Chills

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THE WEEK IN REVIEW

First-ever Egypt-EU Summit wraps up

Good morning, friends, and a very happy Friday to you all. It’s been a long week, and we have an issue to match, so let’s dive in.

This weekend we present to you the ultimate guide for spine-tingling autumn reads, because as the leaves turn and the nights grow longer, there’s no better time to embrace the delicious dread of a truly terrifying book. Whether you want genuine terror, psychological unease, or dark mysteries, this guide has something for every flavor of fear.

Enterprise Weekend comes out each Friday at 9:00am CLT. We’ll be back on Sunday at 6am with EnterpriseAM. Until then: Enjoy the weekend.

?️ LAST WEEK IN 3 MINS-

DIPLOMACY-

#1- It was a busy week for Egyptian-EU relations with the first-ever EU-Egypt Summit taking place in Brussels in the presence of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen. Discussions touched on trade, security, migration, and what’s next for Gaza; the two sides announced new development finance agreements that will see the EU extend over EUR 200 mn in fresh funding; they also announced a path for future cooperation.

#2- More Egyptian-Indian trade ahead: During his time in New Delhi, Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra and spoke to Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, where they agreed to boost trade between the two nations to hit USD 12 bn, up from USD 5 bn currently.

ENERGY-

Egypt raised fuel prices for the second time this year, with fuel prices up by up to 12.9% for conventional fuels, according to an Oil Ministry statement following a decision by its fuel pricing committee that came into effect last Friday. A government push to phase out energy subsidies and bring domestic prices in line with international energy markets has seen 95-octane prices rise by 40.7%, 92-octane by 54.0%, 80-octane by 61.4%, and diesel prices by 75.0% since the start of 2024, according to calculations by EnterpriseAM.

BANKING-

#1- HSBC Group is launching a “strategic review” of its retail business here, the global bank said in a statement (pdf) released yesterday. HSBC Egypt’s commercial and institutional banking units are not part of the review and remain core to its strategy here, it said.

#2- The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) hiked the interest rates offered under its two subsidized mortgage finance initiatives, according to a circular seen by EnterpriseAM. The rate on the initiative for middle-income borrowers following the cabinet’s green light has been raised to a declining 12% from 8%, while the rate on the program for low-income borrowers increased to a declining 8% from 3%. The decision applies to all new loans issued under the two initiatives as of 15 October 2025, with no retroactive effect on existing financing.

ECONOMY-

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) now sees Egypt’s real GDP growing by 4.5% in the 2025-2026 fiscal year, a 0.4 percentage point increase from its latest forecast in July, according to the fund’s latest Regional Economic Outlook. The IMF’s upward revision aligns with the Madbouly government forecast of 4.5% growth during the current fiscal year and is more optimistic than the World Bank’s 4.3% forecast and the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development’s 4.4% forecast.

PRIVATIZATION WATCH-

The government is moving ahead with plans to list the Gabal El Zeit wind farm on the EGX before year-end, likely by November or December, two government sources told EnterpriseAM. Procedures are already in motion to float 30-40% of the farm in a sale that could raise between USD 300-400 mn, we were told.

TAX-

FinMin moves to ease tax burdens on new manufacturing projects: The Finance Ministry has approved a decision to suspend tax payments on machinery, equipment, and production lines — whether complete, partial, or disassembled — until installation and inspection are completed, according to a government document seen by EnterpriseAM. The measure, approved by both the tax and customs authorities, is meant to ease cashflow pressures on manufacturers.

DEBT WATCH-

New public debt strategy set for December release: The Finance Ministry is planning to unveil its new public debt strategy this December, Finance Minister Ahmed Kouchouk told representatives from JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley, and Goldman Sachs in Washington, according to a ministry statement.

MOVES-

The Senate elected Judge Essam Farid as president for the 2025-2030 legislative term — he secured 100% of the votes with no invalid ballots, according to a statement seen by EnterpriseAM. Farid had a long career as part of Egypt’s legal system and is currently a member of the Supreme Judicial Council.

INVESTMENT WATCH-

Four Chinese textile companies will invest USD 65 mn to set up factories in ElSewedy Industrial Development’s Sokhna 360 industrial city, according to a Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone) statement. The four factories will cover 238k sqm and create over 3k direct jobs. No further details were provided regarding the projects.

REAL ESTATE-

The Housing Ministry has launched a new mortgage financing initiative in partnership with Banque Misr, CIB, QNB Al Ahli, and Arab African International Mortgage Finance, according to a ministry statement. The initiative covers residential, administrative, and commercial units offered by the New Urban Communities Authority (NUCA).

TRADE-

The Investment Ministry has finalized the country’s new trade policy document — seen by EnterpriseAM — aimed at crafting policies that deepen local manufacturing and reducing imports of intermediate and capital goods, while expanding exports of goods with comparative advantages — in line with the government’s plan to double exports.

? AROUND THE WORLD IN SEVEN DAYS-

Gold broke its record rally after seeing its steepest drop in years, as investors began to buy the dip in a rare pullback this year against the backdrop of a strengthening USD and easing trade tensions between China and the US. (Financial Times | Reuters)

IN TECH- A massive global internet outage on Monday impacted a number of online services and websites, including Snapchat, Reddit, Facebook, Prime Video, Microsoft 365, Zoom, and Duolingo. Over 500 companies faced issues, according to Downdetector, an internet disruption tracker. The outage was attributed to a “glitch” at Amazon Web Services. (CNN | BBC | Financial Times | New York Times | Guardian)

OVER IN FRANCE- Investigations are still underway in Paris as the four perpetrators behind this week’s Louvre heist remain at large. Nine of France’s crown jewels were successfully removed within seven minutes from the museum’s Apollo gallery, with eight stolen and the ninth — Empress Eugenie’s crown — dropped as the thieves made their getaway. (Reuters | New York Times | Guardian)

ALSO- Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy began his five-year prison sentence at Paris’ La Santé Prison, becoming the first French president to go to jail. Sarkozy was sentenced for conspiring to fund his election campaign using money from ex-Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. The ex-president has appealed his sentence. (BBC | CNN)

ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD- Sanae Takaichi became Japan’s first-ever female prime minister after securing a historic parliamentary vote. Takaichi — known as Japan’s Iron Lady — is the country’s fourth leader in five years. (BBC | CNN | CNBC | Reuters | Bloomberg | Financial Times)

MEANWHILE- A large-scale Russian aerial attack on Ukraine on Wednesday killed atleast six people, including two children, left at least 17 others wounded, and caused a nationwide power outage. Residential areas and energy infrastructure sites were targeted across Kyiv, the Poltava region, the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia, and the port city of Izmail. The attack came just hours following US President Donald Trump’s statement that a now-shelved meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin would be futile after Russia rejected Trump’s ceasefire proposal. (BBC | Reuters | Guardian | CNN | Bloomberg | Associated Press)

THE DAY AFTER- US President Donald Trump imposed Ukraine-related sanctions on Russia for the first time since taking office earlier this year, sanctioning the country’s two biggest oil companies, Roseneft and Lukoil. The decision follows the cancellation of a planned summit between the US and Russia, and a subsequent large-scale Russian aerial attack on Ukraine that killed at least six people and targeted both residential areas and energy infrastructure sites across the country. (Financial Times | Reuters | Guardian)

CLOSER TO HOME- US Vice President JD Vance expressed his optimism about the future of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza during his visit to Israel. “There are going to be moments where it looks like things aren’t going particularly well. But given that, and given the history of conflict, I think that everybody should be proud of where we are today,” Vance said. Earlier this week, the Israeli military launched an aerial attack on the enclave after accusing Hamas of violating the ceasefire agreement, killing at least 97 Palestinians since the ceasefire took effect on 10 October. (Guardian | Bloomberg | BBC | Axios)

AND- Massive crowds of protestors gathered across cities in the US last Saturday as part of the No Kings movement against US President Donald Trump’s policies, marking the second wave of such protests this year, following the June demonstrations. Demonstrators are protesting against Trump’s immigration crackdown, restrictions on press freedom, push to deploy National Guard troops to American cities, “authoritarian” agenda, and crackdown on First Amendment rights. Republicans and Trump allies branded the protests as anti-American, and a far-left Antifa movement. (Reuters | AP | Financial Times | CNN)

☀️ THE WEATHER THIS WEEKEND-

We’re in for a warm and sunny weekend in Cairo, with the mercury set to peak at 34°C on Friday before cooling down to 22°C. On Saturday, we’re in for a high of 32°C and a low of 22°C, according to our favorite weather app.

? HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND-

This one’s for the readers: The Luxor Book Fair returns for its fourth year, running until Friday, 24 October. Up for a trip over the weekend? Don’t miss the fair’s wide selection of books and the special program including poetry readings, literary discussions, workshops and musical performances at the city of 100 gates.

Gear up for a night of laughter at Theatro Arkan with Ali Quandil’s Accept LaughInteract this Friday, 24 October. Join in on the interactive comedy experience and get your tickets on Ticketsmarché.

Run for a cause: Join Cairo Runners and Bupa Egypt for Breast Cancer Run on Friday, 24 October at District 5. Be part of breast cancer awareness month and support the spirit of resilient women all over the world. Registration is required at no cost — claim your spot here.

Cairokee live? Unmissable. The superband is back for another unforgettable night at El Malahy Arena on Friday, 24 October. Sing your heart out to their culture-defining anthems and grab your tickets now on Ticketsmarché before they sell out.

Up for a funny play? Catch the social comedy Ya Rab Bent at Theatro Arkan this Saturday, 25 October, for a night of laughter and good storytelling. Get your tickets on Ticketsmarché.

? HAPPENING NEXT WEEKEND-

Get ready for your favorite summit: Sync Summit is back for its fourth year, taking place at O West for three consecutive days on Thursday, 30 October, Friday, 31 October, and Saturday, 1 November. This year’s theme Creative Range brings impactful talks, workshops, curated portfolio reviews, and hands-on labs, with leading voices from all creative industries. Don’t miss out on the chance to learn and grow as a creative — get your tickets on Ticketsmarché.

Alt-scene pioneers Wust El Balad are headlining this year’s Cairo Jazz Festival. Catch them live at AUC Tahrir Square on Friday, 31 October and jam out to their most nostalgic hits. You can get your tickets on Ticketsmarché.

Jazz enthusiasts, gather ‘round. This year’s Cairo International Jazz Festival kicks off on Thursday, 30 October, and runs until Friday, 7 November. Don’t miss out on live concerts, masterclasses, and film screenings across venues in Cairo and Alexandria. You can purchase tickets from the Cairo Jazz Festival website.

Calling all art enthusiasts: Cairo International Art District is back. Art D’Égypte’s special production brings a diverse lineup of artists across restored heritage venues in Downtown Cairo. CIAD is open access to the public at Kodak Passageway until Sunday, 2 November and at the Shourbagy Building until Sunday, 16 November, with only Mondays off.

A taxonomy of terror for your Halloween read

? Horror movies and scary TV shows reign over October, but there’s something uniquely powerful about horror on the page that even the best films can’t replicate. Books let fear unfold, building dread in the quiet spaces between words. They invite you into the minds of characters in ways visual media simply cannot, making you complicit in their terror.

A book doesn’t need cheap jumpscares and sudden sound effects — it plants seeds of unease that bloom into full-blown dread as you turn each page, often in the middle of the night when you should absolutely be sleeping. So this spooky season, put down the remote and pick up a book.

? PURE HORROR-

These books are designed to terrify. Expect supernatural dread, visceral scares, and sleepless nights.

#1- The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones is a chilling 2025 historical horror following a vampire who haunts the Blackfeet reservation in 1912, seeking justice. Jones weaves Indigenous experience with vampire mythology in ways that will ultimately prove devastating.

#2- The Reformatory by Tananarive Due is a harrowing 2023 story set in a Jim Crow-era reform school where supernatural terror mirrors real-world horror. Due masterfully blends ghost stories with brutal historical truths.

#3- The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson is now known for its Netflix adaptation by horror aficionado Mike Flanagan, but the 1959 novel is the gold standard of psychological horror. Jackson’s exploration of a possibly haunted house and a definitely haunted mind remains unmatched in its ability to unsettle.

? UNSETTLING AND DISTURBING-

These books will leave you with a lingering unease rather than have you quaking in your (fuzzy) boots. They’ll make you question reality and disturb your thoughts long after you’ve closed the covers.

#1- House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewsky is bigger on the inside than the outside. This Y2K experimental novel is told through footnotes, appendices, and text that spirals across pages. It is horror as a literary experiment — disorienting, obsessive, and genuinely unsettling. The form mirrors the content as you descend into madness alongside the characters.

#2- The Vegetarian by Han Kang is a fever dream — a woman’s decision to stop eating meat spirals into something far darker, taking those around her down with it. Kang’s 2007 novel was translated into English in 2015, her sparse prose keeping psychological skewing straight to the point.

#3- We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson — yes, Jackson again, because she’s the queen of unease. A family is isolated after a poisoning in this 1962 story, told by an increasingly unreliable narrator. Every page drips with wrongness.

? THRILLERS-

These are page-turners that keep your heart racing with tension, plot twists, and mounting danger.

#1- The Housemaid by Frieda McFadden is a US thriller that became a massive sensation. This 2022 book is about the desperate caretaker of a beautiful house with ugly secrets.

#2- None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell is believable. In the 2023 novel, podcaster Alix Summer meets Josie Fair — they share the same birthday in the same hospital. Josie asking to be featured on Alix’s show is a catalyst for a takeover that is hard to predict.

#3- Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier is as heart-pumping now as it was in 1938. The story follows a young woman who marries a wealthy widower, moving into his estate only to find herself haunted by the memory and influence of his first wife, Rebecca. Atmospheric and tense, it defined the domestic thriller genre.

?️ MURDER MYSTERIES-

#1- One by One by Ruth Ware is set at a corporate retreat at a luxury ski chalet in the French Alps. But the 2020 novel derails when an avalanche cuts off all escape routes, someone takes advantage of the situation and starts picking the employees off one by one.

#2- The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton is part Agatha Christie, part Groundhog Day. The 2018 book follows Aiden Bishop, who wakes up at a country house party and must solve Evelyn Hardcastle’s murder. The catch? The day repeats each time he fails, and he inhabits a different guest’s body each time. This ingenious puzzle box requires solving the mystery to escape.

#3- And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie, because we can’t mention whodunnits without the genre’s spokesperson. Her 1939 mystery follows 10 strangers lured to an island, each accused of past crimes they escaped punishment for. One by one, they’re murdered according to a nursery rhyme. Christie’s masterpiece remains the blueprint for locked-room mysteries.

? CREATURE FEATURES-

It’s not Halloween without the monster mash. These books are for when you want something other than a human doing the scaring.

#1- Hungerstone by Kat Dunn is a 2025 retelling of the 1872 novel Carmilla, set against the violent wilderness of the Yorkshire moors and the industrial revolution. Vampiric desire meets Victorian society’s constraints in this compulsive tale of appetite and hunger.

#2- The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw is a continuation of a tale we all know well. Yes, the mermaid comes to shore and gets the prince. But in this 2023 novel, the aftermath of their union sees the mermaid and a plague doctor flee a massacre and stumble upon a village of feral children and haunting saints in a lyrical, visceral body horror that’s darkly beautiful.

#3- Dracula by Bram Stoker, because how many of us have actually read the 1897 genre-defining work? This epistolary novel is told through letters and diary entries, following Jonathan Harker’s journey to Transylvania and Count Dracula’s arrival in England. Still powerful in its exploration of Victorian anxieties about sexuality, immigration, and modernity.

? SHORT STORY COLLECTIONS-

Perfect for when you want variety or shorter commitments without compromising on goosebumps.

#1- North American Lake Monsters by Nathan Ballingrud finds terror in dive bars, failing marriages, and desperate choices. This visceral and heartbreaking 2013 collection features The Monsters of Heaven, which earned that year’s (and the inaugural) Shirley Jackson Award.

#2- Out There Screaming edited by Jordan Peele is a 2023 anthology of horror that features stories from NK Jemisin, Tananarive Due, Nnedi Okorafor, and other Black writers exploring supernatural terrors alongside the chilling reality of injustice. Curated by the legendary filmmaker, this collection earned that year’s Bram Stoker Award.

#3- Beyond the Natural (Ma Wara’ al Tabee‘a) by Ahmed Khaled Tawfiq is a horror encyclopedia that has been brilliantly crafted by the late Egyptian writer. The collection — which has been adapted to a Netflix series starring Ahmed Amin — revolves around Refaat Ismail, a doctor who encounters a series of supernatural phenomena and terrifying worlds, drawing its horror from traditional legends and western horror stories.

Forget The Louvre, Toys R Us is where the money is at

? It’s heist season it seems, and we’re enjoying every minute of it. In American filmmaker Derek Cianfrance’s (Blue Valentine, The Light Between Oceans) latest film, Roofman, audiences are introduced to the shockingly true story of the notorious Roofman Burglar, Jeffery Manchester, and how his heists throughout the ‘90s led him to seek refuge inside a Toys R Us store.

How does one end up next to Barbies and Build-A-Bears? Jeff (Channing Tatum) is a divorced father of three struggling to make ends meet. He’s smart, equipped with a keen sense of observation, and can discern the tiniest details that others might miss. Utilizing his skills, he devises a plan to rob the registers of popular fast food joints like McDonald’s, KFC, and Burger King. The plan is as follows: cut a hole in the roof, climb in, lock the employees in the fridges, and then innocently call the police to come to their rescue when the deed is done.

He dug the hole, then fell right in. Jeff is quickly arrested, tried for robbery and attempted kidnapping, and promptly sentenced to 45 years in jail. But he doesn’t give up that easily, cleverly escaping and taking refuge in a narrow, hidden space within a local Toys R Us, unseen by either employees or patrons.

As he begins observing the daily happenings of the store, he falls in love with a friendly employee, Leigh (Kirsten Dunst), a divorced woman put through hell by her intolerable manager, Mitch (Peter Dinklage). As the days pass, Jeff is emboldened, finding ways to cautiously slip out and socialize with townsfolk. His relationship with Leigh begins to develop, yet he starts to deeply miss his daughters. No one can remain in hiding forever, though.

The film took us by (pleasant) surprise. Roofman undoubtedly exceeded our expectations, and we’d argue that its classification as a comedy-drama is somewhat unfair. At its core, Roofman is an emotionally-resonant rollercoaster. Tatum’s portrayal of Jeff, with his eccentricities and emotional tumultuousness, was stellar — and we’d argue it is one of Tatum’s best roles to date. The narrative sequence was smooth and never dull, and the cinematography was pleasantly reminiscent of the ‘90s.

While many may criticize the romanticization of a criminal like Jeff, we’d argue that the film truthfully showcases the complexities of human nature, proving that things are never simply black or white. At the end of the day, this is a father at his wit’s end who resorts to theft to provide for his daughters.

Our only critiques? We felt as though Mitch’s character — and Dinklage himself — was underutilized. When you’ve got someone like Peter Dinklage on your cast, you better make him a star. Roofman, unfortunately, did not do so, and we didn’t see as much of him as we’d hoped. Additionally, having Jeff narrate his own story, and thus signal certain thoughts and emotions to the audience, was also not the best narrative choice. The narration could have been omitted, leaving the audience with their own thoughts and judgments, rather than having them spelled out for them.

In a nutshell, Roofman is a film you’ll want to watch. If you’ve been looking for an unusual premise driven by an equally unusual true story complete with a compelling plot, stellar performances, and an unexpected ending, you’ll want to book a ticket.

WHERE TO WATCH- Roofman is screening at City Stars Cinema, Scene Cinema at CFCM, Cima Arkan, P90 Cinemas, and Zawya. Watch the trailer on YouTube (runtime: 2:26).

To hell, with love

? Would you go to hell for a letter of recommendation? In RF Kuang’s latest fantasy novel, Katabasis — which, in mythology translates to one’s descent to the underworld — that’s exactly what the author puts her protagonist, Alice Law, through. No stranger to stellar works of literature, the Babel and Yellowface author’s latest release is a bingeable 550-pager that seamlessly combines academia, fantasy, and tales of the underworld as told through humanity’s myriad mythologies.

When one accidentally kills their professor, it’s only logical to attempt to retrieve his soul from Hades’ grip. Alice Law is one of the field of Magick’s brightest minds. Her sole dream? Teach alongside her professor, Jacob Grimes, at Cambridge, whose letter of recommendation we’re told is the key to open every academic and career door there is. Unfortunately, [redacted] hits the fan when she forgets to death-proof his pentagram, and guts start flying, leaving Grimes… eviscerated.

Alice is devastated, seemingly not by the loss of her mentor but rather the letter of recommendation she would now kiss goodbye. She begins conducting extensive research on the underworld, consuming a plethora of literature from myriad cultures to ready herself for her journey 6+ feet under. As she begins her travels, she runs into her lover-turned-academic rival Peter Murdoch, who’s also on a quest to retrieve Grimes’ soul as well.

Dante’s Inferno meets Donna Tartt’s The Secret History… meets The Good Place. As the unlikely duo begins their descent, they’re met with the reality of the situation: should they fail, there’s no going back. The novel references most depictions of hell from throughout the ages, primarily Dante’s Inferno. In Katabasis, Kuang presents an amalgamation of the world’s literature on the afterlife in one comprehensive account. From the different philosophical interpretations of hell to the most notorious of otherworldly entities, it’s all there.

“Hell is a campus.” Alice and Peter begin passing through the underworld’s different layers, at one point finding themselves in a mirror Cambridge, leading them to the realization that oftentimes hell isn’t what you expect it to be. As they march on, the reader is given snippets of non-fictional academic tidbits relating to the underworld in the form of interjectionary chapters throughout the novel’s length.

Don’t let the premise fool you. While the novel may be a fantasy — and the premise perhaps ludicrous — it offers a compelling view of how different cultures throughout history have interpreted the afterlife. In that sense, it’s a novel that’s philosophically and culturally educational. Its characters are fleshed out, complex, and surprisingly relatable in their motives and struggles. Katabasis offers an interesting and timely critique of the state of modern-day academia through a fantastical lens. The writing is engaging and rids itself of pretentious prose, and despite being around 550 pages, the novel is one that will fly by.

WHERE TO GET IT- You can get your hands on the Deluxe Limited Edition hardcover at The Bookspot. You can also find the e-book on Amazon, and listen to the audiobook on Storytel. Keep an eye out on Cherry Blossom Books and Sector 10 for a restock.

Miss the beach? Ride a wave at Korba’s Mawja

? Couldn’t make it to El Gouna this month? You don’t have to miss out on its soul. Located in the heart of Korba, Heliopolis, right next to the cult classic Tree Trunk, Mawja — brought to life by the same team behind Tree Trunk and Soul — is a recently-opened café and restaurant. Its sole purpose? Bring the seaside to the city.

If we’re talking aesthetics, they’ve dotted their i’s and crossed their t’s. Had it not been for the incessant car honking and crowded sidewalks that have come to be synonymous with the streets of Korba, we would have wholeheartedly believed that we were stepping inside a seaside eatery. White wooden accents, boats hung from the ceiling, and a plethora of seaside imagery — and the affiliated boho eccentricities — all play their part in transforming a space that once housed an Italian restaurant into one where you’d turn around and expect to see Lake Como.

So, they’ve got the aesthetics, but what about everything else? While Mawja boasts a reasonably-packed all-day menu, they’re primarily a bakery-café. If you’re going for a caffeine boost and a hearty snack, you’ll find all your favorite brews and a slew of stuffed croissants, granola bowls, and all sorts of cakes and pastries your nutritionist warns you against. The lunch and dinner menu has everything from salads served in pizza dough bowls — yes, you read that right — to burgers, pastas, pizzas, a curiosity-piquing pizza croissant, and — by our count — four main platters to choose from.

Despite a relatively limited menu, we took our time deciding what to get. Of the four main dishes — salmon teriyaki, chicken teriyaki, chicken caesar schnitzel, and chicken curry — we opted for the caesar schnitzel, paired with a berry mojito, and preceded by a caprese salad. The caprese salad was fresh, and offered what you’d expect of it. Its pizza dough bowl, however, was what caught our attention, disappearing more rapidly than the salad it housed. The schnitzel soon followed, the dish filled to the brim with caesar salad, fries, and a chicken cutlet all drenched with caesar sauce. The portion size was generous, and the dish itself was comforting, yet lacked a certain je-ne-sais-quoi factor.

A turbulent wave to ride. As with any restaurant in its early days, one would expect some turbulence. While Mawja’s visual identity has been perfected, we’d argue that they’ve got a long way to go when it comes to perfecting their experience. For a dining establishment that exists to bring seaside soul to the city, it falls short on account of crammed seating arrangements, limited tabletop space, and lack of accessibility.

That said, we’d say go ahead and grab your kitesurfing kits. While our experience at Mawja was not as ideal as we would have hoped for it to be, we’d still recommend paying the newly minted Korba spot a visit on a calm weekend morning or weekday afternoon for a taste of the Red Sea coast (and calm autumn breeze). We’d suggest avoiding weekends and late nights, as the proverbial shore gets a little stuffy — and no one likes a crowded beach.

WHERE TO FIND IT- You can find Mawja in El Thawra St., Korba, Heliopolis.

? Per person: EGP 500-600

? Outdoor seating: Yes

? Alcohol: No

? Accessibility friendly: No

And the rest is… politics?

? Launched in March 2022, The Rest is Politics offers a British perspective on global politics and a broad view of local happenings through lively discussions between its hosts, Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart. Both hosts bring vast political and academic experience to the table; Campbell is a veteran journalist and political strategist who served as Director of Communications and Strategy for Tony Blair’s government, whereas Stewart is an academic and a former Secretary of State for International Development for Theresa May’s government.

The podcast dissects the latest international developments and hot topics, spilling the beans on what goes on within the walls of Westminster in a manner that exhibits both depth and accessibility. Drawing from their respective experiences, Campbell and Stewart make deep dives into the political scene, enriched with anecdotes drawn from their own political careers. The Rest is Politics drops two episodes a week, one of which is dedicated to answering its listeners’ questions.

In one particular episode that exemplifies the podcast’s international scope, the hosts discuss the relationship between Iran, Israel, and the Trump administration. Campbell and Stewart dissect the escalating tensions, posing the question that’s on everyone’s mind: Are all three parties teetering on the edge of all-out war? The episode stands out for its thorough and extensive exploration of the crises facing the Middle East from both a strategic and legal perspective, while also addressing the threat posed by Trump’s policies to the region.

The podcast has been well-received since its launch, becoming one of the UK’s leading listens, surpassing 60 mn downloads within its inaugural year. Some 500 episodes have been dropped thus far. Its success can be attributed to its ability to present a balanced discussion during a time of political polarization. Campbell and Stewart’s chemistry is palpable, and makes the listening experience one that is engaging, educating, and entertaining.

THE ENTERPRISE ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR

?️ OCTOBER

1-26 October (Wednesday-Sunday): Downtown Contemporary Arts Festival.

12 October - 16 November (Sunday- Sunday): Cairo International Art District (CIAD) in Downtown Cairo.

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

24 October (Friday): Ali Quandil at Theatro Arkan.

24 October (Friday): Cairokee at El Malahy Arena.

24 October (Friday): The Glow Run, Palm Hills New Cairo.

24 October (Friday): Breast Cancer Run at District 5.

25 October (Saturday): Ya Rab Bent at Theatro Arkan.

30 October - 7 November (Thursday-Friday): Cairo International Jazz Festival.

30-31 October (Thursday-Friday): Sync Summit at O West.

31 October (Friday): Daylight saving time ends.

31 October (Friday): Wust El Balad at AUC Tahrir Square.

NOVEMBER

1 November (Saturday): Sync Summit at O West.

4 November (Tuesday): Leffi Beena Ya Dunya stand-up show at CJC 610.

11 November - 6 December (Tuesday - Saturday): Forever is Now at the Great Pyramids of Giza.

14-24 November (Friday-Monday): Art Decoratifs Exhibition by Art D’Egypté at the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir.

15 November (Saturday): The TriFactory’s El Gouna Half Marathon, El Gouna.

15 November (Saturday): Carerha Summit at Majarrah, Sheikh Zayed.

21-22 November (Friday-Saturday): Traverse Summit at Hydeout, Hyde Park.

21-29 November (Friday-Saturday): Cairo Design Week.

DECEMBER

13 December (Saturday): Marakez Pyramids Half Marathon by The TriFactory.

19 December (Friday): DJ Tiësto at the Giza Plateau.

20 December (Saturday): Ibrahim Maalouf at Concert Hall, New Capital.

December: Al Rawi Awards submissions open.

JANUARY

30 January (Friday): Cairo Marathon normal registration ends.

FEBRUARY

6 February (Friday): Cairo Marathon at Heliopolis, Merryland Park.

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Forget The Louvre, Toys R Us is where the money is at

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To hell, with love

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Miss the beach? Ride a wave at Korba’s Mawja

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About

Privacy & Support

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Chills

An independent publication supported by

Today at a glance

First-ever Egypt-EU Summit wraps up

Get Enterprise daily

Related

Related

A taxonomy of terror for your Halloween read

Related

Related

Forget The Louvre, Toys R Us is where the money is at

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