Egypt in the News on 22 October 2019
It’s a mixed bag in the foreign press this morning, with no one subject dominating the conversation:
- The Atlantic Council is late to the game on the protests: Last month’s demonstrations are an “alarm bell” for authorities that — if they continue — could have serious political and economic repercussions, political analysts Alessia Melcangi and Giuseppe Dentice write. (Atlantic Council)
- Why did Egypt just release 80 members of Islamic Jihad? The decision was conditioned on the Palestinian militant group dialling back tensions with Israel and not interfering with an agreement between Hamas and Israel, Israeli journalist Shlomi Eldar writes. (Al Monitor)
- The Egyptian Premier League: New board, same story. The Egyptian Football Association’s (EFA) Fifa-appointed board is facing the same problems as the old one, after the Al Ahly v Zamalek derby was scrapped indefinitely last weekend on security fears. The EFA is now facing off against Al Ahly, which is refusing to play any matches until the tie is rescheduled. (The National)
- Tanoura for the soul: The sufi-inspired dance has become popular among the Egyptian youth, who see it not just a dance, but as a lifestyle, a heritage, and a soul-purifying experience. (Gulf News)