During its fifth hearing, the trial of ousted Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi and fourteen co-defendants has been adjourned until March 1. Morsi, his presidential aides and senior Muslim Brotherhood leaders are accused of inciting the murder and torture of opposition protesters outside the presidential palace in December 2012. Civil rights lawyers also requested that Defense Minister Abdel Fattah al-Sisi testifies in the case about a phone call that took place between him and the deposed president during the December events, Shorouk reported.

GOVERNMENT & OPPOSITION

Nour Party will not ally with Brotherhood or NDP remnants in parliamentary elections
Egypt’s Salafist Nour Party will not ally in the country’s upcoming elections with the Muslim Brotherhood or anyone from the Mubarak-era National Democratic Party, its president Younes Makhyoun told Kuwaiti Al-Jareeda newspaper on Wednesday. The Nour Party leader blamed the Brotherhood for the return of Mubarak-era “remnants” back to the frontlines. Nour Party leaders exchanged accusations with the Brotherhood and its supporters who, in turn, accused them of betrayal since the two blocs had been allies during Morsi’s term in office. The Nour Party also accused the Brotherhood of attempting to tarnish its image by spreading rumors of using security forces to attack the headquarters of the Brotherhood newspaper al-Fath.  [Ahram Online, 2/5/2014]

Beblawy says limited cabinet reshuffle imminent
Egypt’s Prime Minister Hazem El-Beblawy said that the current cabinet needs a limited reshuffle, in a press conference in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday. The cabinet reshuffle might include three ministries, according to the interim prime minister. The post of defense minister may become vacant if Defense Minister Abdel Fattah al-Sisi runs for president. He added that in regards to this position, there needs to be a clear vision for it. The prime minister said that the current government was established for the purpose of the transitional phase and that the remaining time period does not require new ministers. [DNE, Aswat Masriya, 2/5/2014]

Also of Interest:
Egypt bans Morsi’s son from traveling | Aswat Masriya
Where are they now? Reviewing presidential hopefuls from 2012 | Mada Masr
NSF looks for stances, and purpose | Mada Masr
Presidential Election Commission announces the formation of its secretariat | EGYNews (Arabic)

COURTS & CONSTITUTION

Morsi ‘presidential palace’ trial adjourned to March 1
During its fifth hearing, the trial of ousted Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi and fourteen co-defendants has been adjourned until March 1. Morsi, his presidential aides and senior Muslim Brotherhood leaders are accused of inciting the murder and torture of opposition protesters outside the presidential palace in December 2012. The court also adjourned the hearing for the prosecution witnesses until the next session. The witnesses include the chief of the Republican Guards among them. A hearing session is also scheduled for a tripartite commission from the Radio and Television Union on March 1 to provide its report on footage that it presented to the prosecution as evidence against Morsi and his aides during the clashes. Civil rights lawyers also requested that Defense Minister Abdel Fattah al-Sisi testifies in the case about a phone call that took place between him and the deposed president during the December events, Shorouk reported. According to Al-Masry al-Youm, Morsi spent the duration of the trial speaking with his co-defendants, but could not be heard due to the glass cage the defendants were placed in. [Ahram Online, DNE, Egypt Independent, Aswat Masriya, Mada Masr, 2/5/2014]

Also of Interest:
Ibrahim Eissa found not guilty of contempt of religion | DNE
Appeal for Al-Azhar students sentenced to seventeen years postponed to February 25 | DNE
Morsi’s nephew and 103 others to stand trial for riots | Aswat Masriya

ECONOMY

Saudi Arabia to lend Egypt $200 million in revolving loans
The Minister of Planning and the acting Minister of International Cooperation announced Tuesday that an Egyptian delegation is seeking to secure a $200 million (EGP 1.39 billion) Saudi loan agreement for funding Egyptian small and midcap enterprises. Revolving loans allow investors to define the repayment system to suit their needs. They are potentially more flexible than fixed installment credit and as they allow the debtor greater leeway in determining loan amounts and transactions. [Cairo Post, SIS]

Also of Interest:
Stocks in the green, waiting for presidential candidate names | EGYNews (Arabic)
Egypt’s new listing rules drive down stocks on Tuesday | Ahram Online
Egypt receives $4 billion petroleum aid July-Dec | Cairo Post
Egypt’s monetary reserves watch 7 percent decline in December: IDSC | Cairo Post
Egypt’s minister of foreign trade and industry meets with French investors | DNE

SOCIETY & MEDIA

Doctors continue partial strike for second day
Doctors resumed on Wednesday their partial strike for the second day this week at all hospitals nationwide excluding emergency departments. 55 percent of doctors in government hospitals nationwide are participating in this strike. The Health Ministry assured Egyptians that medical services will continue to be provided to patients despite the doctors strike. The strike does not include university, military and police hospitals.  Mohamed Salama, head of the Doctors Syndicate in Suez, said the doctors strike in hospitals of the governorate will take place on Mondays and Wednesdays of every week until demands are met. The demands include modifying the health budget, approving the doctors cadre and securing governmental hospitals at all governorates. [Egypt Independent, 2/5/2014]

Also of Interest:
Report: Internet users reach 35.95 million in 2013 | MENA/Egypt Independent
Actress says Egypt needs a Hitler figure | Mada Masr
Refugees Solidarity Movement in solidarity with journalists detained in Egypt | Shorouk (Arabic)
NCHR to investigate minors arrest | DNE

SECURITY

Egypt destroys ten militant hideouts, arrests four in Sinai
The Egyptian armed forces have destroyed ten hideouts of suspected militants in the Sinai Peninsula and arrested four suspects as part of an ongoing campaign against Islamist insurgents in the region. Ten shacks and buildings used as bases for terrorist attacks were torched and destroyed in Tuesday’s offensive in the North Sinai town of Sheikh Zuweid, a security source told state news agency MENA. Four suspects, including two Palestinians, were arrested in the raid, the official added. Security sources said in a press statement on Tuesday that the campaign targeted the Kharouba area. [Ahram Online, Egypt Independent, 2/5/2014]

Also of Interest:
Conscript killed by gunmen in Egypt’s Sharqiya | Ahram Online
Members of the ‘Sinbalawin Cell’ imprisoned for fifteen days pending investigation | AMAY (Arabic)

REGIONAL & INTERNATIONAL

US concerned over freedom of speech in Egypt, urges release of Al-Jazeera journalists
The United States has expressed alarm over the detention of three Al-Jazeera television journalists in Egypt and called for their release. During a press briefing, White House spokesman Jay Carney said on Tuesday that the detention of the journalists was “of deep concern” to Washington. Australian Peter Greste, Al-Jazeera Cairo bureau chief Mohamed Fahmy and Egyptian producer Baher Mohamed were arrested on December 29 over an allegedly illegal broadcast from a hotel. The three were accused by prosecutors of harming national security, airing false news and working without permits. “The restrictions on freedom of expression in Egypt are a concern, and that includes the targeting of Egyptian and foreign journalists and academics simply for expressing their views,” Carney told reporters at a briefing. “These figures, regardless of affiliation, should be protected and permitted to do their jobs freely in Egypt.” Carney said that the US administration had strongly urged the Egyptian government to drop the charges against the journalists and release them. [Ahram Online, DNE, Reuters, 2/5/2014]

Bosnian ambassador in Egypt summoned over Raba’a sign
The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Bosnian chargé d’affaires in Cairo early Tuesday to explain why a prominent Bosnian politician made a gesture solidarity with the Raba’a al-Adaweya sit-in that was dispersed in August. On Monday, Bakir Izetbegovic received in his office in Sarajevo a delegation of supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood. A photo was taken in his office him doing the four-fingered Raba’a sign along the members of the delegation. Ambassador Badr Abdel Atti, the official Foreign Ministry spokesperson said in a press conference on Tuesday that the Bosnian chargé d’affaires in Cairo was handed an official objection memo from Egypt. [Ahram Online, Ahram (Arabic), 2/4/2014]

Also of Interest:
Membership or link to Muslim Brotherhood not proof of extremism: UK | Ahram Online
January 25 protesters faced human rights violations: Amnesty International | DNE
Egypt PM Beblawy assures Saudi leader of ‘growing stability’ following Morsi’s ouster | Ahram Online, Egypt Independent
Beblawy performs umrah to end his visit to Saudi Arabia | AMAY (Arabic)
ANHRI condemns ban on Bahraini activists’ travel to Egypt | DNE
Irrigation Minister: Egypt won’t partake in meeting of unilateral “Entebbe” signing | SIS, Ahram (Arabic)
Egypt, Iraq’s Kurdistan sign MoU for cultural cooperation | SIS
Egyptian Trade Union Federation calls for the release of drivers kidnapped in Libya, FM makes it priority | Shorouk (Arabic), Gateway (Arabic)