{"id":646765,"date":"2017-06-22T04:13:37","date_gmt":"2017-06-22T04:13:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2017\/06\/22\/constitutional-courts-decision-on-tiran-sanafir-tops-coverage\/"},"modified":"2017-06-22T04:13:37","modified_gmt":"2017-06-22T04:13:37","slug":"constitutional-courts-decision-on-tiran-sanafir-tops-coverage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2017\/06\/22\/constitutional-courts-decision-on-tiran-sanafir-tops-coverage\/","title":{"rendered":"Constitutional Court\u2019s decision on Tiran, Sanafir tops coverage"},"content":{"rendered":"

Yesterday\u2019s episode of Smurf Islands<\/strong>, namely, the Supreme Constitutional Court\u2019s decision nullifying all verdicts on the handover of the islands, topped coverage of Egypt in the international news. Most contented themselves with running wire reports<\/a>, adding only that the decision will further complicate the issue.<\/p>\n

Not far from the top is coverage of Egypt supplying Gaza with fuel<\/strong> during the strip\u2019s ongoing electricity crisis (we have more in Diplomacy + Foreign Trade). The foreign press, including Haaretz<\/a> and Euro News<\/a>, are noting how the move signifies a warming of ties between Hamas and the Egyptian government.<\/p>\n

The privatization program \u201cbear\u201d in Egypt is beginning to stir again<\/strong>, Patrick Werr writes in The National<\/a>. He says that while 2016 \u201ccame and went with virtually no privatisations,\u201d the mood has recently become noticeably more upbeat. Selling minority stakes is a good start, but \u201cwhat would be far better news would be if the government could bring itself to relinquish control of these companies by selling majority stakes.\u201d Werr nails it when he notes \u201cone of the main benefits of privatisation, probably even more important than the revenue that the cash-strapped government earns, is that it allows for more agile management\u201d and hopes the government sees the EGP float \u201cas an opportunity to attract buyers and not as an excuse not to sell. And let us hope that it is the beginning of far more comprehensive sales that would include larger stakes and companies in sectors that for political reasons have until now been out of bounds for privatisation.\u201d<\/p>\n

Omar Sabry, an Egyptian in Vancouver, wants to help teach refugees how to code<\/strong>, Tamara Rahmani reviews for CBC News<\/a>. A coding class he took at the University of British Columbia helped Sabry become a business owner, Rahmani explains. \u201cI used to be in a similar position [in 2013] where I was unemployed in a collapsing country in the Middle East and I didn't really have skills that I could use,\u201d said Sabry. \u201cSo the idea of giving that skill to people in refugee camps just seems like a very good solution,\u201d he adds. Mr. Sabry\u2019s charitable instinct notwithstanding, his offhand remarks about a \u201ccollapsing country\u201d lead us to cordially invite him to\u2026 well, we\u2019d say more, but we\u2019re fasting.<\/strong><\/p>\n

International news and coverage worth noting in brief include:<\/p>\n