Reuters Russia and Egypt hold joint naval exercise Russia and Egypt are holding their first ever joint naval exercise, Russia's defence ministry said on Saturday, strengthening the ties between two states which were once Cold War allies. The eight-day drills off the Mediterranean Egyptian port of Alexandria, beginning today, will include supply and communication at sea, search operations, all forms of defence at sea and firing exercises. "The goal of the exercise is to strengthen and develop military co-operation between Egypt's navy and Russia's navy in the interests of security and stability on the sea," the ministry said. Read more: http://uk.reuters.com/article/2015/06/06/uk-russia-egypt-navy-idUKKBN0OM0QR20150606 Haaretz Egyptian court cancels ruling to put Hamas on terrorist list An Egyptian appeals court on Saturday cancelled a ruling to list the Palestinian group Hamas as a terrorist organization, judicial sources said, signaling a possible easing of pressure on the Gaza Strip's ruling faction. Hamas welcomed the decision by Egypt, which faces an Islamist insurgency it says is fueled by weapons smuggled from Gaza. Hamas said the ruling would help relations with Cairo. Read more: http://www.haaretz.com/news/middle-east/1.659888 Business Standard Bomb blast kills 1 policeman in Egypt At least one policeman has been killed when a homemade bomb planted by unknown people exploded in Egypt's Gharbia governorate. The incident took place during a checking carried out by security forces following an explosion at a farm in the governorate. They found tools used in making bombs and other devices. The bomb exploded when one of the policemen was detecting the devices at the farm, killing him on the spot, a statement by the Ministry of Interior said yesterday. Read more: http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/bomb-blast-kills-1-policeman-in-egypt-115060700025_1.html Press TV Egyptian lawyers go on strike, protest police brutality Egyptian lawyers have staged a general strike to protest what they call repeated and systematic cases of police brutality against members of their profession, Press TV reports. Head of the local syndicate of lawyers in the province of Damietta said Saturday that members of Egypt's general union of lawyers have decided to boycott court sessions for 24 hours as part of the nationwide move. Hisham Abou Youssef said the strike came after Egypt's Interior Ministry did not provide any official apology over an incident last week in the same province, where a police officer used his shoe to attack a veteran lawyer during a hearing in the police headquarters. Read more: http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2015/06/06/414593/Egypt-Damietta-Hisham-Abou-Youssef-Emad-Fahmy-
