The Living Archives

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has issued an urgent call for an immediate ceasefire in the escalating conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon, urging stronger international efforts to halt the violence and facilitate the exchange of hostages in Gaza.The statement came during a high-level meeting on Saturday in Cairo with a bipartisan delegation from the US House of Representatives, led by Congressman Tom Cole, chair of the Appropriations Committee.During the talks, al-Sisi emphasized the critical importance of restoring peace and stability in the region, warning that if the violence continues unchecked, it could spiral into a broader regional war."Decisive action is needed to secure a ceasefire and initiate the exchange of hostages in Gaza," al-Sisi told the US delegation, stressing the urgency of these steps to prevent further escalation.Central to his remarks was Egypt’s long-standing position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict: that the establishment of an independent Palestinian state is not only necessary for resolving the current violence but is also the key to long-term peace and security in the Middle East."The creation of a sovereign Palestinian state is essential to defusing regional tensions and advancing towards a sustainable peace," the Egyptian leader stated, reaffirming Egypt’s support for a two-state solution.Egypt, alongside Qatar and the US, has been heavily involved in indirect negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas for several months, but no substantial agreement has been reached.The talks have been hampered by Israel’s refusal to end its military offensive in Gaza, withdraw its forces, and allow the return of displaced Palestinians to northern Gaza.Despite these diplomatic efforts, Israeli operations in Gaza have continued to intensify since October 2023.In addition to the Gaza conflict, cross-border fighting between Israeli forces and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon has escalated significantly in recent weeks.Late last month, Israel carried out extensive airstrikes and a ground invasion in Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah commanders, including the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.The violence has led to more than 1,500 deaths and displaced approximately 1.3 million people in Lebanon alone.Meanwhile, the situation in Gaza remains dire, with over 42,500 Palestinians killed since the war began.The latest Israeli operations have focused on northern Gaza, where airstrikes and ground invasions have decimated infrastructure, leading to widespread humanitarian suffering.Earlier this week, Israeli forces claimed to have killed Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas leader who took charge following the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in July.Despite the heavy toll, efforts to secure a ceasefire have been stymied by Israel's continued military objectives. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made it clear that any agreement would allow Israel to continue its military operations until all of its war goals are achieved.This hardline stance has drawn sharp criticism from the international community, as well as from regional powers like Egypt, which have been pushing for an immediate cessation of hostilities.Egypt has long been a key mediator in the region, and al-Sisi’s call for a ceasefire reflects growing concerns about the humanitarian disaster unfolding in both Gaza and Lebanon.

Russia’s Black Sea Fleet has been forced to move many warships from the naval base of Sevastopol on the Crimean peninsular, which Russia annexed in 2014, due to attacks by Ukraine, a Russian-installed official was quoted as saying on Sunday.The remarks by Dmitry Rogozin, a Russian-installed senator for the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia region and a former head of Russia’s space agency, are the first Russian official confirmation that the fleet has had to move from Sevastopol.Ukraine has repeatedly said its attacks on Russian warships in the Black Sea have forced Moscow to move ships to Novorossiisk.Rogozin told the Moskovsky Komsomolets newspaper that Russia needed to get more serious about its drone development, the organisation of its military drone units and the development of electronic warfare and satellite positioning systems.“A military-technical revolution is taking place before our very eyes,” Rogozin said of the development of drones and electronic warfare, adding that the pace of innovation was changing the situation at the front every month.“The Black Sea Fleet is an illustrative example,” Rogozin was quoted as saying. “It was forced to change, basically, its residence due to the fact that our large ships became just big targets for unmanned enemy boats.”Russia had been behind on drone technology at the start of the 2022 war, and although it has since made significant advances, it needed to move faster, particularly in the focus of its weapons spending and the creation of special drone regiments, Rogozin said.He said satellite and surface guidance systems that could overcome electronic warfare were of particular importance to allow accurate targetting.

European Union candidate Serbia will continue to refuse to impose sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine despite Western pressure, Serbia’s leader said after his telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday.Populist Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Instagram that he believes the call, what he said was his first in more than two years with the Russian president, will help “further development of relations and trust between Russia and Serbia.”“We talked as people who have known each other for a long time, as friends, and the ten-minute conversation was marked by a personal note, and we also talked about those who are weak (pro-Western) leaders,” Vucic said.Vucic quoted Putin as saying “what is good for Serbia is also good for Russia, what is good for the Serbs is also good for the Russians.”Vucic did not say whether he would accept an earlier invitation by Putin to attend a BRICS summit of emerging economies, led by Russia and China, in Kazan later this week.Although formally seeking EU membership, traditional Russian Slavic ally Serbia has refused to join Western sanctions against Russia over the war in Ukraine though it has reluctantly condemned Moscow’s aggression. Vucic has said that imposing the sanctions wasn’t in Serbia’s national interest.He said Sunday he expects criticism from the West of his conversation with Putin, but stated that “Serbia is a sovereign country which makes its own decisions.”He also thanked Russia “for providing sufficient quantities of gas for Serbia at favorable prices.” Serbia was almost completely dependent on the Russian gas but has recently agreed to start to diversify its supplies.Serbia, which was never part of the Soviet bloc, on Sunday marked the 80th anniversary of the liberation of its capital Belgrade from the Nazi World War II occupation, which was accomplished mostly thanks to former Yugoslavia’s communist partisans, but also the Soviet Red Army.Belgrade’s nationalist authorities marked the liberation date with a display of the pro-Russian sentiment, with thousands marching through Belgrade waving Russian flags and chanting slogans.At a meeting marking the anniversary, Vucic delivered a speech in the Russian language, which he said is a sign of respect for the Red Army, without which “there would not have been the liberation of Belgrade.”

With the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, many Israelis are sensing a window of opportunity to bring back the hostages still held in Gaza – and they are making their voices heard.Huge crowds of protesters gathered across several cities in Israel on Saturday, demanding Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government make the return of the hostages their top priority — something they believe has not been the case so far.Sinwar was a hardliner with little interest in negotiating with Israel. The US, which mediated the talks in Cairo, has repeatedly accused him of being one of the main blockers of a ceasefire deal.His demise could pave the way to a ceasefire agreement. But getting there will depend on Netanyahu.The prime minister has long been trying to balance the demands of his far-right coalition partners, who seem dead-set on refusing any kind of deal with Hamas, with the increasingly loud calls from Israel’s Western allies, including the US, who are pressuring him to strike an agreement and bring the war in Gaza to an end.Now he is once again facing large-scale protests calling for him to act.

Meta Confirms Layoffs at Instagram and WhatsApp Amid Cost-Cutting MeasuresMeta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, has announced another round of layoffs as part of its ongoing efforts to reduce costs and streamline its operations. This latest restructuring affects key teams within Instagram and WhatsApp, two of the company's most popular platforms.The layoffs, confirmed by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, are part of a broader strategy to focus on efficiency and profitability as the company navigates a challenging economic environment. While the exact number of employees affected has not been disclosed, it is expected to impact hundreds of workers across various departments.In a statement, Meta emphasized that the decision was driven by the need to optimize resources and focus on its long-term vision, including advancements in artificial intelligence, the metaverse, and enhancing user experience across its platforms. "We’re restructuring our workforce to ensure we can continue to innovate and grow while maintaining financial discipline," the statement said.Instagram and WhatsApp have both seen significant growth in recent years, but Meta's broader operations have been facing increasing scrutiny due to rising operational costs and competition from other tech giants. The company has previously cut budgets for several projects, including virtual reality initiatives, and closed down studios as part of its overall cost-cutting drive.This round of layoffs is part of Meta’s plan to cut tens of thousands of jobs globally, following previous workforce reductions earlier this year. Despite these moves, Meta remains committed to expanding its influence in areas such as AI, augmented reality, and digital commerce.The news has raised concerns among employees and industry experts, with many questioning how these layoffs might affect innovation and future development at Instagram and WhatsApp. However, Meta assured users that the platforms' core functionalities and future updates will not be compromised.As Meta continues to reshape its workforce, investors are keeping a close eye on how these moves impact the company’s stock price and overall market performance.

Hollywood icon Al Pacino, known for his legendary roles in films like The Godfather and Scarface, has made headlines for a more unexpected reason — his financial woes. According to recent reports, the veteran actor found himself in a dire financial situation after spending a staggering $50 million on extravagant purchases, including 16 luxury cars, 23 cellphones, and $400,000 on landscaping.Pacino, now 84, allegedly admitted he "didn't understand how money worked," leading to an overspending spree that left him nearly broke. The report claims that the actor had no idea how quickly his fortune was dwindling as he indulged in high-end cars, lavish home improvements, and multiple cellphones, which he replaced frequently due to habit or losing them.Financial advisors reportedly warned Pacino about his spending habits, but it was too late to reverse the damage. This revelation has stunned fans who always viewed Pacino as a shrewd and disciplined figure, both on and off the screen.Despite this financial misstep, Pacino continues to act and remains a beloved figure in the entertainment industry. However, his story serves as a cautionary tale of how even Hollywood's elite can fall victim to financial mismanagement.

In a bold move to secure its energy future, Amazon has announced plans to invest in the construction of three nuclear power plants. This decision comes as the tech giant grapples with the growing energy demands of its artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives and cloud services, which have skyrocketed in recent years.The company’s AI programs, including machine learning algorithms, generative AI models, and data-driven cloud services, require massive computing power, translating to a surge in energy consumption. Traditional energy sources have proven inadequate to keep pace with the increasing load, leading Amazon to explore alternative solutions.Amazon’s investment in nuclear energy marks a strategic shift toward sustainable, long-term power generation. These nuclear facilities, expected to come online over the next decade, will provide a reliable and carbon-free energy source, aligning with Amazon's broader climate pledge to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2040.

Rescue teams continue to search for dozens of missing residents in North Carolina after Hurricane Helene tore through the state, leaving behind a trail of destruction. The Category 4 storm, which made landfall earlier this week, has caused widespread flooding, power outages, and extensive damage to homes and infrastructure.Local authorities report that nearly 50 people remain unaccounted for, particularly in coastal areas where the storm surge was most severe. Emergency responders have been working around the clock to locate survivors amidst the rubble of collapsed buildings and submerged neighborhoods.Governor Roy Cooper declared a state of emergency before the hurricane hit, allowing resources to be mobilized quickly. Despite this, the sheer intensity of Helene overwhelmed some areas, with many residents forced to evacuate at short notice."Every hour counts in finding these missing people," Governor Cooper said during a press conference. "We’re doing everything we can to get people to safety and provide relief to the affected communities."