Last night’s talk shows for Tuesday, 25 February 2020
Yesterday’s torrential downpour pushed other news stories to the sidelines last night. Television power couple Lamees Al Hadidi (Al Kahera Al Aan, watch, runtime: 10:26) and Amr Adib (El Hekaya, runtime: 7:26) both took note of the Zamalek FC not making it to the Cairo derby as a result of the rain.
Another topic of interest was the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam as Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan are expected to sign an agreement by the end of the month after taking off to Washington on Thursday to hash out the final sticking points. Al Hayah Al Youm’s Lobna Assal (watch, runtime: 0:40) and Adib (runtime: 3:45) both took note.
New tobacco taxes will not increase prices, MP claims: Amendment to the VAT Tax Act that raised taxes on cigarettes by between EGP 1-3 per pack are unlikely to lead to any increase in prices as vendors have already been charging higher prices, House Budgeting Committee deputy chair Rep. Yasser Omar told El Hadidi (watch, runtime: 4:01). The result of such “retail greed” was EGP 6 bn going into the pockets of merchants instead of to the state, Omar added. We have chapter and verse on the new taxes in Speed Round, below.
Is it a good idea to postpone your next car purchase? That’s what the self-appointed Let It Rust campaign is claiming (not that they have any interest in the question…). A new wave of car price drops is expected within the next three months as a result of the EGP appreciation, Let it Rust campaign spokesperson Mohamed Shetta tells Adib (watch, runtime: 4:49). (We suggest you not try holding your breath waiting for that to happen.)