Middle East

Riyadh, Jan 31: The sky above Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh, filled with thick black smoke Tuesday, rising from a building site on one its most populated and famous roads, Al-Olaya Street while shrouding one of the city’s more prominent skyscrapers. The blaze's source was actually in a building site, but as the heavy smoke rose, it shrouded the nearby famous landmark Al-Faisaliah tower, leading

Dubai, Jan 30: Saudi Arabia says a wide-reaching anti-corruption campaign has netted more than $106 billion in financial settlements with 65 people who remain in custody. Saudi attorney general Saud al-Mojeb said on Tuesday that the settlements reached include seizure of real estate assets, commercial entities, securities and cash. His statement didn't disclose further details on the types of

Visiting Washington DC, Qatar's Defence Minister Khalid Bin Mohammad Al Attiyah said his country will expand the American airbase that currently houses about 10,000 US military personnel. The expansion at the Al Udeid base - home of the US Central Command - will allow for 200 more housing units for officers and their families, Attiyah said. "It will very soon become family oriented place for our

Dubai, Jan 29: The UAE’s rulers and dignitaries performed the funeral prayers for UAE President Sheikh Khalifa’s mother, Sheikha Hessa bint Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Nahyan on Sunday. The prayers were performed at Al Mu’tareed Mosque in Abu Dhabi’s second city of Al Ain on Sunday. Among those present, that included rulers of the northern emirates, and various dignitaries, were Dubai Ruler Sheikh

Riyadh, Jan 29: The first Saudi International Exhibition and Conference for Internet of Things (IoT) opened Sunday, representing a major step in supporting Saudi Vision 2030, which has allocated a great deal of support to the IT sector and affirmed full support for creative and innovative thinking to motivate the Saudi youth. The event is at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition

Jazan, Jan 28: Seven women were killed and five injured as the second family this month suffered multiple fatalities in a traffic accident at Sawarma Road in Jazan region. Earlier, Sami bin Mohammed Ali Al-Nami lost his wife and six sons in an accident at Al-Kadmi Center in Sibia. In the latest crash, the five injured include an elderly man, a woman and two children. Witnesses to the accident said

London, Jan 28: Saudi Arabia’s King Salman condemned the Kabul bombing that left at least 95 killed and 158 wounded on Saturday. King Salman shared his condolences in a cable to Afghanistan’s President Mohammed Ashraf Ghani on the victims of a blast in the Afghan capital. “We denounce and disapprove such a sinful criminal act,” King Salman said as cited by the state-owned Saudi press agency, SPA

Dubai, Jan 27: Saudi Arabian billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal has been released from detention, family sources said on Saturday, more than two months after he was taken into custody in the kingdom’s sweeping crackdown on corruption. His release came hours after he told Reuters in an exclusive interview at the opulent Ritz-Carlton hotel in Riyadh that he expected to be cleared of any

A mother has been left devastated after she lost all her children on a single tragic night at Rol Didana area in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates. Salima Al Suraidi’s seven children aged between five and 13 years suffocated to death in the wee hours of last Monday (January 22) as a fire broke out at their villa. In response to a call from the Ras Al Khaimah Sports and Cultural Club, mothers

Nouf Marwaai, a 38-year-old Saudi Arabian who was the first certified yoga instructor in the Gulf nation, has bagged Padma Sri for 2018 among others. Described as the face of Yoga revolution in Saudi Arabia, she played an instrumental role in legalising yoga there. She taught over 3,000 students and has certified over 70 yoga teachers in Saudi Arabia since 2009. Born with auto-immune disease, she