Globe and Mail Ambassador, Fahmy's lawyer have ‘positive' meeting with Egypt officials The day after Canadian journalist Mohamed Fahmy was sentenced to three years in prison, his lawyer and Canada's ambassador in Cairo met with senior Egyptian cabinet members in an effort to secure his freedom, according to one of Mr. Fahmy's brothers. Adel Fahmy told The Globe that Ambassador Troy Lulashnyk informed the Fahmy family that he met on Sunday with Justice Minister Ahmed el-Zend and with Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab to officially request that Mohamed Fahmy be pardoned or deported. The ambassador said Amal Clooney, Mr. Fahmy's lawyer, also met with the two Egyptian ministers, Adel Fahmy added. ABC News Massive Gas Find Promises to Ease Egypt's Fuel Crisis The discovery of a huge gas field off Egypt's coast promises to ease a long-running fuel crisis and boost the economy after years of unrest, but it will take years to develop and won't bring Gulf-style riches to the Arab world's most populous country, experts said Monday. The new "supergiant" offshore Zohr field, revealed a day earlier by Italy's Eni SpA and billed as the "largest-ever" found in the Mediterranean Sea, could alleviate Egypt's need for gas imports in the coming years, when a booming population will lead to a spike in domestic demand. The latest discovery — potentially 30 trillion cubic feet of gas — represents about half of Egypt's current needs, and would add to its current 65 trillion cubic feet, cut its trade deficit and bring in tax revenue when it comes online in some five years, said Angus Blair of investment advisory firm Signet. Time Egypt to Hold Elections in October and November Egypt will hold its long-awaited parliamentary elections in two stages in October and November, the country's electoral committee announced on Sunday. Ayman Abbas, head of Egypt's Supreme Election Committee, said 14 administrative regions will vote on Oct. 17 and 18, while the 13 remaining regions, including Cairo, will vote on Nov. 21 and 22, the BBC reports. The first phase of the elections had previously been scheduled for March, but was delayed after a court ruled part of the election law was unconstitutional. The elections will be the first since President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi was elected to office last May after overthrowing Islamist PresidentMohammed Morsi in a 2013 coup d'état.
