British minister urges implementation of Stockholm Agreement on Yemen during Gulf tour LONDON: British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt will meet Yemeni government officials and Houthi leaders during a trip to the Gulf region to urge the immediate implementation of the UN-brokered Stockholm Agreement.Hunt visited Muscat on Friday where he signed a joint declaration on UK-Omani…
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has stripped citizenship from Hamza bin Laden, the son of former Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, the official gazette of the Kingdom reported. The royal decree dated from November was published on Feb. 22 in Umm Al-Qura. The report said the Saudi Ministry of Interior announced the approval of the decree and that Hamza bin Laden had been…
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has stripped citizenship from Hamza bin Laden, the son of former Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, the official gazette of the Kingdom reported. The royal decree dated from November was published on Feb. 22 in Umm Al-Qura. The report said the Saudi Ministry of Interior announced the approval of the decree and that Hamza bin Laden had been…
JEDDAH: Europe on Friday threw out plans to place Saudi Arabia on a blacklist of “high-risk” countries for terrorism financing and money laundering. The blacklist was proposed in February by the European Commission, the EU’s executive arm, but required majority approval by the bloc’s member states. All 28 voted unanimously to reject it. “We cannot…
DUBAI: Just when we thought we could get back to being healthy, along comes another hard-to-resist food event. So, the diet goes on hold (again) and we give you the lowdown on the 2019 edition of the Dubai Food Festival (DFF), which debuted last Thursday. From foodie experiences to discounted three-course meals at some of…
DUBAI: The fourth edition of Art Bahrain Across Borders opens on March 6 at the Bahrain Exhibitions & Convention Center. The four-day art fair is, this year, presented under the theme of “Legacies,” and will explore five decades of the Bahraini contemporary art scene. This year’s ArtBAB includes, for the first time, a ‘Virtual Reality…
DUBAI: Dubai-based Armenian musician Samvel Gasparyan has released a new EP, “Morning in Yerevan.” The jazz pianist combines his contemporary influences with Armenian folk music on the five-track record. The title track, for example, is supposed to mimic the vibrant atmosphere of the ancient Armenian capital (the EP release coincides with the city’s 2,800th anniversary,…
DUBAI: Can a piece of jewelry express a love of one’s language? “Of course,” says Lebanese photographer, jewelry designer and entrepreneur Nadine Kanso. “That is the main inspiration behind my jewelry line.” Kanso is talking about her Bil Arabi (‘In Arabic’) brand. “It is all based on the beauty of Arabic calligraphy, language, and letters,”…
Cuteness has taken the planet by storm. Global sensations Hello Kitty and Pokemon, the works of artists Takashi Murakami and Jeff Koons, Heidi the cross-eyed opossum and E.T. — all reflect its gathering power. But what does “cute” mean, as a sensibility and style? Why is it so pervasive? Is it all infantile fluff, or…
DUBAI: Roger Federer moved to within two wins of a 100th career title on Thursday after coming through a tough test in difficult conditions against Marton Fucsovics to reach the Dubai Championships semifinals.The seven-time champion beat his Hungarian opponent 7-6 (8/6), 6-4 in conditions which were far from comfortable with gusting winds and brief rain…
DUBAI: Roger Federer moved to within two wins of a 100th career title on Thursday after coming through a tough test in difficult conditions against Marton Fucsovics to reach the Dubai Championships semifinals.The seven-time champion beat his Hungarian opponent 7-6 (8/6), 6-4 in conditions which were far from comfortable with gusting winds and brief rain…
LONDON: Boxing icon Manny Pacquiao said he has reluctantly allowed his eldest son to follow in his footsteps after the younger Pacquiao chastised his parents for “killing” his dream of ring glory.The Filipino legend, who has eight world titles from different weight divisions, said he could not stand the prospect of seeing his son, Emmanuel…
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is getting ready to host the Gulf’s first women’s football tournament, which kicks off this Friday.The Green Hall at Al-Khobar Sports City will be the venue for the Gulf Women’s Football Tournament, which is being held under the patronage of Prince Saud bin Naif.Saudi clubs participating include Al-Shuala Al-Sharqiyah, Al-Yamamah, Lourdes, United…
LONDON: Boxing icon Manny Pacquiao said he has reluctantly allowed his eldest son to follow in his footsteps after the younger Pacquiao chastised his parents for “killing” his dream of ring glory.The Filipino legend, who has eight world titles from different weight divisions, said he could not stand the prospect of seeing his son, Emmanuel…
LONDON: OPEC oil supply fell to a four-year low in February, a Reuters survey found, as Gulf producers over-delivered on the group’s supply pact while Venezuelan output registered a further involuntary drop.The 14-member Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries pumped 30.68 million barrels per day (bpd) last month, the survey showed on Friday, down 300,000…
BENGALURU: Oil analysts have grown more pessimistic over prospects of a significant price rally this year, as booming US shale output and a deteriorating global economic backdrop threaten to offset the boost from OPEC’s crude supply cuts.A Reuters survey of 36 economists and analysts on Thursday forecast Brent crude oil futures to average $66.44 a…
LONDON: OPEC oil supply fell to a four-year low in February, a Reuters survey found, as Gulf producers over-delivered on the group’s supply pact while Venezuelan output registered a further involuntary drop.The 14-member Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries pumped 30.68 million barrels per day (bpd) last month, the survey showed on Friday, down 300,000…
KUALA LUMPUR: Norway’s $1 trillion sovereign wealth fund, the world’s largest, has pulled out of more than 33 palm oil companies over deforestation risks during the last seven years, a green group said on Thursday.Norway’s Government Pension Fund Global (GPFG), which released its annual report on Wednesday, sold stakes in more than 60 companies due…
LONDON: OPEC oil supply fell to a four-year low in February, a Reuters survey found, as Gulf producers over-delivered on the group’s supply pact while Venezuelan output registered a further involuntary drop.The 14-member Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries pumped 30.68 million barrels per day (bpd) last month, the survey showed on Friday, down 300,000…
LONDON: Indian Air Force pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was released by Pakistan in a “gesture of peace” through the Wagah-Attari joint check-post on Friday, two days after he was captured across the Line of Control after shooting down a Pakistan Air Force F-16 jet. Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan had announced on Thursday that the pilot would be freed on…
