In other major legislative news, the House Economics Committee began discussion of amendments to the Capital Markets Act on Monday with an appearance before the committee by Financial Regulatory Authority head Mohamed Omran, Al Mal reports. The amendments will permit the introduction of financial instruments including futures trading and the setting-up of a commodities exchange. The amendments also cover penalties for financial crimes and the taxing of the sector, said committee chair Amr Ghallab. The committee will be meeting with industry insiders and representatives, including the Egyptian Capital Markets Association, to get the private sector’s pulse on the proposed regulations, added Ghallab.

Meanwhile, a plenary session also passed a law that criminalizes the possession of drones without permits from the relevant authorities, Al Masry Al Youm reports.