By Rowaida Mahmoud
Social media users spoke last week about Biden warning Israel that US will stop supplying some weapons if it launches a major ground operation in Rafah; Russian President Vladimir Putin accusing the West of risking a global conflict and Egyptian actor Adel Emam being back to cinemas by displaying his last work Alzheimer’s to celebrate his 84th birthday.
Biden to halt some arms supplies if Israel invades Rafah
President Joe Biden has warned Israel that the US will stop supplying some weapons if it launches a major ground operation in the Gaza city of Rafah.
“If they go into Rafah, I’m not supplying the weapons that have been used historically to deal with Rafah,” he said during an interview with CNN.
He added that he would “continue to make sure Israel is secure”.
Despite firm and vocal US opposition, Israel appears poised to mount a large-scale invasion of Rafah.
The congested part of southern Gaza is Hamas’s last major stronghold in the territory. US officials have warned that an operation in the city – where the population has swelled with refugees from other parts of Gaza – could lead to extensive civilian casualties.
“We’re not going to supply the weapons and artillery shells,” Biden said in the interview.
Biden told CNN that the US did not define the current situation in Rafah as a ground operation. “They haven’t gone into the population centres. What they did is right on the border,” he said.
“But I’ve made it clear to [Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu] and the war cabinet, they’re not going to get our support, if in fact they go in these population centres.”
The US has already delayed a shipment of thousands of bombs to Israel, and has said it is reviewing future deliveries.
Putin: We won’t allow anyone to threaten us
Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the West of risking a global conflict and said no one would be allowed to threaten the world’s biggest nuclear power as Russia marked the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in World War II, according to Reuters.
As Russian troops advance against Ukraine’s Western-backed forces, Putin accused “arrogant” Western elites of forgetting the decisive role played by the Soviet Union in defeating Nazi Germany, and of stoking conflicts across the world.
“We know what the exorbitance of such ambitions leads to. Russia will do everything to prevent a global clash,” Putin said on Red Square after Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu reviewed troops lined up in a rare May blizzard.
“But at the same time, we will not allow anyone to threaten us. Our strategic forces are always in a state of combat readiness.”
“In the West, they would like to forget the lessons of the Second World War,” Putin said, adding that Russia honoured all the allies involved in the defeat of Nazi Germany.
“Victory Day” is a public holiday in Russia, in which Russians commemorate the great sacrifices of the Soviet union in the Great Patriotic War, 1941 and 1945, where 27 million were killed.
The Great Patriotic War was between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany and its allies, a part of World War II. The war ended with the Victory of the USSR and an unconditional surrender of the German army.
22th death anniversary of Al Ahly’s Maestro Saleh Selim
May 6 marks the 22nd death anniversary of Al Ahly Maestro Saleh Selim who passed away on this day in 2002 after suffering from liver cancer. Selim is considered one of the symbols of Egyptian football and the godfather of the Red Castle.
Selim joined the junior ranks of Al-Ahly Club in 1944, and thanks to his brilliant performance he joined the first team in 1948; on November 5, 1948, he played with Al Ahly against Al-Masry, in which Al Ahly won 3-0, and Sliem netted his first official goals.
The Maestro achieved 11 Egyptian Leagues with Al Ahly out of 15 seasons in which he participated as a player with Al Ahly. He also won the Egypt Cup 8 times with Al Ahly.
The Maestro became the record holder of personal scoring by being the only player to score 7 goals in Ismaili club’s net.
Internationally, Salah Selim joined the Egyptian National Team in 1950, and he was the captain of the Pharaohs when they snatched the Africa Cup of Nations in 1959 in Cairo. Additionally, he participated with the national team in the 1960 Olympics in Roma, Italy.
Selim held various positions in the Al Ahly club, the football manager, a board member and finally the president of Al Ahly till his death.
Al Ahly’s legend was one of the sportsmen who grabbed attention in the 1960s in the movie world thanks to his role in the movie Al shmoa’ al swda’ (The Black Candles). Unfortunately, he faced criticism, so he refused to resume his cinematic history, satisfied with 3 movies, EL Sabaa Banat ( the Seven Girls), shmoa’ al swda’ (The Black Candles) and El Bab El Maftuh (The Open Door).
Adel Emam’s ‘Alzheimer’ back to cinema
After 14 of absence, Egyptian actor Adel Emam is back to cinemas by displaying his last work Alzheimer’s to celebrate his 84th birthday.
The Egyptian actress and film producer Essad Youniss decided to return Adel Emam, best known as Za’eem (Arabic for Leader), to cinema halls; the Al Arabia Cinema, owned by Youniss, issued a statement stating that the returning of Za’eem to the cinemas in Egypt and the Arab world is part of a new strategy aims to celebrate the artistic icons that have an unforgeable history in Egypt and the Arab world.
It Is scheduled that the Alzheimer’s movie will be in cinemas in Egypt and the Arab world starting from May 17 so that the new generations can watch Za’eem’s latest works.
Alzheimer’s movie was displayed in 2010, and it is considered Za’eem’s last work before he announced his retirement since few months ago.
The movie starred Fathy Abdel Wahab, Nelly Karim, Rania Youssef and Ahmed Rizq.
Za’eem was born on May 17, 1940, and he has unforgeable works in cinema, theatre and TV drama. His cinematic history includes around 126 movies, 16 series and 11 plays.
