Riyadh – The Saudi Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs has taken quick and serious executive steps towards 17 local cities for the purpose of moving them to the phase of “smart cities.” This step contributes in growing investment opportunities, increasing job opportunities and achieving growth i
The United Nations refugee agency called on Monday the next British government to “do the right thing” when it comes to refugees, saying it can do more to help them. The UNHCR representative to the UK, Gonzalo Vargas Llosa, said the new government should increase resettlement quotas, reunite more re
London – ISIS called on its supporters in Britain target pedestrians by driving them over in congested central areas in the capital London, using trucks liked the one used in last year’s Berlin attack. Regent Street and Piccadilly Circus are singled out as “ideal targets” in the latest edition
Riyadh – The Saudi-British Joint Business Council is seeking to launch new partnerships in the field of advanced industries, according to the Council’s co-chair, Nasser Al-Mutawa. In remarks to Asharq al-Awsat newspaper, Al-Mutawa said that the joint business council held two economic forums in each
Vladimir Putin was outstandingly smart when he managed to turn the Syrian crisis into a Russian opportunity by acting like a skilled hunter. You might miss if you try to aim too soon or too late. One must aim at the right moment. We can also say that FM Sergei Lavrov cleverly interpreted the options
Manama – A high criminal court in Bahrain decided on Sunday to postpone the verdict issuance in the case of Isa Qassim and two of his assistants until May 21. This is the second time the court postpones issuing the verdict, as on March 14 the court had postponed its issuance date until May 7, [&hell
Seoul – The candidate tipped to win Tuesday’s presidential elections in South Korea, Moon Jae-in, hoped to achieve reconciliation with Pyongyang and resume dialogue with the northern neighbor. The Democratic Party candidate’s popularity spiked in recent week’s due to his participation in the 2016 pr
Emmanuel Macron will be inaugurated as France’s first-centrist president on Sunday at the Elysee palace, outgoing President Francois Hollande told French television. Hollande warmly greeted Macron on Monday in their first public meeting since Macron’s meteoric rise over far-right rival Marine
Riyadh- The Special Criminal Court in Riyadh issued on Sunday a preliminary sentence of 12 years in prison for a Syrian resident on charges of planning a suicide attack targeting the Saudi security forces participating in the Hajj season. The convict admitted his support for the terrorist organizati
The 4th US Circuit Court of Appeals will on Monday weigh in on a challenge to President Donald Trump’s revised travel ban targeting six Muslim majority countries. After a series of stinging legal defeats, Trump’s administration hopes to convince a federal appeals court that his ban is motivate
Aden- Doctors Without Borders (MSF) warned of aggravating health conditions in Yemen and revealed that there are hundreds of cholera cases throughout the country. Communication officer at MSF Malak Shaher told Asharq Al-Awsat that 158 cholera cases were detected in Dhale Governorate since April 24 a
A United Nations expert said she is keen on addressing the human rights record in the Philippines, the first time since President Rodrigo Duterte’s election. A Filipino senator defended on Monday’s Duterte’s human rights record, saying his government always “seeks to uphold the rule of l
Oil prices rose on Monday after Saudi Arabia’s energy minister Khalid Al-Falih said he still expected an OPEC-led deal to cut output during the first half of the year to be extended to all of 2017. “Based on the consultation I have had with participating members, I am rather confident th
Global diplomats will meet in Bonn, Germany on Monday to hold United Nations Climate talks as US officials are set to meet in Washington on Tuesday to address whether to pull out of the Paris global emissions-cutting deal. The United States said it will continue attending UN climate change meetings,
London – Queen Elizabeth II of England has a personal account on Facebook that keeps her in touch with a small group of friends, reported the Daily Mail. It is known that the Queen, like her mother, is fond of speaking on the telephone. However, unlike her mother, she uses modern technology, i
Baghdad– The Iraqi government has received a message from the US embassy concerning the liberation of Tal Afar, Iranian news agency, IRNA, reported, but Nineveh MP Sajida al-Afandi said the move has political motives aiming to pressure the government to allow the participation of Popular Mobilizatio
Riyadh – Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary General Abdullatif Al-Zayani said that cooperation and collaboration was maintained with the US administration within the framework of strategic partnership forged between Gulf leaders and former US President Barack Obama. In comments to reporters, A
Cairo- ISIS militants shot dead an Egyptian Christian in North Sinai, local sources and parliamentary deputies said on Sunday – the first attack of its kind after a collective migration of the city’s Christians two months ago. The incident killed hopes of dozens of Christian households to soon retur
Cairo – A few days ago Saudi Arabia launched the messages of the “Ideological War Center” on social media websites, explaining its purposes in the world’s most common languages. The center that is affiliated with the Saudi Defense Ministry is among the most important ideas of deputy Crown Prince Moh
London- The promises of outgoing Iranian President Hassan Rouhani were met on Sunday with stones, thrown by angry workers on his convoy while he was visiting the northern province of Golestan where a coal mine collapsed last Wednesday. From the city of Urmia, hours after visiting the mine, Rouhani c
