Egypt to launch QR code-based visa-on-arrival system at Cairo Airport
Egypt’s Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Sherif Fathy, has announced that a pilot visa-on-arrival program will launch at Cairo International Airport in mid-June
A tourist boat, Sea Story, capsized near Egypt's Sataya Reef, leaving three dead and 13 missing. The vessel, carrying 31 tourists and 13 crew on a diving trip, sank within minutes due to high waves. Rescue efforts continue as survivors recover in Marsa Alam.
Three bodies were recovered on Tuesday morning from a tourist boat that capsized off the coast of Egypt in the Red Sea, with rescue teams still searching for 13 people reported missing, according to Amr Hanafi, the Red Sea provincial governor, speaking to Reuters.
The vessel, named the Sea Story, overturned on Monday near the Sataya Reef while carrying 31 tourists and 13 crew members on a multi-day diving excursion. High waves caused it to sink within five to seven minutes. A statement from the Red Sea Governorate on Monday indicated that 16 passengers were thought to have been trapped inside.
Twenty-eight individuals were rescued with only minor injuries, none of which required hospitalisation. The survivors were accommodated in a hotel in Marsa Alam, where authorities were coordinating with embassies and consulates to provide support and arrange documentation.
Hanafi confirmed that the boat had successfully passed its last safety inspection in March 2024, with no technical issues flagged. Owned by an Egyptian national, the 34-metre vessel had been issued a one-year safety certificate by the Maritime Safety Authority. The accident occurred amidst challenging weather conditions, with the Egyptian Red Sea Ports Authority reporting wave heights of 3-4 metres (10-13 feet) and wind speeds of 34 knots in the area on Sunday, prompting the suspension of maritime traffic.
This marks the second sinking in the region this year; in June, another vessel sustained severe damage due to rough seas, though no casualties were reported.
The Red Sea, celebrated for its coral reefs and vibrant marine life, is a key destination for Egypt's tourism sector, which is vital to the nation’s economy.
On May 28, the inauguration ceremony of Lachin International Airport was held.
A car drove into crowds of Liverpool fans celebrating the club’s Premier League title in the city centre on Monday evening, injuring dozens including 4 children. A 53-year-old man believed to be the driver was arrested at the scene.
Taxi drivers across France are protesting government plans to cut payments for driving patients to medical appointments. These cuts are part of a broader effort by Prime Minister François Bayrou to save €40 billion in the 2026 budget and reduce the country’s large deficit.
EU ministers have greenlit a massive €150 billion defense investment fund—dubbed the Security Action for Europe (SAFE)—as the bloc ramps up its military readiness in response to Russia’s aggression and growing uncertainty over U.S. security guarantees.
Brazil’s economy is expected to have regained momentum in the first quarter of 2025, driven by a surge in household spending and private investment, according to a Reuters poll of economists conducted from May 21–26.
The State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) and Canada’s Gran Tierra Energy Inc. signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the sidelines of the 30th Anniversary International Caspian Oil and Gas Exhibition held as part of Baku Energy Week.
Heavy flooding has wreaked havoc in southwestern China’s Yunnan province, destroying dozens of homes and vital infrastructure in the Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture, local authorities reported on Monday.
Karol Nawrocki’s narrow win in Poland’s presidential race signals a sharp turn in tone toward both the European Union and Ukraine, raising questions over Warsaw’s future alignment in Central Europe.
In a significant development toward de-escalating the ongoing war, Russia on Monday formally presented Ukraine with a comprehensive peace proposal, outlining steps for a full ceasefire and a long-term peace agreement, according to Vladimir Medinsky, head of the Russian delegation.
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