șÚÁÏÉçÇű FIFA World Cup, Manga Arabia to publish âRoad To 2034â special manga
șÚÁÏÉçÇű FIFA World Cup, Manga Arabia to publish âRoad To 2034â special manga/node/2574764/art-culture
șÚÁÏÉçÇű FIFA World Cup, Manga Arabia to publish âRoad To 2034â special manga
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The manga will be available in Japanese, English and Arabic. (Supplied)
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The manga will be available in Japanese, English and Arabic. (Supplied)
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Updated 10 October 2024
Arab News Japan
șÚÁÏÉçÇű FIFA World Cup, Manga Arabia to publish âRoad To 2034â special manga
Special edition manga is part of SAFFâs efforts to build on the excitement as the Kingdom prepares to host the first 48-team FIFA World Cup held in a single nation
Partnership highlights șÚÁÏÉçÇűâs ambition to celebrate its culture and legacy as part of its FIFA World Cup bid
Updated 10 October 2024
Arab News Japan
DUBAI: The șÚÁÏÉçÇű 2034 FIFA World Cup has entered a partnership with Saudi Research and Media Groupâs Manga Arabia to release a special edition manga titled âRoad to 2034â which aims to capture the imagination of young football fans and manga enthusiasts around the world.
The manga is a part of the Saudi Football Federationâs efforts to build on the excitement as the Kingdom prepares to host the first 48-team FIFA World Cup held in a single nation. Available in Japanese, English, and Arabic, it will be released both in print and digitally.Â
The partnership highlights șÚÁÏÉçÇűâs ambition to celebrate its culture and legacy as part of its FIFA World Cup bid, offering an opportunity to connect with youth across the world.
The collaboration also emphasizes the desire to inspire the next generation of young footballers to pursue their dreams through the powerful medium of storytelling.
The announcement falls on the same day as the World Cup 2026 qualifier match between șÚÁÏÉçÇű and Japan, which is taking place at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium.Â
âOur bid unites our nation through a passion for the beautiful game and is powered by the dreams and ambitions of over 32 million people,â Hammad Albalawi, head of the șÚÁÏÉçÇű FIFA World Cup, said. âThrough this manga, we are showing how our dream towards hosting the FIFA World Cup in ten yearsâ time is about inspiring future generations.
âWe want to ensure we leave behind a lasting legacy. This partnership is a testament to our commitment to engaging our young population â 63 percent of which are under 30 â in ways that resonate with their interests while also showcasing and utilizing șÚÁÏÉçÇűâs rich cultural heritage on the global stage,â he added.
Rashid Al-Rashed, CEO of SRMG, also emphasized the importance of the partnership, saying it resonates with future generations, empowers local talents and promotes storytelling. Â
Manga Arabiaâs General Manager and Editor-in-Chief Essam Bukhary shared that the partnership highlights the Kingdomâs position in sports globally with the help of young Saudi talents, adding that the manga industry plays a huge role in society as it inspires future generations.Â
Star-studded Gaza fundraiser to take place at Londonâs Wembley Arena
Updated 17 September 2025
Arab News
DUBAI: A fundraising concert for Gaza will be held tomorrow at Londonâs Wembley Arena, organized by Together For Palestine and produced by British musician Brian Eno.
The event, described as âa gathering of artists, musicians and people for whom silence feels impossible,â will be livestreamed exclusively on YouTube.
The concert, the largest Gaza fundraiser ever staged in the UK, features an extensive lineup of international names including Paul Weller, Damon Albarn, Portishead, Nadine Shah, Neneh Cherry, PinkPantheress, Bastille, Jamie xx and James Blake. Actors Guy Pearce, Benedict Cumberbatch, Florence Pugh, Jameela Jamil, Riz Ahmed and Ruth Negga are also scheduled to appear, alongside former footballer Eric Cantona and presenter Amelia Dimoldenberg.
Several Palestinian artists will take part as well, among them Elyanna, Saint Levant and El Far3i.
Proceeds will go to Palestinian-led organizations including Taawon, the Palestine Childrenâs Relief Fund and the Palestine Medical Relief Service.
Bukhara Biennial 2025 â reconnecting a city through craft and conversation
Updated 17 September 2025
Jasmine Bager
BUKHARA: In the heart of Uzbekistanâs ancient city, where the Silk Road once carried ideas as easily as the fabric that gives it its name, Bukhara Biennial 2025 is sparking a new kind of connection.
The inaugural biennial, which runs until Nov. 20, brings together local and international artists to celebrate the cityâs heritage while fostering cultural and intellectual exchange.
The eventâs creative director of architecture, Wael Al-Awar, told Arab News: âWhat weâre talking about is what excites me most in Bukhara; I think the biennial, to me, is an instigator of connections â reconnecting Bukhara to the world; not based on tourism, but reconnecting through craft and the exchange of ideas.â
The contemporary art event is taking place across newly restored historic landmarks in the city of Bukhara, a UNESCO Creative City of Craft & Folk Art. (Supplied)
Talking about the cityâs history and younger members of the population, he said: âWe need to show them the value of their history, identity and craft â they donât know it.â
When it comes to the value of traditional crafts, Al-Awar cites local and global examples.
âI give the example of Murano glass,â he said. âAt some point, it just became âglass for touristsâ and that craft is making a lot of money.â
There was a lively mix of both locals and tourists at the launch of the event. (Supplied)
He also highlighted local Suzani dressmakers, whose painstaking handwork has long been undervalued: âToday, theyâre starting to realize that value.â He described one artisan whose hand-stitched dress took over a month to complete, initially priced too low. âThey didnât think anyone would pay more for it,â he said.
There was a lively mix of both locals and tourists at the launch of the event.
âAt the opening, I saw the people coming â the locals mingling with the tourists,â said Al-Awar, praising Bukharaâs historically immersive culture: âThey are used to talking to people; theyâre not âthe introverted society.â Weâre bringing the world to them, but whatâs important is intellectual discourse,â he said, emphasizing the biennial was about more than tourism.
The contemporary art event is taking place across newly restored historic landmarks in the city of Bukhara, a UNESCO Creative City of Craft & Folk Art.
Cate Blanchett to be honored at El Gouna Film FestivalÂ
Updated 16 September 2025
Arab News
DUBAI: Australian actress and producer Cate Blanchett will be honored at the eighth edition of Egyptâs El Gouna Film Festival (GFF), set to run from Oct. 16 to 24.
She will serve as this yearâs guest of honor and will receive the Champion of Humanity Award.
âFrom her iconic roles in âElizabeth,â âBlue Jasmineâ and âTĂR,â to her remarkable collaborations with the worldâs most celebrated directors, Cate Blanchett has left an indelible mark on global cinema,â an Instagram post by the festival read.
âBeyond her artistry, she continues to champion urgent humanitarian causes as a UNHCR Global Goodwill Ambassador, echoing the festivalâs guiding vision: âCinema for Humanity,ââ the statement added. âTo honor her work in centering the voices of refugees and those forcibly displaced, Blanchett will be receiving the Champion of Humanity Award by El Gouna Film Festival.â
Blanchett is also known for her stage work, having served as co-artistic director of the Sydney Theatre Company, and she is the co-founder of Dirty Films, a production company behind several award-winning film and television projects.
Beyond her work as an actress and producer, Blanchett has served as a Global Goodwill Ambassador for UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, since 2016.
In this role, she has used her platform to raise awareness on refugee issues and encourage support. She has visited refugee camps and host communities in countries including Jordan, Lebanon, Bangladesh, South Sudan, Niger and Brazil to meet displaced people and highlight their circumstances.
In 2018, she received the Crystal Award at the World Economic Forum in recognition of her efforts.
Amr Mansi, founder and executive director of GFF, said in a statement: âIt is an immense honor to welcome an artist of Cate Blanchettâs caliber to the El Gouna Film Festival. Her unparalleled talent has captivated audiences for decades, and her dedication to humanitarian causes through her work with UNHCR is truly inspiring.
âThe partnership with UNHCR and the Sawiris Foundation, including her visit, perfectly embodies our festivalâs core mission of using the power of cinema to drive positive change and support humanity,â he added.
Arab women redefining cinema and TV: Panelists call for funding, genre diversity, equal creative power
International Congress of Arabic and Creative Industries takes place until Sept. 15
Updated 14 September 2025
Shyama Krishna Kumar
ABU DHABI: The International Congress of Arabic and Creative Industries began at Abu Dhabiâs Etihad Arena on Sunday, exploring issues around the Arabic language and its place in culture and media.
âHer Narrative: Women Reimagining Arab Creativityâ was a panel discussion that featured three trailblazing voices from the region â actor and producer Hend Sabry, filmmaker Tima Shomali, and Cinema Akil founder Butheina Kazim â who spoke on the evolving role of women in Arab cinema and television.
Sabry opened by noting that Arab women still face âthe same challenges as before, but with more pressure,â especially when seeking financing or leadership roles. Yet she acknowledged clear progress, adding: âIn the last 10 to 15 years, weâve reached a decent place.â
She emphasized that women must continue to push for control of their narratives, whether as writers, producers, or directors, and urged more investment in female-driven projects.
Shomali highlighted the gains she sees behind the camera, pointing to the rise of women directors and the global success of her own Netflix hit âAlRawabi School for Girls.â
She also bemoaned the persistent need to âprove ourselves at every stageâ and the subtle resistance experienced when women make authoritative creative decisions. Shomali said she deliberately hired mostly female department heads on her production, finding the collaboration âsmooth and barrier-free,â and she championed opportunities for women in technical fields such as cinematography and sound design.
Kazim offered a historical lens, tracing womenâs influence back to early Arab cinema pioneers like Egyptian actor and producer Aziza Amir and Lebanese Egyptian actor and producer Assia Dagher. She challenged the narrative of female exclusion, noting that women make up nearly half the Arab film workforce. For Kazim, independent cinema is a vital incubator for womenâs stories and deserves sustained funding and festival support.
The panelists questioned and explored industry myths: that female-led films do not sell, and that televisionâs popularity among women is accidental. They cited examples like Nadine Labakiâs âCaramelâ and the international reach of âAlRawabi School for Girlsâ to reject the claims. All three agreed that capital remains the central hurdle and that financiers still back men more readily, limiting womenâs creative freedom.
Looking forward, Sabry called for more genre diversity, from science fiction to thrillers; Shomali urged a structured, collaborative Arab industry; and Kazim pressed for robust funding policies.
Kazim said: âIf I must pick just one thing (as a future goal): more funding opportunities for womenâs works at every level â commercial and independent. And perhaps we should be biased toward the alternative-independent sector. People think itâs a niche with a small audience and little importance but I believe the deepest lessons we are discussing come from independent cinema.
âSo, revive and support festivals and funding opportunities for alternative cinema here in the UAE and across the region in a healthy way so that they complement one another.â
Whoâs who at the Riyadh Comedy Festival /node/2615020/lifestyle
Best known for: The âGood For Youâ podcast; co-creating â2 Broke Girls.â
She says: âWhen you get in a room with a bunch of people and no one knows who everyone else is, and theyâre all laughing at the same stuff ⊠weâre not that divided. If you go to a comedy show, youâll see that.â (CleveRock.com)
Appearing: Sept. 26
Maz Jobrani
Maz Jobrani. (AFP)
Who: US stand-up and actor of Iranian heritage.
Best known for: âThe Axis of Evil,â tour; the âMinivan Menâ podcast; his memoir âIâm Not a Terrorist, but Iâve played one on TV.â
He says: âThroughout my life and throughout my comedy Iâve talked about being Iranian, about being an immigrant. And I am very much in support of immigrants in America.â (CNN)
Appearing: Sept. 26
Dave Chappelle
Dave Chappelle. (AFP)
Who: US stand-up and actor.
Best known for: Multi-million-dollar Netflix comedy-special deal; six Grammy-winning comedy albums; five Emmy wins; the 2019 Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.
He says: âI'm either gonna be a legend or just that tragic story, but I'm going full throttle; I'm going all the way. I'm eager to find out how this will resolve itself.â (âInside The Actorâs Studioâ)
Appearing: Sept. 27
Kevin Hart
Kevin Hart. (AFP)
Who: This feels redundant â heâs got 177 million Instagram followers.
Best known for: Diminutive-sidekick movie roles; four Grammys; two Emmys; the 2024 Mark Twain Prize.
He says: âIâm giving you an experience through a story that is relatable, and more importantly, Iâm saying things that other people just donât have the heart to say.â (â60 Minutesâ)
Appearing: Sept. 28
Aziz Ansari
Aziz Ansari. (AFP)
Who: US actor and comedian of Indian heritage.
Best known for: âParks and Recreationâ; âMaster of None,â for which he won two Emmys and a Golden Globe.
He says: âAnytime you feel something strong, pain or joy, if youâre a comedian or a writer, then youâve got to note it and find out whatâs creating that strong emotion. Whatâs beautiful about it is that itâs a common experience.â (The Guardian)
Appearing: Sept. 28
Gabriel Iglesias
Gabriel Iglesias. (AFP)
Who: US comedian and actor of Mexican heritage.
Best known for: The first two âMagic Mikeâ films; âMr. Iglesiasâ; his nickname, âFluffyâ â as in, âIâm not fat, Iâm fluffy.â
He says: âI still feel like I have a lot of dues to pay as an actor. I donât consider myself a seasoned veteran of acting. I do consider myself that as a comic.â (Forbes)âŻ
Appearing: Oct. 1
Russell Peters
Russell Peters. (AFP)
Who: Canadian stand-up and actor of Indian heritage.
Best known for: Being the first comedian to get a Netflix special; setting records for ticket sales in several countries.
He says: âComedians look at everyone else as civilians. You guys are all civilians to us. We have a very dark way of looking at things. ⊠Weâll find something funny about whatever disaster happened.â (Marriska Fernandes)
Appearing: Oct. 2
Chris Tucker
Chris Tucker. (AFP)
Who: US comedian and actor
Best known for: The âRush Hourâ film franchise.
He says: âŻI want everybody to come to my show to laugh, have fun, to learn something â learn about what Iâm thinking about â and then what got me to my point in life or success. Thatâs my whole goal.â (Page Six)
Appearing: Oct. 2
Zarna Garg
Zarna Garg. (AFP)
Who: Indian-American stand-up and screenwriter.
Best known for: âA Nice Indian Boyâ; her memoir âThis American Woman.â
She says: âI donât want to change peopleâs minds. Iâm not a political comic. Iâm not here to prove to somebody that Iâm an artist at this level or that level. Iâm here to serve my audience. Theyâre giving me a very important asset, which is their time, and I take every second seriously, almost to the point of insanity.â (Glamour)
Appearing: Oct. 2
Mark Normand
Mark Normand. (AFP)
Who: US stand-up and actor.
Best known for: Several stand-up specials; his podcasts âTuesdays with Storiesâ and âWe Might Be Drunk.â
He says: âWe (comedians) should all be grateful we get to do this. So enjoy it, don't abuse it, and work hard at it. Make it about the audience, not about you. Try to make them laugh. Entertain them instead of just being indulgent.â (The Comedy Gazelle)
Appearing: Oct. 3
Jimmy Carr
Jimmy Carr. (AFP)
Who: Irish-British comedian and TV host.
Best known for: âLast One Laughingâ; â8 out of 10 Catsâ; dealing with hecklers; having an annoying laugh.
He says: âThereâs nothing more exciting than a new joke that works. The joke doesnât even exist when itâs just a thought, it only exists when you tell it someone. And that excites me.ââŻ
Appearing: Oct. 6
Jo Koy
Jo Koy. (AFP)
Who: US stand-up and actor with part-Filipino heritage.
Best known for: âEaster Sundayâ; hosting the 2024 Golden Globes.
He says:âŻâI love the art of storytelling and that's my favorite style of standup and my intentions were always to be able to have you see it when I do it on stage. In your head, you can already visualize it.â (Collider)
Appearing: Oct. 8
Tom Segura
Tom Segura. (AFP)
Who: US stand-up, actor, and podcaster of part-Peruvian heritage.
Best known for: âBad Thoughtsâ; his podcasts âYour Momâs Houseâ and âTwo Bears One Cave.â
He says: âMy mom finds me funny but absolutely disgusting. And I could not enjoy that more. To get somebody to gasp and laugh, or drop their head and laugh, thereâs something in that moment that feels very much like love.â (Vulture)
Appearing: Oct. 8
Sebastian Maniscalco
Sebastian Maniscalcoââââââ. (AFP)
Who: US stand-up and actor of Italian heritage.
Best known for: âAbout My Fatherâ; several comedy specials.
He says: âYou donât become a bodybuilder the first day you start lifting weights. Same thing with comedy. You gotta flesh out your joke, your bit. You add and subtract. You see what works.â (Dolce Magazine)