Source: Xinhua Editor: huaxia People spend their time at an old coffee shop at the Khan el-Khalili old market in Cairo, Egypt, on Oct. 22, 2025. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai) by Ahmed Shafiq CAIRO, May 26 (Xinhua) -- It was a sunlit afternoon, a gentle breeze taking the edge off Cairo's summer heat. A Palestinian, a Sudanese, a Syrian, and an Egyptian sat together at a wooden table in a corner of a traditional cafe in Maadi, the city receding softly around us. The steam from our tea m

Source: Xinhua Editor: huaxia Members of the conservation, research and monitoring team under Longmen Grottoes Academy pose for a group photo after work at a cave of Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang, central China's Henan Province, May 12, 2026. At the Longmen Grottoes Academy in Henan, a young and dedicated team is responsible for preserving and monitoring Longmen Grottoes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, by creating digital archives of its Buddhist sculptures. Since 2005, Longmen

As part of the prestigious three-day International Young Diplomats School (IYDS), participants were received by His Excellency, Ambassador Dr. Ihab Mohamed Abdelhamid, at the Embassy of Egypt in Islamabad. This visit marked the official launch of the school’s 7th edition, an initiative organized by the Institute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies (IPDS). The program is designed to bolster the public diplomacy outreach of foreign missions in Pakistan while providing mid-career pr

In a landmark ruling issued on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, the Beirut Criminal Court officially acquitted the renowned Lebanese singer Fadel Shaker of the attempted murder of Sheikh Hilal Hammoud. The case, which dates back to the volatile events in Sidon in 2013, concluded after months of intense judicial deliberations and the examination of testimony from both prosecution and defense witnesses. Legal Merits and the Path to Innocence The court cited a lack of substantive legal e

Cairo prepares for a somber Wednesday as the funeral for the legendary Egyptian artist Hany Shaker, affectionately known as the "Prince of Arabic Song," takes place following his passing in Paris last Sunday. Shaker succumbed to complex health complications in a French hospital at the age of 74. His remains arrived at Cairo International Airport late Tuesday night, received by high-ranking officials and representatives from the Syndicate of Musical Professions, marking the re

Source: Xinhua Editor: huaxia A worker carries out restoration work in the al-Madina Souq, the world's largest covered historic market, in Aleppo, Syria, on March 6, 2022. (Photo by Ammar Safarjalani/Xinhua) ALEPPO, Syria, April (Xinhua) -- In the narrow, vaulted alleys of Aleppo's ancient markets, the sound of hammers striking stone echoes once again, a quiet sign of life returning to one of the Middle East's oldest trading hubs after years of war. Listed as a UNESCO World H

A viral video claiming to show Egyptian superstar Sherine Abdel Wahab collapsed and crying in a hospital bed has ignited a firestorm of controversy. While some media figures condemned the "leak" as a breach of privacy, digital forensics experts confirmed the footage is a Deepfake, meticulously crafted using Artificial Intelligence to exploit the singer's ongoing personal struggles. Dr. Ashraf Zaki , head of the Egyptian Actors' Syndicate, addressed the rumors, stating that Sh

Source : Xinhua China officially launched the University of Emergency Management in Langfang, Hebei Province, on January 20, 2026. Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing highlighted that the institution is a pivotal policy decision aimed at modernizing the nation's emergency response framework and nurturing world-class talent. The university will focus on safety in production, natural disaster prevention, and high-efficiency rescue operations. Zhang urged the university to strive for exc

French media has released stunning CCTV footage of the "Heist of the Century" at the Louvre Museum. The video shows two suspects using a mechanical lift to scale a balcony and enter the Apollo Gallery. Once inside, they used a chainsaw to break into the display case containing Empress Eugénie’s crown, escaping with historical artifacts valued at €88 million. The most controversial detail revealed by France Télévisions is that the entire operation lasted less than four minutes

The world bids farewell to the legendary French icon Brigitte Bardot, widely known as B.B., who passed away this Sunday at the age of 91. Bardot was more than a film star; she was a cultural phenomenon who redefined the concept of freedom and sensuality in the 1950s and 60s. Through masterpieces like "...And God Created Woman" and Godard’s “Contempt” , she shattered Hollywood’s censorship barriers and became a global symbol of the "liberated soul." Simone de Beauvoir once de

In an extraordinary fusion of history and transparency, the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) has begun the live reassembly of King Khufu’s second solar boat. Visitors can now witness restorers meticulously piecing together approximately 1,650 cedar wood components of the 42-meter-long vessel. This ambitious project, expected to span four years, aims to restore the ancient craft to its original glory—4,500 years after it was first buried near the Great Pyramid of Giza. Minister of

The year 2025 stands as one of the saddest in artistic history, marking the departure of legendary figures who defined cinema, music, and theater for generations. Arab World: The Departure of Legends The Arab world mourned the loss of historical pillars, including: Ziad Rahbani (Lebanon): The musical genius and son of Fayrouz. Samiha Ayoub (Egypt): Known as the "Lady of Arab Theater." Mohamed Al-Tawayan (Saudi Arabia): A pioneer of Gulf drama. Naima Samih (Morocco): The

The Institute of Cultural Heritage and Archaeology in Inner Mongolia recently announced the discovery of three horseshoe-shaped ancient kilns near the site of the ancient city of Wu'anzhou. Dating back to the Liao and Jin Dynasties (907-1234 AD), these structures are believed to be part of a sophisticated pottery production workshop from a millennium ago. Excavations at the Ancient City of Wu'anzhou The discovery occurred during excavations conducted between July and Novembe

U.S. President Donald Trump has drawn fierce criticism, including a rare public backlash from fellow Republicans, after linking the murder of Hollywood director Rob Reiner to what he called "Trump Derangement Syndrome." 1. Controversial Remarks On his platform, Truth Social , Trump claimed that Reiner’s death was "the result of the anger he caused others through his illness... known as Trump Derangement Syndrome." He further described Reiner, a long-time vocal critic, as "der

The Cultural Heritage Bureau of Sichuan Province, Southwest China, announced that the province’s museums experienced flourishing growth during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), with museum visits becoming increasingly popular among both locals and tourists. 1. Significant Growth and High-Tier Institutions Registration: The province registered 459 museums during this period, including 16 first-class museums . Institutional Expansion: There has been a notable incre

Egyptian lyricist Khaled Tag El Din sparked widespread controversy after publicly accusing singer Ahmed Saad of stealing the melody from superstar Amr Diab's hit song "Baba" and using it in Saad's new track, "Ya Halila." Details of the Accusation and Controversy: Explicit Accusation: Khaled Tag El Din posted on Facebook: " Ahmed Saad made the song Baba minus one... removed Amr Diab's voice and sang Ya Halila Ahla Leila El Leilah, " suggesting the melody was copied with only

The Egyptian actress Mona Zaki revealed the reasons that led her to accept the role of Umm Kulthum in the film "Al-Sett" (The Lady), following its world premiere at the Marrakech International Film Festival. During the film's press conference in Marrakech, Mona Zaki explained that the biggest factor encouraging her to take on this difficult role was the unique script presented by writer Ahmed Mourad , which uncovered previously unknown human aspects of the legendary singer

A recent scientific study revealed that the planet Mars may have remained habitable for much longer than previous estimates suggested. The reason lies in "late" water activity that persisted beneath its surface, even billions of years after its surface lakes and rivers disappeared. 1. New Evidence: Groundwater in Gale Crater The study was based on data collected by the Curiosity rover inside the Gale Crater and was led by a team from New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD). T

The Louvre Museum in Paris, France, approved raising the entry ticket price for visitors from non-European countries from €22 to €32 (an increase of €10), effective next January. This is roughly equivalent to a jump from $25 to $37. 1. Purpose of the Price Increase The main objective of the ticket price increase is to help fund the renovation and expansion of the museum's building , particularly after security incidents highlighted its deteriorating condition: Renovation Plan

The production team of the Egyptian film "Al-Sitt" (The Lady) had barely released the promotional trailer for the film—which portrays the life of the "Star of the East," Umm Kulthum, played by Egyptian actress Mona Zaki—before social media platforms were flooded with diverse opinions. 1. Film Details and Core of the Controversy Creative Team: A cinematic vision written by Ahmed Mourad and directed by Marwan Hamed . The cast includes stars like Ahmed Khaled Saleh, Sayed Raga