The talking heads followed the recent formula last night, with building codes and covid-19 getting airtime.

Sharqiya ups discount for settling building violations: Al Hayah Al Youm’s Lobna Assal phoned Sharqiya Governor Mamdouh Ghorab, who said that the governorate will now offer a 50% discount on fines paid to the government to settle building violations. The governorate initially cut fees by 20% under rules announced by Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly earlier this month (watch: runtime: 5:57).

Higher Education Ministry rep talks covid-19 precautions in schools: Masaa DMC's Eman El Hosary phoned Adel Khattab, member of the Higher Education Ministry’s virus committee, who said that children under the age of five will not be required to wear a facemask in class due to the potential effects on the respiratory system, but instead they should wear face shields. Students will also not be required to wear protective equipment during sports activities, he said (watch: runtime: 7:36).

El Wazir on infrastructure projects in Upper Egypt: Ala Mas'ouleety's Ahmed Moussa phoned Transport Minister Kamel El Wazir, who said that the ministry is working to build 13 axes in Upper Egypt and pave all intersections as part of a EGP 36.7 bn plan that will eventually resurface all village roads in the region. The government spent EGP 2 bn during the last FY to develop roads in several governorates, and has allocated a further EGP 5.3 bn for the next phase of development, he said, adding that the ministry will also work on a tunnel under the Nile in Luxor, connecting the east and west banks of the river. El Wazir also said that the ministry is working to clean, disinfect and line the Luxor-Assiut El Kalabiya canal and Assiut-Abou El Nomros canal (watch: runtime: 24:51).

Madbouly announces Capital Gardens residential area outside NAC: Assal highlighted Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly’s visit to the new administrative capital yesterday, where he announced that the government had started work on the Capital Gardens residential area, lying between the new administrative capital and New Cairo. The new area will serve as an extension to Badr City, and is being built due to the high demand for housing in the area, he said (watch, runtime: 2:21). Masaa DMC’s Eman El Hosary also covered the news (watch, runtime: 1:17).

Wafaa Bassim becomes first Egyptian woman on the UN Human Rights Committee: Assal phoned Wafaa Bassim, who on Friday was elected to the UN Human Rights Committee for a four-year term. Bassim said that she is the first Egyptian woman to sit on the committee, and attributed her election to strong Egyptian diplomacy. Bassim has previously served as Egypt’s permanent representative to the UN in Geneva, and was Egypt’s ambassador to Romania, Moldova, and the Holy See. She also served on the National Council for Women’s foreign affairs committee (watch, runtime: 8:02).