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Saudi Arabia begins accepting property ownership applications from non-Saudis/Representative Image The waiting is over. Saudi Arabia’s Real Estate General Authority has officially announced that the law allowing non-Saudis to own property entered into force yesterday, January 22. With this, applications are now being accepted through a unified digital platform, marking a decisive shift in how foreign individuals and companies can participate in the Kingdom’s real estate market under defined regulatory conditions.A single digital gateway for all applications
All applications for property ownership by non-Saudis are being handled exclusively through the official digital platform, Saudi Properties. The portal serves as the sole gateway for submitting requests, completing procedures, and verifying compliance with the law’s requirements.The service applies to residents living in the Kingdom, non-residents abroad, as well as non-Saudi companies and entities. Each category follows a defined p..

AdvertisementMalaysiaAsiaSoutheast AsiaIndonesian litterbug weeps after first conviction under new Malaysian lawAnita Lukman was fined US$125 and ordered to serve six hours of community service for discarding rubbish on a pavement in Johor Bahru
Reading Time:2 minutesWhy you can trust SCMPThe StarPublished: 2:49pm, 23 Jan 2026Updated: 2:53pm, 23 Jan 2026Two foreign nationals have become the first people in Malaysia to be charged under a new anti-littering law.Sultan Md, 28, a Bangladeshi, and Anita Lukman, 49, an Indonesian, were charged in the Sessions Court in Johor Bahru on Friday morning.
Anita, an odd-job worker, pleaded guilty to throwing a cigarette butt and a drink bottle on the pavement on Jalan Ibrahim Sultan in Stulant Laut at 12.41am on January 1.
AdvertisementThe offence was framed under Section 77A(1) of the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act 2007.
Anita, who was unrepresented, asked for a lighter punishment, saying she is a single mother and has to care for ..

AdvertisementSouth China SeaChinaDiplomacyChinese coastguard rescues Filipino sailors near Scarborough ShoalPLA Navy also deploys plane as search continues for missing crew from capsized vessel
Reading Time:2 minutesWhy you can trust SCMP2Shi JiangtaoPublished: 2:44pm, 23 Jan 2026The Chinese navy and coastguard said on Friday that they rescued 17 Filipino crew members from a Singaporean-flagged cargo ship that had capsized near Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea.According to the China Coast Guard (CCG), the Maritime Search and Rescue Centre in Sansha, Hainan province, received a distress report at around 1.30am on Friday.
The vessel appeared to be in trouble about 55 nautical miles northwest of Scarborough Shoal, known as Huangyan Island in China. The centre sent two coastguard vessels immediately to conduct rescue operations.
AdvertisementThe ship had 21 Filipino crew members on board and by midday, 17 had been recovered. Fourteen were reported stable, two had died, and one rema..

UAE recorded its coldest morning this winter as temperatures dropped to 0.2°C today early morning/Representative Image The UAE experienced one of its coldest mornings of the winter season today, with temperatures dropping sharply across several parts of the country. The lowest temperature recorded this morning was 0.2°C in Jebel Jais, as the nation continues to feel the impact of a winter cold spell.The National Centre of Meteorology confirmed that the 0.2°C reading was recorded at 5.45 am. Authorities had earlier warned that a cold spell would affect the UAE during the second half of January, and recent conditions indicate the country is now experiencing its coldest days of the season.Several other locations across the UAE also saw notably low temperatures early this morning. Mebreh Mountain recorded 3.1°C at 5.15 am, followed by Jabal Al Rahba at 3.2°C at 6.45 am. Raknah reported a temperature of 4°C at 7.15 am, while Hafeet Mountain recorded 6.7°C at 5.30 am.Residents heading out in..

Dubai Crash Leaves Indian Biker With Dh400,000 Hospital Bill And No Insurance An Indian expatriate in Dubai is confronting an overwhelming hospital bill of nearly Dh400,000 (approximately Rs 1 crore) after a serious motorbike accident on Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road (E311) left him with multiple fractures and ongoing surgical needs. The situation raises broader questions about road safety, healthcare costs and insurance coverage in the UAE.What happened on Dubai's E311On the early morning of January 18, 2026, 36-year-old Avinash Sequeira, a freelance events professional and member of the Ducati Owners Club, was on a routine weekend ride with friends when the accident occurred near Liwan, close to his home. After swapping bikes, due to a radiator leak on his own motorcycle, Avinash was heading home at around 50 km/h when the bike lost traction on a gentle curve, causing him to crash.He sustained multiple fractures to both legs and his right hip, according to medical reports. Pass..