Minister of Civil Aviation Sameh El-Hefny has reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to deepening bilateral ties with Portugal and expanding civil aviation co-operation.

He also emphasised that unlocking air traffic potential between the two nations is vital to facilitating the seamless movement of passengers and cargo, while driving mutual trade and economic growth.

The minister made these remarks during a bilateral discussion at the ministry’s headquarters with Ambassador of Portugal to Cairo Susana Vaz Patto.

Egyptian, Somalian FMs probe ties, regional developments

Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Co-operation and Egyptian Expatriates Badr Abdelatty met with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Somalia Abdisalam Abdi Ali on the sidelines of the Russia-Africa Summit 2026 to review and advance bilateral relations across strategic sectors.

During the proceedings, Minister Abdelatty highlighted the accelerating momentum within Egyptian–Somali bilateral relations, affirming a shared commitment to broadening co-operation across commercial, economic, and developmental avenues.

CBE decides to raise key interest rates by 1%

The Monetary Policy Committee of the Central Bank of Egypt has decided to increase key policy rates by 100 basis points (1 percentage point) during its meeting on Thursday.

Following this adjustment, the overnight deposit rate stands at 20.00 per cent, the overnight lending rate at 21.00 per cent, and the rate for the main operation at 20.50 per cent.

Trump: Vance reached out to Iran on medical supplies

US President Donald Trump said that Vice President JD Vance’s outreach to Iran was about helping the country get medical supplies, after US media reported Vance had written to Tehran’s top security official to revive peace talks.

Tehran has received a letter from Vance ‌but it has not responded to it yet, Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency reported on Thursday.

Palestinian president eyes peace talks with new Israeli gov’t

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on Thursday that he hoped the election of a new Israeli government would allow for the resumption of peace talks.

“For many years now, we have been extending a hand to the Israeli side in order to achieve peace with them, so that Israel and Palestine may live in security, stability and peace,” Abbas said during a meeting with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides in Nicosia.

Lagarde quits as Europe’s challenges mount

European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde resigned on Thursday, ending months of speculation about her future just as Europe enters a period of rising economic volatility and divisive electoral politics, particularly in her native France.

Lagarde will step down on ‌February 7, giving current European Union leaders time to pick her successor before a French presidential election that polls show far-right candidate Marine Le Pen is favoured to win.