[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
Egyptian leftist, liberal parties launch new Civil Democratic Movement A group of Egyptian left-wing, liberal parties and public figures have established a new political movement that "supports democracy and social justice" and aims to “face the deteriorating situation of the country,” the Karama Party and the Popular Socialist Alliance Party announced in a joint press conference on Wednesday.
'Spread no Hate': Cairo hosts symposium against anti-migrant hate speech Cairo hosted on Wednesday a crucial and timely symposium titled ‘Spread no Hate: A Global Dialogue on Hate Speech against Migrants and Refugees,’ held by the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations.
Egypt Ranks Third Worst Jailer of Journalists in 2017: CPJ The Committee to Protect Journalists’ annual prison census found that 262 journalists have been imprisoned worldwide which makes the year 2017 the worst year on record since CPJ started its census in the early 1990s.
Egypt press syndicate calls for release of journalists arrested after covering sit-in against Trump Egypt’s press syndicate council called on Thursday for the release of journalists Hossam al-Seweify and Ahmed Abdel-Aziz, who were arrested last week after covering a protest at the syndicate headquarters in Cairo against US President Donald Trump’s recent decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
Why did Twitter suspend a Reuters journalist’s account in Egypt? On Wednesday 13 December, Reuters journalist Amina Ismail’s Twitter account was suspended. Her account has since been reinstated, but why was it suspended in the first place?
Military prosecution dismisses case against 236 ultras due to insufficient evidence The military prosecution in Alexandria released 228 members of the Ultras White Knights, who were held in pretrial detention for six months, on Sunday after the case was dismissed due to insufficient evidence, while another eight remain in custody.
Egyptian Social Democratic Party member sentenced to 3 years on charges of terrorism, criticizing the state A prominent member of the Egyptian Social Democratic Party was sentenced to three years in prison on Wednesday, according to lawyers, despite the judge announcing he would receive a one-year sentence during a court session on Tuesday.
Egypt court upholds death sentence against 3 Brotherhood members for killing judge's son The top Egyptian appeals court upheld on Thursday death sentences against three members of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood for killing the son of a judge in 2014.
Egypt military court sentences 14 people to death for 2015 Alexandria deadly bombing An Egypt military court sentenced on Sunday fourteen defendants to death after they were convicted of committing a terror attack in Alexandria in 2015.
Egypt's military prosecution orders release of 237 Zamalek Ultras fans detained over football-related violence Egypt's military prosecution has ordered the release of 237 members of Zamalek football fan club Ultras White Knights after nearly five months in detention over a football riot in Alexandria.
Shafiq asks authorities to disclose reasons behind arrests of 3 supporters Mubarak-era prime minister and potential presidential candidate Ahmed Shafiq has asked Egyptian authorities to clarify the reasons behind the arrests of three people associated with his previous presidential campaign in a statement issued on Saturday.
Former PM Shafiq discusses potential presidential run with National Movement Party leaders Former Egyptian prime minister and presidential hopeful Ahmed Shafiq led a meeting on Thursday at a Cairo hotel with leaders of the Egyptian National Movement Party, which was founded by Shafiq, to discuss whether he would run in the upcoming presidential elections in May 2018.
Egypt's Pope Tawadros II returns to Cairo after recovering from surgery in Germany The head of Egypt's Coptic Orthodox Church Pope Tawadros II has returned to Cairo and is set to lead the church's weekly meeting on Wednesday after successfully undergoing spinal microsurgery in Germany two weeks ago, state-run news agency MENA reported.
Egyptian Singer Sentenced To Prison For “Inciting Debauchery, Harming Public Morality” Little-known Egyptian singer Shaimaa Ahmed – or Shyma – has been sentenced to two years in prison and was fined 10,000 LE after she had been charged with inciting debauchery for her music video clip that was viewed as “racy.”
Economy
Launch of Egypt's first smartphone delayed after battery shipment stolen Egypt's Sico Technology company said on Sunday that the commercial launch of the country's first locally manufactured Smartphone has been delayed from late December to mid-January after a shipment of 15,000 batteries was stolen as it was on its way to the company's factory in Assiut.
Pumping operations begin at Egypt’s giant Zohr gas field Pumping operations began on Saturday on Egypt's super-giant Zohr gas field, bringing the country closer to achieving its goal of self-sufficiency in the supply of liquefied natural gas.
World Bank to cease financing upstream oil and gas after 2019 The World Bank will no longer finance upstream oil and gas projects after 2019, apart from certain gas projects in the poorest countries in exceptional circumstances, it said on Tuesday, drawing praise from environmental groups.
EBRD to Invest €1bn in Egyptian Development Projects in 2018 The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development aims to invest one billion Euros in Egypt next year, the bank’s Managing Director for Equity Hassan al-Khatib said, according to private newspaper al-Borsa.
Foreign Relations
Egypt left empty-handed after Putin visit Russian President Vladimir Putin left Cairo after an hours-long visit, during which he met Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, without agreements made on any pending issues on Monday.
Putin visits Sisi: Dabaa power plant project to launch, but contracts not yet signed The launch of Egypt’s first nuclear plant project, in the city of Dabaa in the Matrouh Governorate, was announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin and President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in a joint press conference in Cairo on Monday.
Egypt, Russia sign protocol on security cooperation with aim of resuming flights Egypt and Russia signed a joint cooperation protocol regarding civil aviation security on Friday with the aim of resuming flights following a two-year hiatus after a plane crash in Sharm al-Sheikh.
The battlefields of Jerusalem When Donald Trump declared that the US would recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital there was a strange strain of news item that emerged, warning of potential repercussions from Arab states and Arab streets abounded. In Egypt, the state media and its televisual vassals roll out formulaic declarations of rage. But the streets are still. The stillness is not a surprise. But it must be properly understood.
Egypt joins unified Arab TV broadcast in support of Palestinian Jerusalem Egypt joined a unified Arab television broadcast on Sunday to show support for Palestine and a rejection of a US decision to move its embassy to Jerusalem, recognizing the city as Israel's capital.
Egypt parliament to discuss draft law boycotting US products over Jerusalem decision The speaker of Egypt’s parliament Ali Abdel-Aal told MPs in a plenary session on Sunday that a draft law aimed at boycotting American products over US President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel has been referred to parliamentary committees for discussion.
Egypt's Sisi, Italian interior minister discuss bilateral cooperation, Regeni case Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi discussed with Italian interior minister Marco Minniti during a meeting in Cairo boosting Egyptian-Italian ties as well as the ongoing probe into the 2016 murder of Italian student Giulio Regeni in Cairo, al-Sisi's office said.
Egypt's Sisi discusses illegal immigration with EU commissioner for home and migration affairs Egypt President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi discussed in a Cairo meeting with EU Commissioner for Home and Migration Affairs Dimitris Avramopoulos Egyptian efforts to curb illegal immigration, the presidency said on Saturday.
Domestic Security
Teacher killed, 2 injured in separate North Sinai attacks One person was killed and two were injured in separate attacks in North Sinai on Sunday.
Egypt to open Rafah border crossing with Gaza on Saturday for four days Egypt will open the Rafah border crossing with the Gaza Strip in both directions for four days starting Saturday for humanitarian purposes and to allow the passage of students.
Arabic
سياسيون وأحزاب يطلقون «الحركة المدنية الديمقراطية» لمواجهة «تغول» النظام Eight opposition parties launched the Civilian and Democratic Movement Front to confront the regime's authoritarian policy, calling for the release of political prisoners and fight against corruption.
حقيقة الوعود الروسية لمصر.. وموقف أمريكا من تقارب القاهرة وموسكو Parliamentarians discuss the potential developments of Russia-Egypt relations and its impacts regionally and internationally following the latest Putin-Sisi talks.
المخابرات المصرية.. أذرع السيسي الناجحة في 5 دول عربية The article examines the role of the General Intelligence Service in Sisi's Egypt, which replaces the Foreign Ministry in five Arab countries.
هدم منازل المواطنين بسيناء.. بدء تنفيذ القوة الغاشمة Sinai residents have been encountering security raids again amid state war on terrorism.
أحداث كوم اللوفي».. براءة المتهمين في قضية حرق منازل أقباط وعربات شرطة» Minya Criminal Court abducted Wednesday twenty-three defendants over Kom al-Loufy incident after victims dropped their lawsuit.
جنح أمن الدولة طوارئ» تؤجل محاكمة «معتقلي الدفوف» إلى 26 ديسمبر لنظر طلبات الدفاع» Aswan State Security Emergency and Misdemeanor Court adjourned Nubian protests hearing session to 26 December.
بين اللوم والتوجيه.. رسائل الدولة للإعلام الأجنبي The Egyptian state criticized foreign media over biased coverage of al-Rawdah mosque attack.
هل ينجح «الخدمة المدنية» في القضاء على «المحسوبية»؟ Nepotism remains one of the major problems of employment in Egypt over the past decades, yet, the effectiveness of the new civil service law which is set to address administrative corruption remains uncertain.
«غياب التنسيق بين الوزارات.. أزمة جديدة أمام «الاستثمار The parliament's Economic Committee called on state ministries to coordinate with each other to facilitate the implementation of investment law.
للمرة الثالثة.. زيادة مرتقبة لـ«الأدوية» بداية العام الجديد The increase in medicine prices set for the third time starting next January was met with wide criticisms.
جدل حول تمويل بنوك مصرية لسد النهضة.. و«المركزي» ينفي A document revealed alleged Egyptian banks investment in the Ethiopian Dam project sparks controversy among Egyptians.
إذن المجلس» شرط لقاءات وندوات النواب فى الداخل والخارج» The parliament issued a letter to MPs calling them to ask for the permission of the Speaker Ali Abdel Aal before offering comments in interviews, angering MPs who considered the call as unacceptable guardianship.
الصحفيين» تُطالب بسرعة الإفراج عن حسام السويفي وأحمد عبد العزيز» The Journalists Syndicate demanded authorities to urgently release two journalists who were arrested in anti-Trump protests.