Culture Bites: Oscars take-aways and royal Photoshop controversy



In this week’s episode of the Culture Bites podcast, hosts Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews delve into the significance of Ramadan for Muslims worldwide, exploring its spiritual and communal aspects.

Enas shares her personal experience of fasting this year, and talks about Ramadan and the TV season in the Arab region, with a focus on popular soap operas and how people gather around it. Farah discusses the transformation of the UAE during the holy month, from adjusted working hours and cannon firing to late-night activities and suhoors.

The hosts talk about the Oscars earlier this week, and how some celebrities have shown their support for a ceasefire in Gaza by wearing Artists4Ceasefire pins. Farah chats about major highlights from the ceremony, from the winners to fashion statements.

Enas and Farah also talk about the fallout from Kate, Princess of Wales's Mother's Day photo with her children, which was published this week, and why international agencies took it down.

Disclaimer

Director: Alfonso Cuaron 

Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville 

Rating: 4/5

Citadel: Honey Bunny first episode

Directors: Raj & DK

Stars: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon

Rating: 4/5

From Zero

Artist: Linkin Park

Label: Warner Records

Number of tracks: 11

Rating: 4/5

Electoral College Victory

Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate. 

 

Popular Vote Tally

The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.

Wicked
Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
Rating: 4/5
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WWE Evolution results
  • Trish Stratus and Lita beat Alicia Fox and Mickie James in a tag match
  • Nia Jax won a battle royal, eliminating Ember Moon last to win
  • Toni Storm beat Io Shirai to win the Mae Young Classic
  • Natalya, Sasha Banks and Bayley beat The Riott Squad in a six-woman tag match​​​​​​​
  • Shayna Baszler won the NXT Women’s title by defeating Kairi Sane
  • Becky Lynch retained the SmackDown Women’s Championship against Charlotte Flair in a Last Woman Standing match
  • Ronda Rousey retained the Raw Women’s title by beating Nikki Bella
Updated: March 15, 2024, 8:27 AM

The Arts Edit

A guide to arts and culture, from a Middle Eastern perspective

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