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Holy Kaaba ‘Kiswa’ Cover Is Replaced in Annual Tradition

The installed Kiswa weighs around 1,350 kilograms and is 14 meters high, (SPA)
The installed Kiswa weighs around 1,350 kilograms and is 14 meters high, (SPA)
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Holy Kaaba ‘Kiswa’ Cover Is Replaced in Annual Tradition

The installed Kiswa weighs around 1,350 kilograms and is 14 meters high, (SPA)
The installed Kiswa weighs around 1,350 kilograms and is 14 meters high, (SPA)

Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque adorned on Sunday the holy Kaaba in Makkah with a new cover, or Kiswa.

Replacing the Kiswa is an annual tradition. A team from the King Abdulaziz Complex for Holy Kaaba Kiswa, consisting of 159 craftsmen, carried out the operation.

A team from the King Abdulaziz Complex for Holy Kaaba Kiswa, consisting of 159 craftsmen, carried out the operation. (SPA)

The installed Kiswa, weighing around 1,350 kilograms and standing 14 meters high, consists of four separate sides and a door curtain. The belt was aligned in a straight line along the four sides and sewn into place.

The Kiswa is made of around 1,000 kilograms of raw silk, dyed black within the complex, 120 kilograms of gold threads, and 100 kilograms of silver threads. The Kiswa belt consists of 16 pieces, along with seven pieces below the belt.

Replacing the Kiswa is an annual tradition. (SPA)

The King Abdulaziz Complex for Holy Kaaba Kiswa employs around 200 craftsmen and administrators.

The complex includes several departments: dyeing and automated weaving, hand weaving, printing, belt-making, gilding, sewing, and assembly of the Kiswa.

The General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque adorned on Sunday the holy Kaaba in Makkah with a new cover. (SPA)

It houses the world's largest sewing machine, measuring 16 meters, and operating with computerized systems. Additionally, there are supporting departments such as the laboratory, administrative services, quality control, public relations, health services for workers, and occupational safety.

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Prince William Brings His Son to the Same Homeless Shelter He First Visited with Princess Diana

Britain's Prince William, Prince of Wales and Prince George join Second World War veterans at a tea party in Buckingham Palace, central London, following the military procession to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, May 5, 2025. (Reuters)
Britain's Prince William, Prince of Wales and Prince George join Second World War veterans at a tea party in Buckingham Palace, central London, following the military procession to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, May 5, 2025. (Reuters)
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Prince William Brings His Son to the Same Homeless Shelter He First Visited with Princess Diana

Britain's Prince William, Prince of Wales and Prince George join Second World War veterans at a tea party in Buckingham Palace, central London, following the military procession to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, May 5, 2025. (Reuters)
Britain's Prince William, Prince of Wales and Prince George join Second World War veterans at a tea party in Buckingham Palace, central London, following the military procession to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, May 5, 2025. (Reuters)

Prince William and his eldest son, Prince George, put on aprons to help make Christmas lunch at a homeless shelter, a charity that the Prince of Wales first visited as a child with his mother, the late Princess Diana.

The royal father and son were seen decorating a Christmas tree and helping with meal preparations in the kitchen at The Passage in central London, in a video posted to William's YouTube account on Saturday.

“Proud to join volunteers and staff at The Passage in preparing Christmas lunch – this year with another pair of helping hands,” read a post on the social media account of William and his wife, Princess Catherine.

William is the royal patron of The Passage, which he first visited when he was 11 with his mother, Diana. The heir to the throne has visited the charity in recent years, but this was the first time George, 12, joined him.

The young royal signed his name in a book on the same page that Diana and William had written their names 32 years ago, in December 1993.

William was shown pouring Brussels sprouts onto an oven tray, while George helped set out Yorkshire puddings and set a long table for dozens of attendees.

William launched his Homewards project in 2023 to tackle homelessness.

Varieties

Japan Footballer 'King Kazu' to Play on at the Age of 58

Japanese footballer Kazuyoshi Miura is set to join a new team at the age of 58. STR / AFP
Japanese footballer Kazuyoshi Miura is set to join a new team at the age of 58. STR / AFP
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Japan Footballer 'King Kazu' to Play on at the Age of 58

Japanese footballer Kazuyoshi Miura is set to join a new team at the age of 58. STR / AFP
Japanese footballer Kazuyoshi Miura is set to join a new team at the age of 58. STR / AFP

Evergreen 58-year-old striker Kazuyoshi Miura is set to join a Japanese third-division team to begin his 41th season as a professional footballer, local media reported Sunday.

Miura, known as "King Kazu", will join Fukushima United on a year-long loan after spending last season with fourth-tier Atletico Suzuka, said AFP.

The signing is not yet official but Miura's recent moves have typically been announced at 11:11am on January 11, in a nod to his shirt number.

The former Japan international will turn 59 in February.

He made seven appearances last season for Suzuka, who were relegated to Japan's regional leagues after finishing second-bottom of the table and losing a playoff.

Miura made his professional debut in 1986 for Brazilian team Santos and he has also played for teams in Italy, Croatia, Australia and Portugal.

He helped put football in Japan on the map when the professional J. League was launched in 1993.

He made his Japan debut in 1990 but was famously left out of the squad for their first World Cup finals appearance in 1998, despite scoring 55 goals in 89 games for the national side.

Varieties

Elysee Palace Silver Steward Arrested for Stealing Thousands of Euros’ Worth of Silverware

General view of the Elysee Palace, the French President's official residence, in Paris, France, February 21, 2024. (Reuters)
General view of the Elysee Palace, the French President's official residence, in Paris, France, February 21, 2024. (Reuters)
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Elysee Palace Silver Steward Arrested for Stealing Thousands of Euros’ Worth of Silverware

General view of the Elysee Palace, the French President's official residence, in Paris, France, February 21, 2024. (Reuters)
General view of the Elysee Palace, the French President's official residence, in Paris, France, February 21, 2024. (Reuters)

Three men will stand trial next year after a silver steward employed at the official residence of the French president was arrested this week for the theft of items of silverware and table service worth thousands of euros, the Paris prosecutor's office said.

The Elysee Palace’s head steward reported the disappearance, with the estimated loss ranging between 15,000 and 40,000 euros ($17,500-$47,000).

The Sevres Manufactory, which supplied most of the furnishings, identified several of the missing items on online auction websites. Questioning of Elysee staff led investigators to suspect one of the silver stewards, whose inventory records gave the impression he was planning future thefts.

Investigators established that the man was in a relationship with the manager of a company specializing in the online sale of objects, notably tableware. Investigators discovered on his Vinted account a plate stamped “French Air Force” and “Sevres Manufactory” ashtrays that are not available to the general public.

Around 100 objects were found in the silver steward’s personal locker, his vehicle and their home. Among the items recovered were copper saucepans, Sevres porcelain, a Rene Lalique statuette and Baccarat coupes.

The two were arrested Tuesday. Investigators also identified a single receiver of the stolen goods. The recovered items were returned to the Elysee Palace.

The three suspects appeared in court Thursday on charges of jointly stealing movable property listed as part of the national heritage — an offense punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a 150,000-euro fine, as well as aggravated handling of stolen goods.

The trial was postponed to Feb. 26. The defendants were placed under judicial supervision, banned from contacting one another, prohibited from appearing at auction venues and barred from their professional activities.