Ministry of Agriculture issues 1,165 project licences in December 2025
The Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, through the Livestock and Poultry Development Sector, announced that it issued approximately 1,165 operating licences in December 2025. The licences included both renewals and first-time approvals for projects related to livestock production, feed manufacturing, poultry activities, and milk collection centres. The announcement was made in a report submitted to Alaa Farouk, Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, by Tarek Soliman, Head of the Livestock and Poultry Development Sector. Soliman further noted that technical support was provided and homogeneity tests were conducted for 36 poultry, livestock, and fish feed factories across several governorates. He explained that applications for mechanised operating licences for livestock, poultry, and feed activities can be submitted through digital platforms, including the Ministry’s official website, the Digital Egypt platform, and government service mobile applications.
Source:Daily News Egypt
January 03, 2026 18:37 UTC
Finance Ministry to offer eight T-bill, bond tenders worth EGP 190bn this week
The Ministry of Finance announced that it will offer eight treasury bill and bond tenders this week with a combined value of EGP 190bn, as part of its ongoing financing plan. The offerings include four treasury bill tenders worth EGP 160bn and four treasury bond tenders totaling EGP 30bn. According to the Ministry, the treasury bill offerings will consist of a 91-day bill valued at EGP 25bn, a 182-day bill worth EGP 40bn, a 273-day bill amounting to EGP 45bn, and a 364-day bill valued at EGP 50bn. The bond offerings will include EGP 8bn in two-year treasury bonds, EGP 4bn in three-year bonds, an additional three-year bond tender worth EGP 15bn with a variable yield, and a five-year bond tender valued at EGP 3bn. These treasury bills and bonds are offered through 15 banks participating in the Primary Dealers system in the primary market.
Source:Daily News Egypt
January 03, 2026 18:15 UTC
US forces capture Maduro in “Midnight Hammer” raid; Trump pledges US governance of Venezuela
US President Donald Trump confirmed on Saturday that elite US special forces have captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores in a high-stakes nighttime raid. The operation, which Trump characterised as “Operation Midnight Hammer,” involved a massive coordination of air, land, and sea power. “We Are Going to Run the Country”Addressing reporters, Trump announced a period of direct US involvement in Venezuelan governance. “We’re going to start making money for the country.”Despite reports of heavy explosions across Caracas, Trump stated that the mission resulted in no US fatalities and no loss of American equipment. The United Nations: Secretary-General António Guterres expressed “deep concern” regarding the respect for international law, while the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry has requested an urgent Security Council meeting.
Source:Daily News Egypt
January 03, 2026 18:03 UTC
ETA begins receiving 2025 tax returns, announces expanded support measures
Rasha Abdel Aal, Head of the Egyptian Tax Authority (ETA), announced that the Authority began receiving tax returns for the 2025 tax year as of 1 January, in line with directives from Minister of Finance Ahmed Kouchouk. The move aims to simplify procedures for taxpayers, provide integrated technical support, and encourage voluntary compliance. Abdel Aal explained that individuals may submit their tax returns from 1 January 2026 until 31 March 2026, while companies can file until 30 April 2026, or within four months of the end of their financial year. She added that the Authority has also deployed technical support committees at professional syndicates, civil society institutions, chambers of commerce, and federations to further assist taxpayers. In addition, dedicated technical support teams have been assigned to tax offices nationwide.
Source:Daily News Egypt
January 03, 2026 17:35 UTC
Gold slips at start of 2026 as thin liquidity triggers profit-taking: Gold Bullion
Gold prices retreated in the first trading sessions of 2026, pulling back from recent record highs amid thin market liquidity and profit-taking, according to an analysis by Gold Bullion. Spot gold declined 4.4% over the past week, falling to a two-week low of $4,274 per ounce after opening the week at $4,542. The metal entered 2026 following a sharp rally in 2025, when prices surged nearly 65% year-on-year—marking gold’s strongest annual performance since 1979. Reports of repeated attacks in Venezuela’s capital—believed by some sources to involve U.S. action—could support gold demand once markets return to full activity next week, the analysis noted. Gold Bullion attributed the recent volatility primarily to reduced liquidity and lower trading volumes during the holiday period, which weakened upward momentum and encouraged profit-taking.
Source:Daily News Egypt
January 03, 2026 17:35 UTC
Madbouly inspects Luxor healthcare facilities as Universal Insurance expands in Upper Egypt
Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly conducted an extensive field tour of healthcare facilities affiliated with Egypt’s Healthcare Authority (EHA) in Luxor, as part of ongoing efforts to monitor the implementation of the Universal Health Insurance System (UHIS) and evaluate progress in healthcare services across Upper Egypt. The tour included visits to Karnak International Hospital and Luxor International Medical Complex—two flagship institutions operating under the comprehensive health insurance framework. A Growing Universal Health Insurance SystemEl-Sobky revealed that more than 1.2 million beneficiaries currently receive healthcare services in Luxor under the UHIS. Surgical procedures performed in 2025 alone reached 45,369 operations, while primary healthcare services exceeded 11 million. Luxor International Medical ComplexMadbouly also inspected Luxor International Medical Complex, which El-Sobky described as the “icon of healthcare in Luxor” and the primary referral center for complex cases across Upper Egypt.
Source:Daily News Egypt
January 03, 2026 16:30 UTC
Port Said health facilities record 362,662 medical services throughout 2025
Egypt’s Ministry of Health and Population provided 362,662 medical services through hospitals and health facilities in Port Said governorate between January and December 2025, the ministry announced in a statement. Total beneficiaries for these dental and genetic services reached 27,087 citizens. Waleed Abdel Maqsoud, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health in Port Said, stated that the Genetic Counselling centre provided 16,412 services. Presidential health initiatives accounted for 161,439 services provided to 11,877 citizens. More than 120,000 citizens benefited from awareness activities in public spaces and health facilities, aimed at supporting presidential initiatives and promoting healthy lifestyles and positive behaviours.
Source:Daily News Egypt
January 03, 2026 16:20 UTC
The silicon toll: Trump’s transactional strategy to rewire the global chip war
But in the high-stakes theatre of global semiconductor supremacy, no transaction is too small to escape the notice of the White House. It is a strategy that seeks to protect American innovation while ensuring the US Treasury profits from the global demand for silicon. Trump specified that 25% of the deal value must be paid directly to the United States. “I reserve my right to issue additional orders… as I deem necessary to protect the national security of the United States,” Trump stated. It is a reminder that in the new era of the chip wars, the White House is not just watching the gates—it is also checking the receipts.
Source:Daily News Egypt
January 03, 2026 15:31 UTC
Cairo conducts intensive contacts to halt Yemen fighting as government forces seize key port
The diplomatic intervention comes as Yemen’s Saudi-backed, internationally recognised government announced on Saturday that it had regained control of Mukalla. Saudi Arabia has accused the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of backing the STC in its recent moves. In response, STC forces blocked roads leading to Aden from the northern provinces, residents said. The STC and Saudi Arabia have accused each other of responsibility for shutting off air traffic. The STC in its statement on Saturday said southern Yemen was being subjected to a land, sea and air blockade.
Source:Daily News Egypt
January 03, 2026 15:21 UTC
Nuclear shields and new recruits: France braces for a Europe without Washington
A Russian language graduate, she is now seriously considering joining the French military or intelligence services. While Trump has recently described his traditional European allies as “weak” and a “group of countries in decline,” France is moving to prove the opposite. The objective is ambitious: attracting 3,000 recruits by the coming summer, 10,000 by 2030, and 50,000 by 2035. This shift places a spotlight on France—the EU’s only nuclear power and a nation with a robust, independent arms industry. Already, France leads a multinational NATO battlegroup in Romania, has reinforced its presence in Estonia, and is discussing troop deployments to Finland.
Source:Daily News Egypt
January 03, 2026 15:11 UTC
Banks’ aggregate financial position in Egypt rises to EGP 25.37trn in September 2025
According to the Central Bank’s latest report, cash balances at banks amounted to around EGP 181.161bn. On the liabilities side, banks’ capital stood at approximately EGP 699.853bn, reserves reached EGP 1.070trn, and provisions totalled around EGP 638.687bn. Total customer deposits reached EGP 15.324trn, balances of bonds and long-term loans amounted to EGP 963.789bn, and other unspecified liabilities totalled around EGP 4.546trn. Banks’ reserves reached EGP 1.070trn, with the top 10 banks holding EGP 836.451bn, while reserves at the largest five banks amounted to around EGP 717.547bn. Investments by the largest 10 banks rose to approximately EGP 6.219trn, up from EGP 5.768trn, while investments at the largest five banks reached around EGP 5.472trn, compared with EGP 5.144trn previously.
Source:Daily News Egypt
January 03, 2026 15:01 UTC
Banque Misr posts EGP 68.35bn in net profits during M9 2025
Banque Misr reported net profits of EGP 68.353bn during the first nine months of 2025, up from EGP 60.457bn in the same period of 2024, according to the bank’s financial statements. Profits before tax reached EGP 108.328bn over the period, compared with EGP 93.345bn a year earlier. Net interest income rose to EGP 123.748bn in September 2025, compared with EGP 109.786bn in September 2024, while net income from fees and commissions increased to EGP 21.837bn, up from EGP 16.675bn. Total assets climbed to EGP 4.138trn in September 2025, compared with EGP 3.61trn in 2024. The bank’s investments portfolio in subsidiaries and affiliated companies rose to EGP 63.237bn, compared with EGP 57.477bn previously.
Source:Daily News Egypt
January 03, 2026 15:01 UTC
The dollar’s journey: Between market forecasts and financial inflows
Since the beginning of the year, the official exchange rate has moved within a relatively stable range. In these instances, the official rate often converges with the parallel market rate that emerges during periods of high demand and scarcity. This temporary abundance of cash calmed the market and led to the total disappearance of the parallel market. The long-term exchange rate does not change significantly over a few months, as it reflects accumulated structural imbalances. The answer to whether temporary stability can become permanent lies in deep reforms to the ‘real economy,’ rather than in the exchange market or monetary decisions alone.
Source:Egypt Independent
January 03, 2026 14:46 UTC
US military hits Caracas as Trump says President Maduro taken into custody
US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that US forces have captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, following what he described as “successful and large-scale” military strikes on Venezuela. “I want to speak to President Trump… we must all uphold international law,” Starmer told the BBC. “I want to speak to President Trump… we must all uphold international law,” Starmer told the BBC. While noting that the EU views Maduro as lacking legitimacy, she stressed that “international law must be respected” and called for restraint. While noting that the EU views Maduro as lacking legitimacy, she stressed that “international law must be respected” and called for restraint.
Source:Daily News Egypt
January 03, 2026 14:01 UTC
Egyptian exports exceeded more than 9 million tons in 2025
Agriculture Minister Alaa Farouk said the country’s agricultural exports exceeded nine million tons in 2025. Farouk told AlQahera News channel that Egypt’s agricultural exports reached 9.2 million tonnes.
Source:Egypt Independent
January 03, 2026 11:49 UTC