Last night on the airwaves: The latest from Brics, the 2024 presidential election and more covid-19 coverage.

We’re joining Brics: Egypt’s invitation to join the Brics bloc along with five other countries on Thursday, dominated coverage last night.

Expectations are perhaps a bit too high in some quarters: Egypt’s acceptance into the group is expected to significantly reduce demand for the USD in the local market, as the alliance looks to use local currencies in intra-country trade, the head of the Trade Ministry’s Commercial Representation Sector, Yahya Al Wathiq Billah, told Ahmed Mousa on Ala Masouleety (watch, runtime: 13:31). Al Wathiq Billah urged the Central Bank of Egypt to develop an appropriate plan that benefits from Egypt’s membership of the alliance.

Joining the alliance will also provide new financing opportunities for Egypt, and enhance cross-trade with other Brics countries, thereby attracting more foreign investments, Assistant Supply Minister Ibrahim Ashmawy told Ala Masouleety (watch, runtime: 3:38). Egypt’s position as a key commercial gateway boosted its acceptance to the group, Ashmawy added, plus it is the largest market in the Arab world (watch, runtime: 3:49). Ashmawy is also head of both the EMX mercantile exchange and the Internal Trade Development Authority (ITDA). We have the full story in this morning’s news well, above.

Also giving the summit coverage: Masaa DMC (watch, runtime: 3:55), Ala Masouleety (watch, runtime: 5:55), Al Hayah Al Youm (watch, runtime: 18:59) all dedicated airtime to the summit.

Election 2024: Several parties have announced their support for President Abdel Fattah El Sisi’s expected bid to secure a third term in office, with pro-government party Mostaqbal Watan and the Free Egyptians Party leading the way. Ala Masouleety’s Ahmed Moussa discussed the reasons behind the two parties’ support for the president’s candidacy with Mostaqbal Watan Rep. Ashraf Rashad and Essam Khalil, head of the Free Egyptians Party, (watch, runtime: 2:00 | watch, runtime: 10:05). Meanwhile, Masaa DMC covered the Free Egyptians Party’s new pro-El Sisi campaign for the upcoming election (watch, runtime: 5:33).

Also on the airwaves last night:

  • Covid-19: Al Hayah Al Youm and Masaa DMC continued the covid chatter discussing the first two cases of the Eris variant recorded in Egypt (watch, runtime: 15:16 | 7:10).
  • US-Egypt military drills: Ala Masouleety gave coverage to the Bright Star 2023 joint military exercises, which the US and Egypt will lead starting from 31 August. More than 8k soldiers from 34 countries will participate in the activities, which will continue until 14 September, a military spokesman for the Egyptian Armed Forces said (watch, runtime: 2:44).
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