Gaza couple celebrate wedding amid war and destruction
Rafah, Palestinian Territories - Surrounded by family and friends, clapping and cheering, Gaza woman Afnan Jibril beams a brilliant smile on...
Geostrategy
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...
Arts & Culture
Business
With Covid tamed, UAE to open schools in January
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will throw open schools, colleges, and universities from January next year to welcome students back...
- The National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) said Tuesday that schools and educational institutions across the country will resume all classes
- NCEMA said that in addition to ending distance learning, school buses would operate at 100 percent
Geostrategy
Iran enacts population law criticized by UN experts
The law renders reproductive screening optional, imposes restrictions on abortion and limits access to contraception
- It also tasks public broadcasters with producing content that encourages women to have more children and denounces celibacy or abortion.
- About 46.6 percent of Iran's population of 83 million is under 30 years old.
Saudi releases ex-death row prisoner Zaher: rights groups
Saudi authorities released Abdullah al-Zaher, a citizen from the Shiite minority whose death sentence was later commuted, after years in...
- "Abdullah al-Zaher was released yesterday following the expiry of his sentence," ALQST for Human Rights said on Twitter on Monday
- Last month, Ali al-Nimr, who was also arrested as a minor in 2012 for taking part in anti-government protests, was released, according to ALQST and his family
Geostrategy
Facebook whistleblower wants to start a youth movement
Francis Haugen, 37, plans to tour universities early next year. She stresses her role would simply be to get the...
- Haugen believes young people have more reason than anyone else to pressure social media companies to do better.
- The wider role of the movement would be to encourage young people to lobby both companies and lawmakers for a "just and equitable social media".
Business
Porters carry Istanbul’s trade traditions on their backs
The zenith of Istanbul's porter tradition to the early 1800s, when Sultan Mahmud II ruled what was still known as...
- The porters usually work in squads, under the leadership of a captain who is responsible for coordinating jobs with merchants and distributing pay at the end of shifts.
- More than a hundred merchants in the building rely porters as ordinary carts on wheels are of little use in old dwellings without elevators and only narrow hallways.
Investigation
Tunisia MP jailed for sexual abuse of minor
A Tunisian member of parliament was sentenced Friday to a year in prison for sexually harassing a schoolgirl in a...
- The victim's lawyer, Naima Chabbouh, said Makhlouf had been found guilty of indecent assault after a court session that went late into Thursday evening
- Reacting to Friday's ruling, women's rights group Aswat Nissa said it was "pleased with this historic judgement"
Arts & Culture
Pakistan party falls flat after semi-final cricket loss
The national mood was summed up by Prime Minister and former captain Imran Khan who said the side should be...
- Pakistan cricket fans reacted largely with good grace and humour Friday to their team's exit from the Twenty20 World Cup.
- Fans on social media heaped blame for the loss on Hasan Ali, vilified after dropping a catch at a key point of the match.
Arts & Culture
Newcastle appoint Eddie Howe as new manager
Howe was confirmed as Newcastle's new manager on Monday, a month after a Saudi-led takeover at St James's Park.
- The former Bournemouth boss succeeds Steve Bruce, who left the Premier League club by "mutual consent" on October 20.
- Newcastle are second from the bottom of the Premier League without a single win this season.
Arts & Culture
Film festival offers Tunisian inmates brief moment of freedom for art’s sake
For the first time, three prison inmates in Tunisia were allowed a brief taste of freedom for the sake of...
- The prestigious Carthage Film Festival offered the prisoners the chance to help make a documentary about the festival.
- The idea was the result of a collaboration between the film festival, the World Organization Against Torture (OMCT) and the North African nation's prison authority.
Abu Dhabi enacts personal status law for non-Muslims
The emirate of Abu Dhabi has proclaimed a new law in order to regulate personal status matters for non-Muslims, providing...
- The law supports the Emirate's leadership by issuing the first civil law governing non-Muslim family matters in line with international best practices
- The new law applies civil principles in the regulation of family matters
Gaza couple celebrate wedding amid war and destruction
Rafah, Palestinian Territories - Surrounded by family and friends, clapping and cheering, Gaza woman Afnan Jibril beams a brilliant smile on...
Geostrategy
Company News
Unity crucial for Arabs on global media platforms
Arts & Culture
‘AI, blockchain complementary, must be used responsibly’
Arts & Culture
Latest News
Justice best solution to global challenges
Arts & Culture
Saudi Arabian Football Federation launches funding program for women clubs
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – The Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) announced unprecedented funding and support for women’s football clubs. This...
Arts & Culture
Saudi Arabia hosts the biggest hajj pilgrimage in years
Islam's holiest site is expected to host more than two million worshipers from 160 countries during the annual rites that...
GCC women diplomats play vital role in fostering peace
"The GCC member states have over the years extended unwavering support to the diplomatic women of the GCC through tailoring...
Arts & Culture
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Economy
Dubai Police and DIB sign agreement to support Bayti initiative with US$5.44mn
Dubai, UAE--The Dubai Police and Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB) have signed an agreement to back the social initiative, "Bayti", with...
- The charitable initiative was launched by Dubai Police and many others to support familes with low income in the construction of homes and furnishing
- DIB's Chief Operating Officer, Obaid Khalifa Al Shamsi, applauded the partnership between the two in executing social projects supporting citizens
Arts & Culture
‘Global climate action brings immense optimism’
Finland and the UAE will be able to tackle climate change through international efforts, collaboration, and partnerships, she adds while...
- Kerstin Stendahl, Finland’s Special Envoy for Climate Change, expresses optimism for the forthcoming COP28 and global climate action
- Finland and the UAE will tackle climate change through international efforts, collaboration, and partnerships, the Finnish diplomat highlights
The hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, will start on Sunday
Mecca, Saudi Arabia - The annual hajj pilgrimage, one of the five pillars of Islam, will start on Sunday with...
- It will be the largest pilgrimage since the coronavirus pandemic forced Saudi authorities to dramatically downsize the event
- More than 926,000 people took part in 2022, up from nearly 59,000 the previous year, according to official figures