A bomb-laden car exploded in Giza, killing three suspected militants, a security source told state news agency MENA.
POLITICS
Mahlab issues order to create committee for demarcation of new governorate borders
Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab issued on Tuesday three decisions aimed at supporting development in governorates, encouraging investments and advancing municipalities. Mahlab issued a decision to form a panel for the demarcation of new borders between governorates, under the minister of local development. He also ordered the formation of a ministerial panel to settle investment disputes. The panel will be headed by the justice minister and will include the ministers of finance, industry and trade, local development and transitional justice. Finally, Mahlab ordered the reformation of the board of directors of the Industrial Development Authority. [SIS, EGYNews (Arabic), 7/30/3014]
Also of Interest:
- 12 parties form coalition to “achieve the goals of the revolution” | Al-Ahram (Arabic)
- Spokesman for political alliance says parties running independently are committing political suicide | Shorouk (Arabic)
COURTS
Eight cases of sexual harassment referred to public prosecutor
Security sources announced that eight cases of sexual harassment during Eid al-Fitr celebrations are being referred to the public prosecutor. At least 48 cases of sexual harassment have been reported. Meanwhile, a local initiative, I Saw Harassment, announced that it prevented 16 cases of sexual harassment on the second day of Eid al-Fitr as the number of harassment cases have increased. The initiative noted that security forces did not intervene to prevent sexual harassment crimes on the second day of Eid al-Fitr, and that victims of harassment prefer to call the initiative rather than the police. [Akhbar al-Youm (Arabic), 7/29/2014]
Also of Interest:
- Prosecutor orders 15 days detention for Ismailia warden and deputy for escape of two prisoners | Aswat Masriya (Arabic), AMAY (Arabic)
- Prosecutor general investigating corruption case in Gaza prison | AMAY (Arabic)
- Judicial source: Four reasons for delay in decision in Mubarak case | Shorouk (Arabic)
- Lawyer referred to trial for insulting Saudi ambassador | AMAY (Arabic)
ECONOMY
International conference to support Egypt’s economy may be held in November
Egypt’s ministerial economic group will hold a meeting with Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Finance, Ibrahim al-Assaf, and Emirate’s Minister of State, Sultan al-Jaber, to discuss the timing of an international conference called upon by King Abdullah to support Egypt’s economy following President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s win. The session is part of the meetings held by the government to prepare for the conference expected in November. The government seeks to collect $72 billion from the conference, including investment projects of $62 billion and loans of $10 billion. [Al Mal, 7/26/2014]
Also of Interest:
- Charities struggle during Egypt’s economic crisis | Ahram Online
- Mahlab: government has completed map of economic reform | Shorouk (Arabic)
- Minister: building new plants to generate power is not easy | Shorouk (Arabic)
SOCIETY & MEDIA
No casualties reported in Eid El-Fitr amid minor pro-Morsi protests
Egypt’s health minister Adel al-Adawy said Tuesday that the ministry’s crisis management department had no reports of casualties or injuries during the first two days of Eid El-Fitr, Al Ahram reported. Adawy’s announcement came amid unverified reports Monday that three people were killed in clashes that broke out during protests by supporters of ousted Islamist President Mohamed Morsi in the Nile Delta city of Qalyubeya. [Ahram Online, 7/29/2014]
Also of Interest:
- Almost 100 Palestinians treated in Egypt since start of Israel’s offensive | Ahram Online
- Mufti adviser launches campaign in New York to alter negative perceptions of Islam | EGYNews (Arabic), AMAY (Arabic)
- Minister announces plans to establish schools in youth centers | AMAY (Arabic)
SECURITY
Three militants die in car bomb accident in Giza; Police foil second car bomb
A bomb-laden car exploded in Giza, killing three suspected militants, a security source told state news agency MENA. The source said the bomb probably detonated accidentally while the car was driving in the town of al-Saf in Giza. Investigations are ongoing to identify the bodies. Security forces found a second explosives-loaded car in Giza, just hours after the first explosion, and arrested one suspected militant. Initial investigations by Giza security revealed that the suspected militants were targeting electricity pylons in the area. [Ahram Online, AP, Reuters, EGYNews (Arabic), Shorouk (Arabic), Ahram Gateway (Arabic), AMAY (Arabic), 7/30/2014]
Military officer, 8 suspected militants killed in Sinai raid
An army soldier was killed Tuesday in an exchange of fire with suspected militants in the restive Sinai Peninsula, a security source told state news agency MENA. MENA said the slain was shot dead during an army raid on a suspected militant hideout in a Rafah border town in northern Sinai. In the same raid, the armed forces killed eight suspected militants and arrested 11 others, military spokesman Brigadier General Mohamed Samir said on his official Facebook page. [Ahram Online, Aswat Masriya, Mada Masr, EGYNews (Arabic), 7/29/2014]
Also of Interest:
- Matrouh security foil attempts by 170 to cross Libya border into Egypt | EGYNews (Arabic), AMAY (Arabic)
- Five Iraqis refused entry into Egypt | Shorouk (Arabic)
- Three members of Beni Helal tribe arrested on charges related to Aswan violence | Ahram Gateway (Arabic)
- Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis claims responsibility for attack that killed officers on Friday | Aswat Masriya (Arabic)
INTERNATIONAL
Egypt revises Gaza truce plan; Kerry says negotiations should take place in Cairo
Egypt said it was revising an unconditional truce proposal to end the conflict in Gaza that Israel had originally accepted but Hamas rejected. The new offer is to be presented to a Palestinian delegation that arrived in Cairo on Tuesday. An Israeli official said Israel might send its own envoy to Cairo too. Speaking at a joint press conference with his Ukrainian counterpart in Washington DC, US Secretary of State John Kerry said that if negotiations are to take place between Israeli and Palestinian factions, they will take place in Cairo. He has continued to discuss the ceasefire initiative with Egypt, speaking to Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry by phone on Wednesday. Meanwhile, a top Iranian diplomat urged Egyptian authorities to speed its approval of the permits required to allow the passage of aid to the war-torn Gaza strip. Finally, Egypt’s Air Sinai cancelled its flights to Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport as a result of security concerns, an EgyptAir official said on Tuesday. The official who chose to remain anonymous told Ahram Online that the Egyptian carrier that operates flights between Cairo and Tel Aviv, has been halting operations since last week, coinciding with other international airlines’ move to suspend their flights to Ben Gurion following an incident where a Hamas-fired rocket hit a neighborhood north of the airport. [Reuters, 7/30/2014]
Also of Interest:
- Egypt doubles diplomatic staff to help Egyptians leave Libya | Ahram Online, Ahram Gateway (Arabic)
- Feds end effort to reclaim mummy mask for Egypt | AP
- 53 Egyptians deported from Italy arrive in Cairo | AMAY (Arabic)