Maersk resumes Red Sea passage after two-year halt amid easing Houthi threat A ceasefire reached between Israel and Hamas in October has prompted some shipping companies to consider resuming services, but security concerns persist. Yemen
Analysis How Netanyahu ceded to Trump, agreed to Egypt's $35B gas deal The Israeli prime minister's frustration with Trump administration strong-arming continues, with pressure to sign Egypt gas deal and now a reported push for Sisi meeting. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Israel's Netanyahu approves $35B natural gas megadeal with Egypt Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Israel will sell Egypt natural gas worth $35 billion, in the biggest-ever deal of its kind for the country. Israel
Analysis Iran’s FM Araghchi in Moscow as biting sanctions drive closer Russia ties The economic agenda of the meetings in Moscow and Tehran reflected a deliberate effort by both governments to signal momentum in a partnership increasingly shaped by isolation from the West. By A correspondent in Tehran In Tehran, reporting on politics
Exclusive Inside Netanyahu’s pressure campaign to block Turkey, Saudi Arabia from acquiring F-35s By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
US offers to help Egypt reopen Suez Canal The US offer comes days after a giant vessel ran aground and became lodged sideways in the canal. News Brief
Stuck container ship creates giant traffic jam in Egypt's Suez Canal The massive Rotterdam-bound container ship ran aground Tuesday in poor weather conditions and low visibility, the Suez Canal Authority said. Egypt
No end in sight for Lebanese suffering amid deteriorating economic crisis Lebanon’s ruling elite has yet to form an urgent government to launch reforms to address the country’s worst economic crisis in decades, amid ongoing political bickering. Lebanon
Iraq gives visa on arrival to citizens of 30 countries The list includes the United States, China and other large economies in a bid to attract investment to Iraq; most foreigners need to apply for a visa before traveling to Iraq. Iraq
Egypt seeks land route with Jordan, Iraq to boost trade Egypt recently announced a deal between Jordan and Iraq for the establishment of a land route connecting the three countries, in a bid to boost economic and trade relations between them. Egypt
Is Turkey challenging Egyptian influence in Guinea-Bissau? Amid regional warnings of Turkey's growing role in West Africa, including Guinea-Bissau, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi received a call from Umaro Sissoco Embalo, president of Guinea-Bissau, to discuss ways to develop cooperation in the economic and security fields. Egypt
The Netherlands puts Qatar trade event on hold over foreign workers' deaths The Dutch government postponed a trade mission in Qatar after a report on thousands of workers dying there since the country was awarded the 2022 World Cup. Qatar
Lebanese pound falls to all-time low on black market as people protest Lebanon's harrowing economic crisis worsened when the pound fell against the dollar again on the black market. Lebanon
Turkey emerges with ‘Pyrrhic growth’ from pandemic-hit 2020 Turkey’s economy grew 1.8% last year despite the pandemic, but not without major risks and downsides, including a smaller GDP in terms of dollars. Turkey
Egypt boosts investment in Congo, hoping to secure support in Nile dam crisis As Egypt seeks to grow its influence in Congo by boosting investments, Kinshasa takes over the chairmanship of the African Union, which is currently sponsoring the negotiations to resolve the dispute over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. Egypt
Despite coronavirus, Suez Canal records high revenues Despite the negative repercussions of the outbreak of the coronavirus on global trade, the Suez Canal took in $5.61 billion in 2020, its third-highest total ever. Egypt
