
During a Crisis Management Committee meeting on Sunday, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly ordered the rapid launch of an incentive initiative for factories and households to transition to solar energy. The committee also approved ending the mandatory 11 p.m. closure for shops, malls, and restaurants, allowing them to return to previous standard operating hours, according to Cabinet Spokesperson Mohamed El-Homsani. Officials at the meeting reviewed global economic projections, which indicate a slowdown in growth. The International Monetary Fund forecasts global growth to decrease to 3.1% in 2026 from 3.4% in 2025. A more significant decline to 1.1% is expected for the Middle East and North Africa region due to increasing commodity prices and investor risk aversion. The Ministry of Planning also noted that global trade growth is projected to fall from 5.1% in 2025 to 2.8% in 2026 amid fluctuating inflation trends.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Egypt Today.

President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi issued Decree No. 301 of 2026, granting pardons for the remainder of sentences for certain convicted inmates. This decision marks the 74th anniversary of the July 23, 1952 Revolution. The decree, published in the Official Gazette, applies to several categories of prisoners. Those sentenced to life imprisonment who have served at least 15 years by July 23, 2026, are eligible, though they will remain under police supervision for five years. Additionally, individuals serving fixed prison terms before July 23, 2026, are eligible if they have completed one-third of their sentence by that date, with a minimum of four months served. This also includes inmates serving multiple sentences for offenses committed prior to their correctional center entry.
Must ReadEgypt and Saudi Arabia have urged an immediate cessation of all military operations and emphasized the importance of safeguarding freedom of navigation. This call came during a phone conversation between Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud. The ministers stressed the need for political and diplomatic solutions to regional crises and enhanced coordination among Arab nations to maintain security and stability. They also reaffirmed the importance of securing international maritime routes and rejecting any attempts to obstruct transit through international waterways. These discussions occurred amidst escalating regional tensions, including the ongoing conflict in Iran, retaliatory attacks across the Middle East, and recent Houthi attacks on Saudi maritime interests in the Red Sea, alongside Tehran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
Must ReadEgyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates Badr Abdelatty and Qatari Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani met in Doha, calling for the resumption of negotiations between the United States and Iran. They urged regional efforts to de-escalate Middle East tensions and return to diplomacy, emphasizing the need for these efforts to lead to de-escalation, renewed negotiations, and adherence to the memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran from mid-June. The ministers also discussed developments in the Gaza Strip, West Bank, and East Jerusalem, stressing the importance of implementing the first phase of US President Donald Trump's Gaza ceasefire plan and transitioning to its second phase. This meeting was part of ongoing consultations between Egypt and Qatar, with both ministers reaffirming their commitment to expanding bilateral cooperation, especially in trade, economic ties, and investment opportunities.