A UN investigation concluded that Israel committed war crimes and possible crimes against humanity, raising the prospect that officials may seek prosecution in the International Criminal Court. The probe led by former South African judge Richard Goldstone concluded that Israel committed actions amounting to war crimes, possibly crimes against humanity during its December 27-January 18 military operations against Palestinian rocket squads in the Gaza Strip. The report said Israel’s att...

It is reported that smuggling season has commenced in Yemen and woes relating to this are being reported. The ‘commodity’ smuggled is men! The season begins September every year as the weather becomes milder, helping smugglers traffic Africans to Yemen by boat. At least 16 Africans died, and 49 others are missing and presumed dead, in three separate incidents as boats smuggling them from Somalia to Yemen capsized in the Gulf of Aden, according to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). I...

The Dutch High Court ruled that the chant ‘Hamas, Hamas, Jews to the gas’ is punishable by law because it is insulting to Jews. The case was brought before the High Court by a football supporter who had been sentenced to 80 hours community service and probation of two years by the lower court. The man refused to accept the judgment saying the chant forms part of the culture surrounding football. ‘It is not used with the intention of insulting Jews but to provoke other supp...

For millions of pilgrims who visit the holy sites in Saudi Arabia, the ultimate prize of the day is to get the closest to the Ka’aba and be able to hear the heavenly recitation of the Qur'an by the imam of Al Masjid al-Haram. But thanks to modern technology, every pilgrim, even those praying hundreds of metres away from the mosque itself, are enjoying the same through new start-of-the-art sound phones. More than 50 high-quality phones, provided by the Hajj and ‘Umrah Gifts Found...

Dutch-language public schools in Belgium will ban the wearing of hijab in classes, following the suit of many European countries. “This decision promotes the feeling of equality and prevents group formation or segregation on the basis of external symbols of life philosophy,” the schools said in a statement. The ban will affect 700 schools in the northern region of Flanders, including some in Brussels. School officials argue that the ban was taken to guarantee equal treatment of ...

Saudi artist Shalimar Sharbatly has teamed up with famous artists including Omar Al-Najdi of Egypt and Juan Ramirez of Spain to hold joint exhibitions and carry out joint art works. Sharbatly said bringing together famous artists was a novel experiment, adding that it would boost cultural and intellectual exchange. Sharbatly, who has taken part in a number of national and international art shows, will hold her first joint show with the two artists on October 10 in Paris. French Minister of ...

The two-day Saudi-Indian Joint Commission meeting starting October 31 will initiate preliminary talks on labour issues leading to the signing of uniform labour agreement with Saudi Arabia, said Rajeev Shahare, Deputy Chief of Mission, Indian Embassy in Riyadh. India has been proposing signing of uniform labour agreement with six-state Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). India has recently signed a similar agreement with Bahrain. Speaking at a press conference, Shahare said a delegation from Ind...

The children of Indonesia’s former dictator Suharto are staging a political comeback after more than a decade in the wilderness. Suharto’s son Hutomo Mandala Putra, popularly known as Tommy, and daughter Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana, alias Tutut, have thrown their hats into the ring as rivals to head the once-dominant Golkar Party. Tommy, who is also vying to become Indonesia’s president, according to aides, in particular faces an uphill battle to revive his fortunes. He was re...

Girls won top prizes in a Qur'an memorisation contest organised by Malarvadi Balasangam at Jeddah’s Dauha Al-Uloom School. Shajeeha Yasmin won the first place in the competition held for kids while Ayisha Wafa won in the sub-junior group and Hanim Mohammed Rizwan won in the junior category. The second and third prize winners were: Mohammed Fayis and Rayan (kids); Ammar A. Jaleel and Mohammed Basith (both second); Ahmed Fawzi (sub junior); and Majid Abdul Shukoor and Mohammed Nafi (jun...