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Hindustan Times
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Saudi Arabia to lift 73-year-old ban on alcohol for FIFA World Cup 2034? Country clarifies
Saudi Arabia on Monday denied media reports that the kingdom would lift its 73-year-old ban on alcohol, prohibited for Muslims under Islam, as part of reform plans in the lead up to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup. The purported plan, reported by a wine blog last week, said Saudi authorities were mulling to allow alcohol sales in tourist settings as the kingdom prepares to host the mega sporting event. The report did not mention the source for this information. The report ignited an online debate among people in the kingdom, which calls itself as the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques - Islam's most revered places in Mecca and Medina. Saudi Arabia and Kuwait are the only Gulf countries that prohibit the sale of alcohol. Signs of easing alcohol restrictions emerged last year with the opening of first alcohol store in the capital, Riyadh, last year serving exclusively non-Muslim diplomats. Before this move, alcohol was available only through diplomatic mail or on the black market. Saudi Arabia's de facto leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, known as MBS, has implemented a series of reforms since assuming control in the kingdom's affairs. These were part of his efforts to diversify the kingdom's economy away from oil under his Vision 2030. MBS allowed women to drive in 2017 and also implemented other reforms which were once seen as impossible in the oil-rich kingdom. Some rules on sex segregation in public spaces were eased and the power of the religious police was curtailed. Women over 21 were allowed to obtain passports and travel abroad without male guardian approval. They were also allowed register births, marriages, and divorces. Other measures implemented to attract foreign tourists include allowing dancing at desert raves to watching models at fashion shows or going to the cinema. MBS's $14 trillion megacity 'NEOM' featuring futuristic developments like 'The Line' and 'Trojena,' a vertical ski village have sparked global attention.
Axios
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
Where to find hotel pool passes in Austin
Beyond Austin's beautiful public pools and swimming holes, a growing number of hotels are opening their doors to let locals enjoy their chic pool decks. We've rounded up some options to keep you cool during the hottest time of year. W Austin The newly renovated hotel 's wet deck has become a popular spot to spend a day under rentable cabanas and verandas while enjoying DJs every Sunday. Pool passes start at $35. Austin Motel The iconic Austin Motel on South Congress has brought back its daily pool pass and reopened Rocky's Bar. Day passes are available daily 11am–10pm. $25 passes Monday through Thursday, and $50 passes Friday through Sunday. Pro tip: Join the Austin Motel's Swim Club for daily pool access, monthly member happy hours and a welcome tote. Hotel Magdalena Take a dip in the hotel pool noon–5pm, enjoy complimentary WiFi and towel service and grab drinks from the outdoor Magdalena Bar. A classic pool pass starts at $25, or you can find packages for two people ($45–$65) or family passes ($95–$125). Azul Rooftop Head to the 20th floor of The Westin for city views from a pool in the heart of Austin. Pool passes are $40 Sunday–Thursday and $60 for Friday and Saturday. Cabana and day passes for couples are also available. South Congress Hotel A day pass to this rooftop pool on South Congress Avenue includes drink and food service, a poolside bar and cabana rentals. Pool passes start at $75 for adults and $15 for children from 11am–7pm. Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa Take it up a notch with a luxurious day at Omni Barton Creek's Mokara Spa. A $99 pool pass gives you access to a rooftop pool, sauna, steam room and hot tub. Body and facial treatments are available for purchase. The Line Enjoy views of Lady Bird Lake and South Congress while swimming at The Line's heated saltwater infinity pool. $40 weekday and weekend day passes are available online. Omni Downtown Omni Downtown's Summer Saturdays are back — a weekly rooftop pool party launching Memorial Day weekend and continuing every Saturday, noon–5pm, through September.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Service! restaurant facing setback after thousands of dollars of copper, equipment stolen
A Columbus nonprofit whose mission is to support struggling workers in the service industry is facing a setback after one of their future restaurants had thousands of dollars of copper and restaurant items stolen during a recent break-in. Service! was founded during the early days of COVID-19 shutdowns to provide financial relief and meals to central Ohioans who lost their jobs in restaurants, bars, bakeries and other food-service businesses, The Dispatch previously reported. The nonprofit also operates a restaurant with a similar mission at the Franklin County Government Center. The nonprofit had been planning to open their second restaurant, called The Line, sometime in spring 2026, said Sangeeta Lakhani, executive director of Service!. The future restaurant will be a training hub for those in the service industry and provide long-term career growth. Lakhani said that sometime between May 18-20, multiple thieves broke the combination lock housing keys to the building and made off with at least $1,800 worth of copper and around $5,000 worth of restaurant equipment. Lakhani said that the thieves also ripped the electrical panels and wiring out of the wall and that there is no electricity in the building. The estimated cost of the break-in losses doesn't include the cost of having to rewire the building. "We literally just got the keys to the space," Lakhani said in a phone call with The Dispatch on May 22. She said she realized the morning of May 20 that the restaurant had been ransacked and the copper wiring had been stripped. The thieves, she said, left behind clothing, shoes, and even a bicycle. Lakhani said they are still waiting on several building permits to proceed with construction, which was estimated to take about six to eight months to complete. She said the break-in more than likely pushes the planned opening back, though it's too soon to tell how long the opening will be delayed. Lakhani said that while she wasn't exactly mad at the thieves, she is frustrated because the nonprofit's mission is to help struggling people — people she thinks who are probably similar to the ones who broke into the restaurant. "I guess we didn't get to (help) them fast enough," said Lakhani. "I'm frustrated that we live in a world where people have to steal to get their basic needs met." Lakhani said that while they did have insurance, they had just gotten that along with the keys less than two weeks ago and she believes they would likely be penalized or dropped by the insurance company if they filed a claim so soon. As a result, Lakhani said the nonprofit would be forced to resort to fundraising to make up for the financial loss. Copper theft is fairly common due to its high market value. It affects a wide range of sectors, and thieves will usually sell stolen copper to scrapyards, according to Copper wiring can range in price from $2.50 to $4.50 per pound. In 2007, Columbus became the first Ohio community to require scrap yards to submit daily online info to police about each sale, including the names and information about the sellers as well as to take a photo of them and the materials they turned in for sale. The state of Ohio adopted similar legislation in 2012 but installation of the system took a few years. Despite the efforts, Ohio was ranked among the five top states with the highest number of copper thefts in 2019 with 410 thefts, according to the National Crime Insurance Bureau. Reporter Shahid Meighan can be reached at smeighan@ at ShahidMeighan on X, and at on Bluesky. This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Service! faces setback after restaurant break in, copper theft
West Australian
19-05-2025
- West Australian
Urgent call to end gender-based violence in schools
Anti-violence advocates are calling for greater investment in respectful relationships education to address serious gender-based violence in schools. Our Watch, a leading organisation in the prevention of violence against women, has released a blueprint to prevent gender-based violence through education systems. Based on more than a decade of research, the blueprint found 40 per cent of 16 to 17-year-olds had experienced sexual harassment in a place of study. Almost one in four young women aged 18 to 24 had experienced image-based abuse, and girls were twice as likely as boys to feel pressured or blackmailed into sexting. Our Watch is calling on federal and state governments to urgently prioritise and fund a "whole-of-school" approach to respectful relationships education instead of one-off programs or a few classroom lessons. Yarrunga Primary School in Wangaratta, Victoria, implemented respectful relationships education in 2019 and started tracking behavioural issues. This included swearing, teasing, physical aggression and sexualised or inappropriate comments. "Over a year with the same set of students, we saw a nearly 50 per cent decrease in these anti-social behaviours - from 114 incidents to 61," acting principal Michael Jenkins said. "I think one of the really powerful things respectful relationships education does is that it builds emotional literacy and emotional intelligence in young people. "The reality is that we are teaching young people how to be good young people in the world, and respectful relationships education is a key part of that." The Our Watch blueprint had arrived at a crucial moment for Australian students and teachers facing alarming rates of gendered violence, CEO Patty Kinnersly said. "It is deeply concerning that nearly every week there is a new incident in the school environment, whether that be young men sharing deep fake porn of young women they know, or female teachers leaving the industry because they fear for their safety," she said. "Young people are increasingly exposed to harmful messaging about sex and relationships and report wanting more information and support." Our Watch launched The Line to help young people find answers to questions about consent, dating, sex and relationships. Ending violence against women would take a whole of community approach and needed to include young people, Ms Kinnersly said. "We need to offer young people clear guidance on healthy relationships, consent and the limitations of gender stereotypes," she said. "It is a big piece of work and it requires the whole-of-school approach that takes long-term commitment, leadership and ongoing funding." 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) Lifeline 13 11 14 Men's Referral Service 1300 766 491
Perth Now
19-05-2025
- Perth Now
Urgent call to end gender-based violence in schools
Anti-violence advocates are calling for greater investment in respectful relationships education to address serious gender-based violence in schools. Our Watch, a leading organisation in the prevention of violence against women, has released a blueprint to prevent gender-based violence through education systems. Based on more than a decade of research, the blueprint found 40 per cent of 16 to 17-year-olds had experienced sexual harassment in a place of study. Almost one in four young women aged 18 to 24 had experienced image-based abuse, and girls were twice as likely as boys to feel pressured or blackmailed into sexting. Our Watch is calling on federal and state governments to urgently prioritise and fund a "whole-of-school" approach to respectful relationships education instead of one-off programs or a few classroom lessons. Yarrunga Primary School in Wangaratta, Victoria, implemented respectful relationships education in 2019 and started tracking behavioural issues. This included swearing, teasing, physical aggression and sexualised or inappropriate comments. "Over a year with the same set of students, we saw a nearly 50 per cent decrease in these anti-social behaviours - from 114 incidents to 61," acting principal Michael Jenkins said. "I think one of the really powerful things respectful relationships education does is that it builds emotional literacy and emotional intelligence in young people. "The reality is that we are teaching young people how to be good young people in the world, and respectful relationships education is a key part of that." The Our Watch blueprint had arrived at a crucial moment for Australian students and teachers facing alarming rates of gendered violence, CEO Patty Kinnersly said. "It is deeply concerning that nearly every week there is a new incident in the school environment, whether that be young men sharing deep fake porn of young women they know, or female teachers leaving the industry because they fear for their safety," she said. "Young people are increasingly exposed to harmful messaging about sex and relationships and report wanting more information and support." Our Watch launched The Line to help young people find answers to questions about consent, dating, sex and relationships. Ending violence against women would take a whole of community approach and needed to include young people, Ms Kinnersly said. "We need to offer young people clear guidance on healthy relationships, consent and the limitations of gender stereotypes," she said. "It is a big piece of work and it requires the whole-of-school approach that takes long-term commitment, leadership and ongoing funding." 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) Lifeline 13 11 14 Men's Referral Service 1300 766 491
