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's Coptic churches on alert during Christmas holidays Egyptian security is taking several measures to protect Coptic churches during the holiday season, especially since it coincides with former President Mohammed Morsi's trial on Jan. 8. Egypt
Egypt turns to business, civil society in Nile water dispute The Egyptian government has reached out to civil society and the private sector to extend its influence in Ethiopia and other Nile Basin countries. Egypt
Despite risks, women continue to protest in Egypt Although female demonstrators in Egypt are subjected to a number of risks, they have developed ways of minimizing these dangers and still insist on taking to the streets to protest. Egypt
14 Egyptian women will rejoin student protests after release from jail In an exclusive interview with Al-Monitor following their release, young women from the Saba al-Sobh Movement who were arrested during a protest in Alexandria say they will continue to oppose military rule. Egypt
Egypt pushes to keep politics out of soccer, sports The penalties given to Egyptian soccer star Ahmed Abd el-Zaher for making a political gesture during a match has sparked a debate about the role of politics in Egyptian sports. Egypt
Muslim Brotherhood's new TV channel unlikely to influence viewers Unless the broadcasters behind Rabaa TV can offer more than sarcasm and spin, viewers in Egypt are likely to lose interest. Egypt
Rise of Islamic Front a disaster for Syria The ascendance of the Islamic Front threatens a political transition in Syria; Lebanon paralyzed by Syria conflict; Farea al-Muslimi named FP Leading Global Thinker. Saudi Arabia
Egypt's legitimacy test Instead of voting on the constitution, Egyptians will most likely vote on the legitimacy and direction of the military-backed interim government and their confidence in the road map presented by Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. Egypt
Demolishing Alexandria’s heritage Egypt's post-revolutionary instability has contributed to the demolition of Alexandria's historic districts. Egypt
Journalist killings in Egypt remain unresolved A year after his death last December, justice may yet come for Egyptian reporter Al-Hosseiny Abou Deif as deposed President Mohammed Morsi faces trial for the 2012 killing of protesters. Egypt
Egypt bids farewell to Fagoumi, the 'poet of the people' Egyptians mourned the death on Dec. 3 of renowned poet Ahmed Fouad Negm, whose work inspired generations of revolutionary activists. Egypt
Animal carts collect Gaza's garbage due to siege A lack of fuel has sidelined garbage trucks in Gaza, prompting officials to switch to animal carts for collection. Palestine
