🇪🇬 Egypt Independent

Lead story

Tech boom vs oil crisis: Asia’s new economic reality is a warning for the world

Taipei, Taiwan — In South Korea, a global energy supply crunch has hit hard. Officials have advised energy conservation, cut growth forecasts and warned of fallout from high inflation and 17-year lows in the value of its currency. Yet the nation’s largest companies are raking…

Is the Iran war costing Americans $29 billion or $1 trillion?

The Pentagon says the cost of the Iran war is $29 billion, a figure that’s higher than the $25 billion price tag it issued to Congress two weeks ago. But according to one war budgeting expert, the conflict will ultimately cost US taxpayers at least $1 trillion. On Tuesday, a…

As the US starves it of oil, Cuba is pulling off one of the fastest solar revolutions on the planet — with China’s help

Cuba is struggling with devastating nationwide blackouts as the United States’ effective oil blockade strangles fuel supplies. But this crisis may also be accelerating a China-backed clean energy revolution that’s been quietly unfolding in the Caribbean nation. Cuba is…

A war-weary globe watches closely as rivals Trump and Xi prepare for Beijing face-off

Beijing/Washington DC — US President Donald Trump’s high-stakes visit to China this week is a historic opportunity for the world’s two largest economies to reframe their trade relationship — and the tone of their rivalry. But to get there, he and Chinese leader Xi Jinping must…

Malak Zaher and Hisham Gamal steal the show at the Cannes Film Festival’s red carpet

Egyptian actor and producer Hisham Gamal and his wife, actress Malak Zaher, beamed at red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival at the 79th edition of the world’s most prestigious film event, which kicked off on Tuesday evening, May 12, and is set to run until May 23. The couple…

Details on France’s new law on returning looted artifacts – and what it means for Egypt

French President Emmanuel Macron has ratified a law facilitating the return of looted artifacts from the French colonial period. The law grants the government the authority to return artifacts in the public domain to their countries of origin through an official document,…

Israel announces 18 soldiers killed in renewed Lebanon clashes

The Israeli army announced on Tuesday that 18 officers and soldiers have been killed and 910 others are wounded since the resumption of fighting in early March at southern Lebanon. It noted that 190 officers and soldiers were wounded in the past two weeks alone, with 114 of the…

PM reviews investment zones system to boost local, foreign investments

Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly reviewed on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, with Investment and Foreign Trade Minister Mohamed Farid the investment zones system as one of the key mechanisms for attracting and stimulating local and foreign investments. During the meeting, the minister…

Heatwave gripping Egypt to ease on Friday and Saturday: EMA

The Egyptian Meteorological Authority (EMA) forecasts continued high temperatures across most of the country on Wednesday, but announced the heatwave would ease on Friday and Saturday. Temperatures are expected to rise again on Sunday, however. Moderate temperatures are…

Egypt, Norway tackle green energy technology

Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawi affirmed on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, the depth of ties between Egypt and Norway, praising Norway’s pioneering experience in managing energy resources and developing technology, as well as the role played by major Norwegian…

Egypt condemns Iranian infiltration attempt into Kuwait

Egypt condemned on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, the attempted infiltration carried out by a number of Iranian elements into Bubiyan Island in Kuwait, which resulted in the injury of a member of the Kuwaiti Armed Forces. In a statement issued by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign…

Egypt, Poland hold round of political consultations

Egypt and Poland held on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, a new round of political consultations at the headquarters of Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Egyptian Expatriates, headed by Assistant to Foreign Minister for European Affairs Wael Hamed and…

In wild late-night posting spree, Trump attacks Obama with imaginary quote and false conspiracy theories

President Donald Trump was at it again. On Monday night, Trump embarked on one of his periodic late-night social media posting sprees. As usual, his dozens of posts and reposts were littered with debunked conspiracy theories and other wildly inaccurate claims – many of them…

Australia’s Trump Tower plans scrapped as developer says brand has become ‘toxic’

Plans to build Australia’s first Trump Tower have been scrapped just three months after it was announced, with the local developer saying the Trump brand has become “toxic.” “Let’s just say that with the Iran war and everything else, the Trump brand was increasingly unpopular…

Trump downplays need for China’s help in war with Iran before his trip

President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he plans to have a “long talk” about the Iran war with Chinese leader Xi Jinping when they meet in Beijing, though he downplayed the idea he would need China’s help in ending the conflict. “I don’t think we need any help with Iran. We’ll…

Israel is worried that Trump will strike a ‘bad deal’ with Iran, leaving war objectives unmet

Israel is concerned that US President Donald Trump may strike an agreement with Iran before addressing some of the key issues that drove the two countries to launch the war in the first place, multiple Israeli sources have told CNN. A deal that leaves Tehran’s nuclear program…

ChatGPT encouraged FSU shooter, victim’s family alleges in new lawsuit

The family of a victim of last year’s Florida State University mass shooting filed a lawsuit Sunday against OpenAI, alleging ChatGPT “inflamed and encouraged” accused shooter Phoenix Ikner’s “delusions” ahead of the attack. The lawsuit filed in Tallahassee follows the first…