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
House rejects Trump’s Middle East aid cuts The House spending bill calls for far more assistance to North Africa. Egypt
Egyptian band hopes Islamic hits will resonate in translation The Egyptian band Art Compilers has been translating well-known Islamic songs into English, but the jury is still out on its success. Egypt
Egypt opposition MP: Resigning over island transfer 'no longer useful' Nadia Henry, a member of Egypt’s opposition 25-30 bloc in parliament, tells Al-Monitor that the opposition will continue to fight the transfer of Tiran and Sanafir islands to Saudi Arabia, and that a larger opposition coalition could be created. Saudi Arabia
Egypt's doubled rations no cause for celebration as prices set to soar The Egyptian government has doubled rations for millions of citizens even as the new budget outlines a plan to reduce and eventually eliminate subsidies altogether. Egypt
Economists praise Egyptian court ruling on jobless benefits The Egyptian government is mulling over a high court’s decision that the constitution guarantees financial help to the country’s unemployed. Egypt
Cairo's zoo falls into neglect Giza Zoo, once considered one of the best zoos in the world, is struggling to improve conditions for animals as well as visitors after losing international accreditation. Egypt
Authorities nix notion of bitcoin banking in Egypt Egyptian banking experts agree on the risks of trading in bitcoin, and central bank authorities say they have no plans to authorize the virtual currency's use. Egypt
Israel-Hamas prisoner exchange deal 'closer than ever' Israel and Hamas finally appear to be making progress on a prisoner exchange deal mediated by Egypt and Mohammed Dahlan. Palestine
Egypt's traditional water jugs get makeover Two young Egyptian artists established the Shababik project to modernize the look of traditional household items in Egypt's homes. Egypt
Egyptian troupe revives art of musical sketches Egyptian troupe Masr al-Qadimah aims to revive the sociopolitical wisdom of musical sketches of the past. Egypt
Israel's dangerous game in Gaza The Israeli government has an interest in Hamas staying in power in Gaza, but pressure on the organization from the Palestinian Authority and Egypt could lead it to provoke another war with Israel. Palestine
Egypt takes action against spread of jellyfish on its Mediterranean shores Nomad jellyfish have been invading Egypt's Mediterranean beaches, affecting tourism; blame is being cast on global warming, pollution and even the new Suez Canal. Egypt
