Category: Global

An anonymous group has released a grainy video that allegedly shows a serving Egyptian minister in a sexual video call, warning of further leaks if two demands are not met.

In the footage, an individual wearing a mask can be heard saying that unless Cairo halts its $35B gas deal with Israel and opens the Rafah crossing on the Egyptian border to end the blockade of Gaza, more leaks will follow.

He alleged that Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi handed over the country’s keys to its enemy, adding, “You’re dragging all of us by the neck and putting us as hostages in the enemy’s hands.”

The warning comes after El-Sisi’s government signed a record $35B agreement earlier this August with NewMed Energy and Chevron, the operators of Israel’s Leviathan gas field, potentially deepening Egypt’s energy dependence on Israeli supplies as part of an expansion of a landmark 2018 deal between the two countries.

According to reports, the billion-dollar deal, which will supply Egypt with gas, is the largest export agreement in Israel’s history.

Reports suggest that the agreement, which extends until 2040, will supply Egypt with an extra 130 billion cubic meters of Israeli gas, tying Cairo to an unprecedented level of energy reliance on its former adversary, while Gaza continues to suffer under siege and famine.

Throughout Israel’s ongoing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, Egypt remained under harsh criticism for not making extra efforts to bring a halt to the suffering and killing of Palestinians. 

For the last months, Israel has been weaponising aid. Vast quantities of relief supplies are stranded in warehouses across Jordan and Egypt while Palestinians continue to starve and die.

Tension flared in recent months when Israel’s blockade of food in Gaza led protesters and critics to call for Egypt to open its side of the Rafah border to allow aid into Gaza.

Frank Caprio, the beloved American judge who earned worldwide admiration for his compassionate rulings on the TV show ‘Caught in Providence’ has passed away at the age of 88. 

His family confirmed the news through an Instagram post on Wednesday, August 21, saying he died peacefully after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.

In a heartfelt statement, the family described Caprio as a man of compassion and humility whose belief in the goodness of people touched millions: “Beloved for his compassion, humility, and unwavering belief in the goodness of people, Judge Caprio touched the lives of millions through his work in the courtroom and beyond,” the post read. “He will be remembered not only as a respected judge, but as a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and friend.”

Caprio began practising law in 1965 and served as a municipal judge in Providence, Rhode Island, from 1985 until his retirement in 2023. His fame grew globally when Caught in Providence started airing, showcasing his unique approach to justice. 

The program highlighted his warm interactions with citizens facing minor offences such as traffic violations and overdue parking tickets. Known for his empathy and fairness, Caprio often listened to defendants’ personal circumstances and sometimes waived fines, leaving audiences deeply moved.

His popularity extended beyond television when the program was nominated for a Daytime Emmy in 2021. He also authored the book Compassion in the Court: Life-Changing Stories from America’s Nicest Judge, sharing memorable cases and lessons from his decades-long career.

Just hours before his passing, Caprio recorded an emotional video from his hospital bed, asking his supporters to keep him in their prayers. “I’m coming to you again asking you to remember me in your prayers once more,” he said in the clip shared on Instagram.

Frank Caprio is survived by his wife Joyce, five children, seven grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

A French air traffic controller has reportedly been suspended after saying “Free Palestine” while communicating with Israeli pilots operating an El Al aircraft.

The incident occurred on Monday shortly after the plane departed from Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, according to media reports.

A spokesperson for El Al told Fox News Digital that the airline viewed the controller’s words “with utmost severity” and described them as “unprofessional and inappropriate.”

“EL AL will continue to fly proudly around the world with the Israeli flag on its aircraft, upholding professionalism and ensuring the safety and security of its passengers and crews,” the airline said in a statement.

French Transportation Minister Philippe Tabarot responded swiftly, saying an investigation was underway. “If the facts were confirmed, they would be reprehensible as they would violate the rules of radio communications, which must be limited to the safety and regularity of air traffic,” Tabarot wrote on X. He later confirmed that the recordings matched El Al’s report and said the controller had been identified and barred from duty “until further notice.”

The declaration of “Free Palestine” comes in the context of the ongoing genocide in Gaza, which began to worsen in October 2023. More than 61,000 Palestinians have been killed and over 151,000 injured, with women and children making up the majority of victims. Entire families have been wiped out, and millions have been forced from their homes.

The destruction across Gaza is immense. Satellite data shows that over 102,000 buildings have been completely destroyed, and nearly 80 percent of all structures are damaged or reduced to rubble. The healthcare system is on the brink of collapse. According to the World Health Organization, only 19 of Gaza’s 36 hospitals remain operational. Many provide only limited emergency care, while doctors perform surgeries without proper supplies or anesthesia.

Schools and UN shelters, where families sought safety, have been bombed, resulting in thousands of deaths. More than 400 aid workers and over 1,300 health workers have been reported killed as of April 2025. Journalists have also faced unprecedented targeting, with over 260 media workers killed, according to reports.

Starvation has been deliberately used as a weapon, leaving children malnourished and millions at risk of dying from hunger.

The starvation death toll has now reached 240, including 107 children, according to Aljazeera.

Netizens and United States (US)-based advocacy groups have urged cosmetics retailer Sephora to sever its partnership with Huda Beauty after founder Huda Kattan made controversial claims regarding Israel in a TikTok video.

In the post, which has since been deleted, Kattan blamed Israel for significant historical events, including the global wars and the September 11 attacks. “Are they responsible for every world war? Yes. Involved in September 11? Absolutely,” she said in the clip, which received 1.7 million views.

While some media outlets claimed that TikTok removed the video in line with “misinformation policies”, Kattan later clarified that she had decided to delete it herself.

Despite the removal, her comments sparked criticism from Jewish organisations, including StopAntisemitism, which sent a letter to Sephora urging them to cut ties with Huda Beauty. The organisation’s founder Liora Rez said stated that Sephora should “immediately drop Huda Beauty” if it is dedicated to fostering a safe and inclusive environment.

The Anti-Defamation League described Kattan’s remarks as “dangerous and historically baseless” whreas the US director of Yad Vashem likened them to language used by Nazis to incite antisemitism.

In a statement to the media, Sephora reiterated its commitment to inclusivity and announced that it was evaluating the matter internally.

Launched by Kattan in 2013, Huda Beauty is valued at over $1 billion and reportedly generates around $200 million in revenue annually. The brand boasts more than 57 million Instagram followers and is available at Sephora, which is owned by luxury goods conglomerate LVMH.

In response to the backlash, Kattan released a second video to clarify her stance. She said that her comments were directed at the Israeli government rather than Jewish individuals, asserting that her support for Palestinians in Gaza does not equate to antisemitism. She accused her critics of distorting her words to suppress dissent and mentioned she has never denied the Holocaust, referring to her education on the subject as a key influence in her resolve to advocate for humanitarian issues.

Kattan also dismissed allegations that she fostered hatred, framing the backlash as part of a broader agenda to conflate opposition to Israeli policies with animosity toward Jewish people. Despite numerous calls for action, neither Kattan nor Huda Beauty has issued a statement in response to demands for Sephora to end their partnership.

Hamed Ashour, a young man from Gaza, once captured hearts around the globe when he shared a story about a loyal dog who became his companion in the midst of hardship in genocide. The tale went viral last year, appearing in Arab and international magazines, reaching more than five million readers and being translated into seven languages.

In a recent Facebook post, Ashour wrote, “My name is Hamed Ashour, from Gaza. A year ago, I shared the story of a kind, loyal dog who became my companion. What a lucky dog he turned out to be. Our story made headlines in both Arab and international magazines. More than 5 million people around the world read it. It was translated into seven different languages.”

“Not long after, I was contacted by an animal rights organization in Dublin, Ireland. They wanted to check on the dog’s health. They asked for photos of the tent we lived in and guarded together. I sent the photos. What followed was overwhelming. So much sympathy, so much concern—for the dog. They genuinely explored ways to evacuate him from Gaza through partner organizations. They wanted him to have a better life. A cleaner place. A wider sky.”

“But no one asked about me,” he continued. “I was the one living in that torn tent, a place not even suitable for a dog.”

While the dog received international concern and the prospect of rescue, Hamed remained trapped in Gaza, living in the same torn tent, enduring the same daily struggles. His experience reflects the harsh reality for millions of Palestinians who remain under siege, cut off from the most basic necessities.

The situation in Gaza has become increasingly dire. Food is scarce, clean water is nearly nonexistent, and humanitarian agencies report that more than 70 children have already died from malnutrition. Aid trucks carrying thousands of tons of supplies remain stuck at border crossings, while residents face hunger, disease, and the constant threat of bombardment.

The contrast in responses is striking. For the dog, there were international networks mobilizing for its safety. For Hamed, as for countless others in Gaza, there has been silence.

According to the the Gaza Health Ministry,  so far at least more than 60 thousand people in Gaza had been killed in the Israeli genocide.