The nation’s talking heads were preoccupied with Mohamed Ali’s renewed calls for protests on the anniversary of the small demonstrations seen in 2019. Meanwhile, Suez Canal Authority head Osama Rabie talked to Al Hadath Al Youm about a potential UAE-Israel oil pipeline, Al Hayah Al Youm hosted a discussion about private/non-profit universities, and Masaa DMC turned its attention to the upcoming parliamentary elections.

Empty streets: Last night’s main talking point was the hush on the streets that greeted calls from exiled actor Mohamed Ali for anti-government protests. Ala Mas'ouleety's Ahmed Moussa showed videos of Mansoura (watch, runtime: 4:17), Al Hayah Al Youm’s Lobna Assal made sure to point out Ali’s failure (watch, runtime: 2:50), and Masaa DMC's Eman El Hosary gave a rundown of social media coverage (watch, runtime: 2:50). Adib also got on the bandwagon with a review of government-commissioned development projects over the past few years (watch, runtime: 1:07).

Proposal for UAE-Israel oil pipeline spells trouble for the Suez Canal? In a phone call with Al Hadath Al Youm’s Sayed Ali, Suez Canal Authority head Osama Rabie warned of the potential consequences for Egypt’s Suez Canal revenues of a proposed oil pipeline linking Israel and the UAE. The owners of the Eilat-Ashkelon pipeline, a 60-year-old pipeline built to lessen Israel’s dependence on the Suez Canal, recently suggested that the UAE-Israel normalization pact means that it could now be used to connect oil and gas reserves in the Gulf to Israel’s Mediterranean shores. Rabie said the plans would pose a national security risk to Egypt, depriving it of a vital source of revenue. The government is now working on a new marketing strategy to attract ships to the Suez Canal, he said, adding that the pipeline for now does not pose a threat to Egypt’s strategic position (watch, runtime: 4:31).

Talks with heads of Gen-2 universities: Assal sat down with the heads of four new non-profit and private universities that recently opened their doors. Ashraf Haidar, acting head of Galala University, told her that his institution houses 15 faculties offering 33 degree programs in fields covering advanced sciences. Ahmed El Gohary, who leads the Egypt-Japan University, meanwhile, said that Egypt attracted partnerships with Japan despite competition from many other Arab countries (watch, runtime: 42:37). The guests also included Magdy El Kady, president of University of Canada’s new branch in the administrative capital, and Ashraf Saad, who leads King Salman International University, which will have several branches in Sinai.

‘Welcome Schools’ expo open for visitors: Assal phoned assistant Supply Minister Ayman Hossam, who said that nearly 175 exhibitors are now stationed at the Cairo Fair Zone for the annual ‘Welcome Schools’ expo, which kicked off yesterday and will wrap up on Sunday (watch, runtime: 7:49).

A lot of people want a seat in the House of Representatives: Masaa DMC’s Eman El Hosary phoned constitutional lawyer Shawki El Sayed, who reported that a significant number of people have submitted applications to run in the upcoming parliamentary elections. Prospective MPs have until Saturday to submit their applications to the National Election Authority. The elections will take place over two phases in October and November, and will kick-off on 21 October when expats from the 14 governorates included in the first phase of voting go to the polls (watch, runtime: 8:15).