[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
Al-Ahram dismisses reports that former journalist was sacked due to Knesset visit
Al-Ahram daily newspaper has denied media reports that it sacked a journalist due to participation in a controversial December visit to the Israeli Knesset by an Arab media delegation.
Egypt court renews detention of woman jailed over torture claims in BBC report
A Cairo criminal court accepted on Thursday an appeal by the prosecution against a previous court decision to release Mona Mahmoud, also known as Um Zubaida, who was jailed for spreading false news.
Egypt court commutes death sentences to life in prison for six convicted terrorists
Egypt's Court of Cassation commuted on Sunday death sentences to life imprisonment for six defendants convicted of forming a terrorist cell in Giza in a 2014 case.
Egypt's Endowments Minister opens conference on reforming religious discourse
Egypt's Minister of Endowments Mokhtar Gomaa on Saturday inaugurated a two-day conference on reforming religious discourse, and the role of the family, the media and society in personal development.
Dissecting sectarianism in Egypt: Social, economic and legal challenges
In the latest in a long string of attacks in Minya a crowd of extremists this week attacked a Coptic prayer house which they claimed was an unlicensed church in Zaafarana village and expelled the priest.
Egypt: Containing sectarian violence
Observers discuss how a new anti-discrimination council must deal with the real roots of sectarian conflict in Egypt.
Five officials in petroleum and telecom companies arrested on bribery charges: Egypt's ACA
Egypt's Administrative Control Authority says it has arrested five leading officials in petroleum and a telecommunication sector companies for receiving 500,000 Egyptian pounds in bribes from contractors in a public procurement and contracting company, in return for assigning contracts for a number of projects, the Authority said in a statement on Thursday.
Foreign Policy
Egypt's Sisi discusses trade, bilateral relations with French finance minister in Cairo
Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi met with French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire in Cairo on Sunday to discuss economic ties and bilateral relations.
Egypt's FM Shoukry discusses cooperation with Iraqi, Jordanian counterparts at Beirut summit
Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry participated in a tripartite meeting with his Iraqi and Jordanian counterparts on Sunday on the sidelines of the Arab Economic and Social Development Summit in Beirut.
Filling Ethiopia's GERD will be in agreement with Egypt and Sudan: Dam project manager
Speaking about the latest tripartite consultations between Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan, the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam Manager said that the filling of the reservoir is related to the energy production of the dam and that it will be filled in agreement and accordance with downstream countries, ENA reported.
The article examines the latest efforts to capitalize on strong Egyptian-German relations.
The article reports on plans to connect Egypt and Sudan with electricity.
Rome chief prosecutor says Egypt has taken no steps regarding Regeni suspects
Italy has said that Egypt has taken no steps or overtures following Rome's recent decision to place five members of Egyptian security forces under official investigation for their alleged involvement in the torture and murder of Italian student Giulio Regeni.
Economy
Egypt secures $1.2 billion from China's EximBank for electric rail to new capital
Egypt says that it has secured a 1.2 billion USD deal with the Export-Import Bank of China (EximBank) to finance an electric train project that will run from one of the country’s main industrial zones to its planned New Administrative Capital.
$2 billion dip in foreign currency reserves points to Egypt’s reliance on unsustainable investments
The drop is also a sign that the methods Egypt has used to prop up its foreign currency reserves are unsustainable, given mounting external debt and the impact of foreign investors in treasury bills exiting the Egyptian debt market in recent months.
Egypt’s foreign currency reserves hit $42.6 bln by end of 2018
Egypt’s foreign currency reserves rose to 42.6 billion USD by the end of 2018, the highest level in years, the cabinet media center reported.
Domestic Security
Egypt police kill five terrorists in North Sinai shootout: Ministry
Egypt’s police said on Wednesday that they killed five terrorists during a raid in North Sinai, a statement by the interior ministry read.
A Coptic man later identified as a “police forensic expert” was kidnapped on Thursday in North Sinai, leading to clashes between police and armed militants in which one militant was killed and three policemen were injured.
Arabic
مصر | أوامر رئاسية «غير مدروسة»: الحكومة تنفذ والمواطن يتحمل!
The article discusses how the negative impacts of current policies contributed to large fiscal deficits and rising public debt.
فائض الكهرباء يوقف المحطات الجديدة!
The article examines how power stations project has become a burden on the state, with the surplus reaching about double the actual domestic needs.
في «واقعة الحُضن».. ما دور الجامعات تجاه -ما تراه- مخالفات أخلاقية من الطلاب؟
The article discusses the role of universities in restricting freedoms.
بعد تراجع التضخم.. هل انتهت الأوقات الصعبة واقترب الرخاء؟
Mada Masr reviews the major causes and effects of inflation rate on Egypt’s economy.
تحديات على طريق تمويل منظومة التأمين الصحي الجديدة
The article analyzes the state’s approach to develop a new comprehensive health insurance system.