Gov’t denies imposing fines on not issuing pre-marriage medical certifcates

The cabinet media center denied news reports on imposing fines on any couples for noting issuing a pre-marriage medical certificates.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the cabinet media center said it has contacted the Health Ministry, which denied such reports and termed them as “baseless”.

It called on citizens not to be dragged behind such lies and to check any information from reliable sources.

The cabinet media center also urged mass media and social media followers to be accurate in spreading any news and to contact concerned bodies before publishing any reports in order to avoid stirring up the public opinion.

Source: State Information Service Egypt

Sisi greets expats on New Year

President Abdel Fattah El Sisi Thursday greeted Egyptian expats on the New Year.

In a cable sent to all Egyptian embassies and consulates abroad, and posted on social networking websites, Sisi wished all expats a happy New Year.

He wished all their dreams and aspirations would come true in 2023.

Hopefully, 2023 would be full of success and prosperity, the president expressed.

Sisi also prayed that further development would be achieved in Egypt during 2023.

“Long Live Egypt!” he concluded.

Source: State Information Service Egypt

IDSC: Egypt among top 10 world’s fastest growing economies in 2022

The Cabinet’s Information and Decision Support Center (IDSC) has said Egypt is among the top 10 fastest growing economies in the world in 2022.

The center said that many developments took place in 2022 in spite of the international crises that cast a shadow on various economies.

It added that Egypt drew the world’s attention to its ability to confront and invest in a time of crisis, saying In 2022, Egypt ranked the first country in the Middle East to issue Samurai bonds and the first country to produce the first 100% locally-manufactured ventilators in the Middle East.

Egypt is also among the top eight in the 2022 Africa SDG Index, which provides an assessment of where African countries stand with respect to the SDGs and and their progress toward the goals, the center said.

Egypt is the first in hotel projects in Africa 2022, and fifth globally in the Energy Use Index according to the Climate Change Performance Index 2023. Egypt also jumped 42 places in the World Bank’s 2022 GovTech Maturity Index (GTMI) to become among the top 10 fastest growing economies in the world in 2022 as per the International Monetary Fund.

In terms of conferences and events, Egypt launched the World Youth Forum 2022 and Egypt’s Economic Conference 2022, and hosted the UN Climate Change Conference 2022 (COP27), the center further noted.

The first eco-friendly bike-sharing system was also launched in Egypt, the first whole lung transplant in Egypt was performed at Ain Shams Specialized Hospital.

The “Journey of the Holy Family” to Egypt was registered on the UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Source: State Information Service Egypt

Al Azhar plays key, pivotal role towards Egyptian Muslim families abroad: minister

Minister of State for Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates’ Affairs Soha Gendy has underscored Al Azhar’s key, pivotal role towards Egyptian Muslim families abroad, especially amid the existence of different cultures and extremist groups that may affect some weak minds and easily influenced people.

Gendy added that she has discussed with Al Azhar Grand Imam Ahmed el Tayyeb some issues of interest for Egyptian expats, foremost of which are the family ones emanating from their move to external societies of different cultures.

The minister made the remarks as she received Al Azhar imam’s adviser on foreign students affairs Nahla el Saeedy.

The meeting touched on means of fostering bilateral cooperation, with the emigration minister praising Al Azhar imam for appointing Saeedy as his adviser; to be the first woman ever to hold such a post at Al Azhar.

Meanwhile, Saeedy said she is looking forward to cooperation with the emigration ministry in whatever field that may benefit Egyptian expats.

Source: State Information Service Egypt

Planning minister follows up on plan for National Governance Index

Minister of Planning and Economic Development Hala El Said conferred on Friday with Executive Director of the National Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development (NIGSD) Sherifa El-Sherif to follow up on the status of implementing a plan for the National Governance Index.

In press statements, the minister said that the National Governance Index represents a self-diagnostic tool that monitors the reality of efforts made to strengthen governance, and how to improve it.

It also represents a basis through which the government can measure its performance in implementing development programs related to governance, added the minister.

On the objectives of the index, the minister pointed out that the index works also to identify strengths and weaknesses in Egypt’s performance and making recommendations, which will contribute to improving Egypt’s position in the index and other international indicators.

El Said said that the National Governance Index aims to monitor the national performance in governance and prepare an annual report in this regard in addition to the various fields of sustainable development at the economic, environmental and social levels.

Concerning the importance of establishing a national governance index, El-Sherif indicated that it consists in monitoring Egypt’s performance in various areas of governance, in addition to disseminating national policies and achievements in the areas of sustainable development, as well as improving performance, spreading societal awareness, and improving good governance practices.

Moreover, the establishment of the national governance index is highlighting efforts to be reflected in the international and regional indicators to classify Egypt, and identifying the strengths and weaknesses in Egypt’s performance, and coming up with recommendations, which will contribute to improving Egypt’s position in the index and other international indicators, El Sherif explained.

Source: State Information Service Egypt

Over 80,000 traffic violations recorded over past 24 hours – Interior Ministry

The Interior Ministry’s traffic department recorded 81,649 traffic violations over the past 24 hours.

The violations included overspeed, driving without license, parking breaches and expiry of car licenses.

The violations were recorded during security campaigns launched nationwide to maintain law and order in the streets.

The move comes as part of the Interior Ministry’s strategy that aims to enforce discipline and reduce road accidents.

All legal measures have been taken against violators.

Source: State Information Service Egypt

Interior ministry extends subsidized ration initiative till end of January

The Interior Ministry announced Friday it would extend the 23nd phase of an initiative dubbed “Kolena Wahed” (We are all one) till the end of January.

The initiative aims to provide several subsidized food commodities to citizens with high quality and low prices.

Goods are available at the initiative’s outlets with a discount ranging between 25% to 60% compared to other shops to ease economic burdens on the citizens.

Source: State Information Service Egypt

Agriculture Ministry denies news on closure of Giza Zoo

Mohammad Ragai, the head of the Central Administration of Zoos, dismissed on Friday news circulated about the closure of Giza Zoo, saying that no decision was taken in this matter so far.

In a statement, Ragai said Giza Zoo is open daily and will continue receiving visitors, adding that it belongs to the Agriculture Ministry and current measures to renovate it along with Orman Botanical Garden come as part of the State’s vision to upgrade the two gardens in a bid to regain their once-great historical glory.

The Giza Zoo, which was built by Khedive Ismail and opened on 1 March, 1891, is the third oldest in the world and the oldest in Africa.

The zoo was first established as a botanical garden over an area of about 80 acres.

Source: State Information Service Egypt