Middle East

Nov 10: Qatar has appointed 28 new members to one of its most important consultative bodies, including four women, a royal decree announced. The women will sit on the 45-strong Shura Council, which is responsible for discussing draft laws, general government policy and the state's draft budget, state media said on Thursday. "Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani issued an emiri decree

Riyadh, Nov 9: Money transfer charges will increase from Jan. 1 as 5% Value Added Tax (VAT) will be levied on money transfer fees, according to the General Authority of Zakat and Tax (GAZT), which is responsible for managing the implementation, administration and enforcement of VAT in Saudi Arabia in close coordination with other relevant entities. The 5% VAT will be on the money transfer fee and

Abu Dhabi, Nov 9: The decade-long wait for the Arab world's own Louvre was well worth it. With the night sky reflected in the waters of the Arabian Gulf surrounding the Louvre Abu Dhabi, the museum witnessed its official opening on Wednesday evening. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai; His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin

Abu Dhabi, Nov 9: Hindus are urging prestigious about £1bn museum Louvre Abu Dhabi (LAD) unveiled by French President Emmanuel Macron on November 8 to enrich its collection of Hindu artifacts. Welcoming the reported display of 10th century dancing Shiva statue at LAD, and a painting of Krishna with gopis in its collection; Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, called it

Riyadh, Nov 8: Saudi Arabian authorities have made further arrests and frozen more bank accounts in an expanding anti-corruption crackdown on the kingdom's political and business elite, sources familiar with the matter said on Wednesday Dozens of royal family members, officials and business executives have already been held in the purge announced on Saturday. They face allegations of money

Jeddah, Nov 7: Senior officials of Saudi Arabian government have termed the recent missile attack on Riyadh by Houthi rebels as an act of war by Iran, which according to them backs the rebels. “The Kingdom reserves the right to respond in a timely manner to the hostile actions of the Iranian regime,” Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir said. “Iranian interventions in the region are detrimental

Riyadh, Nov 6: An anti-corruption probe that has purged Saudi Arabian royals, ministers and businessmen appeared to be widening on Monday after the founder of one of the kingdom's biggest travel companies was reportedly detained. Shares in Al Tayyar Travel plunged 10 percent in the opening minutes of trade after the company quoted media reports as saying Nasser bin Aqeel al-Tayyar, who is still a

Riyadh, Nov 6: A high ranking Saudi prince and seven others were killed when a helicopter crashed near the southern-border they share with Yemen on Sunday. Prince Mansour bin Moqren, deputy governor of Asir province, was among eight government officials on board the aircraft that crashed in the Air Region, Saudi Arabia. News channel Al-Ekhbariya announced the death but did not release what the

At least 75 people, including women and children, have been killed in a car bomb planted by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group in eastern Syria, according to a monitoring group. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Sunday that more than 140 people were also injured in Sunday's attack in the suburbs of Deir Az Zor. The Observatory said that members of the US

Riyadh, May 5: Saudi Arabia's Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal, a prominent member of the country's royal family and a wealthy investor, has been swept up in connection with a wide-ranging anti-corruption initiative, according to reports. Saudi Arabia's King Salman removed a host of prominent officials in a sweeping crackdown, in which dozens of princes and former ministers were detained. News outlets