Pick your fighter

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WHAT WE’RE TRACKING TONIGHT

Alcazar to build USD 2.5 bn hybrid renewables project in Zafarana

Good afternoon folks, and Merry Christmas to all those celebrating. The news cycle isn’t slowing down for Christmas, it seems, with today’s issue chock-full of fresh details on the government’s plans for the Zafarana wind farm, a mysterious jet crash, and Google’s continued search dominance.

THE BIG STORY TODAY

A 3.1 GW hybrid renewables station is coming to Zafarana: The UAE’s Alcazar Energy and the Madbouly government have reportedly agreed to set up a hybrid renewable energy project in Zafarana with some USD 2.5 bn worth of investments, two anonymous sources tell Asharq Business. The new agreement is a reformulation and activation of an MoU between Alcazar and the government signed last month to establish a 2 GW onshore wind farm, a government source told EnterpriseAM.

The details: The project is expected to produce 2 GW of solar energy and 1.1 GW of wind energy for a total of 3.1 GW of renewable energy, with the station set to be built under a build-own-operate system, one source told Asharq Business. The government will receive 2% of the project’s total energy production in exchange for granting Alcazar usufruct rights, with the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company to purchase the rest of the station’s output at USD 0.02 per KW/h for the solar power and USD 0.03 per KW/h for the wind power throughout the duration of the project. Alcazar will wrap up project studies and financials before the end of 2025, with work on the site set to begin early 2026, the other source told the news outlet.

The agreement offers more insight into the government’s plans for Zafarana: The government has shifted its stance on the delayed Zafarana wind farm offering, which has been sitting on the privatization shortlist since 2023, our source said. The state now wants to offer land in the area to investors looking to pour investments into wind and solar energy projects, with the government getting a cut of the renewable energy yield plus an appropriate price on the energy it buys from investors in return. Additionally, Zafarana’s out-of-service facilities will get an overhaul to gear them up for more investment offerings in the coming period, the source told us.

THE BIG STORY ABROAD

At least thirty killed in Russia-bound plane’s crash: A passenger plane en route from Azerbaijan’s capital Baku to the Russian city of Grozny crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, killing dozens of the 62 passengers and five crew on board, Reuters reports. At least 32 people survived the crash and were hospitalized after being rescued from the wreckage. Russian officials are claiming that the plane’s unusual flight path — which saw it diverted far to the east — was the result of fog in Grozny, while Russia’s aviation regulator stated that initial indications suggest that the plane had been forced to make an emergency landing due to a bird strike. (Reuters | The Guardian | Associated Press | Financial Times)

Russia launches Christmas assault on Ukraine: Russia launched a fresh wave of attacks on Ukraine today, targeting its energy infrastructure with drones and cruise and ballistic missiles, Reuters reports. The strikes have left 500k people in the Kharkhiv region without heat, with Kyiv and other cities also experiencing blackouts.

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

Egypt unlocks USD 1.2 bn tranche from the IMF: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has reached a staff level agreement with the Egyptian authorities on the fourth review of its USD 8 bn loan program.
Beltone to move forward with another mega capital increase: Beltone Holding will increase its capital by EGP 10.75 bn after its board greenlit the move.
Big real estate export targets for next year: The Madbouly government is targeting USD 2 bn in proceeds from a new real estate export platform next year.

☀️ TOMORROW’S WEATHER- We’re seeing a slight drop in temps with tomorrow’s mercury expected to reach a high of 19°C in the capital and a low of 11°C at night, according to our favorite weather app.

Battle of the search engines

Pick your fighter — Google or ChatGPT: A new experiment pitting Google’s and ChatGPT’s search functions against each other across different categories of search requests has produced an unexpected outcome — calling into question where the AI industry’s crown jewel stands in its race to dethrone the longtime king of search, Google.

The breakdown: The experiment saw 62 queries tested on both Google’s and ChatGPT’s search engines, with performance compared across a number categories like informational, commercial, comparison, disambiguation, and medical searches. Results were evaluated based on the degree to which answers matched up with user intent, alongside errors, omissions, and weaknesses in the answers.

In a somewhat unexpected turn of events, Google came out on top. The old-school search engine particularly excelled in informational, navigational, local, and commercial searches, with the platform’s wide index of web pages, longtime trove of data on user intent, and supporting tools — like Google Maps for local queries — providing a superior search experience for users across the (albeit small) sample of queries used in the experiment.

But ChatGPT did fight back. OpenAI’s platform stood out in content gap analysis, which identifies areas of improvement in a piece of content — a crucial task for content creators and SEO professionals. Google’s standard search functionality didn’t stack up in this area, since it only shared search results related to the topic rather than filling in the gaps.

There was definitely room for improvement, though. ChatGPT exhibited some trouble with accuracy and omissions in its responses — highlighting a need for improvement in fact-checking and information retrieval. If you thought the AI platform was the all-knowing artificial genius, this experiment suggests you might want to reevaluate.

The weirdest true crime story you’ll ever see

? This may just be the strangest true crime story you’ve ever heard. The Kings of Tupelo: A Southern Crime Saga is a three part docuseries revolving around an Elvis impersonator, a karate instructor, and an assassination attempt against former US president Barack Obama. The story’s bizarre setup adds a layer of comedic appeal to what is otherwise a shocking true crime story.

The story begins with Paul Kevin Curtis. Curtis becomes deeply obsessed with conspiracy theories after making some dark and unsettling discoveries. He falls down a rabbit hole, uncovering more and more secrets, leading him to isolate himself from everyone around him.

…enter the karate instructor, Everett Dutshke, who was also a former political candidate. Dutshke harbors a personal vendetta against Curtis, and falsely accuses him of sending ricin-laced letters to President Obama. This starts a complicated legal battle that reveals he was attempting to scapegoat Curtis. Confused? This docuseries is a rollercoaster of events that will only become clear once you give it a watch.

WHERE TO WATCH: You can watch the series on Netflix or catch the trailer on Youtube (runtime: 2:12).

Ready to taste true Turkish delights

? Hanim Aga will staunch your Turkish food craving. Without breaking the bank at a certain overpriced contender, this Turkish fast food joint is a solid choice — offering everything from Mediterranean appetizers to grilled sandwiches, shawarma, burgers, Turkish pizza, and even broasted chicken. While not all the dishes are traditionally Turkish, they’ve made sure to include a wide array of Turkish specialties for those looking to dive into authentic flavors.

We started with Dolma, the Mediterranean vine leaves, which come in a generous serving of five pieces. These dolma were thicker than expected, about two fingers wide, and cold — quite a departure from the usual warm, slender ones used too. The flavor was a pleasant surprise, with the dolma perfectly tender and the rice filling well-seasoned, paired with Tartar sauce — a mix of Turkish labneh, garlic, and natural carrots — that was unexpected but complemented the dolma well.

Next up, we had the boat-like Zaatar and Meat Pida. We started with the Zaatar Pida, a warm, flatbread topped with zaatar spices and fresh herbs. While it was good, it was the Meat Pida that truly stood out. The minced meat was flavorful, spiced just right, and paired wonderfully with the extra-sweet bell peppers in the mix. The soft yet slightly crispy crust provided the perfect base, and the hearty filling made this pida a satisfying choice.

The real highlight, however, was the Mix Kebab. The plate featured two big Ottoman skewers: one with minced meat and the other with minced chicken, both marinated with a unique Turkish spice blend. The kebabs were juicy, packed with flavor, and grilled to perfection. They came with a generous portion of bulgur — similar to freekeh, with a rich, earthy texture — and grilled vegetables. But we think the standout was the bulgur, which had somewhat a tangy tomato paste taste to it — it brought the whole meal together and added a wonderful depth of flavor.

To wash it all down, we opted for a glass of Laban Aryan — refreshing and just the right amount of tangy to complement the richness of the food.

For those looking to dive into Turkish food beyond the typical offerings, this spot is definitely worth a visit. Whether you stick with the classics or explore new flavors, it’s a taste of Turkey that won’t hurt your wallet.

WHERE TO FIND IT- You’ll find the restaurant in Maadi, but for those who live in the area you can save the trip and order it through Talabat.

Three Egyptian Premier League games on tonight

⚽ It’s another slow day for football aficionados as most of the world’s leagues take a short break for Christmas celebrations. Luckily, the Egyptian Premier League is here to tide you over with three matches as part of its sixth round. The most notable match sees last season’s runner-up Pyramids take on Pharco at 8pm, while Al Ittihad faces off against Modern Sport and Ismaily takes on Haras El Hodoud at 5pm.

Release your inner negativity with this drum circle

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MARK YOUR CALENDAR-

Release the negativity with the Drum Circle Festival at Gusour Cultural Center tomorrow, 26 December. The circle is a unique experience where you play tabla or drums following an instructor while hanging out and connecting with the group. The event has two rounds, one at 6pm and another at 7pm. Tickets are available on site.

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

HAPPENING THIS WEEK-

160 of Egypt’s most celebrated and promising artists. The 10th Edition of Cairo Art Fair is now open at TAM Gallery in Abu Rawwash and will continue running till Friday, 31 January.

Get in the festive spirit by building a gingerbread house. Hana Bakes is collaborating with Brunch and Cake for a Gingerbread House Making Workshop. Three workshops will take place starting tonight, Wednesday, 25 December until Friday, 27 December — all at 8pm. Wednesday will be located at Brunch and Cake’s branch in Golf Central, Thursday at Park St. and Friday at Lakeview. Book your spot by messaging Hoogculture on Instagram.

Celebrate Christmas with Gabi Bishara with a night of smooth, soulful jazz at the Boom Room, Open Air Mall Madinaty. The concert will take place tonight at 8 pm. Tickets are available on Ticketsmarche.

Celebrate the holiday season with The Sinatras. The Frank Sinatra tribute band will take to the stage for their Christmas Show tonight starting 8pm at Theatro Arkan. Tickets are available through Ticketsmarche.

Drop the Christmas Music, and turn up the Shaabi. Reda El Bahrawy and Mahmoud Eleithy are bringing their Mahraganat to CJC 610 tonight. Book your spot through the CJC website.

Nile Techno with El Fashni. Wael Fashni and DJ Big Mika will be merging Sufism with techno tonight at Royal Club Mohamed Ali. The concert starts at 8 pm and tickets are available on Ticketsmarche.

Harfoush season is here. Celebrate Christmas at Esca Cueva with a live performance from Harfoush. The event will take place tonight and you can book your spot by contacting Esca Cueva.

It’s that time of year again... The Nutcracker is returning to the opera. Celebrate the season with The Nutcracker Ballet, performed by the Cairo Opera Ballet Company and Orchestra. The performances will run starting tomorrow, 26 December to Tuesday, 31 December. Tickets are available on Tazakarti.

Party from dusk till dawn at Disco-Tech x Retrogroove. The party will take place tomorrow at Cook's Club El Gouna featuring Disco-Tech residents Moenes, Jess, Mazen A, and Muze, retrogroove's residents Ralph Nasr and EJ, and guest DJs Akladios, Hermit, Maie and Joey. Grab your tickets on Ticketsmarche.

Egyptian rapper Afroto will be performing at ElMalahy on Friday, 27 December from 8pm. Tickets are available on Ticketsmarche.

Tablet El Sitt band is coming back with some more folklore but Christmas themed. The show will take place at Theatro Arkan on Friday, 27 December at 8pm. Tickets are available on Ticketsmarche.

HAPPENING LATER-

Your New Year’s Eve plans are sorted. The maestro of modern electronic music, KAS:ST, will be playing at Le Lac Du Caire on Tuesday, 31 December for an iconic X-HÄUS New Year’s eve party. Tickets are available at Collard Tickets.

Close out the year with Black Coffee. See Black Coffee live at Cubix, El Gouna. Enjoy the deep house sound infused with African rhythms and electronic beats as you enter the new year. The event will take place on Sunday, 29 December and you can grab your tickets from TicketEgypt.

…Or if you’re looking for a night of nostalgic Arabic tunes, head to CJC 610 this New Year’s Eve with Hisham Abbas and Hamid El Shari. Doors open at 8pm, and the party starts at 10pm. Message their Facebook page to reserve your spot.

End the year with some laughs at comedian Ali Quandil’s 600th show. The show will take place at Theatro Arkan on Tuesday, 31 December at 8pm. Tickets are available 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.

The ultimate gaming event in Egypt is here. Gamergy Egypt will feature live competitions, immersive experiences, and activities to bring together gaming fans of all ages. The festival will take place from Thursday, 30 January to Saturday, 1 February at Al Burouj Cultural Hub. Earlybird tickets are now available on their website.

This one is for the sports fans. The Football Access Summit will feature talks, panels, and presentations from sports industry leaders — giving the fans insider access. The summit will take place on 7 and 8 February at ZED Park. Tickets are available on Ticketsmarche.

What the markets are doing on 25 December 2024

The EGX30 rose 0.1% at today’s close on turnover of EGP 2.0 bn (51.5% below the 90-day average). International investors were the sole net buyers. The index is up 20.5% YTD.

In the green: Alexandria Container and Cargo Handling (+4.7%), AMOC (+2.2%) and Cleopatra Hospitals (+2.2%).

In the red: GB Corp (-3.6%), Telecom Egypt (-1.6%) and Oriental Weavers (-1.4%).

THE ENTERPRISE ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR

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

25 December (Wednesday): Gaby Bishara Christmas Concert at Boom Room, Open Air Mall Madinaty.

25 December (Wednesday): Nile Techno with El Fashni at the Royal Club Mohamed Ali.

25 December (Wednesday): Gingerbread House Making Workshop at Brunch and Cake, Golf Central.

25 December (Wednesday): Harfoush live at Esca Cueva.

25 December (Wednesday): Shaabi X-mas at CJC 610.

25 December (Wednesday): The Sinatras Christmas Show at Theatro Arkan.

26 December (Thursday): Disco-Tech x Retrogroove at Cook's Club El Gouna.

26 December (Thursday): Gingerbread House Making Workshop at Brunch and Cake, Park st.

27 December (Friday): Afrotoat El Malahy.

27 December (Friday): Tablet El Sitt at Theatro Arkan.

27 December (Friday): Gingerbread House Making Workshop at Brunch and Cake, Lakeview.

29 December (Sunday): Black Coffee live at Cubix, El Gouna.

31 December (Tuesday): KAS:ST at Le Lac Du Caire.

31 December (Tuesday): Hisham Abbas and Hamid El Shari at CJC 610.

31 December (Tuesday): Ali Quandil’s 600th show at Theatro Arkan.

31 December (Tuesday): Sasha Carassi's One twenty Eight New Years eve party at Dahab Island.

JANUARY

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

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

FEBRUARY

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

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