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
Are Egypt's students no longer safe in their own schools? News that children have been victims of sexual assault at their own schools in Egypt has prompted civil society groups, activists and parents to look for effective ways to protect children from harassment. Egypt
How Egypt plans to build its next generation of scientists While Egypt is investing in high schools specializing in STEM fields to promote innovation among future generations, the efforts will only pay off if higher educational institutions improve as well. Egypt
Egyptian MP says forcing Sinai residents to move will only worsen terrorism In an interview with Al-Monitor, Egyptian parliamentarian Salama Al-Roqie expressed concern that the displacement of Sinai citizens suggested by some lawmakers will worsen the spread of terrorism and that the Sinai tribes are vital in supporting the armed forces in the war against extremists. Egypt
100 days on, Egypt’s parliament has seen few achievements, much controversy In the first 100 days of parliament, intense battles have raged between its members, resulting in the resignation of one parliamentarian, the suspension of another and several threats of resignation. Egypt
Egypt sets conditions for dialogue with Iran Egypt's foreign minister has made a list of measures Iran must take before the two countries can discuss normalizing relations, but it's doubtful that he really expects Iran to meet them. Egypt
Leading rights activist warns of unknown future for NGOs in Egypt The executive director of the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information tells Al-Monitor that the government wants to “turn civil society into a government division.” Egypt
Will Sisi fulfill his 'Sinai promise'? Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has promised that a new development project will eliminate terrorism and revive the economy in the Sinai Peninsula, but past failures raise doubts about its effective implementation. Egypt
This big-mouthed puppet has enraged Egypt’s parliament Several Egyptian lawmakers have demanded that action be taken against Abla Fahita, a puppet that stars in a popular Egyptian TV show, after she makes remarks critical of the parliament's performance. Egypt
Could economic ties be key to calming Egypt-Italy tensions? Although tensions are high between Cairo and Rome following the murder of Italian graduate student Giulio Regeni, the strong economic ties between the two will likely persist. Egypt
Why Egyptians' anger at island handover is misplaced Angry Egyptians decried the return of two Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia while ignoring possible economic benefits and returns for Egypt as part of the agreement. Saudi Arabia
Is this the death of print media in Egypt? To cut down on costs, Egypt’s newspapers may stop publishing their print editions. Egypt
Is Egypt judging its judges too harshly? Some judges are being forced to retire, ostensibly for political activity — but they say it is because they’re not supporting the ruling regime. Egypt