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Egypt Independent
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Egypt Independent
Will Saudi Arabia build its 1st Coptic Christian church?
Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, commented on news of holding the first mass in Saudi Arabia and the possibility of building the first Coptic church on Saudi soil. In an interview with CNN Arabic, the Pope said, 'There is nothing on the ground yet, but I believe there will be no obstacle to that in the future.' He pointed to 'happy' developments in Saudi Arabia, noting that he met with Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz during his visit to Cairo and met with the Saudi Crown Prince two years later, also during his visit to Cairo. Pope Tawadros II hailed these meetings as 'very good,' praising the youthful spirit conveyed by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. 'We proposed that one of the bishops visit and meet with the Copts, and approval was given. They prayed in hotel halls, and the visits were pleasant, and we repeated them two or three times,' he said. 'This represents a welcome openness to Saudi society, and I believe there will be good news in the future. It's true that there isn't anything on the ground yet, but the situation will need to develop.'
Sharjah 24
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Sharjah 24
SPC launches ‘From Sharjah, We Begin' podcast
Ithmar is one of the UAE's leading media initiatives focused on empowering children and youth. The programme provides practical training that keeps pace with the latest developments in the media industry. The seventh edition is scheduled to begin on July 14, and will run for a month. During this period, Ithmar graduates will undergo specialised training in podcast production and hosting. The training is offered in partnership with CNN Arabic and a select group of media professionals with experience in vocal production and audio storytelling. A Human-centered Approach His Excellency Tariq Saeed Allay, Director General of SGMB, said the programme reflects the emirate's long-term investment in future generations. Guided by the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, the programme aims to equip young people with the necessary tools of self-expression, responsibility, and media professionalism. Allay described Ithmar as a comprehensive programme that develops media talent from an early age, preparing young professionals to create content that conveys the UAE's cultural and humanitarian values. He also pointed out that the podcast 'From Sharjah, We Begin' helps participants establish a positive presence across digital platforms that can reach and inspire wider audiences. This aligns with Sharjah's ongoing efforts to propose a media model focused on putting people first. From Passion to Production In the upcoming edition of Ithmar, participants gain hands-on experience in podcast production. From brainstorming ideas to writing scripts, recording, and editing, they learn how to create episodes that express their interests and perspectives, while enhancing their analysis, critical thinking, and communication skills. This edition of Ithmar builds on the outcomes of six previous cycles, which have trained more than 450 participants and delivered 200 hours of workshops since its inception. Participants this year, aged 10-15, were chosen through a selection process that included nominations from previous Ithmar graduates with an interest in audio content. A specialised committee then evaluated candidates to ensure they had the passion and commitment to fully participate in the programme. Sustaining the Mission SPC continues to engage with current and former Ithmar participants through long-term support, events, and platforms that allow them to expand their skills and contribute to the media landscape. The training programme has provided its graduates with opportunities to take part in major local and international events, including the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF), the International Government Communication Forum (IGCF), the Global Media Congress, and the Saudi Media Forum. In recognition of its excellence, Ithmar was awarded the Kuwait Creativity Award for its role in preparing the next generation of media changemakers. The programme offers participants advanced media training in collaboration with local and international organisations.
Al Bawaba
29-06-2025
- Al Bawaba
Street fight in Australia: Iranian and Israeli fight in a viral video , what's the story?
Published June 29th, 2025 - 10:42 GMT ALBAWABA - During the conflict between Israel and Iran last week, many social media accounts have been circulating a video allegedly showing a fight between an Israeli citizen and an Iranian in Australia. The video, which has gained over 2 million views on X, was accompanied by the caption: "Location: Australia... A Zionist attacks an Iranian youth, but the surprise was a ballistic missile fired by the Iranian youth!" In the clip, two men, one wearing a dark blue shirt [allegedly said to be an Israeli] trying to hit another man, wearing a white t-shirt and keep trying for a while, when all of a sudden, the other man [claimed to be Iranian in the caption] violently hits the other person and knocks him down to the floor. المكان أستراليا 🇦🇺 خنزير صهيوني يتعرض لشاب إيراني بضرب ولكن كانت المفاجاة بصاروخ بالستي من الشاب الايراني ! — آلهہــــآربــ مـنــ جهہنـــمــ & Ταℓαατ zαмααи (@TalatWbas) June 25, 2025 Iranian and Israeli fight in a viral video, what's the truth? An investigation conducted by CNN Arabic revealed that the clip has nothing to do with any altercation between an Iranian and an Israeli, adding that the description is misleading. According to the CNN Arabia report, the fight in the clip carries no political or nationalist connotations. The analysis revealed that the same video was posted on Instagram accounts dedicated to "street fights" on June 5, 2025, with a neutral caption that read: "An elderly man receives a strong slap from a young man." The original video did not mention any connection to Iran, Israel, or Australia. © 2000 - 2025 Al Bawaba (
Shafaq News
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Iraqi President reaffirms support for stronger ties with Syria
Shafaq News/ Iraqi President Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid reaffirmed on Wednesday his country's support for improving relations with Syria following the fall of the former regime. In an interview with CNN Arabic, President Rashid described Syria as a key country for Iraq, citing shared social, religious, and cultural ties. 'We are interconnected and want strong, stable relations with Syria,' he stated. 'We also hope the Syrian government ensures representation for all components of the Syrian people.' Regarding relations with Tehran, Rashid described them as 'longstanding, natural, and strong,' confirming that there are no Iranian forces inside Iraq. Commenting on the future of US troops in Iraq, the president noted that relations with the United States are 'normal and good,' with bilateral agreements currently under joint review. 'The decision on whether US forces remain or withdraw will depend on the ongoing negotiations between both sides,' he added. On the stalled nuclear talks between the United States and Iran, 'We believe progress in these talks will benefit everyone,' he said, affirming Iraq's readiness to act as a mediator if requested. The president addressed the ongoing disputes between the federal government in Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). He attributed the unresolved matters—particularly over salaries and oil—to the absence of a federal oil and gas law.
Egypt Independent
09-05-2025
- Business
- Egypt Independent
Egypt's tourism roars: 25% surge in Q1 2025, millions more expected
Egypt welcomed 3.9 million tourists during the first quarter of 2025, marking a 25% year-on-year increase, according to press statements by Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sharif Fathi, CNN Arabic reported. The minister affirmed that this growth reflects the increasing confidence in the Egyptian tourist destination despite the geopolitical challenges facing the region. Tourism experts anticipate welcoming between 16-18 million tourists by the end of this year, particularly with the imminent opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum. This increase is a continuation of the significant growth in inbound tourism to Egypt, which recorded a record high of 15.8 million tourists in 2024, a 6% annual increase compared to 2023. This figure surpassed pre-pandemic levels by over 21%, according to press statements by Tourism Minister Sharif Fathi. The government expects the country to receive 17 million tourists during the current fiscal year 2024/2025, based on the 8.7 million tourists welcomed between July and December 2024. It aims to reach 30 million tourists by increasing hotel capacity to accommodate the anticipated tourist numbers in the coming period. This goal is supported by incentives and financing initiatives recently introduced by the state to encourage tourism investment, according to official data. Ahmed El-Tayebi, Deputy Chairman of the Tourism and Civil Aviation Committee in the House of Representatives, stated that the tourism sector achieved a record number of tourists in the first quarter of 2025 with a record annual growth rate, despite this period not representing a large proportion of total inbound tourism. He added that if the current rates continue, they expect to reach between 17-18 million tourists by the end of this year. The Egyptian economy achieved a growth rate of 4.3% during the second quarter of the current fiscal year 2024/2025, driven by a robust 18% expansion in the tourism sector, specifically restaurants and hotels. This growth outperformed the non-oil manufacturing sector, which recorded 17.7%, and the communications and information technology sector, which achieved 10.4%. In exclusive statements to CNN Arabic, El-Tayebi noted that Egypt has welcomed tourists from numerous Western European countries, including Germany, England, France, and Spain. From Eastern Europe, significant numbers of tourists have arrived from Russia, Poland, and Romania. He anticipates that inbound tourism to the country will exceed last year's figures by 10-15%, highlighting that Red Sea destinations such as Makadi, Sahl Hasheesh, Safaga, and Marsa Alam attract the largest share of tourists, along with Cairo and its numerous archaeological sites. He pointed to several reasons for the increase in tourist arrivals to Egypt, most notably the development of infrastructure, including new roads, axes, and an electric transportation network, which has facilitated easier travel between various tourist destinations, thereby increasing the number of tourist nights. Additionally, plans to increase hotel capacity by adding 40,000-50,000 rooms this year, representing a 20% annual increase, as well as marketing strategies for Egyptian tourist destinations, are contributing to reaching the target of 30 million tourists by 2030. More than 15 million tourists spent 156.6 million nights in Egypt during 2024, and this figure is projected to continue rising to 182.6 million nights by 2028, according to a report by Fitch Solutions. El-Tayebi highlighted the significant role of the Grand Egyptian Museum's opening on July 3rd in marketing and promoting Egyptian tourism internationally. He noted the state's commitment to a global inauguration ceremony with the participation of presidents and princes from numerous countries worldwide. This event is expected to significantly spotlight the museum, alongside the notable development in the air transport sector through the opening of airports and the improvement of the road and transportation network. Magdy Sadek, a member of the Travel Agencies Chamber at the Egyptian Tourism Federation, stated that European tourism accounted for the largest share of inbound tourism to Egypt during the first quarter of 2025, led by German, Italian, Spanish, and French nationalities. Egypt also welcomed tourists from Gulf countries, most notably Saudi Arabia. In exclusive statements to CNN Arabic, Magdy Sadek anticipated that Egypt would receive 16 million tourists during the current year, relying on the increase in the country's hotel capacity to exceed 220,000 rooms. He also mentioned the implementation of new regulations and requirements for licensing vacation apartment units, which could potentially raise the country's hotel capacity to around half a million rooms. The opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum is also expected to play a crucial role in showcasing Egyptian civilization, making it the primary destination for those seeking to explore its secrets. Last month, the Egyptian government, for the first time, established new regulations and requirements for licensing vacation apartment units to introduce a new type of accommodation for tourists. Vacation apartment units are defined as 'any unit consisting of at least one room, a suite, or a villa located in a standalone building or part of a building, providing some basic services, and prepared to receive Egyptians or foreigners, provided that it is located in a tourist area or within a distinguished residential complex.'
