In the aftermath of a dramatic naval confrontation, a group of international activists has returned to Turkey, recounting a harrowing ordeal after being deported by Israeli forces. They accuse Israeli troops of brutal treatment and of reducing them to something akin to “animals” during their capture. The activists were part of the Global Sumud Flotilla, an international maritime convoy that set sail last month to break Israel’s naval blockade on Gaza by delivering humanitarian aid and to draw global attention to the plight in the enclave. Israel’s navy intercepted the flotilla, detained more than 400 activists on multiple ships, and…
Author: Baseerat Talib
Diplomatic momentum has once again shifted toward Cairo this Sunday, where Egypt is set to mediate another decisive round of talks aimed at securing a long-awaited ceasefire in Gaza. The renewed discussions come in the wake of an unexpected late-night statement by U.S. President Donald Trump, who announced that Israel has agreed to an “initial line of withdrawal” from the enclave — a potential breakthrough that could immediately bring hostilities to a halt if Hamas gives its approval. Posting on his Truth Social platform, President Trump stated that the ceasefire could come into effect “instantly” once Hamas formally accepts the…
Syria entered a crucial new political chapter this Sunday as thousands of electors across regional councils cast their votes to choose the majority of representatives for the country’s first parliament after the Assad era. The event, regarded as a turning point in Syria’s post-war transition, marked an attempt to formalize governance under interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s leadership. The process began early in the morning and continued until late evening, with around six thousand members of regional electoral bodies participating across several administrative zones. Their task was to elect two-thirds of the upcoming 210-member assembly through an indirect vote, while the…
The Saudi Central Bank has recently issued a comprehensive set of binding instructions directed at all local banks and financial institutions, stressing that no delays will be tolerated in the disbursement of employee salaries or financial support. According to the new directives, once a bank receives the necessary amounts from government departments, private companies, or other establishments, those funds must be credited immediately into the accounts of the respective employees. The principle is very straightforward: as soon as the required information and data are complete, employees should see their salaries deposited without any unnecessary waiting period. The motivation behind this…
During the month of Rabi Al-Awwal 1447 AH, new data regarding the performance of Umrah revealed that the average duration for completing the entire set of rituals stood at nearly one hundred and fifteen minutes. This figure reflects the total time spent by pilgrims from the moment they began their entry into the Grand Mosque until the completion of Tawaf, Sa’i, and the transition between different areas inside the sacred sanctuary. What this essentially means is that most worshippers needed almost two hours in order to complete Umrah during this period, a time frame that illustrates both the smooth organization…
In a move that spotlights the rising importance of food culture in Saudi Arabia, the Culinary Arts Commission — operating under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture — has just published a suite of six comprehensive reports that together deliver the most in-depth portrayal yet of the Kingdom’s culinary ecosystem. These studies illustrate how the cooking arts are evolving beyond kitchens, becoming not only an economic engine but also a tool of cultural influence both within and beyond Saudi borders. At the heart of these reports is the story of transformation: kitchens are becoming smarter, heritage recipes are gaining…
U.S. President Donald Trump has delivered a blunt ultimatum to Hamas, setting a strict deadline of 6:00 p.m. Washington time, equivalent to 22:00 GMT on Sunday, for the group to accept his proposed plan for Gaza’s future. Declaring it the last opportunity for Hamas to step back from confrontation, Trump warned in a Truth Social post that failure to comply would trigger consequences described in stark terms as “all hell, like no one has ever seen before.” He asserted that the plan has already received backing from the international community, claiming that every country has endorsed the framework, and left…
In the National Assembly of Pakistan, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar strongly reiterated Islamabad’s unwavering support for the Palestinian cause, assuring lawmakers that there has been no deviation from the country’s principled stance. He argued that the ongoing war in Gaza could only be brought to an end through acceptance of the 20-point framework presented as a peace initiative, which he described as the most viable formula under current circumstances. According to him, it is not about political expediency but about ending the relentless cycle of violence that has engulfed the people of Gaza. Dar stressed that…
A sessions court in Lahore has rejected the bail plea of well-known YouTuber Saadur Rehman, better known to his followers as Ducky Bhai, in the case revolving around his alleged involvement in the promotion of illegal gambling and forex applications. The decision came when Additional District and Sessions Judge Dr. Sajida Chaudhry delivered her reserved verdict after listening to arguments from both sides earlier in the day. According to the prosecution, the accusations were not baseless but stemmed from a credible source report that prompted investigators to launch an inquiry into the YouTuber’s online activities. The prosecutor insisted before the…
The countdown is on for a spectacular finale: tomorrow, the “Final Lap” of the Extreme E electric off-road racing series roars to life in Qiddiya City, Riyadh, and continues through October 5. This much-anticipated global event is being staged under the auspices of the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation and the Ministry of Sport, in collaboration with the Public Investment Fund ,Qiddiya City , and a host of prominent sponsors. What unfolds over these two days will not merely be a race but a statement: that Saudi Arabia remains at the forefront of innovation, sustainability, and world-class event hosting. Eight…