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 to focus on cooperation with Italy After months of a quid-pro-quo attitude between Egypt and Italy, Egypt's legislators have decided to use a carrot instead of a stick to resolve ill will over the slaying of Italian student Giulio Regeni. Egypt
Some Egyptians wary of normalizing relations with Israel Egyptian leaders say they are playing an important role in reviving the Palestinian issue by mediating with Israel, but some sources say Egyptians might actually be losing their sympathy for Palestinians and don't want to normalize relations with Israel. Palestine
Will Egypt impose taxes on Facebook ads? Egypt's parliament is considering a bill to levy taxes on social media ads, with some questioning if such a measure could even be applied. Egypt
What Bibi's Africa visit means for Egypt-Ethiopia dam dispute As Israel increases its influence with African countries, Egyptians are wondering what impact that could have on them, the Renaissance Dam negotiations and the Palestinian solution. Palestine
How these Egyptian women want to break the taboo over divorce As divorce rates soar in Egypt, a women's magazine is setting up a program in support of Egyptian divorcees, offering them vocational training, counseling and a community of shared experiences. Egypt
Sinai tribal leader says military curfew harms residents, helps terrorists Sheikh Naeem Gabr, the general coordinator for the Tribes of North Sinai Coalition, speaks to Al-Monitor about the impact the protracted battle between the army and extremist groups has had on Sinai residents. Egypt
Egyptians ditch daylight saving time Parliament has prevailed in its quest to keep the government from adjusting clocks twice a year, as daylight saving runs out of time in Egypt. Egypt
Another Egyptian MP ensnared in sex video scandal A member of Egypt's parliament claims a sexually explicit video clip — the same one that embroiled another parliament member in scandal in December — was sent by a hacker from his account. Egypt
Egypt's Brotherhood, Sisi both put out feelers for reconciliation While recent statements from Egyptian officials and Brotherhood members hint that a reconciliation could be in the works, some think both sides are merely testing their bases' reaction to the idea. Egypt
Why Sisi, Erdogan won't be making up anytime soon Relations between Egypt and Turkey may remain cold as long as Cairo continues to repress the Muslim Brotherhood. Egypt
Israel’s Africa ambitions highlight Egypt's absence While Egyptian-Israeli relations are improving, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to Africa could negatively affect Egypt's historical role in the African continent. Egypt
What do Palestinians think about Egypt's peace initiative? Hamas leaders are unhappy about the Egyptian initiative, which positions Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas as Israel's only interlocutor, but fear to express loudly their objections. Palestine