politics

Egypt calls for immediate move to Gaza peace plan phase two

Dr. Badr Abdel Ati, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Migration of the Arab Republic of Egypt, has emphasised the urgent need to move immediately to the second phase of US President Donald Trump’s peace plan regarding Gaza, after the near completion of the first phase. He stressed Egypt’s firm rejection of any attempts to divide the Gaza Strip or separate it from the West Bank.

During a press conference along with Johann Wadephul, Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs of Germany, in Berlin, Abdel Ati revealed that Egypt and Germany welcomed the UN resolution stipulating the establishment of three transitional mechanisms whose mandate ends in December 2027: the Peace Council, the International Stability Force, and the Palestinian Administrative Committee.

On the security front, he announced that Egypt is currently conducting training for Palestinian police personnel on its territory to avoid any security vacuum, confirming the presence of forces ready for immediate deployment. He called for European support through the (EUBAM) and (EUPOL) missions to qualify security cadres and ensure public order.

Regarding reconstruction, Abdel Aaty explained that Cairo is coordinating with Washington to set a date for an international conference under joint Egyptian-American chairmanship, based on the Arab-Islamic reconstruction plan adopted last March, with key participation from Germany and the European Union, to ensure the early recovery of the sector before the onset of winter.

Story by WAM

world

Macron wearing shades during Davos

During his address to global bigwigs at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, French President Emmanuel Macron came rocking sunglasses like a secret agent at a ski resort — and international media lost their minds over it.

Global headlines exploded: “Macron’s mystery shades!”

From CNN to BBC to The Hill, everyone zoomed in on the eyewear enigma while he roasted protectionism.

‘Harmless’

Media reports stated that he was first spotted January 15 at a French airbase with a bloodshot eye, he downplayed it as “completely harmless” and “l’oeil du tigre” (eye of the tiger), a Rocky III nod symbolising determination.

The aviator shades were likely Louis Vuitton Pilot Attitude with blue-tinted, mirrored lenses.

Macron stayed on indoors during his WEF speech on Tuesday (January 20), amid critiques of Trump’s tariffs and Greenland threats.

In his speech, the French head of state assailed Trump’s policies, accusing the US leader of actions that “openly aim to weaken and subordinate Europe.”

Meanwhile, Macron’s office confirmed the accessory necessity “for a while,” painless and vision-unaffected, resolving in 1-2 weeks. It has no impact on vision, and is common from strain/sneezing.

Business

Japan tourist arrivals hit record 42.7 million in 2025

Tourists to Japan hit a record 42.7 million in 2025, exceeding 40 million for the first time, Japan’s Tourism Minister, Yasushi Kaneko, told a press conference.

Total spending by inbound tourists reached 9.5 trillion yen ($60 billion) over the year, also ‌a record high.

WAM

People

UAE Urges Public to Improve Online Safety

The UAE Cybersecurity Council has urged the public to begin the new year by adopting smarter cybersecurity habits.

In an official post on its social media channels, the council highlighted the importance of following simple guidelines to stay safe online. These include securing home Wi-Fi networks, keeping devices and software up to date, verifying the safety of websites and applications before use, regularly reviewing app permissions, and deleting old or unused accounts.

The council also stressed the need to encrypt emails, use secure digital networks when connecting to public Wi-Fi, and back up important data.

It added that adopting these measures can help individuals better protect themselves and their information as the new year begins.

Story by Gulf News