From hotels to high fashion, Armani’s luxury empire
Milan, Italy - Giorgio Armani's death leaves a vacuum at the top of his billion-dollar luxury business, an independent empire...
Arts & Culture
With poetry and chants, Omanis strive to preserve ancient language
Against the backdrop of southern Oman's lush mountains, men in traditional attire chant ancient poems in an ancient language, fighting...
Arts & Culture
UNFPA and corporate partners drive reproductive justice in workplaces
World Economic Forum
Geostrategy
Morocco law reform offers hope for women’s rights
Rabat, Morocco - Two decades after a landmark but limited revision of Morocco's family law marked a breakthrough for women, activists...
- The reform of the legal code was ordered by King Mohammed VI, who is expected to have the final say in any disputes over the new law.
- A committee tasked with drafting the changes was formed in September and includes the justice minister as well as judicial and religious figures.
Pakistan bans New Year’s Eve celebrations in solidarity with Gaza
New Year's Eve is usually marked in boisterous fashion in Pakistan, with fireworks and aerial gunfire -- as well as...
- PM Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar said because of the situation in the Gaza Strip, the government had "completely banned all kinds of events regarding the New Year celebrations"
- Israel's relentless aerial bombardment and ground invasion of Gaza has left much of the territory's north in ruins, and killed at least 21,320 people, mostly women and children
Arts & Culture
More than a bubble: Turkish sparkling wines win fans
Ankara, Turkey - Drinkers are getting into something of a fizz over Turkish sparkling wine. "We are selling out very quickly....
- When it comes to celebrating a big occasion, few might think of reaching for a bottle of Turkish bubbly in a market dominated by French champagne, Spanish cava and Italian prosecco
- But Misir's wine - made from a local Turkish grape variety that died out in the 1980s - won the gold medal for the Best Sparkling Wine in the World at a competition in France
Arts & Culture
Desert jewel: Saudi Arabia’s oldest nature reserve Hurra Al-Hurra
Turaif, Saudi Arabia - Hurra Al-Hurra Reserve is one of the first protected areas in Saudi Arabia, located in the...
- Located in the Northern Border and Al-Jawf regions, it lies within the boundaries of the King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Reserve in the northwest of Saudi Arabia.
- Hurra Al-Hurra and its surrounding areas feature a diverse landscape, with depressions, watersheds, valleys and an abundance of springs scattered throughout the area.
Geostrategy
Gaza war makes for sombre Christmas in the Holy Land
There was no revelry on Sunday, with few worshippers on the streets of Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus Christ, as...
- A work of art evoking the tragedy of war has been installed on the ground opposite the Church of the Nativity, taking the place of life-size nativity scene and colossal Christmas
- Last week, a mother and daughter were killed by an Israeli sniper inside the Church of the Holy Family in Gaza City, according to the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem
Science
Artists utilize technology against AI copycats
NEW YORK, US - Artists under siege by artificial intelligence (AI) that studies their work, then replicates their styles, have teamed...
- Created in just four months, Glaze spun off technology used to disrupt facial recognition systems.
- Glaze essentially outthinks AI models when it comes to how they train, tweaking pixels in ways indiscernible by human viewers
Arts & Culture
10m people attend Riyadh Season 2023 events in first 50 days, says report
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - According to the Riyadh Season, 10 million people took part in the activities organized in the...
- Riyadh Season 2023 started in late October, and since then, it has witnessed a large visitor turnout at all entertainment areas.
- At the Season, visitors can enjoy concerts, exhibitions, festivals and other events in which celebrities and prominent brands participate.
Geostrategy
War affects Christmas festivities in southern Lebanon
Qlayaa, Lebanon - In the Lebanese Christian border village of Qlayaa, the priest urged his parish to keep the Christmas spirit...
- Despite the violence, the church has put up lights, a life-sized manger and is planning recitals and activities for the community's children.
- Residents along the border are used to "difficult times", said father Antonios Farah, "but we have decided... we will celebrate Christmas as usual".
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.
From hotels to high fashion, Armani’s luxury empire
Milan, Italy - Giorgio Armani's death leaves a vacuum at the top of his billion-dollar luxury business, an independent empire...
Arts & Culture
Company News
Latest News
Film stars blast Academy for ‘failing to defend’ Palestinian filmmaker
Los Angeles, United States - Movie stars including Joaquin Phoenix, Penelope Cruz and Richard Gere have blasted the Academy of...
Arts & Culture
‘My entire life’: Saudi tailor keeps robe-making craft alive
Hofuf, Saudi Arabia - Saudi tailor Habib Mohammed's shop once made ornate, hand-woven cloaks for royals, a time-honoured craft he...
Arts & Culture
Israel releases Palestinian Oscar winner after West Bank detention
Jerusalem, Undefined - Israeli police on Tuesday released Oscar-winning Palestinian filmmaker Hamdan Ballal, detained a day earlier for "hurling rocks"...
Arts & Culture
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Arts & Culture
‘Love is in the air’: Woods confirms romance with Trump’s ex daughter-in-law
Los Angeles, United States - Tiger Woods took the unusual step of confirming his romance with Donald Trump's former daughter-in-law...
- "Love is in the air and life is better with you by my side," Woods wrote in a caption above two photos of himself relaxing with Vanessa Trump
- Vanessa Trump, who divorced Donald Trump Jr. in 2018 after a 13-year marriage, also posted a picture of her and Woods together on her Instagram account
Arts & Culture
Jet skis in the desert: winter lake creates Saudi watersports oasis
Az Zulfī, Saudi Arabia -- The ear-splitting roar of his jet ski fills the air as Hamza al-Hamm thunders past,...
- Zulfi's lake, more than 200 kilometers northwest of Riyadh, appears every winter, giving desert-dwellers the chance to take part in a sport usually associated with seaside resorts.
- When it forms, the lake offers a welcome respite in a country where intense heat limits outdoor activities for much of the year.
Arts & Culture
Once a crumbling relic of old Iran, brewery reborn as arts hub
Tehran, Iran - Hidden behind imposing brick walls in the heart of Tehran, a brewery that used to make Iranian...
- The ambitious restoration of the derelict Argo factory has made it "one of the most beautiful buildings of Tehran."
- Established more than a century ago, the Argo factory produced one of Iran's oldest and biggest beer brands

