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  For the first time in the history of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Saudi women have been seen organising the Umrah or small pilgrimage during the holy month of Ramadan. According to Saudi media, female security personnel are participating in organising Umrah at the holy Kaaba. Saudi General Security has published a video on Twitter, showing female security personnel at the holy Kaaba. They can be seen cooperating with other security personnel from the Saudi Ministry of Interior. According to the Saudi General Security, female security personnel received Umrah pilgrims and managed the crowds of visitors. They worked alongside their male counterparts. Hanan Mohammed, a female security worker, lauded the efforts of the Saudi Ministry of Interior. She expressed happiness and pride in being able to manage Umrah during the holy month of Ramadan. People also appreciated the efforts and work of the female workers. Sheikh Dr Abdulrahman Al Sudais, General President of the Affairs ...

  At least 20 people were killed around 4:00 pm on Monday and 29 more injured after a bus carrying pilgrims collided with a barrier at the end of a bridge, overturned, and caught fire in Saudi Arabia's southwestern region. The incident in the southern province of Asir, bordering Yemen, comes during the holy month of Ramadan, a busy time for the Umrah pilgrimage, and just months before scores of Muslims will make the annual Hajj pilgrimage. Although the state-affiliated Al Ekhbariya channel reported that the victims had "different nationalities", it did not mention them or provide a breakdown. Footage broadcast on the channel showed what appeared to be the burned-out shell of the bus. While the private newspaper Okaz said an issue with the brakes prompted the accident, Al Ekhbariya reported the vehicle had "car trouble". The bus had departed Khamis Mushayt and was heading to Abha. Monday's accident occurred in Aqabat Shaar, a 14 km road that was open...

  Director of Public Security Lt. Gen. Muhammad Al-Bassami has said that pilgrims need to book an appointment on the Nusuk or Tawakkalna applications in order to perform Umrah in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Addressing a press conference of the commanders of the Umrah security forces in the holy city of Mecca on Tuesday, he announced the readiness of the Umrah security plans for implementation during the holy month of Ramadan. According to the Saudi interior ministry, under the Umrah security plans, the authorities would manage and organise crowds and traffic as well as provide humanitarian services to pilgrims. Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Bassami called on pilgrims to adhere to their specific dates in order to perform Umrah in the Kingdom. He arrived at the 911 Unified Operations Center in Mecca to discuss the ministry’s plans and preparations for this year’s Umrah season. Al-Bassami said that the preparations for Umrah were being organised in coordination with the Saudi Min...

  More than 150 Jerusalemite families who reside in the Old City of occupied East Jerusalem and its neighbouring neighbourhoods are plagued by the spectre of impending mass demolition and displacement, a few weeks before the holy month of Ramadan. Israeli courts are slated to convene potentially pivotal hearings on eviction and displacement cases in March, putting more than 80 Jerusalemites at risk of being forcibly relocated at once. In order to take possession of the Jerusalemites' homes and properties, forcibly evict their residents, and deny them the chance to stay in their ancestral homes, rights groups claim that settler associations file eviction claims against Palestinian families in Jerusalem on the basis of racist and discriminatory Israeli laws. In the Old City, the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood, and the town of Silwan, dozens of Palestinian families would lose their homes, according to a warning from the Israeli activist group Ir Amim, which focuses on Jerusalem is...