Some of the fears being expressed in the wake of the upset victory of Donald Trump in the US presidential election may be exaggerated. But there is enough reason to worry over the rise of the far or hard right in the US and across Europe.
According to a report in a local newspaper, the government will start paying contractors within the next two weeks and up to 80 percent of the money owed will be paid by the end of this year.
Reports of wealthy Gulf Arabs being robbed in Europe are now a common occurrence. Last week masked men stopped a car heading from Le Bourget airport in Paris and robbed the two occupants of about five million euros in cash and other assets. According to reports, the luxury Bentley was ambushed and its occupants were tear-gassed.
I am always amazed at Arab reaction to the results of US elections. This year saw the winner Donald Trump an outsider to the American political scene beat the Arab favorite Hillary Clinton. This man, who has never served in public office, nor in the military, defeated Clinton because America wanted change.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Naif was in Bahrain on Wednesday, Nov. 16, to witness the final exercise of the “Arabian Gulf Security One” tactical drill. This is one more step toward the consolidation of the military strength of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states.
The world has been transformed in the past two decades. Technological advancement by the West and certain countries like Korea and Japan has been a phenomenon that has affected our personal lives. I remember only 20 years ago when we led peaceful and sedentary lives without cell phones.
Recently, Christiane Amanpour interviewed Saudi-led Arab coalition spokesman Maj. Gen. Ahmed Al-Asiri. During the interview, she showed him a heart-wrenching photo of a starving Yemeni woman without providing any details about the picture, like where and when was it taken.
In 48 hours Americans go to the polls and the new entrant to the White House will be packing his or her personal belongings for a four-year stay. Also in the next 48 hours, many Arabs will be sitting around their TV screens or following on social media the course of events in America.
Are we, the Saudis, too obsessed with Iran? Or should we be too obsessed or be annoyed with Iran? During the past many decades, we have tried several times to extend our hands toward Iran seeking better and stable relations with a neighbor with whom we have many things in common.
There have recently been many discussions about the productivity of Saudi employees, especially those in the public sector. This subject became more intense after the former Minister of Civil Service Khaled Al-Araj claimed that government workers put in barely an hour a day at the office.
About two weeks ago, a report was issued that classified world's airports into different categories. In that report, Jeddah's King Abdulaziz International Airport was ranked one of the worst airports in the world due to its lack of services.
The Arab world is going through the bloodiest period of its history. Every day the body count grows higher. Pictures of dead bodies, maimed children and burned out villages and neighborhoods flash on TV channels. Images of floating dead bodies splatter screens.
For decades Yemen has been in the news for all the wrong reasons. Those who are well-versed with the history of this impoverished Arab country know that Yemen has been facing one problem after the other.
I have been reading about changes in the labor laws and kafala (sponsorship) system in Qatar. I have been involved with sponsors for the last 28 years. But don’t get me wrong – I do not work in the Ministry of Labor or own a recruiting company.
The Arabian Gulf has been known for many years to be the most strategic body of water in the world. Oil, which is the most important commodity in modern history, is produced from underneath the waters of this gulf and from the land close to its shores.
SEPTEMBER was a very eventful month for the Kingdom. The main news was the Justice Against Sponsor of Terrorism Act (JASTA) bill approved overwhelmingly by both the US Senate and the Congress, following the override of President Barack Obama’s veto.
Just a few days ago a crowded fishing boat carrying more than 400 would-be migrants capsized close to the Egyptian Mediterranean coast. More than 150 people died most of them Egyptians.
Ever since the Syrian conflict began and assumed ominous proportions questions were raised about Saudi Arabia’s involvement in the humanitarian relief programs.
Just a few days before the Saudi National Day the Ministry of Interior announced the capture of some terrorists in a preemptive strike and foiled their plots to blow up oil pipeline and carry out assassination attempts against Saudi officials. Four terror plots were foiled and 17 suspects were arrested.
The world is full of conflicts and violence and as a consequence, there are more refugees, displaced people, human trafficking and civil causalities.