Red Sea Trade Shock: Houthi forces captured Mocha and advanced around the Bab el-Mandeb area, including islands near the strait, raising fresh risks for shipping and oil flows that connect Asia to Europe via the Red Sea. Regional Diplomacy: Egypt’s Sisi met Saudi leadership in Cairo to back measures for safe navigation through Bab el-Mandeb and the Red Sea corridor, with the route carrying an estimated 12% of global trade. Eritrea-Saudi Business: In Asmara, a senior Eritrean delegation led by the PFDJ Economic Affairs head and the Trade and Industry minister held talks with Saudi Arabia’s commerce minister, focusing on trade and investment, after earlier meetings with Saudi foreign affairs and energy officials. Humanitarian Pressure: The World Food Programme warned South Sudan’s hunger crisis is worsening under “super El Niño,” violence and shrinking aid, with 7.8 million people facing acute food insecurity and funding gaps threatening another million by October. Food Security Spillover: WFP said extreme weather impacts are also hitting Eritrea and the wider region, threatening farming output and raising costs for essentials. Press Freedom Context: A separate global media report highlighted worsening press freedom rankings for the United States, underscoring broader governance and rights pressures affecting business confidence.