This Week in Egypt: Week 11-2023 ( March 13-19)

Top Headlines

  • Turkey’s foreign minister in Cairo for first time since ties cut a decade ago
  • Egypt’s FM: Egypt and Turkey held ‘in-depth, frank’ consultations in Cairo meeting
  • Turkish FM: A meeting between Erdogan and Sisi would take place “after the Turkish elections.”
  • Egypt’s FM says looks forward to receiving new Cypriot counterpart in Cairo
  • Egypt presses on with mega water projects despite burden on state coffers
  • Time magazine selects Giza historic sites as one of the World’s Greatest Places to visit in 2023

Main Headlines

Monday

  • Regional crises must be resolved without interference in internal affairs of states: Egypt’s Sisi
  • Egypt’s FM stresses on political solution for Syrian crisis in meeting with UN special envoy to Syria

Tuesday

Wednesday

  • UNSC backing of initiative to form Libyan team to prepare for polls undermines state institutions’ role: Egypt
  • Egypt records 46% increase in number of tourists in 2022
  • Egypt supports US nominee for World Bank Group president
  • Egypt is racing against time to add 3.5 million feddans of agricultural land

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Reports

From Twitter

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This Week in Egypt: Week 10-2023 ( March 6-12)

Top Headlines

  • Egypt’s annual inflation soars to 31.9 % in February
  • Egypt’s pound has weakened more than 6% against the US dollar on the black market
  • US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Egyptian President al-Sisi reaffirmed their countries’ close military ties
  • Egyptian Presidency: Saudi-Iranian deal is an important step to remove points of tension in the region
  • Egypt withdraws from UN grain treaty prompting sadness and concern
  • German, UAE, Egypt consortium signs $34 billion Hydrogen deal with Mauritania
  • Egypt eases citizenship terms for foreigners  
  • Archaeologists in Egypt unearth Sphinx-like Roman-era statue

Main Headlines

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

  • US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Egyptian President al-Sisi reaffirmed their countries’ close military ties
  • German, UAE, Egypt consortium signs $34 billion Hydrogen deal with Mauritania

Thursday

  • Egypt’s annual urban consumer inflation rate in February leapt to a higher-than-expected 31.9%
  • Egypt comes almost full circle in winning back and then losing the confidence of bond investors just over two months after sealing a deal with the IMF
  • Egypt eases citizenship terms for foreigners
  • Energean confirms delivery of first gas development in Egypt

  • Friday

Saturday

  • Saudi-Iranian deal is an ‘important step’ to remove points of tension in the region: Egyptian presidency
  • Egypt withdraws from UN grain treaty prompting sadness and concern
  • China Energy to build $5.1bn green hydrogen plant in Egypt

Sunday

  • Greek court sentences Egyptian man to 280 years in prison for ‘trafficking in migrants’
  • Egypt looks to begin offering of military firms this week 
  •  

Reports

  • Egypt seeks to attract Islamic investors with debut sukuk, EGX Sharia index
  • Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III’s Meetings with Egyptian President Al-Sissi  

From Twitter

Plus

  • Egypt ranks 3rd most physically attractive Arab nation
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This Week in Egypt: Week 9-2023 ( Feb 27- March 5)

Top Headlines

  • 4,500-year-old chamber discovered inside Great Pyramid in Egypt
  • Egypt’s FM Shoukry visits Syria, Turkey in renewed earthquake diplomacy
  • Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin to visit Israel, Jordan, and Egypt
  • Egypt’s net foreign assets decline by $1.7 billion in January, but rose slightly in February. 
  • Egypt increases fuel prices for various octanes by EGP 0.75 to EGP 1 per litre

Main Headlines

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

  • Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin to visit Israel, Jordan, and Egypt
  • Egypt raises minimum wage for government employees to EGP 3,500 & pensions by 15% as of 1 April
  • Egypt increases fuel prices for various octanes by EGP 0.75 to EGP 1 per litre
  • Egypt sends more relief aid to quake-hit Syria and Turkey

Friday

  • 4,500-year-old chamber discovered inside Great Pyramid in Egypt
  • Saudi FM meets with Egyptian counterpart on the sidelines of a G20 meeting  
  • Egypt condemned on Friday an Israeli minister’s call to “wipe out” the Palestinian village of Huwara

Saturday

  • Germany is keen to import more LNG from Egypt: Ambassador Hartmann

Sunday

Reports/Read

From Twitter

 

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This Week in Egypt: Week 7-2023 ( Feb 13-19)

Due to unforeseen health issue, I could only compile a shorter version of my weekly Egypt’s newsletter. Apology no podcast this week.

Top Headlines

  • Egypt’s president Sisi praises UAE, seeking to heal gift aid rift 
  • Egypt is expected to maintain high volumes of LNG delivery to Europe
  • Egyptian woman found dead under rubble in Hatay, Turkey
  • Egypt says 6 Christian nationals freed from Libya detention
  • Egypt FM reiterates call to stop foreign interference in Libya’s affairs, withdraw mercenaries

Main Headlines 

Monday

  • Egypt’s president praises UAE, seeking to heal gift aid rift
  • Egypt managed to confront daunting challenges after 2011: Sisi at WGS 2023

Tuesday

  • Egypt is expected to maintain high volumes of LNG delivery to Europe: EU energy commissioner
  • Egypt’s external debt inches down to $155 billion in 1Q FY2022/2023: CBE
  • Claims that Egypt’s model prison is allegedly rife with abuses by inmates’ families and activists 

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

  • Egyptian woman found dead under rubble in Hatay, Turkey: Foreign ministry
  • Egypt’s Sisi congratulates Cyprus’s new president on his election

Sunday

Reports

Read

From Twitter

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This Week in Egypt: Week 6-2023 ( Feb 6-12)

Top Headlines

  • Egypt’s inflation continues to surge as food prices rise
  • Moody’s downgrades Egypt’s credit rating from B2 to B3
  • 32 Egyptian state companies’ shares to be sold within a year
  • Egypt offers condolences, aid to quake-hit Turkiye and, Syria; one Egyptian is dead
  • Dutch scientist who predicted Turkey earthquake raises fears in Egypt
  • Egypt’s Sisi seeks to tamp-down media clash with Saudi Arabia
  • Egypt hold talks seeking to prevent Israeli-Palestinian escalation in Ramadan
  • Egypt’s population is expected to reach 157 million in 2050

Egyptian aid arrives in Turkey

Main Headlines

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

  • EU Commissioner Kadri Simson to visit Egypt to discuss energy security 
  • Sisi, Mitsotakis reaffirm keenness to boost Egypt-Greece investment, energy cooperation
  • Dealer fled UK to Egypt after arrest over ‘large scale’ drugs gang UK to Egypt

Saturday

Sunday

  • One Egyptian is rescued and two dead in Turkey earthquake
  • Dutch scientist who predicted Turkey earthquake raises fears in Egypt 
  • President Sheikh Mohamed welcomes Egypt’s President El Sisi to Abu-Dhabi
  • Egypt’s Sisi will be guest of honor at World Government Summit 2023  in Dubai 
  • Israel’s IDF and police foil NIS 50m. drug smuggling operation near Egypt
  • Egypt’s population is expected to reach 157 million in 2050

Reports

Read

  • Hizballah Leader provokes friction with Egypt. Hany Ghoraba

From Twitter

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This Week in Egypt: Week 5-2023 ( Jan 30- Feb 5)

Top Headlines

  • Egyptian pound slides past EGP 30 against USD 
  • Egypt’s central bank leaves key interest rates unchanged
  • US Blinken says U.S. will keep pressing Egypt on human rights
  • Egyptian FM holds talks with Lavrov in Russia, a day after meeting Blinken
  • Egypt is poised to announce detailed plan for state stake sales
  • In a first, Egypt’s Orthodox Church holds mass for Christians in Saudi Arabia

Main Headlines

Monday

Tuesday

  • Egyptian FM holds talks with Lavrov in Russia, a day after meeting Blinken
  • Collective decline in Egypt’s stock market indexes at closing on Tuesday
  • In a first, Egypt’s Orthodox Church holds mass for Christians in Saudi Arabia

Wednesday

Thursday

  • Egyptian pound slips further against US dollar to 30.3 on Thursday
  • Suez Canal achieves highest monthly revenue in its history in January at $802 million

Friday

  • Egypt’s central bank leaves key interest rates unchanged
  • Egypt hosts new edition of Arab world’s largest book fair amid economic crisis
  • Air Arabia Egypt launches new route between Cairo and Jazan in Saudi Arabia

Saturday

Sunday

Reports

  • Blinken seeks detainee progress, but releases are Egypt’s ‘prerogative’. Elizabeth Hagedorn
  • Saudi writers’ criticism of Sisi’s economic model prompts Egyptian backlash. Middle East Eye 
  • LGBT people are hunted by gangs and police in Egypt. BBC 

From Twitter

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This Week in Egypt: Week 4-2023 ( Jan 23-29)

Top Headlines

  • US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Egypt at the start of a Middle East trip 
  • CIA director visited Egypt, met with President Sisi
  • Egypt expresses its strong rejection and condemnation of East Jerusalem attack, warns of risks of escalation
  • Egypt’s Sisi, India’s Modi oversee Indian Republic Day parade featuring Egypt’s Armed Forces
  • Egypt’s oldest mummy found ‘covered in layers of gold’ following year-long excavation

Sec Blinken in Cairo– photo vis US State Dept

Main Headlines

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

  • Complete Roman city is uncovered in Egypt’s Luxor
  • Egypt receives 63,000 tons of Russian wheat at Safaga port
  • Indian firms express ‘huge interest’ in investing in Egypt clean energy & infrastructure projects
  • Egypt expresses ‘full solidarity’ with Azerbaijan after attack on its embassy in Tehran

Saturday

Sunday

  • US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Egypt at the start of a Middle East trip 
  • US stands with Egypt, its people in their pursuit of prosperous future: State department
  • President Sisi underscores special Egypt-Armenia ties in historic first visit to the country
  • Egypt, Azerbaijan leaders discuss boosting bilateral relations in Baku

Report/ Read

From Twitter

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This Week in Egypt: Week 3-2023 ( Jan 16-22)

Top Headlines

  • Egypt vows to cut military’s outsized role in economy under IMF bailout
  • Egyptian banks’ regulatory capital ratios can withstand further Egyptian pound depreciation, Fitch Ratings says
  • Businessman Safwan Thabet, who faced accusations of funding “terrorist entities”, was released from prison 
  • UAE hosted Gulf leaders including Qatar’s along with Egypt and Jordan
  • Leaders of Egypt, Jordan and the Palestinians deliver a warning to Israel
  • Egypt’s Sisi instructs building large inclusive mosques across Egypt to spread ‘true religion’

Safwan Thabet, right, is the founder of Juhayna Food Industries. His son Seif el-Din Thabet, left, is the company’s chief executive © Image supplied by friends of the family via FT

My weekly Egypt’s podcast

Main Headlines

Monday

  • Foreign investors pour $925 million into Egypt since last week’s devaluation 
  • Leaders of Egypt, Jordan and the Palestinians deliver a warning to Israel

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

  • Emerging-market investors are preparing to creep back into Egypt’s local debt market, enticed by a cheaper pound and record yields when compared with peers
  • Egyptian lawyers strike to protest the imprisonment of six colleagues
  • Egypt court reduces sentences against businessman, former MP for antiquity trafficking

Saturday

  • Founder of Egypt’s Juhayna Food Industries and his son, who faced accusations of financing terrorist entities , are released from prison
  • Egypt’s Sisi instructs building large inclusive mosques across Egypt to spread ‘true religion’

Sunday

Reports/ Read

From Twitter

Nervana Mahmoud 

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This week in Egypt: Week 2-2023 ( Jan 9-15)

Top Headlines

  • Eni, Chevron announce new gas discovery in Egyptian East Med field
  • Egyptian pound hits new low against US dollar 
  • IMF: Egypt aims to bridge financing gap by selling state-owned assets
  • Negev Forum convenes in UAE with Jordan absent from Arab-Israeli meeting
  • Egypt says ancient royal tomb unearthed in Luxor
  • Rounding off Africa tour, China’s top diplomat visits Egypt 
Podcast summery

Main Headlines

Monday

Tuesday

  • Egypt to receive the second tranche of IMF’s $3 bln loan by end of March, says Mission head
  • Inflation in Egypt continues to skyrocket, leaving citizens struggling to buy basics 

Wednesday

  • Egyptian pound‘s losses against USD reach 100% since March
  • Three men try to steal 10-ton ancient statue of Ramesses II in Egypt with crane
  • Egypt released $1.5 billion worth of stranded imports since 1 Jan

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

  • Egypt invites Elon Musk to visit after tweet 
  • Royal tomb from Thutmosid period discovered on Luxor’s West Bank
  • Egypt’s exports rise by 23% year-on-year in first 10 months of 2022: CAPMAS

Sunday

Reports

  • Egypt’s currency drop barely closes gap with black market rate. Netty Idayu Ismail 
  • Factbox: All you need to know about Egypt’s commitments, targets under new IMF programme. Doaa Moneim
  • IMF’s press release and staff report on Egypt 
  • Egypt, facing economic crunch, restricts non-essential travel for government. Al-Monitor 
  • In Egypt, massive funding for new mosques is questioned amid economic crisis. Al-Monitor 
  • How Britons can swap miserable weather for a month-long sunshine holiday in Egypt for (almost) the same cost as living at home Daily Mail

Read

From Twitter

Nervana Mahmoud

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This Week in Egypt: Week 1-2023 ( Jan 2-8)

Top Headlines

  • Egyptian pound sinks to new low in biggest fall since October devaluation
  • Egypt’s Sisi wished Egyptians merry Christmas, attended Christmas mass 
  • Israel ties with Egypt is strained by recent Israeli moves, hindering prisoner swap talks
  • Egypt presented a new platform for dialogue between parties in Sudan
  • A looted ancient Egyptian sarcophagus, Green Coffin,  that was on display at a US museum has been returned to Egypt
  • Egypt buys 12 Chinook helos from Boeing

Main Headlines

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

  • Egyptian pound crashes to record low against US dollar
  • Egyptian business reduce output and cut jobs as they grapple with the impact of a dramatic currency devaluation that helped authorities secure an IMF deal
  • Egyptian stock market sees record trading despite 25% bank certificates
  • Attracting foreign investment is Egypt’s top priority, says PM

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

  • Egypt ‘s Sisi attended Christmas mass at the Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ in the New Administrative Capital
  • Egypt welcomes outcomes of Libyan leaders’ Cairo meeting as important step toward elections
  • Egypt arrests a man who urged couples to wed soon to avoid marriage fees
  • Egypt-EU cooperation on migration worth 111 million euros: Berger

Sunday

  • Egypt and Greece mull naming international consultant for joint power linkage project  
  • Report says Netanyahu promised Egypt’s Sisi he’d stop Ben Gvir’s Temple Mount visit, then reneged
  • Record-high number of doctors resign from Egypt’s public health sector in 2022: Syndicate

Reports

From Twitter

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