Saudi Arabia has been hit by heavy rain and flash flooding along much of its Red Sea coast.
Images on social media showed cars stranded in floodwaters and others swept away by the torrential rains in Madinah.
Two bodies were recovered from a wadi in Dhahab in Al Lith on the Red Sea coast following the extreme weather, according to local news site Okaz, which quoted the country's civil defence.
Saudi Arabia's National Centre of Meteorology on Friday issued a red alert for rainfall in several regions in the west and south-west of country, lasting until 11pm local time.
Earlier in the day, meteorologists warned that areas could be hit by strong winds, lack of visibility, hail and thunderstorms.
Meanwhile, the Riyadh region is expected to receive only light to moderate rain.
The thunderstorms are expected to last from Friday until Thursday, according to the country's civil defence authority.
It urged citizens to avoid areas prone to flooding, and follow official safety guidelines and instructions.
Earlier in the day, Saudi authorities said they had mobilised thousands of workers and staff to help manage rainfall at the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque in Makkah.
The General Presidency for the Affairs of the Prophet's Mosque said it has completed measures to "allow worshippers to perform their religious duties in comfort and peace" at the mosque, Saudi Press Agency reported.
As part of these measures, the presidency has removed carpets from exposed areas and dried rainwater using machinery and manual labor. Pathways in the courtyards have been organized, and umbrellas have been distributed to worshippers and visitors to ensure their safety.
The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
UAE finals day
Friday, April 13
Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
3pm, UAE Conference: Dubai Tigers v Sharjah Wanderers
6.30pm, UAE Premiership: Dubai Exiles v Abu Dhabi Harlequins
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Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
