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WHAT WE’RE TRACKING TONIGHT

Turkish textile manufacturer to invest USD 50 mn in sock manufacturing

Good afternoon all you wonderful people, and happy Wednesday. Cold days haven’t slowed down the news cycle one bit — read on for all the latest.

THE BIG STORY TODAY

Turkish textile firm set to invest USD 50 mn in local sock manufacturing: Katia&Bony, a Turkish textile exporter to global brands like H&M and Carrefour, will be launching sock manufacturing operations in Egypt with investmentS of USD 50 mn, Turkiye Today reports. The General Authority for Investment and Freezones has reportedly said it will facilitate the company’s entry to the local market.

Turkey’s textile industry has been doubling down on Egypt as of late: This is just the latest of a string of notable investments from Turkish textile firms, with the most recent including a USD 8.8 mn denim factory in the Qantara West Industrial Zone announced in December.

Our growing trade ties with Turkey are no accident: During President Abdel Fattah El Sisi’s historic visit to Turkey last September, the leaders of the two countries discussed their aim to boost trade relations threefold from USD 5 bn to USD 15 bn over the next five years.

THE BIG STORY ABROAD

The international news flow has stayed relatively subdued this morning, with little sign of progress in Gaza ceasefire talks as Israeli officials hold off on providing detailed withdrawal plans. Negotiations in Doha had sparked hope for a truce, but a senior Hamas official has told Reuters that the group is still waiting on Israel to submit maps outlining troop withdrawals. The proposed phased ceasefire seeks to end the bloody 15-month war with a six-week truce, gradual Israeli withdrawals, and the release of hostages, but a final deal hinges on resolving key terms, with post-war governance of Gaza still to be negotiated.

The drama stemming from President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law declaration continues to unfold, with authorities arresting the impeached leader today as part of a growing insurrection investigation against him. Yoon, who claims that the probe is illegal, faces questioning by the country’s Corruption Investigation Office after over 3k police officers launched an arrest operation at his presidential residence. (Reuters | AP | BBC | Bloomberg)

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

  • Compass Capital subsidiary Bonyan could secure approval today from the EGX’s listing committee to temporarily list its shares on the EGX’s main market.
  • There’s good news for those who have imported cars collecting dust at the country’s ports, as the Egyptian Customs Authority (ECA) has begun procedures to release the roughly 30k vehicles currently stranded at the country’s ports that violated previous personal import or disabled-accessible vehicle import regulations.
  • Made-in-Egypt Geely autos should soon start rolling off the assembly lines, with a new factory set up with the Chinese auto giant’s local partner Auto Mobility set to launch “within hours.”

☀️ TOMORROW’S WEATHER- The weather in the capital will continue its cool streak with highs of 23°C before dipping into a chillier low of 13°C in the evening.

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FOR YOUR COMMUTE

Paper passport to get the boot?

Paper passports will soon be the next product to be usurped by its tech twin, Wired reports, with countries like Canada, the US, and India already piloting passport-free travel technology.

(Tap or click the headline above to read this story with all of the links to external sources.)

Replaced by what, we hear you ask: Airports will use the latest facial recognition technology, paired with data stored on smartphones, to verify the identity of passengers during travelling to reduce “friction” and move passengers through airports more quickly.

How it works: The tech takes the information stored on your passport’s NFC chip, which includes facial data, and stores it digitally. It links to your phone, which can then be shown at airports which use facial recognition software to match the data. The UN’s International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) tested a similar approach that used cryptographic software to link the two and detect forgeries.

It’s looking lucrative: Multiple companies are working on verification systems they can link to government databases — no doubt trying to get a piece of the facial recognition pie, which, as a market, is set to be valued at USD 22.1 bn in 2032, according to Market Research Future.

Moral questions are already dogging the new tech, including concerns about data protection, normalizing problematic surveillance technology, where else it might be rolled out in the future, and who is behind the infrastructure — to say nothing of the current climate of distrust surrounding AI’s accountability and transparency. Recently, the Washington Post reported on the police’s complete trust in facial recognition technology, which can and has led to wrongful arrests in the US, with the UK police facing lawsuits for similar issues.

Is it foolproof? The new tech could lead to false negatives, enable bias and discrimination, and facilitate identity fraud or impersonation, the EU warned. The lack of a backup would also cause travel chaos in the event of a tech malfunction.

Right now, it's still an opt-in situation in most cases, and passengers don’t have to be subject to facial recognition procedures. However, the US airport security service TSA warned of delays at security for passengers who opt out.

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ON THE TUBE TONIGHT

Do you really want to live forever?

? Bryan Johnson is a tech mn’aire who has devoted his fortune and existence to a singular obsession: reversing the aging process. Chris Smith’s Don’t Die: The Man Who Wants to Live Forever offers a fascinating (and unsettling) glimpse into Johnson’s extreme approach to longevity through his Blueprint Protocol, a regimen that costs USD 2 mn annually in both basic health practices and experimental gene therapies.

(Tap or click the headline above to read this story with all of the links to external sources.)

The documentary follows Johnson’s rigid schedule, where he consumes 54 pills upon waking up at 5am, sticks to a strict 2k calorie vegan diet, carries out a torturous battery of treatments and experimental therapies with murky ethics, finishes grueling workouts, and goes to bed by 8:30pm. Did we mention the regular blood and plasma transfusions from his teenage son?

His connection with his son Talmage, who he jokingly calls his blood boy, is the emotional core of the documentary. His arrival after estrangement marks a crucial turning point both in Johnson’s life and in the documentary, turning it from a straightforward explanation of a health obsession to a more comprehensive view of one man’s search for connection and purpose.

Smith never embraces or dismisses Johnson’s methodology, but gives a voice to both supporters and skeptics. His technical presentation of Johnson conveys the clinical nature of the mn’aire’s life, with the visual style creating a striking contrast with the more emotionally charged moments. This begs a question one of Johnson’s skeptics voices: Is Johnson’s life — one solely focused on biological optimization — worth living even if it means living forever?

WHERE TO WATCH- You can find Don’t Die on Netflix, or watch the trailer on YouTube (runtime: 2:13).

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EAT THIS TONIGHT

True blue Italian pizza

? Authentic — and really good — pizza. Panzini is an Italian street food restaurant that sources its fresh ingredients directly from Italy, so if you’re craving Italian flavors but aren’t willing to fly the extra mile (or hundred), this is the place to go.

(Tap or click the headline above to read this story with all of the links to external sources.)

We started off with the panzerottis, which are essentially mini calzones. The pesto panzerotti was our pick, and let us tell you — it was quite delicious. The fried pastry was generously filled with mozzarella, tomato sauce, pesto, and sun-dried tomatoes.

The main event. Panzini serves authentic wood-fired pizza, and we went for two of their options. The salami was a simple but promising choice. The thin pizza crust topped with tomato sauce, mozzarella, basil, and salami created an incredibly satisfying flavor that transported us straight to Italy. The Quattro Fromaggi was another standout, with the creaminess of the cheeses and the crispiness of the crust going hand-in-hand and delivering a harmony of flavors and textures.

We mustn’t forget dessert. We ordered the pistachio spread panzerotto, which was an explosion of sweetness with every bite of soft pastry. They also offer Nutella, Lotus, and Kinder filled panzerottos, but the sugar levels made us stop at just one.

WHERE TO FIND IT- You can dine at Panzini at Pyramid Hills in 6th of October. Delivery is available for Cairo-Alexandria Road residents through the number in their Instagram bio and on Talabat.

This publication is proudly sponsored by

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Sports

All football, all day + The Pharaohs’ journey to the handball world championship

Al Ahly and Pyramids are battling for the top spot in the Egyptian Premier League: Pyramids will take on Ghazl El Mahalla at 4pm in the eighth round of the Egyptian Premier League, while Al Ahly will go head-to-head with El Gouna at 7pm tonight. The Red Devils currently lead the league with 15 points, equal to Ceramica Cleopatra, which has played one more match. Pyramids sit fourth, just one point off the top, making this an important matchday for both teams.

The North London derby is back: Matchday 21 of the English Premier League continues tonight, with Arsenal playing against Tottenham at 10pm. The Gunners are ranked third, just a point behind Nottingham Forest in second and seven points away from league leaders Liverpool — meaning that a victory could see Arsenal leap into second place. Meanwhile, Spurs remain behind in thirteenth place, and aim to turn their season around and push for a spot in the Champions or Europa leagues.

Other EPL fixtures kicking off at 9:30pm:

  • Everton vs. Aston Villa
  • Leicester City vs. Crystal Palace
  • Newcastle vs. Wolverhampton

Barcelona is making moves at the Copa del Rey: Barcelona will be kicking off against Real Betis in the Copa del Rey round of 16 at 10pm. Fresh off a 5-2 victory against Real Madrid in the Supercopa, the Catalan giants aim to keep their fight for the trophy going. As the most successful team in Copa del Rey history with 31 titles, Barca is looking to continue their dominance.

Other matches we’re keeping an eye on tonight:

  • Bayern Munich vs. Hoffenheim — Bundesliga (9:30pm)
  • Inter Milan vs. Bologna — Serie A (9:45pm)
  • Elche vs. Atletico Madrid — Copa Del Rey (10:30pm)

? The Pharaohs begin their journey in the 2025 Handball World Championship: Our homegrown team will be going head-to-head with Argentina at 7pm in the first round of the preliminaries in the championship hosted jointly by Denmark, Croatia, and Norway. The Egyptian team is in Group H alongside their rivals, as well as Bahrain and Croatia. Three of the teams in each group qualify for the main round, with a total of 24 teams placed throughout four groups.

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OUT AND ABOUT

The story behind some signature songs by Dina El Wedidi

MARK YOUR CALENDAR-

? The story behind the music. Egyptian singer and composer Dina El Wedidi will be showcasing the story behind some of her signature songs and walking the audience through her journey on Wednesday, 29 January at the Boom Room in Open Air Mall, Madinaty. The event will take place at 8pm, and tickets are available on Ticketsmarche.

(Tap or click the headline above to read this story with all of the links to external sources.)

HAPPENING THIS WEEK-

Treat your ears to some Egyptian folk music: Sohba Semsemia brings you a vibrant singing and dancing show featuring traditional simsimiyya and tanbura music. Catch their performances at Rawabet Art Space from Wednesday, 8 January until Saturday, 1 February. Tickets are available on Ticketsmarche.

Tour the land of the stars with Qahraweya. Join their Cosmos Cinema tour on Friday, 17 January where you’ll tour the world of Egyptian cinema through the ages to get a glimpse behind the curtain at the magic and mastery of filmmaking in Egypt’s golden age and beyond. Details on how to reserve your spot can be found on their Facebook page.

..Or join the Nouma x Lamba Art tour by Qahraweya. On Saturday, 18 January, the tour will take you on a journey through the contemporary art scene of El Mounira and Garden City. To reserve your spot, message their page.

HAPPENING LATER-

Catch Saleh El Nawawy’s comedic debut: The Dubai-based filmmaker and comedian will be performing live at Theatro Arkan on Saturday, 1 February. Tickets are on Ticketsmarche.

Kick off the new year with the famous Fire of Anatolia. The Turkish dance troupe will be performing at the Cairo Opera House in Zamalek, combining traditional folk dances with contemporary dance. The performances will take place on January 29, 30, and 31 at 8pm. Tickets are available on Tazkarti.

For the gamers and the cosplayers. EGYCON 12 is taking place on Friday, 21 February at Family Park, New Cairo. The event will feature Japanese live performances, trivia games, a fire show, a merch bazaar, and a whole lot more. Grab your ticket from the link in the event description.

Sports Expo 2025 is near: Head down to the Egypt International Exhibition Center to meet global athletes and stock up on all kinds of sporting equipment at this year’s Sports Expo 2025. The government-hosted event will bring together private- and public-sector players in the fitness and health sectors and related industries and will be open from Sunday, 23 February until Tuesday, 25 February. Get tickets from Tazkarti.

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GO WITH THE FLOW

What the markets are doing on 15 January 2025

The EGX30 rose 1.5% at today’s close on turnover of EGP 3.8 bn (0.2% above the 90-day average). Egyptian investors were the sole net sellers. The index is down 1.2% YTD.

In the green: Heliopolis Housing (+9.4%), Oriental Weavers (+5.1%) and Emaar Misr (+4.9%).

In the red: Juhayna (-1.1%), Telecom Egypt (-1.1%) and Elsewedy Electric (-1.1%).


JANUARY

8 January-1 February (Wednesday-Saturday): Aywa Aywa La2 La2 at Rawabet Art Space.

8 January-1 February (Wednesday-Saturday): Sohba Semsemia at Rawabet Art Space.

17 January (Friday): Cosmos Cinema tour by Qahraweya.

17 January (Friday): Ahmed Khairy at El Rihany Theatre.

17-18 January (Friday-Saturday): Mohamed Helmy Globally Local at Theatro Arkan.

18 January (Saturday): Nouma x Lamba Art tour by Qahraweya.

18 January (Saturday): Founders Live Cairo at Creativa Innovation Hub.

21 January (Tuesday): Shawshy Time at Rawabet Art Space.

22 January (Wednesday): Out of Eight at Rawabet Art Space.

23 January - 5 February (Thursday-Wednesday): Cairo International Book Fair at the Egypt IECC in New Cairo.

24 January (Friday): Dr. Khaled Ghattass at Teatro Al Assema.

24 January (Friday): MM events at Ain El Hayah resort.

29 January (Wednesday): Storyteller Series Vol.1: Dina El Wedidi at Boom Room.

29-31 January (Wednesday-Friday): Fire of Anatolia at Cairo Opera House.

7 December-31 January (Saturday-Friday): Cairo Art Fair at TAM Gallery.

30 January-1 February (Thursday-Saturday): Gamergy Egyptat Al Burouj Cultural Hub.

FEBRUARY

1 February (Saturday): Saleh El Nawawy’s debut at Theatro Arkan.

7 February (Friday): DHB at Giza Pyramids

7-8 February (Friday-Saturday): The Art of Public Speaking Workshop at AUC Tahrir.

7-8 February (Friday-Saturday): Football Access Summit at Zed Park.

14 February (Friday): Heliopolis Marathon with Cairo Runners.

21 February (Friday): Egycon 12 at Family Park, New Cairo.

23-25 February (Sunday-Tuesday): Sports Expo 2025 at Egypt International Exhibition Center.

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