Egypt’s economy, in crisis for years, is undergoing IMF-backed reforms leading to an eroding middle class struggling to afford basics due to depleted purchasing power, with measures such as fuel price hikes and subsidy cuts. Amid mounting pressures, including a quadrupling of foreign debt and revenue loss from the Suez Canal, officials have hinted at potentially re-evaluating the IMF programme if public opinion is adversely affected. The reforms have significantly impacted living conditions, prompting calls for a slower, more gradual implementation, despite the IMF touting long-term benefits and the potential unlocking of new financing.
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Dozens feared dead in Gaza after Israeli strikes
Dozens of people were killed or missing in Gaza after Israeli strikes, including one near Kamal Adwan hospital and another in Gaza City, with a total death toll of 43,985. Israel is also fighting Hezbollah in Lebanon following Hamas's attack, with the US seeking a truce in the region. Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem threatens to strike Tel Aviv, while Israel intensifies strikes in Syria and Lebanon, with 52 soldiers killed in ground operations. Full Article
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