ISTANBUL — Turkey’s Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque in Istanbul held its first Tarawih prayer in 88 years late Friday, a special evening prayer during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. A number of events for Ramadan will also be held at the mosque, which was converted into a museum in 1934 and regained its status […]
Middle East
Indian restaurant sealed in Bahrain after veiled woman denied entry
MANAMA — An Indian restaurant in Bahrain was shut down by authorities after a veiled woman was denied entry into the restaurant. The incident took place at the Bahrain Lanterns – an Indian restaurant located in the Adliya area of the country’s capital Manama. Following the incident, the restaurant issued a formal apology on their […]
Woman gives birth to one-eyed child in Yemen
BAYDA — A woman gave birth to a one-eyed in Radaa city of Bayda province in Yemen. Multiple news reports quoting, Hussein al-Abbasi, the husband of the wife said he took his wife Zahra al-Abbasi to Al-Hilal maternity hospital in Radaa for delivering the baby. “The wife gave birth to a baby with one eye […]
Turkey opens world’s longest suspension bridge linking Asia and Europe
ISTANBUL — President Tayyip Erdogan opened a massive suspension bridge across Turkey’s Dardanelles Strait on Friday, the latest in a series of major infrastructure projects which he has prioritised during his two decades in power. Connecting Turkey’s European and Asian shores, the 1915 Canakkale Bridge was built by Turkish and South Korean firms with an […]
Saudi Arabia executes 81 convicts for terrorism, other offences
RIYADH — Saudi Arabia on Saturday executed 81 people convicted of crimes ranging from killings to belonging to militant groups, the largest known mass execution carried out in the kingdom in its modern history. The number of executed surpassed even the toll of a January 1980 mass execution for the 63 militants convicted of seizing […]
Social distancing stickers removed from all over Grand Mosque, Prophet’s Mosque
RIYADH — Workers has begun removing social distancing stickers from indoor and outdoor corridors, squares and facilities at the Grand Mosque in Makkah and Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah in Saudi Arabia on Sunday, in preparatiom for the Fajr (dawn) prayer, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported. This is in line with the decision to lift […]
Over 130 Palestinians injured in West Bank clashes
RAMALLAH — More than 130 Palestinian protesters were injured during clashes with Israeli soldiers in the West Bank, according to medics. Witnesses said the fierce clashes broke out on Friday near the villages of Beita and Beit Dajan, located to the south and east of Nablus city respectively, and near the village of Kafr Qaddum, […]
Saudi Arabia to change its ‘Qalima’ inscribed flag
DUBAI — After having made several reforms, opening pubs and gambling stations, Saudi Arabia is now inching towards changing its national anthem and Qalima inscribed green flag. The kingdom’s unelected consultative Shura Council voted in favor of changes, state-run media reported. It comes as the country’s young crown prince who emphasizes Saudi nationality and national […]
Syria: 70 killed as fighting between Islamic State, Kurd forces rages for third day
BEIRUT — Fighting raged for a third day on Saturday between ISIL (ISIS) and Kurdish forces in Syria after attackers stormed a prison housing members of the armed group in violence that has killed more than 70 people so far. The assault on the Ghwayran prison in the northern city of Hasakeh is one of […]
Yemeni rebels say airstrike on prison killed 80
CAIRO — The death toll from a Saudi-led coalition airstrike that hit a prison run by Yemen’s Houthi rebels climbed to at least 80 detainees, the rebels said Saturday. The airstrike Friday was part of an intense air and ground offensive that marked an escalation in Yemen’s yearslong civil war. The conflict pits the internationally […]