Egyptian Chronicles’ Movers and Shakers of 2021 “Egypt’s edition”

Welcome to the 2021 edition of Egyptian Chronicles' Movers and Shakers.

It is time of our annual post
Here is my list of those I believe that have been the shakers and movers of 2021 in Egypt.

There will be another list for “Region and world edition”

This is not the list of the top people but rather those who made an impact whether positive or negative based on my own views

This list is without any order. You know me, I write what I remember.

Locally :

From left to right "Egypt's Olympics delegation, Suez Canal workers, healthcare workers 
and antiquities workers"

A Special Mention

• Egypt’s healthcare workers: For the second year in a row, they are the unsung heroes of a bloody pandemic that does not want to end or fade away. I do not need to speak about their sacrifices in those hard times.
• The Egyptian Olympian and Paralympian team: For their victories against all odds in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics scoring the highest numbers of Medals in 7 decades against all odds and corruption in the Egyptian sports federation. The names of our champions are Feryal Abdel Aziz, Ahmed Al-Gendy, Gianna Farouk, Mohamed Ibrahim El-Sayed “Kesho”, Hadeya Malak, Seif Issa, Sherif Othman, Rehab Radwan, Mahmoud Attia, Fatima Omar, Mohamed Sobhy, Hany Abdel Hady and Mohamed El-Zayat.  
• The Suez Canal Authority workers and all those who worked hard for nearly 6 days in March to make the gigantic Ever Given float again and unblock the Suez canal saving global trade from another crisis. For their efforts all those years.
• The Egyptian archaeologists and workers: For their discoveries throughout the years and not only 2021.

Kodak Agfa Presents : Shurba’s Christmas in video and photos “25th December Edition”

First of all Merry Christmas to all those celebrating tonight around the globe and in Egypt

Second of all, Kodak Agfa is sharing on this very occasion about this long-neglected Christmas decoration and Christmas trees market in Cairo’s Shubra.

I hope you enjoy this video and I would kindly ask you to share it. It is shaky as usual. I own a gimbal but unfortunately, I feel awkward and uncomfortable while using it in places like this in Cairo. 

Many Egyptians are focusing on the Christmas decorations and trees in upscale areas, compounds and malls in New Cairo and Sheikh Zayed, as well as districts like Heliopolis but they, are rarely paying attention to Cairo’s Shubra.

One of the oldest quarters in Cairo, its name in Coptic means a village.

Sanaa Seif is Free

It was not a real bad week for the Seifs after all as their youngest sibling and renowned activist Sanaa Seif has been released after serving an 18-months-prison sentence on Thursday.

Sanaa is free and she returned home.

Egyptian activist Sanaa Seif and her dog Toka after
returning home on Thursday "Mona Seif 

The youngest Seif activist was sentenced by a Cairo criminal court in March 18 months in prison over spreading news.

In June 2020, She was arrested on charges of spreading false news on her Facebook account when she spoke about the spread of coronavirus in prisons, which the Ministry of interior totally denied.

Alexandria was hit a by snowstorm this week

Filed under: What is happening in Alexandria? , Egypt’s once summer capital Alexandria saw an unprecedented snowstorm earlier this week.

It snowed earlier Monday Alexandria was hit by some sort of snowstorm left many of the streets covered in white !! 

St. Catherine Square in Alexandria early Monday "Amira Tarek"

Already this week marks the time of another seasonal rainstorm,  “El-Fiada El-Soghra” or “The Minor flume”. Supposedly this snowstorm was at its peak.

Egypt is currently facing a wave of cold weather this week but Alex and its North coast sister cities have had their share from rainfall.

The snow on Monday did not stay too long, it melted and was water.

The photos of Alexnadira are viral now. 

#FreeAlaa : Alaa Abdel Fattah, Baqer and Oxygen handed final prison sentence

It is once again Free Alaa.

Earlier Monday, Cairo Emergency State Security Misdemeanor Court sentenced famous renowned activist and blogger Alaa Abdel El-Fattah to 5 years in prison and his co-defendants in the trial, his own lawyer Mohamed El-Baqer and blogger Mohamed Oxygen were sentenced 4 years on charges related to the spread of false news according to his sister Mona Seif.

From left to right: Alaa, Baqer and Oxygen 

It is a final court ruling that can’t be appealed.

Only a presidential pardon or rather a military ruler’s pardon can set them free before the end of the 5 years in this case. 

It is unclear if this sentence will be deducted from their pretrial detention.

Alaa, Baqer and Oxygen spent more than two years in pre-trial detention - more than is allowed under Egyptian law since their arrest in 2019 following the protests that broke that fall over the videos of private contractor Mohamed Ali. 

Qatar’s National Day on Cairo Tower : Someone is confused

On Friday, Egypt’s Cairo Tower celebrated Qatar’s National Day for the first time.

The famous Tower landmark was lit up in marron and purple to celebrate the Gulf State’s National Day on December 18th.

Cairo Tower lit up to celebrate Qatari National 
Day on Friday

Simply the Embassy of Qatar in Cairo requested to celebrate its National Day using the Tower and paid it for it.

Needless to say, Cairo Tower would not approve the request if there is no from the political leadership.

It is considered a clear sign of how things improved between Cairo and Doha following a cold war since 2011 or even before and the infamous Arab Quartet’s boycott of Qatar in June 2017.

Saving Cairo's City of the Dead : The menace to Cairene valley of the Kings is still there

From a couple of weeks ago, many Egyptians received a notification that their family cemeteries will be demolished as part of the government or rather the state’s road extension plan in the Imam Al-Shafie area.

The families were offered small areas for cemeteries as compensation in 15 May city.

The news caught the attention and caused anger among many including myself as aside from the historical importance of this area, it turned out to host the tombs of Egypt’s top figures in the 20th century who shaped this country in the Modern age aside hundreds of normal citizens who deserve to be left alone.

It is like a modern valley of the Kings but prominent figures and commoners both since the Middle ages.

It was a shock to find that late Queen Farida of Egypt was among those unfortunate Egyptians whose family cemeteries are on the demolishment list.

Her family and friends spoke up and the mainstream media covered the issue shyly presenting an opposite view for the government's plan on a couple of two channels.

A rumour spread that the government was going to change the route of this road extension plan but as I hinted it is a rumour and people are back to square one if zero.

As far as I know, engineers and experts presented a number of alternative projects to avoid this area from the city of the Dead altogether.

A scene from Cairo's city of the dead "Safeguard of historic Cairo's cemeteries FB"

Some families are planning to sue the government and the governorate in front of the administrative court but I fear it may take time and it will be late.

This brings us to the importance of the long-absent true community dialogue in Egypt.

Known as Cairo city of the Dead, this area has been listed by UNESCO as part of Historic Cairo. 

Coronavirus on the Nile: 22 months of Covid-19 in Egypt in graph

It is the time for one of those monthly Covid-19 posts in Egyptian Chronicles and I hope that I will not have to do this inshallah soon as the pandemic ends worldwide.

This time it is a quick look into official Covid-19 numbers in Egypt after 22 months since its arrival to the country in February 2020.

An Egyptian woman wearing a mask in some Cairo mall (Reuters)

The usual disclaimer: According to Minister of Health Hala Zayed in early January, the official numbers of cases represent between 10%-15% of the real number of cases worldwide Egypt included

Those official numbers represent the patients who enter the ICUs in designated coronavirus isolation public hospitals in the country in critical condition according to official statements, not the mild cases of coronavirus or those who receive treatment at home.

Here is the graph, it is interactive so you can click on it and click on the tabs to compare between 2020 and 2021.

Jeffrey Epstein and the Israeli connection

In case you do not know (and probably you do not) ex-girlfriend of late sex predator and trafficker Jeffrey Epstein and British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell is standing currently in a trial at US District Court in Manhattan on several charges above them sex trafficking and conspiracy.

For the past 7 days, Maxwell came face to face to women who accused her and her late ex-boyfriend of destroying their lives turning them into underage escorts or rather sex slaves of Epstein and his friends from important figures around the globe.

Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein smiling and pretending to be normal
 a newly released photo during Maxwell's trial this week 

Now as the court is on and we are hearing more and more on how perverted Maxwell and her partner were from the survivors, reporters and the public are waiting for juicy details that can implicate figures like Prince Andrew, Donald Trump and Bill Clinton in that scandal. “I think they will be disappointed but what has been said so far so sick and damning to the Oxford graduate uptown girl turned into a madam from hell.”

Yet there are remarkably interesting parts in the Epstein-Maxwell affair I believe that won’t be mentioned in the court. That part is related to how this sick couple and their dirty brothel played a role in the Middle East peace process.

Those two paragraphs are from Vanity Fair’s investigative report published in summer 2021 on Jeffrey Epstein and his relationship with mogul Lee Wexner.

“During the 1990s, both Epstein’s and Wexner’s profiles grew on the world stage. In 1991, Wexner cofounded a philanthropic organization of Jewish billionaires known as the Mega Group, which uses some of its vast resources to shape Middle East policy. In 2003, Wexner’s foundation commissioned GOP messaging guru Frank Luntz to advise American Jewish leaders on how to rally support for Israel. “For a year—a SOLID YEAR—you should be invoking the name of Saddam Hussein and how Israel was always behind American efforts to rid the world of this ruthless dictator and liberate their people,” Luntz’s recommendation stated.

Coronavirus on the Nile: Egypt’s Covid-19 November 2021 numbers in Graph

This is the time of our monthly post about the coronavirus pandemic and its official numbers in graphs in Egypt.

This is the second November to pass in Egypt during the Covid-19 pandemic, unfortunately.

Egyptian woman vaccinated in Egypt "Reuters"

Disclaimer: According to Minister of Health Hala Zayed in early January, the official numbers of cases represent between 10%-15% of the real number of cases worldwide Egypt included.

First, the official daily cases of coronavirus in Egypt

The Kordahi affair: About freedom of expression, sovereignty and absurd wars

On Friday Veteran Lebanese media figure George Kordahi presented his resignation as Minister of information to the Lebanese President Michel Aoun ending a month-long diplomatic crisis with Gulf countries over his statements concerning the war in Yemen.

On 25 October, Al Jazeera Network’s “People’s Parliament” web show released its episode with guest George Kordahi. The episode was filmed on 5 August before Kordahi was appointed as the information minister in Lebanon representing Marada Movement and approved by Iran-backed-Hezbollah.

George Kordahi presented his resignation to Lebanese President 
Michel Aoun in Beirut on Friday "Lebanese Presidency)

During the show, Kordahi said that the war in Yemen was absurd that must stop and that Iran-backed-Houthis were defending themselves against foreign attacks.

Alexandria’s latest wave : Just big tidal wave or Climate change is here to stay !?

On Wednesday, Egypt’s Alexandria witnessed a huge tidal wave that reached over five metres-high reaching into streets and destroying seafront buildings.

Alexandrians are used to big tidal waves especially before or during their annual Nawat or storms. Within a day or two, the Maiden of Mediterranean city will meet “Nawaa Kassem” or Kassem Storm. The city has just recovered from another storm from a couple of weeks ago.

Yet what happened on Wednesday was new even for the Alexandrians when it comes to the height of the tidal wave and its force.

The Tidal wave that destroyed part of the corniche fence in Lauran on Wednesday
Amir Mansour 

A video that went viral Thursday in Egypt was filmed on Wednesday shows the Engineers Syndicate Club at Saba Pasha district on the seafront flooded by a high tidal wave.

#Coronavirus on the Nile : A December Covid-19 coverage in Egypt and Arab world “Live”

It is another new month in the time of the coronavirus pandemic in Egypt and the World.

It is December,  the second December in the time of coronavirus or to be accurate it is the third December for Covid-19 world if we take into consideration that its initial outbreak in China was in November 2019.

Needless to say, this December it seems that Covid-19 is still like an ugly menace threatening the world as we have got now the new Omicron variant.

More countries are reporting more cases and we got vaccine companies saying that we got till half December to see if the impact of the current vaccines on the Omicron variant.

Egypt was among the countries accused of exporting one of the earliest Omicron variant cases to Europe but Egyptian officials stated that the Omicron variant has not been detected in the country yet.

A worker in protective gear sprays disinfectant, following an outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), at Hurghada International Airport in Hurghada, Egypt, on June 18, 2020.

"Reuters" 

The country is already still in its Fourth wave of COVID-19 peak despite in the past few days in November, the numbers began to decline but then return to increase.

More vaccines are set to arrive in Cairo in the upcoming weeks.

We will see if the government will succeed in vaccinating 40 million Egyptians or not as it announced earlier.

Egypt already has allowed the vaccination of 15-12 years-old children using the Pfizer vaccine on the condition of parental approval.

Starting from December 1, parents can register their children at that age on the official Coronavirus registration's website.

Starting from December 1 also, Unvaccinated people won’t be allowed into the official institutions. We will see how this ban will go.

Here is our monthly live coverage of everything coronavirus below.

Egypt revives the ancient Avenue of Sphinxes in Luxor tonight

In case you do not know, Egypt is on a date on another glitzy ancient Egyptian inspired parade in a few hours.

The avenue of the Sphinxes on 24 November's night "Ahmed Gomaa"

The 1.7-mile-long and about 250-feet-wide-Sphinxes Avenue connect the Luxor temple complex and the Karnak temple complex. According to historical accounts, the current surviving sphinxes avenue was built by King Nectanebo I, the founder of Egypt’s last native ruling dynasty aka the 30th dynasty in the late period.

The Avenue of Sphinxes in 2012

According to archaeologists, most of the sphinxes or rams statues in the avenues have been restored. They are over 1,000 statues. We got four of them in Tahrir square despite the objections of the archaeologists. I wonder why we do not put them back where they belong.

It is said that the face of the sphinxes depicted Nectanebo I in accordance with the famous ancient Egyptian tradition that started in the old kingdom.

The trip to revive the avenue was long starting from year 1984 to 2000 thanks to Egyptian archaeologists then the plan to restore it kicked off in the year 2009 then was stopped for a while in 2011 then it was resumed later till we see right now.

Alexandria : The first drowning in the rainfall season

Since Saturday or late Friday, Egypt was hit by a wave of unstable weather conditions, especially on the Northern coast.

It was not a surprise, it was expected that the wave would start on Saturday and conclude by Tuesday according to the Egyptian Meteorological Authority “EMA” since last week. Not to mention this is the time of what is commonly known in Alexandria as “Nawat El-Muknesa” or “The Broom storm”.

Alexandria has those “Nawaat” or storms known by date whether according to the Egyptian Coptic calendar or the Gregorian calendar.

Despite the warnings, we found photos like this showing the streets flooded with water after rainfall.

The famous black and yellow Alexandria Taxi drowned in rainwater after
the storm "Mostafa Hassan Via Documentaries 2020"

We have also those crazy videos too

This Nawat El-Muknesa or the Broom storm is actually the first storm in the storms season and not the strongest among them in the first place.

Egyptian X-Files : The curious case of Princess Fawzia’s diamond Parure

This post should have been posted last week but between work and what is happening at Cairo’s historical cemeteries overshadowed the plans I had.

This post is about another piece or rather missing pieces of the famous Princess Fawzia’s Jewelry collection. Last week, we saw the former Queen of Iran’s jewelry collection at Alexandria’s Royal Jewelry Museum as well as some famous jewelry pieces she wore whether in Iran or Egypt.

Nevertheless, we did not speak about her most famous jewelry pieces ever but now the time has come to speak about the famous legendary diamond parure of Princess Fawzia or the Holy Grail of the Egyptian Royal Jewelry.

The famous photoshoot of Queen Fawzia in Tehran
in 1942 by Cecil Beaton

Just like the striking beauty of the Egyptian Princess, that diamond parure was also immortalized when famous British photographer Cecil Beaton took those famous and official photos of Fawzia Fouad in Tehran in 1942.

Fawzia wearing the full diamond parure
in Tehran "Cecil Beaton"

But its story went back before 1942

In the year 1938, the Egyptian Royal Family commissioned French Jewelry House Van Cleef & Arpels to design a special diamonds parure for the new bride Princess Fawzia as her engagement to the Crown Prince of Iran was announced.

Egypt’s Queen Farida at 100: Please Save her tomb, Safeguard Historic Cairo Cemeteries "Updated"

This month does not mark only the centenary of Princess Fawzia Fouad, it is also the centenary of Egypt’s Queen Farida.

Queen Farida is by far the most popular Queen/First lady in Egypt in modern times. We are speaking about an amazing model of an Egyptian woman who did not bend due to hard circumstances whether political or economic situations.

From Egypt’s privileged upper class to the Royal throne to become a young popular Queen then to get a divorce then to face political and economic upheavals then to become a prominent artist in exile before returning to Egypt, Queen Farida was a unique example of Egyptian strong independent woman when you think about it.

I want to write something about her jewelry collection at the Egyptian Royal Jewelry Museum but due to time limits, I could not because it is bigger than Fawzia’s collection.

Instead, I am writing this sad post

The Egyptian government decides to remove the cemetery of Queen Farida giving her family’s descendants very short notice to transfer the remains of their ancestors among other families to very small cemeteries at the 15^th May city’s outskirts because of new highways and bridges plan in Cairo.

Queen Farida's tomb at her family cemetery in Cairo 
"Seif Allah Zulficar" 

So instead of a special exhibit featuring Queen Farida, her jewelry and her art in any of the so many museums we have in Egypt, this is how the Egyptian government celebrates her centenary.

Kodak Agfa Presents : Some of Princess Fawzia’s Jewelry at Alexandria’s Royal Jewelry Museum in photos

On 5 November From 100 years ago, a baby girl was born in Alexandria, Egypt.

She was born as a true real living princess, her father was a king of one of the greatest and oldest kingdoms in the East. Like in a fairy tale, She was a stunning beauty.

After her father’s death, her eldest brother became the king.

Soon she also married a crown prince of another great Eastern kingdom. In a couple of years, that crown prince became his country’s King or rather Shah and she became the queen.

You would think that she would live happily ever after just like in Disney’s films for princesses yet the reality is different from fiction and late Princess Fawzia Fouad of Egypt knew that first hand.

A hairpin made of diamonds with the name of Princess Fawzia in Arabic 

Now on this occasion, I would like to share this collection of jewelry that was owned by the former Queen of Iran at Alexandria’s Royal Jewelry Museum.

Late Princess Fawzia in the late 1940s 

Yup, there is a jewelry collection of Egypt’s legendary sad beauty Princess Fawzia Fouad at this often forgotten less-known yet wealthy museum.

Coronavirus on the Nile: 21 months of Covid-19 in Egypt in graph

It is the time for those monthly Covid-19 posts in Egyptian Chronicles and I hope that I will not have to do this inshallah soon as the pandemic ends worldwide.

This time it is a quick look into official Covid-19 numbers in Egypt after 21st months since its arrival to the country in February 2020.

The usual disclaimer: According to Minister of Health Hala Zayed in early January, the official numbers of cases represent between 10%-15% of the real number of cases worldwide Egypt included

Children in KG wearing face shields on 9 October in Sharkia governorate
Shorouk Ghonim

Those official numbers represent the patients who enter the ICUs in designated coronavirus isolation public hospitals in the country in critical condition according to official statements, not the mild cases of coronavirus or those who receive treatment at home.

Here is the graph, it is interactive so you can click on it and click on the tabs to compare between 2020 and 2021.

Kodak Agfa presents : King Tutankhamun at 99

Today marks the national day of Luxor governorate in Egypt. It also marks the discovery of King Tutankhamun’s tomb in the valley of the Kings.

The famous King Tutankamun's mask 

Today marks the discovery of the famous KV62 that turned Egyptology upside down.

Today marks how a simple Egyptian boy stumbled on the tomb of another Egyptian boy who ruled this land from thousands of years ago that some old generals and priests thought that they could rid of him and his dynasty or rather his father’s dynasty forever. Call it fate or destiny or poetic justice but Tut’s story reminds me that history can’t be fooled forever.

King Tut's golden sarcophagus at the Egyptian Museum of Cairo  

Time passed and that young boy became Egypt’s most famous ruler and its symbol worldwide while those who plotted against him, simply forgotten.

Yeah, I am repeating what I have said before.

Coronavirus on the Nile: Egypt’s Covid-19 October 2021 numbers in Graph “More daily cases, More fatalities”

This is the time of our monthly post about the coronavirus pandemic and its official numbers in graphs in Egypt.

This is the second September to pass in Egypt during the Covid-19 pandemic, unfortunately.

Officially, Egypt was at the peak of the fourth wave of Coronavirus in October thus the numbers of the daily cases but there is good news as more and more people are vaccinated.

Egyptian students on the first day of school in October in a Sharkia school 
by Shorouq Ghonim

Disclaimer: According to Minister of Health Hala Zayed in early January, the official numbers of cases represent between 10%-15% of the real number of cases worldwide Egypt included.

First, the official daily cases of coronavirus in Egypt

#Coronavirus on the Nile : Sweet November Covid-19 coverage in Egypt and Arab world “Live”

It is another new month in the time of the coronavirus pandemic in Egypt and the World.

It is Sweet November, the second November in the time of coronavirus.

The man with the mask, the camel and the pyramid in Giza in 2020
"AFP'

October witnessed an escalation in the coronavirus cases as the country began its peak moment in the coronavirus’ fourth wave.

It is expected to see a decline in the cases in November, at least in its second half.

In Mid November, on 15 November exactly the Egyptian government will make vaccination mandatory on public servants nationwide. Either to be vaccinated or to present a negative PCR every two weeks.

More vaccines are set to arrive in the upcoming weeks

The government set a goal to vaccinate 40 million Egyptians by the end of 2021.

Anyhow Please stay safe, keep your social distance and get vaccinated as soon as possible.

Here is our monthly live coverage of everything coronavirus below.

#SudanProtests : The 30th October rallies "Live updates"

On Monday, the world woke up on yet another coup in Sudan as Commander of Sudanese armed forces Abdel Fattah El-Burhan led a military takeover against the civilian transitional government.

Since Monday, the Sudanese people stood in defiance against this military coup admirably organizing rallies and maintaining civil disobedience across the country suffering economically while PM El-Burhan maintains his rejection to support that the military coup.

Sudanese women protesting last week in Khartoum "Twitter"

On the other hand, a strong message by the West led by the United States rejecting the military takeover with strong statements that unfortunately were not been issued by any Arab country so far.

The West created economic pressure on El-Burhan and his junta by freezing the economic aids at a very critical time leading to the release of PM Hamdok who was in Abdel Fattah El-Burhan’s alleged hospitality for 48 hours yet still under house arrest with no access to the public.

So far at least 8 people were killed and a dozen political activists and protesters have been arrested. The internet especially mobile internet is mostly down, which is a well-known tactic.

More political powers and parties are rejecting the coup as well revolution and youth powers are organizing mass rallies across the country on Saturday to stop this military over and to continue the transitional period as it should: Handing over the rule to civilians next month.

It is an important day

I will be posting live updates depending on posts coming from Sudanese people on social media to keep you updated on what is taking place in Sudan.

#SudanProtests :A coup in Sudan “Live updates”

Here is a live update with all the news, videos and photos from Sudan right now following the military coup that took place earlier Monday. 

Sudanese protesters in Khartoum "AFP"

Keeping refreshing this post after the break 

#SudanProtests : Back to square one in Sudan with one of those coups

It was only a matter of time and only the optimistic believed that the warnings from the west had prevented it from happening “Myself included”, but it happened. Sudan has a military coup and once again it is back to square one.

Early morning in Khartoum, military forces began to move and we began to read on Twitter that we are on the verge of seeing a new coup once again in the nation that paid heavy prices for Sudanese military officers with a hunger for power. 

For those who do not know, the Sudanese military should have handed over power to the Civilian Government of Sudan next month but the last three weeks witnessed very alarming developments including an alleged failed coup attempt.

Sudanese protesters against the coup in Khartoum on Monday 
"Twitter"

The attempt was followed by an accusation to Civilian Prime Minister Abdullah Hamdok’s government of dividing the country and excluding political powers “mostly the old corrupted powers” and we found some sit-ins claiming to be in favour of a military takeover of power. 

It was an obvious bad plan and Hamdok called the protesters last week to foil and they did go to the streets to show their size and power.

Watch This : Cairo’s Moulid Doll 2021

This should have been posted with the Kodak Agfa’s Moulid Nabi Eve at El-Siyada but due to work pressure, I could not finish editing or post on time.

But it is not never too late to share a video for the latest trend in Moulid Dolls for the year 2021 in the video.

I could not film longer or move around because the vendors were closing down and moving away at the policemen reminded them of the government’s decisions to close the shops at 10 PM.

I hope you like the video “and my voice in Arabic”. If you like the video, please share it.

Happy and blessed Moulid.

Kodak Agfa presents : Moulid Al-Nabi eve at El-Siyada "Plus more photos and videos from all over Egypt"

Happy Moulid Al-Nabi to all the Muslims around the globe or actually to the whole world. 

For a reminder, tonight millions of Muslims around the globe celebrate Prophet Mohamed "PBUH" birthday. Each country has its own traditions in its celebration. For Egypt, it is the time of the year where wear delicious sweets made of nuts covered with sugary syrup whose history goes back to medieval times. 

We also got the old or rather ancient Egyptian Moulid maid or doll and its male equivalent for boy the Moulid knight. 

This year Kodak Agfa went again El-Siyada Zeinab’s famous El-Sad street because she heard they were holding a special Moulid al-Nabi sweets market this year.

Moulid Al-Nabi dolls

This is the latest trend in the modern plastic Moulid Al-Nabi dolls in Egypt this year. 

Happy Moulid Nabi 2021 From Egyptian Chronicles

Egyptian Chronicles say to Happy Moulid Nabi if you are a Muslim and celebrate it.

This beautiful Moulid doll was on some Moulid sweets box last year 
and I could not ignore how beautiful she was 

Happy Moulid Nabi to all Muslims around the globe especially those in troubled areas.

Today marks the anniversary of Prophet Mohamed “PBUH” birthday according to the Islamic Hijri lunar calendar.

On this occasion wait for a special Kodak Agfa post.

Modern Egypt’s unexplained files: The Coronavirus Vaccine packages in a village canal and El-Sahel Microbus "Updated"

Egypt got mysteries; it is an established fact.

Yet unfortunately, the world is focusing on Egypt’s old mysteries only and is ignoring its modern mysteries for some mysterious reason for real.

We got real interesting mysteries that can baffle you enough to know that those modern Egyptians are the true descendants of those ancient Egyptians, and they continue to create mysteries.

Like for instance those days we got two mysteries in one week: The mystery of the Covid-19 vaccine packages dumped in some canal in Upper Egypt and the mystery of the White Microbus that fell from a bridge and vanished into the Nile with no trace whatsoever.

Let’s start with the first mystery: Why were there thousands of Covid-19 vaccine packages in some canal in Upper Egypt !??

Last Thursday, citizens of a village called Abshaq near Bani Mazar town in Minya governorate found discarded packages of Chinese Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine in a water canal.

The packages of Sinopharm vaccine as they were found discarded 
in a rural village in Upper Egypt

In no time, photos and videos showing the discarded vaccine packages went viral on social media creating an uproar and soon the Public Prosecution announced that it was investigating the incident.

On Sunday, the Public Prosecution issued a statement announcing more details in the cases after its initial investigation.

Bahrainis against Normalization with Israel protest , Media does not care

On Friday, Bahraini security forces arrested at least 30 Bahraini protesters as a group of Bahrainis organized a protest against the Normalization with Israel.

The protests started right after Friday prayers. The security forces dispersed the protest while it was on its way to the Israeli embassy in Manama.

Protesters with the flags of Palestine against Bahraini police forces in Manama on 
Friday "Yusuf Al Jamri'

Here is a video showing the anti-riots forces encircling the protesters in Manama on Friday as they protested against the inauguration of the Israeli embassy in their city.

Coronavirus on the Nile: 20 months of Covid-19 in Egypt in graphs

It is the time for those monthly Covid-19 posts in Egyptian Chronicles and believe I will not be sad when I stop writing them inshallah.

This time it is a quick look into official Covid-19 numbers in Egypt after 20 months since its arrival to the country in February 2020.

An Egyptian student receiving vaccination in Cairo "Xinhua News" 

The usual disclaimer: According to Minister of Health Hala Zayed in early January, the official numbers of cases represent between 10%-15% of the real number of cases worldwide Egypt included.

Those official numbers represent the patients who enter the ICUs in designated coronavirus isolation public hospitals in the country in critical condition according to official statements, not the mild cases of coronavirus or those who receive treatment at home.

Here is the graph, it is interactive so you can click on it and click on the tabs to compare between 2020 and 2021.

#Oct73 war anniversary : Watch in Arabic “The Glorious October” short documentary

Happy October war anniversary to all Egyptians and Arabs.

For this year, I stumbled upon this rare short documentary produced by Egyptian TV in December 1973. ‘Thanks to journalist and author Omar Taher on Twitter’

It is called “Glorious October” and it featured the exhibit the government organized in Cairo to show the Israeli prizes of war to the public”

That big exhibit was held in the place of Cairo Opera House in Zamalek or as it was used to know then “The Fairs land”.

The epic moment in that short 12:47 documentary is when an injured soldier who lost his leg danced on late Mohamed Noah’s popular patriotic song “Chiddi Hilek ya bala” or “be strong my country” which was a hit then.

Coronavirus on the Nile: Egypt’s Covid-19 September 2021 numbers in Graph

This is the time of our monthly post about the coronavirus pandemic and its official numbers in graphs in Egypt.

This is the second September to pass in Egypt during the Covid-19 pandemic, unfortunately.

Officially, Egypt entered the fourth wave of Coronavirus in September thus the numbers of the daily cases but there is good news: The rates of vaccination began to accelerate compared to past months.

At Nasr City's Cairo Convention Center that turned into a vaccination centre
"UNICEF"

Disclaimer: According to Minister of Health Hala Zayed in early January, the official numbers of cases represent between 10%-15% of the real number of cases worldwide Egypt included.

First, the official daily cases of coronavirus in Egypt.

#Coronavirus on the Nile : October’s Covid-19 coverage in Egypt and Arab world “Live”

It is another new month in the time of the coronavirus pandemic in Egypt and the World.

It is October and many believe that all the year should be October, well I won’t say no except I miss the Octobers without Coronavirus and its anxiety.

On the first day of school in Cairo on 9 October 2021 "Sayed Hassan"

Currently, Egypt is having its coronavirus fourth wave moment and according to officials, we are going to see it peak in the upcoming three weeks.

Nevertheless, the Egyptian government is trying to intensify its efforts to accelerate the vaccination process, especially it has received millions of doses donated by other foreign countries like the United States. It is expected though as the academic year will start

The government set a goal to vaccinate 40 million Egyptians by the end of 2021. It also set a goal to vaccinate also all university students and staff before the academic year would kick off on 9 October.

We will see if it reaches that goal or not.

Anyhow Please stay safe, keep your social distance and get vaccinated as soon as possible.

Here is our monthly live coverage of everything coronavirus below.

Tiktok dispatch #1 Welcome to the Jungle

Lately, I have been spending more and more time on Tiktok.

I have become addicted to the short video-sharing Chinese media platform that took the world by storm. Tiktok has had its own storm in Egypt’s legal system after its endless controversy whether the sad Tiktok girls saga or the Tiktok racist bullies. It earned a bad reputation.

Older generations still consider it the social media platform of vice where women pimp themselves thanks to the endless Tiktok girls arrested in the media every couple of weeks whereas older Upper classes look at it as a vulgar social media platform of lower classes sing and dance on awful Mahraganat music that should be banned altogether.

Ironically those old Upper classes do not realize that their young actually are active on the platform like any youth in the world nowadays and present interesting content.

For me, as I dig more and I change my choice algorithm, it became another way for me to see that other Egypt usually ignored or forgotten in the mainstream media.

I remember seeing that small protest organized by a group of angry high school students against the Education Minister in front of the Education Ministry in Downtown Cairo following the announcement of the Thanaweya Amma results of the 2020/21 academic year. Almost all news websites ignored this small protest.

I knew through it about great talents.

Like Mr Sayed who used to work in a simple poor workshop but Tiktok and social media changed his life thanks to some Tweets. This is the first video I have ever seen for him and I could not ignore it.

Very Costly Shot

This photo was released on Friday by the office of Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed Bin Salman aka MBS.

Tamim, MBS, TBZ in KSA

The photo shows MBS with Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and UAE ruler’s National security advisor Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan aka the fearful TBZ in some Red Sea resort in Saudi Arabia.

They are all smiling while wearing shorts and the Gulf is back to become one “or as they claimed”

The Return of Khaled Youssef : The elephants in the room

Famous Egyptian director and former MP Khaled Youssef returned back from Paris after nearly two years of self-exile following his sex-related scandal in winter 2019.

Since his return to Cairo, he is hailed in the Egyptian mainstream media as this great opposition figure who is patriotic enough to oppose the country locally and not from abroad. 

Already his return is regarded on how things are shifting Cairo and more spaces are being given to opposition and its figures. "Ironically, Youssef is Nasserite and those guys I do not really consider as true opposition considering their main icon is the source of authoritarianism in the country so far" 

Youssef was busy doing interviews whether on MBC Masr or news websites praising the change in the country in the past two years.

An edited photo of Khaled Youssef in Alamein earlier this month

Ironically Youssef returned back to Egypt briefly last March to mourn his brother who passed away and participated in his funeral then returned back to Paris.

He is also busy professionally as he announced that h had plans with the United Media Service to direct a historical film about the 1973 war as well as a TV series aside from his film he was inspired to make about Arab women expats in Paris. 

Now I do not have any problem with his return but I got a problem that since his return he did not even bother to speak a word about those women who were involved with him in that sex scandal that no one speaks about publicly anymore. 

Till now he did not apologize or speak a word to support those ladies who were detained pending investigation as he was in Paris.

The only woman he spoke about fondly is his wife, who to be honest had to face hell with his ongoing drama from time to time.

Happy New Year Ancient Egyptian/Coptic Year 6263 ya People

Happy New Ancient Egyptian/Coptic year dear people

Today 9/11 despite it marks one of the worst incidents that changed the world forever is actually the start of the new year according to the Ancient Egyptian/Coptic calendar.

Today  is the first day of Thout, year 6263

A cubit rod from the 26th dynasty  that was found in Tanis

On this occasion, I would like to share those ancient Egyptian cubit rods at the Egyptian Museum of Cairo from a couple of years ago.

Kodak Agfa Presents : Hidden European Fine Arts of Egypt “Volume 1 : Paintings”

Egypt got some secret treasures to amuse and share with the world and they are not great Egyptian ancient treasures.

They are treasures from different civilizations that ended up in the valley of the Nile. Among those treasures, a huge collection of classical European arts from statues and paintings by the greatest artists the world has known in the last 200 years.

European Arts fans can enjoy themselves too in Egypt if they know where to go.

I know some will find it odd, but we got paintings for painters like Monet, Picasso, Goya and Henri Matisse that are worth millions of dollars

The girl , the painting and Sculpture

Last November I went to Aisha Fahmy Palace in one fine afternoon to see its latest exhibit of the Egyptian Museums’ treasures. I went to the Mohamed Ali era exhibit era and it was amazing. Then came this exhibit “The Classical European art pieces in Egyptian Museums” and it blew my mind.

It is the third exhibit in the Egyptian Museums’ treasures exhibit series the Palace has been holding since its inauguration.

Now how those paintings and statues ended up in Egypt. Well, thank Egypt’s fine collectors from Mohamed Ali Royal Family and the rich class from Pashas like Mohamed Mahmoud Pasha Khalil. Those fine collectors were unfortunately nationalized and thankfully those paintings were locked up and kept safely for decades despite attempts to showcase them. 

The exhibition was held at Aisha Fahmy Palace, which is a piece of art from inside 

That exhibit had paintings and sculptures that came from three main museums: Giza’s Mohamed Mahmoud Khalil Museum, Cairo’s Gezira Center for Modern Art aka Egyptian Modern Art Museum and Alexandria’s Museum of Fine Arts.

It shows a glimpse of Egypt’s own European fine arts collection.

In this post I am focusing only on the paintings I found there.

And our quick tour starts here with Monet

Coronavirus on the Nile: 19 months of Covid-19 in Egypt in graphs

Another monthly post as part of the Covid-19 coverage in Egyptian Chronicles.

This time it is a quick look into official Covid-19 numbers in Egypt after 19 months since its arrival to the country in February 2020.

From 2020 "Sensitizing airports in Egypt from AFP"

According to Minister of Health Hala Zayed in early January, the official numbers of cases represent between 10%-15% of the real number of cases worldwide Egypt included.

Those official numbers represent the patients who enter the ICUs in designated coronavirus isolation public hospitals in the country in critical condition according to official statements, not the mild cases of coronavirus or those who receive treatment at home.

Here is the graph, it is interactive so you can click on it and click on the tabs to compare between 2020 and 2021.

Coronavirus on the Nile: Egypt’s Covid-19 August 2021 numbers in Graph

This is the time of our monthly post about the coronavirus pandemic and its official numbers in graphs in Egypt.

The official numbers of coronavirus cases in August 2021 in Egypt began to increase once again but this time slowly and steadily after reaching their lowest point on 27 July 2021.

An Egyptian elderly receiving the vaccine in August 
"Egyptian health ministry"

Disclaimer: According to Minister of Health Hala Zayed in early January, the official numbers of cases represent between 10%-15% of the real number of cases worldwide Egypt included.

First, the official daily cases of coronavirus in Egypt.

Egypt at Tokyo Paralympics 2020 : A Silver Medal in ParaTaekwondo

Egypt is still scoring medals in the Tokyo Paralympics.

Earlier Thursday Egypt’s Mohamed El-Zayat scored the silver medal after losing the men's K44 under-61-kilogram in the ParaTaekwondo to Brazil’s Nathan Cesar Sodario Torquato.

El-Zayat in his first game in Tokyo "Getty"

According to the news reports on the game, 20-years-old El-Zayat lost due to his condition as he was dazed and he had to be transferred out of the game on a stretcher as he suffered from a high kick played by his Russian opponent in the Semi-final game.

#Coronavirus on the Nile : Covid-19 of September in Egypt and Arab world “Live Coverage”

It is another new month in the time of the coronavirus pandemic in Egypt and the World.

It is not over yet but it is getting better.

It is September and Egypt is having a gradual steady official increase in coronavirus cases and fatalities on a daily basis.

Egyptian men follow social distancing as they get falafel from a small shop
"Ahmed Abdel Fattah/Documentaries"

Unofficially you began to hear and know more cases of coronavirus again in your circle, mostly for non-vaccinated people.

We are now speaking about the Delta variant which the health ministry admitted in August officially that was spotted in Egypt during July contrary to the statements of health officials. 

The Egyptian government continues to vaccinate people but still, it is a slow process compared to the population number.

Health experts expect that the fourth wave of coronavirus will hit the country in September, thus we have to take our precautions to protect ourselves and over beloved ones.

Please stay safe, keep your social distance and get vaccinated as soon as possible.

Here is our monthly live coverage of everything coronavirus below.