Middle East

Jeddah, Jun 15: The midday work ban in the Kingdom comes into effect Sunday, the Labor Ministry said on Saturday. The three-hour work ban from 12 noon to 3 p.m. will continue until Sept. 15, it added. The ministry said workers at oil and gas companies and emergency maintenance are exempt from the rule, but companies should take adequate measures for their protection from sun. The ministry said it

Jeddah, Jun 13: Domestic Haj companies have forged an alliance to provide 10,000 local pilgrims the opportunity to perform Haj this year for SR2,750. The price for a low-cost Haj will range between SR2,750 and SR5,000 while those wanting extra services have to pay SR9,800 and more. Pilgrims opting for low-cost services will be given tents in different parts of Mina, said Saad Al-Qurashi, chairman

Jeddah, Jun 11: Justice Minister Mohammed Al-Eissa has denounced international rights groups for attacking the Kingdom’s judiciary, saying laws in this country are based on divine precepts contained in the Holy Qur'an. “Any attack on the judiciary will be considered an attack on the Kingdom’s sovereignty,” he said recently. Speaking to American lawyers, legal consultants and academics in

Jeddah, Jun 10: Muslims should expect scorching temperatures of over 50 degrees Celsius and more than 15 hours a day of fasting in Ramadan this year. However, the hours will decrease slightly to 14 hours and 40 minutes toward the end of the holy month. Makkah, Madinah, Yanbu, Riyadh and Dammam, are expected to record the highest mercury levels. Hussain Al-Qahtani, spokesperson of the Presidency of

Jeddah, Jun 9: The Labor Ministry announced Sunday that it would allow firms in the high and medium green categories of Nitaqat to recruit foreign workers required for the expansion of their business activities. However, the same privilege will not be available for companies in the lower green, yellow and red categories. “We have clearly mentioned the categories of companies that would benefit

New Delhi, Jun 7: Bahrain's national carrier Gulf Air has been directed to pay compensation of 20 lakh to an Indian passenger by a District Consumer Forum here after he was denied the boarding pass at the airport here to travel to Qatar in 2008 despite having valid documents and lost his job. Terming it as a case for "punitive" compensation, New Delhi Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum directed the

Jeddah, Jun 7: Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah telephoned newly elected Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sissi on Friday to pledge the Kingdom’s support for the country’s economic development. El-Sissi thanked King Abdullah for assisting Egypt and congratulating him on winning the elections. “This is the Kingdom’s duty based on our religion, ethics and the joint destiny of the

Riyadh, Jun 6: There has been an 80 percent decrease in the number of MERS coronavirus cases during the past six weeks due to the preventive measures, Acting Health Minister Adel Fakeih has told the Shoura Council. Fakeih enumerated the measures taken by the Ministry of Health in coordination with all local and global agencies and the ministry of agriculture. He said that the same efforts would be

Ras Al Khaimah, Jun 5: A four-year-old Egyptian boy emerged from a serious car crash in Ras Al Khaimah with slight leg injuries after he was protectively hugged by his father who was driving the vehicle, according to police in the northern emirate. The father was driving his car on Wikalat Road and his son was seated next to him when the vehicle swerved off the road because of high speed and hit

Riyadh, Jun 4: The Ministry of Health on Tuesday said the Kingdom’s death toll from the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) is actually 282, or 92 more than the tally recorded as of June 2. According to the Ministry of Health’s Command & Control Center, which was set up last week by Acting Health Minister Adel Fakeih, the new data came about following a thorough review by the center starting