Saudi Arabia unveils Haj traffic plan

September 25, 2014

Jeddah, SEP 25: The Traffic Department has sought the assistance of Tawafa organizations for the success of its plan for the Haj season this year.

Jeddah-Makkah“Tawafa organizations are an important partner for the success of the Haj traffic plan,” said Maj. Gen. Abdul Rahman Al-Muqbil, director of traffic police and assistant commander of Haj security forces.

Addressing a meeting organized by the Tawafa Organization for Pilgrims from Arab Countries in Makkah, he explained the department’s plan for the Day of Arafat and the movement of pilgrims from Arafat to Muzdalifa, as well as for the various divisions of Mina.

“I take this opportunity to advise all Tawafa organizations to follow the traffic regulations, which have been set out for the safety and security of pilgrims,” Al-Muqbil said.

Brig. Mohammed Al-Buqami, head of the traffic command, said a large number of traffic officers would be deployed on the roads to ensure smooth flow of pilgrims from Arafat to Muzdalifa without traffic jams. Speaking at the meeting, Turki Al-Qurashi, head of the transport committee at Haj Ministry, urged Tawafa organizations to encourage their pilgrims to stay in Mina until 13 Dul Hijjah to avoid overcrowding at the circumambulation area around the Kaaba during Tawaf Al-Wida.

“It will also help reduce congestion at the central region of Makkah,” he said, adding that buses leaving Mina with pilgrims before 13 Dul Hijjah would be stopped.

Brig. Khaled Al-Dhubaib, commander of traffic in Arafat, disclosed plans to open the western, eastern, northern and southern ring roads on Dul Hijjah 8, allowing free movement of service vehicles.

“We will not allow any buses without pilgrims to enter Arafat,” the commander said. The parking area for the Tawafa organization for Arab pilgrims can accommodate 8,211 buses, he added.

Maj. Gen. Wasl Al-Harbi, commander of traffic for Muzdalifa, said there would not be any major change for the Haj plan except for the movement of vehicles on western King Faisal Bridge.

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Agencies
May 25,2020

Abu Dhabi, May 25: Dusty weather to persist in the UAE on Monday as well with a chance of rainfall in parts of the country, the national Met department reported.

According to the NCM, the weather today will be fair to partly cloudy, with a chance of some convective clouds formation by afternoon - eastward and northward - extending to some internal areas that may be associated with some rainfall.

The weather will get humid by night and Tuesday morning over some coastal areas.

NCM predicts a wet Eid break.

Sharjah Police issued a weather warning as heavy rain flooded roads in Sharjah's Kalba among other areas.

Moderate to fresh winds will gain strength during the day causing blowing dust and sand.

The sea will be slight to moderate in the Arabian Gulf and in Oman Sea.

Earlier on Sunday, a weather alert was issued by authorities as moderate to heavy rain - accompanied with hail - lashed parts of the UAE. A rainbow in Dubai skies cheered up residents, celebrating a unique Eid this year amid the coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic - by mostly staying home.

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Agencies
April 27,2020

Riyad, Apr 27: The Saudi-led Arab Coalition supporting Yemen’s UN-recognized government on Monday urged all parties to end any escalation of hostilities and return to the status that existed before the Southern Transitional Council (STC) declared self-rule.

In a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the coalition emphasized “the need to cancel any step that violates the Riyadh agreement and work to accelerate its implementation.” 

On Sunday, the United Arab Emirates-backed STC scrapped a peace deal with the internationally recognized government of President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi.

Accusing the government of corruption and mismanagement, the separatists said they would “self-govern” the key southern port city of Aden and other southern provinces.

Yemen’s Foreign Minister Mohammed Al-Hadhrami described the move as a “resumption of its (STC’s) armed insurgency and rejection and complete withdrawal from the Riyadh agreement.” 

Authorities in Yemen’s southern provinces of Hadramawt, Abyan, Shabwa, Al-Mahra and the remote island of Socotra also rejected the separatist group’s claim to self-rule.

The government said local and security authorities in the five provinces dismissed the move as a “clear and definite coup.” 

Some of the provinces issued their own statements condemning it.

The coalition appealed to all parties to “give priority to the interests of the Yemeni people over any other interests”. 

It also urged the parties involved not to lose their focus on working to achieve the goal of restoring the state, ending the Houthi “coup” and “countering terrorist organizations”.

“The Coalition has and will continue to undertake practical and systematic steps to implement the Riyadh Agreement between the parties to unite Yemeni ranks, restore state institutions and combat the scourge of terrorism,” the statement said. “The responsibility rests with the signatories to the Agreement to undertake national steps toward implementing its provisions, which were signed and agreed upon with a time matrix for implementation.”

The STC has been part of the coalition-backed forces fighting the Iran-backed Houthi militia, which seized control of the Yemeni capital Sanaa and other provinces in 2014.

The Houthi “coup” has led to the formation of the Saudi-led coalition, which had since driven away the Houthis from the south and other provinces. President Hadi’s government has made Aden as its temporary seat.

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News Network
May 1,2020

Dubai, May 1: Saudi Arabia has reported 1,344 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 24,097, the Ministry of Health announced on Friday.

The ministry also announced 7 more deaths and 392 new recoveries, raising the total number of fatalities and recoveries to 169 and 3,55 respectively.

Out of the 1,344 new cases reported today, 282 were confirmed in Riyadh, 237 in Madinah, 207 in Makkah, 171 in Jubail and 124 in Jeddah in addition to 114 infections in Dammam.

Authorities continue to urge people to stay at home unless necessary despite having relaxed some restrictions and curfews at the start of Ramadan.

Citizens and residents are allowed to go out for necessary needs between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. but must adhere to precautionary measures such as wearing a face mask and maintaining social distancing practices.

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