King seeks world action to end Syria bloodshed

December 7, 2016

Manama, Dec 7: Regional security and economy top the list of issues being discussed at the two-day Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit taking place in the Bahraini capital.

King

In the opening session of the 37th GCC summit, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman commended the council’s achievements since the previous meeting, including the establishment of the GCC Commission of Economic and Development Affairs last month.

“This aims at elevating the level of collaboration between the Gulf states,” said King Salman, who stressed the need to intensify collective efforts to guarantee regional stability amid the challenges facing the Arab world, including “terrorism, domestic struggle and bloodshed.”

He added: “We are all in pain at what is happening in Syria and what the Syrian people are going through.”

King Salman added that this highlighted the need for the “international community to end the bloodshed and reach a political solution to achieve security and stability in Syria.”

Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah said the Gulf region was facing economic challenges triggered by the drop in oil prices. He added that the summit coincided with rapid international changes. Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa said the summit came at a time of unprecedented economic and political challenges facing the region.

Bahrain’s Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa met Tuesday with British Prime Minister Theresa May, who is the guest of honor at the summit.

The crown prince said the meeting with May reflected the importance of the UK’s strategic ties with Bahrain and the GCC.

Manama is the third destination in King Salman’s Gulf tour, following visits to the UAE and Qatar. He will then head to Kuwait, which concludes the tour.

King Salman led the Saudi delegation to the summit, which started with King Hamad’s inaugural speech.

The Bahraini king thanked King Salman for his efforts during the previous GCC session, lauding his wisdom in dealing with the challenges ahead.

King Hamad also thanked the GCC leaders for contributing to enhancing brotherly relations among the GCC countries, saying: “In light of the political and economic developments in the world, GCC states need more cooperation and integration. The Gulf council is an important platform for enhancing regional and international security and stability through active

political initiatives vis-à-vis regional conflicts and through preventing foreign interference in its internal affairs.”

The king also thanked GCC Secretary-General Abdullatif Al-Zayani for his efforts to follow up on and implement the council’s decisions.

King Salman said in Yemen, efforts are being exerted to end the struggle and achieve security and stability under a legitimate government and according to the GCC initiative and UN Security Council Resolution 2216, issued thanks to the efforts of the UN special envoy to Yemen.

The king said the GCC countries are gearing for a better future that meets the aspirations of their citizens for more prosperity and dignified living, and achieves security and stability in the region.

Kuwait’s emir highlighted the need to bolster GCC cooperation to attain further accomplishments that will reinforce solidarity among the Gulf nations. He said the scourge of terrorism, which poses a threat to regional security and stability, could only be countered through concerted efforts.

He said there was a need for a constructive dialogue between the GCC and Iran, and urged Tehran to cease meddling in the internal affairs of other nations.

Al-Zayani highlighted the importance of deepening integration in all fields, pointing out that the ministerial council submitted recommendations aimed at enhancing joint GCC action.

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
News Network
March 31,2020

Mar 30: the UAE Cabinet approved a series of new initiatives, foremost among which was the automatic extension of residence permits expiring from March 1.

The residence visas would be extended for a renewable period of three months without any fees to ease the economic impact of the Covid-19 crisis on residents, official news agency WAM reported.

The Cabinet has also waived the administrative fines associated with infractions on the services provided by the Federal Authority of Identity and Citizenship, starting April 1 and lasting for a renewable period of three months.

The initiatives also entail granting a temporary license to use digital solutions for remotely notarising and completing judicial transactions.

Government services expiring from March 1 will also be extended from April 1 for a renewable period of three months. The decision applies to all federal government services, including documents, permits, licenses and commercial registers.

The UAE has introduced a slew of initiatives to control the spread of the Covid-19 virus, including the online renewal of driving licences and vehicle’s registration cards.

The country’s telecom regulator, Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), also issued a directive that no mobile service with expired ID documents will be disconnected or suspended in the UAE.

The UAE has reported a total of 611 Covid-19 infections and five related deaths in the country.

A national sterilisation programme is underway that will continue until Saturday April 4, concluding on the morning of Sunday, April 5.

Carried out daily from 8pm until 6am the following morning, the programme will include the disinfection of private and public facilities.

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
News Network
March 5,2020

Dubai, Mar 5: A 16-year-old Indian girl here has tested positive for the deadly coronavirus, bringing the total number of confirmed infection cases in the UAE to 28, according to media reports.

Health officials here confirmed on Wednesday that a new coronavirus case was detected in the girl who attended an Indian school in Dubai, Al-Arabiya website reported.

The girl tested positive for the COVID-19 after she contracted the infection from her father who travelled overseas, Dubai Health Authority (DHA) was quoted as saying by the report.

The Indian High School in Dubai will be closed from Thursday as a precautionary measure, the Gulf News reported.

"As a precautionary measure, Indian High School Group of schools is closed from Thursday, March 5. Detailed circular about exams will be mailed. Your well-being is important. Take care," the report said.

The father developed symptoms of the virus five days after returning to Dubai. Both the student and family members have been quarantined in hospital and are stable and recovering well. All other family members have also been quarantined, the Khaleej Times reported.

"Within the framework of comprehensive preventive measures against the spread of coronavirus, the DHA is conducting tests and monitoring the students, staff and workers of the school that may have interacted with the coronavirus patient," the DHA was quoted as saying by the Gulf News.

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
Saudi Gazette
May 27,2020

Riyadh, May 27: Following the announcement of easing of lockdown measures, which includes reopening of all mosques for daily congressional as well as Friday prayers across the Kingdom except the holy city of Makkah, the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance has set mandatory guidelines.

In a circular issued to mosque staff, Minister of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance Sheikh Abdullatif Al-Asheikh has instructed that all mosques must comply with the following precautionary measures and instructions:

1. Open mosques 15 minutes before the Adhan and close them 10 minutes after prayer

2. Reduce the waiting period between the Adhan and Iqamah to 10 minutes

3. Open windows and doors from entering time to the end of the prayer

4. Remove copies of Holy Qur’an and other books temporarily from mosques

5. Ensure attendees keep a distance of two meters between each other

6. Ensure one space is left between each row

7. Close all water coolers and refrigerators

8. Do not allow distribution of water or food in mosques

9. Close toilets and places of ablution

Precautionary measures on Friday prayers are as follows:

1. Open mosques 20 minutes before Friday prayer and closing them 20 minutes after prayer.

2. Friday sermon with prayer should not exceed 15 minutes.

The circular also stipulates to keep the suspension of the religious courses, programs and lectures, as well as the memorizing Holy Qur'an sessions in the mosques and to continue education and lectures remotely until further notice.

The circular pointed out that the imams of mosques should urge the worshipers to take the following precautionary measures:

1. Wear a face mask

2. Bring their own prayer rugs and not leave them after the prayer

3. Prevent accompanying children under 15 years of age from entering mosques

4. Perform ablution at home

5. Avoid crowding when entering or exiting mosques

Meanwhile, the spokesman of the Ministry of Interior clarified later in the day that people are allowed to perform congressional prayers in their locality during the time of curfew.

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.