Newsletter: FutureVerse LEAP’s comeback The fifth edition of the gathering offers a temperature check for the Gulf’s AI ambitions amid fallout from the US-Israel-Iran war. By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Xi makes first Egypt visit in decade as Cairo gets caught in US-China AI row China's Huawei last month submitted a bid to build advanced AI data centers and supply more than 2,000 AI chips for Egyptian government systems. Egypt
Analysis How Ethiopia’s new dams test Egypt’s ability to defend its Nile red lines Ethiopia’s water minister has emphasized the country’s plans to move forward with new Blue Nile dam construction, leaving Egypt to contend with the potential fallout. By Eli Siegel-Bernstein
Newsletter: Business & Tech Iran keeps Hormuz reopening on hold Traffic in the Strait of Hormuz remained low, with only five commodity vessels transiting the waterway on Tuesday, according to data from maritime tracking firm Kpler. By Jack Dutton In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech
Egypt amends law to tighten penalties against 'violence inciters' The Egyptian parliament approved amendments imposing stricter sanctions against anyone who promotes violence or extremist ideas, whether verbally or in writing, further clamping down on freedom of expression. Egypt
Is Egypt’s strategic financial plan overly ambitious? The Egyptian Ministry of Finance has an ambitious strategy for the next three years and the International Monetary Fund says Egypt is capable of achieving greater strategic objectives, but some economists on the ground have their worries. Egypt
Egypt’s Red Sea governorate bans single-use plastics to protect marine, human life The Red Sea governorate will ban the single use of plastic products starting in June, in a bid to reduce pollution that is threatening its biodiversity, which is the main touristic attraction of the area. Egypt
What did Lavrov discuss in Egypt, Jordan? The Russian foreign minister completed his continual Mideast tour with visits to Cairo and Amman. Egypt
Egypt to amend controversial NGO law as Sisi visits Washington Just before Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's visit to Washington, the minister of social solidarity announced that a new law governing the operations of nongovernmental organizations will be drafted. Egypt
Egypt reaches out to AU with medical aid As Cairo shoulders the chairmanship of the African Union for 2019, Egypt has launched two major medical initiatives serving African refugees and residents of other AU states. Egypt
Senators rebuke Egypt as White House rolls out red carpet for Sisi Congress is pushing the Donald Trump administration to take a tougher line on Egypt amid concerns that President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi will use this week’s White House visit to legitimize his efforts to extend his rule through 2034. Egypt
Is debt answer to Middle East economic troubles? The forecast for growth across the Middle East and North Africa is bleak. Unfortunately for the regions, heavy debt appears to be one way out. Saudi Arabia
Egypt gears up for referendum Egypt’s House of Representatives will hold a final vote on the constitutional amendments April 16, before Egyptians at home and abroad vote in a referendum. Egypt
Will Hamas be partner to Trump’s Mideast plan? Some see recent Israeli moves involving Gaza as part of a chess match having to do with President Donald Trump's reported "deal of the century" peace plan. Qatar
Sisi keeps watchful eye on Al-Azhar's growing role abroad Egypt's president is reportedly concerned that Al-Azhar's increasing international activity is working to insulate itself from the Egyptian government's control. Egypt
Can Egypt's floral industry bloom in whole region? Egypt’s spring flower exhibition, the oldest in the region, unites flower producers with the public but the sector is eager to go beyond borders. Egypt
