TMG to launch post-AI project and begin Noor city deliveries in 2026
Talaat Moustafa Group (TMG) is set to launch “The Spine”, a 2.4 million square metre project in East Cairo utilizingpost-artificial intelligence technologies, and will commence deliveries of the first phase of its Noor city development in 2026. The Spine project, located within the group’s Madinaty development, is designed to incorporate a mix of residential, administrative, commercial, and hotel zones. In line with its delivery schedules, TMG confirmed that units within the first phase of Noor city are scheduled for handover during 2026. TMG announced that approximately EGP 10bn will be invested to construct roughly 200 buildings within the project’s first phase. In the hospitality sector, TMG will continue construction on the Four Seasons Madinaty and Four Seasons Luxor hotels throughout 2026.
Source:Daily News Egypt
January 02, 2026 15:43 UTC
Arab and Islamic nations issue urgent warning over Gaza’s deteriorating humanitarian crisis
The Foreign Ministers of Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, and Qatar expressed their profound concern regarding the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. This crisis has been further exacerbated by harsh and volatile weather conditions, including torrential rains and severe storms. These factors have also heightened the risk of disease outbreaks, especially among children, women, the elderly, and those with underlying medical conditions. Furthermore, they reaffirmed their full support for Security Council Resolution 2803 and the comprehensive plan presented by US President Donald Trump. The Ministers further demanded the immediate, full, and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip through the United Nations and its agencies, without interference from any party.
Source:Egypt Independent
January 02, 2026 14:37 UTC
Angelina Jolie visits Rafah crossing, meets injured Palestinians and aid workers
Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie visited the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing into Gaza on Friday, where she met with Red Crescent staff and truck drivers transporting humanitarian aid. Local media reported that Jolie, a former UNHCR special envoy, undertook the visit to observe the condition of injured Palestinians transferred to Egypt and to review aid deliveries to the war-torn territory. Her schedule also includes a stop at Al-Arish General Hospital, where she will meet injured Palestinians receiving medical treatment and evaluate their health and the quality of care being provided. ADVERTISEMENTThe visit comes amid mounting international concern over Gaza’s humanitarian crisis, highlighting global support for Egypt’s efforts in receiving the wounded and delivering essential healthcare.
Source:Egypt Independent
January 02, 2026 14:22 UTC
Egypt’s agricultural exports surpass 9 million tons in 2025
The Egyptian Minister of Agriculture, Alaa Farouk, announced that agricultural exports surpassed 9 million tons in 2025. In a televised interview with Al-Qahera News (Cairo News), Farouk clarified that Egypt’s agricultural exports reached a total of 9.2 million tons. He noted that citrus fruits led the exports at 2.10 million tons, followed by potatoes at 1.4 million tons, sweet potatoes at 400,000 tons, and beans at 350,000 tons. Farouk emphasized that the Export Council and the Agricultural Quarantine Department are exerting every effort to expand into new markets. These efforts, he added, are bolstered by strong international relations, high product quality, and the continuous modernization of laboratories and quarantine procedures.
Source:Egypt Independent
January 02, 2026 13:41 UTC
Photos: Angelina Jolie arrives in North Sinai to review Gaza aid and medical efforts
Angelina Jolie, the renowned actress and former Special Envoy for the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), arrived in Al-Arish, North Sinai, on Friday, accompanied by a delegation from the US Department of State. According to an official statement, Jolie is scheduled to visit the Rafah Border Crossing to observe the humanitarian conditions and the efforts to deliver aid to the Gaza Strip. Her itinerary also includes a visit to Al-Arish General Hospital to meet with injured Palestinians receiving medical care, where she will assess their health status and the quality of medical services provided to them. This visit takes place amidst growing international concern over the humanitarian situation in Gaza and serves to underscore global support for Egypt’s ongoing efforts in receiving the wounded and providing necessary healthcare.
Source:Egypt Independent
January 02, 2026 13:36 UTC
Zohran Mamdani sworn in as New York City’s first Muslim mayor
Zohran Mamdani has become the Mayor of New York City after taking his constitutional oath in a historic setting—a decommissioned subway station in Manhattan. A private ceremony was held, presided over by New York State Attorney General Letitia James, a political ally of Mamdani. The event took place at the “Old City Hall” subway station, one of the city’s original underground stations. Mamdani, a 34-year-old Democratic Socialist, took his oath of office with his hand on a Quran before Attorney General James. Mamdani performed the oath with his hand placed on a centuries-old copy of the Holy Quran, marking the first time a Mayor of New York City has used the Quran for a constitutional swearing-in.
Source:Egypt Independent
January 02, 2026 05:41 UTC
Egypt braces for a sharp temperature drop and heavy nighttime fog on Friday
The Meteorological Authority released on Thursday the latest weather forecast for Cairo and the provinces. Cairo will see a daytime high of 19°C, followed by a significant drop to a chilly 10°C overnight. Weather maps warn of heavy morning fog on roads leading to and from Northern Egypt, Greater Cairo, Northern Upper Egypt, and Central Sinai. Moderate to heavy rainfall is forecast in parts of the northeastern North Coast and North Sinai, with light to moderate showers forecast for the northwestern North Coast and Lower Egypt. Forecasters also expect light rain in parts of Greater Cairo, the southern Delta, and the Canal cities, accompanied by wind activity along the North Coast and South Sinai.
Source:Egypt Independent
January 02, 2026 05:41 UTC
Egypt extends free 96-hour transit visa and Luxor-Aswan entry facilities until 2027
The Egyptian Cabinet on Wednesday decided to approve a request by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities to extend the free ’96-hour’ transit visa for an additional year, effective until April 2027. The visa continues to apply to passengers on Egyptian airlines under existing regulations. In a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, the Cabinet also approved the Ministry’s request to extend the free emergency entry visa for travelers arriving by air at Luxor and Aswan airports during the summer seasons (from May until the end of October) of 2026 and 2027, maintaining the same regulations currently in place. This decision follows the positive impact of such measures on tourism flow from key markets, particularly those favoring cultural tourism within these two governorates. This initiative comes amid a steady growth in tourism arrivals and aligns with ongoing efforts to streamline entry visa facilities and enhance Egypt’s position as a leading global tourist destination.
Source:Egypt Independent
January 01, 2026 14:55 UTC
Defending churches is an Islamic duty equal to protecting mosques: Al-Azhar
The Sawt Al-Azhar newspaper published statements from the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Ahmed al-Tayeb, refuting various misconceptions regarding greeting Christians in Egypt on their holidays. In his messages, the Grand Imam emphasized the human and Islamic values that promote tolerance and affection. Imam al-Tayeb clarified that greeting Christians on their holidays stems from the teachings of true religion, noting that Islam views non-Muslims through a lens of fraternity. The Grand Imam added that full equality in rights and duties among all citizens, regardless of their beliefs, is a fundamental principle in Islam. He stressed that the Quran and the Sunnah do not prohibit the construction of churches, and that Sharia law equates the defense of mosques with the defense of churches and synagogues.
Source:Egypt Independent
January 01, 2026 14:50 UTC
NASA could be weeks away from its biggest test in decades
Instead, Artemis II aims to test and verify the various systems and components of the crew’s spacecraft, called Orion. Darlene Beville of contractor ASRC Federal inspects the Artemis II heat shield in July 2020. The heat shield protects the Orion capsule and astronauts during reentry through Earth’s atmosphere. Isaac Watson/NASAThe heat shield showed abnormal wear and tear during the Artemis I test. NASAThe damage was not catastrophic and the heat shield still adequately protected the capsule, but NASA spent more than a year working to address the issue.
Source:Egypt Independent
January 01, 2026 14:35 UTC
Mali and Burkina Faso announce reciprocal travel ban on US citizens
Reuters — Mali and Burkina Faso have said they are imposing a travel ban on US citizens in response to an equivalent measure announced by the Trump administration Mali and Burkina Faso have said they are imposing a travel ban on US citizens in response to an equivalent measure announced by the Trump administration earlier this monthIn separate statements issued by their foreign ministries late on Tuesday, the two West African countries said they were acting in the name of “reciprocity” after the White House announced on December 16 that US President Donald Trump was adding them and five other countries to a list of those subject to a full travel ban. The White House said the expanded ban, set to take effect on January 1, applied to “countries with demonstrated, persistent, and severe deficiencies in screening, vetting, and information-sharing to protect the Nation from national security and public safety threats.”Mali said on Tuesday that Washington’s decision to add it to the travel ban list had been taken without prior consultation and that the stated rationale was not justified by “actual developments on the ground.”Mali and Burkina Faso are not the first countries to take such measures affecting US citizens after being targeted by Trump’s travel restrictions. On December 25, neighboring Niger announced it would stop issuing visas to US citizens, the country’s state media agency reported, citing a Nigerien diplomatic source. In June, Chad announced it was suspending visa issuance to US citizens after it was included on an earlier list of 12 countries affected by a travel ban.
Source:Egypt Independent
January 01, 2026 14:35 UTC
PM reviews development works at SEMAF factory
CAIRO, Jan 1 (MENA) – Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly reviewed on Thursday the development and upgrading works at the SEMAF Factory, as part of the state’s ongoing follow-up on plans to modernize and upgrade industrial entities and enhance their production efficiency. Madbouly was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of Industry and Transport Kamel al-Wazir, along with a number of ministers and senior officials.
Source:Egypt Independent
January 01, 2026 11:12 UTC
PM attends New Year celebrations in New Capital
Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly on Wednesday December 31,2025 attended New Year celebrations held by the Administrative Capital for Urban Development company in the New Capital, during which he greeted Egyptians and conveyed President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s greetings and best wishes for the new year. He praised the New Capital as a smart, fully integrated city built to the highest standards for future generations, thanking all who contributed to turning the dream into reality. Madbouly also expressed confidence in positive economic indicators for Egypt, saying the coming years would bring growth and development. He also extended appreciation to the Armed Forces and police for maintaining security and stability.
Source:Egypt Independent
January 01, 2026 11:12 UTC
Cairo sees mild day followed by cold night on Thursday as temperatures hit 12°C
The Egyptian Meteorological Authority (EMA) has released the weather forecast for Cairo and other provinces on Thursday, predicting extremely cold conditions in the early morning and at night across most areas, with mild warmth during the day. In Cairo, the weather is expected to reach a high of 20C and a low of 12C. Weather maps warn of occasionally dense morning fog on roads leading to and from Northern Egypt, Greater Cairo, Upper Egypt, and Central Sinai. There is a slight possibility of light rain in Greater Cairo and Northern Upper Egypt. Wind activity is expected across the North Coast, Lower Egypt, Greater Cairo, and South Sinai, particularly in open areas.
Source:Egypt Independent
January 01, 2026 09:59 UTC
Zohran Mamdani is sworn in as mayor of New York City
Zohran Mamdani, the democratic socialist who campaigned on a promise to tackle the affordability crisis in one of America’s most expensive cities, was sworn in as New York City’s 112th mayor early Thursday. Mamdani, a 34-year-old immigrant from Uganda, makes history as the city’s first Muslim mayor, first South Asian mayor and the youngest mayor to hold the high-profile office in more than a century. Mamdani was sworn in on the platform of the old City Hall subway station underneath City Hall Park in Manhattan – an architectural marvel where tiled, arched ceilings, colored glass skylights and brass chandeliers have laid dormant since the station was shuttered in 1945. The typically dormant City Hall subway station, seen here in 2004, played host to Zohran Mamdani’s private swearing-in. New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks after taking the oath of office inside the the Old City Hall subway station, New York, on January 1.
Source:Egypt Independent
January 01, 2026 09:59 UTC