Analysis How Afghanistan's Bagram base became focal point of US-China-Iran rivalry Trump’s push to regain control of Bagram underscores Washington’s broader strategy to monitor China, counter Iran and project power across Central Asia. By Sabena Siddiqui In Karachi, reporting on South Asia, Middle East, Iran
Algeria, China deepen cultural ties with opening of Confucius Institute Algeria this week inaugurated the institute, marking a major milestone in cultural and academic cooperation with China. Algeria
Saudi Arabia courts Chinese firms in mining investment drive Mining and Industry Minister Bandar Alkhorayef met with executives from more than 20 mining firms in Beijing on Thursday. Saudi Arabia
Analysis As Israelis sour on China, Netanyahu provokes Beijing — but to what end? With China already opposing Israeli actions in Gaza, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accused China and Qatar of orchestrating anti-Israel campaigns on social media. By Rina Bassist In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs
Google Pay, China’s Alipay+ launch in Saudi Arabia amid cashless push By Jack Dutton In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech
China apparently left out of Israel's 5G network tender The first phase of the tender for building the 5G wireless network in Israel has passed its deadline, with Chinese bidders apparently left out. Israel
Intel: US warns Middle Eastern partners against Chinese investment The State Department’s top official overseeing US policy in the Middle East warned countries in the region against accepting Chinese investment, contracts and coronavirus aid during a virtual interview with the Middle East Institute today. Israel
Israeli-Chinese ties scrutinized by US Washington might soon demand that Israel pick a side in the security and trade conflict between the United States and China. Israel
Israeli pharmaceutical company Teva receives Chinese approval for new Huntington's treatment The approval to provide the tablets in China that treat the deadly neurological disease is the second in the world after the United States. Israel
China calls top US diplomat's comments in Israel 'absurd' US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said China was not being forthcoming about the coronavirus and critiqued Israel-China ties in Jerusalem this week. Israel
Gulf’s megaprojects face delays, reassessment Saudi Arabia has cut capital expenditure for a number of Vision 2030 projects amid a drop in oil prices and Chinese investment. Will other Gulf states follow suit? Saudi Arabia
China ramps up COVID-19 diplomacy in Mideast As the Trump administration tries to link the coronavirus to a Chinese laboratory, Beijing is using the pandemic to strengthen ties in the Gulf. Saudi Arabia
Cairo-Beijing ties strong amid surge of anti-China sentiment in Egypt Egyptian-Chinese relations appear to be unshaken after an Egyptian lawyer filed a lawsuit against China for damages due to the coronavirus. Egypt
Will post-coronavirus world bring chill to Israel-China relations? Not everyone in Israel, especially in the defense establishment, is enthusiastic about cooperating with a large China company in the battle against the coronavirus. Israel
Does Moscow’s withdrawal from OPEC-plus deal end Russia-Saudi honeymoon? Russia’s decision to break off from the Saudis in the OPEC-plus agreement has some merits. Saudi Arabia
Coronavirus damages Iraqi economy with fall in tourism, oil prices COVID-19 has harmed both the private and public sectors of the Iraqi economy. Iraq
Erdogan to discuss trade, military plans in Pakistan Pakistani and Turkish officials have a variety of topics to address when they meet this week, including investment, foreign policy, China and defense. Saudi Arabia
