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Arrested jihadists planned ‘biological’ attacks: Morocco

RABAT: Morocco said Thursday that the alleged members of a jihadist cell it arrested in mid-February, including a French national, were plotting to carry out “biological” attacks in the kingdom.“Some of the seized substances (from the suspects) are classified by international organizations which specialize in health issues as falling within the category of biological weapons dangerous for their capacity to paralyze and destroy the nervous system and cause death,” the interior ministry said.“Members of the terrorist cell had prepared these deadly substances with a view to using them in their terrorist projects inside the kingdom,” it said in a statement.On February 18, the ministry announced it had dismantled a “terrorist cell” of 10 people suspected of having links to the Daesh jihadist group and planning attacks in the North African country.The suspects, including a Frenchman, were arre...

Saudi scholar’s shooting in Philippines captured on film

MANILA: A failed attempt to assassinate a prominent Saudi scholar in the Philippines was caught on t...

Saudi Arabia’s security is very important to us: Najib Razak

JEDDAH: Malaysian prime ministers have generally captured the imagination of the Muslim world with t...

'Social curse' of huge personal debt raises worrie...

DOHA: Credit cards on the limit, huge bank borrowings and a struggle to repay loans: these are the personal debt problems of some Qataris despite the Gulf state’s reputation for fabulous wealth.Generous government salaries and free health care, funded by vast natural gas reserves in a country with only about 300,000 citizens, do not always translate into healthy bank balances for ordinary Qataris.Instead, they can come un...

Nigerian Christian arrested for aiding Boko Haram terror bom...

ABUJA, Nigeria: A Nigerian civilian self-defense fighter says his group arrested a Christian suspect who confessed to providing intelligence to Boko Haram extremists in the 2011 Christmas Day bombing of a Catholic church that killed 44 worshippers.Self-defense fighter Sani Musawa said Wednesday that his group arrested Victor Moses and turned him over to the Nigerian military. He may be the first Christian arrested for bel...

SAUDI ARABIA »

Grand mufti seeks death for killers of martyred sergeant

RIYADH: Grand Mufti Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Asheikh has called on the Ministry of Interior (MoI) to implement the death penalty against the perpetrators in the murder of martyr Sergeant Badr Al-Rashidi.“Those involved in the murder of Saudi martyr Sergeant Badr Al-Rashidi belong to a deviant group...

Al-Qarni tweets he’s well after shooting

RIYADH: Prominent Islamic scholar Ayed Al-Qarni, who was shot and wounded in the arm on Tuesday in the Philippines while delivering a lecture at a university, tweeted on Wednesday that he was in good health.The popular Saudi scholar posted the message in Arabic, which said: “I bring good news to you that I am OK and well, t...

Online apps provide instant window to Saudi businesswomen

JEDDAH: Many women sharing their successful commerce on Instagram have been able to overcome social limitations that surround women’s activities in many areas.Women have been able to successfully market their products such as confectionary, food, clothing and handicrafts, while others have been able to grow their small busi...

Jazan’s education department awarded shield of excellence

RIYADH: Jazan Gov. Prince Mohammed bin Nasser awarded on Tuesday the shield of excellence to the Department of Education for being top among government agencies in the application of security requirements in the region.Prince Mohammed bin Nasser expressed his hope that the education department personnel will continue their...

Expat who stole SR1.7bn arrested

MADINAH: The police here have arrested an expatriate for collecting SR1.7 billion from Saudi citizens for bogus gold mining, agriculture and other commercial operations in an African country.The African expatriate, 59, had worked with accomplices in the Kingdom and abroad to dupe unsuspecting people to invest in his schemes...

Ethiopian maid stabs Saudi woman to death

JEDDAH: Security officers in Al-Khafji arrested an Ethiopian housemaid on Tuesday evening after she stabbed her elderly sponsor to death. Eastern Province police spokesman Col. Ziad Al-Ruqaiti said Al-Khafji police received a report at 4 p.m. on Tuesday from Civil Defense directing the team to open the door of the house in...

Madinah governor opens projects in Wadi Al-Fara

RIYADH: Madinah Gov. Prince Faisal bin Salman recently launched several developmental and charity projects worth SR106 million in the Wadi Al-Fara province.The projects are expected to include investments in rural development, education, charity and health, along with a project for the headquarters of the Commission for the...

Wives can request C-sections without husbands’ approval

RIYADH: Women have the right under current laws to request caesarean sections without the consent of their husbands or guardians, according to a Shoura Council member.Mona Al-Mushait, who is also a professor and consultant in gynecology at King Khaled University, said permission is only required for hysterectomy operations...

Saudia pilot dies on flight to Riyadh

RIYADH: A Saudi Arabian Airlines pilot died from a heart attack during a flight from Bisha to Riyadh on Monday, the airlines said in a statement on Tuesday.Waleed Al-Mohammad was piloting SV flight 1734 bound for Riyadh and died before landing his plane at King Khaled International Airport.His co-pilot, Rami Ben Ghazi, took...

Training courses to boost skills of imams, preachers

RIYADH: The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Call and Guidance is implementing training courses for imams, preachers and muezzins across Saudi Arabia. “The courses will enhance their skills and knowledge in performing their duties in the best manner possible,” Islamic Affairs Minister Saleh Al-Asheikh said.The progr...

Children among five killed as car hits camel

KHARMA: A mother and her baby and three children have been killed and five others injured when their vehicle hit a stray camel on the Kharma Road while they were proceeding to the Rinia governorate.The deceased and the injured were from the same family, Shadi bin Aed Al-Thubaitilocal, spokesman of the Taif Saudi Red Crescen...

Kingdom joins consumer week with focus on rights

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia on Tuesday joined other Gulf countries to observe the GCC Consumer Protection Week under the slogan: “Our GCC and Consumers are one.” The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MCI) has launched a number of campaigns such as providing maintenance and original spare parts and ensuring quality, specifically r...

Three citizens executed for murder, drug trafficking

RIYADH: Three Saudis have been executed for criminal offenses including drug trafficking and murder, the Ministry of Interior announced on Wednesday.Suleiman bin Mubarak bin Salama Al-Masoudi and Ahmed bin Saifan bin Mubarak Al-Masoudi were executed in Tabuk for smuggling a large quantity of methamphetamine, which is addict...

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MIDDLE EAST »

Arrested jihadists planned ‘biological’ attacks: Morocco

RABAT: Morocco said Thursday that the alleged members of a jihadist cell it arre...

Crown prince: Arab states need unity to fight enemies

TUNIS: Arab nations need a unified front to counter their enemies who are bent o...

GCC declares Hezbollah as terrorist group

RIYADH: The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has declared Hezbollah a terrorist or...

US forces capture key militant operative in Iraq

WASHINGTON: US commandos have captured a major Daesh operative in Iraq and his d...

Belgium mulls airstrikes against Daesh

BRUSSELS: Belgium is considering extending its F-16 airstrikes against Daesh reb...

WORLD »

Nigerian Christian arrested for aiding Boko Haram terror bombers

ABUJA, Nigeria: A Nigerian civilian self-defense fighter says his group arrested...

Mozambique unveils suspected MH370 debris

MAPUTO, Mozambique: Mozambique aviation authorities on Thursday displayed the su...

Clinton, Trump tighten grip on US elections

WASHINGTON: Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton are turning the...

Irish PM open to talks with main rival

DUBLIN: Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny said on Wednesday for the first time he...

What is ‘Super Tuesday?’

Super Tuesday is the first day in which the US presidential candidates participa...

SPORTS »

Tributes flow as NewZealand legend Crowe dies at 53

WELLINGTON: Pioneering cricketer Martin Crowe, widely acknowledged as New Zealan...

Turkish Airlines World Golf Cup Dirab qualifier tees off tomorrow

RIYADH: The Turkish Airlines World Golf Cup will touch down in Riyadh for the fi...

Spurs beat Pistons to clinch playoff spot

SAN ANTONIO, Texas: Kawhi Leonard scored 27 points and LaMarcus Aldridge added 2...

Ronaldo gets Madrid back to winning ways at Levante

MADRID: Real Madrid bounced back from defeat to Atletico in the Madrid derby on...

Advantage Leicester as Spurs, Arsenal, City lose

LONDON: Claudio Ranieri’s Leicester City remain sitting pretty at the Premier Le...

ECONOMY »

'Social curse' of huge personal debt raises worrie...

DOHA: Credit cards on the limit, huge bank borrowings and a struggle to repay loans: these are the personal debt problems of some Qataris despite the Gulf state’s reputat...

JEF 2016: Saudi economic reforms drive ‘impressive’

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s economic reform program, with its emphasis on encouraging private sector investment, is on the right track to achieve diversified growth.This was the view of most of the speakers and delegates at Jeddah Economic Forum 2016 on Wednesday.“Saudi Arabia needs to develop three aspects of its economy: Diver...

Public-private partnership: Experts seek legal framework

JEDDAH: On the first day of panel discussions at Jeddah Economic Forum (JEF) 2016, on Wednesday, speakers expressed the need for structural reforms across all markets as a means to combat the current crisis in the global economy.Speakers were cautiously optimistic about economic transformation in Saudi Arabia. They stated t...

JEF theme evokes positive reactions from economists

JEDDAH: Jeddah Economic Forum (JEF), which was inaugurated by Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal on Tuesday night, has evoked positive reactions from economists, experts and participants. In particular, there was an all-round appreciation of the forum theme — Public private partnerships: Collaboration for impact — as they...

Digital transformation to generate $100 trillion by 2025

JEDDAH: Speaking at the Jeddah Economic Forum 2016, Khaled H. Biyari, CEO of Saudi Telecom Company (STC), stressed on developing a diversified economy and explained the role of telecom operators in digitalizing the Kingdom’s economy.“Telecoms can play leading and supportive roles in three digitalization layers to address th...

Airport privatization scheme on track

JEDDAH: General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) is studying privatization of all Saudi airports in the next five years.Confirming this, a GACA official stated at the ongoing Jeddah Economic Forum that the Kingdom has a total of 27 airports. These include 5 international, 10 regional and 12 local airports.The privatizatio...

Saudi Arabia has potential to transform its infrastructure program through PPP

Jeddah Economic Forum 2016 was launched Tuesday. The agenda of JEF focuses on economic diversification of the Saudi economy through higher PPP and private sector participation. The aim is to maintain or grow spending on infrastructure, which has multiplier effect on all sectors of the economy including manufacturing and ser...

SAP: Investments in digital technologies driving growth

As the Saudi economy moves into the digital age, the results are more visible every day, radically enriching the customer experience and revolutionizing organizations in both public and private sectors. SAP Saudi Arabia Software Trading Ltd, a local chapter of giant German multinational software corporation SAP SE, is exten...

Naghi unit launches new generation Ankai buses in KSA

JEDDAH: Manahil International Co., member of Mohamed Yousuf Naghi & Brothers Group, has launched the new generation Ankai buses in Saudi Arabia.Ankai is one of the largest bus manufacturing companies in China exporting to various countries.At a ceremony held in Park Hyatt Jeddah, the new Ankai buses were revealed in the...

JEF opens with focus on economic diversification

JEDDAH: The Jeddah Economic Forum (JEF) was inaugurated on Tuesday night, with Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal calling for purposeful discussion on public-private partnerships as key to further economic progress.Deputy Prime Minister of Turkey Mehmet Simsek, speaking on the occasion, said that after the global crisis, t...

OPINION »

Abdulateef Al-Mulhim

The end of an era

Until a few decades ago the number of airlines around the world was so low that...

Sabria S. Jawhar

Rise of a demagogue

Saudis, like just about everyone else not an American citizen, are following the...

Sergei Guriev

A fire-sale privatization?

Squeezed by low oil prices and western sanctions, Russia’s fiscal position is cr...

Rajeev Sharma

All eyes on Priyanka

Political circles in Lutyen’s Delhi, the power corridors of India, are agog with...

Muhammad Waqas

No honor in killing

In 2014, a young woman Farzana was stoned to death by her family members outside...

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ART & CULTURE »

Malian jihadist accused of war crimes fo...

THE HAGUE: Prosecutors at the International Criminal Court on Tuesday accused a Malian jihadist of war crimes for “a callous” 2012 attack on the centuries-old world heritage site of Timbuktu.
“We must stand up to the destruction and defacing of our common heritage,” said chief ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda as she unveiled a single war crime...

Razan Almohasen: Fitting stars...

Waleed Al-Marhoum lights up la...

Saudi director Sabbagh confide...

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY »

Online apps provide instant window to Sa...

JEDDAH: Many women sharing their successful commerce on Instagram have been able to overcome social limitations that surround women’s activities in many areas.
Women have been able to successfully market their products such as confectionary, food, clothing and handicrafts, while others have been able to grow their small businesses, that beg...

WhatsApp will end Blackberry O...

New tool for blurring moving o...

Social media usage in the Midd...

FASHION »

Antonio Ortega: Rising star of haute cou...

Using fabrics in myriad exciting forms in order to design bold and unconventional couture dresses is something that the fashion industry insiders always admire in a designer. Why so? Mainly because there is a need to look beyond and put on outfits which genuinely speak to the core of fashionistas!
And the one designer working alongside thi...

The rise of young Arab designe...

Cosmetic treatments for under-...

New high-tech facials to try n...

TRAVEL »

Winter wonders of Sweden

Winter is nearing its end and small hints and glimpses of spring are appearing in every nook and cranny, yet some parts of the world are still experiencing some deep winter weather temperatures accompanied by ice and snow that just won’t go away anytime soon. Those of us who live in mild to hot climate crave the cold, we look for it in air-condi...

La Jolla: A fashionable getawa...

National Museum showcases glor...

A city of wonders and heart-wa...

FOOD & HEALTH »

Why we’re hard-wired for hope

We have a tendency to be optimistic but most of us are not aware about it. Yes, indeed, whether we are eight or eighty, we wear rose-tinted glasses. This is known as the optimism bias which Tali Sharot describes in her book ‘The Optimism Bias: A Tour of the Irrationally Positive Brain’ as “an inclination to overestimate the likelihood of encountering positive events in the future and to underestimate the likelihood of experiencing negative events.”As we grow older, we should be wiser and be able to distinguish between the harsh reality and the world full of hope that we believe is real. The author, one of the most innovative neuroscientists at work today, provides some fascinating insight...

Move over diets, there’s a new method to lose weight

Paul McKenna is a British hypnotist, TV broadcaster and author of self-help books. According to Nielsen BookScan data, “I can make you thin” is one of the best selling weight loss books ever. It is based on behavior modification, an approach which re-patterns your thoughts, attitudes and beliefs about yourself and your food to help you take control of your diet and lose weight once and for all.It is a very short book but as the author says “Don’t be fooled by its size. As I think you’ll agree, thin is good, and it’s what’s inside that really matters. I’ve worked hard to get this little book as concize as possible, so concize that you can probably finish the whole thing in less than a day....

Three women, one goal: Tasty, healthy meals in a box

To provide convenient and nutritious dining programs for health conscious people, three mothers, Rawan, Sara and Nora run a healthy food business called “The Health Box”. They believe that nutrition is a big part of any good fitness program as without proper nutrition any workout is destined to fail.Sara had a catering business before she got interested in fitness, while Nora and Rawan enjoyed living a healthy lifestyle. All three of them are certified fitness trainers who not only love eating healthy food, but also care about its taste.In conversation with Arab News, Rawan shared how she and her team pioneered healthy eating through their entrepreneurial drive.Tell us how you started The...

OFFBEAT »

Oscars ratings decline not due to diversity row

NEW YORK: Don’t blame the effort to promote an Oscars boycott among blacks because of diversity concerns for the drop in...

‘We did it!’ Homecoming for 2 spacemen after year aloft

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida: Astronaut Scott Kelly returned to Earth on Wednesday after an unprecedented year in space for NASA, landing in barren Kazakhstan with a Russian cosmonaut who shared his whole space station journey.Their Soyuz capsule parachuted onto the central Asian steppes and ended a science-rich mission at the International Space Station that began last March and was deemed a steppingstone to Mars.It was a triumphant homecoming for Kelly and Mikhail Kornienko after 340 days in space. Kelly pumped his fist as he emerged from the capsule, then gave a thumbs-up. He smiled and chatted...

He’s Goodenough! Preity secretly marries beau

NEW DELHI: With veteran actor Kabir Bedi congratulating Preity Zinta on her marriage, social media was abuzz with reports that the Bollywood actress has already said “I do” to her American beau Gene Goodenough in a hush-hush ceremony in Los Angeles.The virtual world had a flood of speculations that the ‘Kal Ho Naa Ho’ star had exchanged wedding vows with Goodenough on Monday night (Tuesday morning in India). There is also news that Preity’s close friends — fashion designer and stylist Surily Goel and Sussanne Khan— were part of the secret ceremony.Sussanne, the estranged wife of Bollywood...