Middle East

Gaza/Jerusalem, May 6: Israel pounded Gaza with airstrikes and shelling Sunday killing at least 20 Palestinians, including two pregnant women and two babies, in the bloodiest fighting since a 2014 war. Among those killed was Hamas commander Hamed Ahmed Al-Khodary, whose car was blasted in an airstrike, the first such targeted killing in five years. The Israeli military said Al-Khodary, a money

Dubai, May 6: Muslims in Southeast Asian countries like Indonesia and Malaysia, and much of the Middle East, including Egypt, Iraq and Saudi Arabia, will fast on Monday for the start of the month of Ramadan. Millions more, however, in India, Pakistan and Iran, will likely be marking the start of the lunar month on Tuesday based on moon sightings there. Muslims follow a lunar calendar, and a moon

Dubai, May 5: An Indian man in the UAE has hit a jackpot by winning a whopping dirham 15 million ($4 million) in a raffle draw in Abu Dhabi, the latest addition to the long list of lucky winners from India. Shojith KS, who lives in Sharjah, won on Friday at the Abu Dhabi Duty Free's Big Ticket series draw which was livestreamed on Youtube. Shojith bought his winning ticket online on April 1, but

Saudi Arabia, May 4: Saudi Arabia's Supreme Court has called on its citizens and residents to inform the nearest court if they spot the Ramadan crescent with a naked eye or through binoculars on Saturday, May 4. For the purpose, the Supreme Court has issued an online statement which read: "The ministry invites citizens and residents to explore the vision of the holy month of Ramadan for this year

Dubai, May 2: Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court called on all Muslims to look on Saturday for the crescent moon signaling the start of Ramadan and to inform the nearest court of those who see it with the naked eye or through the binoculars, Saudi state-news agency SPA reported. The statement was issued by the supreme court on Thursday, with the month of Ramadan expected to begin on Sunday and continue

May 1: Any gesture that makes a woman feel violated and uncomfortable - from catcalls to long stares and dropping phone numbers - can get you jailed and fined in the UAE. The Dubai Police reiterated the warning as they announced that recently, 19 people were arrested after they were found 'harassing and eve-teasing' women on beaches and roads. Eleven were caught in Jumeirah, five in Al Mamzar, two

London, May 1: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani signed a bill into law on Tuesday declaring all US forces in the Middle East terrorists and calling the US government a sponsor of terrorism. The bill was passed by parliament last week in retaliation for President Donald Trump’s decision this month to designate Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards a foreign terrorist organisation. It was not clear what

Sharjah, Apr 29: In a step which has been largely lauded, the United Arab Emirates bend its rule to issue a birth certificate for a baby born to an Indian inter-faith couple here earlier this month. The middle-eastern nation's marriage rules for expatriates do not allow a Muslim woman to get married to a non-Muslim man. Even though Sharjah-based Indian expats Kiran Babu and Sanam Saboo Siddique

The Knowledge and Human Development Authority has announced Ramadan timings for Dubai schools. Talking to Khaleej Times, Mohammed Darwish, Chief Executive Officer of Permits and Compliance at KHDA said: "The school day during Ramadan will start between 8:00 to 8:30am and finish between 1:00 to 1:30pm, with shorter breaks as required. Schools should ensure that the total hours at school per day for

Abu Dhabi, Apr 28: Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Tolerance, has praised the enormous participation of all segments of the society, including institutions, individuals, students, families, local and federal entities Sheikh Nahyan made the remarks while addressing a ceremony organised by the Ministry on Friday to celebrate the International Workers' Day, under the slogan