Middle East

Riyadh, Jun 21: Saudi Arabia's King Salman expressed his hope that Afghanistan extends the truce that was announced at the end of the holy month of Ramadan. King Salman added in a statement, published by the Saudi Press Agency, that he followed closely the ceasefire that was agreed between the government of Afghanistan and the Taliban and hoped that such a blessed step would be built upon by all

Abu Dhabi, Jun 20: Widows and divorced women residing in the UAE can soon apply for a one-year visa extension, it was announced on Tuesday. In the latest of a series of changes to visa legislation, the UAE Cabinet adopted the decision to grant these women and their children a visa extension option for one year from the date of the divorce or the death of the spouse. "The decision grants widows and

Jerusalem, Jun 20: Israeli jets struck 25 Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip in the early hours of Wednesday after militants launched rockets and mortar shells at Israeli territory, the military said. Two Hamas security men were lightly hurt in one air strike in the southern Gaza Strip, residents said. No casualties were reported in Israel after one of the most intense recent barrages of militant

Jeddah, Jun 19: More than 1.25 million people were arrested in Saudi Arabia for violating residential, labor and border security regulations during the Kingdom’s months-long campaign. The crackdown, which started on November 16 last year and ended on June 14, saw the arrests of 1,251,966 people in the joint security field campaign across the Kingdom. Those arrested included 931,069 violators of

Ras Tanura, Jun 17: This port, on the calm blue waters of the Persian Gulf, operates with military-like precision. Black and red-hulled super oil tankers must ask for permission to load months in advance. Detailed records go back 30 years to trace any vessels that have broken the rules by dumping oil or using substandard equipment. High-tech radar constantly scan for potential troublemakers, like

kabul, Jun 17: The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) group has claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing that killed at least 25 people in the eastern Afghan province of Nangarhar. The group's Amaq website said the attack on Saturday targeted "a gathering of Afghan forces" in Nangarhar, but gave no details. According to Attaullah Khogyani, the provincial governor's

Beirut, Jun 16: : Syrian regime shelling on an opposition-held southern region has killed at least six civilians, hours after US warning not to jeopardize talks on the area's fate, a monitoring group said Friday. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the casualties, who included two children, were killed in shelling on two villages in the north of Daraa province. The Britain-based monitor

Jeddah/Dubai, Jun 15: Muslims in most of the middle eastern countries including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates on Friday celebrated the Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan. Saudi King offers prayers in Makkah King Salman performed the Eid Al-Fitr prayer in Makkah’s Grand Mosque. He also received Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri; the

Jeddah, Jun 15: More than 2 million worshippers gathered at Makkah’s Grand Mosque to attend the last night of the Qur’an recitation during the holy fasting month of Ramadan. The prayers, during which verses of the Qur’an were recited, were led by Sheikh Abdul Rahman bin Abdul Aziz Al-Sudais. At the same time, hundreds of thousands of worshippers flocked to the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah from all

Dubai, Jun 14: The crescent of the Shawwal moon has been sighted in Jebel Hafeet, Al Ain, the International Astronomy Center announced on Thursday. This means Eid Al Fitr should begin tomorrow. The crescent was seen using the technique of astronomical imaging, and the moon wasn't spotted with the naked eye, the astronomy centre added. The final announcement will be made when the moon-sighting