Latest news with #Zaid
Gulf Weekly
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Gulf Weekly
Spotlighting Arab cinema
Creative Zaid Sater has made history as the first Bahraini filmmaker to have a project featured at the CineYouth Festival in Chicago. Mixed Signals, his latest short film, explores the inner world of an Arab immigrant turning to dating apps; not in defiance of tradition, but in search of connection. 'It's a huge honour, and honestly, a bit surreal,' Zaid told GulfWeekly. 'Being the first Bahraini filmmaker at CineYouth is meaningful not just on a personal level, but also because it signals that stories from the Gulf are starting to find space on international stages,' the 22-year-old, who was raised in Dubai and trained in Los Angeles, added. 'The story follows an Arab immigrant who turns to dating apps, not out of rebellion, but out of loneliness. For me, it's less about romance and more about how tradition and technology collide in really personal ways. 'Mixed Signals was inspired by conversations I've had with friends about what it means to search for connection when your cultural background is wired for privacy and silence around desire. I hope audiences walk away thinking about how much of our identity is shaped not just by where we come from, but by what we choose to hide or reveal in the digital world.' Zaid's nuanced exploration of identity isn't limited to one film. It's central to his broader creative philosophy. He isn't interested in fitting into categories and is carving out a cinematic language that refuses to be boxed in. This fusion of identities – regional, cultural and artistic – has become the core of his creative voice. 'Diasporic identity isn't just about leaving one place for another; it's about constantly negotiating who you are in relation to where you are. That's something I've felt deeply growing up between the Gulf and the West.' Zaid is particularly drawn to stories that sit in between binary ideas of East and West, or old and new. 'A lot of young Arabs today are navigating complex inner lives, faith, family pressure, shame, pride, love, all while engaging with the same digital culture as everyone else. That blend creates a kind of emotional whiplash that I think deserves more screen time.' Though rooted in the region, Zaid's work has been shaped just as much by his experiences in the US. 'I grew up with a Bahraini father, an Iraqi mother, and spent most of my childhood in Dubai. Visiting Bahrain often kept me grounded in my roots and gave me a strong sense of cultural identity. Then later, moving to the US for film school (Emerson College) gave me the cinematic tools to express those experiences more clearly. 'One thing that really stood out to me in Los Angeles was how much personal identity is celebrated; how you're encouraged to turn your unique background into your creative voice. Ironically, being away from home actually made me embrace my heritage more deeply,' he explained. This cultural fluidity has led him to develop what he describes as a 'dual vision'. 'The Gulf, with its deeply private social fabric, teaches you to communicate through what's left unsaid — through gesture, tone, and subtext. LA, on the other hand, is all about bold expression and pushing visual storytelling to its limits. As a filmmaker, I'm constantly trying to bridge those two ways of seeing the world; the Arab instinct for emotional subtlety and the Western emphasis on structure, spectacle and psychological depth.' Zaid co-wrote Mixed Signals with creative partner and fellow filmmaker Ibrahim Fitaihi. Together, they also co-founded Obscura Films, a production company created to give voice to under-represented filmmakers. That collaboration is part of a wider mission. 'Growing up, I rarely saw stories that reflected the realities of people like me, Arabs navigating layered identities across different cultures. Too many stories about the Middle East were either filtered through an outsider's gaze or reduced to clichés. We wanted to create a space where diasporic filmmakers could tell stories on their own terms, with nuance, humour, and emotional complexity. 'When we started Obscura, it wasn't just about representation, it was about reclaiming authorship. We're especially drawn to projects that feel culturally specific but emotionally universal; stories that explore identity, migration, class, and generational tension, but in unexpected or genre-bending ways,' he said. Looking to the future, Zaid hopes to build on the momentum of Mixed Signals, not just as an individual director, but through Obscura's expanding slate. 'My aspirations for my filmmaking career and for Obscura Films are deeply rooted in the goal of making a meaningful mark in Arab and Middle Eastern representation in cinema,' he noted. He envisions a moment when global audiences will meet Arab stories on their own terms. 'Much like how Parasite and Squid Game created a cultural bridge that invited the world to explore Korean cinema on its own terms, I want our projects to connect our culture with the world in a way that feels authentic and grounded, never exoticised,' he said.
Time of India
12-07-2025
- Time of India
STF nabs fugitive rapist carrying Rs 50,000 bounty
Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) on Saturday arrested a convicted rapist, Mohammad Zaid Khan alias Sameer, who had been absconding after escaping court custody. He was nabbed near Tomar Cold Storage on the Lucknow-Mall Road in Hardoi district. Zaid Khan (35), son of the late Aslam Khan and a resident of Yameen Ganj under the Saadatganj police station area, had been sentenced to 20 years in jail in a 2013 POCSO case involving kidnapping and gang rape. He was also facing charges under IPC Sections 363, 366, 376D, and Sections 3/4 of the POCSO Act. During a court appearance on June 18, 2025, the accused gave police personnel the slip and fled. Following this, a fresh case (FIR No. 158/2025 under Section 262 of the BNS) was registered at Wazirganj police station, and two constables — Farid Ahmed and Muqeem — were suspended for negligence, the STF said. DSP, STF, Deepak Kumar Singh was tasked with tracking him down. "During intelligence gathering, it was discovered that Zaid was threatening a real estate builder in Lucknow's Thakurganj area, demanding Rs 14 lakh and issuing death threats. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Secure your family's future! ICICI Pru Life Insurance Plan Get Quote Undo Acting on a tip-off, an STF team laid a trap in coordination with local police," said Singh. During interrogation, Zaid, who carried a Rs 50,000 bounty, admitted that he had arranged a weapon to kill the Thakurganj builder, who he claimed owed him money. Police also recovered a .32 bore pistol, two live cartridges, one spent cartridge of the same calibre, a mobile phone, a bag, and Rs 1,220 in cash from his possession.
Business Insider
12-07-2025
- Business Insider
I'm an American raising my kids in Norway. Full-time childcare costs $420 for two kids, and I get a $350 a month stipend.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Monica Virga Alborno, founder of Wanderwild Family Retreats. It has been edited for length and clarity. I'm an engineer who has always been interested in living abroad. I grew up in New Jersey and went to Penn State, but my first job after school took me to Kuwait. That's where I met my husband, Ziad, who is from Saudi Arabia. Ziad and I worked together, and we were as dedicated to our company as we were to each other. The company put us on a dual career track, meaning we'd be working from the same location. Then, they transferred us to Angola, in West Africa. Three years after Zaid and I met, we got engaged in Paris during a vacation. We planned a wedding in Africa and got married in New Jersey. But once we were ready to start a family, I wanted to leave Africa so I wouldn't need to worry about diseases like malaria while pregnant. We asked our company to transfer us again, and now we live in Norway with our two kids. The nature around our home is beautiful Ziad, who grew up in the desert, said he wanted to live somewhere he could see the ocean, mountains, and snow. I told him I didn't think that place existed, but I was wrong. Our company transferred us to Norway, and we immediately fell in love with the country. Today, we live about 20 minutes (by ferry and bus) outside Norway's second-largest city. I can see fjords and mountains from our living room. We're on an island with hiking trails all around. Our house is comparable to an American home: 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, and a huge yard with plum trees. Parental leave is mandatory for men and women Living here, I understand why Norway is one of the happiest countries in the world, especially for parents. It starts with parental leave, which is mandatory for both mothers and fathers. I had about nine months of paid leave, and Zaid had about four months. Parental leave isn't meant to run concurrently but to flow one after the other. When the mother returns to work, the father picks up the home duties. From the beginning, both parents are responsible for the home and the baby. This policy results in more moms returning to work and a better balance in the household, I think. The public day care is an affordable forest school Both my kids attend Barnehage, a Norwegian public day care that's a cross between forest school and Montessori education. Because of Barnehage, both my kids speak Norwegian — which I'm still struggling to pick up. They learn to get outside in all weather and bake homemade bread. Truly, I couldn't design a better program. The cost for both kids to attend for 40 hours a week is $420 total. I also receive a monthly stipend for the kids, which will continue until they're about 16. That amounts to $350 monthly. A pelvic floor therapist visited the day after I gave birth Medical care in Norway is high-quality, but it has a more holistic approach, especially during pregnancy. During both pregnancies, I wasn't seen until 12 weeks. Pregnancy and birth were treated like natural processes, not medical events. The maternity floor had dim lighting, and for the most part, the staff left me alone unless they were needed. When I needed an emergency C-section with my daughter, the care was outstanding. A pelvic floor specialist even visited me in recovery so I could start healing my core on day one. I wanted to try for a VBAC with my son, and I met with a team at the hospital who explained how I could safely do that (which I did). The quality of care makes me OK with higher taxes Last year, my daughter had a severe virus that left her intubated in the ICU for nearly a week. She had two nurses assigned to her 24/7, and a massage therapist who came in frequently. They even kept a diary of what happened to her each day, including pictures. They explained this helps patients understand the time they lose when they're unconscious. My daughter only has positive memories, despite the traumatic experience. When she was transferred to the children's hospital, there were literally bicycling clowns to entertain the kids. Americans are quick to point out Norway has higher taxes, and that's true — I pay up to 38% of my income in tax. And yet, I can see the direct benefit of my tax money on my quality of life and the care my children receive, so it doesn't bother me.
Express Tribune
07-07-2025
- Express Tribune
Demolition of dangerous structures begins
Amid debris and dust, workers carry out demolition of the rear section of Gudda Plaza of which some parts caved in earlier. PHOTO: JALAL QURESHI/EXPRESS Following the tragic collapse of a five-storey residential building in Lyari's Baghdadi area that claimed 27 lives, the authorities have launched a demolition drive targeting other dangerous structures in the vicinity. Teams from the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) have begun tearing down dilapidated buildings identified as hazardous. According to Building Inspector Zulfiqar Shah, two buildings are currently being demolished in phases after evacuation, while a survey is underway for a third structure. Assistant Commissioner Lyari Shehryar Habib confirmed that all three buildings have been completely evacuated and temporary arrangements have been made to relocate the displaced residents to community centers and KMC-run schools. He added that it may take up to 10 to 15 days to completely demolish a single building. Meanwhile, affected residents have expressed dissatisfaction with the government's response and warned of protests if they are not compensated and provided permanent housing. They demanded clarity on the government's plan for their rehabilitation and vowed to raise their concerns at the Chief Minister's House, Governor House, and the Sindh Assembly. Security and rescue teams remain stationed in the area to oversee ongoing operations. Lyari collapse claims 27 lives as rescue operation concludes A 50-hour-long search and rescue operation in the Baghdadi area of Lyari - where a five-storey residential building collapsed on Friday morning - concluded on Sunday, with 27 confirmed deaths and 10 injuries. "Twenty-seven people lost their lives in the Lyari tragedy, while eleven others were injured. Among the deceased are eleven women and sixteen men, including a one-and-a-half-year-old girl," confirmed the Civil Hospital administration. The report states that 26 bodies were brought to the hospital, while 55-year-old Fatima succumbed to her injuries during treatment. "Of the injured, ten people were discharged after receiving medical treatment. However, 30-year-old Sanatia remains under treatment," it stated. The list further noted that most of the injured sustained head injuries in the incident. Many of the deceased belong to the Hindu community. According to rescue officials, the final body was recovered - after 48 hours of digging through debris - was that of 15-year-old Muhammad Zaid, found trapped near the building's staircase. His body was moved to Civil Hospital for legal formalities. Zaid's elder brother, who survived the collapse, told reporters he had tried to pull his younger sibling out of the building when the structure began to crack but lost his grip during the escape. Tragically, Zaid, their father, and two other brothers died in the collapse. According to Rescue 1122 officer Hasnain and Edhi Foundation volunteer Farooq, Zaid's body was found at a location from which five other bodies had previously been taken out. However, his was buried too deep under the rubble to be immediately detected. After renewed efforts by family members, search teams returned to the location and recovered Zaid's body using specialised equipment. During the operation, cash, cheques and jewellery were recovered from three separate locations and handed over to the local union council chairperson. Rescue 1122 South In-Charge Hameer Wahid told Express News that 95% of the debris had been cleared, and no further victims were believed to be trapped. "No families remain at the site waiting for missing persons," he said. He further added that rescue operations were deliberately prolonged to ensure careful recovery of bodies. Several rickshaws and motorcycles parked beneath the building were also destroyed. Locals said the area underneath the structure was routinely used for parking.
Economic Times
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Economic Times
The Nose Job: How India is recreating the world's most expensive perfumes
A few years ago, American fashion designer Tom Ford's childhood in Texas was captured in an expensive black bottle. Unusual notes of leather, cardamom, violet, jasmine, patchouli and moss were combined to conjure up the dust and beauty of the American Wild West. Tom Ford Ombre Leather eau de parfum costs Rs 12,000 for a 50 ml bottle. A world away, on the first floor of Supertech Ecociti Tower in Sector 137 in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, Mohammed Zaid crafts his perfume that matches the luxury fragrance—drop by drop. His Eau de Zidaan Ombre Leather has, its website says, notes of leather, warm spices, white florals, amber, moss and patchouli. 'Inspired by Tom Ford's Ombre Leather', it costs a mere Rs 1,770 for a 100 ml bottle. Zaid, the 32-year-old founder of Zidaan Fragrance Industries, says, dropping the names of some of the most popular luxury fragrances: 'Some of our bestsellers are inspired by Baccarat Rouge, Louis Vuitton Pacific Chill and YSL Black Opium. But we never claim they are exact copies. Our scents are tributes — we build each one from scratch based on mood and projection.'Eau de Zidaan has quite a portfolio of 'inspired' perfumes and they come for Rs 1,100-1,800 each. Zaid says his company has loyalists who buy eight or more bottles and keep reordering their favourites. 'That's loyalty built on scent, not hype,' he bootstrapped label is part of India's olfactory uprising: perfumes that smell of luxury without the pricey price tag. These 'inspired' perfumes, the affordable smell-alikes—of almost everything from YSL's Libre to Chanel's Coco Mademoiselle—are drawing in millennials and Gen Z who like to smell rich without burning through their monthly salary. They are turning to affordable recreations that bottle the aura of oud, amber and French florals. The word is spread at the speed of Instagram reels. 'Everyone wants to smell luxurious. The logo doesn't matter anymore,' says a perfume seller in Crawford Market, Mumbai. A dupe of Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540 —the original is hard to find in Indian stores and, when you do, costs about Rs 28,000 for a 70 ml bottle—sells out every month from his shop. Meanwhile, at Eau de Zidaan, Zaid is founder and perfumer rolled into one. He creates each fragrance, choosing the oils and calculating their composition. He says he discovered perfumery through his father, a professional nose who worked with a renowned French company. 'I later honed my craft during five hands-on years in Dubai's vibrant fragrance industry,' he says.'Zidaan' means 'to grow' in Arabic and his company, founded in 2023, has sold 20,000 bottles since. SMELLS OF KANPUR About 400 km away, in Kanpur, Harshit Gupta's Arabian Aroma too has an Ombre Leather, inspired, again, by Tom Ford. And it comes for a jaw-dropping Rs 700 for a 50 ml bottle. 'People want the luxury fragrance experience but at an affordable price,' says Gupta. 'Customers are more focused on quality than quantity—we offer 50 ml perfumes at Rs 600-700 instead of 100 ml bottles filled with subpar blends.' Arabian Aroma sold around 500,000 bottles in 2024, and is targeting over Rs 30 crore in revenue this fiscal says a shift to innovation is now gathering momentum. 'In 2024, we launched our signature collection— original perfumes crafted in-house. Our bestselling perfume today is Seduction, not an inspired scent but our own creation,' he Manjaramkar, a 23-year-old engineer and fragrance enthusiast from Pune, has tried several perfumes by Arabian Aroma. 'Their recreations of Dior Sauvage, Azzaro's The Most Wanted and Jean Paul Gaultier Ultra Male last three to five hours, while their originals like Seduction and Royal Oud easily last eight hours,' he Perfumery and Celestial Perfume in Gujarat too are known for recreating global luxury fragrances. 1% INSPIRATION? Behind every inspired perfume that smells like a Rs 20,000 classic but costs under Rs 1,000 lies a meticulous deconstruction of fragrances and an intricate backend don't just guess notes in a bottle —many reverse-engineer the originals down to their chemical DNA, and blend top, heart and base accords with near-obsessive precision.'Crafting a high-quality, inspired fragrance is not as simple as just blending ingredients,' says Gupta. 'We always purchase the original bottle or authentic samplers to study the perfume's DNA. The structure and layering have to be understood deeply to recreate the aura, not just the top note.' He claims many new brands skip this step, leading to scents that feel like 'cheap echoes'— resulting in poor word-ofmouth and zero repeat buyers. This is why suppliers like Harkaran Singh, founder of Delhi-based Aldrome, are in demand. He says his company creates bespoke fragrance oils for many perfume houses in the country, including replica-makers. 'The demand is high for profiles like white oud, velvet rose and oud, and Amalfi coast—their luxurious, layered notes suggest premium even when sold affordably.' Aldrome sources lavender from Bulgaria, lemon from Italy and orange from Brazil. Singh says the company uses the technique of gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, which analyses the composition of perfumes, to ensure scent accuracy and batch consistency. 'Our team can combine two, five, even 10 accords to mimic the mood of a highend scent,' he says. 'It's not about copying—it's about hitting the right emotional chord.'This behind-the-scenes chemistry allows indie perfumers to move fast. 'We are obsessed with performance,' says Zaid. 'We test every oil on how it blends, how it wears on skin, how it holds in Indian weather. That is the edge.' And it is finding its Gupta, a Delhi-based brand consultant, says, 'I used to save up for designer perfumes, but now I get compliments on my Rs 1,300 Zidaan YSL scent more than I ever did with other perfumes. It lasts through the day, smells luxe and doesn't burn a hole in my wallet.' NO SCENT OF LAWSUIT Smelling like money no longer costs it. But why don't luxury fashion houses call out the imitations? Or, file lawsuits?'Fragrances, being intangible, are not protected under Indian copyright law,' says Dinesh Parmar, partner, Parker & cannot, in short, copyright a smell. Law protects packaging, logos and brand names —but not the perfume. Therefore, perfume makers who make recreations steer clear of copying logos or packaging.'An inspired-by perfume isn't illegal,' says Samta Mehra, partner and trademark chair at Remfry & Sagar. 'Trade dress and bottle shape can be challenged —as in the Davidoff vs Ramsons case— but the fragrance itself remains legally unprotected.'Luxury brands have pushed back when the mimicry is visual. In the Davidoff vs Ramsons case of 2019, which Mehra refers to, the Delhi High Court stopped Thane's Ramsons Perfumes from selling perfumes in a dumbbell-shaped bottle that closely resembled Davidoff Champion's. Similarly, in 2024, the Delhi High Court blocked Mumbai-based Petrol Perfume's Mr. Petrol for packaging that copied Burberry's Mr. perfumes lead to brand dilution and financial losses. Global losses from counterfeit perfumes are estimated to be over $2 billion annually, according to Jarsking, a global packaging manufacturer. Parmar says even if a buyer never intended to purchase an original— say, Chanel Bleu for Rs 18,000 — the fact that its aura can be bought for Rs 900 affects its exclusivity and longterm brand isn't new in the perfume world. In the 1990s, Parfums de Coeur cheekily displayed the slogan: 'If you like OBSESSION, you'll love CONFESS.' The brand spent just $3 million on ads and raked in $30 million in sales—the same amount that the original Calvin Klein Obsession earned after investing $17 million on its have begun to discover and take delight in fragrances. India's fragrance market was worth $1 billion in 2024 and is expected to grow to $3.2 billion by 2033, according to IMARC Group. RISE OF THE ORIGINALS Meanwhile, Indian perfume brands, which are creating affordable, original blends, are rising, too. Labels like Naso Profumi and ISAK from UP, Aamod from Maharashtra, Neesh and Bella Vita from Haryana, and Contraband by Birla Cosmetics, which all come under Rs 2,000, prove that affordable doesn't mean Suri, founder of Naso Profumi, says, 'Most of our blends are original stories mapping India's cultural heritage in spices, herbs and flowers. We build eau de parfums as narratives, not imitations.'Others like ISAK blend ingredients like kewra, mitti attar and vetiver into minimalist creative producer Aayushi Mehta, who loves Naso Wild Jasmine, says, 'It feels like I am wearing a piece of India. My bottle is like a mood.'This generation of perfume buyers— and makers— is proving you don't need a French logo to wear good like ISAK blend ingredients like kewra, mitti attar and vetiver into minimalist creative producer Aayushi Mehta, who loves Naso Wild Jasmine, says, 'It feels like I am wearing a piece of India. My bottle is like a mood.'This generation of perfume buyers— and makers— is proving you don't need a French logo to wear good taste.
