$20 million rare blue diamond goes on show in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates -- A rare blue diamond valued at $20 million went on pre-auction display on Tuesday...
Business
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
Arts & Culture
Iran’s long-lasting love for gemstones believed to have divine power
Common beliefs associated with gemstones are largely what motivates people to buy them, said Hassan Samimi, a lapidary at the...
- Iran's senior officials including Ayatollah Ali Khamenei have often been spotted wearing rings with agate or turquoise stones
- Agate, especially from Yemen, is popular "because it is recommended by imams" who often claim it can boost livelihoods
Arts & Culture
Djokovic and Nadal to play 6 Kings Slam in Saudi Arabia
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal will headline a new exhibition tournament in Saudi Arabia, organizers said.The Serb...
- The Serb and the Spaniard will be joined by Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz and Australian Open winner Jannik Sinner at the event
- World number three Daniil Medvedev and seventh-ranked Holger Rune will also play the event in Riyadh in October, Saudi Arabia's latest foray into the sport
Arts & Culture
25,000 fragments of early Islamic era artifacts discovered in Saudi
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia -- As many as 25,000 fragments of artifacts dating from the early Islamic era, the first two...
- The discovery was announced by the Jeddah Historic District Program, in collaboration with the Heritage Commission.
- The project aims to preserve national antiquities and archaeological sites, uncover the rich history of the Kingdom, and promote historic Jeddah as a cultural destination.
Geostrategy
Arab Israelis let out of Gaza recount ‘terrifying’ journey
JERUSALEM - When Fatima, an Arab Israeli married to a Palestinian from the Gaza Strip, fled Israel's bombardment of the...
- The majority of the Palestinian population, around 760,000 people, either fled or were forced from their homes during the first Arab-Israeli war.
- According to Israel's Central Bureau of Statistics, there are more than two million Arab Israelis today, accounting for 21 percent of the population.
Arts & Culture
Iran ‘following dreams’ in trying to win first Asian Cup since 1976
Doha, Qatar - Iran are "following our dreams" in trying to win the Asian Cup for the first time in 48...
- Three-time champions Iran face Syria in Qatar with a quarter-final against Bahrain or pre-tournament favorites Japan up for grabs
- Along with holders Qatar, Iran are the only team left in the competition who went through the group stage with a 100 percent record
Business
WHO urges limiting trans fat across the world
Geneva, Switzerland - The World Health Organization said on Monday that nearly half the world's population was now covered by solid...
- The WHO appealed in 2018 for industrially produced fatty acids in foods to be eliminated worldwide by 2023, amid evidence they caused 500,000 premature deaths every year
- 53 countries covering 46 percent of the world's population are now implementing best practice policies on the toxic substance -- up from 11 countries and six percent in 2018
Business
Saudi Arabia launches global tourism campaign featuring Messi
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Arabia's national tourism brand, "Saudi Welcome To Arabia," has launched a new global marketing campaign...
- The campaign, called "Go Beyond What You Think," aims to address misconceptions about Saudi Arabia and encourage people to experience the country's cultural transformation.
- The campaign launch coincides with Messi's upcoming return to Saudi Arabia, where he will play two matches with his club, Inter Miami, against Al Nassr and Al Hilal.
Geostrategy
Skipper Battat leads Palestine on and off pitch at Asian Cup
Doha, Qatar - Musab Al-Battat has led Palestine on the pitch with his all-action performances and off it as the voice...
- The 30-year-old captain will be the man his team look to once again for inspiration when Palestine face hosts and reigning champions Qatar in a daunting last-16 tie.
- The side ranked 99 in the world have progressed into the next round despite a deeply troubled build-up overshadowed by the Israel-Hamas war
Arts & Culture
Expo City Dubai launches 10-day festival of Emirati light art and culture
DUBAI, UAE - Dhai Dubai, the first-ever Emirati-led light art festival, has launched its illuminating 10-day program at Expo City...
- The event celebrates the rich artistic tapestry of Emirati through a series of awe-inspiring artistic projections, interactive installations.
- The free-to-attend festival is created and organized by Expo City Dubai, in partnership with AGB Creative and will run from January 26 to February 4.
Business
Airbus and Tata to build helicopter assembly line in India
Paris, France - Airbus will build a helicopter assembly line in India with Indian conglomerate Tata, the European aircraft manufacturer said Friday.The...
- Airbus said the facility -- which will take two years to set up -- would be the first such operation to be run by a private group in India.
- Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury said making the helicopter in India would "unlock the true potential of the helicopter market in the country".
$20 million rare blue diamond goes on show in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates -- A rare blue diamond valued at $20 million went on pre-auction display on Tuesday...
Business
Company News
‘Beautiful thing’: hijab-wearing singer looks to inspire
Arts & Culture
Latest News
Don’t give smartphones to kids under 11, UK mobile phone firm says
London, United Kingdom - One of Britain's biggest mobile network operators said on Sunday it will warn parents they should not...
Saudi Arabia submits official bid to host FIFA World Cup 2034 after successful Qatar event in 2022
The next steps include official visits by FIFA and a comprehensive evaluation of the bid.
Economy
Saudi Arabia constitutes center for promoting moderate Islam: North Macedonia Mufti
Skopje – Islamic Union President and Republic of North Macedonia Mufti Sheikh Hafiz Şakir Fetahu stressed that Saudi Arabia has...
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Egypt to prosecute travel agents over hajj ‘fraud’: government
Cairo, Egypt - Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly ordered 16 tourism companies stripped of their licences and referred their managers to...
- The order came after countries whose citizens performed this year's hajj reported more than 1,100 deaths, many attributed to the oven-like summer heat in Saudi Arabia
- An AFP tally on Friday, compiling official statements and reports from diplomats involved in the response, put the toll at 1,126, more than half of them from Egypt
Arts & Culture
Born to help: Syria bikers deliver Ramadan meals
The volunteers don their club's signature blue vest, the front and back embroidered with their emblem: a flaming motorbike and...
- "We hit the most disadvantaged areas," said Tarek Obaid, head of Hope Bikers Syria, whose 50 volunteers make and distribute the food for various charities in the Syrian capital
- Syria has been ravaged by 13 years of war that has killed more than half a million people and battered the country's economy and infrastructure.
Geostrategy
From polar bears to groundwater, nature is riddled with ‘forever chemicals’
Paris, France - They didn't exist a century ago but today PFAS "forever chemicals" contaminate the environment from groundwater to Antarctic...
- On Thursday, a French legislator will introduce a bill to address what he calls the health "emergency" posed by exposure to PFAS in the environment
- Widely used in everyday items, highly durable, and very slow to break down, PFAS have been detected in water, air, fish and soil in the remotest corners of the globe