Analysis Water for influence: Turkey moves to ease Iraq's water shortages ahead of elections Turkey took the step in a bid to ensure that relations with Iraq's current and future leaderships remain manageable after the vote. By Barin Kayaoglu In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security
Analysis Jordan’s water security caught between $5B megaproject, frayed Israel ties Amman's efforts to tackle acute water challenges have delivered breakthroughs in 2025, while progress toward the end of the Gaza war could see revived interest in Israel-Jordan water ties. By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Drought-stricken Iraq sends delegation to Turkey to discuss water cooperation Turkey recently agreed to release more water to Iraq amid the drought in the country, indicating improving coordination on resource management after years of tensions over Turkish dams. Iraq
RSF hits Darfur hospital as cholera, dengue fever spread in war-torn Sudan A Sudanese medical organization said a dozen people were killed after the RSF shelled one of the last operating hospitals in El Fasher, as Sudan’s collapsing health system battles cholera and dengue fever. Sudan
Nile dam dispute remains stalled as Egypt, Sudan run out of options The dispute over the controversial Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam remains unresolved between Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia, with the latter attempting to revive the Nile water sharing agreement. Egypt
Gazans fear worst after Hamas bans water wells The Hamas-affiliated Water and Environmental Quality Authority to ban the digging of wells without a license, as many Gazans suffer from a lack of potable water. Palestine
Egypt pledges support to Somalia, eyeing Horn of Africa influence Somali Prime Minister Mohamed Roble held talks in Cairo with senior Egyptian officials at a time when Egypt is attempting to expand its influence in the Horn of Africa. Egypt
Turkey views ties with Ethiopia as key to influence in Africa Turkey’s quest for normalization with Egypt and a new beginning with Sudan hinges on how far Ankara takes its relations with Ethiopia amid a simmering water dispute in the region over Ethiopia’s mega dam on the Nile. Turkey
CIA Chief Burns meets with Egypt's Sisi The pair discussed the situation in Afghanistan, the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and the crisis in Libya, according to the Egyptian presidency. Egypt
Water protests erupt in Kurdistan Region of Iraq Much of the Middle East is suffering from water scarcity issues amid extremely high temperatures in the summer. News Brief
The Takeaway: Egypt weighs options on Nile dam as Ethiopia escalates war in Tigray Also, new Israeli envoy is "frighteningly serious"; Turkey’s wildfires; Nile crocodiles in Sudan; Sisi increases price of bread; and more … in about 1,500 words! Egypt
Is Ethiopia to blame for Nile crocodiles appearing in Khartoum? Officials in Sudan are advising citizens to avoid the Nile River because of crocodiles — which some are blaming on Ethiopia’s second filling of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. Egypt
Russia denies siding with Ethiopia in Nile dam dispute Egypt interprets Russian reluctance to back its position in the GERD dispute as pro-Ethiopian, but Moscow says it is pursuing a balanced position between Cairo and Addis Ababa. Egypt
Can Algerian mediation bring sides closer in Nile dam dispute? Algeria has become a party in the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam crisis after consenting to assume a mediation role to resolve the dispute between Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia, which experts count on to peddle the wheel of the negotiations. Egypt
The Takeaway: Does Raisi sink prospects for Iran nuclear deal? Maybe not, but diplomacy just got harder; also, Egypt pushes plans to address climate and water crises; Sudan calls out Ethiopia on recent floods; Russia says it is helping save Syria’s heritage; Turkish cleric takes issue with dress code for Olympic women; remembering Beirut’s port explosion; more! Iran
Egypt touts climate, flood control initiatives in Africa outreach Climate change and flood forecasts pave the way for Egypt's foreign policy on the continent. Egypt
