Too cool for school

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THE WEEK IN REVIEW

Egypt’s green hydrogen strategy is finally out + Thanaweya Amma

Good morning, wonderful people, and happy Friday. We are still trying to enjoy the summer, pretending the school season isn’t creeping up on us.

But there’s no use in denying it, the academic year is knocking at the door, and Thanaweya Amma news is following us everywhere. So today, we’ve put together a handy guide with all the supplies needed to gear up for the back-to-school season.

LAST WEEK IN 3 MINS-

EDUCATION-

Thanaweya Amma gets a facelift: Education Minister Mohamed Abdellatif yesterday unveiled a plan to restructure high school education and Thanaweya Amma by extension for the 2024-2025 academic year, which is set to begin on 21 September. The plan, which aims to reduce student workload while maintaining educational quality, was approved after public consultation with educational stakeholders over the past few weeks, the minister said.

PHARMA-

The government has approved a EGP 7 bn of subsidized loans for pharma companies, offering them financing at an interest rate of 5-7% to help streamline meds production and secure necessary imports.

ENERGY-

The government has launched its National Low Carbon Hydrogen Strategy (pdf) to capture between 5-8% of the global hydrogen market by 2040, according to a cabinet statement published yesterday. The strategy — financed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and developed by UK-based consultant Advisian — outlines how the country can achieve its vision of producing up to 5.8 metric tons per annum (MTPA) of green hydrogen, which would require up to USD 60 bn in investments.

CAPITAL MARKETS-

Egypt launched its long-awaited carbon trading market on Tuesday, allowing companies to issue and trade voluntary carbon certificates in Egypt and Africa which can be bought by other companies wanting to offset their emissions. Isis Organic and Daltex were two of the first to purchase carbon credits in the market, with Financial Regulatory Authority Head Mohamed Farid indicating that the FRA is looking to add 6-7 projects to the market in the future.

AROUND THE WORLD IN SEVEN DAYS-

#1- Ceasefire negotiations restarted: A new round of ceasefire negotiations brokered by Egypt and Qatar began on Thursday amid uncertainty over Hamas’ participation. The group cited Israel’s approach to the talks as a driving factor. A senior official from the group said that Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly “quietly made new demands in recent weeks, additions his own negotiators fear have created extra obstacles to [an agreement], according to the New York Times.

#2- Donald Trump’s campaign said it was hacked on Saturday, after Politico began receiving authentic internal communication documents late last month. The breach came from “foreign sources hostile to the United States” that “intended to interfere with the 2024 election and sow chaos throughout our Democratic process,” a Trump campaign spokesperson said, pointing a finger of blame at Iran.

#3- Three-quarters of global carry trades have been reversed, wiping out most of their gains for the year. Recent market shifts have eroded its gains by about 10% since May — a change that suggests that investors are pulling away from this strategy, which had been profitable since the end of 2022, according to JPMorgan stategists.

☀️ THE WEATHER THIS WEEKEND- Yet another hot weekend in Cairo with a high of 37 °C and a low of 26°C today followed by a high of 39°C and lows of 26°C tomorrow. It’s a bit cooler in Sahel with highs of 34°C and lows of 24°C during the weekend.

HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND-

Fly through the sky on a paramotor. Sky Sports Egypt are offering a 15-minute bird’s eye view of Alamein in North Square. Buy your tickets here.

Dogs Day Out: Beach edition. Eastwind is hosting another of their iconic Dogs Day Out where anyone can come and spend a fun day with their fluffy friend, surrounded by like-minded pet owners. The event will take place today at Playa Beach and the theme is pirates, so dress accordingly… that goes for your four-legged friends too.

The Bond-Firewill strengthen family ties. The day will start with diverse activities for artistic souls, thrill-seekers, or rhythm lovers and end with a cozy bonfire experience where families can tell stories, laugh, and develop closer relationships. The event will take place tomorrow at D-Bay, starting at 2:00pm.

Have a need for speed? You can feel the thrill of exotic car racing at Roads & Rides in One Eleven Track in Alamein tomorrow. Snag a ticket here.

HAPPENING NEXT WEEKEND-

The iconic Cairokee will be performing at the festival with Tul8te opening the show on Friday, 23 August. Find your tickets to the band’s show here.

Your ultimate prep guide for a smooth start to the school year

With summer coming to a close and the new school year just around the corner, the right supplies and resources can kickstart a smooth transition into your little (or big) one’s academic journey and facilitate their learning experience.

STATIONERY: No one wants to be the student asking their deskmate for a pen and spare leaf of paper.

#1- BAKIER: A trusted name in the world of stationery since 1991, Bakier is your go-to for everything from basic office supplies to custom business giveaways. What sets Bakier apart is that for some listed schools, they’ve crafted specialized supply packages for each year group, ensuring that each student gets exactly what they need to succeed.

PRICE RANGE: Items range from EGP 3 for BRAVO 200 Ball point pen to EGP 1.2k for Staedtler color pen set.

LOCATION: They have various branches across Cairo. You can find them in Maadi, Heliopolis, Mall of Arabia, Point 90, Mivida, Concord Plaza and Sheikh Zayed.

#2- ALWAN: True to its name, this colorful stationery shop is a one-stop destination to all the knickknacks you need to fill up your kids pencil case.

PRICE RANGE: Their website is still yet to celebrate a hard launch, but unlisted prices range from EGP 8 for a pencil to EGP 2k for a Coloring Pastel Set.

LOCATION: They have nine branches across Cairo in areas such as: New Cairo, Mohandessin, October City, Giza, Downtown Cairo, Heliopolis, Nasr City, Zamalek and one in Alexandria

#3- EL MAAYERGY: Another tried and true store. Attendees of Hayah International Academy in both their East and West campuses can also find supply packages for different year groups.

PRICE RANGE: Items range from EGP 2.20 for a Pentel Metallic Lead Automatic Pencil to EGP 2.2k for the STABILO CarbOthello Pastel Pencil Metal box.

LOCATION: They have five branches in Cairo: New Cairo, Madinaty, Nasr City, Downtown Cairo and Gamaleya.

BACKPACKS: Maybe the most fun part of back-to-school shopping. Deck your kid out in comfy, durable, and trendy backpacks.

#1- CUBS: Made by mothers who know what a backpack needs.

PRICE RANGE: Items range from EGP 2k Unicorn Backpack to EGP 3.1k Grey XXL Backpack.

LOCATION: If you want your kids to experience the old-school tradition of picking out their backpack, you can visit Cubs at City Stars Mall, Point 90 Mall, Nasr City, Heliopolis, Mall of Egypt, Mall of Arabia, and Al Dokki. They also have two branches outside of Cairo in City Center Alexandria, and Damietta.

#2- SHAILLA: Shailla’s backpacks are too cool for school, and come in six different colors that feature ergonomic design, adjustable straps, and a reinforced bottom panel for a perfect fit and unbeatable durability.

PRICE RANGE: They’re on the splurge side, and for good reason too — quality is essential. The prices range from EGP 7.6k for a small backpack and EGP 8.4k for the large.

LOCATION: You can order their products online from their website only.

#3- DEA: Style and practicality is their thing. They have sets that include matching lunch boxes and pencil cases, but you can still go solo with a sleek, single backpack.

PRICE RANGE: Items range from EGP 300 for the Ocean Dea-buzz to EGP 1.2k for the Funny Monsters school dea-trio set trio.

LOCATION: They’re peppered all over Cairo with over 15 branches, but you can always shop on their website.

LUNCH BOXES & WATER BOTTLES: Keep your kid energized with fresh meals and a healthy dose of H2O without too much of a hassle.

#1- M-DESIGN: Their lunchboxes aren’t just durable — they’re also easy to clean, and eco-friendly.

PRICE RANGE: Items range from EGP 27 Eden cutlery set 3 pcs to EGP 425 Fresco Lunch Box + Alpha Bottle.

LOCATION: You can find them anywhere and everywhere — here’s an extensive list.

#2- HOME SIGNATURE: It’s a no-frills solution to your lunchbox prep needs.

PRICE RANGE: Items range from EGP 100 for a standard Lunch Box to EGP 545 for the Lock & Fresh Covered Storage Container.

LOCATION: You can order their products online from their Instagram page.

#3- BYTE: Stylish lunch boxes, water flasks, and a whole range of playful add-ons that cater to every mom’s needs and every kid’s lunch box dreams.

PRICE RANGE: Items range from EGP 680 for a basic silicone container to EGP 2.5k for the multi-compartment Hot Munch lunchbox.

LOCATION: You can order their products online from their website.

THE EXTRA MILE: Some resources to make your life a little easier and make sure your kiddo has a great school year.

#1- FOR MONEY SAVING: Made for mothers, the Rahet Bally app allows you to splurge a little extra while shopping for school essentials by unlocking exclusive discounts.

#2- FOR EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT: Learning Ally offers audiobooks for those with reading or visual impairments, Co:Writer assists with writing via word prediction and speech recognition, and Voice Dream converts text to speech. For math, ModMath helps users with dysgraphia by digitizing problem-solving, while Mathway provides step-by-step solutions. To improve soft skills, Time Timer aids in time management, Inspiration Maps helps with organizing ideas, Focus@Will offers music to enhance concentration, and BrainHQ provides brain training exercises to boost cognitive skills.

#3- FOR LEARNING TOOLS: The rise of AI has transformed education with tools that enhance learning rather than replace it. Socratic by Google AI offers online tutoring with step-by-step solutions across various subjects. For research, Monic.ai generates customized resources and summaries, and Consensus delivers expert-level search results from peer-reviewed papers. AudioPen helps with transcription and note organization from spoken content, and StudyNinja aids in time management and task prioritization. For more details click here.

#4- FOR TUTORS: Finding a tutor for your child in Egypt is a trial and error process. These should make it more trial and less error. Online platforms like Orcas, Skooli, and Rafikee offer extensive tutoring options tailored to various subjects and educational levels, often more accessible than physical centers. For specialized needs, including support for neurodiverse children, institutions like The Lighthouse Center and The Learning Resource Center provide targeted programs. For more details click here.

What happens when you trap a serial killer with thousands of people?

📽 AT THE MOVIES-

Plot-twist king M. Night Shyamalan returns with a film inspired by the famous OperationFlagship in the eighties, where the police trapped concert attendees to capture a wanted criminal.

The plot: Cooper (Josh Hartnett) is a father who just wants to spend some quality time with his daughter Riley (Ariel Donoghue), taking her to see her favorite artist Lady Raven (played by the director’s daughter, Saleka Shyamalan) in concert. Cooper notices the presence of police officers surrounding every corner of the building, only to discover that it’s a trap set to catch a serial killer called The Butcher. You may have already guessed it, but yes, it is in fact Cooper himself.

Hartnett delivers a terrifying performance, succeeding in presenting the duality of a loving father and a coldblooded killer. However, it seems that the film does not go further than that. Despite Shyamalan’s keenness to surprise the audience, everything was more or less predictable.

Reviews are mixed. Some see the film as a missed opportunity for a thrilling story. But that doesn’t stop it from being a film that still provides an entertaining experience for the viewer. Its saving grace is that it doesn’t take itself as seriously as expected, a lifeline for films that just about miss the mark.

WHERE TO WATCH: You can catch this movie at VOX Cinema at City Centre Almaza, City Center Alexandria, or Mall of Egypt, City Stars cinema, Cairo Festival City cinema, Point 90 cinema, and Cima Arkan. Watch the trailer (runtime: 2:41).

📚 FROM THE BOOKSTORE-

What I’d Rather Not Think About by Jente Posthuma is an exploration of grief, memory, and the complexities of human emotion. The novel follows its protagonist, Two (we never learn her real name), as she navigates the aftermath of her twin brother taking his own life. Posthuma skillfully captured the rawness of loss and how it reshapes one’s sense of self.

The novel unfolds through a series of fragmented vignettes from both the twins’ childhood and adulthood. The tone used throughout the novel creates a sense of melancholy with subtle hidden humor that makes it a real page turner.

Posthuma doesn’t shy away from the messy nature of emotions — instead, she presents the true complexity of grief through nostalgic storytelling. She explores the theme of love and loss while giving readers a testament to resilience.

You can find What I’d Rather Not Think About at Diwan.

🍴 HOT AND FRESH OUT OF THE KITCHEN-

Amongst the many new restaurants and stores that’s opened in U Venues you’ll find Tama. Tama isn’t your average Asian joint, the atmosphere is chill and inviting, but the real star of the show is the food. We went once for breakfast, and just had to go back for round two for the mains.

For breakfast: Opt for the Japanese curry shakshuka. Controversial take: it’s better than the shakshuka we’ve learned to love. We have our eyes on the Egg Foo Young for next time we visit, a prawn omelet with katsu sauce.

We started fresh with the salmon sashimi for lunch: Forget everything you think you know about sushi, because this salmon sashimi — while it comes in little portions — practically melts in your mouth.

Onto the mains: We couldn’t resist the Tso chicken noodles and the beef Teochew ho fun. Both were tasty and satisfying, but felt like they were missing a little drizzle of extra soy sauce that would’ve taken them from good to great and bumped them both up in our hierarchy of must-orders.

Dessert is where things get serious. The matcha tiramisu was nothing short of what we expected — we even ended up ordering two servings. But the star of the dessert menu was the Ginger Creme Brulee, a classic creamy dessert with a spicy ginger kick that adds a unique twist to the classic sweetness — a chef kiss, hands down.

💵 Per person: EGP 800 – EGP 1k

🪑 Outdoor seating: Yes

🍺 Alcohol: No

🦽 Accessibility friendly: Yes

The destined drop

The most anticipated game of the year drops in just three days. Black Myth:Wukong has had gamers on the edge of their seats since its announcement one year ago, promising an epic rooted in Chinese mythology (watch trailer, runtime: 4:45). You, the Destined One, set out into a breathtaking world to decipher the secrets of an ancient legend.

The review embargo placed on the game (which will be lifted sometime today) is usually a positive indicator, as the developer readies audiences for a slew of raving critic evaluations. Speculators have been touting the game as a Soulslike, but developer Game Science says it’s not. They would prefer it if you thought of the game as an action RPG.

The details: Your primary weapon is a staff that extends and shrinks in size, used for attacks of different stances that allows for multiple styles of strike patterns and levels of power. You accumulate Focus through well-timed dodges and landing light attacks, and consume it through heavy attacks (most of the time).

But the art of war is not just violence. You can cast spells that include transformation into different creatures and beings. Each transformation comes with its own movesets and stats.

A worthy challenge? You can change the difficulty level if you prefer to take the scenic route, but it’s worth mentioning that the difficulty throughout the game fluctuates anyway throughout your playthrough — especially when the bosses shift into their second phases. You can track your progress through a skill tree.

You can pre-download the game starting Sunday, 18 August.

💯 Rating: TBD.

⌛ Hours of gameplay: TBD.

🔁 Replay value: TBD.

👾 Platforms: Pre-purchase on Steam and Epic Games for PC, and Playstation. It will be available on Xbox after its official release.

💵 Price: USD 59.99 for the standard version, USD 69.99 for the deluxe version.

The stories behind sounds we hear everyday

Twenty Thousand Hertz delves into the interesting stories behind some of the most iconic and intriguing sounds we encounter. Hosted by Dallas Taylor, this podcast introduces you to knowledge of things you recognize and know but never thought much about.

Each episode is a journey into the sonic universe. From understanding the impact of nursery rhymes to learning about the origin of sonic sounds like Netflix’s “tudum” or Mcdonald’s “I’m lovin’ it”, the topics vary to showcase the power and thought behind seemingly ordinary sounds.

The host was a sound designer for various outlets, including National Geographic, bringing unique technical knowledge and passion to the podcast, which makes the storytelling all the more interesting.

PRO TIP: Not every episode will resonate equally, depending on each listener’s individual interests. So it might be best to browse through the titles and pick out episodes that stick out to you.

WHERE TO LISTEN- You can find the podcast on Apple Podcasts, iHeart, Spotify, Amazon Music, and Audible.

THE ENTERPRISE ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR

AUGUST

16 July-15 October (Tuesday-Tuesday): In the Company of Mahmoud Said exhibition at Aisha Fahmy Palace.

11 June-2 September (Tuesday-Monday): Afashat w Aflam exhibition at Bibliothek.

11 July-30 August (Thursday-Friday): New Alamein Festival at North Coast.

11 July-30 August (Thursday-Friday): Paramotor Ride at North Square.

12-24 August ( Monday-Saturday): I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change at Rawabet Art Space.

15 August (Thursday): Disco Misr at – KIKIS Setup, Hacienda Heneish.

16 August (Friday): Media and Advertising Workshop at MQR – The Greek Campus Downtown.

16 August (Friday): Roads and Rides at One Eleven Track, Alamein.

16-17 August (Friday-Saturday): Media and Advertising workshop at MQR, The Greek Campus.

16 August (Friday): Eastwind’s Dogs Day Out at Playa Beach.

16 August (Friday): Roads and Rides at One Eleven Track, Alamein.

22 August (Thursday): Gen Z Festival at D-Bay

23 August (Friday): Cairokee at New Alamein Festival.

24 August (Saturday): The Bond-Fire Vol 1 at D-Bay.

30 August (Friday): Wegz Live at New Alamein Festival

31 August (Saturday): Adriatique at AHM Club in Silversands

SEPTEMBER

1-4 September (Monday-Wednesday): International Food, Beverage & SuperMarket Equipment Exhibition 2024 at Cairo International Convention Centre.

15 September (Sunday): National holiday in observance of Prophet Muhammad’s birthday (TBC).

OCTOBER

6 October (Sunday): Armed Forces Day.

10-12 October (Thursday-Saturday): EVs Electrify! Expo & Conference 2024 at Egypt International Exhibition Center.

29-30 October (Tuesday-Wednesday): Intelligent Cities Exhibition & Conference (ICEC) at Waldorf Astoria.

NOVEMBER

14-16 November (Thursday-Saturday): Raabta Wellness Festival at El Gouna.

DECEMBER

14 December (Saturday): The Marakez Pyramids Half Marathon.

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Egypt’s green hydrogen strategy is finally out + Thanaweya Amma

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Your ultimate prep guide for a smooth start to the school year

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What happens when you trap a serial killer with thousands of people?

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The stories behind sounds we hear everyday

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