Latest news with #Jaafar
Shafaq News
28-05-2025
- Automotive
- Shafaq News
Where steel meets memory: The timeless world of Iraq's classic cars
Shafaq News/ At dawn in the town of Iskandariyah, the clang of tools echoes through a modest workshop, cutting through the quiet like a heartbeat from the past. Beneath the soft hum of machinery and the scent of old paint and engine oil, Jaafar Abu Mohammed polishes a curved chrome bumper with the care of a museum conservator—not for display, but for remembrance. Now 51, Jaafar is Iraq's only known collector of 11 functioning classic cars, each meticulously restored and preserved as a "moving treasure." But for him, they are more than mechanical marvels—they are fragments of national identity. 'These cars are not for sale. They are stories on wheels,' he told Shafaq News. 'Each one witnessed an era that is gone, and each one has a soul.' What began as a fascination over a decade ago has become an act of cultural preservation. Jaafar has turned his passion into a private mission: salvaging and restoring vintage vehicles that once roamed Iraq's roads in more prosperous times. Among his most prized pieces is a 1955 Dodge believed to have belonged to King Faisal II, and a 1958 Jaguar he claims is the only one of its kind remaining in Iraq. His collection also includes a rare seven-seater 1948 Dodge, reportedly gifted by King Farouk of Egypt to King Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia. All repairs are done by hand—from panel beating and painting to sourcing original accessories, often imported directly from the United States at great cost and effort. 'It takes patience, months of waiting, and dedication,' Jaafar said. 'But it's worth it because I'm saving pieces of our history.' Though widely admired at national celebrations such as Baghdad Day and Army Day, his work faces major obstacles—chief among them, government inaction. Traffic authorities, in particular, restrict the movement of his vehicles, limiting their participation in public events. 'People want to see their heritage,' he lamented. 'These cars stir beautiful memories, but we get no support. Not from the traffic police, not from any agency. We work with love, but the backing is zero.' Jaafar has called for official recognition of heritage vehicle restoration as a cultural endeavor worthy of protection and support. However, his mission is no longer solitary. Jaafar's children have joined him in his preservation efforts, turning the workshop into a multi-generational archive of Iraqi motoring history. 'The first thing they do in the morning is shine the cars,' he said proudly. 'This isn't just a hobby anymore—it's our family's life.' As Iraq faces economic and political uncertainty, Jaafar Abu Mohammed's workshop stands as an unlikely sanctuary—where steel and memory are shaped together, and where the past refuses to be forgotten.
Saba Yemen
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Saba Yemen
Discussion on performance of Security Agencies, plans to improve duties of Security Units in Al-Hodeidah
Hodeida - Saba A meeting was held in Al-Hodeidah Governorate, chaired by Deputy Minister of Interior for Security and Police Sector, Major General Ahmed Jaafar, to discuss the performance of security agencies and plans to improve the duties of security units in line with current developments and to enhance their ability to respond quickly and deal with current challenges. The meeting addressed security preparations for Eid al-Adha, efforts to raise the performance of security departments in the city, coordination mechanisms, and improvements in civil defense readiness, including the assessment and distribution of firefighting vehicles. Major General Jaafar emphasized the need for vigilance and the implementation of field plans to ensure stability and public order, praising recent achievements. The Director of Al-Hodeidah Security, Major General Aziz Al-Jaradi, stressed the importance of using trained personnel to enhance performance and improve responsiveness to citizens. Intelligence and civil defense officials highlighted the need for joint coordination and provision of necessary equipment to support security and emergency response efforts. Whatsapp Telegram Email Print
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Michael Jackson's Nephew Reportedly Taking The Brunt Of Biopic Release Delay
The highly anticipated movie about Michael Jackson's life has become more than many expected, especially for the late singer's nephew, Jaafar Jackson. The biopic has faced multiple hiccups since its announcement, including the postponement of its April release date. The delay has reportedly taken a toll on Jaafar, who portrays the late King of Pop in the movie. The project not only serves as a testament to Michael Jackson's illustrious life and career but also Jaafar Jackson's debut as an actor. Sources claimed the rising star is overwhelmed with the continued production and reshoots, but remains committed to portraying his late uncle to the best of his abilities. An insider shed light on the tension caused by the delay of Michael's biopic, stressing that no one felt the pain more than Jaafar. They noted they felt sorry for the young actor because he "put himself through hell to master his late uncle's performance style, dance moves, and general manner." "He's had to maintain that peak conditioning and extremely low body fat for more than two years, starting with the early stages of the project and continuing through to the reshoots they've been doing this spring," the source added about Jaafar's strict preparations to embody his late uncle. They also noted Jaafar feared how the controversies surrounding Michael would affect the movie's final cut, referencing the persistent claims of alleged abuse victims. These molestation allegations led to the "Thriller" singer's unforgettable trial in 2005, where he was acquitted on all counts of wrongdoings, per In Touch. The insider claimed Jaafar found the situation "frustrating" because he had no power over the rest of the movie, excluding his own performance. They stressed the actor was concerned about how the Jackson family and producers might fail to find the perfect balance in covering Michael's life, career, and abuse allegations. "Getting that balance just right, within the story and the final cut of the movie, is why they had to delay the release and why they have gone back to reshoot and adjust things," the source explained. They suspected the Jackson estate might try to push for Michael's innocence and use the biopic to clear any misconceptions about the molestation scandal. Nonetheless, the insider believed the movie's outcome would not negatively impact Jaafar. They stressed that he had been a "team player" since day one and relentlessly pushed himself beyond the limits to portray his late uncle. Therefore, whether Michael's biopic becomes a success or a flop, his nephew has cemented himself as a good actor. Michael's nephew was born from the union between his brother Jermaine Jackson and his ex-wife Alejandra Genevieve Oaziaza. The former couple tied the knot in 1995 and ended their marriage in 2003, seven years after welcoming Jaafar in July 1996. Like most Jackson family members, Jaafar was born with the gift of music and has reportedly been singing and dancing since he was 12. He repeatedly flaunted his talents on social media, covering A-list singers like Sam Cooke and Marvin Gaye. Jaafar released his first single, "Got Me Singing," in 2019 and accompanied the song with a music video. He received the blessing of the Jackson family, including Michael's mother Katherine, before embarking on the journey to portray his late uncle, per PEOPLE. Days before reports of Jaafar's stress were unveiled, The Blast covered Janet Jackson's sweet gesture towards her late brother. The singer, best known as the youngest of the Jackson siblings, allegedly honored Michael by halting all discussions about a possible biopic. According to a source, Janet received lucrative offers to showcase her life and career in a musical biopic or a TV documentary. However, she refused to partake in such projects until the King of Pop's movie was released. The insider claimed she did so to avoid stealing her late brother's spotlight. Additionally, Janet wished to allow her family, especially her nephew Jaafar enjoy the attention the biopic would create before embarking on her own journey. Another reason stemmed from the singer's desire to see if the movie would be a success or a flop to judge fans' possible reactions to the portrayal of her legacy. The highly anticipated movie "Michael" reportedly explores the life and tragic end of the moonwalking singer. Antoine Fuqua directs the project and features stars like Nia Long, Colman Domingo, Kat Graham, Miles Teller, and more. The biopic's synopsis revealed that the project detailed numerous important events from Michael's life and career, including his childhood and days of being the star of the Jackson 5 band. The movie would also showcase the alleged abuse he suffered at the hands of his father, Joe Jackson, to the creation of his hit songs and his heartbreaking demise on June 25, 2009. A source claimed the entire Jackson family came together to ensure Michael's story was done justice without getting buried by controversy or gossip. Given the number of narratives that needed to be covered, reports claimed the biopic might be split into two movies. They noted this potential separation sparked the need for reshoots and script revisions. Will the production hiccups affect the success of Michael Jackson's biopic?
Shafaq News
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
With UN support: +300 displaced Iraqi families return to Sinjar
Shafaq News/ Over 300 displaced Iraqi families from Sinjar have left the displacement camps and returned to their homes in Nineveh Province, the Duhok Department of Migration, Displacement, and Crisis Response reported on Tuesday. Speaking to Shafaq News Agency, department director Diyan Jaafar confirmed that 370 families left the Duhok camps over the past two days as part of the final group supported by the UN's International Organization for Migration (IOM). Over the past three years, nearly 2,800 families have returned to their towns and villages across Sinjar—including key locations such as Karzark, Tal Uzair, and Dugure—under the IOM-supported voluntary return program. However, Jaafar noted, the broader return process has been temporarily suspended following US President Donald Trump's recent decision to freeze humanitarian and financial assistance to the United Nations for three months. 'Local authorities are now awaiting the end of this pause to resume further return efforts,' he added. On August 3, 2014, ISIS attacked Sinjar, killing, injuring, and displacing thousands of Yazidis before Peshmerga forces reclaimed the area in 2015. Nearly 200,000 Yazidis remain in displacement camps in Duhok, with thousands still missing nearly a decade later.
The Guardian
01-04-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Border wars: Syria's new authorities grapple with Lebanese smugglers
Hidden trails snake through the mountains in Lebanon's eastern Bekaa valley, the furrowed earthen paths veering off before entirely disappearing into the mountainside scrub. 'That's Syria,' said Haidar, a smuggler using a pseudonym, tracing with his finger the contours of a route that if followed for about half a mile would cross the borders of Syria and Lebanon with authorities being none the wiser. In the remote Lebanese village of Qasr, borders are just a suggestion. The town sits a stone's throw from Syria and save for three soldiers manning an army checkpoint at the entry to the village, the presence of the Lebanese state is minimal. The people of Qasr and the villages that straddle both sides of the nearly 248 mile-long (400km) Syria-Lebanon border were for decades in business together. Authorities in Assad's Syria profited from the flow of weapons, drugs and fuel over the border, and its ally in Lebanon, the Iran-backed Shia militia Hezbollah, relied on routes used by smugglers to receive weapons coming from Iran. But after the Syrian president Bashar al-Assad was ousted by Syrian rebels on 8 December and a war-battered Hezbollah lost its grip over the Lebanese state, authorities in both countries have sought to reassert control over their borders and crack down on smuggling. The attempt to seal the porous border has disrupted the decades long smuggling trade between Syria and Lebanon and has turned local tensions into deadly international military incidents. On 16 March, three Syrian soldiers were killed in Lebanese territory, prompting the Syrian army to begin to pummel Qasr and surrounding villages with artillery. Smuggling tribes in the villages returned fire and the Lebanese army also responded to Syrian rockets, with a ceasefire agreed a day later. In all, three Syrians and seven Lebanese were killed on both sides, while another 52 were wounded in Lebanon. It was the second time in a month that clashes had erupted between Syria and Lebanon. Syrian authorities blamed Lebanon's Hezbollah for the skirmishes, claiming it had infiltrated Syrian territory, kidnapped three Syrian soldiers and killed them. Hezbollah denied any involvement. Lebanese people painted a very different story, of a new Syrian army that did not yet know the lay of the land, and of a local dispute that escalated quickly. A member of the Lebanese Jaafar tribe, an influential smuggling clan that controls many of the routes in the area, said: 'Three Syrian soldiers [were] walking, and stepped on Lebanese land by accident. They ran across a shepherd who got scared and called his relatives, who killed the soldiers immediately.' He described how tensions have been running high between the people of Lebanese border villages and the new Syrian authorities. 'Smugglers are scared to go to Syria now, they don't feel there's security,' he said. Many Lebanese living in towns on the Syrian side of the border for decades fled after the fall of Assad for fear of the new authorities. One 68-year-old farmer who was born and raised in Syria said his land had been taken from him in December, so he fled to Qasr. Arms have poured into Lebanese border towns after Assad's troops abandoned their posts, leaving weapons ranging from rifles to light artillery by the roadside. The Jaafar family member said it was now common to find Kornets, a Russian anti-tank guided missile, in Qasr – and that they were quite cheap, too. When Syrian artillery fire started on Qasr and the surrounding area, tribes such as the Jaafar family took up arms to defend the town – and arms they had aplenty. A video of an al-Arabiya correspondent inside Syria during the clashes captured the moment a rocket was shot from the Lebanese side, slightly injuring the reporter. Many people in Qasr are members of Hezbollah – the group announced four of its fighters were killed in the clashes – although residents insisted the militia did not direct the battle, but rather fighters participated as members of the town. Experts say the relationship between smugglers and Hezbollah is more of a partnership, rather than the tribes that engage in smuggling being under the Lebanese group's control. Joseph Daher, the author of Hezbollah: The political economy of the party of God, said: 'Most of these clans are politically covered and have connections with Hezbollah. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) [the Islamist authority that rules Syria] is trying to strengthen its controls at the border, especially targeting clans affiliated with Hezbollah.' The Lebanese state has also been keen to strengthen its control over the Syria-Lebanese border, eager to show western powers it is preventing weapons from reaching Hezbollah. Before the fall of the Assad regime, the Lebanese group would receive weapons shipments via Syria through the Bekaa valley. Despite the clashes, business is business. Smugglers say the flow of illicit goods has continued after the fall of Assad. 'Publicly, [HTS] is saying they want smuggling to stop, but they need our goods. Business doesn't have an identity,' said a second member of the Jaafar family. The new Syrian authorities have regularised and decreased the fees they charge smugglers, he said, as Syria desperately needs Lebanese fuel and diesel as western-led sanctions have throttled its ability to import them. The only goods smugglers can no longer traffic are drugs. The factories that used to produce the popular amphetamine captagon were run by the now deposed Assad regime and smuggled through the Bekaa valley to be exported via Lebanon's ports. Syria's new authorities have cracked down on the narcotics trade. Lebanon's smugglers and Syrian officials are still getting to know one another. Gone are the fourth armoured division soldiers under the control of Maher al-Assad, the brother of Syria's ousted president, which used to control the Syrian side of the smuggling routes. The introduction is off to a rocky start. As the Jaafar clan member was speaking, bursts of machine-gun fire erupted, followed by the dull thuds of rocket-propelled grenades fired by the Syrian authorities at a neighbouring village. 'If the ceasefire continues then we won't attack them and they won't attack us. But it seems we are entering a cycle of violence and revenge,' he said.
