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Egypt

The latest news, analysis and opinion on Egypt. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.

Capital

Cairo

Head of State

President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi

Head of Government

Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly

Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, stands out as the largest market for Chinese surveillance equipment. Under the “safe city” project, China provides surveillance technologies and credit lines that governments use to monitor public spaces and curb crime. Photo: Getty

China-Africa relations

Chinese surveillance rolled out in Africa: ZTE, Hikvision, Huawei at the helm

China’s ‘safe city’ project can counter terrorism and curb crime but critics worry it may repress political opposition and peaceful protests.

5 hours agovideocam

US, Israel war on Iran

As I see it | The twilight of US hegemony and Israeli expansionism

4 Apr 2026 - 5:30AMvideocam

Hong Kong economy

Looking for Easter holiday inspiration? Here’s what’s happening in Hong Kong

2 Apr 2026 - 11:39PM

Malaysia

Malaysian woman’s apology for damaging double-parked car triggers outcry

Viral videos showed the woman was unable to leave for about an hour after a red Perodua Ativa was left double-parked behind her car.

2 Apr 2026 - 12:16PM

Men lift a car that is blocking a driver from reversing out. Photo: Threads/wnasyh

US, Israel war on Iran

How Israel dodged Hormuz energy crisis while others reel from the blow

Israel’s Mediterranean gas fields shield it from energy shocks, yet wartime shutdowns and rising tariffs reveal hidden vulnerabilities.

1 Apr 2026 - 2:43PMvideocam

Pakistan

What Pakistan gains by playing peacemaker in Iran war

If Islamabad can successfully carry off the talks, it stands a chance of bringing in much-needed investments and weapon sales, analysts say.

1 Apr 2026 - 7:20PMvideocam

US, Israel war on Iran

China, Pakistan launch five-point plan to ease Iran crisis, push ceasefire

Beijing backs Islamabad’s mediation push as both call for truce, Hormuz reopening and talks to restore regional stability.

1 Apr 2026 - 2:40AMvideocam

Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar (left) meets his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing on January 4. Dar is visiting China again this week – his second trip to the country in three months. Photo: Xinhua

US, Israel war on Iran

How the Hormuz attacks stoke oil-shock fears and memories of 1970s stagflation

A timeline of past oil shocks is seen offering ‘clear lessons’ for today’s Strait of Hormuz crisis, with an eye on ripple effects and contingency tools.

31 Mar 2026 - 12:02AM

Middle East

Video | Pakistan talks aim to end Middle East fighting

Top diplomats from key regional powers gathered in Islamabad on March 29 to discuss how to end the fighting in the Middle East.

30 Mar 2026 - 1:34PM

Pakistan

Regional diplomats gather in Pakistan for talks to end Iran war

Foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt were taking part in the talks as the US kept up strikes on Iran.

30 Mar 2026 - 1:30PMvideocam

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan (left) meets with Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, as Pakistan hosts talks with the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkey to discuss regional de-escalation amid the US-Israel conflict with Iran, in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Sunday. Photo: Reuters

Israel-Iran conflict

1 month, 2 straits, more strikes: how long will the US-Israeli war on Iran last?

With Houthi rebels entering the fray, the next maritime choke point at risk could be the Bab el-Mandeb.

28 Mar 2026 - 10:31PMvideocam

Houthis brandish their weapons as they rally in solidarity with Iran and Lebanon, amid the US-Israeli war with Iran, in the Yemeni capital Sanaa on Friday. Photo: AFP

US, Israel war on Iran

Israel launches strikes on Iran with no sign of diplomatic breakthrough

Israeli jets hit Tehran’s missile hubs while more US troops head to the Middle East.

27 Mar 2026 - 4:45PMvideocam

Malaysia

Iran crisis bites into Malaysia’s supply chain as fuel subsidy cap falls

The quota cut for subsidised petrol reflects how the distant war is affecting Malaysia, with the food industry also sounding the alarm.

27 Mar 2026 - 4:49PMvideocam

Malaysia

Iran to allow Malaysian vessels to pass in Strait of Hormuz: Anwar

Malaysia’s PM Anwar Ibrahim said he talked with Iran and other countries as part of efforts to ‌facilitate peace in the Middle East.

26 Mar 2026 - 8:21PMvideocam

Anwar in a televised address thanked Iran’s president for allowing the passage of Malaysian ships. Photo: dpa

SCMP Highlights

China’s 7-day hypersonic design; Andy Lau’s Ming mystery: 7 science highlights

From top mathematician on leaving the US to China’s coal-to-medicine feat, here are some highlights from SCMP’s recent science reporting.

25 Mar 2026 - 12:32PM

Hong Kong actor and singer Andy Lau appears to have shared a name with a Ming dynasty brickmaker. Photo: Getty Images

US, Israel war on Iran

Trump says Iran gave the US gift ‘worth a tremendous amount of money’

US president claims Tehran offered an ‘oil and gas related’ gift and that it was a sign talks are happening with ‘the right people’.

25 Mar 2026 - 12:49PMvideocam

US, Israel war on Iran

Iran war delivers new stress to African economies emerging from older shocks

Afreximbank is implementing measures to give financial help to African countries dependent on fuel imports, bank president says.

23 Mar 2026 - 5:17PMvideocam

Indonesia

Indonesia will not pay US$1 billion fee for Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’: Prabowo

Indonesia’s president denies making any financial commitments and warns Jakarta will quit the board if it fails Palestinians.

23 Mar 2026 - 3:50PM

US President Donald Trump shakes hands with Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto at the “Board of Peace” meeting in Davos on January 22. Photo: AFP

Hong Kong economy

Amid Iran war, Hongkongers choose short-haul high-speed rail trips

With war raging in the Middle East, tickets for mainland Chinese destinations are being snapped up.

23 Mar 2026 - 1:22AM

China trade

Strait of Hormuz marks first full day’s pause as no ships cross amid Iran war

Transits fell to zero on Saturday but vessels have clustered outside corridor, signalling expectations of reopening, analytics firm says.

16 Mar 2026 - 7:02PM

Israel-Gaza war

Gaza’s Rafah crossing to open on Wednesday ‘for limited movement of people’

Move comes as 13 people were killed – including children, a pregnant woman and police officers – in Israeli strikes in Gaza on Sunday.

16 Mar 2026 - 5:25PMvideocam

Egyptian ambulances go through the Rafah border crossing on the Egyptian side in Rafah, Egypt on February 10. On Sunday, Israel said the crossing will open on Wednesday for limited movement of people in both directions. Photo: Reuters

Science

Death of Chinese scientist Li Xinying in Egypt raises sharp questions back home

Mystery surrounds the prominent genetic psychologist’s death after official explanation cites ‘non-specific respiratory failure’.

13 Mar 2026 - 10:25PM

Li Xinying, a researcher and doctoral supervisor at the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Psychology, died on February 23 at 10pm Beijing time, according to an online obituary. Photo: Sohu

Trending in China

China girl goes viral after confronting riding instructors for assigning vicious horses to friends

Globe trotting, ‘clear-minded, confident’ 9-year-old faces down equestrian coaches; says she has recorded evidence to prove mounts are dangerous.

13 Mar 2026 - 2:00PM

Israel-Gaza war

Trump’s Gaza plan ‘on hold’ as Iran war halts disarmament talks

The pause threatens to stall implementation of Trump’s flagship Middle East peace initiative.

10 Mar 2026 - 1:53PMvideocam

Hong Kong economy

Hong Kong firms rethink global operations amid Middle East turmoil

Businesses with operations in region say they are looking to Southeast Asia, Europe and Australia to hedge against geopolitical uncertainty.

8 Mar 2026 - 3:55PM

A projectile is seen over Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Photo: AP

US, Israel war on Iran

A guide to how the Iran war has ricocheted across the Middle East and beyond

From sunken warships to closed airspaces, here is a country-by-country breakdown of the conflict’s impact so far.

5 Mar 2026 - 10:01AMvideocam

Exposing himself to the danger of unexploded ordnance, a boy tries to climb on an Iranian projectile that landed in an open field in the outskirts of Qamishli, eastern Syria. Photo: AP

China trade

‘We couldn’t reach them’: Chinese firms’ Iran business in limbo after strikes

Attacks on Iran by the US and Israel have left China’s exporters doing business there unsure of their future, with contacts unresponsive.

3 Mar 2026 - 12:00PMvideocam

China-Africa relations

How China’s ‘gifting’ of space infrastructure is a diplomatic tool in Africa

Analysts say Beijing is gifting space infrastructure as a form of soft power on the continent.

23 Feb 2026 - 2:49PMvideocam

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Egypt

Chinese surveillance rolled out in Africa: ZTE, Hikvision, Huawei at the helm

China’s ‘safe city’ project can counter terrorism and curb crime but critics worry it may repress political opposition and peaceful protests.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}As I see it | The twilight of US hegemony and Israeli expansionism

Looking for Easter holiday inspiration? Here’s what’s happening in Hong Kong

Malaysian woman’s apology for damaging double-parked car triggers outcry

Viral videos showed the woman was unable to leave for about an hour after a red Perodua Ativa was left double-parked behind her car.

How Israel dodged Hormuz energy crisis while others reel from the blow

Israel’s Mediterranean gas fields shield it from energy shocks, yet wartime shutdowns and rising tariffs reveal hidden vulnerabilities.

What Pakistan gains by playing peacemaker in Iran war

If Islamabad can successfully carry off the talks, it stands a chance of bringing in much-needed investments and weapon sales, analysts say.

China, Pakistan launch five-point plan to ease Iran crisis, push ceasefire

Beijing backs Islamabad’s mediation push as both call for truce, Hormuz reopening and talks to restore regional stability.

How the Hormuz attacks stoke oil-shock fears and memories of 1970s stagflation

A timeline of past oil shocks is seen offering ‘clear lessons’ for today’s Strait of Hormuz crisis, with an eye on ripple effects and contingency tools.

.css-1t72pn8{color:#C79A00;}Video | Pakistan talks aim to end Middle East fighting

Top diplomats from key regional powers gathered in Islamabad on March 29 to discuss how to end the fighting in the Middle East.

Regional diplomats gather in Pakistan for talks to end Iran war

Foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt were taking part in the talks as the US kept up strikes on Iran.

1 month, 2 straits, more strikes: how long will the US-Israeli war on Iran last?

With Houthi rebels entering the fray, the next maritime choke point at risk could be the Bab el-Mandeb.

Israel launches strikes on Iran with no sign of diplomatic breakthrough

Israeli jets hit Tehran’s missile hubs while more US troops head to the Middle East.

Iran crisis bites into Malaysia’s supply chain as fuel subsidy cap falls

The quota cut for subsidised petrol reflects how the distant war is affecting Malaysia, with the food industry also sounding the alarm.

Iran to allow Malaysian vessels to pass in Strait of Hormuz: Anwar

Malaysia’s PM Anwar Ibrahim said he talked with Iran and other countries as part of efforts to ‌facilitate peace in the Middle East.

China’s 7-day hypersonic design; Andy Lau’s Ming mystery: 7 science highlights

From top mathematician on leaving the US to China’s coal-to-medicine feat, here are some highlights from SCMP’s recent science reporting.

Trump says Iran gave the US gift ‘worth a tremendous amount of money’

US president claims Tehran offered an ‘oil and gas related’ gift and that it was a sign talks are happening with ‘the right people’.

Iran war delivers new stress to African economies emerging from older shocks

Afreximbank is implementing measures to give financial help to African countries dependent on fuel imports, bank president says.

Indonesia will not pay US$1 billion fee for Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’: Prabowo

Indonesia’s president denies making any financial commitments and warns Jakarta will quit the board if it fails Palestinians.

Amid Iran war, Hongkongers choose short-haul high-speed rail trips

With war raging in the Middle East, tickets for mainland Chinese destinations are being snapped up.

Strait of Hormuz marks first full day’s pause as no ships cross amid Iran war

Transits fell to zero on Saturday but vessels have clustered outside corridor, signalling expectations of reopening, analytics firm says.

Gaza’s Rafah crossing to open on Wednesday ‘for limited movement of people’

Move comes as 13 people were killed – including children, a pregnant woman and police officers – in Israeli strikes in Gaza on Sunday.

Death of Chinese scientist Li Xinying in Egypt raises sharp questions back home

Mystery surrounds the prominent genetic psychologist’s death after official explanation cites ‘non-specific respiratory failure’.

China girl goes viral after confronting riding instructors for assigning vicious horses to friends

Globe trotting, ‘clear-minded, confident’ 9-year-old faces down equestrian coaches; says she has recorded evidence to prove mounts are dangerous.

Trump’s Gaza plan ‘on hold’ as Iran war halts disarmament talks

The pause threatens to stall implementation of Trump’s flagship Middle East peace initiative.

Hong Kong firms rethink global operations amid Middle East turmoil

Businesses with operations in region say they are looking to Southeast Asia, Europe and Australia to hedge against geopolitical uncertainty.

A guide to how the Iran war has ricocheted across the Middle East and beyond

From sunken warships to closed airspaces, here is a country-by-country breakdown of the conflict’s impact so far.

‘We couldn’t reach them’: Chinese firms’ Iran business in limbo after strikes

Attacks on Iran by the US and Israel have left China’s exporters doing business there unsure of their future, with contacts unresponsive.

How China’s ‘gifting’ of space infrastructure is a diplomatic tool in Africa

Analysts say Beijing is gifting space infrastructure as a form of soft power on the continent.

As I see it | The twilight of US hegemony and Israeli expansionism

Video | Pakistan talks aim to end Middle East fighting