ICAO chief praises Egypt's handling of diverted flights and civil aviation modernization efforts
via Egypt Today2 min read
The International Civil Aviation Organization ICAO Secretary General, Juan Carlos Salazar, commended Egypt for its efficient and responsible management of a surge in emergency and diverted flights. This increase was due to recent regional airspace closures caused by conflict. During a meeting with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in Cairo, Salazar also praised Egypt's significant role in supporting and developing the civil aviation sector regionally and internationally. The discussion highlighted ongoing cooperation, including an agreement to renew Cairo's hosting of the ICAO Middle East Regional Office. President El-Sisi outlined Egypt's comprehensive plan to modernize its civil aviation system, emphasizing its strategic importance for economic development, trade, tourism, and investment. This plan includes upgrading infrastructure, improving service quality, enhancing operational efficiency, strengthening technical and human capacities, and expanding airport capacity. Civil Aviation Minister Sameh El-Hefny further detailed the technical and operational cooperation between Egypt and ICAO.
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Egypt Today.
Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei stated that repeated US violations of a memorandum of understanding signed by the Iranian and US presidents demonstrate the US president's signature is "worthless" and "lacked credibility." According to Iran鈥檚 official news agency IRNA, Khamenei accused the United States of arrogance, unilateralism, and brutality, describing these as inherent to the American approach. He referred to Washington as "the great satan" for its breaches of commitments under the MoU. Khamenei condemned the US for what he termed "disregard for reason, utter untrustworthiness, and malicious intent." He warned that the Iranian nation and the Axis of Resistance have "unforgettable lessons" for Washington as the US seeks to "ignite war." He cited the courage of Iranian fighters and residents in the southern region as examples of these lessons. Mojtaba Khamenei has not been seen publicly since his father, former supreme leader Ali Khamenei, was killed in US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28. Last week, US President Donald Trump suggested Mojtaba Khamenei was likely deceased.
Must ReadNew York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani stated his administration is exploring options to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should he visit the city for the UN General Assembly in September. Speaking on The Interview, a New York Times podcast, Mayor Mamdani expressed his belief that Netanyahu "belongs in The Hague," referencing the International Criminal Court which has issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity during the conflict in Gaza. Mamdani acknowledged that it is unclear if he, as mayor, possesses the legal authority to direct the New York Police Department to detain a visiting foreign leader. He indicated his administration is in "an active conversation" with the city's Law Department regarding the matter, adding, "Whatever the law allows me to do in New York City, that鈥檚 what we will do, but we won鈥檛 be writing our own laws to that end."
BreakingThe US Central Command CENTCOM announced on Saturday that two US service members were killed and one is missing following Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks in Jordan on Friday. CENTCOM stated that the casualties occurred as US and "partner forces" defended against the attacks. Four US service members were medically evacuated to hospitals in Jordan but have since been discharged, and others with minor injuries have returned to duty. The Jordan News Agency Petra reported on Saturday, citing the Jordanian military, that Jordan's air defenses intercepted and shot down 10 Iranian missiles targeting the kingdom. The US has intensified its strikes on Iran, and Tehran has retaliated with attacks on Gulf states since President Donald Trump declared last week that the interim ceasefire is "over."