الفرق المستقلة تتقاسم جوائز «القومي للمسرح» مع «عروض الدولة»

«الحب في زمن الكوليرا» و«المطبخ» يحصدان النصيب الأكبر

الفائزون بجوائز المهرجان (وزارة الثقافة المصرية)
الفائزون بجوائز المهرجان (وزارة الثقافة المصرية)
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الفرق المستقلة تتقاسم جوائز «القومي للمسرح» مع «عروض الدولة»

الفائزون بجوائز المهرجان (وزارة الثقافة المصرية)
الفائزون بجوائز المهرجان (وزارة الثقافة المصرية)

بحفل فني استضافه المسرح الكبير بدار الأوبرا المصرية، مساء الاثنين، أسدل المهرجان القومي للمسرح المصري الستار على فعاليات دورته الـ15، معلناً «نجاح» المهرجان، الذي عقد في الفترة من 24 يوليو (تموز) الماضي، وحتى 8 أغسطس (آب) الجاري، في «الكشف عن مبدعين جدد»، بحسب الدكتورة إيناس عبد الدايم، وزيرة الثقافة المصرية، التي أكدت، في كلمتها خلال حفل الختام، أن «المهرجان أتاح الفرصة للمخرجين الواعدين للتعبير عن أنفسهم، وأوجد حالة من الحراك المثمر في المسرح المصري».
وجاءت جوائز المهرجان لتضع حداً للضجة التي صاحبت بدايته، بسبب ما قيل وقتها، عن «استبعاد» عدد من العروض المسرحية من المشاركة بالمهرجان، و«استئثار» مسارح الدولة بالنصيب «الأكبر» من المشاركة، حيث تقاسمت «الفرق المستقلة»، جوائز المهرجان، مع فرق «مسارح الدولة».
وحصد عرضا «الحب في زمن الكوليرا» لفرقة مسرح الطليعة التابعة للدولة، و«المطبخ» لفرقة (1 1) المستقلة، على معظم الجوائز، حيث منحت لجنة التحكيم برئاسة الفنان محمود الحديني خمسة جوائز للعرض المسرحي «الحب في زمن الكوليرا»، وهي جوائز: أفضل عرض مسرحي (مركز أول)، وأفضل مخرج مسرحي للمخرج السعيد منسي، وأفضل موسيقى لوليد الشهاوي، وأفضل «دراما تورج» مينا بباوي، وأفضل أشعار لحامد السحرتي.
في المقابل، حصل عرض المطبخ على خمس جوائز أيضاً، وهي: جائزة أفضل عرض مسرحي (مركز ثان)، أفضل مؤلف مسرحي لمحمد عادل، الذي حصل أيضاً على جائزة أفضل مخرج مسرحي صاعد، وجائزة أفضل تصميم إضاءة لأبو بكر الشريف، وأفضل ممثلة صاعدة لبنى المنسي، بينما فاز بجائزة أفضل مؤلف صاعد محمد السوري، عن عرض «بنت القمر» لكلية آداب جامعة حلوان.
ويرى الناقد المسرحي عبد الرازق حسين، رئيس تحرير مجلة «المسرح»، وأحد أعضاء لجنة التحكيم، أن «المهرجان شهد ارتفاعاً في المستوى الفني للعروض، ونجح في الدفع بمواهب عديدة في مجالات المسرح المختلفة»، مؤكداً أن «المفاجأة جاءت في حصول فرقة مستقلة، ربما يسمع عنها لأول مرة، على جائزة أفضل عرض ثان بمسرحية «المطبخ»، التي اعتمدت ديكوراً بسيطاً، وخيالاً من مخرج متمكن عمل على توظيف جيد للإضاءة، ولحظات الصمت، والأداء التمثيلي، رغم أنه يتناول موضوعا يبدو غريبا على المجتمع الشرقي»، مشيرا إلى أن «عرض (المطبخ) تفوق على عروض للمسرح الرسمي أنفق عليها عشرات الآلاف من الجنيهات».
وقال حسين إن «لجنة التحكيم تحقيق أكبر قدر من العدالة بين العروض المسرحية دون النظر إلى اسم جهة الإنتاج، وتمت مناقشة كل عرض على حدة بعد مشاهدته للوصول لرؤية عادلة»، مشيراً إلى أنه «تبقى هناك ملحوظة أساسية ذكرتها لجنة التحكيم، وهي تتعلق بالاهتمام بالمؤلف المسرحي، وعدم تقليص دوره لحساب المخرج».
وفي مجال التمثيل فاز ضياء الدين زكريا بجائزة أفضل ممثل دور أول، عن عرض «سندباد» للبيت الفني للفنون الشعبية، فيما ذهبت جائزة أفضل ممثل دور ثان للفنان أيمن الشيوي عن مسرحية «هاملت بالمقلوب»، وجائزة أفضل ممثل صاعد لأحمد عبد الحفيظ عن عرض «الأفاعي» من إنتاج هيئة قصور الثقافة المصرية، في حين فازت بجائزة أفضل ممثلة دور أول ياسمين قابيل عن عرض «طقوس الإشارات والتحولات»، وذهبت جائزة أفضل ممثلة دور ثان إلى دنيا سامي عن عرض «خلي بالك» لمعهد الفنون المسرحية.
وأكد الفنان يوسف إسماعيل، رئيس المهرجان، أن «هذه الدورة من المهرجان، التي شارك فيها 34 عرضاً مسرحياً، تنبئ بجيل واعد من المسرحيين»، وأحيا الفنان علي الحجار، حفل الختام بالعرض الغنائي «يعيش المسرح»، من رؤية وإخراج عصام السيد، الذي تضمن صورة درامية قدمت بمشاركة عازفي الآلات الشعبية ومصممي العرائس.
ويمنح المهرجان القومي للمسرح جوائز في فروع العمل المسرحي كافة، حيث منحت لجنة التحكيم جائزة أفضل تصميم ديكور لأحمد جمال عن عرض «نور» لمعهد الفنون المسرحية، وأفضل تصميم أزياء لمروة عودة عن «هاملت بالمقلوب»، وأفضل تصميم استعراضات لكريمة بدير عن مسرحية «سيرة عنترة» لفرقة فرسان الشرق، وأفضل دعاية مسرحية لأحمد صيام عن عرض «زوروني كل سنة مرة»، وفاز بجائزة المقال النقدي محمد علام عن عرض «حياة»، والباحث محمد كامل عن دراسته النقدية «البحث عن الذات في المسرح الإيطالي المعاصر»، كما منحت لجنة التحكيم شهادات تقدير خاصة لكل من الأداء الجماعي لمسرحيات «شكسبير في السبتية»، و«علاقات خطرة»، و«بنت القمر».



Swiatek Defeats Rybakina to Claim Canadian Open Title

TORONTO, ONTARIO - AUGUST 13: Iga Swiatek of Poland poses with the trophy after defeating Elena Rybaina of Kazakhstan during the Final on day twelve of the National Bank Open Presented by Rogers at Sobeys Stadium on August 13, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario.   Matthew Stockman/Getty Images/AFP
TORONTO, ONTARIO - AUGUST 13: Iga Swiatek of Poland poses with the trophy after defeating Elena Rybaina of Kazakhstan during the Final on day twelve of the National Bank Open Presented by Rogers at Sobeys Stadium on August 13, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario. Matthew Stockman/Getty Images/AFP
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Swiatek Defeats Rybakina to Claim Canadian Open Title

TORONTO, ONTARIO - AUGUST 13: Iga Swiatek of Poland poses with the trophy after defeating Elena Rybaina of Kazakhstan during the Final on day twelve of the National Bank Open Presented by Rogers at Sobeys Stadium on August 13, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario.   Matthew Stockman/Getty Images/AFP
TORONTO, ONTARIO - AUGUST 13: Iga Swiatek of Poland poses with the trophy after defeating Elena Rybaina of Kazakhstan during the Final on day twelve of the National Bank Open Presented by Rogers at Sobeys Stadium on August 13, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario. Matthew Stockman/Getty Images/AFP

Iga Swiatek captured her first title of the season with a swift 6-2 6-3 win against Elena Rybakina in the Canadian Open final on Thursday, giving the Pole a confidence boost heading into the US Open.

It was Swiatek's first final at the US Open tune-up event, and the six-times Grand Slam champion enjoyed the Toronto crowd chanting “Iga! Iga!” throughout the match on her way to victory, with a few Polish flags in the crowd.

But Swiatek told Canadian network Sportsnet that she felt angry after the win, having faced criticism from media back home amid an inconsistent season that has seen her fail to advance beyond the quater-finals at a Grand Slam ⁠and replace her coach.

"I ⁠think that's the first time in my life I have something like that after a victory but it hasn't been easy you know," Reuters quoted Swiatek as saying. "I'm happy that I kept my composure, kept my focus, and I keep growing every month no matter what the challenges and I'm super proud I could win this one."

The Pole was sharp and fast on the hard court in Toronto ⁠while Kazakhstan’s Rybakina was her own enemy for much of the evening.

Rybakina, the world number two, was broken twice in an opening set that also saw Swiatek save two break points to take command of the match. The first set was marred by 12 unforced errors for 27-year-old Rybakina, who struggled to strike the ball cleanly.

The Australian Open champion could not weaponize her serve either, with just one ace in the match, and Swiatek broke her again in the second set to take a 3-2 lead.

Swiatek, 25, dropped the next game but closed out the final three with confidence, landing a clean strike on ⁠match point to ⁠end her title drought.

"If she plays her best game she's probably better than everyone," Swiatek told reporters of Rybakina after the match. "You need to use all the opportunities, you can't let yourself make mistakes or bad decisions."

Fatigue had finally caught up with Rybakina, who played three hours more than Swiatek at the tournament prior to their meeting on Thursday as her previous three matches went to three sets.

"I was just very tired. You could see that I wasn't pushing with the legs enough," Rybakina told reporters after the match. "There was a lot of unforced errors, especially on top of the net. It was just a pure lack of concentration."

With the Canadian title, world number eight Swiatek will return to the top five in the rankings.


Hegseth: US Plans Attacks on Land Against Drug Cartels in Latin America

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth arrives to observe a US-sponsored multinational military exercise in Panama City, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth arrives to observe a US-sponsored multinational military exercise in Panama City, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
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Hegseth: US Plans Attacks on Land Against Drug Cartels in Latin America

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth arrives to observe a US-sponsored multinational military exercise in Panama City, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth arrives to observe a US-sponsored multinational military exercise in Panama City, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

The United States is planning land attacks against drug traffickers in Latin America, expanding an airstrike campaign against presumed drug-running boats in international waters, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said in Panama.

Last September President Donald Trump's administration launched a bombing campaign against alleged drug boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, leaving at least 215 people dead. The campaign has been criticized as amounting to extra-judicial killings.

Plans for anti-drug operations on land are on the agenda of an alliance of 19 countries led by Trump that could expand to wherever drug gangs operate, Hegseth told journalists.

According to AFP, he said the United States hopes to deploy forces alongside its allies with "operational capability like you saw with the strikes on the drug boats" in the Caribbean and Pacific.

It will be the "same effect on land, and so we're working with Ecuador, we're working with Colombia, we're working with partners to bring the fight to the DTO's on land," Hegseth said Wednesday night in an unidentified location in the Panamanian jungle, referring to drug trafficking organizations.

He traveled to Panama for annual joint military exercises carried out by over 20 countries.

"Anywhere you traffic drugs or you threaten the American people or our partners, you are a target just like ISIS or Al Qaeda," Hegseth said, wearing an olive-green shirt while surrounded by soldiers.

The Americans Counter Cartel Coalition brings together countries with right-wing governments, including Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Honduras, and Peru.

Hegseth said cartels should be "on notice."

Mexico, with a left-leaning government, is not part of the alliance even though it is home to powerful drug cartels.

Hegseth defended the attacks against alleged drug boats, which legal experts and human rights organizations have warned could constitute extrajudicial executions.

"We're going to close with and destroy these networks with every capability of the American government," he warned.


A British Firm Starts Containment of Oil Spill from Stricken Tanker off Oman

A satellite image shows the damaged vessel Caroline Bezengi and an oil slick off the Hallaniyat Islands, off the coast of Dhofar Governorate, Oman, August 5, 2026. Pléiades. CNES 2026, Distribution Airbus DS/Handout via REUTERS
A satellite image shows the damaged vessel Caroline Bezengi and an oil slick off the Hallaniyat Islands, off the coast of Dhofar Governorate, Oman, August 5, 2026. Pléiades. CNES 2026, Distribution Airbus DS/Handout via REUTERS
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A British Firm Starts Containment of Oil Spill from Stricken Tanker off Oman

A satellite image shows the damaged vessel Caroline Bezengi and an oil slick off the Hallaniyat Islands, off the coast of Dhofar Governorate, Oman, August 5, 2026. Pléiades. CNES 2026, Distribution Airbus DS/Handout via REUTERS
A satellite image shows the damaged vessel Caroline Bezengi and an oil slick off the Hallaniyat Islands, off the coast of Dhofar Governorate, Oman, August 5, 2026. Pléiades. CNES 2026, Distribution Airbus DS/Handout via REUTERS

A British company said Thursday it has been hired to salvage a grounded Russian shadow fleet tanker off Oman's coast and stop an oil spill that is threatening wildlife as it reaches the country's shoreline following its dramatic spread in recent weeks.

Satellite images have shown that oil from the tanker Caroline Bezengi has exponentially spread over hundreds of square kilometers during stormy weather, endangering a marine protected area. The region's “Khareef” monsoon season peaks in July and August.

Ambrey, a UK-based maritime risk and response company, said its personnel boarded the vessel with help from the Omani air force to assess its condition before stabilizing it.

The vessel has been grounded off Qabiliyah Island in southwestern Oman following an explosion of unclear cause in early June. Its cargo previously has been estimated at more than 800,000 barrels.

Satellite images also have shown that the tanker is increasingly submerged, and experts have warned of an unprecedented environmental disaster if the vessel sinks or breaks open and leaks its entire cargo.

“This is an extremely challenging situation, compounded by adverse weather conditions associated with the Khareef monsoon,” Ambrey's global response director Ed Wollaston said in a statement. The company did not immediately have any estimates of how long the salvage operation would take or cost.

Oman’s Environment Authority said Wednesday the oil spill has reached the shores of Ras Madrakah, more than 200 kilometers (more than 120 miles) north of Qabiliyah Island. Authorities said they estimated the spill could reach more than 100 kilometers further north, to Masirah Island.

Hanen Keskes, a campaigner for the environmental group Greenpeace, said it is “extremely concerning” that the oil has spread from an offshore spill to the shoreline where it can contaminate coastal sediments.

"It can make the cleanup significantly more complex than containment at sea,” she said. “Even after the slick has been contained and removed, the environmental impact can last for years."

The marine protected area of Qabiliyah Island includes coral reefs, seagrass meadows and endangered turtles, and offers breeding sites for migratory birds. The area is also home to the rare Arabian Sea humpback whale.

The remote area lacks infrastructure, making the salvage and containment more challenging and requiring more safety measures, Keskes said.

The 247-meter (899-foot) Caroline Bezengi is believed to be part of Russia’s “shadow fleet” and has been sanctioned by the British government and the European Union for carrying cargoes of Russian oil.

It had left the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, in Russia, in May, according to geospatial data tracking company SynMax Maritime. The vessel’s owners are believed to be Shanghai-based. The vessel is unflagged, and it is not clear if it is insured.

It is only one of the environmental crises affecting the region. Off the coast of Iran in the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian authorities are cleaning up an oil spill off of Qeshm Island that has been attributed to the conflict between Iran and the United States.

Images distributed by Iran’s semi-official news agency ISNA show oil damage to the sandy beaches of Qeshm. It is not immediately clear what caused the spill.

Iran has said it should receive compensation for its efforts to contain the damage. But maritime tracking firm TankerTrackers.com posted satellite images on X saying it appears the spill was caused by an Iranian attack on a bulk container ship off of Oman. The spill drifted across the strait to Iran.