A reliable source in the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (NTRA) said that there is plan to raise the prices of mobile recharge cards after the recent increase of fuel and electricity prices, denying rumors that reported an increase in pre-paid recharge cards from Egyptian mobile carriers Vodafone, Orange, Etisalat and WE. The source, who preferred anonymity, told Al-Masry Al-Youm that the price increase process requires long procedures and an extensive study and cannot be carried out independently by mobile companies, as it requires approval by the NTRA.

Four members of the Press Syndicate s board expressed in a letter submitted to members of the syndicate s general assembly, their rejection of the new laws regulating the operations of media and press institutions. On Sunday, the Egyptian Parliament approved three draft laws aimed at regulating the performance of the Supreme Council for Media Regulation, the National Press Authority, and the National Media Authority.

Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli held a lengthy meeting on Saturday via video conference with the governors from the Cabinet Information Center operations room to check the availability of petroleum products and introduce the new tariff for new cars and taxis. Fuel stations began to apply the new fuel prices at 9 am Saturday, announced the Petroleum Ministry.

President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi announced on Friday, which marked the first day of Eid Al-Fitr, that he has directed the interior minister to release all imprisoned indebted women after paying their debts through the Tahya Misr Fund, assuring the importance of spending the feast time with their families. The president added on his official Facebook account that Egypt will always strive to uphold human dignity and to implement the necessary measures to preserve social protection and reduce phenomena negatively affecting social stability.

Egypt swore in a new cabinet on Thursday, replacing key ministers including finance, defense and interior in a major reshuffle after President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi won a second term in office. The new cabinet marks the broadest shake-up in Egypt’s government since Sisi first took office in 2014, as the Western- allied nation grapples with an Islamist insurgency and tries to put the economy back on track after years of turbulence since 2011 protests toppled veteran leader Hosni Mubarak.

Egypt s Minister of Electricity Mohamed Shaker said that the proposals for new electricity pricing were presented to the cabinet and approved on 30 May and adopted on 4 June. He added that the average economic cost of producing electricity is 104 piastres per kW.

President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi on Tuesday called on Egyptians to endure a raft of tough economic reforms introduced by the government, speaking the same day the government increased electricity prices. "All challenges and difficulties can be easy if Egyptians endure the conditions the Egyptian state is passing through," El-Sisi was quoted as saying by state news agency MENA.

The leaders of Ethiopia and Egypt vowed on Sunday to iron out their differences over a dam Addis Ababa is building on the Nile River that Cairo fears threatens its water supplies. Talks over the Grand Renaissance Dam, Ethiopia s $4 billion hydroelectric project, have been deadlocked for months. But at a press conferee in Cairo, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi signaled they had made a breakthrough.

Egypt s Minister of Electricity Mohamed Shaker announced in a press conference on Tuesday new increases in electricity prices along seven tiers of consumption, at an overall average of 26%, for the fiscal year 2018/2019, which starts in July. The average increase in electric bills for households will be 29%. The increase in electric bills for factories will be 41.8%. During the conference, Shaker also presented on the size of the electric power generated by the power stations the government has built and upgraded in the last four years, as well as the government s plans in completing under-construction stations and the development of solar energy plants.

Egypt s education ministry said on Tuesday that the electronic bar code printed on each Thanaweya Amma exam booklet has helped identify the individual who leaked the English language exam on Tuesday, Al-Ahram Arabic website reported. The student used a smart phone to post the exam on social media one half-hour after the test began.

Egyptian authorities released 32 Ethiopian prisoners on Monday during the visit of Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to Cairo, Egyptian and Ethiopian news websites reported. The released prisoners reportedly left the country on Monday on the prime minister s plane as he departed to Addis Ababa.

Sources close to Egypt s newly appointed Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly told Al-Ahram Daily that the new PM has concluded most of his consultations and meetings with candidates for ministerial posts in the new cabinet, and has communicated with the ministers from former PM Sherif Ismail s cabinet who will continue to serve in their positions. Madbouly is expected to present the final list of ministers for approval by President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi on Monday before the ministers take their constitutional oath ahead of Eid, the sources said.

The House of Representatives approved on Sunday a new draft law regulating press and media, and referred it over to the State Council. Before the final approval of the law, a number of MPs objected to distribution of the draft law s report prepared by the Information Committee immediately before the plenary session, which did not enable them to examine the report properly.

Egypt has expressed its complete support for Saudi Arabia against any attack that would undermine the peace and stability in the kingdom, after a missile that was fired across the border from Yemen into Saudi Arabia on Saturday killed three civilians in Gazan. Cairo expresses "support for the kingdom in the face of brutal terrorism," a statement by Egypt s foreign ministry said on Sunday.

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has appointed Mostafa Madbouly, formerly the housing minister, as the country s new prime minister, two days after outgoing Prime Minister Sherif Ismail submitted his resignation and that of his cabinet. “President El-Sisi received Dr. Mostafa Madbouly today to commission him to form the new government,” said Bassam Radi, the president s official spokesperson, on his official Facebook page.

The French language thanaweya amma high school exam was leaked on social media on Thursday, according to a senior official in Egypt s education ministry speaking to Al-Ahram Arabic website. "After checking the exam posted online we found it to be identical to the exam currently being sat by students," he said.

Egypt s House of Representatives approved on Tuesday a draft law to amend existing and impose new fees for several licenses and services including acquiring mobile phones and residency permits, as well as driving and firearms licenses. The draft law, finalized by lawmakers headed by Ali Abdel-Aty, amends some provisions of Law No. 147, which imposes fees as a way to bolster the state s financial resources.

Egypt’s cabinet submitted its resignation to President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Tuesday following his swearing-in for a second term after a landslide election victory. The government, headed by Prime Minister Sherif Ismail, will stay on in a caretaker capacity until the new one is appointed.