Good afternoon, friends. Congratulations on making it to the end of the workweek, especially with the start of school drop-offs, pick-ups, lunchboxes, and homework enforcement.

THE BIG STORY TODAY-

Gov’t back on track with water desalination plans: The Madbouly government plans to launch its first tender of renewables-powered water desalination plants in partnership with the private sector in December, a senior government source told EnterpriseAM. The project, which has been delayed for two years, will move forward with a batch of two to four plants.

REMEMBER- It was first revealed in December 2022 that Egypt will sign contracts to build 21 desalination plants in 2023, as part of the first USD 3 bn phase of the government’s desalination program. These plants are expected to process a combined 3.3 mn cubic meters (mcm) of water per day. The program will later expand this to 8.8 mcm / d at a total cost of USD 8 bn. More than 200 developers from 35 countries have shown interest in bidding for the projects.

THE BIG STORY ABROAD-

It’s another busy afternoon in the global press as we wrap up the workweek, led by the Jimmy Kimmel show being taken off air and Trump’s meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Popular US late-night television show Jimmy Kimmel Live has been taken off air “indefinitely” following comments made on Monday about the suspected assassin of popular podcaster and conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The comedian and host alleged that the suspect — 22-year-old Tyler Robinson — is a supporter of US President Donald Trump’s Maga movement and criticized the administration’s subsequent attempts to “characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them.”

The episode was cause for much criticism, prompting the Disney-owned ABC network to nix the show. “Jimmy Kimmel Live will be pre-empted indefinitely,” an ABC spokesperson said, with further details remaining under wraps. The decision follows public pressure from the Trump administration to “punish Kimmel.” Trump — who has long notoriously pressured liberal-leaning media figures and broadcasters — celebrated the news. “Kimmel has zero talent,” the US President wrote on Truth Social.

Jimmy Kimmel Live follows in the footsteps of Stephen Colbert’s The Late Night Show, cancelled earlier in May after its host criticised parent network Paramount’s lawsuit settlement with Trump. “That leaves Jimmy [Fallon] and Seth [Meyers], two total losers, on fake news NBC. Their ratings are also horrible. Do it NBC,” Trump wrote. (BBC | CNN | Reuters | Financial Times | Guardian)

ACROSS THE POND- All eyes remain on Trump, following his arrival at Chequers Estate to meet with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on the second day of his visit to the country. The meeting follows yesterday’s state banquet with the royal family, which Trump described as one of the “highest honors” of his life. Both leaders are expected to discuss a slew of topics, including the Russia-Ukraine war and the latest attacks in Gaza. (BBC | CNN | Reuters | Guardian)

☀️ TOMORROW’S WEATHER- The weekend is off to a relatively cool start, with temperatures in the capital peaking at 33°C before cooling down to 21°C, according to our favorite weather app.

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