Trump bans visas for new foreign students at HarvardÂ
Washington, United States - US President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced a ban on visas for foreign students who are...
Arts & Culture
Hajj pilgrimage to begin on June 4: Saudi state media
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Saudi Arabia announced on Tuesday that the annual Muslim hajj pilgrimage to Mecca would begin on...
Arts & Culture
Arts & Culture
Syria’s Ramadan drummers defiant as tradition wanes
Around one hour before the call to prayer rings out at dawn, Ramadan drummers, known as Musaharati, walk through narrow...
- Around one hour before the call to prayer rings out at dawn, Ramadan drummers, known as Musaharati, walk through narrow streets to wake the faithful
- Although they do receive gifts, the Musaharati don't usually expect financial rewards. They sometimes carry bags or straw baskets to store food and other gifts
Arts & Culture
Eid Al Fitr likely to begin on May 2: Emirates Astronomical Society
The UAE moon-sighting committee is expected to convene to confirm the official starting date for Eid.
- The International Astronomical Center, which had announced the beginning of Ramadan, is yet to weigh in on the situation
- The IAC had announced, on March 21, that the first day of the holy month would fall on April 2 in most Muslim countries
Arts & Culture
What determines duration of a Ramadan fast?
The fasting hours are actually determined by geography and vary from one country to another. Â People in the relatively cooler...
- Hundreds of millions of Muslims across the world abstain from eating and drinking from early dawn to dusk. They also shun sex with their spouses during the fasting hours.
- Some places, like areas near the Arctic where sun appears never to set during certain months, pose a dilemma for the faithful.
Arts & Culture
Lebanon, France ink pact to preserve media archives
The Lebanese Minister of Information hailed the launch of the public media archives’ digitization project.
- The Lebanese Minister of Information hailed the launch of the public media archives’ digitization project
- The French Ambassador said this project is a glimpse of hope in light of the stifling crisis that is afflicting Lebanon
Arts & Culture
The metaverse threat: ‘TV will die with its audience’
On the horizon is the so-called "metaverse" -- a loose term covering the growing eco-system of interactive online worlds, games...
- On the horizon is the so-called "metaverse" -- a loose term covering the growing eco-system of interactive online worlds, games and 3D meeting places
- While older consumers are still wedded to traditional TV, viewership among under-35s has halved in a decade, according to Statista
Arts & Culture
Noted Iran director accused of plagiarism
Asghar Farhadi's former student Azadeh Masihzadeh claims that his film A Hero is based on her documentary All Winners All...
- The film in question, called A Hero, was the winner of the Grand Prix in last year's prestigious Cannes Film Festival
- It tells the story of an Iranian inmate who gains fame after finding a purse of gold coins and tracking down its owner
Arts & Culture
Unhappy spouses celebrate as England adopts ‘no-fault divorce’
The change brings England and Wales into line with Scotland, which has its own legal system, and with other countries...
- The change brings England and Wales into line with Scotland, which has its own legal system, and with other countries including the United States, Australia and Germany
- While experts expect a rush of divorces by couples who were waiting for the legal reform, they predict it could also ironically increase rates of marriage
Arts & Culture
Meta celebrates the spirit of Ramadan through #MonthofGood campaign
Throughout #MonthofGood, Meta will be sharing the stories of Muslim communities making positive impact.
- Throughout #MonthofGood, Meta will be sharing the stories of Muslim communities making positive impact
- The company is also introducing new Ramadan AR effects and weaving Muslim culture into the foundation for the metaverse
Arts & Culture
Sweet smell of Ramadan in South Asia
The region is home to around a third of Islam's adherents. Festive Iftar meals traditionally bring families together and there...
- More subdued evening gatherings are underway in Afghanistan, where people are still reckoning with an acute humanitarian crisis.
- The centuries-old Chawkbazar market in Bangladesh is a traditional center for evening meet-ups during Ramadan.
Arts & Culture
Players with disabilities score in the video game world
Hardware accessories are rare for players who have limited use of their hands.
- Mortal Kombat-maker NetherRealm Studios added audio to help blind gamers identify objects in the game
- Visual or audio features added in the recent release of Last of Us Part II and Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy help players with disabilities
Trump bans visas for new foreign students at HarvardÂ
Washington, United States - US President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced a ban on visas for foreign students who are...
Arts & Culture
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Sports shift economic goalposts for Middle East
Arts & Culture
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Over 12m people visit Riyadh Season in 60 days
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - Two months after their launch, on October 11, 2023, Riyadh Season events had already attracted 12...
Arts & Culture
Saudi football dominates Gulf sports scene this year
The Kingdom's football undergoes a historic transformation in 2023 with major investments and player signings, and Saudi Arabia wins the...
Arts & Culture
Libya’s theatre stages comeback after years of turmoil in divided nation
Hassituha (You Felt It), a mostly silent play from eastern Libya, symbolizes both the country's divisions between west and east,...
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Arts & Culture
Strategic investments accelerate KSA’s esports market
Vision 2030 is fueling Saudi Arabia's esports surge, with NEOM World Cup 2024 set to elevate its status as a...
- Vision 2030 is fueling Saudi Arabia's esports surge, with NEOM World Cup 2024 set to elevate its status as a global digital entertainment leader.
- With initiatives to foster inclusivity and address infrastructural challenges, Saudi Arabia is poised to reshape the future of competitive gaming.
Arts & Culture
7,000 digital marriage contracts delivered in Abu Dhabi since Oct
Abu Dhabi, UAE -- The Abu Dhabi Judicial Department has introduced a new service that allows marriage contracts to be...
- This is the first service of its kind and it enables the marriage contract to be sent directly to the spouses during the contract session.
- Customers can review the available times of the authorized officiants and receive the results of the suitors' medical examination automatically.
Arts & Culture
From the Ashes: Saudi film inspired by true events set to premiere on Netflix
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - "From the Ashes," a Saudi film inspired by true events, is poised to debut on Netflix...
- The film intricately unfolds within the confines of an all-girls' school, where a seemingly routine day takes a harrowing turn when a fire erupts in the school's basement
- What ensues is a riveting portrayal of chaos, panic, but above all, the resilience and fortitude of those trapped within