Egypt unveils plan for new desert city in latest megaproject
The new city, named Jirian meaning "Flow" in Arabic, is part of Egypt's Nile Delta scheme, a massive agricultural initiative...Geostrategy
Saudi top diplomat says ‘at vanguard’ of efforts to rebuild Syria after 14 years of civil war
On a visit to Riyadh earlier this month, US President Donald Trump said he would lift US sanctions on Syria,...Geostrategy
US targets Houthi and Iranian drones in fresh strikes
CENTCOM earlier announced that the USS Carney had shot down an anti-ship ballistic missile fired by the Houthis, and then...A US warship also shot down an anti-ship missile fired by the Houthis
American forces also destroyed a Houthi surface-to-air missile on Wednesday
Efforts to pause Israel-Palestine war gain pace amid fierce fighting
Palestinian Territories - International efforts towards a new pause in the devastating Gaza war gathered pace Wednesday, as Israel bombarded...Hamas was reviewing a proposal for a six-week truce in its war with Israel, a source told AFP, after mediators gathered in Paris
While talks take place, the population of Gaza is starving to death due to constraints imposed on humanitarian aid
Houthi rebels target commercial vessel with a missile
Maritime security firm Ambrey said that a merchant ship had been targeted with a missile in southwest of Aden, Yemen....The rebels have carried out some 30 attacks on commercial shipping and naval vessels
US forces on Wednesday destroyed a missile belonging to the Houthi rebels
UN says Israel-Hamas war leaves Gaza ‘uninhabitable’
Since the relentless Israeli aerial and ground assault, triggered by Hamas's deadly October 7 attacks inside Israel, the United Nations...UNCTAD said Gaza was in a dire state before the war erupted, with a 17-year blockade and repeated military operations leaving around 80% of the population dependent on aid.
It would take seven decades for the territory to return to just its 2022 GDP level even the reconstruction was started immediately.
Norway warns of consequences over UNRWA funding cut
"We urge fellow donor countries to reflect on the wider consequences of cutting their funding to UNRWA," Norwegian Foreign Minister...Thirteen countries, including major donors such as the United States, Germany, Britain and Sweden, have suspended funding to the UN agency
The funding is suspended over accusations that 12 on its staff members were involved in the October 7 attack by Hamas members against Israel
UN court rejects most of Ukraine’s ‘terror’ case against Russia
Kyiv had accused Moscow of being a "terrorist state" whose support for pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine was a harbinger...But ICJ tossed out most of Ukraine's claims, ruling only that Russia was "failing to take measures to investigate facts... regarding persons who allegedly committed an offence".
This case predates Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The ICJ will decide on Friday whether it has jurisdiction to rule in a separate case over that war.
IMF says Red Sea shipping down one-third due to Houthi attacks
"Container shipping... has declined by almost 30 percent," said Jihad Azour, director of the IMF's Middle East and Central Asia...The Iran-backed Houthis have launched more than 30 attacks on commercial shipping and naval vessels since November 19, the Pentagon said on Tuesday
Houthi attacks have prompted some shipping companies to detour around southern Africa to avoid the Red Sea, a route that carries about 12 percent of global trade
Yemen’s Houthis fire missiles at US warship: rebel statement
The Houthis, part of the anti-Western, anti-Israel "axis of resistance" of Iranian-backed groups, have been harassing Red Sea shipping for..."Iranian-backed Houthi fighters fired one anti-ship cruise missile from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen toward the Red Sea," a Centcom statement said
The Houthis have launched more than 30 attacks on commercial shipping and naval vessels since November 19, the Pentagon said on Tuesday
Palestinian aid agency can’t be replaced, UN says
Several countries, including the United States, Britain, Germany and Japan, have suspended funding to the UNRWA agency, and the UN...UNRWA said it has acted promptly over allegations by Israel
Israel accused UN Palestinian refugee agency of "hiring terrorists on a massive scale"
Pakistan ex-PM Imran Khan and wife get 14 years jail in graft case
Since being ousted in 2022, Khan has been buried by court cases he claims have been triggered to prevent his...Khan and his wife were found guilty of graft in a case involving gifts he received while premier, after he was Tuesday handed 10 years in a case related to leaking state secrets
Pakistan goes to the polls next Thursday in a ballot already marred by allegations of rigging, with Khan barred from running and his party subject to a massive crackdown
