Sisi defends Egypt’s security laws
Craig TaylorPresident Abdul Fattah al-Sisi defends Egypt’s sweeping security laws, insisting he is still taking the country on a path to democracy. BBC News – Middle East
Middle East
Rare cyclone set to lash Yemen
A rare tropical cyclone hits the remote Yemeni island of Socotra, killing at least one person before heading towards the Yemeni mainland. BBC News – Middle East
UK begins on new Mid-East base
A ceremony is held to mark the start of construction work on Britain’s first new permanent military base in the Middle East since 1971. BBC News – Middle East
World powers step up Syria peace quest
Major powers lay out a new diplomatic process to help end Syria’s civil war, but they continue to differ on the fate of President Bashar al-Assad. BBC News – Middle East
Saudi blogger wins human rights prize
The Saudi blogger Raif Badawi, whose flogging sentence caused a global outcry, is awarded the prestigious Sakharov human rights prize. BBC News – Middle East
Yemen air strikes destroy MSF clinic
Medecins Sans Frontieres says a hospital in north Yemen has been destroyed by several air strikes, but the Saudi-led coalition denies responsibility. BBC News – Middle East