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Erdogan, El-Sissi set for key Saudi talks

Riyadh will witness this week a flurry of diplomatic activities beginning Sunday, when Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman will meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sissi.The Turkish president, who arrived in Makkah Saturday night, will perform Umrah before proceeding to Riyadh for official talks.In another meeting, “King Salman and Egyptian President El-Sissi will discuss bilateral, regional and international issues, including constructive cooperation in all areas of mutual concern,” said Affifi Ahmed Abdelwahab, Egyptian ambassador to Saudi Arabia. “King Salman has been invited to attend the Arab League summit as well as the high-profile international economic conference in Egypt,” he pointed out.Abdelwahab confirmed that the Arab League summit would be held in Sharm El-Sheikh on March 28. On the other hand, the international...

Suffering in silence: Painful memories of ungrateful childre...

The phrase, “Allah will provide for us,” is repeated often by the residents of the women’s home in t...

Egyptian court declares Hamas a ‘terrorist organization’

CAIRO: An Egyptian court declared Hamas a “terrorist organization” on Saturday, further isolating th...

New KSA campaign to expel illegal expats

Intensive security measures are in force to seize foreigners who violate the Kingdom’s labor laws, said a Jeddah police source.Security checkpoints on roads are also focused on ensuring the success of Saudi Arabia’s campaign against undocumented workers. “The highway security patrol enforces the regulations and directions of the Ministry of Interior,” said Maj. Gen. Khaled Al-Qahtani, commander of the special force for hi...

Islamic studies teachers ‘must stick to curriculum’

The Education Ministry has directed all teachers, both male and female, not to intervene in the personal choices of students unless those choices contradict the community’s accepted public behavior.The ministry noted that each school has special departments for guidance.Other educators urged Islamic studies teachers not to interfere in the personal lives of students, such as their choices of music, whether to attend parti...

SAUDI ARABIA »

Many Madinah sites need better care

Several residents in the city of Madinah have drawn attention of the competent authorities toward multiple Prophet’s heritage sites and relics in the area, including wells, mountains, valleys and the Al-Faseh Mosque, which they say need better care.These sites of importance have been turned into a w...

3,000 vacancies to be available in next episode of ‘Jobs on Air’

There will be 3,000 job opportunities for unemployed young male and female Saudis, as well as for foreigners, during the tenth session of “Jobs on Air” on Al Danah television channel on Tuesday night.“Out of the 3,000, Carrefour has offered 1,000 jobs with salaries ranging from SR5,000 to SR15,000,” said Mohsin Al-Shaikh Al...

Al-Samaani: Judicial system impartial

Saudi Arabia’s justice system is based on the provisions of Islamic law derived from the Holy Qur’an and the Sunnah (tradition) of the Prophet (peace be upon him). This ensures the independence of the judiciary in Saudi Arabia and its impartiality, said Justice Minister Waleed Al-Samaani, at the recent Global Law Summit in...

Small to medium companies not fit to employ Saudi women

Business sectors in the Kingdom with less than 500 workers are not fit to employ women, at least according to assessments made by the Ministry of Labor’s adviser.In his report, the consultant stated that these kind of firms are unable to implement the ministry’s guidelines to provide a proper working environment for Saudi f...

Youth centers come up in Jeddah districts

With construction work well under way in some neighborhoods, family and youth centers are sprouting in many districts in Jeddah to help enhance family values and keep young people on track.These facilities are being established under the aegis of Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal and under the supervision of Jeddah Gov. P...

Govt unveils new system to prevent medical errors

The Ministry of Health is currently working on establishing a system to grant bonuses and incentives to workers in the health sector whose performances prove to be excellent, while imposing severe punishments on practitioners who commit medical errors, an official source at the ministry disclosed recently.“The ministry seek...

Park visit to boost ties with South Korea

South Korean President Park Geun-hye will arrive on March 3 on a two-day visit. She will meet Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and senior ministers in order to bolster bilateral ties.“The president’s visit will include a meeting with King Salman, and the two leaders will discuss how to bolster bilateral coopera...

7,375 postgraduates jobless

A total of 7,375 Saudis holding doctorate, master’s and other postgraduate degrees are currently seeking jobs, according to data released by the Ministry of Civil Service recently.According to the data, 494 are holders of advanced degrees in medical and health sciences, 254 in engineering, 431 in computers, 378 in natural s...

KSA, Zambia begin talks today

The Zambia-Saudi Joint Permanent Commission (JPC) will commence its forthcoming talks with a five-day meeting beginning on Sunday to explore ways and means to increase collaboration in various fields between the two countries.“The meeting is very important. Both the Zambian and Saudi delegates want a win-win situation in th...

Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif to visit Kingdom

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is due to visit the Kingdom on March 3 to meet Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, and to discuss a range of bilateral and regional issues of mutual interest, including counterterrorism.Addressing participants and scholars of the international counterterrorism conference that...

King Faisal Foundation to host winners’ lectures

King Faisal Foundation is hosting a series of lectures by the winners of King Faisal International Prize (KFIP) this year, according to Prince Bandar bin Saud bin Khaled, secretary general of the foundation. Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman will present the award to the winners on Sunday.In his statement, he sa...

First private society for animal rights to be established

The Ministry of Agriculture completed a study to establish the first Saudi private society for animal welfare, with their local headquarters to be based in Riyadh, sources close to the ministry informed, adding that more branches are expected to open in the future. The ministry’s assistant undersecretary for livestock, Sami...

Arabic gets priority in IPSJ school

The newly elected Board of Trustees of the first International Philippine School in Jeddah (IPSJ) has pledged to introduce quality education to keep pace with the rapid advancement of knowledge around the world.The new board members told Arab News that among the school's priorities is to improve the students' knowledge of A...

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MIDDLE EAST »

Egypt Brotherhood chief handed four life sentence

CAIRO: An Egyptian court on Saturday sentenced to life imprisonment the head of...

UN envoy in Syria to seek Aleppo truce

DAMASCUS: A UN envoy arrived in the Syrian capital Saturday for talks with the r...

Car bombs kill 27 in Baghdad

BAGHDAD: Car bombs targeting a crowded market and Shiite militia checkpoints nor...

Kuwait reopens Yemen embassy in Aden

KUWAIT CITY: Kuwait decided to reopen its Yemeni embassy in Aden, instead of the...

Jailed Kurdish leader calls on PKK to lay down arms

ANKARA: Imprisoned Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan has called on his fighte...

WORLD »

Ex-MI6 chief warns of ‘Russian danger’

LONDON: John Sawers, former head of UK’s MI6 spy agency, said Russia has become...

US president signs bill to keep Homeland Security funded

WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama has signed a one-week funding bill for the Ho...

Nepal police fire teargas at charter protesters

KATMANDU: Nepalese police Saturday fired teargas and water cannon at thousands o...

Toll in Philippine clashes with militants rises to 26

MANILA: A military assault on militants in the southern Philippines entered its...

Myanmar photojournalist arrested for satirical post

YANGON: A freelance photojournalist has been arrested in Myanmar for uploading a...

SPORTS »

Federer stuns Djokovic in Dubai

DUBAI: Roger Federer claimed the 84th title of his legendary career, kept his no...

Rooney ends goal drought as United moves up

LONDON: Wayne Rooney ended his eight-game Premier League scoring drought with a...

Safarova downs Azarenka for Qatar title

DOHA: Lucie Safarova continued her fine start to 2015 by claiming her first ever...

Warriors keep NBA lead with win at Toronto

TORONTO: Golden State led from start to finish and won 113-89 at Toronto in Frid...

Italy in last-gasp victory over Scotland

EDINBURGH: Italy’s perseverance was rewarded as a last-gasp penalty try gave the...

ECONOMY »

Al-Mansoori: SMEs are cornerstone of any economy

Investments in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) will be a key topic of discussion at the Annual Investment Meeting (AIM) 2015, to be held in Dubai from March 30 to Apr...

Concern over public health spending

NEW DELHI: India’s federal government has kept its health care budget for 2015-16 on a tight leash and asked states to contribute more funds for running the country’s flagship health programs.The government announced 297 billion rupees ($4.81 billion) for its main health department, roughly 2 percent higher than current yea...

Buffett recommends investing in stocks but avoiding mistakes

OMAHA: Billionaire Warren Buffett says owning stocks is the key to building wealth over time, but investors must avoid the common mistakes of trading too often and paying high investment fees.The billionaire investor says there’s every reason to expect stocks to perform well long-term, even if prices are volatile.Buffett sa...

OPEC's oil supply falls in February

LONDON: OPEC's oil supply has fallen this month as bad weather delayed exports from Iraq's southern ports, a Reuters survey found on Friday, slowing an expansion of supplies in the group's second-largest producer.The survey also found slightly higher output in Saudi Arabia, a sign that the largest producer in the Organizati...

India cuts corporate tax rate to woo back investors

NEW DELHI: India has announced a cut in corporate taxes and other initiatives for a more stable and predictable tax regime in a bid to woo foreign investors and spur faster growth in Asia’s third biggest economy.Finance Minister Arun Jaitley unveiled his government’s first full budget after storming to power at last year’s...

US economy slows, trade deficit widens

WASHINGTON: US economic growth braked more sharply than initially thought in the fourth quarter as businesses slowed their pace of stock accumulation and the trade deficit widened, but the underlying fundamentals remained solid.Gross domestic product expanded at a 2.2 percent annual pace, revised down from the 2.6 percent p...

Oil market 'may have bottomed out'

LONDON: Oil prices have probably touched bottom and should recover in the second half of 2015 as the collapse in the market over the last year begins to curb production, a Reuters survey of analysts showed on Friday.Oversupply is likely to keep a lid on oil over the next few months, and prices could retreat a little in the...

RCJ conference focuses on construction projects, opportunities

The Royal Commission of Jubail (RCJ) organized a conference on construction opportunities, in collaboration with MEED, in which experts and specialists took active part.Ahmed bin Mutair Al-Balawi, GM of technical affairs in the RCJ, presented the Ras Al-Khair industrial project and explained the government's aims and object...

KAEC continues to attract local and international firms

Several local and regional industrial factories in Jeddah intend to transfer their industrial activities from Jeddah to the Industrial Valley at King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) for its strategic economic location. An estimated 50 percent of Jeddah factories will be expected to change their location during the next few ye...

Sterling steadies after hitting 7-year high vs euro

LONDON: Sterling steadied after a rollercoaster week which has seen it scale seven-year highs against the euro even as doubts appear over how much more it can gain ahead of a potentially unsettling election in May.Helped by an afternoon recovery in Europe for the euro against the dollar, the pound bounced back from lows bel...

Japan inflation falls on lower energy costs

TOKYO: Japan’s inflation rate has fallen to its lowest level since just after Tokyo launched a high-profile offensive aimed at conquering years of falling prices and tepid growth, data showed.The disappointing figures — weighed by weak consumer spending and falling energy prices — challenge Bank of Japan chief Haruhiko Kuro...

Turkish central bank chief to stay put after lira hits record low

ISTANBUL: Turkish Central Bank Governor Erdem Basci sought to calm jittery investors, appearing to dismiss rumors that he would resign and giving a brief lift to the lira currency after it tumbled to a record low.Basci’s future, and the independence of the central bank, have been a concern for investors, particularly since...

German MPs approve Greek bailout extension

BERLIN: Germany’s parliament has approved an extension of Greece’s bailout after Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble, who has voiced doubts about whether Athens can be trusted, promised he would not let Greece “blackmail” its euro zone partners.With 542 members of the Bundestag voting “yes,” including almost all of Chancell...

OPINION »

Rasheed Abou-Alsamh

Banks have to do better

I just wrote a few weeks ago about the immense challenges that Saudi entrepreneu...

Eyad Abu Shakra

Need for pragmatic approach

Certain regional developments these days give an impression as if the Arab world...

Stephen Holmes & Ivan Krastev

Ukraine: Caught in the crossfire

THE ongoing turmoil in Ukraine has frequently been compared to the Yugoslav cris...

Harun Yahya

Understanding Turkey’s stance

Last Sunday, the global media reported that Turkish tanks had rolled into Syria...

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ART & CULTURE »

Ba9ma Banat: Reviving the Prophet’s lega...

Dareen M. Edress is the marketing manager of “Ba9ma Banat,” an innovative institution that revives the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) among young girls through different programs and interesting products such as calendars, diaries and books comprising the sayings of the Prophet (pbuh).
In a conversation with Arab News...

Dubai gets its first taste of...

Saudi steals show with his art...

The mural that stole the natio...

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY »

Apple Cars are on the way!

Apple is said to be working on producing electric cars as early as 2020 and a team is now working on the project.
The task is not going to be easy, but Apple...

Oscars cause greater piracy

‘YouTube Kids’ launched

Get rid of cable complications

FASHION »

The secret style of a Vogue Overdosed

Ghalia Mahmoudi is a happening fashion blogger who writes about local and international fashion and style. She is a marketing student sharing her fashion addiction with the world through her blog www.vogueoverdosed.com.
Stylish people have always surrounded Mahmoudi...

Alex Soldier: Jewelry that is...

Fashion designers pin hopes on...

Fight and win cellulite battle

TRAVEL »

Edinburgh: A city of history and culture

Soaked in Celtic and medieval history, Edinburgh is a cultural tapestry that’s largely visually defined by hills, cathedrals, and the bold stone towers of Edinburgh Castle. The city is very festive where people like to celebrate everything from art, music, and food to theater, sports and comedy.
One of the most touristic activities in the...

Johannesburg: Heart of S. Afri...

Get inspired by Cuba

Discovering the Kingdom

FOOD & HEALTH »

90% of Gulf camels ‘MERS-infected’

About 90 percent of camels in the Gulf region are carriers of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV), which requires the urgent need for a vaccine, according to a leading Health Ministry official.In addition, the virus can be transmitted over a 1-meter distance, Abdullah Asiri, undersecretary for preventative health at the ministry, was quoted as saying in a local publication on Tuesday.Asiri said that 50 percent of camels in Al-Ahsa region carry the virus. A person who comes into contact with infected camels can transmit the virus to family members without showing symptoms of the disease, he said.He said mass extermination of these camels was not an acceptable solution...

The Parkinson’s mystery

Parkinson's disease is a degenerative neurological disorder that affects around seven million people globally, and one million in the United States alone, usually afflicting people older than 50. The disease strikes 2 percent of those over age 65, and 5-10 percent of cases occur in people under 50. The cause remains unknown, preventing us from arresting the disease’s development — though environmental and occupational factors loom large in recent research.Chinese and Indian texts from 1,000 BC appear to describe a similar affliction. But James Parkinson was the first to describe the disease in detail, in 1817. Those developing Parkinson’s suffer slow movement, tremors, stiffness, difficulty...

A breakfast spot that is not just a morning place

Riyadh has grown so much in the last 10 years and this is particularly noticeable when you look at restaurants. Nowadays most restaurants have opened outlets in Riyadh’s new districts. This is the case with Can Café. This fashionable coffee shop has a branch on the trendy Al-Tahliya Street lined up with some of the best restaurants in the capital and another outlet on Omar Bin Abdul Aziz Road (Exit 14) in the Rabwa district. Can Café is a good place to have breakfast food at any time of the day! You can order “Four pieces of French Toast with maple syrup, orange juice and American coffee” for SR32. “French Toast”, known in French as “Pain Perdu”is a delightful dessert consisting of slices...

OFFBEAT »

Prince William evokes Diana memories in Japan trip

KORIYAMA, Japan: Britain’s Prince William is spending the latter half of his four-day stay in Japan, starting Saturday,...

Bollywood's Sonam tests positive for swine flu

MUMBAI: Bollywood actor Sonam Kapoor on Friday tested H1N1 virus positive after she was admitted into Sterling Hospital in Rajkot.Sonam, who is in Gondal town of Rajkot district, some 30 km away from Rajkot, for the shooting of the film ‘Prem Ratan Dhan Payo’ which also features Salman Khan, was rushed to hospital on Friday morning after she complained of viral fever. “She was admitted to hospital with complaint of viral fever and we sent her samples for various tests including swine flu. She has been tested swine flu positive,” Dr. Chirag Matravadia, Head, Critical Care Unit at Sterling...

Obama on Nimoy: ‘I loved Spock’

WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama on Friday paid tribute to late “Star Trek” actor Leonard Nimoy, lauding his portrayal of the logical Mr.Spock as well as his contributions to the arts and sciences.“Long before being nerdy was cool, there was Leonard Nimoy,” Obama said in a statement, after the actor’s death at his Los Angeles home at age 83.The US president praised the Boston-born star as a “lifelong lover of the arts and humanities, a supporter of the sciences, generous with his talent and his time.”“And of course, Leonard was Spock — Cool, logical, big-eared and level-headed, the...