Hayat Tahrir al-Sham leader has recently boasted about his group’s growing weapons arsenal and military capabilities, as the Syrian government forces escalate their attacks on Idlib.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Syrian jihadi group in Idlib boasts about new, advanced weapons
Infinity pools, art collections and private malls: Top 10 biggest hotels in the world
In the Gulf, residents are no stranger to colossal and luxury hotels on their doorstep. But around the world, some hotels even top the GCC for their sheer size and scale.Here are the top ten biggest hotel and hotel complexes in the world.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.10. Luxor Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, USWith 4,407 rooms, spanning three buildings, the Luxor Hotel & Casino is a 30-storey casino and hotel located on the famous Las Vegas Strip. Owned by MGM Resorts International, the hotel has more than 2,000 slot machines, 87 table games and a 120,000 square foot casino. It is also home to a giant Sphinx replica, housed among the Egyptian style architecture.9. Mandalay Bay & Delano & Four Seasons, Las Vegas, USThese three sister hotels are all connected on the Las Vegas Strip and have a total of 4,429 rooms as well as a casino, shopping mall, swimming pool and spa.8. Barkhatnyye Sezony Yekaterininskiy Kvartal, RussiaWith 4,688 rooms spanning a collection of 34 buildings, this Russian retreat – built for the Sochi Winter Olympics - is a humongous hotel nestled in a 300-acre park of subtropical flora.7. Wynn Las Vegas, Las Vega, USSpanning over two towers, The Wynn Las Vegas has a total of 4,748 rooms and sits on the Las Vegas Strip alongside some of the other biggest hotels in the world. As well as the obligatory casino and a live entertainment hall, the hotel also as its own shopping mall, 18-hole golf course – and a Ferrari dealership.6. Izmailovo, RussiaIzmailovo Hotel was the largest hotel in Europe largest hotel in the world from 1980 until 1993 and was built to host all the athletes under one roof at the Olympic Games. It consists of four high-rise buildings and has 5,000 rooms. It is located in Izmaylovo District near the Partizanskaya subway station of Moscow Metro and is composed of five buildings named after letters in the Greek alphabet; Alpha, Beta, Vega, Gamma and Delta.5. Sands Cotai Central, Macau, ChinaOutside of the US and Russia, is the Sands Cotai Centra – a five building complex housing 6,246 rooms. Located in Cotai Strip, Macau, the hotel is a casino resort with a Himalayan-inspired setting – and has suites boating a surface area of 4,000 square feet.4. CityCenter Vegas, Las Vegas, USCityCenter (also known as CityCenter Las Vegas) is a 16.797-million square feet mixed-use, urban complex on 76 acres located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada, containing multiple linked hotels. The project was started by MGM Resorts International; Dubai World became a joint partner during the project’s construction phase. It is the largest privately funded construction project in the history of the US. It has a total of 6,790 rooms, a giant community center, five water and ice features, an internal tram system, an ultra high-end mall and a fine art collection valued at more than $40million.3. MGM Grand, Las Vegas, USThe MGM Grand Las Vegas is a hotel and casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada. The MGM Grand is the largest single hotel in the US with 6,852 rooms. It is also the third-largest hotel complex in the world by number of rooms and second-largest hotel resort complex in the US behind the combined The Venetian and The Palazzo. When it opened in 1993, the MGM Grand was the largest hotel complex in the world. With a décor inspired by old Hollywood, the hotel features a one of the largest gaming floors in all of Las Vegas, measuring 171, 500 square foot, and is home to a TopGolf resort and a ‘murder mystery’ studio where guests can solve a crime before getting their own CSI diploma.2. The Venetian Resort Las Vegas (The Venetian Las Vegas and The Palazzo)The Venetian and Palazzo hotel complex is the biggest in North America and the second biggest in the world. With a combined total of 7,092 rooms, the complex is also home to a designer shopping mall, huge casinos, a two-storey fountain, the Las Vegas Car Museum, a nightclub, the Guggenheim Hermitage Museum, and numerous architectural replicas of various Venetian landmarks.1.First World Hotel, MalaysiaWith 7,351 rooms, The First World Hotel holds the Guinness World Records title for the largest hotel in the world by the number of rooms since 2015. It also features a giant shopping center, a casino, retail and dining outlets, an indoor theme park, a ‘Snow World’, and a huge virtual reality attraction.Read more:Top 10 strangest animals in the worldTop 10 tallest buildings in the world todayBiggest billionaires: The top 10 richest people in the world
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Infinity pools, art collections and private malls: Top 10 biggest hotels in the world
Blinken says nuclear talks with Iran ‘cannot go on indefinitely’
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Thursday that nuclear talks with Iran “cannot go on indefinitely” but that Washington was “fully prepared” to continue negotiations.The US is indirectly involved in Iran’s talks with world powers to revive a nuclear deal that gave Iran some relief from international sanctions in exchange for limits on its nuclear program.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The deal was torpedoed in 2018 by then US president Donald Trump, who unilaterally withdrew from the agreement and imposed punishing sanctions.“We’re committed to diplomacy, but this process cannot go on indefinitely... we look to see what Iran is ready to do or not ready to do and remain fully prepared to return to Vienna to continue negotiations,” Blinken said during a visit to Kuwait on Thursday.“The ball remains in Iran’s court.”Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s government has been holding talks with major powers in Vienna since April on bringing Washington back into the agreement.But a deal now seems unlikely until after he hands over to President-elect Ebrahim Raisi early next month.Raisi is an ultraconservative but has expressed support for the nuclear talks, arguing Iran needs an end to US sanctions.Iran’s ultraconservative camp, which deeply distrusts the US, has repeatedly criticized Rouhani over the 2015 deal.Read more:Iran's Khamenei says experience shows ‘trusting West does not work’Iran’s support for militias must be included in nuclear deal talks: GCC chiefBlinken tells Masih Alinejad US supports her after Iran kidnapping plot
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Blinken says nuclear talks with Iran ‘cannot go on indefinitely’
UAE expresses full support, solidarity with Tunisia: Minister of Foreign Affairs
The United Arab Emirates reaffirms its full support for Tunisia and expressed its solidarity with the country, the office of UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed al-Nahyan said on Thursday.“[His Highness] Sheikh Abdulla bin Zayed, held a phone call with Tunisian FM [His Excellency] Othman Jerandi, where HE updated HH on the situation in Tunis,” his office said in a tweet.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The minister also said that the UAE stands in solidarity with Tunisia as it struggles to combat a wave of coronavirus infections that have plunged the country into deteriorating economic, social, and health conditions.“HH reaffirmed the UAE’s support for Tunisia and expressed solidarity with Tunisia in tackling the health and economic implications of COVID-19,” his office added.Tunisian President Kais Saied on Sunday announced that he had suspended the country’s parliament and fired Prime Minister Hicham Mechichi following nationwide protests.The president’s move came after months of disagreements with Mechichi and political paralysis while Tunisia continues to suffer an economic crisis that has been exacerbated by one of the worst COVID-19 outbreaks in Africa.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedictaed page.On Sunday, Tunisians took the street to support Saied’s move, with videos showing hundreds of people on foot and in vehicles chanting “Tahya Tounes” or “Viva Tunisia.”Civil unrest had reached boiling point before the president announced he would freeze parliament, with thousands clashing with security forces earlier on Sunday in violent protests against the government and the Islamist-led Ennahda parliament in anger over their handling of the coronavirus pandemic and the country’s deteriorating economic situation.Read more:Who are the main players in Tunisia’s political crisis?Tunisia opens corruption probes of leading Islamist partyTunisian President Saied says 460 people looted the country's money and resources
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: UAE expresses full support, solidarity with Tunisia: Minister of Foreign Affairs
Saudi Arabia, France FMs discuss regional issues, bilateral relations
Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan discussed regional issues and bilateral ties with his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian, France’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.France condemns all attacks by the Iran-backed Houthis on the Kingdom, the ministry added.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The Houthis have launched dozens of ballistic missiles and armed drones towards Saudi Arabia, many of which have been intercepted and destroyed by the Arab Coalition before hitting the Kingdom.France also expressed its support for Saudi Arabia’s efforts to end the crisis in Yemen, according to the ministry.In March, Saudi Arabia proposed a new peace initiative to end the ongoing conflict in Yemen between the internationally-recognized government and the Iran-backed Houthis.The Houthis have since continued to violate the terms of the ceasefire, according to the US State Department.After US Special Envoy to Yemen Tim Lenderking made a publicized trip to the region last month, the State Department condemned the group’s “devastating offensive” on Yemen and its attacks on the Kingdom.Read more:UAE condemns Houthi attempt to target Saudi Arabia’s Jazan with drones, missilesArab Coalition intercepts an explosive Houthi drone targeting southern regionArab Coalition intercepts, destroys Houthi missile launched towards Jizan
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Saudi Arabia, France FMs discuss regional issues, bilateral relations
Nationwide poll finds 87 pct of Tunisians support President Saied’s decisions
A total of 87 percent of Tunisians support President Kais Saied’s recent decision to suspend parliament and fire the prime minister, a poll by a marketing research firm in Tunisia found. Only three percent of Tunisians objected to his decision, the Emrhod Consulting poll found. For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The survey was conducted in several cities around Tunisia between July 26 and 28. On Sunday, Saied announced that he had suspended the country’s parliament and fired PM Hicham Mechichi from his post after nationwide protests. The president’s move came after months of disagreements with Mechichi and political paralysis while Tunisia continues to suffer an economic crisis that has been exacerbated by one of the worst COVID-19 outbreaks in Africa.According to the poll, 86 percent of Tunisians supported the decision to freeze parliament, while only 6 percent opposed it. Meanwhile, 88 percent supported the measure to strip parliament members of their immunity, while only 4 percent of the respondents agreed with the decision. The poll found that 84 percent of Tunisians supported the president’s decision to relieve Mechichi from his post, while 6 percent of the respondents opposed this decision.In regards to Saied’s announcement that he would govern alongside a new premier, 85 percent of the respondents expressed their support for this decision, while the percentage of those against the decision tallied to less than five percent. Civil unrest had reached boiling point before the president announced he would freeze parliament, with thousands clashing with security forces earlier on Sunday in violent protests against the government and the Islamist-led Ennahda parliament in anger over their handling of the coronavirus pandemic and the country’s deteriorating economic situation.Read more:UAE expresses full support, solidarity with Tunisia: Minister of Foreign AffairsTunisian President Saied says 460 people looted the country's money and resourcesA preliminary look into the Tunisian President’s measures
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Nationwide poll finds 87 pct of Tunisians support President Saied’s decisions
Ancient ‘Gilgamesh’ tablet to be returned to Iraq from US
A 3,500-year-old tablet recounting the epic of Gilgamesh that once sat in Washington’s Museum of the Bible could be returned to Iraq after a judge verified its seizure Tuesday..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Ancient ‘Gilgamesh’ tablet to be returned to Iraq from US
Expats say UK move to keep UAE on red list ‘frustrating’
The UK decision has severely affected the travel plans over 120,000 British expats in the UAE..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Expats say UK move to keep UAE on red list ‘frustrating’
Lebanon records more than 1,000 new COVID-19 cases again
More than a quarter of the country's eligible population are now fully inoculated..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Lebanon records more than 1,000 new COVID-19 cases again
Tunisia’s president moves on economy, COVID-19 crisis
Tunisia’s President Kais Saied called on 460 businessmen suspected of embezzlement to contribute to the development of poor regions of the country voluntarily against an offer of legal amnesty..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Tunisia’s president moves on economy, COVID-19 crisis