Egyptian security forces killed four alleged members of the Muslim Brotherhood who were wanted for their role in a number of attacks against police officers, Egypt’s Interior Ministry said in a statement. The statement added that the four “terrorists” were involved in a number of attacks against police in Beheira, including the murder of a low-ranking police officer. The individuals were killed when security forces returned fire on them after being shot at during the raid on their apartment. Stacks of weapons and ammunition were later found inside of the apartment. [Ahram Online, DNE, Aswat Masriya, Cairo Post, 9/30/2015]

POLITICS

Over 2,500 candidates, four party-based lists to run in first phase of Egypt’s parliamentary elections
The High Elections Committee (HEC) announced on Tuesday that 2,573 independent candidates and four party-based lists will be running in the first stage of Egypt’s parliamentary elections, starting on October 17. Of the candidates, only 112 are women. The candidates will contest 226 seats, and the four lists will be competing for over sixty seats ‎bringing the total to 286 seats available during the first phase of the elections. The HEC added that the number of candidates competing could change as some cases are still being looked into by the courts. The Supreme Administrative Court will issue on Thursday its final ruling on appeals filed by 125 candidates. HEC Spokesman Omar Marwan said Thursday that the first phase of elections will include 103 general election committees as well as 5,460 polling stations and sub-committees. Around 16,000 judges will oversee the first phase of elections, while eighty-seven organizations will be monitoring, including six foreign organizations. [Ahram Online, DNE, Aswat Masriya, 10/1/2015]

Also of Interest

• Democracy is not instant coffee says ElBaradei | Aswat Masriya
• Cabinet discusses Sisi assignments | SIS
• Muslim Brotherhood denies statement over policy review | DNE

COURTS

‘Zero’ student Mariam Malak’s answer sheets are genuine says prosecution
The Administrative Prosecution authority has officially closed the publicly debated case of student Mariam Malak who scored zero percent on her high school exams. According to an official statement, the case was terminated due to the “incorrectness of Malak’s corruption claims.” Malak had accused the exams control room of corruption, claiming she was a top student, and that her papers were exchanged in favor of “another official’s daughter or son.” Her case has caused controversy, led to discussions about corruption, and she has been interviewed several times by the media. The prosecution stated that a technical examination of her papers did not show evidence of tampering, and that “all possible checking methods” were used. Malak’s lawyer, Ehab Ramzy, told Aswat Masriya “The prosecution said that there is no administrative crime even though there was one. The exam observers didn’t file a report immediately after receiving a blank answer sheet. If the prosecution had actually investigated this crime, the truth would have been revealed, that Mariam’s exam papers were tampered with.” [DNE, Aswat Masriya, 9/30/2015]

Also of Interest

• Interior ministry obstructs five pardoned prisoners’ release | DNE
• Raba’a operations room’ trial postponed to October 15 | DNE
• Egyptian-Tunisian campaign launched to release detained ‘Arab Spring’ activists | DNE

ECONOMY

Egypt receives second floating LNG import terminal
A second liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal arrived in Egypt on Wednesday and will start operating in the third week of October, said EGAS head Khaled Abdel Badie. The floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU), provided by Singapore-based Norwegian group BW Gas, has a capacity of 600 to 700 million cubic feet per day, Egypt’s Oil Ministry said. FSRUs allow Egypt to import LNG and convert it to natural gas to feed into its energy-starved power grid. Egypt received its first FSRU from Norway’s Hoegh LNG in April. The BW Gas terminal will remain at the Gulf of Suez port of Ain al-Sokhna port where the Heogh terminal is also moored. In other news, Egypt’s EFG Hermes, one of the Middle East’s largest investment banks, said it will reduce its capital by 184.782 million Egyptian pounds ($23.61 million) by terminating treasury stocks. [Reuters, Ahram Online, DNE, 9/30/2015]

Also of Interest

• Ministers coordinate to create a water-purification plant for several areas says cabinet | DNE
• Egypt’s EFG Hermes to reduce capital to 3.07 billion Egyptian pounds | Ahram Online, Reuters
• Real estate financing in Egypt grew by 82 percent this year says Financial Regulator | Ahram Online
• Cement prices stable for one month, two companies decrease prices | DNE
• Foreign investments in Egyptian treasury bills amount to EGP 500 million, says Central Bank | DNE
• Abraaj Group signs partnership agreement with Egyptian education provider Tiba | DNE
• Equivalent of 1.3 percent of Egypt’s GDP in secret Swiss bank accounts says report | Aswat Masriya
• Egyptian Exchange gains 4 billion Egyptian pounds in September | SIS

SOCIETY & MEDIA

Student protests staged in Cairo, Alexandria
A protest led by graduate students outside the Cabinet’s building on Qasr al-Aini Street was forcibly dispersed by police on Wednesday. The protesters were demanding an appointment with government officials. Some of those present were arrested while others were chased away by security forces. One protester told Al-Masry Al-Youm, “A number of girls attending the protest were dragged along the ground [by police]” The same students had previously staged a protest on September 17, also dispersed by security forces. Additionally, dozens of Muslim Brotherhood students from Alexandria University’s Faculty of Engineering staged protests demanding the release of their colleagues who have been imprisoned on charges of violence and rioting. [AMAY, 9/30/2015]

State employees to take protests to Presidential Palace
Employees at government agencies protesting a new Civil Services Law regulating bonuses, promotions, and evaluations are planning further escalation by demonstrating outside the Presidential Palace later this month. Tadamun (Solidarity), an alliance of independent trade unions and labor movements, said it will organize a march to the Presidential Palace in mid-October to proceed with the campaign. The law, enacted in March, has drawn criticism of labor rights activists and a number of trade unions which had vowed to lobby against the document. The government, meanwhile, says the law would bring about improvements to the state’s administrative bodies. [AMAY, 10/1/2015]

Also of Interest

• Sisi’s UN claims refuted with sixty journalists behind bars says rights group | DNE
• Sharqiya schools suffer from neglect | AMAY
• Seniors above sixty account for 6.9 percent of Egypt’s population | Egypt Independent
• Egypt’s Pope Tawadros II calls on Copts to part ways with religious parties | Ahram Online, Mada Masr
• Combating human trafficking with creative arts | Aswat Masriya
• Two students die in railway crossing accident | Aswat Masriya, Cairo Post

INTERNATIONAL

US supports Egypt in its war on terror says US Central Command Chief
The United States supports Egypt in its war against terrorism, US Central Command Chief Llyod Austin said during a meeting with Egyptian Defense Minister Sedki Sobhi on Wednesday. Austin is currently in Cairo to discuss the US-Egypt strategic relationship, in addition to regional and international positions regarding the war on terror, said an army statement.  The US General stressed his country’s support for Egypt in its war against terrorism and its aspiration towards stability, while Sobhi expressed Egypt’s keenness on promoting relations with the United States. [DNE, Aswat Masriya, 9/30/2015]

Also of Interest

• China’s president reportedly visiting Cairo in January | AMAY
• Egypt, Greece, Cyprus FMs hold trilateral meeting | SIS
• Tunisia’s President Essebsi to visit Egypt next week | Ahram Online, AMAY
• Egyptian fatalities in hajj stampede rise to eighty-three with eighty reported missing | Ahram Online, MENA, Aswat Masriya
• Egypt Consulate in Jeddah posts photos of unidentified pilgrims in Mecca stampede online for identification | Ahram Online
• Foreign Ministry follows up on arrested fishermen in Tunisia | DNE
• We don’t interfere in Egypt’s internal affairs says Qatari Foreign Minister | Ahram Online
• Belarus will not impose travel restrictions on Egypt says ambassador | MENA
• British lords arrive in Cairo Wednesday | MENA
• Egypt Foreign Minister says dangers facing region necessitate unity of international community | SIS
• Sisi’s US media interviews highlight Egypt’s role in combating terrorism | Mada Masr
• Thirty-four migrants deported from Cairo Airport | Cairo Post