3 hours ago
Nearly 4m Vehicles Use Mecca Roads In 10 Days Of Ramadan
More than 3.7 million vehicles used roads leading to the Saudi city of Mecca, home to Islam’s holiest mosque, in the first 10 days of the current Islamic month of Ramadan, the kingdom’s road authorities have said. The rise in traffic rates was due to a surge in pilgrims performing the Umrah or minor pilgrimage in the Grand Mosque during Ramadan, the Roads General Authority added. The Authority said vehicle traffic was facilitated through an integrated system of services including major improvements to the road network infrastructure and implementing the highest safety and quality standards. The roads were surveyed and maintained, utilizing the latest technologies to ascertain the safety of road users. The month of Ramadan, noted for devout worshipping, traditionally marks the peak season for Umrah performers. The Grand Mosque houses the Holy Kaaba, the direction of prayer for Muslims worldwide. More than 25 million worshippers, including 5.5 million Umrah pilgrims, prayed in the mosque during the first 10 days of Ramadan that began this year on March 1, according to Saudi-owned Al Arabiya TV. Millions of Muslims from all over the world flock to Saudi Arabia, Islam’s birthplace, to undertake the Umrah and pray in the Grand Mosque in […]
3 hours ago
Saudi Grand Mufti Warns Against Filming Prayers, Urges Sincerity In Ramadan Worship
Saudi Arabia has called on imams and preachers to uphold sincerity in their worship and preaching during the holy month of Ramadan, warning against practices that may verge on self-promotion or hypocrisy. In a religious edict (fatwa), Grand Mufti and Chairman of the Council of Senior Scholars, Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al Sheikh expressed concern over the increasing trend of filming and broadcasting prayers and sermons from mosques on social media platforms, stating that such practices could compromise the spiritual purity of worship. “Sincerity is a condition for the acceptance of any act of worship,” he said, adding that public display of religious acts for praise or attention contradicts the essence of devotion. Filming and sharing online The Grand Mufti’s comments came in response to a question regarding the recent decision by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance to prohibit the filming and sharing of Ramadan prayers and lectures online. Al Sheikh supported the decision, describing the matter as a “serious issue” even prior to the ministry’s intervention, and emphasized that the ban aims to prevent potential violations and maintain the sanctity of worship. “There are two conditions for any work to be accepted by God: sincerity and adherence […]
3 hours ago
School Evacuated In Kuwait After Fire
A fire had broken up at a school in Kuwait, prompting the evacuation of children and staff, a local newspaper has reported. Upon arriving at the private school in the area of Jleeb Al Shuyoukh in the Farwaniya governorate, firefighters had evacuated the building and handled the blaze, said Al Anba. Investigations showed that the fire had erupted inside a room used as a warehouse on the school roof without causing casualties. Images posted by the paper showed thick smoke billowing from the place as firefighters were trying to put out the blaze. Earlier this week, firefighters controlled and extinguished fires in two mosques in Al Salmiya area east of Kuwait City, reported Al Qabas newspaper. No casualties resulted from both fires the causes of which were not clear. Last June, a blaze swept across a residential building in Mangaf area, south of Kuwait City, leaving 50 people dead in one of the worst such incidents in Kuwait. The fatalities included 45 Indians and three Filipinos. Fire Force investigators attributed the blaze to a short electric circuit, saying it started around dawn in the room of the building guard before it spread across the six-floor residence. The high death toll was […]
3 hours ago
Watch: Bahrain Launches Its First Locally-Manufactured Satellite ‘Al Munther’
Bahrain launched its first locally designed and manufactured satellite, “Al Munther,” on Saturday to localize satellite technology and enhance national capabilities in the space sector. View this post on Instagram A post shared by صحيفة الأيام البحرينية (@alayam) Al Munther is the first satellite of its kind in the region to employ artificial intelligence (AI) for onboard image processing, according to the Kingdom’s National Space Science Agency (NSSA). It carries advanced payloads, including AI-based image processing, an Earth observation camera, a cybersecurity system, and a unique feature to broadcast Bahrain’s national anthem and a message from His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa from space. NSSA’s CEO, Mohamed Ibrahim Al-Aseeri, told Forbes Middle East that the accomplishment is not only a step forward in enhancing the Kingdom’s presence in the field of space science but also a confirmation of its capabilities and its ability to contribute to global scientific progress. The satellite was launched on Saturday aboard the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket as part of the Transporter-13 mission from California. The mission aims to develop local expertise in satellite design, construction, and operation, create Bahrain’s first nanosatellite operating system, secure intellectual property rights, and capture medium-resolution images of the […]
4 hours ago
UAE Leaders Offer Condolences To King Salman On Passing Of Princess Noura Bint Bandar Bin Mohammed
President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has sent a cable of condolences to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia, on the passing of Princess Noura bint Bandar bin Mohammed Al Abdulrahman Al Saud. . His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court, sent similar condolences cables to King Salman.
4 hours ago
Former Head Of Israeli Military Intelligence Welcomes ‘Chaos’ In Syria
The former head of the Israeli Military Intelligence Directorate has voiced his support for the “power struggle” in Syria, adding that the “chaos” benefits Israel. “The chaos in Syria is beneficial. Let them fight each other. But Israel should remain silent on this matter and not make any public statements. It should act calmly,” Tamir Hayman said in an interview with the Israeli Army Radio. Hayman, who now serves as the director of the Institute for National Security Studies, welcomed the conflict between the different factions in Syria, but added that Israel must stay quiet. “We wish victory to all forces, but we must do one thing, do this silently, and not talk about it.” He said while in the short term there appears to be power struggle in Syria, the new government is trying to extend its control. “Everyone is fighting each other. An agreement with the Kurds on the first day, a massacre against the Alawites on the second day, and a threat to the Druze on the third day… All this chaos in addition to an Israeli attack on the south… All this chaos is somewhat good for Israel,” he explained. The former military commander was referencing the violence that began on last Thursday when gunmen allegedly loyal to Assad […]
10 hours ago
Bahrain: Five New Schools, Major Revamp Planned for Public Education
Education Minister Dr Mohammed bin Mubarak Juma has announced plans to build five new schools and four academic buildings as part of the upcoming budget. Additionally, 80 public schools will undergo major upgrades, including renovations, deep cleaning, and new furniture to enhance learning environments. The ministry is also advancing efforts to introduce the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme in public schools, with an IB Organisation delegation set to visit Bahrain in April. The programme aims to provide Bahraini students with an internationally recognised academic pathway. To strengthen the teaching workforce, 600 Bahrain Teachers’ College graduates will be recruited across 2025 and 2026. Meanwhile, a new cohort will begin a four-year degree in education, ensuring a steady pipeline of trained teachers for public schools. Infrastructure planning is being coordinated with Housing and Urban Planning to integrate schools into new residential areas and meet population growth demands. Curriculum updates are also in progress, with improvements in English, Arabic, maths, and science. Question banks will be expanded to help students prepare for exams, and the ministry is working with Bahraini and international experts to refine teaching methods. Quranic studies will be strengthened, and a new subject on Bahraini folk culture will be introduced in […]
10 hours ago
Bahrain: Woman Forced Into Unpaid Labour as Employer Pockets Wages
She landed in the Kingdom dreaming of a better life. But fate had other plans. Endless work, meagre pay, and no way out. She had few options to pursue, as her passport had been confiscated by her employer, a woman in her 50s. Police said the woman had to work for around nine households without receiving full wages, leaving her physically exhausted and mentally drained. The suspect, who is accused of running an unlicensed manpower agency and employment office, has been remanded in custody, with her trial postponed to Sunday for a hearing of prosecution witnesses. The victim, 25, said she came to Bahrain on a visit visa to work as a housemaid for BD120 a month. Instead, she claimed, she was passed between nine households without receiving her full wages, while the accused withheld her passport to keep her trapped in the job. The Interior Ministry flagged the case as potential human trafficking, finding that the accused withheld the victim’s earnings, handing over just BD200 for the first two months. A witness backed the claims, saying the accused had sent voice messages threatening the worker with violence. Prosecutors said the accused admitted to running a recruitment agency and employment […]
10 hours ago
300 Beagles per Week!? US Continues to Fund Dog Experiments in China
Topline: A Chinese lab is continuing to receive funds from the U.S. to conduct cruel studies on beagles, according to contracts obtained by the nonprofit White Coat Waste Project and shared with the New York Post. Key facts: The $124,200 contract was awarded by the National Institutes of Health’s National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences using money from the Pentagon, for the experiments on beagle puppies — as well as mice and rats — at the Beijing-based company’s lab from September 2023 until May 2025. The Chinese company Pharmaron uses the funds to test pharmaceuticals for neurological disorders on 300 beagles per week, as well as mice and rats, White Coat Waste found. Some of the dogs are as young as eight months. Those that suffer organ dysfunction are euthanized, the contract states. Pharmaron’s proposal to the NIH promises to comply with the Animal Welfare Act and notes that “Beagle dog is docile, cute and easy to domesticate.” It describes how the hundreds of dogs, some as young as eight months, “will be reused” throughout the study “to save animals and decrease cost,” while saying those suffering organ dysfunction will be “euthanized.” The DOD’s Office of Inspector General conducted an audit in June, citing Pharmaron, as well as the Chinese […]
10 hours ago
Lutnick Explains Trump Plan to Eliminate Taxes for Those Earning Under $150,000
US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick says President Donald Trump wants to eliminate taxes on those earning under $150,000 per year once the budget is balanced. “I know what [Trump’s] goal is … no tax, for anybody who makes less than $150,000 a year. That’s his goal. That’s what I’m working for,” Lutnick told CBS News in a Wednesday interview. The on Thursday, Lutnick told Fox News: “What we discussed was when the president balances the budget, his first move is going to be—he has suggested that he would like to waive taxes for people under $150,000. That’s aspirational.” Watch: LUTNICK: "What we discussed was when the president balances the budget, his first move is going to be—he has suggested that he would like to waive taxes for people under $150,000. That's aspirational."pic.twitter.com/7V8sEmugWQ — Josh Caplan (@joshdcaplan) March 13, 2025 Lutnick also mentioned Trump’s 2024 proposals to end taxes on overtime pay, tips, and Social Security payments – while the president has also touted the creation of an “External Revenue Service” to collect duties, and even floated ending all federal income tax if the tariff revenues are sufficient. “How about no tax on tips? How about no tax on overtime? How about no social security? How about all those […]
11 hours ago
New Post-assad Syrian Constitution Enshrines Islamic Sharia Law
For decades Syria was ruled by the Assad family and the secular Ba’ath party, which generally allowed for a high degree of religious freedom for non-Muslims like Christians, Druze, and dissident Muslim sects such as the Alawites. But this quasi-secular public order collapsed literally overnight with the December 8 ouster of Bashar al-Assad, which saw him flee the country for safe-haven in Moscow. The hardline Sunni Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) took over Syria, with the backing of external powers like NATO-member Turkey, and likely backing of Western countries such as the United States. On Wednesday HTS leader and self-declared President Ahmed al-Sharaa (formerly Abu Mohammad al-Jolani: his ISIS/AQ name) signed a new declaration of an interim constitution. A committee of HTS appointees produced it (or at least a partial draft) in a committee, and it clearly makes Islamic or Sharia Law the new law of the land. The constitution for the first time in Syria’s history recognizes Islamic Law as the main source of jurisprudence. Previously the Assad government only recognized Islamic law as a source, or one of many sources. The Assad family is of course from the Alawite sect, and thus operated in such a way that ensured protections for all non-Sunni […]
11 hours ago
Ukraine’s Kursk Blunder Opens the Door for Russian Invasion of the North
The true purpose behind Ukraine’s attack on the Kursk region of Southwest Russia has been hotly debated, mostly because the area holds little to no traditional strategic purpose. Not all seized territory has equal value in a war; some territory has no value. Some believe that the incursion was meant to open a door to an attack on the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant, which could then be held hostage or sabotaged, leaving a radioactive mess for the Russians to clean up. But the plant is too far from the border to be successfully captured by anything other than a large scale offensive force with superior logistics. Others argue that the mere act of invading Russian soil (no matter how useless) was intended to send a message to Ukraine’s western allies that Vladimir Putin’s “red lines” are a false front and that he would never respond with a nuclear defense. In other words, Kursk was supposed to encourage US and European officials to enter the war with boots on the ground. It remains to be seen if Putin would in fact use the nuclear option, but Ukraine certainly isn’t worth taking the risk, at least not for the majority […]
12 hours ago
UAE’s First SAR Satellite, Etihad-SAT, Successfully Launched Aboard SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket
Etihad-SAT, the UAE’s first Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite, was successfully launched today aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket. The highly anticipated launch took place at the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, the US. This is a groundbreaking achievement for the UAE’s space ambitions and marks a significant milestone in the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre’s (MBRSC) growing contributions to space exploration and technological innovation. The launch was initially scheduled for 10.39am, but was later moved to 10.43am. Developed as part of a strategic partnership with South Korea’s Satrec Initiative, Etihad-SAT was designed with the involvement of MBRSC’s team, who led the technical specifications phase before moving on to preliminary design and technical validation to ensure compliance with the highest global standards. MBRSC engineers then took the lead in finalising the design and manufacturing in partnership with Satrec Initiative. Earth observation Etihad-SAT is equipped with advanced SAR technology that enables high-precision Earth observation in all weather and environmental conditions, both day and night. The satellite offers three imaging modes: spot mode (high-resolution imaging for small areas), scan mode (wide-area coverage for large regions), and strip mode (extended observation for longer regions). These features make Etihad-SAT a powerful tool for multiple […]
16 hours ago
Saudi: 16 Endangered Species Released into AlUla’s Protected Areas
The National Center for Wildlife, in collaboration with the Royal Commission for AlUla, has released 16 endangered species into the Hegra and Wadi Nakhlah reserves in AlUla. The release included 10 species in Hegra Reserve, comprising six mountain goats and four edmi antelopes, in addition to six mountain goats released in Wadi Nakhlah Reserve. This initiative is part of the programs aimed at breeding and reintroducing species threatened with extinction into their natural habitats, with the goal of enriching biodiversity in the reserves, restoring ecological balance, promoting sustainability, and stimulating eco-tourism. CEO of the National Center for Wildlife Dr. Mohammed Qurban said that the release of these endangered species in Hegra and Wadi Nakhlah reserves contributes to wildlife conservation, preserving ecosystems, and enhancing biodiversity. He said that this initiative not only supports the sustainability of the reserves but also makes them an attractive environment for visitors.
16 hours ago
Makkah Lanterns Festival Returns for the Eighth Year as Part of Ramadan Activities
The Makkah Lanterns Festival has returned for its eighth season, bringing Ramadan-themed activities, shopping, and entertainment to the city. Organized by the Makkah Chamber of Commerce, the festival runs from Ramadan 12 to 23 at the Makkah Chamber for Exhibitions and Events Center. Visitors can explore live performances, a children’s entertainment area, a marketplace, and a bazaar featuring local artisans and small businesses. Food stalls, cafés, and designated seating areas offer spaces for families to gather. The festival aims to highlight local culture while also providing a platform for small and medium-sized businesses.
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