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Egypt Today
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Egypt Today
AISHA CAN'T FLY AWAY continues to soar with glowing reviews following its Cannes premiere
Following its powerful world premiere at the 78th Cannes Film Festival as part of the Un Certain Regard section, AISHA CAN'T FLY AWAY by Egyptian director Morad Mostafa is earning widespread critical acclaim from international film critics and audiences alike. The film, which received a standing ovation and multiple sold-out screenings at Cannes, is now being hailed as a poignant and visually arresting debut feature that cements Mostafa's place as one of the most vital voices in contemporary Arab cinema. Critics have praised the film's emotional depth, political resonance, and standout performances. Allan Hunter of ScreenDaily described it as 'an involving human drama focusing on the plight of the vulnerable caught in a world that seeks to exploit them,' drawing comparisons to CITY OF GOD for its raw depiction of Cairo's underbelly and its 'feeling of a lawless frontier.' He also commended Mostafa's ability to weave a broader political narrative into the film's backdrop through 'background news bulletins and the ongoing gang wars.' Sara Clements of Next Best Picture lauded the film's lead, Buliana Simon, for her 'haunting performance,' noting that 'she communicates so much with her eyes alone that this could be a silent film, and we would be able to understand everything.' Clements also highlighted Mostafa's unique directorial voice, stating, 'Mostafa blends magical realism with naturalism and fantastical elements, transforming Aisha's quiet suffering into something almost mythic,' and called the film 'a quiet storm – a slow-burning, relentless elegy to the women who live in the margins and walk among us unseen.' Additionally, Egyptian critic Ahmed Shawky wrote in Fasla about the film's importance in the Egyptian cinematic landscape, stating that 'At a time when Egyptian filmmakers are imposing the highest levels of self-censorship on themselves — fearing bans on the one hand and the guillotine of public backlash on the other — a young artist has come along to disrupt this sickly, safe balance and throw a stone into stagnant waters. A bloody, violent stone named AISHA CAN'T FLY AWAY.' The film's success at Cannes marks a significant milestone for Egyptian cinema, being the first Egyptian film selected for Un Certain Regard since Clash in 2016. With its compelling narrative, international co-production backing, and a creative team of acclaimed talents, AISHA CAN'T FLY AWAY is poised to continue its festival journey with momentum and meaning. As the film continues to resonate with audiences and critics alike, AISHA CAN'T FLY AWAY is not just a cinematic achievement — it's a powerful statement on identity, resilience, and the invisible lives that shape our cities. AISHA CAN'T FLY AWAY follows the titular Aisha, a 26-year-old Sudanese caregiver living in a neighborhood in the heart of Cairo where she witnesses the tension between her fellow African migrants and other groups. Unwittingly, she becomes involved with an Egyptian gang that blackmails her into stealing her patients' keys so that they can rob them. A co-production between Egypt, France, Germany, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Sudan, the film has garnered significant support, including grants from the Doha Film Institute, Cultural Resource Fund, El Gouna Film Festival, Locarno Academy, Cannes' Cinéfondation and La Fabrique des Cinémas du Monde, and Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole. It also notably swept a top award at Red Sea Lodge, five at Venice's Final Cut, as well as the Atlas Award at Marrakech International Film Festival. The creative team behind AISHA CAN'T FLY AWAY features several returning faces from Mostafa's I PROMISE YOU PARADISE, including cinematographer Mostafa El Kashef, who also worked on last year's Cannes entry THE VILLAGE NEXT TO PARADISE, which also made its way to Toronto; production designer Eman Elelaby, who earned a FIPRESCI Prize for her work on FEATHERS; costume designer Nayera Eldahshoury; sound engineer Mostafa Shaban; and editor Mohamed Mamdouh. Produced by Sawsan Yusuf's Bonanza Films, the film is co-produced alongside Dora Bouchoucha and Lina Shaban of Tunisia's Nomadis Images, Sherif Fathy of Shift Studios, Ahmed Amer of A. A. Films, Faisal Baltayour from Cinewaves, May Odeh and Zorana Musikic of Mayana Films, Laura Nikolov of Coorigins, Abellelah Al Ahmary of Arabia Pictures, and associate producer Amjad Abu Alala. AISHA CAN'T FLY AWAY boasts a stellar cast, with Buliana Simon taking on the lead role of Aisha alongside Egyptian rapper Ziad Zaza — in his first feature-length appearance — Emad Ghoniem, and Mamdouh Saleh.
Egypt Today
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Egypt Today
Egyptian Cinema Takes Center Stage: Four Powerful Films Dominate Cannes Film Festival This Year
Egyptian Cinema Takes Center Stage: Four Powerful Films Dominate Cannes Film Festival This Year. This year, the Cannes Film Festival turns its gaze toward East Cairo with Aisha Can't Fly Away, the gripping debut from Egyptian director Morad Mostafa. Featured in the prestigious Un Certain Regard section, the film is a raw, emotionally charged portrait of a 26-year-old Somali woman navigating refugee life in Ain Shams. Fresh off a Best Post-Production win at Venice 2024, this breakout feature arrives at the Cannes Film Festival with undeniable momentum. Co-written by Mostafa, Mohammad Abdulqader, and Sawsan Yusuf, the film doesn't just tell a story—it builds a world of resilience, identity, and survival. With powerful performances from Buliana Simona, Emad Ghoneim, Mamdouh Salah, and rapper Ziad Zaza, Aisha Can't Fly Away proves Egypt's cinematic voice is not just rising—it's roaring. In Life After Siham, French-Egyptian director Namir Abdel Messeeh turns grief into art. Premiering in Cannes' ACID section, the Egyptian documentary is a heartfelt exploration of memory, loss, and the magic of storytelling. At the Critics Awards for Arab Films, Khaled Mansour's debut Seeking Haven for Mr. Rambo earns 5 nominations! From Venice buzz to Cannes acclaim, this tale of man, dog, and dignity is a must-watch. What happens when a man fakes blindness to join a football team? Omar Hilal's Voy! Voy! Voy! blends humor & heartbreak — earning Cannes Critics Award nominations for Best Actor (Mohamed Farrag) and Best Editing. After 10 years, the Al-Mahrousa Pavilion is back at the Cannes Film Market! A major move for Egyptian cinema — promoting co-productions, global networking & a renewed industry presence. Backed by Cairo International Film Festival, El Gouna Film Festival & the Egypt Film Commission. Egypt dominates the 9th Cannes Critics Awards for Arab Films with Seeking Haven for Mr. Rambo and Voy! Voy! Voy! Multiple nominations — a clear sign of the country's cinematic revival on the global stage.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
TikTok brings ‘raw milk' craze to Britain – despite it being 45 times more likely to put you in hospital
On a sunny Wednesday morning in London's Borough Market, the Hook & Son Raw Dairy Shop is abuzz with customers. 'I drink a glass of raw milk with a couple of egg yolks and some raw honey mixed in every day, it's better for you because it hasn't been processed,' says Mostafa, a 17-year-old schoolboy who began drinking raw dairy about a year ago after discovering it on TikTok. 'Raw milk is so good for us, and when you think about it, big companies might not want us to be our healthiest because they profit from our poor health,' adds Lola, 21, a recent UCL graduate and weekly regular at the shop. 'That said, the main reason I continued to drink raw milk after trying it is because how it makes me feel, it makes me feel alive!' Hook & Son is just one of several British businesses riding the raw dairy wave – sales of which have soared in recent years to the point where three million litres of raw milk are now sold in the UK annually, an almost five-fold jump from 600,000 litres in 2014. Unlike dairy sold in the supermarket, the products – not only milk but raw ice cream, butter, yoghurt, and crème fraîche – are all unpasteurised. Pasteurisation, invented by French chemist Louis Pasteur in the 19th century, is a heating process that kills off any harmful bacteria and viruses contained in dairy products. One of the most important scientific breakthroughs in history, it is credited with saving millions of lives from diseases like bovine tuberculosis, diphtheria, listeria, and salmonella. All the more curious, then, that the TikTok generation is abandoning it – especially given the threat posed by H5N1 bird flu which has been found in raw milk supplies across America. While advocates claim – without robust evidence – that raw dairy can treat chronic illnesses, rebalance hormones, and strengthen the gut microbiome, UK health watchdogs have repeatedly warned that such products pose serious risks and strongly advise against consuming it. Unpasteurised dairy products are 840 times more likely to cause illness than pasteurised dairy, and 45 times more likely to put you in hospital, according to a study published in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases. 'We advise that raw or unpasteurised drinking milk and cream may contain harmful bacteria that can cause food poisoning. People with a weaker immune system are particularly vulnerable to food poisoning and should not consume it,' says the Food Standards Agency, the government body responsible for food safety and hygiene. The risks are higher for pregnant women, young children, and the elderly, adds the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). Why then, are people suddenly going mad for unpasteurised dairy products in Britain? Much of the craze can be traced back to the US, where the raw dairy movement has exploded on the back of social media. Once the preserve of the health-conscious fringe, raw milk is now championed by figures across the cultural spectrum — from Goop founder Gwyneth Paltrow to anti-vaxxers and MAGA-esque preppers. US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his nominee for Surgeon General, Dr. Casey Means, have both described US regulations on raw dairy as a 'war on public health,' arguing that unpasteurised products are 'superfoods' that should be made more widely accessible. An estimated 10 million people are now thought to regularly consume raw dairy in America – at least 2,000 of which have fallen ill as a direct result of raw dairy consumption in the last 20 years, resulting in hundreds of hospitalisations and at least three deaths, according to the US Centre for Disease Control (CDC). Concern among US health watchdogs has soared as H5N1 has spread throughout the nation's dairy farms, contaminating its vast milk supply chains. Live traces of H5N1 have been found in raw milk sold in supermarkets in California, the epicentre of the outbreak. The US CDC has reacted by issuing strongly worded warnings against consuming any raw dairy. 'The CDC strongly advises against consuming raw (unpasteurised) milk, even if it may not be contaminated with the H5N1 virus, due to the potential for various foodborne illnesses. While the risk of H5N1 transmission from raw milk is still being investigated, the CDC recommends avoiding raw milk products to minimise the risk of infection, including H5N1.' The US CDC has also detailed the deaths of a dozen cats who died horribly after catching H5N1 from consuming untreated farmyard milk in Texas last year. 'Clinical signs in affected cats were depressed mental state, stiff body movements, ataxia, blindness, circling, and copious oculonasal discharge,' the CDC reported. In Britain, H5N1 has infected many poultry farms, causing millions of birds to be slaughtered, but it has not so far been found in dairy farms or raw milk supplies. Nevertheless, experts are worried that the trend in unpasteurised dairy is now taking off here. 'Raw milk doesn't offer any proven health benefits,' says Dr Tim Spector, British epidemiologist and founder of Zoe, a company specialising in gut health. 'What it does come with is a significantly high risk of infection.' 'Why is it so popular? Well, I think it taps into the idea that 'natural' is always better – but this naturalistic fallacy can be dangerous, just because something is natural, doesn't make it safe. Skip raw milk, and stick to the science.' That certainly seems to chime with the vibe at Borough Market. 'We've really seen a rise in young customers over the past few years – teenagers, students, loads of them,' said a member of staff at the Hook & Son Raw Dairy Shop. She added that she drinks a litre of raw milk a day herself, and says she has never felt better. Scrolling through social media, it's easy to get swept up in the trend. There are hundreds of thousands of videos promoting the supposed health benefits of unpasteurised dairy – claims often made with confidence, but little scientific backing. 'The truth is, when you boil milk it denatures the proteins [...] you lose the enzymes, the digestive enzymes,' says Niall Kiddle, an internet personality who advocates for a return to 'ancestral eating' as a path to better health. In another clip, Coach Carnivore Cam – a manosphere influencer whose daily meals include two rare rib eye steaks, two lamb mince burgers, and ten fried eggs – says: 'It's funny to me how people think they are being healthier by drinking skimmed or semi-skimmed milk, but that couldn't be further from the truth'. The trend seems to be popular with Notting Hill-type mums too. 'Let's talk about raw milk. I drink it and I give it to my daughter. I'm not a scientist or a nutritionist, but it aids digestion and boosts the immune system,' says Clara on TikTok, her infant child strapped to her chest in a £370 terry towelling baby carrier. The online dialogue taps into a new-age obsession with 'natural' eating, driven in part by a growing anxiety around ultra-processed foods. The same impulse may explain the rise of the so-called 'carnivore diet', which encourages people to consume a diet made up entirely of raw meat. Rigorous studies, including systematic reviews published in Clinical Infectious Diseases and Foodborne Pathogens and Disease, show no health benefits for raw milk over pasteurised milk. The same studies confirm that all key nutrients survive pasteurisation in pasteurised milk. That science has been unable to penetrate the online movement, however. 'I'm into organic, healthy living,' says Monica, who comes to the Hook & Sons stand every week with her three year old daughter, Mia. 'In the beginning I was a bit scared, but it's absolutely lovely. My kids love it and I think it's very nutritious and very healthy.' Since January, the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) ordered the temporary closure of 43 more poultry farms after they became infected with H5N1. Over the last year, more than two million farmed birds have been culled in Britain to try and stamp out H5N1 infection. A recent survey of dairy farms in England, Scotland, and Wales tested 508 bulk milk samples and found no evidence of H5N1. But the same study confirmed that H5N1 could survive in raw milk. Only with pasteurisation could it reliably be killed off. Protect yourself and your family by learning more about Global Health Security Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. 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Telegraph
16-05-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
TikTok brings ‘raw milk' craze to Britain – despite it being 45 times more likely to put you in hospital
On a sunny Wednesday morning in London's Borough Market, the Hook & Son Raw Dairy Shop is abuzz with customers. 'I drink a glass of raw milk with a couple of egg yolks and some raw honey mixed in every day, it's better for you because it hasn't been processed,' says Mostafa, a 17-year-old schoolboy who began drinking raw dairy about a year ago after discovering it on TikTok. 'Raw milk is so good for us, and when you think about it, big companies might not want us to be our healthiest because they profit from our poor health,' adds Lola, 21, a recent UCL graduate and weekly regular at the shop. 'That said, the main reason I continued to drink raw milk after trying it is because how it makes me feel, it makes me feel alive!' Hook & Son is just one of several British businesses riding the raw dairy wave – sales of which have soared in recent years to the point where three million litres of raw milk are now sold in the UK annually, an almost five-fold jump from 600,000 litres in 2014. Unlike dairy sold in the supermarket, the products – not only milk but raw ice cream, butter, yoghurt, and crème fraîche – are all unpasteurised. Pasteurisation, invented by French chemist Louis Pasteur in the 19th century, is a heating process that kills off any harmful bacteria and viruses contained in dairy products. One of the most important scientific breakthroughs in history, it is credited with saving millions of lives from diseases like bovine tuberculosis, diphtheria, listeria, and salmonella. All the more curious, then, that the TikTok generation is abandoning it – especially given the threat posed by H5N1 bird flu which has been found in raw milk supplies across America. While advocates claim – without robust evidence – that raw dairy can treat chronic illnesses, rebalance hormones, and strengthen the gut microbiome, UK health watchdogs have repeatedly warned that such products pose serious risks and strongly advise against consuming it. Unpasteurised dairy products are 840 times more likely to cause illness than pasteurised dairy, and 45 times more likely to put you in hospital, according to a study published in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases. 'We advise that raw or unpasteurised drinking milk and cream may contain harmful bacteria that can cause food poisoning. People with a weaker immune system are particularly vulnerable to food poisoning and should not consume it,' says the Food Standards Agency, the government body responsible for food safety and hygiene. The risks are higher for pregnant women, young children, and the elderly, adds the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). Why then, are people suddenly going mad for unpasteurised dairy products in Britain? Much of the craze can be traced back to the US, where the raw dairy movement has exploded on the back of social media. Once the preserve of the health-conscious fringe, raw milk is now championed by figures across the cultural spectrum — from Goop founder Gwyneth Paltrow to anti-vaxxers and MAGA-esque preppers. US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his nominee for Surgeon General, Dr. Casey Means, have both described US regulations on raw dairy as a 'war on public health,' arguing that unpasteurised products are 'superfoods' that should be made more widely accessible. An estimated 10 million people are now thought to regularly consume raw dairy in America – at least 2,000 of which have fallen ill as a direct result of raw dairy consumption in the last 20 years, resulting in hundreds of hospitalisations and at least three deaths, according to the US Centre for Disease Control (CDC). Concern among US health watchdogs has soared as H5N1 has spread throughout the nation's dairy farms, contaminating its vast milk supply chains. Live traces of H5N1 have been found in raw milk sold in supermarkets in California, the epicentre of the outbreak. The US CDC has reacted by issuing strongly worded warnings against consuming any raw dairy. 'The CDC strongly advises against consuming raw (unpasteurised) milk, even if it may not be contaminated with the H5N1 virus, due to the potential for various foodborne illnesses. While the risk of H5N1 transmission from raw milk is still being investigated, the CDC recommends avoiding raw milk products to minimise the risk of infection, including H5N1.' The US CDC has also detailed the deaths of a dozen cats who died horribly after catching H5N1 from consuming untreated farmyard milk in Texas last year. 'Clinical signs in affected cats were depressed mental state, stiff body movements, ataxia, blindness, circling, and copious oculonasal discharge,' the CDC reported. @coachcarnivorecam Always Go For Raw Milk 🥛 #carnivore #carnivorediet #milk #rawmilk #healthy #health ♬ original sound - Coach Carnivore Cam In Britain, H5N1 has infected many poultry farms, causing millions of birds to be slaughtered, but it has not so far been found in dairy farms or raw milk supplies. Nevertheless, experts are worried that the trend in unpasteurised dairy is now taking off here. 'Raw milk doesn't offer any proven health benefits,' says Dr Tim Spector, British epidemiologist and founder of Zoe, a company specialising in gut health. 'What it does come with is a significantly high risk of infection.' 'Why is it so popular? Well, I think it taps into the idea that 'natural' is always better – but this naturalistic fallacy can be dangerous, just because something is natural, doesn't make it safe. Skip raw milk, and stick to the science.' That certainly seems to chime with the vibe at Borough Market. 'We've really seen a rise in young customers over the past few years – teenagers, students, loads of them,' said a member of staff at the Hook & Son Raw Dairy Shop. She added that she drinks a litre of raw milk a day herself, and says she has never felt better. Scrolling through social media, it's easy to get swept up in the trend. There are hundreds of thousands of videos promoting the supposed health benefits of unpasteurised dairy – claims often made with confidence, but little scientific backing. 'The truth is, when you boil milk it denatures the proteins [...] you lose the enzymes, the digestive enzymes,' says Niall Kiddle, an internet personality who advocates for a return to 'ancestral eating' as a path to better health. In another clip, Coach Carnivore Cam – a manosphere influencer whose daily meals include two rare rib eye steaks, two lamb mince burgers, and ten fried eggs – says: 'It's funny to me how people think they are being healthier by drinking skimmed or semi-skimmed milk, but that couldn't be further from the truth'. The trend seems to be popular with Notting Hill-type mums too. 'Let's talk about raw milk. I drink it and I give it to my daughter. I'm not a scientist or a nutritionist, but it aids digestion and boosts the immune system,' says Clara on TikTok, her infant child strapped to her chest in a £370 terry towelling baby carrier. The online dialogue taps into a new-age obsession with 'natural' eating, driven in part by a growing anxiety around ultra-processed foods. The same impulse may explain the rise of the so-called 'carnivore diet', which encourages people to consume a diet made up entirely of raw meat. Rigorous studies, including systematic reviews published in Clinical Infectious Diseases and Foodborne Pathogens and Disease, show no health benefits for raw milk over pasteurised milk. The same studies confirm that all key nutrients survive pasteurisation in pasteurised milk. That science has been unable to penetrate the online movement, however. 'I'm into organic, healthy living,' says Monica, who comes to the Hook & Sons stand every week with her three year old daughter, Mia. 'In the beginning I was a bit scared, but it's absolutely lovely. My kids love it and I think it's very nutritious and very healthy.' Since January, the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) ordered the temporary closure of 43 more poultry farms after they became infected with H5N1. Over the last year, more than two million farmed birds have been culled in Britain to try and stamp out H5N1 infection. A recent survey of dairy farms in England, Scotland, and Wales tested 508 bulk milk samples and found no evidence of H5N1. But the same study confirmed that H5N1 could survive in raw milk. Only with pasteurisation could it reliably be killed off.
Zawya
29-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
URBNZ Developments completes 40% AXIS project constructions
URBNZ Developments announced that construction progress at AXIS THREE BUSINESS MALL project, located in the Northern Expansions area of 6th of October city, has reached 40%. This comes as part of the company's plan to accelerate construction rates and deliver the project according to the scheduled timelines. Eng. Islam Mostafa, Founder and Chairman of URBNZ Developments, stated that adhering to construction timelines is a top priority for the company, considering it a key factor in strengthening client and investor trust. Mostafa pointed out that commitment to execution and delivery schedules reflects the company's seriousness and strong financial position. He added that the company is advancing ahead of schedule to mitigate the impact of rising costs, highlighting that this proactive approach strengthens URBNZ Developments' ability to expand with confidence and stability in the coming period. He explained that AXIS THREE BUSINESS MALL is the company's first project in the real estate development sector. It is a mixed-use commercial, administrative, and medical project, strategically located in a high-population density area, ensuring high occupancy rates. The project is situated in the Northern Expansions area of 6th of October City and features multi-use units with various sizes, along with flexible and convenient payment systems for clients, he noted. Mostafa disclosed that the project is being developed in collaboration with a leading contracting company known for its strong track record and commitment to delivering high-quality work in line with the specified standards. He said, 'Collaborating with a skilled and experienced executive partner is crucial to ensuring the project is delivered according to the agreed specifications and meets the highest quality standards.' He noted that the company plans to soon partner with a facility management and property management firm to enhance the project's investment value, ensure top-quality operations, and guarantee the best return on investment for its clients. He revealed that a new phase of the project is being launched during this period, offering units with various sizes and flexible payment methods starting with a down payment of 0% and payment plan of up to 7 years. These methods present an exceptional opportunity for clients seeking secure investments with strong returns, especially given the project's prime location. He pointed out that URBNZ Developments has plans for future expansion, including the launch of new investment-oriented projects in the West Cairo area. The company intends to eventually extend its expansion into the residential sector or the North Coast area, in line with its strategy to offer diverse real estate products that meet market needs.
