The Senate has confirmed the new US ambassador, Robert Beecroft, to Egypt after lengthy delays.

POLITICS

Egypt army allocates EGP1 billion for Sisi’s initiative
Egypt’s Defense Minister Sedky Sobhy said on Thursday that the army’s companies will allocate EGP1 billion ($140 million) to support the country’s ailing economy, as per an initiative launched this week by President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi. A statement by the army said that the donation from the army’s national service projects comes as a continuation to the armed forces’ commitment to the Egyptian people. The money will be placed in an account announced by Sisi under the name “Long Live Egypt,” which was his presidential campaign slogan. [Aswat Masriya, Mada Masr, SIS, 6/26/2014]

Also of Interest:

  • Mass resignations of Party of Egypt leaders EGYNews (Arabic)
  • Azhar seeks no political role: Grand Imam | SIS
  • Nour Party: Sisi’s participation in African Union summit is the beginning of a new stage in Egypt-African relations | Ahram Gateway (Arabic)
  • Sisi accused of violating constitution in presidential decree appointing university heads | Ahram Gateway (Arabic)
  • Alexandria parties heading for electoral alliances | Ahram (Arabic)

COURTS

Egyptian court orders release of Mubarak sons on bail
A Cairo criminal court ordered the release of Alaa and Gamal Mubarak, the sons of former president Hosni Mubarak, pending investigations on charges of illicit gains. The defendants, who are accused of using their father’s presidential power to acquire wealth, would have to pay EGP 1 million ($140,000) bail each. They are unlikely to be released, however, as they are both serving four year jail terms for embezzling state funds earmarked for the renovation of presidential palaces. [Egypt Independent, Aswat Masriya, Mada Masr, 6/27/2014]

Greste case overshadow persecution of Egypt’s own journalists, exile says
The imprisonment of Australian journalist Peter Greste has overshadowed Egypt’s active persecution of at least 100 of its own journalists, according to an exile who has fled to the United States. Yehia Ghanem, a journalist who edited the leading Egyptian newspaper, Al-Ahram, said reporters in the country risked imprisonment and physical attack if they fell afoul of an establishment heavily controlled by the military. He said the imprisonment of Greste and his Al-Jazeera colleagues is just the latest in a string of such convictions. Ghanem fled Egypt last year after being sentenced to two years in prison with hard labor for setting up a journalism training school with $900,000 of funding from the US state department. [The Guardian, 6/27/2014]

Also of Interest:

  • Sharqiya court jails 41 Brotherhood supporters for three to ten years | Egypt Independent, Aswat Masriya (Arabic)
  • Minya judge discovers he sentenced child to death from newspaper | Egypt Independent
  • Mansoura University student gets five year jail term for terrorism charges | Mada Masr
  • Report before the prosecution: Qatar funded Brotherhood weapons | Shorouk (Arabic)
  • Prosecutor general stops appointment of 3,000 employees for Brotherhood ties | Shorouk (Arabic)

ECONOMY

Deficit reduced in draft state budget
A high-level government official said Egypt’s budget deficit has been reduced for the second time in the new draft budget from EGP 288 billion ($40.2 billion) to EGP 240 billion ($33.5 billion). The official told Al-Masry Al-Youm that the cabinet, during its meeting on Wednesday, amended the draft budget, particularly with regard to energy subsidies and the rationalization of expenditure. Electricity prices will increase for top consumers, as well as the prices of petroleum products for energy-intensive industries, according to the official. Meanwhile, Shorouk reported that the budget will not reduce the allocation of fund for administrative bodies, and it will aim to reduce the budget by decreasing energy subsidies. [Egypt Independent, 6/26/2014]

Also of Interest:

  • Egypt’s QIZ exports to US hit EGP 2.1 billion in five months | Amwal Al-Ghad
  • Egypt to reach gas efficiency within five years: Oil minister | Ahram Online
  • Egypt’s stocks inch up for first time in the week  | Ahram Online, Egypt Independent  
  • Electricity loads eased early on Thursday due to high consumption | Egypt Independent
  • Labor Union Member: Minimum wage an illusion | Egypt Independent
  • PM Mahlab, SCA head discuss Suez Canal development project | SIS
  • PM: Urgent solutions to investors’ problems | SIS
  • Minister of supply: development of wheat storage system | AMAY (Arabic)

SOCIETY & MEDIA

Rights groups document torture cases; Prosecution denies torture in Tora
El Nadeem Center for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Violence and Torture and the Association of Freedom of Thought and Expression (AFTE) held a press conference on the International day in Support of Victims of Torture on 26 June, presenting documented cases of torture and human rights violations during the period from 30 June 2013 until 31 May 2014. Psychiatrist Suzan Fayad from El Nadeem Center held Minister of Interior Mohamed Ibrahim accountable for the documented cases of torture and human rights violations that have been reported when he was in office, even since the rule of former president Mohamed Morsi. Meanwhile, following a surprise visit to the Tora prison complex, a team from the prosecutor’s office claimed all inmates in the facility were there legally as per judicial order, and had no complaints regarding assaults or mistreatment. [DNE, 6/26/2014]

Also of Interest:

  • Direct link between education and drug addiction in Egypt: Health minister | Ahram Online
  • Sawiris responds to media persecution of Yosri Fouda | Mada Masr
  • PM: Taking care of handicapped state’s priority | SIS
  • Mahlab follows up development of university hospitals | SIS
  • Mahlab inaugurates first festival of philanthropy | EGYNews (Arabic)
  • Parties and youth movements prepare to celebrate anniversary of revolution | Ahram (Arabic)

SECURITY

Tribal clashes in Aswan reignited, leaves two dead
Two people died in Aswan on Thursday when clashes were renewed between rival tribes just two months after their reconciliation. A security official said an Arab family killed two Nubian men, set the bodies on fire and left them in a donkey cart in the southern city of Aswan. In April, deadly fighting between the same groups left 26 people dead. A spokesman for the government-appointed mediation committee, Kamal Takkadom, said Thursday’s killings took place after members of the Nubian family posted humiliating pictures of the previous fighting on Facebook. [Ahram Online, AP, Mada Masr, Shorouk (Arabic), AMAY (Arabic), 6/26/2014]

Also of Interest:

  • Three Brotherhood supporters arrested after clashes in Kaf al-Dawar | EGYNews (Arabic)
  • Military Intelligence ends detention of Egyptian drivers in Libya | AMAY (Arabic)

INTERNATIONAL

Senate confirms new US ambassador to Egypt
The Senate has confirmed the new US ambassador, Robert Beecroft, to Egypt after lengthy delays. The president nominated the envoy in May, but his nomination was held up in a larger Senate logjam that has affected dozens of appointees. Beecroft’s nomination was confirmed by voice vote. Meanwhile, Egypt Independent reports that Minister of Scientific Research Sherif Hamad said on Thursday that the United States reactivated the funding of joint science and technology projects worth US$4 million after a hiatus of three years. [AP, 6/27/2014]

Also of Interest:

  • ISIS advances in Iraq provide new context for US-Egypt ties | Al Monitor
  • Sisi visits Khartoum for al-Bashir meeting | Ahram Online, DNE, Aswat Masriya, EGYNews (Arabic), AMAY (Arabic)
  • Irish journalists stage protest on behalf of the three jailed Al-Jazeera journalists | The Guardian
  • Egypt and Ethiopia form committee to discuss bilateral ties | Aswat Masriya, SIS, AMAY (Arabic)
  • Egypt denounces Lebanon’s blasts | SIS
  • Egypt’s participation in AU summit “the most significant event”: Ambassador | SIS
  • Sisi meets UN chief, Tanzania leader in Malabo | SIS
  • Sisi holds talks with Gambian president | Ahram Gateway (Arabic)
  • Egypt’s envoy to UN gives statement on youth issues | SIS, Ahram Gateway (Arabic)
  • Egypt’s candidate wins a second term in UN CRC | SIS
  • Government reveals conditions for import of gas from Israel | AMAY (Arabic)
  • Ethiopia vows not to harm Egypt’s water interests | Aswat Masriya (Arabic)
  • UN Correspondents Association holds emergency meeting in defense of jailed journalists | DNE