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Thousands of tearful mourners descended on Al-Yamamah Palace on Saturday to offer condolences to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman following the death of King Abdullah on Friday. Islamic scholars, tribal chiefs and officials also pledged allegiance to King Salman in the ceremony seen as a public endorsement of the new king.After pledging his allegiance, Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Asheikh said: “On this blessed day, we pledge allegiance to King Salman as the legitimate king, Prince Muqrin as crown prince, Prince Mohammed bin Naif as deputy crown prince.” He added: “Dear brothers and sisters, we must maintain security and stability in the Kingdom.”He offered King Salman religious advice, praying to God to support him and grant him patience. The royal court will also hold a condolence ceremony on Sunday night. Speaking to Arab News, Amin Al-Jaafri, deputy speaker of the Sh...

Global media hail Abdullah’s legacy

Newspapers all over the world were unanimous in praising the legacy of reforms and peace-making effo...

Schools and government offices closed on Sunday

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman announced on Saturday that schools and educational ins...

World leaders descend on Riyadh

A long list of high-profile world leaders arrived in the capital on Saturday to pay their last respects to King Abdullah, who breathed his last on Friday.US President Barack Obama telephoned Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman on Saturday to convey his condolences and congratulated him on ascending the throne. King Salman thanked the president for his noble gesture. Obama has cut short his India visit in order t...

Prince Saud undergoes surgery in US

Foreign Minister Prince Saud underwent a successful vertebrae surgery at a US hospital on Saturday, the royal court announced. “Prince Saud will undergo naturopathy treatment that follows after such surgeries,” the royal court said in a brief statement.Prince Saud is a senior member of the royal family and one of the oldest foreign ministers in the world. He has been holding this position since Oct. 13, 1975.As a result o...

SAUDI ARABIA »

King Abdullah remembered for his many achievements

Members of the Shoura Council and senior government officials said that the country has lost a wise leader who took the nation to great heights of peace and prosperity, “We have lost a wise leader who dedicated his life and efforts to serve his nation, and he remained the guardian of security and st...

Mega projects propelled Kingdom’s progress

Describing the contribution of King Abdullah, who died on Friday, as enormous, a cross-section of economists expressed their happiness over the continuance of his policies by his successor Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman.Speaking to Arab News, they recounted King Abdullah’s contribution, especially in the econ...

Leader par excellence

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, who took charge as the seventh king of Saudi Arabia on Friday, is a man for difficult missions with distinguished leadership qualities. He has established strong relations with world leaders and worked closely with all previous kings, says Saudi authors and researchers well ver...

Tributes from world leaders

King Abdullah was one of the greatest and best leaders of our Arab and Islamic nations who devoted his life to the service of his homeland and nation.— Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-ThaniKing Abdullah was known as a wise and consistent statesman and politician, a leader loved and respected by his people and had a de...

King Abdullah was known for rehab efforts

The late King Abdullah’s rehabilitation efforts which were extended across the world are legendary and the people of various countries who benefitted from these efforts have expressed their profound gratitude to the late king.Last year, King Abdullah donated $500 million to the UN relief efforts in Iraq for displaced Iraqis...

‘We lost a loving father’

Saudis from all walks of life recalled the visionary steps of the late King Abdullah who, they said, will be greatly missed by all.Zubaidah Khayyat, a staffer at the Armed Forces Hospital in King Abdul Aziz Airbase in Dhahran, said: “Saudis did not only lose a king, we have all lost a loving father.”Ruaa Hariri, a lecturer...

Crown Prince Muqrin is an experienced administrator

Crown Prince Muqrin bin Abdul Aziz is a former air force pilot who has a passion for astronomy, reading and agricultural research. He has more than 50 years’ experience as an administrator, civil servant and military officer.Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman appointed Prince Muqrin as crown prince and deputy pre...

World leaders fly to Saudi Arabia to offer condolences

RIYADH: Global leaders will fly to Saudi Arabia on Saturday and Sunday to offer condolences on the death of King Abdullah, who died early on Friday, testimony to Riyadh’s important role in energy markets and the fight against Islamist militancy.US Vice President Joe Biden, Russia’s Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, Britain’s...

King Salman’s vision: Stability, unity

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman took charge as the new ruler of Saudi Arabia on Friday in a smooth transition following the death of King Abdullah and pledged to continue the current government policies to ensure stability and unity in the country. Addressing the nation, King Salman also urged the citizens to...

The whole nation is rallying behind King Salman

Saudis recalled the late King Abdullah’s concern for the people in general and Saudis in particular, and his unique contribution in making their lives peaceful and comfortable. They expressed their full faith in his successor, King Salman.Omar Abdullah Nasseef, dean of the English language institute of King Abdulaziz Univer...

‘The world has lost a visionary leader’

Heads of diplomatic missions in Riyadh and Jeddah and around the world paid rich homage and deeply mourned the sad demise of King Abdullah, who passed away at around 1 a.m. on Friday, following an illness.Diplomats from across the globe sent their condolences and described King Abdullah’s death as the loss of a great vision...

King Salman: A man of great achievements

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, who ascended the throne on Friday, is an experienced administrator and statesman. His life is replete with achievements and he has made immense contributions to the Kingdom’s progress and enhancing its global reputation.During the past 60 years, King Salman has held several imp...

‘Farewell father Abdullah, we will miss you’

There has been an outpouring of sadness and grief on social media sites from students who have benefited from King Abdullah’s overseas scholarship program.Entering its 10th year, there are currently over 200,000 Saudi students spread across the United States, several European countries, the United Kingdom, South Korea, Sing...

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» The youngest Cabinet minister at 35

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MIDDLE EAST »

Thousands in Sanaa attend biggest anti-Houthi protest

SANAA: Thousands of Yemenis took to the streets on Saturday in the biggest demon...

Egypt orders retrial of 152 hard-liners

CAIRO: An Egyptian appeals court Saturday ordered a retrial of 152 hard-liners,...

Japan flays IS ‘execution’ of hostage in video

TOKYO: Japan’s government said Saturday it was attempting to verify a video post...

Japan condemns apparent IS execution, demands release of remaining...

TOKYO: Japan early on Sunday condemned a recording purporting to announce the ex...

US-Iran nuclear talks resume in Switzerland

ZURICH: Iranian and US diplomats resumed talks in Switzerland on Friday, as the...

WORLD »

Bear hug with Modi gets Obama’s India trip off to warm start

NEW DELHI: Signalling his determination to take relations with the US to a highe...

20 die after rebels reject Ukraine truce

DONETSK: As many as 20 people were killed Saturday when rockets hit a market in...

Boko Haram kills 15 villagers in Nigeria

MAIDUGURI: Boko Haram fighters have killed 15 villagers near Maiduguri, the city...

Australian women ‘joining Islamic State’

SYDNEY: Increasing numbers of young women are altering the profile of Australian...

Mauritanian prison siege ends with hostages freed

Nouakchott: A hostage crisis sparked when death row inmates in Mauritania seized...

SPORTS »

Cricket: New Zealand scoop series with 120-run victory

DUNEDIN: New Zealand wrapped up their one-day series against Sri Lanka with a ga...

Ogier edges closer to Monte Carlo victory

THOARD, France: Two-time world champion Sebastien Ogier saw his Monte Carlo Rall...

Bale nets late winner as Ronaldo sees red

MADRID: Gareth Bale scored a late winner from the penalty spot after Cristiano R...

Sensation as Chelsea, Man City humbled in FA Cup

LONDON: Premier League title challengers Chelsea and Manchester City both crashe...

Amazing Grace lands eagle, wins Qatar Masters

DOHA: South Africa’s Branden Grace produced a late surge to win the Qatar Master...

ECONOMY »

Goldman Sachs expects gold prices to rise in near term

NEW YORK: Goldman Sachs Group Inc. on Friday slashed its 2015 price forecasts for several base metals including copper and aluminium while raising its estimate for gold b...

Falling oil prices push euro zone into deflation

The global economy has started 2015 on the wrong foot. The sharp decline in oil prices pushed the euro zone into deflation in December 2014 and resulted in a significant slowdown in inflation in Japan, the UK and the US. More worrisome, there is growing evidence that these disinflationary pressures are affecting wages and,...

Self-sustainable model ‘vital to meet water and power needs in KSA’

Adil Bushnak, who is among the founders of the International Desalination Association (IDA) and chairman of Moya Bushnak, was the organizer of 10th Saudi Water and Power Forum (SWPF) with the Ministry of Water and Electricity. He is credited with being one of the ideologues of the forum, which was started in 2004 to achieve...

Global economy hopes raised after European stimulus

DAVOS: The global economic outlook just got brighter after this week’s big stimulus from the European Central Bank, leading policymakers from around the world said.In a panel at the World Economic Forum in Davos, they said a perkier Europe, coupled with a prolonged period of low oil prices, could help shore up the global ec...

ASEAN to declare single market but delays deeper integration

DAVOS: ASEAN will officially call itself a single market by year’s end, but “big things” like seamless travel within the 10-nation bloc would only come in 2020, Malaysia’s trade minister said.“We’re going to declare ourselves as an ASEAN Economic Community,” said Mustapa Mohamed, whose country holds the rotating presidency...

Coal production drops in China

BEIJING: China recorded its first drop in coal production since 2000 last year, as the world’s biggest greenhouse gas emitter pulls back on its use of the fossil fuel and switches to cleaner energy sources.According to the country’s national coal association, China produced 3.5 billion tons of coal in the first 11 months of...

Saudi inflation likely to reach 2.6% in 2015

The Central Department of Statistics and Information (CDSI) has released Consumer Price Index data for December, showing a deceleration in prices to 2.4 percent year-on-year compared to 2.5 percent in November. This puts the annual inflation for last year at an average of 2.7 percent. “For 2015 we expect inflation to be mai...

Davos: Experts say inequality hinders substantial growth

DAVOS: Economists and activists at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, confirmed on Friday that excessive income inequality represents an obstacle to substantial economic growth."Inequality is not conducive to sustainable growth," the Managing Director of International Monetary Fund, IMF, Christine Lagarde, said during...

Women’s role in family businesses

The joint study undertaken by Al-Sayedah Khadijah Bint Khuwailid Center of Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Strategy &, formerly Booz & Company, emphasizes that an environment empowering women’s participation in national development is steadily emerging in Saudi Arabia.This is the right move to enable wo...

Google chief: Internet will ‘disappear’ soon

DAVOS: Google boss Eric Schmidt predicted on Thursday that the Internet will soon be so pervasive in every facet of our lives that it will effectively “disappear” into the background.Speaking to the business and political elite at the World Economic Forum at Davos, Schmidt said: “There will be so many sensors, so many devic...

Egypt expects over 4% growth

DAVOS: Egypt can expect economic growth “easily north of 4 percent” in fiscal year 2014-15, which ends in June, boosted by rising confidence and a windfall from lower oil prices, its finance minister said on Friday.Hani Dimian also told Reuters in an interview at the World Economic Forum in Davos that the budget deficit for...

US drivers put oil market on road to recovery

LONDON: US gasoline demand is increasing as motorists opt for bigger vehicles and drive more, encouraged by the sharp drop in fuel prices and an improving employment market.Increased fuel consumption in the United States and other advanced economies is one way lower oil prices will rebalance the market. Coupled with falling...

Kia's Q4 net profit slumps 54%

SEOUL: South Korea's No. 2 automaker, Kia Motors, on Friday said its fourth quarter net profit plunged by more than half due to a strong won and higher sales costs.Net profit for the October-December period slumped 54 percent compared to a year earlier to 436.2 billion won ($355 million).Operating profit also fell 23 percen...

OPINION »

Adel Murad

Oil price dip shocks electric cars

The recent fall in oil prices took the shine off many electric and hybrid cars d...

Arab News

Saudi Press Roundup

Loved by allSome sorrows in life cannot be expressed in words. Demise of Custodi...

Sabria S. Jawhar

Loss of a father figure

I woke up on Friday morning to the shocking news that our father had passed away...

Abdulrahman Al-Rashed

Kingdom smoothly enters into new era

Saudi Royal Court’s statements announced on Friday are the most important of wha...

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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

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY »

App-solutely fantastic: WhatsApp comes t...

Smartphone users in the Kingdom have welcomed the news that WhatsApp — the world's most popular messaging app — is now available for desktop.
WhatsApp, which is used by 700 million users to communicate between smartphones and tablets, can now be used on desktop computers — but it stil...

‘Career Compass’ shows youth t...

How to get a job done for $5 o...

How to watch movies with ‘Kids...

FASHION »

Argan oil: The Moroccan ‘liquid gold’ fo...

Argan oil is known as ‘liquid gold’ and is made especially in Morocco. It is used in beauty rituals and in cooking. Lately, this oil has captured the attention of many for its proven nutritional and cosmetic health benefits. The oil is sold around the world as a luxury item and can be difficult to find outside its production areas.
In 1998...

Diamonds are literally this gi...

Treating acne during pregnancy

Rock ‘n’ Roll fashion the new...

TRAVEL »

Restoration of Diriyah heritage site ‘on...

The Riyadh Development Authority has announced that the rehabilitation of the Diriyah heritage site is on track and would be completed in about two and a half years.
“The rehabilitation of Diriyah is being completed with a combination of old and new technology,” a spokesman told Arab News in an interview at the authority’s headquarters insi...

Marbella: The place to see and...

Heritage store owners given a...

Umrah + Tourism = Growth

FOOD & HEALTH »

Our kids’ bodies contaminated with chemicals (Part 11)

Last week I stopped at the discussion about fast food. Since the subject of fast foods and their harmful effects does not seem to end, because their health-damaging side effects are surfacing lately more and more through recent research, I will take the liberty to expound on them. Recent research at the Massachusetts Medical Society Committee on Nutrition found a relationship between fast food and elevated body mass index (BMI) and weight gain due to the high content of unhealthy simple sugars, refined chewy white bread, saturated, trans fats, and large portions, which raise the risk of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, and fatality. An earlier study showed that trans fats (...

Rosewood Jeddah’s Italian food fest is bigger and better

The fourth edition of the Italian Food Festival at Rosewood Jeddah was launched last week. Chef Francesca Simoni from Bologna and executive chef Amjad Yousef Al-Ghandoor are presenting traditional Italian cuisine from across Italy with a unique modern touch at Habsburg, a Rosewood restaurant.Chef Francesca is the Executive Sous Chef at Amerigo 1934 Trattoria, the winner of the prestigious Gambero Rosso Award for the best restaurant in Italy in 2013. She flew into Jeddah especially for the festival. Together with Al-Ghandoor, she is preparing authentic dishes not only from her region, Emilia-Romagna, but from all the major Italian cities. The festival will continue until Jan. 28.Chef Al-...

Bitter news: Diabetes ‘to hit 50% Saudis by 2030’

If no action is taken, the number of Saudi nationals with diabetes is expected to jump from 24 to 50 percent by 2030, the International Diabetes Federation said in a report run by a local publication.A global conference on diabetes in Alkhobar has, meanwhile, proposed that nine government agencies set up a national project to fight diabetes and obesity in the Kingdom, local media said.Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the conference, Abdulaziz Al-Turki, board chairman of the Saudi Society for Diabetes and Endocrinology (SSDE) in the Eastern Province, said the situation is alarming and would have negative health, social and economic consequences for Saudi society. He said a national...

OFFBEAT »

Watson urges men to champion women’s rights

LONDON: British actress Emma Watson urged young men to speak out when women are degraded, husbands to support wives to p...

And the winner is ... ‘American Sniper’ — Oscars poll

LOS ANGELES: If ordinary Americans voted for the Academy Awards, “American Sniper,” Clint Eastwood’s portrait of a sharpshooter in the Iraq war, would be the best picture winner, according to the annual Reuters/Ipsos Oscars poll.The film starring Bradley Cooper as the late Navy SEAL Chris Kyle was cited by 22 percent of respondents as the movie that should win the top Oscar among the eight nominees, according to an online survey of Americans conducted Jan. 16-23.The Martin Luther King Jr. biopic “Selma” was the second most popular choice with 8 percent.“Boyhood,” the coming-of-age story...

Woman gets bag full of cash at Burger King drive-thru

ROCHESTER, N.H.: A New Hampshire woman got a surprise at a Burger King drive-thru: a bag full of cash instead of food.Janelle Jones says she discovered on the way home that the bag did not contain the sweet tea and junior spicy chicken sandwich that she had ordered Friday at the Rochester fast-food restaurant.Foster’s Daily Democrat (http://bit.ly/1EEYFl9 ) reports that Jones called her husband and they decided to return the $2,631, which was a Burger King bank deposit.Matthew Jones says the couple briefly considered keeping the money, which they certainly could have used. But he says he and...