Middle East

Dubai, May 1: An Indian national became the proud owner of a 100,000-dirham car after being selected as an ideal driver by the Dubai traffic police.Jayaseelan's name was shortlisted from 700 drivers who had gathered the maximum number of white points in one year, during which the drivers did not commit any traffic offence or were not involved in any accident, the Emirates 24/7 website reported

Riyadh, Apr 30: Schools at all levels in the capital city, as well as the province of Riyadh and surrounding areas, were told not to open on Tuesday due to inclement weather. In a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency, the director general of education in Riyadh, Dr. Ibrahim bin Abdullah, said the suspension of classes was a precautionary measure as the region was witnessing a high density

Riaydh, Apr 29: The Ministry of Haj has warned hotels and other accommodation facilities against seizing passports of pilgrims under any circumstances, cautioning that punitive action will be taken if irregularities are detected. Muhammad Al-Bijawi, director of the ministry’s Madinah branch, said that no party in the Kingdom is entitled to withhold passports, explaining that this decree has been

Jeddah, Apr 28: The family of a Pakistani driver living in a slum on the outskirts of Jeddah is trying to help him avoid an indefinite prison term for failing to pay blood money for a two-year-old Egyptian boy he had run over with his car. Aziz Mohammed Jaan works as a family driver for SR 1,200 per month and lives with his wife and five children, aged between one and 14. All are legal residents

Riyadh, Apr 27: While slippery snow and glassy ice may force schools to shut in more wintry countries, Saudi Arabia’s rainy downpour on Saturday has been enough reason for classes to be suspended. Schools in five different Saudi provinces will be shut, the Ministry of Education said on Saturday, due to rainy weather conditions. Ministry of Education Spokesman Mohammed Al-Dakheeni said the

Sharjah, Apr 27:The Pink Caravan, the breast cancer awareness initiative by the Friends of Cancer Patients charitable organisation (FOCP), has released a report detailing the results of their early detection breast cancer screening programme for the period 2011 to 2013. The report reveals that during the period of the 2013 Pink Caravan Ride, the campaign’s mobile clinics provided free early

Jeddah, Apr 25: All government agencies are on alert for an expected cold front and heavy rain over several areas in the Kingdom from tomorrow until Wednesday. Citizens and residents have been warned to take every precaution over the next few days. Prince Mohammad bin Naif, minister of interior, ordered all government departments to prepare resources, personnel and equipment for the expected

Riyadh, Apr 24: There is a need for a more severe form of punishment for those who mislead young people, said Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah. King Abdullah made the statement while hosting Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Asheikh, president of the Council of Senior Ulema, and other scholars accompanying the sheikh at his palace in Riyadh yesterday, the Saudi Press Agency reported

Dubai, Apr 23: An Indian woman suffered severe burn injuries during a firebomb attack in Bahrain and is said to be in stable condition, according to a media report today. Priya D'Souza suffered 60 per cent burn injuries when she was caught in the middle of clashes between police and thugs on the Shaikh Isa Al Kabeer Avenue on Friday. "Thugs hurled Molotov cocktails at policemen as Ms D'Souza was

Jeddah, Apr 22: Haj Minister Bandar Hajjar yesterday imposed heavy penalties on 68 Haj and Umrah service companies for not providing adequate services to the Guests of God. The minister was acting on complaints filed by a number of pilgrims to the Haj Services Committee, which is a nodal agency looking into such problems. The committee was set up under Law 58 (servicing local pilgrims) of the