Middle East

Doha, Oct 1: Thousands of people watched in admiration as a Qatar Airways aircraft flew in formation over Doha with the world-famous Red Arrows aerobatic display team, an event taking place as the airline celebrates its twentieth anniversary. The event, hosted by the British Ambassador to the State of Qatar, His Excellency Mr. Ajay Sharma, and Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr

Dubai, Oct 1: The United Arab Emirates has begun collecting new "sin" taxes on tobacco products, energy drinks and soft drinks. Beginning today, tobacco and energy drinks will be taxed at 100 per cent and soft drinks at 50 per cent. Shoppers could be seen stocking up the day before. The new tax push comes as the UAE and other oil-rich Gulf nations have struggled with low global energy prices. The

Riyadh, Oct 1: The adoption of a draft Arab resolution by the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) shows that Saudi Arabia is supporting “international consensus in Yemen,” the Kingdom’s ambassador to the war-torn country has said. The UN on Friday agreed to establish a group of experts to examine human rights violations in Yemen’s war and to identify those responsible. Several Arab states had

Beirut, Sept 30: At least 28 civilians were killed in air strikes on northwestern Syria where a planned safe zone has been overshadowed by a bombing campaign against jihadists, a monitor said Saturday. Four children were among the dead in the overnight strikes on the town of Amanaz, in Idlib province near the Turkish border, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The Britain-based watchdog

Riyadh, Sept 29: Saudi woman are now allowed to issue fatwas following a vote in the Shoura Council. The historic move was approved by 107 votes and ends 45 years of only specialist men being able to issue fatwas in the Kingdom. The female muftis are to be chosen by a royal decree. The Shoura Council approved the recommendation, made by one of its members, during its 49th meeting, calling on the

Dubai, Sept 28: Saudi Arabia's 32-year-old heir to the throne, Mohammed bin Salman, has swept into de facto power in less than three years, bringing a dynamism rarely seen in a kingdom that has mostly been ruled by monarchs in their 70s or 80s. The crown prince's rapid moves, however, have brought both successes and failures. This week's royal decree ordering an end to the ban on women driving is

Jeddah, Sept 27: In a historic decision, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman on Tuesday issued orders to grant driving licenses to women in the Kingdom. The royal order will come into force from Shawwal 10, 1439, corresponding to June 24, 2018, the Saudi Press Agency reported. In a royal decree, the monarch directed Minister of Interior Prince Abdul Aziz Bin Saud Bin Naif to constitute a

Ramallah, Sept 26: Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah will travel to the Gaza Strip on Oct. 2 as part of renewed reconciliation efforts with Hamas, which runs the enclave, his government said Monday. The visit follows concessions by Islamist group Hamas after discussions with Egypt, which has urged it to take steps toward reconciliation with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah

Dubai, Sept 26: Dubai has edged closer to its goal of launching a pioneering hover-taxi service, with the authorities announcing a successful "concept" flight was made on Monday without passengers. Safety features for the two-seater air taxi include emergency parachutes and nine independent battery systems, according to Dubai's Road and Transport Authority (RTA). It said the prototype, supplied by

Jeddah, Sept 26: Following his meeting with Pope Francis in Vatican City, Muslim World League (MWL) Secretary-General Mohammed Al-Issa met with the head of the Pontifical Council of the Vatican, Cardinal Jean-Laurent Tauran. The latter meeting was held in the presence of the secretary of the Council of Archbishops, Miguel Isosu, and Archbishop Khalid Akasha. The meeting established a permanent