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Regional Director for the Guinness World Records in the Middle East and North Africa region Ahmed Bakr Meklad said Bahr Al Baqr wastewater treatment plant has received a Guinness World Records’ certificate for being the largest water plant in the world with a capacity of 64.8 cubic meters per second along with the use of ozone in the wastewater treatment process.
Speaking to “Good Morning Egypt”, Meklad said the plant has been established with the highest and best international standards.
The plant was inspected by Guinness World Records team of judges over a period of one year during which data were exchanged to review the plant’s competitiveness with similar projects.
The cost of this massive project is LE20 billion, and its daily capacity is 5.6 million cubic meters to be used in the reclamation of 400 acres in Sinai, he said.
Considered one of Egypt’s most important projects, the plant treats more than 2 billion cubic meters of wastewater per year which will be used to irrigate 1,400 sq km of land in Sinai. It is located east of the Nile Delta in the town of Bahr El-Baqar, about 35 km south of Port Said.
The project is set to improve water security, provide jobs, support communities, and reduce pollution for decades to come.
The plant comprises the pumping building of the water intake – rapid mixing basins – slow mixing basins – sedimentation basins – filters with discs – ozone basins – chloride tanks, treated water, sludge condensing basins – mechanical drying buildings – solar units for sludge drying and an administrative area which includes (headquarter building – employers building – mosque – generators – workshops – chemicals – chloride – ozone) – interior roads networks and landscaping.
We often come across news reports about Egyptians abroad who have attained prominent leadership positions, yet we rarely give them a second thought – unless, of course, they are movie stars like Rami Malek or football legends like Mohamed Salah.
During a recent visit to Canada, I was struck by how many university presidents and faculty deans were of Egyptian origin of whom, for the most part, we have never heard.
A couple of days ago, my attention was caught by two items that were headline news everywhere, while we barely paid them any heed. The first is the appointment of the Egyptian-American Sherif Soliman as the New York City budget director. This is in the global capital of finance, home to Wall Street and the New York Stock Exchange, the largest stock exchange in the world. Soliman is a highly regarded economist with more than thirty years of financial experience. In the course of his career, he has rescued several major commercial institutions from bankruptcy and succeeded in reducing the debt of others by record proportions.
The recently elected New York mayor, Zohran Mamdani, said that Soliman far surpassed rival candidates for budget direct. Soliman, for his part, said, “I feel a deep sense of pride joining the administration of the first Muslim mayor of the city of New York.” He will be managing a budget of approximately $121 billion – one of the largest municipal budgets in the world.
Soliman was born to Egyptian parents who emigrated to New York 45 years ago. He is married to the Egyptian Hanan Thabet. They have two children, Lina and Ziad.
At around the same time, on the other side of the Atlantic, the British Muslim Laila Cunningham announced her intent to run for Mayor of London in the British capital’s 2028 mayoral race. She will be the first candidate of Egyptian origin to seek the post. Born in London to parents who emigrated from Egypt in the 1960s, she studied law and joined the Conservative Party, then switched to Reform UK. A controversial figure, she advocates empowering and increasing the police force to curb crime, which she claims has turned London into an unsafe city. She also calls for combating what she terms “Islamic terrorism.” She is married to an American and is the mother of seven children.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 15 January, 2026 edition of Al-Ahram
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, honoured the six winners of the Great Arab Minds 2025 edition at the Museum of the Future in Dubai.
Great Arab Minds is the largest Arab initiative dedicated to celebrating outstanding Arab achievement, highlighting contributions to advance human civilisation, support the expansion of scientific and knowledge-based endeavours, and showcasing the creative impact of Arab talent across the region and globally.
His Highness affirmed that the Great Arab Minds initiative was designed to expand the horizons for established and emerging Arab talent, nurturing and investing in their potential; recognise Arab achievement across research, development, innovation, technology, culture, and architecture; and to reinforce a culture of pride and sustained support for Arab individuals who have inspired significant progress in key fields.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed said, “Today, we honour Great Arab Minds in recognition of achievements that advance civilisation and build societies. From the Museum of the Future in Dubai, we reaffirm our support for Arab talent committed to innovation, creativity, and excellence.”
His Highness further said, “We congratulate the winners of the Great Arab Minds 2025: Professor Abbas El Gamal in the Engineering and Technology category, Dr. Nabil Seidah in the Medicine category, Professor Badi Hani in the Economics category, Professor Majed Chergui in the Natural Sciences category, Dr. Suad Amiry in the Architecture and Design category, and Professor Charbel Dagher in the Literature and Arts category. We encourage them to continue their journey of achievement and contribution, serving as true role models for younger generations in our region and around the world, inspiring them to shape a better future through science and knowledge.”
His Highness expressed his confidence in the ability of Arab talent to drive progress in scientific research, knowledge creation, and the cultural sector, supported by expertise, institutional support, and the ambition of young people across the region.
Focused on a better future
Sheikh Mohammed noted that the Great Arab Minds initiative will continue to highlight the achievements of Arab individuals who look to the future with optimism and pursue ambitions that recognise no limits.
The awards ceremony was attended by H.H. Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of the UAE; H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Media Council; H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports, and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group; His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE National Olympic Committee; H.H. Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture); and H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid bin Mohammed bin Rashid.
Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and Chair of the Higher Committee for the Great Arab Minds initiative, was among numerous ministers and senior officials in attendance along with scientists, academics and diplomats.
His Excellency Al Gergawi stated that the Great Arab Minds initiative launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed represents a profound recognition of Arab achievement across disciplines, and a significant strategic investment in empowering talent and encouraging renewed contributions to Arab intellectual and scientific progress.
He added that the Great Arab Minds initiative embodies Sheikh Mohammed’s vision to inspire confidence in Arab capabilities and motivate individuals to take an active role in shaping their societies and the future of a region that has long contributed to human civilisation through science, literature, thought, and architecture.
‘Powerful message’
He praised the achievements of the Great Arab Minds awardees across medicine, engineering, technology, sciences, architecture, arts, and literature, saying, “Your presence today on the Great Arab Minds 2025 platform at the Museum of the Future sends a powerful message to hundreds of millions of young people to pursue excellence, achievement, and leadership in research, innovation, creativity, and knowledge, and to help shape a brighter future for Arab and human civilisation.”
The award recognised one winner in each of its six categories: Medicine, Economics, Engineering and Technology, Natural Sciences, Architecture and Design, and Literature and Arts.
In Medicine, Dr. Nabil Seidah was honoured for his medical and research achievements in cardiovascular health and cholesterol regulation.
In Economics, Professor Badi Hani was awarded for his pioneering contributions to econometrics and the development of economic analysis tools, particularly in panel data analysis. His work enabled more accurate and in-depth analysis by combining data across multiple time periods and sources.
In Engineering and Technology, Professor Abbas El Gamal was awarded for his pioneering contributions to network information theory.
In Natural Sciences, Professor Majed Chergui was honoured for his contributions to understanding light-matter interactions, developing techniques and applications that enable the study of ultrafast molecular and material dynamics at the atomic level.
In Architecture and Design, Dr. Suad Amiry was honoured for her contributions to preserving Palestinian architectural heritage through documentation, restoration, and adaptive reuse of historical buildings.
In Literature and Arts, Professor Charbel Dagher was honoured for a body of work that constitutes a key reference in the study of Arab and Islamic arts, Arabic calligraphy, and modern visual arts.
Professor Abbas El Gamal said, “I extend my sincere gratitude to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum for his vision in launching Great Arab Minds. Being honoured in this way is deeply meaningful to me.”
Professor Majed Chergui said, “I am Algerian of Syrian origin, born in Morocco and raised in Algeria and Lebanon. In this way, the Arab world comes together in who I am. For me personally, this award is not only the highest recognition of my achievements; it touches me deeply because it comes from an Arab country.”
Dr. Suad Amiry said, “In 1981, when I decided to live in the city of Ramallah, my aim was to study traditional architecture in rural Palestine. Ten years later, I founded the Riwaq Centre, which since then has been dedicated to documenting, restoring, and rehabilitating architectural heritage in Palestine. Winning this award is a great honour for me and for the Riwaq Centre.”
Professor Badi Hani said: “This award recognises not only my work, but also the people and places that shaped me, my family, my mentors, my city, and the Arab world that nurtured my earliest aspirations.”
Dr. Nabil Seidah said, “My father’s adage, that knowledge is something no one can ever take away from you, has been the principle that guided me throughout my journey. Your trust represents a powerful motivation for Arab scientists to serve as role models for future generations, and I pledge to continue serving science with the same passion that has always driven me.”
Professor Charbel Dagher said: “Commitment to the Arabic language has remained a defining hallmark of everything I have done: teaching, writing, and research, to the point that I live within Arabic itself. We cannot exist outside our language or our culture. Allow me to share this award with those who supported me, and my gratitude extends to everyone who has worked and continues to work to ensure that Arabic remains a living language of science, knowledge, and culture.”
The awardees were chosen by six high-level specialised committees, one for each category. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism, chaired the Economics Committee; Sarah Al Amiri, Minister of Education, chaired the Engineering and Technology Committee; Mohammed Ahmed Al Murr, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Library Foundation, chaired the Literature and Arts Committee; Dr. Amer Sharif, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Health and President of the Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences headed the Medicine Committee; Professor Sehamuddin Galadari, Senior Vice Provost-Research and Managing Director of the Research Institute at New York University Abu Dhabi chaired the Natural Sciences Committee; Professor Hashim Sarkis, Dean of the School of Architecture and Planning at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology chaired the Architecture and Design Committee.
In addition to the committee chairs, the specialised committees also included Essa Kazim, Governor of the Dubai International Financial Center; Dr Mohammed Madhi, Dean of the College of Business and Economics at UAE University; Dr Rabah Arezki, Chief Economist for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region at the World Bank and Senior Fellow at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government; Ferid Belhaj, Fellow at the Policy Center for the New South; and Dr Jihad Azour, Director of the Middle East and Central Asia Department at the International Monetary Fund.
The committees also included Professor Ismael Al Hinti, President of Al Hussein Technical University; Adel Darwish, Regional Director of the International Telecommunication Union; Dr Ahmed Zayed, Director of the Bibliotheca Alexandria; His Excellency Dr. Alawi Alsheikh-Ali, Director General of Dubai Health Authority; Professor Elias Zerhouni, Professor Emeritus at Johns Hopkins University; Dr Noureddine Melikechi Dean of the Kennedy College of Sciences and Professor of Physics at the University of Massachusetts Lowell; Professor Nader Masmoudi, Professor at the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences at New York University Abu Dhabi; Dr Latifa Elouadrhiri Laboratory Directed Research Staff Scientist at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility; and Professor Dr Jehane Ragai, Emeritus Professor of Chemistry at The American University in Cairo.
The specialised committees also included Dr Adrian Lahoud, Dean of the School of Architecture at the Royal College of Art; and Professor Ali Malkawi, Professor of Architectural Technology, Director of the Doctor of Design Studies Program, and Founding Director of the Harvard Center for Green Buildings and Cities.
The Nominations Committee included Huda Al Hashimi, Deputy Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Strategic Affairs; Chucrallah Haddad, Partner and Head of Advisory at KPMG Lower Gulf; Abdulsalam Haykal, President and Founder of Majarra Company; Ali Matar, Head of LinkedIn Middle East and North Africa and Emerging Markets in Africa and Europe; and Saeed Al Nazari, Secretary-General of the Great Arab Minds Initiative.
Widely known as the ‘Arab Nobel,’ the Great Arab Minds initiative recognises distinguished Arab achievement and highlights extraordinary contributions that reflect the region’s historic role in advancing knowledge and human progress globally. For a third consecutive edition, the initiative continues to strengthen its position as a platform for celebrating Arab creators and as a point of reference for promising Arab talent, by highlighting achievements that inspire young people and contribute to expanding Arab participation in global knowledge and civilisational advancement.
His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, inaugurated the 44th Sharjah International Book Fair on Wednesday, where he honoured Egyptian writer and playwright Mohamed Salmawy as the Cultural Personality of the Year.
The opening ceremony was attended by His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, and Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA).
In his keynote address, Sheikh Sultan welcomed guests and the delegation from Greece, this year’s Guest of Honour, noting that Sharjah is marking 100 years since the establishment of its first library, a milestone he said reflects the emirate’s enduring commitment to knowledge and culture.
During the ceremony, Sheikh Sultan honoured Egyptian writer and playwright Mohamed Salmawy, naming him the Cultural Personality of the Year in recognition of his distinguished literary career and contributions to Arab theatre, fiction, and cultural life.
In his acceptance speech, Salmawy expressed heartfelt gratitude, saying: “Sharjah honoured me and all Arab intellectuals when it first honoured the written word over four decades ago by founding this book fair as a celebration of thought and knowledge. It honoured us again when it built museums, hosted exhibitions and conferences to celebrate our heritage and contemporary arts. Sharjah chose to embrace culture and has rightfully become one of the most important beacons of cultural enlightenment in the Arab world.”
“Our gathering here at the Sharjah International Book Fair is a renewed call to continue along the path of faith in culture and ideas—through words and books. It is a call to believe in the unity of the Arab human spirit—from Egypt to the UAE, from Yemen to Morocco, from Syria to Somalia. This meeting reminds us of the role of the Arab intellectual—not as a mere observer of his time, but as an active, influential force responsible for lighting the way amid the darkness some would impose upon us,” he added.
The ceremony also saw the presentation of the Turjuman Award to Dr Ondřej Beránek for his Czech translation of The Mission of Ibn Fadlan, published by Academia Publishing House in the Czech Republic. Organized by the SBA, the AED 1.4 million prize is the world’s most valuable award for the translation of an original Arabic work into another language.
The Ruler of Sharjah also announced the completion of the first phase of the Comprehensive Arabic Encyclopedia of Sciences, Arts, and Humanities, which aims to document Arabic and Islamic sciences, literature, and the humanities, including biographies of scholars, philosophers, writers, linguists, poets, rulers, and thinkers from the dawn of Arab history through the Islamic civilization.
He said the team, working under the supervision of the Arabic Language Academy in Sharjah, has completed 44 volumes covering linguistic and religious sciences, with the second phase, focused on the humanities, expected to be finalized next year.
Representing Greece, Guest of Honour, Deputy Minister of Culture Jason Fotilas expressed deep gratitude to Sheikh Sultan, highlighting the centuries-old cultural ties between Greece and the Arab world and thanking Sharjah for choosing Greece for this year’s edition.
In a related event, the Egyptian General Book Organization (EGBO) will host a special book signing for Salmawy on 6 November at 4pm at its pavilion within the fair. Organized by Egypt’s Ministry of Culture, the event will honour one of the Arab world’s most distinguished literary figures and celebrate his lifetime achievements.
A distinguished gathering of Arab and Egyptian writers, intellectuals, and media figures will attend the ceremony, where Salmawy will sign several of his notable works published by EGBO, including The Fairy, Beyond the Moon, The Last Station, and his memoir My Journey, which chronicles his rich literary and cultural life.
Pioneering scientist behind revolutionary weight-loss drugs, global scholars, innovators among winners.
The King Faisal Prize 2026 winners were announced at a ceremony in Riyadh on Wednesday night.
The event honored pioneering scientists, global scholars and innovators for their transformative contributions to medicine, science, Arabic language, Islamic studies and the service of Islam.
Prof. Svetlana Mojsov was named winner in the medicine section for her groundbreaking discoveries that are now reshaping how we treat obesity.
Prof. Carlos Kenig was announced as science laureate in the field of mathematics for helping to revolutionize understanding of nonlinear partial differential equations.
Mojsov, the Lulu Chow Wang and Robin Chemers Neustein research associate professor at The Rockefeller University in New York, pioneered research on glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) that has fundamentally transformed how obesity and diabetes are treated.
She discovered and characterized the biologically active form of GLP-1, a natural intestinal hormone that regulates blood sugar and appetite, and identified its receptors in the human pancreas, heart, and brain.
Through cutting-edge biochemistry and physiological studies, Mojsov demonstrated that GLP-1 powerfully stimulates insulin secretion while reducing hunger and managing glucose levels.
Her groundbreaking work enabled the development of an entirely new class of medications that mimic this natural hormone, sparking a paradigm shift in obesity treatment.
These therapies today provide life-changing benefits for hundreds of millions of people worldwide living with obesity and its complications — a global health crisis affecting 890 million adults and 160 million children and adolescents in 2022 alone, according to the World Health Organization.
Mojsov’s groundbreaking contributions have earned numerous prestigious honors, including Time magazine naming her one of the 100 Most Influential People in 2024.
Kenig was honored for his groundbreaking contributions to mathematical analysis. His work has transformed understanding of nonlinear partial differential equations — the mathematical equations describing how things change and move in the physical world — and provided researchers with a now-ubiquitous set of techniques. His insights have opened new research frontiers with applications spanning fluid mechanics, optical fibers, and medical imaging.
Kenig, the Louis Block distinguished service professor at the University of Chicago, is recognized for applying harmonic analysis techniques across different areas of partial differential equations.
His work on free boundary problems — determining unknown boundaries such as where ice meets melting water or how fluids flow through soil — has been particularly influential.
Kenig has spent three decades figuring out how complex waves behave over long periods of time, especially in tricky situations where they could either spread out peacefully or build up dangerously.
This matters for understanding everything, from ocean waves to light pulses in fiber optics and to how energy moves through different materials.
His work helps explain phenomena in quantum mechanics, optics, and ocean waves. By combining different mathematical techniques, he has solved longstanding problems that had puzzled mathematicians for decades.
In addition to medicine and science, the King Faisal Prize recognized the achievements of outstanding thinkers and scholars in the field of Arabic language and literature, Islamic studies, and exemplary leaders who have played a pivotal role in serving Islam, Muslims, and humanity at large.
Pierre Larcher, an emeritus professor of Arabic linguistics at Aix-Marseille University and emeritus researcher at the Institute for Studies and Research on the Arab and Muslim Worlds, won this year’s King Faisal Prize for Arabic Language and Literature on “Arabic literature in French.”
His novel presentation of Arabic literature to French readers has earned widespread acclaim from critics and specialists, while his rigorous scholarly approach to classical Arabic literature has made it accessible and appropriate for French culture.
His critical translation project of “Al-Mu’allaqat” and rigorous study of pre-Islamic poetry demonstrate exceptional scholarly depth.
For this year’s Islamic Studies Prize, Abdelhamid Hussein Mahmoud Hammouda, the professor of Islamic history and civilization at Fayoum University, and Mohamed Waheeb Hussein, the professor of archaeology and history of art at the Hashemite University, were announced as co-laureates.
Hammouda’s work encompasses the trade routes across the Islamic world — the Mashreq, Iraq and Persia, Arabian Peninsula, Greater Syria, Egypt, Sahara, Maghreb, and Al-Andalus. This expansive scope delivers coherent understanding of Islamic trade trajectories across history, serving as an authoritative reference for both specialized research and broader scholarship.
Hussein’s groundbreaking work uses archaeological surveys, GPS documentation, and analytical mapping to systematically correlate Qur’anic texts with geographical data. His research offers definitive scholarly interpretation, significantly advancing documentation of early Arabian Peninsula trade routes.
Sheikh Abdullatif Al-Fozan and Dr. Mohammad Abou Moussa were announced as co-laureates in the Service to Islam Prize.
Laureates’ names were announced by Prince Turki Al-Faisal and the King Faisal Prize’s Secretary-General Dr. Abdulaziz Alsebail.
Selection committees included experts, specialists, and scholars who met in Riyadh and examined the nominated works. They selected the laureates in an objective and transparent manner, in accordance with the rules and regulations.
The KFP was established in 1977, and was awarded for the first time in 1979 in three categories: service to Islam, Islamic studies, and Arabic language and literature. Two additional categories were introduced in 1981: medicine and science. The first medicine prize was awarded in 1982, and in science two years later.
Since 1979 the KFP has given awards to more than 300 laureates who have made distinguished contributions to different sciences and causes.
Each prize laureate is endowed with $200,000, a 24-carat gold medal weighing 200 grams, and a certificate inscribed with the laureate’s name and a summary of the work that qualified them for the prize.
source/content: arabnews.com (headlines edited)
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King Faisal Prize laureates’ names for 2026 were announced in Riyadh on Wednesday night by Prince Turki Alfaisal and the Prize’s Secretary General Dr. Abdulaziz Alsebail. (Supplied)
Egyptian Islamic scholar and geologist Zaghloul El-Naggar, a leading figure in the field of scientific interpretation of the Qur’an, has died at the age of 92.
El-Naggar passed away in Amman, Jordan, after a battle with illness, according to statements released on his official social media accounts on Sunday.
His funeral prayer will be held on Monday at Abu Aisha Mosque in Amman, followed by burial at Umm Al-Qutain Cemetery.
Born on 17 November 1933 in the village of Mashal in Egypt’s Gharbia Governorate, El-Naggar showed an early passion for science.
He graduated with honours in geology from Cairo University in 1955, earning the Mustafa Baraka Award in Earth Sciences. He obtained a PhD from the University of Wales in 1963 and became a full professor in 1972.
El-Naggar’s career spanned decades of teaching and research at universities in Egypt, the UK, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Yemen, Jordan, and the United States.
He chaired the geology department at Qatar University, taught at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, and served as a visiting professor at UCLA.
He also directed Al-Ahqaf University in Yemen and later taught at the World Islamic Sciences and Education University in Jordan.
He became one of the Arab world’s most recognised voices on the relationship between science and faith, authoring numerous books and delivering hundreds of lectures on what came to be known as the “scientific miracles of the Qur’an and Sunnah”.
His popular TV programme Ayat Bayyinat (“Clear Verses”) aired across Arab channels, exploring Quranic descriptions of natural phenomena.
El-Naggar was a member of the International Commission on Scientific Signs in the Qur’an and Sunnah and was honoured several times for his contributions to promoting scientific understanding within an Islamic framework.
source/content: newarab.com (headline edited)
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El-Naggar passed away in Amman, Jordan, after a battle with illness [Al-Araby Al-Jadeed]
Amid the global race to find effective COVID-19 treatments, an Egyptian research team has achieved a breakthrough that could reshape how middle- and low-income countries combat the virus.
The study, titled EVERST, was published on 20 October in Scientific Reports, a leading international journal under the Nature group.
According to the study, Egyptian scientists reported promising results in treating moderate COVID-19 pneumonia with safe, locally available, and affordable drugs.
The research, led by Professor Dr Mohamed Abdelsalam El-Gohary, brought together a multidisciplinary team of doctors and scientists from Egyptian and international institutions.
Over two years, the team evaluated the safety and effectiveness of four treatment regimens combining repurposed antiviral drugs — Sofosbuvir/Daclatasvir, Sofosbuvir/Ledipasvir, Ivermectin, and Hydroxychloroquine — in 310 Egyptian patients with moderate COVID-19 infections.
“Our goal was to find a practical, homegrown solution that saves lives without overburdening healthcare systems,” Professor El-Gohary told Ahram Online. “Egypt produces these medications locally, which means they are accessible and affordable for millions.”
The findings showed that two specific combinations —Sofosbuvir/Daclatasvir with Ivermectin and Sofosbuvir/Ledipasvir with Hydroxychloroquine —helped patients recover faster, shortened hospital stays, and provided remarkable protection of lung tissues on CT scans.
Patients treated with these regimens returned home significantly earlier than those who received standard care.
“This reduction in hospitalization time has major implications,” El-Gohary explained. “It not only improves patient recovery but also reduces pressure on hospitals and public health budgets, a critical factor during pandemics.”
The new combination regimen also showed improved CT scan results for pneumonia, a crucial step in preventing post-COVID complications, a growing concern worldwide.
Equally important, the study confirmed that the new treatment combinations were safe and well tolerated, with no major side effects compared with existing protocols. The only factor linked to higher mortality was advanced age.
The EVERST study, which underwent extensive international peer review before publication, reinforces Egypt’s growing role in global medical research and innovation. It also highlights the potential of repurposing affordable antiviral drugs to address emerging diseases.
The Supreme Council of Culture (SCC), headed by Minister of Culture Ahmed Fouad Hano, has officially revealed the recipients of the 2025 State Awards.
The announcement, made via an official statement on the Ministry of Culture’s Facebook page on Tuesday, follows a comprehensive voting process that recognised individuals for their profound impact on Egypt’s cultural and intellectual spheres.
The distinguished awards include the Nile Award, the State Appreciation Award, the Excellence Award, and the Encouragement Award.
The selection process involved a meeting attended by leading intellectuals, academics, heads of cultural institutions, and representatives from professional unions.
Nile Award
The prestigious Nile Awards were granted to:
Arts category: Architect Dr. Saleh Lamai
Literature category: Dr. Ahmed Darwish
Social Sciences category: Dr. Ahmed Zayed
Nile Award for Arab Creators: Palestinian artist Suleiman Anis Mansour
Appreciation Award
The State Appreciation Awards were granted to:
Arts category: Theatre director Shaker Abdel Latif, visual artist Abdel Wahab Abdel Mohsen, and cinematographer Samir Farag.
Literature category: Poet Ahmed El-Shahawi, critic and writer Dr. Khayri Douma, and writer Fatma El-Maadoul.
Social Sciences category: University professors Dr. Anas Gaafar, Dr. Mohamed Sameh Amr, Dr. Mona Haggag, and Dr. Nevine Massad.
Literature category: Poet Masoud Shoman and Dr. Khaled Abou El-Leil.
Social Sciences category: Dr. Samah Fawzy, Dr. Atiya El-Tantawy, and Dr. Nahla Imam.
Encouragement Award
When it comes to the 2025 Encouragement Awards, 32 creatives were honoured across arts, literature, social sciences, and legal/economic studies.
Arts Category (8 prizes; 6 awarded, 2 withheld)
Piano Performance: Naghamaya Safwat for her rendition of Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No. 2 with the Cairo Symphony Orchestra.
Film Script: Mahmoud Zein for Wala Azaa’ Lil Sayedat.
Children’s Book Illustration: Heidi Fawzy for Ta’aqqal… Ya Marah.
Theatrical Scenography: Nehad El-Sayed for Shatat.
Digital Media & Architecture: Mostafa Salem for an awareness series on heritage preservation.
Painting: Dr. Islam El-Reihany for The Music of the Body.
Withheld: Prizes for “E-marketing for handicrafts” and “Fiber Art”.
Literature (8 prizes)
Historical Novel: Doaa Gamal El-Bady for Crows That Don’t Eat the Dead.
Short Story Collection: Ahmed Yasser Fathy for A Very Lonely City.
Classical Poetry: Mohamed Refai for The Cry of a Coin.
Colloquial Poetry: Ibrahim Abou Samra for Balta Shi’r.
Computational Linguistics: Marwa Mostafa Amin for Functions of the Electronic Dictionary.
Narrative Criticism: Aly Kotb for Singing and Music in the Literature of Naguib Mahfouz.
Translation (Turkish-Arabic): Sousana Sayed Mohamed for A Strange Woman by Leyla Erbil.
Translation (Arabic to Asian/African languages): Shared by Dina Mohamed Bayoumi (Suspense and Horror Between China and Egypt) and Mohamed Abdelrahman Farag (Al-Mukhtasar Al-Shafi fi Al-Iman Al-Kafi).
Social Sciences
History, Archaeology & Heritage (shared):
Dr. Ahmed Ma’arouf for Walls with Gates: Political Borders in Islamic Historical Heritage.
Dr. Sherif Imam for Saad Zaghloul in Gramsci’s Mirror.
Geography & Environment: Dr. Shaimaa Mohamed Wehba for research on water pollution and income inequality in Egypt.
Philosophy & Anthropology: Irene Samir Hakim for The Many Faces of Female Genital Mutilation.
Educational Sciences: Dr. Mohamed Abdel Khaleq for Dimensions of Global Education in Stoic Philosophy.
Media: Student team (Ramaj Osman, Gharib Reda, Farah Abdelkarim, etc.) for the film Hayy Falasteen, directed by Martina Wagdy.
Administrative Sciences: Dr. Islam Abdel Bari for Decoding Buy Now, Pay Later in Egypt.
Documentation & Publishing: Dr. Alaa Jaafar Al-Sadiq for research on local journal indexing.
Digital Culture: Dr. Ahmed Magdy for How AI Has Changed the Film Industry.
Legal and Economic Sciences (6 prizes awarded, 2 withheld)
Inflation in the Egyptian Economy: Dr. Gehan Abdel Salam Mahmoud for Tackling Inflation amid Global Crises.
Climate Change: Dr. Ahmed Mohamed Okasha for Climate Change and Economic Sustainability.
Russian–Ukrainian War & International Relations: Shared by Dr. Raghda El-Beheiry, Dr. Adnan Moussa, and Mr. Mahmoud Kassem.
Geopolitical Shifts: Ahmed Abdel Fattah Askar for Strategic Transformations in the Horn of Africa (2020–2024).
Right to Privacy: Dr. Mohamed Mesbah El-Naghy for Constitutional Guarantees for Genetic Privacy.
Cultural Diversity Management: Dr. Mahmoud Hussein Abou Seif for The Principle of Non-Refoulement in European Human Rights Law.
Withheld: Prizes for “Personal Data Protection under Cyber Law” and “Citizenship Through Investment”.
Minister Hano emphasised that these awards represent one of the highest forms of recognition granted by the Egyptian state, describing them as the culmination of long and distinguished careers marked by creativity and dedication.
Hano reaffirmed the state’s continued commitment to supporting intellectuals and creators who contribute to strengthening Egypt’s cultural identity and promoting values of diversity, openness, and awareness, the statement pointed out.
He played the Devil, challenged shame, and made Arab cinema speak. On his birthday, we revisit Youssef Wahbi – the man who dared to redefine the rules of the screen and stage.
Youssef Wahbi broke every mould – actor, director, and pioneer of Arabic cinema. On his birthday, we honour a legend who shaped generations of stage and screen.
Wahbi’s love for acting started when he first watched the Lebanese artist Salim Al-Qardahi’s troupe in Sohag. Since then, he started delivering monologues and performing theatrical acts at Al Ahly Club and at school. But at the time, acting was seen as shameful, and his father disapproved. Refusing to bend, Wahby fled to Italy and studied acting under the Italian actor Cantoni. He didn’t come back until after his father’s death in 1921 and used all his inheritance to establish a theatrical troupe named Ramses, which was also the name given to him during his stay in Europe.
In 1923, the troupe premiered with a successful play called ‘Al Magnoun’. But Wahby wasn’t done breaking ground. Later, in 1930, he established his film production company, Ramses Film, which produced the very first speaking film in the history of Arabic cinema, ‘Awlad El Zawat’. The movie was adapted from one of his successful plays, as he wrote the script and starred in the film.
Throughout his prolific career, Youssef Wahbi wrote, directed, or starred in over 300 theatrical plays and contributed to more than 60 films. Among this vast body of work, a few standout titles have become milestones in the history of Arabic drama and cinema…
Awlad El Zawat (1932)
‘Awlad El Zawat’ tells the story of Hamdi, who marries a French woman only to discover she’s cheating on him. In a powerful scene, he confronts her with the line: “You woman of all men… you garbage of history.” In a rare interview, Youssef Wahbi revealed that he insisted on making ‘Awlad El Zawat’ as the first Arabic-speaking film to defend the image of the East, after Western narratives described the region as barbaric and trivial, particularly during the trial of a woman who had murdered an Egyptian young man.
Safir Gohannam (1945)
‘Safir Gohannam’ follows Abd Elkhallak, a humble professor worn down by life’s hardships and became a bitter and resentful man. His shaky faith opens the door for the Devil (played by Youssef Wahbi) to lead him astray, tempting him with a false paradise to ruin his life, destroy his children, and tear his family apart. The film marks the first-ever portrayal of the Devil in Egyptian cinema.
Bayoumi Effendi (1949)
‘Bayoumi Effendi’ is considered one of Wahbi’s most powerful socially driven films, tackling the issue of children born out of wedlock. The film calls for compassion toward these individuals, emphasising that they should not be treated as criminals for a sin they did not commit.
Hayah Aw Mout (1954)
‘Hayah Aw Mout’ – one of the most famous films in Egyptian cinema – follows the story of a man who suffers a heart attack and sends his daughter to fetch his medicine, only for the pharmacist to realise he accidentally gave her poison. As the police, led by Wahbi’s character, race to save him, a dramatic city-wide radio broadcast becomes his only hope. This is the film that gave us the famous line: “لا تشرب الدواء الذي أرسلت بنتك لشرائه…الدواء فيه سم قاتل.” (“Do not drink the medicine your daughter was sent to fetch; the medicine contains deadly poison.”)
Esha’et Hob (1960)
‘Esha’et Hob’ is one of the most memorable comedy films in Egyptian cinema. Starring Omar El Sherif, Soad Hossny and Youssef Wahbi, it follows the story of Hussein, a shy young man in love with his cousin Samia, who prefers her charming cousin Lucy ‘Ibn Tante Fakeeha’. To help him win her heart, Hussein’s uncle Abdel Qader comes up with a clever plan: spread a rumour about a love story between Hussein and the famous actress Hind Rostom.
Egyptian physicist Kerolos Mousa played a role in a Harvard breakthrough using metasurfaces to control light at the photon level, which may pave the way for major advances in quantum technologies.
Kerolos Mousa, an Egyptian PhD student who hails from Minya, has contributed to a breakthrough in quantum physics at Harvard University, where a team of physicists developed a device capable of controlling the shape and path of individual photons with unprecedented precision.
The innovation is based on metasurface technology, engineered materials that can manipulate electromagnetic waves, and represents a major advancement in the way light is handled within miniature optical environments. Mousa led efforts to design the nanostructures critical to regulating photon behaviour.
The research, conducted at Harvard’s Applied Physics Lab and supported by leading US scientific institutions, was published in Nature, a top US science journal, and Science, a leading British publications. It was also featured on the university’s official channels.
The advancement is hoped to significantly impact fields such as quantum communication, quantum computing, and the development of next-generation smart optical devices.
