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
Will investors shell out cash for Egyptian citizenship? To encourage foreign investment and help the country's financial recovery, the Egyptian parliament is considering amending the constitution to grant citizenship to investors. Egypt
What’s next for Egypt’s IS affiliate after killing of leader? After the Egyptian military announced Aug. 4 that the head of the Sinai branch of the Islamic State was killed in a series of airstrikes, observers are split over what comes next for the group. Egypt
Why Egypt banned its police from talking to the media While Cairo argues new press restrictions will ensure journalists speak to informed sources, others fear the limitations will weaken police accountability. Egypt
How do Egypt's official religious authorities view Shiites? While Egypt's Al-Azhar officially accepts Shiism and teaches about Shiite schools of jurisprudence in its curricula, some claim Shiites are being persecuted in Egypt as religious authorities and security forces look the other way. Egypt
Is discussing military budget taboo in Egypt? Opposition by some Egyptian parliament members against an increase in pensions for retired military personnel leads to a showdown in the parliament. Egypt
Will new tax law save Egypt from budget deficit? While the Egyptian government is confident that the new value added tax bill will not increase consumer prices, others say it is too early to tell. Egypt
Dam construction going full steam while Egypt-Ethiopia talks stall Ethiopia wooed the press during a recent open house at the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, but declined to answer specific questions that could help assess the risks the dam might pose for Egypt. Egypt
One year on, are 'new' Suez Canal revenues sinking? Although the Suez Canal has not generated the expected revenues after expansion, future development plans in the canal zone could yield great economic benefits for the Egyptian economy. Egypt
Will Egypt's warming ties with Israel leave Palestinians out in the cold? Egyptian-Palestinian relations are tense after the rapprochement between Egypt and Israel as questions arise about the future of Egypt’s role in the Palestinian cause. Palestine
How corrupt is Egypt's wheat industry? In an interview with Al-Monitor, Egypt's Minister of Supply Khaled Hanafy rebutted all accusations of importing substandard wheat and explained the government's plan to fight rising grain prices. Egypt
Why Egyptians are angry about this supermodel's wedding Egyptian citizens are wondering if they helped pay for a supermodel's wedding with money her new father-in-law is accused of looting. Egypt
Egypt hopes to refashion tourist industry in style Egypt is turning to the world of fashion to reinvent its threadbare tourism business. Bahrain
