Newsletter: Gulf MBS visits Egypt as Houthi attacks escalate Squeezed by Houthi advances in the south and attacks on its main pipeline from the north, Riyadh is combining military pressure, regional coordination and diplomacy. By Francesco Schiavi In Bologna, reporting on security, defense, economy, governance
Saudi Arabia’s MBS visits Egypt as Red Sea crisis with Houthis escalates Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman visits Egypt at a time the kingdom faces repeated Houthi attacks, while the Iranian-backed rebels close in on the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, threatening maritime security. Egypt
Turkey’s defense giants court Egypt at Alamein Airshow: What to know Three leading Turkish defense companies are participating in the El Alamein Airshow as Ankara seeks new sales and closer military-industrial cooperation with Egypt. Turkey
Newsletter: FutureVerse China holds its ground in Middle East AI race Last Tuesday, Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Egypt for the first time in a decade, with the trip coinciding with efforts by Beijing to expand its AI footprint in the country. By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Newsletter: FutureVerse LEAP’s comeback By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Analysis How Ethiopia’s new dams test Egypt’s ability to defend its Nile red lines By Eli Siegel-Bernstein
Egypt's animated effort to fight religious extremism Dar al-Ifta has created a graphics unit in an attempt to battle religious extremism through animated videos, but the jury is still out on whether the direction taken so far in two productions will persuade the target audience. Egypt
As new AU head, Egypt eyes greater African role in 2019 Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is preparing to take over leadership of the African Union for 2019 with an ambitious set of goals and programs. Egypt
Egypt sends mixed messages on possible thaw with Qatar Though some officials in Cairo have stated the importance of a stable relationship with Qatar, so far there are no initiatives for reconciliation. Saudi Arabia
Can Egypt afford to defy Trump in support of Gaza? Egypt is walking a tightrope as it tries to balance its support for Palestinians with its common interests with Washington and its security and economic ties to Israel. Saudi Arabia
Will northern Sinai’s new cultural centers promote moderate Islam? Egypt’s Ministry of Religious Endowments has opened an Islamic cultural center in each governorate to teach moderate Islam and fight radicalism; the volatile northern Sinai Peninsula, where the army fights religious fundamentalists, has three. Egypt
Egypt’s pottery village explores with art in yearly festival Egypt’s celebrated pottery center, the village of Tunis, holds an annual art festival that now features crafts from calligraphy to wood carving. Egypt
Egypt looks to remove religion from ID cards — but is it too little, too late? A proposed bill to remove religious status from national ID cards is welcomed by activists, but they say much more needs to be done to counter the discrimination and unprecedented levels of persecution suffered by Egypt's religious minorities. Egypt
Ecotourism coming to Egypt's Western Desert The Egyptian government has launched an initiative to restore the ancient village of Shali, in the middle of the Sawi oasis, and promote it through ecotourism. Egypt
Egypt helps Tanzania develop new source of electricity After Egypt’s Arab Contractors was awarded the design and construction contract of the Stiegler's Gorge hydroelectric power station on the Rufiji River in Tanzania, experts and officials say such a decision could reduce tension among the Nile’s riparian states. Egypt
Netanyahu, Liberman criticized over Gaza cease-fire The latest round of Israel-Hamas fighting, the most severe since the war they fought in 2014, has intensified criticism against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman. Palestine
Is this the start of Arab NATO plan? The Arab Nato plan promoted by US President Donald Trump to counter Iranian influence is being recurrently heard among the political quarters of the countries participating in the Arab Shield 1 drills in Egypt. Legacy: Gulf
Israel mulls letting in Gazan workers if area stabilizes Despite very recent hostilities, Palestinians see a glimmer of hope in reports that a truce could allow Gazans to work inside Israel, even as conditions keep deteriorating in the besieged enclave. Qatar