عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Culture

Eiffel Tower Operator Says Strike by Staff Has Ended, Site to Reopen on Sunday

This photograph taken on February 23, 2024, shows the Eiffel Tower on a cloudy day in Paris. (AFP)
This photograph taken on February 23, 2024, shows the Eiffel Tower on a cloudy day in Paris. (AFP)
TT
20
TT

Eiffel Tower Operator Says Strike by Staff Has Ended, Site to Reopen on Sunday

This photograph taken on February 23, 2024, shows the Eiffel Tower on a cloudy day in Paris. (AFP)
This photograph taken on February 23, 2024, shows the Eiffel Tower on a cloudy day in Paris. (AFP)

A strike by staff at the Eiffel Tower has ended, the company that runs one of the most visited tourist sites in the world said in a statement on Saturday.

The tower will reopen on Sunday, the Societe d'Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel (SETE), which is owned by Paris City Hall, added.

Workers at the Eiffel Tower went on strike on Feb. 19 in protest over the way the Paris monument is managed.

It came as Paris prepares to host the 2024 Summer Olympics, which begin on July 26 and will feature metal from the tower in the winners' medals.

SETE and trade unions "reached an end-of-strike agreement stipulating that the parties will regularly review the company's business model, maintenance costs and sales through a body that will meet every six months", the company said.

SETE said visitors who bought tickets between Feb. 19-24 will get refunds.

Unions claim Paris City Hall, which owns 99% of SETE, is underestimating the cost of planned maintenance and repairs to the monument ahead of the Olympics.

Most Viewed

 
Culture

Camel Fair in India’s Desert Town of Pushkar Draws Traders and Tourists 

A camel herder feeds his camels at the annual cattle fair in Pushkar, in the western Indian state of Rajasthan, Monday, Oct. 27, 2025. (AP)
A camel herder feeds his camels at the annual cattle fair in Pushkar, in the western Indian state of Rajasthan, Monday, Oct. 27, 2025. (AP)
TT
20
TT

Camel Fair in India’s Desert Town of Pushkar Draws Traders and Tourists 

A camel herder feeds his camels at the annual cattle fair in Pushkar, in the western Indian state of Rajasthan, Monday, Oct. 27, 2025. (AP)
A camel herder feeds his camels at the annual cattle fair in Pushkar, in the western Indian state of Rajasthan, Monday, Oct. 27, 2025. (AP)

India's desert town of Pushkar, nestled in the arid plains of Rajasthan, has transformed into a vibrant festival ground as hundreds of camels, draped in tassels, colorful beads and flower garlands, are paraded and sold to the highest bidder.

For centuries, the annual Pushkar Camel Fair has been a vital event for India's camel-breeding communities, many of whom live a nomadic desert life and travel hundreds of kilometers from remote villages to trade their livestock.

Potential buyers, traders and tourists from across India and abroad arrive at the fair, which is one of the world’s largest gatherings for camel trading.

Alongside camels, horses, cattle and goats are also bought and sold.

The air buzzes with excitement as traders in bright turbans lead their camels in beauty contests, showing off the best-groomed animals amid the rhythmic beats of folk drums and traditional dance performances.

Bustling makeshift markets spring up overnight, offering handicrafts, jewelry, textiles and spices.

But in recent years, the number of camels brought to the fair has fallen sharply.

Younger generations from herding families are moving to cities or seeking new livelihoods, while Rajasthan’s camel population continues to decline as cars replace the animals’ traditional roles in farming and transport in villages. The camel population has further dwindled due to shrinking grazing lands.

“This culture is slowly fading away,” said Narendra Rabari, a camel trader.

Culture

'Diriyah Biennale' Supports New Work by Fatma Abdulhadi, Presented at 14th Taipei Biennial 2025

The Diriyah Biennale Foundation announced that Fatma Abdulhadi will present a new work at the 14th Taipei Biennial 2025. (SPA)
The Diriyah Biennale Foundation announced that Fatma Abdulhadi will present a new work at the 14th Taipei Biennial 2025. (SPA)
TT
20
TT

'Diriyah Biennale' Supports New Work by Fatma Abdulhadi, Presented at 14th Taipei Biennial 2025

The Diriyah Biennale Foundation announced that Fatma Abdulhadi will present a new work at the 14th Taipei Biennial 2025. (SPA)
The Diriyah Biennale Foundation announced that Fatma Abdulhadi will present a new work at the 14th Taipei Biennial 2025. (SPA)

The Diriyah Biennale Foundation announced that Fatma Abdulhadi will present a new work at the 14th Taipei Biennial 2025. The production of the work was partly funded by the Diriyah Biennale Foundation, as part of a continued commitment to supporting Saudi and Saudi-based artists in being well represented on the international stage. Other contributions came from the Taipei Fine Arts Museum.

In a statement on Monday, the Diriyah Biennale Foundation said Abdulhadi’s work, called “What Remains: Stay as Long as You Can,” is an immersive installation that transcends the idea of a physical garden. The work is an evolution of a previous work, titled “I Wish You in Heaven,” which was commissioned by the Diriyah Biennale Foundation for the Islamic Arts Biennale 2025.

Through layered silkscreen prints, a craft central to the artist’s practice, and the scent of basil, the work evokes cultural and ritual symbolism, guiding the soul on a path toward healing. It becomes a shared, universal space for reflection, inviting visitors to linger, find solace, and rediscover peace after grief.

Fatma Abdulhadi stated: “What Remains: Stay as Long as You Can is, to me, a continuous and universal conversation - an invitation to slow down and recycle memory. In Taipei, the work unfolds as a quiet space for reflection, healing, and connection, where time stretches and stories find new shape.”

CEO of the Diriyah Biennale Foundation Aya Al-Bakree said: “Supporting artists is central to our ambition at the Diriyah Biennale Foundation. We are committed to nurturing Saudi talent and enabling them to engage meaningfully with the international art community."

The 14th edition of the Taipei Biennial 2025, titled “Whispers on the Horizon,” is curated by Sam Bardaouil and Till Fellrath. It will be on view from November 1, 2025, to March 29, 2026, at the Taipei Fine Arts Museum.

Culture

Historic Jeddah to Showcase Cultural Heritage at World Travel Market in London

The route features 10 archaeological sites associated with the Hajj journey throughout history - SPA
The route features 10 archaeological sites associated with the Hajj journey throughout history - SPA
TT
20
TT

Historic Jeddah to Showcase Cultural Heritage at World Travel Market in London

The route features 10 archaeological sites associated with the Hajj journey throughout history - SPA
The route features 10 archaeological sites associated with the Hajj journey throughout history - SPA

Historic Jeddah is renewing its presence at the World Travel Market in London from November 4 to 6, one of the world’s leading tourism and travel events, building on previous participation and reaffirming the Ministry of Culture’s efforts to position Historic Jeddah as a premier global cultural and tourism destination.

At this year’s exhibition, Historic Jeddah is presenting a range of new tourism products and interactive experiences that highlight the evolution of cultural experiences in the area and enhance its standing as a world-class destination for visitors and explorers, SPA reported.

Among these offerings are curated tourism routes led by certified guides, including the historic Hajj route, which showcases Jeddah’s historic role as the gateway to the Two Holy Mosques.

The route features 10 archaeological sites associated with the Hajj journey throughout history, presented through engaging, well-documented storytelling. Additional routes offer visitors diverse perspectives for discovering and interacting with the area’s living heritage.

The pavilion also features an interactive archaeological display using QR code scanning, allowing visitors to view artifacts virtually, as if they were in a museum in the heart of Historic Jeddah. The experience provides insight into the history of key sites, as well as their architectural elements and rare artifacts, combining knowledge, heritage, and technology in a single immersive journey.