Middle East

Davos, Jan 26: Princess Reema bint Bandar made an eloquent plea for gender equality as a driving force for economic change in the Kingdom during her address at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos on Thursday. Saudi Arabia was advancing the cause of women “because it’s necessary for our nation from an economic point of view, and also from the holistic nature of how you want a family to actually

The Kuwait government has granted a general amnesty to expatriates living in that country without valid visas. The amnesty from January 29 to February 22 was granted through a decree issued by the Ministry of Interior of Kuwait on Tuesday, a release here said. The amnesty envisaged that illegal residents or overstaying immigrants could leave the country during the above period through any port

Jeddah, Jan 24: By the end of the first quarter of the current fiscal, the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTH) is expected to announce details about new tourist visas. It requires the approval by the commission’s board of directors. The SCTH pointed out that the news about details, requirements, and nationality specifications mentioned in the media are inaccurate and

Littering cigarette butts can now invite a fine of Dh 500 in Dubai. According to the Dubai Municipality, based on Local Order No.11 of 2003, fine shall be imposed on the person throwing cigarette butts on Dubai roads, streets, parks or other locations. The fine has been imposed as a part of the Dubai Municipality's efforts to keep the city clean. The residents are required to stay away from

Riyadh, Jan 18: King Salman bin Abdul Aziz on Wednesday issued a royal decree in coordination with the Ministry of Justice that requires all government bodies and authorities to limit the requirements for issuing case closers in the courts. According to a statement released today by the Ministry of Justice, the royal decree directed that a mechanism be developed to replace submitting applications

The international community has condemned the US government’s ruthless decision to cut more than half of its planned funding to the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees. The Arab League on Wednesday warned of the devastating consequences of a US decision to freeze $65 million of Palestinian refugee funding. On the other hand Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch, said in

Riyadh, Jan 17: Saudi Arabiaannounced on Wednesday it would transfer $2 billion to Yemen's central bank, following desperate calls for a financial rescue from the beleaguered government it has supported militarily for nearly three years. The bailout aims to curb the fall in value of the Yemeni riyal, which has plummeted as the war between the Saudi-backed government and Huthi Shiite rebels who

Jerusalem, Jan 17: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday he believed the US embassy in Israel could be moved from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem within a year, reports said, contradicting statements from US officials. "The embassy is going to be moved to Jerusalem faster than you think, certainly within a year," Netanyahu told journalists accompanying him on an official trip to India

Jeddah, Jan 17: Saudi security men shot dead a Saudi national accused of carrying out a number of terrorist crimes after he opened fire on them on Monday evening. State security authorities were monitoring Abdullah bin Mirza Ali Al-Qalaf, according to an official source. The official said Al-Qalaf was found near a farm between the towns of Awamiyah and Qudayh in a silver Hyundai Sonata car bearing

The Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) has decided to suspend its recognition of Israel until the latter recognises the State of Palestine on its 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. During a meeting in the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah late on Monday, the PLO, which is an umbrella of major Palestinian political parties, also said that the Oslo Accords, signed with Israel