Latest news with #Mohseni
The Guardian
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
A ‘strange dance': media mogul Saad Mohseni on making TV under the Taliban
Saad Mohseni wants more female faces on his Afghan TV channel. He hopes he might get a deal with the Taliban for him to air a historical drama – in which all the women have been through the menopause. 'If a woman menstruates, [the showing of an uncovered female face] is haram [forbidden], right?' Mohseni said. 'But as soon as they go through, you know, menopause, then you can have them uncovered. It's ridiculous, it's so offensive. So now we try to negotiate with [the Taliban] to do a soap opera that's going to have these women over the age of 50. We have to try.' Mohseni, 58, described as Afghanistan's first media mogul or the 'Afghan Rupert Murdoch' is the chief executive of Moby Group. Founded by Mohseni and his siblings – Afghan emigres who returned to their childhood home from Australia after the removal of the Taliban in 2001 – Moby was the country's largest media conglomerate until the Taliban returned to Kabul nearly four years ago. What has been established since 2021 is a hardline Islamic emirate shunned by much of the world. Political and media freedoms have deteriorated sharply but, most glaringly, the rights of women have been swept away. Women have been erased from nearly every aspect of public life: schools, universities and most workplaces. It might have been thought that such a regime would be the end of a media company in which Rupert Murdoch once had a stake and which lost seven members of staff in a suicide bombing in 2016 after being cited by the Taliban as a 'military target'. Yet the company remains, not just hanging on, but a dominant player in the Afghan market, producing TV and radio entertainment shows and a 24-hour news channel that employs about 400 people. The result is an odd co-existence with the Taliban – a 'strange dance', as Mohseni put it – that offers an insight into the complicated politics in the country. Mohseni was on a trip out of the country at the time of the chaotic and sudden withdrawal of the US in summer 2021, an event about which he says he had given the former Afghan president Ashraf Ghani repeated warnings. 'I was very angry, and I'm still very angry about his arrogance,' he said of the president, who fled Kabul as his administration collapsed. Mohseni has not been back to Afghanistan since, partly because he does not want to be seen to be endorsing the new regime. 'The other [reason] is that there's always the risk of them saying, 'You can't leave, you know, you've got important media assets, you'll be our guest'', Mohseni said. Instead, he oversees affairs from his homes in Dubai and London. It was not clear at first whether he would have any affairs in Afghanistan to look after. He wrote a memoir, Radio Free Afghanistan, after being locked out of his country, believing the empire he had built was dead in the water. But Moby has survived – albeit within tight confines. The current rules are there is to be no criticism of the Taliban's reclusive supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, he says. Men and women cannot share the same space. A curtain separates the two sexes in Moby's offices. A split screen is used to facilitate conversation during a show on his Tolo TV network. Female news presenters must have their hair and faces covered. The first show to be canceled was Afghan Star, the popular music reality show based on American Idol and the X Factor,which was taken off air in 2021 following the Taliban's ban on music. 'You know, women performing on stage and people voting for them … They are the enemies of fun, right?' Mohseni said. 'It was understood that we would not be able to continue with that. With the [ending of] soap operas and so forth it was gradual.' There has been more latitude given to Moby's news operation. 'I'm not saying they have an appreciation for free press, but I think there's an understanding of how important media is,' he said. 'I think they need to have their announcements or whatever amplified, echoed. People need to understand. They need to be able to sell their narrative to the public.' Mohseni's journalists have been able to push to a degree, at one point confronting ministers over the extra judicial killings of opposition figures. The male presenters also wore masks in solidarity with their female colleagues for a week and even persuaded a minister to try it out, before he complained that it was too difficult to breathe. 'Afterwards, he threatened to lock my guy up,' Mohseni said. There is, nevertheless, just enough space for the journalists to do their work to make it worthwhile, he said. The news channel has heavily covered criticism of the Taliban's ban of secondary education for girls. The regime had initially said the move was a temporary pause to allow it to reorganise the system. As a result, Unesco reported about 1.4 million girls over the age of 12 have been deliberately deprived of schooling, with that number exceeding 2.5 million when taking into account those already kept out of education by their families. 'In 2024, we counted, we've done like two and a half or three thousand stories on girls education: town hall meetings, discussion, current affairs, programs, individual news stories,' Mohseni said. 'It's not just about like [former US secretary of state] Anthony Blinken says, 'Girls need to go to school'. More importantly it was about Afghan voices and amplifying those voices, Taliban voices, religious voices, saying we need to allow our girls to go back to school.' They also run educational programs on its Tolo TV network, supported by Unicef, that provides help to boys attending classes and the girls at home with mathematics, physics, biology and chemistry. 'Not even the Taliban will reinvent mathematics,' Mohseni said of the programmes which follow the national curriculum. 'It's not an alternative to real education,' he added. 'It's sort of a band aid solution between when schools are banned and when they reopen. Whenever that may be, it's a bridge. It may be a long bridge, but it's a bridge.' He is under no illusion the small freedoms could disappear, and that 'on this trajectory, eventually, the country is going to become more conservative, more radical'. But there is still time to try to engage with the more reform-minded within the Taliban, he said. 'The movement itself is not monolithic,' Mohseni said. 'You have different characters who view things, you know, sometimes more moderately or more pragmatically. And they all have ambitions.' The country is nevertheless gripped by what Naheed Farid, a former member of the Parliament of Afghanistan, has described as a system of 'gender apartheid'. Mohseni worries that the lack of international engagement will only exacerbate a trend towards ever greater repression. 'You ignore Afghanistan at your peril,' he said.
Telegraph
21-03-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
The 10 germ hotspots you're forgetting to clean around the house
When it comes to cleaning, you likely give your toilet a regular scrub and wipe down the kitchen surfaces each day, but are you paying attention to other germ-ridden areas in your home? Even if you're often armed with anti-bac spray and a cloth, there are certain spots that usually get overlooked, allowing bacteria to build up, potentially causing skin, gut and even breathing problems. So, next time you're tackling household dust and grime, here are the danger zones to add to your radar. Remote control No matter what you've been doing – whether it's eating, gardening or nail-biting – bacteria, crumbs and day-to-day dirt can accumulate around the TV remote buttons and in the seams of its battery compartment. 'As a frequently touched, shared surface, the remote control poses a risk of transmission for gastrointestinal (GI) pathogens, such as norovirus, and respiratory tract pathogens, such as Covid-19, rhinovirus (common cold) and influenza,' says immunologist, Yasmin Mohseni. To stop grime building up, aim for a weekly wipe down. 'Gently clean the remote with an alcohol wipe or microfibre cloth dampened with a mix of water and a little surgical spirit; use a cotton swab for crevices around the buttons,' says Anna Louisa, author of The 5 Minute Clean Routine (£18.99, Century Books). The stair bannister Sweaty, unwashed hands make your stair's handrail and bannister a magnet for germs. ' Cough, cold, flu and other viruses can be passed onto the stair bannister, then picked up by another hand,' says Dr Amos Ogunkoya, GP at Charing Cross Hospital in London. So, as well as staying on top of handwashing, give your stair rails and bannister a weekly clean. 'Use a disinfecting wipe or a damp microfibre cloth with a mild cleaning solution such as soapy water,' suggests Louisa. Sofa cushions All sorts of grime can end up on your sofa cushions. Pets and outdoor clothes can transmit dirt and bacteria, while crumbs and scraps of food can fester if left for too long. 'Food on sofa cushions can cause a build-up of bacteria like E. coli and staphylococcus aureus,' says Dr Amos. 'If these enter your body, you might face gut issues or itchy skin and skin conditions could flare up.' Tackle the area by vacuuming cushions fortnightly with an upholstery attachment. 'If possible, remove cushion covers and follow the washing instructions. For non-removable covers, a fabric-safe spray works best,' says Louisa. 'Be extra gentle with delicate fabrics like velvet or suede though as these might need a specialist cleaner or dry-cleaning.' Pet bed Just as you would wash your own sheets, it's wise to give your furry friend's bed a regular wash too. ' Pet beds can build up fur, urine, saliva, dander and faeces,' says Mohseni. This can worsen allergies and even asthma. 'Pets can also carry bacteria and parasites such as salmonella, campylobacter and E. coli, which can spread to humans and cause gastrointestinal (GI) issues,' explains Mohseni. 'Deep-clean your pet's bed once a month, with spot cleaning as needed, especially if your pet has any accidents,' Louisa says. 'Vacuum thoroughly to remove pet hair and debris, too. If [the pet bed] is machine-washable, follow the care-label instructions [and wash] with a pet-friendly detergent. For non-washable beds, a steam clean or a pet-safe disinfectant wipe,' she adds. Spice rack Let's be honest, you might not always wash your hands before flicking open a spice jar halfway through cooking a meal. But it's wise to be vigilant with your spice rack to avoid potential food-borne illnesses. A study published in the Journal of Food Protection, found that 48 per cent of the spice jars that were sampled after participants cooked turkey burgers with contaminated meat also became contaminated. In fact, the spice jars featured the highest concentrations of bacteria, beating even the kitchen surfaces. As a result, Louisa recommends giving your spice rack a monthly deep clean.'Take all your jars out, dust off any loose particles and wipe the shelves and jars with a damp cloth and an all-purpose cleaner. Dry thoroughly before putting everything back.' Lampshades Ceiling lampshades, in particular, often get neglected during the weekly clean, allowing a thick blanket of dust to settle. Dr Amos explains: 'Dust mites, pollen and bacteria can travel in dust, which can cause sneezing, itchy eyes, itchy nose and hay fever symptoms. Dust worsens asthma and, in young children, dust and small particles can really impact lung development too.' A weekly wipe over lamp shades with a lint roller will help to keep them dust free. 'For a deeper clean, gently wipe with a damp cloth and a tiny bit of mild detergent but check fabric care instructions first,' explains Louisa. 'Delicate fabrics may need gentle treatment; if in doubt, spot clean and avoid soaking them.' Bedroom pillows Your pillowcase won't be enough to stop skin cells, oils and sweat from seeping through and turning your pillows a murky shade of yellow. Indeed, unclean pillows can also lead to a build-up of dust mites and their faeces, which can worsen allergies, according to Mohseni: 'Bacteria such as staphylococcus aureus and fungi, including candida albicans, can build up too. These microbes are normally part of our healthy microbiome, but they can cause problems if they enter the bloodstream or deeper tissues,' she says. 'In more extreme cases they can cause toxic shock syndrome or even sepsis. Those that are immunocompromised should pay extra attention to good hygiene practice.' The upshot? Wash your pillows once every six months – and replace them every two years if you can. 'Most pillows can be machine-washed, but check care labels and follow instructions for washing and drying,' says Louisa. 'To prevent ripping, wash them in a pillowcase or pillow protector on a gentle cycle. Use a small amount of detergent and add vinegar to neutralise odours. You can also speed up the drying process by adding an extra spin (although check the care label first). Allow the pillows to dry fully to avoid any bacteria or mould.' The duvet Over time, your duvet absorbs a lot of sweat, dead skin cells, dust mites and bacteria. 'Duvets often go over people's face and nose, so the dust build-up can cause a lot of respiratory problems. Skin conditions like dermatitis are really common, and caused by the bacteria staphylococcus aureus,' says Dr Amos. 'Wash duvets every six months, or more frequently if you have allergies or pets,' says Louisa. 'Most synthetic and some down or feather duvets can be machine-washed at home or at a launderette. If you're using a tumble dryer, add a dryer ball or hang the duvet outside on a sunny day, shaking and fluffing it periodically. 'In between washes, air duvets and pillows outside in the sun to kill dust mites and keep them fresh,' she adds. The top shelf of your larder If you can't reach it without recruiting the help of a stool or dining chair, you probably don't take regular trips to the top shelf of your pantry or larder – which means dust, grease and stray food particles can collect there. 'There are the issues that can arise from too much dust, plus food can attract pests such as rodents,' warns Dr Amos, while Louisa advises giving 'the shelf a wipe-down at least once a month'. Waste-paper bin If you also use your bedroom bin as a snack graveyard, throwing away bits of food and empty packets, you're entering germ territory. 'Bacteria such as salmonella and E. coli [if food is already contaminated] can multiply as food rots. If these get in contact with your hands and mouth they can cause GI infections, with symptoms like diarrhoea, nausea and fever,' says Mohseni. 'Even if foods aren't contaminated, other bacteria like clostridium and listeria can thrive in rotting food, boosting foodborne illness risk.' Louisa recommends daily emptying of your bin, plus a weekly deep clean. 'Give the bin a scrub with disinfectant wipes or a cloth dipped in soapy water. Give your outdoor bins a clean, too, including the lid and handles.'
