KSA, Jordan focus on fight against terror

05/08/2015 (Saudi Gazette – KSA): Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, the second deputy prime minister and minister of minister, and Jordan’s King Abdallah, agreed to strengthen the political, economic, military and security strategic cooperation between the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.Prince Mohammed is visiting Jordan at the kind invitation of King Abdallah. On Tuesday, the Deputy Crown Prince and King Abdallah said in a joint statement following the meeting, that both the kingdoms agreed to boost the existing close ties, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.The Deputy Crown Prince conveyed the greetings of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Naif, deputy prime minister and minister of the interior, to King Abdallah. Bilateral talks were held and the talks focused on cooperation between the two brotherly countries and current developments in the region…

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentid=20150805252533

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Turkey renews top military brass, appoints Gen. Akar as the top soldier

05/08/2015 (Hurriyet – Turkey):Turkey has renewed its top military brass and appointed Land Forces Commander Gen. Hulusi Akar as the new Chief of General Staff, as his predecessor Gen. Necdet Özel has completed his four-year mandate. Gen. Özel is expected to hand over his seat to Gen. Akar on Aug. 14. The appointment was revealed at the conclusion of the Supreme Military Council’s (YAŞ) annual three-day meeting, in which the council shaped the military’s new upper echelon. The YAŞ’s decisions were announced by presidential spokesperson İbrahim Kalın after they were approved by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. As Gen. Akar was appointed as the top soldier, 1st Army Commander Gen. Salih Zeki Çolak will replace him.The new Air Forces Commander will be Gen. Abidin Ünal, who is the commander responsible for the Air Missile Defense System. Outgoing Air Forces Commander Gen. Akın Öztürk will continue to serve the army as a member of the YAŞ…

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-renews-top-military-brass-appoints-gen-akar-as-the-top-soldier–.aspx?pageID=238&nID=86470&NewsCatID=338

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Five Saudi hospitals ranked among top 10 in Arab world

05/08/2015 (Arab News – KSA): Five hospitals and health centers across the Kingdom have been ranked among the 10 top hospitals in the Arab World, according to the Webometrics Ranking of World Hospitals 2015 conducted by Cybermetrics Lab. King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center topped the list of 10, followed by Riyadh Military Hospital; Qatar’s Hamad Medical Corporation was ranked third while Saudi Arabia’s National Guard Health Affairs Hospital emerged fourth, local media reported on Tuesday.Egypt’s Salam International Hospital was ranked fifth, followed by Saudi Arabia’s King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center for Cancer.The Royal Commission Hospital in Jubail ranked seventh, followed by the American Hospital, Dubai; New Medical Center, UAE; and Egypt’s Ganzouri Specialized Hospital (GSH)…

http://www.arabnews.com/saudi-arabia/news/786771

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All you need to know about Egypt’s Suez Canal

05/08/2015 (Anadolu Agency – Turkey): Egypt is preparing to open a new shipping route in the Suez Canal on Thursday. Egyptian authorities have dubbed the route as “Egypt’s gift to the world.”A vital source of foreign currency for Egypt, the Suez Canal is one of the world’s busiest waterways. It connects the Mediterranean and Red seas, allowing ships to travel between Europe and South Asia without navigating around Africa.The following are some key facts about the Suez Canal.The Suez Canal is a 193-kilometer sea-level waterway that connects the Mediterranean and Red seas.Designed by French engineer Ferdinand de Lesseps, the canal was dug in 1859 and took 10 years to complete.Around 6,000 foreign guests attended the opening of the Suez Canal in November, 1869. About one million Egyptian workers are believed to have taken part in digging the canal. Around 125,000 of the forced laborers died in the process, according to Egyptian historian George Kirlis.In 1858, de Lesseps obtained permission from Khedive Said Pasha to create a company to construct the canal. The company was to operate the canal for 99 years from its opening…

http://www.aa.com.tr/en/headline/568835–all-you-need-to-know-about-egypt-s-suez-canal

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Hundreds of migrants feared drowned off Libya

 http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/world/2015/08/05/Hundreds-of-migrants-feared-drowned-off-Libya-Italy-coastguard-.html

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Opera Aida in Egyptian history: Timeline

05/08/2015 (Al  Ahram Online – Egypt): Aida is among the most popular operatic works performed in Egypt, and its history features a series of remarkable performances and events commemorating the opera and the composer.During the opening celebrations for the new expansion to Egypt’s Suez Canal on 6 August 2015, scene II from Aida’s second Act — the famed Triumphal March — will be performed.The history of this particular opera in Egypt goes back almost one-and-a-half centuries and is linked to a number of interesting events.Composed to the libretto by Antonio Ghislanzoni and based on a story written by French Egyptologist Auguste Mariette who, in turn, was commissioned by the Khedive Ismail Pasha, Aida was first performed at the Khedival Opera House in Cairo on 24 December 1871.In recent Egyptian history, Aida was performed on a yearly basis on the stage of the Khedival Opera House in Cairo until it burned down in 1971.With the Cairo Opera troupes finding no home for their concerts and performances, some events were moved to Al Gomhoureya Theater…

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/5/33/136993/Arts–Culture/Music/Opera-Aida-in-Egyptian-history-Timeline.aspx

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