February 2014

2 Former head of the Egyptian Radio and Television Union Soheir El-Etriby dies age 74 after suffering a stroke. 9 Former head of the Fine Arts Sector Mohsen Shaalan passes away at the age of 63. Although a respected artist with multiple exhibitions in Egypt and abroad, Shaalan was convicted of negligence after a £Van Gogh painting was stolen from the Mohamed Mahmoud Khalil Museum in 2010; he spent a year in prison. 10 Abdel-Moneim Abou El-Fotouh, head of the Misr El-Qaweya party and 2012 presidential hopeful, announces he will not be running for president. [caption id="attachment_74618" align="alignright" width="300" class=" "] 16[/caption] 13 Al-Sisi flies to the Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow to negotiate an arms deal reportedly worth $2 billion. Russian leader Vladimir Putin receives Al-Sisi and wishes the military chief luck in the nation’s upcoming presidential vote, even though Al-Sisi has not officially announced his candidacy. 15 The Ministry of Culture announces plans to turn former President Gamal Abdel Nasser’s home into a museum. 16 Three South Korean tourists and an Egyptian bus driver are killed in a suicide bombing near Taba. ABM claims responsibility, sparking fears that Islamist militants are expanding their attacks to target an already fragile tourism sector. 17 Four Egyptian hikers die after being caught in a sudden blizzard while hiking in the Saint Catherine Natural Protectorate; four other hikers are successfully evacuated. The group’s day-trip in the mountains turned into a three-day ordeal, sparking public outrage over the perceived delay in rescue efforts. South Sinai Governor Khaled Fouda sacks the Saint Catherine city head for negligence in dealing with the lost hikers. 19 Amid rising tensions, security concerns and fears of student demonstrations, the government extends the midyear holidays for public schools and universities until March 6. 20 Egypt and Ahly defender Wael Gomaa announces his retirement at age 38. Gomaa joined Ahly in 2001 and won more than 25 titles including six Champions league trophies and six African Super Cups. [caption id="attachment_74619" align="alignleft" width="178" class=" "] 22[/caption] 22 The Armed Forces announces its engineering department has invented a device that detects and treats HIV and hepatitis C viruses without having to draw blood. While the statement released by the Armed Forces claims a success rate higher than 90%, it does not include technical details. Amid much skepticism, Essam Heggy, scientific adviser to the interim president, casts doubt on the device’s abilities and cautions scientific institutions against announcing research before review in accordance with international standards. 20 Al Jazeera journalists Mohamed Fahmy, Peter Greste Baher Mohamed — he so-called “Marriott Cell” — and 17 others, go on trial, charged with assisting a terrorist organization and “airing false news” on behalf of the Muslim Brotherhood. 23 Sixty-five Egyptian fishermen are arrested by Saudi Arabian border guards after their two boats entered Saudi waters without permits. During the arrest, one Egyptian died and another was injured when guards fired on the boat. 24 Prime Minister Hazem El-Beblawi and his Cabinet resign unexpectedly. El-Beblawi’s government had been under increasing pressure as doctors, textile workers and public transportation employees went on a wave of strikes over salaries and benefits. Ibrahim Mahlab, former minister of housing, is tapped to form a new government.