Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, and happy Monday. This second day of the week couldn’t get any better as we have news of another day off.
PSA-
Public sector employees officially have Sunday, 30 June off in observance of 30 June Revolution Day, Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly’s office announced today.
THE BIG STORY TODAY
World Bank grants Egypt USD 700 mn in Development Policy Financing: The World Bank has announced that it will be providing Egypt with USD 700 mn in Development Policy Financing (DPF), in a move to help “support the country to shift toward more private sector participation, better macroeconomic and fiscal resilience, and a greener growth trajectory,” the World Bank and the International Cooperation Ministry said in separate statements on Monday.
The funding comes as part of a three-year USD 6 bn financing package from the Bank that was announced in March, which the bank said is designed to help boost private sector growth and job creation, and to “enhance human capital outcomes, foster climate resilience, and strengthen economic management,” the lender’s statement read. Of the USD 700 mn included in the current DPF, USD 200 mn will be contingent on complementary financing from other development partners, the bank said.
THE BIG STORY ABROAD
Iranians go to the polls this Friday for the country’s presidential elections, garnering the attention of the international press. Iran’s former president Ebrahim Raisi died after a helicopter carrying him and Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian crashed in May. Bloomberg profiles the six men selected by Iran’s Guardian Council to run in the election, the majority of whom are anti-US hard liners although Masoud Pezeshkian stands out as the sole reformist candidate. Meanwhile Reuters spoke to young voters about the likelihood that they will take part in the election, which one described as “a circus.”
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Beltone Holding is revamping its Beltone Trading Appinto an investment fund platform with a new fully digital onboarding process.
Saudi-Egyptian Industrial Investment’s acquisition bid for El Nasr Glass is back on: The Saudi-Egyptian Industrial Investment company is considering reviving its bid to acquire a majority stake in the state-owned El Nasr Glass and Crystal Company.
☀️ TOMORROW’S WEATHER- Another scorcher with a high of 39°C and a low of 25°C in Cairo, according to our favorite weather app.
Older women are fighting back against the status quo for a healthier, happier life. For many women, aging has been framed as a tragedy to try to avoid. The beauty industry is forecasted to generate a revenue of USD 646.2 bn this year on the back of the insecurities they manufacture. But as it turns out, the secret to aging well is to look forward to it.
Mind over matter:Studies show that having a positive outlook towards aging decreased chances of dying from any cause by 43% compared to people who have a negative view of aging. In fact, people over 50 who are pessimistic about growing old have higher chances of experiencing a cardiac event or cognitive decline.
Find a passion that takes you places. Writer Caroline Paul followed women aged 60+ who surfed, birdwatched and spent more time outdoors to study their effect on their outlook on aging. The bottom line is that pursuing adventures (no matter how small) made it easy to debunk myths about aging.
Spending time outdoors has been shown to be biologically critical for humans. Nature has inherent healing properties — phytoncides, chemicals released by trees, help strengthen our immune system, the sound of birds chirping has positive effects on our brainwaves, and the patterns we observe in clouds and ocean waves help us relax. Just taking a walk outside has been shown to spike cognitive function. And just 15 to 45 minutes a day is enough to make a difference.
A childlike sense of wonder will improve your quality of life. Trying new things, whether they inspire awe or fear, is important to a healthy body. Inflammatory markers for people being led to experience childlike wonder decreased significantly compared to a control group. They also reported a decrease in anxiety and depression.
You can teach an old dog new tricks. Earlier this year, 99-year-old Betty Brussel broke three swimming world records. In mid-May of this year, Amy Appelhans, aged 55, was the first-ever swimmer to complete a 17-hour, 47.7 km swim from San Francisco to the Farallon Islands.
Brain plasticity is still alive and well even as we age. New brain cells are generated all the time, no matter where we are along our life journeys. Even in the event of faltering cognition, new neural pathways are created to cope. Not only is learning something new possible for older people, but it’s also crucial to having a healthy brain.
Team Black or Team Green? Episode 1, aptly titled ‘A Son for a Son’ takes us a few days after the end of season one, when the news of the death of Rhaenyra Targaryen’s (Emma D’Arcy) son reaches Dragonstone. The queen grieves the loss of her son Lucerys (Elliot Grihault) at the hands of Vhagar, Aemond Targaryen’s (Ewan Mitchell) dragon that taunted the young prince in the air and defied its rider by attacking Rhaenyra’s son and dragon. Need a refresher? Check out this recap.
Needless to say, King’s Landing is preparing for vengeance. With only one dragon to guard them, Aegon II (Tom Glynn-Carney), his sister-wife Helena, and Queen Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) are trying to stipulate their rule. They are also looking for ways to prepare for an impending war with Rhaenyra and her allies as they anticipate that she seeks to avenge her son. An expectation that foretells a possible war scene that we hope will blow our socks off some time during this season.
Keep an eye on Larys Strong. Remember that conniving Strong (Matthew Needham) with a fetish for feet and a thirst for blood? Catching up with Littlefinger’s long line of strategizing and deceptions, Strong works on Alicent to forgo her father, Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans) as Hand of the King, and place him in the role instead. Oh, and Ser Criston Cole (Fabian Frankel) and Queen Alicent are now lovers — information that Larys can use against Alicent and probably prepare for more court maneuvers and bloodshed that will have us at the edge of our seats.
Starks, Lannisters, and other side characters are getting their moment in the sun. Unlike season one, this latest iteration sees plenty of focus on the development of the members of other families and the roles they play as both Black and Green look for allies. We are also looking for complications in power-hungry Daemon (Matt Smith) and Rhaenyra’s relationship and whether the night walkers will actually make an appearance.
And listen to Helena. Dismissed as a nutcase, Aegon’s sister-wife (Phia Saban) is a bit of an oracle, and most of her news is usually terribly foretelling…
…a death scene not for the faint of heart. In proper George R.R. Martin fashion we bear witness to a grisly murder that had viewers wishing it wouldn’t happen until the very last moment. But we are certain that it will set the wheels in motion for a riveting second episode titled ‘Rhaenyra the Cruel’ that we will be rushing home to watch.
NOTE- The episodes air every Monday around 4am here in Om El Donia.
⚽Group B qualifiers for UEFA 2024 are reaching their conclusion today at 10pm with the following matches:
Albania vs Spain
Croatia vs Italy
Spain in the lead. The Spaniards currently lead the group after securing six points in the first two rounds. The second place is still in the air between Italy (three points) and Albania and Croatia (both at one point each).
Brazil will begin paving its path throughout Copa America 2024, meeting Costa Rica on the pitch at 4am as part of Group D’s matches. Colombia will also be going head to head against Paraguay past our bedtimes at 1am.
This morning’s results: Uruguay beat Panama with a 3-1 score to lead Group C. Meanwhile, the US beat Bolivia 2-0 to take the second place in the group.
Today in Egyptian Premier League:
National Bank vs Baladiyat Al Mahalla (4pm)
El Dakhleya vs ZED (7pm)
Pharco vs Al Ittihad (7pm)
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? EAT THIS TONIGHT-
Stuck in Cairo and in need of a new workspace? Try outIlo Speciality CoffeeHouse. Located in New Cairo, the cafe has great coffee, great staff, and great decor. Not only do they serve all the classics, but they add their own personal spin to some of their menu’s offerings.
Their coffee is more like a miniature dessert: The caramel macchiato and brown latte were delicious and unique. If you’re a coffee connoisseur who prefers something less sugary, they have a whole specialty drop and cold brew menu with all concoctions created from carefully sourced coffee beans. We personally enjoy the Ilo cold brew or Aeropress (comparable to Brown Nose’s Aerocano) for a less bitter, but strong taste.
You can pair your drink with a delicious pastry: The croissants, especially the chocolate one, hit the spot. But if you’re craving something savory, there’s a large assortment of sandwiches to try. Also, if you’re not into coffee, there are fun non-caffeinated drinks to try like fresh juices or mojito mixes, and more.
Other than the food and drink, the staff is extremely friendly and welcoming. The warm ambiance means Ilo has the makings of a new staple coffee spot. If you choose to sit and enjoy your order there, you’ll be pleased to be surrounded by tasteful decor and comfortable seating.
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? OUT AND ABOUT- (all times CLT)
HAPPENING THIS WEEK-
The Man Eaten By Papers is a take on the human struggle against capitalism. The performances started yesterday on the Falaki Stage in Downtown Cairo at 8pm and end tonight. Tickets for the second and final night can be purchased here.
Giselle will be presented by the Cairo Opera Ballet Company and the Cairo Symphony Orchestra. This ballet performance is a story of romance and tragedy and will take place at the Grand Theatre of the Cairo Opera House over two days: Thursday, 27 and Friday, 28 June. Get your tickets here for Thursday and Friday.
Layali Misr x Hamaki: Superstar Mohamed Hamaki will be in concert at the New Cairo Arena on 28 June. Book a ticket, table, or lounge here.
Medhat Saleh x Maestro Amro Selim in the large hall at the Opera. The musical performance will be on Saturday, 29 June starting at 8:30pm. Click here to get your tickets.
Amr Diab takes the stage at Sol Beach in Marassi, North Coast. The concert also features DJ Adam Port on Saturday, 29 June starting from 9pm. Get your tickets here.
Enjoy a musical performance by Bahara along with Hawas and Meshwar at CJC on Saturday, 29 June. Doors will open from 8pm and the show begins at 10pm. To reserve, contact CJC via Facebook.
Don't miss the comedic musical journey I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change at Rawabet Art Space from Thursday, 27 June to Saturday, 29 June. Explore the ups and downs of love and relationships through humorous scenes and heartwarming songs that will have you laughing and nodding along. Secure your tickets for June 27, June 28, and June 29.
HAPPENING LATER-
Egyptian Nights with Cairokee. The Egyptian band will be performing at the AAST in Alexandria as a part of the Egyptian Nights Festival on Saturday, 13 July at 8pm. Click here for the tickets.
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? UNDER THE LAMPLIGHT-
My Rubies Are Gone is all about the glitz and the glam of the roaring 20s in Ottawa. The main character Simone Grey thrives in the scene, dedicating her life to luxury. Jet-setting, vacationing, and socializing are how she spends her time until a sequence of jewel robberies threatens her peace. After her world is shaken, Simone takes it upon herself to find the culprit before she’s robbed of everything she cherishes.
Not life-changing but a light and easy read. The mix of historical fiction and the high-society, snobby life is an intriguing blend. Simone has questionable priorities and it makes her unlikable but we think a book is doing something right when you feel strongly about the protagonist. Her being quite an amateur at sleuthing makes a lot of bits amusing to read, though.
The best part is the ironic ending. We won’t say that this book is full of twists and turns, but it isn’t predictable either. It’s just a solid, quick read. If you’ve been out of the reading game for a while, this is a nice way to ease back into it seeing as it’s only 97 pages long and not particularly difficult to get through. Then, when you’re done, there’s the rest of the trilogy (The Deadly Exclusives) waiting for you so you don’t lose momentum.
The EGX30 fell 0.6% at today’s close on turnover of EGP 3.7 bn (16.6% below the 90-day average). Foreign investors were net sellers. The index is up 8.1% YTD.
In the green: GB Corp (+6.5%), Mopco (+3.4%), and Ibnsina Pharma (+3.3%).
In the red: Telecom Egypt (-6.6%), Orascom Construction (-2.5%), and Oriental Weavers (-2.0%).
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