English Newsletter September 21

Al Majalla's September 21 English newsletter featured an extensive coverage of various global issues. The cover story delved into the growing concerns surrounding artificial intelligence, with industry leaders expressing worries that AI's rapid advancement could surpass human ability to govern, restrain, and control it. Editor Marco Mossad posed the question, "Will AI wipe out humanity?" while Abdelrahman Ayas explored the escalating infrastructure race among AI data centers, calling it the costliest race in history.

The newsletter also highlighted the escalating cold war between the United States and China over the consequential technology. Meanwhile, the volatile situation in Yemen continued to unfold, with the Houthis making territorial gains along the strategically important Red Sea coast. Ibrahim Jalal detailed the rebel group's military strategy, and countermeasures in place to counter their gains.

Elie Kossaifi spoke with Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur for the Occupied Palestinian Territories, who emphasized the global nature of the Palestine question. Samer Abou Hawwach reflected on the significant cultural shift in the United States regarding the Israel/Palestine issue, following pop singer Ed Sheeran's backlash for supporting a 'Free Palestine' stance.

In other news, Lina Khatib noted that Iran's shadow economy can adapt, but it cannot do so indefinitely. Amir Handjani argued that only China, India, and Russia have the potential to end the Iran war, and Charbel Barakat investigated whether China is inserting itself into the Middle East security equation.

Turning to domestic matters, Tarek Megerisi explained that while things have never been better in Libya, they have also never been worse. In Business, Mohamed Sharki explored the staggering $353tn global debt and the challenges in tackling it, while Alaa Emara questioned whether climate change is altering the taste of cheese. Lastly, Fadi el-Abdallah provided insight into the lesser-known talents of Riyad al-Sunbati, the composer behind many of Umm Kulthum's greatest songs.