Presidential hopeful Hamdeen Sabbahi has garnered 30,000 signatures of support for his candidacy from eighteen governorates across the country, his campaign announced on Thursday.
POLITICS
Sabbahi completes signature collection with 30,000 endorsements
Presidential hopeful Hamdeen Sabbahi has garnered 30,000 signatures of support for his candidacy from eighteen governorates across the country, his campaign announced on Thursday. Under the Elections Law, candidates are required to submit a minimum of 25,000 endorsements from at least fifteen different governorates in order to officially register to run in the presidential race. [Aswat Masriya, Ahram Online, Egypt Independent, Mada Masr, 4/17/2014]
Also of Interest:
- Sisi: Next stage needs hard work | Egypt Independent
- Source: Sisi will not appear in the media before May 2 | Shorouk (Arabic)
- Dostour party secretary in Daqahlia presents her resignation and supports Sisi | AMAY (Arabic)
- Notary offices remain open on Friday for presidential hopeful endorsements | Aswat Masriya (Arabic)
COURTS
Wasat Party leader Madi to remain in detention
A Giza criminal court accepted early on Thursday the prosecution’s appeal against the release of Wasat Party leader Abul-Ela Madi on bail. The south Giza prosecution had appealed the release of the detained Islamist leader on Wednesday, hours after the Giza criminal court’s decision to release him on EGP10,000 bail. According to the Giza criminal court, Madi will be detained for another forty-five days. [Ahram Online, 4/17/2014]
Cairo court rejects lawsuit banning Israeli activists in Egypt
Cairo’s Court for Urgent Matters announced on Wednesday that it does not have jurisdiction to rule in a recent lawsuit demanding that all Israeli activities be banned in Egypt, Al-Ahram’s Arabic news website reported. A lawyer – Hamed Sediq – had sent a lawsuit to Egypt’s interim President Adly Mansour and the current interim Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab earlier this year calling for all Israeli activities be banned inside Egyptian territories. The lawsuit also demanded the closure of the Israeli embassy in Cairo and all other offices related to it, on the grounds that Israel has been using violence against Palestinians. [Ahram Online, 4/18/2014]
Also of Interest:
- Suez prosecution refers forty Brotherhood members to criminal court | Aswat Masriya
ECONOMY
Cabinet says no increase in electricity, diesel’s prices expected
Following the Cabinet meeting on Thursday, Cabinet Spokesman Ambassador Hossam al-Qawish urged citizens to rationalize consumption in electricity. He said that there would be no increase in prices of electricity or diesel, adding that next summer would not witness a lot of blackouts. The ministry of electricity, meanwhile, has also called on people to refrain from using their air conditioners and washing machines between 6pm and 10pm. Qawish also said that the subsidy system will be restructured in a way that does not affect the limited income brackets. [SIS, 4/18/2014]
Also of Interest:
- Egypt’s market buoyed by real estate gainers | Ahram Online
- Egypt demolishes 120,000 illegal buildings on green land | Ahram Online
- Twenty-two buildings removed on agricultural land in Gharibiya | EGYNews
- Investment law approved in Egypt | Ahram Weekly
- Egypt central bank to keep interest rates on hold –survey | Reuters
SOCIETY & MEDIA
Security forces disperse Morsi rallies in several governorates
With pro-Mohamed Morsi rallies taking place across the country on Friday, security forces in Alexandria intervened and dispersed the marching demonstrators. This came after the latter had clashed with members of an opposing group, head of Alexandria’s investigations unit, Major General Nasser al-Abd, told Aswat Masriya. Police forces arrested five Brotherhood supporters and referred them to prosecution on charges of demonstrating without authorization and taking part in acts of violence, Abd stated. In Suez security forces used tear gas to disperse a rally after Friday prayers. In Sharqiya, five Brotherhood supporters were arrested, while in Gharbiya, security forces fired teargas at marching protesters. Morsi supporters in Giza also organized a demonstration against the military and police after prayers. Residents in Maadi witnessed a similar rally before noon prayers at Sawaris Square. The Salafist Call in Alexandria also held a small demonstration against terrorism and takfir on Friday [Aswat Masriya (Arabic), Aswat Masriya, AMAY (Arabic), 4/18/2014]
AFTE says fourteen students killed in clashes with police since September
Police forces have killed fourteen students in Egyptian universities this academic year, according to a study released on Thursday by the Association of Freedom of Thought and Expression (AFTE). The victims died in the course of violent confrontations between protesting students and security forces attempting to disperse their demonstrations. The on-campus bloodshed is the worst Egypt has seen “in seven decades, since the forces of the British occupation fired on labor and student protests in February 1946 in Tahrir Square, leaving twenty-two dead,” AFTE claimed. [Mada Masr, 4/18/2014]
Also of Interest:
- Islamic Egypt’s first capital under threat | Ahram Online
- Prisoners in Wadi Natrun announce hunger strike | Shorouk (Arabic)
SECURITY
Security forces arrest men attempting to attack police officers home
Security forces in Qalubeya arrested two unemployed men accused of attempting to attack a police sergeant’s home on Friday. The men had molotov cocktails in their possession and admitted to quarrelling with citizens and assaulting them, according to state run EGYNews. In Mahala, unknown assailants lit a police vehicle on fire. Emergency service responded to the incident and later controlled the fire. [EGYNews (Arabic), Shorouk (Arabic), 4/18/2014]
Also of Interest:
- Egypt stops attempt to smuggle Jewish artifacts | AP
- Security director in Assiut: Whoever tries to assault security forces or citizens will be killed | Shorouk (Arabic)
- Suspect dies in Fayoum prison | Egypt Independent
INTERNATIONAL
American senate delegation arrives in Cairo to discuss resuming aid
A United States delegation from the Senate arrived in Egypt on Friday to discuss conditions for resuming US aid to Egypt. The delegation is headed by Paul Grove, a member of the senate appropriations committee. A source at the American embassy said the delegation will meet with several high ranking Egyptian officials to discuss the resumption of US aid, the crisis in Syria, and the peace process. [EGYNews (Arabic), Shorouk (Arabic), 4/18/2014]
Also of Interest: