China cracks down on ‘ghost kitchens’ in food delivery apps
China’s food delivery apps will now have to verify restaurants’ licences and operating addresses, as authorities crack down on thousands of “ghost kitchens” that have raised food safety fears.Ghost kitchens” refer to takeaway merchants on food delivery platforms with no…
Saudi Arabia records over 1.7m pilgrims for 2026 Hajj
Saudi Arabia records over 1.7m pilgrims for 2026 Hajj Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Statistics has announced that a total of 1,707,301 pilgrims performed the 2026 Hajj exercise. The figure, released at the end of the 1447 AH pilgrimage season,…
Afghan fathers forced to make impossible choices
As dawn breaks, hundreds of men gather at a dusty square in Chaghcharan, the capital of Ghor province in Afghanistan. They line the roadside with weary faces, hoping someone will come along offering any work. It will determine whether their…
Saudi Embassy in UK urges citizens to stay away from gatherings
The Embassy of Saudi Arabia in the United Kingdom has urged all Saudi citizens to exercise caution and stay away from gatherings in London. In a statement issued on Friday, the Embassy said: “Demonstrations are expected to take place on…
Saudi Arabia appoint new coach for World Cup after sacking Renard
Georgios Donis has been appointed as the new head coach of Saudi Arabia ahead of the 2026 World Cup, the country’s football federation (SAFF) announced on Thursday. The Greek takes over following the sacking of Herve Renard earlier in April…
Thirteen killed in second India fireworks blast in three days
At least 13 people have been killed in an explosion at a firecracker factory in India’s southern state of Kerala, officials say.The incident took place in Thrissur, where around 40 people were believed to be assembling firecrackers in a cluster…
Taiwan president cancels trip after African countries close airspace
Taiwan President Lai Ching-te has cancelled a presidential trip to the African nation of Eswatini, accusing Beijing of putting pressure on its neighbours to bar his aircraft from flying over their territories. Seychelles,Mauritius and Madagascar revoked Lai’s overflight permits after…
Philippines Declares National Energy Emergency as Iran Conflict Disrupts Global Fuel Supply
The Philippines has declared a national energy emergency following escalating tensions in the Middle East, particularly the ongoing conflict involving Iran, which has severely disrupted global oil supply chains and driven up fuel prices. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed an…
China has been preparing for a global energy crisis for years. It is paying off now
As other Asian economies race to conserve energy, China has huge reserves of oil and gas as well as alternative energy sources like wind and solar Xi Jinping has been preparing for a crisis like this for years. China must…
Iran Confirms Intelligence Minister Esmaeil Khatib Killed in US-Israeli Airstrikes
Iran has officially confirmed that its Intelligence Minister, Esmaeil Khatib, was killed in a series of coordinated airstrikes carried out by the United States and Israel, marking a major escalation in the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The confirmation…