Leaders quitting Germany's anti-Islam group PEGIDA
BERLIN: Five leading members of the German “anti-Islamization” movement PEGIDA have quit a week after the group’s founder resigned in disgrace when a picture of him looking like Hitler surfaced, reports said Wednesday.Following the organization’s latest march on Sunday where attendance saw a sharp drop, weekly magazine Stern reported that its chief spokeswoman Kathrin Oertel, 37, was among those departing.The mass-market daily Bild and the conservative broadsheet Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung confirmed the news and said four other organizers had thrown in the towel at a meeting late Tuesday.Amid the fresh turmoil at the top, the group’s planned march next Monday has also been called off, a Dresden city administration spokeswoman told news agency DPA.One of those leaving, Rene Jahn, cited, according to Bild, former leader Lutz Bachmann’s “continuing links with the organization team and t...
4% petchem surge spurs Saudi market
The smooth transition in Saudi Arabia with Custodian of Two Holy Mosques King Salman ascending the t...
Airlines halt Baghdad flights after gunfire hits plane
DUBAI: Several airlines have suspended flights to Baghdad after a passenger plane arriving from the...
Partners in progress: King Salman, Obama to continue strateg...
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and US President Barack Obama pledged to work closely on a range of regional and international issues at a meeting on Tuesday, including terrorism, the Iranian nuclear talks and conflicts in neighboring states.In their first formal meeting, the talks focused broadly on counter-terrorism and regional stability with special reference to bilateral Saudi-US relations. Obama’s meet...
KSA investing billions of riyals in shale projects
American shale oil production is important for the world’s long-term energy future and Saudi Aramco has marked an additional $7 billion (SR26.25 billion) for its own shale projects, said its President and CEO Khalid Al-Falih.Aramco has already invested $3 billion (SR11.25 billion) in developing its unconventional gas resources and has earmarked an additional $7 billion, he told the Global Competitiveness Forum in Riyadh.“...

SAUDI ARABIA »

Fatwa allows citizens to pledge allegiance via social websit...
A member of the Council of Senior Scholars said pledging allegiance to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman through social networking websites is allowed, especially since the monarch is the first Saudi king to have a Twitter account.Sheikh Abdullah Al-Manie, a member of the council, said t...
Saudi man in Vegas case gets 35 years
LAS VEGAS: A 25-year-old Saudi Arabian air force sergeant has been sentenced to serve a mandatory 35 years in Nevada state prison for kidnapping and sexually abusing a 13-year-old boy at a Las Vegas Strip hotel two years ago.A judge spared Mazen Alotaibi additional time for lewdness, kidnapping and other convictions during...
Obama visit to boost relations
The landmark visit of US President Barack Obama to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, cutting short his official visit to India, reflects the historic and time-tested relations between the two strategic allies. This is the first official visit by the head of state of a major country to the Kingdom after Custodian of the Two Holy Mosq...
Mawhiba leads the way for the youth
The late Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah gave a boost to the education sector when he launched the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity “Mawhiba” in collaboration with the Ministry of Education.The late king believed that education was the way forward for his people and...
Customs intensifies bomb and drug checks
Saudi Customs has increased inspections at all the country’s entry points to counter the smuggling into the country of explosives, drugs, radioactive material and other contraband.Customs officers are using hi-tech equipment and 452 specially trained sniffer dogs to help them during inspections, according to a report publis...
Skills drive needed to boost Saudi work force
Labor Minister Adel Fakeih has reiterated the need to develop the skills of local manpower to reduce the Kingdom’s dependence on more than 10 million expatriate workers.One of Saudi Arabia’s most pressing issues is to develop the skills of its young citizens, he said.The minister made these comments during a panel session a...
KSA’s education strategy geared toward sustainable development
Education Minister Prince Khaled Al-Faisal said that the Kingdom has launched an ambitious national strategy to achieve sustainable development at all levels through integrated education.In a keynote speech made at the GCF 2015 which concluded here on Tuesday, Prince Faisal said that it is imperative that states should draw...
Fund to help Kingdom’s enterprising women soon
Deen Al-Manahil, a Riyadh-based organization, will launch in March the Princess Madawi bint Musaad Fund for Women’s Development to help aspiring Saudi female entrepreneurs.“We will provide them with either training or seed money so that they can start their own business ventures,” said Hanan Asmari, Deen Al-Manahil’s manage...
Young Saudis prefer reading news online
A research by the Abha-based Aseer News has revealed that Saudi youth prefer reading online editions of local newspapers.“We conducted a survey last December with 30,000 Saudis. About 12,000 participants aged between 15 and 35 or 40 percent of the sample said that they prefer to read news online,” said Saeed S. Al-Ravie, As...
Inspectors close down 12 health stores for violations
The municipality of Wady Al-Dawasir closed down 12 shops for various violations during a surprise inspection tour on Monday.“Shops selling produce and other food items were shut down due to violations of health standards,” said Ibrahim Al-Safi, the director of public relations at the municipality.He said the inspection team...
15 hurt in EP traffic accident
15 people have been injured in a traffic accident involving 54 cars on the Jubail–Dammam highway. According to eyewitnesses, there was a minor collision between two cars, which was followed by a series of cars colliding with each other because of the heavy fog that engulfed the area, blocking the vision of drivers who could...
Gulf press vows to raise standards
The fifth conference of the Gulf Press Association (GPA) concluded in Muscat on Tuesday, adopting a number of important resolutions to strengthen the standard of journalism and journalists in the GCC countries.The conference set up a committee at the GPA secretariat to meet with GCC Secretary-General Abdullatif Al-Zayani an...
Obama arrives in Kingdom to meet King Salman
US President Barack Obama landed Tuesday in Riyadh where he was received by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman. Obama is leading a high-level delegation of current and former American officials to Saudi Arabia to pay respects following King Abdullah's death and to take measure of the kingdom's new monarch.Obama c...
» Salman, Obama set for strategic talks
» Dawn of a new era under King Salman
» Story behind the king’s title
» Bodyguard of King Abdullah served...
» Crown Prince Muqrin ‘saved my...
» New campaign to reduce car fuel...
» Stray bullet hits boy, 5, in Riyadh
» SCTA suspends ongoing tourism...
» Courts have SR6bn backlog of finance...
» Saudis fortunate to have King Salman...
» Ministry sets up call centers to help...
» Tourist arrivals in Jeddah increase...

MIDDLE EAST »

Mortar bombs hit Israeli military position in Golan Heights: army
JERUSALEM: Mortar bombs hit an Israeli military position in the occupied Golan H...
Airlines halt Baghdad flights after gunfire hits plane

DUBAI: Several airlines have suspended flights to Baghdad after a passenger plan...

Kurds expand offensive against Islamic State

BEIRUT: Kurdish fighters expanded their offensive Tuesday after driving Islamic...

8 die in Tripoli terrorist attack

TRIPOLI: As many as eight people, including five foreigners, were killed when gu...

Kidnappers threaten to kill Japan hostage ‘in 24 hours’

TOKYO: Senior Japanese officials were meeting late on Tuesday after a video emer...

WORLD »

Malaysia to release MH370 report one day before anniversary
Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia will release an interim report on its investigation into...
Greece will seek ‘fair, mutually beneficial’ EU deal: Tsipras

Athens: Greece will seek a “fair, mutually beneficial” deal with its EU creditor...

Sri Lanka reinstates impeached chief justice

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s new president has restored the country’s former chief justi...

Sri Lanka lawyers demand chief justice resign

COLOMBO: Lawyers and rights activist have demanded Sri Lanka's chief justice res...

Pakistan opposes US, India nuclear agreement

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tuesday said it opposed a new nuclear deal signed between th...

SPORTS »

Ocampo, Castro lift Talk ‘N Text to victory
MANILA: It was exciting the way it went down, but Talk ‘N Text coach Jong Uichic...
Rose hits winner as Bulls end Warriors’ 19-game home streak

OAKLAND, California: Derrick Rose hit a step-back jumper with 7 seconds remainin...

Woods tries to put focus back on golf

SCOTTSDALE, Arizona: Tiger Woods had a full set of teeth and was chomping at the...

1st Hyundai Golf Tournament tomorrow at Nofa

Coming on the heels of a first major event, Nofa Golf Resort unveils its first t...

Top names teeing off at Dubai Desert Classic

DUBAI: Three of the top-five ranked players in the world will head a stellar fie...

ECONOMY »

Tadawul: Petchems, banks surge again on strong volume
JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s stock market gained strongly for a second straight day as oil prices rebounded from the day’s lows, reinforcing a growing perception among investor...
After setting iPhone record, what does Apple do next?
SAN FRANCISCO: Apple CEO Tim Cook says consumer demand for new iPhones has been “staggering” and “hard to comprehend.” That helped the company report record-smashing earnings for its latest quarter and primed its stock for a rally on Wednesday.But after selling a record 74.5 million iPhones in three months that ended in Dec...
Arab Health 2015: New MRI solutions to boost patient comfort
Royal Philips has announced the launch of Ingenia 1.5T S at Arab Health 2015, a new MRI system designed for “First Time Right” imaging and for faster workflow, while enhancing the patient’s experience during magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations.Philips will showcase its Ingenia 1.5T S solution at the Sheikh SaaedHa...
Dusseldorf and Madrid set for Emirates A380 flights
Emirates, a global connector of people, places and economies, has announced the launch of A380 services to two European destinations: Dusseldorf and Madrid. For both cities, Emirates will be the first airline to operate a scheduled A380 service, offering an unmatched travel experience to business and leisure travelers alike...
Singapore eases monetary policy in surprise move
SINGAPORE: Singapore has become the latest country to ease monetary policy in a surprise move as plunging oil prices hit inflation and the central bank looks to boost the tepid economy.The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), the city-state’s central bank, said it would slow the appreciation of the local dollar against a...
Profits of Saudi cement firms rise 6% to SR5.9bn
Net profits of the listed cement firms grew by 6 percent to reach SR5.9 billion in 2014 compared to SR5.6 billion in 2013, according to a financial report.Meanwhile, profits of the fourth quarter (2014) grew by 31 percent to SR 1.44 billion compared to SR 1.1 billion in the same period last year, the report, filed by Aleqte...
Yahoo announces tax-free spinoff of Alibaba stake
NEW YORK: Yahoo is spinning off its stake in Chinese Internet giant Alibaba, splitting off the valuable holdings in a move that sidesteps taxes.The strategy aims to deliver more cash for shareholders than an outright sale of the $40-billion stake, avoiding a hefty tax bill, and to help Yahoo's efforts to refocus under chief...
Apple profit hits record on ‘staggering’ iPhone sales
SAN FRANCISCO: Apple’s quarterly profit rocketed to a corporate record $18 billion at the end of last year on booming sales of big-screen iPhone models, especially in China.The California tech titan also announced that it had sold its one billionth device powered by its iOS mobile operating system, on a day of dizzying figu...
4% petchem surge spurs Saudi market
The smooth transition in Saudi Arabia with Custodian of Two Holy Mosques King Salman ascending the throne is expected to have a positive impact on the local stock market in the coming weeks, say Saudi economists.The market has perceived the recent developments in a positive light, they said.“The pledge of allegiance by the...
Expert urges global firms to be ready for any crisis
What the world faces today affects corporate strategies, says Patrick Dixon, a futurist and chairman of trends forecasting company Global Change.He held out this warning toward the end of the 8th Global Competitiveness Forum (GCF-2015).Companies will have to act speedily in providing jobs in the future, and to develop alter...
Gulf states ‘may need to rethink monetary policy’
DUBAI: Gulf Arab oil states may need to rethink longstanding economic policies, including their fixed exchange rates, over the next five to 10 years as economic cycles in the region and the US diverge, a senior Qatar central bank official said in a research paper.The GCC nations have pegged their currencies to the US dollar...
Zain Saudi gets regulator nod for second capital cut
JEDDAH: Zain Saudi has received regulatory approval to cut its capital for a second time, a move common in Saudi Arabia to offset accumulated losses, the telecom operator said.The company, 37 percent owned by Kuwait’s Zain, has yet to make a quarterly profit since launching service in 2008, having paid about SR23 billion ($...
Industrial Investment and petchem sectors in limelight
The Saudi stock market ended Tuesday’s trading session solidly in the green. The benchmark Tadawul All-Share Index posted its largest intra-day increase of 2015, adding 206 points or 2.43 percent to close at 8,686.16.TASI’s year-to-date collection reached 4.23 percent on Tuesday. Large cap with 2.61 percent upward jump rema...

OPINION »

Javier Solana
Integrating Europe’s Muslims
He came from Algeria seeking a better life, anticipating an escape from poverty,...
Osama Al Sharif
In the eye of the storm
More than a week has passed since the Houthis escalated their takeover of Yemen...
Susan V. Ople
Remembering the ‘reformer’
Filipinos across Saudi Arabia and their families back home owe a debt of gratitu...
S.N.M. Abdi
Shifting sands of Lankan politics
The first foreign envoy to call on the new Sri Lankan President, Maithripala Sir...

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ART & CULTURE »

Telling ‘The Story of Kamin’ — one pen s...

It takes imagination, time, patience and a lot of creativity to create a piece of art. A canvas, a freshly painted white wall, a restaurant napkin or on the side panels of a notebook can all be materials to create something amazing after a moment or two of inspiration. For some, the act of creativity is an innate feeling and it can result in ama...
Abdullah Qandeel’s art: A thin...
Purists alarmed at increasing...
Filipino wins in photo expo
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SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY »

Facebook, Instagram suffer global outage

PARIS: Facebook, the world’s most popular social network, and its Instagram photo-sharing site were interrupted temporarily Tuesday, provoking panic, rumors of a hack, and jokes of how more than one billion users were struggling to cope.
“This was not the result of a third party attack,” Facebook said in a statement after its services were...
Cosmic puzzle settled: Comets...
Turn your smartphone into a sc...
KSA’s digital generation
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FASHION »

Hatem Al-Akeel: Revolutionizing the humb...

Knowledge is key in the fashion industry. Knowing what works and what doesn’t is what helps improve a designer in their quest for innovative designs. Inspired by different cultures, attentive to the latest in the fashion world and keen on details is what defines Hatem Al-Akeel. Coming from no background in design, he ventured in the world with h...
Anton Heunis: The hawk-eyed je...
Hair masks: Top 10 tips for lo...
Argan oil: The Moroccan ‘liqui...

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TRAVEL »

Discovering the Kingdom

Historical monuments and sites can be found throughout Saudi Arabia. The Kingdom has many attractions designed for those who want to know more about the country. The Kingdom offers several tourist places such as atmospheric souqs and villages reflecting the heritage and culture of Saudi Arabia.
This place is more than a harsh desert. We hav...
SCTA suspends ongoing tourism...
Tourist arrivals in Jeddah inc...
Japan’s modern architecture on...
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FOOD & HEALTH »

California declares electronic cigarettes a health threat
SACRAMENTO, California: California health officials say electronic cigarettes are a health threat, especially to children, and should be strictly regulated like tobacco products.A report released Wednesday by the California Department of Public Health says e-cigarettes emit cancer-causing chemicals and get users hooked on nicotine. California Health Officer Ron Chapman says new generations of young people will become nicotine addicts if the products remain largely unregulated.E-cigarettes heat liquid nicotine from cartridges into inhalable vapor without tar and other chemicals found in traditional cigarettes. E-cigarette makers say their products are far safer than tobacco.Other states...
You quit smoking, now what?
Ever wondered what happens after you quit smoking? Many people fall back and get back to their bad habits. There are many reasons for this, some of which are mental while others are physical.We just found out about smoking detox where you can literally detox cigarettes out of your body. “This can only be assisted by controlling what you eat and drink on a daily basis. To be able to get the maximum benefit out of this type of detox, begin by quitting cigarettes right on the spot,” said pulmonologist Dr. Khalil Saad. “Your body will take its time to fully recover and this could take up to a period of years. Smoking is very harmful and your body cannot kick out the toxins in a short period of...
Our kids’ bodies contaminated with chemicals (Part 12)
In the last two articles, Parts 10 and 11, I revealed to you the many toxic aspects of fast foods. Children are exposed to myriads of synthetic chemicals, high amounts of simple sugars, salts, artificial sweeteners, and trans fat, which the fast food and beverage industries add to hamburgers, fries, frying oils, ice-creams, sodas, soft and energy drinks, snack bars, and others to enhance flavor, texture, consistency, color, and more. Their ploy is to get you and your children addicted to their products and concoctions. Unfortunately, these toxic substances are not studied sufficiently. As a result, we see their health-harming effects in the forms of asthma, allergies, nutrient deficiencies...

OFFBEAT »

A book everyone should have at home
‘Home Doctor” is a book that everyone should have at hand in the house. Nowadays, we are more aware of health issues tha...
Jeddah Comedy Club: A platform for comedians
If you are based or staying in Jeddah, you must have heard about the Jeddah Comedy Club. Launched late 2012, the JCC has made history! They are a registered official platform for local stand-up comedians to showcase their talent; not only that, they also nurture up and coming talents. Live entertainment in Saudi Arabia is very hard to find but that’s why Jeddah Comedy Club is quickly becoming a “must attend” event for locals and tourists who are visiting Jeddah. Jeddah Comedy Club was created by Yaser Bakr, a Saudi blogger and comedian himself in association with other comedians. All JCC...
Sean Penn to get French honor
PARIS: Sean Penn is to get an honorary French film award in a Paris ceremony next month in recognition of him being a cinema “living legend,” the organizers said in a statement.The 54-year-old is a “mythical actor, a politically active personality and an exceptional director,” said the French Academy of Cinema.As “a standalone icon in American cinema,” he will receive an honorary Cesar award during the academy’s annual prize ceremony in the French capital on February 20 — two days before the Oscars in the US.Penn, who won Oscars for his performances in “Milk” and “Mystic River,” has earned a...

CLASSIFIEDS »

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MATRIMONIAL
INDIAN(HYD)SM Parents Invite alliance for their daughter,age 30, height 5'4" , M.com, PHD. Working i...
2015-01-28 14:04
ANNOUNCEMENT
I, Sweeny Jacqueline Pinto, Indian national, holding Passport No. L5731834, issued at Bangalore on 1...
2015-01-27 21:36
MATRIMONIAL
Pakistani SM well settled parents invite alliance for their beautiful daughter, 23 years, 5’7”, slim...
2015-01-27 17:31
MATRIMONIAL
Indian Hyderabadi parents seek alliance for their eldest daughter, 20 years, final year engineering,...
2015-01-27 17:27

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