It was a busy night on the airwaves last night, with the talking heads focused on the latest updates (or lack thereof) on the GERD negotiations and the harassment scandal taking over social media.

GERD update: Al Kahera Alaan’s Lamees El Hadidi also covered the GERD talks, speaking with Mohammad El Sibai, the spokesperson for the Irrigation and Water Resources Ministry, who said that each country’s technical and international legal committees were being listened to separately (watch, runtime: 57:20). Meanwhile, Masaa DMC's Eman El Hosary spoke with the head of the Cairo University’s International Law Department, Mohamed Sameh Amr, who said that this round of talks are focused on the technical issues, which he said weren’t significant sticking points (watch, runtime: 7:32). El Hekaya’s Amr Adib (watch, runtime: 2:10) and Al Hayah Al Youm’s Lobna Assal (watch, runtime: 5:59) also covered the talks.

Alleged repeat [redacted] offender in spotlight: El Hadidi spoke with Nihad Abu El Qumsan, the lawyer and head of the Egyptian Center for Women's Rights, who discussed the numerous calls she received from women who filed complaints against a former AUC student at the center of [redacted] assault and harassment case receiving widespread media coverage. Abu El Qumsan said that the women face an unfriendly environment when filing official complaints with prosecutors and that their anonymity is not always safeguarded (watch, runtime: 13:07). Adib spoke with the head of the National Council for Women, Maya Morsi, who said she received more than 100 separate complaints against the individual. She encouraged the women to pursue their complaints, assuring them that they will remain confidential and that they’ll receive the council’s full support (watch, runtime: 4:52). Assal also covered the story (watch, runtime: 11:55).

El Kabbaj on pensions in FY2020-2021: El Hosary spoke with Social Solidarity Minister Nevine El Kabbaj, who said that the total increase in the pensioners’ fund this year is EGP 60 bn, including EGP 35 bn for new bonuses for some 2.4 bn beneficiaries. She said that the ministry is considering extending the bonuses to the private sector, especially press institutions. She added that there are also plans to invest the takaful and karama pensions (watch, runtime: 3:02).

Mosque festivities ban: El Hosary also highlighted the Endowments Ministry’s statement on prohibiting any celebrations or religious ceremonies in mosques or their surrounding areas as a covid-19 precaution. The statement stressed that violators will see their mosques shuttered (watch, runtime: 1:42).