Middle East

King Salman’s speech will serve as guideline for Shoura, says council member

Author: GHAZANFAR ALI KHANSun, 2017-12-10 03:00ID: 1512853068991387400 RIYADH: Guidelines for addressing local and regional challenges with a special reference to domestic and foreign policies, will be spelled out by King Salman on Wednesday, and will set the tone for the year-long agenda of

Middle East

Certain medicines, medical equipment exempted from VAT in Saudi Arabia

Author: ARAB NEWSSun, 2017-12-10 03:00ID: 1512853068921386500 JEDDAH: The 5 percent value-added tax (plan) will not be imposed on certain medicines and medical equipment, according to Reuters citing a statement carried by Saudi Press Agency (SPA) on Saturday. All other private health care services will be taxed at the standard rate, the statement said, citing directives

Middle East

Saudi industrial firms gain as US facilities step up role

Author: Arab NewsSun, 2017-12-10 03:00ID: 1512853068971387100 JEDDAH: The Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA) said that the number of American facilities in the Kingdom increased in December 2017 to 462, with a total capital exceeding SR56.7 billion ($15.1 billion), according to a report published by Al-Eqtisadiah newspaper on Dec. 7. The report quoted a

Middle East

Saudi Basic Industries Cooperation set to boost investments in China

Author: Arab NewsSun, 2017-12-10 03:00ID: 1512853069031387700 RIYADH: Saudi Basic Industries Corp. (SABIC), the Saudi leading petrochemical company, has signed a memorandum of understating (MoU) to boost its investments in the People’s Republic of China. SABIC signed the MoU with the Guangzhou Nansha Development Zone Committee of China on Friday. The deal is also meant to

Middle East

Saudi human rights society says Jerusalem integral part of Palestine

Author: ARAB NEWSSun, 2017-12-10 01:39ID: 1512848474901000800 RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) on Saturday released a statement denouncing US decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. The NSHR called the move “a blatant violation of the rights of the Palestinian people and of the Arab and Islamic nations, and of

Middle East

Forum highlights job opportunities of the future for Saudi youth

Author: HUSSAM AL-MAYMANSat, 2017-12-09 03:00ID: 1512771995883852500 RIYADH: Job-seekers and professional guidance counselors discussed employment opportunities at the CYC 2030 Forum, which debuted on Thursday in Riyadh. The forum is a platform to help Saudi youth choose appropriate academic disciplines that will propel them toward future career opportunities on a global

Middle East

It is naive to think that Trump has fundamentally reordered US policy in the Middle East

Count me among those who aren't entirely convinced that US President Donald Trump's decision to recognise Jerusalem as the Israeli capital represents a serious "upending" of longstanding US policy in the Middle East. If anything, Trump’s Wednesday proclamation represents a fulfillment of a longstanding US promise to Israel. It's true that, prior to Trump,

Africa News

China links itself to Zimbabwe’s new regime with a $153 million loan

In a show of confidence in Zimbabwe’s new leadership, China has given the country a $153 million loan agreement. The loan will be directed towards expanding and upgrading the international airport in Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare. For the new president of Zimbabwe, Emmerson Mnangagwa, this is the first step to fulfilling his promise to revive the country’s economy. Mnangagwa

Asia

Indonesia faces ban against Bitcoin and other forms of cryptocurrency

Jakarta – On Thursday, Indonesia’s central bank publicly issued a policy regulating cryptocurrencies to protect the country’s economy. The policy prohibits financial technology (fintech) companies from using cryptocurrencies “in payment system [and] activities.” The regulation was signed Nov. 29, and will be enforced beginning Jan. 1, requiring each fintech agency involved

Uncategorized

May’s divorce deal doesn’t add up

PARIS — The sighs of relief in Brussels, London and Dublin may not last long. To be sure, the first-phase divorce settlement Britain struck with the European Union early Friday morning keeps the show on the road. It will greatly reduce the risk of a no-deal “cliff-edge” Brexit in 2019 — a result that would inflict major economic damage on both sides of the English Channel