His Highness Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, Minister of Culture and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission, announced that the Syrian Arab Republic has been chosen as the guest of honor for the next edition of the Riyadh International Book Fair in 2026. The fair is scheduled to be held next October, under the direct organization and supervision of the Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission, in a step that reflects the growing cultural movement that the Kingdom is witnessing.

Cultural bridges and strategic partnership

In announcing the selection, the Minister of Culture affirmed that this choice embodies the deep-rooted cultural ties between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Syrian Arab Republic, ties built on solid foundations of partnership and mutual respect. His Highness noted that this step stems from the Kingdom's unwavering commitment to fostering cultural exchange, a cornerstone and objective of the National Cultural Strategy, which is itself a key component of the Kingdom's Vision 2030. The Ministry has placed particular emphasis on opening channels for constructive dialogue between peoples and exchanging knowledge and expertise, thereby solidifying the Kingdom's active and influential role in the cultural landscape, both regionally and internationally.

The status of the Riyadh exhibition and the history of Syrian culture

The Riyadh International Book Fair is one of the most important and largest cultural platforms in the Arab world, serving as an annual window through which readers and intellectuals can view the latest intellectual and literary works. The selection of Syria as guest of honor adds a qualitative dimension to the fair's events, given the rich cultural heritage and diverse intellectual landscape of Syrian society. Damascus, long known as one of the capitals of Arab literature and art, possesses a vast reservoir of creativity in poetry, novels, criticism, and visual arts, which will enrich the fair's halls and offer the Saudi public and visitors an exceptional cultural experience.

Dimensions of the choice and its expected impact

This selection is expected to foster a broad and vibrant interactive space between the Saudi and Syrian publics, as well as between the intellectual elites of both countries. The guest of honor program will provide an opportunity to highlight the intellectual and creative output of Syrian intellectuals through panel discussions, poetry readings, and artistic performances that reflect Syria's rich heritage. This decision also reflects the general trend toward strengthening Arab unity through the soft power of culture, emphasizing that books and knowledge remain the best means of bridging distances and building lasting bridges of communication between brothers, thus enhancing the shared Arab cultural presence on the international stage.

Egyptian artist and former Miss Egypt, Heba El-Sisi, has begun a new and crucial phase in her cancer treatment journey, sharing touching moments from inside the hospital with her fans and announcing that she has undergone her first chemotherapy session, amid a wide wave of sympathy and prayers for recovery.

Heba El-Sisi posted a photo of herself on her official Instagram account, showing her receiving intravenous fluids for her treatment. She captioned the photo with a brief but hopeful message: "Today I received my first chemotherapy dose." The post garnered significant attention from her followers and colleagues in the entertainment industry, who quickly posted messages of support and encouragement, wishing her a speedy recovery from this health challenge.

Details of the dangerous surgery and the silent suffering

The chemotherapy session wasn't the first chapter in Heba El-Sisi's battle with illness; she had previously revealed that she underwent a delicate surgical procedure. During her recent media appearance on the "Miss Egypt" program, which she hosts on Al-Shams TV, El-Sisi shared details of her suffering, which she had kept out of the public eye for some time.

In her moving address, El-Sisi said, "Today is my first episode after a very difficult period of treatment following my cancer diagnosis and major surgery. But thank God, I recovered well." She explained that this ordeal changed her perspective on many things, especially regarding the value of emotional support, adding, "I want to reassure everyone who asked about me, worried about me, and prayed for me from the bottom of their hearts that, thank God, I'm doing well now. But the past period has made me realize what a sincere prayer from the heart truly means, and what it means to have such wonderful people standing by me unconditionally.".

Who is Heba El-Sisi? (Artistic background)

Heba El-Sisi is a familiar face in the Egyptian beauty and entertainment world, having gained widespread fame after being crowned Miss Egypt in 2004. This title opened doors for her in the arts, leading to roles in several films and television dramas, most notably her participation in the film "Katakout" alongside star Mohamed Saad, which marked a significant milestone in her career and established her connection with Egyptian and Arab audiences. Her recent illness has once again highlighted the human side of celebrity life and how illness can strike at any age.

The importance of psychological support in the treatment journey

Doctors and specialists consistently emphasize that a cancer patient's psychological state plays a pivotal role in their response to treatment, a fact clearly demonstrated by Heba El-Sisi's words of gratitude for the prayers of her loved ones. Celebrities bravely announcing their illnesses helps break down the barrier of fear among the public, promotes a culture of early detection, and reveals the artist's human side beyond the spotlight, fostering a sense of community solidarity and the moral support that patients need on their arduous journey to recovery.

In a decisive move to address the phenomenon of electronic fraud that has become a source of concern for the artistic community, the great Egyptian director Hosni Saleh a strongly worded warning to young people aspiring to enter the world of acting, against falling into the trap of fake pages that exploit the names of big stars.

Urgent report to the cybercrime unit

Director Hosni Saleh announced that he has filed an official complaint with the cybercrime unit against a suspicious Facebook page. This page had published misleading advertisements claiming to be seeking new young faces for a new film starring actor Mustafa Shaaban , a claim Saleh categorically denied.

Saleh wrote on his personal and verified account: “Please be careful, my new film with Mustafa Shaaban does not have any casting or auditions at the moment. This person is a fraud, and I have filed an official report against him. This page is manipulating the dreams of simple people and exploiting their passion for art without any right.”.

The phenomenon of "fake casting" and its impact on the industry

Hosni Saleh's move comes within the context of a broader campaign led by a number of artists in Egypt to combat the phenomenon of "fake casting." This phenomenon is noticeably widespread on social media platforms, where scammers exploit the names of A-list stars like Mustafa Shaaban to attract teenagers and young adults, sometimes collecting money from them under the guise of "application fees" or "auditions." Director Hosni Saleh's swift legal response serves as a strong deterrent, protecting intellectual property rights and safeguarding young talent from financial and moral exploitation.

Mustafa Shaaban prepares for the Ramadan competition with “Darsh”

Away from the social media controversies, star Mustafa Shaaban is currently focusing on preparing for the upcoming Ramadan drama season. He is continuing work on his new series, titled "Darsh ," which is expected to be one of the most prominent contenders in the Ramadan television marathon.

The series boasts a star-studded cast, including Mustafa Shaaban, Mohamed Ali Rizk, Riad El-Khouly, Nidal El-Shafei, Mohamed Desouki, Sohair El-Sayegh, Aida Riyad, Salwa Khattab, and Gihan Khalil . It is written by Mahmoud Haggag and directed by Ahmed Khaled Amin.

A history of Ramadan successes

Audiences eagerly await the series "Darsh," given Mustafa Shaaban's immense popularity in Ramadan dramas. Viewers have grown accustomed to his annual presence in series that have achieved massive success, such as "The Family of Hajj Metwally" (early in his career), "The Fourth Wife," and "Mood of Goodness," leading up to his recent hits. The creators of the series are counting on the exceptional blend of veteran and up-and-coming stars to deliver a social drama worthy of the history of Egyptian television.