Latest news for 21 August 2025

EGYPT

High alert.

Egypt reportedly now has 40,000 troops deployed along its border with Gaza and Israel, amid fears Israel’s renewed operation could displace Gazans over into Egypt. Meanwhile, Israel says it’s begun the first stage of its ground offensive back into Gaza City, with Netanyahu vowing the war won’t end until Hamas is defeated. (MEE)

Comment: For Egypt, it’s about avoiding both a) the destabilising effects of mass displacement, but also b) being seen to enable or legitimise that displacement.

CHINA

Xi visits Tibet.

President Xi Jinping has made a surprise visit to Tibet to mark 60 years since the consolidation of Beijing’s rule. His speech highlighted Tibet’s development and the need to maintain political stability “against separatism”. (Independent)

Comment: This is only Xi Jinping’s second-ever visit to Tibet, and it comes amid renewed speculation around the next Dalai Lama, weeks after the incumbent celebrated his 90th birthday in exile. While the Communist Party wants control over the selection process, the Dalai Lama’s latest book set Beijing into panic by announcing his successor will be born in the “free world”.

EU

No guarantees.

European partners are still discussing what the mooted EU-backed security guarantees for Ukraine could look like ahead of any future Zelensky-Putin meeting, though agreement is seemingly forming around a) a fully armed Ukraine, b) a multinational peacekeeping force, and c) some level of US involvement. (Euractiv)

Comment: Until Europe’s re-armament takes hold, it’s that third pillar (US involvement) that would really make any security guarantees credible. But President Trump just reiterated his opposition to any US boots on the ground, and a top Pentagon official (Colby) is telling Europe that any US role will be minimal. Meanwhile, Russia is now insisting it will have to approve any security guarantees given to Ukraine, effectively undermining the whole endeavour.

NORTH KOREA

You can’t sell those.

A US court has jailed a Chinese national for an elaborate US-based scheme selling weapons and ammo to North Korea in return for $2M in cash. He told US investigators the weapons (plus disguises he tried to buy) were for a surprise North Korean attack on the South. (Euronews)

Comment: It’s a little wild the North Koreans tried sourcing arms direct from the US, though Pyongyang might’ve calculated that America’s vast civilian firearms market presented opportunities that outweighed the risks of US counterintelligence.

US

Add them to the list.

DC has formally added the Majeed Brigade (a suicide bombing faction of Baloch separatists in Pakistan) to its list of foreign terrorist organisations. (Nikkei)

Comment: Interestingly, it’s playing out not just as an overture to Pakistan, but also Pakistan’s backers in Beijing, who’ve long bristled at Baloch attacks on Chinese nationals and Belt and Road infrastructure projects across Pakistan.

NEW ZEALAND

First spy conviction.

A court martial hearing has jailed a New Zealand soldier who tried to defect to an un-named foreign country. He was already under scrutiny for his right-extremist ties, and ended up passing sensitive materials to what he thought was the same foreign government (but was actually an undercover Kiwi operative). (RNZ)

DENMARK

No tax on books.

The Danish government has announced it’ll remove a 25% tax on books (reportedly the highest in the world) to encourage more folks to read. (Guardian)