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New era in Saudi-UAE ties

February 17, 2015

Jeddah, Feb 17: Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, deputy commander of the UAE armed forces, held talks in Riyadh on Monday, opening a new era in Saudi-UAE strategic ties.King Salman and Mohammed bin Zayed

“King Salman and Sheikh Mohammed explored prospects of expanding cooperation between the two countries and discussed major regional and international developments,” said an official statement.

Crown Prince Muqrin, deputy premier, Riyadh Gov. Prince Faisal bin Bandar, National Guard Minister Prince Miteb bin Abdullah, Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Naif, second deputy premier and minister of interior, and Defense Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman attended the talks.

King Salman earlier received Sheikh Mohammed at Riyadh airport, breaking royal protocols, reflecting the strong relations between the two GCC countries and their joint push for bolstering regional stability.

King Salman also hosted a luncheon at his palace in honor of Sheikh Mohammed and his accompanying delegation. Senior princes, ministers and high-ranking officials, attended the banquet. Sheikh Mohammed left Riyadh later in the day.Saudi academics and economists have highlighted the strong relations between Saudi Arabia and the UAE and its strong impact on regional security and stability. Wahid Hamza Hashim of King Abdulaziz University described the two countries as strategic partners. “There has been good coordination and cooperation between them for the past several decades,” he said.

Fahd bin Siban Al-Sulami, a member of the board of directors of Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the visit of Sheikh Mohammed and his meeting with King Salman reflected the strong and strategic ties.

UAE Economy Minister Sultan Al-Mansouri said there is good understanding between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi on political and economic issues. “Our two countries represent the largest economies in the Middle East,” he said, adding that their bilateral trade crossed SR75 billion. “This figure represents about half of the total trade between the six GCC countries,” he pointed out.

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Agencies
August 4,2020

Beirut, Aug 4: A massive explosion has shaken the Lebanese capital of Beirut, with a very high number of casualties expected.

A warehouse at the Beirut Port caught fire on Tuesday afternoon, triggering a huge explosion, Lebanon’s official National News Agency (NNA) reported.

Several smaller explosions were heard before the bigger one occurred.

Abbas Ibrahim, the head of Lebanon’s General Security, said that “highly explosive materials” confiscated earlier had been stored at the site.

Footage shared on social media captured the moment of the bigger explosion, with a colossal shock wave seen traveling fast across several hundreds of meters and shrouding the area in thick smoke.

The blast left enormous material damage to the surrounding buildings and structures. But it was not immediately known how big an area was affected.

There was also no immediate casualty count. Graphic amateur video from the scene showed bodies strewn on the ground, with their clothes blown off.

The NNA said rescue operations were underway. Ambulances were seen heading toward the scene in central Beirut.

Lebanese LBC television channel quoted Lebanon’s Health Minister Hamad Hasan as saying that the blast had caused a “very high number of injuries” and “extensive damage.”

Beirut Governor Marwan Abboud said an unspecified number of firefighters dispatched to extinguish the initial fire had been killed in the explosion.

“As they were putting out the fire, the explosion took place and we’ve [lost them],” he said, breaking down on live TV.

The explosion comes at a time when the Arab country is passing through its worst economic and financial crisis in decades, and amid rising tensions with Israel.

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Agencies
February 16,2020

Al-Jawf, Feb 16: At least 31 people were killed and 12 others were injured here in the al-Maslub district in airstrikes by the Saudi-UAE-led military coalition on Saturday.

"Preliminary field reports indicate that as many as 31 civilians were killed and 12 others injured in strikes that hit al-Hayjah area of the al-Maslub district in al-Jawf governorate," said a statement from the office of the UN resident coordinator and humanitarian coordinator for Yemen.

According to Al Jazeera, the airstrike was conducted hours after the Yemeni Houthis said that they downed a Saudi fighter jet in the same region.

Commenting on the air raids, Lise Grande, the UN's humanitarian coordinator for Yemen, said: "We share our deep condolences with the families of those killed and we pray for the speedy recovery of everyone who has been injured in these terrible strikes."

"So many people are being killed in Yemen - it's a tragedy and it's unjustified. Under international humanitarian law, parties that resort to force is obligated to protect civilians," Grande was quoted as saying.

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Agencies
July 26,2020

Jeddah, Jul 26: The city of Makkah is opening its arms again to welcome pilgrims for the annual Hajj — although only a handful compared with previous years.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s event is limited to about 1,000 pilgrims, all from inside Saudi Arabia, about 700 of whom are expatriates.

Abdullah Al-Kathiri, an Emirati and a recovered COVID-19 patient, postponed his pilgrimage last year because it coincided with his wedding plans. “I’ve heard from many who’ve performed the pilgrimage in past years that it was always a smooth process, even with the massive numbers,” he said. “So you could imagine how it would be with the limited number of pilgrims this year. Surely it will be a great experience.”

Khadija, a Bulgarian expatriate, was overcome with tears when she heard she would be performing Hajj this year. “I didn’t expect they’d accept,” she said. “I’m sure this year’s Hajj will be an exceptional one in all respects.”

Dr. Haifa Yousef Hamdoon, a Tunisian physician in Qassim, is another who did not expect to be accepted because of the low numbers this year. “When I received confirmation of my request, I was overjoyed and couldn’t believe it,” she said.

Mu’taz Mohamed, a Sudanese pilgrim who also lives in Qassim region, praised the preventive and precautionary health measures taken in order to ensure his safety and that of other pilgrims, to enable them to perform the rituals safely.

After completing their arrival procedures, the pilgrims were taken to their accommodation in Makkah, supervised by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. They will stay there for four days before beginning their pilgrimage on July 30.

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