This Week in Egypt: Week 33-2023 ( Aug 14-20)

Top Headlines

  • Egypt’s Sisi has pardoned a number of prisoners, including prominent Egyptian activist Ahmed Douma
  • Mystery plane carrying gold, weapons, and cash from Cairo lands in Zambia
  • Egypt detained a journalist working for a fact-checking platform following its coverage of a plane that was seized in Zambia, then later released.
  • Before hundreds of protesters were killed in 2013, Egypt debated less lethal options, report says
  • Egypt rejects attack on “blue helmets” in Cyprus

Egyptian Activist Ahmed Douma -via BBC

Main Headlines

Monday

Tuesday

  • Egypt has welcomed seven million tourists in the first half of this year, putting the country on track for its projected 15 million visitors in 2023
  • Egypt postpones electricity prices increase for 6 months

Wednesday

  • Egyptians smoke 100 billion cigarettes annually, says Eastern Company’s CEO
  • Birth rate drops in Egypt to child born every 14 seconds  

Thursday

 Friday

  • Mystery plane carrying gold, weapons, and cash from Cairo lands in Zambia
  • 6 Egyptian nationals among detainees after private jet bearing cash and weapons seized in Zambia

Saturday

  • Egypt’s Sisi has pardoned a number of prisoners, including prominent Egyptian activist Ahmed Douma
  • ‘I wish I could say I am happy’ says Egyptian activist Ahmed Douma after release
  • Authorities rescue 129 illegal Egyptian immigrants trapped inside bus in Mexico

Sunday

  • Egypt expects to begin making use of $500 million provided by the UAE to find wheat imports in January
  • Egyptian authorities detained a journalist working for a fact-checking platform following its coverage of a plane that was seized in Zambia
  • Newly arrested Egyptian journalist Karim Asaad is freed
  • The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) offered treasury bills (T-bills) worth EGP 40 billion through two auctions on Sunday
  • Egypt rejects attack on “blue helmets” in Cyprus

Reports

  • Egypt blackouts become symbol of malaise a decade after Sisi’s rise. Aidan Lewis and Hatem Maher 
  • Extreme water stress faced by countries home to quarter of world population. Sandra Laville
  • Before hundreds of protesters were killed, Egypt debated less lethal options, a report says. CNN 
  • Egypt government questioned after Zambia seizes cash, guns on aircraft. Mohamed Amin

From Twitter 

Plus

  • Secret library in Egypt offered ‘treasure trove’ of early Biblical texts. Joel Day
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This Week in Egypt: Week 32-2023 (Aug 7-13)

Top Headlines

  • Egypt’s inflation reaches record high of 38.2% in July
  • Egypt faces a continued review by Moody’s
  • Egypt resists US calls to arm Ukraine
  • Fossil of 41m-year-old miniature whale is discovered in Egypt

Main Headlines

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

  • Egypt faces a continued review by Moody’s, which said it’s weighing progress on the government’s wide-ranging reform agenda
  • Egypt submerges military equipment in the Red Sea to protect coral reefs
  • Long-awaited Barbie film takes the stage in Egypt

Saturday

  • Egypt’s Sisi to host Abbas and King Abdullah II for tripartite summit in Alamein city
  • Egypt’s largest tobacco producer to pump an extra 50 million cigarettes daily to face shortage

Sunday

Reports/Read

From Twitter

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This Week in Egypt: Week 31-2023 ( July 31- Aug 6)

Top Headlines

  • Egypt’s central bank raises interest rates by 100 basis points
  • Egypt’s government debt-to-GDP ratio is expected to reach 97 percent at the end of June 2023
  • Net foreign assets held by Egypt’s commercial banks head deeper into negative territory
  • Egyptian peacekeeping troops leave Mali as part of UN withdrawal
  • Egypt is 14th most populous country worldwide
  • Egypt and Greece reaffirm consistency of positions in the Eastern Mediterranean region
  • UAE President meets Egypt’s Sisi in New Alamein city 
  • Türkiye and Egypt seek to boost trade ties

Main Headlines

Monday

  • At least four killed in clash in Egypt’s Sinai , security sources say
  • Egypt’s government debt-to-GDP ratio is expected to reach 97 percent at the end of June 2023
  • President Sisi and President Abbas discuss the outcomes of the unity meeting of the Palestinian factions, which was hosted in Egypt on Sunday
  • Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank Egypt names Minister Al-Mashat as board member
  • Egypt 14th most populous country worldwide: Health minister

Tuesday

  • Net foreign assets held by Egypt’s commercial banks head deeper into negative territory
  • Egypt is reckoning with sporadic power cuts in the midst of a sweltering summer
  • Egyptian expats to soon invest in high-return national projects through new company:

Wednesday

  • Shoukry and Blinken discuss Sudan, Libya and Palestine in a telephone call
  • Egyptian peacekeeping troops leave Mali as part of UN withdrawal
  • Power cuts in Egypt will no longer be scheduled between 12 am -12 pm

Plus * Unverified report*: State security director in Egypt’s restive Arish reportedly were taken hostage by gunmen amid media blackout: Security source

Thursday

Friday

  • Egypt’s dollar bonds rally the most in emerging markets after the nation resumed its rate hikes
  • Turkish Vestel, Zorlu to establish home appliances factory in Egypt with $70 million initial investment

Saturday

Sunday

Read

  • See the heartbreaking destruction of Cairo’s iconic gardens. Yasmine El-Rashidi
  • Mubarak for president of Egypt? Nostalgia may be on the upcoming Egyptian presidential ballot. Shahira Amin 

Reports

From Twitter

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This Week in Egypt: Week 30-2023 ( July 24 -30)

Apology for not posting my Egypt’s newsletter last week, but I am back and here is this week’s newsletter

Top Headlines

  • Egypt announces planned power cuts, measures amid heatwave
  • General Michael “Erik” Kurilla, commander of U.S. Central Command, visits Egypt 
  • Sources: 3 security personnel wer killed in a terror attack at National Security Agency’s Arish headquarters
  • Egypt calls on Vladimir Putin to revive Black Sea grain deal
  • Saudi Arabia, UAE, Turkey, Algeria and Egypt express ‘concern’ over Niger coup
  • Rapper Travis Scott’s concert at Egypt’s pyramids is cancelled
  • Egyptian-sponsored meeting of Palestinian factions kicks off in New Alamein

Main Headlines

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

  • Egypt announces planned power cuts, measures amid heatwave
  • Travis Scott insists Utopia gig at Egypt’s pyramids will happen
  • Cancellation of Travis Scott concert is final: Organizers

Friday

  • General Michael “Erik” Kurilla, commander of U.S. Central Command,  visits Egypt 
  • Egypt calls on Vladimir Putin to revive Black Sea grain deal
  • Egyptian President el-Sisi’s visit to Turkey is postponed: report
  • Saudi Arabia, UAE, Turkey, Algeria and Egypt express ‘concern’ over Niger coup

Saturday

Sunday

Read

From Twitter

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This Week in Egypt: Week 28-2023 ( July 10-16)

Top Headlines

  • Egypt hosts Sudan’s neighbours summit
  • Egypt’s Sisi and Ethiopia’s PM discuss Sudan’s crisis and Ethiopian dam
  • Sudan’s neighbours meeting in Cairo for summit agree to Egypt’s initiative to try to end conflict
  • Egypt announces sale of $1.9 billion worth of state assets
  • Egypt’s headline inflation climbs to all-time high of 35.7% in June
  • Egypt’s Bent Pyramid in Dahshur stands strong amidst rumours

Egypt’s Sisi meet Ethiopian PM in Cairo and discussed GERD

Egypt hosts Sudan summit

Main Headlines

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

  • Egypt’s Sisi and Ethiopia’s PM discuss Sudan’s crisis and Ethiopian dam
  • Egyptian ambassador hails ties with Greece
  • Germany hands Egypt 40 artefacts discovered at Frankfurt airport

Thursday

  • Egypt launches new Sudan mediation bid at neighbours’ summit
  • Sudan’s neighbours meeting in Cairo for summit agree to Egypt’s initiative to try to end conflict
  • Sudan government, Rapid Support Forces welcome results of Sudan Neighbouring Countries Summit in Cairo
  • Egypt and Ethiopia hope to reach agreement within 4 months after long dispute over Africa’s largest dam

Friday

Saturday

  • Ethiopian PM: GERD to be beneficial for all, Ethiopia is not planning to harm neighbours
  • EgyptAir operates its first direct flight from Cairo to Manchester
  • Egypt’s Bent Pyramids in Dahshur stands strong amidst rumours

Sunday

Reports

Read

  • What Turkey and Egypt’s diplomatic thaw could mean for Libya for Libya. Ufuk Necat Tasci
  • Glimmer of light along the Nile. Mohamed Hegazy 

From Twitter

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This Week in Egypt: Week 27-2023 ( July 3-9)

Top Headlines

  • Egypt to host summit of Sudan’s neighbouring states to seek conflict settlement
  • Egypt and Turkey appoint ambassadors to upgrade diplomatic relations 
  • Reports that Egypt’s Sisi to make first-ever visit as Egypt president to Turkey on 27 Jul
  • 50 Egyptian nationals in Turkey arrested as Sisi, Erdoğan prepare for presidential summit
  • Egypt and Turkey agree on need for elections; reject foreign intervention in Libya 
  • Turkish tourists in Sharm El-Sheikh increased five times in 2023
  • Egypt’s Sisi congratulates Greek PM Mitsotakis on parliamentary win
  • Egypt sends heavy weapons and armored vehicles to help Niger fight jihadists

Main Headlines

Monday

  • British MPs and peers urge UK government to do more to free jailed activist in Egypt

Tuesday

  • Egypt and Turkey appoint ambassadors to upgrade diplomatic relations 
  • Egypt starts $1.8 billion gas exploration wells programme
  • Egypt’s Sisi discusses economic and trade cooperation between Egypt and Germany with Scholz
  • Egypt military prosecution charges defendant in Madinaty incident with murder

Wednesday

  • Egypt signs $5bn deal with Norwegian utility for development of wind farm
  • Switzerland returns stolen Ramses II statue fragment to Egypt

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

  • Egypt’s Sisi congratulates Greek PM Mitsotakis on parliamentary win
  • Egypt & Turkey Reject Foreign Intervention in Libya
  • Foreign exchange reserve increase to US$34.806 billion: Central Bank of Egypt
  • Turkish firms are eyeing opportunities in Egypt  
  • EasyJet launches new flights to Lapland and Egypt from Scottish airports
  • Turkish tourists in Sharm El-Sheikh increased five times in 2023: Ambassador

Sunday

Reports

Read

  • A decade after Egypt’s June 30th Revolution, the Ripple Effects Still Felt Across the Middle East. Hany Ghoraba
  • Seven reasons why your next holiday should be to Egypt. Sarah Bridge

Twitter

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This Week in Egypt: Week 26-2023 ( June 26- July 2)

Top Headlines

  • Egypt has largest air force fleet in MENA region, ahead of Turkey:  Global Fire Power
  • Egypt’s Sisi praises sacrifices of Egyptians in 10th anniversary speech of June 30 revolution
  • EU looks to Egypt partnership to tackle people-smuggling networks
  • Alexandria building collapse death toll rises to 10
  • Direct flights between Tehran and Cairo in 45 days: Iranian news agency

Main Headlines

Monday

Tuesday

  • Child among five were killed in Egyptian building collapse
  • Three bodies are found under rubble of collapsed building in Egypt’s Alexandria
  • Syria appoints new ambassador to Egypt, Arab League amid re-admission

Wednesday

  • Alexandria building collapse death toll rises to 10 as search efforts continue
  • Muslims in Egypt celebrate Eid-al-Adha

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

  • Direct flights between Tehran and Cairo in 45 days: Iranian news agency
  • The South Korean -built “Fakhr Al-Kanah” floating dock has been shipped to Egypt with a payload of 35,000 tons to join the Port Said Shipyard
  • Businessman Naguib Sawiris raises attention after tweeting solution for public sector losses.

Reports

Read

  • How India’s renewed ties with Egypt can help its global standing. Mohammed Soliman
  • Iran woos Egypt to dodge ‘spiralling isolation’ from sanctions. Hany Ghoraba

Twitter

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This Week in Egypt: Week 25-2023 ( June 19-25)

Top Headlines

  • PM Modi arrives in Egypt for two-day state visit, first since 1997
  • Saudi Crown Prince MBS meets Egypt’s Sisi in France
  • Egypt’s CBE maintains interest rates unchanged in final meeting of FY2022/23
  • Egyptian man is arrested in London on suspicion of smuggling of migrants into Italy
  • Pep Guardiola’s 8-day family vacation boosts Egypt’s tourism industry
  • Divisions hit Wafd party as two members vie to run in Egypt’s presidential election

Main Headlines

Monday

  • EU allocates €20 million to help Egypt manage influx of refugees fleeing Sudan
  • Egyptian family awaits word on son as village mourns dozens feared drowned trying to reach Europe
  • Rare shark spotted close to Eilat beach, week after deadly attack in Egypt
  • Egypt’s SIS responds to The Economist‘s ‘fallacies and allegations’

Tuesday

  • Egypt is seen leaving interest rates on hold
  • IMF urges Egypt to address FX reserves leakage and multiple exchange rates
  • Supporting Egypt’s currency is like putting water in bucket that has holes: IMF Chief
  • Egypt hikes the minimum wage for private-sector workers for the second time in six months, as a series of currency devaluations leaves millions struggling with soaring living costs
  • Egypt to issue new EGP 20 plastic banknotes

Wednesday

  • Egyptian cabinet approves draft law lifting tax exemptions for state bodies
  • Ethiopia to launch fourth filling of controversial dam, despite opposition
  • Suez Canal‘s revenue soars 35% in FY 2022/23: Chairman
  • Green growth and sustainable development not mutually exclusive: Egypt’s Sisi at global financing summit in Paris
  • Egypt conducts major study on shark behaviour in Red Sea to reduce fatal encounters
  • Egypt calls for immediate cessation of Israeli attacks on Palestinians in West Bank

Thursday

  • Egypt’s CBE maintains interest rates unchanged in final meeting of FY2022/23
  • Egyptian man is arrested in London on suspicion of smuggling of migrants into Italy into Italy
  • Egypt offers new no-fee 96-hours transit visa at Cairo International Airport
  • British embassy in Cairo celebrates King Charles III’s 75th birthday

Friday

Saturday

  • PM Modi arrives In Egypt for two-day state visit
  • Divisions hit Wafd party as two members vie to run in Egypt’s presidential election
  • Al-Azhar condemns Israeli settlers’ destruction of Quran, violence against Palestinians
  • Egypt steel production slows amid dollar shortage, declining demand: Industry experts steel production

Sunday

  • Egypt and India bolster ties as Modi makes first trip to Cairo
  • Egypt, India moving forward to boost trade exchange to $12 billion in 5 years: PM Modi
  • Egypt raises gold jewellery processing fees by 10%

Reports/Read

  • India’s Modi makes first visit to Egypt as ties strengthen. Adam Lucente 
  • Egypt and India showcase model of regional autonomy amid global polarization. Mohamed Hegazy
  • Saudi Crown Prince MBS meets Egypt’s Sisi in France. Adam Lucente 
  • Egypt’s dog breed ban leaves owners scrambling to save their pets. Mahmoud Salem
  • Burying the dead and visiting their graves in Egypt: A rich history. Amira Noshokaty

From Twitter

Plus

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This Week in egypt: week 24-2023 ( Jun 12-18)

Top Headlines

  • Nine Egyptians have been arrested on suspicion of being people smugglers after the migrant boat disaster off Greece
  • Israel to work with Egypt, Palestinian Authority on developing Gaza gas field
  • Israeli army admits to errors, reprimands officers in Egyptian border attack fiasco
  • Egypt’s Sisi to visit Turkey at Erdogan’s invitation 
  • Three Brits  who died in scuba diving boat blaze in Egypt have been named
  • Egypt’s trade deficit halved in March as wheat imports drop 42% 
  • Egypt officially requests joining BRICS
  • Egyptian minister says no credit line has been opened with India
  • Egypt executes Mohamed Adel, who brutally murdered university student Nayera Ashraf in 2022

Main Headlines

Monday

  • Egyptian minister says no credit line has been opened with India
  • Egypt expresses deep concern over deadly Israeli raids in West Bank

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

  • Nine Egyptians have been arrested on suspicion of being people smugglers after the migrant boat disaster off Greece
  • Three Brits who died in scuba diving boat blaze in Egypt have been named
  • Egyptian TV host says mosques should turn into schools

Friday

Saturday

  • Egypt’s Sisi to visit Turkiye at Erdogan’s invitation  to visit Turkey
  • Egypt’s trade deficit halved in March as wheat imports drop 42%
  • Super-tankers holding more than 20 million barrels of Saudi Arabian crude are clustered off Egypt’s Red Sea coast, the most since the depths of the pandemic in 2020, Vortexa data showed
  • EU High Representative Josep Borrell travels to Egypt
  • Wafd Party leader Yamama first to announce candidacy for Egyptian presidency

Sunday

  • Sisi asserts Egypt’s full support to Sudan’s unity, territorial integrity
  • Israel to work with Egypt, Palestinian Authority on developing Gaza gas field
  • Egypt’s Defense Minister and EU Foreign Affairs representative discuss ways to boost military cooperation
  • The Egyptian Exchange’s indices saw very active trading on Sunday, with the benchmark reaching a historic level above 18,000 points
  • Egypt has signed an agreement with the International Financial Corporation (IFC), the financial arm of the World Bank, to provide advisory services for Egypt’s privatization programme
  • Qatar seeks to buy 30% of Egypt’s Hotels Holding at $750m

Reports/Read

  • Timeline: The Israeli account of the Egypt border attack unfolded minute by minute. Yonah Jeremy Bob
  • Egyptian man executed one year after brutal killing of Nayera Ashraf. Beatrice Farhat
  • Dog breed ban sparks controversy. Sarah Elhosary 
  • Egypt remittance plunge amid economic uncertainty. Marc Español
  • How Cairo’s Embassy in Tel Aviv can contribute to a warmer peace with Israel. Haisam Hassanain 

From Twitter

https://

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This Week in Egypt: Week 23-2023 ( June 5-11)

Top Headlines

  • Egypt has received over 200,000 Sudanese refugees
  • Sisi and Netanyahu vow full coordination to investigate order border attack
  • Russian man was mauled to death by tiger shark off Egypt’s Red Sea coast in a rare attack
  • Hurghada beaches reopen after tourist ban on 46 miles of Egypt beaches over clip of man being eaten alive by shark
  • Three Britons missing after Egypt boat fire
  • Egypt’s annual headline inflation rises to 33.7% in May
  • Qatari authorities ask 100 Egyptian Islamists

Main Headlines

Monday

  • Egypt and Israel inspect site of shooting that left four dead
  • Egypt adds $109.2 million to international reserves in May in continued upward tick

Tuesday

  • Sisi, Netanyahu vow full coordination to investigate border attack
  • Egypt bans funeral for soldier ‘who killed three Israelis’
  • Egypt surpasses 1.35 million tourists milestone in April 2023
  • Egypt’s first gold fund raises EGP 152.8 million in initial subscription

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

  • A Russian citizen was killed during a shark attack near a beach at the Egyptian Red Sea Resort
  • Citigroup Inc. predicts Egypt will hold off on devaluing its currency until at least September
  • Egypt introduces entry visa for Sudanese citizens to ‘regulate, not restrict, entry’

Saturday

Sunday

Reports/Read 

  • Israel-Egypt  security cooperation rattled but steady after border attack. Rina Bassist
  • China panda bonds present opportunity for cash-strapped Egypt. Jack Dutton 
  • Interview: IMF review of Egypt’s reform programme will be based on progress made by the government. Nevine Kamel 
  • The Negev border incident. Ahmed Eleiba

Twitter

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