Egypt Media Roundup (4 March)

[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

Egypt sentences 37 to death including top ISIL leader

An Egyptian court has sentenced thirty-seven people to death, including one the country's most high-profile fighters, on terrorism-related charges.

For the second time since his remand: Patrick is moved to a new detention facility in Mansoura

On the 25 February, EIPR’s lawyers filed a request to the prosecution for an exceptional visit for the family and his lawyer, but the prosecution refused to grant leave for an exceptional visit before the completion of the period known as “placement” (or intake and quarantine) in Egyptian Prisons Regulations, when prisoners are not allowed outside visits.

Egyptian parliamentary committee approves amendments to anti-money laundering law

The law, passed in 2002, is being updated to target terrorist activities that are funded by money laundering.

Egypt court sentences militant leader Ashmawy to death for police killings

A Cairo criminal court has sentenced terrorist leader Hisham Ashmawy to death, as well as thirty-six other defendants, in the case known in local media as the Ansar Beit al-Maqdis case.

Egypt's prosecution renews imprisonment of three defendants in 'Hope Plan' case for 15 days

The Egyptian Public Prosecution renewed on Saturday the imprisonment of two journalists and a former member of parliament for fifteen days pending investigations in the case known in the media as the “Hope Plan” cell.

Foreign Policy

Ethiopia's ownership of GERD doesn't give it right to violate legal accords: Egypt FM

Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said that Ethiopia's ownership of its Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) does not give it the right to violate legal accords signed willingly, days after the collapse of months-long Washington-mediated talks to resolve the GERD crisis.

Egypt is ready to face ‘Ethiopia's conspiracies’ over the GERD: Parliament deputy speaker

The deputy speaker of the Egyptian parliament has said that Egypt will not stand helpless in the face of “Ethiopia's conspiracies” and is ready to take all measures necessary to preserve its historical rights to the Nile water.

Egypt says is committed to Nile dam talks after Ethiopia's withdrawal from final round

Egypt has said it is committed to the course of US-sponsored negotiations on Ethiopia's disputed Nile dam project after Addis Ababa said it would not take part in what was due to be the final round of talks to resolve the years-long crisis.

Egypt's Sisi discusses boosting military cooperation with French defence minister

Egypt and France have been holding in-depth consultations over the Libyan crisis in recent months, agreeing on consolidating joint efforts to bring about a comprehensive political settlement in Libya.

Sources: Egypt ‘counting on US’ to prevent Ethiopia from filling dam without final agreement

Egypt is counting on the United States to intervene to ensure that Ethiopia does not move ahead with plans to fill the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) absent a final agreement, according to an Egyptian official who spoke to Mada Masr on condition of anonymity.

Egypt slams Israeli decision to build new settlements in West Bank

Egypt condemned on Wednesday the decision by the Israeli government to allow the construction of 3,500 new settlements in the Palestinian West Bank, the Egyptian foreign ministry said.

Economy

Egypt's Sisi approves amendments to VAT law; taxes to rise on tobacco products

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi ratified a law amending some provisions of the Value-Added Tax (VAT) law, the official gazette read on Tuesday.

Egypt bourse gains EGP 6.1 bln

The Egyptian Exchange (EGX) indexes recorded on Tuesday collective gains boosted by a strong recovery in the global exchanges on Monday.

Egypt's Suez Canal revenues rise to $458.2 million in February

Suez Canal revenues increased to 458.2 million US dollars in February, up 5.6 percent from the corresponding month a year earlier, the Suez Canal Authority said on Sunday.

Egyptian exchange falls 3.6 percent amid fears of coronavirus spread

Egypt’s blue-chip stock index fell 3.6 percent on opening amid fears of a global financial decline following the spread of the coronavirus.

Domestic Security

Egypt raises alert level to highest at all airports to limit coronavirus

Egypt has raised the alert level for the novel coronavirus at all airports, the country's civil aviation ministry said in a statement on Monday, adding that all precautions necessary to confront the outbreak and limit its spread have been taken.

Egypt confirms 2nd coronavirus case, coordinates with China and Saudi Arabia as officials criticize gov’t response

The second reported case of an individual in Egypt who has contracted COVID-19, commonly known as the coronavirus, was announced in a joint statement by the World Health Organization and the Health Ministry on Monday.

Egypt court seeks death sentence for 5 over deadly gas leak fire

An Egyptian criminal court in the Nile Delta town of Damanhour said it would seek the death penalty for five defendants for vandalizing a gas pipeline late last year, leading to several deaths.