Top Headlines

• In a final ruling, Egyptian court acquits Mubarak over killing of protesters
• Egypt’s parliament has expelled an MP who was an outspoken critic of the government’s human rights record
• Egypt’s general intelligence has hired a Washington lobbyist
• Chancellor Merkel visits to Egypt to curb migrant flow
• Cairo prosecutor’s office summoned prominent journalist Ibrahim Eissa for investigations into claims that he insulted the Parliament
• Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister Adel Al-Jubeir to visit Cairo next week
• Hollywood star Will Smith visits Egypt’s Giza pyramids

Main Headlines

Monday

• Egypt government rehouses 118 Coptic families who fled North Sinai
• Egyptian parliament expels MP Mohammed Anwar Sadat who was critical of the government’s human rights record
• Egypt plans to abstain from voting on UN Security Council resolution to introduce new sanctions on Syrian regime
• US Secretary of State promises Egypt FM more aid for Cairo’s counter-terrorism efforts
• Court sets 8 March to hear appeal on ‘Sheikh Mizo’ contempt of religion conviction contempt of religion conviction

Tuesday

• Egypt deports top Palestinian official Jibril al-Rajoub on arrival at Cairo airport
• Coptic families fleeing terror threats in North Sinai jumps to 143 in Ismailiya
• Egypt lowers customs dollar again to EGP 15.75
• Prosecutors detain ‪two dozen in Port Said protesting death sentences over stadium disaster
• Egypt’s FM meets Trump’s new national security adviser in Washington
• Egypt, Russia discuss boosting military cooperation in Cairo
• Egyptian court acquits Mubarak-era minister in corruption case

Wednesday

• Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister Adel Al-Jubeir to visit Cairo next week
• Sisi says he rejected plan to evacuate North Sinai of its residents to combat terrorism
• Human rights “is improving in Egypt”, FM tells UN rights council
• Egypt FM meets with American Jewish organizations in Washington
• Egypt interior ministry working to weed out ‘incompetent minority’ among police

Thursday

• In a final ruling, Egyptian court acquits Mubarak over killing of protesters
• Chancellor Merkel begins visit to Egypt to curb migrant flow
• Germany’s Merkel visits Egypt’s Coptic Orthodox Cathedral and Al-Azhar
• Egypt’s foreign reserves rise to $26.5 billion in February
• Egypt considers a gradually increasing tax on stock trades to close its budget deficit
• Egypt’s airport authorities nab Russian passenger with an explosive device

Friday

• Egypt’s Red Crescent Society has announced it is providing LE6 million in aid to displaced Coptic families
• Germany pledges $500 million to support Egypt’s economic reform program
• Germany’s Merkel leaves Cairo for Tunis to continue talks on illegal migration
• Four militants were killed during a police raid in in the Egyptian town of Kerdasa
• Terrorist cell affiliated with Islamic State is arrested in Suez before escaping Libya

 Saturday

• Egypt’s Sisi to meet Russian Federation Council chairwoman in Cairo
• Chairwoman of the Russian Federation Council: Egypt has met 90 percent of the required procedures for resumption of Russian flights
• Cairo prosecutor’s office summoned prominent journalist Ibrahim Eissa for investigations into claims that he insulted the Parliament
• Egypt reduces price of subsidized sugar to EGP 10.50

Sunday

• Egypt’s general intelligence has hired a Washington lobbyist
• Egyptian army arrests 12 Ansar Bait Al-Maqdis leaders in Sinai
• Economic activity for Egypt’s non-oil private sector is accelerated the most since 2014
• Egypt’s trade deficit declines by 44 percent year-on-year in January 2017
• Cairo slams US State Department’s annual report on human rights
• Copts fleeing North Sinai for Port Said over terror threat reach 93
• UAE’s Majid Al Futtaim opens Mall of Egypt in Cairo, complete with indoor ski slope

Good Reports

• Egypt’s economy is in crisis. So why is the government spending millions on a fancy new space agency? Ruth Michaelson
• Emerging market investors take a shine to Egypt. John Sfakianakis
• The Journalists Syndicate and the state: 2 crises, 21 years apart 2 crises, 21 years apart. Mada Masr
• No safe routes to schools: Sinai teachers intercepted by Islamic State loyalists. Mada Masr
• Mubarak’s trial comes to an underwhelming end: He is free. Heba Afify
• In Egypt’s traditional province, little girls learn ballet steps. AFP, via The National
• Leqaa el-Kholy shatters Upper Egypt’s male-dominated workplaces as female car mechanic. Ola Noureldin

 Good Read

• The Muslim Brotherhood: Terrorists or not? Mokhtar Awad and Samuel Tadros

 From Twitter

Interview

• Egypt’s first female governor proud of women’s rising role

Plus

• Hollywood star Will Smith visits Egypt’s Giza pyramids
• Egyptian researchers turn shrimp shells into biodegradable plastic
• Historical Granada building to be turned into theatre in a newly-introduced initiative to revive Heliopolis’ heritage
• British ambassador praises first certified Egyptian football trainer in British premier league

Finally, here are Jayson Casper’s prayers for Egypt