RIYADH: Saudi banks, which are working to capitalize on economic reforms, have defied recessionary trends by posting profits during the first quarter of 2018. The banks have cumulatively reported a 7.5 percent year-on-year increase and an 18 percent quarter-on-quarter growth in net profit for the first quarter, thanks to lower interest expenses and provisioning charges. “The results are credit positive for…
On behalf of Prince Bandar bin Abdul Aziz, founder of the King Salman Center for Disability Research (KSCDR), Riyadh Gov. Prince Faisal bin Bandar attended the General Assembly’s 9th meeting and the 12th meeting of the center’s founders. Prince Sultan bin Salman, chairman of the board of trustees, expressed his thanks and appreciation to King Salman for his support of…
JEDDAH: An eminent scientist has advised people to take adequate precautions during sandstorms in Saudi Arabia, which can cause a number of health problems, including respiratory complications. Dr. Sultan Ayoub Meo, professor at the College of Medicine at King Saud University, Riyadh, said that sandstorms are the main cause of bacterial and viral infections, especially among elderly people. Meo, referring to…
JEDDAH: The Consulate General of Italy in Jeddah hosted a celebration of the country’s National Day with a two-day cultural event, part of which focused on music from the Middle Ages. This an era from which it is easy to spot similarities and shared mutual influences between Western Christian and Arab Islamic music. To illustrate this, musician Stefano Albarello performed…
RIYADH: The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) on Sunday urged the international community to pressure Iran to respect the UN Charter, stop providing ballistic missiles to Houthi rebels in Yemen to attack Saudi Arabia, and stop meddling in the affairs of Arab states. “The GCC countries want a Middle East free from all weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons,” said…
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia and Spain have renewed their pledge to boost cooperation in several areas, especially in civil aviation, labor and social development, culture, science and technology, as well as the defense industries. “The agreements to promote cooperation in these identified sectors were signed during the visit of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to Spain recently,” said Alvaro Iranzo, the Spanish…
RIYADH: Sales of miswak — the teeth-cleaning twig popular around the Muslim world — will treble in Saudi Arabia as people turn to the traditional hygiene method during Ramadan. Worshippers fasting during the holy month use miswak several times a day to ensure mouth freshness and protect dental health. Mubarak Al-Oraizi, a miswak seller in Riyadh city center, said he expected…
RIYADH: The Japanese government is offering scholarships to Arab students in Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Syria. Applications have opened for the Japanese Government Scholarship Program for higher studies in Japan for 2019. The Japanese Embassy in Riyadh said the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in Japan will be offering scholarships to distinguished international students who wish to…
RIYADH: Saudi and Turkish military personnel have joined hands with a large number of military units from friendly countries to hold an international defense drill in Turkey. Saudi troops have already arrived in Izmir on Turkey’s Aegean coast in a major move to impart training to the armed forces of the participating countries and to exchange experiences in combined and…
April 19, 2018 | Ghazanfar Ali Khan RIYADH: The way to cultural understanding and friendship is through our stomachs. This was aptly practiced and proven by Oyvind Strokke, Norwegian ambassador to the Kingdom, who organized a major gastronomic opportunity to taste a range of Norwegian cuisine in Riyadh. The menu was carefully designed to represent the flavors of Norwegian seafood. “This inclusive,…