Ties between Egypt and Sudan are going through “a crisis” because of the issues surrounding the Halayeb Triangle and Egypt’s “restrictions” on Sudanese miners there, Sudan’s Foreign Affairs Ministry said, according to Ashorooq. A senior official at the ministry said he hoped the issues are resolved soon, but reiterated Sudan’s claims over the Halayeb Triangle. We had noted reports from the Sudanese press last week that claims that 16 miners were apprehended by Egyptian security forces in Sudanese territory.

Egypt, the UAE, Iraq, and China may become observers in the Syrian peace process, a source told Sputnik.

The Sisi administration has decided to allow Hamas to set up a representative office in Cairo, according to AMAY. The office will be headed by Hamas member Rawhi Mushtaha and will help facilitate talks and prisoner swaps. In further thawing of Hamas’ relationship in the region Egypt has also presented a new framework for prisoner exchanges between Hamas and Israel, Haaretz reports.

Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry met with his Italian counterpart, Angelino Alfano, in London on Thursday to discuss cooperation on illegal migration and Italy’s role in Egypt’s petroleum industry, according to a ministry statement. They also reiterated their commitment to cooperating in the ongoing investigation into Giulio Regeni’s murder.

Shoukry also met with UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson to discuss economic cooperation ahead of British trade envoy Sir Jeffrey Donaldson’s visit to Egypt this month. The two also discussed neverending UK travel warning on Egypt.

Shoukry’s meetings came on the sidelines of the six-party Arab League ministerial conference on Libya.