October 2026

Egypt's House of Representatives voted by a two-thirds majority to grant President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi a mandate to support Saudi Arabia, including strengthening its defenses. The session followed Sisi's request for parliamentary authorization, which he made after saying Egypt would not accept any infringement on Saudi Arabia or its security and stability and was ready to carry out any measure Riyadh requests to defend its sovereignty.

President Donald Trump said Iran is the worst state sponsor of terrorism and framed the choice before Washington as either reaching an agreement with Tehran or finishing it off entirely. "The question now is whether I make an agreement with the Iranians or eliminate them completely," he said. US Central Command has drawn up an expanded list of targets for bombing in Iran, a US official said, and Washington is preparing wide-ranging strikes with the decision resting with Trump.

Vote counting in Israel's Knesset election has passed the 85.6 percent mark with no side able to claim a majority, leaving coalition talks unresolved. The count of double-sealed envelopes is still under way, and the election committee has denied any fraud.

An Egyptian court ordered the closure of the news website Mada Masr and fined its editor-in-chief, Lina Attalah, 3 million Egyptian pounds. The ruling was reported by state-aligned and international outlets alike on Tuesday.

Senior officials from the Mecca Agreement states travelled to Tehran for a meeting with Iranian officials, with delegations from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan at the table. Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman headed the Saudi delegation to the talks between the Mecca agreement countries and Iran.

Egypt's House of Representatives has postponed its vote on a mandate for President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to support Saudi Arabia militarily, pushing the decision to next week. The chamber had taken up Sisi's request for authorization after he said Egypt would not accept any infringement on Saudi Arabia or its security and stability, and was ready to carry out any measure Riyadh requests to defend its sovereignty.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel's objective is to overthrow Iran's leadership, and accused Tehran again of trying to develop a nuclear bomb. He directed the army and the Mossad to bring down the Iranian regime, according to Xinhua's account of his remarks.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard has warned it will target the internet cables running beneath the Strait of Hormuz, saying it has "new targets," and Iranian leaders are described as preparing a wider new round of war with the United States. The Guard also threatened to carry the conflict beyond the Middle East, naming American interests, infrastructure and strategic facilities as potential targets.

President Donald Trump stopped a large planned Israeli attack on Iran, according to Sky News Arabia's account of the cancelled strike. The halt came as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted on resuming operations against Iran, and Tehran moved to prepare for a full-scale war.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cancelled all his election campaign activities after gunfire hit an Israeli military checkpoint in the occupied West Bank, and ordered a "full closure" imposed on the West Bank. The attack near Hebron (Al-Khalil) killed and wounded five Israeli soldiers, according to Al Jazeera's live coverage. Netanyahu vowed an operation without precedent since 1967.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi said Egypt will not accept any infringement on Saudi Arabia or its security and stability, and that Cairo is ready to carry out any measure Riyadh requests to defend its security and sovereignty. He called for an emergency parliamentary session to grant a mandate for that move.

A mine exploded on a tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, and a projectile struck a second vessel near Saudi Arabia. An Iranian agency reported a fire breaking out on another oil tanker east of the strait.

Moody's raised Egypt's credit rating to B3 and assigned a positive outlook, an upgrade reported across Egyptian outlets. The rating action was carried by pro-government and business coverage alike, including Al-Sharq Bloomberg.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi said his presidency will end and that he will not remain in power after 2030, affirming his commitment to the constitution. The remarks were carried in coverage of his statements on the 2030 presidential election.

Egypt's representative at the UN Security Council asked why the Council does not warn a neighbouring state that Egypt says is involved in the war in Sudan. The same Egyptian delegate said Khartoum has repeatedly declared its readiness to engage constructively with initiatives to end the fighting.

Egypt's public prosecution ordered the detention of six journalists from the 'Matsadaqsh' platform for 15 days pending investigation, according to pro-government and state outlets. The prosecution accused the detainees of joining the Muslim Brotherhood, a charge that carries lengthy pretrial detention under Egyptian law. The six were arrested in a case that has drawn attention to press freedoms in Egypt.

Concern over pneumonic plague has triggered action by China and Russia in Siberia, according to Sky News Arabia. The World Health Organization said it has experts specialized in high-risk pathogens, particularly plague, as reported by Youm7. The BBC published an explainer on what is known about the disease and whether there is a risk of it spreading among humans.

Russian strikes across Ukraine killed at least 24 people, including children, in one of the largest attacks on the country. President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the assault and said 11 people were killed. A new attack shook Kyiv, causing deaths and damage at several sites.

Eritrean forces have deployed in northern Tigray amid rising tension with Ethiopia, according to Sky News Arabia and Sada El-Balad. The deployments come as the Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies examines how Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed is managing the Ethiopian war. DW.com asks whether complex alliances could ignite a regional war in the Horn of Africa.

South Korea's president welcomed Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi's visit to Seoul, the first in 10 years, and highlighted the 'Miracle on the Han River' as a development model. The two sides emphasized a solid economic partnership between Egypt and South Korea.

The Ethiopian army has taken control of the town of Alamata in Tigray, the first such gain since fighting resumed in the region. The advance followed heavy clashes, and pro-government forces aligned with Addis Ababa announced the seizure of the strategic town.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) stated that Iran does not control the Strait of Hormuz and that thousands of ships continue to transit the waterway. CENTCOM described claims by Iran's Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) that it controls the strait as false.

Five people were arrested near the British air base at Fairford, a facility used by US forces, over an alleged plot to attack it. Britain has since released the suspects, drawing criticism from Washington.

The Egyptian Exchange lost about 254 billion pounds over seven consecutive sessions, with losses recorded across 13 sectors. Building materials and real estate stocks were at the forefront of the shares affected by the decline.

Egypt's Real Estate Tax Authority has made it mandatory for all citizens to register their residential units on the tax platform to prove whether they qualify for an exemption. The head of the authority stated that registration is obligatory for everyone, and residential housing is exempt from tax up to 8 million pounds. A 25 percent discount is available for those who register before September 30.