Lead:
Egypt marked a dense day of governance activity on Thursday, with senior officials advancing priorities across multiple fronts: a 15 percent pension increase drew widespread parliamentary endorsement, the foreign minister held bilateral calls with his British counterpart and received regional envoys, and infrastructure inspections at the new Asyut Barrage underscored the government's emphasis on major public works. The day unfolded against a backdrop of unresolved regional tensions involving Israel, Lebanon, and Gaza.
Details:
On the domestic social policy front, multiple members of both the House of Representatives and the Senate praised President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's decision to raise pensions by 15 percent effective July 1, 2026. Elbalad reported statements from lawmakers including Adel Nasser, Mohamed Nashat al-Omda, Mohamed Mostafa Kasher, Amr Fahmy, Omar al-Ghoneimi, and Ramadan Batie'a, all framing the measure as an expression of the state's commitment to social protection and the welfare of retirees. Parliamentarian Rania al-Sheemy further described the increase as a structural pillar of what she termed the "New Republic" agenda.
On the diplomatic front, Elfagr and Elbalad both reported that Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty held a telephone call with British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper to discuss strengthening bilateral relations and to exchange assessments on regional developments, including the situation in Sudan. Abdelatty also received Mohamed al-Yamahi, President of the Arab Parliament, and Christophe Bigot, the European Union's Special Representative for the Middle East Peace Process, to discuss Palestinian affairs and avenues for coordinated Arab action. Egypt's Ministry of Finance separately announced discussions with French counterparts on tax cooperation, as reported by Elbalad.
Regarding infrastructure, Elfagr and Elbalad reported that Water Resources and Irrigation Minister Hani Sweilem, accompanied by Asyut Governor Major General Mohamed Alwan, inspected the new Asyut and Dirout barrages ahead of their official inauguration. The new Asyut Barrage serves an estimated 1.6 million feddans of agricultural land and incorporates hydroelectric generation capacity, connecting the east and west banks of the Nile in Asyut Governorate.
On regional security, Elbalad reported that the Israeli government stated its forces would not withdraw from southern Lebanon so long as Hezbollah remained armed and continued to pose a threat. Elfagr separately noted that Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps issued a counter-demand calling for a full Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory, reflecting continued deadlock over the post-ceasefire security arrangement.
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