OH DUNIA!

Keuntungan bersih Maybank melonjak kepada RM8.11 bilion

KUALA LUMPUR – Keuntungan bersih Malayan Banking Bhd untuk tahun kewangan berakhir 31 Dis 2018 melonjak sebanyak 7.9 peratus kepada RM8.11 bilion berbanding RM7.52 bilion yang direkodkan pada tahun sebelumnya.
Perolehan naik kepada RM47.32 bilion daripada RM45.58 bilion.

Bank tersebut dalam satu kenyataan hari ini memberitahu, keuntungan bersih bagi tahun berkenaan juga menandakan satu rekod baharu selepas ia melepasi angka RM8 bilion buat kali pertama, didorong terutamanya oleh pertumbuhan pinjaman yang lebih tinggi, kos overhed serta peruntukan yang lebih rendah.

Pengerusi Datuk Mohaiyani Shamsudin berkata, keputusan itu mencerminkan kekuatan dan daya tahan kumpulan, yang terpaksa mengharungi pelbagai cabaran pada 2018.

“Strategi kami untuk berkembang secara mampan, sambil menguruskan perbelanjaan dan harga secara berdisiplin, merupakan faktor utama yang membolehkan kami untuk terus berada di landasan pertumbuhan walaupun berlaku ketidaktentuan dalam pasaran global,” katanya.

Dalam memberi ganjaran kepada para pemegang saham, bank telah mencadangkan dividen satu peringkat sebanyak 32 sen sesaham yang akan diberikan di bawah Pelan Pelaburan Semula Dividen Bank dengan dividen yang dicadangkan terdiri daripada bahagian tunai 15 sen serta bahagian terpilih sebanyak 17 sen yang boleh dilaburkan semula ke dalam saham biasa baru atau dibayar secara tunai.

Bersama-sama dengan dividen interim sebanyak 25 sen yang diisytiharkan sebelum ini, pembayaran dividen tahun penuh 57 sen sesaham adalah berjumlah RM6.3 bilion atau 77.3 peratus daripada keuntungan bersih.

Jumlah pembayaran dividen juga diterjemahkan kepada hasil dividen lebih tinggi sebanyak enam peratus berbanding 5.6 peratus pada 2017, katanya.

Menurut bank itu, bagi tahun penuh, kumpulan telah mencapai rekod baharu pendapatan operasi bersih yang meningkat sebanyak 1.7 peratus kepada RM23.63 bilion, didorong kenaikan 3.1 peratus dalam pendapatan berasaskan dana.

Pinjaman kasar kumpulan juga meningkat pada kadar yang lebih cepat sebanyak 4.8 peratus pada tahun kewangan 2018, berbanding 1.7 peratus sebelum ini, dengan pertumbuhan yang sihat direkodkan merentasi semua pasaran sementara deposit juga berkembang dengan pantas iaitu sebanyak 5.6 peratus berbanding 1.8 peratus pada tahun sebelumnya.

Dari segi sektorial, keuntungan sebelum cukai Perkhidmatan Kewangan Komuniti Kumpulan (GCFS) bertambah sebanyak 4.9 peratus dari tahun ke tahun kepada RM5.57 bilion, dipacu oleh francais kukuh yang dibina di rantau ini dan usaha berterusan dalam pengurusan kualiti dan aset yang berterusan.

Perbankan Global Kumpulan (GGB) mencatatkan peningkatan dalam keuntungan sebelum cukai sebanyak 4.3 peratus dari tahun ke tahun kepada RM5.36 bilion daripada RM5.14 bilion, didorong oleh pendapatan berasaskan dana bersih yang berasaskan pendapatan yang dibantu oleh pertumbuhan pinjaman merentas semua pasaran induk yang diterajui oleh Indonesia.

Perniagaan perbankan Islam kumpulan juga terus berkembang kukuh, dengan keuntungan sebelum cukai menokok sebanyak 10.2 peratus kepada rekod RM3.03 bilion di sebalik kenaikan 11.3 peratus dalam jumlah pendapatan yang teguh.

Pembiayaan dan pendahuluan melonjak 6.7 peratus manakala Akaun Deposit dan Pelaburan menyaksikan kenaikan 10.8 peratus.

Maybank Islamic mengekalkan prestasi yang kukuh, dengan pembiayaan kasar meningkat kepada RM176.8 bilion.

Pihak bank berkata perniagaan Etiqa Insurance & Takaful mencatat peningkatan 16.6 peratus dalam premium kasar yang dirangsang oleh kenaikan sebanyak 16.5 peratus dalam premium Insurans Hayat/Keluarga dan 16.9 peratus pertambahan jumlah premium am, bagaimanapun, keuntungan sebelum cukai menurun 18.6 peratus kepada RM825.0 juta.

Sementara itu, Presiden Kumpulan dan Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Datuk Abdul Farid Alias berkata, kumpulan terus mendapat manfaat daripada kekuatan francaisnya di rantau ini serta asas kukuhnya, yang memberikan keupayaan untuk menempuhi tahun yang mencabar.

“Kami tetap mengambil langkah berjaga-jaga terhadap persekitaran operasi global berikutan kebimbangan geopolitik yang berterusan serta ketidakstabilan harga komoditi, walaupun kami menjangkakan kestabilan yang lebih baik dalam pasaran domestik selepas pengambilan langkah-langkah untuk memastikan pertumbuhan yang lebih mampan.

“Kami percaya kami dapat memanfaatkan peluang-peluang perniagaan di ASEAN di mana ekonomi akan menunjukkan pertumbuhan yang bermutu, pada masa yang sama mendapat manfaat dari tumpuan dalam aspek pendigitalan yang akan membantu kami mencapai kecekapan yang lebih baik dan memacu perkembangan baharu dalam meningkatkan pengalaman pelanggan,” katanya.

Sumber BERNAMA

Five emerging technologies that will change the MRO industry

The area of aircraft maintenance has moved quite slow compared to the speed of technological developments. While technology has been embraced to better detect damaged parts or optimise repairs processes, aircraft maintenance is still overwhelming human and dependent on touch maintenance. Five new technologies being explored today, though, threaten a paradigm shift in the industry.

The MRO industry, still almost excessively dependent on human labour and roughly a decade behind industries like the pharmaceutical industry and medical devices in terms of technology adoption may be undergoing a shakeup.

Five new technologies show promise of completely changing the way the industry operates, spurring a potential shift from human touch to human-led.

By this we mean, new hardware and software advances have opened the door to automation. This is not to say robots will be replacing mechanics, but they’ll likely be heavily aiding them. This has the potential to reduce MRO costs for aircraft operators and lessors.

3D-printing is gaining popularity across the world but a series of obstacles remain: These are the five biggest challenges with additive manufacturing.

At MRO Europe 2018, a number of experts got together to discuss the latest and greatest in disruptive technologies that could reshape MRO as we know it, and the challenges that innovation can bring. We had the pleasure of joining the conversation. Here’s what we heard.

Robotics is on the rise among MROs

Robotics was a hot topic at this year’s MRO Europe 2018. In fact, all panellists at the New Technology in MRO session said their organisations are pursuing robotics in one way or another. When we think about robots, it’s often veiled in the fear that robots will make our jobs irrelevant. At the moment, this couldn’t be further from the truth.

More often than not, robots simply aid labours with routine or precision-oriented tasks. They can even be used to take on labour-intensive work that could pose a safety risk for humans.

While not appropriate for all applications, robots have a number of potential uses for achieving greater efficiencies in the MRO world. This is particularly critical now, as skilled labour is in short supply in the industry and labour costs are climbing.

»We’re looking at how robotics can help us improve efficiency. Labour costs are rising rapidly, so we basically want to see how we can automate and use robotics to improve efficiency and do better,« says Goh Poh Loh, Executive Vice President at Singapore Technologies Aerospace Ltd, of the use of robotics in his company.

We’re seeing robotics applied to everything from single parts repairs and carbon fibre machining to intricate inspection tasks through miniaturization, whereby robots can be used for the inspection of components that are otherwise difficult for humans to gain access to.

There are some robotics solutions in the pipeline that are sure to be future game changers, namely Rolls-Royce’s “swarm” robots. These 1-cm-long robots would be designed to crawl through engines, capturing images and sending them back to technicians for diagnostics. They’re the first step in Roll-Royce’s ambition to develop a series of miniature robots that could remove and replace defective components.

While definitely inspiring, such a solution is far off from being realisable, and can generally be seen as the exception, rather than the norm, of how robotics is being used and talked about in MRO today. For the most part, robotics are being discussed as valuable for automation of inspection tasks and restricted to less critical aircraft systems. While new applications are certainly on the horizon, it may be a while before we see them.

Robotics are an upcoming mro technology that will change the aviation industry.

Drones in the Sky

Drones were, once again, another hot topic. Often spoken about in the same vein as robotics, drones are being used today for applications, such as remote plane inspection.

EasyJet and Thomas Cook Airlines, for example, make use of the RAPID (Remote Automated Plane Inspection and Dissemination) system, an autonomous drone for inspection of the exteriors of planes.

Facing similar friction as robotics in general, drones are seen as a handy tool, but there is still an overwhelming scepticism in the industry with regard to further applications. It’s widely agreed upon in the industry, however, that despite scepticism, progression seems inevitable.

The slow rate of adoption, when compared to other industries, is not exactly due to a lack of availability or opportunities – drones have become increasingly available at more affordable price tags.

Instead, the sentiment seems to be that the use of drones, or robotics for that matter – not particularly flexible or suited for process adaptation at this moment – would be a risky move, or at the very least prove inefficient, as line maintenance might need to check up on their work.

On top of this, you have the bad press that drones have been receiving because of legislative crackdowns and negative uses of the technology. So maybe robots and drones won’t be running the maintenance game anytime soon, but all evidence points to its increased prevalence.

How do you foster an innovative environment? Join a group of aviation executives as they discuss their strategies.

Additive manufacturing is gaining ground

Another widely discussed topic, being pursued already is additive manufacturing (AM), which refers to the use of computer-aided-design (CAD) software or 3D object scanners to create 3D printed goods.

For MROs, AM means the ability to seamlessly print replacement parts that are strong, durable, lightweight and quick as well as inexpensive to create – not to mention, they dramatically reduce inventory costs for maintenance providers.

As the name implies, AM involves adding material in layers to create an object. This process, as opposed to traditional manufacturing, which involves carving or shaping the final object, lends itself to less scrap or waste in the process.

A true revolution, additive manufacturing is being used by most of the larger MRO providers these days, but not to its fullest potential. For now, AM is being used on the less crucial components – such as cabin components – and is yet to be used on the more important structural components.

For that, OEMs are still generally relied on, although this is changing. Companies such as Lufthansa Technik and Air France Industries KLM Engineering and Maintenance are pursuing metal printing to apply AM to a wider variety of components.

With in-service feedback capabilities, AM parts can be continuously improved, as new specifications can be input with ease at the next printing. This inexpensive iteration definitely ups the likelihood that AM parts will quickly become competitive and have a high likelihood of reshaping the way aircraft components are manufactured in the long run.

What are the opportunities and risks associated with additive manufacturing? Find out in this article.

3D object scanners is a new mro technology in the aviation industry.

Analytics, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning

Another big point of conversation in MRO is data analytics, leading itself to developments in artificial intelligence as well as machine learning. While it’s a bit flashier to talk about robotics changing MRO, it would perhaps be more accurate to say that it is developments in data collection, analysis and implantation through machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI).

The above-cited issue with robotics – difficulties in dealing with variable tasks – is something that we’re already beginning to see MROs overcome. This is happening through advances in machine learning, powered by mass data that machines learn to recognise patterns in – essentially turning variable into predictable.

With major increases in the availability of data, pulling from the abundance of sensors present on modern aircraft and better data routers, it can be said that we’re currently sitting with the building blocks to better processes. What is needed, though, is a way to put this data into play, to analyse it and make predictions that can effectively take the variability out of processes. This is what these advances will offer the industry.

A good example of these applications can be seen in the rise of predictive maintenance. Predictive maintenance, or the use of sensor data and maintenance logs to predict maintenance needs in advance, is already helping a number of airlines and their maintenance providers better anticipate component failure and reduce unexpected maintenance.

According to Goh Poh Loh, Executive Vice President at Singapore Technologies Aerospace Ltd, these advances may mean the ability for MRO providers to keep their competitive positions in an industry where they’re increasingly being squeezed out.

From reactive to proactive. The supply chain is changing - discover how to keep up in this article.

Intelligent Machines

What happens when you start combining the above-mentioned technologies? You get intelligent machines.

Intelligent machines can be as simple as common tools made smarter by adding a Wi-Fi connection. An example of this could be the Wi-Fi connected torque wrench, that when used in conjunction with GE tested smart glasses can instruct mechanics of the correct amount of torque to apply.

Where intelligent machines really get interesting, though, is when machine learning is combined with advanced robotics. Such an example is Lufthansa Technik’s enhanced mechanical arms.

Complete with added sensors and wireless communications, these intelligent machines have the potential to bring about human-robot collaboration, by enabling robots to respond to vocal or image-based commands.

Is it possible to predict unforeseen events? PHM-solutions are on the rise and it could have a profound impact on the aircraft maintenance business.

Sources : Satair is a world leading provider of aftermarket services

BNM: M'sian Economy To Experience Moderate Growth In 2019

PHOTO: BERNAMA

ECONOMY | The Malaysian economy will continue to experience moderate growth this year, supported mainly by external demand and resilience in private consumption among others, says Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) governor Datuk Nor Shamsiah Mohd Yunus.

She said exports, which rose to RM836.4 billion in 2018 from RM807 billion recorded in 2017, would also continue to be the growth driver for 2019.

However, she acknowledged the downside risks the country faced, namely uncertainty coming from the ongoing trade tensions between the US and China, the impact of US tax cuts and also from the European Union.

Nor Shamsiah told reporters this after announcing Malaysia’s 2018 full year gross domestic product and fourth quarter results here today.

BERNAMA

Terbitan Nota Senior AS$300 Juta RHB Bank Terlebih Langgan Lebih 6 Kali

FOTO KREDIT: CustomerServiceDirectory

PERBANKAN | Terbitan nota tidak bercagar senior lima tahun dalam nilai nomina AS$300 juta (AS$1=RM4.06) RHB Bank Bhd yang dilancarkan pada Selasa, terlebih langganan lebih enam kali.

Dalam kenyataan pada 13 FEB 2019, bank itu berkata nilai perolehan pada panduan harga akhir melebihi AS$1.8 bilion, menandakan paras terlebih langgan sebanyak lebih enam kali menerusi 114 akaun.

"Permintaan yang kukuh itu membolehkan RHB Bank mengetatkan panduan kepada 128 mata asas berbanding Perbendaharaan AS lima tahun pada pulangan 3.766 peratus setahun, yang mewakili sebaran kredit paling ketat dalam terbitan Asia Tenggara/Asia Selatan pada 2019," katanya.

Menurut bank itu, nota tidak bercagar senior - yang diberikan penarafan A3 oleh Moody's Investors Service Inc - adalah terbitan ketiga program nota jangka sederhana RM5 bilion euro yang dilaksanakan pada 23 September 2014.

Ia juga adalah terbitan penanda aras awam dolar AS pertama oleh institusi kewangan Malaysia sejak April 2017.

"Terbitan itu dijangka selesai pada 19 Februari 2019 dan akan disenaraikan di Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Ltd dan Labuan International Financial Exchange Inc," katanya dan menambah keuntungan daripada terbitan itu akan digunakan oleh RHB Bank untuk tujuan modal kerja am.

SUMBER: BERNAMA

RESEARCHERS: Blue Light From Phones And Tablets Can Speed Up Blindness

PHOTO CREDIT: emaze.com

It's best not to stare at your phone screens in the dark

Researchers from the University of Toledo say long periods of time exposed to blue light, the kind phones, tablets and televisions give off, can damage vision and generate poisonous molecules in the eye's light-sensitive cells.

The researchers suggest this could accelerate macular degeneration and other eye diseases.

Their findings were published on July 5 in Scientific Reports.

In the study, the researchers exposed living cells to various types of light. They found that exposure to blue light triggers "reactions that generate poisonous chemical molecules in photoreceptor cells," the cells in our retina that respond to light.

The group was aiming to understand how cells respond to everyday blue light exposure from devices like phones and TVs, according to a release.

"If you look at the amount of light coming out of your cell phone, it's not great but it seems tolerable," said Dr. Payton in a release.

"Some cell phone companies are adding blue-light filters to the screens, and I think that is a good idea."

Eye disease such as macular degeneration is caused by the deterioration of light-sensitive cells in the retina.

This disease is age-related and can cause blindness. Currently, 11 million people in the US have some sort of macular degeneration, according to a report published on Brightfocus Foundation, a nonprofit organization that supports research. The patient number will likely double by 2050.

Dr. Ajith Karunarathne, one of the researchers and an assistant professor at the University of Toledo, told the Guardian that people should wear sunglasses that can filter both UV and blue light outside and avoid browsing on smartphones, laptops and similar gadgets in the dark.

Some other options to protect your eyes include wearing glasses with amber or orange-colored lenses that can block out blue light.

Dr. Karunarathne didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

SOURCE: CNET NEWS

Malindo Air Bakal Buka Laluan Baharu Ke Kota Bharu, Langkawi dari LTAM

FOTO: World Airline News

INFO PENERBANGAN: Syarikat penerbangan Malindo Air dijangka memulakan dua laluan baharu ke Kota Bharu, Kelantan dan Langkawi, Kedah dari Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Melaka (LTAM) di Batu Berendam di sini 1 Mac depan.

Exco Kerja Raya, Pengangkutan dan Kemudahan Awam Melaka, Datuk Mohd Sofi Abdul Wahab, berkata penerbangan dua hala itu akan beroperasi tiga kali seminggu iaitu pada Rabu, Jumaat dan Ahad.

Beliau berkata, inisiatif Malindo Air itu dilihat dapat membantu kerajaan negeri meningkatkan industri pelancongan Melaka sekali gus menarik lebih ramai pelancong dari dalam dan luar negara ke negeri bersejarah itu sempena Tahun Melawat Melaka 2019.

"Berita ini disahkan pihak pengurusan Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) dan Malindo Air di LTAM dan ia amat ditunggu-tunggu rakyat Melaka dan orang awam yang ingin ke destinasi itu dengan mudah serta menjimatkan masa," katanya dalam sidang media, di sini semalam.

Sebelum ini Malindo Air pernah menawarkan laluan ke Kota Bharu dari LTAM namun ia dihentikan kerana syarikat itu kekurangan pesawat dan sehingga kini, Malindo Air menawarkan penerbangan ke Pekan Baru, Indonesia dan Pulau Pinang dari LTAM.

Mengulas lanjut, Mohd Sofi berkata, masa penerbangan bagi laluan dari Kota Bharu ke Melaka ialah 11.55 pagi dan Melaka ke Kota Bharu pada 1.50 petang manakala dari Langkawi ke Melaka pada 12.05 tengah hari dan Melaka ke Langkawi pada 2.05 petang.

Beliau berkata, penambahan laluan oleh Malindo Air menerusi LTAM dilihat sebagai langkah positif menarik lebih banyak syarikat penerbangan untuk beroperasi di lapangan terbang itu dan kerajaan negeri menyediakan pelbagai insentif untuk mereka sebagai galakan dan komitmen yang diberikan.

"Selepas ini, kita berharap Air Asia dapat membuka sekurang-kurangnya satu laluan berpotensi antaranya ke Langkawi, Pulau Pinang, Pekan Baru dan Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei dari LTAM selewat-lewatnya pada suku ketiga tahun ini," katanya.

Beliau berkata, kerajaan negeri memerlukan komitmen dan kerjasama berterusan daripada pelbagai pihak terutama pemain industri pelancongan di Melaka untuk menarik kedatangan pelancong menerusi sektor penerbangan yang ditawarkan di LTAM.

SUMBER: BERNAMA

Apple Thanks Saudi For Detecting Security Flaw

Photo: ARAB NEWS

- Apple thanked the Saudi, on its website, included her name in a list of contributors to its system.

- Al-Harbi is a PhD candidate at the computer science department of the University of California

JEDDAH: Fatima Al-Harbi has attracted Saudi and global attention for discovering a security flaw in the most powerful security systems of Apple, Microsoft and Linux.

Apple thanked her and, on its website, included her name in a list of contributors to its system.

Al-Harbi, who was born and raised in Jeddah, is a PhD candidate at the computer science department of the University of California, Riverside.

“I’m also a lecturer at the College of Computer Science and Engineering at Taibah University, Yanbu, Saudi Arabia,” she told Arab News.

Al-Harbi holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s in computer science from King Abdulaziz University and California State University, respectively.

She became interested in cybersecurity during her undergraduate studies. “I took a security course that was instructed by Prof. Omaimah Bamasak, who delivered the subject in a very interesting way,” Al-Harbi said.

“This influenced my decision to work in the field of cybersecurity, and specifically in information and network security.”

Speaking of her discovery of the security flaw, Al-Harbi said: “I contacted Apple, informed them about the vulnerability in the system, and shared with them all the technical details and code.”

She added: “The company contacted me immediately and informed me that they’ll release a new update for all Apple devices. They then asked for my permission to add my name to the recognition list. Of course, with pride, I agreed and thanked them for that.”

She said: “The problem I found enables any hacker to force the browser to visit a hacker-controlled site, making the victim believe it’s a safe site.”

She added: “The victim types his or her personal login information, which the hacker will input in his database to use and take advantage of later.”

Al-Harbi said she focuses on the detection and analysis of weaknesses or defects in security networks.

“I have a good understanding of computer systems, both their design and implementation, including operating systems, software, network protocols and their interactions.

Recently, I’ve been passionate about building systems that will have a long-term impact,” she added.

SOURCE: ARAB NEWS

RM88 Off Hotels And Activities With AirAsia Promo Code

Photo: THE STAR

AirAsia BIG is offering instant RM88 off bookings for hotels and activities by BIG members on the newly revamped AirAsia BIG app on Jan 30-Feb 1.

Using the promo code BIGCNY88, BIG Members will enjoy:

Instant RM88 off a minimum purchase of RM300 via "Hotels" on the AirAsia BIG app.

Instant RM88 off a minimum purchase of RM300 via "Activities" on the AirAsia BIG app.

“This is part of our effort to continuously promote and educate BIG members that they can now do more than just redeem AirAsia flights on the AirAsia BIG app.

"The app now allows BIG members to book flights on AirAsia and other airlines via ‘Book Flights’, hotel stays via ‘Hotels’, tour and travel activities via ‘Activities’, purchase duty-free products via OURSHOP or even everyday lifestyle deals via ‘BIG Deals’," says AirAsia BIG chief executive officer Spencer Lee.

Download the AirAsia BIG app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. For more information on the mobile app plus other offers, follow AirAsia BIG on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

SOURCE: THE STAR

CUACA EKSTREM: Padang Pasir Di Arab Saudi Bertukar Jadi Sungai

Foto Sumber; Sound Strange

Cuaca di beberapa bahagian dunia menunjukkan fenomena 'pelik' dan jarang berlaku. Ketika ini (30 JAN) beberapa bahagian di Amerika Syarikat berhadapan cuaca sejuk mengatasi Antartika manakala di Australia dan New Zealand sedang berhadapan cuaca panas melampau sehingga menceceh 50 darjah celsius.

Sementara itu di negara padang pasir Arab Saudi, media melaporkan berlakunya hujan lebat dan ribut pasir sehingga menyebabkan berlakunya banjir.

JEDDAH: Hujan lebat dan ribut pasir di Arab Saudi menyebabkan bencana banjir, penutupan sekolah dan penglihatan tahap rendah, kata pihak berkuasa semalam sambil menggesa orang ramai mengambil langkah berjaga-jaga semasa cuaca buruk itu berlaku.

Portal media Arab Saudi, Arabnews melaporkan hujan melanda di bahagian utara dan barat negara itu kelmarin dan semalam, sementara ribut pasir melanda kawasan utama yang padat dengan penduduk.

Foto Sumber: Sound Strange

Katanya, beberapa sekolah di Tabuk, Arar dan Al-Jawf terpaksa ditutup susulan banjir dan tahap penglihatan yang rendah di Riyadh serta tempat lain.

“Riyadh, Makkah, wilayah sempadan utara, Hail, Tabuk, Qassim, Madinah, wilayah timur, Asir, Jazan dan Al-Jawf sedang mengalami cuaca yang tidak stabil.

“Direktorat Pertahanan Awam meminta penduduk supaya tidak membahayakan diri dan keluarga dengan mengunjungi lembah-lembah dan kawasan merbahaya,” kata jurucakap Pertahanan Awam, Mejar Mohammed Al-Hammadi yang memberitahu Arab News.

Sementara itu, pihak di Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Raja Abdulaziz, dekat sini menggesa penumpang memeriksa jadual penerbangan yang dijangka mengalami kelewatan atau dibatalkan.

Pihak Berkuasa Umum bagi Meteorologi dan Perlindungan Alam Sekitar meramalkan hujan di bahagian utara dan barat sementara ribut pasir atau angin berdebu di beberapa bahagian di Arab Saudi.

Semantara itu, Pertahanan Awam berkata, ia menyelamatkan 65 orang di Tabuk dan Al-Jouf serta 37 orang di Duba selain memberi nasihat kepada pemandu supaya berhati-hati dan mengambil langkah maksimum.

Pihak Berkuasa Awam Meteorologi dan Perlindungan Alam Sekitar meramalkan hujan di kawasan utara dan barat dengan ribut pasir atau angin debu di beberapa bahagian pentadbiran diraja.

Ribut petir dijangka berlaku diikuti angin kencang dan debu, mengurangkan jarak penglihatan di Riyadh dan Rantau Timur selain menyebabkan suhu lebih rendah.

Di Makkah, angin dengan kelajuan 37 kilometer sejam diramalkan sementara di sini kelajuan angin mungkin mencapai 50 km/jam. Cuaca berjerebu berlaku awal semalam di Al-Jawf, Sempadan Utara, Hail, Qassim dan Rantau Timur. -

RIYADH: Sekurang-kurangnya 12 orang terbunuh akibat banjir selepas hujan lebat melanda bahagian utara Arab Saudi sepanjang minggu ini, kata agensi pertahanan awam hari ini.

Seramai 10 orang maut di bandar barat laut Tabuk dan masing-masing satu di Madinah dan di kawasan sempadan utara, kata agensi itu dalam satu kenyataan yang dipetik agensi berita rasmi SPA.

Di antara Ahad dan Rabu, agensi itu menyelamatkan 271 orang dari kawasan banjir, lebih separuh daripadanya di Tabuk, kata kenyataan itu.

Berikut adalah gambar dimuat naik di Twitter ARAB NEWS