GCC Finance: GCC assets under management hit $2.7T in 2025, up 10% year-on-year, with retail growing faster than institutional as Saudi and UAE lead fund momentum. AI Data Infrastructure: Canada’s Wafr Technologies raised $100M to cut AI data-centre water use by up to 95% via a hyper-efficient cooling system, with plans for an AI lab and more funding. Middle East Energy & Shipping: Oil prices wavered as Persian Gulf flows recovered toward pre-war levels, while Iran warned tankers to use approved Strait of Hormuz routes—raising stakes for navigation and trade. Iran-US Talks: Indirect US-Iran Doha talks wrapped with “positive progress” from mediators, but key issues like freedom of navigation and regional security stayed unresolved. Egypt Cybersecurity: Egypt’s air defence is leaning on domestic encryption and dedicated cyber units to protect military communications as cyber threats expand. Morocco Higher Ed: Morocco will integrate Arabic modules into science, engineering, and medicine university teaching, aiming to boost local knowledge production. Turkey Economy: Turkey’s inflation eased to 32.1% in June, though housing and education costs stayed a major pressure point. Tech & Society: Google Play launched a $1M indie games fund for developers across 32 African countries, offering equity-free grants plus mentorship.