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
Hamas warns Gazans have 'nothing to lose' The deadlock remains in Cairo, as Israel refuses to budge on Hamas’ demand to lift the siege and the Palestinian group, warning it will return to the battlefield if no progress is made. Palestine
US Deputy NSA Blinken's unannounced visit to UAE to discuss Egypt President Obama's Deputy National Security Advisor Antony Blinken took an unannounced trip to the United Arab Emirates earlier this week to consult with Emirati, Iraqi, and other Gulf country officials on Egypt, the White House has told Al-Monitor. Egypt
Turkey’s exports decrease amid regional tension Turkey has suffered unexpected declines in its exports to Iraq, Libya, Egypt, Ukraine and Russia, though Turkish exports to Russia may have more potential following its recent foodstuff import boycott of the United States and European Union. Egypt
Is Lebanon next target of Islamic State? Lebanon battles extremist armed groups; Egypt’s political isolation in Gaza; Iran’s shift on Hamas; family of Al-Monitor columnist killed by Israeli airstrike; lobbying series continues. Palestine
Ford Likely to helm Egypt mission With Anne Patterson expected to be nominated as Assistant Secretary of State for Near East Affairs, US officials have told Al-Monitor that Syria Envoy Robert Ford is likely to be nominated as the next Ambassador to Egypt. Egypt
Obama tries to strike balance on Egypt after crackdown President Obama announced the US would cancel a planned joint military exercise with Egypt over deepening concern after a government crack down on Muslim Brotherhood protesters killed 500. Egypt
Saudi Arabia and the third Gaza war Saudi Arabia has remained quiet during the current Gaza war, working instead through Egypt. Saudi Arabia
Hamas pressured to accept Egypt’s cease-fire demand The cease-fire between Israel and Hamas was announced after heated exchanges between the Egyptian and Hamas delegations during negotiations in Cairo, where Hamas reluctantly accepted Egypt’s demand for a cease-fire without preconditions. Palestine
Did an Israeli drone strike militants in Egypt? Eyewitnesses say an Israeli drone struck Egyptian militants in the Sinai Peninsula on July 23, despite Egypt’s official assertions that it was responsible for the strike. Egypt
Egypt squanders Gaza war opportunities Unlike during previous wars in the Gaza Strip, Egypt — distracted by its own internal affairs — is isolated politically while its Gazan neighbors across the border in Rafah find themselves in a dire situation. Palestine
Satterfield to temporarily helm US embassy Egypt David Satterfield, current head of the Multinational Force & Observers mission in Egypt, will temporarily helm the US Egypt mission following the departure of ambassador Anne Patterson. Egypt
Muslim Brotherhood's media machinations Although the Muslim Brotherhood complains of media bias favoring Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, their own media apparatus under President Mohammed Morsi was no better. Egypt
