Bollywood star Swara Bhaskar praises Riyadh’s beauty, Saudi hospitality

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Bollywood star Swara Bhaskar at the AMUOBA Riyadh function. (Supplied)
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Bollywood star Swara Bhaskar at the AMUOBA Riyadh function. (Supplied)
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Bollywood star Swara Bhaskar at the AMUOBA Riyadh function. (Supplied)
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Sandeep Chaudhary at the AMUOBA Riyadh function. (Supplied)
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Updated 24 October 2024
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Bollywood star Swara Bhaskar praises Riyadh’s beauty, Saudi hospitality

  • Swara Bhaskar was in the capital as a guest of honor for the Sir Syed Day celebration organized by the Aligarh Muslim University Alumni Association (AMUOBA)
  • Bhaskar toured some of the landmarks of the city, including UNESCO World Heritage Site At-Turaif District in Diriyah

RIYADH: Saudi citizens and expatriates living in the capital have always known what the city has to offer — and the world is quickly finding out, too.

Many celebrities who have visited Riyadh in recent years have talked about how special the people are, and how beautiful the Kingdom and its warm hospitality is.

The latest is Bollywood star Swara Bhaskar, who was in the capital as a guest of honor for the Sir Syed Day celebration organized by the Aligarh Muslim University Alumni Association, or AMUOBA Riyadh.

After the AMUOBA Riyadh celebration, Bhaskar toured some of the landmarks of the city, including At-Turaif District in Diriyah, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the northwest of Riyadh.

Asked about her experience and the transformation in the Kingdom, the Bollywood star activist said: “I am happy to be here. I am here for the first time, thanks to AMUOBA Riyadh for inviting me. I am feeling good to see the transformation under Vision 2030. Let me just say first how beautiful this city is.”

Every year, AMU alumni across the world celebrate the anniversary of the birth of the university’s founder, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan. Born on Oct. 17, 1817, Sir Syed was a reformer, philosopher, theologian and educationist. He paved the way for modern scientific education for Indian Muslims at a time when a large part of the Muslim population was mired in old traditions and unable to compete in the era of emerging technologies.

The alumni carry forward the legacy of the reformer and every year on Oct. 17 celebrate Sir Syed Day.

On women’s empowerment, the Bollywood star said: “As we see anywhere in the world that women have equal participation in different walks of life, I can see the same here, and it really feels good. Staying here for two days, I have seen transformation and have been told how developments are taking place for women’s empowerment. So it feels good to be here at the moment and see the developments taking place.”

On the Global Harmony Initiative as part of the “Quality of Life” program in line with the Saudi Vision 2030 promoted by the Ministry of Media, she said: “Arab hospitality is well known, being here I have experienced it myself, though for a short time, but I am thinking of coming back on a long trip.”

Saudi Arabia launched the Global Harmony Initiative last week, aimed at celebrating the diverse nationalities and cultures of residents through exploring their lives, contributions and cultural integration.

The initiative, a collaboration between the Quality of Life government program, Saudi Vision 2030, the Kingdom’s General Entertainment Authority and the Ministry of Media, will feature events during Riyadh Season showcasing the cuisines, cultures and heritage of India, Pakistan, Philippines, Indonesia, Yemen, Sudan, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Bangladesh and Egypt.

Bhaskar said: “A big and heartfelt thanks to AMUOBA Riyadh for their kind and generous hospitality and care during our stay in Riyadh. Have heard of AMU hospitality, have experienced it now. Met so many wonderful ‘Aligs’ and their families.”

Speaking at the Sir Syed Day celebration earlier, she said: “I am happy that my daughter made her first trip to the holy land, from where Prophet Muhammad spread the message of Islam for peace and harmony.”

The celebration was also attended by veteran Indian journalist and consulting editor of ABP News, Sandeep Chaudhary.

Bhaskar is married to Fahad Ahmad, a student leader and social activist. She gave birth to their daughter, Raabiyaa, last year.


India shines at Riyadh Season’s Global Harmony Initiative

Updated 20 October 2024
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India shines at Riyadh Season’s Global Harmony Initiative

  • Event at Al-Suwaidi Park is an unforgettable experience, says Indian ambassador

RIYADH: In a vibrant celebration of global cultures as part of the Global Harmony Initiative, India’s diverse cultural heritage and lifestyle is being prominently displayed at Riyadh Season in Saudi Arabia.

The initiative, launched as part of the Quality of Life Program by the Ministry of Media in line with Saudi Vision 2030, forms a centerpiece of the ongoing Riyadh Season at Al-Suwaidi Park.

With song, dance, and delectable dishes, Indian culture is being prominently celebrated at Riyadh Season’s Al-Suwaidi Park. (SPA/Supplied/ Instagram/ suwaidipark)

Various artists and celebrities from India are demonstrating their country’s rich plural culture and heritage during the celebration at Al-Suwaidi Park. These include popular Indian playback singer, music director, songwriter, film and music producer, Himesh Reshammiya; Surabhi Mehra and Samriddhi Mehra, popularly known as “Chinki-Minki” from the popular “Kapil Sharma Show;” Emiway Bantai, Indian rapper, music artist and actor known for “Gully Boy” (2019); and social media influencer and TV actor Sameeksha Sud.

Indian ambassador Dr. Suhel Ajaz Khan posted on X: “Got an opportunity to meet famous Indian music star and singer Himesh Reshammiya.

The Global Harmony Initiative aims to showcase the diverse lives of expatriates in the Kingdom, from across countries and cultures.

Sarry Shaaban, General Entertainment Authority official

“His connection at Suwaidi Park on Friday was an unforgettable experience for fans comprising both Indian expatriates and local Saudi attendees. Truly a night to remember! #RiyadhSeason.”

With song, dance, and delectable dishes, Indian culture is being prominently celebrated at Riyadh Season’s Al-Suwaidi Park. (SPA/Supplied/ Instagram/ suwaidipark)

Speaking to Arab News, siblings Chinki-Minki, who are celebrated for their comedic talent on social media and Indian television, said: “We are here for the first time, and we are enjoying it. We have experienced very warm hospitality, we met Indian community members who (have been) staying (in Saudi Arabia) for years and loving it.

“They enjoy the diversity of Saudi culture, inclusive Indian culture and mixing with diaspora of other countries and living in harmony. We are really happy and blessed that we are here and got the opportunity to attend the Global Harmony event here.”

There are live performances by dance troupes, music groups and singers from India on all days for the 2.6 million Indian diaspora in Saudi Arabia. (Supplied)

Bantai told Arab News: “All praise to the Ministry of Media (and) General Entertainment Authority for such a great season providing great opportunity for the diaspora, especially the Indian community, getting nine days of fun-filled cultural activities.

“It’s a good opportunity to celebrate pluralism and multicultural diversity. I am here to perform for my people … the Indian community as well as other diaspora joining a celebration of global harmony at Al-Suwaidi Park.

“The environment here is very happening, very inclusive, celebrating the diversity, which is great, salute and respect to them,” he added, thanking the Saudi authorities.

Sud told Arab News: “First time in Riyadh, I am very excited to be here. I have heard a lot about Saudi Arabia … I am happy to see a vibrant Indian community living in Riyadh celebrating multiculturalism, global harmony. Things here are very calm, relaxing and luxurious. I am looking forward to it.”

Among the participants from India, cricketers Umran Malik and S. Sreesanth are also included, the organizers said.

There are live performances by dance troupes, music groups and singers from India on all days for the 2.6 million Indian diaspora in Saudi Arabia.

A separate bazaar area has been set up with Indian cuisine, clothing items and handicrafts.

Zeenat Enam, an Indian resident joining the celebration at Al-Suwaidi Park on Saturday evening, told Arab News: “I am very happy to be here and see live performances by different groups. India is known for its diversity, secular fabric and being here to see celebration of diversity as part of the Global Harmony Initiative is an amazing feeling.”  

Sarry Shaaban, GEA coordinator at Al-Suwaidi Park, told Arab News: “The Global Harmony Initiative aims to showcase the diverse lives of expatriates in the Kingdom, from across countries and cultures.”

The initiative is focused on the diverse lives of residents in the Kingdom, looking at their professional and family lives, social and recreational activities, contributions to the economy, success stories, and cultural integration into Saudi society, Shaaban explained.

“I myself, (when) staying abroad, used to travel to different cities to watch celebrations of Arab culture, not necessarily Saudi celebrations. It is nice that the GEA has made such arrangements here for the different diaspora,” he added.

The celebration will also highlight government and private sector efforts to improve the quality of life in Saudi cities.

Besides India, the other participating countries are the Philippines (Oct. 22-25), Indonesia (Oct. 26-29), Pakistan (Oct. 30-Nov 2), Yemen (Nov. 3-6), Sudan (Nov. 7-16), Jordan, Lebanon, Syria (Nov. 17-19), Bangladesh (Nov. 20-23 and Egypt (Nov. 24-30).

India and Saudi Arabia enjoy a long history of cultural engagement.

In recent years, bilateral cultural activities have accelerated in line with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.

 


Winter Wonders: Not-to-be-missed events in Saudi Arabia

Updated 17 October 2024
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Winter Wonders: Not-to-be-missed events in Saudi Arabia

JEDDAH: With the Kingdom’s entertainment season in full swing as the weather cools, here are some of the not-to-be-missed events coming your way before the end of the year 

Soundstorm 

The Middle East’s biggest music festival returns to Banban, Riyadh from Dec. 12 to 14. The lineup is mostly focused on electronic dance music again, but headliners include UK rock band Muse , who, over the course of their 25-year career, have repeatedly been hailed as one of the world’s best live bands by critics and fans alike; rap legend Eminem; and the hugely influential alternative hip-hop pioneer Tyler, the Creator. Other big names on this year’s roster include Jared Leto’s band Thirty Seconds to Mars; Dutch DJ Armin Van Buuren; the ubiquitous David Guetta; and EDM superstar Steve Aoki. As always, there will be significant representation from regional and local artists getting the opportunity to showcase their skills too. 

Red Sea International Film Festival 

Stars of the silver screen will descend on Jeddah from Dec. 5 to 14 for what has — in just three previous editions — become the region’s most significant film festival. Only a few details have yet been announced about this year’s lineup, beyond the addition of the “New Saudi, New Cinema” program — which features 21 shorts created by Saudi filmmakers addressing “themes from cultural identity and modern societal topics to personal victories” — and the 15 short films that will make up the Arab Shorts Competition. Based on previous years, though, expect an eclectic roster encompassing arthouse movies, box-office beasts and Oscar contender, attended by a diverse audience of global celebrities. 

Gwyneth Paltrow at the closing ceremony of RSIFF 2023. (AFP)

Ancient Kingdoms Festival  

From Nov. 7 to 30, AlUla plays host to the Ancient Kingdoms Festival, a “program of special events showcasing 7,000 years of human history.” This year’s edition includes an exhibition of treasures from Pompeii and Herculaneum — both buried under the volcanic ash caused by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE, leaving incredibly well-preserved relics of Roman life. AlUla’s Old Town is the site of one of the highlights: The Incense Road Experience, billed as an “immersive adventure through a historic maze of mudbrick buildings as live performances and state-of-the-art technology meet interactive storytelling and exclusive explorations of archaeological treasures.” The hugely popular “immersive night-time summit” Hegra After Dark is back too.  

Elie Saab 

The groundbreaking and hugely influential Lebanese fashion designer will stage “1001 Seasons” at The Venue in Riyadh on Nov. 13 — a fashion show that will showcase his latest collection, but also include live performances. Saudi Arabia has been a hugely significant market for Saab throughout his career, and “1001 Seasons” will likely include some tributes to the Kingdom in both Saab’s designs and the accompanying entertainment. Earlier this year, Saab said he planned to create “something unprecedented and new to celebrate the important occasion in Riyadh, a city that supports creativity and cultural diversity in the region.” The show is part of Riyadh Season, which began last week and includes a host of other major events in the Kingdom’s capital. 

Elie Saab will stage “1001 Seasons” at The Venue in Riyadh. (AFP)

Boris Brejcha 

The prolific German DJ and producer will be performing at Onyx Arena in Jeddah on Oct. 31. Brejcha has both a signature sound (which he calls “high-tech minimal” — his own take on house music) and a signature look (a Carnival of Venice-style joker mask) and has established himself firmly among the world’s top DJs with a regular stream of releases and albums over his 17-year career.  

Stephan Bodzin 

The veteran German DJ and producer performs in the Kingdom for the first time on Nov. 1 in Riyadh’s Jax District. Bodzin is a classically trained musician who fell in love with electronic music — due in no small part to the fact that his father was an experimental musician — but only started DJing full time aged 36. His live shows have been widely acclaimed, often embracing his love of collaboration, so expect the unexpected in Riyadh. 

Stephan Bodzin. (Getty Images)

 


Liam Payne, former One Direction member, dies at 31 in Argentina hotel fall

Updated 17 October 2024
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Liam Payne, former One Direction member, dies at 31 in Argentina hotel fall

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina: Former One Direction singer Liam Payne, 31, was found dead after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires on Wednesday, local officials said.
Buenos Aires police said in a statement that Payne fell from the third floor of the Casa Sur Hotel in the trendy Palermo neighborhood of Argentina’s capital, resulting in “extremely serious injuries.” Medics confirmed his death on the spot, the statement said.
Pablo Policicchio, the spokesperson for the Security Ministry of Buenos Aires municipality, said in a statement to The Associated Press that Payne “had thrown himself from the balcony of his room.” He said police were dispatched to the hotel in response to an emergency call about an “aggressive man who could be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.” Arriving police heard a thud and found Payne’s body in the hotel courtyard, Policicchio said.
Alberto Crescenti, head of the state emergency medical system, said on Argentina’s Todo Noticias TV channel that authorities were investigating the circumstances of his death and conducting an autopsy. He declined to answer further questions about the incident, including whether Payne jumped from the balcony or fell by accident.
Payne had been vocal about struggling with alcoholism, posting a video in July 2023 to his YouTube channel where he said he had been sober for six months after receiving treatment.
Argentine media reported that Payne was in Buenos Aires to attend the concert of his former One Direction bandmate Niall Horan.
Payne was one of five band members of One Direction, which formed in 2010 when they each auditioned for the British singing competition series “The X Factor.” After each singer failed to make it through the competition as solo acts, Simon Cowell and his fellow judges combined Payne, Horan, Zayn Malik, Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson into what would become one of the most successful boy bands.
The band became known for their pop sound and romantic hits like “What Makes You Beautiful.” They had six Top 10 hits on the Billboard charts by the time they disbanded in 2016. They had a loyal fan base, many of whom were teen girls, who became known as “Directioners.” Once the group disbanded, Payne pursued a solo career, putting out the album “LP1” in 2019. His last release was a single called “Teardrops,” in March.
Payne had a 7-year-old son, Bear Grey Payne, with his former girlfriend, the musician Cheryl who was known as Cheryl Cole when she performed with Girls Aloud. She was an “X Factor” judge during One Direction’s season. He is also survived by his parents, Geoff and Karen Payne, and his two older sisters, Ruth and Nicola. Representatives for Payne did not immediately return emails and calls.


REVIEW: Ella Purnell shines in ‘Sweetpea,’ a dark, twisted but funny thriller 

Updated 17 October 2024
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REVIEW: Ella Purnell shines in ‘Sweetpea,’ a dark, twisted but funny thriller 

LONDON: After announcing herself to the wider world with her breakout role as Jackie in Paramount’s “Yellowjackets”, and traversing the irradiated wastelands as the charismatic hero of Amazon’s brilliant “Fallout,” British actress Ella Purnell has chosen a UK production for her next role — one without a cannibalistic schoolgirl or organ-harvesting robot in sight. It is, however, still a strikingly dark part for Purnell, as she plays a shrinking violet-turned-serial killer in “Sweetpea,” a six-part adaptation of CJ Skuse’s book of the same name.  

Rhiannon has spent most of her life feeling unseen. Whether it’s the manspreading passengers on her bus to work, the bored shop assistants who blank her, or the condescending boss who constantly overlooks her for promotion. She consoles herself with a mental list: “People I’d like to kill.” A simple, harmless thought experiment that doesn’t really mean anything, right? 

Wrong. When her school bully returns to the town, and Rhiannon loses her dad and her beloved dog, something snaps inside her, and the otherwise sweet, softly spoken young woman begins to lash out in the most violent way possible, making herself finally seen in the most shocking manner. All of a sudden, anyone who has found themselves on Rhiannon’s hypothetical hit list could well find themselves the target of her now very lethal rage. 

The whole show hinges on Purnell, and she’s more than up to the job. Utterly convincing as the downtrodden victim-turned-vigilante, she’s a villain that’s easy to root for — a strange thing to admit, perhaps, but testament to Purnell’s skills here.  

A strong supporting cast (including Calam Lynch as colleague AJ, Jon Pointing as Rhiannon’s sort-of boyfriend Craig, and Leah Harvey as a young police detective) provide excellent foils for Purnell, but “Sweetpea” is definitely her show. Dark, funny and surprisingly violent, it’s a star outing from an exciting young talent. 


Princess Rajwa makes first public appearance since giving birth

Updated 16 October 2024
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Princess Rajwa makes first public appearance since giving birth

DUBAI: New mother Princess Rajwa Al-Hussein made her first public appearance since the birth of her first child, Princess Iman bint Al-Hussein bin Abdullah II.
Appearing alongside her husband, Jordan’s Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah II, the couple attended the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification match in support of the national football team at Amman International Stadium on Tuesday evening.

The pair, both dressed casually in all-black ensembles, were seen cheering on the Jordanian team as they played against Oman’s national team.

On August 3, 2024, the Saudi-born royal welcomed her first child, Princess Iman.

The Royal Hashemite Court released a statement on the birth of Princess Iman.

“The Royal Hashemite Court is pleased to announce that Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II and Princess Rajwa Al Hussein were blessed, on 3 August 2024, with a baby girl they named Iman,” the statement read.

At her birth, Jordan’s King Abdullah posted a tribute to his granddaughter on social media. Translated from Arabic, the post reads: "I thank God for giving us our first granddaughter Iman bint Hussein. I congratulate beloved Hussein and Rajwa for their newborn.

“We ask God to raise her well and protect her for her parents. You have lit up our family.”

Princess Rajwa, who celebrated her 30th birthday in April, is the daughter of late Saudi businessman Khalid bin Musaed bin Saif bin Abdulaziz Al-Saif, who died in January this year, and his wife, Azza bint Nayef Abdulaziz Ahmad Al-Sudairi.