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International, Israel, Lead, Middle East, News, Palestine

February 19, 2025

Egypt Calls for International Plan to Rebuild Gaza Without Displacing Palestinians

International Desk

Madrid, Spain – Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Wednesday urged the international community to adopt a plan to reconstruct war-torn Gaza without displacing its Palestinian residents. This call comes in response to a controversial proposal by U.S. President Donald Trump, which has sparked anger among Arab nations.

“We stressed the importance of the international community adopting a plan to reconstruct the Gaza strip without displacing Palestinians — I repeat, without displacing Palestinians from their lands,” President al-Sisi emphasized during a press conference with Spain’s Prime Minister in Madrid.

Trump’s proposal suggests transforming Gaza into an international beach resort after resettling its Palestinian inhabitants. He has called on Jordan and Egypt to take in the displaced Palestinians. However, Egypt, Jordan, and other Arab states have rejected the plan and are working on an alternative, though progress appears slow.

President al-Sisi also highlighted the critical role of the U.N. Palestinian Refugee Agency (UNRWA), which provides essential aid, health, and education services to millions of Palestinians in the territories and neighboring countries. He stressed that UNRWA’s operations in Gaza and the West Bank are indispensable for the Palestinian people.

UNRWA has warned that its operations will suffer following an Israeli law that banned the agency from operating on Israeli land, including East Jerusalem, effective January 30. The law also prohibits contact between UNRWA representatives and Israeli authorities.

In a related development, United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan told U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday that the UAE rejects any proposal to displace Palestinians from their land. This stance was reported by the Emirati state news agency WAM.

The leaders of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the UAE, and Qatar are expected to discuss the situation in Riyadh this month before presenting their collective position at an Arab League summit in Cairo in March.

Russia Moves to Remove Taliban from List of Banned Organizations, Signaling Geopolitical Shift

International, News, Pacific, Tech & Startup

Botulism Scare in Sydney Following Unregulated Botox Injections

Lead, Middle East

Iranian Artist Zara Esmaeili Arrested for Performing Without Hijab for Four Months, No Updates on Her Condition

Americas

Manhattan Murder Suspect Indicted for Targeted Killing of UnitedHealth Executive

Asia, Lead

VTB CEO: BRICS Summit a “Slap in the Face” for the West

Entertainment

Alec Baldwin Manslaughter Case Officially Concluded as Prosecutors Drop Appeal

International, Russia, Ukraine

Kremlin Says Russian Peace Proposal for Ukraine Still in Progress

News

Elon’s ‘Paranoid’ About Tesla’s Robotaxi Rollout — And Rightfully So

Bangladesh, International

Doctor Arrested from Operating Theater During Treatment of Critically Ill Pregnant Patient in Bangladesh

Bangladesh, India, International

India Revives 1971 War-Era Air Base to Counter China-Bangladesh Military Nexus

Bangladesh, International, News

2.1 Million Jobs Lost in First Half of FY25 — 86% Were Women in Bangladesh: CPD

International, Lead, US

Trump Administration Imposes Stricter Press Restrictions at the Pentagon

More News

Americas, Lead

Biden Commutes the Majority of Federal Death Sentences

President Joe Biden has commuted the sentences of 37 out of 40 federal death row inmates, converting their sentences to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. The three individuals excluded from this decision are Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, responsible for the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, and Robert Bowers and Dylann Roof, who were convicted for the […]

Entertainment, International

Sydney Sweeney Takes on Iconic Poe Role in Upcoming Film

Sydney Sweeney is set to take on another major role, following her busy 2024. The Euphoria star has landed the lead in The Masque of the Red Death, a darkly comedic and wildly revisionist adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe’s 1842 short story. The film, a collaboration between A24 and Picturestart, will be directed and written […]

Bangladesh, India

Seven Arrested in Tripura for Breaking into Bangladesh Consulate Amid Protests

Guwahati, India – Police in Tripura have arrested seven members of the Hindu Sangharsha Samiti for breaking into the Bangladesh consulate, vandalizing property, and desecrating the Bangladeshi national flag, officials confirmed on Tuesday. The incident occurred during protests organized by the group in response to Bangladesh’s recent arrest of Hindu religious leader Chinmoy Krishna Das […]

Americas, International, US

Trump’s Defense Secretary Nominee Faces Scrutiny Over Sexual Assault Allegations and Settlement

President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, reportedly paid a settlement to a woman who accused him of sexual assault in an incident dating back to October 2017. Hegseth denies the allegations, claiming the encounter in Monterey, California, was consensual, according to his attorney. Local authorities confirmed that an investigation into “an […]

Asia, India

India-Sri Lanka to Review Ambitious Connectivity Projects as New Leadership Takes Charge

Sri Lanka’s new President, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, has sparked a re-evaluation of major infrastructure projects with India, including the ambitious Ram Setu land bridge proposal. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the first global leaders to congratulate Dissanayake on his electoral win, emphasizing a shared goal of deepening bilateral ties. Connectivity remains central to […]

Asia, India, International, Lead, Middle East, News, Pakistan

India Criticizes Pakistan’s Misuse of OIC Platform Ahead of PM Modi’s Saudi Visit

April 19, 2025 – New Delhi, India: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has strongly condemned Pakistan for its longstanding misuse of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) platform, calling it a habitual practice aimed at pushing anti-India narratives. The remarks were made during a special briefing ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official visit […]

Americas

US Air Force Base Closes Airspace Due to Drone Activity

Authorities temporarily restricted airspace over Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, a key U.S. military installation, for nearly four hours late Friday and early Saturday following reports of drone activity. The base, located near Dayton, Ohio, took precautions to monitor the situation, according to Bob Purtiman, chief of public affairs for the 88th Air Base Wing. The […]

Bangladesh, Opinion

To Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus: Drop all cases against journalists and set them free!

If Bangladesh wants to be recognized as a true democracy, the country has to act as one I have always loved Bangladesh. Ever since I was there for the first time, in 2004. At the time I worked as an intern for the Daily Star, the leading English newspaper of the country. I had never been […]

Asia, International, Lead, News

Thousands Rally for the Restoration of Monarchy in Nepal, Supporting Former King

Thousands of supporters gathered in Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu, to demand the restoration of the monarchy and show their support for former King Gyanendra Shah. After completing a tour of western Nepal, Gyanendra Shah arrived at Tribhuvan International Airport on Sunday, March 9, where nearly 10,000 supporters greeted him. They chanted slogans such as, “Vacate the […]

Americas, US

JD Vance Meets Vatican Officials Amid Migration Policy Disputes

April 19, 2025 – Vatican City: U.S. Vice President JD Vance met with senior Vatican officials on Saturday, addressing sharp differences over the White House’s crackdown on migrants. The discussions, held at the Apostolic Palace, were described as cordial but highlighted ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and the Holy See.Vance, a Catholic convert, met […]

May 27, 2025 2:35 pm