Middle East

Beijing, Mar 16: Saudi Arabia's King Salman began a visit to Beijing Thursday that highlights growing ties underpinned by China's thirst for Saudi oil and the kingdom's status as a key link in Beijing's bid to connect China to Europe through infrastructure development. Salman went immediately into talks with President Xi Jinping following a formal welcoming ceremony at the Great Hall of the People

Jeddah, Mar 16: Moody’s Investors Service has revised its outlook for the Saudi banking system to stable from negative. Saudi banks are more profitable than most of their Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) peers, with an average ratio of net income-to-tangible assets of 1.9 percent as of 2016, on a par with Qatari banks, said a Moody’s report issued on Wednesday. The stable outlook reflects high risk

Washington, Mar 15: Saudi-US relations were firmly in the spotlight Tuesday as President Donald Trump hosted Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House for their first official meeting. The meeting was dubbed a “reset moment” in US-Saudi relations after eight years clouded with differences under the Obama administration over its handling of the Arab Spring, the Iran nuclear deal

Riyadh, Mar 14: There is an urgent need to intensify international efforts to resolve crises in the Middle East, including the Palestinian cause and the Syrian and Yemeni wars, said Saudi King Salman on Monday, according to Saudi Press Agency (SPA). The king, who is in Tokyo for the fourth leg of his seven-nation Asian tour, said: “Terrorism has become the greatest danger to the security of

Beirut, Mar 13: Syria’s war has killed just over 320,000 people since it erupted six years ago, a monitor said Monday, noting that a fragile cease-fire had helped to slow the rising death toll. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said it had recorded the deaths of 321,358 people since the conflict broke out in March 2011 with protests against President Bashar Assad. The toll

Riyadh, Mar 12: The high-profile visit of King Salman to Japan beginning Sunday will reinforce ties with Tokyo while providing opportunities to explore investment opportunities and secure energy security for the Southeast Asian nation. During the visit, King Salman will meet and hold talks with Japanese emperor Akihito and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday. “It is the greatest honor to receive

Riyadh, Mar 11: A Shoura Council member said the council is expected to adopt a proposal to extend the Umra visa period to three months after it is studied, Al-Watan newspaper reported Friday. Vice chairman of the council’s financial committee, Dr. Fahad bin Jumah, said the extension will be based on meeting certain conditions, including the financial capacity of extension seekers. An extended

Gulf Medical University (GMU), the leading medical university in the region owned and operated by Thumbay Group celebrated its annual ‘Global Day 2017’on Friday, 10th March 2017. The event, held at the university grounds in Ajman had around 3000 visitors including the university studentsand staff as well as their friends and relatives. Every year, GMU celebrates the Global Day, which provides the

Mar 11: Saudi King Salman bin Abdul Aziz's month-long journey through Asia has been eye-catching because of its scale. The world's most powerful royal is touring seven countries with a traveling court of more than 1,000 people, including 25 princes and 10 ministers. The entourage's total baggage weighs a reported 506 tons. This week, Salman decided to extend his stay at a luxury resort on the

Jeddah, Mar 11: Security authorities in the Eastern Province killed wanted terrorist Mustafa Al-Madad in an exchange of fire in Al-Shawkia neighborhood in Qatif. Al-Madad was involved in terror activities against citizens and security men, as well as against public and private property. Asked to surrender, he began firing at security men. One security man suffered minor injuries and is receiving