Tom Stevenson

Sunday

Tom Stevenson

Why is Michael Fallon cosying up to General al-Sisi?

From our UK edition

Michael Fallon, the Defence Secretary, was in Egypt this week for the opening of the 'New Suez Canal' (in fact an extension to the old Suez canal elaborately advertised), and took the opportunity to express Britain's support for the military junta that installed itself in Egypt two years ago. The presence of a senior member of the Cabinet at the opening ceremony is in itself a message of support for Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's regime in Egypt that probably ought not be sent, but Fallon didn't stop there. After praising the authorities for building 'a modern wonder', he announced in the largest state-owned newspaper that Britain 'stands shoulder to shoulder' with Egypt and pledged Britain's intentions to keep 'strengthening Egypt's hand against the terrorists'.

Monday

Tom Stevenson

How Tunisia became a target for terrorists

From our UK edition

The terrorist attack at Tunisia's Hotel Riu Imperial Marhaba that left 39 people dead was remarkable in its brashness and its detail. Islamic State were quick to name 23-year-old Seifeddine Rezgui as a ‘soldier of the caliphate’ yet on the surface Rezgui appeared to have been a regular young man. He'd never been abroad, let alone to Syria or Iraq. He was a fan of Real Madrid and a former break-dancing enthusiast. This was the single largest attack on foreign tourists in a North African country since the Luxor massacre in 1997 and many will be asking why it took place in Tunisia, the country hailed as the only success story of the Arab Spring.