‘Memory of Egypt’...Prominent Figures, Heritage

The Memory of Egypt releases a new issue every three months - Asharq Al-Awsat
The Memory of Egypt releases a new issue every three months - Asharq Al-Awsat
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‘Memory of Egypt’...Prominent Figures, Heritage

The Memory of Egypt releases a new issue every three months - Asharq Al-Awsat
The Memory of Egypt releases a new issue every three months - Asharq Al-Awsat

The 46th issue of the Memory of Egypt magazine released by the Library of Alexandria, highlighted heritage features from the Egyptian society characterized with cultural diversity and richness, in addition to exploring the centennials of many historic figures and events.

In the issue’s introduction, Dr. Mostafa al-Feki, head of the library, writes about two great figures who left our world in the past few years, Pedagogist Dr. Hamed Ammar, and Islamic philosophy professor and former minister of Endowments Dr. Mahmoud Hamdy Zakzouk.

According to al-Feki, they both represented a vital example of creativity in their fields given their contributions in the movements of religious and civil education.

The issue also featured a number of articles, including “Judicature between Literature and Egyptian Cinema…Standing on the Edge of Reality” by Judge and novelist Ashraf al-Ashmawy; “Centennial of Hamed Ammar, Teacher of the Poor” by Dr. Kamal Mughith; “Raya and Sakina…Case that Fascinated Egyptians for 100 Years” by Editor-in-Chief Dr. Sameh Fawzi; “Route to Sidi Fathallah al-Ajami” by Dr. Mohammed Suleiman; “Queen Farida…Centennial of a Queen that Owned Egyptians’ Hearts” by researcher Mohammed Ghanima; “Popular Anniversary Celebrations…Tolerance Message from Egypt” by Dr. Doaa Bahieddine; “Alexandria and Golden Age of Cinema” by journalist Mohammed al-Malihi; “Neighborhoods, Lanes of Cairo in Modern Age” by Dr. Kamal Jamal Mahmoud; and “Scenes of Egyptian Cultural Diversity” by Dr. Sahar Hassan Ahmed.

This issue is a contribution to the magazine’s strategy in shedding lights on the different life aspect in Egypt, the creative historic and cultural manifestations, and the country’s connection to the Arab and international horizons.

Former issues contributing to this strategy include a special edition on the Nile which placed special emphasis on the river’s origins, myths, geographic features and popular heritage, and another that focused on the history of Egyptian summering. The magazine is also preparing a special issue on the civil work in the country in line with this year’s theme “2022: Year of Civil Society.”



Europe Had Most Widespread Floods for More Than a Decade in 2024, Scientists Say 

A person cycles along a flooded road after the overtopping of the River Thames on a spring tide, in west London, Britain, March 31, 2025. (Reuters)
A person cycles along a flooded road after the overtopping of the River Thames on a spring tide, in west London, Britain, March 31, 2025. (Reuters)
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Europe Had Most Widespread Floods for More Than a Decade in 2024, Scientists Say 

A person cycles along a flooded road after the overtopping of the River Thames on a spring tide, in west London, Britain, March 31, 2025. (Reuters)
A person cycles along a flooded road after the overtopping of the River Thames on a spring tide, in west London, Britain, March 31, 2025. (Reuters)

Europe faced its most widespread flooding last year since 2013, with 30% of the continent's river network hit by significant floods, scientists said on Tuesday, as fossil fuel-driven climate change continued to prompt torrential rain and other extreme weather.

Flooding killed at least 335 people in Europe in 2024 and affected more than 410,000, the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service and the World Meteorological Organization said in a joint report on Europe's climate.

Western Europe was hit hardest, with 2024 ranking among the region's ten wettest years in records going back to 1950. Storms and flooding are Europe's costliest weather extremes, last year causing damage exceeding 18 billion euros.

Globally, 2024 was the world's warmest year since records began, as well as the warmest for Europe - the planet's fastest-warming continent. The planet is now around 1.3 degrees Celsius warmer than in pre-industrial times, mainly due to human-caused climate change.

"Every additional fraction of a degree of temperature rise matters because it accentuates the risks to our lives, to economies and to the planet," said WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo.

The report noted bright spots, including that renewable energy sources produced a record-high 45% of Europe's energy in 2024, while most European cities have plans in place to better adapt to climate change.

But weather extremes were recorded across the continent. Southeastern Europe had its longest heat wave on record, totaling 13 days, while Scandinavia's glaciers shrank at the highest rates on record, and heat stress increased across the continent.

Much of Eastern Europe was hit by lack of rain and drought, while floods ravaged western Europe.

Nearly a third of Europe's overall river network exceeded a "high" flood threshold, while 12% breached "severe" flood levels in 2024.

Devastating floods in Valencia in late October accounted for most of the lives lost and economic damage caused in Europe by floods, with 232 people killed in the disaster. Storm Boris in September dumped the heaviest rain ever recorded in Central Europe onto countries, including Austria, Czechia, Germany and Slovakia.

Scientists have confirmed climate change has made such downpours more likely, because a hotter atmosphere can hold more water, leading to intense rain. Atmospheric water vapor reached a record high in 2024.

Other factors that influence flooding include river management and urban planning that determine whether homes and infrastructure are built in flood-prone areas.