Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly stressed on Wednesday the need for all ministries to intensify efforts to address the geopolitical and economic challenges facing Egypt and the region, maintain adequate strategic reserves of essential commodities and petroleum products, and strengthen public awareness of the exceptional circumstances resulting from ongoing regional and international conflicts.

Chairing the weekly Cabinet meeting at the government headquarters in the New Administrative Capital, the prime minister said that safeguarding the domestic front requires efficient use of state resources, confidence in state institutions and continued public awareness, highlighting the role of religious and educational institutions in this regard.

Media Centre refutes reports claiming Egypt incurred $50m repairing Energos Winter vessel

The Cabinet Media Centre has refuted reports claiming that Egypt incurred $50 million in costs to repair the Energos Winter regasification vessel following an incident at Damietta Port.

In a statement issued through its official social media platforms, the centre said that, following consultation with the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, it had been confirmed that the reports alleging Egypt had paid $50 million towards the vessel’s repairs were fabricated, misleading and entirely inaccurate.

‘Diverted flydubai incident may be attempted terror attack’

The co-pilot of a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv is believed to have stabbed the captain in a possible attempted “terror attack” on Wednesday, forcing the plane to divert to Saudi Arabia where it landed safely, ‌three Israeli officials said.

They said the cabin crew entered the cockpit and took control of flydubai flight FZ1073 from the United Arab Emirates to Israel, which diverted to Saudi Arabia as it flew over Jordanian airspace. One of the officials identified the attacker as an Omani national.

An Israeli official had earlier told Reuters the plane transmitted emergency signals after the pilots got into a physical altercation with each other.

Spain, France align on welcoming UK back to EU

Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and France’s President Emmanuel Macron expressed enthusiasm on Wednesday for Britain rejoining the EU, and agreed Europe must strengthen its trade defences ‌against China.

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham floated the prospect of Britain rejoining the EU in an interview earlier on Wednesday, which Macron described as “excellent news” and a “good decision”.

Ocon to leave Haas at end of season

French driver Esteban Ocon announced his departure from the Haas team at the end of the season but said on Wednesday his Formula One career was not over.

The 30-year-old joined the US-owned ‌team from Alpine in 2025 and is currently 16th in the championship and 13 points behind British teammate Oliver Bearman.

Djokovic beats Borges to stay perfect at China Open

Novak Djokovic marked his return to the China Open after 11 years with a 6-3 7-6(2) win over Nuno Borges on Wednesday, extending his perfect ‌record at the tournament to 30 wins without a loss.

Djokovic controlled the round-of-32 contest with a strong first serve as Borges put up a good fight in the second set, but ultimately buckled under pressure.

Russia attacks Ukrainian energy grid

Russia unleashed a widely anticipated air campaign against Ukraine’s energy grid on Wednesday, hitting power facilities and infrastructure around Kyiv and other regions in the heaviest combined attack on energy sites in months.

The strikes, in ‌which Ukrainian officials said seven people were killed, followed days of intensifying drone barrages primarily on the capital, a prelude to what many Ukrainians expect to be a winter of attacks intended to plunge cities into cold and darkness when Ukraine is short of air defences.

Israeli strikes kill six people in Gaza

Israeli strikes killed at least six Palestinians in two separate attacks in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, the territory’s health officials ‌said.

Medics said an Israeli airstrike on a vehicle killed at least four people and wounded 14 others in the Tel Al-Hawa neighbourhood in Gaza City, while an earlier airstrike on an apartment elsewhere in the city killed a woman.