Hamed Gohar — “King of the Red Sea” — was featured as a Google Doodle on November 15, 2023, to mark what would have been his 115th birthday. We were curious to learn more about his contributions to marine biology and pioneering work as a much-loved TV presenter

Shik Shak Shook Ones hosts Deana Soni and Danny Hajjar bring us a year-end music review of the Arab music scene. From bangers to blunders they highlight their favorite tracks and albums, artists who surprised them (both positively and negatively), overrated and underrated music, memorable collaborations, and predictions for the music scene in 2025.

DJ, producer and composer Jihed Khmiri (aka Pan-J) compiled an all-Tunisian mixtape for us this month featuring artists like Nuri, Badiaa Bouhrizi, Dali Chebil, Bargou 08, Najet Ounis, Lobna Noomen, and Ratchopper.

Image by Mohannad Ahmed

I met Hazem Jamjoum – the translator of Maya Abu Al-Hayyat’s No One Knows Their Blood Type – in London on a Sunday. Jamjoum handed me a fresh copy of the book in English, and it turned out to be the kind of book that, once you start reading, you simply can’t put down until finished in one sitting.