Happy Thursday, readers: We have brisk issue to close out another week.

PSA: Cloudy with a chance of sand: Expect wind, rain, sand and dust in the capital today and tomorrow as Khamaseen continues, the Egyptian Meteorological Authority said yesterday.

HAPPENING TODAY-

Inflation data to land: Capmas and the central bank will publish May’s inflation data today.

What the analysts are saying: Consumer prices are expected to have resumed their upward trajectory last month, according to the median forecast in a Reuters poll of 13 analysts which puts annual urban inflation at 31.4%, up from 30.6% in April. Inflation has soared to near-record highs this year on the back of a series of currency devaluations, the FX crunch and higher energy prices.

El Sisi in Zambia:President Abdel Fattah El Sisi is in Zambia today to attend the summit of the Common Market for Easter and Southern African(COMESA), Ittihadiya said last night.

Africa Health Excon: It’s the penultimate day of Africa Health Excon at the Egypt International Exhibition Center. Check out the agenda here.

ITU meeting: It’s the final day of the International Telecommunication Union’s Global Symposium for Regulators in Sharm El Sheikh.

HAPPENING NEXT WEEK-

IMF deputy MD in Cairo: IMF deputy managing director Antoinette Sayeh will land in Cairo in the coming days to meet with Egyptian officials regarding the government’s economic reform program, IMF representative Said Bakhache told Ahram Online. Sayeh will attend the launch of an IMF paper on Sunday, according to the newspaper, which didn’t provide further details about her schedule.

Review delayed:Originally scheduled for mid-March, the IMF has postponed the first review of Egypt’s loan program due to delays implementing several of its key conditions. Under the USD 3 bn facility, Egypt committed to adopting a fully flexible exchange rate and accelerating its privatization program as a means to ending the prolonged FX crunch. The government aims to raise USD 2 bn via asset sales by the end of this month.

Check out our full calendar on the web for a comprehensive listing of upcoming news events, national holidays and news triggers.

WATCH THIS SPACE-

We could see a government decision on electricity prices in two weeks: Recommendations for new electricity tariffs have been sent to the cabinet for approval and could be announced within the next two weeks, Al Borsareports, citing government sources. Electricity prices have been frozenover the past year under efforts to protect households from the rising cost of living. The current freeze is due to expire at the end of the current fiscal year on 30 June.

THE BIG STORY ABROAD-

The disappearance of the US’s East Coast under a thick yellowish haze is front pages of the foreign press this morning: Smoke drifting southwards from Canadian wildfires has blanketed virtually the entire Atlantic seaboard, prompting the cancellation of flights, outdoor activities, and schools. New York was said to have the worst air quality of anywhere in the world, and residents have been advised to remain indoors. (Associated Press | Reuters | Bloomberg | Financial Times | New York Times | Washington Post | Wall Street Journal |

A rocky road for Cairo’s bike-sharing program: Nine months after its debut, local media is reporting that some of the Cairo Bikestations on the streets of downtown Cairo have been removed. Cairo Governoratesaid that after running a comprehensive review of the scheme, it has commissioned another local operator to take over and solve technical issues, including that the scheme’s app didn’t allow for the use of some payment methods. The governorate says the initiative will continue to operate all of its 500 bicycles and 45 stations. The project has stations in Downtown, Zamalek, and Garden City.

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