Latest news with #Fatma
Identity
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Identity
Turkish Dramas We'd Love to See Get an Egyptian Spinoff
Even after all these years, Egyptians' love for Turkish dramas hasn't faded one bit. There's always that one friend in every group who's obsessed with the intense storylines, dreamy actors, and unforgettable moments from the early 2000s to today. That got us thinking: what if some of these iconic Turkish series got an Egyptian spinoff? Just imagine the twist. Here's a list of fan-favorite dramas that Turkish drama lovers in Egypt would be curious to see with a local take. Fatma A cleaning lady turns into an unexpected killer as she searches for her missing husband, on her way to uncovering a range of dark secrets. This drama is considered one of the most recent yet highly captivating ones, and it feels interesting to explore. Kuzgun (The Raven) After years of being forcibly separated from his family, Kuzgun returns to take revenge on the man who betrayed his father and stole every potential opportunity from him. But things get complicated when he falls for that man's daughter, with a story where love, revenge, and power collide most intensely. Ezel Betrayed by his closest friends and framed for a crime he didn't commit, a man returns years later with a new identity to exact revenge. Lately introduced in the Lebanese adaptation of 'Asser,' this stirred our curiosity about how an Egyptian spinoff would be like. Hayat Şarkısı (Song of Life) Two childhood friends are forced into an arranged marriage to settle a family feud, but their lives take unexpected emotional turns. A romantic drama filled with secrets, family tensions, and personal growth. Aşk-ı Memnu (Forbidden Love) A wealthy man's young wife begins a dangerous affair with his nephew, setting off a chain of betrayal and heartbreak. A classic drama of passion, morality, and forbidden love, exactly as its name says. Sen Çal Kapımı (You Knock on My Door) A fake engagement between a fiery landscape designer and a cold-hearted businessman slowly turns into real love in the most unexpected way. This can be considered a lighthearted romantic comedy that is full of both tension and charm. Tell us in the comments, which one you think would work best in an Egyptian setting.
Kuwait Times
24-05-2025
- Business
- Kuwait Times
Souq Mubarakiya's charm trumps online shopping
Kuwait's iconic market thrives as a cultural landmark where tradition, connection and community converge By Christine Susan Shine In an age where shopping is often just a swipe away, Kuwait's historic Souq Mubarakiya stands out — not merely as a marketplace, but as a living memory. Despite the rise of e-commerce, conversations with visitors reveal a simple truth: The experience of offline shopping, especially at Mubarakiya, remains irreplaceable. While online shopping offers convenience, Mubarakiya offers something deeper — a human connection. The opportunity to negotiate prices, chat with a shopkeeper who's been there for decades or simply lose oneself in a maze of history is what makes the souq unique. Everything one might desire is found under one roof: Gold shops, antique stores, bead vendors, perfumeries, money exchangers, toy sellers, sweet stalls, fresh produce, bustling fish and meat markets and an entire street dedicated to women's fabrics and tailoring. More than a place to shop, Souq Mubarakiya is a destination to experience. Fatma, a regular visitor, shared: 'I come here three times a month. It's easier to shop here because we know the sellers personally. I like to touch the fabrics and smell the perfumes before buying. The prices are reasonable, the quality is good, and there's that emotional attachment.' This sense of familiarity and connection is echoed by many. For locals like Muhammad Ali, a visit to Mubarakiya is more than a shopping trip — it's a cherished tradition. 'Since childhood, I would come here with my mother to buy dishdasha and ghutra (headdress),' he recalled with a smile. 'Now, I come here to drink tea, enjoy a variety of cuisines and maybe bump into old friends.' A vendor displays traditional teapots at a shop in Souq Mubarakiya. A vendor stacks dates at his shop. A vendor sits in his prayer bead shop in Souq Mubarakiya. Foreign students in Kuwait visit the souq. Muhammed Ali, a regular visitor. A jeweller arranges ornaments at his gold shop in the souq. People shop for fruit and vegetables and foodstuff at Souq Mubarakiya. 'Coming here gives a completely different feeling,' said another customer, strolling through the souq. 'You see people from all walks of life. It's the same feeling I had 20-30 years ago when my grandfather and father used to bring me here. In today's digital world, it's very hard to get in touch with reality. But here, you get to sense it all.' It's not just Kuwaitis who are drawn to the souq. Tourists, expats and students all agree that the charm of Mubarakiya lies in its ability to offer an authentic, welcoming experience. For many, it's also a weekend retreat. Warrior, a student from Tajikistan, and Iman, a Russian student, both regulars at the souq, shared: 'We come here not just to shop, but to walk around and enjoy the surroundings. It's a weekend tradition for us now.' 'Going to shops in Kuwait will never go out of trend,' said another visitor. 'People here love the act of shopping itself — feeling, seeing tasting. It's part of who we are.' This sensory richness cannot be replicated online. At Mubarakiya, shoppers experience a level of reliability and connection that no digital platform can match. According to recent figures issued by the Central Bank of Kuwait, consumer spending reached an all-time high of KD 47.81 billion in 2024 — a testament to Kuwaitis' enduring love for shopping. In a world increasingly driven by algorithms and automation, Souq Mubarakiya stands as a reminder of shopping's roots as a social, sensory and deeply human experience. Every corner of the souq tells a story, every stall contributes to Kuwait's cultural fabric. As the nation moves into a digital future, Mubarakiya continues to prove that tradition and progress can coexist in harmony. And as long as the love for tradition remains strong, the story of Mubarakiya will not be written on a screen — but lived in the very heart of the city.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Put Your Soul in Your Hand and Walk' Review: Ethical Concerns Riddle Iranian Documentary About a Palestinian Photojournalist Killed by the IDF
On April 15, 2025, it was announced that 'Put Your Soul in Your Hand and Walk' — a series of filmed video conversations between Iranian documentarian Sepideh Farsi and 25-year-old Palestinian photojournalist, Fatma Hassona — would play in the ACID strand of the Cannes Film Festival. On April 16, as they slept in their home in Gaza City, Fatma, Walaa, Alaa, Yazan, Mohammed, and Muhannad Hassona were killed by an Israeli airstrike. Fatma's parents were wounded and father Raed died later from his injuries. Final responsibility for the murder of a bright and gifted young woman who dreamed of visiting the world lies with the Israeli Defence Force. However, given widespread awareness of how Palestinians are targeted for raising the profile of the daily suffering induced by the occupation (see also the abduction of 'No Other Land' co-director Hamdan Ballal after its Oscar win) a question hangs over this documentary about how deeply Farsi weighed her duty of care to her collaborator. Did Fatma decide that speaking in this format was worth the deadly cost that it ultimately exacted? More from IndieWire Who Will Buy Cannes' Buzziest Sales Title, 'Sound of Falling'? Natalie Portman and Ugo Bienvenu Place Humanity Above the Machines in Futuristic 'Arco' If she did, this matter is not touched in the course of the conversations that make up the soul and the substance of this documentary. Instead, the brutal news of seven deaths (and we have met three of Fatma's family members by this point) is starkly presented in a closing title card that follows a video call on April 15 subtitled, 'The Final Conversation.' Here Sepideh breaks the news to Fatma about Cannes. Fatma is a radiant presence who has been fighting back depression over the documentary's timespan of April 2024-April 2025. It's been a year in which food is becoming harder and harder to source and the sound of bombs and Apache helicopters are a daily soundtrack. A light goes on inside Fatma as Sepideh suggests that she comes to Cannes and the dramatic irony feels tasteless and cruel. We know that she will only come to Cannes as a still image behind the dates 1999-2025. In this grave context, it's hard not to weigh 'Put Your Soul in Your Hand and Walk' against the value of seven lives, an equation that can only be answered to the film's detriment. Complicating this assessment, however, is the fact that Fatma had already achieved global recognition for her photography. Her images locate splashes of vivid color and human faces that pop against the ruined buildings behind them. Farsi folds these into the documentary for its most striking and artistic sequences as we see new perspectives through Fatma's eyes. More slapdash are the newsreel clips designed to situate what Fatma is going through in Al Tuffah within a broader global narrative about Israel's genocidal war on Gaza. A variety of sources from across the political spectrum are included whose reports unfold from clashing sets of values. This is not highlighted or analysed by the film, it simply muffles an intention to create a clear frame of reference. To backtrack: Sepideh Farsi was compelled by the images coming out of Gaza to travel there. After being denied entrance through the Rafah Crossing through Cairo, she began filming refugees coming the other way. A man named Ahmed from the same neighborhood as Fatma introduced them and their personal connection proved stronger than the sketchy wifi that causes their video conversations to cut in and out. The rapport between the women is undeniable, even if Sepideh's attempt to force parallels between her own personal history in Iran and the unfolding situation in Palestine does not fully cohere. Having left Iran at the age of 18, she will not return for fear of arrest, however over the course of their conversations she calls in from France, Morocco, and Italy as a misty-eyed Fatma confesses that she has never left Gaza and that to do so is her dream. She is especially energized when Sepideh calls from Rome as The Vatican is on her bucket list. To her credit, Sepideh is aware enough to own the surreal gulf between what to her is a normal life and what has become Fatma's normal life. 'We're used to it but we're not used to it,' said Fatma, 'Because we can't get used to killing or bombing or this suffering.' At the outset of their conversations, Fatma beams with a wide, white smile even as she narrates the death and destruction she has witnessed. She is proud to be a Palestinian in Gaza. 'The strongest thing is that we have nothing to lose.' Conversations touch on the molecular details of living in a destroyed place under daily bombardment. Sometimes Fatma goes to the balcony to show her pen pal the view, and her closeness to this devastation rebirths its horror anew. She has a log on WhatsApp of family deaths, each accompanied by a photo and a description of the circumstances. There are many photos of children. They found her uncle's wife's head in the street. As she said, Fatma is both used to and not used to her loved ones being picked off. When her artist friend is martyred, she still has tears to cry. This is a slight, ambling documentary that now has a permanent shadow over it. Its leading lady deserved a stronger film and a longer life. Under the circumstances IndieWire is not awarding a grade. Instead, here is a taste of Fatma Hassona's photography. 'Put Your Soul in Your Hand and Walk' premiered in the ACID section parallel to the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. It is currently seeking U.S. distribution. Want to stay up to date on IndieWire's film and critical thoughts? to our newly launched newsletter, In Review by David Ehrlich, in which our Chief Film Critic and Head Reviews Editor rounds up the best new reviews and streaming picks along with some exclusive musings — all only available to subscribers. Best of IndieWire The 25 Best Alfred Hitchcock Movies, Ranked Every IndieWire TV Review from 2020, Ranked by Grade from Best to Worst
Associated Press
24-03-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
Yemen: A Decade of Humanitarian Crisis
Originally posted by . Yemen remains one of the world's biggest humanitarian crises and the poorest country on the Arabian Peninsula. While battling economic decline and rising prices, the majority of the Yemeni population lacks access to food, water, and adequate health services. Since 2012, Action Against Hunger programs have been supporting the most vulnerable communities in Yemen. There has been a decline in the intensity of fighting in Yemen, yet almost half of the population remains food insecure. About 2.7 million pregnant and breastfeeding women need treatment for acute malnutrition, and 55% of children under five suffer from chronic malnutrition. With limited access to healthcare and vaccines, children are particularly at risk for diseases such as cholera, measles, and diphtheria. Like five million other displaced Yemenis, Fatma's family was forced to flee their home because of the conflict and now lives in a makeshift shelter. 'When I saw the devastation of our home, I feared for our survival. I took my children in my arms and left,' explains Fatma, a mother of five from the Hodeidah region. Fatma, accompanied by her husband, mother, and children, travelled over one hundred miles to a camp for displaced persons in Al-Musaimeer in the governorate of Abyan. They relied on Fatma's husband's income to survive, but an accident left him permanently unable to work. Fully reliant on whatever financial support could be offered by relatives, the family often went to bed hungry. 'One day, my son Ali became so weak that I feared for his life,' said Fatma. 'He was born with a healthy weight, but at the age of 10 months, the Action Against Hunger mobile team diagnosed him with severe acute malnutrition. Once at the health unit, the doctors gave him special therapeutic food and monitored him closely. After a difficult nine-day period, I saw him regain his strength. Action Against Hunger covered our transportation costs so we could return for regular check-ups. They also gave us hygiene products and taught us how to prevent malnutrition. Today, Ali is healthy again.' A humanitarian situation that continues to deteriorate After a decade of conflict and successive crises, the number of Yemenis in need of humanitarian aid continues to grow, rising from 18.2 million in 2024 to 19.5 million in 2025. Instability in the Red Sea region has only worsened the humanitarian situation, disrupting shipments of food, fuel and other basic necessities, much of which are imported. It has also threatened the livelihoods of fishermen who provide food for their surrounding regions, and some have had to move in search of new economic opportunities. Yemen is the third most-affected country in the world by the climate crisis, and it is frequently hit by violent weather phenomena, including torrential rains and devastating floods. In 2024, tens of thousands of people were impacted by the destruction of essential infrastructure by weather catastrophes. For displaced families with no access to clean water, hygiene and sanitation infrastructure, or housing, seasonal floods pose a serious threat and are likely to exacerbate malnutrition and the ongoing cholera epidemic. Major challenges for humanitarian assistance Despite the significant problems associated with humanitarian access, our teams continue to offer communities resources for survival. In 2023 alone, we supported more than 400,000 people. We provide medical support and nutritional treatment to people threatened by malnutrition, as well as clean water to communities to prevent water-borne epidemics such as cholera. Every day, our therapists help patients heal the invisible wounds left by this catastrophic humanitarian situation. Despite immense needs, the humanitarian crisis in Yemen remains underfunded. In 2024, only 55.3% of funding targets were met. International donor fatigue has been compounded by the end of US funding, which contributed 35.5% of the humanitarian response in the country in 2024. This sudden cessation of humanitarian aid, coupled with the US government's rapid dismantling of essential elements of the aid system, undermines efforts to combat malnutrition and increases humanitarian needs among the most vulnerable.
Times of Oman
24-03-2025
- General
- Times of Oman
Racism in Germany is the norm not the exception
Berlin: Fatma, who works as a nursery school teacher in Berlin, said it begins first thing in the morning on her way to work. "The other drivers give me a look," she said. She dresses in stylish clothing and wears a headscarf. "The instructor in my nursery teacher training programme once said to me that she thinks the headscarf is unhygienic." Fatma said she graduated from her training course with "very good" grades, and yet it still wasn't easy for her to get a job. What's more, nursery school teachers are urgently needed in the capital Berlin and throughout Germany. But she feels that because she wears a headscarf, she is at a disadvantage. "It really upsets me," she said. Hanna also lives in Berlin. "I don't dare go into certain neighbourhoods," she said. She's regularly targeted by "stupid comments," as she puts it, whenever she takes the subway with her kids — because of her children and her dark hair. "People say I should go back to my country." Nothing random about racism "Experiences of discrimination do not happen randomly," said Aylin Mengi, who is co-author of the Racism Monitor, published by the German Center for Integration and Migration Research. In one of the most comprehensive data surveys on racism and discrimination in Germany, researchers surveyed almost 10,000 people across the country. The results of the latest report from March 2025 show that those who are seen by others as being immigrants or Muslims are most affected — regardless of whether they actually are or not. Some because they wear a headscarf, like Fatma. Or, because of their skin color, or because, like Hanna, they have dark hair. More than half of people who are singled out in this way reported everyday experiences of discrimination at least once a month. 'Racism is becoming more subtle' Muslim women and Black people are most affected. According to the report's findings, over 60% regularly experience discrimination in their everyday lives. "We see that experiences of discrimination are unevenly distributed in German society," Cihan Sinanoglu, the head of the Racism Monitor, told DW. "And we see that racism in Germany is becoming more subtle and adapting to social norms." Sinanoglu summarised the results of the study by saying that there is a widespread belief in mainstream society that ethnic and religious minorities are demanding too many political rights. "This shows that certain social groups are still being denied political rights." In Germany, people who have experienced discrimination are coming up against a mainstream in which racism remains firmly entrenched. "More than a fifth of the German population has entrenched racist attitudes," said Sinanoglu. Racism causes psychological suffering According to Sinanoglu, prejudice and exclusion can have far-reaching consequences. "Anxiety and depression increase the more discrimination and racism I encounter. And trust in social institutions declines the more discrimination I experience," he said. The authors of the study criticized the fact that political parties too often brush aside racism in Germany as a minority issue. "Every third family in Germany is linked to a history of migration," said Naika Foroutan, head of the research center, at the presentation of the data monitor. "Discriminatory experiences affect a large segment of society." Foroutan believes that one insight that is all too often lost in the discussion about racism in Germany is that "a broad majority is against racism in Germany. People want to learn, and they want to be informed about racism." Ferda Ataman, the federal commissioner for anti-discrimination, sees the results of the study as a clear task for politicians. "Germany has some of the weakest anti-discrimination laws. The study clearly shows that people need to be better protected," Ataman told DW. Ataman's demand was directed above all at the future German government, which the conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) and the center-left Social Democrats (SPD) are currently working to form in Berlin.
