Last Night’s Talk Shows on 17 December 2020
There was no single leading story on the airwaves last night besides the wall-to-wall coverage on Egypt’s fast-approaching vaccination program (on which we have chapter and verse in What We’re Tracking Today, above).
The UAE’s inclusion in the East Med Gas Forum as an observer will help push further research on the region’s natural gas potential and exploitation, former EGPC boss Medhat Youssef told Masaa DMC’s Sarah Hazem (watch, runtime: 4:32). Ittihadiya spokesperson Bassam Rady also recapped Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s visit to Cairo, which included talks on a potential reconciliation with Qatar (watch, runtime: 13:51). We have the story in this morning’s Around the World, below.
Social Solidarity Minister Nevine El Kabbaj recounted the financial support her ministry has doled out to fishermen as day laborers, especially as their income has been undercut because of the pandemic. The ministry has earmarked EGP 300 mn for fishermen, which includes paying for half the cost of their fishing boats (watch, runtime: 15:56).
Meanwhile, a plea to the government to bring back sheesha to restaurants and coffee shops was the main talking point for Chamber of Tourism Establishments member Hisham Wahba, who told Ala Mas’ouleety that the water pipe — which is currently banned under covid-19 restrictions — is causing coffee shops to forego income (watch, runtime: 6:00).