NATO influencers

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WHAT WE’RE TRACKING TONIGHT

THIS EVENING: Egypt will pay USD 3.2 bn to clear IOC’s arrears before the end of FY 2024-25

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, and happy hump day. We are racing to reach the weekend for a respite after this full business week.

THE BIG STORY TODAY-

Egypt to pay USD 3.2 bn to clear IOC’s arrears before the end of FY 2024-25: The government is set to clear off some USD 3.2 bn worth of arrears to foreign oil and gas companies operating in the country during the current fiscal year, with the payments set to be carried out over three installments throughout the year, Asharq Business reported today, citing an unnamed government official. The first installment — valued at approximately USD 1.2 bn — is scheduled for October, with the remaining payments each estimated at USD 1 bn, the source said.

This could get oil and gas tenders back on track: The state-run Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC) had been working on launching 10-12 international oil and gas exploration tenders, with priority given to areas in the Red Sea, South Valley, and southern Egypt, an oil industry source previously told Enterprise. However, delayed arrears to international firms have since forced the EGPC to push back the offerings after they were initially slated to be launched in succession.

THE BIG STORY ABROAD-

Not much has changed since our recap this AM — Trump is still making headlines. The attempted assassination just days ago didn’t deter Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump from attending the Republican National Convention, where he formally accepted his candidacy and named Ohio Senator JD Vance as his running mate. Once a vocal critic of Trump’s, the 39-year-old senator has been criticized by pundits as an opportunist due to the differences in their political beliefs, with his motives pointing to the 2028 presidential race. Vance’s appointment may harbor bad news for Kyiv, as the senator has strongly opposed additional aid to Ukraine, saying that the country and the EU have been overly reliant on American aid, and had previously encouraged them to cede territory to Russia. (Reuters | Bloomberg | CNBC | CNN)

** CATCH UP QUICK on the top stories from today’s EnterpriseAM:

More discussions with the IMF are underway: The IMF is in discussions with the new Madbouly cabinet over its policy and goals for the coming three years.
El Sisi ratifies Unified Ins. Law: President Abdel Fattah El Sisi has given the final approval for the Unified Ins. Law, which will draw up new, comprehensive rules for regulating the ins. industry and widen compulsory coverage.
MaxAB and Wasoko’s merger is fast approaching: Egyptian B2B e-commerce platform MaxAB and Kenya-based Wasoko are set to complete their merger within the next few weeks.

☀️ TOMORROW’S WEATHER- We’re seeing a high of 38°C and a low of 26°C in Cairo, according to our favorite weather app. Alexandria and Sahel are a bit cooler with a high of 33°C and a low of 24°C.

Apple’s iOS 18 beta makes its debut

Hold onto your hats, fellow iSheep — the beta version of Apple’s iOS18 is out. While the most anticipated AI feature — aka Apple Intelligence — is not available yet, there are plenty of updates that are worth the test run.

Here is a sneak peek into some of its new features:

#1- You can now send texts via satellite, meaning that there’s no need to hold your phone to the sky to get reception in case of an emergency. This is a game-changer for those who tend to travel off the grid — but it only works if the person you’re trying to reach has also updated their phone.

#2- No more green bubbles: iOS 18 also introduces support for RCS messages, enhancing texting experience with phones running on Android. It comes fully equipped with typing indicators, read receipts, and higher-quality media sharing.

#3- Privacy also gets a boost. You now have the option to lock individual apps, with access needing additional information, whether Face ID, Touch ID, or a passcode. Locked apps won’t display data across other places in the system, minimizing the accidental peek here or there. You can also hide specific apps within a locked folder.

#4- For those who travel poorly, we have great news. Delete those motion sickness glasses from your cart. Apple’s new Visual Motion Cues feature helps you minimize the discomfort by placing animated dots along the edges of your screen, mimicking the motion of the vehicle.

#5- Customize your screen: Say goodbye to fiddling with app placement and trying to get your widgets to fit without having to redesign your whole display. The new update allows flexible app placement — something Android users take for granted — and personalized icon styles and colors. You will also have more freedom to customize your Lock Screen controls and the Control Center, with some brand-new widgets from your favorite apps.

#6- Ditch the notes, automatic transcription is taking over. Both the Phone and Voice Memo apps will have built-in transcription tech. Live phone calls can be transcribed on the fly, perfect for quick business calls. The voice memo app will automatically convert the audio file to text after you finish recording.

How do you download it? The process may be a little arduous for those who aren’t superfans. But if you can’t wait for the full version of iOS 18 to drop later this year, sign up for the software through Apple’s Beta Software Program. Then, go to Settings > General > Software Update > Beta Updates and select the iOS 18 public beta from the dropdown menu. But first, make sure your iPhone is compatible with the new software, and updated to the latest public version of iOS.

REMEMBER- This is still a beta version — the software has some instabilities and is still under construction, according to Apple. Remember to back up your phone beforehand to avoid any loss of data if you come across a bug.

NATO x social media influencers. The security alliance has invited (some) social media influencers to attend this year’s NATO summit, which took place 9-11 July in Washington DC. This initiative was taken up to appeal to the younger generations who appear to be relying on social media for information and knowledge. This year, the content creators selected were from member nations that include the US, UK, and Belgium, reports The Washington Post.

This isn’t the first time. Bringing on influencers has been happening since 2022 and is part of their Protect the Future initiative. This scheme aims to raise awareness of NATO’s role in protecting the future of younger generations and to let them share the alliance’s story. The social media influencers were granted access to the press briefing room for the Pentagon with the likes of heavy hitters such as Fox News and the Associated Press. They were even present for the ‘Family photo,’ where the NATO member nations’ Heads of State took their annual photograph.

Raise rapport with Gen Z + Alpha. “NATO is one of the greatest success stories that the world has ever known, and we want to make sure that we’re reaching new and different audiences to tell that story,” said Jennifer Min, director of digital media for the Defense Department. NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, Philippe Lavigne even posed for selfies with the influencers. “Their fresh perspectives & innovative storytelling, their commitment to promoting reliable info empowers young people to make informed decisions about their future security,” he said on X.

Why does this matter? Well, one invitee is Antony John Polcari, aka Tony P, who admitted to thinking that the gig was related to Sharknado (a movie about sharks being swept into a hurricane that hits LA) at first, interpreting his manager saying NATO as an abbreviation to ‘nado. This highlights the disconnect between younger generations and big players in world politics despite their engagement with political activism.

What content are they sharing exactly? Tony P took to Instagram to talk about the birth of NATO, while V Spehar, the host of Under the Desk News on TikTok, was able to stop Blinken in the State Department hallway and ask him about the importance of NATO and its impact historically. Other content creators were not given prompts or content briefs, as they were not paid their normally charged fees.

One of the first Arabic true crime docuseries

? ON THE TUBE TONIGHT-
(all times CLT)

Unveiling the shadows of Arab true crime in Dark Minds. This docuseries is the first-of-its-kind produced by Al Sharq TV and SRMG and has recently made its debut on Netflix Middle East and North Africa. Spanning seven episodes it tackles shocking true crime stories that have rocked Arab cities both large and small. Unlike many Western crime documentaries that often sensationalized violence, this one aims to unfold the complexity and psychological motives behind these crimes.

The series navigates through decades and across six Arab countries — Tunisia, Lebanon, Iraq, Egypt, Jordan, and Morocco. The narrative journeys back to the 1980s, revisiting the chilling tale of a child murderer in Tunisia’s tranquil city of Nabeul. From there, it navigates through the decades, presenting stories of serial killers from Jordan in the 1990s and Beirut, Giza, and Kirkuk in the new millennium. Each episode carefully examines the societal pressures that have enabled these heinous crimes, revealing how performative piety and moral posturing can give criminals a veneer of respectability.

The documentary aims to understand — not justify — the motives of the perpetrators. It explores the psychological underpinnings of their actions, suggesting that a broken childhood often lies behind every criminal. Through intimate interviews with victims’ families and archival footage, which prompts introspection on parenting practices and societal norms, challenging viewers to learn from these dark tales.

It’s a provocative documentary that sheds light on the darkest corners of the human soul. It also challenges the reevaluation of justice systems, parenting practices, and societal norms, asking whether there is a way to summon light to such dark minds.

WHERE TO WATCH- You can watch the mini-series on Netflix or catch the trailer (watch trailer,runtime: 1:30).

⚽ Al Ahly are on their way to the top: The Red Devils are going head to head with Modern Sport tonight at 9pm in a postponed match from round 17 of the Nile League. As of now, Al Ahly are occupying second place with 60 points (from 24 matches) and are aiming for a victory streak in all their postponed matches. Whereas Modern Sport stands in fourth place with 47 points and is trying to move up the ranks to position itself securely in the top four.

Perfect your speech skills by attending The Art of Public Speaking. The workshop will take place starting Friday, 19 July, and will continue through to Saturday, 20 July at AUC Tahrir Campus. Covering everything from how to prepare a speech to how to deliver it with confidence, this workshop is perfect for those who lead careers where this trait is an asset.

How Love Began is a play that explores romantic relationships in the year 3000 after emotions have become extinct and will be performed from Thursday, July 18, Friday, 19, Saturday, 20, Sunday, 21, Tuesday, 23, Wednesday, 24, Thursday, 25 and Wednesday, 31 at Rawabet Art Space in downtown. Book your spot here.

Gen Z WTes’eeniYa Gedo is taking over Rawabet Art Space’s stage this month. From Thursday, July 18 till Wednesday, July 31 from 8pm watch a play that explores the generational divide through conversations at a coffee shop. It follows three generations as they discuss their struggles, highlighting the impact of technology on their lives and the challenges of finding common ground. Get your tickets here.

Mouled Ahl Al Zikr x Sawy Culture Wheel: Sheikh Mahmoud Al Tohamy will present an evening of recitation and chanting at El Sawy Wheel in Zamalek this Friday, July 19 at 8 pm. Reserve your tickets here.

Awaken your feminine divine powers at a Cacao Ceremony & Sound Healing workshop. At Bayt Salam on Saturday, July 20, go on a journey of deep healing and self-discovery, including cacao spirit invocation, meditation, intention setting, and sound healing. For more information on attendance and booking click here.

Spend your weekend on a tour through Historic Cairo: On Saturday, July 20 explore the historic houses of Beit al Harawy, Beit al Set Wassila, and Beit Gamal Al Din Al Zahaby, and the church of Virgin Mary in Haret el Roum, where the Coptic Orthodox Pope sat from 1660 to 1799, and Abdel Zaher did his bookbinding. To book your spot click here.

Want art but need to keep your kidney? Visit The Summer Affordable Art Show at TAMGallery, which runs until Monday, July 22. If the title was not self-explanatory, expect to find the works of over 150 contemporary Egyptian artists to enjoy and choose from. Doors open from 12pm to 10pm everyday.

HAPPENING LATER-

The Cords Festival featuring El Esseily and Massar Egbari will take place at New Alamein City on the North Coast on Thursday, 25 July. Get your tickets from Ticketsmarche before they sell out.

Marwan Moussa, Afroto, DJ Nooriyah, and DJ duo Bubblegum Kollective are going to theseaside to deliver an unforgettable night at CJC Seashore Ras El Hekma at 9pm on Friday, July 26. Get your tickets here.

Palestinian artist Saint Levant to perform at Egypt’s D-Bay North Coast on Thursday, July 25. The concert will also have Zabady Khalat performing alongside him as well as a surprise guest. As of now standing tickets are sold out, but VIP standing and tables are still available. Get your tickets here while they’re still available.

Animal is more than a nature documentary — it’s a thoughtful exploration into emotional bonds, and how these relationships shape our understanding of mortality. Anderson’s journey is both cathartic and enlightening, inviting listeners to pause, reflect, and appreciate the beauty and fragility of life.

WHERE TO LISTEN- You can listen to this podcast on Apple Podcasts and Audible.

What the markets are doing on 16 July 2024

The EGX30 fell 0.4% at today’s close on turnover of EGP 3.3 bn (20.5% below the 90-day average). Local investors were net buyers. The index is up 11.8% YTD.

In the green: Palm Hills Development (+4.4%), Alexandria Containers and Cargo Handling (+3.3%), and Orascom Development Egypt (+2.8%).

In the red: Elsewedy Electric (-6.7%), Beltone Holding (-1.6%), and ADIB (-1.4%).

ENTERPRISE ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR

JULY

7-31 May-July (Tuesday-Wednesday): Cairo Cinema Days program, at Zawya Cinema.

11-2 June-September (Tuesday-Monday): Afashat w Aflam exhibition at Bibliothek.

11-30 July-August (Thursday-Friday): New Alamein Festival at North Coast.

16-17 July (Sunday-Monday): Cairo Consultants Forum 2024 at Royal Maxim Palace Kempinski.

18 July (Thursday): 20 Years of Massar Egbari at El Sawy Culturewheel.

18-10 July-August (Thursday-Saturday): Summer Music Festival at the Cairo Opera House.

19 July (Friday): Sheikh Mahmoud Al-Tahami at El Sawy Culturewheel.

19-20 July (Friday-Saturday): The Art of Public Speaking workshop at AUC Tahrir.

23 July (Tuesday): Revolution Day (TBC).

25 July (Thursday): Saint Levant concert at D-Bay North Coast.

26 July (Friday): Route Tech Summit 2024 at The GrEEK Campus.

27 July (Saturday): Design Summer School at Majarrah Business Park, Sheikh Zayed City

AUGUST

3 August (Saturday): Founders Live at MINT Incubator by EGBANK.

4-6 August (Sunday - Tuesday): Edugate 2024 at Royal Maxim Palace Kempinski.

SEPTEMBER

15 September (Sunday): National holiday in observance of Prophet Muhammad’s birthday (TBC).

OCTOBER

6 October (Sunday): Armed Forces Day.

29-30 October (Tuesday-Wednesday): Intelligent Cities Exhibition & Conference (ICEC) at Waldorf Astoria.

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