Mideast peace a priority: Hague
Peace between Israel and the Palestinians is a "priority," British Foreign Secretary William Hague said on a visit to the region on Thursday, as he met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
France, angry over Syria, turns against Hezbollah
France has joined the push for the European Union to declare the militant group Hezbollah a terrorist organization, switching tack amid frustration with Hezbollah's support for Syria's military.
Gunmen kill 4 Iraqi soldiers north of Baghdad
Iraqi officials say gunmen have shot dead four soldiers at an army checkpoint north of Baghdad.
UAE to criminalize use of steroids on race horses
The ruler of Dubai has ordered a decree to criminalize the use of steroids on race horses following a doping scandal involving his horses in England.
Hollande praises Germany's labor reforms
French President Francois Hollande, under pressure to reform his recession-hit economy, Thursday praised German social welfare and labour reforms implemented under former centre-left chancellor Gerhard Schroeder.
Half of illegal Filipino workers want to stay
Since the crackdown on illegal workers in the Kingdom began in April, an estimated 6,000 Filipinos have registered for repatriation — but about half of them now want to stay and find new sponsors.
Salman, Erdogan hold talks
Crown Prince Salman Bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Premier and Minister of Defense, and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a meeting in Ankara on Wednesday before the Crown Prince left Turkey after a two-day official visit.
Saudi Aramco engineers enrich knowledge at filtration forum
A recent first-of-its-kind event has sought to enrich the technical knowledge of Saudi Aramco engineers and help them exchange experiences with international players in the oil and gas processing industry.
Italian envoy lauds KSA for promoting interfaith dialogue
The new Italian Ambassador to the Kingdom praised the role the Kingdom plays in international relations, especially in the fields of dialogue and peace.
450 Indians fingerprinted in one day
Some 450 Indians were fingerprinted on Tuesday, a day reserved for them at the Deportation Center (Tarheel) in Jeddah.
Racism in Saudi society
A recent match between Al-Hilal club of Riyadh and Al-Ittihad of Jeddah caused a lot of controversy and friction in society.
False complaints distract Nazaha
The deputy chairman of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (Nazaha), Abdullah Al-Abdul Qadir, recently described Saudi people as part of an ever-complaining society.
Once bitten, twice shy
Um Essam is a Saudi woman from the south of the Kingdom. She was married when she was very young and soon became pregnant.
Suspect in Indonesian housewife’s murder held
Police have arrested a Pakistani man in connection with the murder of an Indonesian woman in Jeddah’s Al-Nahda district.
Small-time firms brave odds to lure clients, lenders say
A number of Saudi investors who have large-scale businesses that offer loans say their small-time counterparts are giving them tough competition in attracting customers.
Syria opposition open key talks on peace initiative
Syria's main opposition group opened key talks in Istanbul on Thursday to debate whether to agree to negotiate with the regime on ending the two-year civil war under a new US-Russia peace initiative.
Tunisia making progress against 'terror' groups: PM
Prime Minister Ali Larayedh said on Thursday that Tunisia is making progress in its bid to dismantle "terrorist" cells despite the presence in the country of armed groups and recent clashes with
Iran says IAEA report shows nuclear drive is peaceful
A new report by the UN atomic watchdog validates Iran's progress in its "peaceful" nuclear activities despite international sanctions, the country's envoy to the agency said on Thursday.
Syria-linked clashes kill six in Lebanese city: security
Fighting in the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli killed at least six people overnight, as supporters and opponents of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad clashed, a security source said on Thursday.
Ahmadinejad to challenge ally’s poll ban
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Wednesday he would ask Iran's supreme leader to reverse a ban preventing his aide from running in next month's presidential poll, a test of stability after the
7 Egyptians abducted in Sinai freed
Six Egyptian policemen and a border guard kidnapped by suspected militants in the volatile Sinai Peninsula last week were freed by their captors Wednesday after successful mediation, the country’s
Iran expands nuclear technology, claim diplomats
Iran is moving ahead to update a program the West fears could be used to make nuclear weapons, diplomats said Wednesday, despite high-level diplomacy aimed at stopping it from doing so.
Pakistan arrested American who was killed by drone
An American citizen killed in a US drone strike in Pakistan in 2011 was arrested by Pakistani authorities three years earlier but escaped after being released on bail, officials said Thursday.
Death toll in China blast rises to 33: Xinhua
The death toll from a blast at an explosives plant in eastern China earlier this week rose to 33 Thursday as 20 missing people were declared dead, state media reported.
N. Korea wants peace, envoy tells China official
A special envoy from North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un told one of China's top officials Thursday that Pyongyang wants peace and is willing to pursue dialogue with key countries, state media reported.
Bulgaria: Ex-PM fails to form new government
A former prime minister whose party won Bulgaria's May 12 election says his party doesn't have enough seats in parliament to form a stable government.
Twin car bombings at Niger uranium plant, army base kill 10
Twin car bombings at an army base and a French-run uranium mine in northern Niger killed at least 10 people Thursday, in unprecedented attacks claimed by an Islamist group fighting French-led troops
Three Chinese ships in disputed waters: Japan
Three Chinese government ships sailed in waters around disputed islands controlled by Tokyo for about nine hours on Thursday, Japan's coastguard said.
A double violation?
As a newcomer to Saudi Arabia, I am often surprised by the conduct of shopping mall staffers during the time when they close their shops for prayers.
Incredible India
To make the tourism campaign “India Incredible” successful, the first step is to make the visa system at Indian consulates more convenient and the immigration laws more lenient.
The purpose of education
With regard to the article “Fixing our education system” (May 21), I would like to point out that the education system throughout the world needs a complete overhaul not only in Saudi Arabia.
Grace period must be extended
With regard to the report “Confusion, panic grip expats” (May 21), the process for rectifying the status of expatriate workers is a mess and no one can make any progress in this chaos.
Customers will suffer
I am writing with regard to the report “Feminizing stores that sell women’s fashion has a price” (May 22).
Women driving
With regard to the article “Should women be allowed to drive?” (May 20), there is a lot that needs to be improved in our traffic education and driving permit system before both men and women can
Afghan students protest women’s rights decree
Hard-line Islamist students protested Wednesday in the Afghan capital demanding the repeal of a presidential decree
Eight terror suspects get jail terms, travel ban
The Riyadh Special Criminal Court sentenced Wednesday eight terror suspects to jail terms ranging from ten to 25 years while imposing a travel ban on all the suspects to the number of years served.
Assad’s departure a must for peace, say Friends of Syria
Britain and Qatar urged President Bashar Al-Assad to step down, as major world powers gathered on Wednesday to seek ways toward a peaceful end to Syria’s conflict.
No correction of status without IDs
The Ministry of Labor will not correct the status of runaway (huroob) workers as well as Haj and Umrah visa overstayers who do not have either their passports or iqamas, according to sources at the
IDB capital more than tripled to $150b
The Board of Governors of the Jeddah-based Islamic Development Bank (IDB) decided on Wednesday to more than triple its capital from $45 billion to $150 billion.
Campaign launched on social media to put pressure on real estate sharks
Some social networking sites activists decided to launch a campaign they dubbed “No to purchasing real estate” in an attempt to exercise pressure on real estate businessmen and decision-makers.
Lekhwiya knocks out Hilal
Qatar’s Lekhwiya held off a second-half fight back from Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal to advance to the quarterfinals of the
I’m innocent, done no wrong: Sreesanth
India Test cricketer Shantakumaran Sreesanth has denied spot-fixing after being arrested in a scandal.
Mourinho, Ronaldo get two-match bans for Cup final reds
Real Madrid’s Jose Mourinho and Cristiano Ronaldo were handed two-match bans in the King’s Cup.
Garcia sorry after ‘stupid’ Woods fried chicken jibe
Sergio Garcia said “sorry” 11 times and used the word “apology” on five occasions.
Visconti claims 17th stage
Giovanni Visconti won the 17th stage of the Giro d’Italia to claim another solo victory, while Vincenzo Nibali
Aussies can cause Ashes upset: Clarke
The Australians are getting the civil formalities out of the way early ahead of the Ashes, starting with Wednesday’s
Rajasthan, Mumbai to vie for final berth
An under-pressure unbeaten half-century from Brad Hodge snatched a four-wicket win for the Rajasthan Royals over the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League (IPL) Eliminator, which was a
Qualifier surprises Tipsarevic
Top-seeded Janko Tipsarevic lost in the second round of the Power Horse Cup on Wednesday, falling 7-6 (1), 6-1 to Argentine qualifier Guido Pella.
IMF urges Britain to do more to boost growth
The International Monetary Fund called on Britain’s government on Wednesday to do more to speed up slow economic
Swiss banks in a ‘fine’ pickle
Swiss banks holding US citizens’ funds that are not declared to American tax authorities are set to have to pay a massive fine, under a deal between Switzerland and Washington, a newspaper reported
GCC dilemma: New tobacco tax could fuel growth of illicit trade
The dilemma facing GCC finance ministers as they deliberate over a 100% increase in duty on tobacco products is underlined by a White Paper published Wednesday, which spotlights growth in illicit
Sabic opens thermoplastics facility, PPc plant in Jubail
Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (Sabic) has further demonstrated its national growth commitment by opening its first engineering thermoplastics compounding facility as well as a new polypropylene
Brides of India jewelry festival at Malabar Gold
Malabar Gold & Diamonds, the leading jewelry retailer is back with the third volume of one of the most eagerly awaited campaigns in GCC for Indian Bridal Jewellery — “Brides of India.”
HP expands printing, imaging solutions
HP has announced it is expanding its printing and imaging portfolio to help SMBs and Enterprises improve efficiency
Raha Moharrak: Happy to change views
The first woman from Saudi Arabia to scale Mount Everest said she doesn’t intend to inspire a movement, but would be
Japanese climber, 80, becomes oldest atop Everest
An 80-year-old Japanese man who has had four heart operations in recent years became the oldest person to climb to the top of Mount Everest on Thursday — although his record may last only a few days.
Gatecrasher style: Psy impersonator fools Cannes
A man from rural France impersonated South Korean "Gangnam Style" entertainer Psy at the Cannes Film Festival, eating, drinking and partying with the stars in Cannes for two days, press reports said
Salman’s serious relationship with Romanian ladylove
Salman Khan may have finally decided to settle down.
Ryan breaks Cannes’ heart, misses premiere
The Cannes Film Festival is missing one of its biggest stars of this year’s festival: Ryan Gosling.
