Top Headlines

• Al- Sisi pledges to construct large church in the new capital
• Fearful Egypt’s Copts mark Christmas after church bombing
• April 6′ youth movement co-founder Ahmed Maher is released from prison  
• The Egyptian pound strengthened slightly at banks as demand for dollars by importers eases
• Islamist murders Christian for selling alcohol in Alexandria
• Egypt establishes highly-trained special navy forces brigade in Red Sea
• First Israeli tourist group since 2015 visits Egypt

Egyptian Coptic leader Pope Tawadros II leads Christmas celebration at the St. Mark’s Coptic Orthodox Cathedral  on January 6, 2017. (AFP/Khaled Desouki)

Main Headlines

 Monday

• Egyptian security forces disperse protest against Tiran and Sanafir agreement in Cairo
• Detained former State Council secretary general is reportedly commits suicide in custody
• Egypt parliamentary committee approves tougher penalties for sexual harassment
• Islamist murders Christian for selling alcohol in Alexandria

Tuesday

• Politicians, activists sign statement against Red Sea islands agreement
• Egypt’s FM discusses bilateral relations with his Ethiopian counterpart
• Egypt’s cabinet dismisses reports on new fuel prices increase
• Court sentences two policemen to prison for sexually assaulting a woman

Wednesday

• Police arrest a man suspected of slaughtering Alexandria liquor store owner
• Tiran and Sanafir protesters are detained in Cairo
• Egyptian parliamentary delegation to visit Ethiopia soon
• Parliament not to discuss Red Sea islands agreement prior to Administrative Court’s final verdict
• Egypt taking all routes to end Libyan crisis: Egypt’s Foreign Ministry
• Ministries of antiquities and tourism sign cooperation protocol to develop the Giza Pyramids area

Thursday

• Egypt’s foreign reserves rise to $24.265 billion at the end of December
• Egypt approves bankruptcy law to spur investments
• April 6′ youth movement co-founder Ahmed Maher is released from prison
• Four more suspects involved in Botroseya Church blast arrested: Interior Ministry
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• 149 prisoners released in accordance to presidential decree
• Cabinet suspends all luxurious cars imports for officials

Friday 

• Main suspect in killing of 6 police officers last December is detained
• Egypt’s foreign debt increase 185% in three months
• First Israeli tourist group since 2015 visits Egypt

Saturday

• Fearful Egypt’s Copts mark Christmas after church bombing
• Al- Sisi pledges to construct large church in the new capital
• Third field army repels multiple militant attacks near central Sinai
• Cairo International Airport to receive biometric equipment on January 12
• Egypt establishes highly-trained special navy forces in the Red Sea
• Irish TDs to visit Ibrahim Halawa in his detention center
• Security refuses to receive notification for Island protest

Sunday

• Egyptian pound strengthens at banks as demands for dollars from importers eases
• Uncertainty looms over 11 January protest against Egypt-Saudi Islands deal
• ElBaradei speaks out on Arabic channel for the first time in 3 years
• ElBaradei criticises airing of ‘wiretapped’ phone calls phone calls
• Arab League envoy to Libya visits Cairo
• Orphanage closes following footage revealing child abuse

Good Reports 

• Egypt’s leading liberal party is drowning in internal disputes. Heba Afify

 From Twitter

https://twitter.com/fqadi/status/816341110675144706

Video

• Video captures horrific murder of an Egyptian Christian

Timeline

• Detained former State Council official reportedly commits suicide in custody

 Plus

• Six valuable historic lanterns stolen from Al-Refai Mosque
• Russian delegation visits Mohamed Ali Palace with the grandson of King Farouk
• House basements used for illegal excavation is discovered in Luxor

Finally here are Jayson Casper’s prayers for Egypt