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THE WEEK IN REVIEW

Egypt to put forward comprehensive vision to rebuild Gaza, rejecting Trump’s plan to forcibly displace Palestinians

Good morning folks, and happy Valentine's Day. Today we have another packed issue for you, with our weekly news roundup and wide variety of recs here to help you get your day of love started off on the right foot.

LAST WEEK IN 3 MINS-

DIPLOMACY-

Egypt plans to “present a comprehensive vision for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip in a manner that ensures the Palestinian people remain in their homeland and aligns with their legitimate and legal rights,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday. The statement came a few hours after US President Donald Trump reiterated his plan to forcibly displace Palestinians, saying that they could settle on a “parcel of land” in Jordan, another in Egypt, with other countries potentially hosting more refugees. more on Trump's comments in Around the World in 7 Days, below.

ECONOMY-

#1- The private sector minimum wage will rise to EGP 7k starting March: The National Wages Council decided to raise the minimum wage for private sector workers to EGP 7k a month, up from EGP 6k, starting March. The council also introduced a minimum wage for part-time employees, who will now make no less than EGP 28 per hour.

#2- Egypt’s foreign debt inched up 1.5% q-o-q toUSD155.2 bn during the first quarter of the current fiscal year, up from the USD 152.9 bn recorded at the end of FY 2023-24, according to data from the Central Bank of Egypt. On an annual basis, the country’s external debt fell by just under 5.7% from the USD 164.5 bn recorded in the first quarter of the last fiscal year.

#3- Inflation dropped in January, while F&B prices were up: Annual headline urban inflation dipped to 24.0% in January, marking a 0.1 percentage point drop from the 24.1% recorded in December. Food and beverage price inflation inched up 0.5 percentage points to 20.8%. On a monthly basis, inflation rose 1.3 percentage points to 1.5% and food and beverages prices were up by 1.8%.

DEVELOPMENT FINANCE-

The US Agency for International Development (USAID) placed its foreign employees in Egypt on indefinite leave, as it remains unclear whether the agency will fully resume operations. Some employees have already departed Egypt.

INVESTMENT-

Egypt to establish two industrial zones in Libya: Egypt is moving forward with plans to set up two industrial zones in Libya with investments of USD 250 mn. Twenty-two local players have already expressed interest in setting up shop in the new zones, which will be established on a 1.2 mn sqm plot already secured by the Egyptian side.

REGULATION-

New caps on ins. company investments, higher maximum credit limit for micro enterprises: The Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA) introduced new investment allocation requirements for ins. and rein. companies, with ins. players required to immediately halt additional investments in asset classes where they have exceeded the new caps and afforded six months to meet the rest of the new investment thresholds. Separately, the FRA raised the borrowing limit for micro enterprises by 10% to EGP 266k — its first hike since it raised the limit to EGP 242k in 2024.

WHAT’S HAPPENING NEXT WEEK-

Exploring business potential between Egypt and Switzerland: The Egyptian-Swiss Business Circle and Kickstart Innovation are hosting a series of online events on 20 February under the theme Innovate Together: Business Opportunities Between Egypt and Switzerland. The events aim to strengthen business ties between the two nations, bringing together startups, investors, and public and private players.

The central bank’s Monetary Policy Committee will meet to discuss interest rates on Thursday, 20 February. Some analysts believe that inflation’s sustained downward trajectory suggests that there is room for the central bank to start its monetary easing cycle, although the slight dip could probably affect the size of the potential cut.

Impact investor Catalyst Partners’ SPAC, Catalyst Partners Middle East (CPME), will begin trading on the EGX on Sunday, 16 February, with shares priced at its par value of EGP 10 a pop, according to an EGX bulletin. Trading is open only to qualified and institutional investors, as the private placement will see CPME raise its issued and paid-up capital to EGP 235 mn, up from EGP 10 mn.

The three-day Egypt Energy Show will kick off at the Egypt International Exhibition in Cairo on Monday, 17 February. The event could see French energy company TotalEnergies and Italian energy giant Eni ink agreements with the Madbouly government to transport Cypriot gas to Egypt to be liquefied and exported.

The African Union Summit kicks off tomorrow and wraps up on Sunday, 16 February in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa. Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly will be leading a delegation to the summit on behalf of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, according to a cabinet statement.

The German-Egyptian Joint Economic Committee will next take place on 18-19 February in Cairo.

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

AROUND THE WORLD IN SEVEN DAYS-

President Trump dominated international headlines throughout the week, with his plans for taking over Gaza and newly raised tariffs crowding the front pages of major news publications.

Trump doubled down on his plan to forcibly displace Gazans in an impromptu press conference with King Abdullah II of Jordan. “We’re gonna have Gaza … there’s nothing to buy. Gaza is a war-torn area,” Trump said, responding to a question regarding where the money will come from and who the US will buy Gaza from. Gazans will be resettled in a “parcel of land” in Jordan, another in Egypt, with other countries potentially hosting more refugees, Trump added. Trump also seemed to walk back earlier statements about cutting aid to Egypt and Jordan if they don't take in forcibly displaced Gazans, saying “I don’t have to threaten that, I think we’re above that.” Egypt responded a few hours later, saying in Foreign Ministry statement that it will “present a comprehensive vision for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip in a manner that ensures the Palestinian people remain in their homeland and aligns with their legitimate and legal rights.”

Gaza truce is hanging in the balance: Hamas said it will delay the release of Israeli captives indefinitely, citing Israel opening fire on Palestinians, as well as delays in allowing return to northern Gaza and delivering humanitarian aid. Israel denied any violations, and instructed its military to prepare “for any possible scenario.”

Trump advised Israel to cancel the agreement and “let hell break loose” if Hamas does not comply by Saturday at noon.

Roiling affairs with South Africa: The US president issued an executive order to cut all financial aid to South Africa, citing domestic land policy allegedly targeting white South Africans, as well as Cape Town’s genocide accusations against Israel at the International Court of Justice.

… And with trade partners: The latest trade salvo saw the US president impose 25% tariffs on all imports of steel and aluminum, in a move that will impact Mexico and Canada as the US’ top foreign metal suppliers. The new measures are reportedly set to take effect on 4 March.

Russo-Ukranian peace talks to kick off: Trump agreed — in his first publicly announced phone call with Russian president Vladimir Putin — to start negotiations aimed at ending the war “immediately” and reaching a long-term settlement. The two presidents are set to meet later in Riyadh to iron out the details.

CLOSER TO HOME- Lebanon appointed Amer Bisat, BlackRock’s head of emerging-markets fixed income, as its economy minister as it looks to unlock much needed funding from the IMF to shore up its deeply troubled economy.

IN THE BUSINESS WORLD- Elon Musk and a group of co-investors submitted a whopping USD 97.4 bn bid to fully acquire ChatGPT maker OpenAI. “No thank you,” CEO Sam Altman responded in a post on X. Musk was one of OpenAI’s co-founders, before leaving in 2018.

☀️ THE WEATHER THIS WEEKEND-

It’s a sunny weekend with temperatures higher than the ones we saw this week, but the evenings are getting colder. We’re expecting a high of 20°C today in the capital, with a low of 9°C tonight. The mercury will warm up slightly on Saturday to reach 22°C, with a low of 11°C.

HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND-

The weekend of love. Head to The Grand Theatre in EDNC by Sodic for Cupid’s Theatre. Taking place today and tomorrow these nights will feature burlesque shows, live performances, and DJs to get you on the dance floor. Book your spot by calling the number in The Grand Theatre’s Instagram bio.

Act Theatre Group are back with a new edition of the Famous For Fifteen Minutes Festival. Under the name of Twisted Ties, the festival will feature a number of short plays from Egyptian and American writers — where it’ll be taking place tonight at Rawabet Art Space at 8pm. Tickets for tonight's show are available on Ticketsmarche.

A romantic movie night under the stars. Attend a screening of the movie Me Before You this Valentine's Day, tonight at The Wadi Degla Proctorate in Maadi starting at 5:30pm. Book your spot through the Proctorate’s website.

An Argentinian night of jazz and tango: In honor of Valentine’s Day, the Argentinian show Tango After Dark is coming to Egypt for the first time. Enjoy a night of jazz music and tango as part of the Layali Misr chain of events. The show will take place at the Waldorf Astoria Theatre in Heliopolis tonight at 9pm. You can also catch the show at the Cairo Opera House on tomorrow and Sunday 16 February at 8pm. Tickets for the first, second, and third shows are available on Tazkarti.

The weekend of love. Head to The Grand Theatre in EDNC by Sodic for Cupid’s Theatre. Taking place tonight and tomorrow, these nights will feature burlesque shows, live performances, and DJs to get you on the dance floor. Book your spot by calling the number in The Grand Theatre’s Instagram bio.

Craving a taste of Asia? The Thai Food Bazaar will have top Thai chefs preparing their signature dishes live — so you can watch, savor, and maybe even steal a secret or two. The event will take place at Al Horreya Park in Zamalek for four days which started yesterday and continues till Sunday, 16 February, with the event set to run from 12pm to 8pm each day.

HAPPENING NEXT WEEKEND-

The Animatex Festival is back for its fifth edition. It’s bringing a packed program including screenings of both short and feature animated films, discussions, panel talks, and workshops for animation enthusiasts — and those looking to network with local and international industry leaders. The festival will take place at the AUC Tahrir campus from Thursday, 20 February until Tuesday, 25 February. You can grab your tickets from Ticketsmarche.

Cairokee x New Capital: Cairokee will perform in El Nahr El Akhdar Park in the New Administrative Capital at 8pm on Friday, 21 February. Tickets are available on Ticketsmarche.

Get dreamy with Ghostly Kisses. The French-Canadian pop band Ghostly Kisses will return to Cairo later this month for a performance at the Mövenpick Media City Theater in 6th of October. After their initial concert on Friday, 21 February sold out, the band announced that it will be adding a second performance date on Thursday, 20 February as part of their 2025 world tour. Get your tickets to the show on Ticketsmarche.

Massar Egbari is preparing to celebrate the release of their latest album, Maba’etsh Akhaf on Friday, 21 February at 7pm. The event will take place at El Sawy Culturewheel Theatre at Nile University in Sheikh Zayed. Tickets are available through El Sawy Culturewheel’s website.

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.

The guide to giving back ahead of Ramadan

The holy month of Ramadan is all about sharing meals with friends and family. But it doesn’t have to stop there. If you’re looking to extend a compassionate hand and provide meals to those in need of them, we’ve compiled a list of trusted channels you can rely on to strengthen community bonds, whether you’re short on time or ready to roll up your sleeves.

Note: The prices listed in this guide reflect those advertised at the time of publication, and may be subject to change.

CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS AND NGOs: These organizations are a tried and tested channel to help those people who are most in need. Conveniently, they offer online options to make sure that your good intentions aren’t sidelined by busy schedules.

#1- Misr El Kheir has options for every budget. Their traditional donation boxes come in three sizes:

The Satr Box (6.5 kg), priced at EGP 275, and packed with essentials like rice, pasta, sugar, ghee or oil, beans, and dates.
The Baraka Box (11.25 kg), priced at EGP 450, with similar staples in larger quantities.
El Kheir Box (12.3 kg), priced at EGP 550, offering the most comprehensive basic package with rice, pasta, sugar, oil or ghee, tomato paste, salt, beans, dates, vermicelli, and orzo.

For those looking to make a bigger impact, their Family Support Box (65 kg), priced at EGP 3k, includes everything a family needs for the month. In addition to the items included in the smaller options, this one also includes four frozen whole chickens and 5kg of freekeh.

Working with a tighter budget? You can still contribute through their meal programs, which start from just EGP 30 for a Suhoor meal, up to EGP 350 for a family meal.

Want to help an entire community? Their Village Iftar program, priced at EGP 90k, provides 1k meals to feed a remote village for the necessary meals for the day.

What if they have different needs? El Khair offers EGP 550 gift cards to allow recipients the liberty to pick the groceries they need most.

#2- The Egyptian Food Bank is always a reliable option. Each of their three available options include rice, pasta, sugar, black-eyed peas, fava beans, dates, salt, tomato sauce, oil, tea, cheese, and flour, with the two larger boxes containing meat. They range from:

A 9 kg box, priced at EGP 400
A 15 kg box, priced at EGP 700
A 30 kg box, prices at EGP 1.4k

The EFB also offers Individual iftar meals. There are two options, one priced at EGP 85 for Iftar, and the other priced at EGP 100 for both Iftar and Ssuhoor.

If you really want to go the extra mile, you may consider donating to their Iftar tents across 27 governorates. Contribution options range from EGP 1k to EGP 5k.

#3 Al Orman Association is currently offering three different size boxes, each containing rice, pasta, sugar, dates, lentils, beans, ghee, tomato sauce and tea. Here are the options:

A 8.5 kg box, priced at EGP 365
A 10.5 kg box, priced at EGP 615
A 20 kg box, prices at EGP 815

For convenience, you can make online donations to Misr El Kheir, the Egyptian Food Bank, and Al Orman Association through Talabat.

SUPERMARKETS: Big chains have donation boxes too, and they come packed with ingredients needed to cook well-rounded meals. This is a great way to fulfill two needs with one deed, and stock your pantry while helping others do the same.

#1- HyperOne has two available donation boxes: The medium and large Charity Boxes are priced at EGP 225 and EGP 350. Both boxes include rice, sugar, pasta, tea, ghee, fava beans, tomato paste, dry dates, and oil, with additional lentils and dates in the large box.

#2- Carrefour offers Ramadan boxes valued at EGP 170 packing seven items: two bags of pasta, and singular bags of rice, sugar, oil, ghee, and salt. Their limit of ten boxes per one online order still stands, but this year, they’re offering a promotion that adds the tenth box at no charge at the purchase of nine boxes.

#3- Mahmoud El Far offers three donation boxes for you to choose from: The smallest is priced at EGP 165 and includes rice, sugar, pasta, tomato paste, oil, and tea, the medium at EGP 200 and adds beans, and the large for EGP 288 and adds beans, lentils and salt.

If you’d like to leave the contents up to the purchaser, you have the option to buy a Premium Card, with values ranging from EGP 50 to EGP 1k. These donations are all available from Mahmoud El Far’s mobile app.

#4- Lulu Hypermarket currently offers a Ramadan box for EGP 160 that includes rice, oil, pasta, tea, salt, tomato sauce, and fava beans. Also, you may take advantage of ongoing Ramadan discounts to build a customized box. You can also make these purchases via Lulu’s mobile app.

#5- Metro has available Ramadan boxes with an EGP 230 price tag, packed with yellow rice, oil, sugar, ghee, pasta, tomato sauce, tea, and salt. You can place your order through Talabat, with a cap of 99 boxes.

#6- Spinneys offers two options: Their Ramadan bag has a price tag of EGP 165, and a Ramadan box priced at EGP 200. Both contain the same items — rice, pasta, oil, salt, dates, and tomato sauce, and the box adds ghee to the list. Unlike the rest of the stores, there is no maximum order limit.

FOOD DELIVERY APPS: You can purchase pre-packed Ramadan charity boxes with just a few clicks through these apps.

#1- Talabat and Instapay host several charitable organizations on their sites and apps. These include Misr El Kheir, the Egyptian Food Bank, and Al Orman. Find the charity you’d like to donate to, pick your donation box, and pay through the Talabat portal. The delivery app will distribute your donations for you.

#2- Rabbit offers their own donation services. Normally, they only offer an EGP 169 Ramadan box that includes rice, sugar, pasta, ghee, tomato paste, and salt. This year, they’ve added an option to purchase 20 boxes for EGP 3.6k, and an option to purchase up to 50 boxes through their super saver section for EGP 8.5k. As per usual for this delivery app, you can have the boxes delivered to you on the same day, with a maximum of ten bags per order

#3- Breadfast also provides donations through their app. For EGP 250, you can donate sugar, rice, pasta, oil, ghee, tea, lentils, tomato paste, and salt. If they sell out, you can choose to be notified when the boxes are back in stock.

HANDS-ON GIVING BACK: If you have some time to spare and would like to help prepare the boxes for donation, here’s where to look.

#1- Al Joud Foundation is recruiting helping hands to distribute donations via Instagram . If you can’t lend a hand with distributing donations, you should consider checking out Al Joud’s Ramadan donations: the Al Joud box for EGP 500, an Iftar meal for EGP 85, and a full Iftar table for EGP 1k.

#2- Lifemakers are also looking for some assistance. Drop them a message via Instagram to get all the details. Once there, make sure to check out the Ramadan boxes and individual or family meals made available by Lifemakers.

#3- Share a Smile is organizing packaging events, and they will be happy to tell you how else you can be involved if you contact them via Facebook or Instagram. Not able to attend an event? You can always choose to donate from a wide range of options that include meals, food boxes, clothing, youth programs, and gifts for orphan children, the elderly, and brides.

#4- Seket El Kheir launched a campaign and needs help in collecting 2k meals each worth EGP 400. Also, the organization is currently recruiting volunteers.

#5- The Egyptian Food Bank is perhaps the most popular way to volunteer. To sign up, you can contact them on Facebook, email them, or call at 16060.

A chaotic experiment that sometimes hits the mark

? Current mild-mannered real estate agent, former hitman. Love Hurts marks the directorial debut of Jonathan Eusebio, a veteran fight choreographer and stunt coordinator who has hallmark action films like John Wick under his belt. Eusebio delivers a Jackie Chan-style action comedy, starring Oscar winners Ke Huy Quan, seen in Everything Everywhere All At Once and Ariana DeBose from West Side Story.

Violence runs in the family. The story follows Marvin Gible (Quan), a gang hitman working under his brother Knuckles (Daniel Wu). His life takes an unexpected turn when Knuckles orders him to eliminate his girlfriend Rose (DeBose), a fellow gang member. Instead of carrying out the hit, Marvin helps Rose escape and fakes her death, leaving his criminal past behind to pursue a surprisingly mundane career in real estate. However, his attempt at a normal life is shattered when Rose resurfaces, putting both of them in the crosshairs of his former gang.

Despite its promising cast of Oscar laureates, the film struggles to find its footing. The comedy falls flat at times, and the action sequences, while technically proficient, feel oddly mechanical — perhaps a result of Eusebio’s transition from stunt coordination to directing. The plot seems to serve merely as a vehicle for action setpieces, sacrificing coherence and depth along the way.

That said, the film isn’t without merit. The cinematography shows promise, with thoughtful color composition that complements the film’s themes, and an energetic soundtrack that maintains the film’s momentum. Viewed as a straightforward 90 minute entertainment piece — remember 90 minute movies? — Love Hurts delivers enough thrills to justify its runtime.

WHERE TO WATCH IT- You can find Love Hurts at VOX cinemas at City Center Almaza and Mall of Egypt, and City Stars.

The heavy tale of Cornelia Blackwood

? Susan Elliot Wright’s tale of motherhood, loss, and loneliness: The Flight of Cornelia Blackwood follows Cornelia, whose present turns into a tragedy as she grapples with her past. Wright moves back and forth between two timelines — “then” and “now” — to reveal the events that led Cornelia to her current state, allowing readers to piece together her heartbreaking journey.

The writing is lyrical and haunting — mirroring Cornelia’s fragile state. Crows are a recurring motif, symbolizing her isolation and inner turmoil. Cornelia’s thoughts are completely out of control, and Wright does a great job at making the readers feel exactly that. She explores grief and the stigmas surrounding mental health with sensitivity and relatability.

This isn’t a light read, but rather an emotional, moving story that delves into difficult topics with great care. The impact of the book lingers long after the final page — and that’s precisely what makes a great book.

You can find the book at Diwan.

A taste that feels like home

? Cairo’s brings authentic Egyptian home cooking to the table at Mivida, New Cairo. From slow-cooked bamia to golden, flaky feteer, the restaurant’s hearty, classic dishes make it a great choice for upcoming Ramadan gatherings.

We started things off with a selection of appetizers. The grape leaves with kawarea delivered a rich gelatinous texture for the indulgent eater. The meat sambousek, while flavorful, had a slightly crumbly filling. Meanwhile, the sojouk with pomegranate molasses packed a tangy punch — perhaps a bit too strong for the already spiced sausage. The real star of the appetizer section was the hawawshi: crispy bread filled with spiced meat and just the right amount of heat.

For mains, we dove into a house favorite — mozah with freekeh. The slow-cooked lamb shank was fork-tender, while the freekeh rivaled the rich seasoning found in stuffed hamam — flavorful enough to enjoy on its own. Another classic we tried was the molokhia with chicken. While it offered a homemade taste, the chicken could have benefited from a crispier skin.

If you’re looking for a protein-packed option, try the mixed grill. Combining both beef and chicken, the dish is a good choice for those wanting to sample the restaurant’s grilling expertise while going for something on the lighter side.

No Egyptian feast is complete without feteer. Cairo’s selection extends beyond the traditional meshaltet and cheese options with novel fillings like shrimp, chicken ranch, and BBQ chicken.

To end things on a sweet note, we kept it simple with a classic rice pudding — the perfect cooldown after a heavy meal.

One thing that caught us by surprise: the portions at Cairo’s are generous. Whether you're sharing several dishes or having a single entrée, it’s a true feast and the serving sizes justify the price.

? Per person: EGP 300-900

? Outdoor seating: Yes

? Alcohol: No

? Accessibility friendly: Yes

Sworn: The poor man’s Hades?

? Dupe or dope? The leadup to Sworn’s release saw a torrent of comparisons to the beloved Hades, and in a landscape where roguelikes have become increasingly prevalent, Sworn emerges as a compelling addition that manages to carve out its own identity, while giving homage to its predecessors. Yes, mostly Hades.

The game’s narrative premise — reclaiming the corrupted Camelot from a fallen King Arthur — is intriguing, but the storytelling falls short of its potential. The lack of a central protagonist and limited meaningful interactions with the gods result in a story that struggles to maintain emotional engagement. But there’s ample room for improvement.

But this action roguelike combines Arthurian legend with frenetic combat and deep character customization to create an experience that’s both familiar and fresh. It’s immediately accessible to genre fans, and a good entry point for beginners thanks to a good balance between complexity and fluidity, offering players a robust toolkit of normal attacks, special abilities, and defensive maneuvers. While the slower weapons might take getting used to, the combat remains satisfying. If you’re playing on PC, you might want to watch out for stiff mouse controls when aiming.

What truly sets Sworn apart is its extensive character customization system. The game launches with four distinct classes — vigilante, rook, spectre, and monk. When combined with four weapon options per character and an impressive array of 331 discoverable blessings from various Fae Lords, the build possibilities become staggering. This depth of customization makes each run feel fresh and exciting, since you can experiment with countless combinations.

Did we mention that it was co-op? Sworn supports up to a four-player co-op, something that sets it apart from many of its genre contemporaries. The multiplayer mechanics are well-implemented, with boss fights cleverly adapting their patterns based on the number of players present. But the lack of public matchmaking to make it an MMORPG feels like a gigantic oversight, limiting it to private lobbies. Fingers crossed for an update.

? Rating: 9/10 on Steam

⌛ Hours of gameplay: TBD

? Replay value: 10/10

? Platforms: Steam, Xbox (only with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or Xbox Game Pass Core), coming soon to Playstation

? Price: USD 11.99 on Steam, available at no charge on Xbox with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or Xbox Game Pass Core

Front row seat to conversations that span from psychedelics to personal reinvention

? Dua Lipa may have built her career on chart-topping hits, but on At Your Service, she’s comfortable behind a microphone in a different way. Her podcast brings up thoughtful, engaging conversations with some of the world's most fascinating minds. Now in its third season, this podcast continues to bring on inspiration, curiosity, and stories, giving listeners a front row seat to conversations that span from psychedelics to personal reinvention.

The guests range from cultural icons and thought leaders to industry disruptors, where each of them give insights that feel refreshingly personal. Her podcast serves as a natural extension of her Service95 newsletter, a platform that similarly aims to dissect modern culture through a global lens.

All of her episodes are standouts — take her episode with Apple CEO Tim Cook for example. Cook opens up about his personal journey from growing up in a small town to leading one of the most influential companies in the world. The conversation touches on Apple’s commitment to sustainability, its approach to AI ethics, and Cook’s views on balancing innovation with privacy concerns.

It occasionally leans a little too heavily into admiration rather than critique. Some episodes can feel like they skim the surface of more complex topics rather than truly unpacking them. Additionally, while Lipa is an excellent host, her interview style sometimes lacks the push needed to challenge guests in ways that could lead to deeper insights.

Final Verdict: It makes for an interesting listen for fans of sharp, introspective conversation, particularly those interested in culture, innovation, and personal growth.

WHERE TO LISTEN- You can listen to the podcast on BBC Sound, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or on their website.

THE ENTERPRISE ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR

FEBRUARY

13-14 February (Thursday-Friday) Act Theatre Group’s Twisted Ties at Rawabet Art Space.

13-16 February (Thursday-Sunday): Thai Food Bazaar at Al Horreya Park

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

14 February (Friday): Medhat Saleh Hob x Hob concert at Theatro Arkan.

14 February (Friday): Me Before You movie night at The Wadi Degla Proctorate.

14 February (Friday): Tango After Dark at the Waldorf Astoria.

14-15 February (Friday-Saturday): Cupid’s Theatre at EDNC by Sodic.

16-17 February (Sunday-Monday): Da Zanbokom Play at AUC New Cairo.

20 February (Thursday): Amal Maher concert at the Sound and Light stage.

20-25 February (Thursday-Tuesday): Animatex Festival at AUC Tahrir

20-21 February (Thursday-Friday): Ghostly Kisses at Movenpick Media City.

21 February (Friday): Massar Egbari launch album at El Sawy Culturewheel.

21 February (Friday): E7kky Festival.

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

21 February (Friday): Cairokeeat El Nahr El Akhdar Park in the New Administrative Capital.

22 February (Friday): MENA Product Summit at Townhall by Kamelizer – District 5.

22 February (Friday): VeryNile’s The Nile Parade.

23 February (Sunday): Umm Kulthoum Tribute Concert at The Grand Egyptian Museum.

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

24 February (Monday): Umm Kulthoum Tribute Concert at The Grand Egyptian Museum.

24-27 February (Monday-Thursday) Sleeping Beauty at the Cairo Opera House.

APRIL

1 April (Tuesday): Annual Flower Exhibition at the Agricultural Museum.

OCTOBER

16-24 October (Thursday-Friday): Gouna Film Festival.

30 October - 22 November (Thursday-Saturday): Forever is Now at the Great Pyramids of Giza.

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