Jeddah / AFP Saudi officials have finalised a detailed plan to diversify the kingdom’s economy away from oil and have sent it for cabinet approval, official media said on Monday. The National Transformation Programme (NTP) will elaborate upon Vision 2030, an 84-page document released in April by Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, 30, who is leading the reform charge. …

  London / AFP British trade unions representing six million workers on Monday urged their members to vote to stay in the European Union, warning that a Brexit would threaten workers’ rights. The general secretaries of Unite, Unison and the GMB were among 10 union leaders who wrote a letter to the Guardian newspaper claiming that parental leave and holiday …

  ABU DHABI / WAM His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, exchanged greetings with the Qatari Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, on the occasion of the Holy Month of Ramadan. During a telephone call, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and …

  BLOOMBERG Indian engineering and construction giant, Larsen & Toubro, won the country’s first contract to build a venue for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Along with local contractor, Al Balagh, Larsen & Toubro (L&T) will build Al-Rayyan Stadium, a 40,000-seater venue to the west of the capital Doha, Qatar’s Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy announced. Jens Huckfeldt, …

  DUBAI / WAM The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), is launching a series of Ramadan events as part its social responsibility and keenness to cement communication links as well as the sense of compassion between all community members. “RTA is keen to hold several prominent events marking the advent of the Holy Month of Ramadan in a bid to …

  DUBAI / WAM Dubai has been ranked fourth among the top cities worldwide for retailing with other Gulf markets are also making their mark on the global shopping map, according to JLL’s Destination Retail report. While the list is dominated by cities in Asia Pacific, those in the Middle East are coming on strong, propelled by an ever-increasing array …

  Dubai / WAM Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), said that the authority provides world-class government services and adopts the best international practices to make people as happy as possible to support the directives of Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid …

  Los Angeles / AFP Hillary Clinton stands poised to claim the Democratic mantle with Tuesday’s primaries including California, overwhelming her rival Bernie Sanders and setting up a historic US presidential election showdown with Republican Donald Trump. The frontrunner is all but assured of locking in her party’s nomination, a monumental step towards fulfilling a dream of returning to the White …

  Sydney / AFP Wild weather which has smashed into Australia’s east coast and whipped up giant waves on Sydney beaches has left at least three people dead and others missing, police said on Monday as the clean-up began. Ferocious storms pounded the coast over the weekend, causing flooding in New South Wales while huge seas resulted in coastal erosion, …

  Sydney / AFP Australia’s election campaign took a personal turn on Monday, with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull telling voters how his father raised him alone after his mother walked out. The multi-millionaire from Sydney’s wealthy eastern suburbs posted an emotional online video tribute to his late father Bruce, saying: “I wouldn’t be where I am today without my dad.” …