BBC Russia's Putin arrives in Cairo for talks with Egyptian leader Russian President Vladimir Putin has begun a two-day visit to Egypt, as both sides aim to boost bilateral ties and discuss major regional security issues. Ahead of his trip, he described Egypt as Russia's "old and trusted partner". Mr Putin is seen as a key backer of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. Read more: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-31310348 The Irish Times Egyptian president rallies foreign allies as violence increases The highways between town and Cairo's international airport were yesterday flanked with posters welcoming Russian President Vladimir Putin, visiting at the invitation of Egyptian President Abdel- Fattah El-Sisi. Policemen in uniform and plain clothes were deployed every few meters along the traffic-clogged roadways. Sisi cannot afford any incident threatening his friend from the frozen north. Moreover, Sisi has been reassured in telephone conversations with Saudi, Bahraini, Kuwaiti and Emirati rulers that the Gulf States will continue providing financial, energy and moral support for cash-strapped and fuel-poor Egypt while it battles Ansar Beit al-Maqdis, now the Sinai province of the Islamic State (IS), as well as other jihadi groups supporting the Muslim Brotherhood's campaign to destabilise Egypt. Read more: http://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/middle-east/egyptian-president-rallies-foreign-allies-as-violence-increases-1.2097462 The Globe and Mail Fahmy family uses #HarperCallEgypt campaign to urge PM to intervene Mr. Fahmy's brothers are urging others to demand that Prime Minister Stephen Harper intervene more forcefully. They are asking supporters to use their Twitter accounts to tweet #HarperCallEgypt or to send faxes and e-mails to the Prime Minister's Office. "Mohamed's family is extremely worried that any release could be delayed indefinitely," his brother, Adel Fahmy, said in a statement Monday. "For the next four days, we are having an impromptu Harper Call Egypt party." Mr. Harper has raised the case of Mr. Fahmy with "the highest levels of the Egyptian leadership," Ms. Meekes said. The Egyptian government official said Mr. Harper wrote at least two letters on Mr. Fahmy's behalf. Read more: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/fahmy-family-dials-up-pressure-on-pm-with-harpercallegypt-campaign/article22857493/ Washington Post How Egypt's soccer fans became enemies of the state It's happened again. On Sunday, more than 20 Egyptian soccer fans were killed in an altercation with security forces outside a stadium that was hosting a game between Cairo clubs Zamalek and ENPPI. The tragic incident comes three years after the deaths of 72 Al Ahly soccer fans during a match in the city of Port Said, one of the worst disasters in the history of the sport. As they did three years ago, Egyptian authorities have suspended the league in the wake of the violence. Many of the dead reportedly belong to a hard-core group of Zamalek supporters known as the Zamalek White Knights. Egyptian officials say police fired tear gas to disperse a crowd of ticket-less fans attempting to force its way into the stadium. Public prosecutors have ordered the arrest of leading Zamalek White Knights members. Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2015/02/09/how-egypts-soccer-fans-became-enemies-of-the-state/
