Mohammad Zainal Abedin, NY The United States of America (USA) shifts its embassy to Jerusalem in May next from its current location, Tel Abib, the traditional capital of Israel.
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Riyadh to bar foreign workers from some sectors
Saudi Arabia has no intention of slowing down its plans to bar foreign workers from some roles, the kingdom’s labour minister has said. Ali Al-Ghafis made the remarks during a meeting with the heads of Saudi chambers of commerce and…
Etihad to replace Alitalia flights to Rome
Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways has announced plans for a second daily flight to the Italian capital Rome as Alitalia prepares to discontinue its service. The airline said additional flights would be introduced in phases beginning on March 25 to reach…
Dubai real estate slump to continue for two more years: S&P
The downturn impacting the Dubai property market is expected to continue for at least another two years, according to ratings agency S&P. In a report, the company said prices and rents had declined the 5-10 per cent it expected last…
Oman announces new visa rules
Oman is implementing changes to its application process for tourism and express visas, the eVisa Oman Twitter account said. Citing the directorate of public relations at Royal Oman Police, the account of the official online visa system said applications for…
Emirates renews Arsenal sponsorship
Dubai carrier Emirates has announced one of the biggest sponsorship deals “ever agreed in football” after renewing its agreement with English Premier League club Arsenal. The deal, described as the largest ever signed by the club, will see Emirates continue…
Debt restructuring turns more difficult and costly
The South Centre has announced the publication of Investment Policy Brief No. 10 entitled “How international investment agreements have made debt restructuring even more difficult and costly” by Yuefen LI, Special Advisor on Economics and Development Finance of the South…
Scrap new foreign worker levy, asks Jeddah chamber
Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) has reportedly asked Saudi Arabia’s labour ministry to cancel a recently introduced levy on companies that employ foreign workers. From January 1 companies are being charged a SAR300 or SAR400 ($80-107) monthly fee…
Riyadh introduces new speed limits
Saudi Arabia introduced new speed limits on some major expressways on Monday under the instructions of the road safety authority. The new limits are 140kph for cars, 100kph for buses and 80kph for trucks, the director of public relations and…
King Salman endorses after cabinet okays bankruptcy law
Saudi Arabia’s cabinet has approved a bankruptcy law, sources familiar with the matter said, giving a boost to efforts to make the kingdom more enticing to investors. Modern bankruptcy legislation does not currently exist in Saudi Arabia, creating difficulties for…
Russia: 5 dead in church shooting; police kill suspect
Makhachkala, Feb 19 (AP/UNB) — A gunman opened fire with a hunting rifle on churchgoers leaving a service in Russia’s Dagestan region, killing five people and wounding four others, then was shot and killed by police, authorities say.
Female stars call for end to sexual harassment
Nearly 200 female British stars from film, TV and stage have signed an open letter calling for an end to sexual harassment across all industries. Emma Thompson, Keira Knightley and Emma Watson are among the women to sign the letter,…
Trump slams FBI over Florida school shooting
President Donald Trump has rebuked the FBI for missing signals before Wednesday’s school shooting in Florida. He said the agency was “spending too much time trying to prove Russian collusion with the Trump campaign”. “There is no collusion. Get back…
13 Russians, 3 cos charged with interfering in US 2016 poll
Thirteen Russians have been charged with interfering in the US 2016 election, in a major development in the FBI investigation. Three of those named have also been accused of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and five have been accused of…
Riyadh appoints first female sports vice president
Saudi Arabia has appointed its first female vice president of a sports federation, according to the kingdom’s Centre for International Communication (CIC). Nora Saleh AlTurki was named vice president of the Saudi Shooting Federation by its board of directors, CIC…
Call to scrap levy on foreign workers
Saudi Arabia’s Shoura Council is set to meet with senior government officials amid concerns a new fee on foreign employees could kill off up to 40 per cent of the kingdom’s small and medium enterprises. Local reports suggest that the…
Stormy Daniels ‘free to tell her story’
An adult film star who has been embroiled in allegations of an affair with President Donald Trump is free to tell her story, her manager has said. Stormy Daniels is no longer bound by a non-disclosure contract after Mr Trump’s…
17 dead in Florida high school attack
At least 17 people are dead after a 19-year-old man opened fire at a high school campus in Parkland, Florida, police have said. The suspect has been named as Nikolas Cruz, 19, and is a former student at the school…
Emirates faces calls from crew to improve conditions, benefits
Emirates faces calls from its cabin crew to improve conditions and benefits as airline workers show increasing confidence in demanding more from the booming global industry. In the latest sign of cost pressures that could temper a rebound in airline…
Biggest carmakers on the planet?
The biggest carmakers on the planet are posting their sales numbers for 2017 – so who is officially ranked number one? Is it Germany’s Volkswagen Group – which knocked Toyota off the top spot in the 2016 figures? Or one…
Pahela Falgun celebrated across Bangladesh
Dhaka, Feb 13 – The Jatiya Basanta Utsab Udjapan Parishad organised a cultural programme in Dhaka early Tuesday morning marking the srart of Pahela Falgun celebration. It was foillowed by a colourful procession, programmes of dance and songs which ended…
New York state sues Weinstein Company
New York prosecutors have filed a lawsuit against the Weinstein Company, alleging that the studio failed to protect staff from Harvey Weinstein. The film producer is facing dozens of allegations of sexual abuse, including rape, but denies non-consensual sex. The…
Cattrall blasts ‘cruel’ Parker after brother’s death
Kim Cattrall has criticised fellow Sex and the City star Sarah Jessica Parker after she sent condolences following the death of Cattrall’s brother. Cattrall wrote on Instagram: “Your continuous reaching out is a painful reminder of how cruel you really…
Demand for gold jewellery in UAE hits 20-year low
Demand for gold jewellery in the UAE has hit a 20-year low, the World Gold Council said in its 2017 report. Jewellery purchases in the country fell 2 per cent from 43.4 tonnes in 2016 to 42.8 tonnes last year,…
Investcorp to fit out some Saudi gyms for women
Bahrain-based private equity firm Investcorp is turning some of the gyms it part owns in Saudi Arabia into women-only facilities in response to surging demand, its co-chief executive said. The move comes as the deeply conservative kingdom embarks on a…
Work on world’s tallest tower continues after Saudi corruption purge
Construction of the world’s tallest skyscraper in Jeddah is going ahead, the head of the consortium behind the $1.5bn project said, despite the detention of some businessmen backing the plan in Saudi Arabia’s crackdown on corruption. His comments were a…
Peaceful battle for Khaleda to continue: Fakhrul
Dhaka, Feb 9 – BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday said their party will do a peaceful and non-violent movement demanding the release of their chairperson Khaleda Zia alongside a legal battle at the High Court (HC).
Sorensen second Trump aide to quit amid abuse claims
A speechwriter has become the second White House aide this week to resign amid allegations of domestic abuse. David Sorensen denies his former wife’s allegations he was violent and emotionally abusive. His departure comes just days after another Trump official,…
Bangladesh: Political and literary reflections on a divided country
Q M Jalal Khan Bangladesh is now divided as “our” country and “their” country. This division has been solely created by the exclusionary Awami regime—belligerent and BNPhobic. This book is a detailed account of the divided Bangladesh, where there has…
18 films about food to inspire, outrage, and Mobilise
Danielle Nierenberg Film is an incredible tool for effecting change in the food system with its unique ability to educate, inspire, and grow the movement for sustainable food and farming. Film can transport viewers to unseen territories, from Colombian coffee-growing…