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Three leading Saudi Arabian scholars being held by Riyadh on multiple charges of "terrorism" will be sentenced to death, according to a report. Citing two government sources and one of the men's relatives, Middle East Eye on Tuesday reported the three individuals - Sheikh Salman al-Awdah, Awad al-Qarni and Ali al-Omari - will be convicted and executed after the Muslim holy month of Ramadan concludes next month. There was no comment from Saudi authorities on the report. Al-Awdah is an internationally renowned progressive Islamic scholar described by UN experts as a "reformist", al-Qarni is a preacher, academic and author, and al-Omari is a popular broadcaster. "They will not wait to execute these

Washington, DC - US Democratic politicians expressed scepticism and alarm after receiving closed-door briefings from key Trump administration officials on Tuesday about escalating tensions with Iran. The briefings were given by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan, Chairman of Joint Chiefs General Joseph Dunford and an official from the US Defense Intelligence Agency. "Secretary Pompeo made a very lengthy political argument and he argued, 'Here are all the terrible things that Iran has done', and he spent about 10 minutes until I cut him off," Representative Adam Smith, the Democrat chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, told reporters after the

This month, Hollywood's brightest stars are descending upon the French Riviera for the annual Cannes Film Festival. Against the idyllic background of the sun-soaked Riviera, this is where some of the world's most high-profile directors premiere the films that they hope will excite critics and viewers alike -- and, if they're lucky, win awards.

US sanctions are making life in Iran increasingly difficult for its people. Iranians say their devalued currency is a more pressing problem. Al Jazeera's Zein Basravi reports from Tehran.

Formula One legend Niki Lauda, one of the greatest racing drivers in history, has died at age 70, his family has said. The Austrian three-time world champion died peacefully in his sleep on Monday surrounded by relatives, a family spokeswoman said in a statement. "His unique achievements as an athlete and entrepreneur are and will remain unforgettable," the statement added. Lauda underwent an emergency lung transplant last year, and he was hospitalised again in January with the flu for about 10 days. The racer had long struggled with health problems after a horrific crash during a race more than four decades ago that disfigured him for life. In 1976, at the Germany Grand Prix in the Nurburgring

Tehran, Iran - Reza Abdollahi isn't just a fan of cryptocurrencies. He's among the fledgling ranks of business owners in Iran who accept them as a form of payment. For the past six months, customers at his Mashhad restaurant, 1001 Nights Cinema Pizza, have been able to cover their tabs in bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. They even get a 50 percent discount if they choose these forms of payment over other types of legal tender. "We have up to 200 people paying with crypto each month, mostly consisting of large groups who throw parties at the restaurant to use the discount," Abdollahi told Al Jazeera. Abdollahi says that 90 percent of crypto payments at his restaurant are made using Ethereum.

(CNN) - A US start-up has revealed plans to develop a plane that will travel at five times the speed of sound, transporting passengers between New York and London in 90 minutes or less. Aerospace company Hermeus Corporation, based in Atlanta, said it has obtained finance from seed funders and private investors to develop a plane that will travel at Mach 5 -- five times faster than Mach 1, the speed of sound. The creators hope the aircraft will be capable of a range of 4,600 miles, with a cruising speed of 3,300 miles per hour. Paul Bruce, senior lecturer in the Aeronautics Department at Imperial College London, sounded a note of caution. "The biggest challenge for hypersonic flight is propulsion,"