Actresses pressured to undress onscreen, British star says

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Mon, 2018-12-31 22:21

LONDON: Female actors are facing increasing pressure to strip off for “pornographic” television roles, British star Dominic West said.

He praised the #MeToo campaign against harassment but said treatment of women on the small screen has “taken a big step back” over the last 20 years in an interview with the Radio Times magazine published on Friday.

“Television … has become more pornographic and the burden of that falls squarely on young women,” he said.

“The parts young actresses get, particularly pretty ones, involve violent rape.”

His comments come after the #MeToo campaign last year which saw women came forward with a slew of allegations against Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein, and others, in a scandal that sparked a wider global debate over sexual abuse and harassment.

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Mira Sorvino urges #MeToo to do more than ‘name and shame’Bollywood director denies #MeToo claims, threatens filmmakers http://bit.ly/2CGM7RQ December 31, 2018 at 08:23PM

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Bill Gates’ daughter visits Cairo with Egyptian boyfriend

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Experience London luxury at The Langham

Author: 

roya almously

ID: 

1546256499093079100

Mon, 2018-12-31 14:41

DUBAI: The holiday season in London is magical. The festive lights, the cool crisp winter air, and the food — oh, the glorious food.
Staying in the UK capital during this time is, simply, a holiday must-do. A trip you should book at least once in your life. And if you want to experience truly authentic British hospitality in London, then it doesn’t get more fancy than The Langham hotel.

Located in the West End — amidst Mayfair, Marylebone, Soho and Fitzrovia — the five-star property is overflowing with history. Built between 1863 and 1865, the then-most-modern hotel in England was opened by then-Prince of Wales, Edward VII. The Langham has hosted many prominent figures, including the Irish poet and playwright Oscar Wilde, British prime minister Winston Churchill, French statesman Charles de Gaulle, and Princess Diana of Wales.

It has also made many appearances on TV and in film, most notably the James Bond movie “GoldenEye,” whilst one of its restaurants was the main setting for Bradley Cooper’s culinary drama, “Burnt.”
Today, it remains an institution — one that is favored by GCC customers. Not only is the service on par with luxury properties in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, for example, but the property does its very best to accommodate individual guest requests.
A holiday in London — or anywhere in the UK for that matter — wouldn’t be complete without a spot of afternoon tea, and with The Langham London serving the traditional fare since 1865, you know you’ll experience one of the best examples the city has to offer.
And best of all; the ground floor’s Palm Court, where the tea is hosted, caters to all. If you book in advance, you can request a halal version of the Langham Afternoon Tea with Wedgwood, which includes halal-certified beef pastrami. Priced at $70, the experience is split into three ‘courses’ — sandwiches, followed by scones with Cornish clotted cream and strawberry jam, and ending with a selection of pastries and desserts. And all served with tea, of course.

It can be difficult to find spacious hotel rooms in London, but you won’t be disappointed here. We stayed in the ‘smallest’ Superior Room category (from $515 per night). It’s 28 square meters, so there’s really nothing small about it. It comes with a magnificently comfortable bed, as well as 32-inch LCD TV (with Arabic channels, of course), a Nespresso machine, and marble bathroom. There are 10 other room categories, including the glamorous penthouse Sterling Suite (a generous 450 square meters).
While room service is available, we did find it a tad expensive (about $45 for Middle Eastern mezze?) But if you’re thinking of bringing food from another establishment to your room, you won’t be able to do so without paying for the privilege. Which seems a bit much to be honest.

If you want to stay in one day, for $115 you can purchase a Langham Club Lounge pass (free to those in an executive room, junior suite or one-bedroom suite), which grants you access to the hotel’s exclusive lounge, featuring bites created in collaboration with celeb chefs Albert Roux OBE and Michel Roux Jr. There’s also a mini afternoon tea on offer.
The Langham is running festive promotions until the second week of January, and details of those deals and the best rates can be found on the website. There are further fab deals for February onwards too.
Meanwhile, if you’re heading to London for NYE and would like to see out 2018 in style, then a three- or five-course dinner will be available at Palm Court, with jazz entertainment on the side (from $146). Or opt for the French seven-course dinner option at the excellent Roux at the Landau ($375 per person).

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Travel

leisure

Marvelous Mayfair: 48 hours in the exclusive London neighborhoodTantalizing Tokyo: The unique charms of Japan’s capital city http://bit.ly/2ApJimS December 31, 2018 at 12:44PM

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Film Review: ‘Sofia’ — a damsel in distress and a selfish solution

Author: 

roya almously

ID: 

1546253725482982200

Mon, 2018-12-31 13:54

CHENNAI: Moroccan writer-director Meryem Benm’Barek-Aloisi’s “Sofia” tells us in just 80 minutes the sorrowful story of a young woman who gives birth to a child out of wedlock and then, pushed to the edge, manipulates the crisis to her advantage.

“Sofia” follows protagonist Sofia (played by Maha Alemi) as she discovers she is pregnant. She is unmarried, and a child out of wedlock is a crime.

The film, which premiered at Cannes 2018 and is part of the Arab Cinema Competition, starts at a dinner table where Faouzi (Faouzi Bensaidi) and his family are entertaining rich businessman Ahmed (Mohammed Bousbaa) in the hope of clinching a lucrative deal with him.

But when Faouzi’s daughter Sofia falls ill with severe stomach cramps, her doctor cousin Lena (Sarah Perles) examines her in the kitchen and finds out she is pregnant.

At that very moment, Sofia’s water breaks. Lena whisks her to a clinic and takes the help of a doctor friend to get around the law.

The movie is focused, staying all along with Sofia, following her when she hatches a selfish plan to get out of her sticky situation by forcing an innocent man to pay the price.

The film wins additional stars for the performances of the two lead actresses. Although Alemi has to look glum for the most part, she shines at the end, opening up a hidden facet of her character.

Perles is marvelous as a woman torn between the law and her cousin’s dilemma, and as a medical practitioner she even risks her budding career.

At the end, when the chilling truth comes out, she is shocked and distressed, but never gives up on her cousin.

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film

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Tunisian

Film Review: ‘What Will People Say’ tells the conflicted story of a teenage girl in a globalized worldFilm Review:‘Roma’ delivers soul, spirit — and a dash of Mexican magic http://bit.ly/2SsnJJ7 December 31, 2018 at 12:28PM

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The Six: Ones to watch in 2019

Author: 

roya almously

ID: 

1546248834292797700

Mon, 2018-12-31 12:31

DUBAI: Here are just a few of the change-making talents you should keep an eye on in 2019.

Taleedah Tamer
Teenage Saudi model Taleedah Tamer caused a stir when she made her debut at Haute Couture Fashion Week in Paris in July, walking the runway for Italian designer Antonio Grimaldi.

Arwa Al-Banawi
The Saudi fashion designer kickstarted endless headlines when, at the end of 2018, Will Smith visited her store in Dubai and she starred in an E! TV reality show.

Rawsan Hallak
You can catch the Jordanian comedian on Netflix’s new show, “Comedians of the World.” She previously told Arab News she is proud to represent hijab-wearing women in comedy.

Marwan Kenzari
He may be the bad guy, but the Tunisian-Dutch actor who plays Jafar in 2019’s live-action “Aladdin” has sparked an international flurry of memes and tweets about his good looks.

Nur Alf
The up-and-coming Jordanian singer-songwriter released a handful of tracks on SoundCloud and is garnering attention with her soulful, raspy-edged, sound.

Maya Reaidy
The Lebanese beauty queen was one of just two Arabs to compete at the 2018 Miss Universe pageant in December. The 22-year-old pharmacy student already has more than 200,000 followers on Instagram and could translate her pageant fame into further success.

 

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Fashion

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fashion

comedians

The Six: Fashion Rewind 2018The Six: Eyebrow-raising commonly Googled questions about Saudi Arabia http://bit.ly/2ApFpy4 December 31, 2018 at 10:52AM

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The Six: Fashion Rewind 2018

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Film Review: 2.0 has an important message but woven into a clumsy script

Author: 

roya almously

ID: 

1546245686462692800

Mon, 2018-12-31 11:42

CHENNAI: Despite its meandering 148-minute narrative and a clumsy script, the newly released 2.0 has an important message that the world can ill-afford to ignore. The film, starring Akshay Kumar and Rajinikanth and directed by Shankar, highlights the dangers of mobile telephone tower emissions, and many Indian cities have already begun to feel this. The house sparrow, for instance, has virtually disappeared from Chennai and other places, and it is suspected that the high level of radio waves emitted by the proliferating towers is the cause. In 2.0 (in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu), renowned ornithologist Pakshirajan (played by an unrecognizable Akshay Kumar) hangs himself from a tower after his desperate attempts to save birds hit a wall.

The movie turns into a sci-fi fantasy with Pakshirajan mutating into a giant bird out to destroy every single mobile instrument and tower, leaving Chennai furious and frustrated. In steps the mad scientist, Rajinikanth’s Dr. Vaseegaran, who is asked to bring back to life his look-alike robot Chitti to battle the evil unleashed by Pakshirajan. Along with Nila (a female robot played by Amy Jackson, the British model turned Indian actress), Vaseegaran sets to work in a nail-biting adventure with plenty of special effects. It is fascinating to watch the way telephone instruments make strange patterns in the sky as the huge bird, breathing fire and venom, sets about ridding the city of this pollution.
Shankar’s ploy to make his latest feature film an all-India attraction by roping in Kumar appears to have worked, with 2.0 grossing 5 billion rupees (approx. $800,000) worldwide in the first few days. Kumar’s role is very short, so his fans may well be disappointed. However, Rajinikanth, who is considered a demi-god in southern India, surprises by an extremely subdued and subtle performance as a scientist who in spite of his crazy ways (in an earlier film he had created Chitti, the robot that finally went berserk killing men) endears himself to a city in distress.
But these alone do not make for compelling viewing, and the 3D computer graphic imagery (with all the clanking metal) can only help so much, especially when the writing is so unimpressive.

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Bollywood

Film Review:‘Roma’ delivers soul, spirit — and a dash of Mexican magicFilm Review: Mowgli’s latest jungle run releases on Netflix http://bit.ly/2Vi5Gap December 29, 2018 at 09:43AM

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NASA spaceship zooms toward farthest world ever photographed

Author: 

AFP

ID: 

1546238478752558700

Mon, 2018-12-31 06:31

TAMPA: A NASA spaceship is zooming toward the farthest, and quite possibly the oldest, cosmic body ever photographed by humankind, a tiny, distant world called Ultima Thule some four billion miles (6.4 billion kilometers) away.
The US space agency will ring in the New Year with a live online broadcast to mark historic flyby of the mysterious object in a dark and frigid region of space known as the Kuiper Belt at 12:33 am January 1 (0533 GMT Tuesday).
A guitar anthem recorded by legendary Queen guitarist Brian May — who also holds an advanced degree in astrophysics — will be released just after midnight to accompany a video simulation of the flyby, as NASA commentators describe the close pass on www.nasa.gov/nasalive.
Real-time video of the actual flyby is impossible, since it takes more six hours for a signal sent from Earth to reach the spaceship, named New Horizons, and another six hours for the response to arrive.
But if all goes well, the first images should be in hand by the end of New Year’s Day.
And judging by the latest tweet from Alan Stern, the lead scientist on the New Horizons mission, the excitement among team members is palpable.
“IT’S HAPPENING!! Flyby is upon us! @NewHorizons2015 is healthy and on course! The farthest exploration of worlds in history!” he wrote on Saturday.
Scientists are not sure what Ultima Thule (pronounced TOO-lee) looks like — whether it is round or oblong or even if it is a single object or a cluster.
It was discovered in 2014 with the help of the Hubble Space Telescope, and is believed to be 12-20 miles (20-30 kilometers) in size.
Scientists decided to study it with New Horizons after the spaceship, which launched in 2006, completed its main mission of flying by Pluto in 2015, returning the most detailed images ever taken of the dwarf planet.
“At closest approach we are going to try to image Ultima at three times the resolution we had for Pluto,” said Stern.
“If we can accomplish that it will be spectacular.”
Hurtling through space at a speed of 32,000 miles (51,500 kilometers) per hour, the spacecraft aims to make its closest approach within 2,200 miles (3,500 kilometers) of the surface of Ultima Thule.
The flyby will be fast, at a speed of nine miles (14 kilometers) per second.
Seven instruments on board will record high-resolution images and gather data about its size and composition.
Ultima Thule is named for a mythical, far-northern island in medieval literature and cartography, according to NASA.
“Ultima Thule means ‘beyond Thule’ — beyond the borders of the known world — symbolizing the exploration of the distant Kuiper Belt and Kuiper Belt objects that New Horizons is performing, something never before done,” the US space agency said in a statement.
According to project scientist Hal Weaver of the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, mankind didn’t even know the Kuiper Belt — a vast ring of relics from the formation days of the solar system — existed until the 1990s.
“This is the frontier of planetary science,” said Weaver.
“We finally have reached the outskirts of the solar system, these things that have been there since the beginning and have hardly changed — we think. We will find out.”
Despite the partial US government shutdown, sparked by a feud over funding for a border wall with Mexico between President Donald Trump and opposition Democrats, NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine vowed that the US space agency would broadcast the flyby.
Normally, NASA TV and NASA’s website would go dark during a government shutdown.
NASA will also provide updates about another spacecraft, called OSIRIS-REx, that will enter orbit around the asteroid Bennu on New Year’s Eve, Bridenstine said.

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Science

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NASA

Ultima Thule

NASA spacecraft hurtles toward historic New Year’s flybyNew NASA lander captures 1st sounds of Martian wind http://bit.ly/2QdjfnG December 31, 2018 at 08:11AM

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Taiwan rebuffs China tourist snub with record 2018 arrivals

Author: 

AFP

ID: 

1546238175372551000

Mon, 2018-12-31 06:29

TAIPEI: A record 11 million tourists have visited Taiwan in 2018, the government said Monday, a boon for the island as it courts holidaymakers across Asia to make up for a shortfall from China.
The number of Chinese mainlanders visiting Taiwan has dropped dramatically since the 2016 election of president Tsai Ing-wen who has refused to acknowledge Beijing’s stance that the island is part of “one China.”
Beijing still sees Taiwan as part of its territory to be reunified, despite the two sides being ruled separately since the end of a civil war on the mainland in 1949.
China has cut off official communication with Tsai’s government and stepped up military and diplomatic pressure.
Tour group numbers from the mainland took a nosedive, sparking speculation that Beijing was deliberately turning off the taps to punish Taiwan for electing Tsai.
In response, Tsai’s government went on a charm offensive across Asia, launching advertising campaigns and making it easier for people to visit, particularly from South and Southeast Asia.
That strategy — dubbed the “southbound policy” — has reaped rewards.
The 11 millionth visitor, a Japanese doctor, arrived Sunday in what Taiwan’s tourism bureau described as “a new landmark.”
The island recorded 10.7 million arrivals in 2017 and 10.6 million in 2016.
The government has yet to release a full breakdown in nationalities for 2018.
Japanese and Chinese tourists still make up the bulk of arrivals.
But last year’s data showed the number of Chinese nationals coming to Taiwan had dropped from 4.18 million in 2015 to just 2.73 million in 2017.
Some 2.46 million people from the mainland visited in the first 11 months of 2018, suggesting that decline has continued.
In contrast, arrivals from Southeast Asia rose to 2.1 million in 2017 from 1.4 million in 2015, while Taiwan has also seen increases from across the rest of Asia.
Designed to make the island less economically dependent on Beijing, the “southbound policy” is aimed at ramping up business and cultural exchanges with 16 South and Southeast Asian countries, as well as Australia and New Zealand.
Last week 152 Vietnamese who arrived on group tours went missing with authorities suspecting them of coming to work illegally.
Around 400 tourists have previously gone missing under the program, according to the tourism bureau, although it is not clear how many of them have since been found.

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http://bit.ly/2Vj82ps December 31, 2018 at 07:57AM

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‘Bird Box’ strikes a nerve

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Sun, 2018-12-30 21:47

NEW YORK: For so long, movies around the holidays have been merry and bright. Lately, more and more seem murderous and designed to frighten.

Take this winter, where, of course, sugary options abounded, such as “Mary Poppins Returns” on the big screen and “A Christmas Prince: The Royal Wedding” on TV. Then there’s the post-apocalyptic survival story “Bird Box.”

Released just days before Christmas on Netflix, the Sandra Bullock-led thriller is about monstrous entities that compel any human who sees them to quickly try to kill themselves.

Even though Netflix declines to release viewership numbers, “Bird Box” seems to have struck a nerve, triggering the creation of memes and online chatter for a very dark film dropped into the festive period.

Critics have been mixed toward “Bird Box,” with many noting similarities to John Krasinski’s “A Quiet Place.” Variety complained about the “inexplicably bland ensemble” and The Hollywood Reporter sniffed that it was “not all that it might have been.”

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Review: Turkish Netflix drama ‘The Protector’ a let-downArab stand-up comedians star in new Netflix series http://bit.ly/2LDxfqt December 30, 2018 at 07:53PM

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Jessica Kahawaty ends 2018 with an environmental wake-up call

Author: 

Sun, 2018-12-30 15:06

<p>
DUBAI: Lebanese-Australian model and humanitarian Jessica Kahawaty is set to ring in the new year Down Under and took to Instagram this week to share an important message about the environment in one of her last posts of the year.</p>

<p>
The influencer took to the social media platform with a photo of herself in a multi-colored, tie-dye shirt — a fashion trend she predicted would make a comeback in 2019 — and captioned it with a note on the state of coral reef ecosystems.</p>

<p>
“I love that @pantone announced ‘Living Coral’ as 2019 color of the year,” she said, referring to the Pantone Color Institute’s yearly pick of an annual favorite color. “It’s also an important environmental message calling for attention (to) the state of coral reef ecosystems,” she added.</p>

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font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;"> View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"><div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div></a> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Br92sPfjRhI/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_med... style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Next year is all about tie-dye. - I love that @pantone announced ‘Living Coral’ as 2019 colour of the year. It’s also an important environmental message calling for attention the state of coral reef ecosystems</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jessicakahawaty/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_m... style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;" target="_blank"> Jessica Kahawaty</a> (@jessicakahawaty) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2018-12-29T09:37:46+00:00">Dec 29, 2018 at 1:37am PST</time></p></div></blockquote> <script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p>

<p>
It is a message that is particularly important in Australia, where the coral along large swathes of the 2,300-kilometer Great Barrier Reef has been killed by rising sea temperatures linked to climate change, leaving behind skeletal remains in a process known as coral bleaching.</p>

<p>
The northern reaches of the reef suffered an unprecedented two successive years of severe bleaching in 2016 and 2017, raising fears it may have suffered irreparable damage, AFP reported in November.</p>

<p>
And that is why Kahawaty is so pleased that the much-reported-on color of the year is “Living Coral.”</p>

<p>
Laurie Pressman, Pantone Color Institute’s vice president, told the Associated Press in December that she considers this saturated orange base with a golden undertone not only warm and welcoming but versatile and life-affirming. It energizes with a softer edge than, say, its pastel and neon color cousins.</p>

<p>
“With everything that’s going on today, we’re looking for those humanizing qualities because we’re seeing online life dehumanizing a lot of things,” Pressman said. “We’re looking toward those colors that bring nourishment and the comfort and familiarity that make us feel good. It’s not too heavy. We want to play. We want to be uplifted.”</p>

<p>
Kahawaty is a keen supporter of a number of humanitarian and environmental causes, including UNICEF and the United Nations High Commissioner For Refugees (UNHCR)</p>

<p>
<br />
Last year, fashion house Louis Vuitton selected Kahawaty to work with UNICEF at the Za’atari refugee camp in Jordan to help children affected by the Syrian crisis, which has seen millions of people (including more than two million children) displaced.<br />
Kahawaty also urged fans to donate a minute of their salaries to end child violence as part of the UNICEF Australia initiative, “A Minute of Your Time.”</p>

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Jessica Kahawaty gains recognition Down UnderUAE-based model Jessica Kahawaty struts in Malone Souliers footwear http://bit.ly/2VloJkq December 30, 2018 at 01:15PM

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Book Review: Charting the path toward a greener Middle East

Author: 

Sun, 2018-12-30 14:40

BEIRUT: “Environmental Politics in the Middle East” examines the correlation between political forces and ecology, or environmental factors, in the region and how these are connected to the global economy.

Editor Harry Verhoeven categorically rejects any form of separation between the Middle East‘s ecological trajectory and its political and socioeconomic history. In fact, he reiterates the importance of studying environmental issues in order to understand “the myriad political and socio-economic hopes, illusions and problems of its inhabitants.”

In the opening chapter of the book, which is nine chapters long, author and professor Jeannie Sowers examines the effect of environmental constraints on public health across the Middle East and North Africa region.

With only one percent of the world’s freshwater resources, the Middle East is one of the driest places on earth. As such, water resources in the region are being exhausted faster than they can be replenished. The book examines the need for critical action to enhance greater water security.

Ali Keblawi, a professor of environmental science and plant ecology at the University of Sharjah, provides a comprehensive assessment of the problems and challenges linked to the process of greening arid Gulf landscapes.

In particular, his denunciation of the use of exotic species that are used for urban landscaping instead of planting native desert plants is long overdue. Many studies show that ornamental plants popular for their aesthetic value are not adapted to the local climate and consume large amounts of water and depend on synthetic fertilizers and toxic pesticides for growth.

Keblawi also highlights the fact that desalination plants consume vast amounts of energy, as most of the region’s generators still depend on non-renewable fossil fuels despite the fact that solar energy can be produced in unlimited quantities.

As Saudi Arabia and the UAE are the two largest producers of desalinated water in the Middle East, he argues that using solar energy to produce a third of the country’s electricity would free up some 300,000 barrels of oil per day.

This book, which was just made available in paperback, is a must-read for students, scholars, environmental activists and ecologists.

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Book Review: Tales of adventure — in the Arabic tongueBook Review: ‘Baghdad Noir’ tells haunting tales from a diverse city http://bit.ly/2Qc4pOt December 30, 2018 at 12:50PM

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Screen Scene: What to watch at home this week

Author: 

roya almously

ID: 

1545902885470781700

Thu, 2018-12-27 12:24

DUBAI: If you plan on staying in this week, here is what to watch.
Bird Box
Starring: Sandra Bullock, Sarah Poulson, John Malkovich
Where:Netflix
Postapocalyptic sci-fi thriller in which a mother flees down a treacherous river with her two children in an attempt to escape a mysterious force that has decimated humanity. Survivors must avoid coming face to face with this force, which takes the form of their worst fears. Travelers
Starring: Eric McCormack, MacKenzie Porter, Nesta Cooper
Where: Netflix
The third season of the sciencefiction series sees Grant MacLaren and his team from the future battling the ever-growing power of Artificial Intelligence, as well as their own issues in their ongoing struggle against The Faction. All while trying to avoid discovery by the FBI. Watership Down
Starring: Ben Kingsley, Gemma Arterton, John Boyega, Peter Capaldi
Where: Netflix
New animated adaptation of Richard Adams’ much-loved novel, which tells the story of a group of rabbits forced to flee their warren and make a dangerous journey in search of safety and a new home.
Diablero
Starring: Christopher von Uckermann, Giselle Kuri, Horacio Garcia Rojas
Where: Netflix
An unlikely trio — Ramiro, a priest; Nancy, a superhero; and Elvis, a demon hunter — represent humanity’s best hope of defeating evil in this Mexican supernatural horror series, based on Francisco Haghenbeck’s book “El Diablo me Obligo” (The Devil Forced Me).
You
Starring: Penn Badgley, Shay Mitchell, Elizabeth Lail
Where: Netflix
A bookstore manager becomes infatuated with an aspiring writer. He begins to learn everything he can about her online, and his sweet-at-first crush turns into an obsession.

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http://bit.ly/2SpISnm December 27, 2018 at 10:30AM

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Looking good: The top fashion trends of 2018

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HIGHLIGHTS from Jordan Nassar’s ‘For Your Eyes’

Author: 

roya almously

ID: 

1545895934530634800

Thu, 2018-12-27 10:33

DUBAI: Palestinian — American artist Jordan Nassar’s ‘For Your Eyes,’ is at The Third Line in Dubai from Jan 16 — Feb 27.
“Memories”
For his Dubai exhibition, his first in the Gulf, Palestinian-American artist Jordan Nassar collaborated with craftswomen in Hebron to produce hand-embroidered works that, the gallery says, “juxtapose local traditions of making with Jordan’s western painterly aesthetic.” The “incongruous” result, the press release adds, “embodies the contrast between what Jordan refers to as his ‘Palestinian-ness’ with his out-of-place feeling while in Palestine.”

“For Your Eyes”
The works on display are all named after songs by Umm Kulthum. “For Your Eyes,” Nassar explains, is actually an Arabic phrase meaning “something along the lines of” ‘just for you,’ but the literal translation fails to capture its true significance. The failure of translation to convey cultural meanings is an important influence on Nassar’s work.

“My Beloved Tendered Back”
In pieces like this one, the way the embroidery complements Nassar’s multicolored “kaleidoscopic panoramas” — a collision of two cultures and styles —  shows that the artist has, perhaps, successfully resolved the conflicting emotions he feels as a member of the diaspora.

 

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HIGHLIGHTS from Ala Ebtekar’s ‘Safina,’ at The Third Line in Dubai until December 27HIGHLIGHTS from Amal Kenawy’s ‘Frozen Memory,’ at Sharjah Art Foundation http://bit.ly/2SnYMyq December 27, 2018 at 08:35AM

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American adventurer completes solo trek across Antarctica

Author: 

AFP

ID: 

1545870388440075300

Thu, 2018-12-27 00:15

WASHINGTON: An American adventurer has become the first person to complete a solo trek across Antarctica without assistance of any kind.
Colin O’Brady, 33, took 54 days to complete the nearly 1,000-mile (1,600-kilometer) crossing of the frozen continent from north to south.
“I accomplished my goal: to become the first person in history to traverse the continent of Antarctica coast to coast solo, unsupported and unaided,” O’Brady wrote in an Instagram post after covering the final 77.5 miles in 32 hours.
“While the last 32 hours were some of the most challenging hours of my life, they have quite honestly been some of the best moments I have ever experienced,” he wrote.
“I was locked in a deep flow state the entire time, equally focused on the end goal, while allowing my mind to recount the profound lessons of this journey. I’m delirious writing this as I haven’t slept yet.”
His voyage was tracked by GPS, and live updates of the trip were provided daily on his website colinobrady.com.
O’Brady and an Englishman, Army Captain Louis Rudd, 49, set off individually on November 3 from Union Glacier in a bid to be the first to complete a solo, unassisted crossing of Antarctica.
In 1996-97, a Norwegian polar explorer, Borge Ousland, made the first solo crossing of Antarctica but he was wind-aided by kites on his voyage.

O’Brady and Rudd set off on cross-country skis dragging sleds called pulks which weighed nearly 400 pounds (180 kilograms).
O’Brady reached the South Pole on December 12, the 40th day of his journey.
He arrived at the finish point on the Ross Ice Shelf on the Pacific Ocean on Wednesday after covering a total of 921 miles.
Rudd is about a day or two behind.
O’Brady said he made the decision over breakfast to finish his journey in one continuous push.
“As I was boiling water for my morning oatmeal, a seemingly impossible question popped into my head,” O’Brady wrote on Instagram. “I wonder, would (it) be possible to do one straight continuous push all the way to the end?
“By the time I was lacing up my boots the impossible plan had become a solidified goal,” he said. “I’m going to push on and try to finish all 80 miles to the end in one go.”
The New York Times described O’Brady’s effort as among the “most remarkable feats in polar history,” ranking alongside the 1911 “Race to the South Pole” between Norway’s Roald Amundsen and England’s Robert Falcon Scott.
“To complete the final 77.54 miles in one shot — essentially tacking an ultra marathon onto the 53rd day of an already unprecedented journey — set an even higher bar for anyone who tries to surpass it,” the Times wrote.
In 2016, an English army officer, Lt. Col. Henry Worsley, died while trying to complete an unassisted solo crossing of Antarctica.

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Trillion-ton iceberg breaks off AntarcticaDutch adventurer reaches South Pole on tractor http://bit.ly/2Czx4cK December 27, 2018 at 02:29AM

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‘Stan & Ollie,’ a portrait of comedic genius

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Wed, 2018-12-26 20:52

NEW YORK: They hung up their bowler hats decades ago, but Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy remain cinema’s most iconic comic duo, with a unique chemistry explored in a new feature centered on their careers’ tricky end.

New film “Stan and Ollie,” the first time a feature filmmaker has tackled the slapstick comedy geniuses, known for films including “Sons of the Desert” (1933) and “Way Out West” (1937).

But instead of documenting the stratospheric heights of their success, in “Stan and Ollie,” director Jon S. Baird introduces two worn-out heroes clambering for one last hurrah.

“It wasn’t replicating their movies because those exist,” John C. Reilly, who portrays Hardy, told a New York panel discussion in early December.

“It was going to be about something that no one would know except them.”

With a highly convincing performance, Reilly and Steve Coogan bring new life to the duo: the British Stan Laurel, a workaholic, and American Oliver Hardy, a hedonist frustrated by his husky physique.

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Stan and Ollie

Julia Louis-Dreyfus gets a top award for comedySerious about laughter, National Comedy Center ready to open http://bit.ly/2GHk9JS December 26, 2018 at 06:54PM

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‘Technology is the most secular language in the world’

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Wed, 2018-12-26 17:14

DUBAI: In order for universities to chart the course of the future, they must include technology in their curriculum.
That was the message voiced by the Aligarh Muslim University’s (AMU) alumni during a panel discussion hosted in the UAE, titled as the “role of universities in developing digital era.”
Personalities from leading universities took part in the event which was conducted on the sidelines of the Sir Syed Global Excellence Award ceremony in Dubai.
Senior journalist from India and an AMU alumnus, Rifat Jawaid, essayed the role of a moderator for the evening. 
Lt. General (rtd) Zameer uddin Shah said that it is important to teach technology to students as young as those in grade one. “When it comes to learning technology, age has no bar --- whether you are five years old or 80 years old, technology embracs everyone,” he said, adding that technology is the most secular language in the world.
“No matter which religion, caste, faith you belong to, if you have the power of technology, no one can stop you,” he said.
Zameer uddin Shah was the former vice chancellor of AMU in India from 2012-2017 and is credited with introducing smart classrooms in the university.
“When I left my office, there were about 100 smart classrooms in the university. However, these smart classrooms and other infrastructure investment does not make any difference; unless we upgrade our curriculum and include technology in the courses and education system,” he said.
While responding to a question regarding whether educators were equipped or qualified enough to teach the subject, Shah said: “We need to train and equip our teachers properly to teach contemporary [technology] education. Technology is something which evolves every passing day. We need teachers that have evolved from the chalk and duster phase.”
Syed Ali Rizvi, a leading businessman from USA and an AMU alumni, was part of the panel, too. He said that as the universities are run according to regulatory authorities, it may be challenging for the university to make changes in the curriculum quickly.
“However, we can introduce after-class extra courses. These extra efforts will make a mark difference in quality of education and students’ critical thinking. One short step will eventually convert into a big leap,” he said.
Tariq Chauhan, the recipient of the Sir Syed Global Excellence award and the Group CEO of EFS facilities services group, said that these days, international companies prefer to hire human resources directly from campuses.
“However, if any academic institution is not producing brains as per the global market demand; then it will eventually be left behind. Universities have to collaborate with international organizations to determine the future demands and upgrade the curriculum accordingly,” he said.
Leading filmmaker, producer, and writer, Anubhav Sinha said that learning technology does not mean becoming ‘employable’
“Technology empowers you to convert your dreams into a reality. Digital world and technology is not just about computers. It gives you courage to take bold steps and move ahead. If you have a power of technology, no matter whether you live in an international city or a small-town person, nothing is impossible. It is all about one-big-idea,” he said.
The event was organized at a local hotel in Dubai where eminent AMU alumni from across the globe were honored with the Global Excellence Award.
AMU is one of the oldest universities in India which was established in 1920. It has more than 28,000 students, 1,342 teachers, and nearly 5,610 non-teaching staff. The university has 12 faculties comprising 98 teaching departments, three academies and 15 centers and institution.

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technology

Australia to beef up technology for drone ‘crackdown’US Middle East peace plan to take advantage of technology — Haley http://bit.ly/2BGbe5F December 26, 2018 at 03:19PM

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Bay La Sun Hotel & Marina — a haven for holidaymakers and business travelers alike

Author: 

roya almously

ID: 

1545825394934847400

Wed, 2018-12-26 14:49

JEDDAH: Located in the heart of King Abdullah Economic City, roughly100 kilometers from both Jeddah and Makkah, Bay La Sun Hotel & Marina has quite literally separated itself from the pack of hotels that seem to appear on every corner block in the Kingdom’s major cities, and offers a real escape for those wanting to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of city life.

The 5-star property, which is a little over five years old, is managed by Al-Khozama — a company with a proven track record in the Saudi hospitality industry. The hotel is part of the larger Bay La Sun community, which includes shopping, dining and entertainment venues, as well as residential villages, meaning there are plenty of options within walking distance for guests looking to do more than simply relax: A shopping center, golf course and water park are all nestled in the extensive waterways of Bay La Sun.

Check-in procedures finished, I headed to my sea-view (as opposed to city-view) room. Bay La Sun offers artistically designed executive suites, as well as generously spacious ‘Superior’ and ‘Deluxe’ suites. All rooms have wi-fi and smart televisions, and are equipped with king-sized beds and floor-to-ceiling windows offering spectacular views of either the Red Sea or Juman Park. Besides shower rooms, some suites include jacuzzis.
Guests have access to the hotel’s well-equipped gym; a spa with sauna and steam rooms (there is an in-house masseuse) in which to wind down after a workout (or a big meal, for the less-athletic); and the large outdoor swimming pools, around which guest DJs perform every weekend and which can also be reserved for private parties.

For lunch, I headed to the hotel’s main restaurant, Seasons, which offers a wide range of cuisines from around the world. I opted for a simple grilled chicken-and-cheese sandwich and fries (homemade, not frozen). The laidback ambience was particularly pleasant —  spacious, well air-conditioned, and softly lit. And refreshingly free of the background muzak that hotels so often get wrong —  rather than welcoming and relaxing guests, it can have the opposite effect, making one rush one’s meal, barely paying attention to one’s food. Personally, I much prefer to dine in a quiet, calm atmosphere, and Seasons was ideal for that. The staff were attentive but not intrusive, always happy to help, but respectful of diners’ personal space.

Besides Seasons, the hotel’s F&B outlets include a Starbucks coffee shop in the lobby, with a terrace overlooking Bay La Sun marina, and the striking, contemporary cigar lounge Corojo, which offers aficionados an exclusive range of premium cigars.
After returning to my suite to freshen up, I paid a visit to the Bay La Sun Club —  the main entertainment center for the property. Guests can mix business and pleasure here; the club offers several multi-function conference rooms as well as a 65-seat auditorium, but also a variety of fun activities including 10-pin bowling; pool tables and table football; virtual car-racing, shooting, and golf simulators; as well as PlayStation and VR gaming.

Overall, my stay at Bay La Sun Hotel & Marina was extremely pleasant and comfortable. The staff provided excellent service and the facilities were suitable for holidaymakers and business travelers alike. I would certainly return here, and will happily recommend the property to family and friends.

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Travel

Saudi Arabia

leisure

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resort

Marvelous Mayfair: 48 hours in the exclusive London neighborhoodOut of this world: The disorientating delights of Singapore http://bit.ly/2QUfPf5 December 26, 2018 at 01:03PM

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Syrian rapper Moh Flow drops new video, “Dead One”

Author: 

roya almously

ID: 

1545819783544642400

Wed, 2018-12-26 13:22

DUBAI:Dubai-based Syrian rapper and singer Moh Flow has signed to Sony Music Middle East, the label announced last week. The 26-year-old artist —  who grew up in Saudi Arabia —  released his latest track, and first for Sony, on December 14. “Dead One,” Moh Flow told Arab News, is meant to provide listeners with “a boost of confidence.”

“As an artist, it’s fun to explore an emotion in its purest form. This track is inspired by speaking success into existence, being inspired by giving yourself credit for what you have accomplished by relating to where you could have been had you not taken your life into your own hands,” he said. “This is a record to play during moments of self-doubt.”

The track will feature on Moh Flow’s upcoming album “Faith,” produced by his brother Ayman (AY), his longtime producer and engineer. “Faith” is slated for release early next year. In a press release from Sony, Moh Flow said he had been working on the album for more than a year.

“I can’t describe how I feel about these (songs) because they are pretty much my life, everything is still unfolding,” he said. “It’s meant to connect with people who have similar experiences to me, whether it’s finding your confidence or losing your love unexpectedly.”

The new deal with Sony Music, he said, will “give the music a true chance at reaching its potential. We want to match the universal sound and import our twist on the culture that we grew up loving.”

In other regional music news, Lebanese singer Abeer Nehme has teamed up with her compatriot, the acclaimed composer, vocalist and oudist Marcel Khalife, to release a new album, “Sing a Little,” on Universal Music MENA. The album features lyrics from some of the Arab world’s favorite poets, including Germanos Germanos, Zahi Wehbi, Henry Zoghaib, Habib Younes, Michel Abou Rjalli, Joseph Harb, and Mahmoud Darwish.

 

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ARab

Cardi B wears Ashi Studio in new music videoMashrou’ Leila to headline Apple’s first-ever Balcony Music Sessions in Dubai http://bit.ly/2BLMJUy December 26, 2018 at 11:25AM

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Cardi B wears Ashi Studio in new music video

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The Six: Eyebrow-raising commonly Googled questions about Saudi Arabia

Author: 

roya almously

ID: 

1545809307504382100

Wed, 2018-12-26 10:26

DUBAi: Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about Saudi Arabia, according to Google’s “People Also Ask” function. While some are thought-provoking queries, others could give you a reason to giggle.
‘How big is Saudi Arabia?’
According to the CIA Factbook, Saudi Arabia has an area of 2,149,690 square kilometers — that includes parts of the largest contiguous sand desert in the world, the Rub’ Al-Khali.

‘Can you drink the tap water in Saudi Arabia?’
According to the Journal of Environmental Science and Technology study published in 2014, yes. But the general preference remains slanted toward bottled water.

‘What does the Saudi flag say?’
The inscription on Saudi Arabia’s flag says “There is no God but Allah and Mohammad is the Messenger of Allah.”

‘What is the most popular food in Saudi Arabia?’
The main components of the well-known Saudi dishes are meat and rice, which are combined to make one of the most well-known treats, Kabsa. Other famous Saudi dishes are jareesh, mandi and marqooq.

‘Is Dubai in Saudi Arabia?’
Well, we suppose this is (sort of) better than asking if Dubai is a country. For those who don’t know, Dubai is part of the United Arab Emirates.

‘Can I visit Saudi Arabia as a tourist?’
Obtaining an ordinary 14-day tourist visa is now easier than ever thanks to the Vision 2030 objectives.

 

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Lifestyle

Tags: 

Google

Saudi Arabia

questions

technology

The Six: Roundup of top looks by Arab designersThe Six: The UAE’s most Googled people in 2018 http://bit.ly/2Q2MIkq December 26, 2018 at 08:50AM

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Dana Awartani uses Indian craftsmanship to explore Arab poetry in Sharjah

Author: 

roya almously

ID: 

1545808624194373000

Wed, 2018-12-26 10:15

DUBAI: Set to run until Feb. 18 on the sidelines of the Sharjah Islamic Arts Festival, Jeddah-based artist Dana Awartani is showcasing her work in an exhibition called “The Silence Between Us” at the Maraya Art Center in the emirate.

“The Silence Between Us” brings together pieces from the artist’s repertoire and is a prime example of her unique use of layering. Poetry and light are key elements in her work and the exhibition in Sharjah — her first in the Middle East, according to the gallery — is evidence of that.

Curated by Laura Metzler, the exhibition is laid out in a cyclical pattern and opens and closes with Awartani’s recent installation, “Listen to My Words” (2018), which features seven screens of hand embroidered silk panels inspired by the “Jali” screen — an architectural form common in traditional buildings in the Indian Subcontinent that allows airflow in buildings, but prevents onlookers from being able to gaze in.

Each screen is associated with a line of poetry from female poets of the Arab world throughout history. Other pieces featured in the exhibition include “Love is my Law, Love is my Faith” (2016), which was inspired by the love poems of Andalusian Muslim scholar Ibn Arabi and a fascinating drawing from her “Caliphates” series that shows the evolution of the tradition of illumination throughout the history of the art.

Awartani, who was educated at London’s Central Saint Martins, lives and works in Jeddah and draws inspiration from Indian textile, woodwork and glasswork production processes

In addition to the artist’s works on show, new pieces were created in collaboration with craftsmen in India over a four-month period leading up to the show. The piece “To See and Not Be Seen” (2018) — an embroidered-textile piece that expands on her interest in female poets in the Arab world — is one of those.

Another installation piece by the artist, “All (heavenly bodies) swim along, each in its orbit’” (2016), is on show at the Sharjah Art Museum and is an important part of the wider Islamic arts festival as it was inspired by a Qur’anic verse.

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http://bit.ly/2V9S94H December 26, 2018 at 08:18AM

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Kevin Spacey charged with indecent assault

Tue, 2018-12-25 23:40

LOS ANGELES: Oscar-winning actor Kevin Spacey has been charged in connection with an allegation that he sexually abused an 18-year-old boy at a Nantucket, Massachusetts, bar more than two years ago, the local district attorney said on Monday.

Spacey is scheduled to be arraigned at Nantucket District Court on Jan. 7 on a single charge of indecent assault and battery on a person who is at least 14 years old, according to court documents and a statement issued by Cape and Islands District Attorney Michael O’Keefe.

An attorney for Spacey did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

The charge against Spacey, 59, whose full name is Kevin Spacey Fowler, was filed after a Dec. 20 hearing, O’Keefe said. The name on the complaint was Kevin S. Fowler.

More than 30 men have said they were victims of unwanted sexual advances by Spacey, who became embroiled in controversy last year when actor Anthony Rapp accused him of trying to seduce him in 1986 when Rapp was 14.

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Kevin Spacey

oscar

Los Angeles

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Lifestyle

London theater received allegations against Kevin SpaceyKevin Spacey to be erased from Sony film about Getty kidnapping: reports http://bit.ly/2AikkWj December 25, 2018 at 09:57PM

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Rihanna spotted in Malibu with Saudi beau

Author: 

Saffiya Ansar

ID: 

1545745983900160900

Tue, 2018-12-25 16:52

DUBAI: Superstar singer and makeup mogul Rihanna was spotted in Malibu this week with her supposed Saudi beau, Hassan Jameel.
The Barbados-born singer was spotted wearing a lacy strapless dress, while billionaire Jameel wore a black hoodie and a baseball cap.
The pair were seen leaving a restaurant separately on Saturday night.
The reported couple, who caused a media whirlwind when news of their apparent relationship spread in 2017, are rarely seen together, with Emirates Woman magazine reporting that the last time they were spotted together was Nov. 27, when they were snapped at a restaurant in Santa Monica.
Neither Rihanna nor Jameel has publicly confirmed their rumored romance.
However, in an interview with Vogue magazine in May, the “Wild Thoughts” singer hinted that she had found a special somebody.
“I used to feel guilty about taking personal time,” she told the magazine, “but I also think I never met someone who was worth it before.”
Rumors of a breakup have long surrounded the supposed couple.
One month before they were photographed by paparazzi in Mexico in July, MediaTakeOut reported that the Fenty Beauty founder had broken up with Jameel, citing an alleged inside source who said: “She just got tired of him. She gets tired of men sometimes.”
While it remains to be seen whether the couple really is an item, Saudi makeup fans aren’t complaining and even took to social media earlier this year to theorize that Rihanna’s much-reported-on launch of Fenty Beauty in Saudi Arabia in April was in part due to her desire to visit her potential future in-laws.
It was a joke that spread like wildfire on Twitter as users posted comments like: “She’s coming to visit her in-laws” and “Hassan Jameel did all the ladies a favor.”
Previously linked with British supermodel Naomi Campbell — after the pair were spotted together at in London’s Hyde Park in July 2016 — Jameel belongs to a wealthy Saudi family renowned locally and even globally for its longstanding relationship with Japanese automaker Toyota. Jameel is currently the deputy president and vice chairman of Abdul Latif Jameel Co. — a company that was launched by his grandfather. In 2014, Jameel received an honorary knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II for his charitable contribution to arts and culture in the UK.

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Rihanna

Fenty Beauty

Hassan Jameel

http://bit.ly/2RjXdUU December 25, 2018 at 02:54PM

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Film Review: ‘What Will People Say’ tells the conflicted story of a teenage girl in a globalized world

Author: 

roya almously

ID: 

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Mon, 2018-12-24 14:55

CHENNAI: Films that tell a personal story can often be more powerful and moving then their fictionalized counterparts and director Iram Haq, whose Pakistani parents raised her in Oslo, weaves her own dreadful experiences into “What Will People Say” — Norway’s offering for the 2019 Best Foreign Language Film Oscar. Although the film missed out on being shortlisted for the award, it is nonetheless a powerful piece of cinema.

“What Will People Say” underlines the dilemma that some immigrant parents face while trying to insulate their daughters from a stereotypically Western way of life, which the elders label as debauched.

Nisha (an arresting performance by newcomer Maria Mozhdah, who proves to be the soul and spirit of the movie) is an intelligent and attractive teenager, who aspires to be a medical doctor and tops her class. She speaks Urdu and follows her native culture and mannerisms at home, but once she steps out of the house, she is no different from other Norwegian children. Nisha loves to dance at nightclubs and is interested in boys. But she keeps all this a secret from her parents, especially her extremely rigid father, Mirza (an excellent performance by Indian actor Adil Hussain). But one night, he finds her with a white boy in her room, and all hell breaks loose. She is quickly packed off to a remote village in Pakistan and looked after by a strict, almost cruel aunt and uncle.

Haq may have fictionalized parts of the story, but she, much like Nisha, did have a torturous year in Pakistan and was estranged from her father for a long time, making up with him just before he died. Haq said in one of her interviews that it took her years to come out with her story, which emphasizes in no small way the agony that kids of immigrants face. In extreme cases, fathers murder their own daughters in the name of honor, driven to such crimes over worries over what people will say.

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