Saudi Arabia

King Salman bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia speaking during a televised speech addressing the nation about the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. (AFP)

Narendra Modi to participate in G-20 summit by video

The extraordinary virtual summit has been called to coordinate the response to the coronavirus pandemic

25 Mar 2020 12:46 PM

A man looks out of a window at the H10 Costa Adeje Palace hotel in La Caleta, on the Canary Island of Tenerife, Spain, Wednesday, February 26, 2020. Spanish officials say the tourist hotel has been placed in quarantine after an Italian doctor staying there tested positive for the COVID-19 virus and Spanish news media says some 1,000 tourists staying at the complex are not allowed to leave. (AP)

Global coronavirus summary this morning

More cases crop up worldwide, Saudi Arabia cancels Haj, Japan shuts schools, border checks tightened

28 Feb 2020 6:48 AM

Not all are happy with the crown prince’s style of governance or the changes. (Photo: AP)

Saudi Arabia makes effort to polish their image and appeal youngsters

Saudi Arabia cuts loose with bevy of models and a rave.

25 Dec 2019 12:20 PM

Pakistan and Pakistanis have had a long history of copying whatever Saudi Arabia does.

Sex segregation in Saudi ending, never mind what the critics say

At the beginning of the week, Saudi Arabia announced that it was putting an end to gender segregation in restaurants.

14 Dec 2019 6:05 AM

Restaurants in Saudi Arabia will no longer need to maintain entrances segregated by sex, the authorities said on Sunday, further eroding some of the world’s strictest social rules as sweeping reforms take hold. (Photo: File)

Saudi Arabia ends gender-segregated entrances for restaurants as part of sweeping reforms

Segregation has quietly eased over past year or so, as eateries, cafes, conference centres and concert halls stopped strictly enforcing it.

09 Dec 2019 1:59 PM

The group included the top echelons of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, an elite branch of the Iranian military whose portfolio includes missile development and covert operations. (Representational Image)

Time to take out our swords: Inside Iran's plot to attack Saudi Arabia

Hard-liners in the meeting talked of attacking high-value targets, including American military bases.

26 Nov 2019 2:15 PM

"Seeing me in a car, racing... For a lot of people it's a surprise, but I am happy to surprise people." (Photo: AFP)

In first, Saudi woman to drive race car in kingdom

Juffali, who hails from the western city of Jeddah and was educated in US, will participate as what organisers call 'VIP' guest driver.

23 Nov 2019 3:50 PM

According to the complaint, Abouammo repeatedly accessed the Twitter account of a prominent critic of the Saudi royal family in early 2015

Former Twitter employee accused of spying for Saudis pleads not guilty

A federal judge in San Francisco has ordered him to be released next week, but prosecutors are appealing that decision.

21 Nov 2019 11:07 AM

The study said Iran considered missiles to be a strategic necessity due to the limitations of its air force, which still has some US planes ordered by the pro-Western shah, who was toppled in 1979. (Representational Image)

Pentagon says Iran developed largest missile force in Middle East despite sanctions

A US intelligence official said on condition of anonymity that the assessment included Israel.

20 Nov 2019 2:00 PM

A promotional video published by Saudi Arabia's state security agency categorises feminism, homosexuality and atheism as extremist ideas, even as the conservative Muslim kingdom seeks to promote tolerance and attract foreigners. (Representational Image)

Saudi Arabia labels feminism, homosexuality, atheism as ‘extremist ideas’

Nearly dozen women's right advocates were detained weeks before ban on driving -- which they had campaigned against -- was lifted last year.

12 Nov 2019 12:03 PM

Ayushmann Khurrana's 'Bala' is first film of him to be released in Saudi Arabia

The Amar Kaushik directorial received a great response at the box office and minted Rs 10.5 crore on its opening day.

12 Nov 2019 8:25 AM

Saudi Arabia's King Salman hosted the Central Intelligence Agency's director Thursday, state media said, after three people were charged in the United States with spying on Twitter users critical of the royal family. (Photo: @SaudiEmbassyUSA)

Saudi king hosts CIA chief after spying on Twitter users charges

The CIA has reportedly concluded that the prince himself was closely linked to the murder, a charge vigorously denied by Riyadh.

08 Nov 2019 4:11 PM

‘One of the best, if not the best, leaders’: US billionaire praises PM Modi

The American billionaire investor posted on Twitter a video of his sit-down discussion with PM Modi.

08 Nov 2019 1:51 PM

PM Modi arrives in Saudi; to hold bilateral talks with Crown Prince

Besides addressing the forum, he will hold bilateral talks with Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

29 Oct 2019 9:33 AM

Flights carrying national leaders are considered as “state aircraft” and are not subject to its provisions, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) said, in response to India’s complaint against Pakistan for its refusal to let the Prime Minister’s plane go through its airspace to Saudi Arabia. (Photo: File)

'Not subject to our provision': ICAO on Pak’s airspace denial to PM Modi’s plane

On Sunday, Pakistan denied India’s request to allow Modi’s aircraft to move in its airspace for his visit to Saudi Arabia.

29 Oct 2019 9:10 AM

Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah Al-Saud has been named the new foreign minister in a partial Cabinet reshuffle and Saleh bin Nasser bin Ali Al-Jasser has been named as the country's transport minister. (Photo: ANI)

In third reshuffle in less than a year, Saudi Arabia appoints new foreign minister

The reshuffle in Saudi is seen amid geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

24 Oct 2019 3:09 PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday expressed grief on the loss of 35 lives due to a bus accident that took place in Saudi Arabia's Medina province on Wednesday. (Photo: File)

Anguished by bus crash near Mecca: PM Modi expresses grief on death of 35 foreigners

The passengers included individuals with Asian or Arabic nationalities, the spokesperson for Medina police indicated.

17 Oct 2019 12:50 PM

Those involved were Arab and Asian pilgrims, according to local media, who carried pictures of the bus engulfed in flames and with its windows blown out. (Representational Image)

35 killed as bus carrying Asian, Arab nationals crashes in Saudi

The injured have been transferred to Al-Hamna Hospital, SPA added, and authorities have launched an investigation.

17 Oct 2019 8:25 AM

The tanker, owned by National Iranian Oil Company, had suffered heavy damage and was leaking oil into the Red Sea some 60 miles from Jeddah, unnamed sources told Iran's Students News Agency ISNA. (Representational Image)

Iran govt says oil tanker struck by two rockets off Saudi Arabia

'Experts believe it was a terrorist attack,' a source told ISNA.

11 Oct 2019 11:55 AM

No official announcement or confirmation of PM Modi's visit to Saudi Arabia has been made yet. (Photo: File)

PM Modi expected to visit Saudi Arabia soon

During the visit, the Prime Minister is also expected to attend an investment summit hosted by the Gulf nation in capital Riyadh.

05 Oct 2019 10:44 AM