What could be more inspiring than the image of a young woman in national Sudanese dress addressing the protesting masses? A true moment of reckoning has been captured, and it underlines the role of the young and of women in an ageist, sexist (...)
Grizzled journalist, seasoned scholar, savvy administrator and public face of a centrist perspective: Diaa Rashwan has become a household name. As chairman of the Press Syndicate, Al-Ahram's very own senior journalist is the right person in the (...)
They said it wouldn't work, that once it moves to the Egypt International Exhibition Centre the Cairo Book Fair would fail to draw in visitors. But Haitham Al-Hagg Ali, director of the General Egyptian Book Organisation, proved them all wrong. With (...)
A hitherto unknown architectural genius, Mounir Fam is as understated as his work is monumental. He designed the New Capital's impressive new cathedral, a building worthy of both the ancient roots of Egyptian Christianity and the bright future the (...)
Egypt's new, exciting face in Hollywood, the Egyptian-American actor Rami Malek has impressed the world with his version of Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody. But as the first non-white actor to win an Emmy for Mr Robot in 2015, by the time he (...)
An instigator of war as he might be seen, George W Bush — who died this week at the age of 94 — was also an astute statesman. With more vision than most, he managed to liberate Kuwait without antagonising the world community. One of the last great (...)
The author of Whatever Happened to the Egyptians, a public intellectual of rare integrity and reach, has departed our world. He leaves us changed as much by his absence as by the social and political forces he so astutely chronicled. Goodbye, Galal (...)
He is in the news again but for the wrong reasons. The man behind some of Egypt's most popular films and television series has polarised public opinion by attacking the 57357 Children's Cancer Hospital for alleged corruption. Can Wahid Hamed be (...)
Few tunes have attached themselves to the collective imagination as firmly as the theme of Layali Al-Hilmiya (Nights of Al-Hilmiya), perhaps the most successful series of all time. This week the genius composer who gave us this and many other gifts, (...)
Once thought to be a dire global menace, Kim Jong Un might turn out to be North Korea's way into greater world community integration. He has said he is ready to close down the country's nuclear test site and let observers from South Korea and the US (...)
Sworn in only last week, a young and dynamic prime minister brings Ethiopia much hope. The first Oromo Muslim to occupy the post, Abiy Ahmed is able, focused and full of plans. He is clearly a gift to Ethiopians. But does he present Egyptians with a (...)
A new era is dawning on Saudi Arabia due to Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman's reforms. The crown prince visited Egypt this week loaded with ideas to boost wide-ranging bilateral cooperation. A new Saudi Arabia is in the making and the world cannot (...)
The dreamy tones of the flute and hard-edged, astute management: it's a combination that proved effective for the Cairo Opera House, how well will it work for the Ministry of Culture at large? Ines Abdel-Dayem certainly looks like all that ministry (...)
He worked miracles with a football but will he be able to do the same for his troubled country? George Weah, just elected president of Liberia, combines the virtues of a beloved public figure and an astute politician, but it remains to be seen how (...)
Charismatic, powerful, courageous: these are but a few of the accolades accorded Oprah Winfrey following her inspiring speech at the 2018 Golden Globe awards last Sunday, where she received the coveted Cecil B DeMille prize. People have even called (...)
Whether at the centre of Coptic Christmas celebrations or marking the opening of a new cathedral, Pope Tawadros II is a reassuring presence in the Egyptian public sphere. An icon of wisdom and tolerance in our vexed times, here is a sensible, (...)
In their confrontation with terrorism, nothing can reassure Egyptians more than the instinctive, grassroots, everyday heroism of their compatriots. Without a moment's hesitation Amm Salah, an unarmed and elderly man, attacked the terrorist in (...)
A young, dynamic and supremely talented man has replaced Prime Minister Sherif Ismail, who has had to hand over his responsibilities for health reasons. However temporary, Minister of Housing and now acting Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouli is a (...)
A true reformer, as audacious as he is visionary, Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman has demonstrated to the entire world that miracles are possible. Throwing off the yokes of extremism and corruption, he has waged war not only on sectarian excesses (...)
As Egyptians, the loss of yet more innocent martyrs to the craven scourge of terrorism can only strengthen our unity and resolve. Egypt has always been a land of peace and, however much the terrorists work to change that, it will remain one whatever (...)
The race may have been fraught and Egypt may have lost, but the end result is satisfactory by far. Young, dynamic and full of commitment, France's former minister of culture Audrey Azoulay is a happy choice for UNESCO'S director-general, whatever (...)
For a moment the future was hanging in the balance, and all depended on Mohamed Salah's penalty kick. By scoring the gifted forward not only lived up to expectations, he also made history. For the first time in 28 years, Egypt is participating in (...)
Once again, despite the rising tide of Nazism, economic and social problems, Germany's woman of substance has retained the trust of her people. Angela Merkel's re-election as chancellor of Germany is a triumph for reason and order in a time of (...)
A truly historic decision upholding women's rights, safeguarding secular freedoms – and pointing to the future. That is what Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi will always be remembered for, however much controversy he has generated at present. (...)
Kudos to the Minister of Defence Colonel-General Sedki Sobhi. Together with President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi, he not only inaugurated a new and impressive military base but also named it after Mohamed Naguib, the Egyptian army general who – overlooked (...)
