Egypt: Last News

Actor and comedian Mike Batayeh, best known for his role as laundromat manager Dennis Markowski on Breaking Bad, has died. He was 52.

Sophia Scorziello editor Mike Batayeh, actor and comedian known for his role in “Breaking Bad” as the manager of Gus’s notorious laundromat, has died. He was 52. Batayeh died on June 1 of a heart attack while asleep in his Michigan home, said his family in a statement. “It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that my sisters and I announce the passing of our dear brother,” his family said. “He will be greatly missed by those who loved him and his great ability to bring laughter and joy to so many.” Batayeh starred in three episodes of AMC’s “Breaking Bad” as Dennis Markowski, manager of Lavanderia Brillante laundromat, which doubled as a meth lab for Walter White and Jesse Pinkman.

Jazz Tangcay Artisans Editor Ruth Carter doesn’t need the prefix “costume designer” in front of her name; she is a household name. Carter made Oscar history when she became the first Black woman ever to win two Oscars,thanks to her work on the “Black Panther” films. With credits that include “Selma,” “Malcolm X,” “Coming 2 America” and being Spike Lee’s go-to, Carter has stories to tell.

Egypt has banned Dutch archaeologists from the country amid a dispute over the portrayal of black American entertainers as rulers of Ancient Egypt. Officials in the North African country have reportedly grown tired of comparisons between Queen Nefertiti - the wife of pharaoh Akhenaten - and R&B superstar Beyonce. Singer Beyonce, 41, who is also known as Queen Bey, famously appeared dressed as Nefertiti at the Coachella festival in 2018, even selling merchandise dedicated to her.

Christina Hall and James Bender, Egypt Sherrod and Mike Jackson and more HGTV stars are teaming up for a new competition series that will see them Barbie-fy one room in a Southern California home, creating the ultimate Barbie Dreamhouse.Egypt and Mike will take inspiration from the neon 1990s Barbie style to reimagine the entryway, living room and dining room, Ty Pennington and Alison Victoria, will create a Disco-themed 1970s den for Ken, while Jonathan Knight and Kristina Crestin tap into 1980s glam to bring the primary suite to life.Keith Bynum and Evan Thomas will be in charge of the front yard and exterior, and Brian and Mika Kleinschmidt will build the home's Y2 K-era backyard wonderland. The home will also feature a chic office worthy of Barbie's storied resume, designed by Michel Smith Boyd and Anthony Elle.Hosted by Ashley Graham, HGTV's , isn't just a competition series, one lucky fan will have the opportunity to win a once-in-a-lifetime sleepover staycation in the completed home.ET's Cassie DiLaura spoke to Hall and Bender about the Barbie-tastic series, which premieres on the network July 19, and why they're the duo to watch out for.«It truly is Barbie's dreamhouse,» Hall gushed.

Naman Ramachandran Tribeca Festival-bound short documentary “One Good Reason,” by Emmy-winning directors Perri Peltz and Matthew O’Neill, has unveiled a trailer. The 25-minute film, produced by Tribeca Studios in partnership with ServiceNow, follows the journey of a Ukrainian family with two young children as they flee the war in their home country, the generosity of an American couple in rural Wisconsin – complete strangers – who offer to be their sponsors and the bond they create together. The film features the online platform created by Welcome.US, which allows Americans to connect with people seeking refuge in the U.S. through the government’s humanitarian programs, which require the support of a sponsor. It tells the story of the Hnatiuk family as they make the difficult decision to leave Ukraine and begin a new life in rural Wisconsin with their sponsors, Bryce and Maxine Luchterhand. As the Hnatiuks adjust to life in Unity, Wisconsin — a small town of 384 people – and worry about the fate of their relatives who remain in Ukraine, they also find connection and community with the Luchterhands.

EXCLUSIVE: Lifetime is expanding its lifestyle programming via its Home.Made.Nation strand.

castmates. During the final part of this season's tell-all that aired Sunday on TLC, Mahmoud and his brother, Ahmed, made a virtual appearance from Egypt and Mahmoud quickly displayed his hot temper.Mahmoud's relationship with his wife, Nicole, has been shaky this season due to her not wanting to conform to the more conservative Muslim culture that Mahmoud wants her to. But a surprising revelation during the season finale was that Nicole caught him having an inappropriate conversation online with a woman from China.

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Egyptian director Omar El Zohairy, whose absurdist social satire “Feathers” won the Cannes Critics’ Week prize in 2021 and went on to make a major splash, is set to helm “Mammals,” an English-language drama that will be a reflection on Western capitalism and family ties. El Zohairy’s sophomore film, which will feature still unspecified actors from different countries, is being co-written by the buzzed-about auteur with British Egyptian writer-director Mohamed Adeeb, who wrote the hit Egyptian TV series “Bimbo,” directed by Amr Salama. “Mammals” is partly inspired by the biography of El Zohairy’s father, who died in 2016 in the United States, where he was an immigrant living under difficult conditions. In the film, a young man visits his distant father in one of the world’s most lavish resorts. When he arrives there he discovers that, unbeknownst to him, his father has locked him into a business deal that he cannot reject. The young man rebels, but also starts to like his new life and eventually loses his sanity. 

Seun Kuti has been released from police custody after meeting his bail conditions for allegedly assaulting a police officer, and will now embark on a delayed Europe concert tour.Last week (Monday May 15), the youngest son of the Nigerian Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti was arrested and detained in his hometown of Lagos by local police. Seun Kuti is alleged to have assaulted a police officer, who the 40-year-old claims was drunk.On Wednesday (May 24), it was ruled that the public prosecutor – not the police – had the power to prosecute the musician.

Meghan Markle's absence from the Gracie Awards on May 23 was a wise move, according to Princess Diana's former bodyguard. Markle, who was named a digital media national winner for the 49th annual awards, did not make an appearance at the ceremony in Los Angeles.The Gracie Awards came just days after the Duchess of Sussex and her husband Prince Harry claimed they had been followed by paparazzi in a "relentless pursuit" after leaving an event in New York City. Lee Sansum, who worked to protect Princess Diana in the summer of 1997 shortly before her death, told Fox News Digital that he supports Markle's decision to skip the event.

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent “Bikini Blue” director Jarek Marszewski will direct the 1920s-set euthanasia drama “Iron Ribbon,” for which Los Angeles-based Egyptian actor Mohamed Karim is attached and Tom Hughes (“The English”) is in advanced talks.  The English-language romantic thriller, which is being produced by London-based Daniella Gonella and Jay Michaelson’s DG Productions, is based on the true story of rising Polish stage star Stanislawa Uminska, who in 1924 killed her cancer-stricken fiancé (the dashing painter, critic and writer Jan Zynowski) in Paris upon his request as an act of euthanasia. She then stood trial, but was set free by the French court.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief French independent producer Haut Les Mains has come on board “A Useful Ghost,” a film project that is both topical and supernatural. The deal was announced on the margins of the Cannes Film Festival and its accompanying rights market. “A Useful Ghost” follows March and Nat, a happily married couple, and their seven-year-old son Dot. Nat dies of respiratory disease caused by air pollution. A saddened March is worried that the same fate will befall his son, who gradually develops similar symptoms. Nat then returns as a ghost haunting the house vacuum cleaner to try and suck up the dust hurting her son. She also longs to be accepted as part of society and intends to prove that by getting rid of the less useful ghosts.

Lise Pedersen Moving towards a more equitable and accountable curation in film programming and selection processes, ethical representation in storytelling and the challenges posed by the lack of awareness and accountability was at the heart of a panel discussion at Cannes Docs, the Cannes Film Market event dedicated to documentary film, on May 20. Panelists included Egyptian director and producer Nada Riyadh, British-Chinese writer and director Paul Sng, Brazilian producer Yolanda Maria Barroso and Swedish producer Malin Hüber; it was moderated by the BFI’s Race Equality Lead Rico Johnson-Sinclair. Opening on a positive note, Riyadh said that, “as an Arab woman,” she welcomed the presence in the official selection at Cannes this year of docs by Tunisian director Kaouther Ben Hania (“Four Daughters,” main competition) and Moroccan filmmaker Asmae El Moudir (“The Mother of All Lies,” Un Certain Regard), even though “in the real world I still get asked whether I do docs or real films,” she added with a smile.

EXCLUSIVE: Leading Egyptian independent production company Film Clinic is gearing up for the shoot of The Inevitable Journey Of Finding The Wedding Dress by Jaylan Auf.

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent CAA Media Finance has come on board to handle sales in North America on Mohamed Kordofani’s “Goodbye Julia,” the first film from Sudan to launch from the Cannes Film Festival. CAA will be working in tandem with Egypt-based producer Ali El Arabi’s Ambient Light Films, which holds North American rights for the timely drama that premiered on May 21 in Un Certain Regard. “Goodbye Julia” takes place just before the 2011 secession of South Sudan. It revolves around two women, one from the north, the other from the south, that are brought together by fate in a complex relationship that attempts to reconcile differences between northern and southern Sudanese communities.

EXCLUSIVE: Egyptian-U.S. company Ambient Light has acquired North American sales rights for Sudanese director Mohamed Kordofani’s Cannes Un Certain Regard title Goodbye Julia.

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Alicia Keys is making sure to take in the sights while on her world tour. The iconic singer blessed Mexico City Wednesday night, but before taking the stage, she rode a hot air balloon and visited Aztec ruins with her husband Swizz Beatz, and their children Egypt and Genesis.

and barrister makes a compelling case for making the formal jumpsuit a wardrobe staple. On May 16, Clooney attended The Prince’s Trust and TKMaxx & Homesense Awards in London, wearing a custom Atelier Versace jumpsuit in light pink cashmere. The simple one-piece featured a square neckline and ultra-wide legged pleated trousers, with a black belt for a touch of contrast. She paired her effortlessly elegant 'fit with a simple box clutch and statement chandelier earrings.Clooney offered a very slightly dressed down jumpsuit look a day later at the international digital festival 4Gamechangers in Vienna.

EXCLUSIVE: Netflix has set a July 3rd global premiere for Unknown, a new four-part docuseries on which it’s partnered with Liz Garbus and Dan Cogan’s esteemed production company Story Syndicate that will have new films debuting weekly.