Middle East

Dubai, May 18: A Kerala Muslim centre here is serving Iftar meal every day to more than 2,500 people from all walks of life, according to a media report. Iftar is the evening meal with which Muslims end their daily Ramzan fast at sunset. There are 210 volunteers, divided into seven groups, who ensure smooth and clean distribution of Iftar meals, Gulf News reported. "Most of the volunteers are

Dubai, May 17: Saudi Arabia accused Tehran of being behind a drone strike that shut down a key oil pipeline in the kingdom, and a newspaper close to the palace called for Washington to launch “surgical” strikes on Iran, raising the spectre of escalating tensions as the US boosts its military presence in the Persian Gulf. Concerns about the possible conflict have flared after the US dispatched

May 17: Qatar Airways, which has sought additional seat capacity on temporary basis for its flights from Indian cities to Doha, Thursday said it will "seriously" consider any proposal for partnership from Indian carriers. The blockade on Qatar & withdrawal of 28 weekly between Doha and cities of New Delhi and Mumbai has increased the pressure on available seat capacity in Qatar-India routes, the

Jeddah, May 16: The Saudi Cabinet has given formal approval to the Privileged Iqama residency scheme, widely known as the Saudi “green card.” The scheme will enable expatriates to permanently reside, own property and invest their assets in the Kingdom. A special committee has been given 90 days to determine regulations governing the scheme, including fees for applicants, conditions and procedures

Riyadh, May 15: Saudi Arabia’s cabinet approved the “Privileged Iqama” residency scheme on Tuesday, which allows expatriates to live and work in the Kingdom without the need of a local sponsor (Kafeel) for the first time. Plans for the scheme were discussed and rubber-stamped earlier this month by the Shoura Council. The new Privileged Iqama system offers benefits to highly skilled expatriates and

Riyadh, May 14: Two pumping stations on a major Saudi oil pipeline were attacked by drones on Tuesday, halting the flow of crude along it, Saudi Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih said. He said the attacks on the pipeline from the oil-rich Eastern Province to the Red Sea took place early on Tuesday. Yemen's Huthi rebels said on Tuesday that they had targeted several vital Saudi targets with drones.

Dubai, May 14: Four oil tankers anchored in the Mideast were damaged by what Gulf officials described as sabotage, though satellite images obtained by The Associated Press on Tuesday showed no major visible damage to the vessels. Details of the alleged sabotage to two Saudi, one Norwegian and one Emirati oil tanker on Sunday remained unclear, and Gulf officials have declined to say who they

Tehran, May 13: Iran on Monday called attacks on ships in the Gulf "alarming" after the UAE and Saudi Arabia said several vessels including oil tankers were damaged in acts of sabotage off the Emirati coast. "The incidents in the Sea of Oman are alarming and regrettable," Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said in an English-language statement on the ministry's website, calling for a

Dubai, May 13: Saudi Arabia said Monday two of its oil tankers were sabotaged off the coast of the United Arab Emirates in attacks that caused "significant damage" to the vessels, one of them as it was en route to pick up Saudi oil to take to the US. Khalid al-Falih's comments came as the US issued a new warning to sailors and the UAE's regional allies condemned the reported sabotage Sunday of

Ramadan is a month of mercy. Its practical model was morefully materialized by a Saudi citizen & senior official of Interior Ministry, Saud bin Abdulaziz. He had been doing the mass "Ifthar" programs for Malayalis for 30 days during Ramadan in Exit 27 Suwaidi Tariq bin Ziyad Mosque in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for the past five years. "Each year, the number of people has been increasing & people from