Gov’t gives in to Manpower Committee on Civil Service Act: The Ismail government has agreed to give bureaucrats annual raises of 7% under the Civil Service Act, substantially above the 5% cap the government was trying to impose. The decision came at a meeting with the House Manpower Committee, said Planning Minister Ashraf Al Araby. The move should break a deadlock that had seen the committee withhold its approval for the draft Civil Service Act. Al Araby added that all the committee’s recommendations were approved by the government, which is eager to see the legislation pass on its second attempt. The committee and the government have agreed on a three-year transitional period to phase in the law, Al Masry Al Youm reports.