www.hovedsteder.blogg.no is a Norway-based blog mainly about the capital cities of the world, but now also about other destinations and topics, with a focus on tourism, transport and travel, the environment, diplomatic affairs and politics, lifestyle, culture and entertainment, food and drink. See also our travel blog atwww.minbestereise.blogg.no – Contact us at[email protected] Facebook: Hovedstederblogg
Saudiarabiske kvinner burde ikke tvinges til å gå med det heldekkende plagget abaya, og reglene bør mykes opp. Det mener en av landets fremste geistlige, skriver VG.no
– Over 90 prosent av verdens gudfryktige, muslimske kvinner bruker ikke abaya, sier sjeik Abdullah al-Mutlaq. Han er medlem av Saudi-Arabias øverste religiøse råd og dermed en av landets høytstående geistlige.
– Så vi burde ikke tvinge folk til å bruke abaya, sier han til saudiarabisk TV.
www.hovedsteder.blogg.no is a Norway-based blog mainly about the capital cities of the world, but now also about other destinations and topics, with a focus on tourism, transport and travel, the environment, diplomatic affairs and politics, lifestyle, culture and entertainment, food and drink. See also our travel blog atwww.minbestereise.blogg.no – Contact us at[email protected] Facebook: Hovedstederblogg
Iran lemper på landets strenge narkotikalover og stopper blant annet bruken av dødsstraff for de aller fleste narkotikaforbrytelsene, melder nrk.no
www.hovedsteder.blogg.no is a Norway-based blog about the capitals of the world, with a focus on tourism and travel, the environment, diplomatic affairs and politics, lifestyle, culture and entertainment, food and drink. See also our travel blog atwww.minbestereise.blogg.no – Contact us at[email protected] Facebook: Hovedstederblogg
Royal Jordanian har oppgradert sikkerhetsrutinene i henhold til amerikanske krav, opplyser flyselskapet søndag, skriver nrk.no
Det betyr at de, i likhet med flere andre land og flyselskaper i regionen, er fritatt USAs elektronikkforbud. Royal Jordanian kan nå igjen fly direkte fra hovedstaden Amman til USA.
Fra før har Qatar Airways, med base i Doha i Qatar, og de to flyselskapene i De forente arabiske emirater – Etihad og Emirates, med base i henholdsvis Abu Dhabi og Dubai, samt Kuwait Airways, fått opphevet forbudet.
www.hovedsteder.blogg.no is a Norway-based blog about the capitals of the world, with a focus on tourism and travel, the environment, diplomatic affairs and politics, lifestyle, culture and entertainment, food and drink. See also our travel blog at www.minbestereise.blogg.no – Contact us at [email protected]
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VisitBritain has opened a new office in the Saudi capital city Riyadh to attract more visitors from Saudi Arabia, the Travel Mole website reported,
It is the first Western tourism board to establish a presence in the country. It has also appointed Saudi national Badr Almandeel as VisitBritain Country Representative, British Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Simon Collis said
“The new office in Riyadh will see us engage more effectively with potential visitors to Britain, converting aspiration to visit into bookings and inspiring more Saudi Arabians to book a trip now to come and explore our nations and regions”, VisitBritain chief executive Sally Balcombe said.
“And with the UK offering excellent value at the moment, particularly for luxury goods, it is a great time to come to Britain.”
As of the end of January 2017, Britain was 14% cheaper for visitors from Saudi Arabia compared with the same month in 2016.
The opening of the tourism office comes after a campaign was launched with Al Tayyar Travel Group Holding Company designed to promote London, Manchester and Edinburgh.
The campaign will offer exclusive summer family travel packages to the UK and will offer Saudi travellers an exclusive upgrade to their visa processing through UK Visa and Immigration.
Saudi Arabians spend on average £3,769 per visit, more than six times the average for all markets.
They also stay longer than other international visitors with an average length of stay of 18 nights, compared to an average of 8 nights for all markets.
www.hovedsteder.blogg.no is a Norway-based blog about the capitals of the world, with a focus on tourism and travel, the environment, diplomatic affairs and politics, lifestyle, culture and entertainment, food and drink. See also our travel blog at www.minbestereise.blogg.no – Contact us at [email protected]
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Nasjonalforsamlingen i Irak har vedtatt å forby alt salg, produksjon og import av alkohol, melder NTB / VG.no
Brudd på den nye loven kan straffes med bøter på mellom 8.000 og 20.000 dollar – mellom 66.000 og 165.000 norske kroner.
Vedtaket lørdag fikk støtte fra innflytelsesrike religiøse partier, men har blitt møtt med motstand fra flere av Iraks etniske og religiøse minoriteter.
Det kristne parlamentsmedlemmer Yonadam Kanna sier til nyhetsbyrået AFP at han vil gå rettens vei for å få den nye loven opphevet.
Alkohol tilbys sjelden på restauranter i Irak, men er relativt lett å få tak i, særlig i Bagdad, der alkohol tilbys i mange av hovedstadens butikker.
Irak har også flere selskaper som produserer alkohol, blant annet vin, ølmerket Farida og anisbrennevinet arak, som er utbredt over hele Midtøsten.
Forbudet gjelder ikke i den selvstyrte regionen Kurdistan nord i Irak.
Også i nabolandene Iran, Kuwait, Saudi-Arabia, De forente arabiske emirater og Jemen, er det innført helt- eller delvis alkoholforbud, mens det i andre land i regionen, som Libanon, Syria, Israel, Jordan, Bahrain og Qatar blir produsert og solgt alkohol. I de fire første landene er det blant annet en relativt stor vinproduksjon,
www.hovedsteder.blogg.no is a Norway-based blog about the capitals of the world, with a focus on tourism and travel, the environment, diplomatic affairs and politics, lifestyle, culture and entertainment, food and drink. See also our travel blog at www.minbestereise.blogg.no – Contact us at [email protected]
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Beirut, capital city of Lebanon, was named one of the the world’s best cities, according to Travel and Leisure, a New York-based travel magazine, yalibnan.com reported.
Despite its recent garbage crisis, the volatile security situation, a two-year-long presidential vacuum and an ongoing Syrian refugee crisis, Beirut came out at number 12 in a readers-chosen survey conducted by Travel and Leisure, becoming the only Arab or Middle Eastern city to make the list this year.
Beirut came in above the Cambodian city of Siem Reap, but just below the historic Italian capital city of Rome.
Other cities making the list included Italy’s Florence, Japan’s Kyoto, Spain’s Barcelona and South Carolina’s city of Charleston at number one.
“In a region that is being devastated by war and destruction, Beirut rises out of the desert dust, with its contemporary art museums and Ottoman architecture, to serve as a guiding light,” the magazine said, describing Beirut as one of the “less obvious, but incredibly rewarding destinations” to visit.
Travel and Leisure asked its readers to weigh in on travel experiences across the globe and rank cities based on landmarks, culture, cuisine, friendliness and shopping.
Marred by recent travel warnings issued by the U.S., Canada, and Gulf Arab states, Lebanon has recently attempted to attract tourists by holding dozens of festivals across the country during the summer season.
Defying all odds, Lebanon’s Tourism Minister Michel Pharaon said earlier this month that Lebanon’s tourist sector is still attracting people to visit the country.
This is not the first time Beirut has been acknowledged as a top tourist destination. Last year, the Lebanese capital made it to the CNtraveler Readers’ Choice Awards Top 50 and it ranked 20th in the world’s best cities according to Condé Nast Traveler’s 2013 Readers’ Choice Awards.
See the full story here: http://yalibnan.com/2016/07/12/despite-the-garbage-crisis-beirut-was-named-one-of-worlds-best-cities/
www.hovedsteder.blogg.no is a Norway-based blog about the capitals of the world, with a focus on tourism and travel, the environment, diplomatic affairs and politics, lifestyle, culture and entertainment, food and drink. See also our travel blog at www.minbestereise.blogg.no – Contact us at [email protected]
Palestinas nasjonale museum, i Birzeit på Vestbredden, 25 kilometer nord for Jerusalem, ble offisielt åpnet 18.mai, men står tomt fordi palestinske grupper ikke greier å samarbeide, skriver NRK.
– Vi vil åpne museet uansett. For selv om det ikke har noe innhold, er bygningen verd en fest, sa museets styreleder før åpningen.
Museet har kostet 24 millioner dollar – 216 millioner kroner.
Birzeit ligger nord for de palestinske selvstyremyndighetenes uoffisielle hovedstad, og faktiske administrasjonssenter, Ramallah.
www.hovedsteder.blogg.no is a Norway-based blog about the capitals of the world, with a focus on tourism and travel, the environment, diplomatic affairs and politics, lifestyle, culture and entertainment, food and drink. See also our travel blog at www.minbestereise.blogg.no – Contact us at [email protected]
Politiet i Iraks hovedstad Bagdad tok lørdag i bruk tåregass for å stanse tusenvis av tilhengere av den radikale sjialederen Moqtada al-Sadr som lørdag stormet nasjonalforsamlingen inne i Bagdads store, tungt bevoktede regjeringsdistrikt kjent som “The Green Zone” skriver NRK.
Noe lignende har ikke skjedd siden USAs invasjon i 2003.
Jublende demonstranter stormet inn i hovedsalen i parlamentsbygningen, der politikerne enda en gang mislyktes i å gjennomføre en avstemning om nye ministre. Demonstrantene ropte slagord for Moqtada al-Sadr og mot korrupsjon, ifølge Nettavisen.
“Den grønne sone” huser parlamentet, kontorer for presidenten og statsministeren, flere ministerier, kontorene til internasjonale organisasjoner, og en rekke utenlandske ambassader, blant annet den amerikanske. Dette er forøvrig ikke bare USAs største, men også verdens største ambassade, med flere tusen ansatte.
Ambassadeområdet alene er faktisk større enn Vatikanstaten, som med sine 0,44 km2 (44 hektar) er verdens minste stat. Det er ett av tidligere president Saddam Husseins palasser som nå huser ambassaden.
Green Zone ble forøvrig åpnet for publikum av Iraks statsminister i oktober i fjor, men området er ennå sterkt bevoktet og overvåket av politi og militære.
Les mer om åpningen av Green Zone her: http://hovedsteder.blogg.no/1444131813_iraqi_prime_minister_.html
www.hovedsteder.blogg.no is a Norway-based blog about the capitals of the world, with a focus on tourism and travel, the environment, diplomatic affairs and politics, lifestyle, culture and entertainment, food and drink. See also our travel blog at www.minbestereise.blogg.no – Contact us at [email protected]
The mayor of Tehran Municipality says the Iranian capital has over 2,000 tourist attractions that will take 35 days time to visit all of them, according to the Mehr News Agency website.
The city was first chosen as the capital of Iran by Agha Mohammad Khan of the Qajar dynasty in 1796, which means a span of over 230 years. A bustling metropolis of 14 million people, Tehran is Iran’s largest city and urban area, and the largest city in Western Asia.
The residence in the city goes back to 7,000 years old as indicated by the discovery of the 7,000-year-old remains of a woman unearthed in Tehran in N2014. Coupled with having been the capital city for over 230 years, Tehran has witnessed a remarkable presence of tourists from all over the country in recent years, eager to see for themselves the historical textures, the modern complexes and renovations in the large metropolis.
Mayor of Tehran, Mohamamd Bagher Ghalibaf, says regions 1, 12 and 20 are home to the most number of historical attractions in Tehran. Region 1 is considered as a historical and religious region, region 12 is the heart of the old Tehran and region 20, with its many historical and entertainment sites, is the main destination of tours around Tehran.
Statistics-wise, there have been about 2,511 tours around the city by March 25 this year, and Azadi Tower, Milad Tower, Jurassic Park and the Birds Garden have been met with the most enthusiasm from tourists.
According to the Mayor, tourism in Tehran has created over 10,000 jobs; ?this year, Nowruz (Iranian; or Persian New Year) tourists visiting Tehran will meet with a completely different face of Tehran. This year, Tehran has become even more spectacular than what it was in the previous year,? he said, citing the quietude of the capital and lack of air pollution during the New Year holidays as the reasons why Nowruz is the best time for visiting Tehran.
Chitgar Lake is also mentioned as a new opportunity in the area of tourism in Tehran. The artificial and recreational lake located in the north of Chitgar Park, north-west of Tehran, was opened in 2013 and is expected to reduce Tehran’s air pollution. The total area of this complex is about 250 hectares; 130 hectares across the lake, and the rest of it goes for the coastal zone and resorts. In addition to natural recreational spaces, sports and cultural environments have been provided and Visitors are offered free services and facilities on site.
The Mayor also referred to various river valleys as another noteworthy tourist attraction sites which have undergone renovation and now serve as resorts with the efforts of Tehran Municipality in the last few years.
Read more here: http://en.mehrnews.com/news/115448/Tehran-and-its-2-000-tourist-spots
www.hovedsteder.blogg.no is a Norway-based blog about the capitals of the world, with a focus on tourism and travel, the environment, diplomatic affairs and politics, lifestyle, culture and entertainment, food and drink. See also our travel blog at www.minbestereise.blogg.no – Contact us at [email protected]
The Indonesian Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, inaugurated the new Indonesian honorary consulate in Palestine in an event in Amman, Jordan, on Sunday after Israel denied her entrance to Rammalah following Indonesia’s push to boycott Israeli products, reports The Jakarta Post website.
The inauguration was conducted in the Jordanian capital not long after Mrs Retno and her delegation were headed for Ramallah. Israel denied issuing an overflight permit for a Jordanian air force helicopter transporting the foreign minister to Ramallah, according to the Indonesian Cabinet Secretary website on Sunday.
Alternatively, Indonesia held the inauguration at the Indonesia Embassy in Amman. Mrs Retno also inaugurated Maha Abu-Shuhseh as honorary consul to Palestine.
Palestinian Foreign Affairs Minister Riyad al-Maliki, Indonesian Ambassador to Jordan Teguh Wardoyo and other Indonesian and Palestinian officials observed the inauguration ceremony.
The opening of the honorary consulate is a manifest of Indonesia’s support to Palestine’s freedom, foreign minister Retno said.
She asked consul Maha Abu- Shusheh to have an active role in boosting bilateral ties between the two countries.
“I hope Indonesia’s consul in Ramallah can connect Indonesians and Palestinians,” she said, adding that the office also served to provide protection to Indonesians and as a body for economic and social-cultural cooperation.
Indonesia’s honorary consul in Ramallah is the first among 41 embassies and foreign consulates in Ramallah. Other foreign honorary consuls to Palestine are located in Bethlehem.
Indonesia and Palestine trade relations recorded an increase to $3.67 million in 2015, from $1.02 million in 2014. Around 50,000 Indonesians visit Palestine every year , including Muslims and Christians for pilgrimage purposes.
See more at http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/03/14/indonesia-opens-honorary-consulate-palestine-ramallah.html
