Few journalists have left their mark on the Arab world like Giselle Khoury. Known as one of the best interviewers and the sharpest analysts, Giselle was a force to be reckoned with when she hosted a guest on her TV shows over the past three decades.
Giselle was one of the most recognised and beloved television personalities in the Arab world, and that love came through as her friends in the media and many fans around the world mourned her death, which was announced on Sunday morning.
Giselle began her journey in journalism at Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation (LBC) in 1986. At LBC, she hosted Hiwar al-Omar (Talk of my Life) which became a talk show of incredible reach.
In 2002, Giselle joined MBC Group, and was part of the launch team of Al Arabiya, where she hosted a weekly show interviewing leading politicians and newsmakers.
In 2013, she moved to BBC Arabic where she anchored the weekly Al Mashad show, again interviewing world leaders including former President of France Jacques Chirac and former President of Turkey Abdullah Gul.
In 2020, Giselle moved to Abu Dhabi to launch her talk show, With Giselle, on Sky News Arabia, where she interviewed global leaders. She remained at Sky News Arabia until her death.
Giselle was incredibly elegant in her approach to tackling tough topics, earning the respect of interviewees and viewers alike.
While she was a pan-Arab nationalist in the classical sense of the term, caring for the entire Arab world, her constant source of inspiration and anxiety was her beloved Lebanon. She knew every detail of the country, its politics, heritage and society.
Giselle lived through the horrors of the Lebanon Civil War and resented the warlords who destroyed the country. In contrast, she felt pride in the young people of her country and the multifaceted cosmopolitanism of Beirut.
Giselle also suffered much loss in her life, and the events of Lebanon reverberated through her personal life. The love of her life, the well-known journalist and writer Samir Kassir, was assassinated in June 2005. She pledged to keep alive her husband’s memory and fight for freedom of expression and civic activism, establishing the Samir Kassir Foundation in 2006. The foundation is among the most respected in the region.
Despite the sadness at the loss of her husband, she loved life and lived it to the full. She gathered friends around her wherever she went.
An avid reader and lover of film and music, she kept up with the latest celebrity news, movies and entertainment. While Giselle knew all the stories of high society and the corridors of power, she was a trusted keeper of secrets for her friends.
The one role Giselle cherished most was that of a mother and grandmother. She often referred to her grandchildren as “my love”, while her daughter Rana and son Marwan were a constant source of pride.
After years of battling cancer, Giselle, 62, died peacefully in her home in Beirut, surrounded by her family.
News of her death was covered across the Arab world, as journalism in the Middle East lost one of its leading lights. Giselle is survived by her son and daughter and her grandchildren Kayan, Sasha and Rayan.
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'How To Build A Boat'
Jonathan Gornall, Simon & Schuster
Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
Farage on Muslim Brotherhood
Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
The specs: Macan Turbo
Engine: Dual synchronous electric motors
Power: 639hp
Torque: 1,130Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Touring range: 591km
Price: From Dh412,500
On sale: Deliveries start in October
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
At Everton Appearances: 77; Goals: 17
At Manchester United Appearances: 559; Goals: 253
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Hydrogen: Market potential
Hydrogen has an estimated $11 trillion market potential, according to Bank of America Securities and is expected to generate $2.5tn in direct revenues and $11tn of indirect infrastructure by 2050 as its production increases six-fold.
"We believe we are reaching the point of harnessing the element that comprises 90 per cent of the universe, effectively and economically,” the bank said in a recent report.
Falling costs of renewable energy and electrolysers used in green hydrogen production is one of the main catalysts for the increasingly bullish sentiment over the element.
The cost of electrolysers used in green hydrogen production has halved over the last five years and will fall to 60 to 90 per cent by the end of the decade, acceding to Haim Israel, equity strategist at Merrill Lynch. A global focus on decarbonisation and sustainability is also a big driver in its development.
Day 1, Dubai Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Sadeera Samarawickrama set pulses racing with his strokeplay on his introduction to Test cricket. It reached a feverish peak when he stepped down the wicket and launched Yasir Shah, who many regard as the world’s leading spinner, back over his head for six. No matter that he was out soon after: it felt as though the future had arrived.
Stat of the day - 5 The last time Sri Lanka played a Test in Dubai – they won here in 2013 – they had four players in their XI who were known as wicketkeepers. This time they have gone one better. Each of Dinesh Chandimal, Kaushal Silva, Samarawickrama, Kusal Mendis, and Niroshan Dickwella – the nominated gloveman here – can keep wicket.
The verdict Sri Lanka want to make history by becoming the first team to beat Pakistan in a full Test series in the UAE. They could not have made a better start, first by winning the toss, then by scoring freely on an easy-paced pitch. The fact Yasir Shah found some turn on Day 1, too, will have interested their own spin bowlers.
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
MATCH INFO
Manchester City 2 (Mahrez 04', Ake 84')
Leicester City 5 (Vardy 37' pen, 54', 58' pen, Maddison 77', Tielemans 88' pen)
Man of the match: Jamie Vardy (Leicester City)
World record transfers
1. Kylian Mbappe - to Real Madrid in 2017/18 - €180 million (Dh770.4m - if a deal goes through)
2. Paul Pogba - to Manchester United in 2016/17 - €105m
3. Gareth Bale - to Real Madrid in 2013/14 - €101m
4. Cristiano Ronaldo - to Real Madrid in 2009/10 - €94m
5. Gonzalo Higuain - to Juventus in 2016/17 - €90m
6. Neymar - to Barcelona in 2013/14 - €88.2m
7. Romelu Lukaku - to Manchester United in 2017/18 - €84.7m
8. Luis Suarez - to Barcelona in 2014/15 - €81.72m
9. Angel di Maria - to Manchester United in 2014/15 - €75m
10. James Rodriguez - to Real Madrid in 2014/15 - €75m
IF YOU GO
The flights
FlyDubai flies direct from Dubai to Skopje in five hours from Dh1,314 return including taxes. Hourly buses from Skopje to Ohrid take three hours.
The tours
English-speaking guided tours of Ohrid town and the surrounding area are organised by Cultura 365; these cost €90 (Dh386) for a one-day trip including driver and guide and €100 a day (Dh429) for two people.
The hotels
Villa St Sofija in the old town of Ohrid, twin room from $54 (Dh198) a night.
St Naum Monastery, on the lake 30km south of Ohrid town, has updated its pilgrims' quarters into a modern 3-star hotel, with rooms overlooking the monastery courtyard and lake. Double room from $60 (Dh 220) a night.