Author: Editorial Team
ADDIS ABABA — As Ethiopia prepares to hold its seventh general elections since the downfall of the military regime in 1991 on Monday, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and the ruling Prosperity Party are widely expected to secure a landslide victory. But critics warn that growing restrictions on press freedom and political dissent are casting a shadow over the vote and with 70% of the country still affected by armed conflict, many question whether the conditions for a truly democratic election are in place. While the whole northern region of Tigray, which has been trying to recover from a brutal civil…
Al Huda Park has entered a new phase of activation as Hamat commences its first tenant handovers at the upcoming flagship retail and lifestyle destination in Makkah, ahead of its planned Q1 2027 opening. The first unit has been handed over to Panda Retail Company, marking the beginning of tenant fit-outs and operational readiness at the project. The milestone comes as Al Huda Park continues to gain momentum alongside Makkah’s wider economic and urban transformation, signaling increasing market confidence in the city’s next generation of retail and lifestyle destinations. With construction now exceeding 70% completion, Al Huda Park is steadily…
King Abdullah Medical City, a member of the Makkah Health Cluster, successfully saved the life of a Libyan pilgrim who suffered an acute cardiac arrest in the central area. The intervention was carried out through a mobile cardiac catheterization service at Al-Haram Emergency Hospital as part of an emergency-care system designed to enhance rapid response to critical cases during the Hajj season. The Makkah Health Cluster stated that the patient arrived at a hospital adjacent to the Grand Mosque showing symptoms of an acute myocardial infarction. The cardiac-pathway protocol was immediately activated in coordination with King Abdullah Medical City, and…
BEIRUT — Israel has ordered the forced displacement of all residents living south of the Zahrani River in southern Lebanon as it expands its invasion of the country before a possible assault on the city of Nabatieh. The warning came shortly after the army confirmed it had taken Beaufort Castle, a strategic point on a high ridge above the Litani river. In a post on the social media platform X on Sunday, Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee instructed residents to move immediately north of the Zahrani River, warning that anyone who remained in the area risked being killed. Israel had…
MAKKAH — Saudi Arabia started issuing Umrah visas and the entry of pilgrims into Saudi Arabia from Sunday, Dhul Hijjah 14, corresponding to May 31 for the new Umrah season. According to the Umrah season calendar1448 AH, released by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah recently, pilgrims will be able to enter Makkah and obtain Umrah permits through the Nusuk application beginning Monday, June 1. The last day for issuing Umrah visas has been set for 1st Shawwal, 1448, corresponding to March 9, 2027, while the final date for pilgrims to enter the Kingdom is 15th Shawwal 1448 corresponding to…
The King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), in partnership with the General Directorate of Public Security at the Ministry of Interior, has developed the smart “Roya” platform, which leverages artificial intelligence, remote sensing technologies, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to support security and operational activities in the holy sites, enhancing response speed and decision-making accuracy during the Hajj and Umrah seasons. The platform provides advanced technical services, including the analysis of satellite imagery and geospatial data to study traffic movement and monitor crowd density, while also delivering field indicators that support security authorities in efficiently managing critical locations.…
SINGAPORE — Japan’s defense minister has rebutted Beijing’s claim that his country is engaging in a “new militarism”, criticizing China for its military expansion and lack of transparency. Speaking on the last day of a defense summit in Singapore, Shinjiro Koizumi said it was actually China and its “huge arsenal” of weapons that was of “serious concern” to the international community. “Japan’s door to dialogue is always open” to the international community even as it increases defense spending and revises its arms exports guidelines,” Koizumi said in his speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia’s premier forum for defense leaders, militaries…
CARACAS — Venezuela’s opposition candidate who was recognized by the United States and others as the actual winner of the 2024 election against Nicolas Maduro, called on Saturday for a new vote. Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, the 76-year-old former diplomat living in exile in Spain, threw his support behind Nobel Peace Prize winner and opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who wants fresh elections in the oil-rich South American nation. In a video message posted on social media, Gonzalez voiced solidarity with fellow opposition leader Machado, who is also advocating for new elections. “A few days ago in Panama, Maria Corina Machado…
Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi of Sharjah opened a joint exhibit over the weekend that invited artists from the UAE and Poland to visually recreate stories from each other’s folk traditions, creating a “cultural dialogue beyond geographical borders and linguistic differences.” “Folktales Reimagined” was generated in collaboration between the UAE Board on Books for Young People and the Polish Section of the International Board on Books for Young People. It debuted in Warsaw’s National Library of Poland. Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels. The exhibit let a dozen Emirati and Polish artists…
The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing, represented by the Holy Makkah Municipality, has announced the successful execution of its operational plan for the 1447 AH Hajj season, maintained by a specialized workforce of over 22,000 personnel and supported by 3,000 pieces of equipment and machinery operating around the clock across Makkah and the holy sites. Ministry spokesperson Mohammed Al Rasasimah stated that cleaning and environmental sanitation efforts resulted in the removal of over 250,000 tons of waste in Makkah since Dhu Al-Qadah 15, averaging more than 6,000 tons daily. Additionally, over 16,000 tons of waste were cleared from the holy…