Latest news with #Assi
Scoop
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Journalists Being Forgotten On The Frontline, Warns Injured War Reporter
16 May 2025 'I believe in nothing right now. Our press vests are turning us into targets and it's becoming a death sentence for us,' Christina Assi told UN News. On 13 October 2023, Ms. Assi - who was working as a photojournalist for Agence France Presse (AFP) - lost her right leg after two Israeli air strikes targeted the exposed hillside where she and other colleagues were observing the ongoing conflict between Israeli forces and Hezbollah militants. This year's commemoration of World Press Freedom Day on 3 May provided a moment to reflect on the fact that more journalists were killed in 2024 than in any other year since the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) began collecting data more than three decades ago. At least 124 journalists and media workers were killed last year, nearly two-thirds of them Palestinians killed by Israel, the CPJ data shows. Ms. Assi stands among the few survivors, and she never imagined that she would be targeted simply for doing her job. The day of the attack She recounted the harrowing events of that day – one of her first major assignments, which quickly became the most traumatic experience of her life. 'It was starting to get dark and that's when we were about to leave and then suddenly, out of nowhere, we were targeted,' she said. 'The first time I was on the ground, I couldn't really understand what was happening, and I was screaming for help. So, my colleague Dylan rushed to help me and put a tourniquet on me. But then, like 40 to 47 seconds later, we were targeted again.' After the second strike, Ms. Assi found herself alone beside a burning car. Bleeding and gravely injured, she had no choice but to crawl away to save her life. 'My press vest was too heavy, and the camera belt was suffocating,' she recalled. In that moment, she began to lose faith in international laws and conventions. 'As journalists, we are left alone," she insisted. The silence of the international community For Ms. Assi, the international community's response to the attack - including condemnations and UN calls for investigation - has been utterly ineffective. 'I do believe that we need more than words. We need concrete action and something to happen where that should lead to justice in one way or another. If it's not now, then later,' she said. She strongly condemns the impunity with which attacks on journalists continue. 'Our cases are being dismissed as collateral damage when, in fact, they are not. These are war crimes, and there should be a real investigation.' The forgotten journalists of Gaza Ms. Assi also emphasized that the same impunity applies to Palestinian journalists in Gaza, who have been documenting the war there since day one. 'They've been silenced, targeted in every possible way. It's all over social media and in the news—and yet nothing has been done. No action has been taken to protect these journalists,' she said. She pointed out that the lack of international presence hasn't stopped the violence. 'It's clear how horrific everything is. But the world hasn't reacted the way it should have. No one has even tried to stop it.' Carrying the flame Nearly a year after losing her leg, Ms. Assi carried the Olympic torch in the French city of Vincennes, ahead of the Paris Games in July 2024. It was more than a symbolic gesture but a powerful opportunity to pay tribute to her colleague, Reuters journalist Issam Abdallah, who was killed in the same attack. 'It was a great opportunity for us to honour all the fallen journalists and let the world and the international community and the Europeans and all those who didn't know about what happened to us, let them know about what happened,' she said.
Web Release
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Web Release
Spinneys' 2025 Flower Festival – A Unique Experience Blending Art, Nature, and Contemporary Lifestyle in Collaboration with ESMOD
By Editor_wr Last updated May 5, 2025 As part of its annual Flower Festival, which supports local farmers and promotes sustainable agriculture, Spinneys hosted a special event at its Hazmieh branch under the theme 'The Art of Flowers' , in collaboration with ESMOD Beirut. The event featured a creative fashion show of stunning designs inspired by flowers and nature, crafted by students of the institute, and attended by media figures, influencers, and Spinney's representatives. This initiative aims to strengthen the bond between nature and art. Through its collaboration with ESMOD, Spinneys also seeks to empower young talents by offering them a platform to showcase their nature-inspired creations, promoting a culture of sustainable fashion and raising environmental awareness within the local community. On this occasion, Mira Assi, Head of Communications at Spinneys, remarked that 'This collaboration reflects Spinneys' genuine commitment to supporting and empowering young talents and the local creative scene. We believe that creativity is a powerful tool for awareness and positive impact. Merging the world of sustainable agriculture with the world of design is a perfect example of that.' Ms. Assi also added that 'Through this initiative, we highlight the inherent beauty of nature and emphasize the crucial role of new generations in building a more sustainable future.' Ghada Kazan , a representative from ESMOD warmly expressed that they 'thank Spinneys for this inspiring initiative that allowed our students to express their creativity, that is inspired by the beauty of nature. This experience not only enhances their artistic skills but also embeds environmentally friendly values into their designs. Today's creatives are tomorrow's designers—and supporting them is an investment in a more conscious and sustainable future.' The event also featured vibrant live music performance and a floral-themed cocktail reception, adding a sophisticated and refreshing flair that matched the festival's spirit and identity. Through this annual initiative, Spinneys reinforces that the Flower Festival—running until May 14—has evolved into a dynamic platform celebrating beauty and nature. It highlights the brand's commitment to crafting experiences that combine shopping and culture, promote sustainability and modern living, and encourage environmental awareness and sustainable practices. Prev Post MANSORY makes global real estate debut with Amaal partnership Next Post ROKA's Saturday Family Brunch! Comments are closed.
The Independent
16-02-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
‘Can I bring eight dogs on your private jet?': 24 hours with the real-life manager of The White Lotus
If there's one thing we've learned from two seasons of the HBO smash hit The White Lotus, it's that luxury resorts are intense, frenetic, and constantly surprising places to work. And general managers have it the hardest. In season one, set at the fictional White Lotus in Hawaii, head honcho Armond (Murray Bartlett) enters a feud with a manchild guest so ruthless that one of them winds up in a body bag. Meanwhile, over in Sicily for season two, Valentina (Sabrina Impacciatore) contends with guests who can't drive demanding Vespas and sex workers propping up the hotel bar. We don't yet know what's in store for Fabian (Christian Friedel) in the show's forthcoming third season, but it's certain to involve more moneyed visitors, high tension, and death. There is one man who knows the chaos of running a real-life luxury resort very well. And that's Jasjit Assi, the general manager of the Four Seasons in Koh Samui, Thailand, where The White Lotus season three was filmed. He has 60 villas, 15 private residences and 300 staff to keep in order – plus jet-setter guests with wild requests, lofty expectations and even higher bank balances. 'Customer interactions are not easy. They take [an] emotional and physical toll on you because you're always here,' Assi says. 'But you wouldn't be in the service industry if you didn't have the passion, resilience and persistence to continue.' In what sounds like a scene plucked straight from the show, Assi greets guests upon their arrival – often by private jet or luxury yacht – at the hotel's dramatic cliff top platform, overlooking 43 acres of tropical landscape and the turquoise Gulf of Thailand. The White Lotus creator, Mike White, had been scouting locations from north to south of the country, but after receiving the Koh Samui resort welcome, he knew he'd found what he was searching for. 'He looks at this place, pauses, takes a breath and is staring at the view in front of him,' recalls Assi. 'Then he goes to me, 'This is it. It's going to be fun, right?'' The cast of the new season, including Jason Isaacs, Carrie Coon, Parker Posey, Leslie Bibb, Natasha Rothwell and Patrick Schwarzenegger, all stayed at the resort throughout filming, which costs around $1,500 (£1,200) a night for a regular villa and $15,000 (£12,000) for a five-bedroom residence. White visited several times ahead of the shoot to look out over the infinity pools and visualise season three's storylines – not a bad day at the office. 'My entire team signed a non-disclosure agreement,' reveals Assi. 'People were like, 'Mike White is sitting there', and I had to say, 'Sorry, I don't know. He's just a guest'.' Assi has a long list of unconventional requests he's received from guests over the years. 'There was one guy who asked, 'Can I bring eight dogs in your private jet to the resort?' I said, 'There is no doubt about it',' the general manager recalls. Another time, one VIP, who was overcome with emotion by the full moon, suddenly wanted a ring to propose to his girlfriend at 11 o'clock at night – an hour after the island closes off from the outside world. 'It couldn't be just any ring,' points out Assi. 'He wanted high-end jewellery. Different gemstones. So, our concierge had to use their contacts, calling people, collecting pieces; we didn't even know what ring size she was. You're always dealt these last-minute challenges. But this is the Four Seasons. We can fix it for you.' The man proposed by midnight. Breakfast is ordinarily the most important part of Assi's day, as it's one of the only times he's able to connect with guests before they splinter off to do different activities. 'We call that the golden hour,' he says. Each morning, the GM will brief his team on the day's plan of action: 'You're talking arrivals, departures, complaints from the previous day,' he says. 'Making sure that everybody is on the same page – what is our shared vision together?' Next, it's 'peak operations' from 10am to 2pm. This means room service, checking people in and out, facilitating recreational activities like yacht trips and Muay Thai boxing lessons, and monitoring the full spa. Two o'clock onwards is for 'connections': lunch, schmoozing at the beach, checking if there's any issues to rectify. Come evening, it's time to 'set the tone': turn the lights down, open the wine cellar, make cocktails and prepare for any special events – musical performances, private dinners, proposals – that are happening at the resort. After the partying is done, the team packs away and prepares to do it all over again. That is, unless there's an incident. The White Lotus resorts of the drama have seen everything from heavy drug use and forbidden romances to murder. Assi says that, at Koh Samui, he'll ask guests to leave public spaces if he sees them doing anything from weed to cocaine, and will send them to check out if their habit gets 'out of control'. Romance between staff and guests is '100 per cent a no go', and could lead to employees losing their jobs if boundaries are crossed. Unlike on the show, no guests have been stabbed to death or drowned after jumping from a yacht at Koh Samui – but Assi is well versed in the hotel's tragedy procedure. 'Deaths are dealt with with the utmost seriousness,' he says. 'There's a lot of legalities involved. Resort crisis management procedure comes into place. An immediate notification goes to the local police. You have to deal with it in complete silence so that other guests don't know something has happened. There's someone grieving and you are their only source of help because they're in a foreign land and don't know what to do next.' Assi admits that, in many ways, The White Lotus is a faithful depiction of life as a general manager: 'The resort surroundings, the attentive service, the ambience, the commitment to excellence – these things are very true,' he says. But he promises he's never entered into an Armond-esque feud with an entitled guest in his time on the job. 'Everybody's on holiday and in a relaxed state. Nobody wants to get agitated unnecessarily,' the GM claims. Mike White, I'm sure, would disagree.
