Latest news with #Shahab
Shafaq News
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
President Barzani in Tehran: Strengthening ties with Iran, addressing Iraq's constitutional issues
Shafaq News/ Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani continues high-level meetings in Tehran aimed at strengthening ties between the Kurdistan Region and Iran, with a focus on regional dialogue, political solutions, and constitutional challenges in Iraq. Kurdish Presidency's spokesperson Dilshad Shahab stated that Barzani's discussions with top Iranian officials centered on advancing bilateral cooperation. The meetings, held on the sidelines of the 4th Tehran Dialogue Forum, are part of an official visit at the invitation of Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. During his address at the forum, Barzani underlined persistent constitutional disputes between Baghdad and Erbil, stating that the Iraqi federal government must commit to power-sharing as outlined in the constitution. He also reaffirmed the longstanding cultural and historical ties between Kurds and Iranians. In a separate development, Shahab confirmed that Barzani also held talks in Antalya with Syrian transitional President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani. The discussions emphasized safeguarding the rights of all communities in Syria, particularly the Kurdish population. On Turkiye's evolving domestic political scene, Shahab noted that both Kurdish and Turkish parties expect a constructive role from the Kurdistan Region, adding that 'lasting stability in the region cannot be achieved through escalation.'
Express Tribune
19-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Anoushey wraps up destination wedding
Anoushey Ashraf has wrapped up her wedding festivities with an elegant finale. In posts shared on Instagram on Friday, the video jockey dazzled in a white wedding dress, complete with a tulle veil. Her husband Shahab Mirza held her close in the video highlights, all suited up and wearing a pastel blue tie. The two strolled together in Istanbul's Pera Palace Hotel, where the event took place to mark the end of their destination wedding celebrations. Loved ones dedicated speeches to the married couple, with Anoushey's sister Natasha Qizilbash welcoming Shahab into the family. Anoushey tied the knot with Shahab in a nikkah ceremony last year, though she only kicked off the wedding festivities in Turkey this month. Taking to Instagram Stories, she re-shared photos and video clips taken by family and friends present at the shehendi event. Online, her crew celebrated the occasion with the hashtag #SheyGotBae. Natasha shared a carousel, admitting that she couldn't wait for the professional photos to be out and hence took matters into her own hands. The clicks saw Anoushey atop the venue's staircase, looking regal in a Nomi Ansari ensemble. The bride wore a glittering lehenga with a strapped blouse, as a sheer veil hung down her frame. In a circulating video clip, she descended the stairs hand-in-hand with family, flanked by a throng of loved ones. Among those attending the glamorous festivities were showbiz peers Ayesha Omar, Zhalay Sarhadi, Frieha Altaf, and Deepak Parwani. Other festivities included a breezy ride on a cruise and a jam night in Istanbul, where musician Ali Hamza serenaded the crowd with his acoustic strings and vocals. In July, Anoushey revealed that she had tied the knot in an intimate nikkah ceremony attended by close friends and family. In her caption, she addressed all those who had pestered her about her marital status. "Dear, why haven't you gotten married yet?" she quoted. "See, I just did."
CBC
12-04-2025
- Health
- CBC
How worried should Sask. people be about measles?
When measles cases started resurfacing this year, pediatrician Ayishi Kurji had to brush up on her reading, because Canada had declared the contagious disease eliminated back in 1998. "I've never seen measles because it's not something that's been around," she said in the latest episode of CBC's This is Saskatchewan podcast. "Most of the time it's a viral infection that people get over pretty quick, but it can have really devastating consequences and that's why it's so scary." Health experts say vaccination rates of 95 per cent would constitute good herd immunity, but in some geographic areas, vaccination rates could be as low as 40 or 50 per cent. On top of that, half a dozen cases of measles have cropped up recently in Saskatchewan. Statistics show one in four or five people who get measles will end up hospitalized, while one in a thousand could face encephalitis or inflammation around the brain, Kurji said, noting other long-term consequences include the risk of deafness or blindness. Just how contagious is measles? When calculating how contagious a disease is, experts use an R0 value, which is the number of people that one infected person will pass on a virus to, on average. For example, one person who got COVID would infect four to six other people on average. With measles, that number rises to 12 to 18 people. "There's some statistics that say that 90 per cent of people who are exposed to it, if you're not vaccinated, are going to get results," Kurji said. Saskatchewan's Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Saqib Shahab stresses that for those that are unvaccinated, measles is the most highly contagious disease that exists. He also noted that measles has only shown up in 0.1 per cent of people who are fully protected with vaccines. "If they do happen [in vaccinated people], it's a mild rash and it really doesn't transmit further," he said. Shahab said the main concern from a public health standpoint is ensuring everyone is protected by making sure their vaccinations are up-to-date and complete. Adults born between 1970 and 1996 may have only received one vaccination and are encouraged to get a second booster shot at a public health clinic. "If you're fully vaccinated, you should not be concerned," Shahab said.
CairoScene
12-04-2025
- General
- CairoScene
Meet the Women Setting the Pace in Saudi Arabia's Running Scene
Nearly two decades ago, Mona Shahab was one of the only women running along Khobar's Corniche. 'I would lace up my shoes, knot my abaya in place and set off,' she recalls. But each step was met with disapproval or confusion. 'Every face I passed seemed to ask: Why is she running? And why in an abaya?' Twelve years ago, Nesreen Ghonaim shared a similar experience in Jeddah, running along Tahlia walkway with her teenage son. 'People would look at us like we were aliens,' she says. 'Running then really meant running against all odds.' In Riyadh, Amal Maghazil started in gyms and compounds—there simply weren't outdoor spaces for women to run. 'It just wasn't something people did,' she says. Today, the landscape Shahab, Ghonaim and Maghazil once knew is unrecognisable. Saudi Arabia has undergone profound transformation; laws have been reformed, attitudes have shifted, and urban spaces have evolved. While megaprojects continue to reshape the skyline, an equally powerful movement is taking place on the ground: Saudi women are running, together, in growing numbers. Jeddah Running Community: From Gasps to Cheers Ghonaim describes her life as a sentence punctuated by a comma, split into two distinct stages: one marked by heavy chain smoking and the other by a euphoric running addiction. In 2015, she joined an informally organised running group set-up by three expats, known at the time as Jeddah Running Collective. In 2016, driven by a desire to connect with people, she began to lead the group and turned it into Jeddah Running Community (JRC) 'At first, people would stare at us with expressions that clearly said, what on earth are you doing, and why? As the group grew these puzzled looks turned into encouraging thumbs-ups', Ghonaim states. Now, when JRC takes to Jeddah's streets three times a week, they no longer expect much attention. 'What we're doing is pretty normal now, people are used to seeing it.' As JRC expanded, it started organising races, training programmes, running-related events. 'When we organised our first female only run in 2016, over 300 women showed up. This really just showed me that a new language was evolving: running was giving women a new means of expressing themselves, individually and together,' Ghonaim shares. Khobar Running Crew: Solo Strides to Solidarity For years, Shahab - a clinical psychologist - has always relied on running as the most effective form of therapy, but she believed she was the only woman running outdoors in Khobar. That changed in 2016 when she crossed paths with Somaya Al-Ghazali, a fellow early-morning runner who encouraged women to join Khobar's first all-female running group, Khobar Running Crew. For Shahab, discovering this group was a revelation; without hesitation, she laced up and joined them, quickly becoming an integral part of the crew. Today, the group—now supported by the Saudi Ministry of Sports—hosts mixed and female-only runs, guided by head coach Stefania. Khobar Running Crew continues to bring together Saudis and runners from diverse nationalities, all while staying true to Al-Ghazali's original vision. 'I wanted to share my love for running,' Al-Ghazali says, 'and create a space for more women to be part of it.' Riyadh Urban Runners: A Spark That Set the City in Motion That same year, Maghazil, inspired by JRC, set out to build a similar community in Riyadh. With her friends Duaa and Eslam, she launched Riyadh Urban Runners (RUR). 'At first, our group runs were small, sometimes just two or three people showed up'. But on International Women's Day 2016, something remarkable happened. 'We organised a women-only run, not expecting much. And then over 50 women showed up. That's when we realised, there was already so much dormant interest. Women were just waiting for someone to take the first step.' Since then, RUR has flourished under the Saudi Sports Federation. 'I used to know everyone's names,' Maghazil says. 'Now, I can't keep up.' The group now includes beginners, marathoners, and coaches alike. 'The most beautiful thing is seeing women start from scratch and go on to run marathons or become pacers.' 'Running is Personal Before it Becomes Political' Although the rise of women's running coincides with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, these women remind us that the movement began before reforms. 'People frame it as a symbol of social change, but it started well before that,' Maghazil says. 'It's a personal decision before it's political.' 'We were game changers before the game started changing,' Ghonaim adds. Rather than looking outward for validation, these runners focus inward. 'We're not trying to keep up with anyone else,' Maghazil says. 'We're running for ourselves—as Saudi women, together.' Across cities, a shared thread emerges: diversity. Women run in abayas, leggings, dri-fit gear; seasoned marathoners jog alongside first-timers. 'Running is an equaliser,' Maghazil says. 'It brings us together—no matter our differences.' Shahab, now based in Riyadh, sometimes returns to Khobar to retrace her original route. 'It's a nostalgic run,' she says. 'But the biggest difference now? I'm never the only one running.' Likewise, Ghonaim continues to run the Tahlia walkway and Jeddah Corniche, joined by her community. 'I no longer look over my shoulder for judgement—only forward, or around me at the smiling women running beside me.' 'Sports boulevards, corniches, and public walkways are now filled with runners - male and female,' Maghazil adds. 'Until now, we can really see that our message continues to resonate with women from all generations, all walks—and runs—of life. Running is for everyone. You don't have to look or dress a certain way. There are no prerequisites. You just start.'
The National
21-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
From Esh Esh to Bil Dam, six Ramadan shows not to miss before the end of the holy month
As we enter the final week of Ramadan, it is becoming increasingly clear which television dramas are standing out in a crowded field. Among the hundreds of programmes debuting across the region during the holy month, it is the stories that feel closest to home that are resonating most with viewers. Whether it's a daughter searching for her missing mother, a devoted policeman risking his career to save his brother, or an aspiring hairstylist struggling to make a living amid the harsh realities of urban Cairo, these narratives have captivated audiences with well-drawn characters and stellar performances. Here are seven of the most popular Ramadan dramas of the 2025 season. Bigger, bolder, and better – the Emirati period drama continues to grow in strength in its second season. Last year's debut, a 30-episode series that aired throughout Ramadan, followed Shahab (Omar Al Mulla) on his journey from a modest sailor to a formidable captain and businessman. This season picks up where it left off, tracing his rise to becoming a regional tycoon. Once again, Shahab's personal story is woven into a broader exploration of the Northern Emirates' evolution in the mid-20th century – when the region was emerging as a key trade hub between the Gulf and South-east Asia – set against the backdrop of the waning influence of the British. As a result, we encounter a vibrant and eclectic cast, along with a rich tapestry of languages – from the Hindi spoken in the textile markets of Calcutta, where Shahab negotiates with an Indian textile businessman, to the British English used by mercantile traders on the docks of Ras Al Khaimah. Directed with verve by Algeria's Lassaad Oueslati, Al Boom is engrossing and fully deserving of its mantle as one of the UAE's most acclaimed television productions. Maguy Bou Ghosn has been pulling at our heartstrings this Ramadan in Bil Dam. Translated as In Blood, the Lebanese drama follows Ghalia (Bou Ghosn), who, after 45 years, discovers that a medical malpractice case led to her being raised by an unrelated family. This revelation propels her into a relentless search across Lebanon for her mother, uncovering even more disturbing and tragic truths about her past along the way. Bou Ghosn delivers a deeply committed performance as Ghalia, capturing a full spectrum of emotions – from sorrow and fury to unwavering determination. While Bil Dam initially sparked controversy over allegations that it appropriated the real-life story of a Lebanese woman, the series stands firmly on its own, offering viewers a gripping and emotionally charged experience. Social media was abuzz during the first week of Ramadan about Wuhoosh, a Kuwaiti true crime series based on incidents in the gulf state over the past 40 years. The series has 10 episodes and four different stories, each ending with the capture and hanging of the perpetrators. The show is directed by Mohamed Salama from Egypt and Saeed El Marouk from Lebanon, and stars some of Kuwait's most talented actors, including Shujoun Al Hajri, Haya Abdel Salam, Faisal Al Omairi, Bashar Al Shatti, Ali Kakooli and Mansour Al Bloushi. There aren't many shows like Wuhoosh this Ramadan, with its serious subject matter and impeccable filmmaking and storytelling. The actors also do a great job of showing the horror of these crimes from the points of view of everyone involved. The Egyptian Ramadan drama is a staple of Middle Eastern television. Each year, a new show captures the attention of viewers and sparks discussions. across the region. Esh Esh has done just that in 2025. The show follows the titular Esh Esh, a dancer in Cairo who works to provide for her unconventional family. Esh Esh's mother and aunt are both retired dancers themselves who were once swindled out of their nightclub and thrown in prison. Years later, Esh Esh becomes aware of details from her mother's past that create opportunities for them to thrive again. The show straddles the line between funny and dramatic, almost always creating a moment of conflict and intrigue in each episode. The show stars Mai Omar, Maged Elmasry, Edward and Entesar. Young love and ambition are tested in this Egyptian series about a hairstylist who must raise 80,000 Egyptian pounds to help her fiance buy an apartment for them. The show has many interesting characters that orbit the hairstylist as she hits highs and lows on her journey. Through 15 episodes, the show is well-paced and doesn't waste a minute in accelerating its plot. There are many laughs as the characters find themselves in bizarre situations while navigating their harsh lives in a bustling Cairo. 80 Baku stars Huda El Mufti, Rahma Ahmed Farag, Mohammad Lotfi and Donia Sami. The lives of several Arab women living in Saudi Arabia are explored in Um 44. This comedy series also touches on themes of marital fidelity, multiple wives and female depression. The show takes its name from the Arabic word for centipede and shows the women with many responsibilities as they navigate their forties. Um 44 makes use of Saudi Arabia's new projects, as well as its old buildings, as filming locations. The cast spans the Arab world, including actors from Egypt, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
