Arutz Sheva Qatar Cuts Hamas Funding for Egypt Alliance According to a Kuwaiti newspaper report of Friday Qatar has temporarily cut its funding for the Gaza-based Muslim Brotherhood-offshoot Hamas, in its efforts for a rapprochement with Egypt. The report in "Al Jarida" cited a senior Egyptian source as saying that Qatar has informed the Hamas leaders that it will temporarily stop its support of the group to press it to make several concessions that will aid ties with Egypt. Those concessions include a cessation of Hamas's antagonistic policy towards Egypt, incitement against Egypt, and an end to transferring weapons to Islamic terrorist organisations in the Sinai Peninsula. In return, Hamas asked that Qatar serve as an intermediary between it and Egypt so as to reduce the tensions between the two, according to the Egyptian source. The report has yet to be officially confirmed.
The Economic Times Egypt says deal to import 120,000 tons Russian wheat in Jan to be met
Russian officials have assured Egypt that deals to import 120,000 tonnes of wheat for delivery in January will be met, the state owned "Al-Ahram" newspaper quoted Egypt's Minister of Supply, Khaled Hanafi, as saying on Friday. It said Hanafi had called Russian officials from China, where he is accompanying the president on an official visit, and was told Egypt's deals would not be disrupted by planned Russian export curbs. Read more: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/45653609.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst The New York Times Human rights groups in Egypt brace for crackdown under new law Egyptian rights advocates and nonprofit groups are bracing for a crackdown, but the official who oversees them says there is nothing to fear. It depends in large part on how prosecutors will apply the law as a tool to fight terrorism. The new law imposes a potential life sentence for the crime of intending to "harm the national interest," "compromise national unity" or "breach security or public peace."
Time Egypt Bans Exodus for ‘Historical Mistakes' Although "Exodus: Gods and Kings" is set in Egypt, you won't actually be able to see it there. Ridley Scott's adaptation of the biblical story of Moses has run afoul of Egyptian censors. Abdul Sattar Fathi, the head of the Egyptian state censorship board, harshly criticized the film, citing "historical mistakes," like claiming the Jews built the pyramids and portraying Moses as a general, not a prophet. "Furthermore," Fathi said, "it shows ancient Egyptians as a mob group persecuting peaceful Jews. Our board has refused this out of respect for Egyptians' feelings." It's not just Egypt, either—Exodus is reportedly facing similar trouble in Morocco, a trend that will very likely continue as the film makes its way to other Arab countries. That the film would struggle in the Middle East isn't really a surprise—Noah, this year's other biblical epic, faced similar opposition, as strict religious laws regarding the portrayal of prophets often stand in the way. Read more: http://time.com/3647620/egypt-banned-exodus/
