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Saudi Preparations Complete to Receive 2,400 Qatari Hajj Pilgrims

Preparations are complete to receive 2,400 Qatari pilgrims for the annual Hajj. (AFP)
Preparations are complete to receive 2,400 Qatari pilgrims for the annual Hajj. (AFP)
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Saudi Preparations Complete to Receive 2,400 Qatari Hajj Pilgrims

Preparations are complete to receive 2,400 Qatari pilgrims for the annual Hajj. (AFP)
Preparations are complete to receive 2,400 Qatari pilgrims for the annual Hajj. (AFP)

The number of Qatari Hajj pilgrims has risen in 2017 compared to 2016, revealed informed sources to Asharq Al-Awsat on Monday.

They said that 2,400 Qatari pilgrims are expected to perform the Hajj this year, compared to 1,200 in 2016, adding that the tents that will receive them in the holy region of Mecca are complete.

The luxury furnishings and equipment of the Qatari tents set them apart from other pilgrims. They are resistant to the soaring temperatures and the pilgrims will rest in fire-proof ones in Arafat, Mozdalifa and Mina. All tents are also equipped with air conditioners.

The pilgrims from Qatar, as well as those from Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, have, since 2006, chosen the National Tawafa Establishment for South Asian Pilgrims as the organizer of their Hajj.

The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah had kicked off the preparations for this year’s pilgrimage immediately after last year’s rituals. The ministry has worked hard to ensure that tents are equipped with air conditioners and that they are properly distributed near the holy sites where the pilgrimage will take place.

Meanwhile, King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah announced that up until Sunday, some 95,000 pilgrims have landed in the Kingdom onboard 550 flights, marking a 7.6 percent rise from 2016.

The facility is able to receive 3,800 passengers per hour and it enjoys 320 counters that can perform the traveler procedures, offering the pilgrims special and quick services ahead of departing for Mecca.

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Sports

AFC Says Has Received No Notification from Iran on World Cup Withdrawal

A soccer field stands empty at Kino Sports Complex, where the Iranian men’s soccer team is scheduled to practice for the FIFA World Cup, in Tucson, Arizona, US, March 4, 2026. REUTERS/Rebecca Noble
A soccer field stands empty at Kino Sports Complex, where the Iranian men’s soccer team is scheduled to practice for the FIFA World Cup, in Tucson, Arizona, US, March 4, 2026. REUTERS/Rebecca Noble
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AFC Says Has Received No Notification from Iran on World Cup Withdrawal

A soccer field stands empty at Kino Sports Complex, where the Iranian men’s soccer team is scheduled to practice for the FIFA World Cup, in Tucson, Arizona, US, March 4, 2026. REUTERS/Rebecca Noble
A soccer field stands empty at Kino Sports Complex, where the Iranian men’s soccer team is scheduled to practice for the FIFA World Cup, in Tucson, Arizona, US, March 4, 2026. REUTERS/Rebecca Noble

The Asian Football Confederation said on Monday it has not received any notification from Iran that it will withdraw its national soccer team from the World Cup.

Iran have qualified for the 48-team tournament to be held in the US, Canada and Mexico from June 11 and are scheduled to play two group matches in Los Angeles and one in Seattle.

Iran's sports minister has said it was impossible for the ⁠players to participate ⁠in the tournament after the US launched airstrikes alongside Israel against Tehran, killing the supreme leader.

US President Donald Trump said last week Iran was welcome to participate in the World Cup but that he ⁠believed it was not appropriate that they be there "for their own life and safety".

"It's a very emotional moment. Everybody's saying a lot of things," AFC General Secretary Windsor John told reporters in Kuala Lumpur.

"At the end of the day, it's the federation who should decide if they're playing, and as of today, the federation has told us that they are going ⁠to ⁠the World Cup.

"They are our member, we want them to play. You know, they qualified ... so we hope that they will solve their issues, whatever it is, and be able to participate,” Reuters quoted John as saying.

An official withdrawal by Iran from soccer's global showpiece would be the first in the modern era and leave FIFA with the urgent task of finding a replacement.
The tournament runs from June 11 to July 19.
 

World

EU's Kallas Floats Black Sea Model to Unblock Strait of Hormuz

European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas speaks with the media as she arrives for a meeting of EU foreign ministers and representatives of the Gulf Cooperation Council at the European Council building in Brussels, Thursday, March 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas speaks with the media as she arrives for a meeting of EU foreign ministers and representatives of the Gulf Cooperation Council at the European Council building in Brussels, Thursday, March 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)
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EU's Kallas Floats Black Sea Model to Unblock Strait of Hormuz

European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas speaks with the media as she arrives for a meeting of EU foreign ministers and representatives of the Gulf Cooperation Council at the European Council building in Brussels, Thursday, March 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas speaks with the media as she arrives for a meeting of EU foreign ministers and representatives of the Gulf Cooperation Council at the European Council building in Brussels, Thursday, March 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Monday she had discussed with the United Nations the idea of freeing up transport of oil and gas through the Strait of Hormuz by replicating a deal that gets grain out of Ukraine during wartime.

Arriving at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels, Kallas said she had spoken to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres about the idea to unblock the strait, currently choked off due to the Iran war, said Reuters.

"I had talks with ‌Antonio Guterres ‌about whether it was possible to also have ‌the ⁠same kind of ⁠initiative like we had (with) the Black Sea Initiative," Kallas said.

Iran has effectively shut the Strait of Hormuz, amid the US-Israeli war on Iran, now in its third week. Iranian forces have attacked ships in the narrow channel between Iran and Oman, choking off a fifth of global oil supply in the biggest disruption ⁠ever. Kallas said the closure of the strait was "really ‌dangerous" for energy supplies to Asia ‌but was also a problem for the production of fertilizers.

"And if there ‌is a lack of fertilizers this year, there's going to ‌be also food deprivation next year," Kallas said. She did not provide any more details. Kallas said ministers would also discuss whether it was possible to change the mandate of the EU's small Middle East naval mission, ‌Aspides, which currently focuses on protecting ships in the Red Sea from Yemen's Houthi rebel group.

"It ⁠is in ⁠our interest to keep the Strait of Hormuz open and that's why we are also discussing what we can do in this regard from the European side," she said. Asked about the skepticism expressed by German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul on whether Aspides could be useful in the Strait of Hormuz, Kallas said: "Of course we need to also have the member states on board."

"If the member states say that we are not doing anything with this, then of course it's their decision, but we have to discuss how we help to keep the Strait of Hormuz open."

Sports

Rooney: Let Arsenal Youngster Dowman Enjoy the Moment

Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal v Everton - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - March 14, 2026 Arsenal's Max Dowman celebrates scoring their second goal Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs
Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal v Everton - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - March 14, 2026 Arsenal's Max Dowman celebrates scoring their second goal Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs
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Rooney: Let Arsenal Youngster Dowman Enjoy the Moment

Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal v Everton - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - March 14, 2026 Arsenal's Max Dowman celebrates scoring their second goal Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs
Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal v Everton - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - March 14, 2026 Arsenal's Max Dowman celebrates scoring their second goal Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs

Former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney said Arsenal's Max Dowman should be allowed to enjoy his achievement after becoming the youngest goalscorer in Premier League history during Saturday's 2-0 win over Everton.

Dowman, 16 years and 73 days old, set the record after scoring with virtually the last kick of the match at Emirates Stadium, running more than half the length of the pitch ⁠to slot home.

While ⁠Arsenal will try to make sure the youngster keeps his feet on the ground, it was important Dowman be given room to grow, said Rooney, who scored for Everton against Arsenal in ⁠2002 at the age of 16 years and 360 days.

"Let him enjoy it and go and express himself," the former England forward said on BBC's 'The Wayne Rooney Show'.

"Mikel Arteta, some of the senior players in the Arsenal squad, will not let him get ahead of himself. But I think you have to enjoy it as ⁠well.

"So ⁠when we've got a young lad like that coming through as a 16-year-old, he's clearly got a lot of ability and you just hope he can go and fulfil that potential,” Reuters quoted Rooney as saying.

Arsenal, who are top of the league with 70 points from 31 matches, next face Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday in the second leg of their Champions League tie.