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
Egyptian official says Suez Canal 'not for sale' amid fears of foreign investment The chairman of Egypt's Suez Canal Authority has responded after a parliamentary session discussing a private fund linked to the waterway sparked widespread criticism. Egypt
Iraqi PM stresses need for regional reconciliation at summit in Jordan Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani attended the second round of the Baghdad conference today in Jordan and expressed Iraq's willingness to push forward on regional cooperation and partnership. Iraq
Netanyahu’s new government will set Israel back, tech leaders warn Mass letters to Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu are warning that the legislation his coalition partners are currently advancing will harm Israel’s flourishing tech industry and beyond. Israel
Israel uneasy with deal granting UAE control over pensions Israeli experts warn against the deal, which will have Abu Dhabi government-backed ADQ Developmental Holding Company purchasing a 25% controlling part of Israel’s Phoenix insurance company. Israel
Jordanian officer killed as protests over fuel prices spread The killing of the officer comes after governmental measures failed to stop a strike staged by lorry and public transport drivers in different Jordanian regions following the protesters’ insistence on a reduction in fuel prices Jordan
World Bank says debt increasing in Middle East countries Egypt, Iran and Turkey’s debt rose significantly last year. Legacy: Gulf
UAE's Ports Group expands footprint in Sudan The agreement allows the Abu Dhabi-based logistics giant to operate ports in Sudan and will contribute to the UAE’s growing influence on the African continent. Legacy: Gulf
Egypt’s trade with Nile Basin countries jumps amid Ethiopia dam crisis Cairo’s exports and imports with the region increased substantially in 2021, but they still represent a small portion of the total and growth remains uneven. Egypt
Biden rebooting relations with Africa at summit, ahead of 2023 visit Countries in the region have received little attention from US officials in the run-up to the meeting, as Washington neglected the continent and is lagging in its influence compared to Russia and China. Egypt
Drug shortage adds to Tunisia’s woes In light of the successive crises facing Tunisians, pharmacies across the country are suffering drug shortages, which the authorities are unable to resolve. North Africa
Analysis Africa seeks GCC-like economic trust at US summit Since the United States' last summit of its kind in 2014, US foreign direct investment (FDI) in Africa dropped from $69 billion to $44.81 billion in 2021. By Salim A. Essaid
UAE-Ukraine trade deal would shore up Middle East food security The goal is to ultimately secure "all aspects of the international food production supply chain." Legacy: Gulf
