Following is a summary of current BBC World News Today news briefs.

Detentions loom over Egypt's political dialog

After nine years of sweeping crackdowns on dissent, Egypt is set to launch a carefully choreographed political dialog, but the main Islamist opposition movement is excluded and critics say a parallel move to release prisoners is proceeding too slowly. The dialog, announced by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in April and expected to start in the coming weeks, will include some moderate opposition factions pushed to the margins since Sisi, while armed forces chief, led the 2013 ouster of Muslim Brotherhood President Mohamed Mursi after mass unrest.

Former British envoy to US, Christopher Meyer, dies

Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Friday led tributes to Britain's former ambassador to the United States, Christopher Meyer, who served as the go-between for George Bush and Tony Blair and has died at the age of 78.

Meyer served as Britain's envoy to Washington for six years under then prime minister Blair. His posting spanned a turbulent period including the end of the Clinton administration, the 9/11 attacks and build-up to the Iraq war.

N.Macedonia donates tanks to Ukraine as it modernizes own military

North Macedonia plans to donate an unspecified number of Soviet-era tanks to Ukraine as it seeks to modernize its own military to meet NATO standards, its defense ministry said on Friday.

In a statement, the ministry said Ukraine will receive tanks belonging to the western Balkan country's tank battalion which is in the process of being upgraded.

Philippines airlifts aid to areas cut off since earthquake

Philippine authorities on Friday airlifted supplies to districts that have been cut off since a powerful earthquake struck the main island of Luzon this week, as residents pleaded for food and temporary shelter. The military said it had deployed personnel and helicopters to distribute relief goods to seven isolated towns in Abra province.