UN envoy for Yemen condemns attack that claimed the lives of two Bahraini military personnel

Bahraini military personnel are pictured after performing funeral prayers for their colleagues who were killed on Monday. (BNA)
Short Url
Updated 26 September 2023
Follow

UN envoy for Yemen condemns attack that claimed the lives of two Bahraini military personnel

  • The US embassy in Saudi Arabia also condemned the attack
  • Grundberg expressed concern over continued military tensions at the Yemeni border and on several frontlines in Yemen over the past months

RIYADH: The UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg condemned on Tuesday an attack that claimed the lives of two Bahraini military personnel and injured several others in Saudi Arabia on Monday.

Bahrain’s military said on Monday that one officer and one soldier had been killed in a drone attack perpetrated by the Houthis.

Grundberg expressed concern over continued military tensions at the Yemeni border and on several frontlines in Yemen over the past months that have led to casualties, including civilian loss of life.

He warned that any renewal of offensive military escalation risks plunging Yemen back into a cycle of violence and undermines ongoing peace efforts.“Continued flare-ups of fighting demonstrate the fragility of the situation in Yemen,” the special envoy said.

“We have been in touch with all sides to urge them to exercise maximum restraint at this critical time, and to use dialogue to resolve differences and diffuse military tensions,” he added.

Grundberg warned that “the minimum level of trust required for constructive dialogue is hard-earned, but easily lost.”

He emphasized the need for decisive steps towards a sustainable nationwide ceasefire and the resumption of an inclusive political process to end the conflict.

He also offered his condolences to Bahrain and his wishes for the swift recovery of the injured.

The US embassy in Saudi Arabia also condemned the attack.

“Such attacks are unacceptable and threaten the longest period of calm since the war in Yemen began,” it said in a statement.


Saudi interior ministry arrests six violators of Hajj regulations

Hajj security forces stationed at entrances to Makkah arrested on Sunday six people who violated Hajj regulations. (AN photo)
Updated 17 June 2024
Follow

Saudi interior ministry arrests six violators of Hajj regulations

  • Those arrested were given 15-day prison sentence and fined SR10,000 for each violator they tried to transport
  • The vehicles used to transport the violators were confiscated

RIYADH: Hajj security forces stationed at entrances to Makkah arrested on Sunday six people who violated Hajj regulations by transporting a group of 52 individuals attempting to perform Hajj without a permit.

The resident and five citizens were each given a 15-day prison sentence and fined SR10,000 ($2,665) for each violator they tried to transport illegally.

The vehicles used to transport the violators were also confiscated, the Ministry of Interior said.

Residents who violate Hajj regulations face deportation and the ministry has urged all citizens and residents to strictly comply with Hajj regulations to ensure pilgrims feel safe, comfortable, and at peace when performing Hajj rituals.


44.8m phone calls by pilgrims during Eid

Updated 17 June 2024
Follow

44.8m phone calls by pilgrims during Eid

  • 38.04 million were local and 6.76 million were international calls, with a success rate of more than 99 percent
  • In terms of data usage, pilgrims consumed 5,790 terabytes during the holiday

MINA: Pilgrims in Makkah and at the holy sites made a record-breaking 44.8 million telephone calls on Sunday during Eid Al-Adha, Saudi Arabia’s Communications, Space and Technology Commission said on Monday.

Of those, 38.04 million were local and 6.76 million were international calls, with a success rate of more than 99 percent.

In terms of data usage, pilgrims consumed 5,790 terabytes during the holiday, the commission added, which is equivalent to streaming more than 2.37 million hours of high-definition, 1080p video.

Average daily data consumption reached 779.93 megabytes per subscriber, which was more than double the global average of 380MB.

The mobile internet infrastructure was able to provide an average data-download speed of 376.18 megabits per second and an average upload speed of 48.04Mbps, according to the commission.


National Water Co. conducts tests throughout Hajj

Updated 17 June 2024
Follow

National Water Co. conducts tests throughout Hajj

  • Company said its operational plan focuses on ensuring the quality of water via round-the-clock field work by teams collecting samples from drinking water sources
  • Has equipped the central laboratory in Makkah with the latest international technology to ensure the quality of water provided to pilgrims is maintained at the highest standard

MINA: The National Water Co. is conducting tests to ensure water quality meets international standards for pilgrims visiting Saudi Arabia during Hajj season.

The company said its operational plan focuses on ensuring the quality of water via round-the-clock field work by teams collecting samples from drinking water sources, operational tanks, strategic storage tanks, and water networks at the holy sites.

It confirmed that it has equipped the central laboratory in Makkah with the latest international technology to ensure the quality of water provided to pilgrims is maintained at the highest standard.

Fixed and mobile laboratories in the holy sites conduct tests on samples collected by teams on a continual basis from primary water sources, operational and strategic reservoirs, and water systems in and around Makkah and other holy sites.

The teams consists of highly qualified, specialized staff who conduct over 4,100 tests daily.


Diriyah authority celebrates Eid with artistic performances

Updated 17 June 2024
Follow

Diriyah authority celebrates Eid with artistic performances

  • Citizens and visitors participated in the events, enjoying the carnival atmosphere in several locations

RIYADH: The Diriyah Gate Development Authority celebrated Eid Al-Adha by organizing a range of artistic and cultural shows.

Citizens and visitors participated in the events, enjoying the carnival atmosphere in several locations, including Diriyah’s parks, squares and neighborhoods, as well as the historic Al-Turaif neighborhood and the Bujairi Terrace.

The four-day events, which kicked off on the first day of Eid, included artistic and cultural programs and live shows in Al-Turaif, in addition to popular arts shows such as Ardah and Samri. About 25,000 gifts were distributed to citizens and visitors enjoying the activities, interactive shows and live music.

Also on the first day of Eid, the authority launched a service to manage the sacrificed animals, in accordance with approved standards and requirements. It supervised the organization and preparation process during the pilgrimage and arranged parking areas and waiting tents, in addition to distributing sacrificial bags to those wishing to perform the ritual.

This year’s events included Arabian horse shows, traditional henna decorations and the distribution of gift. Boxes of sweets were also handed out.

Crowds of people enjoyed Eid Al-Adha events at Bujairi Terrace. These included live musical shows using oud, rababa and qanun instruments, and pavilions where artists drew caricatured portraits of guests and children could have their faces painted.


Neuroradiology saves life of female Iraqi pilgrim 

Updated 17 June 2024
Follow

Neuroradiology saves life of female Iraqi pilgrim 

  • Iraqi pilgrim received treatment at King Abdullah Medical City, part of the Makkah Health Cluster, where the thrombus responsible for the stroke was removed
  • An integrated medical team composed of an emergency doctor, a neurologist, and a radiologist treated the patient

MINA: A female Iraqi pilgrim suffered a stroke that caused her to lose the ability to speak and move on the right side of her body whilst in Saudi Arabia.

She received treatment at King Abdullah Medical City, part of the Makkah Health Cluster, where the thrombus responsible for the stroke was removed.

The Makkah Health Cluster said the Red Crescent transported the patient to the facility as soon as the incident was identified. An integrated medical team composed of an emergency doctor, a neurologist, and a radiologist received the patient who immediately underwent the necessary medical examinations.

A CT scan showed a thrombus in the artery supplying the left lobe of the brain and thus, she was referred to the Interventional Neuroradiology Department.

Thanks to the interdisciplinary integration and rapid procedures, the patient was transferred to the catheterization ward in the Radiology Department. The clot was successfully removed using the latest technology and the patient’s blood supply to the brain was restored without major complications.