Saint Levant addresses Gaza war on stage at Coachella music festival
Updated 16 April 2024
Arab News
DUBAI: Saint Levant, a Palestinian French Algerian Serbian rapper, performed at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival music festival in California on Saturday.
The musician used the opportunity to address the ongoing war in Gaza, saying: “Coachella, my name is Saint Levant and I was born in Jerusalem and raised in Gaza … as I hope all of you are aware, the people of Gaza have been undergoing a brutal, brutal genocide for the past six months. And the people of Palestine have been undergoing a brutal occupation for the past 75 years.”
Saint Levant performed a series of his hits, including “Nails,” “From Gaza, With Love” and a slowed-down version of “Very Few Friends.” The artist also performed “Deira” and “5am in Paris,” which was released last week.
“It’s about exile,” he said, describing the new song. “A feeling that us Palestinians know a bit too well.”
Born Marwan Abdelhamid in Jerusalem, the singer previously spoke to Arab News about his childhood.
“The actual cultural makeup is my mom is half-French and half-Algerian. My dad is Serbian, half-Palestinian. And they actually both grew up in Algeria. But they decided, in the early 90s, post the Oslo Accords, that Palestine was going to be free.
“So they went back, my dad went to live in Gaza in the early 1980s. And my dad actually built a hotel there and that’s where I grew up,” he said.
“For everyone, childhood is very meaningful. And for me, it was a juxtaposition because I remember the sound of the drones and the sounds of the bones. But more than anything, I remember the warmth, and the smell … and the taste of food and just the odd feeling of soil.”
Bonjour Saudi presents fresh travel and culture experiences for tourists
Updated 11 July 2024
Nada Alturki
RIYADH: In the heart of Diriyah’s Samhan district is an old Najdi-style house that’s been given a new lease of life as Bonjour Saudi — a ‘travel and experience design house’ and a local offshoot of UAE-based Bonjour Middle East.
“At Bonjour Saudi we focus on being a bridge between foreigners, expats, tourists and Saudi culture by creating experiences that showcase different parts of that culture — like cuisine, art, and tradition,” French co-founder Cecilia Pueyo told Arab News. “It’s very important for me to work routinely with Saudis to make this happen.
Whether guests are signing up for a multi-day journey around historical sites or for a two-hour cooking or art workshop, though, the aim is the same: to leave them with a better understanding of Saudi culture and history. (AN Photo/ Abdulrhman Bin Shalhuob)
Pueyo is a crafting enthusiast herself, and noticed a gap in the market when she visited the Kingdom and found it hard to access workshops on traditional Saudi crafts such as Sadu weaving, palm weaving, or Kabsa cooking. So, she wanted to create a space for such workshops. It also includes House of Artisans — a store showcasing local handicrafts like candles, abayas, handbags, jewelry, and more, giving guests an opportunity to take a piece of Saudi home with them.
And Bonjour Saudi also provides guided tours across the country to popular spots including Jeddah, Abha, and AlUla.
Whether guests are signing up for a multi-day journey around historical sites or for a two-hour cooking or art workshop, though, the aim is the same: to leave them with a better understanding of Saudi culture and history.
In the heart of Diriyah’s Samhan district is an old Najdi-style house that’s been given a new lease of life as Bonjour Saudi. (AN Photo/ Abdulrhman Bin Shalhuob)
“Even though it’s relatively new for the Kingdom to welcome foreigners and expats, (it’s clear that) people want to showcase their culture and share it with you, as well as their hospitality and generosity,” Pueyo said.
“Now, we are in a very important moment and shift in Saudi,” she continued. “This is what I think Bonjour Saudi is about; how we want to make an impact on people. Even if they only have one hour, we can connect them with the right person to deliver a message about the country, about the culture — about their passion — and I hope the guests will understand his or her vision of the Kingdom.”
Arab News writers share their favorite destinations to spark your wanderlust.
ICELAND
I had an inexplicable affinity to Iceland before I’d ever visited (how is there not a word for that?). And when I did visit, it exceeded all my expectations. Despite its harsh terrain, it’s the most picturesque country I’ve ever seen, and unlike any other I’ve experienced. And despite the geographic isolation and extreme winters, Icelanders are among the friendliest, warmest and most progressive people I have met. Iceland’s size means one can stay in the capital and easily visit the country’s many attractions. Despite all the odds, this land of volcanoes and glaciers has spawned one of the most egalitarian, eco-friendly and happy societies in the world. And if all that was not enough, its people and government are supporters of the Palestinian cause! It’s odd that I, as a foreigner, would feel pride in Iceland’s achievements, but such is my love for this country, which I plan to visit for the third time this year.
Sharif Nashashibi
The Godafoss waterfall in Iceland. (Shutterstock)
FLORENCE
It sounds cartoonish, but I stopped dead in my tracks the first time I saw Florence’s Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. Seeing the glittering marble façade of what was the largest church in the world when it was consecrated in 1436 remains one of my all-time travel highlights. Florence, home to Michaelangelo’s “David” and Botticelli’s “Birth of Venus,” is a maze of Renaissance ingenuity and perfect for anyone who fancies fueling their cultural awakening with mounds of gelato. The city is so full of art history that I stumbled across Botticelli’s grave by accident in the quiet Franciscan church Chiesa di San Salvatore di Ognissanti. I’m not even sure I was supposed to be in there — I was the only visitor. That experience is emblematic of Florence, a city where you’ll discover masters and masterpieces in the most unexpected of places.
Saffiya Ansari
Florence is the capital of Italy’s Tuscany region. (Shutterstock)
MARBELLA
Marbella, on Spain’s stunning Costa del Sol, is known for its upscale resorts, elite social scene, and gorgeous Mediterranean beaches. Stroll through the charming Old Town, with its narrow cobblestone streets, whitewashed buildings, and delightful plazas. Be sure to visit the iconic Orange Square, with its stunning Baroque architecture and lovely central fountain. Stop for tapas at one of the many lively restaurants and bars. Browse the high-end boutiques and galleries that line the Golden Mile, Marbella’s ritzy commercial district. For outdoor adventures, head to Río Verde, a scenic nature reserve perfect for hiking, birdwatching, and exploring. Or spend a day relaxing on the soft sandy beaches, taking a dip in the azure waters, and soaking up the Andalusian sun. In the evenings, Marbella truly comes alive. You can dance the night away at one of its renowned nightlife spots, or eat at a Michelin-starred restaurant. Or both. Marbella is the chic Spanish escape.
Rahaf Jambi
The resort area lies on southern Spain’s Costa del Sol, part of the Andalusia region. (Shutterstock)
EDINBURGH
Scotland’s capital is a memorable mix of history, stunning architecture, rich culture, breathtaking natural scenery, and warm people. The Old Town boasts an array of medieval castles and Victorian tenements, and houses the famous Royal Mile leading to the majestic Edinburgh Castle, perched high on its rocky crag and framed by the serene Princes Street Gardens. Don’t miss curved Victoria Street with its colorful, multi-story buildings — home to cozy cafés and quirky stores, including a beloved Harry Potter shop. Just minutes away is Arthur’s Seat, an ancient volcano with 360-degree city views. Nearby, discover Dr. Neil’s Garden, a hidden gem with diverse herbs and plants by a serene river. Edinburgh truly feels like a place out of a fantasy book — fitting for a country whose national animal is the unicorn.
Sherouk Maher
Don’t miss curved Victoria Street with its colorful, multi-story buildings. (Shutterstock)
HONG KONG
Going to a bucket-list country can be like meeting your idols — somewhat of a letdown as you discover their many flaws. But when I looked out of my Hong Kong hotel room window and saw the runway of the former airport that planes would thread their way through the skyscrapers to reach, it sent shivers down my spine. The city’s skyline is spectacular, whether seen looking up from the Star Ferry as it crosses the vibrant bay, or down from The Peak, the iconic towers standing tall in the foreground, nestled among the refreshing greenery of the city’s parks. There’s so much to see that it’s exhausting — but that’s OK, because this is also a foodie’s paradise. And as you sit in one of the many dumpling restaurants, or tuck into a bowl of noodles, you can be planning where next to indulge yourself as you discover just how much more the city has to offer.
Peter Harrison
Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated territories in the world. (Shutterstock)
ISTANBUL
Istanbul’s invigorating assault on the senses is on a par with Tokyo’s, but its chaos is far less controlled — from the higgledy-piggledy groupings of hillside houses and the bustle of the Grand Bazaar to the snatches of enticing smells and sounds that emerge from every alleyway. Famously, the city straddles Asia and Europe, and that wonderful mix of influences infuses the place — as do its millennia of history as one of the world’s most important centers of culture. The generosity and hospitality of its people is evident through the love shown to the city’s army of street cats, who lounge carelessly everywhere, receiving the respect that cats believe is their due. You could spend weeks exploring Istanbul’s museums and architecture. You could spend an equal amount of time exploring its street food, bars and restaurants. You could also shop till you’re broke, or relax in its serene parks. And whatever your creed, it’s impossible not to be moved by the awesome grandeur of the Blue Mosque.
Adam Grundey
Istanbul straddles Europe and Asia across the Bosphorus Strait. (Shutterstock)
BUDAPEST
Sitting pretty on both banks of the majestic Danube River, Hungary’s capital (comprising Buda and Pest) showcases the best of what Central Europe can offer, whether you’re looking for history, culture, food, or nightlife. Littered with UNESCO World Heritage Sites (Buda Castle Quarter, Andrassy Avenue and Danube River Panorama) as far as the eye can see, the city provides a portal into the past with its towering castles, museums and galleries, ruin bars and healing thermal baths that date back centuries. (No trip here is complete without ‘taking the waters’ at the Szechenyi Thermal Bath, built in 1913.)
But don’t let the gothic and Art Nouveau architecture fool you. Budapest is more than the sum of its historic parts and will surprise you with its sophisticated modern touches: from Michelin-starred restaurants and trendy cafés to sleek spas and up-and-coming design stories.
Shyama Krishna Kumar
Hungary’s capital (comprising Buda and Pest) showcases the best of what Central Europe can offer. (Shutterstock)
NEW YORK
Very few cities can put all five senses into overdrive. New York tops the list. The archetypal melting pot, the city where you can find anything you need or want. Let’s start with standard New York fare: bagels. Every New Yorker swears by “their guy,” and who am I to judge? (But clearly Russ & Daughters’ Everything Bagel with Lox and Veggie Cream Cheese is the best — soft and chewy with bits of crunchy vegetables that make your tongue tingle with excitement.) Grab your bagel and make straight for the High Line, one of my favorite walks ever. It takes you through the Meatpacking district to Chelsea and on to the otherworldly Vessel in Hudson Yards. Lush with greenery and solely pedestrian, it’s a welcome oasis from the insanity of the traffic. As is Washington Square Park — featured in at least one scene of every NYC-based film. This small plot has a wildly diverse array of people. From a man with a typewriter claiming to be scripting the next “Schindler’s List” to a guy offering free hugs. It makes for ideal people watching in the original concrete jungle.
Tarek Ali Ahmad
The High Line takes you through the Meatpacking district to Chelsea. (Shutterstock)
OXFORD
From the grandeur of the historic Bodleian Library (the location of several “Harry Potter” scenes) to the architectural masterpiece that is the Radcliffe Camera, England’s famous university city is a treasure trove of ancient wonders. As you wander the cobbled streets, you’ll stumble across hidden gems such as the History of Science Museum, which houses a blackboard preserved from a lecture by Albert Einstein in 1931. You can also visit Edmond Halley’s enchanting house, where, in 1682, he made his groundbreaking discovery of the famous comet that now bears his name. With its picturesque parks and gardens, charming cafés, and bustling marketplaces, Oxford is a city that stimulates the mind and nourishes the soul.
Ghadi Joudah
England’s famous university city is a treasure trove of ancient wonders. (Supplied)
Mountains meet the sea in Georgia’s Batumi — a new hotspot for Gulf tourists
The Black Sea resort is becoming increasingly popular with GCC tourists. It’s easy to see why
Updated 11 July 2024
Peter Harrison
BATUMI: Georgia’s tourism authority has said it aims to triple the amount of visitors the country receives from Saudi Arabia over the next five to 10 years.
With direct flights operating from Jeddah and Riyadh — as well as Dubai — Batumi is becoming an increasingly popular destination for GCC residents. It’s less than four hours by plane, and there’s just one hour’s time difference from the Kingdom. Safety and affordability are also major draws.
Batumi has much else to offer, including 21km of swimmable areas along its coast, stunning botanical gardens overlooking the clear blue waters of the Black Sea, and, of course, the sea itself.
Batumi Botanical Garden overlooks the clear blue waters of the Black Sea. (Shutterstock)
There is also the beautiful lush countryside no more than an hour’s drive from the city center. There, you’ll find walking trails through the tree-lined mountains and hills; valleys filled with vineyards; and rivers and streams that cut through the undergrowth. Visit the breathtaking Makhuntseti waterfall, which is located in the village of the same name.
Another must-visit just a short drive out of the city is the point at which the muddy waters of the Acharistskali meet the clear Chorokhi river that enters from Turkiye. The two rivers join, but do not appear to mix at first. There are many theories as to why: some say it’s the difference in density or minerals of the water, others believe it is due to temperature difference. What all can agree on is that it provides an extraordinary sight as the two rivers flow alongside each other undisturbed before finally blending further downstream.
Batumi’s surrounding countryside, then, is the perfect place to unwind, but also to get involved in outdoor pursuits such as mountaineering. For the less energetic, there’s always bird watching — hundreds of thousands of migratory species suddenly appear around Batumi every September.
But you don’t have to leave the city to enjoy some nature: Batumi is home to a number of landscaped parks and gardens, including the Seaside Park, which runs alongside the boardwalk for 7km, and is filled with plants, trees and sculptures.
The Kinetic Statue of Ali and Nino stands in Batumi. (Shutterstock)
There’s also the 108-hectare Batumi Botanical Garden — one of the largest in the former Soviet Union — in Mtsvane Kontskhi, around 9km from the city center. As well as the carefully thought-out gardens, there is also a zipline that runs in front of the cliff face – the greenery on your left and the sea to the right — and way down below.
A stroll along the boardwalk provides views of the mountains, the sea and the modern towers that decorate parts of Batumi’s coast, as well as the mesmerizing kinetic statue of Ali and Nino — the creation of Tamara Kvesitadze which tells the story of a Muslim and Christian who fell in love.
In the same area are various boats offering short trips to sea to get a wider view of the city’s impressive coastline.
Away from the water, the city streets are perfect for wandering — the older, smaller, architecture offering a more-relaxing environment along the tree-lined historic areas which open into various squares where you can relax at one of the many cafés and restaurants. You might even catch a display of traditional Georgian dancing, where the men leap impressively into the air, while the women seem to glide effortlessly around.
Batumi's Old Town boasts various architectural styles. (Shutterstock)
As for the food… be warned, Georgians love carbs. But it’s worth indulging in a Khachapuri Adjaruli — a boat-shaped white bread dough, covered in a heavy white cheese, with a raw egg on top.
There’s also the traditional Khinkali — a dumpling filled with meat and gravy. Eating this is a skill in itself — you bite a small hole in the dumpling and take a slurp of gravy before savoring the meat. But do wait for it to cool before trying this!
Stews are heavily featured, and if these don’t float your boat, then the grilled meat is a great option, alongside a bowl of Georgia’s finest tomato and cucumber salad — especially welcome after a few hours tramping through the winding streets or following a leisurely stroll through the mountains.
Whether you plan to make Batumi part of a wider visit to Georgia, or simply to spend a week or long weekend here, it’s a great location to relax, explore, and — if 95 percent of Saudis surveyed are to be believed — come back to.
Imaan Hammam celebrates ‘beauty that is Moroccan culture’
Updated 10 July 2024
Arab News
DUBAI: Moroccan Egyptian Dutch model Imaan Hammam took to social media to share her latest fashion shoot, in which she celebrates Moroccan culture.
“I will always be proud when I get to show off the beauty that is Moroccan culture and collaborate with so many amazing artists and creatives,” Hammam captioned a carousel of snaps on Instagram.
The model collaborated with auteur Marwane Jinane, photographer Hamza Lafrouji and a fellow model and creative who goes by the name Cheb Pablo on the shoot, which sees the pair posing in various locations in Casablanca.
“Hood fashion shoot. Fancy threads meet street grit. Models flexin’ in the ‘hood. Iman and Pablo killin’ it. High fashion clashing with rough backdrop. Raw, edgy vibes. Flipping the script on glam. Style popping in unlikely spots. It’s fire,” Lafrouji posted on Instagram.
Hammam is known for working with and promoting artists and creatives from the MENA region with her 1.7 million Instagram followers. The runway star — who is a fashion week staple and is currently the brand ambassador of cosmetics giant Estée Lauder — is known for dropping personally curated playlists of regional music for her social media fans and she has also promoted regional artists in the past.
The model has had a busy summer so far, most recently hitting the runway at the Vogue World event in Paris in June alongside Kendall Jenner, Gigi Hadidi, French Algerian icon Farida Khelfa and Venus and Serena Williams.
On International Olympic Day, Vogue World took over the last day of Paris Fashion Week’s menswear collections with a show-cum-spectacle themed around the Olympics.
The rare event blended athleticism, French fashion, and pure, unadulterated razzmatazz from the past century — marking 100 years since the last Games in Paris in 1924. The event also referred back to June 23, 1894, the day on which the founder of the modern Olympics, French nobleman Pierre de Coubertin, launched the International Olympic Committee.
‘Beverly Hills Cop’ cast, director talk ‘iconic franchise’ as nostalgia-fueled film hits Netflix
Updated 10 July 2024
Raffi Boghosian
LOS ANGELES: It took 30 years for the fourth installment of the iconic “Beverly Hills Cop” series to return to the screen and now the latest film has hit Netflix with a nostalgia-tinged bang.
Eddie Murphy returns in "Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F" as Axel Foley. Joining him are familiar faces and new talent — and some of the cast and crew sat down to talk more about the film that sees Axel Foley return to Beverly Hills after his daughter's life is threatened. The high octane, joke-filled film sees our lead star work with old pals John Taggart and Billy Rosewood to uncover a conspiracy.
“It's been a few years since I've seen Eddie because all three of us live in different parts of the country … but we developed a good friendship in the earlier ones. And friendships don't die,” John Ashton, who plays now-police chief John Taggart, said.
Meanwhile, US actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt approached the project from a different position, with "Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F" marking his first time on the set of the franchise. He commented on working with Murphy on the fan-loved series.
“One of the things that I think is often underappreciated about Eddie is even though he's so funny, he's also a very honest and real actor,” Gordon-Levitt said.
It’s a quality that the lead star made full use of in the film, with emotional moments focusing on Axel Foley’s tense relationship with his estranged daughter, Jane, played by Taylour Paige.
But there is also, predictably, a healthy dose of action and this installment trades heavy CGI for action set pieces, notably in a gripping helicopter sequence that reintroduces authentic danger to the franchise.
“That helicopter was being flown by this stunt pilot who really did all that. He dropped the helicopter off the building, came that close to the street, barely missed the bus. That was all real and they just photographed it,” Gordon-Levitt explained.
“To be trusted with the keys to such an iconic franchise like this and get (franchise producer Jerry Bruckheimer) to give me that trust was really humbling. Of course I felt a lot of pressure, but I just tried to be as prepared as possible,” Australian director Mark Molloy, who made his feature film debut with this movie, added.
