[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
Activist and journalist Israa Abd El Fattah told the State Security Prosecution on Sunday that she was beaten and tortured to force her to unlock her phone, and announced that she is on hunger strike to protest her treatment, her lawyer said, a day after she was arrested by national security agents.
Alaa Abd El Fattah and his lawyer recount humiliation and beatings in maximum-security prison
Shortly after his arrest on September 29 from the Dokki police station, where he had been serving a probation sentence, activist and writer Alaa Abd El Fattah was blindfolded and taken to the maximum-security wing of Tora Prison.
Rights, Regression and Repression for the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Pre-sessions
This factsheet, for the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Pre-sessions and based on a joint submission with the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) to the Human Rights Council, examines the enjoyment of economic and social rights in Egypt. It makes extensive use of data from the Egypt Social Progress Indicators (ESPI)—a set of qualitative and quantitative indicators on a broad range of economic and social issues developed by CESR and Egyptian civil society partners.
President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi blamed the Renaissance Dam crisis with Ethiopia on the 2011 uprising, which unseated Hosni Mubarak after thirty years of autocratic rule.
Security directives instruct media to attack National Council for Human Rights
Media organizations received instructions from security agencies to attack the National Council for Human Rights and its head, following a statement it published criticizing recent police violations, media sources told Mada Masr.
Giza Court sentences 6 to death in the 2016 Three Pyramids Hotel terrorist attack
The Giza Criminal Court sentenced six defendants to death on terror-related charges on Saturday in the case of the 2016 terrorist attack on the Three Pyramids Hotel.
Egyptian parliament's budget committee begins discussing new customs law
The Egyptian parliament's budget and planning committee began on Sunday discussing a new government-drafted law aimed at regulating customs.
Egypt's Doctors Syndicate to hold elections on Friday
Thousands of Egyptian doctors have been invited to participate in the Doctors Syndicate's midterm elections, which will take place in Cairo and other governorates on Friday morning.
Education Ministry dismisses 1,070 teachers over affiliation to outlawed Muslim Brotherhood
Egypt’s Education Minister, Tarek Shawky, announced on Monday the dismissal of 1,070 teachers over their affiliation to the outlawed group of Muslim Brotherhood as well as those who were convicted in various cases, according to the state-run newspaper Al-Ahram.
Foreign Policy
Egypt's PM, IMF head discuss mutual cooperation in Washington
Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly held talks with the International Monetary Fund’s Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva in Washington on Tuesday.
Egypt's parliament forms an ad hoc committee to discuss GERD
Egypt's Parliamentary Speaker Ali Abdel-Aal told MPs in a plenary session Wednesday that an ad hoc committee will be formed to discuss the future of negotiations with Ethiopia on the issue of its Renaissance Dam.
Egypt’s PM Madbouly accuses Ethiopia of violating GERD declaration of principles
Egypt’s Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly has accused Ethiopia of backtracking on all previous agreements related to the Nile water.
Egypt expresses discontent from Germany, Italy, and China for participating in GERD establishment
Egypt has expressed dismay at Italy, Germany, and China for continuing to work on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) project on the Nile through their companies, which it fears will affect its historic share of the river’s water.
A chronology of key dates in the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam crises between Egypt and Ethiopia.
Egypt's FM Shoukry receives Jordanian, Bahraini counterparts ahead of emergency AL meeting on Syria
Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry received on Saturday his Jordanian and Bahraini counterparts, Ayman Safadi and Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, respectively, ahead of the emergency meeting of the Arab League (AL), which is set to take place in Cairo to discuss the Turkish aggression on Syrian territory.
Egypt's Sisi reaffirms rejection of Turkey's advance into Syria during talks with Jordan's king
Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has renewed his country's repudiation of Turkey's advance into Syria during talks with Jordan’s King King Abdullah II in Cairo on Thursday.
Economy
Egypt's GDP growth expected to jump by 5.5% in 2020: Fitch Ratings
Egypt’s central bank decided, for the third time this year, to cut interest rates by one percent, reducing the credit and discount rates by a hundred basis points to 13.75 percent.
Egypt's natural gas production hits record 7.2 billion cfd in September: Petroleum minister
Egypt's Petroleum Minister Tarek El-Molla said that there has been a spike in the country's production of natural gas, which reached its highest level in September at hitting 7.2 billion cubic feet per day, a record production rate.
Egypt's comprehensive health insurance system doesn't set spending cap on services: Finance minister
Egypt’s comprehensive healthcare insurance system does not set a spending cap on providing medical services to beneficiaries, finance minister Mohamed Maait said on Monday.
Dabaa nuclear plant to help transfer modern technology to Egypt: Electricity minister
Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) project will help transfer advanced technologies to Egypt, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mohamed Shaker said.
Market value of Egypt's New Administrative Capital market now EGP 1 trillion: PM
The market value of Egypt’s New Administrative Capital is worth around a trillion Egyptian pounds, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly told the parliament on Tuesday.
Domestic Security
Egypt’s water ministry reports increased Nile River volume in October
Egypt's Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation has said that floodwaters during October exceeded rates in previous years and that overall output of the Nile River is very promising.
Egypt security forces foil suicide bombing in North Sinai
Egypt's security forces foiled on Thursday a suicide attack in North Sinai's El-Arish, the Egyptian interior ministry said in a statement.
The death of nine civilians in an unidentified missile strike south of Bir al-Abd on Saturday night topped the news coming out of Sinai this week.
Arabic
مصر وإسرائيل.. علاقات دبلوماسية وأمنية جيدة ولكن
It was Israel that stood up for Cairo when criticism of the Egyptian government began to circulate in Western capitals, with Israeli officials insisting on the necessity of supporting Sisi, due to the “major role” he plays in the region, according to two Western diplomats in Cairo who spoke to Mada Masr on condition of anonymity.
ظاهرة محمد علي لم تغيّر الإعلام المصري: العقليّة العسكريّة هي الحاكمة
The article discusses the state-run propaganda to whitewash the military’s image amidst accusations of corruption.
550 يومًا في السجن بلا جريمة.. عادل صبري يمثل أمام النيابة غدًا
Masr Al Arabia reports on the ongoing pre-detention of its editor-in-chief, Adel Sabry, who was arrested for publishing “false news”.
بعد مطالبتهم بزيادة الحوافز.. القبض على 28 من عمال الشرقية للدخان
Twenty-eight workers of the Eastern Company were arrested after organizing a strike to demand a raise to the minimum wage.
هكذا تدخلت نقابة الصحفيين بشأن احتجاز «إسراء عبد الفتاح ومصطفى الخطيب»
The article examines the position of the journalist syndicate upon the arrest of journalists Mustapha Al-Kahteeb and Israa Abdel Fattah.
من هنا بدأ الطريق.. منع غير الأعضاء من دخول نقابة الصحفيين
The article examines the strict measures implemented by the Journalists Syndicate to ensure secrecy among the syndicate members.