Hamas makes release of detainees condition for negotiations

Hamas is making the release of the detainees of the 2011 prisoner exchange deal a condition for any future negotiations, saying that Israel did not abide by the agreements.

Palestine

Obama: 'Iran’s program has not advanced'

US allies puzzled by March deadline for consideration of Senate sanctions bill; Iran’s gesture to Saudi Arabia; Iran’s man in Beirut; Erdogan’s anti-Western pivot; Aleppo’s fuel shortage; Israel reconciling to Hamas?

Saudi Arabia

Turkey accused of escalating violence in Egypt

Egyptians suspect Turkey of allowing Muslim Brotherhood affiliates to provoke violence in their country.

Egypt

Egyptian antiquities remain at risk

A mix of ineptitude, mismanagement and corruption is leading to the damage, loss and theft of invaluable treasures from Egypt’s history.

Egypt

Wilayat Sinai targets Egyptian army stronghold

According to sources, Wilayat Sinai carried out an organized attack against the largest headquarters of the Egyptian army in the peninsula.

Egypt

Fate of Gazans is in Hamas' hands

The Hamas movement is at a decisive crossroads: either it relinquishes its military control and concentrates on rehabilitating the Gaza Strip or it risks destroying all of Gaza's residents.

Palestine

Al-Azhar, Salafist group spar over banking interest

The Salafist Call in Egypt issued a fatwa prohibiting banking interest in a move that could push Egyptians to either keep their money at home or in Islamic banks.

Egypt

Egyptian pound's drop part of Central Bank's plan

The Central Bank's efforts to reduce the price of the local currency against the dollar are working to undermine the black market, but these measures risk increasing prices.

Egypt

Austerity for Egypt's Internet?

As social media activists in Egypt rally to demand faster and cheaper Internet services, the government of Ibrahim Mehleb asks citizens to limit their Internet consumption, a move many see as one austerity step too far.

Egypt

Sinai residents prepare for the worst

Amid a deteriorating security situation the people of Sinai are raising their voices against the oppressive campaigns practiced by the Egyptian army and police that breed extremism and violence.

Egypt

Cairo metro fare hike results in public backlash

Egyptian news recently reported that the Transport Ministry will increase the price of a metro ticket by 2,500%, which activists consider extremely unfair.

Egypt

Egypt forgives Iraqi debt in exchange for oil

During Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi’s visit to Cairo, the Egyptian government agreed to drop the Iraqi debt owed to Egypt, in exchange for oil shares that would come in handy in light of the energy crisis plaguing Egypt.

Egypt