Latest news with #Farsi
Sinar Daily
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Sinar Daily
'I thought she'd survive': Story of slain Gaza photojournalist touches Cannes
CANNES - A documentary whose main subject, 25-year-old photojournalist Fatima Hassouna, was killed in an Israeli air strike in Gaza weeks before it premiered at Cannes stunned viewers into silence at the festival Thursday. As the cinema lights came back on, film maker Sepideh Farsi held up an image of the young Palestinian woman killed with younger siblings on April 16, and encouraged the audience to stand up and clap to pay tribute. "To kill a child, to kill a photographer is unacceptable," Farsi said. "There are still children to save. It must be done fast," the exiled Iranian filmmaker added. With Israel banning foreign media from entering the besieged Palestinian territory, Farsi last year reached out to Hassouna through video call, and turned more than 200 days of conversations into the documentary "Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk". In often disjointed discussions due to bad internet connection, Hassouna smiles widely and bravely says she is ok. She recounts how she dreams of eating chicken amid dire food shortages, how she lost 14 relatives including a one-year-old in Israeli bombardment, and what she photographed that day. In one of her many pictures edited into the film, a little girl laughs on her father's lap in front of a tower block reduced to rubble. But in another, a boy aims a water hose at the bloodied pavement, trying to clean away the remains of his own family. 'Normal people' A day after Hassouna was told the documentary had been selected for a sidebar section at the world's most prestigious film festival, an Israeli missile pummelled her home in northern Gaza, killing her and 10 relatives. Israel has claimed it was targeting Palestinian Islamist militant group Hamas. "Why would you kill someone and decimate an entire family just because she was taking photos?" Farsi told AFP. "They were normal people. Her father was a taxi driver, she was a photographer, her sister was a painter and her little brother was 10 years old", said Farsi. "My heart goes out to her mother, who lost six of her children, her husband and her home." On Thursday, British filmmaker Ken Loach -- a double Palme d'Or winner -- on X called on people to honour Hassouna and fellow Palestinian journalists "who gave their lives to bear witness to mass murder". Tens of thousands have been killed in Gaza and an aid blockade threatens famine, while Israeli leaders continue to express a desire to empty the territory of Palestinians as part of the war sparked by Hamas's unprecedented October 7, 2023 attack. Reporters Without Borders estimates around 200 journalists have been killed in 18 months of Israeli strikes on Gaza. 'Reality caught up with us' As the Gaza death toll mounts, with rescuers saying 120 people were killed in Israeli strikes on Thursday alone, the conflict has cast a shadow over Cannes. Several actors have walked its red carpet wearing Palestinian flags pinned to their jackets, while others have sported a yellow ribbon for Israeli hostages still held in Gaza. Exiled Gazan film makers Arab and Tarzan Nasser will on Monday screen "Once Upon a Time in Gaza", a portrait of two friends set in 2007, the year Hamas started tightening its grip on the territory. On the eve of the festival, "Schindler's List" actor Ralph Fiennes and Hollywood star Richard Gere were among more than 380 figures to slam what they see as silence over "genocide" in Gaza. "The English Patient" actor Juliette Binoche, who heads the main competition jury, paid homage to Hassouna on opening night. Sepideh said she had believed until the very end that Hassouna "would survive, that she would come (to Cannes), that the war would stop. "But reality caught up with us," she said. - AFP
India.com
23-05-2025
- Science
- India.com
10 Oldest Languages In The World
photoDetails english 2905301 Language is one of humanity's oldest and most powerful tools, shaping civilizations, preserving cultures, and connecting generations. While thousands of languages have emerged and evolved over millennia, a few have withstood the test of time, remaining in use—either in daily life, liturgy, or scholarly circles—since ancient eras. Updated:May 23, 2025, 07:13 PM IST 1 / 11 These languages offer a fascinating glimpse into our collective past, showcasing the richness of human expression across centuries. In this article, we explore 10 of the oldest languages in the world, tracing their origins, historical significance, and continued relevance today. Tamil 2 / 11 One of the oldest classical languages with origins dating back over 2000 years. Sanskrit 3 / 11 Ancient Indo- European language, considered the language of classical Indian literature and Hindu scriptures. Hebrew 4 / 11 Ancient Semitic language, sacred in Judaism, with origins dating back over 3000 years. Aramaic 5 / 11 Semitic language, used in ancient Mesopotamia and spoken by Jesus Christ. Greek 6 / 11 Ancient language with roots dating back to the 3rd millennium BCE, know for its rich literature. Chinese 7 / 11 Ancient language family with written records dating back over 3000 years. Egyptian 8 / 11 Ancient language of Egypt, with hieroglyphic inscriptions dating back to around 3200 BCE. Farsi 9 / 11 While not the earliest known language in the Indo- Iranian language family, Farsi is the longest surviving spoken language of the Iranian family of languages almost 522 BC. Latin 10 / 11 Classical language of the Roman empire, influencing many European languages. Italian 11 / 11 It is quite challenging to determine whether this is one of the oldest languages in the world or if it is now extinct. It's possible that the language originated around 75 BCE, or even earlier—perhaps during the time of the Roman Republic, which was established in 509 BCE. Modern Italian is a direct descendant of Latin.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk' Review: A Stirring Chronicle of a Gaza Journalist Who Was Killed Before Its Cannes Premiere
Sepideh Farsi's documentary 'Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk' follows 25-year-old Gaza photojournalist Fatma Hassona, a story of a woman under siege by constant bombing, made especially sobering by its circumstances. On April 16, 2025, just a day after the movie's Cannes Film Festival selection was announced, Hassona was killed in an Israeli airstrike, turning the film into a cinematic epitaph to a life cut far too short. Farsi takes an unusual visual approach to capturing Hassona, but one that eventually pays dividends. Using one smartphone to film another, the Iranian director creates layers of distance between the audience and her subject — or rather, mimics the actual divide between the two women — during their many WhatsApp video chats. Farsi cannot enter Gaza, and Hassona cannot leave, leaving pixelated calls with delayed audio (owing to Hassona's poor internet connection) as their only way to connect. More from Variety Elle Fanning Wipes Away Tears as Palme Buzz Builds for Joachim Trier's 'Sentimental Value,' Scoring Massive 15-Minute Cannes Ovation 'Sentimental Value' Review: Joachim Trier's Resonant Family Drama Treats a Beautiful Old House as the Foundation for Healing 'A Useful Ghost' Review: A Haunted Vacuum Cleaner Hoovers Up Attention in Pleasingly Particular Ghost Story There likely would have been clearer, more traditional options to shoot this footage, between the possibility of screen-recording, or perhaps using Hassona's own DSLR camera, but opting for a lo-fi mise en abyme has a dueling effect. On one hand, it keeps Hassona tragically out of reach, the way she was for Farsi during their year-long conversation, beginning in April 2024. On the other hand, the moments in which Farsi inserts Hassona's photographs on screen become all the more striking. Her pictures of Palestinian death and survival, amid the rubble of bombed buildings, reveals a soulful command of shadow, composition and focus, which stands out in stark contrast to the blurry video chats. However, the calls themselves are the crux of the movie, and prove immensely alluring despite their poor quality. Hassona, in her broken English, narrates her life and daily circumstances, from her family being starved to the danger of falling bombs as soon as she walks out the door to her dreams of one day escaping Gaza and traveling to Rome. However, despite the death and destruction around her, she delivers each bit of news and information with a radiant grin, attempting to stay positive and laugh off even the most inhumane horrors. During several calls, the audio is interrupted by choppers and drones overhead and bombs falling on neighbors' houses. At one point, she turns her camera to a pillar of smoke nearby, where a residential building had stood just moments earlier. These heart-wrenching images are given greater political context as Farsi films her laptop in between calls (or while waiting for Hassona to call back, after a call has been dropped) while news videos about Gaza and Israel play on loop. All the while, Farsi remains a subject too — a helpless observer to these events, reduced to a mere shape via her reflection in her smudged computer screen. She asks Hassona for her opinions as well, which the young photographer once again delivers with a smile, even as she unpacks her complex feelings about the larger situation. These details, however, pale in comparison to the seemingly inconsequential anecdotes Hassona narrates about her daily life, each time with a different hijab to match her outfit, or a different pair of shades or glasses. Hassona is both fashionable and immensely talented (she shares her Arabic poems and songs with Farsi), and the more we see of her over the movie's 110 minutes, the more devastating it becomes that we will never meet her, or never truly get to know her. The proximity of her killing to the Cannes Film Festival likely means that little has changed in the film, except for an added scene and acknowledgment near the end. But even so, Farsi's aesthetic approach — which could have so easily been grating — proves endearing and heartbreaking in equal measure, as a depiction of the exact manner in which a filmmaker got to know her subject intimately before her death. Despite its tragic outcome, the film proves stirring in its capacity for hope against all odds, while also placing on full display the cost of occupation, portraying the full extent of the lives and dreams dashed by war. Best of Variety The Best Albums of the Decade
Muscat Daily
19-05-2025
- Climate
- Muscat Daily
Civil defence to build 3 emergency shelters in Oman
Muscat – Three new emergency centres in regions most vulnerable to extreme weather in the sultanate will be set up in a move aimed at strengthening disaster preparedness and humanitarian support. Led by Civil Defence and Ambulance Authority in cooperation with Ministry of Social Development, the initiative was formalised on Sunday with the signing of an agreement by Maj Gen Abdullah Ali al Harthy, Assistant Inspector General of Police and Customs for Operations and Chairman of CDAA, and Zaher Said al Rashdi, chief executive officer of the executing company. According to Mishaal al Farsi, coordinator of National Committee for Emergency Management's Relief and Shelter Sector, the centres will be located in Suwaiq and Suhar in North Batinah, and Sur in South Sharqiyah. 'These wilayats were selected because they have been the most affected by climatic conditions in recent years, being coastal cities as well as among the most densely populated,' Farsi said. The centres are intended to be safe, fully equipped shelters for people affected by natural disasters or other emergencies. 'They reflect Oman's commitment to developing its relief and shelter infrastructure and its readiness to respond quickly and effectively to emergencies,' Farsi said. Mishaal al Farsi The facilities will offer basic services, including food, clothing, medicine, Internet access and other essential support. Farsi noted that the dedicated centres will fill a gap resulting from reliance on schools and public buildings – which were temporary and lacked adequate facilities – used earlier to shelter those affected by extreme weather conditions. A technical committee is currently assessing the need for similar centres in other governorates, focusing on areas with high population density and vulnerability to extreme weather. The emergency shelters initiative aligns with Oman's broader national strategy for disaster risk reduction in alignment with international standards such as the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.
Wales Online
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
'I remember the utter sadness and not understanding what's going on…it was so cold'
'I remember the utter sadness and not understanding what's going on…it was so cold' Marjie Halati who has dedicated her life to helping refugees and marginalised women looks back at her childhood in a Welsh boarding school Marjie grew up in Wales and it shaped her significantly (Image: Images from production of Finding Hope ) It takes a very special type of person to be a charity worker, fearlessly and selflessly putting others needs in front of their own, and sometimes it can take a very poignant reason to pursue this work. This is the case for Marjie Halati who is an incredible woman and has her own personal reasons for dedicating her life to helping refugees and marginalised women. Marjie, who is from Iran, spent two years of her life in boarding school in Rhyl and it was this experience that shaped her into becoming the fearless and determined charity worker she is. While Marjie, who is also a psychologist, did not have a positive time in Wales, hating being so far away from home and unable to have any control over her own life, something she hopes to resolve, it made her inexplicably who she is. Aged 60, Marjie has devoted her life and her work to helping refugees and marginalised women. She successfully ran an organisation, called Omid, which means hope in Farsi, in Iran, for years before it was shut down and raided by the Iranian government in 2022. For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter . This meant Marjie lost her charity and life's work overnight and is unable to ever return to Iran. Now she continues to help refugees and Marjie's story is told in the BBC documentary Finding Hope, which was made by Welsh-Iranian film maker Sara Nourizadeh. Marjie explained to WalesOnline how her childhood in Wales shaped her into who she is today. She said: "Not to have a voice or choice to be sent to Wales, to boarding school… for me, as a little girl of 11, it was like being uprooted and not having a choice. Article continues below "It kinda fits in with the idea of being a refugee because you are uprooted and also not having a voice. Unconsciously, that was part of my psychology, and that's why I wanted to work with women... That is how it kind of weaves into what I do, my own past." 'I just sat there and sobbed and sobbed' Speaking about how she felt at boarding school in Wales, having been sent there after a summer in London by her parents and having no idea she would not be returning to Iran, Marjie said: "I remember the utter sadness and not understanding what's going on… it was so cold." Not speaking any English and sharing a room with six other girls, Marjie felt lost. She said: "It's a picture that is kind of fixed in my mind, that sadness, that sense of alienation and uprootedness and these are words that I am using now but of course, as an 11 year old, I didn't understand. "I remember I just sat there and sobbed and sobbed, I cried so many days and months, the whole time I was crying because I couldn't really digest what was happening." In desperation Marjie went on hunger strike at the boarding school, admitting that she did smuggle in biscuits so it wasn't a full on hunger strike and looking back at that time, she said: "Looking back at the girl I was at the time, it was her taking a stance… so good for her! I'm very pleased for her now." Talking about the impact of her schooling experience in Wales, Marjie said: "I think it has shaped me in the sense, I don't take things lying down and I stand for something, whether it's politics or marginalised girls or refugees. "That when there is an injustice I think, I might not win, I might be able to accomplish anything, but I don't take it lying down, and I take a stance on any issues which are important to me." Marjie back at the boarding school in Wales, filming Finding Hope (Image: Images from production of Finding Hope ) In the documentary, Marjie revisits her former school, which is now a hotel. Talking about going back, Marjie said: "I remember that night when I went back to my room to sleep, I couldn't. It was like it was haunted. "For miles and miles, it's just green and you don't see any buildings, and I am an urban person, so as a little kid being in the middle of nowhere and it still felt like being in the middle of nowhere... Even as an adult visiting, I'd be devastated if someone left me there." Marjie is determined to repair her relationship with Wales and intends to holiday here in July. She said: "It is gorgeous, it is beautiful and I don't want the memories to tarnish the beauty of Wales and I love the Welsh because they are just so friendly and lovely." It is clear that Marjie has a deep and genuine passion for her work, she said: "When you really have your heart in the work, when you really believe in them, which I do, totally, and when you see them as human beings rather than refugees, it gives you that passion and the energy to continue because, it is not work, it is a belief in the goodness of the work and the importance of the work. "The feeling that you have done something of some value, for even one human being, is so satisfying and soul-nourishing." Sara also spoke to WalesOnline about why she wanted to make a documentary with Marjie. She said: "It felt like such a privilege to follow Marji's work… I felt like it was an opportunity for her to celebrate that work and going on that journey was a huge honour and privilege. "I tend to only make films about people when I believe the process can offer something meaningful to them as well. With Finding Hope, I knew it wasn't going to change what Marjie had been through, but I did hope it could be a way of reflecting back to her just how much she had achieved. Article continues below "She had lost so much, her charity had been shut down, she'd been exiled, and people she cared about were imprisoned. But that wasn't the whole story. For me, this film was about showing the impact she's had and the lives she's changed." You can watch Marjie's documentary, Finding Hope, on BBC iPlayer.
