Saudi Arabia

Saudi Crown Prince's UAE Visit Focuses on Preventing New Regional Conflicts

Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler discussed "new crises" in the Middle East with the UAE's president during his first visit to the country in three years, Emirati media said. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and UAE leader Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan met on Sunday in Al Ain, a former oasis on the Omani border, hours after a Gulf Cooperation ...

Macron’s Future Visit to Riyadh: Strengthening Strategic Ties With KSA

French President Emmanuel Macron, leveraging his role in the Lebanon ceasefire, hopes to bring Saudi Arabia back into play in Beirut and strengthen France's influence in the Middle East during a state visit to Riyadh starting Monday. The head of state, who will spend three days in Saudi Arabia, also aims to project a "new ambition" in relations ...

Did Lebanon’s Basketball Lose Its Top-Tier Women?

The Lebanese basketball league had been gearing up for a promising season, fueled by its growing popularity, increased investments and the signing of several high-caliber foreign players. However, the war that escalated last September brought the league to a halt, prompting players to seek opportunities abroad. While much attention has been on ...

Le Drian Welcomes Election Date and Hopes for Tangible Outcomes

The announcement came as Le Drian was meeting with the Quintet ambassadors (United States, France, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Qatar) at the Pine Residence, shortly before heading to Parliament. Berri invited Le Drian to observe part of the legislative session, during which Army Commander-in-Chief General Joseph Aoun’s term was extended. Aoun is ...

Le Drian's Mission: Swift Presidential Election or Negative Consequences

A French diplomatic source disclosed that the visit of French presidential envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian, following the ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel, is aimed at pushing for the swift election of a president. Any delays in this process would reflect poorly on Lebanon in the eyes of the international community, which is closely monitoring the ...

COP29 Scramble for New Deal After Poor Nations Reject Offer

Fierce bargaining at UN climate talks in Azerbaijan dragged into Saturday after a $250 billion a year offer from rich nations was flatly refused by developing countries hardest hit by Earth's rapid warming. Negotiators from nearly 200 nations spent another harried and sleepless night in a sports stadium trying to land a compromise figure for ...

‘Steep Climb’ Ahead as Clock Ticks on Stalled Climate Talks

Pressure mounted on rich nations Wednesday to commit nearly $1 trillion a year in assistance for poorer countries as time runs out to strike a deal at the COP29 climate talks. With two days left to break the impasse in Azerbaijan, wealthy nations have still not revealed how much they are willing to provide the developing world to cope with ...

Saudi Executes More Than 100 Foreigners in 2024

Saudi Arabia has executed more than 100 foreigners this year, according to an AFP tally indicating a sharp increase, which one rights group described as unprecedented. The latest execution, reported on Saturday in the southwestern region of Najran, was of a Yemeni national convicted of smuggling drugs into the Gulf kingdom, according to the ...

Rafic Eid: Defying the Odds on the Path to Dakar 2025!

The international Lebanese driver Rafic Eid delivered an impressive performance during the Portuguese stage of the World Championship of Off-Road Rally, known as “Baja.” Finishing sixth in the overall ranking and securing second place in the veterans' category, Eid once again proved his mastery of this demanding discipline. The World ...

Saudi-Hosted Summit Demand End to Israeli Occupation for Mideast Peace

Arab and Muslim leaders demanded on Monday that Israel withdraw from occupied Palestinian territories as a precondition for regional peace, while denouncing "shocking" Israeli crimes in war-ravaged Gaza. The summit meeting in the Saudi capital gave the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation's 57 nations a chance to speak with one ...

Saudi FM Advocates for Ceasefire in Gaza and Implementing Two-State Solution

Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan emphasized on Monday, that ending the war in Gaza is the summit’s “top priority," a statement he made during a press conference held on the sidelines of the joint Arab League and Organization of Islamic Cooperation summit in Riyadh.   He further stated that the ...

In Message to Trump, Riyad Summit Calls for Gaza and Lebanon Ceasefires, a Palestinian State

Arab and Muslim leaders gathered in Riyadh on Monday, more than a year into the Israel-Hamas war and regional escalation, in what is seen as a chance to send a message to US president-elect Donald Trump. Opening the summit, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said the international community must "immediately halt the Israeli actions against ...