Good afternoon, all. We’re racing towards the final stretch of the week and into the weekend.
THE BIG STORY TODAY-
Israel may restart natural gas supplies to Egypt as early as Thursday, but domestic demand will continue to take priority over exports, Bloomberg reports, citing Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen.
BACKGROUND- Over the weekend, Tel Aviv shuttered the Leviathan field as well as the Karish field in the wake of military strikes on Iranian targets, taking away 800 mcf/d from our national gas grid. Reduced gas flows from Israel not only mean an increased reliance on significantly more expensive LNG or Mazut imports, but also put a significant strain on Egypt's efforts to keep the lights on ahead of high-demand summer months.
THE BIG STORY ABROAD-
Wide-ranging speculation is mounting over potential US military involvement in Israel’s ongoing war with Iran, as Donald Trump calls for Tehran’s “unconditional surrender” and weighs options that include targeting nuclear sites. The prospect of direct US strikes has triggered panic in Tehran, where thousands are fleeing the capital amid Israeli calls to evacuate areas ahead of air raids. Iran, which has fired hundreds of missiles at Israel since Friday, has warned it will retaliate against US military assets if Washington joins the fight. (Bloomberg | Reuters | The Washington Post)
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☀️ TOMORROW’S WEATHER- The capital is in for a sunny day tomorrow, with the mercury set to peak at 37°C throughout the day before cooling down to 22°C at night. The North Coast will be experiencing cooler weather, with the temperature expected to reach just 29°C during the day and 20°C at night, according to our favorite weather app.
A league of its own? The AI arms race is as tight as ever; some of the big players are buryingtheir hatches, and others appear to be breaking the bank in unprecedented acquisitions. The strategies are aplenty, yet the goal remains the same — end the race in first place, or fall off. In Central and South America, however, an AI race of a different nature is taking place — one less focused on profit and more so on cultural survival.
The Latin AI. Twelve Latin American countries have joined forces to launch their own open-source AI project called Latam-GPT — set to be the first artificial intelligence language model not trained predominantly in English — according to Reuters. Work on Latam-GPT first started in January 2023, with plans for launch currently slated for September 2025. The effort is led by Chile — who had obtained the top spot in the Caribbean’s Latin American Artificial Intelligence Index in September 2024.
A group effort. Alongside Chile’s state-run National Center for Artificial Intelligence, over 30 institutions from 12 different Latin countries have contributed to the project. Latam-GPT not only seeks to introduce an accessible AI model for the Latin population, but preserve local cultures and safeguard indigenous languages. Though the project is yet to be completed, a preliminary translator has already been developed for Rapa Nui — a language on the verge of extinction, with many more in the works.
No competition here. Latam-GPT is not meant to compete with its bigger-budget state-of-the-art counterparts, but is meant to be a widely applicable alternative across the Latin world. The LLM’s bounty of cultural context is anticipated to result in less hallucinations, with Aisen Etcheverry, Chile’s Science Minister, hoping for its application across sectors such as education and medicine.
More than halfway there. Even without a dedicated budget and limited resources, Latam-GPT has reached a completion rate of approximately 60% according to official website data. The AI model is being trained using documents from all Latin American countries, Puerto Rico, and Spain — so far, over 2.6 mn documents have been used to train it.
Can the Arab world catch up? While AI efforts across the Arab world have thus far been scattered and lack the unity displayed by the Latin project, many regional AI startups have been taking off — though in a different direction, prioritizing AI SaaS at the core of their businesses, such as Saudi-Egyptian startup Darwinz.
A few AI language models trained in Arabic have recently risen to the spotlight. In May 2025, Abu Dhabi's Advanced Technology Research Council launched Falcon Arabic — an AI model trained on “600 gigatokens of Arabic data.” Earlier in April, Saudi startup YallaPlus had also announced YallaAI, a platform that “deeply understands the nuances of the Arabic language” — yet is exclusively integrated with Yalla Plus’ retail management systems. As the AI race in the region struggles to pick up the pace, it seems only time will tell whether or not big guns like OpenAI will be given an Arab-style run for their money.
What do you think of when we say “Europe”? Author Oliver Moody, the Berlin bureau chief of The Times, makes a compelling case for why the plucky, innovative countries bordering the Baltic Sea best represent the European spirit and the continent’s future. The timely 384-page Baltic: The Future of Europe is consistently tethered to the issue of Russia — exploring the threats facing Baltic countries, Europe’s military capabilities in the region, and how to prevent war.
A tortured history: From the mid 20th century, the Baltic region witnessed the fiercest battleground between Nazism and Communism, Soviet occupation, and long struggles for independence. Moody delivers gripping narratives for how Estonia, Finland, and Latvia each responded to these watershed events.
Rousing tales of national success: Nobody predicted that the Baltics would extricate themselves from their destitution at the hands of the Soviets so quickly and so successfully. Moody explains in detail the mechanisms behind their success — adaption of tech, bold diplomacy, and a cohesive national spirit.
What is the mindset behind this success? The author permeates the book with discussions of how the countries’ willingness to endure temporary hardships, constant urgency, and forward thinking facilitated their growth. Moody draws on extensive interviews with past and present political figures to demonstrate how the elites of Baltic countries were influenced by the looming threat of Russia to rapidly implement widespread and future-facing reforms. The author readily demonstrates the results — Estonia has produced more Unicorns relative to its population than any other nation (Bolt, Skype, and Wise).
How to prevent war: Moody probes European military capabilities and the likelihood of a Russian invasion of the Baltic states. Although discussions of military operations are largely speculative, the author drives home the mantra that “the best way to prevent a war is to be unmistakably capable of winning one.” But do not mistake the book as a dry tome of history and policy — it’s rich with stories, interviews, and mythology. It’s for anyone who appreciates a spotlight being given to a greatly undervalued region.
WHERE TO GET IT- You can find Baltic: The Future of Europe on Amazon as an ebook.
⚽ Catch up on the Club World Cup: Yesterday, the US’ stadiums saw four matches play out as part of the preliminary face-offs for Groups E and F.
A not-so–highly-anticipated disappointment. Of all the matches played yesterday, the one that audiences were looking forward to proved the most upsetting. Germany’s Borussia Dortmund and Brazil’s Fluminense left the field with a scoreless draw in the Group F opener.
The first African victory of the tournament went to the Mamelodi Sundowns. The South African FC managed to snag three points from South Korea’s Ulsan HD, earning the lead in Group F, and becoming the first African club to exit the field victorious, after the defeat of Tunisia’s Espérance and Egypt’s Al Ahly’s scoreless draw.
Argentina climbs up. Italy’s Inter Milan and Mexico’s Monterrey settled for a 1:1 draw, walking away with one point each and leaving Argentina’s Atlético River Plate in the Group E lead following its 3:1 victory over the Japanese Urawa Red Diamonds.
Matches we’re keeping an eye on tonight: The first round of group matches comes to a close tonight with four intense face-offs. England’s Manchester City and Morocco’s Wydad AC will go head to head in an attempt to secure Group G’s lead at the Lincoln Financial Field Stadium at 7pm. Group G’s Italian Juventus and Emirati Al Ain will also duel it out at 4am at DC’s Audi Field stadium.
Spain’s “royal” Real Madrid and Saudi’s Al-Hilal will be kicking off Group H matches at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium at 10pm. A little later at 1am, Cincinnati, Ohio’s TQL Stadium will play host to Mexico’s Pachuca and Austria's Salzburg in the second Group H match of the night.
? From Beirut to Cairo, Brazilian-Lebanese DJ Rodge is about to shake things up at CJC 610. The seasoned DJ knows how to get a crowd up and jumping, and his set on Friday, 20 June at the nightlife hotspot west of Cairo promises to be no different. Rodge will be dishing out global anthems, feel-good hits, and everything in between. Joining him on the decks will be Zabadi Khalat with their signature sonic shake-up. You can grab your tickets from CJC 610’s website — and we suggest doing so fast.
HAPPENING THIS WEEK-
Get loud or get out. CJC 610 is bringing back Casino El Fotrikiano, its signature Mahraganat madness experience, tonight, 18 June, and it’s set to be louder than ever. Turning it up with his signature sha’bi sound, Mozmar Abdelsalam will be joined by Egyptian Mahraganat singer Mahmoud Elleithy and DJ Sadam for a night celebrating the best that Egypt’s local genre has to offer. You can secure your spot through CJC 610’s website.
No tickets needed, these concerts are on the house. Viral Egyptian singer and rapper LellaFadda is throwing two pro-bono concerts this June. On Thursday, June 19, Fadda will be lighting up Alexandria’s Antoniades Park before heading back to Cairo for an encore at The Greek Campus in Downtown Cairo on Saturday, 21 June. You can secure your spot through Laylo.
Miami-based Mexican artist and producer Sainte Vie is giving Cairo a taste of Floridian summers. Bringing his signature groove to CJC 610 on Thursday, 19 June, the techno dynamo will be joined by local DJs Ziad Mousa, Mohasseb, and Ashmawy. You can get your tickets from Ticketsmarché.
They might be creeps, they might be weirdos, but they’re definitely going to be entertaining the crowd. On Thursday, 19 June, Egyptian Radiohead tribute band The Bends will be taking over Garden City’s Room Art Space with an intimate unplugged session featuring Radiohead’s most beloved hits. Tickets can be purchased through EasyKash. Now, cue Exit Music (for a Film).
From Tomorrowland to New Alamein. Italy-hailing and Berlin-based artist, DJ, and composer Malandra Jr. wants you to be part of his symphony on Friday, 20 June at Cassette, New Alamein. The Ibiza resident is known for keeping his crowd on their toes with his unexpected sonic mashups that only a certified composer like him can whip up. Tickets can be purchased through Crcl’s — the event organizer — Instagram.
Need a dash of folklore in your life? Reconnect with your Egyptian roots at El Sawy Culturewheel on Friday, 20 June, as the all-Egyptian, all-women band Tablet el Sitt take the stage. On a mission to spread joy and preserve Egyptian folk music, the band will be performing from 8pm to 10:30pm. Tickets are available on El Sawy Culturewheel’s official website.
HAPPENING LATER-
12 hours of Egyptian culture? Sign us up.Qahrawya will be whisking curious wanderlusters off to Al Haraneyah and Dahshour on Saturday, 21 June, where they will get a full day experience through the Ramsis Wissa Wassef Center, the Adam Hanin Museum, and the Glass Museum. The itinerary will also include interactive workshops and a traditional Egyptian lunch. You can purchase tickets for Qahrawya’s Wrapped in Silk tour through EasyKash.
Legendary Egyptian pianist Omar Khairat is back at the Cairo Opera House with two concerts on Sunday, 22 June and Monday 23, June. Tickets can be purchased through Tazkarti.
Ever dreamt of being a DJ? Kamelizer wants to make your beat-dropping dreams come true at District 5’s Townhall by Kamelizer this June. Collaborating with the DJ Academy in Cairo, Kamelizer is hosting a three-week-long DJ Bootcamp kicking off on Monday, 23 June, and taking place on Mondays and Wednesdays from 6:30 to 9:30pm. Want to master mixing? Be a transition-tron? Know how to work a crowd? The bootcamp will teach you how to do all that and more — and the best part? You’ll get to show off your skills at two live events following the bootcamp. To register for the bootcamp and find out more details, head to Kamelizer Spaces’ Instagram and click the link in their bio.
It takes two to t…ell a good joke? Well, a decent joke at least — seriously decent. Studio El Etnin’s veteran comedians Ahmed Hassan and Ahmed Magdy are on a mission to prove that you don’t need profanity to get the laugh-track rolling. Performing at CJC 610 on Tuesday, 24 June, the duo is flipping the script with a show as censored as it is chaotic. Need a laugh? A moment in the spotlight? We suggest getting a move on and grabbing your tickets for the interactive comedy show from CJC 610’s website.
World-famous ventriloquist Jeff Dunham is bringing his puppets to Egypt this June. Performing live in Cairo for the very first time, the American comedian, actor, and host of the Jeff Dunham show will be playing puppet-master as he orchestrates a comedic showcase under the theme of Artificial Intelligence, stringing along his comical cast of characters at the Drama Hall in the New Capital’s Arts and Culture city on Thursday, 26 June. You can grab your tickets from Ticketsmarché — and don’t worry, you won’t have to pull any strings to get in.
The ‘90s are calling, and on Friday, 27 June, we’re picking up. Egyptian band Cassette ‘90s will be performing live at Zamalek’s El-Sawy Culturewheel, and you best believe they’ll be doubling down on nostalgia. This motley crew of ‘90s aficionados knows how to keep an audience on their feet, so if a trip a few decades back sounds like a fun time, secure your spot through El-Sawy Culturewheel’s website.
Lose yourself in the last of Beethoven’s symphonies at the Cairo Opera House. On Saturday, 28 June, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 will reverberate throughout the Main Hall as Maestro Ahmed El Saedi guides his orchestra through the most influential of symphonic works. Tickets can be purchased through Tazkarti.
The Cairokee Empire rises once more, this time at the Cairo International Stadium. On Saturday, 28 June, the band promises over a decade’s worth of iconic music at the largest venue in Africa. You can grab your tickets through Tazkarti.
Freshen up your linen shirts and pack up your shades, because Egyptian megastar Amr Diab will be kicking off Sahel season at Sol Beach Marassi on Friday, 4 July. Joining the Hadaba will be German electronic dance music producer and singer Monolink, and Copenhagen-based experimental pop trio WhoMadeWho. You can grab your tickets from Ticketsmarché. Just don’t forget your sunblock.
Did that trip to Ibiza not make it out of the group chat? Well, you’re in luck. ParadiseIbiza — one of the Mediterranean island’s most celebrated party series — is marching to the beat of its own EDM drum all the way to the North Coast’s Solare in Ras El Hekma on Friday, 11 July. The line up includes Welsh DJ Jamie Jones (the brains behind Paradise), US DJ Seth Troxler, UK’s East End Dubs, Danish-Filipino Manda Moor, and Egypt’s own Awadly. Tickets are yet to be announced, however we’d suggest keeping an eye out on Paradise Ibiza’s website.
This summer, New Alamein city will be playing host to two landmark art events. Announced by the Egyptian Prime Ministry, the second edition of contemporary exhibitionArt Space will kick off on Saturday, 19 July and wrap up Tuesday, 30 September, as Sahel season comes to a close. Throughout its duration, the exhibition will feature a slew of visual art installations, interactive workshops, and multidisciplinary exhibitions, including the Egypt Sculpture Symposium, which takes place from Wednesday, 6 August till Saturday, 30 August, hosting 30 of the world’s most renowned sculptors.
The Martinez Brothers will be giving the North Coast’s Sol Beach a taste of what New York City’s nightlife scene has to offer on Friday, 1 August. The DJ duo — and brothers from the same mother — will be joined by Lebanese DJ and producer Rolbac, so you know things will be heating up quite fast. You can grab your tickets from Ticketsmarché.
Get caffeinated and grab your polaroid camera, because on Friday 8 August, &ME — one fifth of Keinemusik — will be bringing the beats all through the night until sunrise at North Coast’s Sol Beach. Promising to have you dancing till the sun’s up, the German EDM DJ and producer will be going solo this time around. Tickets can be purchased through Ticketsmarché.
In the mood to party by the Pyramids? On Friday, 19 December, world-famous Dutch DJ and Producer Tiësto is coming back to Egypt for a solo show at the Giza Plateau. Once voted “The Greatest DJ of All Time,” Tiësto will surely make this upcoming show one to remember. Tickets are available on Ticket Egypt.
The EGX30 rose 0.4% at today’s close on turnover of EGP 2.2 bn (54.1% below the 90-day average). Local investors were the sole net sellers. The index is up 3.7% YTD.
In the green: Fawry (+4.1%), Oriental Weavers (+4.0%), Orascom Construction (+2.8%).
In the red: Eastern Company (-3.0%), EFG Holding (-2.0%), and Mopco (-2.0%).
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