Top Headlines

• Egypt’s government approves deal to hand two Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia
• An Egyptian appeal court backs government in Red Sea islands dispute
• Prominent journalist Ibrahim Eissa terminates TV show after threats, legal complaints
• Egypt’s army destroys 1,700 meter smuggling tunnel in Rafah
• Egyptian Defence Ministry appoints new army spokesperson
• Egyptian army renovates bombed Cairo church ahead of Coptic Christmas

Main Headlines

Monday

• Israel summons ambassadors of Egypt and 9 other countries after a UN resolution demanding an end to settlement building
• Addis Ababa awaits response to request that Cairo end ‘Ethiopian opposition activity’ in Egypt: Ethiopian FM
• Arrested Al Jazeera journalist condemns the Qatari news channel
• A Cairo court says it has no jurisdiction to ban Tamarod movement
• Sisi ratifies new law regulating media outlets
• 10 ‪Egyptian policemen were detained after holding a strike

Tuesday 

• Russian experts to inspect the second terminal of the Cairo Airport
• Russia likely to resume direct flights with Egypt in January
• Egypt’s currency black market nearly eliminated, prices will fall: CBE governor
• Egypt’s military chief-of-staff heads Cairo meeting with Libyan political and media figures
• Italy’s Eni signs 2 new gas exploration deals with Egypt
• France to provide 175 million euros to fund Egypt’s energy sector
• ‪Egyptian court orders Al-Jazeera to pay EGP 5 million for using his Bin Laden photos without permission

 Wednesday

• Tough Egyptian economic conditions will improve in six months, says Sisi
• Egypt’s army destroys 1,700 meter smuggling tunnel in Rafah
• Egypt Air fires back at Israeli Haaretz’s misleading tweet
• Passenger traffic to all Egyptian airports falls by 19 percent in November
• Egypt’s Sisi stresses support for Libyan national institutions
• TV presenter Amr Ellissy is removed from travel ban list ‪
• Court orders release of 10 defendants in Rabea dispersal case on medical grounds

Thursday

• Lavrov says Egypt could join Syria talks in Astana
• Kerry’s vision for peace process is mostly consistent with Egypt’s: Egyptian foreign ministry
• Cairo criticizes US Congress bill that would track efforts on church restoration in Egypt
• Court acquitted five Azhar students
• Tight security measures imposed ahead of Christmas celebrations

Friday

• Egypt’s government approves deal to hand two Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia
• Egypt to hand over Egypt Air MS804 victims’ remains next week
• Egypt’s central bank leaves key interest rates unchanged

Saturday

• An Egyptian appeal court backs government in Red Sea islands dispute
• Lawyers appeal government decision to send Tiran and Sanafir agreement to Parliament
• Hamas says held ‘positive’ talks in Egypt
• Roadside bomb kills police officer, soldier in Sinai
• Naguib Sawiris to sue his own Free Egyptians Party over new bylaws
• Egypt bans daughter of former presidential candidate from travel

Sunday

• Prominent journalist Ibrahim Eissa terminates his TV show after threats, legal complaints
• Egyptian Defence Ministry appoints new army spokesman
• Army completes renovation of bombed Cairo church ahead of Coptic Christmas
• Egypt arrests senior judge amid corruption probe
• Military court sentences 148 Morsi supporters to life, acquits 10
• High Administrative Court to rule on a lawsuit against the cabinet’s decision to refer Red Sea islands deal to parliament on February 7

Good Reports

• US report: Egypt topped developing countries in arms imports in 2015. Mada Masr
• In the year of the economy, Egyptians kept their eyes on the dollar. Heba Afify
• Egypt’s child custody laws: How to reform? Mai Shams El-Din

Good read

• Egypt’s failed revolution. Peter Hessler
• Amending the law will not prevent terrorism. Ziad Bahaa Eldin

From Twitter

Photo Gallery

• Bombed Coptic church restored by the Egyptian army
• Batch of youths spread spirit of festive in Egyptian streets
• Egypt rings in the New Year

Plus

• Egypt’s Salah is voted Roma’s player of the year
• Cairo Opera House launches on line ticketing service

Finally, here are Jayson Casper’s prayers for Egypt

Happy 2017 to all my readers. Thank you for following my blog