Latest news with #Palestinian-Canadian
CairoScene
4 days ago
- Business
- CairoScene
How a Dubai-Based Palestinian Brand Bottles Heritage
How a Dubai-Based Palestinian Brand Bottles Heritage At some point in our diaspora timelines- between explaining where we're really from, passport queues and WhatsApp voice notes about political heartbreak- we begin hoarding things that taste like home. Fragrant spices in ziploc bags. Date syrup and honey in repurposed jam jars. That one specific za'atar or sumac mix your cousin swears by. It's not a habit. It's survival. Isra Abu Zayed, the Palestinian-Canadian academic and storyteller, wearing her heritage like the keffiyeh draped over her grandmother's shoulder, knows this ache. But unlike most of us who stash bottles of olive oil between our socks on the way back from Amman or Beirut, she decided to build a business around it. For Isra Abu Zayed, home has always been a matter of the palate rather than the postcode. Growing up in Toronto, she might have sat at a kitchen table far from the olive groves of the West Bank, but every Friday morning wafts of za'atar-dusty bread, the sweet stickiness of knafeh and, most of all, the green-gold glimmer of olive oil were reminders of a place she never really saw, but always knew. 'I'm Palestinian through and through,' Isra tells SceneNowUAE 'My parents made sure our identity shaped every part of how we moved through the world.' Schoolyard taunts and classroom maps couldn't erase the stories they shared at home- tales of harvests, of farmers who tended trees older than most nations, of olive-pressed rituals handed down through it wasn't until her six year old daughter wanted to learn more about her heritage and share that- 'a bottle of that season's oil for her teacher'- that Isra realised how tangible that connection could become. And just like that, a bottle of olive oil turned into a passport. In 2021, out of that realisation, Zeit Bladi came into being. From a single family-run farm in the West Bank, where Nabali trees can take twenty years to bear their first fruit, the olives are hand-picked only when village elders decree they're ready. They are cold-pressed within hours of harvest, then travel by land through Jordan to Dubai, arriving as spring's first bottles: limited seasonal drops that turn anticipation into ritual. 'We only sell what the land gives us each season,' Isra explains. 'It's not about scale; it's about honouring history, community and resilience- one small bottle at a time.'
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First Post
15-05-2025
- Politics
- First Post
Explained: Why football great Gary Lineker has been forced to apologise and why BBC staff want him sacked
England football great and TV presenter Gary Lineker is once again at the centre of controversy, drawing backlash within the BBC. read more England football legend and BBC presenter Gary Lineker has 'apologised unreservedly' for sharing a video criticising Zionism and included an illustration of a rat. The video features Palestinian-Canadian lawyer Diana Buttu, who says that Zionism is a system that prioritises one group and ignores the rights of Palestinians. The original poster of the video also included a rat emoji, which has been criticised as a Nazi-era anti-semitic propaganda. Why Gary Lineker apologised? Lineker has since deleted the Instagram story post and offered an apology. 'On Instagram, I reposted material which I have since learned contained offensive references. I very much regret these references,' he said in a statement. 'I would never knowingly share anything antisemitic. It goes against everything I believe in. The post was removed as soon as I became aware of the issue. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'Whilst I strongly believe in the importance of speaking out on humanitarian issues, including the tragedy unfolding in Gaza, I also know that how we do so matters. More from Football 'I take full responsibility for this mistake. That image does not reflect my views. It was an error on my part for which I apologise unreservedly.' Nonetheless, the damage is already done and pro-Israel groups are now demanding that BCC sack him. The Campaign Against Antisemitism has said that it would make a formal complaint to the BBC. The Board of Deputies of British Jews has said that the BBC 'should ask him [Lineker] to leave now rather than allowing him to dictate his own terms'. A report in The Telegraph also states that some of the BBC staff are surprised that Lineker has not been sacked yet. Interestingly, Linkeker's apology came hours after BBC director general Tim Davie said the employees of the broadcasters must adhere to the company's social media guidelines. 'The BBC's reputation is held by everyone and when someone makes a mistake, it costs us,' Davie said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'And I think we absolutely need people to be the exemplars of BBC values and follow our social media policies, simple as that.' Lineker's past conflicts with BBC Remember, Gary Lineker was briefly taken off air by the BBC in March 2023 following a controversy over his comments criticising the government's asylum policy, which raised questions about impartiality. In February, he joined around 500 prominent individuals in signing an open letter calling on the BBC to reinstate the documentary Gaza: How To Survive A War Zone on BBC iPlayer. While Lineker revealed in November that he would step down as the host of Match of the Day, he confirmed he would continue to front the BBC's coverage of the World Cup and FA Cup.
Toronto Star
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Toronto Star
Madeleine Thien is the quiet conscience of Canadian literature. Nine years after winning the country's top book prize, she returns with a stirring new novel
Updated 1 hr ago May 3, 2025 9 min read Save By Richie AssalyCulture Reporter On a recent trip to Europe, Madeleine Thien dragged her partner, writer Rawi Hage, over a treacherous mountain path through the Pyrenees. The trek was a minor disaster – authors are rarely known for their outdoorsiness ('I thought she was trying to kill me,' Hage deadpanned) – but Thien was determined to trace the steps of philosopher Hannah Arendt, who fled to Spain from Vichy France during the Second World War. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW RA Richie Assaly is a culture reporter for the Star, with an interest in music, pop culture and food reporting. He is also a juror for Polaris Music Prize. Related Stories After a harrowing spiral into darkness, Toronto singer Cold Specks returns with breathtaking comeback album A contentious partnership, high-profile resignations and accusations of antisemitism. Inside the turmoil at Canada's most prestigious literary prize Olive trees, hope and the power of music in dark times: How a renowned Palestinian-Canadian pianist rediscovered his creative spark Report an error Journalistic Standards About The Star More from The Star & partners
Gulf Today
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Gulf Today
Kids at SCRF love delicious Palestinian pastry
The richness of Palestine's culinary heritage was brought to the fore in a flavoursome preparation by Palestinian-Canadian chef Maha Kailani at the Sharjah Children's Reading Festival (SCRF 2025), on Friday. The session titled 'Taste of Palestine: An adventure with chef Maha Kailani' introduced young children and their guardians to authentic flavours from the Palestinian region. The Ontario-based chef prepared an enjoyable yet easy dish – za'atar and Nabulsi cheese puff pastry – using frozen pastry sheets and mozzarella cheese. The artistry and minimum difficulty involved in it as it went into the oven or air fryer made it a perfect dish that children could do alone or with limited help from adults. Maha, who is the author of the cookbook Yalla, Let's Eat, first set about cutting and rolling a thawed pastry sheet into small rectangular pieces dusting it with all-purpose flour to prevent it from sticking to the surface. She then transferred it into a baking sheet, lightly pricked the inside with a fork, smeared olive oil on the sides and baked it for 10 minutes. Once the sheet was out of the oven, she filled it with mozzarella, crumbled Nabulsi cheese and zaatar, taking care to leave the sides empty. 'This is like a painting, and children can do it,' she quipped as she returned it to the oven for another 12 minutes. When the cheese melted and the edges turned golden brown, she took it out and allowed it to cool before serving the eager audience. Chef Maha will be presenting numerous delicacies from Palestine during the course of SCRF 2025. Taking place from April 23 to May 4 at Expo Centre Sharjah, the 16th edition of SCRF promises an immersive experience under the theme 'Dive into Books'. Organised by the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), this year's agenda will feature 133 guests from 70 countries, and 122 Arab and international publishing houses from 22 nations. For more information on this free-to-attend event, visit .
Gulf Today
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Gulf Today
'Yalla, let's eat': Delicious Palestinian za'atar and Nabulsi cheese puff pastry has children asking for more at SCRF
The richness of Palestine's culinary heritage was brought to the fore in a flavoursome preparation by Palestinian-Canadian chef Maha Kailani at the Sharjah Children's Reading Festival (SCRF 2025), on Friday. The session titled 'Taste of Palestine: An adventure with chef Maha Kailani' introduced young children and their guardians to authentic flavours from the Palestinian region. The Ontario-based chef prepared an enjoyable yet easy dish – za'atar and Nabulsi cheese puff pastry – using frozen pastry sheets and mozzarella cheese. The artistry and minimum difficulty involved in it as it went into the oven or air fryer made it a perfect dish that children could do alone or with limited help from adults. Children can't wait to savour the dish. Maha, who is the author of the cookbook Yalla, Let's Eat, first set about cutting and rolling a thawed pastry sheet into small rectangular pieces dusting it with all-purpose flour to prevent it from sticking to the surface. She then transferred it into a baking sheet, lightly pricked the inside with a fork, smeared olive oil on the sides and baked it for 10 minutes. Once the sheet was out of the oven, she filled it with mozzarella, crumbled Nabulsi cheese and zaatar, taking care to leave the sides empty. 'This is like a painting, and children can do it,' she quipped as she returned it to the oven for another 12 minutes. When the cheese melted and the edges turned golden brown, she took it out and allowed it to cool before serving the eager audience. Attendees enjoy the event. Chef Maha will be presenting numerous delicacies from Palestine during the course of SCRF 2025. Taking place from April 23 to May 4 at Expo Centre Sharjah, the 16th edition of SCRF promises an immersive experience under the theme 'Dive into Books'. Organised by the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), this year's agenda will feature 133 guests from 70 countries, and 122 Arab and international publishing houses from 22 nations. For more information on this free-to-attend event, visit
