Latest news with #desert
The Sun
29 minutes ago
- Business
- The Sun
Meet the ‘Neom' WAGS – glam Brit TikTok housewives of Saudis building $1tn mega city… and why it's hiding a dark secret
IN the deserts of north-western Saudi Arabia sits a gated Brit family enclave - and while wives stay home to look after their young kids, their husbands are busy building Neom - the $1 trillion mega-city. But the glamorous Brit influencers also act like they too are working for the project as they spend their days posting social media content, painting a glossy picture of life there - but it hides a dark secret. 19 A dozen now- influencers - most with young children - made the move months or even years ago as their husbands landed various jobs working for the Saudi project. The high salaries are said to be the main attraction for a new life in the desert - as well as the often free accommodation - with some senior executives offered over $1 million annually. It appears that most, if not all of the women had normal jobs before taking up social media as they moved thousands of miles away. And, by offering an insight into the project and their luxurious life there, the women have accumulated thousands of followers across Instagram and TikTok. Footage uploaded to social media shows perfect pre-schools, playgrounds, virtually zero traffic and community-building activities like coffee mornings for the housewives. Families also come together in a central food hall on the site for buffet-style eating for every meal of the day. The temporary accommodations are also equipped with luxury amenities like swimming pools, spa facilities, playgrounds and football pitches. One TikToker shared a video on how items compare price-wise in Saudi supermarkets, with a punnet of strawberries or blueberries costing up to £10. But the Brit expat insists, "considering where we are, the prices are really really good". And to help deal with such a change in environment, UK chocolates and sweets are stocked on the shelves. Humiliation for Saudi Arabia as £1trillion 110-mile long sideways skyscraper The Line will only be 1% of planned size But the rosy image posted of Neom c ouldn't be further from the underlying truth, having been built on bloodshed and slavery - with women in the country reportedly slaughtered for speaking out against the ruling regime. Neom was announced as part of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman's Project 2030 in 2017 - a major push to wean the oil-rich nation's economy off its reliance on fossil fuels. The anticipated cost of delivering the gargantuan scheme is reported to have spiralled from a $500bn (£386bn) estimate to a head-spinning $8.8 trillion (£6.8 trillion), according to The New Civil Engineer. But even more shocking are the human rights abuses and brutal conditions for workers looming over Neom - issues that have plagued the country well before the project. I absolutely love the community here, and I just wouldn't change it for the world. Samantha Brit mum As many as 21,000 are reported to have died during construction on various sections of Neom, although Saudi authorities have disputed this figure. But as some international workers continue to ensure the high-tech, blood-soaked utopia is built on time, their families are residing in a gated community equipped with everything they could possibly need - including a Starbucks. Nick McGeehan from NGO FairSquare told The Sun how mumfluencers in Saudi are "very clearly a public relations strategy" - and "quite an effective one". He said: "It is trying to attract all sorts of investment into the country to sort of realise its commercial ambitions for the country, and to do that, it needs to sort of exhibit this progressive, tolerant face. 19 19 "Western women are a key part of that. Sending this message to audiences that this is a safe place, it's a good place for families, is very important to them. "And of course, the reality in Saudi Arabia is quite different to the one that's being presented, unfortunately." Life in Neom Brit mum Samantha films day-in-the-life videos showing off her new lifestyle over 4,000 miles away. This consists of school runs, gym sessions and salon appointments, which she describes as "great" and "amazing" in nearly all of her videos. Similarly, another Brit mumfluencer Samara has lived at the compound for over two years. She has dubbed her time on Neom as "incredible" and, like Samantha, shows off the amenities and what she and her family get up to day-to-day. Samara says in one video: "I can't believe I am saying this, but it has been nearly two years since I packed up my life in the UK and I got on an aeroplane with my then five-week-old baby to move to somewhere that I had never ever been before. "It was absolutely madness if you ask me but honestly it was the best decision I have ever made in my life and it still is. "I absolutely love the community here, and I just wouldn't change it for the world." 19 19 Despite previous denials from Neom that influencers aren't paid, Nick has his doubts. He said: "I would be very surprised if there wasn't a commercial dimension to this. "We've seen this in the past, and we know that Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States spend millions and millions of pounds on public relations, and they're very smart how they do it." Just two weeks ago, Saudi journalist Turki al-Jasser was executed for "high treason". He was the founder of news blog The Saudi Scene, which is said to have regularly addressed topics in the country, like its infamous lack of rights for women. Nick pointed out how the life of expat influencers in Saudi differs greatly from the women who were born and raised there. The reality is, it's still quite a brutal place for anyone who wants to speak out, and it's still not a great place for women to go because of the way that women are still second-class citizens in the country Nick McGeehanNGO FairSquare Women's rights are incredibly patchy in the country and women exercise little control over their marriage, children, education, and even healthcare. Only six years ago were Saudi women were granted the right to drive. It is also known that women are being jailed, starved and flogged in "hellish" Saudi prisons for being "disobedient" to their husbands. Documented cases show various evidence of abuse and neglect at the notorious Dar al-Re'aya jails, according to rights group ALQST. Prisoners are left malnourished and locked up in solitary confinement, the organisation claims. Several cases of suicide attempts in recent years have also been reported. 19 19 19 The name of the jails, Dar al-Re'aya, literally translates to "care homes". They have existed since the 1960s and were initially presented as a rehabilitative "shelter" for women accused or convicted of certain crimes. The infamous cells house women and girls between the ages of just seven to 30. Nick said: "We cannot believe the sort of public relations image that we're sold about the country from influencers on TikTok and other social media. "The reality is, it's still quite a brutal place for anyone who wants to speak out, and it's still not a great place for women to go because of the way that women are still second-class citizens in the country." Nick believes it is "dangerous" to perpetuate this kind of unrealistic lifestyle on social media, based on the idea "you just have to shut up, consume, shop, sunbathe - and don't say a goddamn thing about what's going on to the people who've stood up and ask for their basic rights". He concluded: "It's cheap PR, right?" Some influencers living in Neom have been approached for comment. Futuristic city Neom is to be an unbelievable futuristic city across 26,000 sqft on the Red Sea and will include smaller projects like The Line, Oxagon, Trojena, Sindalah and the Gulf of Aqaba Projects. Some infrastructure in the plans includes floating buildings, as well as ultra-luxurious holiday and ski resorts. 19 19 19 But even after eight years, little progress has been made. And the project has been the subject of a number of controversies. One former employee has shared their story of working at the gigaproject with The Sun, shedding light on the atrocities taking place behind Neom's doors. Rights organisations have long blasted the Saudi regime's record on workers' welfare, with a recent Human Rights Watch report detailing the "gruesome yet avoidable" deaths faced by many migrant workers. The advocacy group mentions that some workers died falling from buildings, by electrocution, and even decapitation. Human Rights Watch researcher Joey Shea told The Sun: "Unfortunately, migrant workers in Saudi Arabia continue to face widespread abuses, some of which may amount to situations of forced labour, including at high-profile gigaprojects. 19 "On Neom, Human Rights Watch has found that ambitious targets set by Saudi authorities have tight and unrealistic deadlines which can lead employers to demand that workers continue to work under dangerous conditions. "Migrant workers in Saudi Arabia experience illegal and exorbitant recruitment fees, limits to job mobility, obstacles exiting the country, as well as serious health and safety risks." Michael, whose name has been changed to protect his identity, told The Sun that the project is unlikely to be anywhere near complete before 2055. Talking about delays, Michael said: "From the very beginning, Neom had a very long timeline. "There were certain objectives they wanted to achieve by 2030, but most of the leadership were aware of a longer timeframe." Michael said Neom's management has "overspent quite a bit" since its announcement. He says: "They were focusing on way too many things at the same time. "They just wanted everything at the highest level possible. The biggest entertainment complex in the world. The biggest media studio in the region. "No matter how much money you throw at the thing, it takes more than just money to make it work." The much hyped project, aided by an aggressive social media marketing campaign, has sought to big up Neom as a vision of futuristic city living. Sci-fi ideas from levitating trains to an artificial moon are reported to have been among the features of the project. But Neom continues to fall chronically behind schedule, with many of its most ambitious projects still looking like a distant dream. Top 5 blunders plaguing NEOM project By Juliana Cruz Lima, Foreign News Reporter Saudi Arabia's NEOM project, despite its ambitious vision, has been criticized for several major blunders that have raised concerns about its feasibility, ethics, and overall execution. Here are the top five major blunders associated with the project: Forced Displacement of Indigenous Communities: One of the most significant controversies surrounding NEOM is the forced displacement of the Huwaitat tribe. This indigenous community, which has lived in the area for centuries, was forcibly removed from their ancestral lands to make way for the development of the mega-city. The Saudi government's crackdown on those who resisted, including the killing of a tribal leader, Abdul Rahim al-Howeiti, has drawn widespread condemnation from human rights organisations. This blunder not only sparked international outrage but also tainted NEOM's image as a forward-thinking, humane project. Environmental Impact and Sustainability Concerns: NEOM has been marketed as an environmentally sustainable city, but the environmental impact of such a massive development is a major concern. The project's scale—covering over 26,500 square kilometers—poses significant risks to local ecosystems, particularly in the Red Sea, which is home to rich marine biodiversity. Critics argue that the construction of artificial islands and extensive urbanisation could lead to irreversible ecological damage. The enormous water and energy demands required to maintain a green city in the desert also raise questions about the project's sustainability. Economic Viability and Cost Overruns: NEOM is one of the most expensive development projects in history. But there are serious doubts about its economic viability. Critics question whether the project can attract the necessary foreign investment and whether it will generate sufficient returns to justify the enormous expenditure. The economic risks are further compounded by potential cost overruns and delays, which are common in megaprojects of this scale. This financial gamble has led some to worry that NEOM could become a costly white elephant if it fails to meet its ambitious goals. Technological Overreach and Ethical Concerns: NEOM is envisioned as a high-tech city, heavily reliant on artificial intelligence, robotics, and extensive surveillance systems. While this technological ambition is central to NEOM's identity, it also raises significant ethical concerns. The level of surveillance planned for the city could lead to unprecedented control over residents' lives, sparking fears about privacy and civil liberties. The lack of transparency about how AI will be used, coupled with concerns about job displacement, has also led to criticism that NEOM's technological vision may be more dystopian than utopian. Cultural and Social Disconnect: NEOM's vision of a futuristic, liberalized society clashes sharply with Saudi Arabia's deeply conservative cultural norms. The project plans to introduce mixed-gender sports, entertainment events, and other liberal lifestyle elements that are rare in the kingdom. This cultural shift has raised concerns about a potential clash between NEOM's globalised vision and the traditional values of Saudi society. The disconnect between the project's ambitions and the broader cultural context has led to skepticism about whether NEOM can truly integrate into Saudi Arabia's social fabric without causing significant friction.
New York Times
a day ago
- General
- New York Times
For the Future of Water Conservation, Look to … Los Angeles?
Los Angeles was built in a desert. And it takes a colossal infrastructure to transport water to the city. But large-scale construction isn't the only way the city has quenched its thirst. Critic's Notebook Supported by You've probably come across more stories about water woes in California than you can recall, so you may feel you've had enough for a while. I understand. There's no easy or permanent fix. The protagonists don't divide neatly into good and evil. Water in the state often isn't where the people are — or, as with the recent fires, isn't there at all. After looking into the subject for years, I still can't wrap my head around the endless ins and outs. But there is one indisputable fact that keeps surfacing in the conversations I have about California water that feels like something of a beacon. The first time I heard it, it came as quite a surprise. Over the last half century or so, millions more people have moved to greater Los Angeles, settling in increasingly far-flung reaches of the desert and in the mountains, requiring more faucets, toilets and shower heads, producing more garbage and more gridlock on the 405 freeway, reinforcing all the clichés about excess and sprawl. And during this same time, Angelenos have been consuming less water. I don't just mean per person, though that figure, according to state authorities, is down by a whopping 43 percent since 1990. I mean, residents and businesses in the Los Angeles area now consume less water in total. The population has grown, yet the city consumes less water. How Los Angeles Gets Its Water CALIFORNIA Sacramento River Sacramento/ San Joaquin River Delta Mono Lake Owens River Owens Lake CALIFORNIA AQUEDUCT LOS ANGELES AQUEDUCT COLORADO RIVER AQUEDUCT Pacific Ocean Los Angeles Colorado River 100 miles CALIFORNIA Sacramento River Sacramento/ San Joaquin River Delta Mono Lake Owens River Owens Lake CALIFORNIA AQUEDUCT LOS ANGELES AQUEDUCT Pacific Ocean Los Angeles Colorado R. COLORADO RIVER AQUEDUCT 100 miles By Barbara Berasi The L.A. Aqueduct starts at Mono Lake … … and taps into the snaking Owens River… … diverting water from Owens Lake, now a toxic moonscape. The aqueduct crosses deserts … … and flows into reservoirs … … and spills down into the city delivering water to millions. How do you think about water in your community? You just read our story about water in Los Angeles, but we're curious: How do you think about water where you live? Whether you're dealing with drought, trying to conserve, facing rising costs, trying to use less or just trying to understand it, we want to hear from you. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Country Queen Miranda Lambert Is a Real Cowgirl in New Fringe-Covered Outfit
Country Queen Miranda Lambert Is a Real Cowgirl in New Fringe-Covered Outfit originally appeared on Parade. never disappoints her fans when it comes to her chic cowgirl style. In her latest set of Instagram snaps, the country songstress turned up the heat for a scenic desert photoshoot, for which she was dressed head-to-toe in one of her signature fringe-covered outfits. 🎬SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox🎬 Wearing a brown suede dress from her clothing brand Idyllwind, Lambert, 41, stunned in the country-inspired look, made up of a matching brown suede jacket embroidered with a horse and horseshoe designs. She paired the outfit with a turquoise belt, as well as chunky teal jewelry and of course, a cowboy hat. The "Wranglers" songstress added even more color with her cowgirl boots, which were also a bright shade of teal. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Miranda Lambert (@mirandalambert) "Long live cowgirls," she captioned the post on Wednesday, which also included a short clip of Lambert twisting around in her dress and proclaiming, "I love fringe." "And long live fringe 🔥," the Instagram account for her Idyllwind clothing company commented under the pics, while her fans flocked to the comments to gush over the stunning look. "Yes ma'am 🔥," one commenter wrote, while another person said, "The outfit is so country." Someone else commented, "When doesn't she look gorgeous 🥰." "These looks just never miss!" another fan wrote to the country queen, while someone else added, "Fringe on sister!!!!🔥❤️👏🏼" Country Queen Miranda Lambert Is a Real Cowgirl in New Fringe-Covered Outfit first appeared on Parade on Jun 25, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jun 25, 2025, where it first appeared.
Khaleej Times
2 days ago
- General
- Khaleej Times
UAE: How Ras Al Khaimah farmer grows rice, yields 60kg a year
Despite the desert climate, Nasser Saeed Al Mazrouei has turned a farming experiment into a small but successful rice production effort, yielding 60kg annually and showing new possibilities for local agriculture. The rice planting began as an experiment last year among a group of friends with experience in wheat farming. "We had been planting wheat for about eight or nine years. Then we decided to try rice. We planted on our farms and tested different methods," Al Mazrouei said. Although the idea started as a group effort, Al Mazrouei developed the project independently on his land. "I bought the seeds from fellow farmers Dr Ayoub Ahli, Salem Saif Al Yamahi, and Nasser Musbeh Al Qaydi, and the seeds were imported from India and Pakistan," he said. Rice growing process The rice cultivation process starts with planting seeds in a nursery for up to 45 days. Once ready, the seedlings are transferred to a larger field, where they are grown using organic fertilisers and fresh water. "No chemicals are used," Al Mazrouei emphasised. Al Mazrouei prepared the land using clay collected from nearby dams, which helps retain water for extended periods. 'Yes, rice requires large amounts of water, but we managed to overcome this issue by using clay soil, as it retains water for a long time,' he explained. 'I use desalinated water because rice does not tolerate salinity,' he added. 'I also use only organic fertilisers.' Watch the video of the first phase which with planting Basmati and Hasawi rice seeds: The farm uses no chemical inputs and relies on a drip irrigation system. 'The cost is lower because we use modern irrigation tools specifically drip irrigation,' Al Mazrouei explained. It currently grows four rice varieties: Basmati, Hasawi, Anbara, and a dark brown type. A single kilogram of Basmati seeds can yield up to 30kg of rice. "The growing method is the same for all types," he noted. 'The season typically lasts from 4 to 5 months,' Al Mazrouei said, noting that rice is usually planted in mid-June and harvested by October. His farm spans approximately 300x300 metres. Al Mazrouei also visits the farm early in the morning and again in the evening to check on all crops and ensure proper growth. 'With determination and perseverance, there were no challenges. I love farming, and farming gives back more than you can imagine to those who are passionate about it,' he said, summing up his mindset and the drive behind the project. Al Mazrouei said he has seen growing interest from the local community and is planning to expand production. "Yes, we welcome all groups to visit the farm especially school students," he said. "If the harvest increases, I will look into selling the rice locally," he added. After a successful first season, he now plans to introduce more varieties. "Last year, I planted Basmati rice. I'll add two more types of rice this year and see how well they perform," he said. He believes the UAE's environment holds potential for crops not traditionally grown in the region. "There's nothing impossible. We try, and the rest is up to God," he said. The farm remains an entirely private initiative. "It's my land, my effort," Al Mazrouei said. "I've succeeded so far, and we'll keep working to develop it further."
CNET
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- CNET
Honestly, I Don't Think You're Ready for This Old West Horror Flick on Netflix
If you were to ask my wife what type of movies I like, she'd tell you I'm a fanatic for horror flicks and Westerns. As is the case with being a busy dad, though, I never seem to find enough time in my schedule to kick back on the couch and enjoy either. How amazing would it be to queue up a double feature at home to feed my need for scares and outlaw justice? Very, is the answer. The reality of the situation, though, finds me sharing a house with a spouse who despises scary movies and a six-year-old prone to nightmares. So, I must keep things family-friendly -- most of the time, anyway. That said, there have been a number of opportunities recently where I have had the place to myself. Hallelujah! However, I have found my capacity to sit through four hours of movie madness waning. What if there were one movie that could bring me the sinister scares and cowboy goodness I crave? Wait a tick. There absolutely is; it's one of the best horror Westerns I've ever seen. The movie I'm talking about is Bone Tomahawk, and the good news is that it's streaming on Netflix right now. Bone Tomahawk follows four men as they venture into the desert to rescue some townspeople who were kidnapped after a surprise attack. This is no ordinary rescue mission, though. It's revealed early on in the film that a group of savage, cave-dwelling (and potentially supernatural) cannibals is the guilty party. Defeating them will be no easy feat. To that point, the eventual confrontation between the men and these attackers is one of the most grizzly, violent displays I've ever seen in a Western. Read more: Netflix Review: Our Top Pick in a Sea of Streaming Choices Kurt Russell plays Sheriff Hunt alongside Richard Jenkins, who plays Deputy Chicory, in the horror-Western movie, Bone Tomahawk. RLJ Entertainment The first and probably biggest draw here is the movie's stellar cast. Kurt Russell leads the charge as Sheriff Franklin Hunt, alongside Patrick Wilson as Arthur O'Dwyer, Richard Jenkins (the Oscar-nominated actor for The Shape of Water) as Deputy Chicory and Lost alum Matthew Fox as John Brooder. Supporting players include Lili Simmons, Zahn McLarnon, David Arquette, horror icon Sid Haig, Fred Malamed, Michael Paré, and Sean Young. Tombstone is hands down one of my favorite westerns, and seeing Russell get back on the horse, so to speak, to lead another western (The Hateful Eight, which he also stars in, hit theaters the same year) is reason in and of itself to watch this movie. As wonderful as he is in the role of Sheriff Hunt, the movie gives enough scenery to chew for Wilson, Jenkins, and Fox -- each actor delivers nuanced performances that keep things grounded, even as the stakes are steadily raised. An extra tip of the hat should be given to Fox, the enigmatic standout. Brooder is not a likable character, yet his ego doesn't define who this man is either. His drive to hunt down these attackers stems from a deeply personal trauma that earns him equal parts disdain from the audience and empathy. Without him, the crew probably wouldn't make it as far as they do. Matthew Fox plays the armed gentleman John Brooder in the horror-Western Bone Tomahawk. Screenshot by Aaron Pruner/CNET This is S. Craig Zahler's directorial debut. He is the filmmaker behind the brutal festival darlings Dragged Across Concrete and Brawl in Cell Block 99 so if you're at all familiar with those movies , you'd be unsurprised by the final act's blood-spilling. Zahler also wrote the movie, which is important to note, considering how sharp the dialogue is. This is probably the key detail that brought this epic cast to the project. Hunt and his men spend most of the movie searching, which is not dissimilar to how John Wayne and his Texas Rangers were in John Ford 's cinematic classic, The Searchers. That iconic Western is most assuredly beloved by dads nationwide; Ford's work has inspired filmmakers from Spielberg to Scorsese and Kurosawa. A skull, displayed as an ominous warning to trespassers, in the horror-western Bone Tomahawk. RLJ Entertainment Ford's movies had a specific pacing that has all but disappeared from modern entertainment . His movies took their time, following characters through a slow-burn hero's journey. This allowed the story world to sit in silence, allowing the viewer to take in the dusty horizon as if it were a photograph or painting come to life. Like Jim Jarmusch's Dead Man, which tapped into a similar narrative sensibility, Zahler gives ample room for the story, characters and surrounding world to breathe, which draws the viewer in further. There's no musical score here, and the cinematography is seamless and straightforward. Instead of populating the movie with distracting camera maneuvers, Zahler's debut acts almost as a stage play, which gives a matter-of-fact, rudimentary vibe to the whole thing. On the surface, Bone Tomahawk is a revenge story. Yet, underneath, it explores humanity at a crossroads, following civilized men as they grapple with the untamed, feral elements on the other side of the desert. Once the men meet the villains, referred to earlier in the movie as Troglodytes, the movie crosses over from Old West homage to horror territory. The practical effects in the movie's third act bring about a series of hard-to-watch acts of violence on the level of Eli Roth's cannibal opus, Green Inferno. I wouldn't call this torture porn. As visceral, gory and in-your-face things get, it's all still justified to the story being told. I've read the criticism online about Bone Tomahawk's depiction of Native Americans, specifically in reference to the Troglodytes. I'm not here to contest that notion. However, it's worth noting that the movie takes place during an era where prejudice toward anyone who wasn't white or male was indeed the norm. It could also be argued that this tribe of powerful cannibals isn't really Native American at all. That's the sentiment spoken as a warning by Zahn McClarnon's professor to Hunt and crew. Patrick Wilson, Richard Jenkins and Kurt Russell as Arthur O'Dwyer, Deputy Chicory and Sheriff Hunt in the horror-Western Bone Tomahawk. Screenshot by Aaron Pruner/CNET If I had a gripe with the movie, it would be the abruptness of its ending. The emotional stakes do pay off, and much blood is spilled. But I have to wonder if there was ever a plan to make a sequel, as things close in an open-ended way. A number of characters' storylines ended as they walked off into the sunset, and I, for one, would love to see this story continue in some fashion. Bone Tomahawk is not for everyone. That said, if you're a dad like me who yearns for some quiet time away from the family to relish in some gruesome goodies, may I suggest delving into this ultraviolet Western-horror opus? Movies like these don't come around very often. You won't be disappointed.
