Day: June 1, 2024

Salfit – Together – On Saturday evening, settlers burned an agricultural room, in the town of Kafr al-Dik, west of Salfit, owned by citizen Ihsan al-Dik.

Ihsan Al-Deek said that settlers stormed the Umm Al-Babin area, located west of the town, raided the agricultural room and burned it, adding that the fire destroyed all of its contents, including agricultural equipment and furniture.

Al-Deek pointed out that this attack is not the first, as the settlers attacked, vandalized, and destroyed its contents.

It is noteworthy that the settlers are pursuing citizens, preventing them from being on their lands and attacking their property.

Source: Maan News Agency

Riyadh: Border crossings into Saudi Arabia are ready to provide exceptional service to pilgrims arriving for Hajj. Their employees’ focus on facilitating entry procedures contributes to a smooth and worry-free experience, enabling pilgrims to perform their rituals with ease and return home safely.

Hamoud Al-Harbi, spokesperson for the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority, emphasized the positive impact of the Makkah Route Initiative, its successful contribution to increasing the quality of service for pilgrims benefiting from it.

Al-Harbi stressed the authority’s unwavering commitment to supporting the initiative’s goals through integrated customs services offered at halls specifically designed for the Makkah Route Initiative at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah and Prince Muhammad bin Abdulaziz Airport in Madinah.

The authority leverages cutting-edge technologies to expedite customs procedures for pilgrims and their luggage. This streamlined approach reflects a strong collaborative effort with ot
her stakeholders involved in the initiative.

The Makkah Route Initiative, under the leadership of the Ministry of Interior, aims to provide exceptional service to the pilgrims, including through completing immigration procedures from the pilgrims in their home countries and ensuring a smooth transition upon arrival in the Kingdom. Dedicated lounges facilitate a comfortable transfer of pilgrims to their residences, eliminating unnecessary waiting times at airports.

The initiative, now in its sixth year, is a collaborative endeavor of various Saudi government entities.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, The Ministry of Interior’s General Directorate of Passports has made use of modern technology to expedite and facilitate Hajj procedures for pilgrims departing from Abidjan Airport, in Côte d’Ivoire.

Captain Muammar Al-Otaibi, supervisor of the Makkah Route Initiative lounge at the airport, emphasized the Kingdom’s commitment to ensuring the comfort and well-being of pilgrims. He said that the lounge features counters equipped with AI technology to streamline the travel process.

Following the issuance of Hajj visas, the AI system efficiently completes pilgrim procedures, including capturing vital data and providing necessary information.

Al-Otaibi said the initiative has been successful for the second year running, achieving high accuracy and swift processing of pilgrims traveling from Côte d’Ivoire to Saudi Arabia.

The Makkah Road Initiative falls under the Pilgrim Experience Program, a cornerstone of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Riyadh: The Zakat, Tax, and Customs Authority (ZATCA) has thwarted an attempt to smuggle 6,514,674 Captagon pills hidden in a consignment of plus-size tires coming into the Kingdom through Al-Batha border crossing.

According to the authority, the Captagon pills were found concealed in the cavities of the tires.

ZATCA reiterated its determination to continue tightening customs control over the Kingdom’s imports and exports, and toughen its position against smuggling attempts, in coordination and collaboration with the General Directorate of Narcotics Control, to ensure the security and protection of the society.

ZATCA urges the public to contribute to combating smuggling and protecting the society and the national economy by contacting the authority’s designated number for security reports, 1910, via e-mail: 1910@zatca.gov.sa, or by the international number 00966114208417.

The authority receives reports related to smuggling and violations of the Common Customs Law with utmost confidentiality and grants a f
inancial reward to informers if the information proves correct.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Istanbul, The Makkah Route Initiative, a flagship project of the Ministry of Interior, covers seven countries and was designed to offer pilgrims not just best technical and logistical support, but also a sense of security.

The initiative is testament to the leadership’s unwavering commitment to serving the Two Holy Mosques and their valued visitors.

As per the initiative, pilgrims are offered high-quality services, their entry procedures are streamlined, starting already in their home countries, and they are transported directly to their accommodations in Makkah and Madinah.

Due to the Makkah Route Initiative, the time pilgrims spend at points of entry into the Kingdom has been successfully reduced. This is an accomplishment that clearly demonstrates the Saudi government’s commitment to providing a seamless pilgrimage experience, including by expediting entry procedures and by securing luggage-handling services that enable easy access to accommodations.

This year, the initiative has benefited pilgrims fro
m seven countries: Morocco, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Trkiye, and Côte d’Ivoire; through it, special lounges have been dedicated for pilgrims at the airports in these countries.

The Makkah Route Initiative garnered international acclaim, with the Turkish ambassador to the Kingdom, Dr. Emrullah Isler, commending the initiative personnel’s hard work at Turkish airports in Ankara and Istanbul.

The Saudi Press Agency (SPA), present at Istanbul International Airport, captured pilgrims’ feelings vis-à-vis the initiative.

Speaking to SPA, Amina Turk, who is accompanied by her husband on the trip, said: ‘I wished to perform Hajj at the Grand Mosque, and I ask Allah to give us the ability to complete it. We are very excited because it is our first visit, and I ask Allah accepts our deed.”

With a shared vision, various government agencies collaborate to ensures a secure and seamless experience for pilgrims. These are: ministries of interior, foreign affairs, health, Hajj and Umrah, and media, the G
eneral Authority of Civil Aviation, Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence, the pilgrim experience program, which is one of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 programs, and the Zakat, Tax, and Customs Authority.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Makkah: The Saudi Arabian Railways (SAR), in coordination with the operating company, is prepared to meet the expected demand for Haramain Express train trips during this year’s Hajj season. They plan to operate more than 3,800 train trips, providing over 1.6 million seats-an increase of more than 100,000 seats compared to last year.

The Haramain Express Train is one of the ten fastest electric trains globally, reaching speeds of 300 km per hour and utilizing advanced signaling and communications systems. It is a crucial part of the development plan and expansion program in the Saudi railway network.

This project connects the main cities in the Western Region, addressing the growing demand to serve increasing numbers of internal and external pilgrims and reducing congestion on the roads in Makkah, Madinah, and Jeddah.

The Haramain Express Train is a fast electric train connecting Makkah with Madinah via a double railway line. Launched in September 2018, it is one of the largest train projects in the Middle
East. The Kingdom established it to provide safe transportation for pilgrims, Umrah performers, and travelers between the two holy cities and the city of Jeddah.

The Haramain Express Railway is a 453 km long express railway linking Madinah and Makkah. It has a 449 km line from Makkah to Madinah and a 3.75 km branch connection to King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Khiva, Uzbekistan, The Arab Tourism Organization has participated in the 12th session of the Islamic Conference of Tourism Ministers in Khiva, Uzbekistan. The conference theme was “Developing the Tourism Industry in a Sustainable and Flexible Manner,” and it coincided with the celebrations of Khiva as the tourism capital of the Islamic world for 2024.

The President of the Arab Tourism Organization, Dr. Bandar bin Fahd Al Fuhaid, announced that Cairo has been named the Tourism Capital of the Member States of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) for 2026. This recognition was awarded to Cairo due to its excellent infrastructure, Islamic heritage landmarks, and historical and archaeological sites.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

The Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi strongly condemned the Israeli occupation forces’ attempts to undermine the efforts of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), by classifying it as a terrorist organization and lifting the immunity of its employees, who are carrying out their humanitarian role in alleviating the human tragedy suffered by the Palestinian people.

In a statement, Albudaiwi stressed that the Israeli occupation forces are obligated to facilitate the work of humanitarian organizations in accordance with international and humanitarian resolutions, emphasizing, at the same time, the need for the international community to support UNRWA’s work and efforts, and to put an end to the Israeli occupation forces’ illegal practices.

Moreover, the GCC Secretary General reiterated the GCC countries’ firm positions regarding the Palestinian cause, as being the central and primary issue for Arabs and Muslims,
supporting the establishment of an independent Palestinian state within the borders of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with the Arab Peace Initiative and the resolutions of international legitimacy.

Source: Qatar News Agency

Riyadh: The Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, has strongly condemned the attempts of the Israeli occupation forces to undermine the efforts of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), by classifying it as a terrorist organisation and lifting the immunity of its employees who are carrying out their humanitarian role in alleviating the human tragedy suffered by the Palestinian people due to the serious Israeli violations, terming them as an indication of its lack of respect for international institutions and organisations.

He stressed that the Israeli occupation forces are obligated to facilitate the work of humanitarian organisations in accordance with international and humanitarian resolutions, while emphasising at the same time the necessity for the international community to support the work and efforts of UNRWA and to put an end to the illegal practices carried out by the Israeli occupation forces.

Moreover
, Albudaiwi reiterated the firm positions of the GCC countries towards the Palestinian cause, as the central and primary issue for Arabs and Muslims, and support for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state within the borders of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with the Arab Peace Initiative and the resolutions of international legitimacy.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Doha: As mediators in the ongoing discussions to secure a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages and detainees, the State of Qatar, the United States of America, and the Arab Republic of Egypt, jointly call on both Hamas and Israel to finalize the agreement embodying the principles outlined by President Biden on May 31, 2024.

In a joint statement, they said: “These principles brought the demands of all parties together in a deal that serves multiple interests and will bring immediate relief both to the long-suffering people of Gaza as well as the long-suffering hostages and their families. This deal offers a roadmap for a permanent ceasefire and ending the crisis.”

Source: Qatar News Agency