Al-Jubeir: Iran backed Houthi militia attacks on Saudi Arabia reveal their terror and does not affect our stability

Updated 07 May 2018
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Al-Jubeir: Iran backed Houthi militia attacks on Saudi Arabia reveal their terror and does not affect our stability

Saudi Arabia's foreign minister said that Iran backed Houthi militia attacks on Saudi Arabia are mere Iranian plots that reveal their terror and does not affect the stability of the Kingdom.

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Turkish Kung Fu champion slams threat to strip him over Gaza protest

Updated 1 min 44 sec ago
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Turkish Kung Fu champion slams threat to strip him over Gaza protest

  • Necmettin Erbakan Akyuz, 22, says he will not ‘back down’
  • Probe launched into his actions by sport’s governing body

DUBAI: Turkish Kung Fu champion Necmettin Erbakan Akyuz, who raised the Palestinian flag during a European championship contest in solidarity with Gaza, has said he stands by his decision.

Responding to the European Kung Fu Federation’s threat to strip him of his title, the 22-year-old reportedly said on Wednesday: “If I had raised the Israeli flag there instead of the Palestinian flag, the (federation) would not have imposed this penalty on me.”

Akyuz won his division in the European Kung Fu Championships held on Dec. 17, 2023, in Istanbul.

As he stood on the podium, he raised the Palestinian flag and performed the Dabke, a traditional Palestinian dance.

“Opening an investigation, withdrawing the championship title, issuing sanctions and withdrawing all the world and European championships that I own … if you think that you can scare me with these things and make me back down, then you are truly fools,” he said.

Akyuz added that he did not break any rules and said the federation has “no values, no humanity, no conscience, no manhood, no honor, no dignity.”


UAE braced for severe weather, task force on high alert  

Updated 4 min 41 sec ago
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UAE braced for severe weather, task force on high alert  

DUBAI: Challenging weather is again expected in the UAE, with parts of the country’s east coast set to experience strong winds. 

The National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority said gusts of up to 40 kph were likely to impact the area on Thursday.

While the NCM forecasts less severe conditions than those in April, it has warned residents to expect rain and storms over the next two days. There is a possibility of hail in the eastern regions, possibly extending to some internal and western areas.

Clouds are expected to decrease on Friday and Saturday, with possible light to medium rain which may be heavier in some southern and eastern regions.

Government agencies are coordinating with the Joint Weather and Tropical Assessment Team to monitor developments, said a statement from the NCM.

The teams will assess the potential impact of weather conditions and implement proactive measures where necessary.

Dubai’s government announced all private schools in the UAE would switch to remote learning on Thursday and Friday as a precaution. 

Authorities have urged the public to exercise caution, adhere to safety standards and guidelines, refrain from circulating rumors, and rely on official sources for information.

The UAE is still recovering from last month’s storms which caused widespread flooding, submerging streets and disrupting flights at Dubai International Airport.


Saudi imports, exports increase despite regional tensions

Updated 7 min 12 sec ago
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Saudi imports, exports increase despite regional tensions

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s imports and exports increased 5 percent in the first quarter of 2024 despite the tension in the region, according to a senior official.

In November 2023, the Saudi Ports Authority, known as Mawani, announced a 5.31 percent increase in container handling across all seaports in October. A total of 741,905 twenty-foot equivalent units were processed, compared to 704,486 a year before.

In an interview with Al-Ekhbariya TV channel on the sidelines of the Logistic Integration Forum 2024, held on April 29 in the Eastern Province, Minister of Transport and Logistic Services Saleh Al-Jasser noted that this growth stemmed from collaborative efforts between the public and private sectors.


Sudanese man detained in UK for deportation to Rwanda: NGO

Updated 17 min 18 sec ago
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Sudanese man detained in UK for deportation to Rwanda: NGO

  • Asylum seeker attended routine sign-in at immigration center in London on Monday
  • Home Office: First flight to African country ‘set to take off in 10-12 weeks’

LONDON: A Sudanese asylum seeker in the UK has been told of his imminent deportation to Rwanda after attending a routine Home Office appointment, The Guardian reported.

SOAS Detainee Support, an NGO, told the newspaper that the case is believed to be the first under the Rwanda scheme, which has received royal assent.

The UK government policy aims to deport rejected asylum seekers to the African country through a bilateral agreement.

The Sudanese man said he had arrived on Monday to sign in at the Lunar House immigration reporting center in Croydon, south London, but was told he would be deported to Rwanda, and was subsequently detained.

He is one of three people being held after attending the facility, including an Afghan national, SDS said.

The NGO, which offers advice and support to detained asylum seekers, said it had received an “alarmingly high number of calls” since the government’s announcement of Rwanda flights.

A Home Office spokesperson said in a statement: “Now that the Safety of Rwanda Act has passed and our treaty with Rwanda ratified, government is entering the final phase of operationalising this landmark policy to tackle illegal migration and stop the boats.

“This includes detaining people in preparation for the first flight, which is set to take off to Rwanda in 10-12 weeks.”


Pakistan’s army chief meets top UK generals at regional stabilization conference

Updated 38 min 8 sec ago
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Pakistan’s army chief meets top UK generals at regional stabilization conference

  • A 30-member UK delegation is visiting Pakistan until May 3 for the flagship UK-Pakistan security dialogue
  • The scope of the discussion this year has been expanded from bilateral to regional issues amid volatility

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s army chief General Asim Munir held a meeting with the United Kingdom’s Chief of the General Staff (CGS) General Patrick Sanders on the sidelines of the opening session of the 6th Pakistan-UK Regional Stabilization Conference at the National Defense University on Wednesday.
According to the military’s media wing, ISPR, the conference is a flagship defense and security dialogue alternatively hosted by the two states, bringing together experts from diverse fields including diplomats, defense officials, scholars and civil society representatives.

In this handout photo, taken and released by Pakistan’s Inter-Service Public Relations on May 1, 2024, Chief of Army Staff of Pakistan Asim Munir (right) meets United Kingdom’s Chief of the General Staff General Patrick Sanders at the Generals Headquarters in Rawalpindi. (Photo courtesy: ISPR)

Currently, a 30-member UK delegation is visiting Pakistan in connection with the conference and will stay in the country until May 3.
“This year, the scope of discussion has been expanded from bilateral to regional issues and defense officials of both countries are also participating in the conference,” the ISPR said.
It mentioned the meeting of Pakistan’s chief of army staff (COAS) with General Sanders and the British CGS-designate General Roland Walker in which measures related to further enhancing bilateral defense ties came under discussion.
“The COAS thanked General Patrick Sanders for his services in enhancing bilateral military ties and felicitated General Roland Walker on his nomination as the next CGS of the UK Army,” it added.