Most boring Sunday evening ever; Amr Adib’s Nobel Prize-worthy economic theory
Most boring Sunday evening ever; Amr Adib’s Nobel Prize-worthy economic theory: If you happened to miss last night’s talk shows, we can tell you with the utmost certainty that you didn’t miss anything at all as the talking heads appear to be suffering from a case of the Sundays (we sympathize).
The most interesting topic of the night was an interview on the Investment Act on Al Hayah Al Youm with House Economics Committee member Mohamed Badrawi. He added little to the discussion, instead reminding us that the one-stop shop policy is continues in place, promising that permits will come out in no less than two months (watch, runtime: 5:52).
The episode also looked into electricity prices with the same lack of new insight. The most interesting part of an interview with Electricity Ministry spokesperson Ayman Hamza is watching Hamza squirm his way out of answering the direct question of whether new electricity prices would into effect at the start of the new fiscal year in July. He said that for at least the next five months they would not increase (watch, runtime: 2:30).
Still wincing after your massive summer bill? Hamza also spoke about newly-adopted payment methods for power bills, saying the ministry will allow installment payments (watch, runtime: 6:38).
Yahduth fi Masr’s Sherif Amer interviewed both candidates vying for leadership of the Press Syndicate. We, too, are more than slightly shocked that anyone — let alone two people — are vying for the job given how bad a year the syndicate had in 2016. The platform of Al Ahram managing editor Abdel Mohsen Salama appears to be improving wages for journalists, while incumbent Yehia Qalash said that he will lobby for legislation to protect the rights and freedoms of the syndicate. Qalash is on trial for harboring fugitive journalists at the Syndicate’s HQ last year.
Hona Al Assema’s Lamees Al Hadidi spent her episode speaking on the availability of Rh immunoglobulin injections in pharmacies. She interviewed Al Akhbar journalist Haitham Al Noweihy, who apparently broke the story that there were shortages (watch, runtime: 1:30:00).
And cue the drum rolls as Amr Adib reveals his secret policy recommendation to strengthen the EGP: People need to stop importing nuts. Adib urged traders to stop importing nuts and salted snacks for Ramadan to help bring the exchange rate to EGP 14 per greenback. We hope the Nobel Prize Committee takes notice (watch, runtime: 1:52).