[This is a roundup of news articles and other materials circulating on Egypt and reflects a wide variety of opinions. It does not reflect the views of the Egypt Page Editors or of Jadaliyya. You may send your own recommendations for inclusion in each week's roundup to egypt@jadaliyya.com by Sunday night of every week.]
Political Rights
Sources: Presidency gives Egyptian media orders not to cover CBS interview with Sisi
Two separate media sources within the intelligence-controlled Egyptian Media Group (EMG) say that they have received explicit orders from the presidency’s media office to refrain from covering President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi interview with CBS’ “60 Minutes” program on any TV channels, websites or newspapers owned by the media conglomerate.
SMRC postpones adoption of controversial media bylaws for one week to hear syndicate comments
The Supreme Media Regulatory Council (SMRC) decided to postpone on Wednesday the adoption of a controversial set of bylaws for media violations for one week to allow time for the Journalists Syndicate and the Media Professionals Syndicate to comment on the proposal.
Lawyers continue to protest judge over clients’ repeated detention renewals
For the second time in a week, a group of lawyers has publicly refused to continue representing their clients before a Cairo judge notorious for his unwillingness to free defendants held in remand detention.
Egypt to auction EGP 181.5 bln in T-bonds, bills in January
Egypt has said it plans to auction treasury bills and bonds with a total value of 181.5 billion Egyptian pounds in January, the Finance Ministry announced on Tuesday.
‘CairoScene’ is Now Blocked in Egypt For Violating the New Media Law
The Complaints Committee of the Supreme Council for Media Regulation blocked CairoScene’s website in Egypt because it did not obtain a license from the council.
Constitutional amendments ahead in Egypt?
Several politicians and analysts have argued in recent weeks that a number of long-awaited reforms need to be passed in 2019.
'Amendment of Egypt's old rent law not expected soon,' says senior MP
Chairperson of the Egyptian parliament's housing committee Alaa Wali dismissed on Sunday press reports which claimed that the committee has almost finalized amending the old law regulating the landlord-tenant relationship.
Cairo local govt official detained over alleged EGP 1 million bribe
Egyptian prosecutors on Friday ordered the detention of the head of Old Cairo district for four days pending investigations into bribery charges, state news agency MENA reported.
Egypt's Court of Cassation upholds acquittal of Mubarak's chief of staff Zakaria Azmy
Egypt's Court of Cassation on Saturday upheld a ruling to acquit former president Hosni Mubarak's chief of staff Zakaria Azmy of charges of illicit gains.
Foreign Policy
Egypt's FM Shoukry discusses bilateral ties with Moroccan counterpart in Cairo
Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry discussed bilateral ties and developments in the Arab world with his visiting Moroccan counterpart Nasser Bourita in Cairo on Tuesday.
Egypt seeks more coordination with Tunisia on development, security in Africa
Egypt seeks to intensify coordination with Tunisia over issues of common interest in Africa in the coming period, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi told Tunisian Foreign Minister Khemaies Jhinaoui during a meeting in Cairo on Saturday.
Economy
Egypt's Sisi directs ministers to cut public debt, budget deficit
President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi issued directives to officials to exert further efforts to reduce public debt and slash budget deficit through proceeding with the comprehensive economic reform program and focusing on its various institutional, legislative, financial, and monetary aspects.
Egypt's economic wish list for 2019
The article highlights the debates among Egyptians about how broke many people have become and how little their monthly salaries can last.
Egypt maintains customs exchange rate at EGP 16 through Jan for essential goods
Egypt will maintain the existing customs exchange rate for essential goods at sixteen Egyptian pounds per one dollar until the end of January, the finance ministry, said, while increasing the rate for non-essential and luxury goods to 17.9739 Egyptian pounds per one dollar.
Egypt foreign reserves drop for first time post-devaluation
Egypt’s foreign currency reserves fell to 42.551 billion US dollars in December from 44.513 billion US dollars in November, the central bank said on Monday, the first drop since a 2016 currency devaluation.
New pricing mechanism to be applied to 95 octane gasoline in April
Starting April, a new pricing mechanism that aims to lift fuel subsidies in Egypt and reflect international gas prices will be applied to ninety-five octane gasoline, according to Monday’s edition of the Official Gazette.
All EGX indexes up, benchmark rises 0.45 pct
The Egyptian Exchange (EGX) indexes went up at the close of Tuesday's trading, pushed by purchases of local institutions and investment funds.
Domestic Security
Egypt border closed to Gazans leaving amid Palestinian feuding
The Egyptian border crossing was closed for Palestinians seeking to leave Gaza on Tuesday, a border official said, as infighting between Palestinian factions increases.
Police officer killed while attempting to defuse IED in Cairo
A police officer was killed on Saturday while trying to defuse an improvised explosive device (IED) that was found in a Cairo slum area, a security source said.
Egypt's navy thwarts illegal migration attempt near Salloum
Egypt's navy said on Tuesday that it has thwarted an illegal migration attempt by twenty-nine people near the Egyptian-Libyan border crossing of Salloum, a statement by Egypt's Armed Forces spokesperson read.
Arabic
Witnesses describe the terrorist attack near Ezzbet al-Hagana church.
هل يبني النظام بيروقراطية موازية؟
The article discusses the role of the new administrative bodies in creating a new bureaucracy in Egypt.