Entertainment

NEW YORK - AMC Theaters, the largest movie chain in North America, will limit attendance at all screenings to 50 people to adhere to the CDC's latest social distancing guidelines. Cinemas in New York City and Los Angeles on Sunday were ordered closed by the city's respective mayors. Many art house theaters nationwide have also shuttered. But the largest chains in North America , AMC, Regal Cinemas, Cinemark, have tried to keep their doors open. Over the weekend, the chains began to limit theater capacity to 50%. They have pledged to thoroughly clean theaters in between showings. AMC said in any theaters smaller than 100 seats, it wouldn't fill them more than half. Regal and Cinemark didn't immediately respond to messages Monday. For most people, the new coro...

Hama, A festival under the title “Syrian Woman…Victory Icon” started activities on Tuesday evening at Dar Al-Assad for Culture and Arts in Hama city.The festival was held by Raqqa Culture Department in cooperation with Hama Culture Department in celebration of International Women’s Day and it has witnessed a large turnout by writers and intellectuals.Participants in the festival affirmed that the Syrian women through history and up till now have represented an example to follow in sacrifice and giving.During the festival, a film about the struggle of Syrian women was screened, in addition to honoring a number of elite Syrian women who have played a distinguished role during the terrorist war waged against Syria.Source: Syrian Arab News Agency

Hama, A festival under the title “Syrian Woman…Victory Icon” started activities on Tuesday evening at Dar Al-Assad for Culture and Arts in Hama city.The festival was held by Raqqa Culture Department in cooperation with Hama Culture Department in celebration of International Women’s Day and it has witnessed a large turnout by writers and intellectuals.Participants in the festival affirmed that the Syrian women through history and up till now have represented an example to follow in sacrifice and giving.During the festival, a film about the struggle of Syrian women was screened, in addition to honoring a number of elite Syrian women who have played a distinguished role during the terrorist war waged against Syria.Source: Syrian Arab News Agency

AlUla, Saudi Arabia, In bringing together the best of eastern and western culture, the latest season of Winter at Tantora Festival announces the launch of Persian Music Nights, a two-night event (5th and 6th March) with a selection of Persian musicians.Seven of the most influential and best-loved Persian musicians will perform during the Persian Music Nights event: Shahram Shabpareh, Leila Forouhar, Ebi, Sasy, Shadmehr Aghili, Andy, and Arash Labaf.The festival seeks to highlight Persian art and music in AlUla, the land of historical civilisations and ancient trade routes.This initiative is in line with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's focus on recognizing AlUla as a cradle of diverse civilisations and cultures throughout the ages, and establish the Winter at Tantora Festival as a hub for cul...

AlUla, Saudi Arabia, In bringing together the best of eastern and western culture, the latest season of Winter at Tantora Festival announces the launch of Persian Music Nights, a two-night event (5th and 6th March) with a selection of Persian musicians.Seven of the most influential and best-loved Persian musicians will perform during the Persian Music Nights event: Shahram Shabpareh, Leila Forouhar, Ebi, Sasy, Shadmehr Aghili, Andy, and Arash Labaf.The festival seeks to highlight Persian art and music in AlUla, the land of historical civilisations and ancient trade routes.This initiative is in line with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's focus on recognizing AlUla as a cradle of diverse civilisations and cultures throughout the ages, and establish the Winter at Tantora Festival as a hub for cul...

Damascus, Mrs. Asma al-Assad on Thursday received winners of Syrian Science Olympiad in the International Olympic Competitions 2019.The students won a silver medal, seven bronze medals, and two certificates of appreciation in Mathematics, Chemistry, IT, and Biology during their participation in the International Olympic Competitions, which were held in Britain, France, Hungary and Azerbaijan, a report published on the Presidency page on Facebook said.Source: Syrian Arab News Agency

Damascus, Mrs. Asma al-Assad on Thursday received winners of Syrian Science Olympiad in the International Olympic Competitions 2019.The students won a silver medal, seven bronze medals, and two certificates of appreciation in Mathematics, Chemistry, IT, and Biology during their participation in the International Olympic Competitions, which were held in Britain, France, Hungary and Azerbaijan, a report published on the Presidency page on Facebook said.Source: Syrian Arab News Agency

Beijing, Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign and Expatriates Minister Walid al-Moallem on Sunday started an official visit to China upon an invitation by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.During his visit, Foreign and Expatriates Minister will meet senior Chinese officials and will discuss with them different aspects of bilateral relations binding the two friendly countries and means to enhance and upgrade them in different spheres to reach the hoped-for level by the leaderships of the wo countries.The latest developments in Syria and issues of mutual interest in the regional and international arenas will be also discussed.Source: Syrian Arab News Agency

THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS, Islamic State's recruitment and use of women to support its extremist cause could pave the way for more front-line roles for women in jihadi groups in the future, the European Union's police agency said in a report published Friday.In the 34-page report entitled "Women in Islamic State Propaganda," Europol said "female jihadis are as ideologically motivated as their male counterparts and their sense of empowerment lies in contributing to the building of an Islamic state."It concludes that "numerous examples" of women, who either carried out extremist attacks or were arrested preventively, "prove that women are willing to use violence if the ideology allows them to do so. For now, it is not yet their role, but this balance may easily shift according to the organizati...

Interior and Municipalities Minister, Rayya el Hassan, received this Friday the President of the Socio-economic Council Charles Arbid, accompanied by the Council member, Representative of the General Labor Confederation, Saad Eddin Hamidi Sakr. Talks reportedly touched on the current socio-economic situation in Lebanon, in light of the Parliament's discussion of the state budget 2019 and the need for practical steps to address the current economic crisis. On the other hand, Minister El Hassan met respectively with Civil Defense Director General Raymond Khattar, and a delegation of the Union of Koura Municipalities, with relevant affairs topping their discussions.Source: National News Agency