SeaWorld Yas Island, Abu Dhabi wins Guinness World Records
ABU DHABI, UAE – SeaWorld Yas Island - the region’s first Marine Life Theme Park here -, has won a...
Arts & Culture
MIA Art Collection boosts gender equality in art
The MIA Art Collection aims to bridge the gap between the art scene and the business sector, empowering women artists,...
Arts & Culture
Arts & Culture
Iraqi cemetery echoes 1400 years of life and death
For Shiites, who make up the religious majority in Iraq, "being buried near Imam Ali is very important," said the...
- Some historians estimate that over six million souls rest at the cemetery, mostly Iraqi but also Iranian and Pakistani Shiites
- Iraq in a submission to UNESCO estimated its area at 2,265 acres and called it "the oldest and biggest cemetery"
Arts & Culture
Regulate digital platforms to curb disinformation
“If the regulatory initiatives are developed in isolation, with each country working in their own corner, they are doomed to...
- There is an urgent need for common global guidelines to improve the reliability of information while protecting human rights, say experts
- UNESCO urges the world to join its efforts to transform the internet into a tool which is truly at the service of the public
Arts & Culture
Lebanese hatmaker keeps ancient skill alive
Youssef Akiki believes he may be the last commercial maker of the sheep wool "labbadeh", a waterproof and warm cap...
- Those buying the caps are mainly tourists -- or Lebanese nostalgic for their childhood -- and they often buy them not to wear them but to display them at home.
- Akiki believes the labbadeh design is rooted in the caps worn by the ancient Phoenicians, although their style was "more elongated".
Arts & Culture
Embrace indigenous languages, urges UN expert
“Language rights are also important human rights matters for both minorities and indigenous peoples. Special Rapporteurs have already been critical...
- States must be more inclusive in the treatment and use of minority and indigenous languages, says the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues, Fernand de Varennes
- Languages are essential tools to communicate and share knowledge, memory, and history, but they are also key to full and equal participation, he adds
Arts & Culture
In Old Cairo, residents reconnect with their heritage
Cairo, Egypt--For most of their lives, children from historic Cairo's Al-Khalifa district only saw the mausoleums, mosques and madrasa schools...
- The Athar Lina initiative, whose name means "the monument is ours" in Arabic, has carried out workshops, tours and summer camps in the Egyptian capital since 2012.
- Since the 1980s, the authorities increasingly protected monuments by keeping "them under lock and key", said conservation and cultural heritage expert Omniya Abdel Barr.
Arts & Culture
Blind Saudi rider’s resolve earns him equestrian body’s recognition
Badr Al-Sharari had to train at least three times a week for nearly two years before finally being admitted into...
- The data sector worker told AFP that just as important as his journey into the official ranks was the parallel one to self-empowerment.
- Equestrianism is popular in Saudi Arabia, the world's leading producer of purebred Arabian horses and home to several clubs.
Arts & Culture
$42,000 Koons sculpture breaks at art fair
The mishap occurred during a VIP preview at Art Wynwood in Miami, and some collectors thought it was performance art...
- The shiny blue sculpture, one of Koons' famous "balloon dog" series, was valued at $42,000.
- The sculpture sat alone on an acrylic base emblazoned with Koons's surname.
Arts & Culture
Qatari businessman mulls taking over Man Utd
London, United Kingdom - A consortium led by a Qatari banker announced it had submitted an offer to take full control...
- Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani "confirmed his submission of a bid for 100 percent of Manchester United Football Club"
- The statement from Sheikh Jassim, chairman of Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB), did not give any details on the amount proposed in the bid for United
Business
Saudi reports add to Manchester United takeover intrigue
London, United Kingdom--Saudi Arabia has joined the race to buy Manchester United ahead of Friday's bid deadline, according to a report...
- Saudi joined the race to buy Manchester United, according to a report in Britain's Daily Telegraph, raising the stakes in what could be the most lucrative deal in sports history.
- There have been suggestions of a possible Qatar bid, with The Guardian reporting the state's ruler, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, was interested in buying United.
Arts & Culture
AI, learning models can’t replace human creativity
“AI, Web3 and NFTs have opened new markets. We must embrace and seize the opportunity. As artists, it provides us...
- The rise of Web3 and NFT photography, along with AI and deep learning models, are transforming the landscape of photography and the creative industry at large, says an expert
- As artists, it provides us with new avenues for monetising our work and reaching new audiences. It's crucial that we address the security concerns, adds another expert at Xposure
SeaWorld Yas Island, Abu Dhabi wins Guinness World Records
ABU DHABI, UAE – SeaWorld Yas Island - the region’s first Marine Life Theme Park here -, has won a...
Arts & Culture
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Japan literary laureate admits using ChatGPT for her novel
TOKYO, JAPAN - The winner of Japan's most prestigious literary award has acknowledged that about "five percent" of her futuristic novel...
Arts & Culture
Money weighs on would-be Chinese parents as population falls
Long alarmed by falling fertility, the government has relaxed its decades-long one-child policy in recent years to allow three children...
Arts & Culture
Epstein case: Social media frenzy over released papers
The release of Epstein-related court documents has ignited a social media frenzy, sparking intense scrutiny and various reactions about high-profile...
Arts & Culture
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Arts & Culture
Cairo arts center razed for Old City makeover
Cairo, Egypt - Nestled in the heart of the historic capital here, a cultural center synonymous with the city's art scene...
- The Darb 1718 center was demolished "without any prior notice", its management said on social media on January 6, to make room for a highway expansion
- Authorities have been aggressively remaking parts of Cairo, a longtime cultural beacon of the Arab world, to expand the capital
Arts & Culture
Innovation makes GCC’s gifting tradition sustainable
With growing interest in eco-friendly and socially responsible products, gift businesses in the region are adapting by integrating sustainable options...
- With growing interest in eco-friendly and socially responsible products, gift businesses in the region are adapting by integrating sustainable options into their offerings.
- The GCC's gift industry is transforming to meet environmentally conscious consumer preferences, shifting towards locally sourced, organic items, and reusable, recyclable packaging.
Arts & Culture
Son set to light up Asian Cup as Qatar takes center stage again
The 24 teams spanning Australia to Palestine will battle for regional glory over the next four weeks, culminating in the...
- The 18th edition of the Asian Cup was supposed to have been held last summer in China but was moved to World Cup host Qatar because of China's Covid-19 rules
- Qatar will mostly use stadiums that staged World Cup matches, a notable absentee being Stadium 974, the temporary arena made partly of shipping containers