Egypt’s economic performance in FY2020-2021 topped the agenda of the nation’s talking heads yesterday: Kelma Akhira’s Lames El Hadidi (watch, runtime: 3:28) and Al Hayah Al Youm (watch, runtime 1:40) both covered the fiscal figures released by Ittihadiya yesterday, which showed that the government beat its budget deficit and primary surplus targets. Arqaam Capital analyst Noaman Khalid told El Hadidi that the government’s response to the covid-19 pandemic contributed to the positive figures, reacting in a way that mitigated its impact on public finances (watch, runtime 5:58). The IMF’s ranking of Egypt as the third largest economy in the Arab region by the end of 2021 also got attention from Al Hayah Al Youm (watch, runtime 5:39). We have more details on the story in this morning’s Economy section, above.

There was more speculation about an incoming cabinet shuffle on the airwaves: MP Mostafa Bakry said in a phone interview with Ra’ee Aam that Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly is the only minister whose position is safe, and suggested that both Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and Interior Minister Mahmoud Tawfeek could be on their way out of government (watch, runtime 7:05). Meanwhile, El Hekaya’s Amr Adib called for the appointment of younger ministers to the cabinet (watch, runtime 2:03).