[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
Nearly a month after disappearing from a detention facility in Alexandria, imprisoned researcher and translator Kholoud Said reappeared before prosecutors on Monday only to be charged in a new case and issued a new fifteen-day detention order, according to a lawyer who spoke to Mada Masr on condition of anonymity.
Hossam Moanis: A backstage force in oppositional politics
At dawn on June 25, 2019, security forces raided the home of political activist Hossam Moanis, where he was living with his wife and two children, and arrested him. Anticipating this day might come, Moanis — the former campaign manager for presidential candidate Hamdeen Sabbahi — had prepared a list of contacts for his wife to call should he be taken into custody. Her first call was to researcher Ahmed Kamel al-Beheiry, who promptly headed to Moanis’s home within five minutes of the raid.
State cracks down on Delta Fertilizers sit-in, rejects worker demands, holds 8 in remand detention
Protesting workers at a branch of the state-owned Delta Company for Fertilizers and Chemical Industries have found themselves subject to a staunch crackdown, including the arrest of at least thirteen workers since last week.
Egypt’s Public Prosecution Orders Release of Seif Bedour and Nazli Karim
The two had been arrested on August 28, 2020, in connection to the Fairmont case, together with a number of witnesses who were released a few days later, on August 31. Seif, Nazli and another witness remained in detention, however, on vague morality charges.
Egypt holds 3-day hearings in preparation for National Human Rights Strategy
Egypt’s Supreme Standing Committee for Human Rights (SSCHR) started three days of hearing sessions, on Sunday, in preparation for the launch of Egypt’s first national strategy for human rights.
Updates on debauchery incitement lawsuits: influencer cleared, prison sentence cancelled for another
The Economic Appellate Court cleared influencer Haneen Hossam and two others of debauchery incitement charges and cancelled the prison sentence issued against influencer Mawada al-Adham and Ahmed Sameh upholding the fine worth LE300,000 for each for posting obscene videos.
Two Egyptian female TikTokers to remain in jail over 'human trafficking' charges
A Cairo court has renewed the detention of two popular TikTok influencers for fifteen days pending investigations into human trafficking charges, only a few days after the two young women were acquitted in another case related to their videos on the popular video-sharing platform.
136 families are being moved to Egypt's Asmarat alternative housing neighborhood
Asmarat social housing neighborhood - inaugurated four years ago – is currently receiving 136 families who used to live in Sayeda Aicha neighborhood but their buildings are about to collapse.
Egypt's Cabinet approves personal status bill
The cabinet under Mostafa Madbouli approved, in principle, on Thursday the personal status bill.
Cabinet reshuffle expected after first session of newly-elected parliament: MP Mostafa Bakri
Egypt's newly-elected parliament — the House of Representatives — will hold an opening procedural session on Tuesday to elect a speaker and two deputies. Some MPs expect that parliament's procedural session will be followed by a limited cabinet reshuffle.
Egyptian parliament's secretary-general Mahmoud Fawzi resigns
Secretary-general of Egypt’s parliament Mahmoud Fawzi announced on Wednesday that he has decided to resign from office.
Judge Hanafy El-Gebaly elected speaker of Egypt's new House of Representatives
Members of new House of Representatives elected by majority of votes Judge Hanafy Ali El-Gebaly, seventy-one, to be the Speaker of the House during its opening session on Tuesday.
Egypt's Mostaqbal Watan party dominates the leading posts of parliament's 25 committees
emi-official results show that the pro-government Mostaqbal Watan (the Nation's Future) party has dominated the election of the leading posts of the Egyptian parliament's twenty-five committees on Thursday.
Egypt's Medical Syndicate mourns passing of four more members due to coronavirus
The Egyptian Medical Syndicate mourned on Wednesday the passing of four of its members, who died due to complications of the coronavirus.
Foreign Policy
Egypt lifts three-and-half-year airspace ban on Qatar Tuesday
The Head of Egypt's Civil Aviation Authority Ashraf Noweir said on Tuesday that Egypt officially reopened its airspace to Qatari aircraft this morning, ending a three-and-a-half-year airspace ban on Qatar.
Egypt, Israel FMs coordinate for quartet meeting to revive Israeli-Palestinian peace process
Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry discussed in a phone call on Wednesday with his Israeli counterpart, Gabi Ashkenazi, means to coordinate the next meeting for the quartet group, which comprises Egypt, Germany, France, and Jordan, to revive the Palestinian peace process.
Egypt reveals reason behind yet another failure of GERD talks
Egypt on Sunday explained that the recent sessions of Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) negotiations have failed once again due to differences on how to resume talks and of the procedural aspects related to managing the negotiation process.
Egypt's Sisi discusses developments in GERD talks with US treasury secretary
Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi discussed in Cairo on Tuesday the latest developments in the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) negotiations with US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, the Egyptian presidency announced.
Head of Egypt's General Intelligence Service Abbas Kamel met with Sudanese leaders in Khartoum on Tuesday, discussing issues of bilateral cooperation in various fields, as well as regional developments, including developments related to the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.
Egypt calls for GERD agreement before 2nd phase of reservoir filling
Egypt has affirmed the need to reach an agreement on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) before the second filling of the massive dam’s reservoir, the foreign ministry said on Sunday.
Egypt signs al-Ula agreement for Arab reconciliation with Qatar at GCC summit
Egypt Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry signed the al-Ula agreement for Arab reconciliation with Qatar, which was signed by Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states during the forty-first GCC summit held on Tuesday in Saudi Arabia.
Egypt's FM discusses with his German counterpart international and regional issues
Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry held on Monday a session of bilateral talks with German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas at Tahrir Palace in Cairo, following the conclusion of the quartet ministerial meeting on the Middle East peace process.
Egypt's Sisi discusses bilateral relations with Cypriot counterpart
Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi discussed on Thursday with his Cypriot counterpart President Nicos Anastasiades the means of boosting bilateral relations, particularly in the energy field, the Egyptian presidency said.
Strategic cooperation agreement between Russia and Egypt comes into force
The Comprehensive Partnership and Strategic Cooperation agreement signed between Russia and Egypt in 2018 entered into force on Sunday.
Economy
Public sector giant Egyptian Iron and Steel Company to be liquidated despite opposition
Despite a series of worker-led proposals to revive profit-making, a decision to liquidate the Egyptian Iron and Steel Company was made final in a hasty announcement on Monday at an extraordinary general assembly meeting, an attendee told Mada Masr.
Egypt’s president, Siemens CEO discuss final deal on construction of electric train system
Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi reviewed with German Siemens CEO Joe Kaeser the final agreement on the establishment of an integrated system of a high-speed electric railway in Egypt, Presidential spokesman Bassam Radi said.
Egypt to issue polymer banknotes in June for 1st time, CBE official tells Masrawy
The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) is planning on implementing a decision to issue polymer EGP 10 banknotes in June, deputy governor of the CBE told Masrawy.
US dollar to Egyptian pound exchange rates slightly decrease
The US dollar to Egyptian pound exchange rate on Tuesday saw a slight decrease for purchase and selling rates, recording an average of 15.59 Egyptian pounds for purchase and 15.69 Egyptian pounds for sale.
Egypt’s annual core CPI rate declined to 3.8% in December: CBE
Egypt’s monthly core inflation recorded zero in December 2020, down from 0.2 percent in the same month a year prior, and zero in November 2020, according to the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE).
Egypt opens subscription in 'Seyola' cash fund, targets up to EGP 100 mln investments
Egypt announced on Sunday the rolling out of subscription in 'Seyola' cash investment fund, which is its first cash fund that allows to invest in in number of financial instruments.
IMF raises Egypt’s growth projections to 2.8%, significant risks expected amid COVID-19
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has raised its projections for Egypt’s real GDP growth for FY2020/21 to 2.8 percent, up from two percent projected in June, reflecting the milder than-anticipated contraction in the country’s economy, making it likely one of the few countries to record positive growth (around 1.5 percent) in 2021.
Domestic Security
Egypt struggles with oxygen tank shortage amid second wave of COVID-19
The Global Centre of Fatwas at Egypt’s Al-Azhar said on Monday that hoarding medical supplies, including oxygen cylinders, to make profits at a time of crisis is religiously prohibited.
Egypt’s health ministry denies lack of oxygen behind death of 6 coronavirus patients
Egypt’s health ministry denied news and footage concluding that the lack of oxygen in two public hospitals was behind the recent death of six coronavirus patients.
Video of ICU deaths shines spotlight on struggling healthcare system amid coronavirus surge
A video from inside a public hospital showing a number of COVID-19 patients dying from what appears to be a lack of oxygen went viral on social media last week, sparking a public outcry and shining a spotlight on Egypt’s health care system as it struggles to cope with a renewed surge of coronavirus cases.
Arabic
ترحيب حذر وهجوم حاد: كيف استقبل الإعلام المصري اتفاق المصالحة مع قطر؟
The article examines Egyptian media coverage of the Arab quartet reconciliation agreement with Qatar.
صفوت الشريف: رحلة "موافي" لا تنتهي سوى بالموت
Al-Manassa looks at the political trajectory of the late Safwat al-Sherif, Mubarak-era Minister of Information and Shura Council Speaker, who was accused in the case known as "Battle of the Camel" as well as corruption charges.
إقبال كثيف وديون حكومية بملياري جنيه للشركات: ما وراء أزمة الأكسجين
The article discusses oxygen shortages and the government’s handling of the crisis.
الوزراء يشهد توقيع بروتوكول للتمكين الاقتصادي للعمالة المتضررة من كورونا
The Ministries of Planning and Economic Development and Immigration and Egyptian Expatriates Affairs signed an economic empowerment protocol to support workers affected by COVID-19.
«ولاية سيناء» يقترب من قناة السويس غربًا.. وأفراده يستسلمون بسبب الجوع و«المبادرة اﻷمنية» شرقًا
Sinai inhabitants face security unrest as armed fights continue between army personnel and IS militants.
ننشر خريطة الأحزاب في مجلس النواب: مستقبل وطن يرأس 18 لجنة
Al-Shourouk publishes the list of parties represented in the newly elected parliament.
زوجة المحامي المحبوس محمد الباقر: جلسة تجديد حبسه 19 يناير.. 475 يوما بدون تريض أو قراءة أو مرتبة
Egypt’s Criminal Court scheduled a hearing session on January 19, of human rights lawyer Mohamed al-Baqer. Al-Baqer has been mistreated in custody since his arrest, according to his wife.
Journalist Ahmad Khalifa, editor of Masr 360, has been missing for ten days after he was brought before the Egyptian National Security Agency on January 6, 2021.
متابعة آثار كوفيد-19 على االقتصاد المصري قطاع الصحة
The Egyptian Center for Economic Studies published a report on the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic on the various sectors of the Egyptian economy.