Latest news with #Basma
The National
3 days ago
- Politics
- The National
'Israel killed my brother. Now my No Thanks app has 11 million users'
Ibrahim, a Turkish citizen, after having left Gaza in 2008, had returned to the strip for what was supposed to be a short visit to help out their sister Munira. He never left. 'He was drinking tea on the balcony, and they just bombed an entire square,' Ahmed said. 'I know it in Arabic, what it's called, but it's like a multiple airstrike in a specific area. That's what they do. 'And those bombs murdered around 25 people. Between them, my brother.' It was not the first time Ahmed had lost a loved one; he holds Israel responsible for the death of his sister Basma in 2020. She had fallen ill in Gaza, and needed to be transferred to a hospital in Jerusalem in order to receive the appropriate treatment. But the Israeli authorities did not grant permission for the transfer for more than a month. READ MORE: 'I spent 16 months in Gaza amid Israel's genocide. Here's what I saw' 'My father did everything he could, but they didn't let her go,' Ahmed said. When the papers finally arrived, it was too late. Basma died in the ambulance on her way to the hospital." 'I couldn't handle it in the beginning,' Ahmed said, adding that – as with the death of other loved ones, which has become all too common for people in Gaza – the family had tried to do charitable works in Basma's honour after her passing. Then, after Ibrahim's death, Ahmed said he was 'lost'. 'I started to think about a way to do some charity work for him too.' And then came inspiration. On one trip to the supermarket, Ahmed said he got to thinking about how he could be sure to be avoiding Israeli goods – or goods from firms connected with Israel. 'I looked into a few products and I started to think like, 'oh, is this product on the boycott list or not? Should I start googling them? Should I start searching, do this and this?' 'And then I got the idea: I really wish there was a way just to scan the barcode and [it's] done. Here is the answer. Is it in the boycott or not? So that was the core of the idea.' Two weeks later, Ahmed had created the first version of his app No Thanks, which allows users to scan products' barcodes to learn if the company has links to Israel. Less than two years on, it now has more than 11.5 million users. But the success came with drawbacks in his own life. READ MORE: I'm an Israeli trying to help in Gaza. Now our bank account is at risk Living in Budapest after moving to Hungary on a scholarship in 2018, Ahmed – who is now 26 – was undertaking an internship at a major tech firm when he was called into a meeting. 'They told me: 'Sorry, No Thanks made a lot of noise and we'll have to cancel the contract immediately'. 'They even told me that the CEO of [the firm] had a meeting with the CEO of [another major firm] and they both actually had talked about me,' he added. The Israeli boycott movement has proven controversial internationally, with anti-BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) laws in countries such as Germany and the US. READ MORE: Co-op members vote to remove all Israeli products from shelves Ahmed questioned how supposedly free-market societies could try to prevent people from making free choices with their custom – and raised concerns that any business operating out of Israel would pay taxes that go 'to the IDF and supporting killing innocent people'. 'We are now fighting ideology,' he said. 'They want to kill all of the Palestinians, and we are trying to stop that. 'I say it loud and clear, it is a genocide. It is a massacre, a huge massacre happening in Gaza. 'And after that, these countries are coming to blame me for just making an app.' Amid all the peace talks and international deals, one question remains: where is Gaza in all of this? Don't the people of Gaza deserve peace after more than 600 days of genocide? Don't they deserve even the most basic human rights? If world leaders won't act, then we – as… — Ahmed Bashbash (@AhmedBashbash) June 24, 2025 'The boycotts should be our new lifestyle,' Ahmed went on. 'We should stop supporting the people who are actually just looking for wars, looking for destruction, looking for displacing people. 'And if these companies and brands, whoever, don't actually come to our requirement, then we are simply not going to be your customer. That's it.' The runaway success of the app – 11.5 million downloads is twice the population of Palestine, Ahmed notes – has seen a steady income brought in. However, all of it goes on either supporting the servers required for the app to run, or supporting people in [[Gaza]] directly. But with Israel controlling the flow of goods into the strip, it is getting more and more difficult. 'Prices right now in Gaza, inflation will be an easy word for it,' he said. 'A bag of flour will cost you $600 to $700, just for a bag. 'If I wanted to compare it to last year, when I used to buy tents for people … in a week, we used to give 10 to 20 tents. Now, I cannot afford one tent in an entire week. It's too expensive in Gaza right now.' READ MORE: The key points not being talked about in BBC Gaza documentary review Ahmed still has family in Gaza; though his sister Munira managed to escape to Egypt, his brother Hussian remains. But when he has contact with his brother, Ahmed no longer recognises where they grew up. 'It is now all sand or rubble,' Ahmed said of his birthplace in Gaza City. 'When he [Hussian] sent me a picture, I couldn't actually recognise which area it was – even though I lived there for 19 years. 'I actually played on the street every day, every single day till I couldn't see the ball anymore – we didn't have electricity there, so we used to play in the light of the sun. 'When you see it now, you don't see a place of humanity. You see just a bunch of rubble from a zombie movie or something.' A view of Gaza City after Israel's offensive (Image: DAWOUD ABU ALKAS, REUTERS) For Ahmed, his No Thanks app is 'my peaceful way to protest against what's happening in my country and what happened with my family, brother and sister that I lost'. The app is developed by Ahmed's software firm BashSquare – which he explained came from a quip on his name. 'Bashbash. That's my family name actually,' he said. 'It's kind of a joke that my name is Ahmed Bashbash. 'My math teacher in 9th grade used to make fun of me and call me BashSquared – in Arabic, of course. 'He was my best teacher, so I actually took this nickname that he gave me. In Arabic, Bashbash comes from the word called bashasha, which is the smile.' That smile remains on Ahmed's face, enduring through the shadows of airstrikes, exile, and loss. You can download the No Thanks app for Android and iOS on the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store.
Identity
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Identity
4 Things That Prove Mosaad Is the Ultimate Walking Red Flag in Fat El Ma3ad
After weeks of watching Mosaad in Fat El Ma3ad, we can finally say it: He is the ultimate red flag and possibly the most toxic character of this off-season's dramas. You can't help but feel sorry for Basma (played brilliantly by Asmaa Aboul Yazed) for getting caught up in his emotional chaos, and honestly, we've all known a Mosaad at some point. Ahmed Magdy nailed it, delivering a performance so convincing that it made us feel the frustration, hate the character even more, and confidently hand Mosaad the ultimate badge of red flags and peak toxicity. He Always Finds an Excuse for His Behavior. No Matter What Damage He Causes, Mosaad Spins It Into Something Justifiable. Gaslighting 101. He's a Full-On Mama's Boy, and Not in a Cute Way. His Go-To Reaction Is Anger and Aggression. Let's be real, this character is all too familiar, and that's what makes him (and this storyline) so compelling and infuriating.
Identity
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Identity
Basma in Fat El Maad: A Real Victim or Just Making It All About Her?
Just a few episodes stand between us and the finale of Fat El Maad, and many viewers are left wondering how the lives of Basma, Mosaad, and Moatasem will unfold. Will the characters find peace, or are they headed toward even more struggle? But one question seems to echo louder than the rest: Why is Basma revealing a new side of herself in these final episodes? An arc that felt subtle earlier in the series is now taking center stage and making us question whether Basma is truly a victim torn by the weight of her choices and a difficult marriage, or is she the toxic force in the story? Someone who demands sacrifice from everyone around her in pursuit of her comfort, no matter the cost? Whatever your take, one thing's certain: Basma's character is sparking conversation, and it is not going unnoticed. Let's be real. Basma isn't a bad person at her core. We've all come across people like her; shaped by pain and driven by the need to protect their peace after going through things no one else knows about. And that's valid. When someone has lived through enough hurt, it makes sense that they start choosing themselves. But here's the thing. Healing doesn't mean ignoring everyone else's reality. Finding peace is important, but it shouldn't come at the expense of everyone around you. The people in your life have their own struggles, limits, and boundaries. Acknowledging someone's pain doesn't mean ignoring what others are also feeling or going through. That's where the real conversation should start. Do you agree?
CairoScene
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CairoScene
Styled Archives: The MENA's Most Iconic Long Sleek Hair Looks to Date
The sleek long hair look is everything; it's fierce, it's girl-next-door, it's whatever you want it to be. Jul 10, 2025 Trends are, as we are now all well aware, cyclical. The return of ancient relics like dramatic bootcut jeans, excessively dark lip liner and, more recently, the moustache necklaces that dominated the early 2010s only goes to show that what goes around comes around. One hair trend that has made its way through the fashion cycle many, many times, is the long sleek hair look. It goes like this: straightened hair, beach curls, bob, straightened hair, beach curls, bob - potentially repeating until the end of time. The mullet makes an occasional appearance every three cycles, maybe. To celebrate the return of the sleek - sometimes fried - hair look, we've curated a list of iconic Arab celebrities sporting it across the years. Nancy Ajram | 'Betfakar Fi Eih' Music Video 2013 In this iconic music video, Nancy sports sleek hair and emo side bangs with an electric guitar she's not really playing to complete the look. Two years ago, we would've thought this was cringe, but now we kinda wanna replicate it. Somaya ElKhashab | Casino du Liban 2009 Somaya ElKhashab is the queen of long sleek hair. She's had it forever, and she'll probably keep it forever. We live to learn from her. Basma | Middle East International Film Festival 2008 At this screening, Egyptian actress Basma ditches her usual wide curls for a pin-straight look, and early 2000s side bangs. Latifa | Cannes Film Festival 2017 Tunisian singer Latifa bint Alaya El Arfaoui, more commonly known as just Latifa, is well known for her beautiful, long hair. It's a classic, and to her, it never goes out of style. Nadine Labaki | Venice Film Festival 2012 For jury duty at the Venice Film Festival, Nadine Labaki seemed to have chosen to intimidate the rest of the board, ditching her usual soft look for a fierce one. Sherihan | Fawazeer Ramadan 1989 The iconic Sherihan is known for her elaborate updos but, when off set, she lets her long hair loose to hang around her like a curtain. Yasmin Abdelaziz | Photoshoot 2007-2008 In this iconic shoot, Egyptian actress Yasmin Abdelaziz wears her long hair in a classic 2000s half-up, half-down look that compliments her very Y2K cami top. Elissa Khoury | Paris Fashion Week 2013 In this historical image, Elissa is pictured with designer Chantal Thomass, showcasing a lookbook of the most popular looks in history: a bob, and a sleek look. Haifa Wehbe | Cannes Film Festival (Premiere for Oceans Thirteen) 2007 Back in 2007, Haifa Wehbe arrived at the Cannes premiere of 'Ocean 13' looking as fierce as anyone on the cast. Mona Zaki | Venice International Film Festival 2009 Beloved Egyptian actress Mona Zaki showed up to the red carpet at the 66th edition of VIFF in a look that borders on the casual as a girl-next-door aesthetic, but is ultimately fashionable.
Ammon
30-06-2025
- Health
- Ammon
Princess Basma visits patients from campaign's Pro Bono Surgeries
Ammon News - Her Royal Highness Princess Basma Bint Talal, Chairperson of the Goodwill (Al-Birr Wa Al-Ihsan) Campaign's High Committee, overseen by the Jordanian Hashemite Fund for Human Development (JOHUD), yesterday visited patients recovering from various surgical procedures at the Middle East Eye Hospital and Al-Rashid Hospital Center. Her Royal Highness checked on campaign beneficiaries who had undergone diverse free surgical operations performed by the campaign's volunteer medical team, as part of the "Lamset Shifaa" (Touch of Healing) program. These interventions, conducted in partnership with the private medical sector, were all successfully completed. Princess Basma's visit commenced at the Middle East Eye Hospital, where supervising physicians presented an overview of the surgical procedures performed on 27 patients from across the Kingdom. These operations encompassed vision correction, strabismus correction, cataract removal, amblyopia treatment, and lacrimal duct opening. At Al-Rashid Hospital Center, Her Royal Highness visited five of 12 patients who had received a range of surgical interventions. These included the correction of lower limb deformities, external ear reconstruction, bilateral hip dislocation treatment, knee joint replacement, cardiac catheterization, adenoidectomy, cholecystectomy, gastric bypass, and cleft palate repair. Her Royal Highness underscored the vital importance of the partnership between the Al-Birr Wa Al-Ihsan Campaign and the private medical sector in delivering specialized and high-quality medical and therapeutic services to campaign patients from underprivileged families across Jordan. She affirmed that these collaborations exemplify the values of solidarity and cooperation among national institutions, embodying the noble humanitarian objectives of the campaign and its partners. The aim is to alleviate patient suffering and improve their health outcomes, enabling them to live pain-free lives and achieve significant positive change. Princess Basma emphasized the campaign's ongoing commitment, supported by its private medical sector partners, to identifying patient needs, particularly among vulnerable families nationwide. This includes providing free medical days, along with necessary follow-up and medical and therapeutic interventions across various specialties, administered by the campaign's specialized and qualified volunteer medical cadres. Her Royal Highness commended the campaign's partners for their support, affirming the objectives and efforts of the campaign and their embodiment of social solidarity. She also expressed pride in Jordan's private medical sector, acknowledging its continuous advancements in various fields, its adoption of the latest developments, the distinguished services it provides, and its support for national efforts to enhance health services. She further extended her appreciation to the physicians, nursing, and technical staff supervising the operations, as well as the hospital nursing staff, for their dedicated efforts, supported by their administrations, in facilitating the surgeries and ensuring the comfort of patients and their companions. Dr. Musa Yabdoun, Director of the Middle East Eye Hospital, expressed the hospital's pride in its partnership with the Al-Birr Wa Al-Ihsan Campaign to provide medical and therapeutic services, especially to patients from families facing difficult living and economic conditions. He noted that the campaign's and its volunteers' efforts to reach remote and distant areas reflect a voluntary and solidarity-driven endeavor fostered by national institutions, stemming from their social responsibility and contribution to the nation's development. Rifaat Al-Masry, Director-General of Al-Rashid Hospital Center, lauded the partnership between the hospital and the Al-Birr Wa Al-Ihsan Campaign, reaffirming the hospital's commitment to supporting the charitable mission of the campaign. He stated that the campaign's continuous charitable and humanitarian work embodies the human spirit and noble Jordanian values, emphasizing that this cooperation reflects a shared belief that building a better and brighter future for communities begins with joint cooperation and sustained giving.
