Today’s headlines: September 7, 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:

Labor

⦿ [Agriculture Ministry] demands cotton farmers be allocated an extra LE400 per quintal in support during 2020, Al-Dostor (online)

⦿ Cairo University to allocate LE20 mn toward a fund improving labor conditions, Al-Dostor (online)

⦿ Government advisor: 60,000 employees to move to administrative capital at beginning of 2021, Al-Shorouk (online)

Foreign relations

⦿ Ethiopia resorts to lobbying groups as GERD crisis escalates, Al-Masry Al-Youm (online)

⦿ Aboul Gheit [Secretary-General of Arab League] discusses situation in Libya, Palestinian issue with Malta’s foreign minister, Al-Shorouk (online)

⦿ Shoukry, Maltese foreign minister discuss developments in East Mediterranean, Libya, Masrawy (online)

⦿ Libyan dialogue sessions start in Morocco, Al-Shorouk (online)

⦿ PM following up on urgent aid efforts to support Sudan, Al-Shorouk (online)

⦿ Engineers Syndicate: We stand in solidarity with Sudanese people, ready to provide necessary support for reconstruction, Al-Shorouk (online)

Health

⦿ Vice-chair of Committee to Combat Coronavirus: Reaching zero infections difficult, we are working to reduce deaths, Youm7 (online)

⦿ MP calls for penalties to deter people selling counterfeit medical products online, Al-Shorouk (online)

⦿ Tag Eddin: Precautions continue even after decrease in infections, Al-Shorouk (online)

⦿ Health Ministry launches medical convoys in 8 governorates as part of Hayah Karima initiative, Al-Ahram (online)

⦿ Mansoura Doctors Syndicate branch mourns 26th corona martyr: ‘He died in home isolation,’ Al-Masry Al-Youm (online) 

⦿ 1,022 restaurants and cafes serving tourists obtain health certificate, Al-Wafd (online)

⦿ Al-Azhar: Selection of new leadership positions at Al-Zahra University Hospital, Al-Masry Al-Youm (online) 

Security

⦿ Interior minister makes a surprise security inspection in Giza, Cairo, Al-Dostor (online)

⦿ Chief of staff attends main stage of tactical project with live ammunition unit of Second Army, Al-Shorouk (online)

Gender and politics

⦿  Squash case arrested on charges of harassing female players at famous club, Al-Masry Al-Youm (online)

Politics and governance

⦿ 25-30 Alliance House of Representatives bloc bans its members from running on electoral lists, intends to run for House of Representatives on individual seats, Al-Masry Al-Youm (online)

⦿ [Journalists Syndicate, SIS Director] Diaa Rashwan: Single-party experiment is a failure in Egypt, Al-Masry Al-Youm (online)

⦿ Aswan governor submits official request to Cabinet to reduce electricity prices for governorate’s residents, Cairo24 (online)

⦿ Candidate of Egyptian Social Democratic Party Bassem Kamel removes his party’s [initial] candidates from electoral list, adds his allies, Cairo24 (online)

⦿ Patriotic Movement Party disavows fake pages on social media using party’s slogan, Al-Masry Al-Youm (online)

Land and urban policy

⦿ Housing Ministry: Central Unit to be formed to monitor building violations in new urban communities, Cairo24 (online)

⦿ Daqahlia: Removal of 301 properties in violation on 45 acres in Lake Manzala, Al-Shorouk (online)

⦿ Administrative Capital for Urban Development company spox: Serious companies don’t halt operations, even during coronavirus crisis (interview), Cairo24 (online)

⦿ Removal of 400 properties from Izbat al-Safeeh, rehousing 1,400 families to Al-Mahrousa units, Al-Watan (online)

Economy

⦿ What are the mechanisms for auditing the Sovereign Wealth Fund? Advisor to planning minister responds, Cairo24 (online)

⦿ Madbuly and governor of the central bank reviews performance of banking sector during coronavirus crisis, up until now, Al-Shorouk (online)

⦿ [Central Bank of Egypt Governor] Tarek Amer: Foreign buyers took 10% of T-bills offered in June, July, Hapi Journal (online)

⦿ CBE governor: Interest return on T-bills is back to fair levels thanks to monetary policy measures, Al-Mal (online)

⦿ Trade deficit falls by 8.6% to reach US$3.3 bn in June, Hapi Journal (online)

⦿ CBE expects annual inflation rate for Q4 to stand at 6.2%, Al-Masry Al-Youm (online)

Trade and industry

⦿ International Cooperation Ministry discusses technical cooperation projects with Japan for 2021/22, Al-Shorouk (online)

⦿ Madbuly reviews banking sector’s performance during coronavirus crisis and until now with central bank governor, Al-Shorouk (online)

⦿ Sinai Cement is crying out for government to save industry from collapse, Al-Mal (online)

⦿ Portland Tora Cement losses falls by 67% [standing at LE152 mn] in 1st half of 2020, Masrawy (online)

⦿ Suez Cement losses up by 99% [to LE709 mn] in 1ast half of current year, Masrawy (online)

⦿ Consortium of Samcrete, Chinese companies, wins contract for Sokhna-new administrative capital fast rail project, Al-Mal (online)

⦿ [Petroleum Ministry’s] Alexandria Mineral Oils Company scores net losses of LE477 mn by end of 2019/20, Hapi Journal (online)

Energy, environment and resources

⦿ Irrigation Ministry spox: Floods in Sudan will not happen in Egypt, Al-Shorouk (online)

⦿ Irrigation reveals that Egypt has been exposed to floods like Sudan, Al-Dostor (online)

⦿ High Dam director: We are ready to handle [upcoming] flood, secure Egypt’s strategic water reserve, Masrawy (online)

⦿ North Sinai governor reveals ongoing efforts to counter floods, Sada al-Balad (online)

⦿ ‘Ras Ghareb—Sheikh Fadl’ road closed due to flooding, Al-Ahram (online)

⦿ All public transport in Cairo to run off natural gas, Al-Watan (online)

⦿ Military Production Ministry: Kick off of Public Transit Authority’s project to convert vehicles to run off natural-gas, Hapi Journal (online)

⦿ Petroleum minister explains how conversion to run off natural gas will be made available to citizens: LE1,200 per month, Masrawy (online)

⦿ Environment minister: Swapping out and replacing 1,000 service vehicles over 30 years old in Cairo, Masrawy (online)

⦿ Electricity: LE100 mn towards implementing electricity grids in Toshka, Al-Dostor (online)

Judiciary

⦿ [Education Minister] Tarek Shawqy sends National Security list of fake [social media] pages impersonating him, spreading rumors, Masrawy (online)

Human rights

⦿ Source [denies] authenticity of news on deteriorating health conditions of some prisoners at Borg al-Arab prison, Cairo24 (online)

Agriculture and supply

⦿ Sisi instructs doubling funding for veal project, extra LE2 bn, Al-Dostor (online)

⦿ Deehy: Sisi is seeking an agricultural boom, Al-Dostor (online)

Media and entertainment

⦿ Supreme Media Regulatory Council communicates with Musicians Syndicate to [procure] list of mahraganat, ‘low’ songs [to ban from radio], Masrawy (online)

⦿ Hany Shaker [head of Musicians Syndicate]: Mahraganat is more dangerous than drugs, Al-Dostor (online)

⦿ Agreement between Etisalat, National Press Authority to make all Al-Ahram publications available on Egypt Digital Heritage platform, Al-Shorouk (online)

Other 

⦿ Four attacks on Egyptian citizens in Kuwait in 2020, last of which yesterday, Al-Shorouk (online)

⦿ Immigration Ministry issues official statement after attack on an Egyptian citizen in Kuwait, Al-Shorouk (online)

⦿ Head of Railways Authority to Al-Shorouk: Starting from 2024, no train delays, no passenger without a seat, Al-Shorouk (online)

International 

⦿ Final peace deal between Khartoum, rebel movements to be signed early October, Masrawy (online)

⦿ US Secretary of State: Abu Dhabi, Tel Aviv will form coalition to prevent Iran from threatening us, Al-Shorouk (online) 

⦿ Reuters: Israeli bankers intend to head to UAE soon to discuss economic cooperation between countries, Al-Mal (online)

⦿ French Foreign Ministry: European Council to discuss ‘Turkish problem’ by end of September, Masrawy (online)

⦿ Libyan parties distributes [government positions] of influence in Rabat, Al-Masry Al-Youm (page 3)