Adib channels The View in inauguration coverage; infant formula on the rise again; Finance Ministry adviser arrested for bribery
Amr Adib spent most of last night’s episode of Kol Youm covering the inauguration of US President Donald Trump on Friday. Adib spoke of the women’s marches which took place worldwide in opposition to Trump, saying, “The number of participants in these marches exceed the number of people attended the inauguration yesterday,” (watch; runtime: 3:25). Filling in for his fashion reporter, Adib noted that Melania Trump was wearing a Ralph Lauren-designed dress (watch if you are inclined to such gripping fashion analysis; runtime: 1:31). We hope The View is taking notice.
For some actual analysis, we bring Hona Al Assema’s Lamees El Hadidy (the brainy one in this marriage) who brought in political analyst Abdel Moneim Said to speak on Trump’s policies vis-a-vis fighting terrorism in the Middle East (watch; runtime: 8:01).
On to more local affairs, Lamees covered the reported increase in subsidized infant formula prices to EGP 43 per pack from EGP 13. Lotfy Omar, chairman of baby formula distributor Lyptus Egypt, told Lamees that the increase came as a result of the float and the doubling of LC-debt by importers. Lamees also noted that non-subsidized formula was also seeing inflation (watch; runtime: 33:14).
El Hadidy also looked at the arrest of a Finance Ministry real estate tax advisor on bribery charges. The accused Tarek Farrag was reportedly photographed while receiving a EGP 1 mn payoff from a real estate developer looking to buy state land at below market value, Administrative Control Authority officials said, according to AMAY (watch; runtime: 5:17).
Lamees concluded her episode with the 4+1 Debate, which talked about Mohamed Aboutrika’s listing in a terrorists watchlist (again with this), Tiran and Sanafir (ugh) and the possibility of banning the niqab in Egypt (watch: runtime: 35: 41).
Al Hayah Al Youm’s Lobna Assal showcased a report on the opening of Nile Consumer Complex (a subsidized goods outlet) in El Tawfikia by the Supply Minister, who called on people to reduce their consumption (watch: runtime: 1:43). She also aired a report on the opening of Shoubra-Benha road, which connects to the Cairo Ring Road (watch: runtime: 2:05). Trump was also ever-present in the episode.