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.

The Egyptian drama scene has been gripped by tension in recent hours, dominating social media and the artistic community, following a sudden dispute between Tunisian star Hend Sabri and actress Maha Nassar during the filming of the series "Mana'a" (Immunity). The disagreement escalated rapidly, spilling onto social media platforms before the Actors' Syndicate intervened to contain the situation and salvage the series, which is scheduled to air during Ramadan 2026.

The beginning of the crisis and the deleted Facebook post

The story began when actress Maha Nassar posted a scathing message on her official Facebook page, containing veiled hints and cryptic messages about being mistreated and belittled on set. Although she didn't explicitly name Hend Sabry initially, subsequent reports and the context of the post confirmed that she was referring to her co-star. A few hours later, Nassar deleted the post, fueling speculation about the real reasons behind this escalation and its potential impact on the cast and crew.

A decisive intervention from Ashraf Zaki and script revisions

In a move reflecting the artistic community's commitment to the stability of the industry, Dr. Ashraf Zaki , head of the Actors' Syndicate, intervened urgently to resolve the tension. According to sources, he contacted Maha Nassar and asked her to delete the post to calm the situation, which she did. However, she stipulated that her role not be reduced or any of her scenes cut as a form of punishment, threatening to republish the details if this occurred. The head of the syndicate emphasized the principle of respecting artistic work and rejected any conditions that might hinder the production process.

To avoid any direct friction that might renew the dispute, the creators of the work resorted to dramatic solutions; as the writer Amr Al-Dali to make substantial modifications to the remaining scenes that were to bring the two stars together, in order to ensure that filming continued smoothly and without interruptions that might harm the series’ timetable.

Personal crisis and technical support for Hend Sabry

This professional crisis coincided with news of personal disagreements involving actress Maha Nassar, with press reports circulating about her official divorce from the series' director, Hussein El-Manbawy . Despite the sensitivity of the situation, with the former couple working together on the same set, both parties maintained their silence and professionalism to complete the project. They also have another collaboration planned for the series "El-Metr" starring Amr Saad.

On the other hand, actress Hend Sabry received widespread support from her colleagues in the artistic community. Actress Nashwa Mustafa and producer Maha Selim issued statements affirming the professional and personal integrity that Hend Sabry has demonstrated throughout her career, citing past instances that prove her transcendence of pettiness and her support for her colleagues, which has strengthened her standing with the public.

"Immunity" series... the highly anticipated 80s drama

The series "Immunity" is one of the most anticipated works, unfolding within a suspenseful framework inspired by true stories that took place in the famous Al-Batiniya neighborhood in the mid-1980s. The series follows the journey of a woman named Ghram, who faces life alone with three children after her husband's murder, as she enters the world of commerce and asserts her influence.

The series consists of 15 episodes, and is based on a story by Abbas Abu Al-Hassan, with a screenplay and dialogue by Amr Al-Dali. It stars a group of stars including Khaled Selim, Riad Al-Khouli, Ahmed Khaled Saleh, and Karim Qassem, making it the focus of attention for both the public and critics.