Inside Saudi’s hajj-only barbershop, shaving thousands of heads in a day
Mina, Saudi Arabia -- Near the holy city of Makkah, men in white robes stand quietly in a long queue,...
Arts & Culture
Qatar table tennis says ‘prepared to escalate’ after chaotic vote
Doha, Qatar -- Qatar's table tennis association has warned of possible legal action as it disputes the result of a...
Arts & Culture
Reincarnation and realpolitik: Dalai Lama’s succession dilemma
Tibetan activists are keenly aware that his death will mark a major setback in his push for more autonomy for...
- The 88-year-old spiritual leader, Tenzin Gyatso, has shown no indication of serious health issues, and has said that his dreams suggest he could live until he is 113
- But as Tibetans mark on Sunday the 65th anniversary of the failed uprising against China, the question of who will succeed their ageing leader is in sharp focus
Business
Iraq economy likely to grow this year, says IMF
BAGHDAD, IRAQ – Economic growth of the country is projected to continue amid fiscal expansion, an International Monetary Fund (IMF)...
- Medium-term vulnerabilities to oil price volatility have increased significantly, the IMF said.
- Growth in the non-oil sector has rebounded strongly in 2023 while inflation has receded.
Arts & Culture
Young Iraqis seek desert retreats for a change from the hustle of big cities
SAMAWAH, IRAQ – Far from the hustle and bustle of major cities, young Iraqis are increasingly taking advantage of a renewed...
- For years, only the most intrepid of hikers and campers would brave the trips into Iraq's desert.
- With the rise of social media and a period of relative stability, it has become a popular destination.
US designer, ‘geriatric starlet’ Iris Apfel dies age 102
New York, United States - Iris Apfel, centenarian style icon from the New York borough of Queens immediately recognizable by her...
- A flamboyant interior designer, she was a fixture on front rows of Paris fashion shows for more than half a century
- Her cropped white hair, massive glasses, bright lipstick, large-bead necklaces and bangles earned her kooky distinction among New York's glitterati
Asia’s richest man takes global rich to the zoo
The three-day gala -- which saw "Umbrella" singer Rihanna perform on Friday for the first time since last year's Superbowl...
- Pop icon Rihanna and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg are among the rich and famous guests who jetted in for a three-day celebration hosted by Mukesh Ambani
- Indian media reports said the Ambani family will on Saturday host a "Walk on the Wildside", an event held outdoors in the Anant Ambani's animal rescue center
Business
Oil spills disrupt farming activities in drought-hit Iraq
Oil spills in Iraq -- a country ravaged by decades of conflict, corruption and decaying infrastructure -- have contaminated farmland...
- Amid the hills of Salaheddin province, puddles of the viscous black liquid pollute the otherwise fertile and green fields, rendering vast swathes of farmland barren
- "The oil has damaged all that the land can give," said one farmer, Abdel Majid Said, 62, who owns six hectares (15 acres) in the village of Al-Meaibdi
Arts & Culture
Museum in West Bank displays Gaza’s ‘artistic demonstration’ against war
BIRZEIT, PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES – At a museum in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Gazan works on display are proclaimed to be an...
- Alongside contemporary pieces, the works include old, traditional paintings and costumes, as well as archeological artifacts.
- Gaza's bloodiest war has devastated the small Hamas-ruled coastal territory, with its cultural heritage just one of the many casualties of war.
Geostrategy
British lawmaker suspended over ‘Islamophobic’ comments
London, UK - Britain's ruling Conservatives on Saturday suspended their former deputy chairman from the parliamentary party, after he refused to...
- Pressure had been growing on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's Tories to act following lawmaker Lee Anderson's contentious remarks.
- On the right-wing GB News channel, Anderson claimed Islamists had "got control" of Khan, who was the first Muslim mayor of London.
Geostrategy
Expelled from France, imam vows to challenge decision in court
Soliman, Tunisia - A Tunisian imam expelled from France for alleged hate speech said on Friday he would take legal action...
- Mahjoub Mahjoubi, from the town of Bagnols-sur-Ceze in the south of France, denounced his removal as "arbitrary"
- He was expelled on the charges of giving a sermon that had "retrograde, intolerant and violent" image of Islam
Domestic Haj pilgrims in Saudi Arabia guaranteed compensation for lodging issues
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Saudi Arabia has announced that domestic pilgrims will be eligible for compensation in the event of...
- According to the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, pilgrims will receive a 10 percent refund of their package value if there is a delay of more than two hours in obtaining accommodation
- In cases where the service provider fails to deliver the promised accommodation, the ministry will oversee housing arrangements, and the associated costs
Inside Saudi’s hajj-only barbershop, shaving thousands of heads in a day
Mina, Saudi Arabia -- Near the holy city of Makkah, men in white robes stand quietly in a long queue,...
Arts & Culture
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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
Palestinian behind Oscar-winning documentary arrested by Israeli army
Jerusalem, Undefined - The Palestinian co-director of the Oscar-winning documentary "No Other Land" was attacked by settlers and arrested by...
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...
Arts & Culture
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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
Arts & Culture
Saudi Arabia, Gulf neighbours say Ramadan to start on Saturday
Observing fasting during Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam, requiring believers to abstain from eating, drinking, smoking...
- Saudi Arabia, home to Islam's two holiest sites, was joined by the UAE and Qatar in declaring the sighting of the crescent moon that heralds Ramadan
- "The Supreme Court has decided that tomorrow, Saturday, is the first day of the month of (Ramadan)," the official Saudi Press Agency posted on X
Arts & Culture
81 percent of Saudi population attends cultural events, activities in 2024: GASTAT
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Nearly 81.6 percent of Saudi individuals visited at least one cultural event or activity in 2024, according...
- The survey said that 85.3 percent attended at least one entertainment event or activity.
- The data showed that 65.8 percent of individuals visited parks and gardens, 40.5 percent attended national celebrations.