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Asharq Al-Awsat
4 hours ago
- Business
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Israeli-Iranian Conflict Alarms Residents of Beirut's Southern Suburbs
As the Israeli-Iranian conflict intensifies, many Lebanese, particularly in Hezbollah strongholds such as South Lebanon, the Bekaa Valley, and Beirut's southern suburbs, are bracing for the worst. The possibility of Hezbollah's involvement in the war has heightened fears of a broader escalation that could drag Lebanon into the conflict once again. In Beirut's southern suburb of Hayy al-Sellom, 44-year-old Hassan has already packed a bag, as have his siblings. He says they are waiting for the moment they might have to leave, hoping war doesn't reach their doorstep. Similarly, Abir, a resident of Burj al-Barajneh, says her family spends most of their time following the news. With an elderly and sick mother at home, she is worried about how they would evacuate if needed and has already begun looking for a temporary alternative place to stay. The atmosphere in the southern suburbs is tense but quiet. Commercial activity has dropped noticeably, with shop owners reporting a decline in sales of fresh goods. Many families have already relocated to safer areas in the Bekaa and South Lebanon, especially after the school year ended. Amina, a homemaker in her forties who lives near the airport road, is one of them. She plans to move to her village with her daughter while her husband remains in Beirut for work. She worries about the possibility of an Israeli strike near her home, which has already been targeted multiple times since the last ceasefire in November. Even without open war, she fears a sudden strike might occur nearby. Still, not everyone is ready to leave. Kawthar, 30, says her family will stay put unless evacuation becomes absolutely necessary. She notes that in view of her limited financial means, moving isn't a viable option. Despite the stress and constant presence of Israeli drones overhead, they are trying to maintain a sense of normalcy. Outside Beirut, the fear is just as real. Mustafa, 77, from Bint Jbeil, says the South has been under near-daily fire, and any new war would only worsen an already fragile situation. He fears Hezbollah could be drawn into battle under Iranian pressure, especially if the US becomes involved. In the Bekaa, residents like Hussein from Hermel echo similar concerns. Having homes in both Hermel and the southern suburbs - areas frequently targeted - he asks the question on everyone's mind: Where would we go this time?
Egypt Independent
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Egypt Independent
Netflix original series ‘Catalog' starring Mohamed Farag to premiere on July 17
Actor Mohamed Farag is awaiting the premiere of his latest Netflix original series 'Catalog,' co-starring Reham Abdel-Ghafour. The series is scheduled to premiere on Netflix on July 17. It also stars Tara Emad, Khaled Kamal, Bayoumi Fouad, Samah Anwar, Sedky Sakhr, Donia Sami, Ali el-Bili, Retal Abdel-Aziz, and Ahmed Essam al-Sayed. It is written by Ayman Wattar, and directed by Walid el-Halfawy. Catalog tells the story of Youssef, a father who finds himself with the heavy responsibility of raising his two children alone after his wife, Amina, passes away. Having been separated from his children's daily lives for some time, he struggles to connect with them. Youssef is lost and confused until he finds a series of videos Amina recorded before her death, which include advice on raising children. These videos become his daily guide, helping him overcome the pain of loss, reconnecting him with his children, and revealing a side of himself he hadn't known before. Catalog was preceded by five Egyptian series produced by Netflix, including 'Paranormal,' which premiered in 2020; 'Drama Queen,' which premiered in 2021; and 'Echoes of the Past,' which premiered in late 2024. Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
Time of India
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Catalog OTT Release Date: When and where to watch Mohamed Farrag's emotional Arabic series
Still from Catalog | Credits: Netflix Catalog OTT Release Date: This heartfelt Arabic series is all set to stream on July 17, only on Netflix, and this one's bound to hit close to home for many. Starring Mohamed Farrag and Riham Abdel Ghafour, the show dives deep into what it really means to lose a loved one, especially when that loved one was the glue holding the family together. What is Catalog about? Set in modern-day Egypt, Catalog tells the story of Youssef, played by Mohamed Farrag, a man who never really had to take charge at home. That was Amina's job, his wife, the mother of his two kids, the emotional centre of their small world. But Amina, played by Riham Abdel Ghafour, is gone now. And Youssef is suddenly thrust into the role of full-time dad, cook, chauffeur, and emotional anchor. He's lost, overwhelmed, and barely holding it together. Then something unexpected happens: he finds a series of home-recorded videos. Before her death, Amina had documented a guidebook of sorts for their children from bedtime routines to how to handle their tantrums, crushes, or just a bad day at school. These videos become Youssef's lifeline not just to survive fatherhood, but to rediscover himself, heal, and rebuild his family. Meet the cast and crew Mohamed Farrag as Youssef - the heart of the show, portraying a father's emotional journey with honesty. Riham Abdel Ghafour as Amina - though her character dies early, her presence is felt throughout the series via her video messages. Tara Emad as Howaida Khaled Kamal as Hanafy Bayoumi Fouad as George Samah Anwar as Om Hashem Sedky Sakhr as Tamer Donia Sami as Hala Ali El Beialy as Mansour Retal Abdelaziz as Karima Ahmed Essam Elsayed as Osama Directed by Waleed El Halafawy, Catalog is written by Ayman Wattar and produced by Ahmed El Ganainy. For more news and updates from the world of OTT and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood , keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment . First Published: Jun 21, 2025, 11:54 IST Aditya Sagar is a journalist at Indiatimes who pulls the strings on what's hot and what hits headlines. With entertainment in one hand and the internet's pulse in the other, he crafts stories that ripple through pop culture. Want to know what's next? Follow @theadityasagar - he already knows! Read More
Kuwait Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Kuwait Times
In a Pakistan valley, a small revolution among women
In a sawdust-filled workshop nestled in the Karakoram Mountains, a team of women carpenters chisel away at cabinets -- and forge an unlikely career for themselves in Pakistan. Women make up just a fraction of Pakistan's formal workforce. But in a collection of villages sprinkled along the old Silk Road between China and Afghanistan, a group of women-led businesses is defying expectations. "We have 22 employees and have trained around 100 women," said Bibi Amina, who launched her carpentry workshop in 2008 at the age of 30. Hunza Valley's population of around 50,000, spread across mountains abounding with apricot, cherry, walnut and mulberry orchards, follow the Ismaili branch of Shiite Islam. Ismailis are led by the Aga Khan, a hereditary position held by a family with Pakistani roots now living in Europe. The family opened a girls' school in Hunza in 1946, kickstarting an educational investment that pushed the valley's literacy rate to 97 percent for both men and women. That rate far outstrips the country average of around 68 percent for men and 52.8 percent for women. As a result, attitudes have shifted, and women like Amina are taking expanded roles. "People thought women were there to wash dishes and do laundry," Amina said of the generation before her. Trained by the Aga Khan Foundation to help renovate the ancient Altit Fort, Amina later used her skills to start her own business. Her carpenters are currently at work on a commission from a luxury hotel. Pioneers Only 23 percent of the women in Pakistan were officially part of the labour force as of 2024, according to data from the World Bank. In rural areas, women rarely take on formal employment but often toil in the fields to support the family's farming income. In a Gallup poll published last year, a third of women respondents said their father or husband forbade them from taking a job, while 43.5 percent said they had given up work to devote themselves to domestic tasks. Cafe owner Lal Shehzadi spearheaded women's restaurant entrepreneurship in Hunza. She opened her cafe at the top of a winding high street to supplement her husband's small army pension. Sixteen years later, her simple set-up overlooking the valley has become a popular night-time tourist attraction. She serves visitors traditional cuisine, including yak meat, apricot oil and rich mountain cheese. "At the start, I used to work alone," she said. "Now, 11 people work here and most of them are women. And my children are also working here." Following in Shehzadi's footsteps, Safina quit her job to start her own restaurant around a decade ago. "No one wanted to help me," she said. Eventually, she convinced family members to sell two cows and a few goats for the money she needed to launch her business. Now, she earns the equivalent of around $170 a month, more than 15 times her previous income. Farming to football The socio-economic progress of women in Hunza compared to other rural areas of Pakistan has been driven by three factors, according to Sultan Madan, the head of the Karakoram Area Development Organisation and a local historian. "The main reason is the very high literacy rate," he told AFP, largely crediting the Aga Khan Foundation for funding training programmes for women. "Secondly, agriculture was the backbone of the economy in the region, but in Hunza the landholding was meagre and that was why women had to work in other sectors." Women's increased economic participation has spilled into other areas of life, like sports fields. "Every village in the valley has a women's soccer team: Gojal, Gulmit, Passu, Khyber, Shimsal," said Nadia Shams, 17. On a synthetic pitch, she trains with her teammates in jogging pants or shorts, forbidden elsewhere by Pakistan's dress code. Here, one name is on everyone's lips: Malika-e-Noor, the former vice-captain of the national team who scored the winning penalty against the Maldives in the 2010 South Asian Women's Football Championship. Fahima Qayyum was six years old when she witnessed the killer kick. Today, after several international matches, she is recruiting the next generation. "As a girl, I stress to others the importance of playing, as sport is very good for health," she told AFP. "If they play well, they can also get scholarships."--AFP
Business Recorder
13-06-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
In a Pakistan valley, a small revolution among women
KARIMABAD, PAKISTAN: In a sawdust-filled workshop nestled in the Karakoram Mountains, a team of women carpenters chisel away at cabinets – and forge an unlikely career for themselves in Pakistan. Women make up just a fraction of Pakistan's formal workforce. But in a collection of villages sprinkled along the old Silk Road between China and Afghanistan, a group of women-led businesses is defying expectations. 'We have 22 employees and have trained around 100 women,' said Bibi Amina, who launched her carpentry workshop in 2008 at the age of 30. In a collection of villages sprinkled along the old Silk Road between China and Afghanistan, a group of women-led businesses is defying expectations. Photo: AFP Hunza Valley's population of around 50,000, spread across mountains abounding with apricot, cherry, walnut and mulberry orchards, belong to the Ismaili branch of Shiite Islam. The Aga Khan is the spiritual leader of the Shia Ismaili Muslim community and is considered a direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad. He is also a global philanthropist and founder of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), which promotes health, education, culture, and economic development in over 30 countries. A blueprint for climate resilience: The impact of AKAH in Northern Pakistan The family opened a girls' school in Hunza in 1946, kickstarting an educational investment that pushed the valley's literacy rate to 97 percent for both men and women. That rate far outstrips the country average of around 68 percent for men and 52.8 percent for women. Only 23 percent of the women in Pakistan were officially part of the labour force as of 2024, according to data from the World Bank. Photo: AFP As a result, attitudes have shifted, and women like Amina are taking expanded roles. 'People thought women were there to wash dishes and do laundry,' Amina said of the generation before her. Trained by the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) to help renovate the ancient Altit Fort, Amina later used her skills to start her own business. Her carpenters are currently at work on a commission from a luxury hotel. Photo: AFP Pioneers Only 23 percent of the women in Pakistan were officially part of the labour force as of 2024, according to data from the World Bank. In rural areas, women rarely take on formal employment but often toil in the fields to support the family's farming income. In a Gallup poll published last year, a third of women respondents said their father or husband forbade them from taking a job, while 43.5 percent said they had given up work to devote themselves to domestic tasks. Fahima Qayyum (L) practices with other players at a football ground in Gilgit, in the Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan. Photo: AFP Cafe owner Lal Shehzadi spearheaded women's restaurant entrepreneurship in Hunza. She opened her cafe at the top of a winding high street to supplement her husband's small army pension. Sixteen years later, her simple set-up overlooking the valley has become a popular night-time tourist attraction. She serves visitors traditional cuisine, including yak meat, apricot oil and rich mountain cheese. 'At the start, I used to work alone,' she said. 'Now, 11 people work here and most of them are women. And my children are also working here.' Following in Shehzadi's footsteps, Safina quit her job to start her own restaurant around a decade ago. 'No one wanted to help me,' she said. Eventually, she convinced family members to sell two cows and a few goats for the money she needed to launch her business. Now, she earns the equivalent of around $170 a month, more than 15 times her previous income. Farming to football The socio-economic progress of women in Hunza compared to other rural areas of Pakistan has been driven by three factors, according to Sultan Madan, the head of the Karakoram Area Development Organisation and a local historian. 'The main reason is the very high literacy rate,' he told AFP, largely crediting the Aga Khan Foundation for funding training programmes for women. 'Secondly, agriculture was the backbone of the economy in the region, but in Hunza the landholding was meagre and that was why women had to work in other sectors.' Women's increased economic participation has spilled into other areas of life, like sports fields. 'Every village in the valley has a women's soccer team: Gojal, Gulmit, Passu, Khyber, Shimsal,' said Nadia Shams, 17. On a synthetic pitch, she trains with her teammates in jogging pants or shorts, forbidden elsewhere by Pakistan's dress code. Here, one name is on everyone's lips: Malika-e-Noor, the former vice-captain of the national team who scored the winning penalty against the Maldives in the 2010 South Asian Women's Football Championship. Fahima Qayyum was six years old when she witnessed the killer kick. Today, after several international matches, she is recruiting the next generation. 'As a girl, I stress to others the importance of playing, as sport is very good for health,' she told AFP. 'If they play well, they can also get scholarships.'
