عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Arab World

Egypt Plans Desert City Supplied with Diverted Nile Water

A general view of a farmland with houses on small island next to crowded residential buildings and bridges on the bank of River Nile, as continuous population growth and urban sprawl erode the banks of the River Nile, in Cairo, Egypt, May 22, 2025. (Reuters)
A general view of a farmland with houses on small island next to crowded residential buildings and bridges on the bank of River Nile, as continuous population growth and urban sprawl erode the banks of the River Nile, in Cairo, Egypt, May 22, 2025. (Reuters)
TT
TT

Egypt Plans Desert City Supplied with Diverted Nile Water

A general view of a farmland with houses on small island next to crowded residential buildings and bridges on the bank of River Nile, as continuous population growth and urban sprawl erode the banks of the River Nile, in Cairo, Egypt, May 22, 2025. (Reuters)
A general view of a farmland with houses on small island next to crowded residential buildings and bridges on the bank of River Nile, as continuous population growth and urban sprawl erode the banks of the River Nile, in Cairo, Egypt, May 22, 2025. (Reuters)

Egypt unveiled plans on Sunday to build a desert city that will see about 7% of Egypt's annual Nile River quota rerouted from fertile delta land to pass by upscale glass-fronted housing units and eventually a large agricultural project.

Egypt, facing mounting water shortages, power constraints, and a deepening economic crisis, wants the development to help increase the value of state assets and boost land prices through "non-traditional, innovative ideas," Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said in a statement announcing the project.

About 10 million cubic metres of Nile water will flow daily to the 6.8 million sq metre (2.63 sq mile) Jirian city, 42 km (26 miles) west of downtown Cairo, helping irrigate a 2.28 million acre New Delta agricultural project, developers said.

Three private developers signed the official agreement, with the state represented by Mostakbal Misr for Sustainable Development, a military-affiliated agency. The project will include residential units, commercial zones, a yacht marina and a free economic zone.

Most Viewed

 
 
Arab World

Lebanon, Israel Start Day Two of Talks Despite Violence

Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted the southern Lebanese village of Kfar Tibnit on May 15, 2026. (AFP)
Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted the southern Lebanese village of Kfar Tibnit on May 15, 2026. (AFP)
TT
TT

Lebanon, Israel Start Day Two of Talks Despite Violence

Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted the southern Lebanese village of Kfar Tibnit on May 15, 2026. (AFP)
Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted the southern Lebanese village of Kfar Tibnit on May 15, 2026. (AFP)

Lebanon and Israel opened a second day of talks in Washington on Friday, diplomats said, despite a new flare-up of violence with Israel striking its northern neighbor. 

Envoys from the two countries, which have no diplomatic relations, resumed talks at the State Department shortly after 9 am (1300 GMT), one diplomat said. 

A State Department official said that the first day of talks Thursday had been "productive," but Israel later said that a soldier was killed in southern Lebanon and it launched new strikes targeting Hezbollah. 

The United Nations humanitarian coordinator for Lebanon said the talks offer a "critical opportunity" to end the Israel-Hezbollah war.

"Diplomatic efforts now offer a critical opportunity to stop the violence," Imran Riza said in a statement, adding that he hoped "ongoing negotiations will pave the way toward a political solution".

"Airstrikes and demolitions continue daily, with an unacceptable toll on civilians and civilian infrastructure," he added.

Israeli attacks have killed at least 2,951 people since the start of the war on March 2, according to Lebanon's health ministry.

Arab World

Israel Army Says Striking Hezbollah Sites in Tyre Area of South Lebanon

Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted a neighborhood in the southern Lebanese city of Tyre on May 15, 2026. (AFP)
Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted a neighborhood in the southern Lebanese city of Tyre on May 15, 2026. (AFP)
TT
TT

Israel Army Says Striking Hezbollah Sites in Tyre Area of South Lebanon

Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted a neighborhood in the southern Lebanese city of Tyre on May 15, 2026. (AFP)
Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted a neighborhood in the southern Lebanese city of Tyre on May 15, 2026. (AFP)

Israel's military said Friday it was striking Hezbollah targets in the Tyre area of south Lebanon, as the two countries entered the second day of US-brokered talks in Washington.

"The military has begun striking Hezbollah infrastructure sites in the area of Tyre in southern Lebanon," the army said in a statement, hours after issuing evacuation warnings for five towns and villages.

An AFP correspondent saw strikes in the area.

In a separate statement, the military said "a number of explosive drones" had fallen in several areas of northern Israel, with no injuries reported.

The exchanges of fire come despite a truce with Lebanon intended to halt the fighting.

Arab World

Palestinian Authority Says Teen Killed by Israeli Forces in West Bank

Palestinian boys from a local soccer academy run after the ball during a training session at the municipal stadium of the West Bank City of Nablus, Thursday, May 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
Palestinian boys from a local soccer academy run after the ball during a training session at the municipal stadium of the West Bank City of Nablus, Thursday, May 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
TT
TT

Palestinian Authority Says Teen Killed by Israeli Forces in West Bank

Palestinian boys from a local soccer academy run after the ball during a training session at the municipal stadium of the West Bank City of Nablus, Thursday, May 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
Palestinian boys from a local soccer academy run after the ball during a training session at the municipal stadium of the West Bank City of Nablus, Thursday, May 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

The Palestinian Authority said Friday that a 15-year-old was killed by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank, while the Israeli army said he had been throwing stones at Israeli cars on a road.

The authority's health ministry said it had been informed of the killing of Fahd Zidan Oweis. He was "shot dead by the (Israeli) forces at dawn today in the town of Al-Lubban al-Sharqiyya in the Nablus governorate. His body has been withheld," it said.

The Israeli army told AFP it "eliminated a masked terrorist" who had "hurled rocks towards Israeli vehicles on a central road, endangering lives.”