Middle East

Damascus, April 6: Syrian troops attacked the Damascus suburb of Duma, an assault activists said shows that Bashar Assad’s government is intensifying violence in the days before the April 10 UN deadline to pull out forces from cities. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said yesterday the crisis is getting worse and claiming more lives every day despite Assad’s pledge. The UN chief appealed to Assad

Sharjah, April 5: Dr Shaikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, stressed that the residential districts in the emirate will be only for families and bachelors will be prevented from residing there. Shaikh Sultan said this while touring Wasit Street in Sharjah City, accompanied by Salah bin Butti, Head of the Department of Planning and Survey, and Sultan Al

CAIRO, April 5: Egypt’s ruling military council has reiterated its pledge to hand over power in the country to a civilian leader following the next month’s presidential vote. “The Army will hand over power in Egypt to a newly elected president in late June, even if a constitutional commission does not conclude its work on the country’s basic law,” Major General Mamdouh Shahin, chief legal advisor

Dubai, April 5: Dubai's top traffic official has warned pedestrians against crossing roads with a speed of 80 km/h plus from undesignated spots because that is a crime punishable by the UAE Traffic Law. Pedestrians are often advised not to cross highways with speeds of more than 80 km/h because they could be held liable for any accidents resulting from their irrational behaviour, said Senior Chief

London, April 5: Defense Minister Prince Salman, who is on a multiday official visit to the UK, held talks with British counterpart Philip Hammond at the Defense Ministry headquarters in London and discussed prospects of expanding bilateral cooperation. The talks were attended by Saudi Ambassador to the UK Prince Muhammad bin Nawaf, State Minister Musaed Al-Aiban, Air Force Commander Gen. Muhammad

Abu Dhabi, April 4: The UAE Ministry of Labour and India’s Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs today signed a protocol to streamline the admission of Indian contract workers by way of an electronic contract registration and validation system. A milestone in the efforts to upgrade rules and procedures governing contract employment of Indian nationals in the UAE, the new system heralds a joint

Riyadh, April 4: The Shoura Council rejected a move to tax the incomes of individual expatriate workers in the public and private sectors at its 18th regular session yesterday. The session was chaired by Council Vice President Dr. Mohammed bin Amin Jafri. Secretary-General of the Shoura Council Dr. Mohammed Al-Ghamdi said the council made the decision after hearing the arguments for and against

London, April 4: British Prime Minister David Cameron held talks here yesterday with Defense Minister Prince Salman and discussed issues of mutual concern and ways of strengthening bilateral ties. The meeting at No. 10 Downing Street was attended by British Defense Secretary Philip Hammond, Saudi Ambassador to UK Prince Muhammad bin Nawaf and State Minister Musaed Al-Aiban. Prince Salman arrived

Dubai, April 4: Freedom is in sight for Indian fisherman Mathew Joseph who has been held in the UAE for nearly three months in an unusual case of mistaken identity. The Indian mission here has promised to intervene in his case after verifying that he is not the wanted man Mathew Joseph with whom the former had bizarre likeness in many things. After Khaleej Times published his plight on Monday, the

Riyadh, April 3: The Council of Ministers yesterday approved the law for combating money laundering, which will also be applied to fight funding terrorism and terror organizations. The Cabinet meeting, which was chaired by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, also approved the establishment of Makkah Techno Valley as a Saudi joint stock company. “The new company is aimed at promoting a