Daily Mail George Clooney plays the supportive husband as he embraces Amal after she's threatened with arrest for her work as a human rights lawyer in Egypt. As an actor, George Clooney is used to starring in emotional scenes. But as the Hollywood star embraced his new wife Amal at their beach side bar in Mexico on New Year's Day, he found himself cast firmly in a supportive role. For top-flying human rights lawyer Amal has been threatened with arrest in Egypt after presenting a report that exposed flaws in the country's judicial system. The 36-year-old revealed she was issued with the threat after identifying the same cracks in the system that led to the conviction of three Al Jazeera journalists - who are now her clients. The revelation came as the British barrister spent the Christmas and New Year period relaxing with George in Cabo San Lucas. Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2894913/George-Clooney-plays-supportive-husband-embraces-Amal-s-threatened-arrest-work-human-rights-lawyer-Egypt.html BBC Egypt President Sisi urged to free al-Jazeera reporter The two brothers of jailed al-Jazeera journalist Peter Greste have said that they will push for the Egyptian president to release him by decree. They will be urging the president to use a decree he issued last year that allows him to deport foreigners in prison or on trial. The brothers were disappointed that Mr Greste and two co-defendants were not freed at a court hearing on Thursday. The trio were appealing against their convictions for spreading false news. Mr Greste's brother Andrew said that the court ruling meant that the journalist was an innocent man in prison and that it was time for President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi to "step in and honor what he has said in the past". The president has said previously that he wished the journalists had been deported rather than being put on trial. Read more: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-30653927 The New York Times Denied Entry to Egypt Michele Dunne, an American scholar and former diplomat, was not denied entry to Egypt on security grounds. An official statement by the Egyptian ministry of foreign affairs, issued on the same day, explicitly stated that she was in violation of the visa requirements. Egyptian laws and statutes stipulate that only tourist visas can be issued at the Egyptian ports of entry. Business visas, without exception, have to be obtained in advance from an Egyptian embassy. Ms. Dunne's views, research interests or scholarly distinction are irrelevant to the issue at hand. Anyone visiting Egypt on business, however distinguished he or she might be, must respect Egyptian laws and regulations if he wishes to enter Egypt. This requirement is not in any way unusual or unreasonable, nor is it something that only Egypt requires. Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/03/opinion/denied-entry-to-egypt.html?_r=0 The Jerusalem Post Egyptian troops kill Palestinian youth infiltrating from Gaza Egyptian border troops shot dead a Palestinian youth as he tried to cross illegally from the Gaza Strip on Friday, Palestinian and Egyptian sources said. Palestinian medical officials and residents in southern Gaza said the dead youth was shot by Egyptian border troops as he tried to slip across the border with three other youths. The three youths taken into Egyptian custody said they came for cigarettes to sell back in Gaza, the police sources said. Read more: http://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Egyptian-troops-kill-Palestinian-youth-infiltrating-from-Gaza-386524 Hurriyet Daily News New regional balance enters New Year The Middle East entered the new year with a new balance of power. Two weeks ago, Qatar and Egypt started normalizing their relations. This reconciliation, however, affects not only these two countries, but also the wider region to a great extent and implies a newly emerging equilibrium. However, the ISIL threat has turned the balances upside down. Countries in the region have grouped together. In September, Qatar expelled seven MB leaders from the country upon U.S. and Gulf pressure. These developments imply the possible next step: Qatar might cut off its funding for Hamas and expel its leadership, namely Khaled Mashaal, from the country. The Kuwaiti press has recently reported that Qatar has already committed to stop all funding of the organization. Egypt's relations with the U.S. are also flourishing. On top of that, Egypt is building up new energy equilibrium in the Eastern Mediterranean by signing energy agreements with Greece, Cyprus and Israel on the exploration of offshore oil and gas resources. On the other hand, the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas, which are opposed by the Gulf-Egypt alliance, are left today with only two supporters: Turkey and Iran. This new equation urges Ankara to make a strategic choice. It would only weaken Turkey's hand if it were to stay out of this emerging alliance. Amid the regional turmoil, Turkey needs regional allies offering stability more than ever. And today the only countries in the region which offer stability are Egypt and Israel. Read more: http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/new-regional-balance-enters-new-year.aspx?PageID=238&NID=76430&NewsCatID=466
