Russia, Egypt discuss expanding direct flights to tourist resorts
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced that Russia and Egypt are in talks to expand direct air traffic between the two countries, particularly flights to Egyptian tourist resorts. Speaking at a joint press conference with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty on Friday, Lavrov said that Egyptian resorts have been among the most popular tourist destinations for Russian citizens for many years. He confirmed that work is currently underway to increase the number of direct flights between Russia and tourist destinations in Egypt. RT reported on Friday that these discussions come to help strengthen bilateral relations between Moscow and Cairo, particularly in the areas of tourism and air transport, as Russian tourism represents a significant contributor to the Egyptian tourism sector. This approach also reflects a shared desire to revitalize travel and support economic and tourism exchange in the coming period.
Source:Egypt Independent
December 20, 2025 10:19 UTC
State Information Service rules out any plans for meeting between Sisi and Netanyahu
The head of Egypt’s State Information Service, Diaa Rashwan, denied any plans for an imminent meeting between President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The politicization of the gas deal with Israel is being carried out by the Israeli side, led by Netanyahu, Rashwan said. He noted that no Egyptian official had spoken about the deal, unlike in Israel where the highest political levels are discussing it. Netanyahu is seeking a way out of his current political isolation, which is driving him to try to politicize this issue, he explained. Egypt cannot be pressured in any way through the gas deal, he added, pointing out that during the years of Gaza war, Egypt maintained its position without budging a single inch.
Source:Egypt Independent
December 20, 2025 10:19 UTC
Mediterranean veterinary heads select Egypt to lead regional health network
Egypt has been unanimously elected to hold the co-presidency of the Mediterranean Animal Health Network (REMESA) for 2026 and will host the organisation’s annual conference in December of that year. According to a statement from the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, the selection follows regional assessment of Egypt’s role in animal health and regional cooperation. Hamed El-Aqans, Chairperson of the General Organisation for Veterinary Services, stated during the meeting that Egypt is committed to the “One Health” approach to address transboundary diseases. The chairman emphasised the role of the network in coordinating regional responses and facilitating the exchange of information and expertise between member states. The Mediterranean Animal Health Network was established in 2009 to improve animal health and coordinate the surveillance and control of transboundary animal diseases.
Source:Daily News Egypt
December 19, 2025 16:52 UTC
The $901 Billion Anchor: How a Silent Signature Locked America into Europe
The act does more than just purchase ships and missiles; it asserts a minimum threshold for American power in Europe and Asia that the President cannot easily ignore. The European “Floor”The most significant constraint within the fiscal 2026 legislation is a strict prohibition on reducing U.S. troop levels in Europe. These provisions represent a direct challenge to Trump’s long-standing criticism of European allies, whom he has accused of benefiting from American military superiority without meeting their own spending obligations. The strike, which targeted survivors of an initial hit on a suspected drug-smuggling vessel, has sparked intense debate in Washington. While the President’s team pursues a diplomatic breakthrough in Miami, the $901bn act ensures that the American military machine remains anchored to its traditional bases.
Source:Daily News Egypt
December 19, 2025 16:48 UTC
Egyptian non-oil exports rise 18% to $44.39bn through November 2025
Egypt’s non-oil exports increased by 18 per cent to reach $44.392bn during the first 11 months of 2025, compared with $37.544bn during the same period in 2024. During the same period, Egyptian imports recorded a 4 per cent increase, totalling $74.738bn compared with $71.965bn in 2024. The United Arab Emirates emerged as the primary destination for Egyptian non-oil exports, with trade value reaching$6.580bn between January and November 2025. Italy saw a 29 per cent increase in Egyptian exports to $2.552bn, and the United States recorded a 21 per cent rise to $2.470bn. Furnishings recorded a 2 per cent increase to $573m, while leather and footwear products rose 3 per cent to $94m.
Source:Daily News Egypt
December 19, 2025 16:48 UTC
Egypt launches drone programme to monitor Nile and boost smart water management
Egypt has launched the first phase of a training programme to deploy drone technology for monitoring the national water system, Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Hani Sewilam said in a report on Thursday. The initiative is part of the ministry’s strategy to adopt modern technology and support digital transformation and “smart management” of water resources under the “Water 2.0” framework. The ministry plans to utilise drones to detect encroachments on the River Nile and other waterways to ensure unimpeded water flow. Furthermore, the drones will assist in monitoring flood protection structures, assessing water quality, supporting smartirrigation applications, and identifying crop patterns. Sewilam noted that the production of high-resolution digital maps and models from drone data would facilitate data-driven decisions and support the optimal use of water resources in line with Egypt’s 2050 Water Resources Strategy.
Source:Daily News Egypt
December 19, 2025 16:48 UTC
Trump expresses keen interest in hosting Sisi at the White House
US President Donald Trump affirmed his close relationship with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, describing him as a “friend” and expressing a keen desire to host him at the White House in the near future. In press statements reported by Al-Qahera News, Trump noted that while a specific date for a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has yet to be finalized, the latter has expressed a strong interest in a visit. Trump further clarified that any such meeting with the Israeli Prime Minister would likely take place at his Florida residence. These diplomatic developments follow a historic international summit hosted in the city of Sharm El-Sheikh. The summit culminated in the signing of the Gaza Agreement between Trump and Sisi, a landmark accord aimed at de-escalating the conflict in the Strip and establishing a political framework to resolve the long-standing regional crisis.
Source:Egypt Independent
December 19, 2025 16:22 UTC
From Miami Sands to Brussels Boardrooms: The High-Stakes Gambit for Ukraine’s Future
In Moscow, President Vladimir Putin is projecting a position of strength, insisting his forces hold the “strategic initiative” across the entire front line. Meanwhile, in Brussels, European leaders are locked in what has been described as a “last chance” summit to prevent Ukraine’s economy from collapsing under the weight of a looming €71.7bn budget deficit. The Miami ConnectionKirill Dmitriev, an envoy for President Putin, is expected to arrive in Miami on Sunday for talks with US President-elect Donald Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, and his advisor and son-in-law, Jared Kushner. “I will not leave the Council without a solution for Ukraine’s financing,” she told reporters as she arrived in Brussels. It is a phrase intended to reassure Kyiv that even if Washington pursues a separate peace, Brussels will not retreat.
Source:Daily News Egypt
December 19, 2025 16:21 UTC
Dropping temperatures and dense fog expected nationwide on Friday
According to an official statement released on the EMA’s Facebook page, the weather on Friday will be bitterly cold in the early morning and at night, while daytime temperatures are expected to remain moderate. Cairo is expected to see a daytime high of 22°C and a nighttime low of 12°C. Forecasters are warning of dense morning fog (water mist) between 3:00 AM and 9:00 AM. This fog is expected to affect visibility on major roads across Northern Egypt, Greater Cairo, Central Sinai and Northern Upper Egypt. Additionally, low cloud cover is expected over the North, Greater Cairo, the Suez Canal cities, and Central Sinai.
Source:Egypt Independent
December 19, 2025 16:17 UTC
Former envoy to Sudan warns “war enters a decisive turning point”
Ambassador Hossam Issa, Egypt’s former envoy to Sudan, stated that the war has entered a “decisive phase” that will fundamentally shape the future of the conflict. Speaking on the program Aan Orb ma3 Amal al-Hanaawy (Close Up with Amal Al-Hanawy)on Al-Qahera News, Issa explained that Sudan is currently divided between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Issa added that the conflict is now concentrated in the Kordofan region, which serves as a strategic buffer between the two forces’ areas of influence. Since then, the momentum has shifted toward the strategic Kordofan region, where intense battles for the Heglig oilfields and key military headquarters are occurring. On the humanitarian front, Sudan is now the site of the world’s most severe protection crisis, with over 13 million people displaced and famine confirmed in several areas, including Darfur and parts of Kordofan.
Source:Egypt Independent
December 19, 2025 16:07 UTC
Majid Al Futtaim, TMG inagurate a new Carrefour at Celia in New Administrative Capital
A new 1,600-square-metre Carrefour store has opened in the “The Village” commercial and entertainment area within the Celia project in the New Administrative Capital, marking the latest collaboration between Talaat Moustafa Group (TMG) and Majid Al Futtaim. The opening ceremony was attended by Omar Hisham Talaat, Chief Business Development Officer at TMG, and Mohamed Khafaja, Regional Director of Majid Al Futtaim Retail in Egypt, alongside senior officials from both companies. The move reflects TMG’s commitment to providing high-quality services to meet the increasing occupancy rates in the New Administrative Capital. The Celia ProjectCelia is described as the largest integrated services project implemented by the private sector in the New Administrative Capital. According to TMG, the project is the first residential development in the new capital to be fully “pulsating with life,” featuring comprehensive commercial, medical, sporting, and transport services.
Source:Daily News Egypt
December 19, 2025 15:11 UTC
Cairo and Beirut seek deeper economic integration through private sector and infrastructure projects
Cairo and Beirut seek deeper economic integration through private sector and infrastructure projects, according to Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, as the two nations move to expand a bilateral trade relationship that surpassed $1bn in 2024. He emphasised that Egyptian products are ready to meet Lebanese market demands, which would simultaneously boost bilateral trade volumes. In the energy sector, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mahmoud Esmat discussed co-operation in developing electrical infrastructure and localising components for renewable energy stations. Joseph al-Sada, the Lebanese Minister of Energy and Water, confirmed that continuous communication is maintained between the ministries to activate these natural gas and renewable energy projects. This aligns with Prime Minister Salam’s confirmation of Lebanon’s commitment to economic reform and the centralisation of state authority to ensure a stable investment climate.
Source:Daily News Egypt
December 19, 2025 14:32 UTC
Egypt demands ‘immediate’ Israeli withdrawal from all Lebanese territory
Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly on Friday demanded the “immediate and unconditional” withdrawal of Israeli forces from all Lebanese territories, affirming Cairo’s total support for the Lebanese government’s efforts to extend state authority across the country. He praised the steps taken by the Lebanese government to restore the effectiveness of state institutions, primarily the Lebanese Army, to secure civil peace and national stability. Lebanese Prime Minister Salam described the relationship between the two nations as a “shared history” rather than a mere exchange of interests. Salam also noted Madbouly’s interest in meeting economic bodies to bolster cooperation between the Egyptian and Lebanese private sectors. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, receiving Madbouly at the Baabda Palace, expressed his appreciation for President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi’s commitment to Lebanon’s security and progress.
Source:Daily News Egypt
December 19, 2025 14:18 UTC
Egyptian-built dam in Tanzania is model for Nile cooperation, says Foreign Minister
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty described the Julius Nyerere Dam, built by a consortium of Egyptian companies, as a model for cooperation between Nile Basin countries during a meeting with his Tanzanian counterpart on Thursday. He called for a return to “the spirit of consensus and brotherhood” to restore inclusivity within the Nile Basin Initiative, while explicitly rejecting unilateral actions in the Eastern Nile. He welcomed recent consultative steps by the Nile Basin Initiative’s Ministerial Council to protect the interests of all basin states in accordance with international law. Minister Kombo expressed his appreciation for Egypt’s efforts in constructing the Julius Nyerere Dam, calling it a milestone in Tanzania’s development. The meeting was held in the presence of Tanzania’s Minister of Information, Culture, Arts and Sports, Palamagamba Kabudi.
Source:Daily News Egypt
December 19, 2025 14:16 UTC
Foreign troop withdrawal from Libya, Sudan ceasefire urged by Egypt and Algeria
Foreign forces and mercenaries must withdraw from Libya and a comprehensive ceasefire should be established in Sudan, the foreign ministers of Egypt and Algeria said on Friday during a high-level meeting. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf reaffirmed their support for a”Libyan-Libyan” solution to the crisis, according to Egyptian foreign ministry spokesperson Tamim Khallaf. The ministers highlighted the necessity of activating the tripartite mechanism involving Egypt, Algeria, and Tunisia to unify Libyan institutions and facilitate simultaneous presidential and parliamentary elections. On the Sudanese conflict, Abdelatty confirmed that coordination continues within the “quadrilateral mechanism” to reach a comprehensive ceasefire. Regarding the African continent, the two ministers agreed to enhance coordination within various African frameworks to promote stability and development.
Source:Daily News Egypt
December 19, 2025 14:14 UTC