Today’s headlines: September 3, 2020

The Mada Morning Digest provides a comprehensive daily overview of the Arabic-language press in Egypt. Covering state and privately-owned newspapers, including Al-Ahram, Al-Akhbar, Al-Masry Al-Youm, Al- Shorouk, and Al-Watan, the Morning Digest provides a daily snapshot of the most important news coming out of Egypt’s complex political, economic and social conditions by providing exclusive information usually only available to the Arabic reader, as well as giving an insight into some of the discourses operative in the country’s press landscape. Subscribe to the Mada Morning Digest, or sign up for a free trial here.

The headlines in today’s main state and privately-owned newspapers:

Gender and Politics

⦿ Alongside Fairmont Rape: Witnesses’ friend’s detention renewed, his mother: A case without evidence, Mada Masr (online)

⦿ Forbidden sex: 2 women arrested for engaging in ‘immoral acts’ for fee, Cairo24 (online) 

⦿ Prosecution begins investigating report accusing dentist of sexual harassment, Mada Masr (online)

⦿ Accusations of harassing patients against Tanta psychiatrist, Cairo24 (online)

⦿ Rundown of expected penalties facing Ahmed Bassem Zaki on charges of assault and harassment [total of 7 charges after his referral to criminal court], Al-Shorouk (online)

Foreign relations

⦿ Sisi affirms to Netanyahu [in Wednesday phone call]: Supporting any steps to ensure peace, protecting Palestinians rights, Masrawy (online)

⦿ [Political scientist] Tareq Fahmy on Sisi and Netanyahu call: Egypt’s 1st goal is regional stability, Al-Watan (online)

⦿ Homeland Defenders Party: Preservation of Palestinians’ rights will remain starting point of Egyptian foreign policy, Al-Shorouk (online)

⦿ Source: Emergency Arab League meeting to discuss UAE-Israel agreement postponed, Al-Shorouk (online)  

⦿ 7 Egyptian contractors preparing to snap up contracts for housing, infrastructure projects in Iraq, Al-Mal (online) 

⦿ Construction Chamber [at Federation of Egyptian Businesspeople]: We have concerns over entering reconstruction efforts in Iraq, Cairo24 (online)

⦿ Planning minister discusses operational measures to increase trade, investments [between countries] with Iraqi ambassador, Cairo24 (online)

⦿ Sudanese defense minister in interview with Al-Shorouk: [Our] relationship with Egypt is at its best, Al-Shorouk (online)

⦿ Aboul Enein: Egypt's role in Sudan Peace Agreement reflects its historical leadership, Al-Shorouk (online)

⦿ New Egyptian aid cargo plane arrives at Beirut airport loaded with remdesivir drug, Cairo24 (online) 

⦿ Discussing the water crisis, Egypt chairs African consultations on population and development, Al-Shorouk (online) 

⦿ Trade Minister Neveen Gamaa: We’re looking into establishing an Egyptian-Indonesian trade committee to facilitate trade exchange, Masrawy (online)

Media and entertainment

⦿ Moataz al-Demerdash returns home, Lamis al-Hadidy ON E, and Cairo Talk stumbles: What’s happening in the media map? Cairo24 (online)

Health

⦿ [Advisor to President for Health Affairs] Awad Tag Eddin: Still no due date for coronavirus vaccine, precautionary measures to continue until March, Al-Ahram (online)

 ⦿ President's health adviser: Reaching 0 coronavirus infections isn’t a feasible idea, Al-Shorouk (online)

⦿ Dr. Ihab al-Taher talks to Darb about his resignation from leadership role in Doctors Syndicate, increase in doctors’ deaths due to COVID-19, expectations for 2nd wave of virus, Darb (online) 

⦿ [Workers in medical sector] start procedures to establish general union for medical services’ workers, Al-Mal (online) 

⦿ EIPR comments on Clinical Trials Law: Draft accommodates 85% of civil society’s recommendations, details of shortcomings, Darb (online)

⦿ 6,093 shared transport drivers fined for not wearing masks yesterday, Al-Mal (online)

⦿ Sisi meets with health minister to discuss preparations for possible 2nd wave of coronavirus [infections], Cairo24 (online)

Politics and governance

⦿ Khaled Salah [chief editor of Youm7]: Political blackmail is evident in [former member of Tamarod movement] Doaa Khalifa’s videos seeking to create political grievance, Youm7 (online)

⦿ Mohamed al-Baz responds to [former Tamarod member] Doaa Khalifa’s lies: She’s trying to portray herself as a victim, Youm7 (online)

⦿ Coordination of Parties’ Youth and Politicians: There are set conditions for joining us, we expect attacks from stakeholders, Al-Shorouk (online)

⦿ [MP] Mahmoud Badr for Youm7 TV: We are facing an attack against the Coordination of Parties’ Youth and Politicians, Youm7 (online)

⦿ Launch of Egyptian national movement to contest the upcoming House of Representatives elections under the slogan ‘Responsible Participation,’ Al-Ahram (online) 

⦿ National movement to run in next House of Representatives elections with 24 parties, 300 individuals, Cairo24 (online)

⦿ PM: Monthly meeting with each governor to follow up on project work, Masrawy (online)

⦿ Mahmoud Ismail Atman [Vice President of State Council] appointed as secretary general of state, Youm7 (online)

Labor

⦿ Labor Force Ministry: Strike of Kiriazi company workers ends, profit shares, bonuses to be released on time, Masrawy (online)

⦿ Committee for Defense of Trade Union Freedoms decides labor program in upcoming House of Representatives elections, Darb (online)

⦿ Jeddah Consulate follows up on Egyptian workers’ problems due to coronavirus, Cairo24 (online)

⦿ Is COVID-19 pushing women in Egypt out of the workforce?, Al-Monitor (online)

Land and urban policy

⦿ [Housing Minister] Assem al-Gazzar: All building violations will be handled decisively, demolitions will kick in at end of September, Masrawy (online)

⦿ Posters to be placed on buildings in Cairo that violate law as final warning, Masrawy (online)

⦿ Housing Ministry: We are forming a technical committee to decide on [building] violations at new cities, Al-Watan (online)

⦿ Predictions that payment window for installments to settle legal status of building violations will be extended from 3 to 7 years, Cairo24 (online)

⦿ [Prime Minister Mostafa] Madbuly to governor, security director of Matrouh: Your mission is to eliminate building violations ‘while they’re still in their infancy,’ Al-Shorouk (online)

⦿ Removal of 120 acres of fish farms in violation of state land policies to south of Port Said, Youm7 (online)

Economy

⦿ Egypt’s foreign reserves are sufficient to cover its commitments for 3 years, Youm7 (online)

Trade and industry

⦿ Reuters: UAE’s Dana Gas in talks with IPR Energy Group to sell its shares in Egypt holdings, Hapi Journal (online)

⦿ Kamel al-Wazir discusses options for cooperation in transport sector with Dubai Ports World (DPW), Masrawy (online)

⦿ Suez Canal Economic Zone in talks with DPW to support developmental projects in Ain Sokhna, Hapi Journal (online)

⦿ Head of Clothes Chambers [in Federation of Egyptian Industries]: Sector is seeing billions in losses due to reduction of school days, Cairo24 (online)  

⦿ [Moroccan] Al-Wafaa Life Insurance company granted certificate to operate in Egypt, Masrawy (online)

⦿ Agriculture Ministry: Egypt is the world's leading exporter of citrus fruits, Al-Watan (online)

⦿ Arrival of 1st British EasyJet flight to Hurghada International Airport, Al-Ahram (online)

Education

⦿ Advisor to president on returning to schools: We are acting according to our abilities and are cautious about student safety, Al-Shorouk (online)

⦿ President’s health advisor: We might resort to sending students [to schools] at separate times, Cairo24 (online)

⦿ Education Ministry: Plan for new academic year to be announced on Tuesday, Al-Shorouk (online)

⦿ Sisi follows up on plan for new academic year: Stronger awareness campaigns alongside coexistence with coronavirus, Darb (online)

⦿ Strongly worded statement from the education minister regarding news of administrative changes at the ministry, Cairo24 (online)

Energy, environment and natural resources

⦿ 2 sources suggest to Al-Shorouk that price of factory gas will be reduced by 50-80 cents per mmbtu [in next Energy Pricing Committee meeting], Al-Shorouk (online)

⦿  GASTEC 366 natural gas stations [for vehicles fuel] planned for construction in 3 years, Al-Mal (online) 

⦿ Qena residents told by irrigation directorate to cut down trees to avoid fine, Environment Ministry said decision taken without coordination, Darb (online)

Judiciary

⦿ Salah Diab arrested on remand for 15 days over charges of building factories without industrial license, evading payments of LE11.14 bn, Cairo24 (online)

⦿ Ahmed Moussa on imprisonment of Salah Diab: ‘Tax evasion is a crime against honor,’ Al-Ahram (online)

⦿ Final sentence to imprison perpetrators accused of killing [child] Youssef Al-Arabi [for 7 years], Mada Masr (online)

Politics and religion

⦿ Endowments Ministry: Nearly 1,000 new mosques enter service every year, Al-Shorouk (online) 

⦿ Coptic Church: There is no church constructed on state’s land, anti-state channel is attempting to sow sectarianism, Cairo24 (online)

⦿ Dar al-Ifta’s Islamophobia Observatory calls for issuance of legislation criminalizing insults[in Europe] to religious symbols, Cairo24 (online)

Agriculture and supply

⦿ Supply Ministry: Deterrent penalties to be charged against any bakery manipulating weight of loaves of bread, Al-Shorouk (online)

Technology and communication

⦿ Facebook, Twitter take down Russian network targeting controversial issues in Egypt, US, Bahrain, BBC Arabic (online)

International

⦿ US to reduce aid to Ethiopia by $100 mn due its position on GERD, Al-Shorouk (online)

⦿ Stephanie Williams to Security Council: Libya is at critical juncture, needs your support, Al-Shorouk (online)

⦿ Saudi Arabia opens its skies for Israeli air flights, breaking 72-year old ‘red line,’ Al-Mal (online)

⦿ Netanyahu welcomes Saudi Arabia’s decision to open its airspace for flights to, from Israel, Cairo24 (online)

⦿ Saudi Arabia: Kingdom’s position toward Palestinian cause will not change after allowing Emirati flights, Cairo24 (online)

⦿ Pentagon: Turkey has transferred 100s of regular forces, mercenaries to Libyan territories, Al-Ahram (online)

⦿ Political anticipation before meeting of Palestinian factions [in Lebanon today], Cairo24 (online)