Putin is poised to extend his rule in highly orchestrated vote even as Russians quietly protest MOSCOW: Russians crowded outside polling stations at noon Sunday on the last day of a presidential election, apparently heeding an opposition call to protest against President Vladimir Putin in a vote that offered them no real alternatives after he … Read more
JEDDAH: The historic district of Al-Balad is buzzing with cultural festivities and traditional celebrations during the holy month as part of the Saudi Ministry of Culture’s Ramadan Season.Ramadan holds a cherished spot in the hearts of residents and visitors, symbolizing a period of spiritual contemplation, community bonding, and family gatherings. In Al-Balad, this sacred month … Read more
WASHINGTON: President Joe Biden declared democracy under threat at home and abroad and called former President Donald Trump’s position on NATO unacceptable on Thursday in a State of the Union speech designed to contrast visions with his 2024 Republican opponent. Biden, speaking before a joint session of the House of Representatives and the Senate, opened … Read more
WASHINGTON/STOCKHOLM: Sweden is expected to formally join NATO in Washington on Thursday, two years after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine forced a complete rethink of its national security policy and the realization the alliance offered the best guarantee of safety. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson is in Washington to hand over the final documentation, with the … Read more
RIYADH: Eight community partnership leaders have received the 11th Princess Seetah bint Abdulaziz Award for Excellence in Social Work. Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Ahmed Al-Rajhi announced the winners of the prestigious Saudi accolade in Riyadh on Tuesday. Established in 2012 by royal decree, the Princess Seetah bint Abdulaziz Foundation for Excellence in … Read more
MAKKAH: Saudi Arabia is home to a rich tapestry of folkloric arts, each with its own distinct features, but all with the same purpose: to express the Kingdom’s history, culture, and heroism. Over time, these artistic traditions have become essential components of a variety of events and holidays. They predominantly take the form of ardah … Read more
ANKARA: A mock tombstone in the park designating the death of Turkish democracy. A poster on a lamppost suggesting people eat cake in the face of the national currency’s collapse. The works of a Turkish street artist have become emblematic of the subversive forms of grassroots protest emerging against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s two-decade rule. The … Read more
Saudi Arabia and Spain need to raise relations to a ‘strategic partnership,’ says Spanish FM Jose Manuel Albares DUBAI: Spain’s top diplomat has expressed his desire to grow the country’s already-strong ties with Saudi Arabia into a strategic partnership, eyeing developments in renewable energies. Jose Manuel Albares, minister of foreign affairs, European Union, and cooperation, said … Read more
JERUSALEM: When Fatima, an Arab Israeli married to a Palestinian from the Gaza Strip, fled Israel’s bombardment of the territory, she was terrified they would run out of fuel. “We feared that the gas wouldn’t be enough. The road was deserted. All the way along, we saw devastated houses,” the 30-year-old said, speaking under a … Read more
Shaheen Shah Afridi secures dramatic last-ball win for Dessert Vipers against MI Emirates DUBAI: The Desert Vipers pulled off a sensational last-ball victory over top-of-the-table side MI Emirates in the team’s fifth match of the DP World ILT20 on Tuesday. In the most dramatic match of the season so far, it was down to Shaheen … Read more