[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
US-Egyptian citizen dies after six years in Egypt custody
Egyptian-American Moustafa Kassem has died after more than six years in custody in Egypt, according to officials.
Alex court sentences 27 defendants to various jail terms for terror charges
Alexandria Criminal Court on Thursday sentenced twenty-seven defendants with various jail terms over charges of joining the Muslim Brotherhood terrorist group, inciting violence, and possession of arms.
Egypt parliament to vote on extending state of emergency on Tuesday
Speaker of Egypt’s parliament Ali Abdel-Aal revealed in a plenary session on Monday morning that parliament will meet on Tuesday to vote on a new three-month extension of the country’s state of emergency.
Egyptian parliament initially approves amendments to central depository and registration law
Egypt’s House of Representatives voted on Sunday in favour of amendments to the central depository and registration law (law number 93 of 2000), in an initial vote on the law.
Egypt's cabinet approves new amendments to terrorist list law
The Egyptian Cabinet approved on Wednesday a number of amendments to a law regulating the listing of terrorists and terrorist entities, introducing a broader definition of terrorist activity with the aim of boosting the ability to combat it.
Public prosecutor granted greater powers to freeze funds unrelated to terror activity
The government has granted the public prosecutor greater powers to freeze the assets, funds, and property of individuals and organizations included on terrorist lists, even if those resources were never used for so-called terrorist activity. The move was criticized by a judicial official at the Court of Appeals as providing legal cover to infringe on the private assets of defendants.
Egypt's cabinet approves information ministry’s media policies
A cabinet decree will outline the roles, responsibilities, and policies of the information minister.
‘A minister without a ministry’ — confusion over role of newly appointed information minister
During Sunday’s meeting, Heikal presented his vision of the Information Ministry’s purview, which included “conveying the real image of Egypt’s history and civilization and raising social awareness of the important development projects currently underway,” according to the presidential spokesperson.
Cold cells: Demands for warmth for prisoners
Prison authorities’ denial of warm clothes to detainees suffering from cold winter weather is the subject of a new campaign under an Arabic hashtag that translates to “cold cells” (#برد الزنازين). A focal point of the campaign has been Maximum Security Wing 2 of Tora Prison Complex, where writer and software developer Alaa Abd El Fattah and his lawyer, Mohamed al-Baqer are both being held.
Egypt's ACA reveals new details about Tax Authority chief's bribery case
Egypt's Administrative Control Authority (ACA) issued a statement on Sunday about the latest updates concerning the case of Egyptian Tax Authority chief Abdel-Azeem Hussein, who was caught red-handed on Friday receiving a bribe from accountants who were cooperating with the ACA.
Foreign Policy
Egypt slams ‘misleading’ Ethiopian statement on stalled GERD talks
Egypt’s foreign ministry has criticised a statement from Ethiopia on the collapse of the latest negotiations on the disputed Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), describing it as “deliberately misleading” and “distorting the facts.”
Egypt held 'long, in-depth talks' with US officials in Washington over Ethiopian dam: Ministry
Egyptian officials held “long, in-depth talks” with US representatives in Washington on Monday where Egypt explained its vision for filling and operating the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), Egypt’s foreign ministry said in a statement.
Libyan parliament speaker Aqila Saleh addresses Egypt’s parliament on Turkish aggression
Egypt's parliament held one-hour session Sunday morning to discuss political and military developments in neighboring Libya.
Egypt foreign ministry condemns Turkey decision to allow troop deployment to Libya
Egypt strongly condemned on Thursday a vote by Turkey's parliament vote to allow a troop deployment to Libya, the Egyptian foreign ministry said in a statement on Thursday.
Egypt's Air Force participates in Qader 2020 drills
Egypt's Air Force on Monday carried out a number of reconnaissance missions to secure troops taking part in the "Qader 2020" manoeuvres, the Egyptian Armed Forces said on Monday.
Egypt's FM Shoukry signs founding charter of Red Sea and Gulf of Aden border countries council
Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and his Arab and African counterparts have signed the founding charter for the Council of Arab and African States Bordering the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
Egypt’s Sisi, Italian Prime Minister discuss developments in Regeni case
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Tuesday received the Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte at the Etihadeya Presidential Palace in Cairo. Their meeting discussed the latest developments regarding ongoing investigations into the murder of Italian university student Giulio Regeni’s, the Egyptian Presidential Spokesperson Bassam Rady said.
Economy
Egypt exempts production materials of local paper industry from VAT
Egypt’s Minister of Finance Mohamed Maeet revealed in a meeting with members of parliament’s Industrial Committee on Monday morning that imported production inputs and raw materials necessary for the local paper industry will be exempted from the value-added tax (VAT).
The speaker of Egypt’s House of Representatives, Ali Abdel-Aal, said at a plenary meeting of parliament on Sunday morning that any government decision to change subsidy systems should be first discussed in parliament.
Domestic Security
Five people killed in building collapse in Alexandria
Five people were killed and one person was injured after an old three-storey building collapsed in the central Attarin area in the Egyptian city of Alexandria on Monday.
Egypt military says pilot killed in fighter jet crash during training
The Egyptian military has said a pilot was killed when an air force fighter jet crashed during training on Tuesday, according to a statement.
Egypt’s Sisi extends state of emergency for three months, starting January 27
A two-thirds majority of Egypt’s House of Representatives on Tuesday approved extending the state of emergency for a further three months starting 27 January during the general session.
Arabic
لهذه الأسباب سقط «المحليات» في دهاليز «الدولة العميقة»
The article examines the reasons behind sabotaging the promulgation of municipal councils law.
The article sheds light on the security situation in Sinai.
لن نتوقف عن مساعدة الضحايا: حوار مع ماجدة عدلي عن تراث النديم و"زيارات الجمبري"
In this interview, Magda Adly, one of the founders of al-Nadeem Center for Rehabilitation of Victims of Violence, talks about the center's role to provide legal and psychological support for victims of torture and violence.
اتهامات باﻹرهاب واعتراض روسي: ما نعرفه عن الروس الخمسة المحبوسين في مصر
The article sheds light on the case of the five Russians who were detained in Egypt over terrorist charges.