Nov 28, 2023

The Khadra twins — beauty entrepreneurs and DJs who grew up between Riyadh, Dubai and London and are now regulars on the Los Angeles social scene — shared a post lauding their grandmother on her birthday. (Getty Images) Short Url Updated 13 sec ago DUBAI: US Palestinian beauty entrepreneurs Simi and Haze Khadra, as well as US Dutch Palestinian supermodel Bella Hadid, took to social media this week to pay tribute to their respective grandparents. The Khadra twins — beauty entrepreneurs and DJs who grew up between Riyadh, Dubai and London and are now regulars on the Los Angeles social scene — shared a post lauding their grandmother on her birthday. “Happy birthday to our grandmother, teta Fairouz, who was born in Akka, Palestine. Like all four of our grandparents, she was forcibly expelled from her home as a child by Israeli forces in 1948 … she is the most selfless human we know — always displaying the remarkable strength, generosity, and integrity Palestinians are known for.” The Khadra sisters paid tribute to their Palestinian grandmother, far right, on social media. (Instagram) The twins took to Instagram earlier this month to announce that they would donate all sales from their makeup brand SimiHaze Beauty until Nov. 27 on the brand’s website to the Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF). “PCRF is working on getting children out of Gaza for free medical care. Simi & Haze have a trusting relationship with the PCRF, having completed successful fundraising campaigns together that have yielded dramatic improvements to children’s lives by bringing them the medical care they need to survive,” they posed on Instagram. Meanwhile, Hadid took to Instagram Stories to celebrate her grandfather. Bella Hadid shared a photo of her grandfather on Monday. (Instagram) “He passed away when I was young but his memory is still inside my head,” she posted alongside a photograph of her paternal grandfather, adding: “His laugh, and his hug, and his voice and the fact that he could not be buried in the place where he was born and where his father and father’s father were born and died in the city they built — this is one of the many reasons I strive for a free, equal, liberated Palestine. I hope you are proud.” Earlier this month, Hadid marked her father’s birthday with special post on Instagram that celebrated his Palestinian roots. The 27-year-old catwalk star posted a picture of her and real estate mogul Mohamed Hadid from last year at the “Labour of Love” exhibition in Doha, which investigated the symbolism of the Palestinian thobe. “Happy birthday to my baba … born in Nazareth, Palestine November 6, 1948,” Bella captioned her post. In an earlier post, she shared the story of her father who was born in the year of the Nakba or “The Catastrophe” in 1948. “Nine days after he was born, he, in his mother’s arms, along with his family were expelled from their home of Palestine, becoming refugees, away from a place they once called home,” she said. “My grandparents, never being allowed to return. My family witnessed 75 years of violence against Palestinian people — most notably, brutal settler invasions which led to the destruction of entire communities, murder in cold blood and the forcible removal of families from their homes,” she added. Indian poet presents work to more than 500 expatriates Speaks of pain, suffering of Palestinian people in Gaza Updated 27 November 2023 November 27, 2023 20:52 RIYADH: Indian poet and politician Imran Pratapgarhi left his audience spellbound during a presentation of his work in Riyadh recently. During his first visit to the capital since being elected to parliament, Pratapgarhi spoke of the suffering faced by Palestinian men, women and children in Gaza amid the ongoing assault by Israeli forces. He also thanked King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for hosting about 2 million Indian workers in the Kingdom and acknowledged the arrangements made by Saudi Arabia for this year’s Hajj pilgrims. The poet also thanked Talib Ur Rahman, Dr Dilnawaz Roomi and Mohammed Fakhre Alam for organizing the event, which was attended by more than 500 Indian expatriates. As well as Palestine, Pratapgarhi recited poems about the political and social situation in India, including the plight of Muslims and other minorities. His rendition of “Lal Quila” received a standing ovation. On behalf of the Indian diaspora, he was presented with a memento of appreciation. The event was attended by several special guests, including Omair Khan, head of the AICC Minority Department; Jharkand, Maulana Mohammed Abutalib Rehmani, a member of the All-India Muslim Personal Law Board; Motiur Rahman, founder of Bukhari University, Kishanganj (Bihar); and businessman Dr Nadeem Tarin. Updated 28 November 2023 November 27, 2023 15:18 DUBAI: French Moroccan dancer Hajiba Fahmy, who has worked extensively with US superstar Beyonce, hit the red carpet at the Marrakech International Film Festival on Sunday alongside French Algerian actress Lyna Khoudri. Fahmy has danced alongside Beyonce on tour and also took part in the singer’s 2018 Coachella performance. This week, Fahmy appeared in Morocco to attend the prominent film festival that showcases cinema from Morocco, the Middle East and Africa. Throughout the week, organizers will honor Moroccan director Faouzi Bensaidi and workshop films from throughout the region in a developmental program that was set to be presided over by director Martin Scorsese, who has since pulled out due to personal reasons. Hajiba Fahmy stars in ‘Backstage,’ co-directed by Afef Ben Mahmoud and Khalil Benkirane. Supplied This year’s jury includes US actress Jessica Chastain, Iranian actress Zar Amir, French actress and comedian Camille Cottin, Australian actor and director Joel Edgerton, British director Joanna Hogg, US director Dee Rees, Swedish filmmaker Tarik Saleh and Swedish actor Alexander Skarsgard. Fahmy stars in “Backstage,” a co-production between Morocco, Tunisia, Belgium, France, Qatar, Norway and Saudi Arabia, that is screening at the festival. Directed by Afef Ben Mahmoud and Khalil Benkirane, the film will make its way to Jeddah’s Red Sea International Film Festival next week. In the movie, co-director and dancer Afef Ben Mahmoud plays Aida, a star dancer whose partner Hedi (played by renowned Belgian choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui) injures her — maybe by accident, maybe on purpose — on stage in a small Middle Atlas town. The whole company must make its way through a forest to the nearest medical help. Fahmy was photographed on the red carpet with Khoudri, who rose to prominence in her role as Nedjma in Mounia Meddour’s critically acclaimed drama “Papicha.” For her work in the film, she won the Orizzonti Award for best actress at the 74th Venice Film Festival, and she was nominated in the Cesar Awards’ most promising actress category. Khoudri also starred in the 2019 mini-series “Les Sauvages” and in 2016’s “Blood on the Docks.” Notably, she was cast in Wes Anderson’s 2021 comedy “The French Dispatch” alongside Hollywood stars Timothee Chalamet, Bill Murray, Tilda Swinton, and Owen Wilson. In 2023, she was nominated in the Best Supporting Actress category at the 48th Cesar Awards, France’s equivalent of the Oscars. Mohammed Al-Turki, CEO of the Red Sea Film Foundation, said of this year’s honorees: “This year we are honouring Ranveer Singh, an icon of Hindi cinema; Diane Kruger, who has delivered us a series of unforgettable characters from Helen of Troy to Tarantino’s Bridget von Hammersmark and affected us with her powerhouse performance of the avenging Angel Katja in Fatih Akin’s ‘In the Fade’; as well as the hugely beloved Abdullah Al-Sadhan who has been a mainstay of Saudi entertainment through ‘Tash ma Tash’ for two decades and will also appear in this year’s competition title ‘Norah.’ We are thrilled to be recognising each of their varied and deep contributions to cinema and to have them with us for our third edition.” As for the festival’s jury, Joining Baz Luhrmann, who is presiding over the main Red Sea jury, are Swedish-American actor Joel Kinnaman (“Suicide Squad”); Freida Pinto (“Slumdog Millionaire”); Egyptian actor Amina Khalil; (“Grand Hotel”) and Spain’s Paz Vega (“Sex and Lucía,” “The OA”). Updated 26 November 2023 November 26, 2023 08:57 DUBAI: French Algerian actress Lyna Khoudri was on hand at a ceremony to mark the 20th anniversary of the Marrakech International Film Festival on Saturday — and she showed off a chic Chanel outfit in the process. Khoudri, who is a brand ambassador for the luxury French label, hit the red carpet in a minidress in the brand’s signature tweed, elevated with silver embroidered detailing. Lyna Khoudri was on hand at a ceremony to mark the 20th anniversary of the Marrakech International Film Festival. (Getty Images) She attended the ceremony alongside other A-list stars, including Faical Laraichi, Tilda Swinton, Jessica Chastain — who is this year’s festival jury head — Isabelle Huppert and Melita Toscan du Plantier. Chastain opted for a custom-made black-and-pink gown by French label Balmain at the event, a day after she graced the opening night’s red carpet in a shimmering silver jump suit from Armani Prive’s Fall 2021 couture collection. On the opening night, Chastain was joined on stage by fellow jury members, including Iranian actress Zar Amir, French actress and comedian Camille Cottin, Australian actor and director Joel Edgerton, British director Joanna Hogg, US director Dee Rees, Swedish filmmaker Tarik Saleh and Swedish actor Alexander Skarsgard. Organizers said that they looked forward to showcasing cinema from Morocco, the Middle East and Africa. Throughout the week, they plan to honor Moroccan director Faouzi Bensaidi and workshop films from throughout the region in a developmental program that was set to be presided over by director Martin Scorsese, who has since pulled out due to personal reasons. The festival opened on Friday with Richard Linklater’s action-comedy “Hit Man.” For her part, Khoudri rose to prominence in her role as Nedjma in Mounia Meddour’s critically acclaimed drama “Papicha.” For her work in the film, she won the Orizzonti Award for best actress at the 74th Venice Film Festival, and she was nominated in the Cesar Awards’ most promising actress category. Khoudri also starred in the 2019 mini-series “Les Sauvages” and in 2016’s “Blood on the Docks.” Notably, she was cast in Wes Anderson’s 2021 comedy “The French Dispatch” alongside Hollywood stars Timothee Chalamet, Bill Murray, Tilda Swinton, and Owen Wilson. In 2023, she was nominated in the Best Supporting Actress category at the 48th Cesar Awards, France’s equivalent of the Oscars. Khoudri was nominated for her role in filmmaker Cedric Jimenez's “Novembre,” which tells the story of the terrorist attacks in Paris on the night of Nov. 13, 2015. She plays Samia, a charitable young woman who volunteers at a homeless camp. Her flat mate is bankrolling her cousin, one of the terrorists. Updated 26 November 2023 November 26, 2023 08:00 ABU DHABI: Canadian singer-songwriter Shania Twain brought her brand of country-pop music to the UAE over the weekend with a performance on the third day of the Yasalam After-Race Concerts in Abu Dhabi. The concert, held on the sidelines of the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, saw the superstar perform at Etihad Park. The five-time Grammy Award-winning artist made her Middle East debut this weekend. (Supplied) Five-time Grammy Award-winning artist Twain made her Middle East debut with such hits as “Waking Up Dreaming,” “You’re Still The One” and “Man! I Feel Like a Woman!” R&B singer Chris Brown performed the night before, while American singer Ava Max and Dutch DJ and record producer Tiesto performed on Thursday, launching the four-day music event.