On Saturday, Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate (north of Cairo) witnessed widespread popular celebrations for the Egyptian student Mayar Muhammad Ragab Othman (11 years old), who won the title of the “Arab Reading Challenge” in its tenth session, as the people of Burj Al-Burlus, her hometown, organized a popular “wedding” to welcome her, with the participation of families, children, and leaders of her school, while her pictures were hung on the facades of houses, and a mural bearing her picture was painted at the entrance to the city.
The popular celebration was preceded by an official reception of the student at Cairo Airport, in the presence of officials, educational leaders, and her colleagues. She was also received by Dr. Alaa Gouda, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education in Kafr El-Sheikh, upon her arrival in the governorate. Congratulations came from official institutions and public figures, including the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood and artist Hala Sedqi, amid widespread interaction with photos and video clips of her reception on social media sites.
Mayar was crowned the winner of the “Arab Reading Challenge” for the year 2026, during the closing ceremony of the tenth session held in Dubai, Thursday, where she was honored by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The session also witnessed the Egyptian Martyr Mahmoud Al-Maghrabi Primary School winning second place in the “Distinguished School” category.
Despite the widespread celebrations that accompanied the Egyptian student's victory, her father's statements raised questions about the interest in young talents before they reach the podium, after he revealed that his daughter did not receive similar media attention when she achieved first place in Egypt last June, according to a video of him published by local media.
In this context, critic and novelist Lana Abdel Rahman believes that celebrating Mayar highlights “the importance of appreciating and encouraging talents from childhood,” noting that “there are many children who possess distinct talents and abilities, but they do not receive sufficient attention or highlight their achievements, especially at a time when social media and short video clips capture children’s attention; “This makes celebrating a cognitive achievement important on both the educational and cultural levels.”
Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Abdel Rahman pointed out the significance of this achievement, especially since Mayar belongs to a city far from the capital and major cultural centres, considering that “the arrival of a child from outside the cultural center to this title confirms that talent is not limited to the capital, and that children are capable of achieving exceptional achievements when they are provided with opportunities, motivation, and cultural and educational care.”
She warns against turning the achievement into a passing celebration, asking: “It is not enough to welcome this child by celebrating and taking pictures with her. Rather, the real question is: What will we do next?” Will Mayar find a good library where she can continue reading? Will she have opportunities to dialogue with writers and intellectuals?” She called for investing her experience in launching reading programs and nurturing talents within schools, libraries, and cultural forums.
For his part, writer and critic Mahmoud Abdel Shakour believes that celebrating the Egyptian student represents an opportunity to restore the respectability of reading in society, stressing to Asharq Al-Awsat: “There is no contradiction between celebrating and celebrating an outstanding child like Mayar, and the celebration being the beginning of real work to pay attention to reading.”
He adds, “Mayar and her family deserve a warm ovation, and that the media’s highlighting of her victory provides an encouraging model for Egyptian families, especially since the victory was accompanied by a large financial prize. Which means that education and culture are also translated into financial returns, and this is undoubtedly a good thing.”
Abdel Shakour called for the need to invest this interest in restoring the role of school libraries and reading classes, in addition to the return of cultural programs related to books to satellite channels, saying: “This is an excellent opportunity to welcome Egyptian talents, and then restore the role of books in education and in the media.”
The appearance of the retired Egyptian artist Athar Al-Hakim sparked widespread excitement, welcome, and interaction across social networking sites during the past hours, especially after she appeared and cried out of joy and gratitude toward the audience, who received her with a warm welcome, after she ascended to the “Balloon” stage, accompanied by the artist and director Tamer Abdel Moneim, after the end of the performance of the play “Nostalgia 90/80.”
The name of Athar al-Hakim, who attended the show and sat among the audience without prior arrangements with the theater management or Tamer Abdel Moneim, topped search indicators on Google in Egypt on Sunday, confirming that her presence came by pure coincidence, to watch the play with a group of her friends.
On stage, Athar Al-Hakim was moved and cried from the intensity of her welcome, hearing the words of love and praise, and the warm applause following her appearance and speech. For her part, Al-Hakim said: “No matter how much I thank all the people, I will not do them justice,” adding: “I retired 15 years ago, but beautiful art will still exist, and we must all stand behind all respected artists.”
Commenting on this rare appearance, Athar Al-Hakim told Asharq Al-Awsat that her appearance on the stage was not intentional on her part, adding: “Until the last minute, my arrangements were not to attend the show, but my friends insisted on my presence, and I was surprised after the end of the play that Tamer Abdel Moneim was aware of my presence in the audience, so he welcomed me, and I had to return his greeting to him and the people on the stage, as they received me with love as soon as they learned of my presence.”
Athar Al-Hakim added: “I am fed up with the noise and the spotlight, and I will not return to acting, and I hope to always maintain this position.” She described social networking sites as a “severe test.”
Athar Al-Hakim revealed that she apologizes for appearing in the media, for honors at various festivals, and for attending public events, stressing that she goes to various places, travels and shops, and is keen from time to time to go to the cinema and the theater, hidden with a mask and hat, so that she can live her life freely. She explained that coincidence alone led her to attend the show with her friends, and that she did not arrange for this matter, but rather it was “arranged by God,” stressing that this does not mean that she will reappear on the artistic scene.
In the same context, Tamer Abdel Moneim posted a photo of him with the Mu’tazila artist backstage at the theater, via his Facebook account, and welcomed her. He wrote in his post: “One of the most beautiful things that happened to me over the course of the play (Nostalgia 90/80) for 3 years was the presence of the great star Athar Al-Hakim in the audience in disguise for the third time, without notifying anyone... You honored us and enlightened us.”
Macaire wrote about the play “Nostalgia 90/80”, by Islam Abbas, also on his Facebook account: “The big star, Athar Al-Hakim, Nortina and Sharafetina... Thank you with all my heart for your opinion and your words to me, as it is a great testimony that I cherish from a great artist.”
Before the uproar caused by her appearance on the “Balloon” stage and her crying due to the warm reception, Al-Hakim’s works topped the search indicators on social media sites more than 5 years ago, after a photo of her was circulated with the artist Sahar Al-Sayegh and the artist Sameh Hussein, from the scenes of the play “The Optimist”, after a long absence from the artistic and media scene. The audience praised her appearance and presence at the time, and recalled some of the stations of her artistic career in cinema and drama, noting her keenness to present remarkable and distinctive characters.
Technically, at the beginning of her career, Athar Al-Hakim starred in several dramatic evenings, in addition to her participation in many series, including “My Dear Sons, Thank You,” “Travel of Dreams,” “Love and Other Things,” “Dream Nights,” “Taming the Fierce,” “We Do Not Plant Thorns,” “Fleeing from Love,” “Zezinia,” “Jellyfish,” and “Love After “Deliberation.” She also participated in several films, including “The Palm,” “Love on the Pyramid Hill,” “The Tiger and the Female,” “Bird in the Sky,” and “Paper Hero.”
The series “A Stringent Strength,” more than 15 years ago, was her last artistic appearance, before she moved away from the limelight without prior announcement.
Celebrities around the world celebrated Halloween last night, as the costume competition between celebrities turned into a serious competition.
Many stars took inspiration from other famous figures in the world of popular culture.
US Vice President
US Vice President J.D. Vance assumed the character of "Albus Dumbledore", the headmaster of "Hogwarts" and the character from the world of "Harry Potter", and shared a video clip on the "X" platform in which he appears carrying his infant son, who was dressed as the character "Dobby."
In the year 2025, Vance sparked widespread interaction on the Internet when he imitated a popular “joke” (meme). He wore a curly brown wig and said: “Happy Halloween, kids.” And remember: Say thank you!”, in a playful reference to a widely circulated video clip of his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Kim Kardashian
Kim Kardashian impersonated her daughter, North West, with bright blue hair and a large number of cosmetic piercings, according to a post she published on her official Instagram account.
Paris Hilton
Paris Hilton chose to celebrate Halloween with her family, and wrote on Instagram: “A touch of Halloween magic with my favorite pumpkins.” “I really enjoyed our night.”
Heidi Klum
Heidi Klum continued to be the "Queen of Halloween" at her 25th annual party, where she transformed into a giant, surreal version of an "amputated human hand."
Bloody tissues and ligaments with rings and nails hang from it.
Heidi Klum, a famous German-American model, actress, TV presenter and businesswoman, underwent a bloody transformation into the character of a giant and terrifying severed hand at her annual Halloween party in New York yesterday (Saturday), 25 years after she began hosting this anticipated event.
Klum was unrecognizable, with only her eyes and mouth visible, and blood dripping from her mouth as she stuck out her tongue. The top of the hand ended with a bloody collection of dangling ligaments and tendons. She was accompanied by a team of assistants wearing protective suits stained with blood, according to what the Associated Press reported.
She had the idea to impersonate a giant hand last year, specifically her left hand, with long red nails. Klum said that wearing her “hand” costume took between 5 and 6 hours this year, but the process of making it took much longer.
Alex Konsani
Alex Konsani, an American model and actress, appeared in a red outfit, with a finger-like outfit in her face, according to what she posted on Instagram.
Jordyn Woods and her husband
Model Jordyn Woods and her husband, basketball star Karl-Anthony Towns, appeared in two looks inspired by the series "Game of Thrones" while participating in a costume party in New York City.
Woods chose to embody the character of “The White Walker,” using a wig and precise makeup that mimics the character’s appearance, while Townes appeared in the form of “The Night King,” one of the most prominent characters in the series, wearing black clothes and carrying a machete-like disguise, according to what the New York Post reported.
Jade Amelia Thirlwall
British singer Jade Amelia Thirlwall, former member of Little Mix, is known as one of the queens of Halloween.
Because of her innovative, bold and extremely elaborate fashions every year.
During this year's celebrations, Jade caught the attention while attending Heidi Klum's famous 25th annual party in New York.
Connor Stroy
American actor Connor Story disguised himself in a costume inspired by the science fiction comedy film “Bugonia”, where Connor appeared as “Michelle Fuller” (portrayed by Emma Stone).
Naglaa Badr
Among the Arab celebrities who chose to participate in the celebration of Halloween is the artist Najla Badr, who today (Sunday), through her official account on Instagram, published a picture of herself wearing disguised makeup designed for the terrifying atmosphere associated with Halloween.
Badr accompanied the photos with a comment in which she joked with her followers, saying: “Halloween, from our day, I swear.”
