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King Abdullah remembered for his many achievements

January 25, 2015

King Abdullah

Riyadh, Jan 25: Members of the Shoura Council and senior government officials said that the country has lost a wise leader who took the nation to great heights of peace and prosperity,

“We have lost a wise leader who dedicated his life and efforts to serve his nation, and he remained the guardian of security and stability in the country as well as in the region,” Amin Al-Jaafri, deputy speaker of the Shoura Council, said Saturday following the death of King Abdullah.

“He played a major role in strengthening solidarity among Arab countries and he was an ardent promoter of interfaith dialogue in the world and peace in the region. He also denounced violence and extremism which affected the peaceful coexistence among all communities,” he noted, pointing out that his services toward the nation and the world will be remembered forever with reverence and prayers for the departed soul.

On behalf of the council, he conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved royal family which has lost an important member in its galaxy.

Commending the swift transfer of power, Al-Jaafri applauded the dynamic leadership of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, who took over the reins with the will of Allah and has pledged to continue the good work carried out by his predecessor. He also offered his congratulations and good wishes to Crown Prince Muqrin, deputy premier, and Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Naif, second deputy premier and minister of interior.

Shoura Council member Maj. Gen. Ali-Tamimi said that Saudi Arabia lost a great son of the soil. “I have been working with him for the past 35 years and he was a gem of a person,” Tamimi said of the late king. “His thoughts and vision were always focused on developing Saudi Arabia to achieve new heights,” he said, adding that he was determined to wipe out terrorism from the country and make it a peaceful place for people to live in harmony and prosperity. He said the country will remember this noble heart forever and he will live in people's memory as they take their nation toward greater prosperity.

“The greatest contribution he made to the Shoura Council was to allow women to enroll as members of the body,” he said, describing the move as a major landmark in the empowerment of women in the Kingdom. This paved the way for women to take part in local government elections too, he said.

Enumerating the services of the late King, former Shoura Council member Osama Kurdi said King Abdullah implemented a comprehensive package of services for the nation including health care, education, the judicial system, economy, promoting interfaith dialogue and peace and also empowering Saudi women.

In addition to the introduction of 30 public and private universities, he said the king offered more than 150,000 scholarships to Saudi youths and set up five mega economic cities.

Labor Minister Adel Fakeih recalled that the nine and half years of reign by the late King Abdullah rendered yeoman services to the country and its citizens. “He had a unique passion for patriotism for the country and the people,” he stressed.

He pointed out that Saudization was implemented in full swing during his tenure. “Youths both males and females were given job opportunities, which reduced the unemployment rate of the country,” he stressed. He said the country is confident that the new monarch, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, will push the country to new heights of peace and prosperity which would benefit the people in the Kingdom as well as in the other parts of the world.

Expressing his sorrow on the demise of King Abdullah, Health Minister Muhammad Alhayazie conveyed the deepest sympathies on behalf of his ministry to the bereaved royal family. “The health care services witnessed tremendous developments under the late King Abdullah’s regime,” the minister said, adding that his efforts not only benefited the country but also promoted the religion of Islam and peace at global and regional levels.

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News Network
May 5,2020

Abu Dhabi, May 5: The overall real GDP (gross domestic product) of the United Arab Emirates is estimated to have grown by 1.7 percent in 2019, the country’s central bank said in a statement on Monday carried by WAM.

"The UAE hydrocarbon sector is estimated to have exhibited a growth of 3.4 percent in 2019. However, non-oil activities advanced at a softer pace growing by 1.0 percent. As a result, overall real GDP is estimated by FCSA (Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority) to have grown by 1.7 percent in 2019," said the financial regulator in its Annual Report 2019.

"The spread of COVID-19 is expected to impact trade and supply chain movements, coupled with travel restrictions which paves way for high volatility in capital markets and commodity prices. While the outbreak is expected to negatively affect the global and domestic economies, it is still early to gauge the scale of the economic fallout," the report added.

The report noted that the higher hydrocarbon output, as well as growth in non-hydrocarbon economic activity, supported the pace of the country's overall economic growth in 2019.

"Meanwhile, the fading effect of VAT, the appreciating Dirham, lower energy prices and decline in rents pushed inflation in negative territory. However, the employment rate registered a steady rebound. Looking ahead, the economic outlook for 2020 remains uncertain owing to the COVID-19 outbreak," the report elaborated.

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Agencies
July 31,2020

Jeddah, Jul 31: Hajj 2020 pilgrims arrived in Muzdalifah Thursday night to rest after spending the day in Arafat.

Earlier, the pilgrims scaled Mount Arafat to pray and repent, as a highly unusual Hajj approached its climax. They listened to a sermon delivered by Sheikh Abdullah Al-Manea and prayed Dhuhr and Asr prayers together at the Al-Namirah Mosque in Arafat.

This year’s pilgrimage is the smallest in modern times, after the number of participants was greatly restricted to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. 

Tight security was in place around the foot of the rocky hill outside Makkah, also known as Jabal Al-Rahma or Mount of Mercy, in preparation for the high point of the annual ritual.

Video footage shown on state television showed the pilgrims setting off on their climb to the summit. They wore face masks and observed strict social-distancing rules imposed by Saudi authorities.As sprinklers sprayed water on them to provide relief from the summer desert heat, the pilgrims raised their palms as they climbed the slopes of the hill — the site of Prophet Muhammad’s last sermon. When they reached the top they recited holy verses and prayed for forgiveness for their sins.

Earlier, the pilgrims were taken in buses from Mina to Mount Arafat. Strict precautionary measures were in place, with each group accompanied by security teams, ambulances and civil defense vehicles. 

When they arrived, their temperatures were checked before they entered Namirah Mosque to hear a sermon that was translated into 10 languages.

“The camps were set up for pilgrims in Arafat early on,” said Minister of Hajj and Umrah Muhammad Salih Bentin. The sermon at Namirah Mosque was delivered by Sheikh Abdullah Al-Manea, who led the pilgrims in noon and afternoon prayers.

“During Hajj this year, we reiterate that it is essential for pilgrims, as well as everyone assisting them, to adhere to the precautionary regulations that have been implemented,” Al-Manea, a member of the Council of Senior Scholars, said during his sermon. “This is to be done for their own safety.

“Precautions have been put in place to protect lives against the damage that the pandemic can cause, and also to actualize Islam’s teachings pertaining to safeguarding human life by Allah’s permission.”

The stay in Arafat is described as the pinnacle of Hajj and Muslims around the world reflect the actions of pilgrims by asking for forgiveness and praying for their deepest desires.
Pilgrims left Arafat in coaches for Muzdalifah after sunset and will pray the Maghrib and Isha prayers there.

After sunset prayers, the pilgrims made their way down Mount Arafat to Muzdalifah, where they will spend the night before the final Hajj ritual, the symbolic stoning of the devil. 

This year, each pilgrim received sanitized pebbles in advance of the event on Friday, which is the first day of Eid Al-Adha.
This year the Kingdom faced the unprecedented challenge of ensuring pilgrims attending Hajj were protected as much as possible from the risks of the coronavirus.

They will then sleep, pray the Fajr prayer there tomorrow and then leave for Mina.

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News Network
May 21,2020

Dubai, May 21: Around 10,000 Iranian health workers have been infected with the new coronavirus, the semi-official ILNA news agency quoted a deputy health minister as saying on Thursday.

Health services are stretched thin in Iran, the Middle East country hardest hit by the respiratory pandemic, with 7,249 deaths and a total of 129,341 infections. The Health Ministry said in April that over 100 health workers had died of COVID-19.

No more details on infections among health workers were immediately available.

Earlier on Thursday, Health Minister Saeed Namaki appealed to Iranians to avoid travelling during the Eid al-Fitr religious holiday later this month to avoid the risk of a new surge of coronavirus infections, state TV reported.

Iranians often travel to different cities around the country to mark the end of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan, something Namaki said could lead to a disregard of social distancing rules and a fresh outbreak of COVID-19.

"I am urging you not to travel during the Eid. Definitely, such trips mean new cases of infection...People should not travel to and from those high-risk red areas," Namaki was quoted by state television as saying.

"Some 90% of the population in many areas has not yet contracted the disease. In the case of a new outbreak, it will be very difficult for me and my colleagues to control it."

A report by parliament's research centre suggested that the actual tally of infections and deaths in Iran might be almost twice that announced by the health ministry.

However, worried that measures to limit public activities could wreck an economy which has already been battered by U.S. sanctions, the government has been easing most restrictions on normal life in late April.

Infected cases have been on a rising trajectory for the past two weeks. However, President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday that Iran was close to curbing the outbreak.

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