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Off the Cuff

Israel returns 2 shepherds to Syria amid reports of swap

JERUSALEM: The Israeli army on Thursday said it has returned two shepherds who crossed into Israeli territory back to Syria, a development that an Israeli official said was part of a prisoner swap

February 20

Off the Cuff

Colorful Pakistani ‘boat art’ rules the waves

KARACHI: In Pakistan, where traditional truck art adds color and humor to highways and roads, another unique form of ornamentation has emerged on the country’s coast — boat art, which lends beauty to

February 20

Region

Indonesia capital warns of big fines for refusing COVID-19 vaccine

JAKARTA: Indonesia’s capital Jakarta is threatening residents with fines of up to $356.89 (5 million rupiah) for refusing COVID-19 vaccines, an unusually stiff penalty aimed at ensuring compliance

February 19

Region

Singapore, Indonesia say ASEAN can play important role in Myanmar

SINGAPORE: The foreign ministers of Singapore and Indonesia believe the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) can play an important role in encouraging dialogue and a return to normalcy in

February 19

Region

Keeping the past alive on Instagram

BENGALURU: Born Lady Eveyln Murray in 1867, Zainab Cobbold was the first Scottish noblewoman to convert to Islam in the Victorian era. She went on to become the first woman born in the UK to perform

February 19

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Tears, relief, and gratitude as Jordan vaccinates Syrian refugees

ZAATARI REFUGEE CAMP, Jordan: For Um Ali, a 73-year-old Syrian woman living in a refugee camp in Jordan, being vaccinated against COVID-19 was a moment of overwhelming emotion. “I really feel more

February 19

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Philia Forum a ‘bridge’ between Europe, Mideast: Greek official

ATHENS: The Philia Forum is not an alliance against a common threat, but rather a “partnership” that could act as a “bridge” between Europe and the Middle East, Alexandros Papaioannou, spokesman for

February 19

Region

Art Dubai shifts date, location to abide by COVID-19 measures

DUBAI: The UAE’s Art Dubai is returning for its 14th edition, organizers announced on Wednesday. The exhibition is set to take place physically at a “new purpose-built venue” in Dubai International

February 18

Region

KSA venture capital investments grow 124% to $152m in 2 years

RIYADH: The Saudi Venture Capital Co. (SVC) has reported a 124 percent growth in its investments over the past two years. According to data from Magnitt, its venture capital investments rose to SR570

February 18

Region

Food prices lift Saudi inflation to 5.7 percent in January,

RIYADH: he Consumer Price Index (CPI) in Saudi Arabia increased 5.7 percent in January 2021 compared to the same month last year 2020 and 3.5 percent compared to last December, according to data

February 18

Off the Cuff

Turkey free speech advocates pin hope on new app

ANKARA: A growing number of people in Turkey are turning to a new audio-only application for free speech and using it as a source of direct information. Clubhouse is a San Francisco-based app that

February 18

Off the Cuff

Learjet, the private plane synonymous with the jet-set, nears end of

MONTREAL: Learjet, the sleek private jet used by celebrities for decades, is ending production this year, following a slump in demand due to competition from newer and less-expensive rivals. Long

February 18

Off the Cuff

Saddam Hussein’s daughter refuses to rule out role in Iraqi politics

DUBAI: The eldest daughter of late Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein has said it is possible for her to play a role in Iraqi politics. In a special program on Al Arabiya on Monday, Raghad Saddam Hussein

February 17

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Saudi Arabia to halt contracts with foreign companies that do not

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia will stop signing contracts with foreign companies from 2024 unless their regional headquarters are based in the Kingdom. The rule will include agencies, institutions and

February 17

Off the Cuff

UK scientist warns: Vaccines not the end of virus controls

LONDON: A scientist advising the UK government has warned that early lifting of lockdown measures could see a resurgence of coronavirus disease cases leading to a return to restrictions, despite the

February 15

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Egyptian foreign minister on new US administration: No grounds for concern or optimism

CAIRO: Egyptian-US relations have been close and strategic for four decades and display many aspects of cooperation, according to Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry. “Egypt is in constant contact with

February 15

Region

Saudi-led Arab coalition intercepts Houthi drone targeting Abha

The Saudi-led Arab coalition forces intercepted a drone fired by the Houthi militia toward Saudi Arabia’s Abha International Airport on Saturday. The attacks came just days after the Houthis sparked

February 14

Region

Tadawul to lift trading halt on Etihad Atheeb on Sunday

The Saudi Stock Exchange Co. (Tadawul) announced the lifting of suspension on trading the shares of Etihad Atheeb Telecommunication Co. (GO) from Sunday, Feb. 14, 2021. The decision came after the

February 14

Region

Justin Timberlake apologizes to Britney Spears after backlash

DUBAI: In a statement on Instagram on Friday, Justin Timberlake said he was “deeply sorry” and “wants to take accountability” for how he treated Britney Spears in the past after a new documentary led

February 14

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Tajikistan quake shakes north India, Pakistan, no major damage

NEW DELHI: A strong earthquake struck Tajikistan on Friday and the tremors were felt as far away as north India and Pakistan, witnesses said. Many residents ran out of their homes, but no major

February 14

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Algerian president returns from Germany after post-Covid surgery

ALGIERS: Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune returned home Friday after a one-month stay in Germany for surgery following post-Covid-19 complications in his foot, state television said. “The

February 14

Region

Al Hilal echo Liverpool’s post-glory struggles

LONDON: Five months after Liverpool became champions of Europe in June 2019, Al-Hilal lifted the Asian Champions League. Three months after Liverpool won the English Premier League, Al Hilal did the

February 13

Region

Half of Yemen under-5s face acute malnutrition: UN

DUBAI: : About 400,000 children under the age of five are in danger of dying of acute malnutrition in war-torn and impoverished Yemen, UN agencies warned Friday. They said half of those in the most

February 13

Region

Mars Hope Probe success strengthens UAE-Japan partnership

TOKYO: Japan’s Foreign Minister MOTEGI Toshimitsu praised the successful arrival of the UAE’s Hope Probe to Mars and its entry into orbit. Motegi also extended Japan’s congratulations to the UAE for

February 13

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Julius Baer sees new prospects in Saudi stocks

RIYADH: Saudi stocks rose for the fourth consecutive day on Tuesday as the index reached its highest level in three weeks with oil prices heading above $60 a barrel. “Investors looking for

February 13

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Egypt to manufacture Samsung tablets

CAIRO: The Egyptian government has signed an agreement with Korean technology company Samsung to manufacture educational tablets in the country, part of a government strategy to localize the

February 13

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Saudi, Spanish foreign ministers discuss joint cooperation

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan held a meeting with his Spanish counterpart Arancha Gonzalez Laya in the capital Riyadh on Tuesday. During the meeting, they discussed

February 12

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UAE added to UK ‘red list’ of countries with travel restrictions

LONDON: The UAE has been added to a British list of countries with additional travel restrictions designed to limit the spread of COVID-19. The UK government on Tuesday announced the measures

February 12

Region

Investment essential to avert global energy crisis: Report

DUBAI: Investment in oil and gas needs to rise significantly over last year’s pandemic-impacted levels to avert a crisis in global energy supply, according to the latest report from the King Abdullah

February 11

Region

Saudi economy contracted by 4.1% in 2020

The Saudi economy contracted by 4.1 percent in 2020, hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, lower crude prices and output cuts, according to data published by the General Authority for Statistics on

February 11