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Canada is Rahaf Mohammed’s guardian now

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If the long predatory reach of Saudi extra-judicial malice can murder an internationally renowned journalist in a foreign country, what hope is there for an 18-year-old who’s embarrassed the Kingdom?

Rahaf Mohammed — as of Monday, she is no longer using the family surname Alqunun — is no Jamal Khashoggi, nephew of a billionaire arms dealer, former editor in Saudi Arabia and columnist-in-exile for the Washington Post when he was assassinated by Saudi agents inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul last Oct. 2, the remains of his dismembered body never found.

Yet the teenager riveted the world last week, tweeting desperately for help from a barricaded airport hotel room in Bangkok, fearing for her life, terrified that Thailand officials would cave to Saudi demands that she be put on a plane and returned to the family she’d clandestinely fled while they’d been on holiday in Kuwait.

It was on the final day of that vacation, Rahaf said yesterday during an hour-long interview with the Star and the CBC. Her last chance for a bid at freedom. Waited till everyone was asleep, booked a flight to Bangkok, and was gone by 7 a.m. before the family awoke.

Read more:

With tears and trepidation, Saudi teen embraces newfound freedom

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Granted asylum in Canada, Saudi teen ‘happy to be in her new home’

Had hoped to find refuge in Australia but immigration officials were dragging their feet. Didn’t have a visa – all her papers had been taken away by a man who’d met her flight, holding up a sign with her name on it, claiming to be with the Thai government, there to assist. He wasn’t and didn’t, as Rahaf was whisked away to the hotel. With Australia’s foreign minister claiming Rafah should not be treated differently from anybody else applying for refugee admission, Canada stepped in on Friday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announcing that this country would grant her asylum immediately.

Arrived on Saturday, exhausted but jubilant. Had discarded the hijab for a UNHCR (High Commissioner for Refugees) ball cap and Canada hoodie, met by Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland.

On Monday, she looked like any other Canadian teenage girl, wearing torn jeans, a cable-knit sweater, and fashionable ankle boots. Astonishingly self-possessed, though.

“Lots of girls think the same way,’’ she explained through an interpreter. “A lot of my friends are girls that have escaped and are now refugees themselves.’’

The ingenious teen had succeeded where an untold number of other Saudi women have failed – secured liberation from a deeply conservative and misogynist regime. Where others have been returned to Saudi Arabia, against their will, on the insistence of families and a government few nations will dare defy, never heard from again, Rahaf cleverly harnessed the power of social media to rise from anonymity, to make of herself a global cause celebre. She tweet-bombarded the UN, ambassadors, media, anyone who might respond to her pleas, racking up 66,000 followers on her Twitter account over a matter of days.

Her father and brother – a sibling one year older who’d been invested with her care because dad, governor of a Saudi state, lived elsewhere, with another family and other children – had flown to Thailand, intent on hauling this willful girl back home, Rahaf said. She refused to even speak with him.

“They have disowned me,’’ says Rahaf, only at that point tearing up. That’s why she’s dropped the family name.

The family, which includes four sisters, has tweeted out: “A naughty daughter who abused us with shameful and uncustomary behaviour and embarrassed our Islamic customs and values.”

Rahaf confirms that she has renounced Islam, a decision she actually arrived at two years ago, chafing under the social and religious constraints of the Kingdom’s formal Wahhabi faith, with its strict adherence to the Koran. But under her brother’s thumb, and a mother she claims tried to beat rebellion out of her — allegedly locked her up for six months for cutting her hair too short and “manly” — the girl deliberately waited until she was 18 — and the opportunity presented by the vacation in Kuwait. To run, turning her back on everything she’s known, possibly never seeing her family again.

It is almost beyond comprehension where this young woman got the guts to embark on emancipation, secretly and hastily making her own arrangements, traveling alone, knowing that she would be vilified by much of the public in Saudi Arabia when, if, her getaway would become public.

In doing so, Rahaf says she was rejecting the principles of “Male Guardianship Rules” in the Kingdom which, among other restrictions, constraints, require females to obtain the consent of a male relative — usually father, brother or husband — if they want to travel, take out a passport or marry.

“I was treated like a slave,” says Rahaf. “It was always taking demands from your parents about where to go, what to do and how to do it.

“It doesn’t matter whether a (female) is 60 years old or 10 years old.”

While dissidents and activists within the Kingdom have applauded Rahaf’s courageous escape, she has been crucified in much of the Arab media, the majority of Saudis agreeing with the government position that the matter is a “family affair’’ blown out of proportion by “anti-Saudi forces’’. There has been much condemnation over Rahaf drinking wine – forbidden – on her flight to Canada.

“I was showing my happiness and I’m not a child so I could do what I want.’’

According to translations provided by MEMRI — the Middle East Media Research Institute (founded by an Israeli) — Mufleh Al-Qahatani, chair of the government-funded Saudi National Human Rights Society, has accused unspecified countries and international organizations of “acting out of political motivations rather than humanitarian ones,” using their officials to “incite Saudi delinquents and teenage girls to depart from their families’ values and traditions that guarantee a dignified life and constant protection.’’

This, continued Al-Qahatani, could eventually “lead (the girls) to perdition and perhaps into the arms of human traffickers.”

Rahaf says she was receiving about a hundred death threats a day until closing down her social media accounts..

Canada is her guardian now. We are responsible for this girl’s safety.

The Kingdom is already under intense international criticism for the murder of Khashoggi, allegedly committed on the personal order of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. That is the conclusion of the CIA.

The prince, de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia, not long ago celebrated for easing constraints against women – finally allowing them to drive, for example – could very well attempt nefarious means to drag Rahaf back. Or he might ignore her defiance completely, set the entire escapade aside as unworthy of further effort, diplomatic or covert and thuggish. But the threat is certainly there so Rahaf must be protected, even as the teenager embraces the “free life” she covets – continuing her education (wants to be an engineer), getting a job, advocating for other Saudi girls.

“I feel safe here but it’s not 100 per cent because everybody knows me now.”

It’s unclear if Rahaf actually grasps the enormity of what she’s done, that she might have a lifetime of looking over her shoulder. “That’s the thing I fear the most.

“My life is an example of someone who’s lived under oppression and had to escape.”

Yet she doesn’t recommend fleeing for other Saudi women.

“I don’t want them to escape because it puts their lives in danger.”

Rahaf did try to reach a beloved younger sister via social media.

“I’ve been blocked.”

Rosie DiManno is a columnist based in Toronto covering sports and current affairs. Follow her on Twitter: @rdimanno

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Anglais

Nostalgia and much more with Starburst XXXtreme

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Get a taste of adventure with Starburst XXXtreme based on the legendary NetEnt Game. The nostalgic themes are sure to capture fans of the classic version as they get treated to higher intensity, better visuals, and features. The most significant element of the game is its volatility. Patience will not be an essential virtue considering the insane gameplay, and there is a lot of win potential involved. It retains the original makeup of the previous game while adding a healthy dose of adrenaline. 

Starburst Visuals and Symbols

The game is definitely more conspicuous than before. The setting happens over a 5-reel, 3-row game grid with nine fixed win lines, which function if a succession from the left to the right reel is present. Only those players that that attain the highest win per bet line are paid. From a visual standpoint, the Starburst XXXtreme slots illustrates lightning effects behind the reels, which is not surprising as it is inherited from the original version. Available themes include Classic, Jewels, and Space. The game is also available in both desktop and mobile versions, which is advantageous for players considering the global pandemic. According to Techguide, American gamers are increasingly having more engaging gaming experiences to socialize to fill the gap of in-person interaction. Starburst XXXtreme allows them to fill the social void at a time when there is so much time to be had indoors. 

Starburst XXXTreme Features

Players get to alternate on three features which are Starburst Wilds, XXXtreme Spins, and Random Wilds. The first appears on reels 2,3, or 4. When these land, they expand to cover all positions while also calculating the wins. They are also locked for a respin. If a new one hits, it also becomes locked while awarding another respin. Starburst XXXtreme offers a choice between two scenarios for a higher stake. In one scenario with a ten times stake, the Starburst Wild is set on random on reels 2,3, or 4, and a multiplier starts the respin. The second scenario, which has a 95 times stake, starts with two guaranteed starburst wilds on reels 2,3, or 4. it also plays out using respin game sequence and features. The game also increases the potential with the Random Wilds feature to add Starburst Wilds to a vacant reel at the end of a spin. Every Starburst Wild gives a random multiplier with potential wins of x2, x3, x5, x10, x25, x50, x100, or even x150.

The new feature is sure to be a big hit with the gaming market as online gambling has shown significant growth during the lockdown. AdAge indicates the current casino customer base is an estimated one in five Americans, so Starburst XXXtreme’s additional features will achieve considerable popularity. 

What We Think About The Game

The gambling market has continued to diversify post-pandemic, so it is one of the most opportune times to release an online casino-based game. Thankfully Starburst XXXtreme features eye-catching visuals, including the jewels and space themes. These attract audience participation and make the gameplay inviting. The game also has a nostalgic edge. The previous NetEnt iteration featured similar visuals and gameplay, so the audience has some familiarity with it. The producers have revamped this version by tweaking the features to improve the volatility and engagement. 

That is characterized by the potential win cap of 200,000 times the bet. Starburst XXXtreme does not just give betting alternatives for players that want to go big. The increase of multipliers also provides a great experience. If the respins in the previous version were great, knowing that multipliers can go hundreds of times overtakes the game to a new level. 

Players should get excited about this offering. All of the features can be triggered within a single spin. Whether one plays the standard game or takes the XXXtreme spin route, it is possible to activate all of the features. Of course, the potential 200,000 times potential is a huge carrot. However, the bet size is probably going to be restricted and vary depending on the casino. It is also worth pointing out that a malfunction during the gameplay will void all of the payouts and progress. Overall, the game itself has been designed to provide a capped win of 200,000 times the original bet. 

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Anglais

‘We’re back’: Montreal festival promoters happy to return but looking to next year

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In downtown Montreal, it’s festival season.

In the city’s entertainment district, a musical act was conducting a sound check on stage Friday evening — the second day of the French-language version of the renowned Just For Laughs comedy festival. Tickets for many of the festival’s free outdoor shows — limited by COVID-19 regulations — were sold out.

Two blocks away, more than 100 people were watching an acoustic performance by the Isaac Neto Trio — part of the last weekend of the Festival International Nuits d’Afrique, a celebration of music from the African continent and the African diaspora.

With COVID-19 restrictions continuing to limit capacity, festival organizers say they’re glad to be back but looking forward to next year when they hope border restrictions and capacity limits won’t affect their plans.

Charles Décarie, Just For Laughs’ CEO and president, said this is a “transition year.”

“Even though we have major constraints from the public health group in Montreal, we’ve managed to design a festival that can navigate through those constraints,” Décarie said.

The French-language Juste pour rire festival began on July 15 and is followed by the English-language festival until July 31.

When planning began in February and March, Décarie said, organizers came up with a variety of scenarios for different crowd sizes, ranging from no spectators to 50 per cent of usual capacity.

“You’ve got to build scenarios,” he said. “You do have to plan a little bit more than usual because you have to have alternatives.”

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MELS new major movie studio to be built in Montreal

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MONTREAL — MELS Studios will build a new film studio in Montreal, filling some of the gap in supply to meet the demand of Hollywood productions.

MELS president Martin Carrier said on Friday that MELS 4 studio construction will begin « as soon as possible », either in the fall or winter of next year. The studio could host productions as early as spring 2023.

The total investment for the project is $76 million, with the Quebec government contributing a $25 million loan. The project will create 110 jobs, according to the company.

The TVA Group subsidiary’s project will enable it to stand out « even more » internationally, according to Quebecor president and CEO Pierre Karl Péladeau. In the past, MELS Studios has hosted several major productions, including chapters of the X-Men franchise. The next Transformers movie is shooting this summer in Montreal.

Péladeau insisted that local cultural productions would also benefit from the new facility, adding that the studio ensures foreign revenues and to showcase talent and maintain an industry of Quebec producers.

STUDIO SHORTAGE

The film industry is cramped in Montreal.

According to a report published last May by the Bureau du cinéma et de la télévision du Québec (BCTQ), there is a shortage of nearly 400,000 square feet of studio space.

With the addition of MELS 4, which will be 160,000 square feet, the company is filling part of the gap.

Carrier admitted that he has had to turn down contracts because of the lack of space, representing missed opportunities of « tens of millions of dollars, not only for MELS, but also for the Quebec economy. »

« Montreal’s expertise is in high demand, » said Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante, who was present at the announcement.

She said she received great testimonials from « Netflix, Disney, HBO and company » during an economic mission to Los Angeles in 2019.

« What stands out is that they love Montreal because of its expertise, knowledge and beauty. We need more space, like MELS 4, » she said.

There is still not enough capacity in Quebec, acknowledged Minister of Finance, the Economy and Innovation Eric Girard.

« It is certain that the government is concerned about fairness and balance, so if other requests come in, we will study them with the same seriousness as we have studied this one, » he said.

Grandé Studios is the second-largest player in the industry. Last May, the company said it had expansion plans that should begin in 2022. Investissement Québec and Bell are minority shareholders in the company.

For its part, MELS will have 400,000 square feet of production space once MELS 4 is completed. The company employs 450 people in Quebec and offers a range of services including studio and equipment rentals, image and sound postproduction, visual effects and a virtual production platform.

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