Capital and largest city of Egypt, hub of politics, culture, and commerce
Palestinian doctor Hussam Abu Safiya, director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in Gaza, has been detained by Israel without charge since December 2024. New medical assessments describe severe injuries and deteriorating health, with rights groups and international bodies urging independent medical review and his immediate release.
Fincantieri has signed a contract to build a third Four Seasons yacht for Marc-Henry Cruise Holdings. The ship will be built in Ancona and delivered in 2031, following the success of Four Seasons I and II. The new 207-metre, 34,000-gross-ton vessel will feature all-suite lodgings, expansive terraces and multiple dining venues, extending a concept that blends luxury hospitality with advanced shipbuilding.
Lee Cronin's new horror film 'The Mummy' has been released, drawing criticism for its overlong runtime, tonal confusion, and lack of scares. Critics note it diverges from traditional mummy stories, focusing on gore and visual effects, but fails to deliver suspense or character depth. The film is part of Universal's effort to reboot classic monsters.
Palestinian Fatah has begun its 8th General Conference with around 2,580 delegates across Ramallah, Gaza, Cairo and Beirut to elect the Central Committee and Revolutionary Council, amid questions about succession to President Mahmoud Abbas and the movement’s future.
Fatah has held its eighth General Conference and has re-elected Mahmoud Abbas as movement chair while voters have elected a new Central Committee. Marwan Barghouti has topped the vote, Majed Faraj and Jibril Rajoub have won seats, and Yasser Abbas has secured a place on the Central Committee.
The latest reports show authorities intensifying crackdowns on dissent, with multiple arrests and prosecutions in Egypt and Morocco, while Russia pursues penal actions against critics abroad. Protests and detentions are part of a broader pattern of government hostility toward voices of dissent.
A seven‑month‑old Palestinian boy, Sam Fahd Abu Haikal, has been killed and his parents have been wounded after an Israeli soldier has fired at the family’s car in Tel Rumeida, south of Hebron. Rights group B'Tselem has released video that it says shows the vehicle was stopping, and Israel’s military has opened a Military Police investigation.
The Israeli Defense Forces have intensified strikes against Hamas and allied groups in Gaza, targeting commanders and operational cells. Across the Gaza Strip, the IDF says it is destroying weaponry, reconciling with ceasefire terms, and pursuing a broader security objective. Palestinian casualties and continued political negotiations shape the evolving conflict.
Sudanese authorities say Egyptian forces have detained hundreds of miners near the Sudan-Egypt border, with reports of casualties and seizures of mining equipment. Sudan’s leadership calls for investigation while experts highlight regional instability and the role of unregulated gold mining in fueling conflict.
Palestinians express alarm as Gaza ceasefire negotiations stall, raising fears of broader Israeli escalation and new displacement. Egypt hosts mediations amid deadlock over phase two, security and governance, while Israel expands operations in Gaza. Indirect talks continue with Hamas, underlining deep disagreements on weapons, governance and post-war arrangements.
The Board of Peace has convened with international figures to map a Gaza plan aimed at isolating Hamas and kicking off a “temporary reconstruction” in Hamas-free zones. Donors have balked at funding, Israeli political gridlock persists, and legal immunity concerns shadow the mission as talks race to preserve momentum.
Morocco has eliminated the Netherlands 3-2 in a World Cup last-32 penalty shootout. Celebrations erupt in Casablanca, while police in The Hague deploy riot squads amid clashes as fans clash after the match.
Drones have intensified around El Obeid in North Kordofan, with attacks hitting fuel depots, water points and aid trucks. Civilians face acute shortages as electricity outages hinder water access. The international response calls for protection and humanitarian access while warning of potential mass displacement.
Archaeologists have uncovered a well-planned Byzantine-era city at the Dakhla Oasis and 18 tombs and related artifacts at Marina el-Alamein, close to Alexandria. The finds include a mid-fourth-century basilica, fortified walls, daily-life artifacts, and a 2.5-meter granite sarcophagus. Officials say the discoveries bolster Egypt’s tourism sector and cultural heritage profile.
Hamas has dissolved its emergency committee and says it will hand Gaza’s administration to a US-backed technocratic National Committee, aiming to demonstrate readiness to implement the ceasefire and advance reconstruction, while disarmament remains unresolved. Negotiations with mediators continue as the board assesses all actions.
Hamas has announced it is dissolving the Gaza ministries body, but will keep staff and ministries operating. A U.N.-supervised technocratic committee is set to take over civilian affairs, while security remains under Hamas in areas it controls. The Board of Peace says it will judge progress by actions, not promises, as ceasefire negotiations continue.
Israeli airstrikes have continued in Gaza since a fragile ceasefire took effect in October, with casualties reported across Jabaliya, Khan Younis, and Rafah. Palestinian health officials say the toll includes civilians and militants, while Israel says strikes target militants and infrastructure. The death toll stands at about 1,100 to 1,123 Palestinians, with five Israeli soldiers killed since the ceasefire.
Israeli strikes in Gaza City have killed four people, including a public-relations official for the Egyptian Relief Committee, as a World Cup screening event unfolds. Dozens are injured; ceasefire remains fragile while fighting continues across the Gaza Strip.
The Yemeni government has targeted Sanaa airport to prevent an Iranian plane from landing, spurring Houthi retaliation. The attack marks a sharp escalation after days of rising rhetoric, threatening a broader regional crisis as Gulf waterways face renewed pressure.