Middle East

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah warned against fraudsters and social media accounts promoting Hajj services at low prices for people inside the Kingdom, Saudi news state agency SPA reported on Wednesday. In a statement, the ministry said it had detected several fake accounts and misleading contact information …

The statement came during the UAE Cabinet’s first meeting after the election of Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan as president of the UAE Ministries and federal government departments should submit development proposals within the next 50 days to ensure the country’s “growth and prosperity,” Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President …

VIENNA/JEDDAH: In a stinging rebuke, the UN atomic watchdog on Wednesday adopted a resolution formally criticizing Tehran for its failure to cooperate with inspectors monitoring Iran’s nuclear program. The critical resolution at the International Atomic Energy Agency governors’ meeting in Vienna threatened to raise tension over Iran’s nuclear threat to …

Saudi Arabia has decided to extend tourist visas, which expired during the lockdown, automatically for a period of three months. It will be extended automatically through the system for three months without the need for the visa holder to visit the passport department in person. This will be done free …

JEDDAH: China will supply Saudi Arabia with 9 million coronavirus test kits, 500 specialist technicians and six test laboratories in a $265 million deal signed on Sunday. The agreement between the Kingdom’s National Unified Procurement Company (NUPCO) and China’s Beijing Genome Institute will enable the Kingdom to conduct up to …

25 November, 2019 By SJA Jafri RIYADH/ MELBOURNE: On specific directions of the ruler of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) Muhammad Bin Salman (MBS), the security forces have detained at least eight people, mostly intellectuals and writers, London-based Saudi rights group ALQST said, amid a two-year crackdown on free expression in …

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Assaf today urged Muslim nations to confront with all means of force and firmness the recent attacks in the region that the US and its allies have blamed on Iran. Mr. Al-Assaf made the comments at a meeting of Foreign Ministers of the 57-nation Organization …

By SJA Jafri JEDDAH/MELBOURNE: Saudi security forces have allegedly killed eight more Shia people during an operation in the predominantly Shiite eastern Al-Qatif region; sources claimed. The oil-producing province is a regular flashpoint between the Sunni-dominated government and minority Shiites, who complain of discrimination and marginalization. Saudi authorities deny mistreatment. …

Ibrahim Al-Assaf was named Minister of Foreign Affairs, a position formally held by Adel Al-JubeirAbdullah bin Bandar bin Abdul Aziz was named Minister of National Guard RIYADH: King Salman appointed a new foreign minister on Thursday in a wide-ranging reshuffle of Saudi Arabia’s Cabinet.  Ibrahim Al-Assaf was named Minister of Foreign …

DUBAI: The Middle East can become the new Europe if its countries adopt modernity and development, Dubai ruler, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum has said. The Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE told newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat he believed the conflicts in the region offered further motivation to adopt modernization and …