National Bank of Egypt vice-president Yehia Aboul Fotouh confirmed that the bank has begun opening letter of credit to cover imports of non-essential imports. Speaking with Lamees El Hadidy on CBC’s Hona El Assema, Aboul Fotouh urged viewers not to worry when they see USD exchange rate near EGP18 again as a result of the pent-up demand. “80% of international money transfer are now done through the banks and FX bureaus have started selling their USD to banks,” he said (watch: runtime: 5:51). He tells Lamees that NBE has covered USD 600 mn worth of imports since the float.

Lamees continued her spotlight on the med shortages for the second day running, a segment which went on for almost an hour. She spoke to physicians, syndicate heads and hospital officials in Qasr Al-Ainy, Mounira, Alexandria and Assiut, who reported that stocks of medical supplies will run out in 2-4 months and raised concerns about a burgeoning pharma black market (watch: runtime: (1:06:03)

She had kicked off the episode with a special feature on #ThisIsEgypt tourism campaign in London and Milan. A TV spot from the campaign is on loop in London-Heathrow Airport. JWT Cairo boss Hany Shoukry called in to talk about his agency’s campaign (watch: runtime: 14:05).

Lamees then zeroed in on Magdy Maken, the fish seller who died in police custody, allegedly under torture. A forensic report will be issued within three weeks, said a senior forensics official, who said it was taking longer than usual to complete the report because of “special procedures” in cases of death in police custody (watch; runtime: 5:39). Later on, the busy host interviewed MP Tarek El-Kholy who provided updates on the possible second batch of prisoners who will be pardoned by Presidential decree (Watch: running time: 35:17).

Kol Youm’s Amr Adibspent a chunk of last night’s episode transfixed on the EGP 4 bn losses incurred by the Egyptian Radio and Television Union (Maspero) in FY2015-16 (watch; runtime: 4:35 — the look on his face in the first three seconds is priceless). He used this to segue into a diatribe about the work ethic of Egyptians and how state entities exploit public funds. (watch: running time: 2:28).

Adib also covered the demonstrations by Nubian citizens opposed to the sale of land in Toshka as part of the 1.5 mn feddans project, land which they claim is their ancestral homeland. Adib interviewed none other than MP Moustafa Bakri (watch; runtime: 12:41), who has adopted the Nubian cause as his latest opportunity for self-aggrandizement. We do not mean to diminish the legitimacy of their calls, only the motives of Bakry: “Nubians are demanding their constitutional rights,” he said, a rare instance in which we’ll agree with the Honorable Member. Nubian MP Yassin Abdel Sabour said that he had attempted to contact the Ismail cabinet to talk about Nubian issues, but he was unable to reach the Prime Minister or any other minister (watch; runtime: 2:31).

Al Hayah Al Youm hosted Assistant Supply Minister Ahmed Kamal where he walked back his own comments made a day earlier saying that individuals whose monthly salaries exceed EGP 1,500 would have their ration cards revoked (watch; runtime: 5:17). Turns out, he says, that it’s only new applicants with higher salaries who would be denied a ration card. Last week, the Supply Ministry made an about face on subsidized rice, confirming and then denying it had raised prices, a development that led to the resignation of the ministry’s spokesman after just a week in office.