The General Authority of Customs and Malomatia signed an agreement on Tuesday to renew their partnership to work on the digital transformation of the Qatar Electronic Customs Clearance Single Window (Al Nadeeb). The purpose of the renewal is to enhance the efficiency of customs operations, simplify customs procedures using the latest digital and technological innovations, and promote cooperation and integration between the government and private sectors, which will support the national economy in line with the Third National Development Strategy. This partnership comes as part of both entities' efforts to expand the range of services offered through three main areas: operations, managing Al Nadeeb around the clock with constant service improvement and operations excellence. This also includes developing services for the security operations centre and improving customer experience, ensuring the highest standards of performance in digital customs operations. The second area is advanced information technology, which aims to use artificial intelligence for data management, developing a platform to manage financial operations, and establish a central operations control centre, in addition to connecting both internal and external systems to a single platform to improve operations and adopting emerging technologies, such as the Internet of Things (IoT) to achieve new levels of operational efficiency and flexibility, supporting the third area, which is value-added services. This area aims to offer solutions that go beyond traditional technological services by providing Managed IT services and supporting the General Authority of Customs with innovative marketing solutions. On this occasion, HE Chairman of the General Authority of Customs Ahmed bin Abdullah al-Jamal said that the five-year partnership will expand the scope of customs services, increase innovation in the customs and logistics sector, and enhance procedural flexibility. This will help create a transparent and secure customs environment and reinforce Qatar's position as a global centre for trade and logistics services. For his part, Malomatia CEO Khalid Mohammed al-Kubaisi said that Al Nadeeb has brought about significant transformations in the customs and logistics sector over the past decade, through smart solutions and services facilitating procedures. This has made customs operations smoother and more efficient. Al-Kubaisi added that the renewed partnership with the General Authority of Customs is a key step toward operational excellence, leveraging the latest digital technologies like artificial intelligence and IoT, which will help transform Qatar into an active partner in facilitating international trade. Related Story Hour and Hour programme marks QND HMC surgeons save limbs from amputation through new methodConditions in abandoned mine are too dangerous for crew searching for Pennsylvania woman UNITY TOWNSHIP, Pa. (AP) — An abandoned coal mine is too unstable and unsafe for rescuers looking for a 64-year-old Pennsylvania woman who may have been swallowed by a sinkhole. Authorities said Wednesday that the crumbling mine was complicating efforts and endangering the workers searching for Elizabeth Pollard. A state police spokesperson says the integrity of the mine has been compromised and that rescuers are reassessing their tactics to avoid putting themselves in danger. The search began early Tuesday, when Pollard’s family called police to say she had not been seen since going out Monday evening to look for her cat. WWE is seeking a bigger stage and Netflix, pushing for more live events, is providing it WWE will perform on a stage next month that could be vastly larger than its current home on cable television when it makes its “Raw” debut on Netflix. The sports entertainment company is moving to a platform with about 283 million subscribers worldwide as it departs its current home on the USA Network, which averaged 688,000 viewers in prime-time last year, according to the Nielsen company. For Netflix, onboarding the WWE is part of strategic move to air more live events on the heels of a hugely successful fight between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul that was viewed by more than 60 million people. Michigan court upholds light sentence for woman who killed dad in dispute over ride DETROIT (AP) — The Michigan Court of Appeals has declined to overturn a light jail sentence for a young woman who killed her father by burning him with a dangerous powder. Prosecutors said Megan Imirowicz was upset when her father couldn’t drive her to a hair appointment before her 18th birthday party. Imirowicz was sentenced to only a year in jail in 2023. She actually spent more than a year in custody because she was locked up before trial and while awaiting her punishment in suburban Detroit. Sumo wrestlers bring 1,500 years of tradition to London as the sport has an international moment LONDON (AP) — London’s Royal Albert Hall is preparing to host a different kind of spectacle: Sumo wrestling. Wrestlers put on an exhibition of heavyweight grappling to promote a tournament scheduled for next October. It marks only the second time an elite five-day tournament will be held outside Japan. The first was held in 1991 at the same venue. Organizers are hoping to whip up the kind of excitement that was generated three decades ago, when the deeply ritualistic sport attracted sell-out crowds and a national television audience. The end of an Eras tour approaches, marking a bittersweet moment for Taylor Swift fans NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The global phenomenon that is Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour is coming to an end after the popstar performed more than 150 shows across five continents over nearly two years. Since launching the tour in 2023, Swift has shattered sales and attendance records. It's even created such an economic boom that the Federal Reserve took note. But for many who attended the concerts, and the millions more who eagerly watched on their screens, the tour also became a beacon of joy. It's become a chance not only to appreciate Swift’s expansive music career, but also celebrate the yearslong journey fans have taken with her. Jury revisits key videos in NYC subway chokehold death trial NEW YORK (AP) — Jurors have asked to review police and bystander video at the heart of the New York City chokehold manslaughter case against Daniel Penny. The request came during a second day of deliberations Wednesday. The jury asked for a second look at videos captured by the body cameras of officers who responded to the subway car where Penny grabbed hold of Jordan Neely in May 2023. Neely's agitated behavior and remarks were frightening passengers. Jurors also asked to revisit Penny's interview with detectives and a bystander's video of much of the roughly six-minute restraint. And the jury also requested to rehear part of a city medical examiner’s testimony. Penny's lawyers say his actions were justified. Relatives hunt for the missing after Guinea stadium crush amid fears official death toll is too low CONAKRY, Guinea (AP) — Kambaly Kouroumah was searching a local morgue for his teenage brother, Adama, who died after chaos erupted at a soccer game in southern Guinea’s Nzerekore city. Adama, 15, was among 56 people that officials said were killed in Sunday's crush, although rights groups reported a death toll nearly three times higher. Local media, rights groups and witnesses say security forces used tear gas to respond after fans began to throw stones to protest a referee's decision during the soccer game that was organized in honor of Guinea's junta leader, Col. Mamadi Doumbouya. Many of the dead were crushed as they tried to escape through the stadium gates, videos showed. Power shortages in Ecuador are melting away the future of a small town’s ice-cream industry SALCEDO, Ecuador (AP) — Ice-cream production in this quiet Ecuadorian town began in the mid-20th century in a convent for Franciscan nuns. The nuns sold their creamy popsicles in town to gather funds for the poor. But the people of Salcedo saw a business opportunity and began experimenting with new flavors and techniques, establishing a thriving popsicle industry that has made their small town famous among ice-cream lovers. But now, the South American nation is struggling with a relentless wave of power cuts that threaten the future of Salcedo’s ice-cream industry, melting away its dreams of a more prosperous future. Senegalese artisans in the spotlight as they exhibit for the first time at a prestigious art event DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — For the artistic and cultural elites of the West African nation of Senegal, the monthlong Dakar Biennale of Contemporary African Arts is a celebratory moment. But it wasn’t until this year that the local artisans in the Soumbedioune crafts market, just off the Corniche and at the doorstep on the Medina working-class neighborhood, realized what the Biennale was. Craftsmanship is deeply rooted in the country’s culture, but its role has declined in recent years. As living costs rise, many Senegalese opt for cheaper, Chinese-imported products. And those that can afford it buy Western clothes and furniture to mark their social status. Eminem's mother Debbie Nelson, whose rocky relationship fueled the rapper's lyrics, dies at age 69 Debbie Nelson, the mother of rapper Eminem whose rocky relationship with her son was known widely through his song lyrics, has died. She was 69. Eminem’s longtime representative Dennis Dennehy confirmed Nelson’s death in an email on Tuesday. He did not provide a cause of death, although Nelson had battled lung cancer. Nelson’s fraught relationship with her son, whose real name is Marshall Mathers III, has been no secret since the Detroit rapper became a star. Nelson brought and settled two defamation lawsuits over Eminem’s statements about her in magazines and on radio talk shows. In her 2008 book, “My Son Marshall, My Son Eminem,” she attempted to set the record straight.Imran insists on demands to put off civil disobediencebet jili 。

When a pet politely asks for a little scritch-scratch, you oblige. Those are the rules! That's why when one Bernedoodle named Winston lifts his leg up—anytime, day or night,— whomever is sitting there has to pay the scratch tax! This funny guy sure knows how to be the center of attention! Watch as he gets all the scratches he wants just by being cute! Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Thanks for the feedback.

Maresca’s Blues host Fulham on Boxing Day lying second in the table, and are only four points adrift of leaders Liverpool, having played one match more. City have won the league for the past four seasons but they have been cast 12 points adrift of the summit following a miserable run which has seen them lose nine times in their previous 12 outings. This is the story of Enzo Maresca's @ChelseaFC 's revolution 📘 pic.twitter.com/uVNLYptsPh — Premier League (@premierleague) December 24, 2024 However, Maresca, who worked alongside Pep Guardiola at the Etihad, said: “Manchester City at the end will be there. They are in a moment that has never happened before. “Every time they play a game, they have an injury, and they don’t have enough players in this moment. And the ones they have are not 100 per cent because they have just come back from injury, so it is a very bad situation. “We are ahead of our expectations, in terms of the way we are playing, and the points we have, but the main focus is how we can improve the players and how we can improve the team.” Maresca, who has continually played down his side’s aspirations for glory, added: “It is not about the (title) pressure for the players or for the club or for me, it is just the reality. “I would like to have that kind of pressure and hopefully soon we can, but the reason why I said we are not there yet, is because the reality is that we are not.” Liverpool are ready to capitalise on City’s demise, while Arsenal, who are six points off top spot, are set to be without star man Bukayo Saka for a sustained period after he suffered a hamstring tear. Asked if it was Liverpool’s title to lose, Maresca said: “No, the reality says we are second at the halfway point, so the table does reflect the teams. “But Liverpool have done a fantastic job since the first day, and the squad has lived that kind of moment, winning a trophy, which is important. “Last year, when Liverpool faced Chelsea in the Carabao Cup final I saw the amount of finals that Liverpool players had played in, and the number of finals Chelsea players had played in, and there was a huge difference. So it shows the experience you need, but we are happy to be where we are.” Chelsea will continue to be without winger Mykhailo Mudryk after he returned a positive drugs test. The 23-year-old Ukrainian, who has not played for a month, was spotted ringside for compatriot Oleksandr Usyk’s heavyweight title victory over Tyson Fury in Saudi Arabia at the weekend. “In this moment it is good that he can disconnect a little bit from the situation,” said Maresca. “The last time I spoke with him, we try to support him, and now we are just waiting.”"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum." Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC "Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" Thanks for your interest in Kalkine Media's content! To continue reading, please log in to your account or create your free account with us.

Despite the surprise timing of his release, Daniel Jones and the New York Giants don't appear to have any animosity toward each other over how things played out. Per The Athletic's Dianna Russini , both Jones and the Giants are "at peace" with how the situation was handled. Giants president John Mara announced on Friday that Jones had been granted his release following a meeting between the two sides. This article will be updated soon to provide more information and analysis. For more from Bleacher Report on this topic and from around the sports world, check out our B/R app , homepage and social feeds—including Twitter , Instagram , Facebook and TikTok .3 recipes to help you through the busy holiday season

Patrick Mahomes will probably find a new way to celebrate a big play moving forward. The Kansas City Chiefs ' star quarterback was fined over $14,000 by the NFL for what was deemed a "violent gesture" during Kansas City's Week 11 loss to the Buffalo Bills . Here's a look at the gesture that led to Mahomes being fined. The NFL fined #Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes $14,069 for unsportsmanlike conduct (violent gesture) as he celebrated a touchdown pass last week in Buffalo ... pic.twitter.com/dXgnmYJSYp This is just the second time that Mahomes has been fined. His first fine occurred last December when he was docked $50,000 for "verbally abusing" officials doing a game that also took place during a loss to the Bills. Mahomes wasn't the only player who was fined this weekend due to a celebration that the NFL did not appreciate. Lions wideout Jameson Williams was docked nearly $20,000 for his celebration that paid homage to former NFL running back Marshawn Lynch's celebration at the end of his legendary touchdown run in the 2010 playoffs.ollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan is in Kuala Lumpur as he attended the grand opening ceremony of Bin Zayed International (M) Bhd, a Dubai-based company opening in the city. King Khan was the special guest at the grand opening of the Dubai-based company’s new venture and also expressed his excitement about coming to Malaysia after some time. In an event held at The Exchange 106, “I know I am too small of a person to be a friend, but I think I am a friend of Malaysia and UAE. Thank you for coming together and it was so wonderful and warm to meet everyone here,” said . Shah Rukh Khan’s presence at the event made his fans happy and brought a smile on their faces. His presence also applauded the global collaboration between the UAE and Malaysia. Well, BZI is a Dubai-based conglomerate who specializes in construction and energy, trading and industry, real estate, technology and financial services which is owned by Sheikh Khaled Zayed Saquer Al Nahyan. Shah Rukh Khan looked dapper in a white shirt with a blazer and managed to make females go weak in the knees with his charming aura. He was spotted with Sheikh Khaled Zayed Saquer Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Bin Zayed International Group of Companies. Shah Rukh Khan often comes to Malaysia and has a Datuk, was the guest of honour at the opening ceremony. He started his speech by saying, ‘Assalamualaikum everyone, good evening, hello and Selamat Datang’. He continued saying that he was glad to see two countries he calls friends, UAE and Malaysia. He further added saying, “I just want to say a little line from a poem of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, who wrote in one of his great works – He who moves not forward, goes backwards. This appears to be the guiding philosophy of the Bin Zayed International group of companies, BZI.” He concluded as he said, ‘Congratulations to all of you and thank you for having me here. I would love to keep speaking a little more, sing a song, and dance, but next time Insya’Allah’. On the work front, Shah Rukh Khan will be next seen in the movie “King” with daughter Suhana Khan and the film is directed by Sujoy Ghosh. The film will also feature Abhishek Bachchan in the negative role. (Agencies) Also Read:

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A surge of stress-related drinking and alcohol-related deaths brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S. has not tapered off the way Dr. Brian Lee, a transplant hepatologist at the University of Southern California's Keck School of Medicine, had hoped. "I was hopeful that we would see declines in alcohol use, but I'm a practicing liver specialist, and the reality is, we had definitely seen a rise in patients with liver failure, which is really an extreme, I think, clinical condition from excessive alcohol use," Lee said. "So we had definitely seen a surge with the pandemic. And if you look at my clinic and in the hospital, at least from my experience, it hasn't gone down." New research, led by Lee and published Nov. 12 in the Annals of Internal Medicine, found that a spike in alcohol consumption among people in the U.S. in 2020 continued to rise slightly in 2021 and 2022. The study used data from the National Health Interview Survey, administered by the U.S. Census Bureau, and compared the data with 2018 as the baseline. The study included almost 25,000 respondents from 2018, about 31,000 from 2020 and almost 27,000 from 2022. The increase in drinking was seen among both men and women and across all race and ethnic groups. In 2022, 69.3% of Americans reported some alcohol consumption in the previous year, a slight increase from 69% in 2020 and 66.34% in 2018. Additionally, the percentage of heavy drinkers rose to almost 6.3% of those surveyed in 2022, up from 6.13% in 2020 and 5.1% in 2018. "While the findings are troubling, they are not surprising," said Dr. Jagpreet Chhatwal, director of the Institute for Technology Assessment at Massachusetts General Hospital, who was not involved in the study. "Alcohol consumption has been steadily increasing over the past several years." White Americans had the highest change in being heavy drinkers, with roughly 7.3% claiming to be heavy drinkers, an increase from about 5.7% in 2018 and 7.1% in 2020. Women also were more likely to be heavy drinkers, with 6.45% reporting as such, compared with 6.1% of men. It doesn't take much alcohol to increase health dangers, Lee says: "If you're drinking more than one drink per day as a woman, you can be at risk for having liver disease." The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism defines heavy drinking for women as four or more drinks on any day or eight or more per week. For men, it is defined as five or more drinks a day or 15 or more per week. The institute considers a drink to be about 14 grams of pure alcohol, which equates to about 12 ounces of regular beer, 5 ounces of wine or 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits. Though the researchers couldn't answer exactly why alcohol consumption was so high among the US adults surveyed, Lee has a few hypotheses. "They had really disruptive pandemic-related effects to their careers, losing jobs or losing their routine. Some of them have young children, too," he said. "We know that alcohol is used as a coping mechanism for stress. What starts as a habit can become addictive or a substance disorder." Chhatwal agreed, adding that life stressors like financial insecurity, work pressure or other mental health struggles may contribute to the rise in alcohol consumption. "Increasing stress and burnout in society exacerbate this tendency," he said. "The normalization of drinking culture also contributes to increased and excessive consumption. Unfortunately, most people recognize the damage caused by alcohol only in the later stages of liver disease, when treatment options are limited." According to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, deaths caused by alcohol use in the U.S. spiked during the pandemic, with over 49,000 in 2020. The height of the pandemic also saw an average of about 488 deaths per day due to excessive alcohol consumption; there was an increase of more than 29% from 2016-17 to 2020-21. Lee believes that research findings alone are no longer enough to deter people from overconsuming. "We've shown in studies that liver transplants for alcohol have increased fivefold in the last 20 years. We've also shown that alcohol deaths due to liver disease are surging," he said. "Now, it's about intervention. What interventions could actually work to save lives and what policies can we enact to stem the surge?" Chhatwal recommends heavier taxation and limiting sale hours within retailers to decrease alcohol accessibility. Lee and Chhatwal also suggest that more and better messaging on the risks of overconsumption could help counter these effects. "People need to know what is harmful alcohol use and what it does to your body," Lee said. "Medical professionals really need to speak to their patients about alcohol use openly and nonjudgmentally. Alcohol has been implicated in more than 200 diseases, whether it's heart disease, cancer, pancreatic disease – it really can affect your body, and both patients and doctors really need to be aware of this."AI Server Leader Dell Stays In Rally Mode Ahead Of Quarterly Results; CrowdStrike Also On Tap

ANDERSON TOWNSHIP, Ohio -- Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow's home was broken into during Monday Night Football in the latest home invasion of a pro athlete in the U.S., authorities said Tuesday. No one was injured in the break-in, but the home was ransacked, according to a report provided by the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office. Deputies weren't immediately able to determine what items were stolen. A person who is employed by Burrow arrived at the Anderson Township home Monday night to find a shattered bedroom window and the home in disarray. The person called their mother, and then 911 was contacted, according to the report. Deputies reached out to neighbors in an attempt to piece together surveillance footage. “Our investigators are exploring every avenue,” public information officer Kyla Woods said. The homes of Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce were broken into in October. In the NBA , Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis had his home broken into Nov. 2 and Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley Jr.'s home was burglarized on Sept. 15 while he was at a Minnesota Vikings game. Portis had offered a $40,000 reward for information. Both the NFL and NBA issued security alerts to players after those break-ins, urging them to take additional precautions to secure their homes. In league memos previously obtained by The Associated Press, the NFL said homes of professional athletes across multiple sports have become “increasingly targeted for burglaries by organized and skilled groups.” And the NBA revealed that the FBI has connected some burglaries to “transnational South American Theft Groups” that are “reportedly well-organized, sophisticated rings that incorporate advanced techniques and technologies, including pre-surveillance, drones, and signal jamming devices.” Some of the burglary groups have conducted extensive surveillance on targets, including attempted home deliveries and posing as grounds maintenance or joggers in the neighborhood, according to officials. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

RIYADH: From heritage to long-standing traditions, the deep connections between Iraq and Saudi Arabia span thousands of years to the pre-Islamic era. The second Common Ground festival, an initiative by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Culture, is an immersion in the bonds of the two nations through art, cuisine and performance. Alataf Ebrahim, the head of the festival department at the Iraqi Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities, told Arab News: “Baghdad and all the Iraqi governorates are passionate about embracing Saudi culture. While the event is called Common Ground, with pride, we say that we are all one culture, one society and one message. “This is a big and very important event, and the project is bold for planning and drawing joint cultural events now, and in the future. As the Ministry of Culture, this venture has been initiated for two years and we plan on having Saudi cultural nights in Baghdad as well as in 2025.” One of the main festival attractions is Al-Mutanabbi Street, which is recreated based on the historical road in Baghdad along with its iconic main gate. The renowned hub for intellectual life hosts various bookstores, clothing stores, live painting and oud performances, and panel discussions around various cultural crossovers. In the heart of the bookshop district is one of Baghdad’s oldest coffee shops, Shabandar cafe, which opened its doors over a century ago and has since become a landmark in the city. The establishment has born witness to the twists and tragedies of Iraq’s tumultuous history. “Shabandar cafe is an open corner for poets and intellectuals, and visitors as well, as they read about the latest cultural news through physical newspapers that are always on each table. This area is where the most prominent cultural activities in the capital (take place),” Ebrahim explained. Al-Mutanabbi’s poems are also honored through 10, 3-meter-high scrolls. The works are written in a font that has the characteristics of the 4th century in the style of Ibn Al-Bawwab, the famous calligrapher who was born about a year after Al-Mutanabbi’s death. “We’re presenting a mini cultural week that encompasses many experiences, not just books and literature, but also extends to musical performances; and an absorption between the two cultures and deepening that relationship,” he added. Visitors can also indulge in local delicacies from both countries while enjoying the live folk music and dance performances that take place twice daily on the main stage. The festival’s concert series featured an iconic performance by Iraqi singer Kadim Alsahir on the opening day, and a joint oud performance by Saudi singer and songwriter Abadi Al-Johar and Iraqi artist Naseer Shamma on Dec. 21. The last show of the series will be on Dec. 25, featuring Aseel Hameem and Nawaf Al-Jabarti. Over 100 artworks are on display at the “Beneath the Gaze of the Palms” exhibition, which examines questions of identity and heritage in Iraq and Saudi Arabia. The showcase includes Islamic, Mesopotamian and contemporary art. At the entrance of the exhibition is a large structure known as the Mudhif, which is a traditional reed house, particularly in the Al-Ahwar region of southern Iraq. It is a type of communal guesthouse or gathering space that plays a central role in the social and hospitality traditions of the region. A large part of the exhibition highlights Darb Zubaida, one of the historical pilgrimage routes from the city of Kufa to Makkah that not only facilitated the movement of people, goods, and ideas but also played a crucial role in the cultural and religious life of the Islamic world. “This road became a place for exchanging ideas with our communities in the Kingdom. Saudi poetry and handicrafts were transferred to Iraq while Iraqi literary and cultural heritage was transferred to Saudi Arabia. “This is an important aspect of the exhibition, alongside the many artworks that spotlight the traditional, modern, and contemporary art and the traditional tales that are embodied by the contributions of the participating artists.” The festival also features an exhibition dedicated to the history of traditional clothing, musical instruments, songs, and significant cultural figures of Saudi Arabia and Iraq. The festival, which runs until Dec. 31, is being held at Mega Studio in Riyadh’s Boulevard City.Ranchi, Dec 24 (IANS): A high-level delegation from the Uttar Pradesh government is currently on a visit to Jharkhand to extend a formal invitation to its residents for the Prayagraj Mahakumbh 2025. As part of this effort, Uttar Pradesh ministers Yogendra Upadhyay and Suresh Rahi met Jharkhand Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar and Chief Minister Hemant Soren, here on Tuesday. The ministers presented them with holy Ganga water, a symbol of the Mahakumbh, and an official invitation on behalf of UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The ministers also conducted a roadshow in Ranchi earlier in the day, inviting people to attend the grand spiritual event. Addressing a press conference, they highlighted that over 45 crore devotees are expected to participate in the Mahakumbh, a 45-day congregation celebrated every 12 years. Recognised by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity, this edition of the Mahakumbh is set to be divine, grand, and eco-friendly, with extensive preparations by the Uttar Pradesh government. The ministers emphasised that the Mahakumbh offers a unique opportunity for spiritual growth and a deeper understanding of Indian culture and traditions. “For the first time, the event will feature advanced digital measures. QR code-based vehicle passes, a multilingual digital lost-and-found centre, and software-driven tent city allocation will ensure smooth management. Headcount monitoring will also be conducted using modern technology,” they said. The Jharkhand government has issued necessary safety guidelines for pilgrims travelling to Prayagraj Mahakumbh 2025. It has urged pilgrims to download the Mahakumbh Mela 2025 mobile app, secure accommodations before travel, and ensure health check-ups for individuals over 60 or those with pre-existing conditions. This grand event, considered the largest public gathering in the world, draws millions of pilgrims, ascetics, saints, sadhus and devotees from all corners of India and across the world. It promises to unite millions in a celebration of spirituality, culture, and tradition. The Uttar Pradesh government is pulling out all stops to make Mahakumbh 2025 a grand affair and memorable experience for devotees.

Anti-NATO protesters gathered again in Montreal on Saturday to demand Canada withdraw from the alliance, a day after a demonstration organized by different groups resulted in arrests, burned cars and shattered windows. Politicians in the prime minister's cabinet, opposition parties as well as Quebec leaders have called the violence during Friday's anti-NATO demonstration acts of antisemitism, but protesters deny the claim, saying they demonstrated against the "complicity" of NATO member countries in a war that has killed thousands of Palestinians. Police spokesperson Veronique Dubuc said three people were arrested following a demonstration that began late afternoon Friday.She said police arrested a 22-year-old woman for obstructing police work and assaulting a police officer, as well as two men, 22 and 28, both for obstructing police work. All three were released and will appear in court at a later date. Police said that during the march, smoke bombs were deployed, metal barriers were thrown into the street and windows of businesses and at the convention centre where NATO delegates have been meeting were smashed. Friday's protest was organized by the groups Divest for Palestine and the Convergence of Anti-Capitalist Struggles. Benoit Allard, a member of Divest for Palestine, said he and several other protesters were injured by police and at least four protesters had to go to hospital. He said the purpose of the protest was to demonstrate against what he called NATO's "complicity with Israel's military while it's conducting its genocide in Gaza, war crimes in Lebanon, Syria" and that "it's enforcing illegal occupation of Palestinian territories." On Saturday afternoon Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called Friday's scenes "appalling." "Acts of antisemitism, intimidation, and violence must be condemned wherever we see them," he said on X. "There must be consequences, and rioters held accountable." Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre on X accused the prime minister of being "too busy to condemn a violent Hamas takeover of our streets." He then followed up with a lengthy statement saying Trudeau has transformed Canada into "a playground for foreign interference." Speaking to reporters at the Halifax International Security Forum on Saturday morning, Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly and Defence Minister Bill Blair said the actions of the protesters were unacceptable. "What we saw was not peaceful protest. What we saw was actually violence, hate and antisemitism, and this has no place on our streets," Joly said. "Those behaviours are unacceptable and we can condemn them, and in particular the hatred and antisemitism that was on display, in the strongest possible terms," said Blair. Quebec Premier Francois Legault also described the scenes as antisemitic. "Burning cars and smashing windows is not about sending a message, it's about causing chaos. Such acts have no place in a peaceful society like Quebec," he wrote. However, Allard rejected accusations of antisemitism. He said the protests were against the actions of the state of Israel and not Jewish people, adding that earlier this week the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. On Thursday, the court said in a news release that there were reasonable grounds to believe Netanyahu committed "the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare; and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts." About 80 people attended Saturday's anti-NATO protest in downtown Montreal organized by Le Mouvement Quebecois pour la Paix, holding signs that read "Canada out of NATO" and chanting "solidarity with Palestine." Several in attendance held Communist Party of Canada flags while others held Palestinian flags. Jad Kabbanji, president of Le Mouvement Quebecois pour la Paix, said Canada should refuse to meet NATO military spending targets. He also said that despite calling itself a defensive alliance, NATO has destabilized multiple regions across the globe and created military conflicts, notably in the Middle East and eastern Europe. Kabbanji said Israel's military campaign in Gaza would not be possible without the arms provided by NATO members like the United States, and that a policy of increasingly accepting countries that were formerly part of the Soviet Union "pushed Russia to invade Ukraine." Greg Beaune, the groups vice-president, said the group condemns Russia's invasion of Ukraine but added NATO has helped provoke conflict in the region. Group member Rana El Gharbie said she does not support violent protest but added that Canadians are becoming increasingly frustrated by Canada's support for Israel and "lack of action" in protecting Palestinians. Delegates from NATO member states and partner countries are in Montreal this weekend to discuss issues including support for Ukraine, climate change and the future of the alliance. With files from Sammy Hudes in Toronto. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 23, 2024.