Culture

Visiting the ‘Stans has historically been quite a hassle for Western travelers, both due to proximity and the fact that the region has long had extensive and expensive visa application processes in place for those even willing to make the journey. But, in another real-world exemplar of Bob Dylan’s most …

Amidst a global call by Secretary-General António Guterres to “reaffirm the sanctity” of religious sites and keep worshippers safe, the UN Alliance of Civilizations,UNAOC, on Thursday launched a new plan of action to “counter hate and violence around the globe”. “Religious sites are powerful symbols of our collective consciousness,” said …

The Stevie Awards, known widely as the ‘business Oscars’, has reached an agreement for a strategic partnership with Ras Al Khaimah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, RAK Chamber, for the first annual Middle East Stevie Awards to be held in Ras Al Khaimah in February 2020. The Middle East Stevie …

We are a young country, but we have a very ancient history. There have been people in Uzbekistan since the start of civilisation. Uzbekistan was a crossroads of empires and different religions. In those ancient days Zoroastrianism was the dominant religion, but to here Alexander brought the Hellenistic pantheon of …

By Emad El-Din Aysha, PhD     I made the mistake of watching a horror movie once late, late at night. Had drunk a cappuccino earlier in the day so I couldn’t sleep and I thought watching one would keep me sharp. And, knowing me, I agreed to go along …

The Emirates Publishers Association (EPA) organised a panel on the success made by cultural projects in the UAE as part of the ongoing Moscow International Book Fair (MIBF) 2019, where Sharjah is participating as a Guest City. The participants attributed the success of cultural projects in the UAE to the …

“Verily, the first House (of worship) appointed for mankind was that at Bakkah (Makkah), full of blessing, and a guidance for mankind.” — Quran, Chapter 3 (Aale-Imran) verse 96   By: Ibrahim Alalou Muslims from all over the world strive to make the journey of a lifetime. We as Muslims …

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, attended part of the “Achieve the Unimaginable” motivational event at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, which attracted more than 10,000 attendees from 46 countries. Hosted by the Mohammed bin Rashid Centre for Leadership Development …

  I asked 26 young people: Who was our father Khodja Ahror Valiy? True, only 3 of them answered. The answers were not clear and concise. However, our great nation has left an indelible mark in its socio-political, economic, cultural and spiritual life of the Movarounnahr and Khurasan peoples in …

The fact of existing of such musical instruments as doumbira, koubiz, sibizga, chankawuz, chang, rubab, tanbur, uud on the wall paintings of Afrasiab and finding a 3000-year panpipe in the settlement Mouminabad in our region reveal the ancientry of the musical art of Samarkand. Samarkand has professional art of highly …

Israeli and Ukrainian leaders have come to the defense of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s wife Sara after she appeared to toss away a piece of bread offered to her at an official Ukrainian welcoming ceremony. Netanyahu and his wife, on a two-day official trip to Ukraine, were greeted at the …

Frequent cases of over tourism and irresponsible visitors have plagued recent news. The world is only getting smaller as access to exploration of previously offbeat countries is on the rise. A growing haven of heritage sights, Uzbekistan invites tourists to experience a visit to their country through their new virtual …

Dubai’s International Humanitarian City, IHC, embraced World Humanitarian Day celebrations on Monday, welcoming more than 100 humanitarian workers and partners to spotlight the achievements and attributes women bring to global humanitarian action. Every day, more than half a million humanitarians – 40 percent of which are women – work on …

The Ministry of Community Development, MOCD, has announced that as of the end of 2018, there were 223 associations, non-profit organisations, NGOs, and social Takaful funds managed and supervised by the ministry. The list comprises 185 associations, 17 Takaful funds and 21 NGOs registered in the ministry’s database. According to …

A higher committee has been set up in Abu Dhabi to implement the Human Fraternity Document signed by His Holiness Pope Francis of the Catholic Church and His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al Azhar, Dr Ahmed el-Tayyeb, in the UAE capital last February. The committee includes Bishop Miguel Ángel …

Under the auspices of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, “Aqdar”, the Khalifa Empowerment Programme, will organise the “Future Leaders Empowerment” summer camp at the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst in the United Kingdom. …

Uzbekistan will partly compensate the expenses of tour operators and charter flight organizers using fund from the state budget if they bring in foreign tourists, a presidential decree issued on Tuesday said. The decree , which aims to boost the country’s tourism sector, stipulates that from January 1, 2020, the …

The ‘Emirates Youth Professional School’, a Federal Youth Authority initiative, was launched on Monday, following the directives issues by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. The announcement falls on International Youth Day, celebrated annually on 12th August. Emirates Youth Professional …

Billboard owners in Israel cannot reject homophobic political adverts, a judge has ruled, after two companies refused to sell ad space to a far-right party that linked gay people with child trafficking. The party, Noam, was denied space on the outside wall of a Jerusalem hotel and on bus sides …

Uzbekistan dazzles with its main attractions, the icons of the Silk Road at Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva. Gawk at the mosques, scale the minarets and maunder from mausoleum to madrassah to get a feel for the history of Islam outside of the Middle East, and the power of the Timurid …

Saudi Arabia will host the world’s richest horse race in Riyadh at the King Abdulaziz Racetrack next year, with a purse of $20 million up for grabs, the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia said on Thursday. The Saudi Cup, which will be run over nine furlongs (1800 meters) on dirt …

Featuring some of the most notable names of the 20th century Avant-Garde scene, Louvre Abu Dhabi’s upcoming exhibition, ‘Rendezvous in Paris: Picasso, Chagall, Modigliani & Co.(1900-1939)’, will include more than 80 works by artists including Pablo Picasso, Amedeo Modigliani, Marc Chagall, Juan Gris, Chaïm Soutine, Constantin Brancusi and Tamara de …

The Dubai Business Women Council, DBWC, has called on female Emirati entrepreneurs to become members and benefit from a wide range of competitive advantages to add to their business and investment activities. The council aims to increase the rate of Emirati businesswomen and entrepreneurs to 20 percent by 2020, up …

The UAE’s State Audit Institution, SAI, as the head of the International Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions, INTOSAI, signed a Memorandum of Understanding, with the Vienna-based United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, UNDOC, which manages the work of the Secretariat of the Conference of the States Parties, COSP, a …

Long Term Government Leasing of National Public Lands To our Agricultural Workers is The Next Step in the very Strategic Path to declaring Demurrage on The US dollar. And how is leasing done? NOT with a loan. Then, The Old Farm Lands can heal and be Transformed in LOTS of …

Lebanon’s Byblos festival has canceled a concert by the indie rock band Mashrou’ Leila “to prevent bloodshed” after calls from church leaders accusing the band of blasphemy and death threats on social media. The Maronite Catholic Eparchy of Byblos said last week the Lebanese band’s songs “violate religious values” and …

“I enjoyed the question you posed about why Bester didn’t have Hassel murder Jesus.” – Richard Chwedyk Hi Gouthama, At last, I’ve gotten around to reading Political Travails of Time Travel and found it most entertaining and thought-provoking. I was most intrigued with the Indian folktales about the trees of …

Saudi Arabia has allowed adult women to travel without permission and granted them more control over family matters, further eroding a heavily criticized male guardianship system at a time of heightened scrutiny over its human rights record. A series of royal decrees published by the official gazette on Friday stipulated …

Dr. Ahmed Al Tayyeb, Grand Imam of Al Azhar, praised the role of the UAE’s leadership in supporting the efforts to promote peace and tolerance. He also affirmed the keenness of Al Azhar and the Muslim Council of Elders to support the efforts to achieve global peace and coexistence among …

Japan and the UAE are discussing an initiative to teach Japanese as a second foreign language in some UAE high schools, according to a top Japanese diplomat. “It is expected to start within a year,” Akihiko Nakajima, the new Japanese Ambassador to the UAE, told the Emirates News Agency, WAM, …

The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, DEWA, revealed that 20 Emiratis visited the People’s Republic of China for two weeks as part of the ‘Ambassadors of Innovation – Leaders of the Future’ programme, which supports the UAE’s efforts to empower young people through creativity and innovation. The programme, implemented by …

Staff from Zayed University, ZU, were named winners of the ‘Blackboard Catalyst Award for Optimising Student Experience’ which honours those institutions whose educational and administrative innovations have markedly improved the total learner experience. This includes their addressing of new and changing dynamics in fields such as student recruitment, financial aid, …

Emirates Red Crescent (ERC) has launched the ‘Mohamed bin Zayed Summer Jiu-Jitsu Programme’ to teach jiu-jitsu in Mrajeeb Al Fhood refugee camp in Jordan. The programme is running from 14th July to 8th August, supported by the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, International Jiu-Jitsu Federation, Etihad Airways and Palms Sports, officials announced …

As part of the UAE’s commitment to empower People of Determination (people with disabilities) internationally, the UAE Embassy in New Zealand has co-sponsored a sport competition in the city of Christchurch. The football event, organised by the New Zealand Special Olympics with the Canterbury County team for the disabled, was …

Samarkand is a cultural treasury of the peoples of the East, with medieval architectural monuments unique in beauty and architectural forms, extant up to date. Modern Samarkand differs much from its medieval image: the city has changed but the domes, towers, and magnificent building arches decorated with mosaic patterns are …

What Happens when President Trump declares Demurrage on The US dollar? Well First Before the Official Declaration There must be discussion engaged amongst The People. However, this may be challenging to do considering that just about all The Media Channels, Real or Robot, are programmed to support The Interest System. …

In the presence of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, Newbury Racecourse will host the 38th Dubai International Arabian Races,DIAR, on Sunday, 28th July. DIAR is being organised in partnership with the Newbury-based Arabian Racing Organisation,ARO, the sole Arabian racing authority …

By Massimo Luciani   “Political travails of Time travel” (“Kaalap payana Arasiyal”) by Gouthama Siddarthan was published for the first time in 2018 with the English version translated from the Tamil by Maharathi. Partly an essay on time travel, partly a commentary on two short stories on the subject by …

The 2019/2020 season of the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Tour now travels East for the second leg, scheduled July 27-28, in Japan. The Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Tour Tokyo reaches its 5th edition as a consolidated event that mobilises the entire Jiu-Jitsu community in Japan and East Asia. The registration …

The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation, MBRF, has concluded the third Translation and Short Story workshops in Dubai under the Dubai International Programme for Writing, DIPW, which seeks to train and empower generations of Arab talents in all fields of writing and literature. Jamal bin Huwaireb, the MBRF’s …

H.H. Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, today chaired the second meeting of the ‘Happiness and Positivity Council’ in 2019, held at the headquarters of the Ministry of Interior. Sheikh Saif bin Zayed and the meeting’s participants viewed several presentations …

The Sharjah Department of Government Relations, SDGR, recently received a delegation from the Italian city of Turin to discuss bilateral interests in the sectors of culture, tourism, and economy. The delegation was taken on a tour organised by the SDGR to the Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority, SEWA, University of …

Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Chairman of the Tourism Development Department, and Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, have launched the “Cultural Summer Camp” in Ajman. The camp includes a variety of programmes and over 70 creative workshops presented by leading professional trainers, …

By Angel NicGillicudy | What is the connection between Vikings, Celts, and Egypt and Bagpipes? The Story of Money ( a Children’s Story, for Adults too ) The money CASH From the Viking Explorations came to The Levant Region first to The Egyptian   Magicians, in response to their quest to …