World Applauds King Salman’s Order Allowing Women to Drive

World Applauds King Salman’s Order Allowing Women to Drive
TT

World Applauds King Salman’s Order Allowing Women to Drive

World Applauds King Salman’s Order Allowing Women to Drive

Saudi Arabia’s decision to allow women to drive was widely supported around the world, as international leaders have officially welcomed the King’s order.

US President Donald Trump commended the royal order to apply the traffic system and its executive regulations - including issuance of driving licenses - for both males and females alike, the White House said in a statement on Tuesday.

“This is a positive step toward promoting the rights and opportunities of women in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and we will continue to support the Kingdom in its efforts to strengthen the Saudi society and economy through reforms like this and the implementation of the Saudi Vision 2030,” Trump said, according to the statement.

The US Department of State has also welcomed the Saudi royal order.

In the daily press briefing, State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert stressed that this decision was a great step and a very positive sign.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, for his part, tweeted that ending the restrictions represented an “important step in the right direction.”

In London, UK Prime Minister Theresa May described the Saudi decision as an “important step towards gender equality.”

“The empowerment of women around the world is not only an issue I care deeply about, it is also key to nations’ economic development,” she said.

From Berlin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s spokesman welcomed Saudi Arabia’s order to grant women the right to drive as “a big step for Saudi society.”

Spokesman Steffen Seibert said on Wednesday that Merkel has repeatedly brought up the situation of women during visits to Saudi Arabia. “It is a particularly important issue to her,” he stated.

Meanwhile, a political researcher at Georges Washington University told Asharq Al-Awsat that King Salman’s move to allow Saudi women to drive was a “courageous decision and will open up social and economic prospects for women in Saudi Arabia.”



Lebanese Army Frees Abducted Saudi Citizen, Arrests Suspects

A general view of Beirut, Lebanon. (AFP/Getty Images)
A general view of Beirut, Lebanon. (AFP/Getty Images)
TT

Lebanese Army Frees Abducted Saudi Citizen, Arrests Suspects

A general view of Beirut, Lebanon. (AFP/Getty Images)
A general view of Beirut, Lebanon. (AFP/Getty Images)

The Lebanese army freed on Tuesday a Saudi citizen who was abducted over the weekend.

In a tweet, the military said an intelligence directorate patrol freed Mashari al-Mutairi during a “sophisticated operation on the Lebanese-Syrian border.” It also arrested the kidnappers.

Army commander Joseph Aoun confirmed the release of the captive and the arrest of the perpetrators.

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati stressed that Lebanon is keen on preventing any threat against Arab nationals.

Lebanon will not be used to threaten the security of Arab countries, he stressed.

Mutairi, who works for Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia), was abducted overnight on Saturday with the kidnappers demanding a ransom of $400,000.

Conflicting reports had emerged over where he was kidnapped from.

Initial reports said the man was kidnapped on the airport road in Beirut, while Lebanese security sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that he was abducted in a central district of the capital.

Saudi state-run Al Ekhbariya television said he was nabbed after he left a restaurant in the waterfront Zaituna Bay area.


Saudi Citizen Abducted in Beirut, Kidnappers Demand $400,00 Ransom

A general view of Beirut. (AFP)
A general view of Beirut. (AFP)
TT

Saudi Citizen Abducted in Beirut, Kidnappers Demand $400,00 Ransom

A general view of Beirut. (AFP)
A general view of Beirut. (AFP)

A Saudi citizen was kidnapped in the Lebanese capital Beirut overnight on Saturday.

The kidnappers have demanded a ransom of $400,000, while caretaker Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi has vowed that they will be severely punished for their crime.

The Saudi embassy in Beirut confirmed the kidnapping from the victim’s relatives, who said they had lost contact with him early on Sunday.

The Lebanese authorities are carrying out contacts on the highest levels to uncover his whereabouts.

The man works for Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia).

A Saudi diplomatic source in Beirut described the development as “very dangerous”. The Saudi embassy is closely working with local authorities to find him.

Initial reports said the man was kidnapped on the airport road in Beirut, while Lebanese security sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that he was abducted in a central district of the capital.

Saudi state-run Al Ekhbariya television said he was nabbed after he left a restaurant in the waterfront Zaituna Bay area.

The kidnappers had followed him in their vehicles and were wearing military outfits. They took him to Beirut’s southern suburbs of Dahieh, a Hezbollah stronghold, it added.

In a phone message, the kidnappers demanded a ransom of $400,000.

Mawlawi said the Internal Security Forces’ intelligence bureau was probing the case and that authorities were in close contact with Saudi Ambassador Waleed Bukhari.

“What happened harms Lebanon’s relations with its brothers,” he added. “The perpetrators will be harshly punished.”

In remarks to Al Arabiya television, the minister revealed that the Saudi national’s telephone could be traced to various locations in Beirut and that he was “well”.

Grand Jaafari Mufti Sheikh Ahmad Kabalan strongly condemned the kidnapping and “all other abductions that have targeted Arabs, especially Saudi brothers.”

He called on Lebanese authorities to strike with an iron fist and put an end to “this dangerous game.”

He warned that gangs and mafias were seeking to destabilize the country for petty goals.


Saudi Arabia Executes 2 Bahraini Men over Terrorist Activities

The Saudi Interior Ministry in Riyadh. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Saudi Interior Ministry in Riyadh. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
TT

Saudi Arabia Executes 2 Bahraini Men over Terrorist Activities

The Saudi Interior Ministry in Riyadh. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Saudi Interior Ministry in Riyadh. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia said it executed two Bahraini men in the Eastern Province on Monday after being convicted of belonging to a terrorist group wanting to destabilize the two kingdoms.

The Saudi Interior Ministry's announcement, carried by the state-run Saudi Press Agency, identified the men as Jaafar Sultan and Sadeq Thamer.

The statement said that the Specialized Criminal Court convicted the two men of belonging to a terrorist cell spreading chaos and smuggling explosives to be used inside Saudi Arabia.

They also communicated with other terrorists in Saudi Arabia and supported them to carry out terrorist acts.

They smuggled material used to build explosives. They concealed the material in sandy areas before later delivering them to the leader of the cell, a man wanted by Bahrani authorities, it added.

The Interior Ministry underscored the government’s keenness on consolidating security and achieving justice.


Saudi, British FMs Discuss Means to Support Political Solution in Sudan

17 May 2023, Saudi Arabia, Jeddah: Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah attends Arab league's foreign ministers meeting ahead of the Arab League summit on 19 May in Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
17 May 2023, Saudi Arabia, Jeddah: Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah attends Arab league's foreign ministers meeting ahead of the Arab League summit on 19 May in Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
TT

Saudi, British FMs Discuss Means to Support Political Solution in Sudan

17 May 2023, Saudi Arabia, Jeddah: Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah attends Arab league's foreign ministers meeting ahead of the Arab League summit on 19 May in Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
17 May 2023, Saudi Arabia, Jeddah: Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah attends Arab league's foreign ministers meeting ahead of the Arab League summit on 19 May in Saudi Arabia. (SPA)

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah received on Monday a telephone call from his British counterpart James Cleverly.

The officials discussed Saudi Arabia’s efforts to support political solutions to the conflict in Sudan.

They tackled the Kingdom’s intense efforts to bridge the divide between the warring Sudanese parties, as demonstrated by its hosting of the Jeddah negotiations earlier this month.

The parties in Jeddah agreed to a temporary ceasefire and delivery of humanitarian aid.

Prince Faisal and Cleverly also discussed bilateral relations and coordination between Riyadh and London and means to bolster them.


Iran’s Khamenei Welcomes Better Ties with Egypt

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei meets with Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq in Tehran, Iran May 29, 2023. (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters
Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei meets with Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq in Tehran, Iran May 29, 2023. (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters
TT

Iran’s Khamenei Welcomes Better Ties with Egypt

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei meets with Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq in Tehran, Iran May 29, 2023. (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters
Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei meets with Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq in Tehran, Iran May 29, 2023. (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said in a meeting with Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq that Tehran welcomes better diplomatic relations with Egypt, Iranian state media reported on Monday.

Relations between Egypt and Iran have often been fraught in recent decades although the two countries have maintained diplomatic contacts.

Khamenei's comments came as Middle Eastern countries including Egypt are taking steps to ease regional tensions. In March, Saudi Arabia and Iran agreed to restore diplomatic relations under a China-mediated deal.

Sultan Haitham had arrived in Iran on a two-day visit on Sunday.

He met with President Ebrahim Raisi upon his arrival.

Sultan Haitham headed a large delegation including the ministers of defense, foreign affairs, economy and investment.

Oman and Iran agreed to prepare a document on strategic cooperation that covers all fields, said a statement at the conclusion of the royal’s visit on Monday.

They also signed four economic cooperation and investment agreements.


KSrelief Provides New Health Care Services to Syrian Refugees, Host Communities in Lebanon's Akkar

KSrelief Provides New Health Care Services to Syrian Refugees, Host Communities in Lebanon's Akkar
TT

KSrelief Provides New Health Care Services to Syrian Refugees, Host Communities in Lebanon's Akkar

KSrelief Provides New Health Care Services to Syrian Refugees, Host Communities in Lebanon's Akkar

The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) continued implementing a project to enhance health care services for Syrian refugees and the host communities in Akkar Governorate, Lebanon.

During April 2023, as many as 822 patients were received, and 1,464 services were provided in different clinics.

This aid comes within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's keenness, represented by the KSrelief, to provide humanitarian assistance to the needy and Syrian refugees in all fields to alleviate their suffering.


Ninth Saudi Relief Plane Arrives in Sudan

Ninth Saudi Relief Plane Arrives in Sudan
TT

Ninth Saudi Relief Plane Arrives in Sudan

Ninth Saudi Relief Plane Arrives in Sudan

The ninth Saudi relief plane arrived at Port Sudan International Airport on Sunday.

The aid included 30 tons of foodstuff and medical supplies, as part of the Saudi relief airlift operated by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) to help the Sudanese people.

This comes in implementation of the directives of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia.

Delivering aid is a reflection of the noble humanitarian role played by the Kingdom through KSrelief in all countries in need.


Saudi Leadership Congratulates Erdogan on His Reelection as President of Türkiye

Turkish President and People's Alliance's presidential candidate Recep Tayyip Erdogan gestures to supporters at the presidential palace, in Ankara, Türkiye, Sunday, May 28, 2023. (AP)
Turkish President and People's Alliance's presidential candidate Recep Tayyip Erdogan gestures to supporters at the presidential palace, in Ankara, Türkiye, Sunday, May 28, 2023. (AP)
TT

Saudi Leadership Congratulates Erdogan on His Reelection as President of Türkiye

Turkish President and People's Alliance's presidential candidate Recep Tayyip Erdogan gestures to supporters at the presidential palace, in Ankara, Türkiye, Sunday, May 28, 2023. (AP)
Turkish President and People's Alliance's presidential candidate Recep Tayyip Erdogan gestures to supporters at the presidential palace, in Ankara, Türkiye, Sunday, May 28, 2023. (AP)

The Saudi leadership congratulated on Sunday Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on his reelection for a new tern.

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz sent a cable of congratulations to the leader, wishing him and the brotherly Turkish people further progress and prosperity.

He hailed the “brotherly relations that bind our countries and peoples that we are seeking to bolster and develop in all fields.”

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, dispatched a similar cable to Erdogan.


Oman’s Sultan Arrives in Iran for Two-Day Visit, Meetings with Iranian President and Top Officials

In this photo released by the office of the Iranian Presidency, Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, front right, is welcomed by Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, front left, during an official welcoming ceremony at the Saadabad Palace in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, May 28, 2023. (Iranian Presidency Office via AP)
In this photo released by the office of the Iranian Presidency, Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, front right, is welcomed by Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, front left, during an official welcoming ceremony at the Saadabad Palace in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, May 28, 2023. (Iranian Presidency Office via AP)
TT

Oman’s Sultan Arrives in Iran for Two-Day Visit, Meetings with Iranian President and Top Officials

In this photo released by the office of the Iranian Presidency, Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, front right, is welcomed by Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, front left, during an official welcoming ceremony at the Saadabad Palace in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, May 28, 2023. (Iranian Presidency Office via AP)
In this photo released by the office of the Iranian Presidency, Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, front right, is welcomed by Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, front left, during an official welcoming ceremony at the Saadabad Palace in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, May 28, 2023. (Iranian Presidency Office via AP)

Oman's ruler arrived Sunday in Tehran for talks with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and other top officials, state television reported.

Sultan Haitham bin Tariq was officially welcomed by Raisi at the capital's Saadabad Palace, state media said.

The sultan's visit followed an official invitation by the Iranian president. It is his first visit to Iran since he ascended the throne.

Iranian television said Sultan Haitham headed a large delegation including the ministers of defense, foreign affairs, economy and investment.

State-run IRNA news agency said investment, oil and gas issues will be discussed during the Omani’s ruler's stay in the Iranian capital.


Pope, MWL Secretary-General Discuss Means to Confront Religious Extremism

Pope Francis and Secretary-General of the Muslim World League (MWL) Sheikh Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa meet at the Vatican. (MWL)
Pope Francis and Secretary-General of the Muslim World League (MWL) Sheikh Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa meet at the Vatican. (MWL)
TT

Pope, MWL Secretary-General Discuss Means to Confront Religious Extremism

Pope Francis and Secretary-General of the Muslim World League (MWL) Sheikh Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa meet at the Vatican. (MWL)
Pope Francis and Secretary-General of the Muslim World League (MWL) Sheikh Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa meet at the Vatican. (MWL)

Pope Francis received in the Vatican on Sunday Secretary-General of the Muslim World League (MWL) Sheikh Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa.

The extraordinary meeting reflects the efforts carried out by the MWL in bolstering effective dialogue, understanding and positive cooperation between followers of different religions, faiths and cultures.

The meeting was held at the Pope’s private residence at Domus Sanctae Marthae.

Pope Francis and Sheikh Al-Issa exchanged views on several international issues, most notably building bridges between civilizations and efforts to combat religious and ideological extremism, hatred, marginalization and discrimination.