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
Head of pro-Sisi coalition denies attempts to take control of Egypt's parliament Saad al-Gamal, the head of the pro-government Support Egypt coalition, speaks to Al-Monitor about the most pressing issues facing parliament and responds to accusations of trying to take control of the legislature. Egypt
Egypt hopes to make the most of its return to pan-African group Egypt’s acceptance into the Pan-African Parliament is seen as a positive step, but it might not deliver as much as Egypt wants. Egypt
Why hasn't Egypt taken a clear stance on Syria? Since Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi came to power two years ago, Egypt has repeatedly stated that it wants to preserve the Syrian state and army, but it has been vague when it comes to voicing an opinion on the regime itself. Egypt
Egyptian Brotherhood leader reflects on group's mistakes, future In an extensive interview with Al-Monitor, Egyptian Brotherhood leader and former minister of planning and international cooperation Amr Darrag speaks about the challenges the group has faced in the past, the reassessments it has undergone and its vision for the future. Legacy: Gulf
Cash offer for TV shows to hide cigarettes, drugs has some in Egypt fuming Social Solidarity Minister Ghada Wali's offer of 1 million Egyptian pounds to any TV series to not show smoking or drug use during the holy month of Ramadan causes a furor in Egypt. Egypt
Sisi's statements on peace efforts welcomed abroad, ridiculed at home Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has announced his country's willingness to negotiate between the Palestinians and Israelis, a statement that proved controversial in Egypt. Palestine
Cairo fires fan the flames of public anger A recent series of fires in downtown Cairo has ignited public anger, with some accusing the state of seeking to clear the region of informal vendors. Egypt
Satire leads Egypt youth troupe to prison The Egyptian authorities seem to be taking a break from fighting terrorism to zealously track down young entertainers. Egypt
Is Egypt's state of emergency in Sinai unconstitutional? Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is drawing the wrath of advocates of the constitution once again, this time for extending the state of emergency in north Sinai for another three months. Egypt
Can Lebanon make progress on oil, gas exploration efforts? A litany of more pressing crises has led to a delay in efforts to advance work on Lebanon's nascent oil and gas sector. Egypt
Egypt's next national security threat: All the single ladies? Egypt's parliamentary National Security Council has identified unmarried women as the country's next big threat. Egypt
How Turkey’s recent political shakeup will have wide-ranging impact The resignation of Turkish Prime Minister Ahmed Davutoglu could affect both the country’s economy and anti-IS efforts; new report scrutinizes US military aid to Egypt as human rights abuses persist; Al-Monitor’s reporter in the news. Egypt
