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Wednesday, 23 November 2016

Last Night’s Talk Shows: Imports of non-essentials; subsidy reform; details on the Nevine Loutfy case

Lamees El Hadidy called out importers, saying that with USD now available within the banking system, importers will take advantage by importing non-essential goods. She questioned the commitment of the Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce to halt imports of non-essential products for three months. She said that the USD reserves in banks are now needed medication and other critical products (watch, runtime: 5:44).

The ration card system also featured heavily last night, with Supply Ministry official Alaa Mortada telling Lamees that “Regulations for eligibility for the smart cards will be announced in early 2017.” (Preliminary criteria have made it to the press, and we have more extensive coverage in the Speed Round). Cutting freeloaders, Egyptians abroad, and the deceased from the system will be completed by March, Mortada said (watch, runtime: 24:58).

Prime Minister Sherif Ismail will hold a cabinet meeting on Wednesday to discuss the Nubian protests, said MP Moustafa Bakri told the host (watch, runtime: 11:52).

Amr Adib discussed low-income housing, saying the average price of a residential unit has risen to EGP 270K from EGP 154K. Housing Ministry PR flack Hany Younes dodged the issue, saying there is no single price: “The prices [of low-income housing] differs from one applicant to another due to discrepancies in age, salaries and marital status” (watch: running time: 36:00).

Adib ran a video of living conditions of Ras Gharib city after nearly one month since the flash floods that hit the city hard. (Watch: running time: 4:36)

Yahduth fi Masr’s Sherif Amer interviewed Mohamed Ali Rezk, head of the Administrative Prosecution Authority (APA).

Amer also dedicated a portion of the episode to discuss developments in the tragic murder of high-profile banker Nevine Loutfy. He reported that authorities have a suspect in custody who is allegedly linked to fingerprint evidence from the scene. The assailant had apparently unplugged security cameras before breaking in, said Amer.

The full episode of Yahduth fi Masr is on MBC Masr’s Shahid portal here (runtime: 50:42).

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