All articles tagged with #egypt
Paleontologists analyzing phosphatic beds at Abu-Tartur, Egypt, uncovered 28 shark teeth belonging to five extinct species—including two new records for Egypt—revealing a nutrient-rich, open-shelf Cretaceous sea that once lapped northern Africa; the assemblage suggests distinct ecological niches and a productive marine ecosystem driven by upwelling, though the teeth represent a time-averaged snapshot rather than a single moment.
Archaeologists at Tell Abu Seifi in northeastern Egypt uncovered a large sandstone beam inscribed with Ramses II and Horus and found a fortified temple citadel, suggesting the site could be the ancient city of Mesen along the Horus Military Road—a route linked to biblical Exodus narratives. The find strengthens a historical hypothesis but is not conclusive, and researchers will continue excavations to verify the connection between the discoveries and the Exodus-era city.
US Middle East envoy Jared Kushner met Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya in Cairo to push the US-backed Gaza peace plan, a rare high-level engagement with mediators including Nickolay Mladenov and Tony Blair; talks reportedly focused on decommissioning Hamas weapons, Israeli withdrawal, and humanitarian aid, as Israel rejects the plan until Hamas is disarmed, while the ceasefire remains fragile amid ongoing violence and mass displacement in Gaza.
A new study of Bronze Age Greek artifacts finds 13 iron items with meteoritic origin (out of 91 iron pieces), likely imported from Egypt and used to craft luxury rings with gold, silver, or bronze, signaling elite status among the Minoan and Mycenaean cultures; the practice faded around 1200 BCE.
The 2 August 2027 solar eclipse—hailed as the 'eclipse of the century'—will deliver up to 6 minutes 23 seconds of totality at its peak in Egypt, with a path crossing Gibraltar, Spain, North Africa, and into the Middle East, presenting numerous viewing options across Europe and Africa; travelers are advised to book early as hotels fill up.
At least six people were killed when suspected Houthi forces attacked the Egyptian-owned cargo ship Tihamah in the Bab el-Mandeb strait, with four crew members (three Pakistanis and one Indonesian) killed and two rescue workers killed during a later evacuation; ten were injured. The attack, not claimed by the Houthis, would mark the first fatalities in a Houthi strike on shipping since the broader conflict began, and the vessel had been sailing from Salalah, Oman, to Djibouti.
Saudi Arabia opposed including Egypt in the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement with Turkey and Pakistan, citing tensions with Cairo and concerns that Egypt no longer offers the strategic value or reliable support Riyadh seeks. Turkish pressure to include Cairo clashed with Riyadh’s view that Cairo is more dependent on external powers and less capable militarily, while Turkey and Pakistan were seen as stronger partners. The pact remains open to Egypt in the future, but for now Cairo stays outside the alliance amid broader regional frictions and questions about Egypt’s loyalty and contribution to a new security framework.
Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan sealed a NATO-style security pact with a collective-defence clause, but Egypt declined to join for now, citing its sensitive ties with Israel and a preference to avoid being forced into conflicting blocs. Ankara has pushed for Cairo’s inclusion and suggests it could join later, while Egypt balances relations with Israel, the UAE and India and seeks strategic and economic breathing room amid shifting Middle East alignments.
Turkey seeks to expand the Mecca Joint Deterrence Agreement with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan to include more countries, with Egypt floated as a likely next member and other GCC states such as Qatar and Kuwait discussed; officials say the pact is not meant to replace existing alliances and would be calibrated to avoid forcing members into conflicts, while Egypt’s decision would hinge on legal/operational assurances and its ties to Washington.
A magnitude 5.3 earthquake struck near Suez in northeastern Egypt at a shallow 10 km depth, causing strong shaking near the epicenter and widespread tremors, including in Cairo, around 3 a.m. local time; no immediate reports of damage or injuries were provided.
A 5.3 magnitude earthquake struck Egypt near Suez, with the epicenter about 41 km northeast of the city; there are no reports of damage or injuries at this time, and the situation is developing.
Iran’s army says it attacked U.S. bases at Kuwait’s Ahmad al-Jaber Air Base and Bahrain’s Sheikh Isa Air Base with drones after a wave of U.S. strikes on Iran; Egypt reported a drone strike on two ships at the Damietta port, signaling wider regional spillover as maritime risk grows and oil prices rise, with Washington weighing tariffs on Iran in a sanctions bill.
New analyses confirm Tutankhamun’s iron dagger is meteoritic iron, with nickel and cobalt ratios matching iron meteorites rather than terrestrial ore. Earlier 2016 results and a 2022 follow-up converge on a meteoritic origin and point to a close match with the Kharga meteorite, though the exact source remains uncertain. The dagger’s hilt and other iron artifacts are still under study, highlighting Bronze Age sky-iron use and the craft, trade, and linguistic context surrounding “iron of the sky.”
Egypt's cabinet says a drone attack caused a fire on two ships at the Damietta LNG hub; Energos Winter and GasLog Salem were affected but there were no casualties, the port continued operating, and investigators are probing the incident with no responsible party yet identified.
A drone hit the Energos Winter, a US-owned LNG carrier, at Egypt’s Damietta port, igniting a fire that spread to the nearby Gaslog Salem. Crews were evacuated, the fire was contained, and investigators are probing the incident, which would be the first attack on Egyptian soil since the Iran–US war began, amid heightened regional tensions.