Middle East

Riyadh, Jan 2: The overall unemployment rate has fallen 5.8% in the Kingdom in the third quarter of 2017 compared with the second quarter, according to a report of the General Authority of Statistics. Saudi Arabia stands 12th among G20 nations in terms of the average fall in the rate of unemployment during the third quarter. The report indicates that the unemployment rate among Saudis showed signs

Jan 2: The Palestinian leadership has said it is recalling its envoy to the United States following Washington's controversial recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Palestinian officials have previously said they will "no longer accept" any peace plan put forward by the US following President Donald Trump's unilateral declaration on December 6. Trump's move sparked deadly protests in the

At least two protesters have been killed in rare anti-government protests in Iran, according to a semi-official Iranian news agency. The Mehr news agency said on Sunday that at least two people died on Saturday night in Dorud, a city in western Iran. Habibollah Khojastepour, security deputy of the governor of Lorestan province, said the presence of "agitators" prevented a peaceful end to the

Bahrain: Guru Seva Samithi – Bahrain Billawas, an organization of NRI Billawas, organized a drawing competition for children on December 22 at Kannada Sangha Hall, Manama. The response was overwhelming and number of children participated in the event which was held for 3 to 16 years in 5 age groups. GSS President Mr. Ajith Bangera welcomed the parents and addressed the gathering. The judges for

Tehran, Dec 30: Police in Iran’s capital said today they will no longer arrest women for failing to observe the Islamic dress code in place since the 1979 revolution. The announcement signaled an easing of punishments for violating the country’s conservative dress code, as called for by the young and reform-minded Iranians who helped re-elect President Hassan Rouhani, a relative moderate, earlier

Hundreds of protesters have rallied in several Iranian cities against rising prices, unemployment and economic inequality, according to anti-government activists and Iran's semi-state news agency Fars. About 300 people protested in Kermanshah, a city in western Iran, on Friday, according to Fars. Police intervened after protesters damaged public property, the news agency reported. Protests also

Jeddah, Dec 28: The head of the General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA), Abdul Hakim Al-Tamimi, has announced that the initial opening and pilot operations of the new King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Jeddah will be in May 2018. The announcement came on the sidelines of the Reconstruction of Makkah Region Conference on Wednesday. “Air transport is the preferred method for pilgrims of

Dec 27: Hamas leader Ismail Haniya has said that the US had offered the Palestinian Authority government a Jerusalem suburb, Abu Dis, as an alternative to East Jerusalem for the capital of a future Palestinian state. Speaking at a meeting with Palestinian clan leaders in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, Haniya labelled President Donald Trump's recent decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital a

Sharjah, Dec 25: Sharjah's Al Majaz Waterfront will ring in 2018 with a 10-minute long fireworks display launched from 16 aligned massive barges on New Year's Eve. Visitors to Al Majaz Waterfront will also witness the new year countdown synchronised with beautiful shows by Sharjah Fountain. "A grand addition of having 16 different launching spots has been designed this year for greater coverage

Dec 24: Israeli forces have indefinitely closed down the northern entrance to the occupied West Bank twin cities of Ramallah and al-Bireh. On Saturday night, amid ongoing protests over US President Donald Trump's decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital, the Israeli Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) decided to close off the DCO checkpoint that connects