Author: Lester Holt

The Committee to Protect Journalists and 14 other rights groups have raised serious concerns about human rights in Egypt. They sent a joint letter to the European Union on Monday. The letter warns about weak progress on democracy, rule of law, and press freedom. It says the situation is still very worrying. The groups say reforms are not moving fast. They also say pressure must increase before ties grow stronger. The issue comes as EU Egypt relations continue to expand at a high level. The Committee to Protect Journalists said EU financial support for Egypt has conditions. One condition is…

Egypt electricity reform efforts are moving forward as the government strengthens cooperation with energy analytics firm Nexus Analytica to modernise the country’s power sector and improve regulatory oversight. The discussions were held between Egypt’s Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mahmoud Esmat and representatives of Nexus Analytica. The talks focused on developing a clearer and more structured regulatory framework for the national electricity market. Officials said the goal is to improve how electricity generation, transmission, and distribution are managed under Egypt’s Electricity Law. The reforms are designed to increase transparency, encourage competition, and improve overall efficiency in the sector. A…

Egypt is deepening its partnership with China in the renewable energy sector as it moves ahead with plans to expand clean power generation and modernize its national electricity grid. Senior officials from Egypt’s electricity and renewable energy sector met with representatives from China Energy and the Electric Power Planning and Engineering Institute (EPPEI) to discuss new areas of cooperation. The talks focused on renewable energy integration, grid modernization, energy storage systems, and long-term planning for the power sector. The meeting took place at the Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy in Egypt’s New Administrative Capital. It included Electricity Minister Mahmoud…

Egypt is moving forward with plans to strengthen its financial preparedness for disasters and climate-related risks through a new national strategy on disaster risk financing. The initiative aims to improve how the country prepares for, responds to, and recovers from emergencies. A national workshop was held in Cairo, bringing together government bodies, United Nations agencies, and other national stakeholders. The event was jointly organized by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), working with Egypt’s National Committee for Crisis Management and Disaster Risk Reduction under the Prime Minister’s Office. The main…

Egypt has invested more than $6 billion in its telecom sector since 2019 as part of a major push to expand digital infrastructure and improve nationwide connectivity. The update was reviewed during discussions between Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli and Minister of Communications and Information Technology Raafat Hindi. Officials said the investment is focused on building a stronger digital economy. The plan includes faster internet, wider mobile coverage, and improved telecom services across urban and rural areas. A large part of the spending has gone into upgrading fixed and mobile internet networks. This includes expanding fibre-optic cables across the country to…

Cairo’s new monorail has been presented as a major step forward in modern transport, but public reaction shows a clear divide between admiration for the system and concern over its affordability and accessibility. The East Nile monorail, which began partial operations in early May, runs 56.6 kilometres between Nasr City in Cairo and the New Administrative Capital. It is part of Egypt’s broader plan to reduce congestion in one of the world’s most crowded cities and improve links between the capital and newly developed urban areas. Passengers describe the driverless electric train as clean, smooth, and comfortable. For many riders,…

Cairo University has signed a new academic agreement with Shanghai Jiao Tong University in China, creating a Cairo Shanghai medical partnership aimed at strengthening medical education, scientific research, and clinical training between the two institutions. The agreement involves Cairo University’s Kasr Al-Ainy Faculty of Medicine, one of Egypt’s oldest and most prominent medical schools. The partnership is designed to expand cooperation in key healthcare fields, including joint research projects, student and staff exchange programs, and advanced clinical training opportunities. University officials said the agreement reflects a growing effort to build stronger international academic ties. The collaboration is expected to improve…

Egypt has formally rejected the involvement of non-Red Sea countries in security and political arrangements concerning the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, reinforcing its stance on regional control over strategic maritime routes. The position was outlined during high-level talks in Cairo between Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Yemeni officials as part of ongoing bilateral strategic dialogue. The discussions focused on maritime security amid rising tensions in key shipping lanes. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty Badr Abdelatty reaffirmed that responsibility for securing the Red Sea region should remain exclusively with countries that border the waterways. He stressed what…

Egypt’s top water officials have reviewed the early plans for Cairo Water Week 2026. The meeting focused on event themes, digital tools, and scientific work. The event will take place from October 25 to October 29. It will be held under the theme “Water as a catalyst for peace, shared prosperity and a sustainable planet.” The event is held under the patronage of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. The review meeting was led by Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Hani Sewilam. He met members of the Executive Secretariat of the 9th Cairo Water Week. They discussed how to improve…

Authorities in Makkah have arrested two Egyptian nationals, a man and a woman, over allegations of running fake Hajj service advertisements on social media. The suspects are accused of fraud and deception by promoting misleading pilgrimage services online. Security patrols carried out the arrests after monitoring suspicious online activity linked to unauthorized Hajj offers. Officials said the individuals were promoting services that were not approved under Saudi regulations governing pilgrimage arrangements. According to security sources, the suspects used social media platforms to attract potential pilgrims by advertising false or unlicensed Hajj packages. These activities reportedly misled individuals seeking legitimate travel…