• Everyone is Talking About the Egyptian Olympian Facing an Israeli Opponent

    News of Egyptian Judo player, Islam el-Shehaby, competing against Israeli Or Sasson, is becoming a source of uproar social media.  The reactions in Egyptian social media ranged from some objecting and demanding his withdrawal, and some challenging this view and asserting that he should go through with it. Those who object believe it is a choice the Egyptian judoka should not even contemplate, because according to them, it is a given that relations with Israel must be avoided, even in international sports arenas. As for those who believe he should go through with it, they are certain that el-Shehaby is strong enough to take the Israeli judoka down – a win that will metaphorically represent Egypt,

    Cairo Scene q

  • Corpse found in airplane’s wheel bay at Jeddah

    Saudi Gazette report  JEDDAH – Saudi airline workers found a body in the wheel well of an airliner on Wednesday after the plane returned from Nigeria, the Saudi Press Agency reported quoting Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport administration.The plane, operated by Saudi Arabian carrier “flynas,” was undergoing a regular check after landing at the airport.  It had returned to the Kingdom after transporting Haj pilgrims back to Nigeria.  “At around ‪12 p.m.‬, an unidentified corpse of a dark skinned person was found in the back wheel storage,” the report said.Stowaways occasionally risk death by sneaking into aircraft wheel wells.   The concerned authorities have completed the necessary

    Saudi Gazette q

  • Rita Ora confirms she's leaving The X Factor

    Rita Ora has confirmed that she's leaving The X Factor. The singer, who joined the show last year, tweeted: "I had a ball on The X Factor last year and will miss the team. "@simoncowell can't wait to work with you again... I'll be round for dinner soon. Thank you for the experience & love X" Rita took on the role after moving from The Voice UK, which is moving from the BBC to ITV. The singer mentored the girls category and went on to win the show with her act, Louisa Johnson. In a statement ITV told Newsbeat: "Rita brought a great energy to the show last year and did a brilliant job mentoring the girls' category, leading Louisa to victory. "We wish her all the best with her music and film plans

    BBC Radio 1 Newsbeat q

  • 23 Absurdly Fab Photos from Karim El Chiaty & Victoria's Secret Model Ana Beatriz Barros' Wedding

    You might have noticed people making the move to Sahel, Gouna, and other such dreamy beachy lands during the Eid weekend, but what about the mysterious case of Mykonos? Why were our social media feeds suddenly flooded with images of the Greek tropical island? A coincidence? We think not. Everyone in the country (or world) has been buzzing – about what can only be described as the biggest, most glam wedding of the year where Brazilian Victoria’s Secret supermodel Ana Beatriz Barros tied the knot with Egyptian-Greek billionaire Karim El Chiati. You could say a few celebrities made an appearance. Nothing special. A slew of luxurious villas held over 400 guests who flew from all over the world for

    Cairo Scene q

  • UAE, Saudi Arabia in top 10 with highest number of international schools

    The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has retained its position at the top of the world’s listing for countries with the most number of English-medium international schools at 589, compared to only 511 last year. Saudi Arabia was 6th with 243 international schools, while Egypt was 8th with 191. The data was released by The International Schools Consultancy (ISC), a leading global market intelligence and research firm focused on international English-speaking schools as part of a report that will be presented in full at the forthcoming International Private Schools Education Forum (IPSEF) Middle East on Sept. 27-28, 2016 at the Jumeirah Creekside Hotel. Richard Gaskell, Director for International Schools at the ISC, will be presenting the very latest data on international school growth in the Middle East plus a detailed analysis on the employment of teachers at international schools in the region.

    Saudi Gazette q

  • India needs more than Rafale to match China: experts – Peninsula OnQatar Daily Star

    New Delhi: India might have only spent billions of dollars on hi-tech French warrior jets, though experts contend it needs to do a lot some-more if it is going to face adult to an increasingly noisy China. The world’s tip counterclaim importer has sealed several big-ticket deals as partial of a $100-billion ascent given Hindu jingoist Prime Minister Narendra Modi took energy in 2014. But it has been delayed to reinstate a shrinking swift of Russian MiG-21s — dubbed “Flying Coffins” since of their bad reserve record. An agreement to buy 36 slicing corner Rafale jets from France’s Dassault aims to repair that. “It will give a atmosphere force an arrowhead. Our atmosphere force has aged aircraft,

    Qatar Daily Star q

  • Five ways India could respond to Pakistan over Kashmir raid

    NEW DELHI: India’s Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi is under pressure to act against Pakistan after Sunday’s attack on an army base in divided Kashmir killed 18 soldiers. The army blamed the raid-the worst on troops for over a decade in the region-on Pakistan-based militant group Jaish-e-Mohammad. Politicians, army veterans and others have called for a muscular response, including air strikes on training camps on the Pakistan side of the de facto border that divides Kashmir between the two countries. “India knows it can’t sustain a 15-day war against Pakistan and Pakistan knows it can’t sustain a similar war against India,” Ajai Sahni, executive director of the Institute of Conflict Management, told AFP.

    Kuwait Times q

  • Meet the world's richest young billionaires as Hugh Grosvenor inherits £9bn

    He had three daughters but only one son, 25-year-old Hugh Grosvenor, who is heir to the dukedom. Hugh has now inherited "half of London" after his father's estate covers most of Belgravia and Mayfair - the most expensive area on the Monopoly board. He hasn't had to work for his father's money. But he does have a job as an account manager for Bio-bean - a green technology company. According to the 2016 Forbes Rich List there are nine other under-30s worth more than $1bn - so we thought we'd find out who some of them are. At 20 and 21, Alexandra and Katharina Andresen are the youngest Johan, a Norwegian industrialist and investor, transferred his fortune to his two daughters in 2007. Norway is

    BBC Radio 1 Newsbeat q

  • Egyptian Girl Sold Into Slavery at the Age of 8 Publishes Her Memoirs

    Despite having been heavily covered by western media, the sad saga of an Egyptian girl who was robbed of her childhood in the cruelest way possible is only just beginning to become known here in Egypt after one Facebook user took to the social network to share her story, which is rapidly going viral  Although born in 1991, Shyima Hall’s life didn’t really begin until 2002 when she was freed from the shackles of slavery her own parents had sold her into for the mere price of $30. Born in grinding poverty, little Shyima lived with her parents and ten siblings in an Alexandria slum until she was traded to a rich family for whom her older sister used to work as a maid. The wealthy employers accused

    Cairo Scene q

  • Russia to send flagship aircraft carrier to Syria coast

    Russia’s defense minister said on Wednesday that Moscow was dispatching its flagship aircraft carrier to bolster its forces in the eastern Mediterranean off Syria. The Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier would be sent to join Russia’s current naval deployment there, minister Sergei Shoigu said during a televised meeting. “Currently the Russian naval deployment to the east Mediterranean consists of no less than six battleships and three or four support vessels,” he said. “In order to bolster the military capabilities of the group we plan to add the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier to the group,” Shoigu said, without specifying a timeframe.  Bombing campaign Last Update: Wednesday, 21 September

    News q

  • Love Island will return for a third series

    Good news for fans of Love Island - ITV has announced it will be back next year. Bosses have ordered a third season of one of the summer's most talked about shows. Its second run is thought to have doubled last year's viewing figures, with an average of 1.3 million people watching each episode. "We can't wait to do it all again next year," said ITV Studios creative director Richard Cowles. Although the series officially finished last night with Nathan Massey and Cara De La Hoyde crowned champions, it will return for a special episode on Sunday 17 July. Love Island: Heading Home will follow the islanders as they're reunited at the wrap party. Which will no doubt mean clashes as exes come face-to-face

    BBC Radio 1 Newsbeat q

  • Boeing and Airbus get US green light to sell planes to Iran

    Cleared for takeoff! Boeing and Airbus have been given the green light by the U.S. government to sell planes to Iran despite fierce political opposition to the deal. The Treasury department has approved the delivery of more than 100 Boeing (BA) aircraft and 17 Airbus passenger planes, marking a key step for Iran's foreign business dealings now that its economic sanctions are lifted. Boeing (BA) is a U.S. company headquartered in Chicago. Airbus (EADSF), a European consortium, needed U.S. government approval to sell aircraft to Iran because many parts are made in the U.S. and the American authorities want to ensure the country doesn't use the planes for military purposes. Iran has agreed to buy

    CNN Money q

  • Major Dubai street renamed after King Salman

    Saudi Gazette report DUBAI – Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum has issued a directive to rename Al Sufouh Street, one of Dubai’s major arteries, after Custodian of the two Holy Mosques King Salman. This was in recognition and appreciation of the King’s role in supporting the causes of the Arab and Muslim world, the Saudi Press Agency reported. This gesture, on the occasion of 86th Saudi National Day, reflects the historically strong relations between the UAE and Saudi Arabia and recognizes the Kingdom’s vision and role in enhancing solidarity between Arab nations.  Crown Prince of Dubai Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al

    Saudi Gazette q

  • 9 Of The Hottest Spots To Karaoke Around Town

    Karaoke is either the time to share your talents with the world or pierce a hole through your friend’s ears - either way, both are fun. Most of us think we can actually sing, but the sad truth is that, well, we can’t. It’s usually just annoying shrieking like that golden egg in Harry Potter. Maybe we should be put underwater to sound like beautiful mermaids, too… Whether you want to belt out your favourite Shakira song or sing a little 60s tune, the stage is your oyster! We've gathered a list of the nine best spots to hit for karaoke. Shriek away! *buys earplugs*Johnny's In Zamalek Located on the fancy Le Pacha 1901 boat, Johnny's has a karaoke night every Sunday accompanied with live DJs. The

    Cairo Scene q

  • China covers portions of Great Wall with cement

    Public decries the Chinese government's decision to repair a 700-year-old stretch of China's Great Wall with a smooth, white trail of cement.

    CNN q

  • Taiwan asks Google to blur images of South China Sea island

    TAIPEI, Taiwan: Taiwan’s defense ministry has asked Google to blur images of a new development believed to be for military use on a disputed South China Sea island.Tensions remain high in the region over conflicting territorial claims, particularly over the strategically important Spratlys chain. Taiwan administers Taiping island, which is the largest in the Spratlys archipelago. The island chain is also claimed in part or whole by the Philippines, Vietnam and China. Google satellite images show a circular structure with four Y-shaped attachments, jutting out to sea on Taiping’s northwestern coast. The development comes after Taiwan last year inaugurated a solar-powered lighthouse, an expanded

    Arab News q

  • India wants to add Saudi, UAE oil for strategic reserve

    NEW DELHI: India is talking to Saudi Arabia and the UAE to fill half of the 1.5 million tons (mt) of the Mangalore strategic storage, along with Iranian crude, its oil minister said. Dharmendra Pradhan told a news conference India is exploring two to three other models for sourcing oil to fill the remainder of the storage. During Saudi Energy Minister Kahlid A. Al-Falih’s visit to New Delhi in October, India plans to discuss the filling of the Mangalore strategic storage, and investments in refinery and petrochemical projects. Globally, most of the biggest crude oil consuming countries have a strategic storage capacity of at least 50 days, but India currently stands less than 10 days. In 2005,

    Arab News q

  • Blake Lively doesn't want you praising her post-baby body

    Blake Lively says new mums shouldn't feel pressure to lose weight straight after having a baby. She's been on Australian breakfast show Sunrise, where she was complimented on how great she looked in a bikini in her new film The Shallows. The presenter commented on how the film was shot just months after Blake had her first baby. But the 28-year-old called it unfair that slimming down after birth is "so celebrated". "It's like, this is what someone looks like after having a baby," she said. "I think a woman's body after having a baby is pretty amazing. You gave birth to a human being. I would really like to see that celebrated." The ex-Gossip Girl star's now expecting her second child with husband

    BBC Radio 1 Newsbeat q

  • $139bn speech wins plaudits at UN summit

    RIYADH: A cross-section of people, including human rights activists and academics, have welcomed on Tuesday the pronouncements made by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Naif in his address at the UN Summit for Refugees and Migrants in New York.The crown prince is currently leading a high-profile Saudi delegation to the 71st session of the UN General Assembly in New York. “The highlight of the speech of Crown Prince Mohammed was the Kingdom’s commitment for continued assistance to impoverished nations,” said Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, supervisor general of King Salman Humanitarian and Relief Center. Al-Rabeeah said that the crown prince shared his views with world leaders very candidly. He said that Saudi Arabia

    Arab News q

  • Shakespeare Lives - Ballet, Opera and the Bard

    Great music and performance from the world of ballet and opera, presented by Ore Oduba. We join Royal Ballet stars Lauren Cuthbertson and Edward Watson as they rehearse The Winter’s Tale. Also featured; the potion scene from Kenneth MacMillan’s classic Romeo and Juliet and music from Verdi’s two great Shakespearean operas Otello and Falstaff. Watch live and on demand via the BBC Live page

    BBC Music Events q