Faizan Zaki, 13, crowned US National Spelling Bee champion
He did so in round 21 by instantly and precisely spelling 'eclaircissement' - defined as a clearing up of something obscure. He surprised the audience by giving his answer without taking the customary pause afforded contestants to ask the judges for more information about the word's origins, meaning and pronunciation.
He was crowned champion in a hail of confetti before being joined on stage by his parents and other relatives, and will receive $50,000 in prize money.
Cyleane Equra Ama Quansah, 11, of Accra, Ghana spells her word.
Kaden Haddox (left), 12, of Steubenville, Ohio reacts after successfully spelling his word in the preliminaries.
The spelling finalists are seen before the finals of the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee.
Faizan Zaki , 13, of Dallas, Texas holds up the Scripps Cup after winning in the 21st round of the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee.
Faizan Zaki, (second right) 13, of Dallas, Texas holds the Scripps Cup alongside family and friends after winning.
E. W. Scripps Company CEO Adam Symson (left) hands Faizan Zaki (right), 13, of Dallas, Texas the Scripps Cup after winning in the 21st round of the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee.
Zaki, a resident of Allen, Texas, had nearly been eliminated in round 18 when he rushed, and stumbled over, the spelling of 'commelina,' a genus for some 200 species of dayflowers.
But his two fellow finalists at that point, including Kadam, likewise fumbled their words, leading to a 19th round in which all three boys returned, but only two - Zaki and Kadam - survived to face off in the decisive 20th round. Sarv Dharavane, an 11-year-old boy from Tucker, Georgia, finished in third place after misspelling 'eserine,' the antidote of choice for many poisons, with one 's' too many. Thursday's total roster of nine finalists emerged from three days of competition at a convention center outside Washington, DC, among 243 contestants aged eight to 14 who advanced from regional competitions across the country.
Challenged with some of the most difficult and least-used words that English has to offer, many young competitors amazed spectators with their ability to produce the correct spellings with poise and precision. The Scripps media group has sponsored the event since 1925, with three years off during World War Two and one more for the COVID pandemic in 2020. Most competitors were from the United States, coming from all 50 states. Other spellers came from Canada, the Bahamas, Germany, Ghana, Kuwait, Nigeria, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. - Reuters
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Kuwait Times
07-08-2025
- Kuwait Times
Lavish ‘Grand Mariage' weddings celebrate Comoros tradition, society
It is wedding season in the Comoros, when the diaspora return to the tiny Indian Ocean islands for days-long celebrations that mark an essential rite of passage, the 'Grand Mariage'. The elaborate, tradition-infused ceremonies - which can be held years after an initial religious wedding - are most often held in July and August, coinciding with the summer holidays in France which has a significant community of Comorian migrants. On a recent day in July, Badjanani Square in central Moroni - the capital of the mainly Muslim nation off East Africa - was packed with hundreds of people attending a prayer ceremony ahead of the 'Grand Mariage' (French for 'Big Wedding') of a couple based in the central French city of Le Mans. The groom, 55-year-old Issa Mze Ali Ahmed, made his entrance in style, dressed in a turban and robes lined with golden cloth. Accompanied by men from his extended family, he took his seat for the prayers among rows of men, many wearing the traditionally embroidered mharuma scarf denoting their distinguished status. The dowry intended for Ahmed's bride was officially announced and he was saluted by ululating women resplendent in glitzy headscarves and dresses. Elsewhere on the Grande Comore, the largest of the nation's three islands, it was the big day for a couple based on the French territory of Reunion about 1,600 kilometres (1,000 miles) further east into the Indian Ocean. In a family home in the town of Tsidje in the hills just outside Moroni, men helped the groom, 42-year-old Faid Kassime, put on a handmade black velvet coat embroidered with gold threads. Accompanied by an entourage of family and friends and with an umbrella held over him, Kassime walked to the family home of his wife - whom he first married in 2012 - in a procession preceded by drummers and displaying cases of gold ornaments and jewellery as dowry. 'It's an accomplishment,' Kassime told AFP. 'I really wanted to carry out this ceremony to honour traditions, parents and the in-laws.' Women celebrate as men swing their sticks while joining the traditional Dinahou dance on the central Badjanani square. Issa Mze Ali Ahmed (center), a Franco Comorian who travelled back to Comoros to celebrate the Grand Mariage swings his stick as he joins the traditional Dinahou dance. Men wearing traditional attires gather on the central Badjanani square. Relatives gather at the residence of Issa Mze Ali Ahmed (not seen), a Franco Comorian who travelled back to Comoros to celebrate the Grand Mariage. Amadi Maria (right), the mother of Franco Comoran Faid Kassime (third left), who lives with his wife Faizat Aboubacar (second left) in Reunion, holds 50 Euros banknotes while dancing during the Ukumbi. Amadi Maria (left), the mother of Franco Comoran Faid Kassime (not seen) holds 50 Euros banknotes while dancing during the Ukumbi. A woman who recently completed the Grand marriage ceremony is introduced to the congregation gathering for the Ukumbi. Amadi Maria, the mother of Franco Comoran Faid Kassime (not seen) dances during the Ukumbi. Female friends and relatives of Franco Comoran Faid Kassime (center left) dance while displaying banknotes during the Ukumbi. Two women who recently completed the Grand marriage ceremony are introduced to the congregation gathering for the Ukumbi. Franco Comoran Faid Kassime (center left), who lives with his wife Faizat Aboubacar (center right) in Reunion, dance during the Ukumbi, a women only reception marking the end of the Grand Mariage celebrations, at the Foyer des Femmes (a local venue dedicated to women only gathering) in Moroni during the evening reception of the couple's Grand Mariage. Female friends and relatives of Franco Comoran Faid Kassime (center left) a women only reception marking the end of the Grand Mariage celebrations. Franco Comoran Faid Kassime drops banknotes in a basket in a dance during which the guests leave sums of money for the couple in Moroni. Franco Comoran Faizat Aboubacar (center left) looks on as her groom Faid Kassime (center right) whispers in her hear, at her family home in Moroni. Franco Comoran Faizat Aboubacar (center) is surrounded by female members of her family as she waits for the arrival her groom Faid Kassime (not seen), at her family home in Moroni. Staggering sums It can often take a couple several years after their first wedding, called the 'Petit Mariage', to accumulate the money required to host the second, more lavish event. But, as costly as it is, the ceremony is valued for sealing the social status of a couple in the hierarchy of their community, said anthropologist Damir Ben Ali. 'It marks the end of a period of social apprenticeship,' Ali said. 'It means that a person has followed all the rules that allow him to have some responsibility in the community ... for making decisions concerning the community.' A 'Grand Mariage' can cost a couple their entire life savings, said Ali, who found in research in 2009 that the financial outlay then ranged between 6,000 and 235,000 euros. 'It has surely increased since then,' he said. The spending is staggering for a nation where 45 percent of the population of under 900,000 people lives below the poverty line of around 100 euros a month, according to the National Statistics Institute. Remissions from the diaspora account for 30 percent of the national GDP. The sumptuous attire worn by couples at the ceremonies reflect the outfits worn by sultans before the Comoros became a French protectorate in the 19th century, said Sultan Chouzour, author of the 1994 book, 'The Power of Honour'. 'The ceremony is akin to enthroning a new king,' he said. 'Here, everyone can be a sultan.' Franco Comoran Faizat Aboubacar (center left) and her groom Faid Kassime (center right) leave her family home in Moroni. Porters carry display cases containing the gold dowery that Franco Comoran Faid Kassime (center) will bring to his bride family home in Moroni. Musicians play as the cortege escorting Franco Comoran Faid Kassime (not seen). The cortege of Franco Comoran Faid Kassime (second left) heads towards his bride family home in Moroni. Franco Comoran Faid Kassime (third right), 42, stand next to male family members in front of the Grand Mosque du Vendredi in Moroni. Franco Comoran Faid Kassime (center), 42, drinks from a glass of milk offered by his mother Amadi Maria (second right) during a prayer at his parents home in Tsidje. Franco Comoran Faid Kassime (left), 42, is helped by his uncle Faissoil Ali Wa Boina (right) to wear a traditional dagger part of the dressing ceremony at his parents home in Tsidje. Franco Comoran Faid Kassime (center), 42,walks under an umbrella surrounded by family members in Moroni. Female members of the bride's family welcome Franco Comoran Faid Kassime (center), 42,as he arrives in Moroni Franco Comoran Faid Kassime (center), 42, walks under an umbrella surrounded by family members in Moroni. Franco Comoran Faid Kassime (third right), 42, poses with male family members in front of the Grand Mosque du Vendredi in Moroni. Amadi Maria (fourth left), the mother of Franco Comoran Faid Kassime (third left), who lives with his wife Faizat Aboubacar (second left) in Reunion, stands next to the couple as friends and relatives drop banknotes in a suitcase while dancing during the Ukumbi. New status Kassime's procession to the home of his 41-year-old bride, Faizat Aboubacar, illustrated the Comoros' matrilineal system and its practice of matrilocality in which husbands move into the communities of their wives. Aboubacar was overjoyed after her special day. 'I am surrounded by my loved ones and that is all that matters. It is a beautiful moment,' she said. The event announces to society that a woman's social status has improved, said Farahate Mahamoud, one of the guests. 'She will be treated as a dignitary wherever she goes. At all ceremonies, she will have the right to speak,' Mahamoud said. Aboubacar's mother-in-law was proud that the couple had returned to the Comoros to uphold one of its pillar traditions. 'A continuation of our customs is a great joy - especially for children who were born in France, raised in France, educated in France or working in France to accept doing what we, as parents and grandparents, did,' said Maria Amadi. - AFP
Kuwait Times
06-08-2025
- Kuwait Times
Iconic French chef stakes reputation on vegan menu
Celebrated French chef Alain Passard has made history once again. The 68-year-old has become the first three Michelin star chef in France to switch to an entirely plant-based menu, opening a new chapter in the world of luxury dining. Since July 21, Passard has stopped serving meat, fish, dairy products and eggs at L'Arpege, his restaurant in the French capital's chic seventh district that he has run for nearly 40 years. The only exception is honey that comes from the restaurateur's own beehives. Passard said the switch had been in the pipeline for a year. 'There's light in this cuisine,' he told AFP. 'There are taste sensations that I've never experienced anywhere else.' L'Arpege used to be known as one of the leading rotisseries in Paris. It earned three Michelin stars in 1996, and has held the distinction ever since. In 2001, Passard caused a stir in the rarefied world of French cuisine by dropping red meat from his menu and saying he would focus more on vegetables grown in his gardens. The shift made him one of the first ambassadors of plant-based cuisine. While Passard is motivated by environmental concerns in his new quest, it is above all a culinary challenge. The restaurant's updated menu includes mesclun praline with roasted almonds and melon carpaccio. Lunch costs 260 euros. Passard has no plans to become a vegan militant himself. 'I still eat a little poultry and fish,' he said. 'But I'm more comfortable with plants. They allow me to learn.' French chef Alain Passard poses in front of his restaurant 'L'Arpege' in Paris during a photo session. French chef Alain Passard poses in his restaurant 'L'Arpege' in Paris during a photo session. French chef Alain Passard poses in his restaurant 'L'Arpege' in Paris during a photo session. French chef Alain Passard poses in his restaurant 'L'Arpege' in Paris during a photo session.--AFP photos 'Colossal task' French chef Claire Vallee knows from experience that Passard is up for a challenge. 'It requires a lot more preparation, knowledge and research,' Vallee said of plant-based dishes. 'It's quite a colossal task.' In 2021, her vegan restaurant in southwest France won a Michelin star, the first for an establishment serving only animal-free products in France. Vallee in 2016 launched ONA - which stands for Origine Non Animale ('Non-Animal Origin') - thanks to crowdfunding from supporters and a loan from a green bank. The establishment closed in 2022, and the 45-year-old chef went on to open several pop-up restaurants. Since then, no other French restaurant serving only animal-free products has been awarded a Michelin star. Internationally, vegan haute cuisine is rare. Eleven Madison Park in New York has kept its three stars after becoming exclusively vegan in 2021. In the Netherlands, De Nieuwe Winkel's plant-based menu has earned it two Michelin stars. Laurent Guez, a food critic for French newspaper Le Parisien and business daily Les Echos, said Passard's announcement was 'a major event'. But he also warned that not a lot of chefs could excel in the art of high-end plant-based gastronomy. 'It's exceptional cuisine that not everyone can allow themselves to launch into,' he said. Michelin guide international director Gwendal Poullennec said he was 'delighted' with the transition at L'Arpege, describing it as a 'positive approach'. 'We will continue to follow the evolution of L'Arpege, remaining faithful to our criteria,' he told AFP. Passard has given himself two years to take his kitchen skills to a new level. Is he worried about losing his three stars? 'I've never thought about that,' he said. 'We're going to have to deliver. If we can maintain this level of quality, then I'm extremely confident.' — AFP
Kuwait Times
05-08-2025
- Kuwait Times
Creativity is not for sale - Dr Khalid Al-Saleh
Creativity is not for sale We live in a time when fame is measured by the number of followers, not by the quality of ideas or the originality of talent. What is even more dangerous is that many literary and creative platforms today are funded by wealthy individuals—raising a fundamental question: can money create creativity? Are we facing a generation in which 'genius' is funded and 'creativity' is hired? It is a painful reality unfolding before us: money has become a powerful tool for manufacturing thinkers, media figures, and writers without genuine talent. This empties the cultural arena of its content and weakens public taste. Today, any wealthy individual can establish a publishing house in their name, produce a film that serves their interests, or publish a book filled with meaningless words, then promote it through funded campaigns that label it a 'bestseller.' Some names now dominate the literary and media scene not because of talent or ability, but because of financial backing, public relations, and targeted advertising. When capital takes over the cultural space, critics lose their freedom. Criticism becomes a form of 'courtesy' or 'marketing,' rather than a tool for honest evaluation. Those with real talent who lack the means for promotion or the connections to reach the public are sidelined. Creativity shrinks, and authentic aesthetic values fade away. The prominent French sociologist Pierre Bourdieu, who died in 2002, explained in his famous book Distinction: A Social Critique of the Judgement of Taste how money is used to impose culture, creating indirect class discrimination in everything, including art, literature, and music, and depriving society of the true creativity that emerges from suffering. Harvard University also published a study examining the relationship between capital and creativity. It revealed that many independent literary awards are given to works that are modest in artistic content but enjoy significant financial and media support. Another clear example from the Arab world: over the past decade, Arab satellite channels have been flooded with people who present themselves as 'thinkers' despite lacking research credentials or meaningful intellectual output—apart from paid contributions to targeted services. Arab viewers still remember the so-called 'thinker' who appeared on the BBC, only to erupt in protest because the station delayed his payment! When the untalented dominate media and cultural platforms, creativity is lost and the beauty of literature is diminished. This distorts knowledge in society, elevating undeserving voices while silencing those worthy of recognition. Today, we are in dire need of a revival of true critics who are free from fear and financial control, and of evaluation committees in state institutions that are grounded in integrity and cultural competence. We must restrict and monitor cultural awards and ensure they are based on merit rather than connections. How many writers and thinkers have struggled to find their daily bread, yet humanity has immortalized them and rejoiced in their creations? And how many 'cultural billionaires' have managed to deceive some people for a while, only to be forgotten, leaving behind nothing but the corruption they funded? Creativity is born of necessity, of suffering, of imagination fortified by talent and culture. It is not found in bank accounts, nor among the luxuries of fame seekers. [email protected]
