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The 72-minute film, directed by Helene Lam Trong, follows four AFP journalists reporting from war-torn Gaza
Adel Zaanoun, AFP’s Gaza bureau chief, dedicated the award to journalists killed in the conflict and called for global support for media freedom
“Inside Gaza,” a documentary that follows journalists from global news agency AFP after the October 7, 2023 attack, received the Best Documentary Film award at Montreal’s Cinemania Film Festival on Saturday.
Directed by Helene Lam Trong, the 72-minute film follows the daily lives of four AFP journalists who bear witness to the difficulties of reporting in a war-torn territory largely closed off to international media.
The film is compiled from material produced by the team on the ground, as well as from interviews conducted after they left.
Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel killed more than 1,200 people, the vast majority of them civilians. Armed men also took more than 200 people hostage.
Israel launched an enormous military response, pulverizing swathes of Gaza in attacks that have left 73,000 people dead, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, whose figures are considered reliable by the United Nations.
Adel Zaanoun, AFP’s Gaza bureau chief and one of the film’s four protagonists, accepted the award in Montreal.
He dedicated the win to all the journalists “killed in this crazy and dirty war in Gaza” and to those “who still work on the ground without food, without water, without Internet, without anything.”
He called on people worldwide to “continue to support journalists not only in Gaza,” but “everywhere for media freedom.”
The film has won multiple international awards and is eligible for Oscar contention.
source/content: arabnews.com (headline edited)
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The documentary ‘Inside Gaza’ won the Best Documentary Film award at Montreal’s Cinemania Film Festival. (Inside Gaza Website)
The American University in Cairo (AUC) has honoured Egyptian-American scientist, entrepreneur and philanthropist Atef Eltoukhy for more than five decades of leadership, service and contributions to education in Egypt and internationally.
Eltoukhy, an AUC alumnus, former instructor and former chair of its Board of Trustees, has supported educational opportunities through scholarships, university facilities and initiatives aimed at empowering future generations.
His relationship with AUC began in the 1970s, when he joined the university as a graduate student and instructor in the Department of Materials Science. In 2012, he joined the Board of Trustees, leading its Advancement and Investment Committees before becoming board chair in 2016. He was the first American of Egyptian origin and the first AUC alumnus to hold the position.
Together with his wife, Fofa, Eltoukhy established the Atef and Fofa Eltoukhy Family Endowed Scholarship for talented Egyptian students. The couple also supported the establishment of the Eltoukhy Learning Factory at AUC’s School of Sciences and Engineering, providing students with opportunities to develop practical solutions through design, prototyping and entrepreneurship.
AUC President Ahmad Dallal praised Eltoukhy’s achievements as a scientist, entrepreneur, investor and philanthropist, highlighting his longstanding commitment to education and the couple’s efforts to help students make the most of their academic opportunities.
Their philanthropic work extends beyond Egypt. Through the Eltoukhy Family Foundation, the family has supported fellowships at Stanford University and the University of California, Berkeley, as well as a materials science innovation lab at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
In Egypt, they established the Helmy Eltoukhy School in Sharqiya in honour of Eltoukhy’s father.
Born in Sharqiya, Eltoukhy earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Cairo University before completing a PhD in metallurgical engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 1978.
He later moved into the technology industry, joining IBM’s research laboratory before co-founding technology companies focused on digital storage. His research and inventions contributed to advances in magnetic recording technology used in high-density digital storage.
Through his work in science, business and philanthropy, Eltoukhy has maintained a longstanding commitment to expanding educational opportunities and supporting Egypt’s development.
Just three months after its signing, the Saudi-Turkish-Pakistani Makkah Defense Alliance has taken a major step toward becoming a fully operational security partnership. Following renewed Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia, the three nations last month agreed to activate their collective defense commitments and facilitate the rapid deployment of military forces and capabilities to the Kingdom.
Two further moves have added institutional weight to the pact, which was only signed in August: the appointment of retired Pakistani Lt. Gen. Nauman Mahmood as the alliance’s first secretary-general and Turkiye’s parliamentary ratification of the agreement last week. These developments came as Gulf states reassessed how much they can continue to rely on Western military guarantees. Because the ongoing regional conflict has exposed the limits of existing security arrangements, Riyadh and its partners appear to be laying the groundwork for a more autonomous regional defense architecture.
The agreement marks a clear departure from the mostly bilateral arrangements that have long underpinned Saudi Arabia’s defense ties with Turkiye and Pakistan. Its central provision — that an armed attack against one member is considered an attack against all three — establishes a formal collective defense commitment backed by real structure. A Strategic Political and Defense Committee and a permanent secretariat in Riyadh now provide dedicated channels for political consultation and military planning.
” Riyadh and its partners appear to be laying the groundwork for a more autonomous regional defense architecture “
Zaid M. Belbagi
Furthermore, appointing a Pakistani secretary-general for an initial three-year term signals that the organization is built to outlast the immediate crisis. This is an alliance designed to endure, not a mere communique drafted for the moment. Consequently, the October decision to implement collective defense measures serves as a vital stress test.
While earlier declarations of military cooperation rarely had to prove themselves in practice, this pact now faces real-world demands. It must demonstrate that it can coordinate capabilities across three distinct armed forces and translate political pledges into practical assistance. Thus, its credibility will depend on how well these mechanisms perform under pressure, rather than the ambition of its founding charter.
For Riyadh, this partnership offers a way to broaden its defense relationships in an increasingly unpredictable security environment. Although Saudi Arabia has invested heavily in military modernization, the sustained missile and drone campaign against the Kingdom has proved that advanced weapons systems alone cannot guarantee protection against prolonged assaults. To address this vulnerability, each partner brings distinct strengths to the table.
Turkiye offers an established military-industrial base, considerable operational experience and a growing capacity to manufacture defense technologies. Meanwhile, Pakistan contributes long-standing military ties with the Kingdom, alongside deep expertise in training and operational planning. Ultimately, the alliance’s true strategic value lies in how these capabilities complement one another.
” Turning these assets into a credible deterrent will require sustained investment in interoperability and unified command structures “
Zaid M. Belbagi
Over time, joint exercises, intelligence-sharing, military logistics and defense-industrial cooperation will steadily bolster the three nations’ ability to counter shared threats, while also supporting Riyadh’s drive to localize military production and diversify procurement. Nevertheless, turning these assets into a credible deterrent will require sustained investment in interoperability and unified command structures.
None of this suggests that Saudi Arabia is preparing to abandon American security guarantees. Despite recent strains, the Kingdom still relies heavily on US intelligence, advanced weaponry and military technology. Indeed, the strategic defense agreement signed with Washington in November 2025, along with subsequent US arms approvals, confirms that bilateral cooperation remains central to Riyadh’s security calculations. Moreover, Turkiye’s continued membership in NATO makes it difficult to view this new pact as an anti-Western bloc.
What is shifting, however, is the willingness of Gulf governments to depend on a single external protector. Specifically, the Makkah Agreement gives Saudi Arabia an additional framework to mobilize military support alongside partners that have a direct stake in regional stability. Rather than signaling disengagement from Washington, this move reflects strategic diversification. Over time, it could foster a more distributed security architecture in which regional states hold greater sway over defense planning and crisis response, while preserving vital Western alliances.
For the wider Gulf, meanwhile, how this pact integrates with existing Gulf Cooperation Council defense mechanisms will be critical. The GCC already maintains collective security frameworks, such as the Peninsula Shield Force, though their effectiveness and integration have long faced challenges. Consequently, bringing two major non-GCC military powers into a trilateral framework could reinforce these structures by adding fresh capabilities and avenues for coordination, provided their overlapping responsibilities are clearly defined to avoid complicating crisis decision-making.
Far from replacing the Gulf’s Western partnerships, the Makkah alliance instead hedges against overreliance on them. Riyadh’s task now is to ensure the pact strengthens regional defense cooperation without fragmenting it. If it succeeds, the Makkah Defense Alliance will be remembered less as a departure from the past and more as the moment Gulf states began truly taking ownership of their own security
. Zaid M. Belbagi is a political commentator and an adviser to private clients between London and the Gulf Cooperation Council. X: @Moulay_Zaid
source/content: arabnews.com (headline edited)
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Saudi Arabia’s task now is to ensure the Makkah alliance pact strengthens regional defense cooperation without fragmenting it (SPA via Reuters)
Kawas is a community organiser and a member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). She won the Democratic primary in June before taking the general election.
She spent over 15 years working on labour rights, immigrant communities and Palestinian causes before standing for office, according to Middle East Eye.
Growing Up In Brooklyn
Born and raised in Brooklyn, Kawas is the daughter of Palestinian immigrants who arrived in the US in the 1990s.
She has said the 9/11 attacks changed how safe she felt when she was a child, as Muslim families in her community lived with fears of surveillance and deportation.
Her father was deported to Jordan while she was in high school, and she has described how the family’s finances shifted afterwards.
Road To Politics
In 2023, Kawas was part of a group of activists who looked to local government as a place to challenge funding for Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories. The group backed a bill, sponsored by state senator Jabari Brisport, aimed at stopping New York charities from funding settlement-linked groups.
Zohran Mamdani, then an assembly member, helped draft it. The bill failed to pass after resistance from lawmakers.
Campaign Priorities
Her campaign slogan was “Fund dignity, fight destruction”. On the domestic side, she campaigned for universal healthcare, fast and reliable public transport and affordable housing.
She also pushed climate action and opposed funding for war. She has promised to push the New York For All Act, which would stop state and local agencies from working with federal immigration enforcement.
Activism And Arrest
Kawas has taken part in direct action as well as politics. She was arrested this year at a protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to New York for the UN General Assembly.
She was later released. More recently, she criticised a $750,000 NYPD deal with the surveillance firm Cognyte. The department withdrew from it last week after civil rights groups objected.
Political Backing
Mamdani, Senator Bernie Sanders and Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib endorsed her. Her win comes as DSA-backed candidates gain ground in New York politics, following Mamdani’s victory in last year’s mayoral race.
source/content: ndtvprofit.com (headline edited)
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Kawas is a community organiser and a member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA)./ AberKawas/X
On Tuesday, November 3, 2026, Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress. But the night was about more than party control. Four Arab American Democrats won seats in Congress. Despite their different backgrounds and campaigns, all four have challenged U.S. policy toward Israel and called for greater attention to the needs of Americans at home.
The Newcomers
Abdul El-Sayed won Michigan’s U.S. Senate seat, defeating Republican Mike Rogers. He is the first Muslim ever elected to the Senate, and the first Egyptian American to win a Senate seat. He won the Democratic primary in August, beating Representative Haley Stevens by one percentage point.
El-Sayed is the son of Egyptian immigrants, and he used to run the Detroit health department. He called Israel’s war in Gaza a genocide, and he called for an end to unconditional U.S. military aid to Israel. El-Sayed said his opponents spent a record $350 million against his campaign, including $70 million in the primary.
Adam Hamawy won New Jersey’s 12th District with about 70 percent of the vote, defeating Republican Gregg Mele. He is an Egyptian-born surgeon and a former U.S. Army combat doctor. He volunteered in Gaza in 2024 and 2025, and he treated wounded Palestinians there.
He won a crowded primary with only 28 percent of the vote. He ran on four words: “health care, not bombs.” He is the first Muslim elected to Congress from New Jersey, and the first Arab American to win a House seat from the state. He succeeds Bonnie Watson Coleman, who held the seat before him.
The Returning Voices
Rashida Tlaib won a fifth term in Michigan’s 12th District. She is Palestinian American, and the only Palestinian American in Congress. She was first elected in 2018. In 2019, she became one of the first two Muslim women in Congress.
She has been one of Congress’s most outspoken advocates for Palestinian rights. She has called for an end to U.S. military aid to Israel and for a ceasefire in Gaza. In November 2023, the House censured her over her criticism of the war in Gaza. She did not change her position.
Ilhan Omar won another term in Minnesota’s 5th District. She was born in Mogadishu, Somalia, and she came to the United States as a refugee after four years in a camp in Kenya. She is the first Somali American and the first African refugee in Congress.
She was first elected in 2018. Omar has also called for a ceasefire in Gaza and for limits on American weapons to Israel.
What Unites Them
The four do not come from the same place. Two are Egyptian, one is Palestinian, and one is Somali. Two of them come from Michigan, which has the largest Arab American community in the United States. But all four challenged U.S. policy toward Israel, and all four won on the same night that Democrats took both chambers of Congress.
Gaza was part of all four campaigns. Tlaib and Omar have called for a ceasefire and for an end to U.S. military aid to Israel since the war began. Hamawy treated wounded Palestinians in Gaza in 2024 and 2025, and he ran on “health care, not bombs.” In Michigan, the war was a big issue in the Democratic primary, where El-Sayed won.
At least seven Muslim Democrats won seats in Congress this year, setting a new record. The other three are André Carson of Indiana, Lateefah Simon of California, and Darializa Avila Chevalier of New York. Chevalier is the first Latina Muslim woman in Congress. All seven are Democrats, and all seven have spoken for Palestinian rights.
What Comes Next
These four will also vote on military aid to Israel, and that is where their influence will be tested. Four votes cannot change the outcome alone, but as part of a Democratic majority, they will have a say. Tlaib and Omar spent the last two years in the minority. Now they will serve in a majority that can set the agenda.
Their victories showed that outspoken criticism of U.S. policy toward Israel did not prevent these candidates from winning. But electoral success is only the beginning. With Democrats taking control of both chambers, the question now is whether these voices can turn their campaign positions into meaningful changes in American foreign policy.
Emirati women have long been shaping the country’s biggest industries. Now, one of the UAE’s most accomplished executives is stepping into one of fashion’s most influential roles – and it checks out.
Amina Taher has officially been named as Chairwoman of the Arab Fashion Council. If you’ve been anywhere near the UAE business scene, you already know her history: two decades in aviation, fintech, media and sport, an MBA from London Business School, a master’s from Harvard, and a resume built on leadership at the highest level.
Her arrival as Chairwoman in one of the region’s leading fashion hubs is a milestone that needs to be talked about. As Amina is set to represent a new effort to elevate Arab fashion on the global stage. Naturally, a woman of her calibre is the ideal person for this role.
The AFC built the region’s fashion infrastructure from scratch, co-founded Dubai Fashion Week, and positioned Arab designers alongside the big four fashion capitals. What it needs now is someone who can turn that into real, cohesive steps, government, diplomatic weight, and long-term partnerships – that’s the gap Taher is stepping into.
Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Arab Fashion Council, Jacob Abrian, described her appointment as a sign of how far the Council has already come, not a shift in direction.
“Few leaders move with equal fluency across government, industry, and culture, and fewer still bring that fluency to the service of design,” said Jacob Abrian. “The Council has already placed Arab creativity where it belongs, at the centre of the global conversation. Amina Taher’s appointment is not a change of direction. It’s a recognition of the standing the Council now holds, and a commitment to hold it with even greater seriousness.”
Taher’s own comments echoed that, focusing on opening up more opportunities for the next generation of Arab designers.
“The Arab Fashion Council has played a defining role in positioning Dubai as the region’s leading fashion hub and creating a platform for Arab designers to gain global recognition,” said Amina Taher. “Over the past decade, it has built the institutions, partnerships and international credibility that have transformed the region’s fashion industry. I am honoured to build on that strong foundation. Together with our partners across government, industry and the creative community, we have an opportunity to further strengthen the Council’s impact, support the continued growth of the creative economy, and create even greater opportunities for the next generation of Arab designers to thrive on the global stage.”
Taher will present her vision for the Council at an exclusive gala in September 2026. Until then, all we know is that the Arab Fashion Council picked a leader building the present and the future.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a land that has witnessed successive civilizations whose traces remain across its regions, is home to AlUla Governorate, where the Hegra Archaeological Site stands as part of this rich human heritage.
It was the first Saudi site inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, a testament to Saudi Arabia’s deep civilizational heritage and its commitment to preserving and safeguarding it for future generations.
As Saudi Arabia celebrates Saudi National Day, Hegra evokes part of the history of the Arabian Peninsula and the civilizational and cultural exchanges that took place across the region through the ages, according to SPA.
The Hegra Archaeological Site was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2008, becoming the first Saudi site to be added to the list, in an achievement that reflects its exceptional historical and civilizational significance. The site contains archaeological remains and carved rock facades that showcase the Nabataeans’ engineering and sculptural expertise.
Saudi Arabia, represented by the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), pays particular attention to the Hegra Archaeological Site through comprehensive efforts to preserve the site and safeguard its archaeological and historical components.
These conservation efforts are complemented by archaeological studies, surveys, and research conducted by the RCU in cooperation with experts and academic institutions.
Hegra remains one of the Kingdom’s most prominent heritage sites and a destination for visitors and researchers from around the world.
Dr Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of Sports, received UAE national badminton player Riyan Malhan upon his return home after winning gold at the 4th Youth Olympic Games Dakar, securing the UAE’s first gold medal in the history of its participation in the Youth Olympics.
The reception was also attended by Noura Al Jasmi, President of the UAE Badminton Federation; Saeed Hareb, Secretary-General of the Dubai Sports Council; and Safa Taryam, Chief Executive Officer of Elite Sport UAE.
Al Falasi congratulated Malhan, his family and his coaches on the historic achievement. He praised the coordinated efforts of the National Olympic Committee, the UAE Badminton Federation, the technical and coaching teams, and supporting entities, highlighting their role in nurturing his talent and providing the resources needed to develop his abilities to the highest competitive levels.
“The UAE is home to a wealth of promising sporting talent, and we are committed to investing in its development and support as part of the National Sports Strategy 2031,” Al Falasi said. “We have worked to develop an integrated system that enables talent to be identified at an early stage, beginning with school and university sports, while providing clear pathways for its development and preparation through specialised programmes. This ensures that athletes reach elite and high-performance sport fully prepared to compete with their peers and reach the podium.”
He added, “The achievements recorded by our athletes in recent times, culminating in Rayan’s historic gold medal, underscore the importance of continuing to invest in this system and building on the progress made. Our goal in the next phase is to expand the pool of athletes capable of competing for continental and international medals, moving from exceptional individual achievements towards establishing a sustained UAE presence on the podium.
“We will continue working with our partners in the sports sector to develop training programmes and raise performance levels, ensuring that we are fully prepared to achieve further success at upcoming Olympic Games and major international championships.”
Under the National Sports Strategy 2031, the Ministry of Sports is developing an integrated competitive sports ecosystem that links broader participation and the identification and development of talent with specialised training programmes and elite and high-performance sport.
This work is being carried out through a partnership involving the ministry, sports federations, educational institutions, specialised committees and sports entities across the UAE.
source/content: wam.ae (headline edited)
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___________________________________ UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (U.A.E)
Shawky recently led Art Basel’s first Qatar fair, while his films and installations continue to tour major international venues.
Egyptian artist Wael Shawky has been named to the TIME100 Art 2026 list, recognising his growing international profile across exhibitions, film and major art institutions.
Shawky served as the inaugural artistic director of Art Basel’s first fair in Qatar and the Middle East, where the usual gallery-booth format was replaced by curated solo presentations. The event drew around 17,000 visitors.
He also leads Fire Station in Doha, an artist residency run by Qatar Museums.
Shawky’s practice frequently revisits history through Arab perspectives, often using puppetry, performance and film to examine how historical narratives are constructed and retold.
At the 2024 Venice Biennale, he presented ‘Drama 1882’, a video installation and opera centred on the Urabi Revolt in Egypt. The work has since travelled internationally, with presentations in Los Angeles, Amsterdam, Sydney and Paris.
His film ‘I Am Hymns of the New Temples’ is currently on view at M+ in Hong Kong through October. Shot in Pompeii, the work features actors reenacting Mediterranean myths while exploring how ancient stories continue to shape national and cultural identities.
Barcelona have a new star: Mayssa Baha. The Moroccan forward, born in 2011, scored in the 2-0 Liga F win over Logroño. It was a historic goal. At 15 years, 8 months and 10 days, she became the youngest scorer in Barcelona’s history, overtaking Vicky Lopez. She struck on just her third appearance for the first team, having made her debut on 30 August 2026 against Tenerife at only 15 years, 7 months and 14 days.
Football family
Born in Malaga, Mayssa grew up in a family that lives for sport, football in particular. Her father, Nabil Baha, born in 1981, played in Morocco, Spain, Portugal and Greece, while her brother, Ziyad, born in 2009, is the striker for Marseille’s Under-19s. “She grew up playing football in the street with her brother. I wanted her to play tennis because she was very good. She started attending FUS Rabat while she was studying,” Nabil had told the Andalusian sports website diariosur.es “At 12 or 13 she was already playing with girls aged 15 or 16, never with those her own age. She has always played with boys because when we arrived in 2014 there were no youth categories for girls.”
Future with Spain?
She joined La Masia at 13 and quickly climbed the ranks, moving from the C team to the B team before making her debut for the first team. For Morocco Under-17s, Baha became the youngest player ever to make her debut at just 12 years old. At the most recent Under-17 World Cup, she was the youngest player in the entire tournament at 14. Her future remains uncertain: for now she wears the shirt of the African national team, but Baha could choose to play for the senior Spain side.
