Three killed in Syria’s coastal region amid Alawite protests for self-determination
The Syrian army deployed armoured vehicles and tanks to coastal cities on Sunday after protests demanding self-determination turned violent, leaving at least three people dead and 60 others injured in clashes between security forces and demonstrators. The deployment followed demonstrations in the Syrian coastal region and central provinces called for by Sheikh Ghazal Ghazal, head of the Alawite Supreme Council. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) provided a differing account, reporting that Syrian security forces “killed” two people while dispersing Alawite demonstrations. State media reported that “gunmen from the remnants of the former regime” opened fire in Latakia, killing a member of the security forces. They followed a call for action by Sheikh Ghazal Ghazal in the wake of a suicide bombing at an Alawite mosque in Homs, an attack claimed by Islamic State.
Source:Daily News Egypt
December 28, 2025 16:24 UTC
Why Netanyahu’s visit to Mar-a-Lago is the opening act to Israeli Prime Minister’s reelection bid
When Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets US President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago this week, the encounter will mark more than a diplomatic reunion. For Netanyahu, it’s the opening act of his 2026 reelection bid, in which the US President is positioned to play a starring role. More recently, Trump championed Netanyahu’s pardon campaign, publicly appealing to Israeli President Isaac Herzog during an October address to the Knesset celebrating the Gaza ceasefire. Chip Somodevilla/Getty ImagesThe episode set off a Likud-aligned campaign that culminated in Netanyahu’s own formal request for clemency. The Gaza ceasefire deal, credited to Trump’s mediation and determination, only strengthened the US president’s Israeli brand.
Source:Egypt Independent
December 28, 2025 15:28 UTC
Myanmar’s military junta holds elections as civil war sparked by coup still rages
Yangon, Myanmar —Polls opened in Myanmar on Sunday kick-starting a controversial election the military junta says will return democratic rule, nearly five years after it seized power from an elected government, unleashing a brutal civil war it has yet to win. The atmosphere has been markedly more muted than previous elections in the last decade, during Myanmar’s experiment with a more open democracy. The brand of non-violent resistance that once made Suu Kyi’s name has been all but forgotten since the coup as civil war rages. “Humanitarian crisis in Myanmar has significantly deteriorated,” he said, adding that the military junta has blocked access to aid with health facilities coming under attack. Russia and China have long been two of Myanmar’s biggest backers and have both spoken favorably of the elections.
Source:Egypt Independent
December 28, 2025 15:18 UTC
Ahead of peace talks with Trump, Zelensky calls Putin ‘man of war’ after Russian attack on Kyiv region
Volodymyr Zelensky said Moscow’s huge aerial assault on Kyiv and the surrounding region proved Russian President Vladimir Putin is a “man of war,” ahead of the Ukrainian leader’s scheduled meeting with US President Donald Trump in Florida. Ahead of his meeting with Trump, Zelensky stopped in Canada for talks with Carney, who announced a further 2.5 billion Canadian dollars ($1.83 billion) in economic assistance for Ukraine. While officials did not cite a specific goal for the meeting, Zelensky told Axios Friday that he wanted to conclude a framework to end the war. In preparation for Sunday’s meeting, Zelensky said Friday that he had spoken with the leaders of NATO, Canada, Germany, Finland, Denmark and Estonia to coordinate their positions. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has offered to make concessions in US-mediated peace talks with Russia.
Source:Egypt Independent
December 28, 2025 14:44 UTC
Egypt inaugurates Djibouti’s largest solar power plant
Egypt’s Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of Industry and Transport, Kamel el-Wazir, inaugurated a solar power plant in the village of Omar Kaji in the Arta region of Djibouti on Saturday. The inauguration was attended by Djibouti’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Younes Ali Guedi, and Minister of Infrastructure and Equipment, Hassan Hamad Ibrahim. Guedi stated that the station is the largest solar power plant completed in rural areas and serves as a living testament to the strength of relations between both countries. He added that this achievement marks a true starting point for broader cooperation in the fields of new and renewable energy, which we are working to localize in Egypt. This is a key component of the urgent plan to revitalize Egyptian industry by deepening local manufacturing of clean energy-related industries, thereby supporting the development of sustainable production capacities and promoting reliance on modern, environmentally friendly technologies.
Source:Egypt Independent
December 28, 2025 14:23 UTC
Video: ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ tops the box office in Egypt
“Avatar: Fire and Ash” topped the foreign film box office in Egypt on Friday, earning approximately LE1,256 million and selling 8,633 tickets. The latest installment in the Avatar saga’s total revenue has now reached nearly LE11 million, with approximately 13,000 tickets sold. The film is directed by James Cameron and stars Zoe Saldana, Sam Worthington, Kate Winslet, and Sigourney Weaver. The 195-minute movie follows Jake and Neytiri as they grieve the death of Neteyam and encounter a new and hostile Na’vi tribe, the Ash People, led by the fiery Varang. The conflict over Pandora intensifies, and a new moral dilemma emerges.
Source:Egypt Independent
December 28, 2025 11:02 UTC
FRA issues ‘Real Estate Ownership Bond Insurance’
In a statement Saturday 27/12/2025, the authority explained that the launch of this document represents a significant regulatory shift in the Egyptian real estate market. It reflects the authority’s commitment to enhancing transparency, protecting the rights of participants, and boosting confidence in real estate transactions. Additionally, it supports efforts to export Egyptian real estate by offering ownership stability to foreign investors. FRA Chairman Mohamed Farid confirmed that activating the Real Estate Ownership Bond Insurance is a historic milestone. It is also required to provide a negative certificate from the Real Estate Registry or Land Registry to ensure there are no previous transactions on the property.
Source:Egypt Independent
December 28, 2025 11:02 UTC
Arab and Islamic countries reject Israel’s recognition of Somaliland
Several Arab and Islamic countries issued a joint statement on Saturday affirming their rejection of Israel’s recognition of the Somaliland region as an independent state, according to the Egyptian Foreign Ministry. This recognition reflects Israel’s clear and complete disregard for international law, the statement added. It reiterated full support for the sovereignty of the Federal Republic of Somalia and rejected any actions that would undermine Somalia’s sovereignty. The statement said that recognizing the independence of parts of a country’s territory will serve a dangerous precedent and threaten international peace and security. Earlier, Netanyahu’s office issued statement on its official X platform: “Prime Minister Netanyahu, Foreign Minister (Gideon) Sa’ar, and the President of the Republic of Somaliland signed a joint declaration of mutual recognition.”
Source:Egypt Independent
December 28, 2025 11:02 UTC
Maha al-Saghir sentenced to prison for violating intellectual property rights
The Cairo Economic Court sentenced media personality Maha al-Saghir to one month in prison and fined her LE10,000, on Saturday, after convicting her of infringing on the intellectual property rights of several paintings belonging to international artists. The case began when the Supreme Council for Media Regulation received complaints from European art institutions alleging that Saghir used their artwork without prior authorization. Following this, the Council issued an urgent decision in July banning her from appearing in the media for six months, in addition to referring the complaints to the Public Prosecutor’s Office for investigation. Following investigations, the Public Prosecution decided to refer Saghir to trial, confirming that the program -which aired in July – included the display of European paintings protected by intellectual property rights, without consulting their owners or copyright holders. The referral decision explained that the paintings were presented within an artistic segment as if they were the presenter’s own creation, which the prosecution viewed as a clear violation of intellectual property rights.
Source:Egypt Independent
December 28, 2025 11:02 UTC
Afghanistan’s historic Ariana Cinema torn down to make way for shopping center
Taliban bans most forms of art and entertainmentCinema goers watch a Bollywood film at Ariana Cinema in Kabul. Danish Siddiqui/ReutersA film can with a picture of a Bollywood movie is seen inside the storage room at Ariana Cinema in Kabul. The Ariana Cinema opens in the liberalizing 1960sAfghan men queue up to buy tickets at the Ariana Cinema in Kabul. A new — but temporary — lease of lifeExterior view of the Ariana Cinema on August 29, 2022. “My memories are buried in the rubble of the Ariana Cinema,” he said.
Source:Egypt Independent
December 28, 2025 11:02 UTC
Egypt, African & Asian states condemn Israel’s recognition of Somaliland
In a joint statement by a cross-regional group of countries on Israel’s recognition of the “Somaliland” region, the ministers highlighted the grave repercussions of such an unprecedented move on peace and security in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea, as well as its serious impact on international peace and security, which exposes Israel’s blatant disregard for international law. The statement has strongly condemned Israel’s recognition, describing it as a flagrant violation of the rules of international law and the UN Charter, which calls for preserving state sovereignty and territorial integrity. The ministers affirmed their full support for the sovereignty of the Federal Republic of Somalia, rejecting any measures that undermine its unity or territorial integrity. They deplored that recognizing the independence of parts of a sovereign state’s territory sets a dangerous precedent and threatens international peace and security. The ministers emphasized their categorical rejection of linking this measure to any schemes aimed at displacing the Palestinian people from their land, reiterating that such plans are rejected in both form and substance.
Source:Egypt Independent
December 28, 2025 11:02 UTC
Agriculture Minister: 2025 has witnessed tangible successes in food security
Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation Alaa Farouk confirmed that 2025 has witnessed tangible successes in food security, digital transformation in the agricultural sector, resource optimization, and scientific research, in line with Egypt’s vision for sustainable development. In press statements Saturday 27/12/2025, the minister of agriculture said that the file of Egyptian agricultural exports has seen an unprecedented leap, with this year’s exports reaching a record figure of nearly 9 million tons, compared to previous years. This achievement was driven by the opening of 25 new international markets, which affirms Egypt’s ability to enhance the competitiveness of its agricultural exports abroad and the trust that Egyptian agricultural products enjoy in global markets. He added that the agricultural sector achieved record figures this year in self-sufficiency across several sectors, including table eggs and fresh milk, where 100 percent self-sufficiency was achieved. Additionally, there was 97 percent self-sufficiency in white meat (producing about 2.4 million tons) and 93.5 percent self-sufficiency in fish to meet local needs.
Source:Egypt Independent
December 28, 2025 10:33 UTC
FRA issues model policy for Real Estate Title Insurance in Egypt
It also supports efforts to export Egyptian real estate by offering greater ownership stability for foreign investors. Farid said the launch and activation of the Real Estate Title Insurance policy represents a historic step, introducing innovative and unprecedented insurance coverage that protects participants in the property market from risks arising from defects in title proof discovered after the completion of purchase, as specified in the policy. Title insurance, Farid added, is primarily used in property transactions—such as home purchases—to protect both the buyer and the financing bank from financial losses resulting from problems or defects in ownership, in accordance with the terms set out in the Real Estate Title Insurance policy. “Our aim is for buyers in Egypt to feel protected against any future surprises or claims that may threaten their property ownership,” he said. He highlighted the distinction between title insurance and conventional home insurance, noting that while home insurance covers future events such as fire or theft, title insurance protects against problems that occurred in the past but were unknown at the time of purchase.
Source:Daily News Egypt
December 28, 2025 06:21 UTC
CBE’s 1% rate cut eases financing costs, boosts industry, market confidence
He explained that lower financing costs enable companies to upgrade production lines, expand capacity and increase exports, while strengthening the competitiveness of Egyptian products. He said reduced borrowing and operating costs would support market stability and stimulate trade, production and exports. Impact on the Real Estate SectorUrban planning expert Mohamed Mostafa El-Qady said cumulative interest-rate cuts exceeding 7% during 2025 have had mixed but largely positive effects on the market, particularly by providing indirect stimulus to the real estate sector. He noted that lower financing costs would ease pressure on industrial and agricultural companies, stimulate economic activity and indirectly contribute to higher and more sustainable tax revenues, while reinforcing investor confidence. He noted that the automotive, real estate and food industries are among the sectors likely to benefit most, alongside increased investment inflows into the local market.
Source:Daily News Egypt
December 27, 2025 18:40 UTC
Egypt targets 80% debt-to-GDP ratio by June 2026 as external debt falls $4bn
Speaking at a salon hosted by the Institute of National Planning, Kouchouk stated that the external debt of budget agencies has decreased by approximately $4bn during the same two-year period. He added that the state is prioritising debt reduction and is currently paying more than it borrows to improve economic indicators. According to Kouchouk, taxpayers submitted 612,000 new and amended tax returns and voluntarily disclosed additional economic activity worth EGP 1trn, resulting in EGP 78bn in additional tax payments. Kouchouk said the strategic goal is to expand the economic, productive, and tax base to benefit citizens and investors. He emphasised the need to accelerate progress toward the Egypt Vision 2030 targets and reduce economic gaps in the coming years.
Source:Daily News Egypt
December 27, 2025 18:21 UTC