Israeli president meets FM Wang Yi as reports link China to Iran’s military buildup Israeli President Isaac Herzog held talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussed topics ranging from economic and cultural cooperation to regional security. Israel
Who is Abdulrahman Alfozan, Saudi national charged in bugging OpenAI meetings? The Saudi national who was arrested for allegedly planting a covert listening device at OpenAI’s offices has extensive experience working at leading technology companies in the US and serves as a venture partner at a Saudi venture capital firm. Saudi Arabia
What does Amazon war damage mean for Gulf cloud expansion? Amazon’s cloud computing unit said the damage was sustained to its facilities in Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, casting doubt over multibillion-dollar investments in the region. Bahrain
Saudi Arabia taps China’s MiniMax for Arabic AI model The development signals that the kingdom continues deepening AI ties with China while simultaneously pursuing major US technology partnerships, keeping the Gulf state at the center of an intensifying technology race between the superpowers. Saudi Arabia
Starlink expands Middle East footprint with UAE launch: What to know By Jack Dutton In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech
Interview Why Strait of Hormuz no longer rattles oil markets as much: IMF Jihad Azour Director of the Middle East and Central Asia Department at the International Monetary Fund
Saudi Arabia to invest billions in metaverse, blockchain technology The kingdom, which is seeking to reduce its dependence on oil, made the announcement at the futuristic LEAP technology forum in Riyadh. News Brief
Low-cost internet services reach Syria's al-Bab Internet access in the countryside of Aleppo are rapidly expanding thanks to private companies and intense competition. Syria
Saudi investment fund starts gaming group The fund, which is headed by the crown prince, will work on developing video game competitions with two European companies. News Brief
Human Rights Watch staffer hacked with Pegasus spyware A digital forensic analysis determined phones belonging Lama Fakih, HRW’s crisis and conflict director, were hacked between April and August 2021. News Brief
El Salvador journalists reportedly targeted by Pegasus spyware A cyber watchdog report found the phones of at least 35 journalists and activists in the Latin American country were infected with the controversial Pegasus spyware. Israel
Egypt aims to localize car industry with Emirati support Egypt is trying its best to deliver its plan to localize the automobile industry, as it cooperates with Abu Dhabi to produce and manufacture a specific car in Egyptian factories to meet the needs of the Egyptian local market on the one hand and export it to African countries on the other. Egypt
Mosul restaurant features robot servers in first for Iraq After all recreational activities, especially western ones, were prohibited in it, the first-ever resto-café opened in Mosul, serving Western dishes to customers using a robot. Iraq
EU urged to sanction Israeli cyberfirm NSO Group Dozens of human rights groups called on the European Union to place the controversial cybersurveillance firm on its global sanctions list. Israel
US State Department phones reportedly hacked with Israeli-made spyware The apparent hack targeted US diplomats based in Uganda or officials whose work focused on the country. Israel
Egypt reveals new drones at Cairo defense expo Cairo is hosting the Egypt Defense Expo (EDEX) through Thursday. Egypt
The Takeaway: Israel’s military threats shadow Iran nuclear talks Erdogan digs in on lira; Egypt, Ethiopia tensions rise again over Nile Dam; Assassins "carefully planned" attack on Iraqi PM; Iraqi Shiite scholars ponder post-Sistani era; Children become breadwinners in besieged Idlib; The return of Mohammed Ali Pasha’s palace … all in less than 1,200 words. Israel
Israel eyes solar opportunities in Egypt Israel is working with Egypt to build solar power plants in the country, taking advantage of Egypt's vast areas of unused land. Egypt
