MECCA — Thousand of maskless worshippers gathered to circle Islam’s holiest site in Saudi Arabia’s Mecca on Wednesday, kick-starting the biggest hajj pilgrimage since the COVID-19 pandemic. The Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and a once-in-a-lifetime duty for all able-bodied Muslims to perform if they can afford it. Around one million […]
Middle East
Imam and Khateeb Masjid Al Haram condemns insulting statements against Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ)
MAKKAH — Sheikh Juhany condemns the insulting statements against Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم during today’s Jumu’ah Khutbah in Masjid Al Haram, Makkah Khateeb Sheikh Juhany: “Insulting the prophets and messengers is a crime and it must be condemned according to Allah’s law” Khateeb Sheikh Juhany: “Criminal attempts to offend the Messenger of Allah صلى […]
UAE suspends wheat export from India for four months: WAM report
ABU DHABI — United Arab Emirate’s (UAE) Ministry of Economy has temporarily suspended the export and re-export of wheat and wheat flour originating from India, including free zones, for a period of four months, state media agency WAM reported. The Ministry has issued Cabinet resolution no 72 of 2022 which applies to all wheat varieties […]
Iran condemns missile attack on Damascus, vows support to Syria
TEHRAN — Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian has condemned the recent Israeli missile attack on the Syrian capital Damascus and vowed his country’s continued support for the Arab state, local media reported. During a phone conversation with his Syrian counterpart Faisal al-Mekdad on Friday, Amir Abdollahian said, “Israel’s attacks on Syria’s infrastructure are not […]
8 killed, 27 injured in landmine explosion in Syria
DAMASCUS — Eight people lost their lives and 27 others were injured in a leftover landmine explosion in the southern Syrian province of Daraa, state news agency SANA reported. The explosion took place on Saturday, Xinhua news agency reported. Citing medical sources, SANA said the landmine was part of the leftovers of rebel groups who […]
Qatar, Kuwait, Iran summon Indian envoys over controversial remarks of BJP leader against Prophet Mohammed
DOHA — Qatar, Iran and Kuwait on Sunday summoned India’s Ambassadors and the key Gulf nations expressed their strong protest and condemnation of the controversial remarks of a BJP leader against Prophet Mohammed. Seeking to defuse a diplomatic row, spokespersons of the Indian Embassy in Qatar and Kuwait said that the Ambassadors “conveyed that the […]
Superstores in Arab countries remove Indian products after objectionable remarks against Prophet Muhammad by BJP spokesperson
NEW DELHI — Several middle eastern countries including Saudia Arabia, Kuwait, and Bahrain have called out for a boycott of Indian products from their superstores on social media. The outrage comes after Bharatiya Janta Pary (BJP) spokesperson Nupur Sharma allegedly made some objectionable remarks against Prophet Mohammed during a panel discussion on an Indian news […]
Egypt unveils discovery of 250 coffins, 150 statues in Saqqara
CAIRO — Egyptian authorities unveiled on a major new archaeological find of 250 sealed coffins containing mummies, 150 bronze statues of ancient gods and goddesses, and other antiquities at the Saqqara necropolis, south of the capital Cairo. An archaeological mission working in Bubastian Cemetery area discovered a bronze statues cachette in the site that dates […]
Palestinian presidency rejects Israeli PM’s remarks on Jerusalem
RAMALLAH — The Palestinian presidency has rejected the remarks of Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, in which he said that “Jerusalem is a unified city”. Palestinian Presidential Spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh said on Sunday in a press statement that “East Jerusalem and all its holy sites will remain the eternal capital of the state of […]
Saudi Arabia bans citizens from travelling to 16 nations, including India
RIYADH — Saudi Arabia has banned citizens from travelling to 16 countries, including India, over the Covid-19 situation in those nations, the media reported. The General Directorate of Passports said that the list of countries comprised Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, India, Yemen, Somalia, Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Libya, Indonesia, Vietnam, Armenia, […]