[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
Forcibly disappeared journalist brought before State Security Prosecution Journalist Mostafa al-Asar was brought before State Security Prosecution on Saturday for interrogations that began on Thursday, according to his lawyer Halim Hanish.
HuffPost Arabi journalist arrested after Hesham Geneina interview The journalist who conducted an interview with former head of the Central Auditing Authority Hesham Geneina, in which the latter discussed documents regarding post-2011 violence, was arrested on Friday according to lawyer Ezzat Ghoneim.
Human rights groups: Egypt’s presidential election is ‘neither free nor fair’ Fourteen international human rights organizations have said that Egypt’s presidential election, scheduled for March, is “neither free nor fair.”
Abouel Fotouh remanded in detention, accused of leading terrorist group Abdel Moneim Abouel Fotouh, a 2012 presidential candidate and Islamist political figure, was remanded in detention on Thursday, prompting the Strong Egypt Party he heads to announce a temporary suspension of its operations.
Hesham Geneina arrested after claims to documents implicating the state in post-2011 violence Police arrested former head of the Central Auditing Authority Hesham Geniena from his home in New Cairo at midday on Tuesday, according to lawyer Ali Taha.
Validity of post-2011 violence documents pits former campaign members against one another Sami Anan, the retired Armed Forces Chief of Staff and jailed former presidential contender, denied discussing documents regarding post-2011 violence with Hesham Geneina, the former Central Auditing Authority head, during a Tuesday interrogation session, according to Geneina’s lawyer Ali Taha.
Cairo court orders release of 36 protesters against man's death in police custody A Cairo criminal court ordered on Sunday the release on bail of thirty-six people arrested last month for attacks on a police station while protesting the death of a young man in police custody.
Egypt's health ministry: Teenage FGM rate declined by 13% from 2008-2014 Egypt's Health Ministry said on Sunday that the rate of the female genital mutilation among teenage girls from fifteen to seventeen years old fell from seventy-four percent in 2008 to sixty-one percent in 2014.
Plans underway to settle Maspero's massive debts, Egypt's planning minister tells MPs The Egyptian parliament's media, culture and antiquities committee held a hearing session Sunday to review efforts being exerted to rid the country's Television and Radio Union -- known as "Maspero" -- of massive debts.
Economy
Graph | Despite record highs, a third of Egyptian foreign reserves are debts due within a year Egypt’s foreign currency reserves rose over the last year to reach a record high of 38.2 billion USD at the end of January, but a significant portion of the reserve was built through short-term external borrowing, which must consequently be paid within the coming year.
Foreign Relations
Egyptian Parliament strongly rejects European Parliament's resolution on executions The Egyptian Parliament's foreign affairs committee issued a statement strongly rejecting a resolution by the European Parliament on executions in Egypt, warning that the use of human rights matters to place restrictions on Egypt must stop.
Egypt's FM Shoukry calls on int'l community to redefine terrorism, drop double standards in fighting it Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry delivered a speech in Germany on Saturday stressing the need to redefine terrorism and unite international efforts to combat it, while setting aside double standards.
FM Shoukry discusses Egypt's contributions to Iraq's reconstruction with PM Abadi Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry met with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi on Sunday on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference to discuss Egypt's contribution to the rebuilding of Iraq, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry announced.
Egypt's FM Shoukry discusses regional issues with UN secretary-general in Munich Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry met with the secretary-general of the United Nations Antonio Guterres at the Munich Security Conference on Friday.
We understand Ethiopia's reasons to postpone dam meeting, but want compliance with set timeframe: Egypt Egypt understands the reasons for Ethiopia requesting a postponement of the trilateral ministerial meeting on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam scheduled for late February, but hopes there will be compliance with agreed timeframes for resolving technical issues, Egypt's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Sunday.
Palestinian reconciliation and Gaza Strip on the agenda during Hamas visit A delegation of senior Hamas officials discussed resuming the Palestinian reconciliation process during a two-day meeting in Cairo that ended on Saturday, after the Egypt-mediated talks floundered late last year.
Domestic Security
4 days of isolation: Waiting for the start of Operation Sinai 2018 9 February was just like any other Friday: Telecommunications and internet access to the entire North Sinai Governorate had been cut off since 7 am. Arish families were preparing to gather at grandparents’ houses for lunch. Military aircraft were hovering over the city, albeit in greater numbers than usual. There were also sounds of explosions, which local residents have grown accustomed to over the past five years.
Egypt considers moving exams for North Sinai students to nearby governorate due to Operation Sinai 2018 Egypt is considering relocating certification exams for North Sinai students to a nearby governorate, Education Minister Tarek Shawki announced on Sunday, nearly a week after school sessions were suspended until further notice due to the launch of the army's sweeping anti-terrorism campaign, Operation Sinai 2018.
Province of Sinai video warns against participation in presidential election Province of Sinai, the peninsula’s most active militant group, warned citizens against participating in Egypt’s upcoming presidential election in a newly released twenty-three-minute video.
From Jadaliyya Egypt
أحمد عبد اللطيف: حصن التراب صوت المهزومين مقابل السلطة Egyptian novelist Ahmed Abdel Latif is interviewed about his recent novel a bout the period of Islamic presence in the Iberian peninsula.
Arabic
"أسباب وراء مطالبات وقف عدد من البرامج و الأعمال الدرامية أبرزها "أبلة فاهيتا The Supreme Council for Media issued a decision to suspend "SNL" comedy show broadcast on ON TV channel over "sexual insinuations".
ماسبيرو» و«الأرزقية» و توجيه رئاسي يتصدرون أجندة النواب» Amid the absence of the parliament's plenary sessions for more than two weeks, MPs discuss public issues such as the development of the radio and television building and the presidential directives on employment.
حبس «أبو الفتوح» 15 يوما.. ورئيس مصر القوية يطلب نقله للمستشفى The Public Prosecutor sentenced the head of "Strong Egypt" party Abdel Moneim Abu al- Fotouh to fifteen-day prison over alleged ties with the Muslim Brotherhood.
"عمر الديب.. من "معارضة" الإخوان إلى "ولاية سيناء Almanassa investigates Omar El Deeb's journey to join ISIS in Sinai.
بدون إرهاق الدولة ماديًا.. 4 اقتراحات غير مكلفة لتطوير القطاع الصحي في مصر Sasapost examines proposals that would improve the quality of health services in Egypt.
هل يحل رفع أسعار تذاكر القطار مشكلات «السكة الحديد»؟ The government postponed on Tuesday its decision to raise the price of tickets on all Egyptian railways until June, according to Transport Minister Hesham Arafat in a press statement.
العملية الشاملة»..للحرب وجوه أخرى يتحمل تبعاتها المواطنين» Sinai residents continue to bear the consequences of the state's war on terrorism after the Armed Forces raised the state of high alert in northern Sinai to launch the "Comprehensive Operation Sinai 2018".
الدولة تحصل 408 مليارات جنيه ضرائب على الدخل العام الماضى The total income tax for FY 2016/2017 amounted to 408 billion Egyptian pounds, a twenty-five percent increase from the previous year 2015 \ 2016.
حصاد 6 أيام من «سيناء 2018»: مقتل 53 إرهابياً وتدمير 378 وكراً Fifty-three terrorists were killed and 378 hideouts were destroyed over six days of the Comprehensive Operation Sinai 2018, the spokesperson of the armed forces said.
مجلس الوزراء يوافق على تعديل بعض أحكام قانون الإرهاب The Cabinet approved on Wednesday the amendments to a number of bills in line with the current challenges, chiefly combating terrorism crimes.
الدعم.. سلاح الحكومة المسلط على الرقاب Elbadeel reflects on state subsidies policy and how it affects citizens' lives.