Anadolu Agency Restoration of Egypt's military aid strategic US move: Experts Obama last week informed Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi by phone that he would lift an executive hold on the delivery of aircraft, missiles and tank kits. The American president also pledged to request from Congress $1.3 billion in annual military assistance for Egypt. The court's ruling contributed to criticism of the White House's decision while there is still not a significant change in Egypt's human rights record. "Obama's decision is a realization that democracy and human rights have never been the foundation of U.S.-Egypt relationship," Samuel Tadros, an expert at the Washington-based Hudson institute said. Read more: http://www.aa.com.tr/en/news/493310--restoration-of-egypt-s-military-aid-strategic-us-move The New York Times Egypt: Barring of Gay Man Upheld An Egyptian administrative court has upheld a decision by the Interior Ministry banning a Libyan student's return to Egypt because he is gay. The student, who was not identified, had appealed the decision, hoping to resume his studies at the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport in Alexandria. A judicial official said the ministry has the right to issue bans in such cases on grounds of protecting public interest, religious and social values. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to reporters. Homosexuality, while not specifically prohibited, is a social taboo in Egypt. Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/15/world/middleeast/egypt-barring-of-gay-man-upheld.html?_r=0 Ynet News Egypt says discussed 'major military maneuvers' in Saudi Arabia Egypt and Saudi Arabia have discussed holding a "major military maneuver" in Saudi Arabia with other Gulf states and will form a joint military committee to look into the matter further, the Egyptian presidency said in a statement. It said the topic was discussed during a meeting between Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Saudi Defense Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Cairo on Tuesday. Read more: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4647231,00.html Reuters Egypt upholds Islamist ex-presidential candidate's jail term: sources Egypt's highest civilian court on Tuesday upheld a seven-year jail term for an Islamist politician and ex-presidential candidate convicted of falsifying official documents, his lawyer and judicial sources said. Hazem Salah Abu Ismail, a hardline Salafist Islamist, was one of many political figures arrested by police in 2013. Abu Ismail was disqualified from the 2012 election when it emerged that his mother held U.S. citizenship. The election committee said this meant he could not run. Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/04/14/us-egypt-court-islamist-idUSKBN0N50UM20150414
