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Off the Cuff

Turkey free speech advocates pin hope on new app

ANKARA: A growing number of people in Turkey are turning to a new audio-only application for free speech and using it as a source of direct information. Clubhouse is a San Francisco-based app that

February 18

Off the Cuff

Learjet, the private plane synonymous with the jet-set, nears end of

MONTREAL: Learjet, the sleek private jet used by celebrities for decades, is ending production this year, following a slump in demand due to competition from newer and less-expensive rivals. Long

February 18

Off the Cuff

Saddam Hussein’s daughter refuses to rule out role in Iraqi politics

DUBAI: The eldest daughter of late Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein has said it is possible for her to play a role in Iraqi politics. In a special program on Al Arabiya on Monday, Raghad Saddam Hussein

February 17

Off the Cuff

Saudi Arabia to halt contracts with foreign companies that do not

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia will stop signing contracts with foreign companies from 2024 unless their regional headquarters are based in the Kingdom. The rule will include agencies, institutions and

February 17

Off the Cuff

UK scientist warns: Vaccines not the end of virus controls

LONDON: A scientist advising the UK government has warned that early lifting of lockdown measures could see a resurgence of coronavirus disease cases leading to a return to restrictions, despite the

February 15

Off the Cuff

Egyptian foreign minister on new US administration: No grounds for concern or optimism

CAIRO: Egyptian-US relations have been close and strategic for four decades and display many aspects of cooperation, according to Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry. “Egypt is in constant contact with

February 15

Region

Saudi-led Arab coalition intercepts Houthi drone targeting Abha

The Saudi-led Arab coalition forces intercepted a drone fired by the Houthi militia toward Saudi Arabia’s Abha International Airport on Saturday. The attacks came just days after the Houthis sparked

February 14

Region

Tadawul to lift trading halt on Etihad Atheeb on Sunday

The Saudi Stock Exchange Co. (Tadawul) announced the lifting of suspension on trading the shares of Etihad Atheeb Telecommunication Co. (GO) from Sunday, Feb. 14, 2021. The decision came after the

February 14

Region

Justin Timberlake apologizes to Britney Spears after backlash

DUBAI: In a statement on Instagram on Friday, Justin Timberlake said he was “deeply sorry” and “wants to take accountability” for how he treated Britney Spears in the past after a new documentary led

February 14

Off the Cuff

Tajikistan quake shakes north India, Pakistan, no major damage

NEW DELHI: A strong earthquake struck Tajikistan on Friday and the tremors were felt as far away as north India and Pakistan, witnesses said. Many residents ran out of their homes, but no major

February 14

Off the Cuff

Algerian president returns from Germany after post-Covid surgery

ALGIERS: Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune returned home Friday after a one-month stay in Germany for surgery following post-Covid-19 complications in his foot, state television said. “The

February 14

Region

Al Hilal echo Liverpool’s post-glory struggles

LONDON: Five months after Liverpool became champions of Europe in June 2019, Al-Hilal lifted the Asian Champions League. Three months after Liverpool won the English Premier League, Al Hilal did the

February 13

Region

Half of Yemen under-5s face acute malnutrition: UN

DUBAI: : About 400,000 children under the age of five are in danger of dying of acute malnutrition in war-torn and impoverished Yemen, UN agencies warned Friday. They said half of those in the most

February 13

Region

Mars Hope Probe success strengthens UAE-Japan partnership

TOKYO: Japan’s Foreign Minister MOTEGI Toshimitsu praised the successful arrival of the UAE’s Hope Probe to Mars and its entry into orbit. Motegi also extended Japan’s congratulations to the UAE for

February 13

Off the Cuff

Julius Baer sees new prospects in Saudi stocks

RIYADH: Saudi stocks rose for the fourth consecutive day on Tuesday as the index reached its highest level in three weeks with oil prices heading above $60 a barrel. “Investors looking for

February 13

Off the Cuff

Egypt to manufacture Samsung tablets

CAIRO: The Egyptian government has signed an agreement with Korean technology company Samsung to manufacture educational tablets in the country, part of a government strategy to localize the

February 13

Off the Cuff

Saudi, Spanish foreign ministers discuss joint cooperation

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan held a meeting with his Spanish counterpart Arancha Gonzalez Laya in the capital Riyadh on Tuesday. During the meeting, they discussed

February 12

Off the Cuff

UAE added to UK ‘red list’ of countries with travel restrictions

LONDON: The UAE has been added to a British list of countries with additional travel restrictions designed to limit the spread of COVID-19. The UK government on Tuesday announced the measures

February 12

Region

Investment essential to avert global energy crisis: Report

DUBAI: Investment in oil and gas needs to rise significantly over last year’s pandemic-impacted levels to avert a crisis in global energy supply, according to the latest report from the King Abdullah

February 11

Region

Saudi economy contracted by 4.1% in 2020

The Saudi economy contracted by 4.1 percent in 2020, hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, lower crude prices and output cuts, according to data published by the General Authority for Statistics on

February 11

Region

Saudi IPO market set for bumper year boosted by lockdown savings

DUBAI: Saudi Arabia’s stock market is set for another bumper year of stock market listings with several sizeable initial public offerings (IPO) in the pipeline as investors look to allocate a pile of

February 11

Region

German exports down 9.3% last year, biggest fall since 2009

BERLIN: Germany’s exports plunged by 9.3 percent last year as the coronavirus pandemic dragged down demand, the biggest drop since the financial crisis in 2009, official data showed Tuesday. Imports

February 10

Region

Online school sees 60% rise in Saudi student enrolments

JEDDAH: Online school platform iCademy Middle East has witnessed a 60 percent rise in the number of students using its services during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Cody Claver, the

February 10

Region

KSA partners with Roche to boost life sciences sector

RIYADH: The Saudi Investment Ministry and the local subsidiary of Swiss biotechnology giant Roche Group have signed an agreement to establish a new partnership that will see the two entities

February 10

Off the Cuff

Dhaka launches project to honor founding father

DHAKA: The Bangladeshi government is to open 170 new mosques this year as part of a major project to celebrate the centenary of the birth of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, often referred to as the father of

February 10

Off the Cuff

Iran’s dissident surveillance operation exposed

LONDON: Iran is running two surveillance operations in cyberspace, using various methods to spy on more than 1,000 dissidents, according to a leading cybersecurity company. People in Iran, the UK,

February 10

Region

Saudi Arabia cuts stopped oil plunging to $50 a barrel: report

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s voluntary oil cuts in opposition to the OPEC+ increase earlier this year prevented prices falling below $50 a barrel, a new report has said. The report, issued by the UK-based

February 08

Region

How autonomous tech can save lives, money

RIYADH: Over 1.35 million people are killed in car accidents worldwide each year, 13,000 of those in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states. Smart mobility and advanced technology can help

February 08

Region

Wigberto “Wiggy” Ramos eyeing Saudi Cup glory after 23 years of

DUBAI: Few jockeys competing at the second running of the Saudi Cup this month will have quite the back story of Wigberto “Wiggy” Ramos. From racing in the United States, the Panamanian moved to

February 08

Region

As Trump prosecutor, delegate gets her say on impeachment

WASHINGTON: Stacey Plaskett couldn’t cast a vote last month when the House impeached former President Donald Trump. But she can help prosecute him. The non-voting delegate from the Virgin Islands is

February 07