Ibrahim Eissa’s show has been pulled off air at his request, broadcaster Al Kahera Wal Nas said in a statement yesterday. Eissa will take time off to focus more on his writing, according to a statement carried by Al Masry Al Youm. Eissa also issued a statement, thanking the channel, the staff, and his viewers, saying the “current situation” has led him to believe that it is best to quit TV for the time being.

The story opened up old wounds for Amr Adib, who — having been suspended himself before by the Mubarak regime — jumped to Eissa’s defense and spent the first 30 minutes of Sunday’s episode of Kol Yom criticizing the decision to take the suspendered one off the air. “Every single person in Egypt knows that Ibrahim Eissa didn’t leave to lighten his load and go write novels,” Adib said. “I know there are some people in the government who think that Eissa’s critical remarks might be too much for current conditions,” Adib said. “But we’re heading into an era where opposition will cease to exist in Egypt” (watch, runtime 37:22).

ACA investigating bribery allegations at Maglis El Dowla? Adib then moved on to talk about the rumored involvement of some members of the Egyptian Council of State (Maglis Al Dowla) in an alleged bribery scandal now being investigated by the Administrative Control Authority, the nation’s most aggressive anti-corruption watchdog. “The Council of State is the institution that revises all of our laws, so it is very important now that they issue a statement to clarify [the alleged incident],” Adib said (watch, runtime 1:58).

(Since Adib’s show aired, word has leaked that State Security investigators have detained for questioning former Maglis El Dowla secretary-general Wael Shalabi in connection with a reported bribery scandal. Al Masry Al Youm has more.)

Yahduth fi Masr’s Sherif Amer spent most of last night’s episode following up on med shortages. Federation of Egyptian Industries member Mohamed Ghoneim told Amer that a lot of meds will disappear from the market now that the Health Ministry has agreed to raise the prices of some products. Pharmacists Syndicate Chief Mohie Ebeid then said that the Health Ministry should reconsider its new pricing structure. “Small manufacturers will suffer if the percentage of increase is too low and will not be able to go on working,” Ebeid said, adding that it would be unfair to allow only large-scale manufacturers to raise the prices of meds that are already expensive. “These are only 30 or so companies and they allocate around 60% of their revenues to advertising and not the production process itself.”

Phase two trials of fuel smart card system have begun: Lobna Assal from Al Hayah Al Youm spoke with Petroleum Ministry spokesperson Hamdy Abdel Aziz, who told the host that phase two trials have already started and “that 6.3 mn fuel smart cards have been issued.” Abdel Aziz added that the putting the smart cards into use does not mean that fuel prices will be rising or that quantities will be limited (watch, runtime 4:54).