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Al-Ahram Weekly
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Syria's foreign minister to make first official visit to Moscow since Assad's ouster - Region
Russia announced Wednesday that Syria's foreign minister will visit Moscow, the first official visit to Russia by an official in the new government in Damascus since former Syrian President Bashar Assad was ousted in a rebel offensive last year. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova told the state news agency Tass that Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will host his Syrian counterpart, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani, for talks in Moscow on Thursday. The two will discuss bilateral ties, as well as 'international and regional issues,' the statement said. There was no statement from Syria on the visit. Assad was an ally of Russia, and Moscow's military intervention in support of him a decade ago turned the tide of Syria's civil war, helping to keep Assad in his seat for years. However, when insurgent groups launched a new offensive last year, Russia did not intervene again to save Assad. Instead, Assad took refuge in Russia after his ouster. The former president later claimed in a statement posted on Facebook that he had wanted to stay in the country and continue fighting but that the Russians had pulled him out. He said that he left Damascus for Russia's Hmeimim air base in the coastal province of Latakia on the morning of Dec. 8, hours after insurgents stormed the capital. He hadn't planned to flee, but the Russians evacuated him to Russia after the base came under attack. Despite having been on opposite sides of the battle lines during the civil war, the new rulers in Damascus, headed by interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, have taken a pragmatic approach to relations with Moscow. A Russian delegation visited Damascus in January, and the following month, Russia's President Vladimir Putin had a call with al-Sharaa that the Kremlin described as 'constructive and business-like.' Some Russian forces have remained on the Syrian coast, and Russia has reportedly sent oil shipments to Syria. Al-Sharaa publicly thanked Russia for its 'strong position in rejecting Israeli strikes and repeated violations of Syrian sovereignty,' after Israel intervened in clashes earlier this month between Syrian government forces and Sunni Bedouin tribes on one side, and armed groups from Syria's Druze minority on the other. Israel has sought to present itself as protecting the Druze—though many view this as a pretext for pushing Syrian forces further from the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, in line with its demands for a demilitarised southern Syria. Since the fall of Assad, Israeli strikes have repeatedly targeted Syrian military positions across the country, in what is widely seen as a deliberate attempt to destabilise Syria and prevent the reconstitution of state authority near its borders. *This story was edited by Ahram Online. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Al-Ahram Weekly
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Not to be missed: Amr Diab in New Alamein, Hisham Kharma, Wust El-Balad in Alexandria, Shady El Qasseer in Cairo - Music - Arts & Culture
Ahram Online highlights a selection of do-not-miss events this week, 30 July - 5 August, in Cairo, Alexandria, and New Alamein. New films across cinemas starting 30 July - Fear Below, starring Hermione Corfield, Will Fletcher, Jake Ryan - Bring Her Back, starring Sally Hawkins, Billy Barratt, Mischa Heywood Last days of the 18th Egyptian National Theatre Festival 20 July - 6 August Launched in 2006, the Egyptian National Theatre Festival has grown into the country's largest annual event dedicated to the theatrical arts. This year's lineup features a diverse array of performances by troupes affiliated with the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the General Organization of Cultural Palaces, the Art House for Theatre, the Academy of Arts, private theatres, and student groups from the Higher Institute of Theatrical Arts, as well as various universities. Many of the plays have already received critical and audience acclaim, while others are being introduced to wider audiences for the first time. Wust El-Balad - 9pm Hisham Abbas - 10pm Wednesday 30 July, Alexandria International Sports Stadium Wust El-Balad is an Egyptian rock band founded in 1999 by oud and flute player Ahmed Omran and guitarist/vocalist Hany Adel. The current lineup also includes Adham El-Saeid, Mohamed 'Mizo' Gamal El-Din, Ahmed Omar (bass), Asaad Nessim, and Ehab 'Bob' Abdel-Hameed. Wael El-Said and Mounir Maher are among the band's most recent additions. Known for blending Western rock rhythms with traditional Egyptian music, Wust El-Balad has carved out a distinctive sound that continues to resonate with diverse audiences. Born in 1963, Hisham Abbas is a celebrated Egyptian singer renowned for both his pop hits and religious songs. He rose to fame in the early 1990s with tracks like Wana Wana Wana and Ta'ala, and is perhaps best known for his hit Habibi Dah (Nari Narain) and the religious anthem Asmaa Allah Al-Husna. Over the decades, Abbas has released numerous solo albums, regularly performs live, and has also taken part in various television series, films, and theatrical productions. Both concerts are part of the Summer Festival for Music and Singing, organized under the auspices of the Cairo Opera House. Massar Egbari - music Thursday 31 July, 8pm El-Sawy Culturewheel (El-Sakia), Zamalek, Cairo Founded in 2005, Massar Egbari has built a strong following in Egypt and beyond. The band's lineup includes Hani El-Dakkak (guitar and lead vocals), Ahmed Hafez (bass guitar), Tamer Attallah (drums), Ayman Massoud (keyboards), and Mahmoud Siam (guitar). Known for their distinctive sound and socially conscious lyrics, Massar Egbari regularly sells out concerts across Egypt and has performed both regionally and internationally. Shady El-Qasseer - music Thursday 31 July, 8pm Cairo Jazz Club, 197 A, 26th of July St, Cairo This jazz night will celebrate Shady El Qasseer's 10th anniversary and feature Noha Fekry, a well-established singer-songwriter and one of the first Egyptian women to make a lasting mark on the country's jazz scene. El Qasseer, an Egyptian saxophonist and composer, is renowned for his dynamic performances and a prominent presence in Cairo's vibrant jazz circuit. Hisham Kharma - 9pm Khaled Selim - 10pm Thursday 31 July, Alexandria International Sports Stadium Hisham Kharma began performing live concerts in 2016, often accompanied by a grand orchestra. He has headlined major events at iconic venues, including the Pyramids of Giza, the Cairo Citadel, and London's Mansion House. Kharma is also known for composing the theme music for numerous national events and key Egyptian institutions. Singer Khaled Selim rose to fame with Eish (Live), the theme song of the 2001 film El-Sellem w El-Te'ban. Since then, he has released several popular albums and starred in a range of movies and television series. Both concerts are part of the Summer Festival for Music and Singing, organized by the Cairo Opera House. Mohamed Ramadan - music Thursday 31 July, 10pm Porto Golf, Al-Alamein, North Coast One of Egypt's best-known actors-turned-rappers, Mohamed Ramadan, 36, rose to fame through cinema and television before launching a parallel music career over the past six years. He is known for a string of rap-mahraganat hits, including Balalein, Number One, Ala Allah, Taaleily, Mafia, Tanteet, Zilzal, Coronavirus, and Aladdin Lamp, among others. Many of his songs score high viewership on YouTube and streaming platforms. His track Bum Bum, for example, exceeded 200 million views shortly after release. Among his most recent singles, released in July, are Eh Ya Albi (What's Up, My Heart) and Men Dahr Raagel. Amr Diab - music Friday 1 August U Arena, New Alamein Amr Diab is one of the most prominent and widely recognized pop singers in the region, drawing crowds of thousands to his live concerts and consistently ranking among the most-streamed artists on digital platforms. With over 30 albums and a long list of regional and international awards, the megastar—affectionately dubbed El-Haddaba (The Hill) by fans—has sustained a four-decade career while continuing to grow his fan base. Ahmad Ali El Haggar - music Monday 4 August, 9pm Room Art Space & Café, The Spot Mall, New Cairo Egyptian singer, songwriter, and producer Ahmed Ali El-Haggar is known for blending traditional music with jazz and neo-soul influences. In recent years, El-Haggar has emerged as one of the most prominent young independent musicians in Egypt. He has also performed alongside notable international artists, including Carole King, Jason Mraz, and Melissa Etheridge. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Al-Ahram Weekly
a day ago
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Israel military intercepts Houthi missile fired from Yemen - Region
Sirens sounded in several Israeli cities, including Jerusalem, on Tuesday as the military said it intercepted a missile launched from Yemen, with Houthi rebels later claiming the attack. "Following the sirens that sounded a short while ago in several areas in Israel, a missile launched from Yemen was intercepted by the Israeli air force", the military said in a statement. The Houthis later claimed the attack, saying they had fired a missile at Ben Gurion airport near Tel Aviv. Yemen's Houthi rebels have launched repeated missile and drone attacks against Israel since the war in Gaza began on 7 October 2023. The Houthis, who say they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians, paused their attacks during a two-month ceasefire in Gaza that ended in March, but renewed them after Israel resumed major operations. Israel has carried out several retaliatory strikes in Yemen, targeting Houthi-held ports and the airport in the rebel-held capital Sanaa. * This story was edited by Ahram Online. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Al-Ahram Weekly
2 days ago
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Israel military intercepts Huthi missile fired from Yemen - Region
Sirens sounded in several Israeli cities, including Jerusalem, on Tuesday as the military said it intercepted a missile launched from Yemen, with Huthi rebels later claiming the attack. "Following the sirens that sounded a short while ago in several areas in Israel, a missile launched from Yemen was intercepted by the Israeli air force", the military said in a statement. The Houthis later claimed the attack, saying they had fired a missile at Ben Gurion airport near Tel Aviv. Yemen's Houthi rebels have launched repeated missile and drone attacks against Israel since the war in Gaza began on 7 October 2023. The Houthis, who say they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians, paused their attacks during a two-month ceasefire in Gaza that ended in March, but renewed them after Israel resumed major operations. Israel has carried out several retaliatory strikes in Yemen, targeting Houthi-held ports and the airport in the rebel-held capital Sanaa. * This story was edited by Ahram Online. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Al-Ahram Weekly
2 days ago
- Business
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Remittances up, dollar down: EGP finds support amid uncertain global outlook - Economy
The Egyptian pound has continued to strengthen modestly against the US dollar, with the official exchange rate falling below EGP 49 for the first time since late October 2024, nearly nine months ago. As of Monday, the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) listed the dollar at EGP 48.6 for buying and EGP 48.7 for selling, down from EGP 49.0 and EGP 49.1, respectively, at the close of trading last Thursday. Every month, the dollar has depreciated against the pound by roughly 1.7 percent. Year-on-year, however, it remains up by around 0.7 percent, according to Ahram Online calculations based on the greenback rate from a range of public and private banks. 'The recent appreciation of the Egyptian pound against the US dollar signals a modest rebalancing in the foreign exchange market,' banking expert Hani Abou El-Fotouh told Ahram Online. 'This has been driven by local improvements, including a narrowing of the gap between official and parallel market rates, increased access to foreign currency through formal channels, and stronger FX inflows from debt instruments and anticipated investments.' Abou El-Fotouh noted that remittance flows have shown a mild recovery, while import controls remain disciplined, helping to reduce pressure on foreign currency demand. Remittances from Egyptians abroad have maintained the sharp rise recorded between July 2024 and May 2025, reaching $32.8 billion — a 69.6 per cent increase year-on-year — according to the latest figures from the CBE. 'However, in my view, this trend is fragile unless supported by deeper structural reforms, particularly those that boost exports and expand domestic production capacity. On the global level, the dollar remains resilient, supported by robust US data and expectations of prolonged high interest rates. Relying solely on short-term inflows or administrative measures is unsustainable. Achieving genuine currency stability requires addressing underlying economic imbalances, especially in the context of a tightening global monetary environment,' he warned. A recent report by US investment bank Goldman Sachs echoed that caution, suggesting that the Egyptian pound remains undervalued by around 30 percent relative to its fair value. The bank said there is room for further appreciation, particularly if portfolio inflows continue and key monetary indicators improve. The report highlighted that the pound has held steady since its devaluation in March 2024, with the convergence of official and parallel market rates signalling growing investor confidence in Egypt's exchange rate policy, despite ongoing geopolitical challenges in the region. Goldman Sachs also pointed to anchored expectations and low volatility, with the official exchange rate fluctuating within a narrow band since the beginning of the year. On the fundamentals front, it cited a rebound in Egypt's foreign reserves and a reversal in the banking sector's net foreign asset position, which swung from a $17.6 billion deficit at the start of 2023 to a $4.8 billion surplus by May 2025. Meanwhile, an International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission is scheduled to visit Egypt in September to conduct the fifth and sixth reviews of the country's $8 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) loan programme. Both reviews are expected to be completed by December. The mission will also begin discussions for the first review of Egypt's $1.3 billion Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF) loan programme, which is likewise expected to conclude before the end of the year. Completion of all three reviews would make Egypt eligible to receive a combined disbursement of over $2.4 billion. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
