Headlining the talk shows last night was Qalaa Holdings chief Ahmed Heikal, who sat down for a 20 minute chat with Al Kahera Alaan’s Lamees El Hadidi, delving into the economy, global trade wars, and expectations for TAQA Arabia’s IPO. Here are the key takeaways from the interview (watch, runtime: 23:44):

• TAQA Arabia to debut in April? Heikal said that Qalaa subsidiary TAQA Arabia will make its debut by April this year. Qalaa will sell up to 30% of its subsidiary's shares on the EGX while retaining controlling stakes in the company.
• Investment and job creation should be top priority for the gov’t: Noting that progress had been made on economic reform, Heikal drew attention to the low rates of foreign investment and slow job creation in the economy. Ordinary Egyptians will not see a rise in income until these problems are solved, he said.
• The private sector is optimistic but continues to face challenges: Economic inefficiency and difficulties with communication continue to make the lives of private sector companies harder than they need to be, he said.
• The US-China trade war could have an impact for many years to come, Heikal suggested, using one example. The US imposition of dumping fees on Chinese exports resulted in China depreciating its currency, making the EGP more expensive to Chinese companies importing from Egypt.

GERD talks also feature on Al Kahera Alaan: El Hadidi phoned Heba Al-Qudsi, the Washington bureau chief of Asharq Al-Awsat, who said that this meeting is the last chance for the sides to reach a fair and balanced agreement. If they fail to make a breakthrough, the dispute will only escalate, she warned (watch, runtime: 3:11). Law professor Ayman Salama says mediation will be the next step if these talks fail, with a final resort being the International Court of Justice (watch, runtime: 4:17). El Hadidi also phoned in former Irrigation Minister adviser Diaa Al-Din Al-Qousi who went back to basics stressing that the Nile River is a cross-border river and there no decision will be taken without Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia’s consent (watch, runtime: 5:19).

The Libyan ceasefire was all over the airwaves: Min Masr's Amr Khalil mentioned that the Foreign Ministry welcomed the ceasefire in Libya and renewed its call for a political solution (watch, runtime: 2:35). Al Hayah Al Youm's Hossam Hadad highlighted President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi's meeting with the European Council President Charles Michel where the two agreed on working towards a comprehensive political settlement of the Libyan issue (watch, runtime: 1:58). Min Masr's Reham Ibrahim noted that President Abdel Fattah El Sisi received a phone call from German Chancellor Angela Merkel to discuss the situation in Libya (watch, runtime: 1:11). El Hekaya's Amr Adib also took note of the story (watch, runtime: 2:40). We have more in this morning’s Speed Round, below.