Three episodes in and the Egyptian musical presence on Moon Knight only seems to be waxing.
The mini-series, which has six episodes, began on the Disney+ streaming platform on March 30, and is arguably Marvel’s most uncanny release yet, albeit also one of its slower burners.
Based on the Marvel Comics title featuring the eponymous character, Moon Knight tells the story of a mercenary with a dissociative identity disorder who, along with his alternate personalities, becomes embroiled in a deadly mystery involving ancient Egyptian gods.
The series stars Oscar Isaac, May Calamawy, Karim El Hakim, Khalid Abdalla, F Murray Abraham and Ethan Hawke. The directorial team is led by Clash filmmaker Mohamed Diab.
Moon Knight has been praised by critics, who have called it “seductively dark” and deft in the way the psychological thriller balances its dry humour. Some have been critical of the show’s pacing and haphazard CGI, but for the most part, reviews have been positive, with many commending the show’s tone, cast and mind-warping plot. The weekly episode release, as opposed to Netflix’s wholesale approach, has also given fans the chance to savour the show.
The music of Moon Knight has also been making waves, particularly its Egyptian features. While the soundtrack includes tracks by Bob Dylan, Bauhaus and even Wham!, songs by Egyptian musicians take a lion’s share of the docket.
Among these is Dubai’s DJ Kaboo. The Egyptian-born producer, who also goes by the name Arab Trap Boss, has a number of his tracks featured on the show including Arab Trap: Made In Egypt — which contains a sample of Khosara, the crooning classic by Abdel Halim Hafez — in the first episode, and Enta, which samples and precedes Warda’s Batwanes Beek, in the third.
The pilot episode also includes Najat Al Saghira’s Bahlam Maak, which is heard during a scene in which Steven (Isaac) is waiting for his date at the restaurant.
The second episode also has an Egyptian song — El Melouk by Ahmed Saad featuring 3enba and Double Zuksh — heard during the end credits.
According to the Egypt Independent, the song “ranked 15th in the world’s top song sales” after being heard on the show. Its official music video currently has more than 57 million views on YouTube. Several posts uploaded in the past week by personal accounts pair the song with artwork from Moon Knight, each of which has accumulated tens of thousands of views.
The third episode features an almost exclusively Egyptian playlist. With its percussive lilt and the flair of zurnas, even Walima by Tito Rinesi sounds, as its title suggests, like a wedding from the region.
Warda’s Batwanes Beek is heard after one of DJ Kaboo’s tracks, followed by another Hafez classic Shaghalouny.
Salka by singer Hassan Shakosh and rapper Wegz is also heard in the episode. With incessant hi-hats and a heavy low end, the song is energising and pairs Wegz’s signature lyrical style with the colloquial ceremony of Shakosh’s vocals.
With three more episodes to go before the first season of Moon Knight finishes (it’s still unclear whether the show will have a second season), the mini-series might just dole out more Egyptian classics and contemporary hits as the plot delves deeper into its ancient Egyptian ties.
Results
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Race 3
Produced: Salman Khan Films and Tips Films
Director: Remo D’Souza
Cast: Salman Khan, Anil Kapoor, Jacqueline Fernandez, Bobby Deol, Daisy Shah, Saqib Salem
Rating: 2.5 stars
End of free parking
- paid-for parking will be rolled across Abu Dhabi island on August 18
- drivers will have three working weeks leeway before fines are issued
- areas that are currently free to park - around Sheikh Zayed Bridge, Maqta Bridge, Mussaffah Bridge and the Corniche - will now require a ticket
- villa residents will need a permit to park outside their home. One vehicle is Dh800 and a second is Dh1,200.
- The penalty for failing to pay for a ticket after 10 minutes will be Dh200
- Parking on a patch of sand will incur a fine of Dh300
WWE TLC results
Asuka won the SmackDown Women's title in a TLC triple threat with Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair
Dean Ambrose won the Intercontinental title against Seth Rollins
Daniel Bryan retained the WWE World Heavyweight Championship against AJ Styles
Ronda Rousey retained the Raw Women's Championship against Nia Jax
Rey Mysterio beat Randy Orton in a chairs match
Finn Balor defeated Drew McIntyre
Natalya beat Ruby Riott in a tables match
Braun Strowman beat Baron Corbin in a TLC match
Sheamus and Cesaro retained the SmackDown Tag Titles against The Usos and New Day
R-Truth and Carmella won the Mixed Match Challenge by beating Jinder Mahal and Alicia Fox
Tailors and retailers miss out on back-to-school rush
Tailors and retailers across the city said it was an ominous start to what is usually a busy season for sales.
With many parents opting to continue home learning for their children, the usual rush to buy school uniforms was muted this year.
“So far we have taken about 70 to 80 orders for items like shirts and trousers,” said Vikram Attrai, manager at Stallion Bespoke Tailors in Dubai.
“Last year in the same period we had about 200 orders and lots of demand.
“We custom fit uniform pieces and use materials such as cotton, wool and cashmere.
“Depending on size, a white shirt with logo is priced at about Dh100 to Dh150 and shorts, trousers, skirts and dresses cost between Dh150 to Dh250 a piece.”
A spokesman for Threads, a uniform shop based in Times Square Centre Dubai, said customer footfall had slowed down dramatically over the past few months.
“Now parents have the option to keep children doing online learning they don’t need uniforms so it has quietened down.”
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale
Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni
Director: Amith Krishnan
Rating: 3.5/5
Maestro
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UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
The biog
Name: Fareed Lafta
Age: 40
From: Baghdad, Iraq
Mission: Promote world peace
Favourite poet: Al Mutanabbi
Role models: His parents
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
About Karol Nawrocki
• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.
• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.
• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.
• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.
If%20you%20go
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How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Friday's schedule at the Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
GP3 qualifying, 10:15am
Formula 2, practice 11:30am
Formula 1, first practice, 1pm
GP3 qualifying session, 3.10pm
Formula 1 second practice, 5pm
Formula 2 qualifying, 7pm
