Category: EXTRA

  • Andria Tayeh dinamakan duta kecantikan Giorgio Armani

    DUBAI – Giorgio Armani pada Khamis mengumumkan pelantikan pelakon Jordan Lebanon Andria Tayeh sebagai duta kecantikan Timur Tengah yang baru.

    Andria, yang terkenal dengan peranannya dalam pembuat filem Austria Kurdwin Ayub “Mond” dan siri hit Netflix “Al Rawabi School for Girls,” melahirkan kegembiraannya di Instagram dan menulis: “Saya gembira dan dihargai untuk memulakan perjalanan baru ini dengan kecantikan Armani.

    “Ini menandakan satu peristiwa penting bagi saya, kerana jenama itu merangkumi nilai yang saya selalu hargai: keanggunan abadi, kesederhanaan dramatik, dan pemberdayaan wanita,” katanya.

    “Kecantikan Armani mendedahkan keperibadian karismatik seseorang dengan cara yang paling halus dan semulajadi. Ini kesederhanaan tulen yang mewujudkan kesan, dan ini adalah apa yang saya harapkan untuk dibawa ke dunia pawagam Arab. “

    AN, 7 Feb, 2025

  • 10 hotel paling popular dalam kalangan pelawat asing di Kazakhstan pada 2024

    1. Hotel Kazakhstan di Almaty (30,412 tetamu asing)
    2. Holiday Inn di Almaty (15,619 pelawat)
    3. Hotel Sheraton Astana (14,790 tetamu)
    4. Rixos Water World Aktau (lebih 14,500 pelancong asing)
    5. Rixos Almaty (12,600 pelawat)
    6. Mercure Almaty City Centre (12,200 pelawat)
    7. Intercontinental Almaty (11,200)
    8. Best Western Plus Atakent Park Hotel (11,200)
    9. Rahat Palace Hotel (11,100).
    10. Hilton Astana.

    * Sumber: The Astana Times, 20 Jan 2025

  • Sushisamba in Riyadh

    Picture this: An afternoon filled with a delightful set menu, live entertainment and a vibrant atmosphere that feels like a celebration. Sushisamba in Riyadh offers the kind of brunch that lingers in your memory.

    Nestled in the bustling King Abdullah Financial District, Sushisamba offers a fusion of Japanese, Brazilian and Peruvian flavors that truly captivates the palate.

    As soon as you step inside, you are greeted by a spacious dining area, a charming private room on the mezzanine and the stunning Samba Room — a glass-enclosed space that offers breathtaking views of the Wadi. The open kitchen, two sushi bars and a live robata grill create an interactive dining experience.

    The Vida Brunch is offered on the last Friday of every month from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. For SR195 ($52) per person, you can indulge in a thoughtfully curated set menu. If you are bringing kids, Sushisamba has a special menu priced at SR130.

    What makes the Vida Brunch unforgettable is the live entertainment. Each month, a different DJ or live musician sets the mood, making every visit feel fresh and exciting.

    The menu is a feast for the senses. I particularly enjoyed the corn fritters and pao de queijo as appetizers. For the main course, the black cod bolinho and robata salmon were standout dishes. The sushi assortment — three maki rolls and two nigiri pieces — was also enjoyable.

    Sushisamba blends culture, music and design, embodying the spirit of Japan, Brazil and Peru.

    AN, Jan 11, 2025

  • ‘Hantu Arab’ rumah seram Al-Sa’alwa di Souq Al-Awaleen, Riyadh

    Dari kawasan utara hingga timur Arab Saudi, Souq Al-Awaleen Riyadh menyatukan pelbagai budaya negara.

    Pengunjung disambut dengan sambutan hangat daripada pelakon yang mewakili setiap wilayah, membolehkan mereka menghargai kepelbagaian tradisi Saudi dan pakaian tradisional yang berbeza di setiap kawasan.

    Tetamu boleh meneroka budaya bandar pesisir pantai, seperti Jeddah, dan kawasan pergunungan seperti Asir, merasai pengalaman sebenar budaya Saudi.

    Mereka boleh memakai ikat kepala bunga dan pakaian tradisional orang selatan, dan mengambil bahagian dalam tarian Ardah dari wilayah Najd tengah, mengayunkan pedang Arab.

    Pengalaman mengasyikkan berterusan apabila pelakon melakonkan semula kehidupan seharian, seperti mengajar di dalam bilik darjah. Pelawat boleh duduk di meja sekolah, menggunakan kapur untuk menulis di papan hitam, dan mengikuti kelas bahasa Arab yang membangkitkan kenangan nostalgia bagi ramai orang.

    Selain itu, tetamu boleh melangkah ke penjara lama untuk membayangkan kehidupan di sebalik jeriji besi, dan menyemak imbas pilihan mainan nostalgia yang menawarkan perjalanan menyeronokkan di lorong ingatan.

    Setiap sudut souq menceritakan kisah yang unik, menawarkan kraf tangan asli, pakaian tradisional dan pelbagai rempah-ratus yang menangkap intipati pelbagai wilayah.

    Salah satu tarikan yang menonjol di souq ialah rumah seram yang bertemakan cerita rakyat Saudi, dikenali sebagai Al-Sa’alawa. Pengalaman menyejukkan ini diilhamkan daripada kisah makhluk misteri yang memikat imaginasi ramai.

    Khemah Al-Sa’alwa menawarkan pengalaman rumah seram yang mendebarkan yang menyelami pelawat dalam legenda cerita rakyat Saudi. Osama Al-Balawai, seorang pelakon dalam khemah, menggambarkan makhluk Al-Sa’alwa, yang telah menjadi subjek pelbagai tafsiran.

    Ada yang melihatnya sebagai hantu, yang lain sebagai figura lelaki, manakala ada yang percaya ia mengambil bentuk wanita cantik. Tidak kira bentuknya, berhati-hati dinasihatkan apabila menghadapi makhluk yang penuh teka-teki ini.

    “Sertai kami di khemah Al-Sa’alwa untuk pengalaman yang tidak dapat dilupakan,” kata Al-Balawai kepada Arab News.

    “Adakah anda akan muncul dengan selamat, atau adakah anda akan terpikat dengan legenda?

    “Kami menggalakkan anda melawat Souq Al-Awaleen untuk mengambil bahagian dalam pengembaraan yang mendebarkan ini. Kami tidak sabar untuk melihat anda di sana!”

    Selain pengalaman seram, Arab News menemui Bin Ghaith Textiles, sebuah kedai kain di pasar. Pemilik Hassan dengan penuh semangat berkongsi kecintaannya terhadap tekstil, menonjolkan kepentingan sejarahnya.

    “Keghairahan saya adalah tekstil dan sejarah di belakangnya,” katanya.

    “Saya mengumpul gentian organik dan meneroka apa yang orang pakai sebelum kemunculan bahan sintetik. Ini memberi saya peluang untuk berhubung dengan sejarah.”

    Hassan berkata minatnya terletak pada bahan organik yang digunakan pada masa lalu, seperti linen, kapas, sutera dan bulu, berbeza dengan budaya fesyen pakai buang masa kini.

    “Pasar adalah nadi mana-mana bandar,” katanya. “Ia mencerminkan identiti tempat itu, menawarkan pandangan tentang budaya dan sejarahnya.”

    Tahun ini menandakan kali kedua Hassan di Souq Al-Awaleen, di mana dia menghargai orang ramai yang pelbagai yang tiba untuk menerokai permaidani kaya dengan warisan Saudi.

    “Generasi muda sangat ingin tahu tentang apa yang dipakai nenek moyang mereka dan bagaimana tekstil telah berkembang,” katanya.

    “Adalah penting untuk mengekalkan pengetahuan dan tradisi ini.”

    Pasar, yang menawarkan kemasukan percuma, juga menganjurkan kraf tangan, seni rakyat dan persembahan secara langsung.

    Artis tempatan mempunyai platform untuk mempamerkan hasil kerja mereka, dan pelawat boleh mengambil bahagian dalam bengkel yang memfokuskan pada tenunan tradisional Sadu dan tembikar.

    Selain persembahan artisanalnya, Souq Al-Awaleen menyajikan rasa masakan asli Saudi di Sufrat Al-Deira. Suasana membangkitkan zaman dahulu, dipertingkatkan dengan demonstrasi masakan dan persembahan kebudayaan lain.

    Musim Riyadh tahun ini berlangsung sehingga Mac 2025 dan telah menarik lebih 13 juta peserta, menurut Agensi Akhbar Saudi (SPA).

    * Teks (diterjemah) & foto AN/4 Jan, 23:57/tajuk oleh BF

  • Masakan Uzbek Ashbiz di Riyadh

    Ashbiz ialah tempat yang bagus untuk masakan Uzbekistan, menawarkan pelbagai jenis makanan kaya dan berperisa menggabungkan pengaruh dari Asia Tengah dan Timur Tengah.

    Menunya kecil tetapi penuh dengan hidangan yang penuh dengan rasa, termasuk ayam bukhari, yang berasal dari kota purba Bukhara.

    Bukhari, yang boleh dibuat dengan daging lembu, kambing atau ayam, dihidangkan panas dan dihidangkan dengan rempah wangi seperti jintan manis, buah pelaga dan kayu manis.

    Mi ialah ciri utama masakan Uzbekistan dan kepelbagaian menarik tangan dicipta di Ashbiz adalah kunci kepada lag’mon-nya: hidangan lazat yang menggabungkan daging lembu atau kambing dengan sayur-sayuran dalam sup yang enak.

    Satu lagi ialah samsa, roti yang lazat disumbat dengan daging berempah dan sayur-sayuran, yang menyerupai samosa, tetapi bukannya digoreng tetapi dibakar di dalam ketuhar.

    Menu ini juga termasuk manto — ladu kukus buatan tangan popular disumbat dengan pilihan labu atau daging dan campuran rempah yang unik — dan sup shish barak yang mempunyai ladu kecil.

    Ashbiz ialah pilihan yang mesra poket untuk sesiapa sahaja yang menikmati rasa masakan sendiri untuk makanan mereka.

    Restoran ini mempunyai kedai di daerah Taawun di Riyadh dan daerah Mohammadiya di Jeddah.

    AN, Dis 28, 2024

  • Ho Chi Minh City celebrates first metro

    Thousands of selfie-taking Ho Chi Minh City residents crammed into train carriages Sunday as the traffic-clogged business hub celebrated the opening of its first-ever metro line after years of delays.

    Huge queues spilled out of every station along the $1.7 billion line that runs almost 20 kilometers from the city center — with women in traditional “ao dai” dress, soldiers in uniform and couples clutching young children waiting excitedly to board.

    “I know it (the project) is late, but I still feel so very honored and proud to be among the first on this metro,” said office worker Nguyen Nhu Huyen after snatching a selfie in her jam-packed train car.

    “Our city is now on par with the other big cities of the world,” she said.

    It took 17 years for Vietnam’s commercial capital to reach this point. The project, funded largely by Japanese government loans, was first approved in 2007 and slated to cost just $668 million.

    When construction began in 2012, authorities promised the line would be up and running in just five years.

    But as delays mounted, cars and motorbikes multiplied in the city of nine million people, making the metropolis hugely congested, increasingly polluted and time-consuming to navigate.

    The metro “meets the growing travel needs of residents and contributes to reducing traffic congestion and environmental pollution,” the city’s deputy mayor Bui Xuan Cuong said.

    Cuong admitted authorities had to overcome “countless hurdles” to get the project over the line.

    AN-AFP, Dec 22, 2024

  • Minggu Pelancongan Bandar HCM 2024

    HCM CITY — Minggu Pelancongan Bandar Raya HCM keempat 2024 bermula pada Khamis lalu (5 Disember), mempamerkan pelbagai aktiviti pelancongan, sukan dan muzik, serta inisiatif promosi merentas semua daerah di bandar ini, serta Thủ Đức City, lapor Vietnam News.

    Acara selama seminggu itu dianjurkan untuk meraikan ulang tahun ke-50 Pembebasan Selatan dan penyatuan semula negara pada 2025.

    Bandar itu menerima lebih 4.6 juta pelawat asing dalam tempoh sepuluh bulan pertama, meningkat hampir 13 peratus tahun ke tahun, menurut Jabatan Pelancongan, lapor web berita itu.

    Jelasnya lagi, menurut jabatan itu, bilangan pelancong domestik mencecah lebih 30.9 juta, meningkat 1.3 peratus tahun ke tahun, menyumbang kepada jumlah pendapatan pelancongan sebanyak VNĐ156.7 trilion, meningkat 11.9 peratus tahun ke tahun.

  • Lapan spesies tumbuhan asli baharu ditemui di Arab Saudi

    RIYADH – Kementerian Alam Sekitar, Air dan Pertanian dan NEOM jumpa lapan spesies tumbuhan asli yang sebelum ini tidak direkodkan di negara itu, lapor Agensi Akhbar Saudi (SPA) pada Rabu.

    Penemuan ini adalah sebahagian daripada program flora NEOM, yang bertujuan melindungi 95 peratus tanah semula jadi dan memulihkan serta mendokumenkan kepelbagaian biologi unik di rantau ini.

    Program dua fasa itu termasuk kajian komprehensif geologi, tanah, hidrologi tadahan air, ekologi dan topografi NEOM.

    “Spesies tumbuhan baharu itu telah didokumenkan di Herbarium Kebangsaan dalam Pusat Benih dan Bank Sumber Genetik Tumbuhan di Riyadh, mewakili penambahan ketara kepada flora direkodkan di Arab Saudi,” kata Ahmad Alayadh, timbalan menteri pertanian.

    Lapan spesies tersebut ialah: Bituminaria flaccida (Nabelek) Greuter, Cicer judaicum Boiss, Crambe hispanica L, Diplotaxis tenuifolia (L.) DC, Hyoscyamus boveanus (Dunal) Asch & Schweinf, Muscari longipes subsp Longipes, Phagnalon nitidum Fresen, dan Plantago sinaica (Barneoud) Decne.

    Dhiya Zaidan, pengurus kanan seni bina landskap di NEOM, berkata: “Sejak dua setengah tahun yang lalu, inisiatif ini telah membuahkan hasil yang luar biasa, termasuk mendokumentasikan 345 spesies tumbuhan tempatan, 28 spesies nadir, dan lapan spesies tumbuhan berdaftar baharu yang tidak direkodkan sebelum ini. dalam negara.

    “Ini tidak mungkin berlaku tanpa dedikasi dan komitmen penyelidik dan saintis kami di lapangan.”

    Dilancarkan pada 2021, program flora NEOM merupakan inisiatif utama untuk mendokumenkan dan memulihara warisan semula jadi rantau ini, meningkatkan pengetahuan tentang tumbuh-tumbuhan dan spesies tumbuhan tempatan.

    AN, 11 Dis 2024

  • Shrimp Shack di Riyadh

    Jamuan untuk seisi keluarga atau hanya untuk anda, Shrimp Shack di Riyadh bukan sahaja hidangan enak tetapi pengalaman yang akan membuatkan bib anda kotor dan perut anda gembira.

    Dengan lokasi di sekitar bandar dan waktu tutup lewat, pengunjung boleh masuk, merebut gerai dan menikmati hidangan rebusan makanan laut bersama rakan dan keluarga.

    Atau anda boleh mengambil baldi untuk pergi jika anda ingin terjun ke hadapan TV di mana tiada siapa yang dapat melihat betapa kusutnya seorang pemakan yang akan anda hadapi.

    Bintang pertunjukan, bagaimanapun, adalah stesen mendidih. Pengunjung boleh memilih antara udang jumbo, udang sederhana, ketam, udang galah atau campuran Shack untuk dicampur dan dipadankan, bersama-sama dengan pilihan tahap rempah dan sos/perasa mereka: cajun, lada limau, mentega bawang putih, campuran Shack dan banyak lagi.

    Udang dimasak dengan sempurna dan rasanya sangat segar, tetapi pilihan yang paling pedas tidak begitu pedas, dan kadangkala sos campuran Shack kurang rasa.

    Dan sementara kentang adalah tambahan yang bagus untuk sebarang rebusan, kentang ini biasanya agak kurang masak dan lebih keras daripada yang anda mahukan kentang anda.

    Mereka juga mempunyai stesen penggorengan untuk mereka yang lebih suka makanan laut mereka dipukul dan digoreng — penggemar cumi akan suka bahagian ini — dan stesen keto dengan versi rendah karbohidrat bagi semua tawaran stesen mendidih.

    Menu Shrimp Shack juga menawarkan pelbagai kotak Shack yang diisi dengan gulungan ikan dan udang yang berbeza, sama ada digoreng atau direbus, serta beberapa pilihan peluncur.

    Nasi, jagung dan kentang goreng semuanya lazat dan hidangan sampingan yang sesuai untuk menemani hidangan anda — mungkin ada yang mengatakan hidangan anda tidak lengkap tanpanya, tetapi jangan risau, kerana jagung disertakan!

    Anak-anak anda boleh menikmati hidangan ini juga dengan bakul kecil dan gulungan mereka sendiri.

    AN, 7 Dis 2024

  • ‘Kami suka makanan kami’: Rakyat Malaysia gembira apabila budaya sarapan pagi sertai senarai UNESCO

    KUALA LUMPUR — Bagi kebanyakan rakyat Malaysia, sarapan pagi sentiasa menjadi kemuncak hari — dan kini, ia juga menjadi kebanggaan selepas mendapat tempat dalam senarai warisan budaya UNESCO.

    Badan PBB mengundi pada Khamis untuk memasukkan budaya sarapan pagi Malaysia, “warisan hidup yang berkaitan dengan amalan pemakanan tradisional,” dalam senarai Warisan Budaya Tak Ketara Kemanusiaan.

    Pengiktirafan itu segera dialu-alukan oleh Kementerian Kebudayaan sebagai “pencapaian bersejarah” kerana ia merupakan kemasukan UNESCO pertama Malaysia berkaitan makanan dan gastronomi. Ia juga mendapat sambutan yang menggembirakan daripada mereka yang sarapan pagi merupakan sebahagian daripada kehidupan keluarga dan sosial.

    Heng Wei Boon, seorang jurutera berusia 47 tahun, masih ingat makanan yang pernah ibunya sediakan semasa dia membesar di Pulau Pinang. Menu biasa ialah telur separuh masak dengan roti bakar, bubur, atau mee sup. Ketiga-tiga juadah sehingga kini kekal menjadi kegemaran sarapan paginya sehingga kini.

    “Tidak kisah jika itu hari persekolahan. Jika ya, sarapan pada pukul 6.30 pagi. Jika tidak, kira-kira pukul 7.45 atau 8 pagi,” katanya.

    “Ia adalah hidangan untuk memulakan hari dan di Malaysia, kami mengambilnya dengan sangat serius.”

    Daripada dapur rumah ke kopitiam — kedai kopi tradisional — hingga ke gerai tepi jalan dan kafeteria pejabat, hidangan pertama hari itu adalah seperti ritual dalam semua masyarakat berbilang etnik di Malaysia.

    “Saya dibesarkan di kawasan kejiranan kampung, di bandar, dan ketika itu, kadang-kadang, sesetengah ibu bergilir-gilir menyediakan sarapan untuk anak-anak … Ia adalah masa yang menyeronokkan, dan ia adalah kenangan yang begitu banyak daripada kami hargai dan masih bercakap mengenainya,” Nur Natasha Siraj, seorang ahli farmasi berusia 35 tahun di Lembah Klang memberitahu Arab News (AN).

    “Sekarang, sebagai orang dewasa yang bekerja, meluangkan masa untuk sarapan pagi — untuk duduk dan berkongsi hidangan untuk memulakan hari saya — adalah bahagian penting dalam rutin saya, seperti yang dilakukan oleh kebanyakan rakyat Malaysia. Boomer di hospital saya tidak akan pernah tidak pergi untuk sarapan pagi malah memberi kami teguran kerana tidak bersarapan. Bukan kerana mereka mengambil berat tentang kesihatan kita, tetapi kerana ini adalah masa kita untuk mendaftar masuk antara satu sama lain dan merapatkan hubungan sebelum kesibukan hari bermula.”

    Sajian sarapan kegemarannya ialah nasi lemak — nasi wangi yang dimasak dalam santan dan daun pandan, diiringi sos cili sambal dan pelbagai hiasan seperti hirisan timun segar, ikan bilis goreng, kacang tanah panggang dan telur rebus atau goreng.

    Dihidangkan secara tradisional dalam daun pisang, ia adalah salah satu ruji paling popular.

    Mahalakshmi Sundarasekaran, seorang peniaga Kuala Lumpur yang menjual nasi lemak dan idli — kek nasi India yang enak — kehabisan menunya dalam masa dua jam selepas membuka gerainya pada waktu pagi.

    “Orang ramai sentiasa berada dalam mood yang baik ketika bersarapan. Saya seronok melihatnya. Saya gembira Malaysia diiktiraf untuk ini,” katanya.

    “Kami, rakyat Malaysia, suka makanan kami, berikan kami tiga kali sehari, lima kali sehari, kami akan makan. Tetapi ada sesuatu tentang sarapan pagi. Sarapan pagi yang baik untuk memulakan hari anda … Pengiktirafan ini sangat sesuai.”

    Barangan sarapan ikonik yang lain termasuk roti canai — roti rata India Selatan yang rangup dihidangkan dengan lentil atau kari daging — dan mi soto, hidangan sup yang menggabungkan kuah rempah dengan kunyit, halia dan serai serta mi kuning pekat.

    Sulaiman Ramly, yang memiliki gerai mi soto di Kota Bharu di negeri utara Kelantan, memberitahu Arab News bahawa sarapan pagi adalah “masa set semula” untuk rakyat Malaysia.

    “Ia adalah apabila mereka menetapkan pendirian mereka untuk hari itu. Bagi seseorang seperti saya yang menjual sarapan pagi untuk hidup, saya tahu bahawa hidangan yang enak untuk memulakan hari anda menetapkan suasana sepanjang hari,” katanya.

    “Di Malaysia, tidak ada kekurangan makanan yang enak dan terutamanya sarapan pagi yang enak.”

    AN, 6 Dis 2024

  • ‘Dazzling Cafe’ di Dammam

    Terletak di Al-Nakheel Mall yang meriah di Dammam, Dazzling Cafe ialah tempat anggun dan bergaya yang memperoleh reputasinya untuk menyampaikan pengalaman estetik dan berperisa.

    Kafe ini menawarkan suasana hangat dengan hiasan moden, menjadikannya tempat menarik untuk menikmati pencuci mulut buatan tangan dan kopi yang luar biasa.

    Apa yang membezakan Dazzling Cafe adalah dedikasinya untuk menawarkan pencuci mulut buatan tempatan.

    Setiap hidangan disediakan dengan berhati-hati, daripada tiramisu yang kaya hingga kek keju berkrim, mempamerkan rasa yang memanjakan dan asli.

    Kek lava cair yang dihidangkan panas dalam kuali adalah satu kemestian untuk dicuba bagi penggemar coklat, dan perhatian terhadap perincian dalam persembahan meningkatkan pengalaman.

    Melengkapkan pencuci mulut adalah pilihan kopi mereka yang luar biasa. Kopi tuang V60 adalah pilihan utama bagi ramai orang, terutama apabila dibuat dengan kacang Costa Rica mereka, yang menawarkan profil rasa yang licin dan bersemangat digandingkan dengan manisan mereka.

    Sama ada anda seorang peminat kopi atau hanya seseorang yang menikmati secawan yang enak, dedikasi mereka terhadap kualiti akan menarik perhatian.

    Bagaimanapun, kafe ini mempunyai satu kekurangan, kerana ia sentiasa sesak.

    Terletak di pusat beli-belah yang sibuk, mencari meja boleh menjadi satu cabaran, terutama pada waktu puncak.

    Kesabaran adalah kunci, tetapi ia berbaloi apabila anda berpuas hati dan menikmati rasa.

    Dazzling Cafe ialah permata untuk pencuci mulut dan penggemar kopi, menggabungkan ketukangan tempatan dengan suasana yang bergaya.

    Bagi pengalaman terbaik, cuba melawat semasa waktu yang lebih tenang untuk menikmati pesona sepenuhnya.

    AN

  • ‘It was the darkest year of my life,’ Melissa Barrera says after Gaza support sparks backlash

    DUBAI — Mexican actress Melissa Barrera opened up about how she felt after facing backlash in Hollywood over her comments on the Israel-Palestine conflict.

    Speaking to The Independent, Barrera said “it was the darkest and hardest year of my life, and I had to reevaluate everything. There were times when I felt like my life was over.”

    The 34-year-old actress was fired from “Scream VII” after she took to social media to call for a ceasefire and criticised Israel’s response to the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas. As of Nov. 27, 2024, the death toll in Gaza has reached 44,200, according to Gaza’s health ministry.

    “Gaza is currently being treated like a concentration camp,” she wrote in an Instagram story in October 2023. “This is genocide and ethnic cleansing.” In another post, she complained about the supposed bias in Western media reporting, saying: “Western media only shows the other side … why they do that, I will let you deduce for yourself. We don’t need more hate. No Islamophobia. No antisemitism.”

    Spyglass, the studio behind the latest Scream films, dropped Barrera from the franchise in response. “We have zero tolerance for antisemitism or the incitement of hate in any form, including false references to genocide, ethnic cleansing, Holocaust distortion or anything that flagrantly crosses the line into hate speech,” the company said in a statement.

    Barrera says she then faced almost a year of difficulties in Hollywood.

    “It was quiet for like 10 months,” Barrera told The Independent about her acting jobs. “I was still getting offers for small things here and there – I’m not going to lie and say there was nothing – but (the message) was, ‘Oh, she probably doesn’t have work, she’ll say yes to anything.’”

    Instead, the actress spent much of 2024 promoting the films she made before the incident, including horror comedy “Abigail” and musical “Your Monster.”

    The latter sees Barrera play a soft-spoken actress who finds love again when she meets a terrifying but charming monster that lives in her closet.

    The “Your Monster” script came across Barrera’s desk soon after filming “Scream VI” in 2022.

    “I kept getting horror scripts, and I wasn’t getting a lot of the really exciting parts I was auditioning for,” she told the newspaper of why she jumped at the role. “I would get (roles) that I wasn’t excited about, and I’ve never been a person that just wants to work for work’s sake. I give so much of myself to acting that if a part of me feels like it’s not worth it, I’m (going to) be miserable.”

    AN

  • Netflix says 50 million households worldwide tuned in for Paul-Tyson match

    Netflix said on Saturday that 60 million households worldwide had tuned in for the highly anticipated boxing match between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson, and the event peaked at 65 million streams, according to a statement.

    The bout between the 27-year-old social media influencer-turned-prize fighter Paul and the 58-year-old former heavyweight champion Tyson, which Paul won, was streamed live on Netflix.

    Nearly 50 million households tuned in for the co-main event between Ireland’s lightweight champion Katie Taylor and Puerto Rico’s featherweight champion Amanda Serrano, according to Netflix.

    “The bout is likely to be the most watched professional women’s sporting event in US history,” Netflix said in its statement.

    There were some hiccups during the live-stream of the match, with over 90,000 users reporting problems on Netflix at its peak, according to outage tracking website Downdetector.

    However, the streaming platform was back up on Saturday after the outage that lasted roughly 6 hours in the United States.

    AN-REUTERS

  • Renowned Lebanese journalist quits MTV over death threats by alleged Hezbollah supporters

    DUBAI — A renowned Lebanese journalist has taken to social media platform X to announce her departure from MTV following alleged death threats believed to have been made by supporters of Hezbollah.

    Not mentioning the Iran-backed group by name, Dr. Eman Shweikh, a TV presenter at MTV, journalist and university professor, wrote: “I decided to leave MTV because of the intimidations that reached the point of death threats and the harassment that I am exposed to, which reached the point of following me home and chasing me on the road, in addition to harassing my family.”

    The Samir Kassir Eyes Center reported that since Nov. 12 Shweikh had been subjected to a campaign of threats, incitement and accusations of treason due to her political opinions that she publishes on X, and because of her work for MTV.

    The purported threats and harassment prompted her to leave her job at the channel.

    The TV presenter added in her tweet: “The (Lebanese) state is absent, and laws are inexistent, and I do not want to expose my life and the lives of my family to danger. I want to live in safety and peace. Thank you to the Chairman of the Board of Directors of MTV Michel Murr.”

    Shweikh’s tweet received thousands of likes and hundreds of retweets and comments.

    Replying to her tweet, advocate Tarek Chindeb said: “The threat to kill journalist Eman Shweikh makes us believe at every moment that we cannot build a state in Lebanon in the presence of illegal weapons and militias outside accountability.”

    Expressing solidarity, Chindeb hoped that the Lebanese security and judicial authorities would do their duty to protect her, and arrest the culprits.

    Political analyst Magdi Khalil also replied to Shweikh’s tweet, saying: “Ideological militias do not know participation, but rather overpowering. They do not know dialogue, but rather the threat of violence.”

    MTV journalist Nawal Berry and cameraman Dany Tanios were attacked in July while attempting to cover the aftermath of an Israeli airstrike on Beirut’s southern suburb, a Hezbollah stronghold.

    It was not the first time Berry and her team had been assaulted by Hezbollah loyalists. During the early days of the Oct. 17 revolution in 2019, she and her team faced a violent attack and had their camera smashed.

    Supporters of Hezbollah have a history of assaulting and threatening journalists.
    Targets have included Layal Alekhtiar, who received death threats in 2021 and faced legal action last year for interviewing an Israeli spokesperson; Dima Sadek; Ali Al-Amin; and others.
    At the time of publishing, Shweikh could not be reached for comment.

    AN, Nov 16, 2024

  • Over 90 hotels shut down, thousands jobless in Israeli-occupied territories

    TEHRAN — Since the onset of the Gaza war, more than 90 hotels have shut down, leading to thousands of workers being laid off, according to Israel’s Channel 12.

    Israeli media outlets reported on Saturday that the prolonged conflict has caused a significant economic downturn, particularly in the tourism and hoteling sector. Channel 12 revealed alarming data, stating that one in five hotels in the occupied territories has been closed since October 7, 2023.

    The closure, amounting to 20% of hotels in occupied Palestine, has been exacerbated by the cancellation of flights by foreign airlines to and from the occupied territories, which has severely impacted various economic sectors.

    According to Channel 12, thousands of families dependent on the hospitality sector are now seeking new employment opportunities. A correspondent of the TV network reported a more than 85% reduction in tourism.

    Yedioth Ahronoth, a Hebrew-language newspaper, recently reported that while Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu attacked Lebanon to restore economic activities in northern territories, 80% of small businesses are at risk of closure there. Furthermore, Channel 12 revealed that unemployment in the north has increased by 20% compared to other regions since the war started.

    According to the Jerusalem Post, the tourism sector of the regime has incurred losses of approximately 19.5 billion shekels ($5.25 billion) over the year since the military aggression against the Gaza Strip.

    Despite claims from the Israeli regime that the costs of the wars on Gaza and Lebanon have amounted to $60 to $70 billion so far, Israeli economist Jacob Sheinin revealed that the total cost of the war could reach $120 billion, equal to 20% of the regime’s Gross Domestic Product.

    IRNA, Nov 16, 2024

  • Bandar peranginan Turki Antalya terima 15 juta pelancong setakat ini pada 2024

    Bilangan pelawat asing di bandar pantai barat daya pelancongan di Antalya mencecah 15 juta pada 2024 setakat angka Oktober, menurut wakil sektor.

    Hakan Saatcioglu, presiden Persatuan Pengurus Hotel Profesional Turki (POYD), berkata pada mesyuarat bulanannya musim ini telah berjaya untuk bandar peranginan itu, kerana bilangan pelancong melonjak 7% pada asas tahunan.

    “Menurut statistik lapangan terbang di rantau ini, jumlah pelawat tertinggi datang dari Rusia, iaitu 3.2 juta, diikuti Jerman dengan 2.7 juta, UK dengan 1.3 juta, dan Poland dengan 1.1 juta,” katanya.

    Saatcioglu menambah bahawa jumlah pelancong di Antalya boleh mencapai sasaran 17 juta menjelang akhir tahun ini.

    ANADOLU, 16 Okt 2024

  • ‘Sultani Restaurant and Lounge’ in Jeddah

    Sultani Restaurant and Lounge, located in the As-Salamah district on Sari Road in Jeddah, specializes in traditional Iranian cuisine served in a contemporary setting.

    On arrival, diners enter a plant-filled space that evokes the charm of a garden.

    Persian-inspired elements further enrich the decor, adding authenticity to the modern design.

    The menu showcases the rich flavors of Persian cuisine. Appetizers include zeytoon parvardeh, a mix of green olives, garlic, pomegranate molasses, and walnuts; and sabzi khordan, an assortment of fresh herbs, feta cheese, and radish. Both offer refreshing and savory flavors.

    Kashk-o bademjan, made with Persian whey and aubergine, is another sumptuous option, with a comforting, creamy taste.

    Sultani’s soup e-jo, a thick barley cream soup, provides warmth and richness, while the chicken soup with potatoes, a traditional Persian comfort food, is rich in flavor.

    Moving to the main courses, ghormeh sabzi, a lamb stew made with dried herbs, red beans, and dried lime, delivers tangy and savory richness. Another standout is chicken fesenjan, a tender chicken leg cooked in a pomegranate and walnut sauce, combining sweet and juicy elements in perfect balance.

    Seafood lovers can enjoy dishes such as jumbo grilled shrimp and grilled seabass, both marinated in sweet paprika, garlic, olive oil, and lemon juice.

    For a larger meal, the royal seafood platter includes seabass fillets and jumbo shrimp, and is ideal for sharing.

    The restaurant’s kebabs are a favorite. The kabab kubideh, made with minced lamb kafta, and kabab barg, a marinated beef tenderloin, are both perfectly grilled and full of flavor.

    The jujeh kabab, a boneless chicken skewer marinated with yogurt, saffron, and lemon juice, is also a must-try. Try pairing your meal with Persian-style laban or tea, both traditional drinks.

    Sultani’s delicious dessert options include fereni, a creamy rice flour pudding flavored with cardamom, rose water, and cinnamon, and faloodeh, a refreshing Persian cold dessert made with lime, rose water, and rice noodles. The ranginak, a date and pistachio pie with cinnamon and butter, is also a sweet ending to a meal.

    Whether you are in the mood for a quiet meal or a special celebration, Sultani provides a memorable experience with each dish, making it a must-visit for food lovers in the area.

    AN, Nov 9, 2024

  • Italy’s Pompeii to cap daily visitor numbers to 20,000

    ROME, Nov 8 (Reuters) — The ancient Roman archaeological park of Pompeii in southern Italy said on Friday it would cap daily visitor numbers at 20,000 as a response to its surging popularity.

    The change, effective from Nov. 15, comes after a peak of more than 36,000 daily entrances on a free-admission Sunday, the park said in a statement.

    The park’s director, Gabriel Zuchtriegel, said that reducing human pressure on the ancient site was important for conservation and safety reasons.

    The new limit follows attempts by other tourist hot spots to control the number of visitors, including Venice in Italy, with its entry fee system.

    Last year, Pompeii had more than 4 million visitors, up 33.6% year-on-year, translating into a daily average of around 11,200 people, culture ministry data showed.

    A spokesperson for the park said the 20,000 daily figure had been surpassed only during free-admission Sundays and on three or four normal paying days.

    Entrance to Italian museums is free on the first Sunday of the month. A regular ticket to Pompeii otherwise starts from 18 euros ($19.32).

    The site is an archaeological wonder, showing the remarkably preserved ruins of a once-thriving city submerged under volcanic ash, rocks and dust when Mount Vesuvius exploded in A.D. 79.

    Archaeologists are still making discoveries there, including an uncommonly small house revealed last month with finely preserved frescoes of mythological scenes.

  • Sudanese cultural festival begins at Suwaidi Park

    RIYADH — A cultural festival at Suwaidi Park is inviting visitors to explore the rich heritage and traditions of Sudan.

    Part of Riyadh Season, the event takes place until Nov. 17 and features Sudanese music, dancing, food and crafts.

    Content creator Hamoud Waleed said cultural festivals played a key role in building connections and understanding.

    “Events like this are very important because sometimes you can’t go to see their tradition and culture. But when these cultures come to us here … it lets us know more and more about other people, how they live, what their interests are, and how we can engage with them,” he said.

    “When we talk about Sudanese culture, it’s beautiful and comes from a very old history and nice heritage, and when it comes to us, it lets us know more about it, and this is exactly what we are seeing here in Suwaidi Park.”

    Sudanese nationals make up 6.1 percent of the Kingdom’s population, according to the Saudi Census, so such exhibitions are important in promoting mutual respect and harmony between communities.

    Sudanese singer Youssef Khairy highlighted the diversity of his culture, explaining how sharing traditions strengthened bonds between different people.

    “Music unites us all, regardless of colors, shapes, languages, religions, or ways of thinking,” he said. “I am here to represent Nubian music, Nubian heritage and the Nubian civilization.”

    Live music and dance performances during the festival are bringing Sudanese heritage to life and offering audiences an authentic cultural experience.

    Visitor Olaa Abdulnaaem said these, along with the lively atmosphere, and engaging children’s activities, were standout features for her.

    Hiam Othman, a Sudanese attire designer, said the festival had significantly promoted her business. “Our products have been well-received, and they reflect our Sudanese culture,” she said.

    Riyadh Season 2024 has already drawn 4 million visitors from around the world, according to Turki Alalshikh, chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority. He believes the surge in attendance reflects a growing appetite for cultural exploration and new experiences.

    The festival is part of the Global Harmony initiative by the Ministry of Media and the General Entertainment Authority, which is aligned with the goals of the Quality of Life Program. The scheme celebrates the Kingdom’s multicultural landscape by highlighting the lives, contributions and cultural integration of its residents.

    In the coming weeks, Global Harmony will celebrate a variety of cultures. After the Sudanese festival there will be a Jordanian, Lebanese and Syrian event from Nov. 17-19, Bangladeshi from Nov. 20-23, and Egyptian from Nov. 24-30.

    Launched on Oct. 17, the initiative began with music and dance honoring the culture of Indian expatriates.

    AN

  • Mexika restaurant in Riyadh

    Mexika brings a taste of Mexico to the table with a menu balancing classic flavors with vibrant twists, making it an inviting spot for Mexican food lovers in Riyadh.

    One standout dish is their burrito, which is not only generous in portion but also packed with tastes that satisfy. The filling is well seasoned and hearty, with fresh ingredients that harmonize.

    Other options shine, too. Nachos come topped with sour cream, guacamole and a hint of jalapeno spice, and are available in various sizes costing from SR 8 ($2.13) to SR 19 ($5.06). Or try the quesadillas and empanadas, with choices from chicken to cheese to suit every palate.

    For those craving something more substantial, the fajita selections and chicken lemon chimichanga are real highlights.

    However, there is one small drawback; some dishes, including the burrito, tend to become soggy rather quickly. A crispier exterior would enhance the texture, maintaining that satisfying crunch.

    The menu offers an exciting variety of food, from snackable samosas starting at SR 4 to substantial party boxes ideal for larger gatherings. With everything from light bites to full meals covered, Mexika is a versatile option for any dining occasion and impresses with its portion sizes, flavors and diversity.

    For anyone looking to indulge their tastebuds with Mexican cuisine that has a Saudi twist, this place has a lot to offer. Just keep an eye on the texture of that burrito!

    AN, Nov 4, 2025