information on reproductive health at schools starting the next academic year. That is in addition to speeding up the activation of laws that criminalize child marriage, child labor, not registering newborns, and schooling deprivation. Moreover, Minister Abdel Ghaffar also recommended the unification of material communicated at family planning lectures held nationwide. He also urged following up on the accomplishment of the targets of such campaigns at various governorates.

An Egyptian delegation visited Tanzania to witness the start of reservoir filling in the Julius Nyerere Dam and Hydroelectric Plant, which is being built by an Egyptian alliance of Arab Contractors and Elsewedy Electric. The dam is considered the largest development project in Tanzania. The meeting also addressed the progress of development projects in the New Administrative Capital, especially the residential neighbourhoods, the financial and business district, squares, axes, and the Green River area. Al-Sisi stressed that the project must be consistent with the character and unique spiritual value of that sacred spot in Egypt. He also presented the New Urban Communities Authority’s vision for developing its land allocation mechanism in the next 10 years.

The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) extended on Sunday its initiative to support companies operating in the tourism sector for additional three months, ending in March 2023. The initiative, which allows companies to obtain loans with a decreasing 8% interest rate, within which the banks will accept the beneficiaries’ requests to delay dues repayment to the banks. The CBE also extended the retail loan initiative for workers in the tourism sector to March 2023. Those initiatives covered by the decision included the mortgage finance initiatives for low and middle-income people, the tourism support initiative, the obsolete vehicle replacement initiative, and the modern irrigation initiative. The decision did not include other initiatives for the private sector, industry, and small and medium enterprises.

Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa has issued Royal Decree No. 68 of 2022 forming the cabinet, state news agency BNA reported Monday. Under Article 1 of the decree, Shaikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa is appointed as Deputy Prime Minister. Abdulla bin Hassan Alnoaimi was appointed as Minister of Defense Affairs, Wael bin Nasser Al Mubarak as Minister of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture, Dr Mohammed bin Mubarak bin Daina as Oil and Environment Minister, Mohammed bin Thamer Al Kaabi as Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications, and Ibrahim bin Hassan Al Hawaj as Minister of Works. Under Article 3, the Prime Minister shall implement provisions of this royal decree which takes effect upon its publication in the official Gazette.

CAIRO – 25 December 2022: The Egyptian Railways Authority (ERA) began Sunday the pilot operation of the second Talgo train between Egypt and Alexandria, one day after the first officially entered service and that also operates between the same two cities. The value of the first-class ticket is LE200, while that of the second-class ticket is LE150. Egypt purchased from Talgo six trains in a deal worth €157 million. Each consists of five air-conditioned first-class railcars, eight air-conditioned second-class railcars, caboose, engine, and power car. The trains are made of aluminum, which makes them lighter, and as a result, reduces the consumption of fuel.

The dam has been implemented by The Arab Contractors and Elsewedi Electric at $3 billion. The reservoir's capacity is 34 billion cubic meters, and that of power generation is 2,115 megawatts. The minister also presented the executive status of the New Administrative Capital, and Walk of Egypt established on both banks of the Nile River. That is in addition to the ongoing renovation works of the areas of Cairo Aqueduct, and Maspero Triangle. The goal is providing them with alternative houses in nearby Zohour Mayo City.

Trade Minister Ahmed Samir had talks with senior Saudi officials on means of promoting bilateral ties at the commercial and investment levels. The talks tackled means of benefiting from the great economic potentials of Egypt and Saudi Arabia. During his visit to Saudi Arabia, Samir had intensive talks with Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar bin Sultan Al Saud, Trade Minister Majid bin Abdullah Al Qasabi and other senior officials. Samir discussed with Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar bin Sultan Al Saud means of enhancing industrial and investment cooperation and realizing industrial integration. Samir’s talks with Saudi Trade Minister Majid bin Abdullah Al Qasabi reviewed the importance of promoting joint efforts to boost trade between the two countries.

CAIRO – 25 December 2022: Minister of Transport Kamel al-Wazir stated in a phone-in Saturday that starting January, it would be mandatory for foreigners to pay train tickets in either US dollar or euro. The minister noted that 1,023 passengers had already paid their tickets in such foreign currencies in the past few days, and that most of those tickets were for sleeping trains. Wazir pointed out that the decision would help the ministry pay the installments of the deals signed with international companies to supply new railcars and train engines, renovate signaling systems, and carry out maintenance.

CAIRO – 25 December 2022: The late President Mohamed Anwar El-Sadat was not an ordinary politician, as he was distinguished by several talents that made his great charisma, creating his immortal legend as a hero of war and peace. With his boundless intelligence and great acumen for things, it seems that the talents possessed by him of a battle-crossing man, aided in his unique personal formation. December 25 marks the 104th birth anniversary of late President Mohamed Anwar El-Sadat, as he was born on December 25, 1918. It is what appeared clearly in his elimination of his political opponents in what was known as the Correction Revolution. It seems that part of President Sadat's great charisma, and his talent for giving speech, stemmed from his love for cinema, according to the book "Sadat's Biography and Journey" by writer Mohamed Morshedy Barakat.

Egyptian MP Mohamed Abdullah Zain-Eddin, a member of the House of Representatives, called on his government to take all measures to immediately stop dealing with the US dollar inside Egypt and to only use the Egyptian pound, in light of the on-going global financial crisis. He also called on the government to take all measures to ensure stopping the import of all non-essential goods and products to relieve pressure on the import bill during this difficult economic stage. In a request for briefing Zain-Eddin filed with Parliament Speaker Hanafi al-Gebaly and addressed to Finance Minister Mohamed Maait, Zain-Eddin stressed the need not to import any goods from abroad that have a local equivalent. He said that this matter achieves multiple gains for the national economy, foremost of which is the restoration of the Egyptian pound to its true value, stopping the continuous increase in US dollar prices against the pound, and the decline in many commodity prices. Zain-Eddin asked about the real reasons behind the government’s failure to take the necessary measures to immediately stop trading with US dollars inside Egypt, especially in light of current repercussions on the global economy and the Egyptian economy due to the Russian-Ukrainian war.

Egypt’s Ministry of Health and Population announced the launch of the Knock on Doors campaign to provide family and reproductive health services in Assiut. The campaign was first launched in Fayoum and will continue until the end of March. Hossam Abdel Ghaffar — Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Health and Population — explained that the campaign aims to improve demographic characteristics and support the health and reproductive health of the Egyptian family. It also targets expanding family health services in all governorates to follow up on women and provide services in their homes free of charge. Furthermore, mobile clinics have been provided in residential communities, according to Duaa Mohamed Ali — Head of the Central Administration for Family Planning Services and Means — noting that all family planning methods, especially long-acting methods, are offered free of charge to beneficiaries.

The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced in a press statement recently that in 2022, 431 hotel and tourism facilities and new marine activity centres were opened and operated across Egypt, which created 4,532 new job opportunities. This comes within the framework of the strategic goals of the tourism ministry to increase hotel capacity and tourism activities across Egypt and encourage tourism investment. Mohamed Amer — Head of the Central Administration for Hotel Establishments, Shops, and Tourist Activities — explained that these establishments consist of 24 hotels, 165 restaurants, 12 new hotel management companies, 10 diving centres, 15 activity centres, 23 yacht safari centres, a mountain safari centre, and 181 bazaars. These three axes are increasing the number of airline seats to Egypt by three times, improving the tourism experience, and enhancing the tourism investment climate. Issa also praised the infrastructure that the Egyptian state had built over the last period, stressing that the development that Egypt witnessed in the infrastructure will contribute greatly to the development of the tourism sector and increase investment in the Egyptian tourism sector.