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France 24
6 days ago
- Politics
- France 24
Renowned Egyptian novelist Sonallah Ibrahim dies at 88
Ibrahim "passed away today, leaving behind an immortal literary and humanitarian legacy," Culture Minister Ahmed Fouad Hanno said in a tribute, calling the writer a "pillar of modern Arabic literature". Born in Cairo in 1937, Ibrahim was famed around the Arab world as a chronicler of social injustice, known for his sparse, documentary-style prose and his fierce independence. His writings -- which blurred the line between the personal and the political -- captured the struggles of the Arab world in the postcolonial era, particularly those of his native Egypt. Arguably his most famous novel, "Zaat" (1992), tells the story of Egypt's modern history -- from the overthrow of the monarchy in 1952 to the neoliberalism of the 1990s under president Hosni Mubarak -- through the eyes of an ordinary, middle-class woman. It was adapted into a prime-time television series in 2013, bringing Ibrahim's scathing portrayal of power to a new generation of Egyptians in the aftermath of the Arab Spring uprising that ousted Mubarak. A dissident through and through, Ibrahim was first jailed for his leftist politics in 1959, under then president Gamal Abdel Nasser. His five years in prison would form the basis for his debut 1966 novel, "That Smell", which was initially banned. Ibrahim's renown later saw many of his works translated into English and French. In 2003, he refused to accept a prestigious literary prize from the Mubarak government charging that it "oppresses our people, protects corruption and allows the Israeli ambassador to remain while Israel kills and rapes". The last was a reference to alleged Israeli abuses in the occupied territories during the second Palestinian intifada or uprising. Among Ibrahim's most celebrated works are "The Committee" (1981), a Kafkaesque allegory of bureaucracy and surveillance, and "Stealth" (2007), a semi-autobiographical account of his childhood during World War II. Generations of Arab writers found inspiration in his minimalist style, heavy with irony and rooted in everyday life.
Ammon
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Ammon
Prominent Egyptian writer Sonallah Ibrahim dies at 88
Ammon News - Sonallah Ibrahim, the acclaimed Egyptian novelist, died in Cairo on Wednesday at the age of 88 after being hospitalized with pneumonia. Egyptian Minister of Culture Ahmed Fouad Hanno expressed deep sorrow over Ibrahim's passing, describing him as one of the pillars of contemporary Arabic narrative and a creator whose work combined artistic sensibility with critical awareness. He said the loss was a significant blow to the literary scene. Known for his steadfast commitment to national and human causes, Ibrahim's works—marked by a blend of documentary fragments and fiction—have become landmarks of modern Arabic literature. His novels include That Smell (1966), The Committee (1981), Zaat (1992), Warda (2000), Stealth (2007), and Ice (2011), probing themes of power, bureaucracy, and everyday life. Born in 1937, Ibrahim was widely regarded as one of Egypt's foremost modernist writers. In 2003, he famously rejected a prestigious state literary prize on political grounds, cementing his reputation as a principled dissident.
See - Sada Elbalad
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- See - Sada Elbalad
Iconic Author Sonallah Ibrahim Passes away
Rana Atef Renowned Egyptian novelist Sonallah Ibrahim passed away at the age of 88 after suffering from pneumonia, which led to his admission to a hospital in Cairo. Ibrahim is considered one of the most prominent figures in modern Egyptian literature and a landmark in the history of the Arabic novel. Many of his works have been listed among the top 100 Arabic novels of all time. Born in Cairo in 1937, Ibrahim's literary career was shaped early by his father, who encouraged him to read extensively and provided him with books and stories. Although he studied law, he soon shifted toward journalism and politics, joining the Egyptian communist organization 'Hadto.' He was arrested in 1959 and spent five years in prison before being released in 1964. Following his release, Ibrahim worked at the Egyptian News Agency in 1967, later moving to the German News Agency in East Berlin in 1968, where he stayed until 1971. He then went to Moscow to study cinematography and filmmaking before returning to Cairo in 1974. By 1975, he devoted himself entirely to writing. Ibrahim's literary works are known for their historical documentation and sharp political commentary, often weaving in details from his own life. His notable novels include Sharaf, ranked third among the best 100 Arabic novels, as well as The Committee, Zaat, Warda, The Turban and Amreekanli. Throughout his career, he received several prestigious awards, including the Ibn Rushd Prize for Freedom of Thought (2004) and the Cavafy Prize for Literature (2017). read more New Tourism Route To Launch in Old Cairo Ahmed El Sakka-Led Play 'Sayidati Al Jamila' to Be Staged in KSA on Dec. 6 Mandy Moore Joins Season 2 of "Dr. Death" Anthology Series Don't Miss These Movies at 44th Cairo Int'l Film Festival Today Amr Diab to Headline KSA's MDLBEAST Soundstorm 2022 Festival Arts & Culture Mai Omar Stuns in Latest Instagram Photos Arts & Culture "The Flash" to End with Season 9 Arts & Culture Ministry of Culture Organizes four day Children's Film Festival Arts & Culture Canadian PM wishes Muslims Eid-al-Adha Videos & Features Story behind Trending Jessica Radcliffe Death Video News Israeli-Linked Hadassah Clinic in Moscow Treats Wounded Iranian IRGC Fighters Arts & Culture "Jurassic World Rebirth" Gets Streaming Date News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier News Ayat Khaddoura's Final Video Captures Bombardment of Beit Lahia Business Egyptian Pound Undervalued by 30%, Says Goldman Sachs Videos & Features Tragedy Overshadows MC Alger Championship Celebration: One Fan Dead, 11 Injured After Stadium Fall Arts & Culture South Korean Actress Kang Seo-ha Dies at 31 after Cancer Battle Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Arts & Culture Lebanese Media: Fayrouz Collapses after Death of Ziad Rahbani
CairoScene
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- CairoScene
Novelist Sonallah Ibrahim Passes Away at Age 88
Ibrahim was considered a prominent writer in the golden 'Sixties Generation', most known for his novels 'Warda' and 'Sharaf'. Aug 13, 2025 Renowned Egyptian novelist Sonallah Ibrahim passed away earlier today, August 13th, at the age of 88, after a long battle with illness. Ibrahim was considered one of the prominent writers of the golden 'Sixties Generation'; his acclaimed novels, including Zaat (1992), Sharaf (1997), and Warda (2005), often explored themes of love and revolution. The Minister of Culture paid tribute to the writer, noting that his works were distinguished by depth and vision, and offered condolences to his family.
Irish Examiner
04-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Air France-KLM to take majority stake in Scandinavian carrier SAS
Air France-KLM plans to increase its stake in Scandinavian airline SAS to 60.5%, the latest step towards consolidating Europe's fragmented airline sector as carriers seek to strengthen their position against rivals. The Franco-Dutch airline group said on Friday it intended to increase its stake from 19.9% currently by acquiring the stakes held by top shareholders Castlelake and Lind Invest. The purchase, subject to regulatory clearances, is expected to close in the second half of 2026, Air France-KLM said. The value of the investment would be determined at closing, based on SAS's latest financial performance, including core earnings (EBITDA) and net debt, the company said. It declined to give details on those metrics. SAS flies to Dublin from Oslo, Copenhagen, and Stockholm. Air France flies from Cork and Dublin to Paris. KLM flies to Amsterdam from Cork and also flies transatlantic to Dublin, with 142 weekly flights from the capital. Air France-KLM expects to generate "three-digit million" euro in synergies from raising its SAS stake, Air France-KLM finance chief Steven Zaat told analysts on a call. Mr Zaat said the deal would be funded from cash or a "plain vanilla bond" and would not impact the drive to reduce the group's hybrid debt. "We have ample room for it," he said. Air France-KLM shares were flat in early trading. JPMorgan analysts said there were reasons to be positive about the deal. "SAS offers deeper access to a GDP-rich region in Scandinavia, there will now be an opportunity to unlock cost synergies as SAS becomes a subsidiary of the group," they said in a note, adding that "industry consolidation should also be viewed positively for the whole sector, even if not game-changing in terms of size." SAS welcomed Air France-KLM's announcement. "European consolidation had to happen further, and we're very happy to be part of that," SAS CEO Anko van der Werff told Danish broadcaster TV2. "In the current setup where Air France-KLM is a 19.9% shareholder, they're still a competitor," he said. "With the new stake, going above 50%, we can really tap into all of those synergies and offer those benefits to customers." SAS said it would continue to invest in its fleet and network. In 2023, Air France-KLM said it would invest about $144.5m (€122.7m) for its initial SAS stake, boosting its presence in Sweden, Denmark and Norway with the option to become a controlling shareholder after a minimum of two years, subject to conditions. SAS exited from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in August last year. The two carriers have already had a commercial cooperation since summer 2024. Control of SAS would allow Air France-KLM to expand in the Scandinavian market and create additional value for shareholders, Air France-KLM said in a statement. "Following their successful restructuring, SAS has delivered impressive performance, and we are confident that the airline's potential will continue to grow through deeper integration within the Air France-KLM Group," said Air France-KLM chief executive Ben Smith. The deal comes as executives seek more consolidation in Europe's fragmented airline industry, which they say is needed to compete with US and Middle Eastern rivals. Earlier this year, Germany's Lufthansa bought a 41% stake in Italy's ITA Airways and a stake in Air Baltic. The Portuguese government is looking to privatise its national carrier TAP. Lufthansa and Air France are also in talks about buying a stake in Spain's Air Europa. SAS has 138 aircraft in service and carried more than 25 million passengers last year, generating revenues of €4.1bn. Air France-KLM group would have a majority of seats on the board of directors, while the Danish state will keep its 26.4% stake in SAS and its seats on the board. Reuters
