Al-Qasabi: Growing global adoption of digitization transforms trade into more efficient and reliable    89-day long winter season starts officially in Saudi Arabia on Saturday    20,159 illegal residents arrested in a week    Riyadh Season 5 draws record number of over 12 million visitors    GACA report: 928 complaints filed by passengers against airlines in November    Death toll in attack on Christmas market in Magdeburg rises to 5, with more than 200 injured Saudi Arabia had warned Germany about suspect's threatening social media posts, source says    Ukraine launches drone attacks deep into Russia, hitting Kazan in Tatarstan    Cyclone Chido leaves devastation in Mayotte as death toll rises and aid struggles to reach survivors    US halts $10 million bounty on HTS leader as Syria enters new chapter    UN Internet Governance Forum in Riyadh billed the largest ever in terms of attendance    ImpaQ 2024 concludes with a huge turnout    Salmaneyyah: Regaining national urban identity    Fury vs. Usyk: Anticipation builds ahead of Riyadh's boxing showdown    Saudi Arabia to compete in 2025 and 2027 CONCACAF Gold Cup tournaments    Marianne Jean-Baptiste on Oscars buzz for playing 'difficult' woman    Al Shabab announces departure of coach Vítor Pereira    My kids saw my pain on set, says Angelina Jolie    Saudi Arabia defeats Trinidad and Tobago 3-1 in friendly match    Legendary Indian tabla player Zakir Hussain dies at 73    Eminem sets Riyadh ablaze with unforgettable debut at MDLBEAST Soundstorm    Order vs. Morality: Lessons from New York's 1977 Blackout    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Filipino pilgrim's incredible evolution from an enemy of Islam to its staunch advocate    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    

Articles of the author Khaled M Batarfi
Islam ... tolerance and political Islam
I was sitting next to my favorite classmate and friend, Jack, in Journalism School, University of Oregon. He was commenting on a subject matter, when he suddenly announced: Me, as a Jew and a communist, think ...." I couldn't follow what he said (...)

16 - 03 - 2020
Who targeted Holy Kaaba?
THE question itself is chilling. How could anyone, whatever his religion, target the Holy Kaaba? How could he target the masses of believers in the most peaceful and spiritual moments? The question is magnified and mystified when the doer is (...)

27 - 06 - 2017
Religious merchants!
"The land of the Two Holy Mosques is falling in the arms of America and Israel," commented a member of an Arab-Turkish group. "Explain to me why would Saudi intellectuals shake hands with Israeli officials in international conferences, if not to (...)

20 - 06 - 2017
Who is involved in Tehran bombings?
"FIRST of all, I offer my deepest condolences and sympathy to the families of the victims. We, in Saudi Arabia, are acutely aware of the pain and suffering caused by terrorism which has targeted us so many times in the past three decades," I told (...)

13 - 06 - 2017
Our oil... not yours!
"The Gulf oil is not just yours... it is Allah's gift to all Arabs and Muslims. Therefore, such a waste of resources bothers us, and we have the right to hold you accountable," argued an Arab friend. "It is high time we exercised guardianship over (...)

06 - 06 - 2017
Has the Gulf forgotten Palestine?
THE discussion was heated as some Arab brothers, particularly Palestinians, were criticizing the current stand of the Gulf countries on the Palestinian cause, the Riyadh Declaration and the Saudi-US deals. I told them: Every state seeks to achieve (...)

30 - 05 - 2017
Riyadh summits... Iran's elections!
KING Abdulaziz Al Saud, the founder of the modern Saudi state, once explained to his advisers: Britain is a friendly country, America is a partner, and in the balance of national interests, a partner weighs more than a friend. True! International (...)

23 - 05 - 2017
Trump's visit to Saudi Arabia and Gulf unity!
I WAS trying to clarify the positions of the Gulf states on main Middle Eastern issues, and to explain the differences of opinion in some areas, such as Egypt and Syria, when my Algerian friend announced: The Gulf position is one ... regardless of (...)

09 - 05 - 2017
Days of wonders, week of surprises
PRINCE Khaled Al-Faisal, in a famous poem, says: "We live in a time of wonders. What is left to be revealed? Every time we think they were over, came something new." I am reminded of his words a lot these days. In the past, mega events came in line (...)

02 - 05 - 2017
Tunisia — the art of bridge building!
I WAS invited to a photography exhibition opened by the Tunisian Minister of Tourism Salma Al-Loumi Rafiq and attended by Tunisian Ambassador Lotfi Ben Gaied, Consul General Sami Al-Saidi, Tourism Officer in the Gulf region Choukri Charrad, chairman (...)

25 - 04 - 2017
Why Africa?
WHY are we now so interested in Africa? Why is Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim Al-Thani visiting Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya and South Africa in less than a year? Why had Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir toured a number of African countries, last year, (...)

18 - 04 - 2017
Chemical attacks and genetic re-engineering
AN Algerian follower on Twitter criticized my statements on Sky News regarding Arab governments' varying positions over the American strike on the Syrian air base from where chemical attacks on the town of Khan Sheikun were launched. In the said (...)

11 - 04 - 2017
Arab dreams vs. Iran's nightmares
"Some eyes won't be able to sleep tonight in Tehran," an Iranian researcher in London commented on Al-Arabyia TV about the recent Arab summit in Jordan. Of particular worry to Iran was the meeting between Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King (...)

04 - 04 - 2017
Turkey vs. Europe — why the escalation?
"Is it in the interest of Turkey to strain relations with Europe?", was the title of an article posted on a Turkish-affairs WhatsApp group. A member commented: "Yes, it is in our best interest to make Turks aware that the West is an enemy of Muslims (...)

28 - 03 - 2017
‘Saudi Express': East to West
WHAT is behind the Saudi diplomatic blitz? Many wonder. Saudi leaders are traveling the world, from Beijing to Washington, through Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Bandar Seri Begawan and Tokyo. Saudi ministers are parachuting into one capital after the (...)

21 - 03 - 2017
An Iranian-Lebanese army?
On my way to Beirut, I was lucky to sit beside a Lebanese Druze, who introduced himself as a Nationalist Arab. Our conversations took us to questions about why Gulf states were absent from the Lebanese political scene for so long, allowing Iran to (...)

14 - 03 - 2017
Why Indonesia?
SO what is so important about Indonesia?" some of my friends ask. "Why all the celebrations here, in Saudi Arabia and there about the royal visit? How much business is there between the two countries? The trade balance is some 8 billion dollars. (...)

07 - 03 - 2017
King Salman in Malaysia: History meets future!
AN official Malaysian friend was so excited as he learned that King Salman is visiting his country. He wanted to know all he could to help make the royal trip a great success. "We want him to feel home, to find how much we love him and his country. (...)

28 - 02 - 2017
Jordan — a rising star!
VISITING Jordan lately, I felt proud and pleasantly surprised. The capital, Amman, which I visited last in 1981, is now a well developed metropolitan city. Its brand-new, modern and large airport is a model of good engineering and administration. (...)

21 - 02 - 2017
West vs. East in the Middle East?
IT seems that the Cold War era between the West and the East is back. Middle Eastern nations are aligned now along two lines. The United States and the NATO are facing off Russia, China, North Korea and Iran. What such confrontation means to us? I (...)

14 - 02 - 2017
Determinants of Arab-Iranian relations
"Why are the Gulf states so against dialogue with Iran? You need each other to face the dangers and threats against our Arab security system, and its enemies like the US, Europe, Russia, Turkey and Israel,» an Algerian journalist asked at the (...)

07 - 02 - 2017
Morocco — a bridge to be built
A MOROCCAN passport officer asked me, "What do you teach?" "Communication," I answered. With typical bright smile, he asked me to explain what it means to communicate and what the most important skills are. "Communication is a fundamental belief. If (...)

31 - 01 - 2017
Our Sudan!
WHEN I saw the large Sudanese delegation standing in line to offer condolences on the death of Prince Muhammad Al-Faisal, I recalled many memories. In 2002, I visited Khartoum as a journalist with the prince and his son, Eng. Amr, to attend the (...)

24 - 01 - 2017
Muhammad Al-Faisal is not dead!
PRINCE Muhammad Al-Faisal has just died!," said the note I received on my mobile, last Saturday. As sad and shocking as it was, I wasn't totally surprising. The 80-year-old prince had been fighting illnesses for years. Lately, he went through hard (...)

17 - 01 - 2017
Iraqi Shiite militias
AKRAM Al-Kaabi, secretary general of ‘Al-Nujaba' Shiite militia in Iraq is threatening your country. He promised, once done with Daesh (the so-called IS) in Mosul, to take the war to Syria, then to Saudi Arabia," my colleague from Sky News Arabia (...)

10 - 01 - 2017
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