Category: News

People have found creative ways to share information since the beginning of civilization using the tools available to them at the time. Information gives us knowledge and knowledge empowers us to make better decisions, be aware of dangers and opportunities learn new ways to be safer, happier, and smarter. Now technology gives us real-time access to stories happening everywhere from our neighborhoods to right across the globe, connecting us to our communities and the rest of the world. But this technology comes at a price. Everywhere we look, someone is trying to capture our attention with the latest headline, celebrity gossip, or ad campaign. It can feel overwhelming. How do you know what to read, what to ignore, or who to believe? Here we explore the world of news to find out how stories become headlines, the role of journalists, and the different ways that issues are reported. All with the aim of helping you and I become smarter consumers of all the information that’s out there. With all this talk of fake news, we’ll take a look at why it is so important to have real and trustworthy news sources. But first what is news? News is information about recent events or recently changed situations. The news has a variety of purposes. It can be things that inform us interest us or even prepare us. And you can find it in newspapers, radio, TV, online, and increasingly on social media.

China’s Xi Jinping at G20 Summit Says World Economy at Risk

HANGZHOU, China, Sept 4 – The global economy is being threatened by rising protectionism and risks from highly leveraged financial markets, Chinese President Xi Jinping said at the open of a two-day summit of leaders from G20 nations. His warning on Sunday followed bilateral talks with Barack Obama that the U.S. president described as “extremely… Continue reading China’s Xi Jinping at G20 Summit Says World Economy at Risk

Transgender Pop Band and Dancers Shake Up India’s Prejudices

MUMBAI, July 13 – Transgender people in India have traditionally been an invisible minority in India, seen only at traffic lights begging for alms or blessing newlyweds and newborn babies. But a pop band of transgender women is on the soundtrack of the latest Bollywood blockbuster, showing that two years after a landmark judgment gave transgender… Continue reading Transgender Pop Band and Dancers Shake Up India’s Prejudices

Depp Back as Mad Hatter in “Alice Through the Looking Glass”

LONDON, May 11 – Hollywood star Johnny Depp returns as the flamboyant Mad Hatter in “Alice Through the Looking Glass” for more big screen fantasy adventures inspired by the much loved stories by Lewis Carroll. The movie follows on from the 2010 box office hit “Alice in Wonderland”, which starred Depp alongside Australian actress Mia… Continue reading Depp Back as Mad Hatter in “Alice Through the Looking Glass”

“A Street Cat Named Bob” Brings Heartwarming Tale to Screen

LONDON, Nov 7 – The heartwarming true story of a stray cat that helped change the life of a London busker musician gets a big screen adaptation in “A Street Cat Named Bob” that premiered in the British capital on Thursday. Based on the book of the same name, the film stars “Clash of the… Continue reading “A Street Cat Named Bob” Brings Heartwarming Tale to Screen

Dubai to Host Renowned Street Artists at Canvas Festival on March 1

Dubai’s public is set to enjoy the creations of over 60 artists from across the world and watch them transform the emirate’s Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR) street into a 3D fun walk as part of the second annual Dubai Canvas Festival which, set to start on Tuesday, March 1. Artists will exhibit their work in… Continue reading Dubai to Host Renowned Street Artists at Canvas Festival on March 1

White Helmets – The Most Dangerous Job on Earth

On a warm morning in December, a few dozen Syrians from Aleppo and Idlib— former students, teachers, vegetable sellers and farmers— gather in an abandoned firefighting training center near the Syrian-Turkish border. They have come here to learn advanced rescue skills that they will use to teach newly recruited emergency workers back home. They are… Continue reading White Helmets – The Most Dangerous Job on Earth

Kanye West Stirs Up Controversy With Nude Celebrities in ‘Famous’

LOS ANGELES, June 27 – Rapper Kanye West set tongues wagging on Monday with his latest music video that features nude portrayals of high profile celebrities including pop singer Taylor Swift, Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump and comedian Bill Cosby. The music video for “Famous,” which premiered on E! News, featured low-resolution footage depicting 12… Continue reading Kanye West Stirs Up Controversy With Nude Celebrities in ‘Famous’

Indian Films Portray Stalking of Women as “Cool, Romantic”, say Campaigners

CHENNAI, India, Sept 22 – The portrayal of women chased and harassed by spurned lovers in south Indian films has made stalking a “cool, romantic thing to do” activists said on Tuesday, urging the film industry to stop glorifying a crime that has resulted in violent deaths. “Tamil films routinely promote stalking as an acceptable,… Continue reading Indian Films Portray Stalking of Women as “Cool, Romantic”, say Campaigners

Choking Game Riskiest When Kids Play Alone

By Lisa Rapaport – Kids who play “choking games” to achieve a euphoric high are more likely to be suicidal and face a greater risk of injury and death when they play alone, a U.S. study suggests. It’s dangerous enough in groups, but without others present to interrupt the asphyxiation children face an increased risk… Continue reading Choking Game Riskiest When Kids Play Alone

Apple Fixes Security Flaw After UAE Dissident’s iPhone Targeted

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug 28 – Apple Inc issued a patch on Thursday to fix a dangerous security flaw in iPhones and iPads after researchers discovered that a prominent United Arab Emirates dissident’s phone had been targeted with a previously unknown method of hacking. The thwarted attack on the human rights activist, Ahmed Mansoor, used a… Continue reading Apple Fixes Security Flaw After UAE Dissident’s iPhone Targeted

The Cholera Epidemic in Yemen is Spiralling Out of Control

LONDON, June 14 – A cholera epidemic raging across Yemen is spiralling out of control, with around one child falling sick every minute, an aid agency warned on Wednesday. Thousands of people could die in the coming months with up to 300,000 cases predicted, Save the Children said, adding that the infection rate had tripled… Continue reading The Cholera Epidemic in Yemen is Spiralling Out of Control

Japan Bathhouse Offers “Naked School” to Lure Bathers

TOKYO, May 29 – A Tokyo bathhouse is offering classes on topics ranging from comedy to gaming in hopes of luring younger bathers and reversing Japan’s dying tradition of communal baths. During one recent session of the “Naked School” at the Hinodeyu bath house, nine men sat around the bath, listening to an expert on… Continue reading Japan Bathhouse Offers “Naked School” to Lure Bathers

Will Macron’s Presidency Affect Trade with the Middle East?

Emmanual Macron sealed a decisive victory in the final round of the French presidential elections, seeing off opposition from far right candidate Marine Le Pen to become the youngest president of France in history, at age 39. Macron is a former investment banker who is pro-EU and pro-global. He has promised things like an end… Continue reading Will Macron’s Presidency Affect Trade with the Middle East?

EXCLUSIVE: Saygin Yalcin’s top tips for a successful startup

Saygin Yalcin is a German entrepreneur of Turkish descent. He is the founder and CEO of SellAnyCar.com, and a partner at one of the region’s leading e-commerce company Souq.com Group, which was recently acquired by Amazon for $650 million. But that’s not all. Yalcin made headlines after he gifted a $250,000 Rolls Royce to Kendall Jenner last year on… Continue reading EXCLUSIVE: Saygin Yalcin’s top tips for a successful startup

Cairo’s Treasures of Trash

Overlooking Cairo’s Citadel, lies a small secluded community informally known as the Zabaleen, or garbage people. As the name suggests, the Zabaleen live in the midst of garbage that overwhelms the district’s narrow winding roads and small alley ways. Children play carefree and are oblivious to the stench of garbage that looms over them. If… Continue reading Cairo’s Treasures of Trash

From Cars to Bags, Artist Brightens Up Gaza Streets with Calligraphy

GAZA, April 25 – With a thick black marker pen in hand, Palestinian graffiti artist Belal Khaled carefully draws an intricate Arabic calligraphic design on a silver Skoda. The art work decorates the sides of the car, running along the windows and down its doors, the latest in the 24-year-old’s mission to turn everyday objects… Continue reading From Cars to Bags, Artist Brightens Up Gaza Streets with Calligraphy

After Taliban Music Ban, Songbook Teaches Afghan Children to Sing Again

LONDON, June 14 – When Louise Pascale, an American music teacher, pulled a three-decade-old Afghan children’s songbook from her bookcase, she realised she was likely holding a treasure lost to Afghan children following a music ban imposed by the Taliban. Playing instruments was banned during the period of Taliban rule in late-1990s Afghanistan, and even… Continue reading After Taliban Music Ban, Songbook Teaches Afghan Children to Sing Again

Taylor Swift Says DJ Subjected Her to Long, ‘Horrifying’ Grope

DENVER, Aug 11 – Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Taylor Swift testified on Thursday she was subjected to a “very long” and “intentional” grope by a Colorado disc jockey who appeared to be drunk during a photo session four years ago. The 27-year-old pop star was testifying for the first time for a U.S. District Court jury weighing… Continue reading Taylor Swift Says DJ Subjected Her to Long, ‘Horrifying’ Grope

S&P: Negative Rating Actions Taken On Qatari Banks

• On June 7, 2017, S&P lowered its long-term sovereign credit rating on the State of Qatar to ‘AA-‘ and placed it on Credit Watch with negative implications. In S&P’s view, the moves by a group of governments to cut diplomatic ties and trade and transport links with Qatar will exacerbate the country’s external vulnerabilities… Continue reading S&P: Negative Rating Actions Taken On Qatari Banks

Israel’s Struggle to Integrate Ultra-Orthodox and Arabs Raises Economic Fears

BNEI BRAK, Israel, July 19 – Chaim Rachmani spends his days studying Jewish religious texts in the Israeli town of Bnei Brak, whose crowded streets brush up against the office towers of Tel Aviv. He has no plans to look for work – ever. While dressed in a pinstriped business suit, Rachmani is among half… Continue reading Israel’s Struggle to Integrate Ultra-Orthodox and Arabs Raises Economic Fears

Saudi move to relax male guardianship welcomed by women’s advocates

BEIRUT, May 5 – A move by Saudi Arabia to give women more control over their life choices by further relaxing a controversial male guardian system was tentatively welcomed on Friday as another small step for women in the conservative kingdom. Saudi Arabia is well known as one of the world’s most gender-segregated nations, where… Continue reading Saudi move to relax male guardianship welcomed by women’s advocates

Yemen Cholera to Spread with Rains; Oxfam Sees 600,000 Cases

GENEVA, July 21 – Yemen‘s cholera outbreak is far from being controlled and may be further exacerbated by the rainy season, even if the rate of new cases appears to be slowing in some hotspots, the World Health Organisation said on Friday. Oxfam projected the number could rise to more than 600,000 cases, “the largest ever… Continue reading Yemen Cholera to Spread with Rains; Oxfam Sees 600,000 Cases

Qatar C.Bank Says Country Has $340 Bln in Reserves, Can Weather Arab Sanctions

DUBAI, July 10 – Qatar has $340 billion in reserves including holdings of its sovereign wealth fund that could help the Gulf country to weather the isolation by its powerful Arab neighbours, central bank governor Sheikh Abdullah Bin Saoud al-Thani told CNBC. “This is the credibility of our system, we have enough cash to preserve… Continue reading Qatar C.Bank Says Country Has $340 Bln in Reserves, Can Weather Arab Sanctions

Mosul: First Eid Without Daesh

MOSUL, Iraq, June 28- People in the Iraqi city of Mosul celebrated their first Muslim Eid holiday without Daesh in years on Sunday after the militants were ejected from much of the city, and hoped the battle to recapture the remaining area would soon be over. Children gathered in squares on the eastern side of the city. Some… Continue reading Mosul: First Eid Without Daesh