Egypt s total government debt service hit EGP 406.2 billion for the year 2017/18, up from EGP 370.7 billion in 2016/17, a report by the Central Agency for Public Mobilisation and Statistics (CAPMAS) showed on Wednesday. According to the report, the government debt service went up by EGP 35.5 billion for 2017/18, hitting the EGP 400 billion benchmark.

Transport Ministry Spokesperson Mohamed Ezz denied media conjecture that an unknown person deliberately caused Sunday’s train accident that injured six near Aswan, by removing the railway bars’ nails. While early reports attributed this claim to Transport Minister Hisham Arafat, Ezz stressed on Tuesday that Arafat made no such statement. He maintained that the Ministry is still awaiting final reports from specialized committees on the incident, as well as the results of investigations carried out by the public prosecution.

Members of Egypt, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and United States Army Special Forces continue to carry out the joint Egyptian-American military exercises "Eagle Response 2018" in Egypt s territorial waters on the Red Sea, according to a statement issued by the Egyptian Armed Forces on Monday. Egyptian armed forces spokesman Tamer El-Refaei said that the initial stages of training took place over the past few days, including theoretical lectures, and training on data and field skills and combat tactics by the US special forces.

Egypt s Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said on Monday that the government s IPO programme to float shares in a number of state-owned companies will contribute to energising the stock market, raising the market value of the companies shares, and diversifying sources of financing, in order to expand investments. Madbouly headed an economic ministerial committee meeting on Monday to discuss the latest developments in the government s IPO programme, as well as other issues, such as the reduction in public debt.

The Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation has signed an agreement with British Petroleum to drill in the Gulf of Suez region, Al-Ahram s Arabic website reported. The agreement was signed by Abed Ezz El-Regal, CEO of the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation, and Hesham Mekkawy, regional president of BP, North Africa.

Egypt s interior ministry has approved 21 Egyptian nationals requests to acquire alternative nationalities and relinquish their Egyptian citizenship. The decision was published in Egypt s official gazette on Monday, and came upon request of the citizens in accordance with Law 26 of 1975, which concerns Egyptian nationality.

Egypt s President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi answered Sunday, on the second day of the Sixth National Youth, questions sent by Egyptian youth on the situation in Palestine, Libya and Syria as part of the Presidential initiative, "You ask and the president will answer." In the session, El-Sisi answered several questions about the Middle East peace process and the so-called "Deal of the Century."

Egypt s Defence Minister Mohamed Zaki inspected armed forces security units in North Sinai governorate on Monday, to follow up on developments in Operation Sinai 2018, a comprehensive counter-terrorism operation underway since February. He passed on greetings to the troops from President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, praising their success and victories over terrorism in northern and central Sinai.

Egypt s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry discussed the latest developments in Libya with his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian on Thursday, according to a statement by Egypt s Foreign Ministry. The two foreign ministers spoke in a phone call, discussing the results of Le Drian s latest visit to Libya in the light of Egypt s support for stability, a political settlement and the unification of the Libyan army in the neighbouring country.

The Trump administration has decided to unfreeze $195 million in military aid to Egypt which it had previously withheld because of concerns over Egypt’s human rights record, a US State Department official said on Wednesday. The decision to allow Cairo to use the previously blocked funds is intended to recognize “steps Egypt has taken over the last year in response to specific US concerns” and in the spirit of strengthening the partnership with Egypt, the official said.

The United States will shortly release some military aid to Cairo it had suspended last year following talks with an Egyptian military delegation currently visiting Washington, sources close to the delegation told Ahram Online on Wednesday. Washington decided in August 2017 to withhold $195 million in military aid on the basis that it couldn t certify that Egypt had made sufficient progress on human rights and democracy, and said another $95 million in aid would be spent elsewhere in the region. Cairo at the time said the decision reflected "poor judgement" and could have "negative repercussions" on common interests.

Egypt s economy will grow 5.2 percent in the fiscal year that began in July, economists said in a Reuters poll, as Cairo pushes ahead with economic reforms that have strained millions of Egyptians living under the poverty line. The reforms imposed under a 2016 IMF-backed austerity plan tied to a $12 billion loan programme have revived economic growth in the Arab world s most populous country following years of political turmoil.

Egypt s President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi will inaugurate on Tuesday a number of new electricity mega projects in the country, including the Gabal El-Zeit wind farm, which is considered the largest in the world, according to the Egyptian presidency. Launched in 2015 in the Red Sea governorate, the Gabal El-Zeit wind farm will have a total of 300 wind turbines with an overall capacity of 580 megawatts.

Egypt s Meteorological Authority (EMA) announced on Tuesday that Egypt will see another spell of hot weather, with temperatures climbing to 40 degrees celsius (C) in several parts of the country during the next few days. The hot weather is expected to continue for the coming 48 hours in Cairo, although tempratures should ease during the night, according to EMA.

Egypt s National Archive has published a collection of original documents from the 23 July revolution, which saw the overthrow of the monarchy and the establishment of an Egyptian republic in 1952. The documents include the original letter, dated 26 July, 1952, sent by the Free Officers Movement to King Farouk I. The letter demands that he abdicate his throne to his son, Prince Ahmed Fouad II, who was an infant at that time, and never ruled the country.

Egyptian authorities are going to close Rafah Crossing on the border with Gaza on Monday for 24 hours, Egypt s state-owned news MENA reported. According to MENA, the closure comes on the occasion of the anniversary of the 23 July revolution, which is a national holiday for the public and private sectors in Egypt.

The World Bank s International Finance Corporation (IFC) will provide finance for the Egyptian private sector to the amount of $2 billion, Egypt s Ministry of Investment and International Cooperation announced Sunday. According to a ministry statement, the IFC finance will focus on the renewable energy field through 2019, as part of the partnership between Egypt and the World Bank.

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi warned on Sunday that attempts to provoke chaos and instability in Egypt by fuelling discontent is the most serious threat the country has faced in recent years. "The real threat our country is facing is being undermined from within; the pressure, the rumours, the terrorist acts, hopelessness and discontentment," El-Sisi said in a televised speech at a military graduation ceremony.

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi is beginning a two-day visit to Sudan Thursday, during which he will hold talks with Sudanese counterpart Omar Hassan Al-Bashir on bilateral ties, Egypt s state news agency MENA said. The duo will discuss recent developments in the region and issues of mutual interest.

Egypt s House of Representatives approved amendments to the law of residency and citizenship in its general session on Sunday, granting the Interior Minister the authority to grant Egyptian nationality to the new category of residents with a deposit of LE7 million, after half of the 10-years period stipulated earlier passes (5 years). According to the amendments, the State Treasury will claim the deposit s value. The new amendments sparked widespread controversy and overall mixed reactions.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has released a report titled Egypt Moving Forward: Key Challenges and Opportunities, where it highlighted the country s economic challenges in the coming years. The report said that the country should aim to make use of its rapidly growing population, modernise its economy, and provide a modern social safety net to protect the most vulnerable in society.