Five people were killed and 21 others injured following an explosion at the Imam Ali bin Abi Talib Mosque in the Wadi al-Dahab neighborhood of Homs, according to the Syrian state news agency, SANA. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the blast triggered widespread panic among local residents. The exact nature of the explosion remains unclear, with authorities yet to determine whether it was the result of a suicide attack or an improvised explosive device (IED). Sources indicate that ambulances rushed to the scene as security forces fired warning shots into the air to secure the perimeter. Following the blast, residents of Homs and the Wadi al-Dahab district issued urgent calls for motorists to head to the mosque immediately to assist in transporting the wounded to nearby hospitals.

The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC) in Fustat has unveiled Soul and Love, a poignant temporary exhibition within the Egyptian Textiles Hall. Curated in collaboration with the Coptic Museum in Cairo, this two-month showcase celebrates the Christmas season and the dawn of the New Year, weaving together threads of art, faith, and history. The artistic focusWhat truly sets this exhibition apart is its focus on the Virgin Mary, a choice that carries profound spiritual and intellectual weight. The showcase includes:Sacred icons and manuscripts: Rare pieces that once graced the halls of ancient monasteries and churches. The Nursing Madonna: A rare stone carving depicting the Virgin Mary nursing the infant Christ—a powerful symbol of maternal tenderness and artistic richness.

The death toll from the Imbaba building collapse has risen to nine after Egyptian civil defense teams recovered the body of a young girl from the debris. Following three days of intensive search and rescue operations in the Giza district, the final count stands at nine fatalities and 15 injuries. Authorities had been racing against time, using specialized detection equipment to scan the ruins of the five-story structure for survivors before the recovery of the latest victim.

The Egyptian Cabinet has approved a draft law amending several provisions of the Traffic Law (No. The amendments aim to toughen penalties for specific traffic offenses to enhance public deterrence and reduce road accidents. Under the amended Article 72 (bis 2), drivers face fines ranging from LE 5,000 to LE 15,000 for violations that threaten public safety or the environment. Environmental violations: Operating vehicles that emit heavy smoke, foul odors, or exhaust that violates environmental standards. Road damage: Carrying loads that damage the road surface or pose a danger to other commuters.

Meteorological authorities released the latest weather forecast and temperatures for Cairo and the provinces on Friday, predicting warm conditions during the day and extreme cold at night. Cairo is expected to reach a high of 21°C, while the overnight low will settle at 12°C. The weather bureau warned of a drop in temperatures across all regions during the night hours, which may lead to a sensation of biting cold. Furthermore, current weather maps indicate the formation of dense fog during the late night and early morning hours, potentially reaching visibility-limiting levels on certain roads. This phenomenon is expected to reduce horizontal visibility, particularly on highways leading to and from Greater Cairo and Northern Upper Egypt.

The acting Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa attends a morning Mass at Saint Catherine’s Church in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem on Thursday. Mussa Qawasma/Reuters

Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty has directed Egyptian embassies to intensify their efforts to repatriate Egyptian artifacts that were smuggled or illegally transported abroad. This directive was issued during a meeting between the Foreign Minister and officials from the Ministry’s Cultural Department, according to a statement released by the Foreign Ministry. Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Sherif Fathy, previously revealed that Egypt has successfully recovered approximately 30,000 artifacts over the past decade through legal and diplomatic channels. Egypt’s recent diplomatic push is part of a sophisticated, multi-year strategy to protect its cultural identity. Three key pillars of Egypt’s efforts:

Renowned actor and director Mohammad Bakri died Wednesday at the age of 72, according to his family. “With profound sorrow and grief, we announce the passing of our beloved father, the actor Mohammed Bakri,” his son Saleh, also an actor, wrote on Instagram. Bakri, a Palestinian citizen of Israel, began his career in the 1980s, performing in both Arabic and Hebrew in Palestinian and Israeli theaters and productions. Since then, Bakri performed in dozens of films, including the 1984 Israeli film ‘Beyond the Walls’ directed by Uri Barbash. The film drew a lot of controversy in Israel and was quickly banned by the Israeli Film Board from being screened.

The Egyptian Cabinet’s Media Center has responded to circulating claims regarding reports of counterfeit breast cancer medications in the local market. Whenever counterfeit batches are detected in any country, the company issues a general circular to all its operating markets as a precautionary measure. The statement noted that while the company identified several counterfeit units in a specific country and issued a global alert, this does not necessarily imply that the suspect batches have entered all markets. The Center further highlighted that the EDA had already issued an educational bulletin in June—supported by visual aids—regarding this medication. Finally, the EDA emphasized that its inspectors have not detected any counterfeit units of this drug within Egypt to date.

Conditions are expected to be bitterly cold in the early morning, turning mild during the day, and returning to extremely cold at night across most regions. In a statement posted on their official Facebook page, the EMA added that Thursday will see misty weather which may become dense at certain times. This mist is expected from the late night hours until 9:00 am on roads leading to and from Northern Egypt, Greater Cairo, Northern Upper Egypt, and Central Sinai, reducing horizontal visibility in certain areas. Weather maps also indicate a slight chance of light scattered showers along parts of the North Coast and Northern Lower Egypt. Additionally, low-level clouds are expected over Northern Egypt, Greater Cairo, the Canal Cities, and Central Sinai, which may produce a light, insignificant drizzle in some areas.

Madinet Masr has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Forward Contractors to execute construction works worth EGP 1.45bn at Sarai, the company’s mixed-use development in East Cairo. The partnership forms part of Madinet Masr’s growth strategy to expand its residential offerings, develop its land portfolio and accelerate project delivery while adhering to the latest sustainable urban development standards. Under the agreement, Forward Contractors will carry out the construction of 95 residential villas in the Rai project within Sarai, with completion scheduled by the end of 2027. President and CEO of Madinet Masr Abdallah Sallam said the partnership represents an important step in accelerating construction across the company’s projects by collaborating with experienced contractors. Chairperson and CEO of Forward Contractors Mohamed El-Gendy said the company’s experience in delivering high-end residential developments would help ensure quality execution and timely delivery.

Egypt’s engineering exports maintained strong momentum in 2025, reaching a record $5.93bn during the first 11 months of the year—the highest level ever recorded—according to the Engineering Export Council of Egypt (EEC). The council said engineering exports grew by 13.9% year-on-year between January and November 2025, up from $5.20bn during the same period in 2024, highlighting the sector’s resilience and expanding presence in global markets despite ongoing international challenges. Exports recorded a particularly strong performance in November 2025, surging by 35.4% year-on-year to $621.3m, compared with $458.5m in November 2024, the EEC noted. Commenting on the results, EEC Chairperson Sherif El-Sayad said the growth was driven by robust performance across several key sectors. He added that Egyptian engineering exports recorded notable growth across multiple international markets, particularly in Europe, Arab countries, Asia, Africa, and the United States, reflecting successful efforts to diversify export destinations and expand the global footprint of Egyptian engineering products.

Egypt’s Acting Minister of Environment Manal Awad on Wednesday announced the official launch of the Sharm El-Sheikh Sustainable Development Strategy (SESSDS), aimed at supporting the Red Sea resort city’s transition into a green, resilient and sustainable destination. The strategy was launched in cooperation with South Sinai Governorate and the Green Sharm El-Sheikh project under the environment ministry, with the participation of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), according to an official statement. Awad said the strategy provides a unified, long-term framework to guide sustainable development efforts in Sharm El-Sheikh, building on existing initiatives while setting clear strategic objectives. She noted that the strategy was developed through a participatory planning process involving national and local stakeholders. She added that a series of technical consultations and stakeholder workshops helped shape the strategy’s vision, pillars and targets, describing its launch as a decisive step towards positioning Sharm El-Sheikh as a regional model for sustainable cities by translating high-level commitments into practical, long-term development pathways.

Egypt’s Agricultural Research Centre has secured second place in the Middle East and North Africa in the 2025 Scimago regional rankings for research centres, the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation said on Wednesday. Alaa Farouk, Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, said the achievement reflects the “increasing research performance” of the centre. The Scimago ranking is a composite indicator based on three main criteria: research performance, innovation using Scopus data, and societal impact. Adel Abdel Azim, President of Egypt’s Agricultural Research Centre, said the centre’s advancement to second place regionally is the result of “diligent work” by scientists across various research institutes and laboratories. He noted that the centre’s current strategy focuses on transforming scientific research into “tangible reality” to serve sustainable development goals.

Egypt’s Minister of Health and Population, Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, met with Magdy Hassan, head of the General Syndicate of Veterinarians, to discuss several shared priorities, including professional training, proposed amendments to the veterinary practice law, and challenges facing the veterinary medicines market, the ministry said on Wednesday. He emphasized, however, that therapeutic nutrition constitutes a medical practice and therefore requires an appropriate professional license. The meeting also addressed potential revisions to provisions of the veterinary practice law, with the minister affirming the ministry’s support for the syndicate’s efforts in this regard, according to the statement. Additionally, both sides reviewed obstacles affecting Egypt’s veterinary pharmaceuticals market. The minister instructed that necessary support be extended to the syndicate within the framework of the “One Health” approach, which integrates human, animal, and environmental health considerations.