Good afternoon, folks, and a happy almost weekend to you all.
THE BIG STORY TODAY
Five major airports slated for first phase of private sector offerings: The first phase of the government’s plan to bring private investors to develop, manage, and operate Egyptian airports will offer up five airports, Al Arabiya reported, citing unnamed sources it says are close to the matter. The sources named the airports as Cairo International Airport, Sphinx International Airport, New Alamein International Airport, Sharm El Sheikh International Airport, and Hurghada International Airport.
Luxor, Aswan airports to follow in later phases: The Madbouly government also plans to hand over management of Luxor and Aswan airports to private sector operators in subsequent phases, with plans to develop Aswan Airport into a hub for sub-Saharan African flights, one of the sources said.
THE BIG STORY ABROAD
Too-close-to-call race sees Wall Street bet big on potential Trump election victory: Some hedge funds and investors are positioning themselves for a potential Trump victory in the upcoming US presidential election, with stocks tied to his policies already seeing gains, the Wall Street Journal writes. As Trump's chances improve in recent polling, traders are moving into assets that could benefit from a Republican win, such as private-prison stocks and cryptocurrency-related firms, which have surged in recent weeks.
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El Sisi, Putin talk Brics at the bloc’s annual summit: President Abdel Fattah El Sisi met his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Brics Summit, which kicked off in Kazan yesterday.
Raya Foods may just be the beginning of Helios’ Egypt acquisition spree: Africa-focussed and London-based PE outfit Helios Investment Partners is looking into acquiring stakes in another three Egyptian companies.
Our localization efforts are in full swing: The Madbouly government will work to localize the manufacture of 12 products selected by the ministries of housing and industry.
☀️ TOMORROW’S WEATHER- The October weather remains stable, with the mercury maintaining a high of 30°C and a low of 19°C in the capital, according to our favorite weather app.
Americans are still frustrated with inflation, even though wages have caught up and prices are stabilizing in the states, Business Insider reports. Despite economic improvements like low unemployment and rising salaries, many continue to feel the pinch of high prices. In fact, inflation remains Americans’ top concern, ranking above crime, immigration, gun violence, and more, as revealed in a survey by Pew Research Centre.
But the frustration isn’t just about the financial impact — it’s about the emotional cost. The real issue lies in how inflation forces employees to navigate uncomfortable negotiations for better pay. A new National Bureau of Economic Research study shows that inflation has forced American workers to confront difficult conversations with their employers about raises, leading to a sense of anxiety and conflict. Most prefer to avoid conflict, leaving them with smaller pay increases that don't fully keep up with rising costs. In a survey of 3k workers, only 21% sought a bigger raise to match inflation, while the majority preferred to avoid the stress of conflict with their employers.
This strain is a big reason why, even as the US economy recovers, people still feel worse off. Even as the economy improves, the conflict of negotiating for better pay could keep weighing on people’s well-being — even their performance at work, which could possibly instigate frustration and conflict in the workplace. If not, it may result in many to hop between jobs in search for more competitive salaries.
Marvel puts the M in magic by bringing a spell-binding spin-off (pun intended).Agatha All Along follows Kathryn Hahn’s character from WandaVision, once known as the nosy, whiny Agnes who turns out to be Agatha Harkness, a power-hungry Salem witch. It picks up right where the chaos left off, with Agatha stripped of her powers and trapped in suburban hell. But don’t worry, she’s still got that deliciously wicked attitude that made us all root for her, even (spoiler alert) when she tried to steal Wanda's powers.
Dark comedy, witchy drama, and a crew of new allies: The series sees Agatha thinking she’s a police detective on suspension in the midst of a murder case. But reality soon breaks down when an unnamed warlock (Joe Locke) breaks into her house. She snaps out of the illusion, and they buddy up to reclaim their powers, along with a hatchet job coven made up of a wellness store owner Jennifer Kale (Sasheer Zamata) dodging lawsuits, Lilia Calderu (Patti Lupone) a psychic on the brink of homelessness, and Alice Wu (Ali Ahn) an ex-cop looking for her missing mom.
It promises to hit those emotional highs we saw in WandaVision. This show will leave you laughing, spellbound, and maybe even a little teary by the end. Perfect for Halloween, or anytime you need some magical mischief in your life.
WHERE TO WATCH- You can watch the series on Disney+ or watch the trailer on YouTube (runtime: 2:24).
Related
⚽ League stages in the third round of the Champions League wrap up today, with some intense matches on the roster. Barcelona will be going head to head with Bayern Munich in a highly anticipated game, while Liverpool face RB Leipzig. Meanwhile, Man City are at home playing against Sparta Prague. All matches kick off at 10pm.
Other matches playing tonight:
Brest vs. Leverkusen (7:45pm).
Atalanta vs. Celtic (7:45pm).
Atletico Madrid vs. LOSC (10pm).
RB Salzburg vs. Dinamo Zagreb (10pm).
Benfica vs. Feyenoord (10pm).
Young Boys vs. Inter Milan (10pm).
In the Europa League, the third round of the league stage kicks off today with two matches at 5:30pm: Galatasaray will take on Wolfsburg, and Sporting Braga will play against Bodø/Glimt.
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? EAT THIS TONIGHT-
Wanna know what's toasting at Toastio? The restaurant is flipping the sandwich game upside down with its toasted brioche concoctions. Picture this: thick, buttery brioche bread that’s been buttered and toasted, generously filled to the point that you’ll need both hands to press down to get a comprehensive bite.
Each sandwich comes with a side of crispy fries, sweet corn rib, and a little coleslaw to add some crunch to your munch. While the sides won’t blow your mind, they do their job well in complementing the sandwiches, giving you something to snack on between those monster bites.
First up was the Philly cheesesteak, a classic that brings together green peppers, cheese, mushrooms, and steak slices. Usually this pick would be a no-brainer, but the steak happened to be a bit dry when we ordered it.
But the big boss burger was a showstopper. The smashed beef patty cozies up to crispy fried chicken, dressed up with pickled cucumber, lettuce, tomato, and a secret sauce that had us scratching our heads. The combo of beef and fried chicken is one we didn’t know we would like, and while it might not be everyone’s cup of tea, the adventurous eaters out there might enjoy it.
What we have our eye on for next time is the Hawaiian burger — it may look intimidating, but we think it’s worth the leap of faith. With a smashed beef patty, blue cheese, juicy pineapples, pickled cucumber, lettuce, tomato, and their elusive secret sauce. It’s an exciting option for those willing to try something new.
Worried about the calorie count from that buttery brioche? No problem. Toastio has a classic bun option, featuring everything from standard burgers to smokehouse BBQ. You can still indulge in their flavors without worrying about your waistline.
And if you’ve managed to save any room for dessert, you absolutely must try the Rocher french toast. Yes, you guessed it — it features Ferrero Rocher. Rich, decadent, and oh-so-sweet, it makes for the perfect treat for anyone with a serious sweet tooth.
WHERE TO FIND IT- Every good thing comes at a cost, and this one is they don't deliver, which means you’ll have to make the trip to Sheraton.
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? OUT AND ABOUT- (all times CLT)
HAPPENING THIS WEEK-
The largest collection of prints in the country.Cairopolitan is bringing together a collection of artwork from over 180 local and regional artists to display in the Cairo Prints Exhibition. The gallery will be open from tomorrow till Monday, 18 November in Garden City.
The celebration of music continues at the Arab Music Festival. The festival’s lineup includes Medhat Saleh, Ali El Haggar, Abeer Nehme, Wael Jassar, Lotfi Bouchnak, and more. Tomorrow is the last night of the festival and tickets can be booked through Tazkarti.
Run for a cause. CairoRunners are hosting the Run4Her on Friday, 25 October at ZED park to support breast cancer patients. The run will start at 8am. Pre- registration is required.
Calling all plant parents. The autumn edition of the International Flower Expo began on Thursday, 10 October at Al Horreya Garden. Take home anything from ornamental plants, trees, and all different kinds of flowers. The expo will continue until Sunday, 10 November.
HAPPENING LATER-
Shop for the winter at the next edition of the Cairo Flea Market. CFM is back on Saturday, 9 November at the Fish Garden in Zamalek, starting at 10am and ending at 7pm. The flea market boasts beautiful artisan crafts, vintage items, and pre-loved clothes.
Creatives, assemble.SYNC Summit 2024 is here from Thursday 7 November to Saturday 9 November at District 5, Marakez. Prepare to dive into immersive workshops and inspiring talks across multiple creative tracks. It’s all about making connections in the industry, learning, and unleashing your creativity. You can grab tickets at Ticketsmarche.
Got the moves? The 16th edition of Cairo International Jazz Festival will take place from Thursday, October 31 to Friday, November 8, 2024 at the American University in Cairo campus in Tahrir. Tickets available on Ticketsmarche.
Witness sports competition like you’ve never seen before. The ELFIT Championship features 1.2k athletes from over 55 countries competing for the title. The event will take place from Wednesday, 13 November to Saturday, 16 November at the New Capital Sports City. Grab your tickets from Ticketsmarche.
Medhat Saleh and Reham Abdelhakim are headlining a charity concert in the Royal Garden of the Presidential Palace. On Friday, 15 November, the doors will open for attendees — who will be required to be dressed formally — at 6pm, with the concert slated to start at 8pm. You can grab tickets on Tazkarti.
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? UNDER THE LAMPLIGHT-
What is entitlement? How does it manifest? Rumaan Alam’s novel takes a closer look at wealth, privilege, and the messy mix of race and identity in Entitlement. Brooke Orr, a 33-year-old Black woman who has just snagged a job at the Jaffee Foundation in Manhattan, a philanthropy founded by the wealthy and somewhat troubled Asher Jaffee. Asher, an aging white billionaire, wants to give away his fortune after losing his daughter in 9/11.
Asher takes a shine to Brooke, who grew up in a middle-class family and is eager to prove herself in the elite world of high-stakes philanthropy. He gives her the chance to pitch projects for his foundation, but things get complicated fast.
Brooke's identity is eventually put under the microscope, revealing her struggles with her past and her complicated feelings toward the wealth surrounding her. She starts to see the difference between her life and the lives of those with unimaginable privileges, prompting her to question what it means to be part of this elite circle.
Should you give it a read? It’s not your typical page-turner — it’s more of a slow-burn analysis of the super-rich and the moral dilemmas that come with extreme wealth. Some readers might find the characters a bit flat, but they still serve a purpose. If you're up for a thoughtful look at the realities of wealth, ambition, and the uncomfortable truths about entitlement, this should definitely find a spot on your reading list.
WHERE TO FIND IT- Entitlement is available on Amazon.
The EGX30 was almost flat at today’s close on turnover of EGP 5.8 bn (39.6% above the 90-day average). Regional investors were the sole net sellers. The index is up 22.2% YTD.
In the green: Orascom Construction (+4.4%), GB Corp (+4.2%), and ADIB (+3.8%).
In the red: Oriental Weavers (-4.6%), Ezz Steel (-3.4%), and Beltone Holding (-2.6%).
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