Doug Lansford 
RIYADH: When one thought of winter holiday destinations, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was rarely the first place that sprang to mind. But with a packed schedule of events lined up in the tourism and entertainment calendar this season, that appears set to change. The Saudi Tourism Authority is holding a groundbreaking 17,000 events, making … Read more
Lebanon files complaint to UN Security Council over killing of Hamas deputy chief in Beirut BEIRUT: Lebanon’s permanent representative to the UN filed a formal complaint before the UN Security Council on Friday, following “the attack on a residential area in Beirut’s southern suburb of Dahiyeh,” which killed Hamas official Saleh Al-Arouri on Tuesday. The … Read more
Photo: RTA Dubai: In a signifant step, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in Dubai on Friday, January 5, launched a new service enabling individuals to book and reschedule driving test appointments through WhatsApp. The service is offered via the RTA’s Mahboub Chatbot at (0588009090). The RTA’s digital strategy aims to enhance accessibility of services … Read more
Traditional world arts come together in mural at King Khalid International Airport RIYADH: Riyadh Airports and the Royal Institute of Traditional Arts recently inaugurated the “Our Heritage, Our Identity” mural at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. The mural’s bricks highlight various civilizations, each embodying their originality, artistry and distinctiveness. A total of 401 bricks … Read more
Jerusalem: Israel’s defense minister has publicly presented for the first time proposals for the post-war administration of Gaza, where officials said Friday unrelenting bombardment has killed dozens over 24 hours.Defense Minister Yoav Gallant’s plan for the “day after,” shared with the media late Thursday but not yet adopted by Israel’s war cabinet, says that neither … Read more
Photo: @sidhant/X Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi is all set to attend the ‘Ahlan Modi’ event in the UAE’s capital Abu Dhabi on February 13. The event is expected to be one of the largest gatherings of the Indian diaspora, with an estimated 50,000 attendees. “Ahlan Modi” PM Modi’s mega diaspora event to take … Read more
DHAHRAN: The first thing you notice about Dhahran’s Sama Al-Bakr is her lean physique, dimpled smile, focused gaze, and long dark hair, neatly tied by her mother in a variation of a braid, her signature hairstyle. At age 7, Sama is already a tennis pioneer in Saudi Arabia. With a cabinet full of trophies, all … Read more
LONDON: South Africa’s decision to bring a case against Israel at the UN’s top judicial agency over what it describes as “genocidal acts” in Gaza represents a watershed moment for international law, according to experts. The International Court of Justice confirmed it has received an 84-page suit, filed on Dec. 29, detailing purported brutal practices … Read more
Representative image New Delhi: A cargo ship, ‘MV LILA NORFOLK’ has been hijacked late last evening near the coast of Somalia and is being closely watched by the Indian Navy which has rushed a warship towards it, military officials said on Friday. The hijacked ship has 15 Indians on board and communication has been established … Read more
DHAHRAN: The first thing you notice about Dhahran’s Sama Al-Bakr is her lean physique, dimpled smile, focused gaze, and long dark hair, neatly tied by her mother in a variation of a braid, her signature hairstyle. At age 7, Sama is already a tennis pioneer in Saudi Arabia. With a cabinet full of trophies, all … Read more
