Latest news with #Ramses
Egypt Independent
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Egypt Independent
Egypt's government is out of service
Memories from the recent past paint a different picture. Back in Maher Abaza's day, the Ministry of Electricity meticulously performed maintenance on power stations before the summer's onset. Similarly, the Ministry of Housing, under Hasaballah al-Kafrawy, diligently oversaw maintenance at cement factories. Life felt smoother then. Now, we're suddenly facing out ministries seemingly neglecting basic maintenance. The power grid has failed, plunging Giza into darkness and cutting off its water supply. This has triggered an internal migration to Cairo and its suburbs, as people flee the widespread power and water outages. Amidst all this, all we heard was a Ministry of Electricity plan to ensure uninterrupted power supply and prevent a repeat of Giza's crisis. We were told two new circuits were added to 'Geziret al-Dahab,' capable of handling double the current load, up to 240 megawatts. We also heard reports of an official, when asked by citizens when the power would return, simply stating, 'God knows.' The glaring question is: Where was the ministry before the summer crisis hit? Did the government focus solely on new developments, completely forgetting the older areas? Where was this crucial ministry when the Geziret al-Dahab transformer station went out of service? And speaking of going 'out of service,' where was the Ministry of Communications when Ramses exchange failed, bringing down communications across Egypt? Has the entire government simply gone offline? I suspect if I were to check every ministry, I'd find them all 'out of service.' The problem isn't just with electricity or communications. It extends to Irrigation, Agriculture, and Housing—a ministry now building luxury homes and neglecting affordable housing, seemingly more interested in market transactions than its core mission of providing social housing for the less fortunate. I simply cannot explain this strange, unchanging situation in Egypt, where this government – with all its shortcomings – remains entrenched. Is the explanation that it will cling on 'until our last breath,' as the Minister of Transport once declared, 'I'm not leaving, I'm staying'? Where does the government and its ministers draw such power? How can these crises keep recurring while the same government remains in place? The Governor of Giza was the only one to issue an apology after the recent crisis, stating it was 'difficult for citizens to live without water and electricity in these harsh conditions.' Yet, we now discover the crisis is repeating at least twice daily, leading to the breakdown of water pumps and electrical appliances in homes. Who will compensate citizens for this damage, and who will provide them with replacement devices?! Finally, are we to be satisfied that a responsible source within the Ministry of Electricity stated the ministry has prepared an urgent plan to definitively end the power outage issues in Giza and its surrounding areas? Should we simply wait longer and continue living in darkness? What has happened to Egypt under this current government? How have we reached a point where we long to go back in time, to the days of Maher Abaza, al-Kafrawy, and Soliman Metwally? There is a critical flaw that must be addressed, and swiftly. About the author: A seasoned journalist since 1991, Mohamed Amin has contributed to numerous publications, including Al-Naba newspaper, and served as a correspondent for Agence France-Presse (AFP). His career trajectory includes several prominent editorial roles, culminating in his appointment as Chairman of the Board of Trustees for Al-Masry Al-Youm newspaper in 2016. He has also held the position of Editor-in-Chief for the Cairo-based October Magazine in July 2017.
CairoScene
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CairoScene
Youssef Wahbi: The Man Who Transformed Arabic Theatre & Cinema
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. Jul 14, 2025 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.
Daily Mirror
11-07-2025
- Science
- Daily Mirror
China develops cyborg bees to find disaster survivors
Controllers which weigh less than a pinch of salt are strapped to the back of a worker bee and connected to the insect's brain through small needles in Chinese scientists'' bid to turn bees into cyborgs for special missions It sounds like science fiction but it's become science fact. Chinese experts have created the first 'cyborg bee'. Insects are fitted with abrain controller and receive in flight commands via tiny eclectic pulses. According to the Chinese Journal of Mechanical Engineering, the development opens up the possibility of bees serving as military scouts. But the use of the animal kingdom by the military is nothing new. From the Egyptian pharaoh Ramses going into battle with his pet lion to a US project which planned bomb carrying bats our four legged and feathered friends have fought - and died - alongside humans for centuries. Dogs Our canine friends have been used for decades by the military in a variety of roles. Thanks to their keen smell, they can locate mines and concealed IEDs - they were regularly used in Afghanistan - and have played vital roles in search and rescue operations being sent out into No Man's Land during WW1 to wounded men. During WW11 dogs were parachuted behind enemy lines to accompany D Day troops. Others were employed on the Home Front to find people buried under rubble after bombing raids. Among the most famous is Rip, a terrier, who is credited with saving the lives of more than 100 people and was awarded the Dickin Medal for bravery in 1945. Horses and camels When WW1 broke out both sides in the combat had large cavalry and horse and camel mounted troops were sent into battle. nHorses were also used to pull ambulances and evacuate wounded men, particularly when vehicles couldn't get through mud-laden roads and battlefields. In the desert, camels could carry two injured men at a time - one either side of its hump. In 2014 a horse called Warrior was posthumously awarded the Dickin Medal after serving the entire campaign and being nicknamed the 'horse they couldn't kill' by Tommies. Mice and canaries Poisonous gas was a real threat to troops so canaries and mice, often housed in cages in the trenches, were kept by WW1 soldiers. Their reaction - and death - was an early warning sign of the presence of toxic fumes. Dolphins Both Russian and US navies have experimented with the use of marine animals, training them to rescue lost naval swimmers, guard ships against enemy divers, locate mines and help recover lost equipment on the sea bed. While dolphins are often acknowledged for their intelligence, seals and sea lions have also been deployed. Whales In 2019, a Beluga whale was found off the coast of Norway wearing a harness labeled Equipment of St. Petersburg . This led to speculation he had been trained by the Russian Navy as a 'spy'. The latest thinking is that the whale, called Hvaldimir, did belong to the military and was being trained to guard a Russian naval base in the Arctic Circle. He had, in fact, abandoned his duties and had swam off seeking freedom. Pigeons These feathery messengers were trained to carry information particularly in WW1 when other forms of communication were difficult. Their role was deemed so crucial that anyone caught killing a pigeon could be imprisoned or fined. The birds were also used in surveillance with the CIA attempting to use pigeon cameras'. A CIA pigeon camera dating from the 1970s is displayed in the CIA Museum in Virginia. Elephants Two circus elephants, Many and Kiri, were used during WW11 in Germany to clear wreckage in the aftermath of Allied bombing raids. Using their huge strength to move debris in order to rebuild the nation, the pair, who had performed in the big top in Hamburg, carried on their work after the war. Both died in the 1960s. Elephants were also used to carry ammunition in the Far East conflict. Cats Ships' cats have long been used in the Royal Navy to control vermin on ships and as acting as mascots. Black and white puss Simon of HMS Amethyst received the Dickin Medal in 1949 after surviving injuries from an artillery shell, raising morale - and killing off a rat infestation on board.
The National
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Best photos of July 11: From drought in Afghanistan to Oasis returning to Manchester
Each player begins with one of the great empires of history, from Julius Caesar's Rome to Ramses of Egypt, spread over Europe and the Middle East. Round by round, the player expands their empire. The more land they have, the more money they can take from their coffers for each go. As unruled land and soldiers are acquired, players must feed them. When a player comes up against land held by another army, they can choose to battle for supremacy. A dice-based battle system is used and players can get the edge on their enemy with by deploying a renowned hero on the battlefield. Players that lose battles and land will find their coffers dwindle and troops go hungry. The end goal? Global domination of course.
Daily News Egypt
08-07-2025
- Business
- Daily News Egypt
Egyptian authorities race to contain fallout from fatal telecom fire
Egyptian authorities on Tuesday raced to contain the fallout from a fatal fire at a key Cairo telecommunications hub, suspending the stock market, doubling cash withdrawal limits, and working to reroute disrupted internet and phone services. The response came after a blaze late on Monday at the Ramses Central building killed four workers and injured at least 22 others, triggering a nationwide disruption of critical services. Minister of Communications and Information Technology Amr Talaat said on Tuesday that all telecommunication services would be gradually restored within 24 hours by redirecting traffic through alternative exchanges. 'The Ramses Central will remain out of service for several days,' Talaat said, adding that affected users would be compensated. He stressed that emergency services and other essential systems were operating normally in most areas. To mitigate the economic impact, the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) took proactive measures, temporarily raising the daily cash withdrawal limit for individuals and companies to EGP 500,000 ($10,400) from EGP 250,000 to facilitate transactions amid the disruption. The Egyptian Exchange (EGX) suspended all trading for the day, calling it a necessary step to 'uphold market integrity and investor confidence' after technical and operational challenges made it impossible to ensure fair and orderly trading. Other government bodies also moved to ensure the continuity of essential services. The Ministry of Supply and Internal Trade confirmed that the distribution of subsidised bread was proceeding without interruption. Minister Sherif Farouk explained that the system's resilience was due to dispensing machines being equipped with multiple SIM cards, allowing them to switch between mobile networks. At Cairo International Airport, the Ministry of Civil Aviation announced that operations had returned to normal after initial disruptions. It said alternative solutions were implemented to restore the operating system across all terminals, allowing affected flights to take off. State-owned operator Telecom Egypt, which runs the Ramses exchange, issued a statement mourning the four employees who died in the blaze, calling them 'martyrs of duty.' 'With heavy hearts, Telecom Egypt mourns the heroes who demonstrated the highest levels of dedication and sacrifice, remaining at their posts until the final moments to protect telecom infrastructure and serve the nation,' the statement read. The victims died from smoke inhalation after being trapped inside the building, authorities said. As of Tuesday evening, civil defence teams were still conducting cooling operations at the site while an investigation into the cause of the fire got underway.
