US officials said on Monday that Egypt and the United Arab Emirates were responsible for carrying out two series of air strikes in the past week on armed Islamist factions in Tripoli, Libya.

POLITICS

Presidential decree entrusts PM with some presidential powers
President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi issued a presidential decree on Monday entrusting Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab with some presidential powers. Presidential spokesperson Ihab Badawy said the powers entrusted to Mahlab include managing state property, expropriating real estate for public interest and protection of monuments, and granting pensions, bonuses, loans or compensating losses for civil servants in public sector. Badawy added that the decision was in line with Article 148 of the Egyptian Constitution, which gives the president the right to delegate presidential powers to the prime minister or his deputies, ministers, and governors. [SIS, Shorouk (Arabic), Aswat Masriya (Arabic), 8/25/2014]

Lawsuit calls for halting parliamentary elections; Nour Party reveals candidates
A lawsuit was brought before the Administrative Court of the State Council demanding that Egypt’s upcoming elections be halted due to the weakness of Egypt’s political parties and security forces’ inability to ensure security. Mahmoud Youssef Ibrahim, who filed the lawsuit, argued that the current security situation in Egypt could make parliamentary elections risky. The lawsuit is the second of its kind to demand a halt to parliamentary elections due to security concerns. Meanwhile, the Nour Party said that it has settled on the majority of names of candidates who will run in the elections. The Arab Nasserist party said it has 50 candidates ready to run in the elections, however it is waiting to negotiate with leaders from the Egyptian Front Alliance. In addition, former member of parliament Abdullah Meghazi said that most of Egypt’s political alliances are weak because political parties do not have a strong presence in the Egyptian streets. He added that Amr Moussa is not best suited to lead the new parliament. [Shorouk (Arabic), 8/26/2014]

Also of Interest:

• Sisi reviews plans to redraw city borders | SIS
• Cabinet approves customs exemptions bill | SIS
• Independence Current working to confront extremist political Islamist current | EGYNews (Arabic)
• Karama condemns detention of two of its members | Ahram Gateway (Arabic)
• Sisi: Demarcation of provinces aimed at accommodating population growth | Aswat Masriya (Arabic)

COURTS

Civil political leaders call for release of political detainees
A delegation of representatives from political parties and human rights groups met Prosecutor General Hisham Barakat on Monday to demand the release of political prisoners. Former presidential candidate and head of the Popular Current Party Hamdeen Sabbahi, Dostour Party leader Hala Shukrallah and National Council of Human Rights member George Ishaq were among those present at the meeting. In a statement issued on Monday, Sabbahi demanded the release of party member Amr Adel, who is currently being held on allegations of belonging to the Muslim Brotherhood. Sabbahi presented Barakat with documents proving Adel was a member of his presidential campaign and had no relationship to the banned group. Sabbahi also called for the release of Sanaa Seif, Mohamed al-Beily and Rania al-Sheikh. According to the statement, Barakat promised to investigate the delegation’s complaints. [Ahram Online, Aswat Masriya, Mada Masr, Ahram Gateway (Arabic), 8/25/2014]

Also of Interest:

• Verdict on former prosecutor general case to be issued September 8 | Egypt Independent
• Morsi Ittihadiya trial postponed to October 11 | Egypt Independent, Aswat Masriya
• Cairo criminal court rejects grievances presented by Alaa and Gamal Mubarak | EGYNews (Arabic), Shorouk (Arabic)
• Trial of Ayman Zawahiri’s brother and 67 others postponed to September 1 | EGYNews (Arabic)
• Trial of former petroleum minister resumes | EGYNews (Arabic)
• Four Brotherhood members arrested in Fayoum | Shorouk (Arabic)
• Alexandria criminal court refers five Brotherhood members to trial | Shorouk (Arabic)
• Supreme State Security Prosecution reveals FJP documents | Shorouk (Arabic)

ECONOMY

ESCWA: The Libyan conflict and its impact on Egypt and Tunisia
A new report by the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia found that the flow of Libyan refugees, returning Egyptian migrants, and security turmoil from Egypt’s western neighbor could hurt the Egyptian economy and could have a negative impact on Tunisia’s trade, the energy sector and tourism and jeopardize Tunisia’s chances of reviving its economy by 2015. [DNE, TAP, 8/25/3014]

Egypt government plans EGP 64 million stimulus package
Minister of Investment Ashraf Salman disclosed that the government will announce a new investment stimulus package on two phases worth EGP 64 billion in accordance with Egypt’s new budget. The essential plan of the Suez Canal Axis will be finished within the course of six months as a prelude to be submitted to the Cabinet, said the Minister. [MENA, 8/25/2014]

Also of Interest:

• Egypt trade deficit down in May | Ahram Online
• 80 percent of Egypt’s natural gas production goes to power plants | DNE
• Egypt to pay back $500 million to Qatar in October | Egypt Independent
• Egypt’s main index in red amid foreign buying | Ahram Online
• Egypt’s metro officials demand fare hike amid government reluctance | Ahram Online
• Suez Canal investment certificates issued within next week: CBE governor | DNE
• Administrative matters behind delays in Suez Canal certificates issuing: Finance ministry | DNE
• Government studying means to increase citizens’ cash allowance for rations: supply minister | DNE
• Long Live Egypt donations yet to exceed EGP 5 billion: Fund board member | DNE
• Report: 187,000 jobs for Egyptians abroad from March to July | Egypt Independent, SIS
• Presidential decree for raising Egypt’s share in IFC capital | SIS
• Private sector participation in producing renewable energy studied | SIS, Aswat Masriya (Arabic)
• Beni Suef Governor considering establishment of seaport on Red Sea coast | EGYNews (Arabic)
• EU offers 10 million euros for development of slums in Cairo and Giza | Aswat Masriya (Arabic)

SOCIETY & MEDIA

Minister of transitional justice defends protest law to US official
Transitional Justice Minister Ibrahim al-Heneidy defended Egypt’s controversial protest law in a meeting with US Chargé d’Affaires to Egypt David J. Ranz on Monday, claiming the law is applied justly and without any political bias. In the meeting, Ranz raised concerns that the law was used to target political activists. Heneidy insisted that the law was just like legislation organizing the right to protest in the United States, in that it lays down regulations to defend public order and the general well-being of society. He went on to assert that the law complies with the International Convention for Civil and Political Rights, and is applied by judges who are independent and unbiased. Meanwhile, the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights submitted four suggestions for legislative amendments to the Commission on Legislative Reform, which included amending Egypt’s protest law and draft NGO law. Additionally, Egypt’s minister of social solidarity reiterated on Monday that Egypt’s NGO law should be passed by the next parliament, rather than by the president. [Mada Masr, Shorouk (Arabic), Ahram Gateway (Arabic), Aswat Masriya (Arabic), 8/25/2014]

Also of Interest:

• NGOs condemn minister’s intention to exclude women from governor reshuffle | DNE
• Protest denounces detention of hunger-striking activists | Aswat Masriya
• TV host ridiculed for claiming Sisi foiled US naval attack on Egypt | Mada Masr
• Cairo governor: Millions spent to relocate street vendors to Torgoman | Shorouk (Arabic)
• Interior minister inspects downtown Cairo after relocation of street vendors | Shorouk (Arabic), Aswat Masriya (Arabic)
• Cairo security directorate continues third day of street vendor relocation | EGYNews (Arabic), Shorouk (Arabic)
• Cairo governor agrees to organize campaign to familiarize citizens with Torgoman | EGYNews (Arabic), Shorouk (Arabic)
• Confusion dominates relocation to Torgoman | Shorouk (Arabic)
• Brotherhood leaders refuse to meet with June 30 fact finding committee | EGYNews (Arabic), Ahram Gateway (Arabic), Aswat Masriya (Arabic)
• Morsi supporters march in Kafr al-Sheikh to condemn electricity interruptions | Shorouk (Arabic)

SECURITY

Security sources: Camera and laptop identify perpetrators of Farafra attack
Sources said that security services were able to identify the perpetrators of the Farafra terrorist attack on July 19 that killed and wounded over 20 officers and soldiers of the armed forces. According to the sources, a camera and a laptop that the terrorists left behind led to their identification, and that the terrorists could not flee from Sinai or Libya due to tightened security control and had to scatter in the mountainous areas of Minya, Daba’a and the oases. [Egypt Independent, 8/25/2014]

Also of Interest:

• Port Said police foils electricity unit burning attempt | Egypt Independent
• Cairo governor calls on citizens to report acts of sabotage against electricity pylons | EGYNews (Arabic)
• Unknown assailants attack electricity transformer in Mahalla | Shorouk (Arabic)
• Defense minister meets with Malian counterpart to discuss military cooperation | Shorouk (Arabic)
• Security arrangements made to reopen Sadat metro station | Al-Ahram (Arabic)

INTERNATIONAL

Egypt denies carrying out Tripoli airstrikes, announces initiative with Libya
US officials said on Monday that Egypt and the United Arab Emirates were responsible for carrying out two series of air strikes in the past week on armed Islamist factions in Tripoli, Libya. The officials said the two Arab countries used aircraft based in Egypt. The New York Timesreported that the two US allies acted without consulting Washington, and that Egyptian officials told US diplomats that Cairo was not involved. Egypt has denied conducting air strikes or other military operations in Libya. According to Foreign Policy, however, it was unlikely that the United States did not know about the airstrikes. US State Department spokesperson Jane Psaki refused during Monday’s press briefing to comment on the airstrikes, saying, “I’m not in a position to offer any confirmation or any details.” Meanwhile, Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and his Libyan counterpart Mohamed Abdel-Aziz  announced an initiative on Monday to bring stability to Libya, including a plan to disarm warring militias that have wreaked havoc on the country in recent weeks. Shoukry and Abdel Aziz said the crisis must be solved by Libya’s regional neighbors and without intervention by non-Arab states. A statement from Egypt’s foreign ministry, however, also said that the systematic disarmament of the militias will be sponsored by both regional countries and international support. [Reuters, The Guardian,DNE, Shorouk (Arabic), 8/26/2014]

Palestinians say long-term Gaza truce agreed with Israel
The Palestinians have reached agreement with Israel on a “permanent” ceasefire for the Gaza Strip, a senior official told AFP on Tuesday. “The contacts that have been going on have agreed a permanent ceasefire, a (deal to) end the blockade and a guarantee that Gaza’s demands and needs will be met,” the official told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity. There was no immediate comment from Israel. AFP had earlier reported that Egypt proposed a new ceasefire that would open key border crossings into the battered Palestinian territory, after Israeli raids killed at least 10 more Palestinians. [AFP, 8/26/2014]

Also of Interest:

• Shoukry speaks with Italian counterpart on efforts to restore stability in Libya | Ahram Gateway (Arabic)
• Shoukry meets with UN envoy to discuss Libya situation | EGYNews (Arabic), Aswat Masriya (Arabic)
• Egypt, Ethiopia, Sudan to sign a water projects memorandum: Source | Ahram Online
• First day of Ethiopia dam talks satisfactory: Egypt minister | MENA, SIS, Mada Masr, Aswat Masriya (Arabic)
• Egypt looks for ‘win-win’ situation with Ethiopia over dam | Ahram Online
• Ethiopia minister criticizes Egyptian media over Renaissance dam | Ahram Online
• Ministry tells Egyptians in Libya to avoid Ras Gadir crossing | Ahram Online, Aswat Masriya
• UK and Egyptian ministers discuss importance of British tourist flows | DNE
• Assistant FM meets UK MENA minister | SIS
• Egypt deports Palestinian Syrians back to conflict zones | Al Monitor
• Shoukry and OIC discuss regional issues of concern | EGYNews (Arabic)
• Delegation of 14 Arab countries in Alexandria to discuss tourism | EGYNews (Arabic)
• Reform and Development party calls for Egyptians to boycott Qatar and Turkey | Shorouk (Arabic)
• Memorandum of understanding signed between Egyptian and Malian ministries of transport and finance | Ahram Gateway (Arabic)
• Amr Moussa calls for decisive action against ISIS | Ahram Gateway (Arabic)
• 65 thousand tons of wheat from Russia arrives in Alexandria | Al-Ahram (Arabic)