Latest News from Watani
Watani
17-03-2025
- Politics
- Watani
Sisi, Armed Forces honour martyr Fr Mina Aboud
The picture of Coptic priest Fr Mina Aboud, who was shot to death by jihadists in al-Arish in July 2013, was raised among those of other Egyptian martyrs during the seminar held by the Egyptian Armed Forces on 11 March 2025. The seminar was held to honour Martyrs' Day, which coincides with 9 March, in a gesture by the State to stress that Egypt never forgets the sons who sacrifice their lives for the nation's security and stability. Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi attended his year's seminar, displaying his keenness to honour the memory of the martyrs. The honouring of Fr Mina among the martyrs spurred wide response on social media, with many Egyptians expressing their appreciation for the tribute. Blogger Bassem Demian wrote: 'Thank you Mr President.' Fr Mina Fr Mina Aboud was born Salib Aboud Sharobim in Kom Ombo, Aswan, on 14 December 1974. His father was an engineer who lost his life in a tragic accident. Salon Aboud grew up in the Coptic Church, learning its rituals and praises at the Church of the Holy Virgin in Aswan. In 1994, he moved to Cairo to study at Ain Shams Universit's Faculty of Commerce. He married Mariam Milad Iskander in 2000; together they had two daughters. Salib Aboud was known for his love for Church heritage; he took part in writing a book titled 'Rituals and Melodies of Church Fasts and Feasts According to the Order of Our Coptic Orthodox Church', in collaboration with Deacon Amir Fikry. He also established a school for hymns at the church of the Holy Virgin in al-Amiriya, and his service extended to the church of the Holy Virgin in Mostorud, in addition to his participation in the hymns committee for the preaching festival. Owing to his dedicated service, Bishop Qozman of North Sinai asked him to move to al-Arish to serve there. On 3 March 2012, he was ordained a priest and named Fr Mina at the church of St Mina in al-Massaeed, al-Arish He also served as secretary to Bishop Qozman. He was well-loved by the congregation and had a reputation for being 'angelic'. On 6 July 2013, as Fr Mina walked in front a Church-owned administrative building in Arish, he was stopped by masked Islamic terrorists who shot him to death. Egypt, it's masses and military, had rid itself on 3 July 2013 of the Islamist regime that had come to power in the wake of the 2011 'Arab Spring', and Islamist movements were taking their revenge on the Egyptian public all over the country, with Copts coming in as their 'favourite prey'. Fr Mina was rushed to Arish Public Hospital where he breathed his last. His body was transported on a military plane to Cairo on 7 July 2013. Funeral prayers were held for Fr Mina on 8 July 2013 at the church of Archangel Michael in Sheraton, Cairo, and were attended by several bishops, including: Anba Qozman, Bishop of Northern Sinai; Anba Moussa, Bishop-General of Youth; Anba Raphael, Bishop-General of Downtown Cairo; and Anba Maximos, Bishop of Banha. The funeral was also attended by State officials, including the Governor of Sinai, Minister of Tourism. Fr Mina was later honoured by adding his name to the Coptic Church of Mar-Luca (St Luke) in Old Cairo, to become 'The Church of Mar-Luca and the Martyr Fr Mina Aboud in Old Cairo'. Today, Fr Mina is unofficially held as a saint by a large number of Copts, with numerous miracles attributed to his intercession. Priest shot dead in Arish Watani International 17 March 2024 Comments comments Tags: Fr Mina Aboud al-ArishMichael Girgis
Watani
16-03-2025
- General
- Watani
Happy Egyptian Woman's Day
In Egypt, the month of March marks an extended, joyous celebration of women. First comes 8 March, International Women's Day; close on its heels comes 16 March, Egyptian Woman's Day, followed by the day especially close to Egyptians' hearts: Mothers Day on 21 March. Egyptian woman's day comes on 16 March, a date that was set to commemorate the first female demonstration ever in Egypt, when women left their homes and took to the streets to support the 1919 nationalist Revolution. Led by the founders of the feminist movement in Egypt, Hoda Shaarawi; and Safiya Zaghloul, wife of Egypt's national leader Saad Zaghloul, some 300 Egyptian women took part in a national demonstration against the British occupation of Egypt; the young female demonstrator Hameida Khalil lost her life. Given that those were days when women were, and had for long centuries been confined to their homes, never allowed in public, the event was in itself revolutionary. It heralded in a new age for women when they could honourably be in the public eye, building their country hand in hand with their fellowmen, and maturing into citizens with full citizenship rights—and duties. Today, women are being actively empowered by the Egyptian State. Painting by Wagdy Habashy Comments comments
Watani
14-03-2025
- Politics
- Watani
Trump's State of the Union address: Screaming, roaring, then speaking mischief
Six weeks after he took oath as the 47th US President, President Donald Trump gave his State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress on 4 March. He presented his local and foreign policies, including decisions and policies he intended to adopt. President Trump spoke for some 100 minutes in the longest address to a joint session of Congress in at least 60 years. His supporters applauded and cheered for him all through the address. Notwithstanding, other political analysts and experts expressed their shock at the essence of the address which, as they saw it, had overlooked the needs of Americans on several levels, and had recklessly rushed to jeopardise American foreign relations and destroy a long legacy of mutual interests between the US and its allies. This all came under the pretext of the President's devious motto 'America first'. His State of the Union address brings to mind the Arabic folk saying: 'He screamed and roared, then spoke mischief'. Today I review the opinion voiced by two American politicians: Senator Bernie Sanders, 83, who is the senior US senator from Vermont; and Richard Wolff, 82, economist and professor emeritus of economics at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Senator Bernie Sanders: 'We are living in a pivotal moment in our country's history, facing unprecedented challenges… President Trump has been very effective in creating what I would call a parallel universe for his supporters; a set of ideas that either have no basis in reality or in the great scheme of things are nowhere near the most important concerns of the American people… One way that he does that is through the concept of the big lie; you say something that is grossly false, say it over and over again, and have right-wing social media blast it out endless times until people actually believe it. Then, rather than address the real issues facing the American people, the struggles that the American people are facing, we find ourselves wasting endless amounts of time discussing Trump's absurdities… It is a masterful effort to deflect attention away from the most important issues facing the people of our country; issues that Trump and his billionaire friends do not want to address because it is not in their financial interests to do so. Trump gave his State of the Union speech tonight, but if you listen closely, that speech had very little to say about the State of the Union, about what is really going on in our country, especially for working families… Think back six weeks ago when Trump was inaugurated for a second term as President, standing right behind him were the three wealthiest men in this country Mr [Elon] Musk, Mr [Jeffrey] Bezos and Mr [Mark] Zuckerberg, and standing behind them were 13 other billionaires who Trump had nominated to head major government agencies… It is there for all to see, the Trump administration is not hiding it, the Trump administration is a government of the billionaire class by the billionaire class and for the billionaire class… This is a government that couldn't care less about ordinary Americans and working families… I heard Trump speaking for 90 minutes tonight, I didn't hear one word from him about the economic reality facing 60 per cent of our people… Everyone knows that our healthcare system is broken, it is dysfunctional, and it is outrageously expensive… Mr President, we have nearly 800,000 Americans who are homeless, over 20 million of our people spend more than half of their limited income on housing. We have a major housing crisis in America, everyone knows it apparently except you… In your speech tonight I didn't hear you mention the housing crisis today in America… For the first time in our 250-year-history, we have a president who is turning his back on democracy, and allying us with authoritarianism.' Professor Richard Wolff: Let's begin with the firing of all these public employees; this is not about efficiency, and it never was efficiency… Firing 50 to 60 per cent of people in a short amount of time, you're not becoming efficient you're just taking a meat cleaver… This is not about efficiency, this is a political game to make Mr Trump look good to the billionaires he knows he needs to please to keep his game, his position, and his power going… Let me turn next to the extraordinary events that were referred to in the speech. We've all been following the destruction of the alliance the United States used to have; an alliance very close with what are called the G7: Japan, Canada, Britain, France, Germany and Italy, with Mexico a close second… This alliance is now disintegrating and the President ought to have talked about why that's happening… Instead of prancing around like his Mr tough guy, putting America first… Everything about our alliance starts at the end of World War II… In 1945, the United States was the only combating country left standing, contrary to a destroyed economy in Britain, France, Germany and Russia… The US dollar became the world's currency… There were problems, our ally in fighting the German Nazis was the Soviet Union, and we were now scared of them, so we converted them from ally into enemy… Eastern Europe was already part of what we called then the Soviet bloc, so the United States basically said to Western Europe: 'Here's a deal, we're going to make an alliance, we're going to call it NATO, and in that alliance we're going to be the dominant military force, you don't have to have a serious army, because we'll take care of that for you… You don't have to spend money you Europeans, here's what you can do with the money that you don't have to spend on defense. You can use it to give your working classes a wonderful social welfare state, as good or better than what workers in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe can afford to give themselves, and that way we'll defeat communism'… That has all changed now; the Soviet Union is gone, Russia is a capitalist society and says so, and the socialist and communist movements inside Europe are much weaker than they were in 1945… It [US] is not the only economic power, in fact it has already been equalled and is in the process of being surpassed by China and its allies who are now a bigger, richer economic force than the United States… Do our leaders talk to us about it? No, they pretend it isn't there; 'BRICS is nothing', Mr Trump said a few weeks ago… China and BRICS now are a bigger economic bloc than the United States in the G7. But even more important, China and BRICS form about 55 to 60 per cent of the world's population, the United States is 4.5 per cent of the world's population. You can't overcome that no matter how many missiles you've got… You know how desperation shows? Well in Mr Trump's case, it is by turning on your allies, you're so desperate you cut off your relationship with Canada and Mexico, you cut off your relationship with Western Europe… And in your desperation, you're actually becoming weaker… We live at a crucial historical moment, but listening to Mr Trump is a little make belief denial assertion, but no honest confrontation with the realities that are screaming for attention before we all go down, because we haven't solved them.' Watani International 14 March 2025 Comments comments
Watani
14-03-2025
- Business
- Watani
Egypt's Mashat among top 30 visionary women in Middle East
Rania al-Mashat, Egypt's Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, was chosen by the UAE-based monthly magazine Economy Middle East as one of the top '30 Visionary Women Driving Change in the Middle East'. The list includes pioneering and inspiring women in the ME region, who have contributed to leading positive transformations in various fields, reflecting the growing role of women in shaping a brighter and more sustainable future. In its March issue, Economy Middle East posted: ' The Middle East is in the midst of a transformative period, where women are breaking down barriers, leading businesses and organisations toward meaningful change that is redefining the essence of empowerment, equality, and opportunity. 'As businesses and industries tap into the distinctive abilities of women, and their still untapped potential, the Middle East is experiencing a transformative shift in its economic and social fabric. Women are increasingly stepping into leadership positions, driving innovation and leading entrepreneurial ventures that are revolutionizing the business landscape, in both traditional sectors and emerging industries. 'Women are making significant strides and are paving the way for even greater change to unfold, establishing themselves as trailblazers and game changers that will without a doubt inspire future generations. 'This growing recognition of women's capabilities is not just changing boardrooms, but is also fostering a culture of inclusivity and equality in the region. As more women ascend to influential positions, they serve as role models, inspiring others to follow suit. The ripple effect is evident, as both women and men embrace a more diverse and dynamic workforce that unlocks new perspectives, ideas, and solutions to modern challenges. 'Furthermore, the region's focus on empowering women is leading to significant societal progress. Initiatives supporting women in leadership, education, and entrepreneurship are creating a more equitable environment, where the potential of every individual, regardless of gender, is given the opportunity to flourish. With these ongoing advancements, the Middle East is becoming a global beacon of women's empowerment and a model for others to emulate.' Economy Middle East posted listed alphabetically the 30 women it selected this year for making an indelible mark in the Middle East Egypt's National Council for Women (NCW), its members and President Amal Ammar, extended heartfelt congratulations to Dr Mashat for being selected among the top 30 pioneering women in driving change in the Middle East. 'Such recognition of Dr Mashat honours her journey of many achievements and her prominent role in enhancing the conditions of women in the economic and developmental sectors,' Ms Ammar noted. The NCW, she said, considers Dr Mashat's success a success for every woman striving to achieve her ambitions and contribute to the progress of her community. Rania al-Mashat has been an influential member of Egypt's cabinet since 2018. She previously held the position of Minister of International Cooperation from 2019 to 2024 and was Egypt's first female minister of Tourism from 2018 to 2019. Dr Mashat's tenure at the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) from 2005 to 2016 was marked by significant contributions to modernising the country's monetary policy. As sub-governor for Monetary Policy, she played a central role in implementing structural reforms, notably adopting an inflation-targeting regime as part of the broader banking sector reform programme in 2004. She previously worked at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington DC as advisor to the chief economist from 2016 to 2018, and senior economist from 2001 to 2005. Dr Mashat is actively engaged in global initiatives, holding positions on several prestigious advisory councils and international alliances. She is a member of UNICEF's GenU, a founding member of the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) launched by the Rockefeller FOundation, and a founding member of the World Economic Forum's (WEF) Resilience Consortium. Additionally, she co-chairs the WEF's MENA Stewardship Board and the Network to Mbilize Investment for Clean Energy in the Global South. Dr Mashat is also involved with WEF's Mission Possible for Climate Action, New Economy and Society Stewardship Board, and the Giving to Amplify Earth Action (GAEA) initiative. Through her diverse and transformative leadership roles, Dr Mashat continues to play a key part in advancing Egypt's economic development and fostering international collaboration to address global challenges. Watani International 14 March 2025 Comments comments Tags: Angele RedaEconomy Middle East 30 WomenRania al-Mashat
Watani
10-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Watani
Pioneer musician Abdel-Wahab commemorated
To commemorate the 123rd birth anniversary of renowned Egyptian musician Mohamed Abdel-Wahab, the Cairo Opera House continues its annual tradition of providing free entry to the Mohamed Abdel Wahab Museum and Musical Instruments Museum at the Arab Music Institute for six days. The two museums are open daily to the public starting Sunday 9 March till Friday 14 March daily. The Mohamed Abdel Wahab Museum showcases his his life journey through several halls. Memory Hall is divided into two pavilions: the first sheds light on his childhood, upbringing, early steps in the world of Arab music and Egyptian cinema, and his relationships with writers and artists, as well as the awards and honours he received. The second includes the content of several rooms from his house, including his bedroom, his home office, a collection of his favourite pieces of furniture, and some personal belongings that his widow Nahla al-Qudsi, donated to the Cairo Opera House. The museum also includes a cinema hall that features all the films he acted in, and offers special screenings for visitors. There is also a listening and watching hall that displays a complete library of his works, including music, songs, and photo albums with public figures and artists, which visitors can browse through an an electronic application on touch screens. As to the second museum, the Museum of Musical Instruments, it is dedicated to display rare musical instruments. It includes a collection of ancient instruments that were discovered during the restoration of the museum building; they were finely renovated and are displayed according to their types. There are string, wind, and tempo instruments, with information tags next to each giving a brief about it. On display as well are rare instruments, such as the three-quarter tone piano, designated specially for Eastern compositions; a Japanese koto; an Indian sitar, and the metal mandolin that was played by Mohamed Abdel-Wahab in the song Aashiq al Rouh (Lover of the Soul) from his film Ghazal al-Banat. Among the many events dedicated to commemorate Abdel-Wahab's birth anniversary, the Cairo Opera House holds several Arab music concerts that feature a number of his timeless works including Wahabiyatconcert at the Arab Music Institute. Who is Abdel-Wahab? Mohamed Abdel-Wahab (1902 – 1991), was a prominent 20th-century Egyptian singer, actor, and composer. He attained huge popularity and is best known for his romantic and Egyptian patriotic songs. At a later stage in his life, his compositions featured mixes of Egyptian, Arab, and western music. He was born in Cairo in a neighbourhood called Bab al-Sheriyah, which today hosts a statue of him. He began his singing career at an early age and made his first public performances at age seven at local productions. He was 13 when he made his first recording. Abdel-Wahab composed more than 1820 songs and starred in seven films. Abdel-Wahab is considered to be one of the most innovative Egyptian musicians of all time, laying the foundation for a new era of Egyptian music with his use of non-local rhythms and refined oud playing. Watani International 9 March 2025 Comments comments
