Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | AFP | US President Donald Trump threw his weight behind efforts to isolate Qatar on Tuesday, backing Saudi Arabia and its allies after they cut ties with Doha over claims it supports extremism. In a surprise move against a key US ally, Trump suggested Qatar — …
Read More »Saudi king earns more retweets than Trump, Twiplomacy study says
The pope and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau have engaged with Trump via subtweets, a form of posting typically used for criticism Geneva, Switzerland | AFP | Donald Trump may be lighting up Twitter with strange new words and attacks on allies but in the battle for most attention per …
Read More »Trump urges Muslim leaders to confront extremism
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | AFP | US President Donald Trump on Sunday urged Islamic leaders to take a stand against violence done in the name of religion, describing the struggle against extremism as a “battle between good and evil”. In a highly anticipated speech in Saudi Arabia, Trump lashed out …
Read More »Saudi raises $9 bn in first global Islamic bond issue
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | AFP | Saudi Arabia raised $9 billion in its first global Islamic bond issue, the government announced on Thursday, a move analysts say could ease pressure on foreign reserves. The sale of Islamic bonds, known as sukuks, comes after the kingdom in October turned to the …
Read More »Britain apologises after egg thrown at Saudi general
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | AFP | Britain has apologised after an egg was thrown at a Saudi military official during a visit to London, Saudi state media said Sunday. An anti-war activist last week attempted a citizen’s arrest of General Ahmed Assiri, spokesman for the Saudi-led Gulf coalition fighting rebels in …
Read More »VIDEO: Uganda to lift ban on maid exports to Saudi Arabia
VIDEO: Government plans to lift the ban recently slapped on the exportation of domestic workers to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The ban followed consistent complaints of gross human rights violations from Ugandans who sought employment in the major oil producing Kingdom. The plans were revealed by the Minister of …
Read More »Hajj pilgrims to get e-bracelets for safety
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | AFP | Muslim pilgrims joining this year’s hajj in Saudi Arabia will have to wear an electronic safety bracelet, newspapers reported Friday, after more than 2,000 died in a stampede last year. The high-tech safety measure will help authorities provide care “and identify people”, the Arab …
Read More »Saudi unveils plan to live without oil by 2020
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | AFP | Saudi Arabia said Monday it would create the world’s largest wealth fund and sell shares in state energy giant Aramco as it unveiled a vast plan to transform its oil-dependent economy. The announcement of the long-term reform programme, dubbed “Saudi Vision 2030”, marks the …
Read More »US transfers nine Yemenis from Guantanamo to Saudi Arabia
Washington, United States | AFP | Nine Yemeni inmates have been transferred from Guantanamo Bay to Saudi Arabia, the Pentagon said on Saturday, bringing the controversial military prison’s remaining population down to 80. It is the largest transfer from the facility since 10 Yemenis were sent to Oman in January …
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