Saudi Arabia News in English - Expat Guide to Saudi Arabia

May 4, 2020

Bank group raises questions on debt relief for poorest countries

Despite the worthy goal of helping the poorest nations during the coronavirus pandemic, an international banking association has raised concerns about their ability to join in a plan to suspend debt payments. The Group of 20 governments last month agreed…

May 4, 2020

Saudi chemical giant SABIC posts another loss

Saudi petrochemicals giant SABIC on Monday posted its second quarterly loss in a row for the three months to March, blaming low prices and a slump in demand due to coronavirus. SABIC, one of the world’s largest chemical firms, said…

April 27, 2020

Campaigners cautious on Saudi floggings, death penalty reforms

Human rights campaigners on Monday cautiously welcomed Saudi moves to abolish court-ordered floggings and end the death penalty for crimes committed by minors, but pointed out “loopholes” in the reforms. The changes underscore a push by de facto ruler Crown…

April 27, 2020

Activists cautious on Saudi floggings, death penalty reforms

Human rights campaigners on Monday cautiously welcomed Saudi moves to abolish court-ordered floggings and end the death penalty for crimes committed by minors, but pointed out “loopholes” in the reforms. The changes underscore a push by de facto ruler Crown…

April 27, 2020

Saudi-led coalition rejects south Yemen self-rule declaration

The Saudi-led military coalition in war-torn Yemen on Monday rejected a declaration of self-rule by separatists in the country’s south and demanded “an end to any escalatory actions”. The breakaway declaration made Sunday threatens to reignite a “war within a…

April 26, 2020

Saudi Arabia eliminates death penalty for minors

Saudi Arabia on Sunday ended the death penalty for crimes committed by minors after effectively abolishing floggings as the kingdom seeks to blunt criticism over its human rights record. The reforms underscore a push by de facto ruler Crown Prince…

April 26, 2020

Saudi ramps up virus testing as lockdown relaxed

Saudi Arabia announced Sunday a $265 million deal with a Chinese firm to ramp up coronavirus testing as the kingdom eased a 24-hour curfew, except in hotspots including Islam’s holy city of Mecca. The agreement with China’s Beijing Genome Institute…

April 26, 2020

Yemen: five years since Saudi-led coalition intervened

Impoverished Yemen is mired in a devastating conflict between Iran-backed rebels and government forces that intensified after Saudi Arabia spearheaded a military intervention five years ago. Separatists further complicated the crisis on Sunday by declaring self-rule for the country’s south….

April 26, 2020

Lockdowns ease as global infections near 3 million

Spanish children were allowed outside on Sunday for the first time in six weeks as countries eased lockdown measures and reopen economies gutted by the coronavirus pandemic that has infected nearly three million people worldwide. Governments from France to Italy…