Category: Arab News

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UAE chairs GCC-Russia meeting

Dr. Anwar bin Mohammed Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, UAE.

The United Arab Emirates on Tuesday chaired a joint ministerial meeting between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) States and the Russian Federation, on the sidelines of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Addressing the meeting which was held via video technology, Dr. Anwar bin Mohammed Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, affirmed the depth of the GCC-Russia relations and the importance of further consolidating them across all fronts, notably at the economic, investment, tourist and cultural levels.

During the meeting, issues of common interest between the GCC and the Russian Federation were reviewed, with specially emphasis on the global fight against COVID-19 and the prospects of setting the stage for enabling the region to move from tension and crises to opportunities, stability and development while building trust.

Also read:India announces 270 flights from UAE in october

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Kuwait emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah dies at 91

The emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, has died aged 91. Sheikh Sabah was the ruler of Kuwait since 2006 .Reports Arab News

He was admitted to hospital in July and underwent surgery, before travelling to the US for further treatment.

His death brought an outpouring of grief and condolences from both the Gulf, the region and beyond.

He served as Kuwait’s foreign minister from 1963 for four decades after holding a number of other governmental posts.He then became prime minister in 2003.

The leader was widely respected for his leadership, diplomacy and as a mediator in the region. 

He helped steer the country through the devastating invasion by Iraq in 1990 and a number of other crises in the region.

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman were among the region’s leaders to offer their condolences to Kuwait and Sheikh Sabah’s family.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Sheikh Sabah “was an extraordinary symbol of wisdom and generosity, a messenger of peace, a bridge-builder.”

Donald Trump awarded the US Legion of Merit, Degree Chief Commander, to Sheikh Sabah – the first time the honor has been given since 1991.

Kuwait announced 40 days of mourning to remember Sheikh Sabah

Also read:India announces 270 flights from UAE in october

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Saudi arrests Iran-trained terror cell

Saudi Arabia busted a terrorist cell whose members got military and field training inside sites belonging to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday citing the spokesman for the Presidency of State Security. The cell was discovered last week during security monitoring according to SPA, report.

The spokesperson also said that a total of 10 members of the cell were arrested, three of them received training in Iran. The cell was formed between October and December 2017, the spokesperson added.

According to the spokesperson, their training took place in two locations and included field exercises and making explosives. The security operation seized a large number of weapons, explosives, chemicals, and electronic devices and equipment from a house and a farm.

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G20 Leaders virtual Summit to be held in November

File photo of Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa/IANS)

The 2020 G20 Leaders Summit will be held virtually on November 21–22 and will be chaired by the Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the G20 presidency said in a statement on Monday.

“The G20 presidency will build on the success of the extraordinary virtual G20 Leaders’ Summit held in March, and on the outcomes of over 100 virtual working groups and ministerial meetings,” Arab News quoted the statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) as saying.

“The G20 is leading the fight against this global pandemic, taking swift and unprecedented actions to protect lives, livelihoods and the most vulnerable,” it added.

The G20 has contributed over $21 billion to support the production, distribution, and access to diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines.

It has also injected $11 trillion to safeguard the global economy.

The group has further launched a debt suspension initiative for the least developed countries that would allow beneficiary countries to defer $14 billion in debt payments due this year and use these amounts instead for financing their health systems and social programs.

“The upcoming G20 Leaders’ Summit will focus on protecting lives and restoring growth, by addressing vulnerabilities uncovered during the pandemic and by laying down the foundations for a better future,” said the statement.

“The Summit will also focus on fostering international action to realize opportunities of the 21st century for all, by empowering people and protecting our planet, whilst harnessing the potential of innovation to shape new frontiers.”

Also read:Saudi to restart Umra pilgrimage from Oct 4

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Houthis release 15 Saudis in prisoner swap

The Arab coalition forces to Restore the Legitimate Government in Yemen said that 15 Saudi prisoners are to be released by Houthis on Sunday, adding that the prisoner swap is in line with the Stockholm agreement.

The official spokesman of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen Col. Turki Al-Maliki said in a press conference here on Sunday that the Yemeni government will release 681 prisoners, and the Houthi militia will release 400, according to the Saudi Gazette.

“Fifteen Saudi prisoner of war will be released by Houthi militia as part of the Yemen prisoner exchange agreement,” Al-Maliki added. Al-Maliki said Yemeni prisoner exchange agreement also includes the release of four Sudanese.

Al-Maliki described the prisoner swap as ‘purely humanitarian’. The Coalition called on the Houthi militia not to undermine the efforts of the United Nation special envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths.

Also read:Arab Coalition shoots down ‘Houthi’ missile

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Covid 19: Iraq suspends Iran flights

Iraqi authorities have said that flights to Iran will be suspended for 15 days over coronavirus concerns.

A statement by the Iraqi Ministry of Transport on Thursday said that the flights will remain suspended from Friday to October 9, in response to an official request from the Iranian Aviation Authority, reports Xinhua news agency.

The decision includes “all direct flights from local airports to the airports of the Islamic Republic of Iran, after the announcement of detecting coronavirus cases in some Iranian areas”, the statement said.

On September 19, the Iraqi Higher Committee for Health and National Safety, headed by Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, decided not to receive pilgrims from any country for the religious events in Iraq, including the major Shia ritual of Arbaeen, in an attempt to contain the increasing number of Covid-19 case.

Earlier in the day, the Iraqi Health Ministry said that the total number of infections in the country has reached 337,106.

Also read:Iraq hopes to curb spread by banning tourists

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Saudi to restart Umra pilgrimage from Oct 4

Saudi Arabia mulls restarting the Umra pilgrimage from Ocober 4. As per the new structure, each pilgrim will be given three hours to perform Umrah, starting and ending in the triage areas around Makkah.

This time schedule is applicable during the first stage of the resumption of Umrah services, according to Arab News.

The first stage is scheduled will be operated through the I’tamarna app.

The plan is to have triage areas around the holy city, allowing 6,000 pilgrims to perform Umrah each day at six different times, with each group of 1,000 pilgrims being given three hours.

Also Read: Saudi successfully concludes Haj