The Ismail cabinet approved draft legislation giving individual government agencies powers to reclaim and seize their respective unlawfully occupied land. The law will also set about regulations for the seizures process, whose costs will be borne by those occupying the land. The move is part of a nationwide crackdown on unlicensed developments on state-owned land. Other key decisions taken by the cabinet over the break include:

• Approved amendments to the Nuclear Activities Act which would delineate responsibility for any Homer Simpson-type nuclear catastrophe;
• Gave its preliminary approval of a draft law setting up CCTV cameras in public spaces;
• Sanctioned the establishment of a special economic zone for the Golden Triangle region;
• Set new water utility fees on developments;
• Granted a six-month extension on all contracts with the private sector signed between 1 March and 31 December 2016, making eligible for compensation under the Contractors’ Compensation Act, which the Housing Minister says will be issued within days, according to Al Masry Al Youm;
• Approved a presidential decree extending the nationwide state of emergency.