The latest in Saudi Arabia

Mideast Egypt Obit Tantawi

2010-03-10T06:01:10Z

FILE - in this Monday, July 28, 2008 file photo Sheik Mohammed Sayed Tantawi, grand sheik of Al-Azhar, Sunni Islam's pre-eminent theological institute, left, accompanies Palestinian authority President Mahmoud Abbas, at the Azhar headquarters, in Cairo, Egypt....

Egypt's top Muslim cleric dies of heart attack

2010-03-10T06:00:37Z

<div id="subtitle">Egypt's top Muslim cleric, whose moderate views angered hard-liners, dies of heart attack</div><div><p>Top Egyptian cleric Sheik Mohammed Sayed Tantawi, whose views often drew criticism from religious conservatives and secular Muslims, died of a heart attack Wednesday during a visit to ...

Gates to discuss Iran pressure during Saudi visit

2010-03-10T05:00:15Z

<div><p>RIYADH (Reuters) - Defense Secretary Robert Gates arrived in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday to discuss efforts to put pressure on Iran, stabilize Yemen and to urge the Saudis to eng...

Top Sunni cleric Tantawi dies of heart attack

2010-03-10T02:15:51Z

<div><p>Sunni Islam's top cleric, Sheikh Mohammed Sayed Tantawi, died on Wednesday in Saudi Arabia of a heart attack suffered while boarding a plane, Egyptian officials and state media said.</p><p>Tantawi, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar -- Sunni Islam's highest seat of learning -- was in Sheikh Mohammed Sayed Tantawi, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar -- Sunni Islam's highest seat of learning -- died on Wednesday in Saudi Arabia of a heart attack, the official MENA news agency reported.</p><p>Tantawi, 81,...

Saudi security confiscate books by reformer

2010-03-09T11:45:25Z

<div id="subtitle">Saudi security confiscate books by prominent reformer at Riyadh book fair</div><div><p>Saudi security forces confiscated books of a well-known reformer and critic of the royal family from stalls at the kingdom's annual international book fair, a Saudi civil rights group said Saturday.</p><p>The Saudi Civil and Polit...

Women's rights improving in Middle East: study

2010-03-04T11:19:55Z

<div><p>Women's rights have improved in 15 of 18 countries in the Middle East and North Africa over the past five years, although violence against women remains widespread throughout the region, a US study has found.</p><p>Democracy watchdog group Freedom House pointed to "modest" economic, educational and ...

Religious schools under scrutiny in Yemen

2010-03-03T04:30:42Z

<div><p>TARIM, Yemen (Reuters) - Malaysian student Mohamed Fatri Ben Kazrah flew half way round the world to fulfill his dream of studying Islam and Arabic at a Yemeni religious school.</p><p>Ben Kazrah is one of hundreds of students from Asia and Africa in Tarim, a historic town ack...

Somali pirates seize Saudi tanker: official

2010-03-03T03:16:18Z

<div><p>Somali pirates have captured a small Saudi tanker and its crew of 14 in the Gulf of Aden, a Kenyan maritime official said Wednesday.</p><p>The MT Al Nisr Al Saudi, a 5,136 tonne tanker, was seized on Monday with its Greek captain and 13 Sri Lankan crew members, said

Iraq's February oil exports at highest level since 1990

2010-03-02T11:17:01Z

<div><p>Iraq's oil exports reached their highest level in February since Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait in two decades, oil ministry spokesman Assem Jihad told AFP on Tuesday.</p><p>"Oil exports for February reached 2.069 million barrels (per day) and this is the highest e...

India PM visit to Saudi shows rising security ties

2010-03-01T10:18:11Z

<div><p> Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to oil and regional powerhouse Saudi Arabia has been underpinned by India's thirst for energy, and its need to battle radical Islamists.</p><p>The first prime minister to visit Saudi Arabia in 28 years, Singh emphasised New D...

India PM visit to Saudi shows rising security

2010-03-01T09:17:07Z

<div><p>Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to oil and regional powerhouse Saudi Arabia has been underpinned by India's thirst for energy, and its need to battle radical Islamists.</p><p>The first prime minister to visit Saudi Arabia in 28 years, Singh emphasised New De...

Saudi Yemen

2010-03-01T05:16:50Z

Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation AbdulKareem Al-Arhabi, right, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy and Finance Khalaf Ahmed Almannai, center, and Director General, International Economic Relations Abdelaziz Al-Uwaisheg attend the Meeting of the working group for Yemen development needs in Riyadh, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh pitched for investment in his economy and closer petroleum sector cooperation with Saudi Arabia on Sunday, the second day of a visit to the Middle East oil giant.</p><p>The first Indian premier to visit Saudi Arabia in 28 years, Singh said his country's growth ...

Indian PM in Saudi Arabia for talks

2010-02-27T11:16:16Z

<div><p>Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh arrived in Saudi Arabia on Saturday on the first visit by an Indian premier to the oil kingpin in 28 years with energy imports, Middle East peace and Islamic militancy on the agenda.</p><p>He was greeted by ...

Yemen sappers enter Shi'ite rebel stronghold

2010-02-27T09:15:10Z

<div><p>SANAA (Reuters) - Yemeni army sappers entered a northern Shi'ite rebel stronghold to clear mines after rebels quit the city of Saada as part of a truce to end a war that has drawn in Saudi Arabia, the defense ministry said on Saturday.</p><p>But tension flared in southern Yemen where authorities imposed...

Thousands rally in south Yemen as donors meet

2010-02-27T07:16:00Z

<div><p>Thousands rallied for independence across south Yemen on Saturday as international donors to the war-torn country gathered for talks in Saudi Arabia.</p><p>Ali Salem al-Baid, who led the south to unity with the north in 1990, called on Friday for "two days of southern anger" to coincide with the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh arrives in Riyadh Saturday.</p><p>The first Indian prime minister to visit the Middle East power in 28 years, Singh said in an interview published Saturday ...

Saudi Arabia is turning its back on the United States

2010-02-25T19:15:56Z

<div id="subtitle">Refineries and storage facilities moving elsewhere</div><div><p>Saudi Arabia, the world's largest oil producer, last year shipped more oil to China than it did the United States for the first time ever - a shift that highlights China's ascension to the ranks of the world's economic elite, as well as ...

US removes Saudi Arabia from IPR 'watchlist'

2010-02-24T11:17:36Z

<div><p>The United States on Wednesday removed Saudi Arabia from a government list of alleged intellectual property rights violators, saying it has made "significant progress" in tackling the issue.</p><p>The decision to remove Saudi Arabia from the "Special 301 Watch List" resulted from a review of the effectiveness of IPR protection and enforcement in the ki...