Capital of Egypt, the 9.8+ million inhabitant metropolis
World Food Programme cuts Gaza aid by half, leaving 1.1 million people dependent on food or cash assistance instead of 1.6 million. Rations are reduced, hot meals decreased, and cash aid shrinks, intensifying hunger as border closures and economic collapse deepen hardship.
AP and partners report a thriving illicit trade at Gaza's border, with cigarettes, dual-use goods, tech, and daily essentials flowing in despite restrictions. The trade is profiting both sides, fueling prices for residents while supporting militant and military actors. Authorities say flows have increased since a fragile ceasefire, though remain well below prewar levels.
The army has begun absorbing RSF defectors after a wave of defections, with more fighters crossing from Darfur and Kordofan. Security checks and swearing-in are underway, as authorities vet defectors amid ongoing fighting and accusations of war crimes.
The United States proposes expanding the UN arms embargo to cover all of Sudan and drone-related technology, while the Security Council weighs tougher measures amid intensifying drone strikes and external support. Darfur remains a flashpoint as the embargo’s future hinges on a veto-wielding Security Council.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has arrived in Cairo for a state visit, his first to Egypt in a decade, to mark 70 years of diplomatic ties and sign economic and security agreements. Talks with President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi will focus on Gaza, Red Sea shipping, the Nile dam dispute, AI and expanded Chinese investment in the Suez Canal zone.
Chinese president Xi Jinping has visited Cairo for the first time in a decade and has met President Abdel Fattah el‑Sisi. The two governments have signed new economic deals, launched a third phase of the Suez Canal industrial zone and discussed cooperation on artificial intelligence, defence and maritime security as regional trade routes face disruption from the US‑Israel war with Iran.
A bus traveling between Dahab and Nuweiba in South Sinai has overturned, injuring 28 others. The Egyptian Health Ministry says 20 ambulances were dispatched to the scene; Jordanian authorities report casualties among Jordanian nationals. Authorities have not released a cause, but local media cite a tire blowout. The incident follows Egypt’s long history of deadly road crashes and underscores ongoing road-safety concerns.
Defence Minister Katz has stated that there is no real solution for Gaza without migration, saying Israel is prepared to relocate Gazans by sea, air, and other means. The idea is being discussed as part of a broader debate over displacement, with international concern growing over humanitarian conditions in Gaza and the West Bank.
Leeds Crown Court has convicted two men, Baqa Haider and Nathan Rivers, for their roles in an "industrial scale" scheme that processed criminal cash into gold and exported it with fake invoices. Haider has been jailed for six years; Rivers has received a 27‑month suspended sentence and a curfew. Police are still seeking three men sentenced in absence.
Negotiations for a landmark all-British heavyweight fight have stalled over venue and contract terms. Fury is pressuring Joshua to confirm a November showdown, with Usyk floated as a potential backup. The parties have signed separate UK deals, but location remains unsettled as promoters weigh Wembley versus Madison Square Garden.
The United States plans to withdraw its military coalition from Iraq by Sept. 30, 2026, as Baghdad and Washington finalize the exit, with air defence systems in Erbil to be removed and weapons under state control to follow. The transition aims to prevent a security vacuum while maintaining security cooperation.
Iran's state media has touted a new missile test against a US warship, with Tehran claiming a turning point in its defense. The US has hit Iranian oil tankers in response, and both sides warn of further escalation as shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains contested.
Air quality in major MENA cities is deteriorating amid rapid urbanization, with health, productivity and tourism at stake. A multipronged approach is urged to curb pollution and safeguard long-term development.
Archaeologists uncover a mastaba at Saqqara dating to Egypt’s Fifth Dynasty, built for Yunmen, a high-ranking official, and his father Ity. The site includes two chapels, painted reliefs, and a false door, with colors well-preserved after more than 4,000 years. The find supports ongoing efforts to boost Egypt’s tourism through new discoveries.
Palestinian filmmakers have unveiled a Gaza Cinema Academy initiative advancing a nine‑month Gaza Filmmaking Diploma and planning to create an accredited degree, with aims to connect Gaza’s storytellers to global audiences and festivals.
Israel has demolished more than 2km of Hezbollah tunnel infrastructure beneath the Ali al‑Taher ridge in southern Lebanon, using over 1,000 tonnes of explosives and creating a blast that registered as a 4.1‑magnitude tremor. The Israeli military says it has established operational control above and below ground and will hold a security zone while continuing strikes when necessary.
The U.N. Security Council has extended the Darfur arms embargo for one month as negotiations continue on potential changes. The United States is pushing for a countrywide ban and tougher sanctions on arms flows and aid workers, while Russia and others push back. The conflict in Sudan has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions.
The Pentagon inspector general has reported that Operation Epic Fury has cost $33.4 billion from 28 February to 30 June, including $22.3 billion on expended munitions. The report has found strategic inventory shortfalls, industrial bottlenecks for resupply, and millions in damage to aircraft, drones and diplomatic facilities.
Houthi forces have seized islands and ports on Yemen's Red Sea coast, taken control of access to the Bab al‑Mandeb strait and stepped up missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia. Saudi air defences have said they have intercepted incoming drones and missiles while shipping and global oil routes have been disrupted and prices have risen.
A six-storey building in Gaza City has collapsed, killing at least 12 people and injuring many more, with rescue teams racing to reach those trapped beneath the rubble as aid access remains constrained and winter risks loom.
The Bab al-Mandeb strait is now under Houthi control, threatening Red Sea shipping and Egypt’s Suez Canal revenues. Egypt and Saudi Arabia are pursuing security cooperation while reaffirming commitment to safe navigation amid US-led regional dynamics.
A series of mine collapses in West Kordofan, Sudan, have left dozens dead and many more missing. The Al-Zraa/Al-Zara mines near El-Nahud are under RSF control. Rescue efforts face equipment shortages and safety concerns amid informality in mining work.
Forty-seven antiquities seized at Beirut port in 2020 have been identified as Egyptian; Lebanon has handed the artefacts to Egypt after investigations with INTERPOL and Lebanese authorities. Five items were displayed at the handover ceremony, underscoring cooperation to combat illicit trafficking in cultural property.
Children in the UNRWA-run school in Nuseirat are returning to lessons as the academic year begins, but desks are scarce and some classrooms require students to sit on blankets on the floor, highlighting ongoing challenges to learning in Gaza.
The Yemen conflict has intensified as Houthi rebels clash with Saudi-backed government forces near the Kahboub Mountains, while Western powers weigh involvement. The UK agrees to defensive air-to-air refuelling for Saudi aircraft, and the US has not signaled any direct military engagement. Civilians are bearing the heaviest toll amid strategic moves around the Bab al-Mandeb strait.
New geophysical surveys have revived the possibility that hidden corridors behind Tutankhamun’s tomb may house space connected to Queen Nefertiti’s burial complex. Researchers propose drilling a narrow borehole to test anomalies north of KV62, potentially expanding Egypt’s most famous royal necropolis.
UNCTAD says Gaza’s economy has collapsed under war and blockade, with 92% of economic establishments damaged, daily per capita GDP at $0.58, prices up 274% since 2022, and unemployment above 90% of working-age people; West Bank also faces severe constraints from settlement expansion and withheld revenues.
UNRWA remains Gaza’s key health and education provider while a Board of Peace faces pressure over its plan to govern Gaza. Talks with UNRWA continue behind the scenes; reconstruction remains stalled a year after the ceasefire, and funding shortages threaten essential services.
Egypt has rested Mohamed Salah for the AFCON qualifier against South Sudan due to concerns over the artificial surface in Juba. Salah started the Angola match but was substituted, with the EFA citing surface-related injury risks. South Sudan visit on 29 September at Juba Stadium.
An Italian court has handed 10-year sentences to three Egyptian officers and acquitted one, in a landmark but contentious ruling over Giulio Regeni's 2016 death. The case has strained Italy–Egypt relations, with prosecutors arguing state involvement and Egypt denying it.
A Rome court has convicted three Egyptian officials in absentia for the abduction of Giulio Regeni, a Cambridge PhD student tortured before his death in 2016. A fourth defendant is acquitted; murder charges were dropped for the others. The ruling preserves diplomatic ties but could strain bilateral relations with Cairo.
A Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv has diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after an altercation on the flight deck. The airline has said all passengers are safe and accounted for. Israeli officials have said a pilot stabbed the co-pilot and tried to sabotage the aircraft; Israeli warplanes monitored the diversion and passengers restrained the assailant.
Independent Moray councillor Neil McLennan continues representing Buckie ward while living in Cairo, raising questions about constituency access. He remains entitled to a Moray Council salary as he works remotely, while official guidance suggests attendees should spend time with constituents.
UNRWA remains Gaza’s largest aid provider as the Board of Peace pushes ahead with reconstruction plans. UNRWA faces pressure over its future amid Israeli disarmament demands and US-backed governance shifts, while UNRWA staff continue delivering health, education and essential services in Gaza.
The Houthis’ renewed ground campaign against Yemen’s government forces has left hundreds dead and displaced at least 145,000 people this month. Health facilities are functioning at low capacity, with several damaged or closed, as the WHO warns of looming outbreaks amid shortages of medicines and supplies.
The Supreme State Prosecution has referred Lina Attalah, editor‑in‑chief of Mada Masr, to trial on a charge of operating a website without a licence. She was released on bail and faces heavy fines and possible closure of the outlet; her first court date is set for Oct. 27. The referral follows a Mada Masr report on prison protests and comes as prosecutions of independent journalists escalate in Egypt.
Libya’s eastern House of Representatives has replaced speaker Agila Saleh with Abdulnabi Al-Obeidi after approving a new rule limiting the speaker and deputies to a single 12-month term. The move follows parliamentary discontent and aligns with Haftar’s eastern bloc, raising questions about national reconciliation as UN-backed talks stall.
The Iran-backed Houthis have claimed new strikes against Saudi Arabia, targeting airports and military sites as fighting in Yemen widens. Saudi forces say they are intercepting missiles north of Riyadh, while ground and air operations on Yemen’s western coast intensify. The conflict risks disrupting regional shipping routes amid a broader regional confrontation.
The Rapid Support Forces have attacked in Sudan's Blue Nile region, killing civilians including children and wounding dozens. The UN has condemned the strikes and is calling for accountability amid what aid groups call the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, with millions displaced and children at risk.
Saudi-led forces have intercepted a ballistic missile fired by Houthi rebels toward Riyadh, officials and residents have reported. Recent Houthi strikes have hit King Khalid and Abha airports, killed foreign residents and wounded dozens, forced flight suspensions and prompted Saudi counterstrikes on Houthi positions in Yemen.
El Ni no is strengthening and is forecast to peak in December 2026. Observations show record sea-surface temperatures with far-reaching impacts on heat, rainfall, and droughts across regions. Forecasts warn of continued extreme conditions into 2027 as nations prepare.
Palestinian factions have reached understandings to postpone parliamentary elections in Gaza and the West Bank due to logistical hurdles in East Jerusalem and Gaza, with discussions centering on national dialogue and consensus. Abbas has set November 28 as the election date, but timing remains unsettled as factions weigh the path forward.
The King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh has been evacuated after a blast, with air traffic halted as the Houthis claim responsibility for attacks connected to the Yemen crisis. Saudi authorities have not commented, while officials say the situation is ongoing and evolving.
A Saudi-led coalition blames the Houthis for Saturday’s deadly attack on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport. The assault, hitting terminals 3 and 4, has led to airport closures and a spike in oil prices. US President Trump is weighing whether to join Saudi strikes as international officials report casualties.
Polish authorities have detained a 66-year-old man on suspicion of plotting attacks on Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz. Officials have said an email to the State Protection Service triggered emergency security meetings. Investigators say the suspect admitted nothing; prosecutors have charged him with nine offences, including plotting to overthrow state authorities using explosives.
Human-rights group Emergency Lawyers has said jets struck an artisanal gold-mining site on Saturday in the disputed Sudan–Egypt border region, killing at least 72 people and wounding dozens. Survivors have described multiple strikes and bodies on the ground; Egypt has not commented and independent verification remains difficult in the remote area.
Specialists from Rome and the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir have restored the Fayoum mummy portrait, the Tondo of the Two Brothers. The work, created on wooden panels, blends Egyptian and Greco-Roman traditions. Egypt will lend a major portion of the collection to a Rome exhibition, the first time it travels abroad, from November 2027 to May 2027.
Ethiopia's federal government has moved to intensify operations in Tigray as Eritrean forces are reported to be active alongside allied groups. The conflict has returned to the fore, sparking fears of a regional war and severe humanitarian consequences for millions previously dependent on aid.
Formula One has signed a 10-year agreement with Rwanda to host the African Grand Prix on a new, purpose-built FIA Grade 1 circuit in Bugesera, about 40km south of Kigali. The deal, announced in Kigali, has set the first race for the early 2030s and forms part of a wider development to drive tourism, jobs and motorsport training while prompting sportswashing concerns.
The Saudi-led coalition has warned civilians in Sanaa to evacuate the al-Sabah oil facility area ahead of possible strikes. The Houthis have warned of a tough response, while multiple air and missile attacks have targeted Riyadh and other sites, prompting travel advisories.