Giza train derailment tops talking heads’ agendas
The derailment of a train in Giza that left 58 people injured on Friday was the most popular talking point on the airwaves last night.
Preliminary results of the investigation suggest the train derailed because the track required maintenance, Assistant Transport Minister Amr Shaat said on Masaa DMC. Shaat also noted that the railway signals at the station responsible for the derailment are outdated; investigators are still trying to determine whether human error played a role in the incident (watch, runtime: 3:30 and runtime: 2:18).
The abysmal state of Egypt’s railways demands quick action, Rep. Saeed Taema told Hona Al Asema’s Lama Gebril, adding that the government’s promise to overhaul the rail system by 2022 leaves us with four years of its current condition (watch, runtime: 7:08). Al Hayah fi Masr’s Kamal Mady also had similar things to say on the issue (watch, runtime: 3:14).
Former national football team coach Hector Cuper threw just about every player under the bus for Egypt’s disappointing World Cup showing in a technical report to the EFA. Included on the list was star Mohamed Salah, who Cuper said in his report “insisted” on playing at the championship despite not having fully recovered from a shoulder injury. Sports critic Essam Shaltout slammed the Argentine’s report for laying the blame at others’ feet rather than offering a clear, technical explanation (watch, runtime: 4:38).
People (understandably) still aren’t over the Health Ministry’s decision to play the national anthem in state hospitals. Former Doctors’ Syndicate member Khaled Samir (watch, runtime: 5:27) and Rep. Nadia Henry were among those taking to the airwaves to criticize the move last night (watch, runtime: 6:08).