Middle East

Nov 19: The Saudi-led military coalition supporting Yemen's government against the Houthi rebels has declared a 48-hour ceasefire to begin on Saturday. The ceasefire will begin at midday (0900 GMT), the Saudi government announced via state media. The coalition said the truce could be renewed if the Houthis observed it and allowed aid to be delivered to rebel-held areas in the southwest. More than

Aden, Nov 17: Heavy fighting between government forces and rebels in north and west Yemen has left 51 dead, as a new peace efforts appeared to stumble, military officials said Wednesday. They said forces loyal to President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi have clashed since Tuesday with Shiite Houthi rebels and allied renegade troops in the country’s northwest, near the border with Saudi Arabia. The

Riyadh, Nov 16: The Cabinet, chaired by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman at Al-Yamamah Palace, on Monday reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s continued support for Palestinian refugees out of the Kingdom’s belief that it is a religious and humanitarian duty. The Cabinet reviewed a number of issues and the latest developments at regional and international levels, including Saudi Arabia’s

Jeddah, Nov 14: The UAE has urged President Donald Trump’s United States to develop a stronger strategy on the Middle East, after a “disconcerting vacuum” seen during Obama years. Anwar Gargash, the country’s minister of state for foreign affairs, said that the influence of Washington in the region was “more important than ever.” “Following eight years of weakened American engagement in the region

Jerusalem, Nov 12: US President-elect Donald Trump pledged Friday to work for a “just, lasting peace” between Israel and the Palestinians, in his first public message on the issue since his upset victory. “I believe that my administration can play a significant role in helping the parties to achieve a just, lasting peace,” Trump said in a message published by the Israel Hayom newspaper. He also

United Nations, Nov 11: Saudi Arabia has reaffirmed its continued support for the Palestinian refugees and UNRWA, the UN body that looks after their welfare. The Kingdom's reassurance came during a speech delivered by its permanent representative at the United Nations, Abdullah Al-Muallimi, at an UNRWA committee meeting “The Kingdom is honored to stand by the side of the Palestinian people

Jeddah, Nov 10: A defiant Tehran on Wednesday said there would be no reversal of its controversial nuclear deal with Western powers, as had earlier been threatened by US President-elect Donald Trump. As Arab leaders issued statements welcoming the Republican’s victory in the US election, Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani challenged Trump by saying there was “no possibility” of the nuclear deal being

Riyadh, Nov 9: The Shoura Council has called on the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture to conduct a field study to determine citizens’ real consumption of water, accordingly adjust consumption segments, and delay issuing new water bills until handling complaints about the new tariffs. This came in the 62nd regular session held on Tuesday under the chairmanship of Deputy Speaker of the

Riyadh, Nov 8: Saudi Arabia will pay by next month the money it owes private companies, a committee headed by Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said Monday. “The council came up with a package of solutions and procedures to settle the dues that met the requirements of spending,” SPA reported after a regular meeting of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs. Solutions “will be

Riyadh, Nov 7: Saudi Arabia and China agreed to step up cooperation on various key issues including security and counter-terrorism during talks held in Riyadh Sunday. Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Naif and Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, received a delegation led by Chinese President Xi Jinping’s special envoy Meng Jianzhu. The two sides also