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Saudi schools will not permit retake examinations during Ramadan without an officially approved excuse/Representative Image Students who miss their first-term examinations during Ramadan will not be given another chance unless they present an official excuse, Saudi education authorities have confirmed. The rule comes as public schools across the Kingdom begin first-term tests for the second semester, with strict enforcement of attendance and discipline measures.The Ministry of Education has made clear that absence during the examination period will not be overlooked. The no make-up policy is grounded in the Student Assessment Regulations approved at the start of the current academic year.Exams begin with strict attendance enforcement
First-term examinations for the second semester commenced on Monday in Saudi public schools.School administrations have underlined that full attendance is mandatory throughout the examination period. Students who fail to attend will not be granted make-up ..

AdvertisementChina stock marketBusinessMarketsChina’s top court backs legal action against corrupt firms amid equity markets rallyThe court’s initiative marks ‘a positive sign that the market would sustain its upward momentum’, hedge fund manager Zhou Ling says
Reading Time:3 minutesWhy you can trust SCMPDaniel Renin ShanghaiPublished: 6:00pm, 24 Feb 2026Beijing is encouraging equity investors to pursue representative action against unscrupulous listed or delisted firms in an apparent effort to bolster confidence in the country’s stock markets, as trading resumed on Tuesday following a 10-day break.
The Supreme People’s Court, mainland China’s highest judicial organ, also announced at a press conference that it would issue more edicts on civil compensation for insider trading and market manipulation to better safeguard retail investors’ interests.“People’s courts are taking an active stance on representative actions against multiple firms and companies already delisted,” Wang Chaohui, ..

AdvertisementThailandThis Week in AsiaHealth & EnvironmentWhy did 72 tigers die at a Thailand tourist park in under 2 weeks?‘By the time we realised they were sick, it was too late,’ said an official, as welfare groups decry a life of misery and confinement
Reading Time:3 minutesWhy you can trust SCMPAidan JonesPublished: 5:58pm, 24 Feb 2026The deaths of 72 captive tigers at a private park popular with tourists in northern Thailand have renewed scrutiny of a lucrative industry that campaigners warn treats wild animals as “entertainment”.The outbreak at Tiger Kingdom in Chiang Mai began in early February, with authorities initially attributing the deaths to canine distemper – a virus carried by dogs but often fatal to big cats. A deeper investigation is under way, with some medical experts suspecting contaminated food may have been the cause.
The park – a favourite with foreign visitors from China, India and Russia, especially – promotes itself as offering a rare chance to take photos a..

Tulsi Gabbard marked her husband Abraham Williams’ birthday with a message that read less like a routine social media greeting and more like a private vow made briefly visible to the world. “Happy birthday to my one and only,” she wrote, before adding a line that carried the quiet cadence of a promise: “Over and over again, I do.”The tone was unmistakably intimate. It was also entirely characteristic.Because in the theatre of American politics, where spouses are often displayed as carefully managed public assets, Abraham Williams occupies a very different role. He is not a campaign surrogate, not a television presence, not a familiar political spouse. In fact, most Americans encounter his name only when Gabbard herself chooses to mention him. He appears briefly through her words and then slips back into the anonymity he seems to prefer.The reaction to that birthday post captured how unusual their pairing feels. One user replied with a mix of admiration and mock envy: “Two good looking,..

UAE announces 4-day Eid Al Fitr holiday for public sector, 3 days for private sector/Representative Image As Ramadan begins, the UAE has confirmed the official Eid Al Fitr holiday schedule for both federal government employees and the private sector, giving workers and businesses clarity well in advance of the break.The Federal Authority for Government Human Resources and the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation jointly announced that employees in federal government entities will observe the Eid Al Fitr holiday from Thursday, 19 March 2026, through Sunday, 22 March 2026. Official working hours will resume on Monday, 23 March 2026.For private sector employees, the holiday will begin on Thursday, 19 March 2026, and continue until Saturday, 21 March 2026. However, authorities confirmed that if the holy month of Ramadan completes 30 days, the private sector break will be extended to include Sunday, 22 March 2026.The announcement applies across the UAE and follows the established f..

AdvertisementTrending in ChinaPeople & CultureTrending in China‘Sportcation’ gains popularity among China youth, transforms romantic getaway into athletic hubIndonesian island renowned for parties and chilling turns holiday spot for fitness-mad travellers who seek ‘military-style’ boot camps
Reading Time:2 minutesWhy you can trust SCMPYating Yangin BeijingPublished: 6:00pm, 23 Feb 2026Fitness-friendly young Chinese travellers are turning to a new trend known as “sportcation” which blends physical health with leisure.
Health conscious tourists are spending 20,000 yuan (US$2,800) not to relax, but to endure military-style tennis camps, turning the romantic island of Bali into a gruelling Indonesian sporting getaway.
In the trend, which as the name suggests blends sport and holiday, physical activity becomes the central focus of travel.
A Chinese woman prepares to serve during a tennis match. So-called boot camps involving the sport are growing in popularity. Photo: ZhihuInstead of sights..