Egypt’s military says four troops and 36 Islamic militants have died in the past five days of fighting in the restive Sinai Peninsula. Monday’s statement says one officer was among the four killed army personnel. It also says that eight soldiers were wounded, including two officers.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi hosted his Sudanese counterpart Omar al-Bashir for talks in Cairo on Monday, with the pair pledging to boost cooperation after tensions between their neighbouring countries. Bashir’s visit comes two weeks after the reinstatement of Sudan’s ambassador to Cairo following his recall to Khartoum in January.

Russian Foreign minister Sergei Lavrov stressed that Russia, Iran and Turkey have agreed to continue supporting Syria in the fight against terrorism and the political settlement of the crisis in the country. Lavrov made his remarks during a press conference of the foreign ministers of the guarantor states of the …