Return, resist, reconsider?

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WHAT WE’RE TRACKING TONIGHT

Shard Capital, Alqahtani Holding ink framework agreement for USD 7 bn petrochemical complex

Good afternoon folks, it’s the last day of the Egypt Energy Show and the energy news is still flowing.

THE BIG STORY TODAY

Shard Capital and Alqahtani Holding inked a framework agreement for a USD 7 bn New Alamein petrochemical complex with the investment and oil ministries, the Oil Ministry said in a statement. The British and the Saudi company will both develop the private-sector ked project that is backed by British, Emirati, and Saudi investors, Shard’s legal advisor Zaki Hashem said in a separate statement (pdf).

Remember: The project has been in the works for a while now, with the state’s Egyptian Petrochemicals Holding Company inking an agreement with a British consortium that included Shard Capital to develop the complex back in 2020 — which was valued at USD 8.5 bn back then.

THE BIG STORY ABROAD

Ukraine, Russia, and — as always seems to be the case — Donald Trump are leading the world’s digital front pages this afternoon, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky pushing back on Trump’s claim that it was his country that started the nearly three-year-old war. Zelensky called for “more truth” — a tall order it seems in 2025 — and opposed Trump’s push to force Ukraine to accept severe concessions in any peace agreement inked with Russia.

Much of the world’s press is leading with how Trump’s shift in policy represents an upending of decades-old Russia policy, with the newly minted president’s actions not just in stark contrast to his predecessor, but every president and major ally in modern history. The significance in the change of policy for the EU, Nato, and the US’ position in the world is still yet to be seen, experts are keen to remind us — and we’re only one month into his 38-month presidency. (New York Times | Reuters | Financial Times | Guardian | Sky News | NBC)

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

Emergency Arab League summit pushed back to 4 March: Egypt will host the emergency Arab League summit to unify the Arab stance against the calls for the ethnic cleansing of Gazans on 4 March.
Dubai-based classifieds giant Dubizzle Group took over homegrown online car marketplace Hatla2ee. The move will see Dubizzle fold Hatla2ee’s platform into its operations in Egypt, expanding its footprint in the country’s fast-growing automotive market and digital classifieds scene.
Gov’t works to finalize a raft of customs facilitations: The Madbouly government is currently preparing a list of facilitations on customs duties, as part of larger efforts to streamline Egypt’s customs system and facilitate local manufacturing efforts.

☀️ TOMORROW’S WEATHER- Temperatures are taking a dip tomorrow in Cairo with a high of 19°C and a low of 11°C by nightfall, according to our favorite weather app.

The office ultimatum: return, resist, or reconsider

There's a new front in the return to office battle. Employees have recently had the upper hand in deciding how and where they worked, but as companies tighten their grip on return to office policies, a new trend is emerging — one that links attendance tracking with performance evaluations and even pay decisions, the salmon-colored paper reports.

A lot has changed since the pandemic normalized working from home. Many businesses initially embraced hybrid work, allowing employees a level of flexibility that was not the norm before 2020. But a growing number of organizations are now linking office attendance to promotions, bonuses, and overall job performance. Large companies are leading the charge, using tech to track office presence and assess compliance with internal mandates.

Management and HR are also looking towards tech to enforce its new work attendance preferences. Rather than relying on self reported attendance, employers are leveraging real time data sources — using entry logs, computer activity, and HR analytics, management can enforce rules and optimize workplace use.

Strict return to work policies aren't winning over everyone — including top performing members of staff. Studies show forcing workers to return to work can drive turnover, especially among high performers and younger professionals who prioritize flexibility. Some employees see these mandates as a sneaky way to trim the workforce, especially when they line up with layoffs. There’s also a legal minefield, tying pay and promotions to office time could spark discrimination claims, putting those with caregiving duties or disabilities at a disadvantage. Companies pushing strict policies might find themselves not just hot water, but in court.

What's the fix? Instead of just laying down the law, some companies are sweetening the deal with perks like free meals, mentorships, and career growth opportunities to make the office feel less like a chore. Those that mix flexibility with engagement will likely see better results than those forcing compliance.

Same chaos, new paradise destination

? The White Lotus is back for season 3 with the same formula and still addictive. Mike White has turned The White Lotus into a winning formula. Exotic locations, rich and messy guests, and a creeping sense of doom? Sign us up. Season 3 takes the chaos to Thailand, where a new group of privileged travelers arrives at the luxurious White Lotus wellness retreat, and of course, things don’t stay peaceful for long.

New paradise, same problems. Just like in previous seasons, we start with a flash-forward to one of the guests finding an unidentified dead body. This time, a college student (Nicholas Duvernay) is mid-meditation when gunfire erupts. As he wades through a lagoon to hide from the shooter — just then he finds a body floating past him. And we’re off.

One week earlier, the guests arrived. The Ratliff family from North Carolina: Timothy (Jason Isaacs), a grumpy businessman dealing with some bad press, his exhausted wife Victoria (Parker Posey), their weirdly confident son Saxon (Patrick Schwarzenegger), academic daughter Piper (Sarah Catherine Hook), and teenage son Lochlan (Sam Nivola), who hasn’t quite figured himself out yet.

We also meet three girlfriends on a much-needed getaway. Actress Jaclyn Lemon (Michelle Monaghan), whose fame has reached Thailand, and her friends Laurie (Carrie Coon) and Kate (Leslie Bibb), who hype each other up, but are barely keeping it together. Then there’s Rick Hatchett (Walton Goggins) and his free-spirited girlfriend Chelsea (Aimee Lou Wood), who are clearly up to something shady involving resort co-owner Sritala Hollinger (Patravadi Mejudhon) and her husband Jim (Scott Glenn).

But the real treat? The return of Belinda Lindsey (Natasha Rothwell), the spa manager from the first season. She’s in Thailand for a three-month training program, looking for a fresh start after her devastating run-in with Tanya. Watching her navigate this new setting, wiser but still hoping for something better, is a highlight. And if you’re a KPOP fan, BlackPink’s Lisa makes a surprise appearance as Mook, one of the hotel staff.

At this point, we know the drill. Beautiful setting, terrible people, and a murder waiting to be solved. But even though the structure is familiar, the show’s lore lies in its characters and performances. Sure, The White Lotus season 3 follows a pattern, but why mess with a good thing? The cast is stacked, the drama is simmering, and the setting is stunning. Whether you’re here for the satire, the scandal, or just to figure out who ends up dead this time, this season delivers.

WHERE TO WATCH IT- You can watch season 3 on OSN+ where every Monday a new episode is released — or you can catch up on the previous two seasons as you await the episodes. You can also catch the trailer on YouTube (runtime: 2:35)

Wok this way

? Flavors delivered from Asia, straight to your door. Sure you want Asian food, but can’t choose between Chinese and Thai? Wok and Tasa has you covered. This delivery-only restaurant is located in Maadi, Sixth of October, and New Cairo.

As with any restaurant that serves them, vegetable springrolls as a starter were a must. These were generously filled and very crunchy, but nothing that you haven’t tasted before. We also had to try their bestselling dish and Thai food favorite — the famous tom sum soup. And we’re glad we did as the broth had the perfect balance between spicy and sour, with tangy lime and fish sauce complimenting each other and creating that signature punch that makes tom yum so addictive.

Wok and Tasa’s noodle game was also up to scratch, with our order of Chinese beef egg noodles that arrived at our door warm and with plenty of flavors. The beef was tender and the egg noodles were mixed in with a flavorful and deep sauce. It was a good job that our other dishes hit the mark, as the main dish was a bit of a miss. Our order of beef with oyster sauce served with bell pepper and steamed rice didn’t deliver much in the flavour department, with a dominant and strong flavour from the beef over powering any other subtler flavours from the vegetables.

WHERE TO FIND- Wok and Tasa delivers to Sixth of October, Maadi, and New Cairo residents through Talabat and ElMenus.

Real Madrid and City face off in the Champions League + Liverpool faces Villa in the Premier League

⚽ The second leg matches of the Champions League knockoff stage will come to an end today and we’ll see who qualifies for the round of 16. Yesterday's matches qualified Bayern Munich, Feyenoord, Benfica and Club Brugge.

All eyes on the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium where Real Madrid will be facing Manchester City at 10pm for a playoff to see who progresses to the round of 16. The first leg playoff saw Madrid turn around their chances in the last few minutes of the game, with two last minute goals from Brahim Diaz pushing the team to a 3-2 lead. Despite the cancellation of the away goal rule, the Merengue's chances are still higher than the Citizens. Pep Guardiola even said that his team's chances do not exceed 1%, before backtracking a little on his comments.

Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain will also be taking to the pitch against Sporting Lisbon and Brest — both teams won away from home with three clean goals. The Yellow Locust match kicks off at 7:45pm at Signal Iduna Park, while the Parc des Princes hosts the all-French encounter at 10pm.

Many will also be tuning into the game between Eindhoven and Juventus at the Philips Stadion, with no one quite certain who will emerge victorious despite Juve's 2-1 win in the first leg. The match is scheduled for 10pm.

Week 25 of the English Premier League concludes tonight with a match between Aston Villa and Liverpool at 9:30pm. The Reds are at the top of the standings with 60 points — 7 points ahead of Arsenal in second place — and are hoping to add 3 more points to widen the gap. The Villans are looking to move up the rankings from mid-table —ninth place with 38 points— to the qualifying positions.

Lege-cy at Boom Room is not a performance to be missed

MARK YOUR CALENDAR-

For fans of Lege-cy, don't miss his live performance at Boom Room tonight. Get your tickets at Ticketsmarche.

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

HAPPENING THIS WEEK-

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.

Welcome in the holy month of Ramadan with the finest dates at the CairoInternational Date Festival, under the theme From Egypt to the World. The festival will take place from Thursday, 20 February to Tuesday, 25 February at Al Horreya Park in Zamalek. Admission to the festival is free, with entry requiring a park ticket that costs 20 EGP.

Beatport Live is coming to CJC 610 for the first time. On Thursday, 20 February, Acid Arab are taking the stage to perform their blend of Western electronic music and Eastern sounds and vocals to give you an unforgettable night — alongside other sets from Misty and Aly Goede B2B Jess. Tickets are available on Ticketsmarche.

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.

Amal Maher takes on the Sound and Light theatre at the Giza Pyramids. The concert will take place on Thursday, 20 February with doors opening at 7pm. Formal attire is required. You can book your tickets through TicketsMall.

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 Sixth 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.

Want to support Gaza’s artisans in Cairo? Don’t miss the Gazan Artisan Craft Fair at KMT House in Maadi, featuring products crafted by Palestinian artisans here in Cairo. The fair will take place on Saturday, 22 February from 11am to 6pm.

HAPPENING LATER-

Attend a classic ballet opera. Sleeping Beauty will be showing at the Cairo Opera House at the end of the month. Tickets for shows on the 24, 25, 26, and 27 February are available on Tazkarti.

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 Monday, 24 February until Wednesday, 26 February. Get tickets from Tazkarti.

Why play connect four when you can laugh at it. Don't miss the hilarious comedy game night Connect Four on Tuesday, 25 February at Boom Room, featuring comedians Khaled El Shoky and Islam Amin, delivering non-stop laughs and interactive fun. Get your tickets from Ticketsmarche.

The Loran Gang are back. For all Kefaya Ba2a fans, this is your chance to catch a special live episode with the legendary Loran Gang on Thursday, 27 February at Theatro Arkan. Come for raw takes, big laughs, and an unforgettable night. Grab your tickets now on Ticketsmarche.

Disney On Ice returns to Cairo with Let’s Celebrate. Get ready for a magical experience as Disney On Ice makes its grand return to Cairo with the spectacular show Let’s Celebrate, running from Wednesday, 21 May to Saturday, 31 May. Join Mickey Mouse, Moana, and some of the Disney princesses as they bring beloved stories to life in a performance featuring over 100 world-class skaters, stunning visual effects, and dazzling stage designs. The show will take place at the indoor hall of Cairo International Stadium in Nasr City. Tickets are already selling out, so get them while you can from Tazkarti.

What the markets are doing on 19 February 2025

The EGX30 rose 0.9% at today’s close on turnover of EGP 4.5 bn (24.6% above the 90-day average). International investors were the sole net buyers. The index is up 3.8% YTD.

In the green: Alexandria Container and Cargo Handling Company (+5.6%), Orascom Development Egypt (+5.5%), and EFG Holding (+3.8%).

In the red: Juhayna (-2.6%), Beltone Holding (-2.6%), and EgyptAlum (-2.1%).

THE ENTERPRISE ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR

FEBRUARY

19 February (Wednesday): Lege-cy at Boom Room.

20 February (Thursday): Beatport Live at CJC 610.

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

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

20-25 February (Thursday-Tuesday): Cairo International Date Festival at Al-Horreya Park.

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): Gazan Artisan Craft Fair at KMT House.

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

22 February (Saturday): MENA Product Summit at Kamelizer Spaces.

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.

25 February (Tuesday): Connect Four at Boom Room.

27 February (Thursday): Loran Gang at Theatro Arkan.

APRIL

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

MAY

21-31 May (Wednesday-Saturday): Disney On Ice at Cairo International Stadium

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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