The Ismail Cabinet approved yesterday amendments to the traffic law that would set new rules for licensing and hikes fines for traffic infractions, according to a statement. The amendments introduce a new system would grant license holders a certain number of points that authorities then deduct from for each traffic violation committed. A license would be revoked once points run out, Ahram Online says. The proposed amendments would also prohibit the issuing of new public transport licenses for old vehicles. Prime Minister Sherif Ismail had previously said that the amendments would also incorporate tuk-tuks into the formal traffic system. The proposed amendments now go to the House of Representatives for discussion, where a member of the Transport Committee has already flagged them as possibly “inappropriate” to our grim traffic reality.

The ministers also discussed the Health Ministry’s strategy to curb population growth, which aims to encourage people to have no more than two children by raising awareness about the perils of population growth. The plan also targets empowering women to complete their education and join the labor force, which the ministry hopes will reduce the prevalence of underage marriages.

Other decisions taken during the weekly meeting include:

• Signing off on amendments to the universities law governing the role of student unions;
• Approving the establishment of an innovation fund to provide financial assistance to burgeoning researchers and innovators.