[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
Jailed Muslim Brotherhood leading member Essam El-Erian dies from heart attack
Muslim Brotherhood leading member Essam al-Erian, who was serving various jail terms in prison, has died from heart attack following a quarrel with another detained brotherhood member over the current situation of the terrorist-designated group, informed sources said on Thursday.
State Security Prosecution keeps two activists in detention with fresh charges
State Security Prosecution renewed the detentions of two activists over the weekend by filing new charges against them.
Egypt's prosecution releases deputy head of Strong Egypt Party
Egypt's prosecution ordered on Thursday the release of Mohamed al-Qassas, a prominent activist and deputy head of the Strong Egypt opposition party pending investigation.
Senate elections: How we moved backward
The decision to participate in senate elections and even team up with pro-regime parties was not an easy one for some of the ostensibly opposition parties. Members of Nation’s Future approached the Egyptian Social Democratic Party, Reform and Development, and the Congress Party. The discussions, according to the party source and another party member who took part, were heated, first of all because they took place against the backdrop of the demonstrations in September 2019.
Low voter turnout on first day of Senate elections in Egypt
Egypt’s National Council for Human Rights (NCHR) on Tuesday said that all indications on the first day of the country’s senate elections suggest low voter turnout.
Egypt prosecution has ordered the release of five defendants charged with verbally assaulting well-known Egyptian TV presenter Reham Said at a beach in the Mediterranean governorate of Marsa Matrouh pending investigation.
Egypt’s prosecution to investigate alleged gang rape at Fairmont Hotel in 2014
Egypt’s Prosecutor-General Hamada al-Sawy ordered on Wednesday an investigation into a recent rape allegation dubbed by social media users as “the Fairmont incident.”
Prosecution investigates building collapse in Egypt's Mahalla that killed 8
The prosecution has ordered the formation of a housing ministry committee to inspect the debris and the building’s official papers to determine the reasons behind the collapse.
Foreign Policy
GERD talks postponed for a week for consultations upon Sudan's request
Egypt rejected an Ethiopian proposal that lacked guidelines on the operation of the dam, any elements indicating a binding deal, or a legal mechanism to settle disputes.
Egypt opens Rafah crossing to Palestinians for the first time since April
Egypt reopened on Tuesday its border crossing with the Gaza Strip in both directions for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic began, allowing Palestinians to leave the Israeli-besieged strip and those stranded abroad to return home.
Egypt, Greece sign maritime demarcation deal
Egypt and Greece have signed a maritime demarcation deal establishing an exclusive economic zone between the two countries, Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said in a joint televised press conference on Thursday.
Egypt says Turkey's seismic survey in Mediterranean a 'violation of sovereign rights'
In an official statement on Saturday, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ahmed Hafez said that Egypt objects to a seismic survey carried out by Turkey from 21 July to 2 August, saying it overlaps with Egypt’s exclusive economic zone.
In Beirut, Egypt's Shoukry says Lebanon needs 'new direction,’ pledges support
Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said on Tuesday that Lebanon needs a "new direction" to restore trust in the country, reiterating Cairo's full support for the country in meetings with Lebanese President Michel Aoun and other key political figures.
Economy
Egypt’s growth to drop to 2% in FY2020/21, domestic activity to contract in 2Q, 3Q of 2020: IMF
The COVID-19 crisis has altered Egypt’s macroeconomic outlook, as the country’s growth in FY2019/2020 and FY2020/2021 had already been lowered to 2 and 2.8 percent in May and June, compared to the pre-pandemic baseline of five to six percent in both fiscal years, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) announced on Tuesday.
Egypt's net foreign reserves edge up to $38.315 bln in July: Central Bank
Egypt’s net foreign reserves rose slightly to 38.315 billion US dollars in July from 38.202 billion US dollars in June, the central bank said on Thursday.
Europe approves US$100 mn loan to Egypt’s Banque Misr: Minister
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has approved support for the Egyptian economy with a hundred million US dollars loan to Banque Misr, Egypt’s Minister of International Cooperation Rania al-Mashat announced on Tuesday.
Domestic Security
Egypt puts in place security plan ahead of Senate elections: Ministry
Egypt’s Ministry of Interior has completed security preparations nationwide ahead of the 2020 senate elections, a statement by the ministry said on Saturday.
Egyptian ministry forms high-ranking committee to re-assess storage of hazardous shipments
The Egyptian government has decided to form a supreme committee to check all warehouses, shipments, and storage containers at all areas affiliated with airports nationwide in order to take all precautions for hazardous materials, Civil Aviation Minister Mohamed Manar Anba said on Sunday.
From Jadaliyya
Essential Readings on Marxism and the Left in Egypt (by Joel Beinin)
This Essential Reading is the “Egypt” installment of a focused series on “The Left" in the Middle East curated by the Middle East Studies Pedagogy Initiative (MESPI) team. Encompassing a broad range of entry points to researching and teaching the left, the series emphasizes communist and socialist components, while allowing authors to define the specific parameters of said emphasis in their installment.
Arabic
في زمن «كورونا».. كيف يتعامل الأهالي مع نقص المياه؟
The article discusses water shortage in Egypt’s villages and middle-income neighborhoods, raising concerns amid pandemic.
The article examines the housing crisis between the government and contractors.
تدوير للمرة الثالثة: كيف رد القصاص على التهم الجديدة الموجهة له؟
After spending two years and a half in prison, political activist and deputy head of the Strong Egypt party, Mohamed al-Kassas, faces new terrorism-related charges.