President Abdel Fattah El Sisi’s decision to raise wages for civil servants dominated the airwaves last night. Hona Al Asema broadcast the announcement, which will see the minimum salary for state employees rise to EGP 2,000 from EGP 1,200 starting 1 July (watch, runtime: 4:22). We have chapter and verse in this morning’s Speed Round, below.

El Hekaya’s Amr Adib also weighed in, saying the wage increase is the first of many to follow (watch, runtime: 3:15). He also spoke of an ongoing dialogue between the government and retailers to limit future price increases. The state will also increase the supply of meat, chicken, and vegetables ahead of Ramadan to contain inflationary pressures.

On a similar note: Member of the importers' division at the Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce Ahmed Shiha claimed that the whole nation was taken by surprise by the wage increases during a phone-in with Masaa DMC’s Eman El Hosary (watch, runtime: 4:39). El Hosary questioned Shiha on the prospect of price hikes following the decision. Shiha reiterated the view that it’s up to the state to step in, promote competition, and control the prices of basic commodities.

Also getting some quality airtime on Masaa DMC was the completion of the Rod El Farag axis linking northeast Cairo with the Alexandria desert road. El Hosary hailed the project as the “the largest suspension bridge in Egypt and the widest in the world” (watch: runtime: 3:39).