Arab News - 2017-12-20

• Saudi Arabia unveils biggest budget in its history
• CONDEMNATI­ONS
• Saudi budget: 2018 to be ‘litmus test’ for economy
• Budgets no longer just about the price of oil
• Public set to benefit from municipali­ty allocation increase
• Saudi spending to top SR1 trillion in 2018
• Economic reforms are advancing, improvemen­ts in the business environmen­t are gaining momentum, and an essential pro-private sector stimulus package is unfolding.
• ‘Saudi Arabia has almost double internatio­nal rate of smartphone­s’
• Human rights body backs anti-discrimina­tion laws
• $10bn fund proposed for Yemen’s reconstruc­tion
• Belgium becomes first country to appoint female envoy to KSA
• Macron rejects Assad accusation­s over terror sponsor remarks
• Al-Qaeda divisions may aid Assad as he eyes Syria’s Idlib
• Protests rock Iraqi Kurdistan for second day
• The world will back us at UN, Palestinia­ns tell Arab News
• Presidenti­al hopeful jailed in Egypt for violation of military regulation­s
• Pakistan military officials brief lawmakers on national security
• Bangladesh, Myanmar form joint working group for repatriati­on of Rohingya refugees
• Iranian regime using courts to intimidate perceived enemies
• Suffering of Iran’s women increases under ‘moderate’ Rouhani
• Middle East vulnerable to being trampled by rival powers
• Islamic insurance merger creates UAE giant
• UAE’s NMC Healthcare plans $800m investment­s from 2018
• Hikma wins right to market Roche drug copy in Middle East
• Vimto maker cautions on Middle East sales
• La Liga chases Asian cash with early Clasico kick-off
• KSA World Cup spots at stake
• Five things we learned as England’s Ashes hopes turn to dust
• Diddy wants to be first black team owner
• Legendary singer Majida El-Roumy coming to Riyadh

Arab News - 2017-12-19

Arab News - 2017-12-21