Middle East

Makkah, Jan 7: Some 311,000 pilgrims used the Haj Metro last season, with zero technical malfunctions and a high level of satisfaction with the system, an official report has said. Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal received a Makkah Development Authority evaluation of the operation of the Mashaer Railway, known as the Haj Metro, covering last year’s busiest pilgrimage season. It found there were

Jeddah, Jan 6: The Middle East’s top tech investors are hopeful the region’s Internet businesses are in for a boost, after Apple confirmed its participation in a $100 billion Saudi-backed mega fund. The iPhone maker on Wednesday confirmed its plan to invest $1 billion in a tech fund being set up by SoftBank Group Corp, according to reports. The Japanese telecoms group was previously said to be in

Dubai, Jan 5: An Arab opposition group has claimed two pipeline bombings in Iran’s oil-rich south and threatened to launch more attacks in the coming year as the country tries to boost production following the nuclear deal with world powers. Iranian Interior Ministry spokesman Salman Samani later denied the claim by the Arab Struggle Movement for the Liberation of Ahwaz, which said it bombed the

Cairo, Jan 4: A report alleging human rights violations in Yemen by Houthi rebels has recorded 949 cases of damaged public property and 2,673 instances of private property damage, the Saudi Embassy here reported on Tuesday. The damage varied between complete and partial by bombardment from Houthi militants and loyalists of deposed President Abdullah Saleh against civilian homes and government and

Riyadh, Jan 3: The Cabinet, chaired by King Salman at Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh on Monday, expressed appreciation for his order to organize a Kingdom-wide fundraising campaign to provide humanitarian assistance to the Syrian people. The Cabinet praised the king’s directive to allocate SR100 million ($26.7 million) for the campaign, his donation of SR20 million ($5.3 million), Crown Prince

Beirut, Jan 2: Syrian government warplanes resumed their bombardment of a rebel-held valley near Damascus on Sunday after nearly 24 hours with no air raids, a rebel official and monitors said, during the third day of a fragile cease-fire. The truce deal, brokered by Russia and Turkey which back opposing sides in the conflict and welcomed unanimously by the United Nations Security Council, has been

Jeddah, Dec 31: Security measures have been tightened in global capitals ahead of tonight’s New Year celebrations, amid heightened fears after a spate of terror attacks. Security experts said however the barricades, road closures and deployment of heavily armed police in many cities is more a show of force than an effective means to thwart an attack. As the world ushers in 2017, security will be

Jeddah, Dec 30: The Ministry of Haj and Umrah launched a number of scheduled meetings with heads of delegations at Haj Affairs offices of more than 80 countries, including Iran, to discuss regulations and procedures related to pilgrims. Minister of Haj and Umrah Mohammed Saleh bin Taher Bentin underlined that an invitation has been sent to the Iranian Haj delegation to attend those meetings. He

Jeddah, Dec 29: The Jeddah Spring Festival, starting in January, will showcase Saudi Arabia’s customs and traditions through programs for families and visitors to the Kingdom. The spring festival is being organized by the Association of Neighborhood Centers in Jeddah, on King’s Road in front of the Red Sea Mall for a month, and will provide jobs to youths and occupy young people and the community

Jerusalem, Dec 28: An Israeli committee is to discuss issuing permits for more settler homes in annexed east Jerusalem, despite a landmark UN resolution demanding an end to such activity. The Ir Amim NGO, which monitors settlement building, said the planning committee could approve permits for 618 housing units in the mainly Palestinian eastern sector of the city. It would mark the first such