Al-Azhar head Tantawi buried in Madinah

RIYADH: Sheikh Muhammad Sayed Tantawi, a prominent voice of the Islamic world and head of Al-Azhar, the highest religious authority in Egypt, died here on Wednesday at the age of 81 following a heart attack. Sheikh Tantawi had arrived in Riyadh on Tuesday to participate in the award-giving ceremony of the King Faisal International Prize. A revered figure among a large section of the world’s 1.5 billion Muslims, Tantawi had been associated with Saudi Arabia and the Arab world for the last several decades. He carries a legacy of exemplary services to Islam.

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Biden blasts Israel over housing plan

RAMALLAH: US Vice President Joe Biden publicly scolded Israel on Wednesday over a Jewish settlement plan, saying it was undermining peace efforts after Palestinians agreed to US-mediated talks. “It is incumbent on both parties to build an atmosphere of support for negotiations and not to complicate them,” Biden said in a media statement alongside Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank city of Ramallah.

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Halt provocation, GCC tells Tel Aviv

RIYADH: Foreign ministers of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) called on Israel on Wednesday to refrain from provocative gestures and strongly condemned the incursion of Israeli forces’ into the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque and their clashes with Palestinian worshippers. The GCC foreign ministers, meeting in Riyadh, also condemned Tel Aviv for the deliberate inclusion of several Islamic monuments, including Al-Ibrahim Mosque in Al-Khalil, (Hebron) and Bilal Mosque in Bethlehem, among its Jewish heritage and culture sites.

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Gates holds talks with King Abdullah, Crown Prince Sultan

RIYADH: US Defense Secretary Robert Gates arrived in Riyadh on Wednesday for a one-day visit to hold talks with Saudi officials on bilateral matters.

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US ‘JihadJane’ indicted for global terror recruiting

WASHINGTON: A US woman operating online under the name “JihadJane” has been indicted for recruiting fighters in the United States, Europe and Asia in a bid to carry out terror plots.

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Tourism law in final stage: Prince Sultan bin Salman

MAKKAH: The new tourism law is in its final stage and could be passed this year, according to the chairman of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA).

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Editorial: Jeddah tragedy

The Jeddah floods remain a shocking tragedy, not simply for the citizens of Jeddah, so many of whom lost friends and loved ones in the disaster, but for the Kingdom as a whole. Such things are simply not supposed to happen in a modern city.

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Credit card woes hit youths

Young Arabs modern in outlook, seek same privileges as in the West: Survey

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Divorced woman struggles hard to make ends meet

JEDDAH: As a single Saudi mother, 34-year-old Areej Iskandar, has been forced to venture out from the comfort of her home and go out and work. Her story is typical of many young single mothers in the Kingdom.

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Chewing gum firm battles rumors

JEDDAH: A Saudi chewing gum manufacturer has been forced to publish adverts saying its product is safe following rumors that the gum causes severe memory problems and damages the nervous system.

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Land use in Riyadh up

RIYADH: A new survey conducted by Ar-Riyadh Development Authority (ADA) shows that built-up areas in the Kingdom’s capital last year increased by 12 percent when compared to 2005.

Homosexual-cum-impostor cop sentenced to jail, lashes

JEDDAH: A 27-year-old man who was arrested in January on three charges, including homosexuality, was sentenced to one year in prison and 1,000 lashes and fined SR5,000, local media reported on Wednesday.

Campaign encourages women to pick up a healthy lifestyle

JEDDAH: Saudi women are being urged to lead a healthy life as part of a campaign that started on Wednesday.

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Aid workers shot dead in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Suspected militants armed with grenades attacked the offices of a Christian aid group helping earthquake survivors in northwestern Pakistan on Wednesday, killing six employees and wounding several others, police and the organization said.

Philippines' Arroyo vows smooth power transition

MANILA: Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo vowed on Wednesday to oversee a smooth transfer of power, allaying fears soldiers may intervene in May elections after she installed a loyal general as army chief.

Women's quota bill spells trouble for India's Congress

NEW DELHI: India's ruling Congress party officials met on Wednesday to douse a political standoff over a contentious parliament bill after two of its allies quit and left the government less elbow room to pass economic legislation.

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World's mega-rich adding wealth, Carlos Slim No. 1

NEW YORK: Mexican tycoon Carlos Slim is the world's richest person, knocking Microsoft founder Bill Gates into second spot, as the wealth of the world's billionaires grew by 50 percent over the last year, Forbes magazine said on Wednesday.

An expat’s weekend getaway to Najran

Najran?” my friends asked me. “Yes. Why is that so funny?” I wanted to know.

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Travel hoax victims get free tours in HK

HONG KONG: A group of Filipino visitors stranded in Hong Kong as victims of a travel package hoax were Wednesday given free tours around the city.

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Picture of the day

Kangaroos (macropus fuliginosus) are caught in a cuddle at a zoo in Basel, Switzerland, on Wednesday. (EPA)

These ladies help deliver the goods

Due to the celebration of International Women’s Day, much has been noted this week about women’s achievements. So it’s a great time to highlight the success of some Saudi women who are rarely seen, but frequently heard.

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Is my underactive thyroid causing me to gain weight?

Hypothyroidism, or under-active thyroid, is more common in women than men. There are two thyroid conditions overactive and underactive, and the television presenter, Oprah Winfrey has recently announced that she too has a thyroid condition.

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Latest comments

Church abuse scandal reaches pope's brother

There is more at stake for the Vatican to do now, than just care about sex and physical abuse s

fasteners at Mar 11, 2010 14:23

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Palestinians postpone commemoration of militant

Why wait? Did Israel wait to announce new building projects? See the arab people need someone l

Thomas Jones at Mar 11, 2010 14:15

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US ‘JihadJane’ indicted for global terror recruiting

I think this is another plot of lies. I think this is a plot to get eyes off Israel.. I DO NOT

Thomas Jones at Mar 11, 2010 14:15

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