Topic: King Abdullah

In dog-walking, Saudi virtue police see vice

In Riyadh, theories that the practice can encourage flirting revives a ban on buying and selling cats and dogs.

A beginning for global Christian-Muslim compatibility

Leaders within the two faiths, meeting at Yale this week, acknowledge dangers of prejudice, pledge to work toward mutual understanding.

United, not divided, by faith

A Christian Science perspective on daily life.

This week, a global bid to connect Muslims and Christians

Faith leaders' quest for understanding, commonality begins Tuesday at Yale.

Saudis host a global interfaith conference in Madrid: a 'first step'

The three-day meeting, which runs through Friday, has been cast as 'historic' but also criticized as a PR stunt.

Saudi king set to lead rare interfaith talks in Spain

The three-day conference of religious leaders will start July 16 in Madrid.

Saudi Arabia to boost oil output. Will gas prices fall?

At a rare meeting Sunday, some oil-producing nations tried to stabilize prices – and Western concerns over a recession.

As Bush leaves Mideast, he gives Arab leaders a to-do list for reform

In Sharm el-Sheik Sunday, the president chided Arab leaders for lagging behind on democratic progress, in sharp contrast to a speech in which he praised Israel.

Low hopes for Bush Mideast trip

He'll celebrate Israel's 60th anniversary, but meet with Israel's Olmert and Palestinian territories' Abbas separately.

Reporters on the Job

In Saudi Arabia, moderate article on Islam draws death fatwa

The response to threats against Abdullah Bejad al-Oteibi exposes a shifting balance between moderate and extremist versions of Islam in Saudi society.

Saudi official: why popular blogger Farhan was jailed

Fouad Farhan, arrested Dec. 10, was released Saturday after being held for more than four months without charges.

Letters to the Editor

Readers write about reform in Saudi Arabia, the film "Fitna," and US troop successes in Iraq.

The Monitor's View: Arabian rights

Saudi Arabia's king is trying to reform his society, but his moves are painfully slow.

Saudi Arabia: slowly opening dialog about human rights

A Saudi commission cites progress on rights awareness. Still, a Human Rights Watch report Tuesday enumerated ongoing abuses, including arbitrary arrests and lack of legal counsel.

Opinion: What the Middle East needs most

American schools have worked wonders for the region's elites. Now we must raise the standard of education for all.

U.S. warship stirs Lebanese fear of war.

The USS Cole has deployed off the coast of Lebanon as that nation's political crisis deepens.

With Rice in Baghdad, U.S. pushes Iraq to clear more 'benchmarks'

The Secretary of State paid a surprise visit Tuesday amid signs that political reconciliation is gaining some traction in Iraq.

Can the Arab League solve Lebanon's political crisis?

The Arab League's secretary-general flies into Beirut this week in an effort to end the country's presidential stalemate.

Opinion: Look who's pro-U.S. now: Saudi Arabia

It's now one of the most pro-US and antiterrorist Muslim countries.

Opinion: Why U.S. strategy on Iran is crumbling

Gulf states no longer want to isolate Iran.

Saudi Arabian bloggers rattled by first arrest of online critic

The arrest of Fouad al-Farhan, one of the few bloggers to use his own name, may be an attempt to intimidate others.