Morsi’s defense chief asks Kerry for increase in U.S. military aid

Morsi’s defense chief asks Kerry for increase in U.S. military aid

Special to WorldTribune.com CAIRO — Egypt has sought additional military aid from the United States. Officials said the Islamist regime of President Mohammed Morsi has relayed a request for a significant increase in U.S. military assistance over the next year. They said Morsi and his military commanders have argued that the annual U.S. aid of […]

Russian energy major pulls out of Egypt citing terror threats

Russian energy major pulls out of Egypt citing terror threats

Special to WorldTribune.com CAIRO — A leading Russian energy contractor has decided to suspend operations in Egypt. Russia’s Novatek has decided to end operations in Egypt after four years of drilling and other activities. Novatek is said to have cited the rising unrest against the Islamist regime of President Mohammed Morsi. “This is just another […]

Egypt imports tear gas from U.S. to battle pro-democracy protestors

Egypt imports tear gas from U.S. to battle pro-democracy protestors

Special to WorldTribune.com CAIRO — The United States has been exporting tear gas to Egypt in its effort to battle nationwide unrest. The Egyptian Interior Ministry has won U.S. approval to order 140,000 tear gas cannisters from an American company. The Egyptian procurement was coordinated with the Defense Ministry, the leading recipient of U.S. assistance. […]

Courts in Islamist Egypt rule cops now allowed to grow beards

Courts in Islamist Egypt rule cops now allowed to grow beards

Special to WorldTribune.com CAIRO — Egypt’s police, encouraged by the new Islamist regime, have been allowed to grow beards. An Egyptian court has ruled that policemen could grow beards. In a ruling on Feb. 20, the court overruled an Interior Ministry suspension of bearded officers. “The court ruled that police officers have the right to […]

Egypt orders 100,000 pistols in urgent move to get striking police back to work

Egypt orders 100,000 pistols in urgent move to get striking police back to work

Special to WorldTribune.com CAIRO — Egypt plans to procure 100,000 pistols for police. Officials said the Interior Ministry has approved a plan to procure 9mm pistols for Egyptian police. They said the ministry would procure at least 100,000 firearms in an effort to defuse a revolt within the police. “We hope to acquire the first […]

Priority delivery: U.S. to ship all 20 F-16s to Egypt in 2013

Priority delivery: U.S. to ship all 20 F-16s to Egypt in 2013

Special to WorldTribune.com CAIRO — The United States has pledged to accelerate delivery of 20 F-16 multi-role fighters to Egypt in 2013. Officials said Egypt would receive all of the F-16 Block 52 aircraft this year. They said the arrival of the four aircraft marked the first delivery of the F-16s in 2013 as part […]

Sinai Bedouins balk at uprooting families near border

Sinai Bedouins balk at uprooting families near border

Special to WorldTribune.com CAIRO — Bedouin tribes have threatened a revolt in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula. Egyptian sources said leading Bedouin tribes in Sinai have pledged to resist a government ban against owning land near the border with Israel and the Gaza Strip. They said tribal chiefs determined that the five-kilometer ban would harm Bedouin interests […]

Gulf states shaken by Egypt-Iran summit

Special to WorldTribune.com ABU DHABI — The Gulf Cooperation Council has been dismayed over the latest summit between Egypt and Iran. GCC sources said several of the six member states have relayed concern over the meeting between Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi and his Iranian counterpart, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. They said they were concerned that Iran would […]

Egypt opposition forms group to stop sex assaults on female protesters

Egypt opposition forms group to stop sex assaults on female protesters

Special to WorldTribune.com CAIRO — Egypt’s secular opposition has formed a force to protect women protesters. Organizers said the opposition has launched the Tahrir Bodyguard, assigned to patrol Cairo’s Tahrir Square to protect women demonstrators. They said Tahrir Bodyguard appeared at anti-government protests in Cairo on Feb. 1 to stop sexual assaults by Islamists. “This […]

First Iran-Egypt summit since ’79 aims to restore normal ties

First Iran-Egypt summit since ’79 aims to restore normal ties

Special to WorldTribune.com CAIRO — Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad arrived in Cairo on Feb. 5 for the first summit between the two countries since 1979. Officials said Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi would host Ahmadinejad during a two-day visit meant to focus on restoring full relations and launching cooperation. “This visit has been planned for a […]