Newsletter: China-Middle East China adjusts to Middle East turbulence in 2025, faces challenges in Iran, Yemen While evading new US sanctions on Iran, adjusting to changes in Syria and expanding military footprint with key Arab partners especially Egypt, China closes 2025 with gains in the Middle East but confronts new challenges with UAE-Saudi rupture in Yemen and Sudan. By Joyce Karam , Rosaleen Carroll
Analysis From Sputnik to satellites: How China is pulling Egypt and Gulf into its space orbit Beijing is emerging as a key partner for Middle Eastern and North African states seeking to develop satellites, navigation services and space industries of their own. By Dale Aluf In Amsterdam, reporting on China in the Middle East
Analysis Egypt’s $35B Israel gas deal buys time, tests fragile energy partnership The agreement is a critical stopgap as Cairo grapples with domestic power demands, but the last two years have tested Egypt-Israel energy cooperation in unprecedented ways. By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
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 By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Trade route between Egypt, Sudan remains closed The continued closure of the land crossings between Egypt and Sudan has prompted rumors that Egypt is exploiting Sudan’s resources and standing in the way of the civilian-led movement. Egypt
Xi reaffirms 'comprehensive strategic partnership' in meeting with Sisi Meeting on the sidelines of the Olympics, the Chinese president said Beijing and Cairo share 'similar visions and strategies.' Egypt
Egypt’s top judiciary body opens door to women for first time Egyptian women can apply to join the State Council, a top judicial body, after 76 years of the council being limited to men. Egypt
Egypt plans to export gas to Lebanon by end of February While Egypt stresses that the route is open for gas exports to Lebanon, two prominent members of the US Congress have called on the Biden administration to reconsider its support for the energy deal between Egypt, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon. Egypt
Egypt signs major arms deal with South Korea Egypt and South Korea signed a $1.66 billion deal to provide K9 self-propelled howitzers manufactured by Hanwha Defense to Egypt, and to locally develop arms, as the Egyptian army continues to diversify its weapons sources. Egypt
Sisi hands over Nile islands to Egyptian military, raising controversy Some Egyptians were outraged over the president’s decision to hand over the ownership of 37 islands to the army, especially since most of these islands are located on the Nile River and considered nature reserves. Egypt
Researchers argue over fetus found inside Egyptian mummy After a Polish archaeological team claimed to find a “pickled” fetus inside an ancient Egyptian woman, other scientists have questioned their conclusions. Egypt
Proposed domestic violence bill prompts rare criticism of Al-Azhar sheikh Remarks by a prominent cleric saying it is permissible to hit a spouse "to preserve the family" has sparked backlash against Al-Azhar. Egypt
As Ukraine crisis heats up, Egypt fears for wheat supply Egypt says the current Russian-Ukrainian crisis would not have an impact on the country's wheat supply for at least six months should wheat imports from Ukraine stop. Egypt
Egypt hands over solar power plant to Uganda amid Nile dam crisis The Egyptian government’s efforts to support its African neighbors have been ongoing as part of the promotion of relations with African countries, amid the ongoing crisis with Ethiopia over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. Egypt
Attacks raise fears of Islamic State resurgence in Sinai The recent death of five army troops in the Sinai Peninsula is giving rise to fears from a possible revival of the local Islamic State branch, given growing IS activities in other countries. Egypt
Egypt moves to redress teacher shortages in public schools President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi instructed the appointment of 30,000 new teachers annually for a period of five years, but some warn that the shortfall is so large that even this figure won’t do. Egypt