The head of the Egyptian Customs Authority, Ahmed Amouy, said on Saturday that the government’s decision to cancel the customs duty exemption for mobile phones purchased by Egyptians expats is final, with no plans to reconsider it. During a phone interview with the “al-Soura” (The Picture) program, Amouy explained: “If I’m an Egyptian living abroad and I’m coming back for a vacation, my phone will work in Egypt for 90 days without any problems using an Egyptian SIM card, until I travel again. This applies to a phone entering Egypt for the first time.”“The exceptional exemption that began in January 2025 was part of the system implemented by the state to regulate the entry of mobile phones into Egypt, ” he said. The concept of customs in Egypt, and indeed worldwide, is to regulate domestic markets and safeguard national industries. This system is implemented globally, including in the European Union and the US.”

The 123rd humanitarian aid convoy left the Egyptian side of Rafah border terminal early Sunday en route to Karam Abu Salem crossing in southeastern Gaza. The convoy, part of the “Zad Al-Izza… From Egypt to Gaza” aid initiative, is carrying essential relief and food assistance for the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip as part of continued Egyptian efforts to support Palestinian brethren, according to a well-placed source at Rafah terminal. The assistance includes winter clothing, blankets and shelter tents, in addition to medical supplies needed by the Palestinian Red Crescent Society inside Gaza. The Egyptian Red Crescent launched the “Zad Al-Izza… From Egypt to Gaza” aid initiative on July 27. The initiative includes thousands of tons of assistance, ranging from food supplies and flour to infant formula, medical equipment, medicines and large quantities of fuel.

The US has officially withdrawn from the World Health Organization, a year after President Donald Trump announced plans to pull out of the world’s leading health alliance. According to The Washington Post, Trump justified the move by what he considered WHO’s mismanagement of the coronavirus pandemic, its failure to embrace change, and the undue political influence of some members. This withdrawal has shocked global health experts and international authorities, as the US had been the most influential member of the 194-member organization, played a key role in its founding in 1948, and was historically its largest financial contributor. In its statement regarding the withdrawal, the US Department of Health and Human Services declared that the US would remain a global leader in health, but through existing and new partnerships directly with other countries, the private sector, non-governmental organizations, and “faith-based” entities. A Senior Department of Health & Human Services official said that future US-led global health efforts would build upon the presence already established by federal health agencies, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, and the Food and Drug Administration in 63 countries, as well as bilateral agreements with hundreds of other nations.

President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Saturday 24/1/2026 called on the government and the House of Representatives to introduce a legislation restricting the use of mobile phones by children. In remarks he gave during a celebration marking the 74th anniversary of Police Day, Sisi said that the government and the parliament in Egypt should follow the example of the Australians and the British who enacted legislation to restrict mobile phone use below a certain age. He stressed the need to introduce laws and regulations governing mobile phone use among children. Sisi further noted that the Australian prime minister spoke just a week earlier about the outcomes of the law enacted there to restrict mobile phone use, emphasizing that the issue warrants careful study. “We need to review the experiences of others to protect our sons and daughters until they reach an age at which they can properly and responsibly deal with mobile phones and modern technology,” the president said.

CAIRO, Jan 25 (MENA) – Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates Badr Abdelatty and US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau praised on Sunday the depth of the strategic partnership between the two countries and their cooperation across political, economic and military fields. The meeting between the two officials discussed ways to further strengthen the Egypt-U.S. strategic partnership and develop bilateral relations in political and economic spheres. The talks also covered developments in Gaza, Sudan, the Horn of Africa and Egypt’s water security. Khallaf said the meeting also addressed the latest developments in the Gaza Strip, with Abdelatty welcoming Egypt’s accession to the Board of Peace. The US official praised the close relations between Egypt and the United States and the mutual benefits of their strategic partnership across various fields, commending Egypt’s efforts to support security and stability in the region.

CAIRO, Jan 25 (MENA) – Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates Badr Abdelatty headed for Tunisia on Sunday for talks with senior officials on promoting bilateral relations. The two sides will also exchange viewpoints on regional developments of common interest. The top diplomat will take part in a meeting grouping the foreign ministers of Egypt, Tunisia and Algeria held as part of the three-way consultation mechanism on Libya. UN envoy to Libya Hanna Tetteh will join the meeting. The meeting comes as part of continued consultations among the three countries on the latest developments in Libya and ongoing efforts to achieve stability and preserve the country’s unity and sovereignty in a way that materializes the aspirations of the Libyan people for security, stability and development.

The National Weather Service warned of heavy snowfall and a band of catastrophic ice stretching from East Texas to North Carolina. As crews in some southern states began repairing damaged power lines, authorities in eastern states issued final warnings to residents. All flights were canceled Saturday at Will Rogers International Airport in Oklahoma City, and all flights were canceled Sunday morning, with officials aiming to resume service Sunday afternoon at Oklahoma’s largest airport. More than 12,000 flights were canceled across the US on Saturday and Sunday, according to flight tracking site FlightAware. Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, a major hub, saw more than 700 departing flights canceled on Saturday, and a similar number of arriving flights were also canceled.

Winter cold and rains as well as malnutrition are still killing people in Gaza, despite the ceasefire being in its fourth month. Ten children in Gaza have died from hypothermia since the beginning of the winter, the Palestinian Health Ministry said on Saturday. A three-month old baby died from severe cold at Al Aqsa Martyrs hospital in the past 24 hours, the ministry said. Saeed M. M. T. Jaras/Anadolu/Getty ImagesThe humanitarian crisis in Gaza remains severe despite the current ceasefire. Malnutrition continues to affect pregnant women, Al Faraa said.

Irishman Alex Maguire carded a course-record nine-under-par 63 to take a three-shot lead following the opening round of the second MENA Tour event of the Egypt Golf Series 2026 on Sunday. Maguire recorded an error-free round at the Idriss Marassi resort in the North Coast, which is hosting the second of four consecutive professional tournaments scheduled to take place in Egypt. Organisers stated that the hosting of the series reflects Egypt’s growing status as a destination for international golf competitions. The MENA Tour schedule will continue with two further consecutive tournaments at the Idriss Marassi resort before the series concludes at the Madinaty Golf Club in Cairo. Each tournament in the series offers a prize fund of $100,000 and provides players with official world ranking points.

Under the plan, the CBE will conduct 106 tenders during the quarter, including 52 treasury bill tenders worth EGP 2.15trn, 48 treasury bond tenders valued at EGP 519bn, and six sukuk tenders totalling EGP 34bn. Treasury bills will include EGP 325bn with a 91-day maturity, EGP 530bn with a 182-day maturity, and EGP 615bn with a 273-day maturity. In addition, 364-day treasury bills worth EGP 680bn are scheduled to be issued during the quarter. On the bond side, the government plans to issue two-year treasury bonds worth EGP 151bn, including EGP 35bn with variable interest rates. Three-year bonds worth EGP 271bn are also planned, including EGP 9bn with variable returns, alongside five-year bonds valued at EGP 97bn, of which EGP 16bn will carry variable returns.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty called for a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, the deployment of an international stabilisation force, and an immediate humanitarian truce in Sudan during separate calls with UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Gaza Representative Nickolay Mladenov. Regarding the conflict in Sudan, the Egyptian minister advocated for the establishment of safe humanitarian corridors and a Sudanese-owned political process. Mladenov commended Egypt’s decision to join the Peace Council, noting Cairo’s diplomatic weight as a vital asset for regional stability. Abdelatty also underscored the necessity of ensuring the unhindered, sustainable flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza and providing a secure environment for international relief organisations. The parties agreed to maintain intensified consultations to support long-term peace in the region.

Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade Hassan El Khatib held a series of high-level meetings with executives from major international firms to review investment opportunities across key sectors of the Egyptian economy. During a meeting with Uber’s Global Chief Operating Officer Andrew Macdonald, El Khatib discussed the company’s operations in Egypt and its expansion plans in smart transportation and technology. El Khatib highlighted Uber’s role in supporting the smart transport ecosystem, creating income opportunities for thousands of drivers, and generating direct employment through its customer service centres. El Khatib also met with Olayan Group Chief Operating Officer Saleh Merghany to discuss current and future investment opportunities in Egypt and review the group’s strategy for developing its business locally and regionally. During the meeting, El Khatib outlined Egypt’s national strategy, led by President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, to achieve food security.

Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation Alaa Farouk has met a high-level Philippine delegation to discuss prospects for expanding bilateral agricultural cooperation and removing barriers to agricultural exports between the two countries. During the meeting, Farouk stressed the strategic importance of opening the Philippine market to Egyptian agricultural products, particularly table potatoes, grapes, onions and garlic. He said these measures would help accelerate trade in agricultural and animal-origin products between the two sides. The meeting also reviewed recent progress in bilateral trade, including Egypt’s completion of procedures allowing Philippine durian to enter the Egyptian market. The Philippine side further expressed interest in exporting additional high-quality agricultural products, including bananas, pineapples, mangoes and coconuts.

Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of Industry and Transport Kamel Al-Wazir has conducted an extensive inspection tour to review progress on the first line of Egypt’s High-Speed Train network. The inspection tour included a review of industrial works across the project corridor, encompassing bridges, tunnels, culverts and waterways. This section of the line comprises eight main track bridges, 26 crossing bridges, 226 culverts and two tunnels. Most of the track bridges have been completed and handed over to the executing consortium to begin ballast spreading, sleeper installation and full track works. Al-Wazir stressed that the High-Speed Train represents a national milestone, as it will interconnect all regions of the country.

The return of the Arab Puppetry and Dolls Forum to Cairo after a multi-year hiatus confirms Egypt’s position as a hub for arts and cultural awareness, Culture Minister Ahmed Fouad Hanno said on Friday. The fifth edition of the Arab Puppetry and Dolls Forum, which ran from Jan 21 to Jan 23, was organised by the Arab Theatre Institute in cooperation with the Egyptian Ministry of Culture. Hanno stated that the forum’s success is a direct extension of the results achieved during the 16th Arab Theatre Festival. Honours and RecognitionDuring the closing ceremony, Ismail Abdullah, Secretary-General of the Arab Theatre Institute, recognised the efforts of several key figures and officials who contributed to the event’s success. In a reciprocal gesture of appreciation, Jendoubi presented commemorative shields to Ismail Abdullah and Osama Mohamed Ali for their roles in advancing the Arab artistic movement.