Saudi Arabia key in fight against terror: UN chief

February 13, 2017

Riyadh, Feb 13: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has lent all support to the warring factions in Yemen if they are willing to reconcile and reach a political solution to the bloody conflict within the framework of the UN resolutions and GCC-brokered initiative. Guterres also strongly backed the efforts of UN envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, saying that the UN envoy enjoys full support from the UN.

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“Our envoy has my full support and I believe that he is doing an impartial work, that he is doing it in a very professional way and independently of what other people may think, he has my full support,” said Guterres, while addressing a joint press conference with Adel Al-Jubeir, foreign minister, here Sunday. The UN chief, who speaking at the press conference after holding talks with King Salman, said that “Saudi Arabia is a pillar of stability in the region besides being a key in the fight against terrorism.”

At the outset of the meeting at Al-Yamamah Palace, King Salman congratulated Guterres on his appointment to the UN’s top post.

“The king and UN secretary general reviewed the efforts and the missions entrusted to the UN to achieve international peace and security,” said a report published by SPA Sunday. Later, the UN secretary general met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Naif, deputy premier and minister of interior; who praised UN efforts to achieve global peace and stability.

The UN chief also met with Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, minister of defense, and discussed the latest developments in the Middle East region, particularly in Syria and Yemen, as well as the efforts exerted by the Kingdom to restore peace, security and stability in the region. The meeting also addressed the Kingdom’s support for the efforts of the UN.

Al-Jubeir deplored the Yemen situation saying, “We made many agreements with Houthis and the faction led by Ali Abdullah Saleh, but none of the agreement was implemented by them. The Kingdom and the GCC went ahead to help Yemen and its government within the framework of the article 51 of the UN charter.”

Al-Jubeir said that he had extensive discussions with UN secretary general on a range of issues including “on Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Libya, Iran, Islamophobia and counter-terrorism efforts.” In a question about support to Syria, the foreign minister expressed hope that “the global support for moderate Syrian opposition will continue.”

The foreign minister said he expected support for rebels in Syria to continue despite the fall of Aleppo to the Syrian government in December, but noted that any decision would be made as part of the US-led international coalition.

“We believe that the moderate opposition has an important role to play. We believe that they need to be able to defend themselves, as well as to fight against Daesh and Al Qaeda,” he said.

The foreign minister also said, “The US-Saudi relations have been strong for the last eight decades, during which we overcame several challenges.” He said that “we can see eye to eye with the US on the issue of Iran, on Syria, on Lebanon, on fight against Daesh and on Yemen.”

Al-Jubeir also described the Saudi-American relationship as “excellent,” continuing to signal warm ties with new administration of US President Donald Trump after visiting Washington and New York earlier this month.

UN chief Guterres said that the UN has concerns over the issues affecting the peace and security of the region as a whole. He appealed to the warring factions in Yemen not to hamper the relief efforts and the delivery of humanitarian aid. He also called for “inclusive reconciliation in Iraq,” while condemning Islamophobia and Islam bashing.

“Islamophobia” in parts of the world is fueling terrorism, said the UN chief adding that “one of the things that fuel terrorism is the expression in some parts of the world of Islamophobic feelings and Islamophobic policies and hate speeches. This is the best support that Daesh can have to make its own propaganda.”

The UN chief also spoke about the reforms of the UN, saying that the Kingdom will have to play a major role in any UN initiative.

Before wrapping up his visit to the Kingdom, Guterres visited the Riyadh-based King Salman Center for Relief and Humanitarian Aid, where he met with Adviser at the Royal Court and General Supervisor of the Center Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah.

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News Network
May 21,2020

May 21: Mosques across the UAE will remain closed during Eid Al Fitr, a top official has said. The Takbeer, which is chanted before the special prayers performed on Eid, will be broadcast from mosques 10 minutes before the prayer time.

During the virtual press briefing held on Wednesday, Dr Farida Al Hosani, official spokesperson of the UAE health sector, reminded citizens and expats about the importance of adhering to the safety measures as laid out by the authorities.

Contact tracing process

"Before we began to use Al Hosn app to trace the contacts of Covid-19 cases, the tracking process used to take more than 48 hours. It also depended on the memory and honesty of people. The app is an AI-enabled methodological way to trace individuals who came in contact with Covid-19 cases so that they are isolated. It has proven to be an efficient way to stop the spread of the coronavirus," Dr Farida said.

Install the app

She called on all the public to install the app on their smart phones. "The success of the tracing system via Al Hosn app relies on its use. We hope 50 to 70 per cent of people in the UAE instal and use the app in an effective way."

No sermon

Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al Shamsi, Spokesperson for the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments, said there will be no sermon for the Eid prayers.

He called on everyone to welcome Eid with joy and positivity and to stay connected with their loved ones via social media.

Mass testing

Dr Amna Al Dahhak Al Shamsi, the official spokesperson of the UAE Government, said mass testing continues across the country.

She stressed on the importance of adhering to precautionary measures and cooperating with the authorities.

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Agencies
June 22,2020

Riyadh, Jun 22: The Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs (MMRA) in Saudi Arabia has announced the continuation of the ban on providing Shisha (hubble-bubble), and the closure of children's play areas in restaurants as a precautionary measure for protecting the health of citizens and residents from the novel coronavirus COVID-19 infection.

The new stage, in which the Kingdom is beginning to coexist with the virus, focuses on the concept of "social distancing" that has emerged since the start of the coronavirus crisis throughout the world,

It stipulates leaving at least 2 meters between one person and the other in public places to prevent the transmission of infection, in addition to covering the mouth and nose by wearing a facemask.

It also specifies complying with the preventive protocols in workplaces, stores, shops, mosques and tourist attractions, with human gatherings not to exceed 50 people, as a maximum.

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Gulf News
April 12,2020

Hyderabad, Apr 12: In the backdrop of rising tide of anti-Muslim hatred and Islamophobia on the social media, a company in Dubai sacked an employee from Hyderabad for his hate-filled posts on Facebook.

Bala Krishna Nakka from Hyderabad, who was working as Chief Accountant at Dubai’s Moro Hub Data Solutions Company, was sacked after his Facebook went viral evoking widespread condemnation. The man had posted images on his Facebook page which showed Muslims as suicide bombers wearing bombs in the form of coronavirus cells.

It triggered demands both on Facebook and Twitter for action against him. In a quick response the company announced that the person was being sacked from his job, as the company had zero tolerance towards hate propaganda.

Moro Hub said in a statement: “At Moro, we take a zero tolerance attitude to material that is or may be deemed Islamophoic or hate speech. The tweets that we have been alerted to do not, in any way, reflect Moro’s brand values.”

Since the outbreak of coronavirus in India, a more intense hate propaganda has been unleashed by right wing elements on social media targeting India’s Muslim minority, some of whom are based in Gulf region.

As both the mainstream media, especially Indian TV channels, as well as social media users, have unleashed a campaign linking the spread of virus to a Muslim missionary organisation, the Tableeghi Jamaat, in India, a fresh war of words has broken out on social media.

While some activists have taken up it on themselves to highlight the hate propaganda and draw the attention of employers to such hate mongers, the right wing social media handles have also launched their own counter-offensives against such activists.

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