By Euronews  — The UK Lebanon Tech Hub (UKLTH) is an international programme supporting the growth of Lebanon’s knowledge economy. In recent years, the initiative has helped more than 80 Lebanese startups, raising more than US$ 60 million. It allows surgeons like Nadine Hachach-Haram to help operate in a patient in Beirut, or anywhere else in the […]

By Summer Said, Margherita Stancati and Justin Scheck — wsj —– Saudi Arabia’s elderly king sent a strong signal this weekend that his handpicked heir, 33-year-old Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, remains in good standing despite the gruesome killing of a prominent government critic that many at home and abroad suspect he set in motion. Yet the events of the past few weeks have sharpened differences between the prince and royal family members who were beginning to question his judgment and temperament. And there is no sign that the global backlash over the killing will abate soon, testing Saudi Arabia’s modernization of its economy and its relationship with its most important ally, the U.S. On Saturday, King Salman granted Prince Mohammed new powers over the country’s intelligence bodies, to pair with his sweeping authority over Saudi Arabia’s economy and defense. That same day, the Saudi attorney general effectively exonerated the crown prince, blaming the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi on “a brawl and physical altercation” in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Speaking after a political rally in Nevada on Saturday, Mr. Trump told reporters he wasn’t satisfied with the initial results of the Saudi investigation. “I’m not satisfied until we find the answer,” Mr. Trump said, adding that he would consider sanctions, but not on military sales. He added that “it’s possible” the crown prince didn’t know about the killing, and that he was still looking to speak with him. People in Prince Mohammed’s camp say his power internally remains largely unchecked, and there is no indication the Saudi monarch is preparing to remove his son. The prospect of a family member pushing him aside is negligible, advisers say, largely because Prince Mohammed has solidified his power base by removing potential rivals.

In the kingdom itself, a number of Saudi royals have tried to reach out to King Salman to discuss the crisis, but have been blocked by associates of the crown prince, said two members of the royal family. They have been secretly meeting in small groups to discuss the issue, they said. Among other things, some of these people are challenging the official version of what happened to Mr. Khashoggi. Prince Khalid al Faisal, an envoy of King Salman who was dispatched to Ankara earlier this month, had access to a short audio recording that offers evidence that Mr. Khashoggi was drugged, killed and dismembered minutes after walking into the consulate, these two members say. “The audio does not have this nonsense about a fight that broke after an argument,” said one royal member. “This is not what Khalid told the king and his friends. This is absolutely rubbish.” Spokespeople for the Saudi government didn’t respond to requests for comment Saturday. Several people close to the royal court say Prince Mohammed had long wanted Mr. Khashoggi to return to the kingdom, a task he entrusted to some of his closest aides. These people say they believe the young prince ordered the operation targeting Mr. Khashoggi, but that it was unlikely he specifically ordered the journalist killed. The Saudi government has so far detained 18 people in connection to the death pending the final results of a continuing investigation. Two senior officials, both close aides of Prince Mohammed, have lost their jobs.

This article does not necessarily represents khazen.org opinion huffingtonpost.com — DUBAI,  (Reuters) – So grave is the fallout from the disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi that King Salman has felt compelled to intervene, five sources with links to the Saudi royal family said. Last Thursday, Oct. 11, the king dispatched his most trusted aide, […]

by arabnews.com — LONDON: A Lebanese startup has bagged a $100,000 prize for inventing a smartphone app to help diabetics to manage blood sugar levels. The “Spike” virtual assistant monitors a patient’s daily behavior, giving timely reminders and tips about insulin and food. It won the GITEX Future Stars competition on the final day of […]

by NPR –Ayesha Rascoe – Entering the White House as a foreign policy novice, Jared Kushner has leaned on his personal rapport with foreign government leaders to help push the Trump administration’s goals. Before joining the White House, Kushner was a real estate investor in New York City, where personal relationships can help cement deals. But […]

  This is an opinion article and does not necessarily represent khazen.org views By Editorial Board washingtonpost.com — Washington Post –SAUDI ARABIA, so far, has tried bluster and bullying to silence the questions about journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who disappeared in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul two weeks ago Tuesday. On Sunday, a regime statement threatened to […]

by DailyStar.com.lb — Beyond the glitz and the glam, the event also had a social mission: held during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, profits raised from the shows will go toward fight the disease. The first of the 2018 event’s 25 shows was Lebanese fashion house Choueiter’s newest collection, worn by models who wove their way across […]

BEIRUT,(Xinhua) — Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri said Tuesday that the new government will be formed very soon, the National News Agency (NNA) reported. “I know that the government formation has taken a very long time but we are very close to forming it,” said Hariri at the closing ceremony of the Summer of Innovation, […]

NPR — Colin Dwyer — Nearly two weeks since Jamal Khashoggi vanished in Istanbul, the shadow of the Saudi journalist’s disappearance continues to loom ever larger. Now, President Trump is threatening “severe punishment” for Saudi Arabia if suspicions of Khashoggi’s murder are confirmed — and Saudis have vowed to retaliate in kind. “The Kingdom also affirms that if it receives any action, it will respond with greater action,” Saudi Arabia’s state-run news agency said Sunday, ominously noting that the country plays “an influential and vital role in the global economy.” Citing an “official source,” the Saudi Press Agency added that Riyadh “affirms its total rejection of any threats and attempts to undermine it.” Rather, if Saudis face “political pressures” such as accusations or sanctions, “the outcome of these weak endeavors, like their predecessors, is a demise.”

The Saudi Embassy in Washington, D.C., later sought to “clarify” those threats on Twitter, noting that “the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia extends it appreciation to all, including the US administration, for refraining from jumping to conclusions on the ongoing investigation.” The comments Sunday follow Trump’s toughest comments yet about the simmering international controversy. Speaking with CBS’s 60 Minutes, the president said that “nobody knows yet” whether the Saudi government ordered the killing of Khashoggi, a frequent critic, as Turkish officials reportedly allege. “It’s being investigated, it’s being looked at very, very strongly,” Trump said. “And we would be very upset and angry if that were the case.” Still, he was careful to hedge his language — as he has been largely since Khashoggi vanished after the journalist’s visit to the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. His administration has been on friendly terms with the Gulf regional power since taking office, supporting the Saudi-led airstrike campaign in Yemen and brokering an arms deal that could be worth $110 billion over the next decade.

During a news conference in the Oval Office on Saturday, Trump responded to a question about his response to the Khashoggi controversy by touting the economic benefits of the weapons sale. “If they don’t buy it from us, they’re going to buy it from Russia or they’re going to buy it from China or they’re going to buy it from other countries,” he said. “From the standpoint of jobs, economic development, a lot of other reasons, I would like to do something where we could maybe look at other things [than canceling the deal].” Nevertheless, the Saudi Stock Exchange plummeted about 7 percent at one point Sunday on fears of economic fallout from the diplomatic dispute, before recovering some of its losses later in the day.

By Lisa Barrington BEIRUT (Reuters) – Dark apartment windows vastly outnumber the lit in the quiet night streets of Beirut’s waterfront and central districts, a reminder of Lebanon’s long economic and real estate slump. Such unsold luxury properties are now being targeted by the country’s first real estate investment fund, which the founders hope will […]