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
Red Sea bridge project resurfaces Backers hope to calm old concerns with new plans for a bridge between Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia
Why a seaport won't solve Gaza's problems Israel cannot simply offer some gestures to improve the situation in Gaza without negotiating a comprehensive solution to end the occupation. Palestine
Will drought fuel water conflict between Cairo, Addis Ababa? As drought continues to plague Ethiopia, the longstanding dispute over precious water resources in the Nile Basin is intensifying. Egypt
Controversy over Italian student's murder threatens Egypt's tourism sector Ambiguity concerning the investigations into the murder of Italian researcher Giulio Regeni in Egypt will further harm the country's already declining tourism sector. Egypt
Protesters return to Egypt's streets Will Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's decision to renounce Egyptian control of two Red Sea islands to Riyadh be the straw that breaks the camel’s back, amid widespread anger at the government policies? Saudi Arabia
Can indie films spark social dialogue in rural Egypt? Despite obstacles, the Egyptian civil society group Cinema Everywhere Initiative is screening independent films to help broaden the cultural horizons of underprivileged citizens in Upper Egypt. Egypt
Will Sisi, Muslim Brotherhood make peace? The return of an Islamic TV broadcaster who fled after the 2013 coup has raised the question whether reconciliation is possible between the Egyptian government and the Muslim Brotherhood. Egypt
Congress ponders next move as Egypt clogs its own funding pipeline Lawmakers question US aid priorities as Cairo blocks projects. Egypt
Cairo tries to reassure citizens and Israel amid island controversy The announcement that Egypt would be ceding control of two disputed Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia has provoked outrage domestically and raised concerns in Israel. Saudi Arabia
Can Egypt's new Cabinet avoid mistakes of the past? Sweeping changes in Egyptian Prime Minister Sherif Ismail's Cabinet have some observers recalling a previous premier's successful, but dubious, lineup. Egypt
Is Israel forming an alliance with Egypt and Saudi Arabia? Israel estimates that strengthening Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and maintaining a dialogue with Saudi Arabia are key elements for the region's stability. Saudi Arabia
Will Egyptian schools strip religion from curriculum? Egyptian parliamentarian Nadia Henry suggests replacing separate Muslim and Christian religious classes in public schools with one course on values that would combine teachings from both the Quran and the Bible. Egypt
