Egypt.com – Finance Ministry Starts Procedures To Apply Minimum Wage Increase In January – 30 October 2013

Egypt.com

The Finance Ministry has begun procedures implementing the minimum wage increase. The ministry will draft a statement in accordance with the Cabinet’s decision to increase the minimum wage to LE1200 starting January.

The ministry will request authorities to inform the ministry of the number of employees who will be included within the decision and the total amount required for each authority.

Finance Minister Ahmed Galal said the Cabinet’s decision stipulates that the minimum wage be based on the aggregate salary which includes the basic salary, bonuses and insurance rate. It will exclude other kinds of bonuses.

Read the whole story at: news.egypt.com/ link to original article

Advertisement

Egypt.com – African Union Committee To Call For Egypt Ex-President Release: Anadolu – 28 October 2013

Egypt.com

The African Union’s wise men committee is expected to call for the release of deposed President Mohamed Morsy during a meeting scheduled Monday, Turkish news agency Anadolu quoted diplomatic sources as saying.

The committee will discuss Egypt’s political crisis during the Monday meeting in the capital of Burkina Faso, Ajadjo, Anadolu reported.

According to Andolu, former Malian president and committee chair Alpha Oumar Konare is expected to call for a date for upcoming presidential elections in Egypt, as well as the release of Morsy. The committee should adopt these recommendations, sources said.

Other recommendations could see the African Union urging Egypt’s new government to hold inclusive talks with political forces in the country, as well as to release political detainees.

www.egypt.com / link to original article

Egypt.com – Egypt Military Officers Back Army Chief For President – 26 October 2013

Egypt.com

Anxious over months of turmoil in Egypt, military officers are pushing popular army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to run for president, after a 2011 popular uprising had inspired hopes for democratic change in a country long dominated by generals.

Sisi ousted Egypt’s first freely-elected president, Mohamed Morsy, the man who appointed him, in July after mass protests against the Islamist leader’s rule.

Since then Egypt, whose political transition has repeatedly stumbled, has been rocked by near-daily protests, bombings and clashes in which hundreds have died in the worst civil violence in the nation’s modern history.

Read the whole story at: www.egypt.com / link to original article

Egypt.com – Moussa: Relationship With West Has Suffered After 30 June Revolution – 17 October 2013

Egypt.com

Amr Moussa, chairman of the Committee of 50 amending the constitution, said the attitude of the US administration and the West towards Egypt has suffered after the 30 June revolution. “Relations with those countries have deteriorated over the past year,” he said. In an interview with the Kuwaiti Al-Ra’y newspaper published Wednesday, Moussa said the US position against Egypt’s military crackdown of political opposition was based on wrong assumptions. “It is unacceptable to threaten [Egypt] with cutting aid,” he said. “Aid is useful to both parties.” “But we must know that the United States is the first superpower that controls the world,” he added. “We cannot ignore it.” Moussa also said the support of Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to Egypt has further distanced Egypt from the West. On reconciliation with the Muslim Brotherhood, he said he had called for it on behalf of the National Salvation Front but found no response. “Nor did the Europeans when they tried,” he added. Moussa said that the Committee on the Constitutional Committee will complete the initial drafting of the constitution after the Eid vacation. “Disputed articles would be resolved through consultation with all parties concerned,” he said. Moussa denied that the constitution gives immunity any particular person in any state institution. “We are determining the future of institutions and not individuals, he said. “We are drafting a balanced and unambiguous constitution.” On the best electoral system, Moussa said that there is considerable support for an “individual-based” system while political parties prefer a list-based” system. “Next parliament can change that if need be,” he said. He predicted a mixed system of governance like the French system, whereby power is divided between the president and the prime minister.

Almasry Alyoum

www.egypt.com / link to original article

Egypt.com – U.S. Quietly Observes Coup Law On Egypt Aid, But Shuns Term – 13 October 2013

Egypt.com

Despite withholding most military aid to Egypt until it makes progress on democracy and human rights, the U.S. government is still tying itself in knots over whether to describe Julys army overthrow of President Mohamed Mursi as a “coup.”

The administrations latest rhetorical gymnastics came to light when U.S. officials briefed Congress this week on their decision to withhold deliveries of fighter planes, tanks, helicopters and missiles – as well as $260 million in budget aid to Egypt.

Read the whole article here : www.egypt.com / link to original article

Egypt.com – Gulf Markets Mostly Down, Egypt Up Despite Clashes – 8 October 2013

Egypt.com

Gulf markets mostly edged down on Monday as investors took profits ahead of long Eid holidays and the U.S. government moved into the second week of its shutdown.

Egyptian market rose despite at least 53 deaths in Sundays political violence.

The Gulf will be closed for most of next week – the time when the U.S. government and Congress must agree on raising the countrys debt ceiling to avoid a default.

Although most Gulf investors expect a positive resolution to the U.S. crisis, they will be unable to react to any bad news during the holidays.

www.egypt.com / link to original article

Egypt.com – Egypt Army Chief Calls For Quick Transition To Election – 2 October 2013

Egypt.com

Egypt’s army chief called on Tuesday for a quick transition to elections in order to restore stability to the country, while supporters of the Islamist president he ousted, Mohamed Mursi, staged daring protests urging an end to “military government”.

Egypt has been gripped by turmoil since the army removed Mursi on July 3 following mass protests against his rule.

www.news.egypt.com/ link to original article

Egypt.com – Constitution In Safe Hands, Egypt Azhar Representative Says – 10 September 2013

EGYPT.com

Abdullah al-Naggar, one of Al-Azhar representatives on the 50-member constitutional amendment committee, said Egypt’s Islamic identity will not suffer during the rewriting process. The Constitution is in safe hands, Naggar claimed.

“Article 219 hasn’t been reviewed by the committee yet,” he said, referring to a controversial provision in the Egyptian Constitution which dictates an interpretation of Islamic Sharia. Article Two of the document also states that Islamic Sharia should form the main source of legislation in Egypt. Secularists have objected to both articles.

Egypt.com – Mubarak’s Last PM Backs Army’s Sisi For Egyptian President – 9 September 2013

Egypt.com

Former Egyptian Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq says he will back army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi for president in an election expected next year, adding to speculation that the man who led the overthrow of President Mohamed Mursi could become head of state.

Shafiq, a former air force commander who came second in last years presidential election, said he would not run if Sisi did.

The comment suggests why, just months before the election, there are no declared candidates as politicians wait to see if Sisi is going to run before announcing their own intentions.

Sisi has said he does not seek authority though speculation he will run has mounted since he toppled the Muslim Brotherhoods Mursi from the presidency on July 3. Sisi is widely expected to win if he runs.

Read the whole story at : www.egypt.com / link to original article

Egypt.com – Egypt Minister Warns Of Terrorism Wave After Assassination Attempt – 6 September 2013

Egypt.com

Thursday 05 September 2013 : 04:40 PM

The Egyptian interior minister survived an assassination attempt unscathed on Thursday when a car bomb blew up his convoy and he said afterwards that a wave of terrorism by opponents of the military-installed government was just beginning.

The minister, Mohamed Ibrahim, had been involved in overseeing a violent crackdown on supporters of Mohamed Mursi, the elected Islamist president who was overthrown two months ago by the army following mass protests against his rule.

No organization immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, the biggest yet on the new government.

Mursis Muslim Brotherhood – accused by the government of terrorism and inciting violence – condemned it. But it showed the risk that Egypts political crisis could spawn a wave of Islamist attacks like those in the 1980s and 1990s.

Read the whole story at: news.egypt.com  / link to original article