Only two days after US Congress passed a law allowing Americans to sue foreign governments over their alleged roles in 'terror' attacks, Stephanie Ross DeSimone filed a lawsuit against Saudi Arabia for providing material support to Al Qaeda and its leader, Osama Bin Laden. The Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA) is a law that challenges sovereign immunity in way never seen before. For the first time in history, a foreign country can now be legally sued in another country's courts. Regardless of the outcome of Saudi Arabia's case ...

In US politics, an “October surprise” is when a major event occurs in (or close to) October – the month before the presidential elections in November – which significantly affects the race and its outcome. In 2012, it was Hurricane Sandy – particularly president Obama’s response to it and the extensive praise he received from New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who supported Obama’s opponent Mitt Romney. Sometimes they’re about the Middle East. In 1980, reports emerged just before the election that Iran would not release its hostages from the US ...

Former Barcelona football player Xavi Hernandez (L), who currently plays for Al-Sadd in the Qatar Stars League, claps as he attends a training session during his visit to the al-Baqaa Palestinian refugee camp near Amman on September 29, 2016. Khalil MAZRAAWI / AFP

Britain's Ryan-Lee Moore (L) waves on his horse 'Found' as he celebrates winning the 95th Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe horse race at the Chantilly racecourse, northern France, on October 2, 2016. JACQUES DEMARTHON / AFP

“Despite being depicted by the US administration and Western media as a terrorist training ground, Syria is an extremely safe country to travel in. You can walk around virtually anywhere, day or night without any problems. Syrians are friendly and hospitable and if someone invites you to their village or home you should accept their offer." It's hard to imagine Syria being described as an “extremely safe” country now, but that’s exactly the advice that a 2009 edition of the Lonely Planet Guide to Syria and Lebanon gives the Syria ...

Israeli statesman Shimon Peres (שמעון פרס‎) died today two weeks after suffering a massive stroke. He was 93. Remembered in the West as a “hawk” turned “dove” for his peace efforts later in his career, he leaves behind a complicated legacy for Arabs - from his support for illegal Israeli settlements to unapologetic bombardment of civilians in Lebanon and Gaza. At the time of his retirement in 2014, he was the world's oldest head of state. On a scale of one to “the Bulldozer,” Peres is likely to be remembered ...

"More Americans expected to self-medicate than for any other debate in history", wrote columnist and comedian Andy Borowitz in yesterday's New Yorker . His quip came referred to the first of three American presidential debates between Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and TV personality and businessman Donald J. Trump. That debate, which pundits predicted to be raucous, was nearly overstaged by a sideshow of also-live tweets. Viewers in the Middle East could livestream the debate on Twitter . Held at 9 PM EST - that's 3 to 5 AM across ...

Middle Eastern women have become the world's biggest buyers of high fashion. Shocked? Just because they are wrapped in conservative hijab and abaya, doesn’t mean they’ve stifled their sartorial sensibility. So it makes perfect sense that in July, Condé Nast International crowned Saudi Princess Deena Aljuhani Abdulaziz as editor-in-chief of Vogue Arabia, the latest territory in their stable of 21 region-specific fashion rag mags. Familiarize yourself with the lavish lifestyles of wealthy Arab women, particularly in Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. With an annual social calendar ...

While the world mourns and scorns the death of Brangelina’s marriage , we at Al Bawaba were quick to play matchmakers by fishing out the most promising Arab bachelorettes that we see jostling for the prize -- that once so enviable Hollywood hunk (don't impress me –– much?) Brad Pitt. Brad’s close buddy George Clooney may have been “very sorry” to hear about the split of Hollywood’s golden couple, but we were quick to think: now that Pitt’s back on the market, surely George can convince him that Arab is ...

Algerian athlete Taoufik Makhloufi, double silver medallist at the 1500m and 800m at the Olympic Games-2016 Olympics in Rio, arrives on September 14, 2016 in Algiers. Ryad Kramdi / AFP

Politics in Jordan are always a little bit quiet - and on the bright side, it’s saved the country from much of the upheaval seen by its neighbors over the last five years. But there are plenty of developments to watch out for in this year’s election, from Islamists participating in elections for the first time in years, to women’s representation, to a new electoral system signed into law earlier this year. The new law abolished the one-person, one-vote system, replacing it with a multi-member list, which, if more complicated ...