The Arab Weekly

Amnesty said that despite reforms, conditions "for many migrant workers in Qatar remain harsh."https://thearabweekly.com/qatar-running-out-time-curb-labour-abuses-amnesty …

"Iranian President Hassan Rohani is not alone in disappointing reformists." @SShahidsalesshttps://thearabweekly.com/irans-reform-camp-crisis …

"The uncomfortable truth is that, more likely than not, Western governments will be working with Bashar Assad sooner rather than later." @stephenstarrhttps://thearabweekly.com/time-west-embrace-assad-again …

Data indicate that the new banking group would have a customer base of about 1 million patrons and have a 15% share of the total assets portfolio of the UAE market.https://thearabweekly.com/abu-dhabi-bank-merger-boost-business-investment …

Riyadh is blitzing foreign investors with opportunities in the kingdom for the coming decade while promising major investments of its own in the United States. @JareerElasshttps://thearabweekly.com/riyadh-introduces-major-investment-initiative …

More than three years after Europe witnessed the largest influx of migrants and refugees since World War II, causing tensions among EU members, people fleeing conflicts and economic hardships are still trying to reach Europe, though at a lesser rate.https://thearabweekly.com/lebanons-refugees-given-priority-resettlement-europe-canada …

Once a quiet fishing village on a spectacular bay 16km north of Beirut, Jounieh has grown into a densely built-up area of high-rise buildings, hotels and large resort complexes.https://thearabweekly.com/lebanons-jounieh-keeps-charm-despite-urbanisation …

Nearly 750 local, Arab and international publishers participated in the fair, regarded as Egypt’s most important cultural event.https://thearabweekly.com/uae-publishers-steal-limelight-cairo-international-book-fair …

Tunisian actor Abdelhamid Bouchnak’s directorial debut, “Dachra” (“Village”), is the first true horror film in Tunisia’s film canon and is winning acclaim from critics and movie goers. @HakkaCinemahttps://thearabweekly.com/dachra-tunisias-first-horror-movie-hits-theatres …

Russian President Vladimir Putin recently brushed the dust off an old Syrian-Turkish treaty, known as the Adana agreement, taking it out of the Syrian archives where it had been stored. @smoubayedhttps://thearabweekly.com/russia-revives-old-agreement-end-syria-turkey-dilemma …

In another sign of a growing gap between Turkey and its traditional allies in the West, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has thrown his weight behind Venezuela’s embattled leader, Nicolas Maduro. @BosphorusNewshttps://thearabweekly.com/wary-similar-fate-erdogan-stands-maduro …

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir’s attempts to quell demonstrations in the country have failed.https://thearabweekly.com/sudanese-regime-dead-end-home-and-abroad …

The new government reflects much of the May 2018 vote, with gains by Hezbollah and its allies translating largely unscathed to the cabinet. @IgnitionUKhttps://thearabweekly.com/lebanon-forms-new-government-after-months-deadlock …

Saudi Arabia has ended its lengthy, high-profile anti-corruption campaign, which resulted in $106 billion in settlements from members of the royal family, former government officials and businessmen.https://thearabweekly.com/saudi-arabia-ends-15-month-campaign-against-corruption …

There is uncertainty in Egypt and Libya over whether a border wall under construction by the eastern Libya government will effectively curb infiltration by militants and the smuggling of arms.https://thearabweekly.com/scepticism-abounds-over-egypt-libya-border-wall …

A drive to set up a panel to write a new constitution for Syria has all but ground to a halt because of deep political differences between local and international players. @BosphorusNewshttps://thearabweekly.com/syrias-constitutional-efforts-grind-halt …

"The similarities between Venezuela tomorrow and Libya past and present go further than the gaggle of leaders." @rashmeerlhttps://thearabweekly.com/turning-venezuela-libya-caribbean …

UAE Foreign Affairs Minister Anwar Gargash said the Houthis were blocking aid convoys from leaving Yemen's Hodeidah and barring ships from entering. @salehalbaydanihttps://thearabweekly.com/hodeidah-truce-breached-coalition-vows-step-pressure …

Despite headlines focusing on human rights, Egypt and France deepened strategic, security and economic interests.https://thearabweekly.com/egypt-france-wrangle-over-human-rights-economic-security-interests-dwarf-concerns …

Haftar’s forces are poised to take control of the Sharara oilfield — the country’s largest — in south-western Libya and only the Tebu-controlled deep south remains firmly beyond his control.https://thearabweekly.com/haftar-achieves-major-breakthrough-libyas-south …