US-Iran Escalation: Trump declared the Iran ceasefire “over” at the NATO summit in Ankara after IRGC retaliation, with CENTCOM reporting large-scale strikes aimed at limiting threats to Strait of Hormuz shipping. Oil & Inflation Watch: Crude prices jumped on renewed hostilities, while gas prices rose in the US and markets weighed fresh supply disruption risk. Diplomacy vs. Risk: US officials told CNN they’re striking then pausing to let diplomacy work, but the MOU framework is effectively collapsing, keeping negotiations uncertain. Egypt Reserves Boost: Egypt’s net foreign reserves hit a record $55.072bn, up nearly $2bn in June, supporting FX stability and investor confidence. Egypt Tech Push: Egypt topped Africa and ranked 51st globally in the 2025 Government AI Readiness Index, citing progress under its national AI strategy. Regional Investment: Oman and Jordan launched a $100m joint investment company to fund priority sectors from IT and agriculture to energy and logistics. Markets & Chips: Wall Street futures eased as investors balanced Middle East tension with the SK Hynix US listing and ongoing AI-led trading. SME Sentiment: Surveys pointed to cautious business sentiment among SMEs amid geopolitical uncertainty tied to the Middle East conflict. IMF Outlook: The IMF cut global growth forecasts to 3%, warning that the Iran-linked instability could hit trade, energy markets, and confidence.