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  • Saudi Binladin Group Says Government Resumes Payment of Dues
     

    The Saudi finance ministry has resumed payments to Saudi Binladin Group (SBG), the kingdom’s biggest construction firm, for its work on government projects, according to a Reuters report which cited a local newspaper. The positive news for SBG and its employees comes at a critical time for the company. SBG faced its toughest challenges in the […]

     
  • Event Alert: King of Bahrain, Secretary Kissinger, Gen. David Petraeus Headline C3 Business Summit in New York
     

    Scheduled to take place on the heels of the 71st U.N. General Assembly in New York on September 26 and September 27, the 2016 C3 Business and Healthcare Summit has announced the confirmed participation of His Majesty King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa and The Honorable Dr. Henry Kissinger. This edition of the well-established C3 Summit series will examine ISIS, Brexit, the growing concerns […]

     
  • Senate Votes Down Proposal to Block U.S. Arms Sale to Saudi Arabia
     

    The Senate on Wednesday rejected a bipartisan proposal to block a pending $1.15 billion United States arms sale to Saudi Arabia by a vote of 71-27. The Senate action comes as Congress is considering whether to override an expected presidential veto of the so-called JASTA bill, allowing 9/11 victims’ families to sue the Saudi government. The proposed […]

     
  • White House Lobbies Senate on JASTA, Works Toward 34 Votes to Prevent Veto Override
     

    Some Senate Democrats on Capitol Hill continue to consider their votes on the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA) and, according to some reports, are “starting to show cracks in their support” of the legislation after efforts by the Obama administration to convey the risk of the bill’s potential international relations fallout.  JASTA, which would expand […]

     
  • New Desalination Technology at KACST in Saudi Arabia ‘Opens Doors to Higher Worldwide Clean Water Sources’
     

    The first worldwide adsorption water desalination and cooling plant has been successfully implemented by King Abdulaziz City of Science and Technology (KACST) in August 2016, the university said in a press release, as the Kingdom continues to be a global leader in desalination technology. Adsorption Desalination and Cooling (ADC) is a newly invented technology, co-owned […]

     
  • Al-Jubeir in Wall Street Journal: ‘Iran Can’t Whitewash Its Record of Terror’
     

    Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir blasted his Iranian counterpart in a new op-ed published by the Wall Street Journal, saying that Iran cannot “whitewash its record of terror.” “The fact is that Iran is the leading state-sponsor of terrorism, with government officials directly responsible for numerous terrorist attacks since 1979. These include suicide bombings of the U.S. […]

     
  • Washington Post Editorial: Obama Right to Veto JASTA
     

    An editorial in today’s edition of the Washington Post calls for President Obama to veto the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA) which reduces foreign sovereign immunity by allowing U.S. courts to hear cases involving claims against a foreign state for injuries, death, or damages that occur inside the United States as a result of […]

     
  • Houthi Rebels Claim Capture of Post Inside Saudi Border
     

    Officials from Yemen’s Shiite Houthi militia say their fighters and allied troops have captured a Saudi military post in the border region of Jazan, according to reports.  According to a report in the Associated Press, the claim has been denied by a Saudi military spokesman. However, a 15-minute video clip posted on social media networks and aired late […]

     
  • 15 Year-Old Saudi Girl Proposes First ‘Hijab Emoji’
     

    Rayouf Alhumedhi, a Saudi-born teenager currently living in Germany is the lead author on a new proposal for a hijab emoji to the Unicode Consortium, the nonprofit that governs the creation and approval of emoji. Emojis are popular small images that are available on mobile and desktop keyboards that are increasingly adding to, and even replacing, […]

     
  • President Obama to Veto JASTA Bill
     

    White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said on Monday that U.S. President Barack Obama will veto the controversial Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA) passed by congress last week, setting up a showdown with Congress. Earnest reiterated the White House’s fear that the measure would expose U.S. citizens to legal action overseas if foreign countries pass […]

     

MUST-READS

  • Dubai Car License Plate Sells for Record $15 Million: Here’s Why They’re Popular

    Emirates Auction LLC sold plate number P 7 — which, at first glance, looks like the number 7 alone, with the P off to the side — on Saturday during a charity auction, according to the company. Proceeds will go to Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid’s global food aid initiative, the 1 Billion Meals Endowment.

  • Russia starts fuel supplies to Iran by rail – sources

    Russia started fuel exports to Iran by rail this year for the first time after traditional buyers shunned trade with Moscow, according to three industry sources and exports data. Russia and Iran, both under Western sanctions, are forging closer ties in order to support their economies and to undermine Western sanctions which both Moscow and Tehran cast as unjustified.

  • A little-known drug brought billions to Syria’s coffers. Now it’s a bargaining chip.

    A highly addictive drug that became Syria’s economic lifeline over a decade of isolation may now be serving as a bargaining chip as it tries to normalize ties with neighboring states, analysts say. Captagon, a drug that is relatively unknown outside the Middle East, helped Syria turn into a narco-state after much of the international community cut off its economy due to its brutal crackdown on an uprising in 2011.

  • What were the world’s busiest airports in 2022?

    Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson airport retained its spot as the planet’s busiest airport in 2022, according to new data from ACI World. The Georgia hub transported nearly 93.7 million passengers last year, though its traffic is still about 15% lower than pre-pandemic levels.

  • AlUla Skies hot-air balloon festival returns to Saudi Arabia this month

    AlUla Skies Festival is returning for a second year over Saudi Arabia's ancient site, which dates back to the Lihyan and Nabataean kingdoms. Each day and night, sunrise and sunset hot-air balloon experiences, helicopter tours and stargazing sessions will bring AlUla to life. Beginning on April 26, the 18-day festival draws inspiration from the night sky, which has helped people navigate through the region for thousands of years.

  • Bahraini Opposition Divided Over Normalization With Iran

    A recent agreement between Iran and Saudi Arabia to resume diplomatic relations is also preparing the ground for Iran and Bahrain to normalize relations. While one outlawed Bahraini opposition group has welcomed normalizing ties with Iran, another is maintaining its hard-line stance against the Khalifa monarchy.

  • Saudi Arabia: Unprecedented hailstorm blocks roads in Al-Baha

    The city of Al-Baha in western Saudi Arabia has been transformed after a heavy hailstorm hit the region on Monday, dropping as much as one metre of hailstones in some areas.

  • Iraq to Boost Wheat Production by 60% This Year, Says Grain Board’s Nouri

    Iraq plans to boost its wheat output by almost 60% this year, even as it continues to rely on imports to satisfy domestic demand. The country is expected to produce 3.5 million tons of wheat this year, up from about 2.2 million tons last year, according to Haider Nouri, director general of Iraq’s grain board. The nation will also seek to buy at least 50,000 tons this month via tender, he said during an interview in Baghdad.

  • Riyadh Vs. Dubai

    There is a big question mark over whether Saudi Arabia is ready, whether that’s in terms of infrastructure, housing, lifestyle or even the basics of processing foreign residency papers. By opening up the kingdom to international markets, Riyadh is directly competing with neighbor Dubai, the Middle East’s main business and tourism hub, which has long been the default option for expatriates. From a cultural perspective, Dubai remains an obvious choice despite having become increasingly more expensive since the pandemic. It still offers a freer and more cosmopolitan option for foreigners.

  • Al Hilal still aiming for title after draw with Al Tai, coach says

    Asian champions Al Hilal Coach Ramon Diaz said his team will fight to defend their Saudi Pro League title after a disappointing 2-2 draw against Al Tai on Monday that left them 10 points behind league leaders Al Ittihad. Argentine coach Diaz is also looking to defend his team's AFC Champions League title when they host Urawa Red Diamonds of Japan in the first leg on April 29. The second leg will be away at Saitama Stadium on May 6.