Archaeologists uncover ancient Byzantine city in Egypt’s western desert

• Pakistan urged the UN Security Council to prioritize diplomacy and de-escalation to prevent a wider conflict in the Middle East following Iranian attacks on Bahrain and Kuwait. • Islamabad officially condemned the strikes and expressed its firm support for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states.

• Ukraine's conflict with Russia has served as a critical demonstration of the future of warfare, exposing Russian military vulnerabilities and evolving combat strategies. • Myroslava Gongadze argues that the lessons learned over the past five years highlight a shift in the global security environment that NATO must now address.

• Former Singapore diplomat Bilahari Kausikan warned that Pakistan is "teetering on the brink of failure" during a discussion titled "On Keeping Perspective in Volatile Geopolitical Times." • Kausikan highlighted profound internal instability, systemic economic vulnerabilities, and increasing radicalization as primary drivers of the nation's domestic decay.

• Bilahari Kausikan, Chairman of the Middle East Institute, described Pakistan as a state "teetering on the brink of failure" during a National Press Foundation event. • Kausikan highlighted that the country is plagued by persistent domestic mismanagement, rising extremism, and a severe economic collapse.

• An analyst warns that Donald Trump's potential strategic outreach to Pakistan could lead to costly errors by repeating historical geopolitical mistakes. • The report suggests that Pakistan's renewed strategic importance may allow the country to avoid international scrutiny regarding its human rights record and domestic governance.

• Senator Marco Rubio is reportedly advocating for a diplomatic strategy in Lebanon that would allow for a prolonged or indefinite Israeli military occupation. • Critics argue that this approach ignores Lebanese sovereignty and risks destabilizing the region, potentially triggering a full-scale civil war.

• UN special political missions have served as a critical, often invisible instrument for maintaining global peace throughout the organization's 80-year history. • These missions focus on preventing the escalation of conflicts through diplomatic efforts that range from modest interventions to historic agreements.

• Afghanistan has become one of the world's least-funded humanitarian crises as global financing has dropped to its lowest level since 2019. • The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) highlighted Sweden's commitment to continuing aid allocations based on humanitarian need despite the global decline.

• Acting President Delcy Rodríguez is struggling to manage the aftermath of two powerful earthquakes in Venezuela. • The government faces intense public criticism as the crisis evolves into a humanitarian disaster.

Match at Burnopfield near Newcastle called off after 800kg young bull escaped from farm and stormed playing fieldA cricket match had to be abandoned after a runaway bull stormed the playing field and charged at players.The North East Premier League fixture at Burnopfield Cricket Club near Newcastle was called off on Saturday evening despite efforts to remove the animal from the ground. Continue reading...

Kelsey Pfendler set out to become first US woman, youngest woman and fastest woman to solo over 2,400-mile journeyA Grand Canyon river-rafting guide who aimed to become the first US woman to row solo across the mid-Pacific has completed a record-breaking journey from California to Hawaii.Hundreds of people gathered to cheer on Kelsey Pfendler as she pulled into a Honolulu harbor on Friday night on her 21ft rowboat, Lily, after nearly a month-and-a-half at sea, local media reported.Guardian staff contributed Continue reading...