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Saudi Cabinet slams chemical attack in Syria, expresses support for US military strike

April 11, 2017

Riyadh, Apr 11: The Saudi Cabinet on Monday condemned the use of the chemical attack on Khan Sheikhun in Syria, which resulted in many deaths including children and women, committed by the Syrian regime and, expressing full support to the recent US military operation against selected targets in Syria was articulated.

kingThe Kingdom’s long-standing rejection of terrorism in all forms and manifestations was stressed upon. They condemned the two explosions in Egypt and similar terrorist attacks in St. Petersburg, Russia, and Stockholm, Sweden, which resulted in several deaths and injuries.

The Cabinet also lauded the Arab Coalition forces’ support for restoration of peace and stability in Yemen as well as the Kingdom’s humanitarian efforts through King Salman Center for Humanitarian and Relief Aids, and stressed what the deputy crown prince highlighted earlier during his meeting with key Yemeni tribal chiefs that the Kingdom sees Yemen as strategic depth for the Arab and GCC countries as well as the Kingdom; and it is a duty to stand by the Yemeni people against Houthi aggression.

The Kingdom’s keenness to contribute to Arab joint action which was embodied in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was also highlighted; it was for the establishment of a common Arab market for electricity, within 14 countries, during the 12th Arab ministerial council for electricity in Cairo.

The Cabinet also appreciated the king’s efforts to unify Arab and Muslim ranks in facing the difficult conditions experienced by Arab and Islamic countries.

He was praised for awarding Prince Naif, the Order of Arab Security at the conclusion of the 34th Arab Interior Ministers meeting in Tunis, for his leading role in supporting Arab and Islamic causes, and his efforts in preserving international peace and security.

The Cabinet noted recommendations and decisions issued at the Arab Interior Ministers meeting including Arab strategies on combating illegal use of drugs, terrorism, traffic safety and intellectual security.

On a local level, the Cabinet welcomed the announcement made by Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on launching the largest cultural, sports and entertainment city in southwest Riyadh in support of Vision 2030, and diversifying the sources of national income.

Later, the Cabinet approved a series of decisions.

They authorized the minister of foreign affairs to hold political consultations (and sign an MoU) between the Saudi and Filipino foreign ministries.

They authorized the minister of environment, water and agriculture to cooperate in the area of agriculture and fisheries between the governments of Saudi Arabia and South Africa, and sign an MoU.

The Cabinet approved an MoU for joint cooperation in the area of housing between the Saudi Ministry of Housing and the South Korean Ministry of Land, Transport and Infrastructure.

The Cabinet also approved a similar MoU for joint cooperation in the area of housing between the governments of Saudi Arabia and People’s Republic of China.

They authorized the minister of education to discuss scientific and educational cooperation between the Saudi and UAE ministries of education, and sign an MoU.

The Cabinet authorized the president of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (Nazaha) to discuss an MoU with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

They approved that the General Authority for Sports be structurally linked to President of the Council of Economic Affairs.

The Cabinet approved Saudi Arabia’s accession to the international convention for the control and management of ships’ ballast water and sediments for 2004.

The Cabinet approved that state budget will bear the entry visa fee for seasonal workers on the sacrificial meat project.

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News Network
May 4,2020

Dubai, May 4: An Indian salesman in the UAE has won a whopping 10 million dirhams at an Abu Dhabi draw, a media report said.

Dileep Kumar Ellikkottil Parameswaran, from Kerala’s Thrissur, works with an auto spare parts company in Ajman and earns 5,000 dirhams (USD 1,361) a month, Gulf News reported on Sunday.

Parameswaran, who won the 10 million dirhams (USD 2.7 million) prize at the Big Ticket draw in Abu Dhabi, will spend a big part of the money to repay a loan of 700,000 dirhams (USD 190,574 ), according to the report.

He said that a good part of the prize money will be spent on the education of his two children.

Parameswaran, who has been a resident of the UAE for 17 years, lives in Ajman along with his family.

Big Ticket is the largest and longest-running monthly raffle draw for cash prizes and dream luxury cars in Abu Dhabi.

A live monthly draw is organized at the Abu Dhabi International Airport on 3rd of each month.

Tickets are sold for 500 dirhams (USD 136).

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Agencies
July 31,2020

Mount Arafat, July 30: Muslim pilgrims converged Thursday on Saudi Arabia's Mount Arafat for the climax of this year's hajj, the smallest in modern times and a sharp contrast to the massive crowds of previous years.

A tight security cordon has been erected all around the foot of the rocky hill outside Mecca, also known as Jabal al-Rahma or Mount of Mercy.

Pilgrims, donning masks and observing social distancing, were brought in buses from neighbouring Mina, state television showed, as Saudi authorities impose measures to prevent a coronavirus outbreak.

They were subject to temperature checks and attended a sermon -- which state media said was translated into 10 languages -- before they set off on the climb to the summit for hours of Koran recitals and prayers to atone for their sins.

The scene was strikingly different to last year's ritual when a sea of pilgrims ascended Mount Arafat, marshalled by tens of thousands of stewards in a bid to prevent any crushes.

After sunset prayers, pilgrims will make their way down Mount Arafat to Muzdalifah, another holy site where they will sleep under the stars to prepare for the final stage of hajj, the symbolic "stoning of the devil".

It takes place on Friday and also marks the beginning of Eid al-Adha, the festival of sacrifice.

The hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam and a must for able-bodied Muslims at least once in their lifetime, is usually one of the world's largest religious gatherings.

But only up to 10,000 people already residing in the kingdom will participate in this year's ritual, compared with 2019's gathering of some 2.5 million from around the world.

"You are not our guests but those of God, the custodian of the two holy mosques (Saudi Arabia's King Salman) and the nation," Hajj Minister Mohammad Benten said in a video released by the media ministry on Wednesday.

Security cordon

A security cordon has been thrown around the holy sites to prevent any security breaches, an interior ministry spokesman said.

Riyadh faced strong criticism in 2015 when some 2,300 worshippers were killed in the deadliest stampede in the gathering's history.

But this year, those risks are greatly reduced by the much smaller crowd.

The pilgrims have all been tested for the virus, and foreign journalists were barred from this year's hajj, usually a huge global media event.

As part of the rites completed over five days in the holy city of Mecca and its surroundings, the pilgrims converged on Mount Arafat after spending the night in Mina.

A district of Mecca, Mina sits in a narrow valley surrounded by rocky mountains, and is transformed each year into a vast encampment for pilgrims.

They began the hajj on Wednesday with their first "tawaf", the circumambulation of the Kaaba, a large structure in Mecca’s Grand Mosque towards which Muslims around the world pray.

The Kaaba is draped in a black cloth embroidered in gold with Koranic verses and known as the kiswa, which is changed each year during the pilgrimage.

Pilgrims were brought inside the mosque in small batches, walking along paths marked on the floor, in sharp contrast to the normal sea of humanity that swirls around the Kaaba during hajj.

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Agencies
July 23,2020

Abu Dhabi, Jul 23: Muslims in the United Arab Emirates have been asked to perform Eid Al-Adha prayers at home even as mosques will be allowed to operate at an increased capacity of 50 percent from Aug. 3.

Mosques in the UAE have been operating at 30 percent capacity after they reopened on July 1.

Announcing the move, Dr. Saif Al Dhaheri, the official spokesman for the National Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Management Authority, stated that after assessing the situation and coordinating with the concerned authorities, it was decided that Eid Al-Adha prayers would be conducted in homes and takbeers broadcast through visual and audio means.

He also announced that the Emirates Fatwa Council has recommended that donations and sacrifices should be to official charitable causes in the country only.

Al Dhaheri advised the public to donate during this time to the official charitable bodies in the country with sacrifices and donations, through smart applications concerned with sacrifices or through slaughterhouses outlined by the local authorities that guarantee the application of precautionary and preventive measures and provide remote services without the need to enter livestock markets or slaughterhouses.

Al Dhaheri stressed the need to avoid family visits and gatherings, and replace them using electronic means of communication or phone contact, as well as refraining from distributing Eid gifts and money to children and individuals during this occasion recommending to instead use of electronic alternatives.

Al Dhaheri pointed out that it is necessary to avoid visiting pregnant women, children and those with chronic diseases who are most vulnerable to COVID-19 and not to allow them to leave the home and avoid going out to public places to preserve their health and safety.

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