When the talking heads exhaust all topics, you can bet they’ll return to that old-time audience favourite: Food prices and subsidies.

The private sector continues to get the blame for inflation: Kol Youm’s Amr Adib spoke to the head of Federation of Chambers of Commerce’s Giza food division Yehia Kassab, who blamed food inflation on primary suppliers, who have caused a chon reaction up the consumer foods production and distribution chain (watch, runtime 2:47). Another industry official blamed unlicensed wholesalers (watch, runtime 3:51).

Adib had spoken to MP Ahmed El Gazzar about increases food prices. El Gazzar said he submitted an official inquiry to Prime Minister Sherif Ismail and is demanding the government take action (watch, runtime 2:24). The cabinet had postponed last week a discussion proposed changes to the Consumer Protection Act that would allow the state to set price controls. Ministers are due to discuss the amendments at a meeting this week.

The host then moved on to education and had a quick chat with Education Minister Tarek Shawky about his plans for the sector (watch, runtime 6:07).

Al Hayah Al Youm’s Lobna Assal spoke to Social Solidarity Minister Ghada Wali on the expansion of the Takaful and Karama welfare programs, where coverage is growing at a rate of 100k families a month, up from 500,000 families a year previously (watch, runtime 3:51).

Cabinet Spokesperson Ashraf Sultan told Assal warned that around 19 mn subsidy beneficiaries need to update or complete missing information before 30 June because “procedures will differ after that” (watch, runtime 4:58). The government had hinted at penalties for those who do not update their status by that date.

Meanwhile, Lamees El Hadidi focused on the US air strike on Syria (watch, runtime 5:47) and spoke to political science professor Moataz Abdel Fattah (watch, runtime: 2:08).

Yahduth fi Misr’s Sherif Amer was off last night.