Egyptian court annuls plan to transfer Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia

Egypt’s Supreme Administrative Court overruled a government plan to transfer sovereignty of the uninhabited Red Sea islands Tiran and Sanafir to Saudi Arabia. This dealt an embarrassing setback to President Abdel Fatth El-Sissi, who had offered the islands as a reward for Riyadh’s financial generosity to Egypt under his regime. The plan however sparked wide protests and was seen by the Egypt street as an intolerable surrender of sovereign territory.