Latest news with #Arish
CairoScene
15-07-2025
- General
- CairoScene
Weaving Tradition & Community at Bahrain's Al Naseej Factory
Al Naseej Textile Factory by Leopold Banchini Architects serves as a weaving facility and social space, drawing from Bahraini traditions to support local artisans and community. Traditionally, Bahraini weavers prepared their workspace by digging a shallow pit into the ground to accommodate their seated position. With their legs lowered below the surface, the earth became a practical surface on which warp threads could be stretched, allowing the weavers to work in close contact with the ground itself. Rooted in this tactile relationship between craft and site, the Al Naseej Textile Factory by Leopold Banchini Architects serves as both a textile weaving facility and a social space for the local craftspeople of Bani Jamra, a village in north-west Bahrain. Arish is a traditional building technique that uses the dry leaves of the date palms to create woven panels. This grid is applied to the site both as an organising principle and as a deliberate reference to the date palm plantations found in the north of the island, irrigated by a complex network of water channels. The resulting building is a low, quiet gridded street elevation that stretches along the entire boundary of the site. Within the building, the architecture takes shape through the subtle below-grade pits where the weavers sit to operate their timber looms. These carefully measured excavations accommodate the traditional posture and define spaces for both the creation of intricate tapestries and the social rhythms of the workshop. Here, the act of making is embedded in the very ground beneath their feet, weaving a quiet dialogue between craft and architecture. Date palms stand as living anchors, their presence punctuating the strict geometry of the timber grid. Ponds and fountains flow quietly, softening the edges of the space and offering moments of cool respite. This interplay of nature and structure transforms the building into both a garden and a shelter. Composed of regionally available materials, the building's construction both relies on and celebrates local craftsmanship and building traditions. The shaded structure, combined with greenery, a network of water features, and seating areas, creates a cool and tranquil garden for the village inhabitants - a woven architecture that nurtures community as much as craft.
Arab News
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Egypt blocks activists aiming to march to Gaza to draw attention to humanitarian crisis
RABAT: Egypt blocked activists planning to take part in a march to Gaza, halting their attempt to reach the border and challenge Israel's blockade on humanitarian aid to the Palestinian territory before it could begin. Egyptian authorities and activists both said Thursday that people planning to march across the Sinai Peninsula were deported. To draw attention to the humanitarian crisis afflicting people in Gaza, marchers have for months planned to trek about 30 miles (about 50 kilometers) from the city of Arish to Egypt's border with the enclave on Sunday to 'create international moral and media pressure' to open the crossing at Rafah and lift a blockade that has prevented aid from entering. Saif Abu Keshek, one of the activists organizing the march, said that about 200 activists — mostly Algerians and Moroccans — were detained or deported. But those arriving to the Cairo International Airport on Thursday afternoon were allowed into Egypt, the Spain-based activist added. Organizers have not received approval from Egyptian authorities for Sunday's march and were evaluating how to proceed, he said. An Egyptian official on Thursday said more than three dozen activists, mostly carrying European passports, were deported upon their arrival at the Cairo International Airport in the past two days. The official said the activists aimed to travel to Northern Sinai 'without obtaining required authorizations.' The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to brief the media.
CBC
06-06-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Windsor couple joins global march to Gaza border to protest war
A Windsor Ont., couple is preparing to make the journey to the Middle East to join a peaceful global protest to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people. As part of the March to Gaza demonstration, they will join potentially thousands of people in Cairo, Egypt, before taking a bus to the coastal city of Arish and then marching three days to Rafah, the border point between Egypt and Gaza. "You're watching a genocide live streamed," said Mireille Coral. "What's happening to human beings is heartbreaking." Coral and her husband Paul Chislett have been activists throughout their lives, and the crisis unfolding in Gaza has taken a strong hold over their hearts. Chislett explained that communities have been calling on governments to take action against the violence, but he said, "they refuse to." "So, what are we supposed to do? Just sit back and become an audience?" he said. "When this effort came up, we thought we really needed to go to add our voices." They've already been taking part in local protests in support of Palestinians, but they're compelled now to do even more. The war in Gaza has raged since 2023 after Hamas militants killed around 1,200 people in Israel in an Oct. 7 attack and took some 250 hostages back to the enclave, according to Israeli tallies. Many of those killed or captured were civilians. Israel responded with a military campaign that has killed over 54,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities. They do not distinguish between fighters and non-combatants but say civilians have borne the brunt of the attacks and that thousands more bodies have been lost under rubble. A December report from Amnesty International described Israel's actions as genocide. Israel disputes the report and has denied accusations of genocide. Israel lifted an 11-week blockade last month, but since then, aid has only trickled in. Experts say Gaza's entire population of some 2.1 million people is at risk of famine despite successive efforts to boost aid. Calling for an end to the violence "I think it's important from a humanitarian point of view that we come to the aid of human beings," Coral said, adding that she's concerned about the enforcement of international law. "The world that we're creating is lawless and quite frightening." She added that she resists the idea that the people of the world have abandoned Palestinians, pointing out that people have been protesting and signing petitions, but said it is "disturbing" that governments aren't listening. Amir Haddad, a Burlington resident, and one of the organizers of the Palestinian Youth Movement Toronto says as a Palestinian, he's directly impacted by what's happening in Gaza. He also plans on travelling to Egypt to join the march. "Like many others, I've spent the last 20 months or so doing everything I can to challenge the complicity of the government's enabling the genocide that's happening right now," Haddad said. "We hope that a ceasefire is reached, a complete ceasefire that would include the end of the occupation of Gaza, the lifting of the siege and the blockade on Gaza, and allowing proper aid to come in." The March to Gaza website says that the action of the demonstration aims to unblock the Rafah passage and secure a permanent humanitarian corridor. Travelling to Egypt next week While Haddad, Chislett and Coral each have some concerns for their personal safety, they all believe it is worth it in order to take action they feel is necessary. "What we suffer here is nothing to what Gaza has been through. My personal conscience and many other people's personal conscience doesn't allow them to sit while genocide continues," Haddad said. Mireille acknowledged she's a little frightened, adding that she's never been much of a traveller to begin with. "But, I think we'll be in solidarity with other people. I think there'll be a comradeship that develops, that builds," she said. "At least we can say we did what we could." Chislett agreed. "It will come home to haunt us if we don't stand up. And if governments won't, we just have to," he said. They are all travelling to Egypt next week to meet in Cairo on June 12, with the goal of arriving at the Rafah border crossing for a peaceful demonstration on June 15.
Hi Dubai
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hi Dubai
Dubai Culture Showcases Emirati Architecture at Expo 2025 Osaka Symposium
Dubai Culture and Arts Authority has concluded its curated symposium Pillars of Arish: Architecture in Transition at Expo 2025 Osaka–Kansai, spotlighting the UAE's evolving architectural narrative on a global stage. Organised in partnership with the UAE Pavilion and supported by the Dubai Cultural Grant Programme, the event aligned with the pavilion's theme From Earth to Ether and explored the intersection of heritage, innovation, and sustainability in UAE architecture. It brought together architects, designers, and academics from the UAE and Japan for a dynamic exchange of ideas. Director-General Hala Badri described the symposium as a showcase of the UAE's cultural identity and its commitment to nurturing creative industries. Through a series of panel discussions and talks, participants examined themes such as traditional knowledge in urban design, the evolution of Arish structures, and the influence of Japanese modernism on Gulf architecture. The programme also included a cultural tour for 12 UAE-based architects and creatives, offering first-hand exposure to Japan's architectural landmarks, including works by Tadao Ando. Delegates praised the experience for fostering cross-cultural dialogue and deepening their understanding of how design reflects societal values. Curated by Salem AlSuwaidi and Rashed AlMulla, the symposium featured sessions on design education, sustainable construction, and the revitalisation of historical districts like Al Shindagha in Dubai. It also highlighted Dubai Culture's long-term investment in the sector, including AED180 million in grants over the next decade. The initiative underscores Dubai Culture's strategic mission to support artists and entrepreneurs, facilitate global collaboration, and elevate the UAE's presence in the international cultural arena. News Source: Emirates News Agency
The National
27-04-2025
- The National
UAE pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka welcomes 250,000th visitor
The UAE pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka greeted its 250,000th guest, just over two weeks after opening. A special ceremony was held to mark the milestone as the pavilion continues to attract guests from around the world. The 250,000th visitor and her family were greeted by Shihab Al Faheem, ambassador of the UAE to Japan and Commissioner General of the UAE Pavilion. 'We are proud to welcome our 250,000th guest,' said Mr Al Faheem. 'This milestone reflects the pavilion's role as a platform for dialogue, discovery, and collaboration. We are honoured to share the UAE's story with Japan and the world." Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, toured the pavilion on Friday. He praised the palm tree-inspired design of the pavilion, which pays tribute to the history of the Emirates. 'I was impressed by the design of our national pavilion, inspired by the palm tree, which reimagines the traditional Arish – the old homes built from palm fronds and trunks," Sheikh Mohammed said. 'However, the content of the UAE Arish showcases our space projects, future initiatives in the health sector, and our progress in sustainability projects. 'Our pavilion embodies our commitment to our authentic past and our passion for the future." The UAE Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka highlights the country's heritage and future ambitions in space, healthcare, and sustainability under the theme 'Earth to Ether'. Its design is inspired by the date palm tree and features 90 tall columns that combine traditional Emirati architecture with Japanese craftsmanship and sustainable methods. Visitors to the pavilion get to meet the people shaping the UAE's future, including space explorers, healthcare innovators, and sustainability leaders. The experience ends with Woven Legacies, a documentary that offers a glimpse into life in the UAE today. Since opening, the pavilion has attracted strong and steady visitor numbers reinforcing its reputation as one of the most popular national pavilions at the Expo. Expo 2025 opened on April 13 and runs until October 13. It provides a global platform for more than 150 countries to showcase their heritage, achievements and enterprising plans for future progress. The six-month event in Japan comes after the success of Expo 2020 Dubai, the first world's fair to be held in the Middle East and North Africa, which recorded more than 24 million visits over six months.
