Amman- Swicorp, a diversified financial services firm based in Saudi Arabia, acquired a 20-per-cent interest in Jordan Aviation for 180 million dollars, the airline's president and CEO Mohammad Khashman was quoted as saying Thursday by Jordanian daily al-Rai.

The takeover is part of Jordan Aviation's expansion plan which also involves the purchase of 16 new aircraft from Boeing and Airbus at an estimated cost of 200 million dollars, he said.

"Two aircraft have already been introduced into the service while eight will start operating in the coming months and six others before the end of the year," Khashman said.

Riyadh - Saudi Arabian police have arrested five men on charges of being involved in preparing internet propaganda in support of al-Qaeda, the Arabic television station al-Arabiya has reported.

According to a statement released by Saudi Arabia's interior ministry, three Saudi nationals, a Syrian and an Egyptian were charged with "spreading misleading propaganda on the internet."

Saudi Arabia has battled with a home-grown insurgency by al-Qaeda

Cairo - Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal chaired the opening of the Arab League Council in Cairo Monday evening amid signs the 22-state body was becoming impatient with the continued political impasse between Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah.

The meeting, which continues on Tuesday, is expected to discuss the situation in the Palestinian Territories as well ongoing violence in Darfur.

"It's about time that the Arab countries take a solid and decisive stance against those who shed Palestinian blood and deepen the Palestinian division," Faisal said.

"The Palestinians have to take full responsibility. They have inflicted damage upon the Palestinian cause through their internal struggle," he said.

Nicosia, Aug 30: Ericsson, which is the worlds leading provider of services and technology to telecom operations, has been awarded a contract worth 85 million dollar to supply, build, integrate, operate and manage multi-play communications infrastructure for Saudi Arabia’s high-tech flagship city, the King Abdullah Economic city (KAEC).

When the project is completed, King Abdullah Economic City, near Jeddah, will be the world’s truly smart city.

Singapore  - Saudi Arabia and Singapore have reached an agreement to allow any number of flights between Singapore and the eastern Gulf city of Damman, the Transport Ministry said Friday.

The increase was reached after two days of consultations between the ministry and Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation.

Under the agreement, carriers may also operate up to 14 flights per week between Singapore and other points in Saudi Arabia, including Jeddah and Riyadh.

Islamabad, Aug 22: In order to offset oil prices shocks, the Saudi Government has reportedly decided to give Pakistan a 500 million-dollar grant instead of an oil import facility on one-year deferred payment, sources in Pakistan Petroleum Ministry said.

They said that the grant would help improve Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves position and reduce its fiscal deficit. The hike in POL prices in recent months has strained country’s resources severely, the Daily Times quoted them as saying.