The GERD talks once again stole the limelight on the talk shows last night: Egyptian, Ethiopian and Sudanese officials are meeting in Washington today and tomorrow in a bid to finally reach an agreement on the filling and operating timetable for the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). Al Arabiya correspondent Pierre Ghanem told Al Kahera Alaan’s Lamees El Hadidi that there was an “optimistic” atmosphere on the eve of the talks (watch, runtime: 7:23), while political scientist Moatezbella Abd El-Fattah stressed in an interview with Al Hayah Al Youm's Lobna Assal that sealing an agreement this week is essential, not only because it addresses the problems of GERD, but because it could serve as a model for future disagreements over Nile dams (watch, runtime: 6:03).

Will we see some last-minute concessions? El Hadidi phoned former irrigation minister Nasr El Din Allam who suggested that this week’s talks could see Egypt and Ethiopia finally make concessions over the remaining points of contention (watch, runtime: 7:30). El Hekaya’s Amr Adib also had coverage (watch, runtime: 5:21).

This week’s speculation regarding the future of Vodafone Egypt got a look-in on El Hekaya: Amr Adib, reporting on Telecom Egypt’s statements on Sunday that it would not sell its 42% stake in the company, argued that it was not the role of the state to own mobile companies, and suggested that it should offload its holdings and take the profit (watch, runtime: 13:47).