Zurich, Switzerland | AFP | Cristiano Ronaldo hit two goals in stoppage time as European champions Portugal defeated Egypt 2-1 in a friendly international on Friday, winning his personal duel with Mohamed Salah who had put the seven-time African champions ahead. Ronaldo, appearing in his 900th career match, made his mark …
Read More »Sisi, Egypt’s undisputed leader and ‘father figure’
Cairo, Egypt | AFP | With his trademark black sunglasses and blanket media presence, Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi projects an air of benign paternalism. Whether the people love or loathe Sisi, see him as a bulwark of stability or as a domineering autocrat — there is little doubt that he …
Read More »Ahead of Egypt vote, most Christians put faith in Sisi
Cairo, Egypt | AFP | On the streets of Cairo’s Shubra district, many Coptic Christians — but not all — say they will support President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in his re-election bid on Monday. Pro-Sisi banners hang overhead in the neighbourhood where many Copts reside, often showing the president standing …
Read More »Netanyahu says African migrants worse threat than jihadists
Dimona, Israel | AFP | Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that an electronic fence along the Israel-Egypt border has saved the Jewish state from jihadist attacks or what he believes would be worse — a tide of African migrants. “Were it not for the fence, we would be faced …
Read More »Egypt court orders Uber and Careem to cease operations
Cairo, Egypt | AFP | Egypt’s administrative court issued a ruling on Tuesday stopping the operations of ride sharing apps Uber and Careem, state media reported. Both services had sparked protests by taxi drivers who complained that their drivers were not required to pay the hefty fees to operate transportation …
Read More »No room for debate as Egypt’s Sisi poised for second term
Cairo, Egypt | AFP | With Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on the cusp of winning a second term in this month’s election, what’s left of the opposition is reduced to praying he will step aside in four years. There is little else his critics can realistically hope for after …
Read More »Egypt army says 16 jihadists killed in Sinai operation
Cairo, Egypt | AFP | Egypt’s military said Sunday 16 jihadists, an officer and a soldier were killed in the past four days during a major military operation against Islamic State group jihadists in Sinai. The army launched a sweeping campaign after Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who is standing …
Read More »Four soldiers, 10 jihadists killed in Egypt Sinai campaign
Cairo, Egypt | AFP | Egypt’s military said on Sunday four soldiers and 10 jihadists were killed in a military operation in Sinai against Islamic State group jihadists. The deaths raise military casualties to at least 16 dead, along with more than 100 jihadists, since the start of the operation …
Read More »Egypt court voids rulings on Saudi island transfer
Cairo, Egypt | AFP | Egypt’s constitutional court on Saturday voided contradictory lower court rulings on the controversial transfer of two islands to Saudi Arabia, state media reported. The ruling on the transfer of the Tiran and Sanafir islands in the Red Sea, which sparked protests in Egypt, effectively ends …
Read More »Libya: US imposes sanctions on oil smugglers
Washington, United States | AFP | The United States took action Monday against several Maltese, Libyan and Egyptian firms, traders and ships allegedly involved in smuggling oil out of Libya in violation of UN sanctions. Libya has been gripped by chaos since a NATO-backed uprising toppled and killed longtime dictator …
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