~egyptian-streets | Bookmarks (348)

Egypt has invited Syrian interim President Ahmed Al-Sharaa to attend an emergency Arab League summit in Cairo on 4 March to discuss developments in the Palestinian cause, according to the Syrian presidency. The summit, called by Egypt at Palestine’s request, aims to form a unified Arab stance in response to US President Donald Trump’s controversial proposal to “take control” of Gaza and relocate its...

Dozens of ships have returned to using Egypt’s Suez Canal since early February instead of the longer Cape of Good Hope route, Suez Canal Authority (SCA) Chairman Osama Rabie announced on Sunday, 23 February. Speaking at the International Maritime Transport and Logistics Conference (MARLOG) in Alexandria, Rabie stated that 47 vessels have resumed transits through the canal, with more expected to follow as regional...

Egyptian-French actress, Inji El Gammal, has stepped into the spotlight following the release of her recent film Abdo and Saneya (2024), a captivating modern silent film that premiered at the Red Sea International Film Festival in December 2024. The black-and-white silent film, filled with masterful performances and complemented by an evocative score, has earned acclaim from outlets like The Hollywood Reporter and Variety. It...

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Sunday, an indefinite delay in the release of more than 600 Palestinian prisoners, stating that this decision would remain in effect until the next handover of Israeli hostages is guaranteed. The announcement follows the release of six Israeli hostages on 22 February, which was part of the ongoing ceasefire conditions between Israel and Hamas. As part of...

In a recent announcement on Saturday, 22 February, Dr. Manal Awad, Egypt’s Minister of Local Development, revealed that shops, restaurants, and cafés will have their operating hours extended until 2 AM throughout the holy month of Ramadan. The extension of hours will also apply during the celebration of Eid El-Fitr (an important Islamic holiday that marks the end of Ramadan) to create some balance...

Egypt’s Ministry of Housing has officially launched the “Your Home in Egypt” initiative, providing Egyptians living abroad with the opportunity to reserve and purchase housing units in 12 premium developments, according to a statement by the Ministry of Housing on Sunday, 23 February. The website, booking system, and plan for this program are now live and can be accessed online. In this first phase...

Driving in Egypt is a chaotic and often perilous challenge, according to Shahd Mohamed, a 27-year-old photographer who lives in Cairo, with reckless drivers and poor road conditions making every journey daunting. “My everyday drives are manic. Everyone goes wherever they want, whenever they want, and whoever has the bigger car wins,” Mohamed said. Egypt has one of the highest rates of road fatalities...

President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi of Egypt attended an informal gathering of Arab leaders in the Saudi capital on Friday, 22 February, to discuss the ongoing crisis in Palestine, the Egyptian presidency announced in a statement. The meeting, convened by Saudi Arabia, brought together Jordan’s King Abdullah II, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Emirati President Mohammed bin Zayed, Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al...

The first shipment of mobile homes from Egypt to Gaza successfully crossed the Rafah border into the Israeli-controlled Karam Abu Salem crossing on Thursday, 20 February, as part of ongoing humanitarian efforts to aid displaced Palestinians.  The shipment included 15 mobile homes and a bulldozer, according to Al Qahera News. This development comes as Hamas transferred the bodies of four Israeli captives to the...

Logan Paul, an American influencer and professional wrestler, claims he was banned from entering Egypt, preventing him from joining MrBeast to film inside the iconic pyramids, as revealed in his latest YouTube vlog published on Wednesday, February 19. At minute 12:21 of the vlog, Paul revealed that he originally planned to join MrBeast on a visit to the pyramids. He shared, “MrBeast just uploaded...

Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced on February 18 that the tomb of one of Egypt’s most significant New Kingdom rulers, King Thutmose II, has been identified near the Valley of the Kings in Luxor. This discovery comes from a joint Egyptian-British archaeological mission involving the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) and the New Kingdom Research Foundation at Cambridge University’s McDonald Institute for...

Egypt will introduce a tax relief package to make the tax system clearer and attract more foreign investment, effective next month according to sources.  Finance Minister Ahmed Kouchouk and Rasha Abdel Aal, head of the Egyptian Tax Authority, are leading efforts to reduce red tape and focus on high-risk cases for audits, making it easier for businesses. Additionally, the process for tax refunds will...

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi met with King Felipe VI of Spain and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez in Madrid as part of his official visit to Spain on Wednesday 19 February. The visit culminated in the signing of a joint declaration elevating Egypt-Spain relations to the level of a strategic partnership, underscoring a commitment to expanding cooperation across multiple sectors. The elevation of Egypt-Spain...

Every era, and every decade, carries its own melody, echoing the wild, chaotic, and at times, the meaningful moments that defined it. It might seem strange to think that years can be captured in just one song or lyric. But just as we remember people through a few impactful words or actions, life, too, can be felt through a single song that touches us...

  While much of the world embraces the winter cold, Luxor and Aswan offer a warm and welcoming escape. These two cities are not just about sightseeing; they provide a chance to explore Egypt’s rich history in comfortable weather, making them an ideal winter destination. December brings perfect sightseeing weather to Upper Egypt, with mild days and cool nights. Luxor sees average highs of...

Over the past ten years, the Ibrahim A. Badran Foundation (IBF) has expanded from a small initiative into a nationwide healthcare provider, bringing essential medical services to some of Egypt’s most underserved communities.  Established in 2014 in memory of Dr. Ibrahim Ahmed Badran, IBF began with a handful of medical convoys in Fayoum and has since delivered healthcare to over 850,000 individuals across 26...

The influx of Palestinians seeking refuge in Egypt has sparked various emotions among Egyptians. While there is strong historical support, worries about national security, resource management, and social impacts add complexity to the situation. Historical Solidarity and National Identity Many Egyptians view the Palestinian struggle through a lens of shared Arab identity and collective injustice. As Mohamed Sherif, a bookstore owner from Heliopolis, expresses,...

A joint venture agreement has been signed between The Cheesecake Factory and Egyptian distributors to bring the American chain the Cheesecake Factory Bakery to the country for the first time, according to an announcement on social media. Slated to open soon at 5A by The Waterway in New Cairo, the bakery will introduce the brand’s world-famous cheesecakes and a selection of its desserts to...

The Islamic holy month of fasting, Ramadan, is anticipated to commence on 1 March, 2025, in Egypt and most Arab nations, according to astronomical calculations from the National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics (NRIAG) based in Cairo.  However, the final determination of the start date will be made by Dar El-Iftaa (House of Fatwa), the authoritative body responsible for issuing religious edicts in...

In a security operation in Assiut on Monday 17 February, Egyptian police forces killed eight highly dangerous criminals, including a fugitive sentenced to 191 years in prison, following a violent shooting that left one officer injured.  The operation targeted a criminal gang heavily involved in drug trafficking, illegal firearms possession, extortion, and instilling fear among residents in the Sahil Selim area, Asyut Governorate.  The...

  Since October 7, 2023, the war in Gaza has unleashed devastation on an unimaginable scale, claiming over 47,000 lives, most of them women and children. Entire neighborhoods have been reduced to rubble, with more than 90 percent of the population internally displaced, forced to flee their homes multiple times.  The destruction has left Gaza’s infrastructure in ruins, plunging its people into one of...

Egypt’s unemployment rate declined to 6.4 percent in the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2024, down from 6.7 percent in the previous quarter, according to a report by the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) on Saturday, 17 February. The report indicated that the country’s labour force grew by 2.8 percent, reaching 33.1 million individuals in Q4, compared to 32.2 million in Q3....

President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi held a meeting with Ronald S. Lauder, President of the World Jewish Congress on Sunday, 16 February, which was also attended by General Intelligence Service Head Hassan Rashad, as stated in an official release from the Egyptian presidency. During the meeting, President Al-Sisi emphasized that the ongoing conflict and any potential escalation would have severe consequences for the entire region....

The BBC World Service has launched the Arabic edition of its award-winning educational programme, ‘Dars,’ (lesson) in the Middle East and North Africa.  Designed to support children who cannot access formal education, Dars Arabic aims to provide learning resources for the region’s youth, particularly those displaced by conflict in Sudan, Yemen, and Gaza. The idea for Dars originated from an intent to help children...