The release of award-winning photojournalist Mahmoud Abu Zeid (Shawkan) after being detained for five years is topping coverage of Egypt today. Abu Zeid was arrested back in August 2013 while covering clashes between security forces and supporters of former President Mohamed Morsi. He was retrospectively sentenced to five years in prison in September 2018 along with 213 others on charges including murder, attempted murder, assault and vandalism. Abu Zeid will now be on probation for five years, a measure that Amnesty International has termed “ludicrous” and “outrageous.” AFP, the Washington Post, and the NYT all picked up the story.

The international press is also taking note of comments made by Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh, who announced that Egypt will lead a new round of talks between Israel and Hamas, Associated Press reports. Xinhua meanwhile noted his statements on improving relations with Egypt.

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