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Thursday, 9 June 2016

Cabinet meeting round up:

With debate over this year’s thanaweya amma exam leak ongoing, Cabinet moved at its meeting yesterday to change the format of exams and the way in which they’re circulated to schools, Al Mal reported on Wednesday, tasking a committee comprised of the ministers of education, justice, interior, and ICT with forming a plan of attack. Other measures to be taken in the near future include taking a closer look at social media and amending acceptance requirements at Egyptian universities, among others. The cabinet announced that 127 cheating cases have been investigated regarding the Arabic language examinations; all wrongdoers have been referred to the Prosecutor General’s Office, it said.

Ministers also set a two-year deadline for relocating 18 ministries to the new capital city, said Housing Minister Moustafa Madbouly. These include the foreign, interior, transport, justice, power, supply, higher education, and health ministries. Construction is expected to begin at the end of June. The move will also include the cabinet’s offices and the House of Representatives, Amwal Al Ghad reports. Other key decisions taken at the meeting include:

  • Approved the draft Food Safety Authority Act, which would create a new body responsible for food safety. The new agency, which was 12 years in the making, will report to the prime minister and will assume responsibility for a number of existing government authorities, according to Al Masry Al Youm.
  • Authorizing the Petroleum Minister to amend three exploration concession agreements with BP and Ieoc Productions B.V, according to Al Mal.
  • Approved EUR 75 mn in funding from the European Investment Bank to purchase 13 trains for the Cairo Metro Line 2, according to Al Ahram.
  • Approved amending the criminal code to punish those who disseminate terrorist propaganda with imprisonment and a fine of EGP 10k- 30k, according to Al Ahram.
  • Approved reinstating daylight savings from 8 July to 27 October, according to Al Masry Al Youm.
  • Approved raising the minimum age of assistant ministers to 35 from 30, according to Al Shorouk. Take that, youts.

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