Egypt&rsquo;s Ministry of Health and Population has approved a policy providing free first-time natural childbirth for women in public hospitals across all governorates, according to an official statement.
The decision, endorsed by Health Minister Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, applies to hospitals operating within the ministry&rsquo;s therapeutic institution hospitals and is aimed at improving maternal and child healthcare services while easing financial pressure on families.
Officials say the move is part of a wider strategy to encourage natural childbirth in uncomplicated cases, citing its medical benefits for both mothers and newborns. The ministry also highlighted concerns over unnecessary caesarean sections and their associated risks, saying the policy supports safer and more appropriate delivery methods.
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The ministry added that hospitals involved are equipped to handle deliveries in line with national quality and safety standards, with trained medical teams and necessary medical equipment in place.
The programme will be implemented nationwide, ensuring equal access across all Egyptian governorates. Authorities described the initiative as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen healthcare provision, particularly in women&rsquo;s health services, and to reinforce the role of preventive and safe maternal care in the public health system.
Photo Credit: Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population&rsquo;s official page
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Egypt Health Ministry Announces Free First-time Natural Births In Public Hospitals

Egyptians continue to hold senior positions across key international institutions, reinforcing their presence in global decision-making bodies.
Most recently, UN Secretary-General Ant&oacute;nio Guterres appointed Egypt&rsquo;s Rania Al-Mashat as Executive Secretary of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), marking another milestone in Egypt&rsquo;s representation within the UN system.
The appointment reflects a broader trend of Egyptian leadership across United Nations agencies and related international organisations.
Below are some of the most prominent Egyptians serving, or who have served, in senior UN roles:
<a href="https://ibb.co/Pn4fjbm"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/gpwB9Xj/Clean-and-Minimal-Blue-and-White-Beach-Album-Release-Social-Feed-Static-Ad-4.png" alt="Clean-and-Minimal-Blue-and-White-Beach-Album-Release-Social-Feed-Static-Ad-4" border="0" /></a>&nbsp;
Rania Al-Mashat &ndash; Executive Secretary of ESCWA
Yasmine Fouad &ndash; Executive Secretary of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)
Khaled El-Enany &ndash; Director-General of UNESCO
Ghada Waly &ndash; Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and Director-General of the UN Office at Vienna (UNOV); the first woman to lead UNODC
Mahmoud Mohieldin &ndash; UN Special Envoy on Financing the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda
Majed Abdel Fattah &ndash; Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Arab League to the United Nations
Photo Credit: Rania Al-Mashat&rsquo;s official page

Infographic | Egyptians in Key Leadership Roles At The United Nations

AI exploded into the mainstream, and now everyone&rsquo;s stuck on one question; is it here to kill creativity, or just give it a serious boost?
The Tools Are Already Here
ChatGPT from OpenAI, Adobe Firefly, Midjourney, they&rsquo;re no longer &ldquo;coming soon.&rdquo; Writers, designers, and musicians are using them daily. Briefs that used to take hours get knocked out in minutes. A track idea you&rsquo;d sit on for days can be mocked up before your coffee gets cold. The tech is fast. The debate is faster.
From Threat to Teammate
A lot of creatives are changing the game; AI isn&rsquo;t the enemy, it&rsquo;s the new collaborator. Producers are using it to test weird sounds they&rsquo;d never try otherwise. Content creators lean on it to beat blank-page panic or tighten a messy first draft.
Grimes basically set the tone for this mindset. She told fans to go ahead and use AI versions of her voice in their music, just split the royalties if it makes money. No lawsuits, no drama. Just, &ldquo;Let&rsquo;s see what happens.&rdquo;
&nbsp;But then there&rsquo;s the other side. Those viral AI tracks with &ldquo;Drake&rdquo; and &ldquo;The Weeknd&rdquo; last year? Neither artist stepped in a booth. It blew up the whole conversation around consent, identity, and who actually owns a sound.
The Copyright Mess
This is where it gets tense. AI models train on massive amounts of existing work; songs, scripts, paintings, and photos. A lot of it is copyrighted. Most of it was used without permission.
That&rsquo;s why the lawsuits keep coming. The Writers Guild of America drew a hard line during the strikes: AI can&rsquo;t write your screenplay. Human writers stay in control.
Illustrators and photographers are saying the same thing. If your art was used to teach a machine that now generates images in your style, and you weren&rsquo;t asked or paid, that&rsquo;s a problem.&nbsp;
So What&rsquo;s Happening in Egypt?
&nbsp;Cairo&rsquo;s creative scene is already testing the waters. Open TikTok or Instagram and you&rsquo;ll find young Egyptian producers dropping AI-assisted beats, designers using it for quick edits, and digital artists experimenting with new styles.
&nbsp;For a lot of them, AI isn&rsquo;t scary. It&rsquo;s leverage. In a digital economy where speed and volume matter, being able to pitch three solid concepts before noon instead of one by Thursday is a game-changer.
The questions we&rsquo;re still figuring out: Who&rsquo;s teaching people how to use these tools well? Are agencies, labels, and studios ready for how fast this is moving? And if access isn&rsquo;t equal, who gets left behind?
We&rsquo;ve Been Here Before
Every major creative tool started with panic. Photoshop was going to kill photography. Auto-Tune was going to kill real singers. Drum machines were going to kill drummers.
One analyst told the BBC: &ldquo;Every innovation in creative tools starts with fear. Then we realize it just expands what&rsquo;s possible. The human part doesn&rsquo;t disappear, it just moves.&rdquo;
AI can generate, remix, and suggest all day. But it doesn&rsquo;t get obsessed with a weird idea at 2 am. It doesn&rsquo;t have taste. It doesn&rsquo;t have a point of view or a story it needs to tell.
Bottom Line
So maybe the question isn&rsquo;t &ldquo;Can AI be creative?&rdquo;
It&rsquo;s &ldquo;Can we stay creative enough to use it right and make sure it doesn&rsquo;t use us?&rdquo;
The balance between human imagination and machine help? That&rsquo;s where the real story is right now. And it&rsquo;s moving fast.
Photo Credit:&nbsp;Freepik&nbsp;

Is AI Replacing Creativity or Supercharging It? How AI Tools Are Changing Music, Art, and Everyday Life

Egypt&rsquo;s Minister of Health and Population, Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, has announced the launch of a nationwide medical and ambulance plan for Eid al-Fitr 2026, aimed at ensuring readiness across the health system during the holiday period.
The ministry said more than 700 government hospitals have increased emergency preparedness, with emergency departments and operating theatres functioning around the clock as travel and public gatherings rise.
Ambulance Services and Rapid Response
The plan includes enhanced deployment by the Egyptian Ambulance Authority, with around 3,000 ambulances operating across governorates and an additional 1,200 vehicles positioned at key locations.
Ambulances have been stationed near main roads, public squares, mosques, Eid prayer areas, parks, and other gathering points. Twenty-seven emergency rooms are linked to a central control centre to enable real-time monitoring and dispatch, while regional officials oversee high-traffic areas.
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Focus on Major Roads
Authorities say priority has been given to major routes, including the coastal road between Damietta and Matrouh, the Cairo-Alexandria desert road, the agricultural road, as well as routes in South Sinai, the Red Sea, and Upper Egypt.
More than 600 fixed and mobile ambulance points have been deployed along these roads to allow rapid response to accidents.
Hospital Preparedness
Hospitals have also increased capacity in emergency and intensive care units. Around 250 facilities have been designated as primary referral centres on highways, supported by 54 rapid response teams for large-scale incidents.
Blood banks have been supplied with an additional 40,000 units, and medical stocks have been reinforced to meet potential demand.
Public Health Measures
The preventive medicine sector has intensified inspections of more than 35,000 food outlets, including sweet shops, restaurants, hotels, parks, and public transport hubs.
Around 1,200 inspection teams have been deployed to monitor compliance with health and safety standards.
Monitoring and Public Guidance
A central operations room will operate круглосуточно to monitor implementation of the plan.
The ministry has also urged the public to follow health guidelines, with the hotline 137 available for medical enquiries and emergency assistance throughout the Eid holiday.
Photo Credit: The Ministry of Health and Population of Egypt&rsquo;s official page

Egypt Rolls Out Nationwide Health and Ambulance Plan for Eid

Nesma Mostafa, Head of MENA Higher Education Insights and Student Mobility at the British Council, joined Rob and Sally on &ldquo;The Big Fast&rdquo; this Tuesday to discuss the evolving landscape of higher education in Egypt and the MENA region. Airing from 8 to 10 AM, the conversation explored international collaboration, student mobility, and the benefits of transnational education for learners seeking global opportunities without leaving home.
Defining Herself as an Educator
Nesma shared her personal perspective on her role: &ldquo;So I&rsquo;m at the British Council, but how I define myself is as an educator, an education researcher. I&rsquo;ve been working in higher education for 15 years, which technically means research around higher education opportunities within the region, with the aim of informing the UK sector of these opportunities and then bridging, making connections, and building these relationships between the UK, Egypt, and beyond.&rdquo;
When asked why education is such a passion, she said, &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve always been a lifelong learner. Education is at the core of development, supporting people to find what they&rsquo;re meant to do and helping nations meet their goals. Knowledge is power, regardless of where it comes from.&rdquo;
What is Transnational Education?
The discussion then turned to transnational education (TNE). Nesma explained: &ldquo;Transnational education is when a university in one country offers a programme or a degree in another country, physically moving to meet students where they are. Instead of Egyptian students travelling to get a degree in the UK, the UK institution comes to Egypt and delivers that in-country through different models.&rdquo;
She highlighted the accessibility of this model: &ldquo;This increases access to international education for students who can&rsquo;t travel for personal, family, or financial reasons. You get the benefits of an international degree without ever having to leave home.&rdquo;
Models of Transnational Education
On international branch campuses: &ldquo;This is one of the independent models of transnational education where a university expands to a new country, offering the same programmes and teaching methods, and bringing its expertise into a new context. Students graduate with one international degree that is very similar to what they would receive if they studied abroad.&rdquo;
On joint degrees: &ldquo;Joint degrees are when two universities come together to develop a programme. You have international expertise alongside local knowledge, creating something relevant to students and their context. It&rsquo;s co-created, combining the strengths of both institutions into one degree accredited by both.&rdquo;
On digital learning: &ldquo;This could be fully online learning, where you&rsquo;re in Egypt studying at a university abroad, which is still transnational education. There are also blended models combining online and face-to-face learning, usually involving a local partner and an international partner. The international side may develop the virtual learning environment and resources, while local expertise ensures the content is contextualised. Exams, for example, may take place in Egypt, even if systems are hosted abroad.&rdquo;
Why Egypt is a Key Destination
Egypt has become the fourth-largest host country globally for UK transnational education programmes, with around 38,000 students enrolled. Nesma explained the appeal: &ldquo;Egypt has 3.8 million students in higher education, expected to grow to 5 million by 2030. There&rsquo;s strong demand, and universities in Egypt are keen to partner with international counterparts. Students trust UK institutions, and government strategies highlight internationalisation as a priority.&rdquo;
The Benefits for Students
The advantages extend beyond studying locally. Nesma highlighted global recognition and employability: &ldquo;You get a degree that can be used anywhere in the world without needing revalidation. Students also develop critical thinking, leadership, communication, and intercultural skills that are highly valued by employers.&rdquo;
She also emphasised the British Council&rsquo;s role: &ldquo;We work with governments, institutions, and learners. We help ensure supportive regulations, bring stakeholders together through networking, and guide students on accessing opportunities. Everything we do is research-driven to continuously improve partnerships.&rdquo;
Regional Collaboration through Deep Dialogues
Nesma discussed the recent regional Deep Dialogue in Cairo: &ldquo;Participants from 11 countries came together to learn from different models of transnational education. Mature ecosystems like Egypt shared insights with countries still developing their frameworks. We discussed regulation, quality assurance, and engaged directly with students to understand their experiences.&rdquo;
She added, &ldquo;These dialogues build a community of practice. Connections continue beyond the event, creating sustainable networks that support education across the region.&rdquo;
Looking Ahead
Nesma concluded with a forward-looking perspective: &ldquo;Successful models in more developed systems can help guide countries in earlier stages. At its core, this is about improving education, expanding opportunities, and empowering students to reach their potential while contributing to society. The British Council plays a key role in building the connections, understanding, and trust needed to make this ecosystem sustainable.&rdquo;
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Nesma Mostafa on Transnational Education: Bringing Global Degrees Closer to Egyptian Students

Every year, as Ramadan approaches, social media platforms are flooded with posts, discussions, and reviews about the season&rsquo;s most popular series. Fans eagerly share their favourite shows, sparking debates that highlight the diversity of tastes among viewers.
A Variety of Genres for Every Taste
Ramadan series dominate online conversations because everyone has their own preferences. Some viewers are drawn to action and thrillers, while others prefer light-hearted comedies or romantic dramas. This wide variety ensures there is something for everyone, keeping discussions lively and inclusive.
Social Media Amplifies the Experience
Social media plays a crucial role in shaping the Ramadan viewing experience. Fans use it to share reviews, recommend shows, and react instantly to plot twists, memorable performances, or funny scenes. It doesn&rsquo;t just reflect audience opinions; it influences them, helping certain series gain momentum and become cultural talking points.
However, this immediacy can have downsides. Spoilers often appear online before some viewers have had a chance to watch, causing disappointment or rushing people to catch up. The &ldquo;spoiler alert&rdquo; dilemma has become a recurring challenge, as social media&rsquo;s fast pace can sometimes take away the element of surprise that makes watching a series so enjoyable.
Beyond Entertainment: A Shared Cultural Experience
Ultimately, the combination of Ramadan&rsquo;s communal spirit and the rise of social media have turned TV series into more than just entertainment. They have become shared cultural experiences, where fans across the region engage, debate, and celebrate their favourite moments together, while also navigating the occasional spoiler.
Photo Credit: Freepik

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