News agency Associated Press (AP), reported on Wednesday the involvement of Egyptian aircraft in the bombing of Islamist militias in Libya’s second city, Benghazi. However, Egypt’s presidential spokesperson denied the claims.
POLITICS
Sisi orders officials not to praise him in speeches
A document from Egypt’s cabinet telling officials not to praise President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in meetings was leaked online on Wednesday and went viral with his supporters, who hailed it as a sign of Sisi’s modesty. The document, which was signed on October 14 by the cabinet’s secretary-general, Amr Abdel-Moneim, stated that Sisi ordered ministers and governors not to praise him during public meetings and ceremonies that he’s attending. [Ahram Online, 10/15/2014]
Cabinet to implement court ruling banning pro-Morsi alliance activities
The cabinet decided to implement a court ruling banning the National Association to Support Legitimacy (NASL), an organization that supports the Muslim Brotherhood and ousted president Mohamed Morsi. A cabinet press release said it aims to “implement the decision of the Cairo Court of Urgent Matters (2808/2014) to prohibit the activities of the group. The prime minister issued a decree to do so in accordance with the key sections of the judgment.” Islamist parties announced in recent weeks their withdrawal from the alliance, including the Wasat and Watan parties. [Aswat Masriya (Arabic), 10/16/2014]
Also of Interest
Mahlab discusses parliamentary elections with Democratic Alliance | Aswat Masriya (Arabic)
Cabinet increases punishment for sabotage on oil facilities | SIS, Ahram (Arabic),
Minister of justice forms committee to prepare draft law on church construction | EGYNews (Arabic), Aswat Masriya (Arabic)
COURTS
Prosecution accuses Egyptian newspaper of disrupting peace
Egypt’s Supreme State Security Prosecution has accused Ali al-Sayed, editor-in-chief of the privately-owned Egyptian daily newspaper Al-Masry Al-Youm, and Ahmed Youssef, a reporter in the paper, of disrupting the peace, on charges relating to a report claiming Egypt’s 2012 presidential elections were rigged. The ministry of Interior filed a complaint against Ali and Youssef accusing them of also spreading false information and embezzling documents from Egypt’s General Prosecution, in addition to “publishing news on a court case.” Sayed and Youssef were both released early Thursday by State Security Prosecution, with a EGP2,000 fine, after fourteen hours of interrogation. News of the accusations reported by Al-Masry Al-Youm come a day after it was prevented from distributing reports about the court case contesting the results of Egypt’s 2012 presidential elections via a gag-order issued by Egypt’s top prosecutor. [Ahram Online, Egypt Independent, Mada Masr, 10/16/2014]
Hunger striker Soltan ordered to return to prison from hospital
A Cairo criminal court adjourned on Wednesday the trial of hunger striker Mohamed Soltan and an additional fifty defendants including the Muslim Brotherhood’s supreme guide in the “Rabaa Control room” trial to next October 22. The court also extended the detention of defendants pending the trial and ordered that Soltan serve his detention in prison instead of the hospital. [Ahram Online, 10/15/2014]
Also of Interest
Militant’s death sentence referred to Grand Mufti | DNE
Nine suspects in the “June 26 Street bombing case” arrested | Ahram (Arabic)
Life imprisonment for twenty-four and 141 acquitted in Assiut case | Aswat Masriya (Arabic)
ECONOMY
Egypt stocks inch up Wednesday signaling possible rebound
Egypt’s main stocks edged up by 0.18 percent on Wednesday. After seven sessions in the red this signals a possible rebound with low stock prices starting to bolster demand. With falling US producer prices fears had dipped Global stocks and most Arab bourses. [Ahram Online, 10/15/2014]
Also of Interest
Egypt government approves plan to allow export of rice | Reuters
Egyptian mobile operators offered to renew licenses until 2031 | Ahram Online, Egypt Independent
Egypt investment minister says new Gulf aid is unconfirmed | Ahram Online
Egypt imposes temporary tariffs on steel imports | Ahram Online
Government chooses partners for economic summit conference | DNE
Egypt’s exports fall 14 percent in September, under target | DNE
Cabinet signs agreement with steel factories to maintain price levels | Egypt Independent
Egypt central bank seen keeping rates on hold as inflation eases | Reuters
Industry Minister: Logistic zones linking Egypt with Africa, Asia to be created | SIS
Hassan Fahmy: plan to cooperate with UNCTAD | Aswat Masriya (Arabic)
James Moran: EU to participate strongly in February donor conference | Aswat Masriya (Arabic)
49.4 percent in Upper Egypt countryside below poverty line | Aswat Masriya (Arabic)
SOCIETY & MEDIA
Carter Center closes Egypt office
The Carter Center has closed its Egypt office saying the country is “unlikely to advance a genuine democratic transition.” The organization criticized in a statement Wednesday Egypt’s draft NGO law, saying it would put harsh restrictions on NGO activities and resources in Egypt. “I hope that Egyptian authorities will reverse recent steps that limit the rights of association and assembly and restrict operations of Egyptian civil society groups,” former US President Jimmy Carter said. [Ahram Online, DNE, Mada Masr, AP, AFP, 10/16/2014]
Also of Interest
Dozens of Al-Azhar students continue protests over arrests, security measures | Ahram Online
Global civil society insists Egypt release activists | DNE
NGOs express concern over lawyers’ working conditions | DNE
Decline in protest rate in September – Democracy Index | Aswat Masriya
87.5 percent of Egyptians pleased with Sisi’s performance in first 100 days – official poll | Aswat Masriya
Road reconstruction to reduce traffic in Giza by 20 percent | Shorouk (Arabic)
Green Wave calls on demonstrators to wear green to protest against injustice | Ahram Gateway (Arabic)
Egypt Coalition of Students formed to demand justice and freedom | Ahram Gateway (Arabic)
SECURITY
Fire at north Cairo power plant, cause unknown
A large fire erupted Thursday morning at a power plant in the north Cairo district of Shubra al-Khaima. The electricity ministry said the fire began at 9:30 am. According to news reports, sixteen fire engines headed to the plant, aided by fire-fighting aircraft from the army, all of which managed to put out the fire. Source said electricity will not be affected, adding that the cause of the fire is still unknown. [Ahram Online, AP, Aswat Masriya, Shorouk (Arabic), 10/16/2014]
Also of Interest
Homemade bomb defused in Tanta | Shorouk (Arabic)
Gas supply unaffected by pipeline bombing in Arish | Shorouk (Arabic)
INTERNATIONAL
Libyan, Egyptian officials deny Egypt bombing Benghazi
News agency Associated Press (AP), reported on Wednesday the involvement of Egyptian aircraft in the bombing of Islamist militias in Libya’s second city, Benghazi. However, Egypt’s presidential spokesperson denied the claims. AP, citing two unnamed Egyptian military sources, reported that the “use of the aircrafts was part of an Egyptian-led campaign against the militiamen that will eventually involve Libyan ground troops recently trained by Egyptian forces.” A spokesman for the Libyan anti-Islamist movement Operation Dignity denied on Wednesday that Egyptian airplanes took part in fighting in Benghazi, while Egypt’s Presidential Spokesperson Alaa Youssef refuted the reports. On Thursday, Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry reiterated Egypt’s stance on Libya, saying it will not interfere in the country’s internal affairs. [Mada Masr, Aswat Masriya, Ahram Gateway (Arabic), 10/16/2014]
State Department says US has delivered Apache helicopters
Spokesperson for the US State Department Jen Psaki said on Thursday that the United States is in the process of sending the promised Apache helicopters to Egypt. The long-awaited Apaches have been promised and withheld in cycles. When asked if statements by the Egyptian government that the Apaches had in fact been delivered, Psaki said, “We announced that we would be delivering the Apaches. In terms of whether they were physically delivered, I think the Egyptians would certainly know that.” [Mada Masr, 10/16/2014]
Also of Interest
Tripartite Renaissance Dam meeting kicks off in Cairo | Ahram Online
Egypt and Israel admit goods to Gaza | DNE
Sixty-two Egyptians held in Yemen over illegal fishing | Ahram Online
Ethiopian water minister: keen to achieve mutual benefits with Nile countries | Shorouk (Arabic)
Military spokesman: Egypt to counter terrorism inside not outside | Ahram Gateway (Arabic)
Low hopes ahead of Cairo talks on Ethiopia dam | Ahram Online