Egypt has proposed establishing a direct flight route between Cairo and Lilongwe and offered to involve Egyptian firms in the rehabilitation of Malawi’s Kamuzu International Airport, Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said on Saturday. In a meeting with Malawian Foreign Minister George Chaponda on the sidelines of the Russian-African Ministerial Forum, Abdelatty discussed boosting economic cooperation through a potential trade mechanism to exchange Egyptian fertilisers for Malawian commodities. Abdelatty, who congratulated Chaponda on his October 2025 appointment, emphasised Egypt’s commitment to supporting the new Malawian government’s development plans. He noted that Malawi’s decision to open its mining sector to foreign investment provides a significant opening for enhanced bilateral cooperation. He further expressed Egypt’s intent to provide high-quality, competitively priced pharmaceutical products to Malawi and promote Egypt as a destination for medical tourism.

Reuters —Bangladesh was rocked by violent protests in several cities after the death of youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi late Thursday, with concerns of further unrest ahead of national elections. Activists block an intersection in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on December 15, 2025, demanding the arrest of those responsible for the attack on Sharif Osman Hadi. The country’s national election is scheduled for February 12. Violence was also reported in several other cities across Bangladesh, including the port city of Chittagong. The unrest follows fresh anti-India protests earlier in the week, with ties between the neighbors deteriorating since Hasina fled to Delhi.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi met on Sunday with Masrour Barzani, Prime Minister of Iraq’s Kurdistan Region, to discuss reinforcing Iraq’s unity and expanding bilateral economic cooperation, according to a presidential statement. During the meeting, Al-Sisi reiterated Egypt’s full support for Iraq’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and praised security coordination between Egyptian and Iraqi institutions. He also commended ongoing efforts by Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government to enhance stability across the country, presidential spokesperson Mohamed El-Shennawy said. Barzani expressed appreciation for Egypt’s role in supporting Iraq and contributing to regional stability, noting the Kurdistan Regional Government’s interest in deepening cooperation with Egyptian state institutions. Discussions also focused on strengthening economic ties between Egypt and Iraq, including the Kurdistan Region.

CAIRO, Dec 20 (MENA) – Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates Badr Abdelatty said the partnership between Russia and Africa serves as a model for cooperation based on shared interests. Abdelatty’s remarks came at a joint news conference held Saturday with Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov at the conclusion of the 2nd ministerial conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum in Cairo. Abdelatty welcomed the Russian diplomat and all African ministers who participated in the conference Egypt hosted as part of its key role in this partnership, especially after President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin co-chaired the first Russia-Africa Summit in Sochi.

Public Prosecutor Mohamed Shawky Ayad, issued a decision on Saturday to remove political activist Alaa Ahmed Seif al-Islam Abdel-Fattah, also known as Alaa Abdel-Fattah, from travel ban lists, based on a request submitted by his defense team. This legal procedure entails the cancellation of the travel ban, the lifting of the asset freeze, and the termination of restrictions related to issuing or renewing passports, which are legal consequences of inclusion on those lists. This came weeks after a presidential pardon was issued for Abdel-Fattah on September 22, as part of a broader pardon that included a number of prisoners held in connection with various cases. He was released the day after the pardon was issued. Abdel-Fattah’s lawyer, Khaled Ali, considered the decision to remove his client’s name from the travel ban list a significant legal development in his case.

The Egyptian Cabinet’s Media Center responded on Saturday to a widely circulated video on social media alleging that a flight exceeded its passenger capacity. In a statement, the center reported the Ministry of Civil Aviation as saying that the flight shown in the video did not depart from Cairo International Airport, but rather arrived from another country and was not operated by any Egyptian airline. The Media Center indicated that the video was immediately reviewed by the relevant departments within the ministry to verify its claims and ascertain all the technical and operational details related to the flight in question, in accordance with established procedures and regulations. It affirmed that any violation of these regulations constitutes a serious breach warranting immediate investigation and the application of deterrent legal measures if proven. The statement urged social media users to carefully check the accuracy of any information regarding the civil aviation sector before sharing it, and to rely on official statements issued by the competent authorities in order to avoid public confusion.

Egypt’s Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of Industry and Transport, Kamel Al-Wazir, held high-level talks with Tanzanian officials on launching joint strategic projects in the transport and industrial sectors, underscoring the deepening partnership between the two countries. Al-Wazir met with Tanzanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mahmoud Thabit Kombo and Minister of Information, Culture and Sports Professor Yalamma Gamba John Kabudi, in the presence of senior officials from Egypt’s ministries of industry, transport, and foreign affairs. Both sides also explored the reciprocal establishment of logistics zones—one for Egypt in Tanzania and another for Tanzania in Egypt—modeled on Egypt’s successful experience with Rwanda. He affirmed their readiness to implement projects in Tanzania to the highest quality standards, within short timelines, and at competitive costs. For his part, Tanzanian Foreign Minister Mahmoud Thabit Kombo expressed appreciation for Egypt’s role in advancing bilateral cooperation, praising Egyptian expertise in industry, transport, infrastructure, and agriculture.

Egypt’s Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly has announced the implementation of advanced operating systems at Cairo International Airport, following strict instructions from President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi to integrate the latest navigation and ground operation technologies. The Prime Minister conducted the tour immediately upon his return from Beirut, Lebanon, accompanied by the Minister of Civil Aviation, Sameh El-Hefny, and the Chairperson of the Cairo Airport Company, Magdy Ishak. Mohamed Moussa, head of the Central Administration of Cairo Airport Customs, provided a briefing on current operational workflows in the area. Minister of Civil Aviation Sameh El-Hefny said the ministry’s vision aims to strengthen Cairo International Airport’s position as a regional hub. The visit concluded at the Cairo International Airport Operations Centre, described by officials as the “operating brain” of the facility.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Saturday to review bilateral relations and exchange views on pressing regional and international issues, including the situation in Gaza, developments in Libya and Sudan, and the Russia-Ukraine conflict, according to a statement from the Egyptian presidency. Presidential spokesperson Mohamed El-Shennawy said President Al-Sisi asked Lavrov to convey his greetings to Russian President Vladimir Putin and praised the steady growth of strategic relations between Egypt and Russia across political, economic, and trade spheres. Lavrov conveyed President Putin’s greetings to Al-Sisi and affirmed Moscow’s commitment to building on the outcomes of the Egyptian president’s visit to Russia in May 2025, with the aim of expanding bilateral cooperation across various sectors. The meeting also reviewed the outcomes of the second ministerial conference of the Russia–Africa Partnership Forum, which was hosted by Egypt. Al-Sisi highlighted the forum’s significance in enhancing economic and development cooperation between Russia and African nations and in supporting the objectives of Africa’s Agenda 2063.

Annual urban headline inflation in Egypt eased slightly to 12.3% in November 2025, down from 12.5% in October, according to the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE). This slowdown was largely attributed to a decline in core food prices, which fell by 0.8% during the month. At the national level, annual rural headline inflation remained broadly stable at 7.9% in November, up slightly from 7.8% in October, while nationwide headline inflation held steady at 10.0%, easing marginally from 10.1% in the previous month. Monthly food inflation contracted by 2.6% in November, contributing negative 1.0 percentage point to headline inflation. Core food prices contributed negatively to core inflation, while services and retail items continued to exert upward pressure.

Egypt’s Minister of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities, Sherif El-Sherbiny, visited New Sphinx City following a tour of Sheikh Zayed City to review ongoing and planned development projects spanning approximately 85,000 feddans. During his visit, El-Sherbiny chaired a meeting at the headquarters of the New Sphinx City Authority, where he reviewed operations at the technological center and evaluated the customer service system. El-Sherbiny reviewed progress on several major infrastructure projects, most notably the 16-kilometer Sphinx Axis Road, including its first phase and expansion works. Progress on initial roadworks and utility networks for internal roads within the city’s urgent first development phase was also reviewed. The visit forms part of the Ministry of Housing’s broader efforts to accelerate infrastructure development in New Sphinx City and position it as a major urban expansion hub west of Cairo.

Alaa Farouk, Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, received a high-level delegation of Chinese experts to review the latest developments in the project to establish a new agricultural pesticide manufacturing plant in Egypt. During the meeting, participants reviewed the project’s implementation plans, which are expected to represent a significant qualitative addition to Egypt’s agricultural sector. The plant will be established using advanced Chinese technologies, enabling the transfer of state-of-the-art pesticide manufacturing expertise to Egypt. Farouk emphasized the strategic importance of the project, noting that it supports the localization of agricultural pesticide production, the transfer of advanced technology, and the strengthening of domestic manufacturing capabilities. He stressed that the agricultural sector remains a promising field with substantial investment opportunities, underscoring the state’s commitment to engaging the private sector in achieving sustainable agricultural development.

El-Shimy emphasized that Misr Travel represents a key national entity within Egypt’s tourism sector. He noted that a comprehensive development plan is currently underway, focusing on enhancing the quality and standards of the company’s tourism products and services. This, he said, will strengthen Misr Travel’s competitiveness at both local and international levels and reflect Egypt’s civilizational image as a leading global tourist destination. The meeting also addressed development plans for hotels affiliated with Misr Travel and upcoming expansion projects, including the redevelopment of the Romance Hotel in Alexandria. In parallel, discussions focused on maximizing the utilization of Misr Travel’s assets and branches nationwide, including the Misr Travel Tower in Abbassia, through redeployment into multi-purpose uses that generate the highest possible economic return.

The National Council for Women (NCW) made a strong presence at the 10th edition of Food Africa, the continent’s leading food and beverage trade fair. Held from 9-12 December 2025, the NCW pavilion highlighted the innovation, resilience and entrepreneurial spirit of Egyptian women, transforming local agricultural traditions into competitive, market-ready enterprises. Empowering Growth and SustainabilityMai Mahmoud, Director General of the NCW’s Women’s Skills Development Centre, stressed that the Council’s participation went beyond exhibition to represent a strategic investment in sustainable development. A Gateway to the WorldThrough its participation in Food Africa, the NCW continues to open new horizons for female entrepreneurs by connecting them with regional and international markets. This participation underscores a central pillar of the NCW’s broader mission: demonstrating that when women are economically empowered, families, communities and local economies flourish.

The fight against gender-based violence took center stage as the National Council for Women (NCW) joined forces with international partners during the second edition of the “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence” festival, an event that transformed advocacy into a dynamic cultural movement. Empowering women in the digital ageDuring panel discussions, Amal Tawfik underscored the National Council for Women’s long-standing commitment to protecting women from all forms of violence, whether physical, psychological, or economic. Tawfik highlighted NCW initiatives aimed at promoting cybersecurity awareness and digital safety for women, especially those seeking to establish or manage online businesses. Art installations and performances throughout the venue invited visitors to engage with the lived experiences of women and children affected by violence. These performances underscored the idea that art is not merely a form of expression, but a powerful catalyst for social change.