Iran: We did not deport the singer Joss Stone, but she was denied entry.
July 6, 2019, 9:22 am

singer Joss Stone

Tehran denied that it detained and deported the British singer Joss Stone as confirmed by the latter, adding that she was only denied entry to Iran.

Iran news agency quoted police in Kish Island as saying that Stone and her team were not arrested, but denied entry to Iran over the lack of necessary documents and permits.

In a letter published on Wednesday on Instagram, Stone spoke about an incident she confronted on her arrival to Kish Island, where she planned to sing as it is the last stop of a global tour that led her to many countries including Syria and North Korea.

She said in a video clip: we got detained and then we got deported, adding, it seems that the authorities don't believe we wouldn't be playing a public show in this tourist island.

Females are not allowed to perform solo in public places in Iran since the revolution in 1979.

The Iranian news agency said that the singer and her team arrived from Muscat and left the following day without elaborating on the reasons behind preventing her from entering Iran.

The singer said We were aware there couldn’t be a public concert as I am a woman and that is illegal in this country, without giving any details about her concert.

Posting on Instagram, Stone appears wearing a headscarf saying I am so close yet so far, this moment broke a little piece of my heart.

Before leaving Kish, the singer had written that the concert in Kish should be the number 200 in the Total World Tour, which she had started five years ago.

The tour is an ambitious project for Stone to sing in all countries and she has performed concerts in countries experiencing security or political troubles, including Libya, South Sudan, and North Korea.

Destruction of Houthi weapons store in al Hodeidah Drowning of 70 migrants near the Tunisian coast

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has announced its sponsorship of the “Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition (GU - IST Solutions), hosted by Gulf University at its main campus.
This strategic sponsorship reflects BENEFIT’s active role in advancing technological innovation and fostering sustainable solutions to future challenges. It also seeks to empower Bahraini youth by enhancing their skills, capabilities, and competitiveness in innovation and solution development—contributing meaningfully to the broader goals of sustainable development across all sectors.
As part of BENEFIT’s active involvement in the competition, the company has announced that Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication, will serve on the competition’s supervisory committee. Her upcoming participation reflects BENEFIT’s forward-looking commitment to championing academic and professional excellence.
Commenting on the occasion, Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication at BENEFIT, said, “We are privileged to support this pioneering initiative, which aligns seamlessly with BENEFIT’s enduring commitment to fostering innovation and nurturing the potential of Bahrain’s youth. Our participation is rooted in a deep sense of social responsibility and a firm belief in the pivotal role of innovation in shaping a sustainable future. Through such platforms, we seek to empower the next generation with the knowledge, skills, and foresight required to develop impactful solutions that address future challenges, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030.”
Dr. Aseel Al Ayash Dean of the College of Engineering in Gulf University commented, “We extend our sincere gratitude to BENEFIT for their generous sponsorship and support of the Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition. This contribution plays an instrumental role in helping us achieve the strategic goals of this initiative, namely, cultivating a culture of innovation and sustainability, encouraging efforts that address the imperatives of sustainable development, and enhancing the practical and professional capabilities of our students and participants.”
The event will bring together a diverse spectrum of participants, including secondary school students, university undergraduates, engineers, industry professionals, entrepreneurs, academic researchers, and subject matter experts representing a wide range of disciplines.
The competition seeks to inspire participants to develop and present innovative, sustainable technologies aimed at addressing pressing environmental, social, and economic challenges. It encourages the formulation of business models that integrate advanced technological solutions with core principles of sustainability. Moreover, it serves as a platform for emerging leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators to contribute to the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals, promote the ethos of responsible technology, and demonstrate its transformative potential across various sectors.
Attendees will have the opportunity to view a series of project presentations submitted by participants, covering diverse areas such as eco-friendly product design, smart and sustainable innovations, renewable energy technologies, water conservation and management, waste minimisation and recycling, green architectural solutions, and sustainable transportation systems. Outstanding projects will be formally recognised and awarded at the conclusion of the event.