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
Why some Egyptians yearn for return to monarchy Nostalgia for the period of King Farouk's monarchy has Egyptian youth focusing on that period's positives, without addressing its mistakes. Egypt
Will Cairo decide to float the pound? Egypt's severe dollar shortage has contributed to the crisis facing the national currency, leading some to speculate a decision to float will come soon. Egypt
Cairo in hot water over alleged Nile flooding coverup Egypt’s government has been criticized for allegedly trying to silence reports of higher than usual Nile flooding rates, amid fears that it could hamper their efforts to reduce water usage. Egypt
Can Sisi's new investment council save Egypt's economy? While some have praised Cairo's decision to form a Supreme Council for Investment to be overseen by the president himself, others say that Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's personal involvement only demonstrates institutional incompetence. Egypt
What will $12 billion IMF loan cost Egypt? Egypt, facing a huge budget gap, is seeking to borrow from international agencies, but doing so is likely to bring harsh financial restrictions. Egypt
Egyptians pin Olympic hopes on fencing star Egypt's celebrated fencer Alaaeldin Abouelkassem is determined to return home from Rio de Janeiro with another Olympic medal. Egypt
Will this Egyptian diplomat be UNESCO's next leader? For Moushira Khattab, Egypt's nominee to be the next head of UNESCO, the value of education is clear — it can be used to fight terrorism by immunizing the human mind against extremist thoughts. Egypt
Why Turkey and Egypt won’t reconcile anytime soon Following the failed coup attemp in Turkey, Egyptian officials have launched diplomatic assaults against the Turkish leadership, fearing that Egypt's own Islamists could re-emerge. Egypt
Why critically acclaimed Egyptian film faces backlash at home Egyptian director Mohamed Diab's "Clash" won accolades at Cannes this year, but the movie is now facing criticism after its premiere in Egypt. Egypt
New taxes have Egyptian smokers fuming As part of a new VAT bill aimed at reforming the country’s fiscal policy, the Egyptian government hikes up taxes on cigarettes and tobacco for the third year in a row, raising concern among smokers of limited income who now must choose between paying more or quitting. Egypt
Will Egypt hold popular referendum on islands transfer? In an interview with Al-Monitor, former Egyptian presidential candidate and lawyer Khalid Ali discusses the case he brought before the administrative court to challenge Cairo’s decision to transfer ownership of two Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia
Al-Qaeda affiliate’s desperate 'switch' validates US Syria policy Fear of US and Russian airstrikes on eve of Syrian offensive a sign that Jabhat al-Nusra may be feeling the heat; Turkey’s de-Gulenification campaign in context; retired Saudi general probes Israeli commitment to peace settlement. Saudi Arabia
