Albania offers visa-free entry to attract GCC tourists

Tue, 2018-05-01 01:01

JEDDAH: Its natural beauty, geographical position and enjoyable Mediterranean climate make Albania an attractive European destination the whole year around.

These factors increased the number of foreign tourists visiting the country in 2017 to more than 5.2 million. 

Recently, Albanian tourism has grown, resulting in the offer of travel packages that allow its most precious traits to shine, such as “sun and sea tourism,” “history and culture tourism,” “mountain tourism,” and other growing fields.

According to Albanian Ambassador Sami Shiba, “The citizens of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman and Qatar can enter Albania without a visa from April 1 to Oct. 31, 2018.” 

Albania has a considerable coastline, 450 km long, which extends along the Adriatic and the Ionian Sea, where within minutes tourists can experience the mountain climate of Llogara and the warmth of the coast of Dhermi.  Besides the beaches, the Adriatic coast is rich with lagoons and natural ecosystems. The Ionian coastline is known for its fascinating beaches with deep and very clean waters. One of the most exciting tourist areas of the country is the Albanian Riviera, where the sun stretches across the deep sea, the splendid configurations of rocky and isolated small beaches, the mountains and hillsides covered in Mediterranean vegetation. This is the warmest region of Albania, and is blessed with 300 days of sun. The city of Saranda is the most populous city on the Riviera and is a big tourist destination, especially preferred by newly married couples on their honeymoon. The city is positioned well upon the coast in that it is only 9 km from the island of Corfu.

Albania is rich in natural water sources: Rivers, lakes, and a long maritime coastline. Two of the most significant ecosystems are the lakes of Shkodra and Ohrid, recognized by the RAMSAR Convention and UNESCO. Albania is also rich in springs and streams. Four springs remarkable for their natural beauty are the Blue Eye in Saranda, Cold Water in Tepelena, Viroi in Gjirokastra, and Syri i Sheganit at Lake Shkodra.

Albania has important resources for the development of tourism in its mountainous areas. The Albanian Alps to the North, the mountains along the Ionian Sea, the Kruje, Berat and Elbasan mountains offer great opportunities for tourists during the year, including the winter, which has a mild climate. Albania offers very traditional housing in its mountainous regions, allowing for cultural immersion. Mostly you will stay in old traditional stone houses called “Kulas,” where the local hosts spoil you with home-cooked bread, honey, cheese and delicious homemade dishes, all made from their own domestic produce.

The Peaks of the Balkans Trail region, which belongs to the Alpine border region between Albania, Kosovo and Montenegro, is a destination rising in popularity with tourists around the world.

Albania has a rich historical and cultural heritage recognized as part of the world’s cultural heritage that warrants special protection.

Butrint, in the south of Albania, is part of the UNESCO World Heritage List and is considered as one of the most wondrous places on earth. Two other Albanian cities on the UNESCO World Heritage List, renowned for their specific architectural style, are Berat and Gjirokastra. The rich history will leave any interested foreign visitors pleasantly surprised. 

Albania is a safe country for tourists. The people are very open toward foreign visitors. Hospitality is an old Albanian tradition and foreigners are always treated with special respect.

Beside the hospitality that has been highly regarded by travelers for centuries, Albania is rich with traditions and folklore. During your visit through ethnographic museums and artistic folkloric activities, you will be able to enjoy this wealth inherited over the centuries that still blossoms nowadays.

For Saudi travelers who want to come to Albania there aren’t any specific requirements. During the summer period, from April 1 to Oct. 31, 2018, Saudi citizens can travel to Albania without visas. 

All that is needed is a valid passport.

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Albania renews visa-free travel scheme for SaudisThe vengeful sea devouring Albania’s coast https://ift.tt/2JCUpLq April 30, 2018 at 11:09PM

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Back pay for queen as “The Crown” closes gender wage gap

Author: 

Reuters

Mon, 2018-04-30 13:42

ID: 

1525096246129551900

LONDON: It cam as a shock to many when it was revealed that “The Crown” star Claire Foy was paid less than her male co-star Matt Smith, and it caused a royal scandal last month as the latest example of sexism in the entertainment industry.
It appears now, however, that the award-winning actor will receive back pay for her performance as Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II, as the makers of the acclaimed Netflix drama seek to close the gender pay gap.
It was unknown how big the pay gap between herself and Smith was, with the wages for the actor playing Prince Philip in the first two seasons of the hit show undisclosed, but media reports said Foy would get about $274,000 in back pay.
“The Crown,” a series about the British royal family, is one of the most expensive television shows ever produced, with the first season costing a reported $130 million.
When details of the pay gap emerged last month, the producers attributed it to Smith’s six-year stint as the star of “Dr. Who,” one of Britain’s most popular television shows.
They did not give details of the gap and said they would rectify it in the future.
Foy, 33, won a Golden Globe and two Screen Actors Guild awards for her nuanced portrayal of Britain’s monarch in the 1950s and 1960s.
Other actors will take on the roles of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip in season three of the show, as the characters age and the story moves into the 1970s.
The ongoing disparity between men and women is reflected in annual lists published by Forbes magazine. In 2017, Emma Stone topped the best-paid actress list with $26 million, while Mark Wahlberg was the highest paid man with $68 million in estimated annual earnings.
Wahlberg made news earlier this year when it was revealed that he was paid $1.5 million for reshoots on movie “All the Money in the World” while co-star Michelle Williams got $1,000.
Wahlberg later donated his salary to Time’s Up, the campaign against workplace sexual misconduct.

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Netflix pays its queen less than her consort on ‘The Crown’Claire Foy, Matt Smith ready to relinquish their ‘Crown’ https://ift.tt/2HEurus April 30, 2018 at 02:51PM

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Bizarre breakups: 6 strange divorce cases in the Middle East

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Mon, 2018-04-30 15:05

Got the hump

One Saudi couple’s marriage reportedly broke down when the wife said she liked her father's camel more than she liked her husband. According to local media, that off-hand joke ended the marriage as the husband took it way too seriously. Poignantly — and confusingly — the husband took his wife to her father's farm and made the camel witness the divorce.

Snapping point

Trust is, as a million frothy talk shows will tell you, the bedrock of any relationship. A groom in Saudi Arabia divorced his wife for ‘breach of trust’ two hours after they got married because she sent her friends pictures of the wedding ceremony on Snapchat. According to reports, the couple had agreed that they would not to share photos of their nuptials on social media, so the short-term husband claimed ‘breach of trust’ and had the marriage annulled.

Shaky foundation

Another short-lived marriage came to an end when, during the couple’s honeymoon in Dubai, the husband saw his bride without makeup for the first time. His spouse had apparently worn makeup and false eyelashes on all previous occasions they had met. So when she went for a swim, and emerged from the water sans makeup, the husband, according to the Daily Mail, could no longer recognize her. So… divorce. What else could any reasonable man have done?

Mr. Clean loses his luster

In 2017, a couple in Egypt reportedly filed for divorce just two weeks into their marriage because of a dispute over the division of household chores. So far, so married, right? However, in an interesting twist, the wife was upset because her 31-year-old husband — a small-business owner — insisted on taking care of domestic duties himself. The wife complained her husband did not give her “the freedom to handle my home affairs, I feel like a guest in a hotel.” We’re guessing the guy didn’t have much trouble finding someone else.

Can’t touch this

Last month, a UAE-based couple cut short their European honeymoon because the wife refused to consummate the marriage. Upon their return, they immediately filed for divorce in a Dubai court. The woman accused her husband of being tight-fisted, while he felt she was “extravagant,” Gulf News reported.

Mother-in-law no joke

This case didn’t actually end in divorce, but in 2017 an Egyptian man filed for it because his wife “neglected her family” while she was caring for her paralyzed mother. However, before a decision could be reached, the definition-challenged husband published an apology to his wife in a local newspaper, and their children helped convince the couple to reconcile.

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Manal shines as indie music gets night at the Dubai opera

Mon, 2018-04-30 14:35

DUBAI: Moroccan singer-songwriter Manal was one of several regional alternative music stars on the bill of DXBeats at Dubai Opera House on Saturday night, in front of an enthusiastic — although not full — house. 

UAE-based Syrian MC and singer Moh Flow kicked off the evening with his Drake-esque take on hip-hop. With his brother, producer Ayham Homsi, better known as AY, providing the often sparse instrumentation and beats, Moh Flow quickly got the crowd moving. It’s never easy being the opening act on a multi-artist lineup —especially when the show starts at 6.30 p.m. — but the pair put on a great start to the eclectic night.

Next up was Manal. Speaking to Arab News backstage after her set, the Moroccan artist said she’d been nervous beforehand.

“I was so stressed out, because people here don’t really know who I am,” she said. She needn’t have worried. From the mellow, acoustic start to her set, Manal had the audience hooked. She took the crowd through her days posting covers online before being discovered and taking her career to another level with her pop- and R&B-infused sound. The set built into a rowdier, emotion-fuelled performance culminating in what the singer described as her favorite track, “Taj.”

“It’s a feminist song,” she explained to Arab News. “It was my first attempt at rapping. I’m a singer-songwriter. I’d never rapped before. For this particular subject, I really wanted something strong. There are different aspects to the song, like sexual harassment, the difference between genders, my personal experience with the music industry, so yeah, for me it’s a very good song. I really like it.”

People in Morocco were “shocked” when they first heard Manal rap.

“They’re not used to these sounds in Morocco and the Arab world — especially for a girl,” she said. “But I’m going to try and do something different every time. Maybe I’ll do rap, maybe I’ll do trap, rock, pop. If I feel like singing a ballad, I’m just going to sing a ballad. But if I’m really angry about something, maybe I’m going to do rap or trap. It really depends on my mood.”

Following Manal at Dubai Opera House were Lebanese rock & roll band The Wanton Bishops. Frontman Nader Mansour wasted no time in trying to raise the energy levels in the auditorium. “Are you alive?” he asked. “Then act like it…”

The band’s blues-inspired take on rock has begun to incorporate some Oriental flourishes over the past year or so, and that has turned them from a very good but entirely Western-sounding act into something far more original. But they’ve lost none of the charismatic energy and stage presence that has helped them build an international audience. Once the engineers in a venue used to more staid music got the hang of a rockier sound, the Bishops showed how their many months on the road have honed their show, banging out a thrilling set.

The night then shifted gears again, as Iraqi-Canadian MC Narcy took the stage. The 35-year-old has plenty of onstage experience, and it showed here as he engaged the crowd’s mind and feet with his socially conscious old-school hip-hop.

Narcy was followed by acclaimed Lebanese singer Yasmine Hamdan, whose sensual, hypnotic set was greeted by the night’s loudest reception from the audience. With much of her music built around feedback-heavy guitar drones and electronic noise, Hamdan put on an atmospheric, theatrical performance that felt perfectly suited to the venue.

Egyptian ‘project’ Sharmoofers finished off the evening with a riotous reggae-and-funk-inspired set that backed up their belief that “music is the way to happiness.” The five-piece band brought infectious energy and humor to the stage, and left everyone with a smile on their face.

The regional alternative music scene’s first venture into mainstream territory in the UAE can go down as a qualified success, then. While the turnout was a little disappointing, with the venue half-full at most, the people who were there got to enjoy an event that showcased just how good some of the Arab world’s underground artists are in the kind of setting their talent deserves.

“I really think it’s important to support Arab artists and support different genres of music,” Manal said backstage. “So I really hope Dubai — and the Arab world — will be interested in doing more of these kind of shows.”

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Avengers opens with $630 mn, smashing global record

Author: 

AFP

Sun, 2018-04-29 18:27

ID: 

1525026863042895200

LOS ANGELES: “Avengers: Infinity War” took in $630 million in its first weekend, the highest global opening of all time, industry estimates showed on Sunday.
“The latest Marvel juggernaut... opened with $630M worldwide, making it the largest global weekend tally in the history of film, and this was done without China,” which has a later opening, industry tracker Exhibitor Relations said.
That topped “The Fate of the Furious,” the eighth installment of the high-octane action series starring Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson and Michelle Rodriquez that opened with more than $530 million globally in 2017.
“Infinity War,” which features more than two dozen superheroes fighting to save the universe, also broke the record for highest North American opening weekend, raking in $250 million at US and Canadian box offices.
That beat “The Force Awakens,” the seventh film in the long-running “Star Wars” space saga that made $248 million in its opening weekend in 2015.
“Infinity War” is the 19th film in the so-called Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), combining a whopping nine franchises and a cast list that reads like a who’s who of Hollywood’s A-list.
Robert Downey Jr dons the red and gold metal suit once again as Iron Man; Benedict Cumberbatch is Doctor Strange; Scarlett Johansson is back as Black Widow; and Australia’s Chris Hemsworth is Thor.
Also back for more? Black Panther — the Marvel breakout of the year after the massive opening of the standalone pic in February, Captain America, the Hulk, Spider-Man, Hawkeye, the Guardians of the Galaxy and their assorted allies.
Their mission? To prevent the powerful purple alien Thanos (Josh Brolin) from destroying the universe.
“We took a picture of every single person whose character has been in the MCU. We hung it up on a wall all around us,” co-director Anthony Russo, who helms the pic with his brother Joe, told reporters ahead of the film’s release.
“We basically spent months and months and months talking about where we could go with each character, how we could draw them through the story,” he added.
“Every one of these characters... has been on a very specific journey through the MCU to arrive at this moment.”
This is the third “Avengers” film, with the final, untitled saga set for next year.
An important source of inspiration is the Marvel canon — the storylines developed over decades in the original comic books.
“Infinity War” is drawn from the “Infinity Gauntlet” series of the early 1990s.
“It starts with those comics and us beginning to rip pages out or rip copies of pages out and put them on the walls and start to be inspired,” explains Kevin Feige, the president of Marvel Studios, which is owned by Disney.
“It’s a North Star for us as we lead these giant productions into reality.”
In the movie’s trailer, Gamora (Zoe Saldana) — Thanos’s daughter, of sorts — explains that the villain believes that if he annihilates half of the universe, he can save the other half.
He needs the so-called Infinity Stones to do it. So, the heroes need to keep him from getting them.
The film cost an eye-watering $300 million to make, according to Hollywood media.

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Riyadh film-lovers get ready for ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ release in the KingdomMarvel stuns fans with giant Avengers gathering https://ift.tt/2jhVTQ0 April 29, 2018 at 08:05PM

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‘Knowledge is Bulletproof’: A bulletproof book for education

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Sun, 2018-04-29 16:46

ISLAMABAD: “We are hoping to spread awareness of the importance of education, to inspire and motivate girls to go to school regardless of hurdles, to emphasize the strength of Pakistani women who choose education and to acknowledge the resilience of Pakistanis. Profits from book sales will go to charities benefiting girls’ education in Pakistan,” Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy told Arab News.
On World Book Day Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy’s SOC Outreach, a community engagement platform started by the award-winning director, announced they were releasing a novella written by Sanam Maher titled “Knowledge is Bulletproof,” and that the book would be bulletproof as well.
The 150-page story of Ramzan and Riaz, the other two schoolgirls who were shot alongside Malala Yousafzai and who today are tireless activists for education is bound in bulletproof materials, the first book of its kind.
Maher joined the project because of its unique premise and the story it promised to tell. This is the journalist’s first foray into book publishing, alongside her own first finished book.
“I got involved in the project when the artists behind it approached me with the idea. They had a very clear vision of what they hoped the campaign would achieve, and when they told me they wanted to work on something about the two girls who were also injured in the attack on Malala in 2012, I was immediately intrigued,” said Maher.
“I hadn’t seen much about the girls in the media -– even though, as I later discovered, they had been covered quite a bit in the British press -– and I relished the opportunity to tell their story. We have read and heard so much about Malala, and rightly so, but covering Shazia and Kainat’s story gave us the chance to look at Malala’s story from a slightly different perspective: these two girls were witnesses to an event that really brought home the brutality of the Pakistani Taliban to so many people, both within the country and abroad. I wondered what it would be like to be just slightly removed from the center of a story with such far-reaching interest and implications, just inches away from the girl we cannot stop looking at and wanting to know more about: Malala.”
The opportunity gave Maher the chance to meet the two attack survivors and understand the story known worldwide from their perspectives.
“I traveled to Mingora to meet Shazia and Kainat, and their families, with the photographer Insiya Syed. Shazia and Kainat were very keen to have their story told. We met them at a time that was stressful for them –- their visas to travel to the UK for further education had been rejected and they were waiting for word on their appeals -– but they were very generous with their time. Don’t worry, their story ultimately has a happy ending, and it was so moving to be there at a moment when their lives were going to change. I’m so excited for them to read the book and to hear their thoughts on it.”
In collaboration with BBDO (advertising agency) they plan to print a number of the books and have the proceeds of the sales go toward rebuilding schools in Northern Pakistan where areas were particularly affected by the presence of the Taliban.
“The initial thought was to tell the inspiring story of Shazia and Kainat, and how they braved it through the violence and continued to fight for girls’ education. The design of the book cover being bulletproof was a natural and relevant extension of the message ‘Knowledge is Bulletproof’,” said Chinoy.
“The goal was to be impactful not only with the story that had to be told, but also with the design of the book itself. It made perfect sense to use material that is symbolic of the brave resistance that the girls so admirably demonstrated. To show that knowledge is indeed bulletproof, it was thus ideal to design an actual bulletproof cover for the book,” said Maher.
This book will be the first of its kind, a novel encased in bulletproof materials to enable those reading it or encountering it to understand the message of the pages clearly.
“I thought it was a wonderfully impactful way to get people to sit up and take notice,” continues Maher. “Once you meet the girls, and so many other girls and women in Swat and other parts of the country who are all striving to complete their education despite the odds stacked against them, the message that the book’s design carries becomes even more important. The book’s design and the idea at its heart — it cannot and must not be enough for Pakistani women to rely on luck or chance or privilege in order to receive an education that will carry them forward — came together beautifully. It was a pleasure to be involved in a project where every element of the final product was so thoughtful and considered the nuances of Shazia and Kainat’s story.”
And though SOC Outreach, Chinoy and Maher hope the campaign and the book bring them results to continue their good work, there is also hope for Maher that these projects are needed less and less.
“I do hope that people will be interested in the campaign and there will be many, many more projects dealing with the subject of access to education, particularly for women in Pakistan. I also hope that there will be a time when the need for such projects will be obsolete.”

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Malala makes first trip to Pakistan since Taliban attackMalala Yousafzai lauds feminism, equality at WEF in Davos https://ift.tt/2JEM0XH April 29, 2018 at 03:17PM

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Brazilian beauties take Beirut by storm

Author: 

Arab News

Sun, 2018-04-29 15:08

ID: 

1525003740600550400

DUBAI: Brazilian fashion icons Camila Coelho and Izabel Goulart took Beirut by storm over the weekend, appearing at a fashion and beauty event in Lebanon’s capital.
Jamalouki Con, which ran from April 26-28, gathered make-up and fashion aficionados from across the region — and the world — for a series of panel discussions, forums and meet and greets.
Boston-based Coelho is best known for her “MakeUpByCamila” YouTube channel, which she launched in Portuguese in June 2010. A little over a year later, she launched the English-language version of the channel and now has over 3.3 million subscribers across the two, along with her more than six million Instagram followers.
Goulart is a former Victoria’s Secret model.

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https://ift.tt/2jketHn April 29, 2018 at 01:13PM

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Book Review: Exploring Van Gogh’s obsession with the great outdoors

Author: 

Lisa Kaaki

Sun, 2018-04-29 15:01

ID: 

1525003360790522200

BEIRUT: “Van Gogh and the Seasons” by Sjraar Heugten is based on an exhibition held at the National Gallery of Victoria in Australia and celebrates the artist’s connection with the natural world throughout his career.
The sumptuous coffee table book is a work of art in and of itself, but it is not light on text. Rather, the book features excerpts from the artist’s prolific correspondence. The Dutch post-Impressionist artist is one of the most famous painters in the world, but he was also a gifted letter writer as the book shows.
Readers can expect picturesque scenes of Arles, a town in the south of France, which Van Gogh described in a letter to his sister as boasting “a landscape (that) takes on tons of gold of every shade — green-gold, yellow-gold, red-gold, ditto bronze, copper. In short, from lemon-yellow to the full yellow.”
Speaking of yellow, it would be near impossible to collect together Van Gogh’s work without a nod to his iconic sunflowers. The artist painted several versions of his famous vase of subjects, the most well-known of which depicts yellow flowers in a yellow jug against a yellow wall — a fountain of colors brimming with ochres, golds and shades of corn.
This fascinating book explores Van Gogh’s captivation with nature and seasonal changes and takes the reader on an educational journey into why the master painter worked the way he did and what inspired him.
“I even work in the wheat fields at midday, in the full heat of the sun without any shade whatever. And there, I revel in it like a cicada,” he wrote in a letter in the summer of 1888.
According to the book, he took great joy in working out in the elements and did so until his death on July 29, 1890. He was 37-years-old and had sold just one painting, a far cry from the fame he was to gain posthumously.
This beautifully presented book allows the reader to explore a subject that has not yet been dealt with in the world of mainstream publishing — the impact of nature on the work of one of the greatest painters of the 19th century.

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https://ift.tt/2r8trDz April 29, 2018 at 01:06PM

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Karlie Kloss and Ellie Golding hit the dunes in Jordan

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KP develops its first Cultural Heritage Trail at full swing

Sat, 2018-04-28 21:44

PESHAWAR: Work on the Cultural Heritage Trail project, the first of its kind in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, is in its final stages and authorities say it would increase the value of property and businesses manifold in the area.
The Heritage Trail, which starts from Ghanta Ghar, crosses the Bazaar-e-Kalan and finishes at Gor Gatri archaeological complex – presenting a beautiful trail of preserved cultural heritage along a 450-meter stretch.
Ghanta Ghar, originally known as the Cunningham Clock Tower, was named after British governor Sir George Cunningham, and was constructed in 1900 in commemoration of the diamond jubilee of the Queen Empress.
The end point of the trail – the Gor Gatri complex – is home to an artisan village, a museum, an excavation site dating back 2,300 years, a Hindu temple from the 17th century, and a fire brigade with two vintage fire engines from the British rule in 1912.
It is also said that Gor Gatri was once used by Italian mercenary General Paolo Avaitabile as his abode during the Sikh rule in Peshawar.
Nawazud Din, a research officer at the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, told Arab News that once the PKR 315 million ($2.72 million) project is completed, the heritage trail will be opened only to pedestrians and vehicular traffic would be diverted to other routes.
“The beautification project is the first of its kind in KP’s history,” he said.
“Four different contractors are working on a sub-project each, namely pavement of roads, footpaths and beautification, laying underground lines for water and gas, electricity work and construction on about 70 buildings along the heritage trail.” 
The buildings along the trail are reconstructed in the style of old Peshawar city’s architecture dating back three to four centuries.
He said the project started in December and was expected to be completed by April. However, it got delayed and is now likely to be completed in May.
“There are 16 more patches or trails that would be developed on this pattern in different parts of Peshawar once this pilot project is completed,” he added.
However, traders and businessmen around the trail complain of loss incurred because of the construction work, for which the government has vowed to compensate.
KP government spokesman Shaukat Yousafzai, also a lawmaker of the KP Assembly, told Arab News that the government would provide each shopkeeper of Bazaar-e-Kalan near the trail a sum of PKR 30,000 for four months since their businesses have been adversely affected during work on the project.
Real estate dealers note a hike in property prices near the trail.
“The rates of property are increasing and according to our estimates, the rate may double with the completion of the project. The rents of shops are also increasing,” said real estate dealer Naushad Khan.
He, however, added that the residents would have to park their cars outside the trail premises as it will be used only by pedestrians.
“This would also boom the business of parking lots because people would need them,” he added.

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https://ift.tt/2Fpf7vL April 28, 2018 at 07:50PM

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UK secret documents: Sadat intended to step down prior to assassination

Author: 

ARAB NEWS

Fri, 2018-04-27 18:23

ID: 

1524843112534559600

LONDON: The late Egyptian president Anwar Sadat intended to relinquish power but he was assassinated before he could do so, secret British documents reveal.
A report sent by the British ambassador in Cairo Sir Michael Weir in 1981 that the BBC has obtained states that Sadat was very serious about his desire to resign.
The late president expressed his intention to retire on April 25, 1981 (Sinai liberation day), but was extremely popular and this could have influenced his decision not to resign, Weir wrote in his report.
The British ambassador sent his report 23 days after Sadat’s assassination and stated that he met the late Egyptian president five months before he died. During the meeting, a prominent British leader tried to persuade Sadat to make another visit to Jerusalem.
According to the report, Sir Michael Weir, three British military attachés, and their wives attended the military parade in during which Sadat was assassinated.

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https://ift.tt/2FkWucg April 27, 2018 at 04:32PM

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Saudi Arabia getting region’s first 4DX theaters

Fri, 2018-04-27 15:34

ISLAMABAD: South Korea-based CJ 4DPLEX has signed a new partnership with Cinemacity to open three locations in Riyadh and other major Saudi cities by the end of 2018, according to Variety.
Saudi Gazette reported that Al-Qasr Mall will be the first CJ 4DPLEX multiplex in Riyadh, featuring 19 screens. Cinemacity’s parent company, Xclusive Cinemas SAL Holding, says it will operate 116 screens by the end of 2018 in five countries including Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia.
4DX is like 3D on steroids. It is an interactive experience, one in which audiences’ seats move along with the on-screen action auditoriums have a variety of synchronized special effects, such as rain, wind, fog, and various scents, according to the report.
“With this upcoming debut in Saudi Arabia and further expansion in this region with Cinemacity, we will reach to the Saudi’s untapped market and lead cinema revolution in progressing immersive cinema into the future,” Byung Hwan Choi, CEO of CJ 4DPLEX, said in a statement.
Earlier this week, CJ 4DPLEX announced it was adding 145 4DX screens around the world through a partnership with Cineworld, the parent company of Regal.

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https://ift.tt/2I2mZpG April 27, 2018 at 01:39PM

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Prince Louis Arthur Charles: British royals William and Kate name their baby

Author: 

Reuters

Fri, 2018-04-27 10:52

ID: 

1524826968103089200

LONDON: Britain’s Prince William and his wife Kate have named their newborn son Louis Arthur Charles, who will be known as His Royal Highness Prince Louis of Cambridge, Kensington Palace said on Friday.
The prince, who is fifth in line to the British throne, was born at 1001 GMT on April 23 weighing 8 lbs 7oz.
Louis is William’s fourth name as well as being that of Earl Mountbatten, to whom William’s father Prince Charles was particularly close. Mountbatten was the uncle of Prince Philip, 96, great-grandfather of the new prince.
Charles, heir to the throne, has said it was a great joy to have another grandchild.
William and Kate now have three children: Louis joins Charlotte, 2, and George, 4.
For a boy, the leading bets were for Albert, Arthur, Alexander, James and Philip. The betting odds indicated just a 5 percent chance of Louis.

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Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge gives birth to baby boyUK’s Prince William and wife Kate expecting third child — palace https://ift.tt/2FmgtXX April 27, 2018 at 12:08PM

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In emotional reunion, Spielberg revisits ‘Schindler’s List’

Author: 

AP

Fri, 2018-04-27 (All day)

ID: 

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NEW YORK: Steven Spielberg says no film has affected him the way “Schindler’s List” did.
Spielberg, Liam Neeson, Ben Kingsley and others reunited for a 25th anniversary screening of “Schindler’s List” at the Tribeca Film Festival on Thursday, in an evening that had obvious meaning to Spielberg and the hushed, awed crowd that packed New York’s Beacon Theater. In a Q&A following the film, Spielberg said it was the first time he had watched “Schindler’s List” with an audience since it was released in 1993.
“I have never felt since ‘Schindler’s List’ the kind of pride and satisfaction and sense of real, meaningful accomplishment — I haven’t felt that in any film post-’Schindler’s List,’” Spielberg said.
The reunion was a chance for Spielberg and the cast to reflect on the singular experience of making an acknowledged masterwork that time has done little to dull the horror of, nor its necessity. “It feels like five years ago,” Spielberg said of making the film.
Spielberg shot the film in Krakow, Poland, in black-and-white and without storyboards, instead often using hand-held cameras to create a more documentary-like realism. Neeson remembered Spielberg running with a camera and, on the fly, directing him and Kingsley down Krakow streets. “It was exciting. It was dangerous and unforgettable,” Neeson said.
“Schindler’s List,” made for just $22 million (Spielberg declined a pay check), grossed $321 million worldwide and won seven Academy Awards, including best picture and best director. It also did much to educate the American public on the Holocaust. After the film, Spielberg established the Shoah Foundation, which took the testimony of 52,000 Holocaust survivors.
More needs to be done for Holocaust education, Spielberg said: “It’s not a pre-requisite to graduate high school, as it should be. It should be part of the social science, social studies curriculum in every public high school in this country.”
Making “Schindler’s List” was a profound, emotional and fraught experience for many of those involved. Kingsley recalled confronting a man for anti-Semitism during production. Spielberg said swastikas were sometimes painted overnight. Recreating scenes like those in the Krakow ghetto and at Auschwitz were, Spielberg said, very difficult for most of those involved. Two young Israeli actors, he said, had breakdowns after shooting a shower scene at the concentration camp.
“That aesthetic distance we always talk about between audience and experience? That was gone. And that was trauma,” said Spielberg. “There was trauma everywhere. And we captured the trauma. You can’t fake that. (The scene) where everyone takes off their clothes was probably the most traumatic day of my entire career — having to see what it meant to strip down to nothing and then completely imagine this could be your last day on earth.
“There were whole sections that go beyond anything I’ve ever experienced or seen people in front of the camera experience,” the 71-year-old filmmaker added.
Spielberg actually released two movies in 1993. “Jurassic Park” came out in June, and “Schindler’s List” followed in November. While he was shooting in Poland, Spielberg made several weekly satellite phone calls with the special effects house Industrial Light & Magic to go over Tyrannosaurus Rex shots — a distraction he abhorred.
“It built a tremendous amount of anger and resentment that I had to do this, that I actually had to go from what you experienced to dinosaurs chasing jeeps,” Spielberg told the audience. “I was very grateful later in June, though. But until then, it was a burden. This was all I cared about.”
“Schindler’s List” was a redefining film for Spielberg, who up until then was mostly considered an “entertainer,” associated with fantasy and escapism. Since, he has largely gravitated toward more dramatic and historical material like “Amistad,” “Saving Private Ryan,” “Munich,” “Lincoln” and last year’s “The Post.”
But Spielberg initially shied away from “Schindler’s List,” scripted by Steven Zaillian and based on Thomas Keneally’s novel “Schindler’s Arkansas”. He urged Roman Polanski, whose mother was killed at Auschwitz, to make it. Martin Scorsese was once attached to direct.
Yet the making of “Schindler’s List” prompted an awakening for Spielberg, who has said his “Jewish life came pouring back into my heart.” On Thursday, the director said he wanted to make the film about “the banality of the deepest evil” and “stay on the march to murder, itself.”
To keep his sanity while shooting in Poland, he watched “Saturday Night Live” on Betamax and relied on weekly calls from Robin Williams.
“He would call me on schedule and he would do 15 minutes of stand-up on the phone,” said Spielberg. “I would laugh hysterically because I had to release so much. But the way Robin is on the telephone, he would always hang up on you on the loudest, best laugh you’d give him.”

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Rickshaw pullers fade from India’s streets

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AFP

Thu, 2018-04-26 07:13

ID: 

1524743748263435900

KOLKATA: Mohammad Maqbool Ansari puffs and sweats as he pulls his rickshaw through Kolkata’s teeming streets, a veteran of a gruelling trade long outlawed in most parts of the world and slowly fading from India too.
Kolkata is one of the last places on earth where pulled rickshaws still feature in daily life, but Ansari is among a dying breed still eking a living from this back-breaking labor.
The 62-year-old has been pulling rickshaws for nearly four decades, hauling cargo and passengers by hand in drenching monsoon rains and stifling heat that envelops India’s heaving eastern metropolis.
Their numbers are declining as pulled rickshaws are relegated to history, usurped by tuk tuks, Kolkata’s signature yellow taxis and modern conveniences like Uber.
Ansari cannot imagine life for Kolkata’s thousands of rickshaw-wallahs if the job ceased to exist.
“If we don’t do it, how will we survive? We can’t read or write. We can’t do any other work. Once you start, that’s it. This is our life,” he tells AFP.
Sweating profusely on a searing hot day, his singlet soaked and face dripping, Ansari skilfully weaves his rickshaw through crowded markets and bumper-to-bumper traffic.
Wearing simple shoes and a chequered sarong, the only real giveaway of his age is his long beard, snow white and frizzy, and a face weathered from a lifetime plying this disappearing trade.
Twenty minutes later, he stops, wiping his face on a rag. The passenger offers him a glass of water — a rare blessing — and hands a note over.
“When it’s hot, for a trip that costs 50 rupees ($0.75) I’ll ask for an extra 10 rupees. Some will give, some don’t,” he said.
“But I’m happy with being a rickshaw puller. I’m able to feed myself and my family.”

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Rickshaws to jump start India’s all-electric driveEgypt’s auto rickshaw gets a new, home-grown challenger https://ift.tt/2JvOB6h April 26, 2018 at 07:04PM

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Riyadh film-lovers get ready for ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ release in the Kingdom

Author: 

daniel fountain

Thu, 2018-04-26 18:45

ID: 

1524758020414751700

RIYADH: Once more a Marvel movie will open to the Saudi public at the new AMC cinema in Riyadh’s King Abdullah Financial District.
Only this time, it is a new release.
“Avengers: Infinity War” is expected to set box-office records when it opens in movie theaters around the world on Thursday, and Saudi Arabia will be a participant in this worldwide phenomenon.
It is the first new release to be screened in a public cinema in 35 years; on April 18, Marvel’s “Black Panther” made history as the first movie to open in the new cinema.

Three screenings of the movie Avengers will take place during the weekend for the public: at 12.20pm, 3.40 p.m. and 8.20 pm.
Tickets can be bought online at https://cinema.noon.com/en-sa/avengers for 75SR.
They are selling out pretty quick, so get yours while they last.

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Cinema Is Back in Saudi

Saudi Arabia

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Marvel stuns fans with giant Avengers gatheringMarvel creates Chinese superheroes to draw Asia fans https://ift.tt/2r2f8S1 April 26, 2018 at 04:53PM

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Sophia Al-Maria wins inaugural Dunya Contemporary Art Prize

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Thu, 2018-04-26 15:17

DUBAI: Chicago’s Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) launched its biennial Dunya Contemporary Art Prize last Monday. The first winner is Qatari-American artist, writer and filmmaker Sophia Al-Maria.

The Dunya prize is presented to a mid-career artist from the Middle East or its diaspora. Its goal, according to a press release, is “to foster contemporary artists from the Middle East whose work is rigorous, challenging and unconventional.”

Al-Maria certainly fits that description. The artist coined the term “Gulf Futurism” to describe her take on the social shifts that have taken place due to dramatic economic growth in the GCC.

Al-Maria told the Chicago Tribune she was “gobsmacked” by the award (and the $100,000 she receives as its winner, along with an exhibition at the MCA and a catalog) and said it could enable her to complete projects that had faltered in the past due to a lack of funding. She also suggested that her focus may now shift from the Gulf to “some of the questions about America that I’ve been thinking about,” as she feels she is “no longer concerned” with Gulf Futurism as a concept.

“My whole life in a way is a project of, I guess, moving away from designated cultural identities and moving it onto some other plane where one can attempt to not be, perhaps, a Middle Eastern artist or an American artist or a Qatari artist and just be someone who is working,” she told the newspaper.

Al-Maria was selected as the recipient of the prize by “an international jury of experts in the field of contemporary Middle Eastern art,” the MCA said. The jury was led by Omar Kholeif, MCA Manilow senior curator and director of global initiatives.

“Al-Maria’s practice illustrates the diversity of ways that artists are working in the twenty-first century,” the jury wrote in a statement. “Her critical insights into contemporary culture, examining histories of science fiction, feminism, and the global socio-political condition, feel more urgent now than ever.”

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Syrian ‘Big Brother’ finalist Kaysar Dadour becomes unlikely hero in Brazil

Thu, 2018-04-26 14:47

BELO HORIZONTE: On an otherwise quiet Saturday morning in April, a shaded street in southeastern Brazil hummed to the sound of Middle Eastern music. The city of Belo Horizonte was hosting its first Festival of Syrian and Lebanese Food and Culture and the Brazilians were embracing it wholeheartedly — much like they have embraced a 28 year-old Syrian refugee for the past three months.

Aleppo-born Kaysar Dadour sought refuge in Brazil in June 2014. In early April, he became the first foreigner to reach the final of the country’s hit reality TV show “Big Brother Brasil.” He eventually finished in second place, racked up more than 2.5 million followers on Instagram, and walked away with US$44,000. He said he plans to use the prize money to extract his parents from the ongoing war in his native country.

A loud, smiley extrovert who changed his hairstyle on a near-weekly basis and charmed viewers with his occasional mispronunciation of Portuguese words, Kaysar worked as a waiter before entering the Big Brother house. He was accused of being disingenuous by some of the other 19 housemates, who insisted nobody could be so happy and energetic all of the time — especially someone who claimed he had lost a girlfriend and an uncle to war and was forced to sleep on the streets in Ukraine after fleeing Aleppo in 2011.

Yet to those fans enjoying shwarmas, kibe and esfihas at the food festival, Kaysar proved a positive force, providing a different perspective of a situation they knew only from watching and reading the news.

“I voted for him to win,” said Brigitte Bacha, a dance instructor wearing a white t-shirt with “Peace in Syria” emblazoned across the front. “It is so important that he was on the show, because he showed the reality of the situation there. It was obvious he has a good character. He works hard and has integrated himself into our country. He showed that refugees are just like you and me, but they find themselves in a bad place just now.”

Lili Resende, a Brazilian attending with a Romanian friend, said she had not watched much of the show, but had been supporting Kaysar so that he could afford to save his family from war. “The perception of refugees here is already very good, but I was supporting him and wanting him to win because he and his family have suffered a lot,” said Resende, who shares an apartment building with various Syrians and helps them sell native food products at the local market. 

Brazil has long welcomed refugees from the Middle East. An influx of Lebanese in the late 19th Century resulted in Brazil being home to more Lebanese than any country outside Lebanon. More than 3,000 Syrians have reportedly arrived in recent years. Organizers of Saturday’s festival said they had expected around 3,000 visitors throughout the day, but the final headcount came in at 7,040. Entry was free, but each guest had to donate one kilogram of non-perishable food to a local charity. 

“Arab families gather together to eat, so we thought why not bring together the Brazilian people to eat Arab food together,” said the Consul of Syria for Minas Gerais state, Emir Cadar. As the smell of koftas and shish barak wafted through the air, flyers for Arabic lessons were distributed, vendors sold handmade chessboards, dresses and shisha pipes, and belly dancers swayed and jolted to live Middle Eastern music. 

“We dream of an end to war,” said Cadar — a statement in contrast to the official line that his government broadcast earlier in the day in which it was claimed “the Syrian people are happy” and that the country “is a victim of lies and fake news.”

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Mohamed Salah plays the reluctant hero after matchwinning performance against CityRashid Khan emerges as new hero for Sunrisers Hyderabad — it’s just a shame the ground was less than a third full https://ift.tt/2I1rPnn April 26, 2018 at 01:11PM

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Gili Lankanfushi: A gourmet getaway in the Maldives

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Thu, 2018-04-26 14:11

DUBAI: The Maldives is one of those destinations that nature has bestowed with an embarrassment of riches. And what nature has given, numerous resorts have taken and perfected with their ultra-luxury offerings. Which is what makes choosing exactly where to go that much more difficult. And while each island has its own special charm, anyone seeking a gastronomic experience should look no further than Gili Lankanfushi.

This intimate resort, located a 20-minute speedboat ride away from Male airport in the north Male atoll, is home to just 45 over-water villas. Everything on the island ­— and beyond, as several of the villas are perched on stilts offshore — from the villas to the restaurants and the spa, is done up in a rustic-chic style, making for a pared-back, but still luxury, setting.

The inviting villas, complete with direct access to the crystal clear lagoons; curated collection of activities including snorkeling and sunset cruises; and Insta-perfect spots — think idyllic hammocks swinging between drooping palms — are temptation enough for tourists, but it’s the gourmet offerings that make Gili Lankanfushi a must for gourmands. And with a sustainable ethos at its heart — much of the food is created using local fish, and produce from the resort’s own organic vegetable garden — you can feel good about yourself while you’re eating too much.

We’d recommend taking the Gili Tasting Journey as soon as possible after your arrival. It takes you through the island’s main dining destinations for a teaser of what each has to offer, through a mini course and beverage at each, led by the resident sommelier Fabrice Blazquez who colors the evening with enjoyable banter.

A typical evening could start with canapés at the over-water bar, the perfect sundowner spot, before moving on to the spectacular underground wine cellar, built around a tree trunk that washed up during the 2006 tsunami — a great example of how this sustainably minded resort works with the environment, rather than imposing on it. This intimate space boasts organic features and pebble floors (you’re provided heated foot pads, as everyone is expected to walk around barefoot around the island, in line with their ‘no news, no shoes’ policy) which, combined with the modernist glass and metal, make it feel as though you’re walking into an art installation.

Here you can try intricate creations such as octopus with mango salsa, and beetroot jelly with goat’s cheese mousse, after which you are led into the leafy surrounds of the organic vegetable garden. As the sunset casts a magical glow over the rustic wood ‘leaf table’ you can sample some traditional Maldivian smoked fish snacks.
You then make your way to Fini Foni, a cute ice-cream parlor which, for this tour, offers foie-gras macarons. The evening ends with sushi and sake at specialty Japanese restaurant By The Sea.

The breakfast offering, too, is superlative. And best enjoyed beachside. The morning buffet offers a range of regional delicacies, including Mas huni (tuna and coconut served with flatbread), while the a la carte menu features eggs to order — we’d recommend the Maldivian spicy omelet with tuna and curry leaves. Alternatively, keep it light and healthy with fruits, smoothies, and detoxifying spa beverages.

Personalization is key to the Gili Lankanfushi experience. Each guest’s stay is managed by a private butler, resulting in bespoke dining experiences. The island is dotted with picturesque spots perfect for romantic meals, whether a gazebo tucked away in the tropical jungle, a secluded slither of beach, the outdoor jungle cinema, or the tiny One Palm island just offshore. Pick your spot and a personal chef cooks up a three-course meal of your choice for a magical experience.

Or, if you fancy staying in and enjoying the plush décor of your villa, just order in and chill. Unusually for a resort, ordering in-villa doesn’t cost a premium. Try dinner on your upstairs terrace, after which, weather permitting, you can even sleep out under the stars.

And once the guilt sets in, there are plenty of water-based activities — diving, fishing, surfing, sailing, waterskiing — to help you work off a few pounds.

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Maldives detains, deports international lawyers sent to study emergency ruleDubai hotels get boost from Saudi school holidays in March https://ift.tt/2HyK2az April 26, 2018 at 12:35PM

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Autobots Roll Out! — transforming robot unveiled in Japan

Author: 

Reuters

Thu, 2018-04-26 10:58

ID: 

1524740863143207800

TOKYO: A Transformers-style, humanoid robot that can shape shift into a sports car in about 60 seconds was unveiled in Japan on Wednesday.
The “J-deite RIDE” robot is the brainchild of Kenji Ishida, CEO of Brave Robotics and a fan of anime movies featuring robots that could transform or combine with each other.
“I grew up believing that robots had to be capable of such things, which became my motivation to develop this robot,” Ishida told Reuters Television.
The blue and white robot is 3.7-meters (12 feet) tall and can carry two passengers as it transforms into a car or humanoid form.
Some people may view the robot as an “expensive toy,” but it was intended to inspire others, Ishida said.
The RIDE was co-developed with Asratec, a robot consulting firm, and amusement ride manufacturer Sansei Technologies.

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Muse: Nour Hage talks self-expression and serial killers

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Thu, 2018-04-26 13:40

 

My parents are definitely the biggest influence on my personality and philosophy. We were always careful with waste, for environmental and financial reasons. One of the things that I’m thankful for is that they never let us spend money on meaningless things. From very young, I was aware of the value of money and the value of everything I use. That’s why my brand always has a sustainable side to it. I always try to inflict less harm on the environment.

I always admire people that go against the stream and stand for what they are doing, whether that is professionally or personally.

I think the most fundamental difference between men and women (I’m generalizing here) is that women tend to be very careful with their decision making and think things through, while men tend to go with their first instincts; much more daring but also much more risky. I think the perfect balance is to have those two facets in a relationship and in a professional situation.

There’s this perception that some people are so fundamentally different that it’s impossible to solve our differences. I think that’s lazy. Everything is solvable.

Some people think this is a bit worrying, but I love reading about serial killers. I have this big obsession. It’s curiosity; I want to know the why, the how, and the why of the how.

What people wear is how they want others to perceive them; they’re trying to put a message out there. Even if it’s just a t-shirt and jeans, you’re still saying you’re someone who likes to keep things simple. So for me the ultimate form of expression is designing clothes. It just feels very rewarding. There’s this indescribable feeling when I look at my completed collection for the first time.

The school I went to was one of the most boring and strict schools in Lebanon. Everybody dressed the same. I wanted to stand out, wanted to look different. I started to wear these strange DIY outfits I’d cobble together. I was so bored on a daily basis, both visually and mentally, that I felt the need to start experimenting. So I guess you could say that boredom was my major inspiration to start designing. More people should allow themselves to get bored these days.

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Gulf filmmakers react to DIFF’s uncertain future with both sadness and hope

Author: 

William Mullally

Thu, 2018-04-26 11:46

ID: 

1524732444562584100

NEW YORK: When the Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) recently announced that it was canceling what would have been its 15th edition in 2018, promising to relaunch the festival as an event once every two years with a greater focus on regional films in 2019, it was met with disappointment by film fans throughout the region.

Though the festival was a cinema-goer’s dream for 14 years, it was perhaps most significant to the Middle East’s filmmakers, for whom the festival was an essential part of the development of the region’s film landscape. For the leading filmmakers in the region, the news has cast uncertainty on what was a guiding light for the industry.

“All I can say at this stage is that it’s sad news,” says British-Emirati filmmaker Ali F. Mostafa, whose 2009 film “City of Life” was one of the high watermarks in the history of festival.

“I was quite shocked, I didn’t see it coming. It was quite devastating because it’s been the same management for the last 14 years. Kudos to them. They kept an amazing brand together. They created a brand that no one knew and now everybody knows. That speaks big volumes especially to DIFF’s chairman, Abdulhamid Juma,” says Nayla Al Khajja, CEO of Nayla al Khajja Films and winner of DIFF’s Muhr Emirati — Special Jury Award in 2015 for her film “The Neighbours.”

Filmmaker Faisal Hashmi, founder of Dubai’s Hashmic House Films, is concerned that the new schedule will mean fewer opportunities for the region’s talent to develop and shine.

“It means that filmmakers from the region now have half the amount of chances to showcase their films on a screen in the region. Half the opportunities to network with other creative professionals and foster new collaborations with them. Half the opportunities for them to watch the work of other peers and learn from it,” says Hashmi.

Al Khajja is unsure that the new schedule will allow the festival to compete with other festivals worldwide.

“No film festival in the world operates that way. You could lose momentum. What if you have a film that could potentially be an Oscar-nominated film for the UAE but that year there’s no festival? That person could end up losing out,” says Al KHajja.

Hashmi would support a more regionally focused festival that forgoes the big international screenings of films such as “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” which premiered at DIFF in 2015.

“I’m all for ditching the red carpet and the more glamorous aspects of the festival if that helps bring down the cost. That’s not what a film festival is about anyway,” says Hashmi.

Al KHajja disagrees, believing that bringing in Hollywood A-listers helped connect Middle Eastern filmmakers with top talent.

“Some people say it’s glitz and glamor and PR, but it’s not. That’s how we meet international producers, that’s how we network, and that’s how we have access to these people. The festival has been an incredible platform for us to go and meet that caliber of people.”

The biggest question for Hashmi is whether this will lead to increased funding for Middle Eastern filmmakers.

“If removing an international festival means a marked improvement in support for funding and exhibiting regional cinema, then that’s a trade-off I would be okay with,” says Hashmi.

“I really hope that whoever takes over in the future, the management should keep it to the same level, add to it and do not subtract from it. You have a solid brand, and you don’t want that brand to start shaking,” says Al KHajja.

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https://ift.tt/2r6ooUr April 26, 2018 at 07:56AM

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