Medical insurance companies in Saudi Arabia said they have not yet received any instruction from the Health Ministry to provide insurance coverage to patients suffering from the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).
The deadly coronavirus has infected 339 people, including expats, and has claimed 102 lives in the Kingdom.
However, a senior insurance executive, who requested anonymity, said that medical insurance companies are liable to providing insurance coverage to conditions such as MERS, dengue and swine flu as long as the government does not declare them epidemics.
“Any health condition that does not fall under policy exclusions and exceptions is covered as per policy terms, conditions and limits,” he told Arab News. He said the government has not yet declared MERS as epidemic and life in the Kingdom goes normal.
Another executive from a prominent insurance company told Arab News that they are awaiting instructions from the Health Ministry on dealing with MERS cases. “We have not reached at a clear-cut policy on this matter and we are waiting for government instructions,” he said.
“Transferring advanced cases to government hospitals such as King Fahd Hospital and King Abdul Aziz University Hospital in Jeddah may not always be possible if the cases have progressed considerably,” he said.
“It may be true that some hospitals have asked for a SR10,000 guarantee from patients since many are unsure as to whether insurance companies would cover such cases,” he said.
Insurance companies usually wait for government directive to deal with cases like MERS, he said.
Meanwhile, a senior executive at a Jeddah polyclinic told Arab News that his management has decided to transfer suspected MERS cases to the King Fahd and King Abdul Aziz hospitals.
However, he said the clinic would provide treatment for MERS symptoms such as cough, fever and pneumonia as long as they are covered by medical insurance.
The deadly coronavirus has infected 339 people, including expats, and has claimed 102 lives in the Kingdom.
However, a senior insurance executive, who requested anonymity, said that medical insurance companies are liable to providing insurance coverage to conditions such as MERS, dengue and swine flu as long as the government does not declare them epidemics.
“Any health condition that does not fall under policy exclusions and exceptions is covered as per policy terms, conditions and limits,” he told Arab News. He said the government has not yet declared MERS as epidemic and life in the Kingdom goes normal.
Another executive from a prominent insurance company told Arab News that they are awaiting instructions from the Health Ministry on dealing with MERS cases. “We have not reached at a clear-cut policy on this matter and we are waiting for government instructions,” he said.
“Transferring advanced cases to government hospitals such as King Fahd Hospital and King Abdul Aziz University Hospital in Jeddah may not always be possible if the cases have progressed considerably,” he said.
“It may be true that some hospitals have asked for a SR10,000 guarantee from patients since many are unsure as to whether insurance companies would cover such cases,” he said.
Insurance companies usually wait for government directive to deal with cases like MERS, he said.
Meanwhile, a senior executive at a Jeddah polyclinic told Arab News that his management has decided to transfer suspected MERS cases to the King Fahd and King Abdul Aziz hospitals.
However, he said the clinic would provide treatment for MERS symptoms such as cough, fever and pneumonia as long as they are covered by medical insurance.
Crown Prince Salman to witness largest military exercise:
Crown Prince Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense, arrived in Hafr Al-Baten on Monday to witness the conclusion of the largest military exercise in the Kingdom’s history, titled Saif Abdullah.
He was greeted on arrival by Eastern Province Gov. Prince Saud bin Naif and other senior civilian and military officers.
Tens of thousands of soldiers, backed by military jets, helicopters and ships as well as tankers and anti-missile systems, are participating in the maneuvers that aim at strengthening the Saudi armed forces’ fighting capabilities.
Meanwhile, King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa of Bahrain, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahayan, crown prince of Abu Dhabi and deputy commander of UAE armed forces, Sheikh Khaled Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah, Kuwaiti deputy premier and defense minister, and Pakistani army commander Gen. Raheel Sharif have arrived in Hafr Al-Baten to witness the event.
The Council of Ministers, chaired by Crown Prince Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense, set up a special committee at the Interior Ministry on Monday to supervise the transfer of convicted prisoners.
Culture and Information Minister Abdul Aziz Khoja said the committee would include representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Interior and the Bureau of Investigation and Prosecution.
The committee will take measures to enforce the obligations contained in bilateral and multilateral treaties and agreements on the transfer of persons sentenced to freedom deprivation punishments.
“It will receive and study requests for the transfer convicted prisoners and take action,” Khoja said. It will also coordinate with agencies inside and outside the Kingdom with regards prisoner transfer.
The Cabinet meeting also urged the international community to take effective steps to deliver relief supplies among injured and displaced Syrian people. It said the Syrian regime was challenging the global will.
The Cabinet reiterated that the national campaign for the support of Syrians is the only authorized agency to deliver aid. “The campaign continues to receive donations in cash and kind and implement its activities and programs.”
The Cabinet welcomed the reconciliation agreement between the Palestinian Liberation Organization and Hamas, adding that the accord was based on the Makkah Agreement.
“We hope this will be an important step toward strengthening the Palestinian national unity,” he said.
The Cabinet congratulated Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah on the ninth anniversary of his assumption of power.
The Cabinet stressed that the developmental projects that have been implemented across the Kingdom during the part nine years reflect the king’s care and concern for his people and his desire to boost the Kingdom’s prosperity.
The Cabinet approved the restructuring of labor courts and the Labor Ministry’s branch offices and labor offices. The meeting authorized the defense minister to hold talks with the Romanian side to sign a draft agreement for defense cooperation. It authorized the signing of agreements with Gambia and Comoros for cooperation.
The Cabinet approved the amended Unified Agreement for the Investment of Arab Capital in the Arab States. It appointed six new members on to the Public Education Assessment Commission for 3 years.
They are Dr. Fahd bin Suleiman Al-Shaya, Dr. Ibrahim bin Mubarak Al-Dossari; Dr. Mohammed bin Shahat Al-Khatib; Dr. Ahmed Saeed Al-Afandi; Dr. Iqbal bint Zine Al-Abidine Drandri and Abdullah bin Abdul Rahman Al-Obeikan.
The Cabinet appointed Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al-Sadhan civil engineering consultant at Royal Saudi Naval Forces; Abdul Rahman bin Sulaiman Al-Gharir director general of financial affairs at Medical Services of the Armed Forces; Abdullah bin Hajaj Al-Mutairi minister plenipotentiary at the Foreign Ministry; Mohammed bin Abdul Aziz Al-Bawardi and Abdul Aziz bin Abdul Rahman Al-Suhaibani regular experts at Bureau of Experts of the Cabinet.
Israel risks becoming ‘apartheid’ state: Kerry:
WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State John Kerry told a group of senior international officials that Israel risks becoming an “apartheid” state if it does not make peace soon, a US news website reported.
Kerry made the controversial remarks at a closed-door meeting of the influential Trilateral Commission on Friday, The Daily Beast news website reported Sunday.
The Daily Beast said a source at the gathering provided them with a recording of Kerry’s remarks.
“A two-state solution will be clearly underscored as the only real alternative. Because a unitary state winds up either being an apartheid state with second class citizens — or it ends up being a state that destroys the capacity of Israel to be a Jewish state,” Kerry said, according to The Daily Beast.
“Once you put that frame in your mind, that reality, which is the bottom line, you understand how imperative it is to get to the two state solution, which both leaders, even (Thursday), said they remain deeply committed to,” he reportedly said.
The online publication said that US, Western European, Russian, and Japanese senior officials and experts were at the event.
The term “apartheid” is a reference to South Africa’s 1948-1994 oppressive and racially segregated social system. While both Kerry and President Barack Obama have refrained from using the term when speaking of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, former president Jimmy Carter (1977-1981) titled a 2006 book that he wrote on the subject “Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid.”
Kerry also insisted that the peace process was not dead.
“The reports of the demise of the peace process have consistently been misunderstood and misreported. And even we are now getting to the moment of obvious confrontation and hiatus, but I would far from declare it dead,” Kerry said, according to the news website.
Kingdom to co-chair Yemen donors’ meeting in London:
Saudi Arabia, Yemen and the United Kingdom will co-chair the “Friends of Yemen” conference in London on Tuesday in an effort to garner financial support to alleviate the suffering of the Yemeni people.
This London conference is expected to endorse an ambitious proposal for a restructured “Friends of Yemen” group, which can provide more targeted support for the impoverished nation.
“Senior Saudi officials, led by Prince Turki bin åMohammed bin Saud Al-Kabeer, deputy foreign minister for multilateral relations, will attend the meeting in London,” said Osama Nugali, spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on Monday.
A statement issued by the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office, said “the meeting, co-chaired by three countries, will be held at the level of foreign ministers.”
The statement said the conference will be launched by UK Foreign Secretary William Hague.
“It will then be jointly chaired by UK Minister for the Middle East Hugh Robertson, International Development Minister Alan Duncan, Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister for Economic and Cultural Affairs Yusuf Al-Sadoun and Yemeni Foreign Minister Abu Bakr Al-Qirbi,” said the FCO statement.
Presentations at the conference will also be made by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) the UN and Yemen to unify efforts and to realize donors’ pledges.
The conference will discuss three key themes of policy, economy, and security to enable participating countries to become acquainted with the latest developments in Yemen.
The London meeting is significant keeping in view the UN warning about the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, which comes ahead of the gathering of international donors.
According to Johannes van Der Klaauw, the UNHCR’s senior resettlement coordinator in Yemen, the situation in Yemen is deteriorating on all fronts.
“Yemen is in need of about $592 million as an emergency humanitarian fund to respond to the humanitarian crisis,” he said.
He said that nearly half of Yemen’s population is in pressing need of humanitarian aid.
About 13 million Yemenis are unable to access clean and safe drinking water and adequate sanitation, while about 10 million Yemenis don’t have enough food.
Der Klaauw also said that more than one million children in Yemen are suffering from malnutrition and food insecurity.
The Friends of Yemen group was established in January 2010. The group consists of 39 countries, as well as regional and international organizations. Major member organizations are the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), the Arab League, the European Union (EU), the United Nations (UN), the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), the Islamic Development Bank (IDB), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank, the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) and the Organization of Petroleum-Exporting Countries (OPEC).
Egypt court sentences 683 to death in mass trial:
MINYA, Egypt: A judge in Egypt sentenced to death 683 alleged supporters of the country’s ousted Islamist president on Monday over acts of violence and the murder of policemen in the latest mass trial in Egypt that included the Muslim Brotherhood’s spiritual leader, defense lawyers said.
Under the law, Monday’s verdicts in the southern city of Minya have to be referred to Egypt’s Grand Mufti, the top Islamic official, said one of the attorneys, Ahmed Hefni.
Such a move is usually considered a formality but the same judge in the trial on Monday also reversed most of the death sentences out of 529 that were passed in a similar case in March, and commuted the majority of them to life imprisonment.
Monday’s case is linked to deadly riots that erupted in Minya and elsewhere in Egypt after security forces violently disbanded sit-ins held by Brotherhood supporters in Cairo last August.
Hundreds were killed as part of a sweeping campaign against supporters of ousted President Muhammad Mursi, who was removed by the military last July.
Among those convicted and sentenced to death on Monday was Mohamed Badie, the Brotherhood’s spiritual guide. If his sentence is confirmed, it would make him the most senior figure in the Brotherhood to be sentenced to death since one of the group’s leading ideologues, Sayed Qutb, was executed in 1966.
After Mufti’s decision, the same court will hold another session on June 21 to issue the final verdicts.
Monday’s stunning decision sparked an outcry among families of the defendants, with women fainting and relatives wailing and crying out “Why? This is unfair!“
“My three sons are inside,” said a woman outside the court who only gave her first name, Samiya, as she screamed in grief. “I have no one but God.”
Another lawyer, Ali Kamal, said the hearing lasted only eight minutes.
Security forces surrounded the court building and blocked roads, preventing families and media from attending the proceedings.
“This is against the spirit of the law. The verdicts will be easily appealed,” Kamal told reporters.
The same judge, Said Youssef, last month sentenced 529 Mursi supporters to death but on Monday commuted the sentences of all but 37 defendants. The remaining 490 were given life sentences.
At the time, those rulings brought heavy international criticism from the United Nations, United States and European Union.
Amnesty International called them “grotesque” and Egyptian rights groups were stunned at the swift verdicts, passed after only one hearing — and without defense presenting its case.
Egypt’s interim, military-backed government has branded the Brotherhood a terrorist group, a claim it denies.
Some 16,000 people have been arrested since the military ousted Mursi last July, including most of the group’s top leaders. Large numbers of pro-Mursi protesters have also been rounded up and detained by police.
Companies giving Saudis pay hikes awarded SR1.5bn shot:
The Labor Ministry gave SR1.5 billion to 88,000 private companies in 2013 to compensate for salary increments among their Saudi employees, said Labor Minister Adel Fakeih in a message on his Twitter account.
He said 88,000 firms deserved the compensation, adding that 70 percent of the amount went to small and medium-sized enterprises.
An official from the Human Resource Development Fund disclosed his organization’s plan to provide an allowance up to SR24,000 for new job seekers, adding that the amount would be given in four installments within a maximum of 24 months.
Meanwhile, the Labor and Interior Ministries continued their joint campaign to track down violators of labor and residency regulations and create more job opportunities for Saudis.
The Interior Ministry said it has already deported 427,000 illegal foreign workers to their respective countries during the past six months.
“We will not show any leniency toward those who do not abide by the Kingdom’s regulatioins,” said a ministry official.
According to statistics issued by the Command and Control Center, 12,635 violators still await completion of official procedures for deportation.
Lt. Col. Ahmed Al-Laheedan, spokesman of the Passport Department, said procedures for the deportation of labor and residency rule violators would not take more than one day.
US offers help for Gulf-wide missile defense capability:
ABU DHABI: A senior US official signaled optimism on Sunday about a possible resolution of the Iranian nuclear dispute but said Washington remained concerned that Iran’s ballistic missiles threatened Gulf Arab states.
Frank Rose, US deputy assistant secretary of state for space and defense policy, said Washington was “acutely” aware of Gulf states’ anxieties about Iran and wanted to help them launch a Gulf-wide coordinated missile defense capability.
“We are optimistic that we’ll have a successful resolution of the Iran nuclear issue ... but that doesn’t downgrade our concern about Iran’s other bad behaviors, specifically their support for terrorism as well as their continued development of ballistic missile capabilities,” Rose told reporters on the sidelines of a conference in Abu Dhabi on missiles and defense.
“As long as Iran continues to develop ballistic missiles that can threaten the US or deployed forces and our friends and allies in the region, we will work effectively with our partners here in the UAE as well as the rest of the Gulf to defend against that threat.”
Iran has one of the biggest missile programs in the Middle East, viewing it as an essential precautionary defense against the United States and other adversaries such as Israel. The United States and its allies fret that such missiles could potentially carry nuclear warheads.
Khaled Al-Bu Ainnain, a former commander of UAE Air Force and Air Defense, said Gulf states must improve their anti-missile capabilities.
“Today if there’s a cruise missile passing through Qatar and going to Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, how to share this information with neighboring countries? There has to be central operating procedures ... We don’t have that,” Bu Ainnain said.
Frank Rose, US deputy assistant secretary of state for space and defense policy, said Washington was “acutely” aware of Gulf states’ anxieties about Iran and wanted to help them launch a Gulf-wide coordinated missile defense capability.
“We are optimistic that we’ll have a successful resolution of the Iran nuclear issue ... but that doesn’t downgrade our concern about Iran’s other bad behaviors, specifically their support for terrorism as well as their continued development of ballistic missile capabilities,” Rose told reporters on the sidelines of a conference in Abu Dhabi on missiles and defense.
“As long as Iran continues to develop ballistic missiles that can threaten the US or deployed forces and our friends and allies in the region, we will work effectively with our partners here in the UAE as well as the rest of the Gulf to defend against that threat.”
Iran has one of the biggest missile programs in the Middle East, viewing it as an essential precautionary defense against the United States and other adversaries such as Israel. The United States and its allies fret that such missiles could potentially carry nuclear warheads.
Khaled Al-Bu Ainnain, a former commander of UAE Air Force and Air Defense, said Gulf states must improve their anti-missile capabilities.
“Today if there’s a cruise missile passing through Qatar and going to Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, how to share this information with neighboring countries? There has to be central operating procedures ... We don’t have that,” Bu Ainnain said.
Turnover trend among Saudi staff ‘on the rise’:
The study of employers and employees across the Kingdom has also surfaced some key disparities between what both rate as important when it comes to attracting and retaining employees.
“The findings are a clear wake-up call for employers of Saudi men and women,” said the head of Mercer’s business in Saudi Arabia, Tom O’Byrne.
“Employers who don’t prepare their workforce, their HR programs and their policies to better reflect and accommodate the Saudi workforce of today and tomorrow, will end up paying a high price.”
Mercer’s team of Saudi consultants helped lead and conduct the ‘What’s Working’ study toward the end of 2013 following signs that turnover among key hires across the Saudi labor market was on the rise.
The findings come from responses from 116 HR managers, business owners and senior executives, along with those from more than 400 Saudi men and women currently employed in Saudi Arabia.
The survey showed a clear gap between worker and employer expectations around compensation, employee development, motivation, and at times, the nature of work itself.
“One in four Saudi men and one in three Saudi women told us they plan to leave their current employer within one-three years; up to 17 percent among younger employees stated they planned to stay less than 12 months,” Mr.O’Byrne said.
“These rates are cause for concern.”
Omar Alsanousi, an associate with Mercer Consulting in Saudi Arabia and one of the leads on the survey project, said HR managers and business leaders in Saudi Arabia continue to woo Saudi nationals into their organizations in response to government directives on Saudization.
“Our study has uncovered that while compensation is key to attracting Saudi nationals into and away from an employer, it is not the only driver to employee motivation and engagement to stay and grow with his or her employer,” Alsanousi said.
An example of this disconnect was on the question of variable pay.
Two thirds (72 percent) of employer respondents ranked short and long-term variable pay as having either a moderate or weak impact as an element of reward. This was in stark contrast to the nine out of ten (90 percent) of Saudi nationals who saw this element of compensation as either important or somewhat important.
Similarly, the Mercer study revealed a divergence of views around other benefits.
Forty-one percent of HR managers rated retirement benefits as having a weak impact in the reward mix, in contrast to employees who ranked the importance of retirement benefits at 78 percent.
Time-off programs were also valued differently, with 70 percent of HR managers saying that such schemes had either a moderate or weak impact, as opposed to the 58 percent of employees who thought they were important elements to consider.
Also, few respondents gave positive views about the dynamism and collegiate environment of their workplaces.
“In every age category bar one, less than five percent stated that their opinions held any weight and were respected in the organizations where they worked,” said O’Byrne.
O’Byrne says enticing and keeping Saudi nationals in the Saudi workforce will continue to be a top priority for the country’s government for the foreseeable future, so these issues need to be addressed.
“We will continue to study this issue as part of our on-going commitment to the Kingdom. Our clients and indeed all employers want to know more about the types of employment value propositions that need to exist between the Saudi employee and their employer,” he said.
“Put simply, one value proposition for one workforce is no longer going to work and employers who ignore the trends will end up paying the price,” he said.
2 more expats die of MERS in Jeddah
JEDDAH: Two foreigners died of MERS in Jeddah, the Health Ministry said Saturday, as fears rise over the spreading respiratory virus in the Kingdom’s commercial hub.
The ministry said five more people were infected with the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome in the western city, including two foreign medics aged 54.
The latest deaths of a 64-year-old and 44-year-old, whose nationalities were undisclosed, bring to 75 the overall number of people to have died of MERS in Saudi Arabia, from a total of 231 infections.
Meanwhile, officials in the Philippines said the government was stepping up its defense against the deadly virus, with the large numbers of Filipino workers in the Middle East seen as potential carriers.
“It is important that families, friends and members of their local communities fully understand all that must be known about the MERS coronavirus,” Health Secretary Enrique Ona told a news conference.
A male Filipino nurse who had tested positive for the MERS virus in the UAE returned to the Philippines on Tuesday, according to the health department.
The man was later tracked down and quarantined, along with relatives who picked him up at Manila airport, as part of the increased monitoring procedures, but all of them were subsequently found to be free of the virus, Ona said.
Health authorities were continuing to track the rest of the 418 passengers on the same Etihad Airways flight, including 45 foreigners, so they could also be tested, he added. The virus has a two-week incubation period, so all those passengers “are still deemed to be at risk”, Ona said.
A total of 119 passengers had so far been contacted by the health department, and all 40 who were tested yielded negative results, Ona said.
While the WHO has not declared a MERS epidemic, the Philippines has stepped up monitoring as it has a large number of workers in the Middle East, many of whom work in Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Ona said Filipinos traveling to and from their work in the region were being warned of the dangers of the virus and advised to seek immediate attention if they have any symptoms.
Lyndon Leesuy, the health department's program manager for emerging diseases, said all air travelers who exhibit symptoms at Philippine airports would be required to undergo testing for the virus as part of the “active surveillance” status.
President Benigno Aquino has ordered the health department to “create a heightened awareness among our people and prevent the spread of this communicable disease”, Ona said.
Companies given four more months to implement wage protection systemThe ministry said five more people were infected with the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome in the western city, including two foreign medics aged 54.
The latest deaths of a 64-year-old and 44-year-old, whose nationalities were undisclosed, bring to 75 the overall number of people to have died of MERS in Saudi Arabia, from a total of 231 infections.
Meanwhile, officials in the Philippines said the government was stepping up its defense against the deadly virus, with the large numbers of Filipino workers in the Middle East seen as potential carriers.
“It is important that families, friends and members of their local communities fully understand all that must be known about the MERS coronavirus,” Health Secretary Enrique Ona told a news conference.
A male Filipino nurse who had tested positive for the MERS virus in the UAE returned to the Philippines on Tuesday, according to the health department.
The man was later tracked down and quarantined, along with relatives who picked him up at Manila airport, as part of the increased monitoring procedures, but all of them were subsequently found to be free of the virus, Ona said.
Health authorities were continuing to track the rest of the 418 passengers on the same Etihad Airways flight, including 45 foreigners, so they could also be tested, he added. The virus has a two-week incubation period, so all those passengers “are still deemed to be at risk”, Ona said.
A total of 119 passengers had so far been contacted by the health department, and all 40 who were tested yielded negative results, Ona said.
While the WHO has not declared a MERS epidemic, the Philippines has stepped up monitoring as it has a large number of workers in the Middle East, many of whom work in Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Ona said Filipinos traveling to and from their work in the region were being warned of the dangers of the virus and advised to seek immediate attention if they have any symptoms.
Lyndon Leesuy, the health department's program manager for emerging diseases, said all air travelers who exhibit symptoms at Philippine airports would be required to undergo testing for the virus as part of the “active surveillance” status.
President Benigno Aquino has ordered the health department to “create a heightened awareness among our people and prevent the spread of this communicable disease”, Ona said.
Companies with at least 1,000 workers are being given four more months to implement a wage protection system that was introduced by the Labor Ministry last year in a bid to ensure employees’ rights.
The ministry’s decision to postpone the implementation of the fourth phase of the protection bill for companies with more than 500 workers, originally scheduled for July 1, to Nov. 1 was taken after the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA) demanded that pressure be eased on the Kingdom’s banks, which have been tasked with salary payment under the new system.
The implementation of the fourth phase, however, will coincide with the payment of Hafiz unemployment benefits to jobless youth, putting more pressure on banks.
“The ministry made the decision following detailed studies and discussions with the SAMA,” Abdullah Abu Thnain, undersecretary for inspections and work environment development, told the SPA.
Companies employing 500 workers on average far outnumber establishments in other categories, he said.
The wage protection system involves the creation of a database containing updates on wage payment in the private sector. Information includes the amount and date the salary was paid. The new system also stipulates that salary payment should be made solely through banks.
Private companies in the Kingdom were categorized according to the number of workers they employ.
The first phase involved companies with more than 3,000 workers. A total of 119 companies fulfilled conditions out of 184 companies in that category, while 48 companies pledged to submit their updated data soon after the deadline and 17 had services halted by the ministry for failure to comply with the new system.
The second phase, which was implemented on companies with more than 2,000 workers, saw 81 companies fulfill the ministry’s demands and 13 penalized for failure to comply, while 17 companies had services resumed after complying past the deadline.
“Only 445 private schools out of a total of 1,183 schools fulfilled the criteria,” he said. “Services to 713 have been suspended, while 25 schools had services resumed after updating their information.”
Companies that fail to comply with the regulations within two months of the deadline have their services suspended. Renewal of work permits, however, is not affected by these suspensions.
Employees working with companies that fail to comply three months past the deadline can transfer to other companies without the permission of their sponsors.
The ministry’s decision to postpone the implementation of the fourth phase of the protection bill for companies with more than 500 workers, originally scheduled for July 1, to Nov. 1 was taken after the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA) demanded that pressure be eased on the Kingdom’s banks, which have been tasked with salary payment under the new system.
The implementation of the fourth phase, however, will coincide with the payment of Hafiz unemployment benefits to jobless youth, putting more pressure on banks.
“The ministry made the decision following detailed studies and discussions with the SAMA,” Abdullah Abu Thnain, undersecretary for inspections and work environment development, told the SPA.
Companies employing 500 workers on average far outnumber establishments in other categories, he said.
The wage protection system involves the creation of a database containing updates on wage payment in the private sector. Information includes the amount and date the salary was paid. The new system also stipulates that salary payment should be made solely through banks.
Private companies in the Kingdom were categorized according to the number of workers they employ.
The first phase involved companies with more than 3,000 workers. A total of 119 companies fulfilled conditions out of 184 companies in that category, while 48 companies pledged to submit their updated data soon after the deadline and 17 had services halted by the ministry for failure to comply with the new system.
The second phase, which was implemented on companies with more than 2,000 workers, saw 81 companies fulfill the ministry’s demands and 13 penalized for failure to comply, while 17 companies had services resumed after complying past the deadline.
“Only 445 private schools out of a total of 1,183 schools fulfilled the criteria,” he said. “Services to 713 have been suspended, while 25 schools had services resumed after updating their information.”
Companies that fail to comply with the regulations within two months of the deadline have their services suspended. Renewal of work permits, however, is not affected by these suspensions.
Employees working with companies that fail to comply three months past the deadline can transfer to other companies without the permission of their sponsors.
Bahrain car explosion kills 2; civil defense personnel injured
MANAMA: Two people were killed Saturday when their car exploded in a village in Bahrain, the Interior Ministry said, although it was unclear whether the vehicle itself had been targeted.
A third person was wounded in the blast and taken to hospital, as civil defense personnel were hurt in a separate explosion, the ministry said.
“Two burned bodies and one injured person were found” in a “civilian” car that exploded in the village of Mughsha, along the Budayya highway outside Manama, the ministry said.
“Initial investigations have shown that the blast was caused by explosive devices inside the car,” the official BNA news agency cited the ministry as saying.
No further details were given on whether the vehicle it had been targeted directly or whether the blast had been accidental.
Witnesses said they heard a loud bang shortly before the car was gutted by fire, and that authorities cordoned off the area.
In another town, Al-Quraya, “a home-made bomb” exploded, wounding several members of the civil defense force “who were in the process of extinguishing burning tires.”
“Three civil defense members sustained multiple injuries and were admitted to hospital for treatment and several others were treated on site for minor injuries,” an English-language statement said.
Islamabad not to grant MFN status to India, says minister:
Pakistan is “no longer” considering India for most-favored nation (MFN) status, said Pakistani Federal Minister for Commerce Khurram Dastagir Khan, here on Saturday. Khan, however, said that Pakistan and India have agreed to work together and boost commercial relations by giving non-discriminatory market access (NDMA) status to each other.
He said, “Islamabad will not give MFN status to India,” adding “We don’t talk about MFN anymore.”
Khan was speaking to Arab News in an exclusive interview in which he gave an overview of the growing relations between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. Pakistani Ambassador Mohammed Naeem Khan was also present.
Referring to the commercial relations with India, the Pakistani minister said that, “The two sides had agreed to work within the framework of the NDMA.”
In 2012, Pakistan committed itself to giving the MFN status to India after a strong persuasive note by the World Bank, and having done all the necessary spadework in this regard, opted to miss its own deadline, owing to domestic opposition and lack of reciprocal response from New Delhi.
Asked about the plan to import electricity from India for the energy-starved Pakistan, he pointed out that two countries have made “progress” on the issue of purchasing electricity from India. “But, we need to have two electricity grids connected together for importing electricity,” said Khan.
In fact, the long discussed Indo-Pak electricity deal has moved closer to reality with Pakistan handing over the draft of an initial power trade deal to India. The move comes in the backdrop of the World Bank having offered to finance the feasibility study and transmission line to import 1,200 megawatts (MW) of power from India.
Referring to the EU trade concession granted to Islamabad recently, the Pakistani minister said that, “The EU has granted a ‘Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) Plus’ status which allows Pakistani products duty free access to the European market.” The GSP Plus status, he said, will allow almost 20 percent of Pakistani exports to enter the EU market at zero tariff and at 70 percent preferential rates.
“The GSP Plus status award shows the confidence of international markets in the excellent quality of Pakistani products,” said Khan.
The trade concession granted by the EU will help Pakistani exports to rise by up to $2 billion he added noting that Pakistan’s textile industry would stand to benefit the most from this concession.
He said, “Islamabad will not give MFN status to India,” adding “We don’t talk about MFN anymore.”
Khan was speaking to Arab News in an exclusive interview in which he gave an overview of the growing relations between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. Pakistani Ambassador Mohammed Naeem Khan was also present.
Referring to the commercial relations with India, the Pakistani minister said that, “The two sides had agreed to work within the framework of the NDMA.”
In 2012, Pakistan committed itself to giving the MFN status to India after a strong persuasive note by the World Bank, and having done all the necessary spadework in this regard, opted to miss its own deadline, owing to domestic opposition and lack of reciprocal response from New Delhi.
Asked about the plan to import electricity from India for the energy-starved Pakistan, he pointed out that two countries have made “progress” on the issue of purchasing electricity from India. “But, we need to have two electricity grids connected together for importing electricity,” said Khan.
In fact, the long discussed Indo-Pak electricity deal has moved closer to reality with Pakistan handing over the draft of an initial power trade deal to India. The move comes in the backdrop of the World Bank having offered to finance the feasibility study and transmission line to import 1,200 megawatts (MW) of power from India.
Referring to the EU trade concession granted to Islamabad recently, the Pakistani minister said that, “The EU has granted a ‘Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) Plus’ status which allows Pakistani products duty free access to the European market.” The GSP Plus status, he said, will allow almost 20 percent of Pakistani exports to enter the EU market at zero tariff and at 70 percent preferential rates.
“The GSP Plus status award shows the confidence of international markets in the excellent quality of Pakistani products,” said Khan.
The trade concession granted by the EU will help Pakistani exports to rise by up to $2 billion he added noting that Pakistan’s textile industry would stand to benefit the most from this concession.
Singapore to train 3,000 Saudi school principals
Singapore’s National Institute of Education (NIE) will train 3,000 Saudi school principals over the next few years, Singapore’s Ambassador Lawrence Anderson told Arab News.
Spelling out his country’s close ties with Saudi Arabia, Anderson said 2013 was a very fulfilling and productive year for the Singapore. “It has been an eye-opening experience and I have learned much in my first year here. Many good Saudi friends have been helpful in enriching my understanding of the history and culture of this great Kingdom,” he said.
“It was also a fruitful year for Saudi-Singapore relations as there were a number of high-level visits between our two countries. Prominent Saudi dignitaries who visited Singapore in 2013 included King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies Chairman Prince Turki Al-Faisal, Saudi Red Crescent Authority President Prince Faisal bin Abdullah and Transport Minister Jabara Al Sureisry,” he said.
From Singapore, Minister for Communications and Information and Minister-in-Charge of Muslim Affairs Yaacob Ibrahim and Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry and National Development Lee Yi Shyan visited Saudi Arabia.
He explained that as such, he has made it a priority to encourage Saudis to visit Singapore with their families as well as provide advice and assistance to many Singaporeans wanting to visit the Kingdom. “We promote Singapore through social and cultural events like screening Singapore-made movies and food festivals to showcase our culinary delights,” he said.
He said education is another area in which stronger collaboration will benefit the two countries. “We are involved in education within the Kingdom. NIE has been working with prominent Saudi institutions. Ranked 2nd in Asia and 13th in the world, NIE is responsible for the training of schoolteachers in Singapore.
In 2013, NIE formalized a memorandum of understanding with Tatweer Education Holding Co. to promote school leadership development in Saudi Arabia. “We are confident that Saudi principals will be able to impart the lessons learned to their colleagues here in the Kingdom,” he said.
He said Singapore is a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-religious society. Besides the Chinese, Malays and Indians, there are several other minority communities, including the Arab community living in Singapore. They have contributed a lot to Singapore’s success.
According to him, Muslims constitute more than 13 percent of the population. “The Muslim community is an active and vibrant one,” he said. “The rights of the Muslim community are protected and it enjoys special place in the education and housing planning. Our electoral rules seek to ensure that minorities will always have fair representation in Parliament,” Anderson added.
Spelling out his country’s close ties with Saudi Arabia, Anderson said 2013 was a very fulfilling and productive year for the Singapore. “It has been an eye-opening experience and I have learned much in my first year here. Many good Saudi friends have been helpful in enriching my understanding of the history and culture of this great Kingdom,” he said.
“It was also a fruitful year for Saudi-Singapore relations as there were a number of high-level visits between our two countries. Prominent Saudi dignitaries who visited Singapore in 2013 included King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies Chairman Prince Turki Al-Faisal, Saudi Red Crescent Authority President Prince Faisal bin Abdullah and Transport Minister Jabara Al Sureisry,” he said.
From Singapore, Minister for Communications and Information and Minister-in-Charge of Muslim Affairs Yaacob Ibrahim and Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry and National Development Lee Yi Shyan visited Saudi Arabia.
He explained that as such, he has made it a priority to encourage Saudis to visit Singapore with their families as well as provide advice and assistance to many Singaporeans wanting to visit the Kingdom. “We promote Singapore through social and cultural events like screening Singapore-made movies and food festivals to showcase our culinary delights,” he said.
He said education is another area in which stronger collaboration will benefit the two countries. “We are involved in education within the Kingdom. NIE has been working with prominent Saudi institutions. Ranked 2nd in Asia and 13th in the world, NIE is responsible for the training of schoolteachers in Singapore.
In 2013, NIE formalized a memorandum of understanding with Tatweer Education Holding Co. to promote school leadership development in Saudi Arabia. “We are confident that Saudi principals will be able to impart the lessons learned to their colleagues here in the Kingdom,” he said.
He said Singapore is a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-religious society. Besides the Chinese, Malays and Indians, there are several other minority communities, including the Arab community living in Singapore. They have contributed a lot to Singapore’s success.
According to him, Muslims constitute more than 13 percent of the population. “The Muslim community is an active and vibrant one,” he said. “The rights of the Muslim community are protected and it enjoys special place in the education and housing planning. Our electoral rules seek to ensure that minorities will always have fair representation in Parliament,” Anderson added.
GCC strikes new deal to heal rifts:
Makkah authorities brace for increased number of pilgrims
Makkah is bracing for the increased number of visitors and pilgrims in the holy month of Ramadan. Authorities including the Presidency of the Grand Mosque and Prophet’s Mosque, the Civil Defense, the Police Department, the Makkah Municipality, the Haj and Health ministries have begun strategic planning in their preparations to facilitate the visitors.
There is expected to be a 15 percent increase in the number of pilgrims this year compared to last year’s statistics.
Public health and safety is being accorded top priority by the Municipality and Civil Defense authorities who have cracked down on restaurants, eateries and food stores in the city to ensure they are abiding by health and safety standards. The Civil Defense authorities have concluded their first round of inspections at all furnished apartments, hotels and other public places.
The Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques is focusing upon facilitating additional public utilities in the premises of the Grand Mosque in Makkah and planning for Tarawiah besides following up on the expansion of the grand mosque project. A part of it is scheduled to open in the fast approaching month of Ramadan.
“Public health is of top priority in the holy city and we have intensified inspections of all restaurants and eateries in the city to enforce public health standards,” Mohammed Hashim Fawati, director of Public Health in the holy capital’s municipality said. He told Arab News that in the recent campaign, the municipality had closed down nearly 400 restaurants in Makkah including the Central Fish market for violating health regulations.
Fawati added that the inspection campaign will pave the way for maintaining and upgrading the facilities according to the stipulated health specifications in the coming months ahead of Ramadan.
“We are planning to have more social responsibility programs in the holy city that will help to have better public participation in Ramadan,” Osama Zaitoony, general manager of public relations in Makkah municipality said.
He said that this year the municipality has a strategic cleaning action plan for the holy city during Ramadan.
“It is important to look to the safety and preventive measures to keep the city clean as it houses hundreds of furnished apartments, hotels and other housing facilities,” he said.
In the recently concluded inspections in Makkah which lasted for three days, the Civil Defense found 174 hotels and furnished apartments failing to meet the safety standards, according to Civil Defense officials in Makkah.
“There are regular inspections of hotels and furnished apartments which will be intensified in the coming weeks,” Col. Saleh Al Olayani, spokesperson of civil defense in Makkah said.
Crowd management is one of the prime challenges in the Grand Mosque especially with the ongoing expansion works. With this view, the Umm Al-Qura University and Presidency of the Grand Mosque and Prophet’s Mosque Affairs have signed an agreement whereby employees will be given exclusive training in crowd management.
The first floor of the Grand Mosque is scheduled to open in Ramadan, according to Dr. Bakri Assas of the King Abdullah Expansion project. The first floor’s capacity will be increased to 105,000 from the present 52,000, he said.
In the public utilities sector, a record number of additional toilets is being built in the vicinity of the Grand Mosque. There will be 3,928 additional toilets as part of the Abdullah expansion project which will be ready by Ramadan.
MERS kills Riyadh woman; teachers monitoring pupils
The Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) coronavirus has claimed the life of a 55-year-old expatriate woman in Riyadh, bringing the death toll to 73 nationwide, a Ministry of Health official reported on Friday.
The official said the woman was part of a group of six people with chronic diseases who had become infected, including three Saudi men aged 32, 78 and 81, and two expatriates aged 27 and 52. They are undergoing treatment in the intensive care units of government hospitals here, the official said.
A total of 218 people have been infected with the virus since September 2012, with 90 of these cases in Riyadh.
Meanwhile, schools here are taking precautions against the virus.
The female principal of one school with mostly Arab-speaking students, said that teachers have been monitoring students. She said children suspected to have the virus are isolated until a doctor arrives. She has instructed all teachers to wear facemasks while they teach.
Karim Reza, principal of the Bangladesh International School-English Section, told Arab News that teachers would provide further information to children on the virus on Sunday. The school has already held awareness programs.
The chairman of an international school in Riyadh, who wished to remain anonymous, told Arab News that schools are waiting for instructions from the Ministry of Education on what action to take.
Some visitors and security guards at the international conference and exhibition on higher education being held at the Riyadh convention center, were wearing facemasks on Friday.
A team of inspectors from the World Health Organization arrives in the Kingdom on April 28 to check on the status of the outbreak.
A Saudi researcher said on Thursday that camels are passing on the virus to humans.
Architecture students exhibit innovative house designs
RIYADH: The GCC bloc has agreed on the mechanisms to implement a security pact, marking a possible first step toward bridging deep rifts among its six member states.
Qatar’s official news agency confirmed that Doha’s Foreign Minister Khalid bin Mohammed Al-Attiyah took part in the GCC Foreign Ministers meeting held in Riyadh. The GCC statement was released just before midnight after the meeting concluded.
It marked the foreign minister’s first visit to Saudi Arabia since the Kingdom, along with the UAE and Bahrain, withdrew its ambassadors from Qatar in an unprecedented public protest against Doha’s support for the Muslim Brotherhood group in the region.
A statement said the GCC agreed on a “collective framework” in which the policies of the bloc’s member states “would not affect the interests, security and stability of its members and would not tamper with the sovereignty of any of its members.”
However, the statement did not say whether ambassadors would be reinstated. Kuwait and Oman were the only countries in the council not to join in the diplomatic protest. Oman’s Foreign Minister Yusuf bin Alawi was quoted in Al-Hayat newspaper declaring that the crisis “between brothers” had ended and was “a thing of the past.”
“The ball is now in Qatar’s camp,” former Saudi diplomat Abdullah Al-Shammari told AFP.
Emirati political science professor Abdulkhaleq Abdulla said Qatar has already implemented part of the deal by asking several Emirati and Saudi Muslim Brotherhood opposition figures in Doha to leave, and will soon expel more foreign radicals.
Qatar on Thursday agreed to tone down Al-Jazeera but “this will be gradual,” Abdulla said.
The Saudis had also demanded that Qatar end its alleged support for Yemen’s Huthi rebels along the Kingdom’s southern border.
“We are yet to see” if Qatar will implement this part of the agreement, Abdulla said.
Mohammad Al-Musfer, political science professor at the University of Qatar, insists that Doha’s “foreign policy will not change, regardless of the circumstances.”
Qatar’s official news agency confirmed that Doha’s Foreign Minister Khalid bin Mohammed Al-Attiyah took part in the GCC Foreign Ministers meeting held in Riyadh. The GCC statement was released just before midnight after the meeting concluded.
It marked the foreign minister’s first visit to Saudi Arabia since the Kingdom, along with the UAE and Bahrain, withdrew its ambassadors from Qatar in an unprecedented public protest against Doha’s support for the Muslim Brotherhood group in the region.
A statement said the GCC agreed on a “collective framework” in which the policies of the bloc’s member states “would not affect the interests, security and stability of its members and would not tamper with the sovereignty of any of its members.”
However, the statement did not say whether ambassadors would be reinstated. Kuwait and Oman were the only countries in the council not to join in the diplomatic protest. Oman’s Foreign Minister Yusuf bin Alawi was quoted in Al-Hayat newspaper declaring that the crisis “between brothers” had ended and was “a thing of the past.”
“The ball is now in Qatar’s camp,” former Saudi diplomat Abdullah Al-Shammari told AFP.
Emirati political science professor Abdulkhaleq Abdulla said Qatar has already implemented part of the deal by asking several Emirati and Saudi Muslim Brotherhood opposition figures in Doha to leave, and will soon expel more foreign radicals.
Qatar on Thursday agreed to tone down Al-Jazeera but “this will be gradual,” Abdulla said.
The Saudis had also demanded that Qatar end its alleged support for Yemen’s Huthi rebels along the Kingdom’s southern border.
“We are yet to see” if Qatar will implement this part of the agreement, Abdulla said.
Mohammad Al-Musfer, political science professor at the University of Qatar, insists that Doha’s “foreign policy will not change, regardless of the circumstances.”
Makkah authorities brace for increased number of pilgrims
Makkah is bracing for the increased number of visitors and pilgrims in the holy month of Ramadan. Authorities including the Presidency of the Grand Mosque and Prophet’s Mosque, the Civil Defense, the Police Department, the Makkah Municipality, the Haj and Health ministries have begun strategic planning in their preparations to facilitate the visitors.
There is expected to be a 15 percent increase in the number of pilgrims this year compared to last year’s statistics.
Public health and safety is being accorded top priority by the Municipality and Civil Defense authorities who have cracked down on restaurants, eateries and food stores in the city to ensure they are abiding by health and safety standards. The Civil Defense authorities have concluded their first round of inspections at all furnished apartments, hotels and other public places.
The Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques is focusing upon facilitating additional public utilities in the premises of the Grand Mosque in Makkah and planning for Tarawiah besides following up on the expansion of the grand mosque project. A part of it is scheduled to open in the fast approaching month of Ramadan.
“Public health is of top priority in the holy city and we have intensified inspections of all restaurants and eateries in the city to enforce public health standards,” Mohammed Hashim Fawati, director of Public Health in the holy capital’s municipality said. He told Arab News that in the recent campaign, the municipality had closed down nearly 400 restaurants in Makkah including the Central Fish market for violating health regulations.
Fawati added that the inspection campaign will pave the way for maintaining and upgrading the facilities according to the stipulated health specifications in the coming months ahead of Ramadan.
“We are planning to have more social responsibility programs in the holy city that will help to have better public participation in Ramadan,” Osama Zaitoony, general manager of public relations in Makkah municipality said.
He said that this year the municipality has a strategic cleaning action plan for the holy city during Ramadan.
“It is important to look to the safety and preventive measures to keep the city clean as it houses hundreds of furnished apartments, hotels and other housing facilities,” he said.
In the recently concluded inspections in Makkah which lasted for three days, the Civil Defense found 174 hotels and furnished apartments failing to meet the safety standards, according to Civil Defense officials in Makkah.
“There are regular inspections of hotels and furnished apartments which will be intensified in the coming weeks,” Col. Saleh Al Olayani, spokesperson of civil defense in Makkah said.
Crowd management is one of the prime challenges in the Grand Mosque especially with the ongoing expansion works. With this view, the Umm Al-Qura University and Presidency of the Grand Mosque and Prophet’s Mosque Affairs have signed an agreement whereby employees will be given exclusive training in crowd management.
The first floor of the Grand Mosque is scheduled to open in Ramadan, according to Dr. Bakri Assas of the King Abdullah Expansion project. The first floor’s capacity will be increased to 105,000 from the present 52,000, he said.
In the public utilities sector, a record number of additional toilets is being built in the vicinity of the Grand Mosque. There will be 3,928 additional toilets as part of the Abdullah expansion project which will be ready by Ramadan.
MERS kills Riyadh woman; teachers monitoring pupils
The Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) coronavirus has claimed the life of a 55-year-old expatriate woman in Riyadh, bringing the death toll to 73 nationwide, a Ministry of Health official reported on Friday.
The official said the woman was part of a group of six people with chronic diseases who had become infected, including three Saudi men aged 32, 78 and 81, and two expatriates aged 27 and 52. They are undergoing treatment in the intensive care units of government hospitals here, the official said.
A total of 218 people have been infected with the virus since September 2012, with 90 of these cases in Riyadh.
Meanwhile, schools here are taking precautions against the virus.
The female principal of one school with mostly Arab-speaking students, said that teachers have been monitoring students. She said children suspected to have the virus are isolated until a doctor arrives. She has instructed all teachers to wear facemasks while they teach.
Karim Reza, principal of the Bangladesh International School-English Section, told Arab News that teachers would provide further information to children on the virus on Sunday. The school has already held awareness programs.
The chairman of an international school in Riyadh, who wished to remain anonymous, told Arab News that schools are waiting for instructions from the Ministry of Education on what action to take.
Some visitors and security guards at the international conference and exhibition on higher education being held at the Riyadh convention center, were wearing facemasks on Friday.
A team of inspectors from the World Health Organization arrives in the Kingdom on April 28 to check on the status of the outbreak.
A Saudi researcher said on Thursday that camels are passing on the virus to humans.
Architecture students exhibit innovative house designs
Several female students at Dar Al-Hekma College showcased innovative house designs for affordable living at the institution's two-day architecture exhibition this week.
The models of habitats presented by the young architects, which they hope to turn into reality some day, had a mix of traditional and modern architecture, while focusing on the needs of the people who would live there.
“I love the modern building that has a lot of Hijazi design and decoration,” Rawand Madani, a second year architecture student, who had three projects on display, told Arab News.
Madani said she appreciates modern architecture that is related to Saudi society, the community, and Islam. “Let us make our own modern architecture, something that is related to this country,” she said.
Lara Al-Khouli, a third year student, said architects should create low cost, energy efficient houses for shelter.
Yara Sobhi, another third year student, visited Bin Laden Street in Jama district, and designed affordable housing units for the area with fellow students. They also ensured people with disabilities could access the buildings.
They created housing projects mimicking animals from nature, including the ladybug and starfish. They copied the shell of the ladybug that protects its wings underneath, and the vascular system of the starfish that acts as a hydraulic system.
Sobhi said they studied these two creatures and created concept homes using recycled paper. “Everything that is used is recycled and is recyclable,” she said.
Samia Khan, a fourth year student, said that architecture could be used to help the poor. “In this way it is a very fulfilling profession,” she said.
Mariam Dandachi, a third year student, would like one day to design and build structures recognized by the public. Her exhibit is a project designed by students from Dar Al-Hekma and Colorado University, for middle class people across the river in Denver.
Mona Helmy, an assistant professor, and one of the founders of the architecture program, said this was the first solo exhibition of the college's students.
The models were prepared at the college’s special workshop. “We were the first to have a model architecture shop for educational purposes. We have advanced technology that is being used at some of the biggest architectural firms,” she said.
She said that Dar Al-Hekma students are redeveloping part of the Jeddah Corniche with the municipality.
Yasmin Arslan, instructor at the department and head of the exhibition, said she was proud of her students. "Many people from foreign universities visited the exhibition and were all very impressed with the students’ ideas and projects, especially because we don’t have any students graduating yet, or working out in the field.”
“I believe we are going to see big changes in Saudi Arabia, especially after our first group of students graduate and go out to work.”
Sherin Sameh, an instructor at the college and an organizer of the exhibition, said that the main objective was for students to present their work to the public.
“Throughout the year, students only see the academic side. So this exhibition gives them an opportunity to see the professional side by meeting professional architects and interacting with experts in the field.”
Rising MERS raises alarm:
The rising number of fatalities from MERS infections in the Kingdom is causing alarm in the public.
The Health Ministry reported another fatality in Jeddah Wednesday, bringing the total number of MERS victims across the country to 71 from 205 infections. It said five more people were infected with the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, including two medics, all in Jeddah. It identified the latest victim as a 52-year-old Saudi man.
The ministry said 35 percent of MERS patients in the Kingdom have died.
There were 37 confirmed cases in Jeddah in less than a month, including 21 medics.
Health Minister Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah promised that he would press for special allowance for medics dealing with infectious diseases.
The MERS virus was initially concentrated in the Eastern Province but has now spread to other regions with 82 cases in Riyadh, 37 in Jeddah, 25 in Al-Ahsa, 23 in Dammam, 11 in Hafr Al-Baten, seven each in Asir and Madinah, five in Taif, two each in Al-Jouf and Qassim and one each in Najran and Bisha. Women accounted for one-third of the confirmed cases while expats represented 20 percent.
Dr. Mohammed Ali, an internist at Al-Abeer Medical Group, advised people to keep away from crowded areas and undergo medical tests in case of high fever and coughing. “It is advisable to use masks,” he told Arab News adding that people should observe hygiene and maintain cleanliness to avoid the virus.
The WHO said Friday it had been informed of 212 laboratory-confirmed cases of MERS infection worldwide, of which 88 have proved fatal.
A Malaysian man who came on a pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia was the first to die from the disease in Asia while the Philippines has isolated a health worker who tested positive for the virus.
Malaysian authorities said the man returned to Malaysia on March 29 and developed a high fever and cough. He also had difficulty breathing a week or so later. The 54-year-old man, from southern Johor state, died on Sunday in a hospital, the ministry said Wednesday.
In the Philippines, Health Secretary Enrique Ona said the Filipino health worker had tested positive for the virus but showed no symptoms.
The man was in contact with another Filipino hospital worker who died of the virus last week in the UAE.
Saudi Health Ministry officials are consulting WHO experts in Geneva and Cairo on how to contain the virus. WHO experts are also scheduled to meet in Riyadh later this month.
Saudi-made car has a long way to go:
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has given Saudi and Malaysian businesses a preliminary license to study the feasibility of building a Saudi-made car.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the ministry stated that the company planning to set up a SR7.5 billion automotive manufacturing plant has to undergo further assessment before it can acquire a location and get government support.
The preliminary license for the Shahid automotive manufacturing facility would not allow the manufacturer to collect money from the public, the statement added.
The ministry wants to develop the automotive industry but this has to be done after careful coordination between government and the private sector, the statement said.
A thorough assessment is needed before government makes its incentives available for industrial projects, the statement said.
The ministry's advisory comes after Saudi and Malaysian businesses signed an agreement here on Tuesday to produce a Saudi-made vehicle called Meeya by 2017.
The plan is to set up a factory to produce the vehicle in Dammam, with an eventual output of 300,000 cars a year, said Rashed Othman Jawhar, chairman of the Saudi Malaysian Industrial Development Holding Company.
He said the factory would create 2,000 jobs. Major vehicle manufacturing firms from Malaysia, China, Germany, Japan and Korea are involved in the project, said Jawhar.
He said the factory would start producing 50,000 cars in the first 36 months. It would produce three types of vehicles costing between SR45,000 and SR120,000, with the possibility of a price reduction of up to 50 percent if government supports the project with land and other facilities.
1,000-bed hospital a health shot for Jeddah
A 1,000-bed maternity and children’s hospital will be established in Jeddah soon, while the King Faisal Medical Tower in Makkah will be opened ahead of the upcoming Haj season, said Health Minister Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, who highlighted his ministry’s efforts to expand quality health care services.
Speaking with reporters following a strategic meeting in Jeddah, he said a new 500-bed hospital would be set up in Makkah and another hospital of the same size in north Jeddah.
“About 95 percent of work on the King Faisal Tower has been completed,” he said.
Al-Rabeeah stressed the ministry’s plan to enhance the performance of primary health care centers across the country and integrate health centers to general hospitals to render quality health care to citizens. “We have opened 79 new hospitals in various regions during the last four years,” he said.
He said that the new maternity and children’s hospital would be part of the King Abdullah Medical Center in Jeddah. “Contracts have been awarded to build a new hospital in Sharaie in Makkah to serve citizens,” the minister said.
WHO experts to probe Saudi MERS outbreak:
Experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) will arrive in the Kingdom on April 28 to investigate the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) coronavirus outbreak in the country.
This comes after the National Scientific Committee for Infectious Diseases (NSCID) held a teleconference with WHO officials in Geneva and Cairo on Tuesday, according to an official from the Ministry of Health.
MERS has killed 71 people and infected 205 since September 2012. There have been 37 infections at Jeddah hospitals recently. Around 2,500 blood samples were tested for the virus in the western province, the official said.
Meanwhile, addressing a meeting on Wednesday in Jeddah, Health Minister Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah said that the NSCID has organized field visits in Jeddah to get first-hand information about the virus. “Hundreds of samples are being tested throughout the Kingdom from suspected cases,” the minister said.
He was speaking at the fifth consultative meeting of senior health officials, the ministry's key strategy meeting.
Al-Rabeeah said compensation is under consideration for all medical workers treating people with infectious diseases. “These officials are doing an excellent service for the sake of the nation,” he said.
The minister said that according to the WHO, there is no cure for coronavirus infections. However, he said the ministry has the situation under control and urged people not to panic or spread rumors about the outbreak.
Al-Rabeeah said the sudden outbreak of the virus in Jeddah was mainly due to the weather changing from winter to spring. The ministry has taken steps at all hospitals in the city to tackle cases of coronavirus and other infections, he said.
Sami Badawood, Jeddah Health Affairs director, told Arab News on Wednesday that face masks do not protect people against the coronavirus.
“While it is true that wearing a face mask can, to some extent, prevent the spread of influenza and other communicable diseases, and protect lungs from dust during sandstorms, masks cannot stop the spread of the coronavirus,” Badawood said.
“However, the coronavirus is also not considered a communicable disease,” he said. “Patients can only become infected after direct contact with an infected patient.”
“The Health Ministry in Jeddah adheres to international standards and World Health Organization norms to treat cases,” he said. “The ministry has established a special unit to follow up on cases around the clock. Officials have ascertained that the situation is completely normal after careful observation and extensive follow-ups.”
“Umrah pilgrims need not panic since there have been no cases reported from being in large crowds,” said Badawood. “In fact, there has not been a single case among pilgrims in Makkah so far.”
Health Minister Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, Makkah Gov. Prince Mishaal bin Abdullah and Jeddah Gov. Prince Mishaal bin Majid are closely following up on the situation, and the ministry is using state-of-the-art technology to analyze samples collected from patients suspected to be infected with the virus,” he said.
He said people on social media have blown the outbreak "out of proportion." "The ministry has also not found that any of the cases can be traced to camels.”
KSA, Pakistan forge closer economic ties
A 20-member Pakistan government and business delegation met here on Tuesday with Saudi officials to forge ties in energy, agriculture, banking and finance, science and technology, and human resources.
Khurram Dastgir Khan, Pakistani minister of trade and commerce, who is leading the delegation, also met with Crown Prince Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense.
The two sides are meeting for the 10th session of the two-day Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC). The ninth session was held in 2012.
Waseem Hayat Bajwa, commercial attaché at the Pakistan Embassy, told Arab News: "It was a very positive meeting exploring new areas of co-operation between the two countries, and to bolster our bilateral relations."
Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, Saudi minister of commerce and industry, and Pakistan Ambassador Muhammad Naeem Khan attended the meeting.
Bajwa said the minister also met Abdullatif Al-Othman, governor of the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA). Khayyam Akbar, deputy head of the Pakistan embassy, also attended the meeting.
He said the JMC would conclude on Wednesday with concrete ways to boost bilateral trade. The areas of discussion include banking and finance, export of workers, the energy sector, agriculture, livestock, information technology, education, and small and medium enterprise development
Bajwa said the first day included discussions on oil and natural gas. However, he refused to comment on whether Pakistan is seeking a long-term credit facility for oil purchases from the Kingdom, which would help save foreign currency.
According to reports in the Pakistani media, the JMC is expected to discuss the possibility of forming joint ventures for oil and gas exploration, to boost energy production in Pakistan.
Pakistan consumes 22 million tons of oil, of which about 13 million tons are imported. Apart from this, oil refineries import 9 million tons of crude oil per annum to meet their processing needs.
Earlier, Al-Rabiah met his Pakistani counterpart, and provided assurances that Saudi Arabia would provide Pakistan access to its markets.
Recently, a high-level delegation from the Saudi Agriculture and Livestock Investment Company (SALIC) visited Pakistan to consider possible investments in the country's rice and meat sectors.
Another team of technical experts from the Saudi Ministry of Agriculture also visited Pakistan recently to study health and veterinary standards of the poultry, livestock and dairy sectors.
Two dead, scores missing as S. Korea ferry sinks
SEOUL: South Korea said two people were killed and 368 rescued from a ferry that capsized at sea with 477 people on board -- mostly high school students -- as divers searched for scores still missing.
Officials voiced concern over the fate of the 107 people unaccounted for, fearing that many may have been trapped as the vessel listed sharply before capsizing.
Dramatic television aerial footage showed terrified passengers wearing life jackets clambering into inflatable boats as water lapped over the rails of the vessel as it sank.
Many appeared to have been rescued by fishing and other commercial vessels who were first on the scene before a flotilla of coastguard and navy ships arrived, backed by helicopters.
The 6,825-tonne ferry, which had sailed out of the western port of Incheon on Tuesday evening, ran into trouble some 20 kilometres (13 miles) off the southern island of Byungpoong.
Coastguard officials said they had received a distress call at 9:00 am (0000 GMT). The weather conditions were described as "fine" with moderate winds and sea swell.
The cause of the accident was not immediately clear, although rescued passengers reported the ferry coming to a shuddering halt after hearing a loud noise -- indicating it may have run aground.
Photos broadcast on television showed the ship initially tilted by more than 45 degrees on the port side with helicopters flying overhead, and then fully capsized with only a small section of the stern showing above the water.
"So far, 368 have been rescued," Lee Gyeong-Og, the vice minister of security and public administration, told a press briefing in Seoul.
Lee said two people had been confirmed dead, including one female crew member, and added that a detachment of South Korean Navy SEALS were continuing to search the submerged ship.
One local official who had taken a boat to the site and arrived an hour after the distress signal was sent, said he was "very concerned" about those still unaccounted for.
"The ship was already almost totally submerged when I got there. A lot of people must have been trapped," the official, who declined to be identified, told AFP by phone.
The video footage showed passengers sliding down the steeply inclined side of the ferry and into the water, as rescuers, including the crew of what appeared to be a small fishing boat, struggled to pull them to safety on board.
The water temperature was cold at around 12.6 degrees Celsius (55 Fahrenheit).
Of the 448 passengers on board the ferry which had been bound for the southern resort island of Jeju, 324 were students travelling with 14 teachers from a high school in Ansan, south of Seoul.
There were 29 crew members manning the vessel, which was also carrying 150 cars.
"I heard a big thumping sound and the boat suddenly started to tilt," one rescued student told the YTN news channel by telephone.
"Some of my friends fell over hard and started bleeding. We jumped into the water and got picked up by the rescue boats," he said.
Distraught parents of the students gathered at the high school in Ansan, desperate for news.
There were chaotic scenes in the school's auditorium, with parents yelling at school officials and frantically trying to make phone calls to their children.
"I talked to my daughter. She said she had been rescued along with 10 other students," one mother told the YTN news channel.
"They said they had jumped into the water before getting rescued," she said.
Hundreds of ferries ply the waters between the South Korean mainland and its multiple offshore islands every day, and accidents are relatively rare.
However in one of the worst incidents, nearly 300 people died when a ferry capsized off the western coast in October 1993.
Poison gas use by Syria challenge to world: KSA
audi Arabia called on the international community on Tuesday to take “stern and decisive action” against Syria amid growing criticism over the Syrian regime’s announcement to hold presidential elections in the strife-torn country.
Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal made the call while strongly denouncing the systematic genocide of civilians in Syria and condemning the recent use of toxic gas in central Hama.
He said the “grave news” that Syrian forces had carried out two poison gas attacks last week was a challenge to “international will.”
“These continuous violations by the Damascus regime require the international community to take firm action against the continuous defiance of international, Arab and Islamic will,” Prince Saud said.
The reported gas attacks posed a clear challenge to the Security Council decision to dismantle Assad’s chemical arsenal, he said.
“The only way the regime would listen to calls for peace is if he (Assad) is forced to agree that we cannot reach a military solution for his desire to quell the revolution,” he said.
Addressing a joint press conference with Algerian Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra, Prince Saud emphasized and supported the decision made by the Arab League that calls for giving Syria’s Arab League seat to the Syrian National Coalition (SNC).
The prince, who held wide-ranging talks with Lamamra on a range of bilateral and regional issues, blasted Syria for defying the UN Security Council’s policies and resolutions.
Lamamra, who has been invited by Prince Saud to visit Riyadh, also met with Crown Prince Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense, and conveyed a message from Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika.
Talks between Saudi officials and Lamamra also focused on the need for closer coordination to counter terrorist groups in the region, as well as ways to dry up the financial resources of such groups.
The two sides denounced Israel for its intransigence and ill intentions, which have hampered the Middle East peace process.
Prince Saud hoped that the next round of Iran negotiations with the P5+1 powers would result in a final solution to the Iranian nuclear deal.
He urged all parties to comply with regulations and procedures set by the International Atomic Energy Agency, as well as the provisions of international treaties and agreements.
He called on all stakeholders to ensure “a Middle East free of weapons of mass destruction.”
The two ministers have expressed the need to reform the Arab League in order to expand and empower the 22-member regional organization of Arab countries.
He said that the recent visit of US President Barack Obama to Riyadh reaffirmed the historic relations between the two countries.
He said that both the Kingdom and the US benefited from the presidential visit, especially in terms of “explaining their positions on key regional issues.”
SR1bn worth of narcotics seized:
Security authorities thwarted two separate attempts to smuggle more than 22 million amphetamine tablets worth an estimated SR1 billion across the King Fahd Causeway, Maj. Gen. Mansour Al-Turki, security spokesman at the Interior Ministry, revealed on Sunday.
The drug bust was conducted by authorities in cooperation with security officials in Bahrain.
Authorities confirmed that they arrested five Saudi nationals and a Bahraini citizen in connection with the drug-smuggling attempt.
The first batch, busted in February, contained more than 7.6 million amphetamine tablets hidden inside barbed wire reels, while the second attempt was thwarted last month and involved the discovery of more than 14 million amphetamine tablets hidden inside plastic rollers.
“Ongoing investigations have confirmed links with an international smuggling network specialized in smuggling amphetamines tablets into the Kingdom,” he said.
“The network is led by Syrian citizens traveling between countries in the region. Authorities are working to complete statutory procedures for prosecution and trial in the Kingdom’s courts.”
He also stressed that security authorities will continue to track down and prosecute anyone involved in attempts to smuggle narcotic substances into the Kingdom through networks for organized crime.
63 new hospitals to improve patient care:
No mahram? No shisha
Restaurants and coffee shops in Jeddah have put up signs saying women should have “mahrams” (male guardians) to order shisha, and anyone who orders a shisha should be above 18 as per the order from the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (Haia).
The move has elicited sharp reactions from Saudi women.
“I don’t want to drag my husband or my son to a café in order to have shisha,” said Alaa Daani, a businesswoman. “What if I want to go to a women-only gathering where we don’t want men with us,” she said.
“I don’t see the need of a male guardian for this. This has nothing to do with gender mixing or anything against the rules of Islam.”
Many women don’t even share their love of shisha with their “mahrams” which makes this bad news for them. “No one knows I smoke shisha, this is why I don’t smoke at home because my family doesn’t want me to do anything that harms my health,” said Hayat Ali, a college student. “I go with my friends once a week to any café to smoke shisha and have a good time ... There is nothing else to entertain us here but shopping and smoking shisha. What are we going to do now,” she wondered.
The news created quite a buzz on the social media where many supported the idea while others rejected it.
“I am totally supporting this idea because it is sad when I see young women smoking shisha in public,” said Ahmed Al-Shammari on Twitter. “It makes them look cheap and easy.”
Coffee shop owners say this might harm their business, especially since it comes after the ban on serving shisha indoors. “We lost a lot of money and many clients after the regulation of serving shisha only in outdoors property which led us to rent more space and expand the café to the rooftop in order to serve it,” said Jameel Mohammed, café manager.
“We have not yet received anything from the Ministry of Commerce or the Haia but once we do, I guarantee our business is going to lose a lot and we might have to shut down the café.”
Haia spokesman Abdulrahman Al-Qaffari said the sign that surfaced on the social media is of a Makkah-based coffee shop called Layalina Al-Helwa.
allay MERS fears:
Health Minister Abdullah Al-Rabeeah visited a number of hospitals in Jeddah on Saturday to take stock of the measures to tackle the coronavirus that has caused alarm among Saudis and expatriates and the medical fraternity.
Several parents have stopped their children from going to school to avoid the deadly virus that has so far claimed 66 lives in the Kingdom.
The Ministry of Education, meanwhile, denied the closure of schools “as there is no coronavirus among students.”
Some directors of local schools told Arab News that “a limited number, especially kindergartners” did not attend school because of coronavirus fears.
The schools have sent massages to their parents reassuring them that there are no coronavirus cases among students but they preferred to let their children stay at home until the virus is eliminated.
“I cannot send my children to school before being sure that the disease is controlled. My two sons are at the primary stage and it is easy to have this virus,” said Mahmoud Al-Maimany, a Saudi national who lives in Jeddah.
“We need more health guarantees to send our children again to school, when there are hundreds who have this disease,” said Khaled Aba Numai, a Yemeni.
“This virus is spreading and the schools represent a proper environment for infection,” he said.
A top education official in Jeddah, meanwhile, said there are no recorded cases of coronavirus in schools and no school had been closed.
However, there are plans in place to tackle any future cases of coronavirus in schools, Sabq, an electronic newspaper, quoted Abdullah Al-Thaqafi, director of education in Jeddah, as saying.
“We will close any school that records coronavirus cases among students until a health check of all students is carried out,” he said.
“Several doctors will launch awareness campaigns against the disease and they will supervise the health situation at all schools,” he said.
Al-Thaqafi said some reports, published by an electronic newspaper, had caused concern among parents.
He received a large number of calls from citizens inquiring about the situation and he told them that the published story was incorrect.
Abdullah Al-Malik, a education supervisor at a private school, said: “We have launched an awareness campaign among our students against this virus. We have also sterilized all classes. I think these actions can encourage the parents to send their children to school.”
Authorities have launched all-out efforts to prevent an outbreak of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) virus in the country.
Separate ministry for women demanded
The Shoura Council is considering a proposal to launch a high council for women, or a separate ministry for women, according to Thuraya Arrayed, a Shoura member.
“I personally support establishing such a council or ministry with the aim of defending the interests of women,” Arrayed told local media.
The Eastern Province Businesswomen’s Forum, which concluded its sessions in Dammam on Saturday, supported the move to help Saudi women play an effective economic role, and invest the SR375 billion lying idle in their bank accounts.
The forum was organized by the Asharqia Chamber.
Lama Al-Sulaiman, another member, said that men should be held accountable for the qualification they have in comparison to that of women. “About 70 percent of the men who engage in the economic activity cannot read or write,” she claimed.
Fadia Al-Rashid, head of businesswomen’s committee in Al-Ahsa, said that sectors for Saudi women’s participation are limited. According to her, while they have SR375 billion in banks, their economic activity amounts to just 8 percent.
Addressing a session on “Saudi women, a confident step toward the future,” Maha Fitaihi, president of the Saudi Girl Guides, said: “We cannot force women to get out and work. It is a woman's choice. We only want that she be more aware of her surroundings, to raise her children and not leave this task to the maid.”
On another issue concerning women, Ibrahim Al-Muhawas, member of the faculty at the University of Al-Mujamma, in a paper at an international medical conference held recently in Riyadh demanded that female specialists handle forensic medicine cases involving rape as women who claim being raped refuse to be examined by a male doctor.
The participants stressed the importance of the result of DNA tests in rape cases.
Motorists warned against ‘mid-street chats’
Mid-street chatting motorists who block the flow of traffic face stringent penalty.
In a tough warning, Jeddah police have stated that motorists who obstruct traffic to chat with one another will be severely dealt with, including confiscation of vehicles.
As part of the intensified campaign, police patrols are being stepped up on the main streets and junctions, and the entrances of markets and shopping malls to prevent such practices.
Traffic police in Jeddah fined 100 people last month for hindering traffic flow. Zaid Al-Hamzi, spokesman at Jeddah Traffic Department, told Arab News that stopping in the middle of the road will lead to a SR500 fine and/or confiscation of vehicles for 15 days.
Some drivers grab the opportunity of seeing a friend and engage with them in a conversation in the middle of the street disregarding others’ rights to pass.
Al-Hamzi said violators included young men and teenagers.
Khaled Al-Sayeed complained that some motorists don’t like even to hear that they are blocking the road.
“They look at you with contempt as if you have cut their trail of thought ... They don’t have any feeling of remorse,” he said.
Mohammed Khader, an elderly motorist, said that the “alarming” behavior is not confined to inner city streets, but also includes Jeddah-Makkah and Jeddah-Madinah highways.
Kingdom ‘mindful of global recovery push’:
Saudi Arabia plays a pivotal role in the IMF through its historic presence and works with its multiple partners, when needed, to promote global financial stability, said a senior Riyadh-based economist as Group of 20 Nations reiterated their commitment to boost global growth by 2 percent.
John Sfakianakis, chief investment strategist at MASIC, a Riyadh-based investment firm, made these remarks as the G20 delegates pressed the US to ratify crucial IMF reforms, suggesting they would find an alternative if Washington does not deliver by year’s end.
The reforms, which include a funding increase and expansion of emerging economies’ roles in the International Monetary Fund, were originally strongly backed by the US, the fund’s largest shareholder.
Finance Minister Ibrahim Al-Assaf is heading the Saudi delegation at World Bank Group-International Monetary Fund meetings in Washington.
Sfakianakis said: “Saudi Arabia is mindful of the global recovery efforts and does its part to provide stability in oil prices as per the needs of global markets.”
He said: “Equally important is Saudi Arabia’s stabilizing role in various regional economies and emerging markets.”
Sfakianakis stressed that Saudi Arabia has been well-cushioned from the negative headwinds of the currency declines of other emerging markets as a result of its prudent currency policy.
Finance ministers in Washington for the spring meetings of the IMF and World Bank earlier said they were “deeply disappointed” by failure to implement changes agreed in 2010, and gave the US until the end of the year to do so.
“We are committed to maintaining a strong and adequately resourced IMF,” says the communique.
“If the 2010 reforms are not ratified by year-end, we will call on the IMF to build on its existing work and develop options for next steps.”
The Group of 20 Nations also reiterated their commitment to boost global growth by 2 percent, or over $2 trillion, over the next five years and achieve exchange rate flexibility.
Basil Al-Ghalayini, CEO of BMG Financial Group, said: “Clearly the G20 members’ patience has run out with the US over its reform delay with a virtual ultimatum and deadline to ratify these reforms by year end. Obviously, the mounting debt of the US budget, which was highly criticized by the Republicans, coupled with gradual split between US and Russia over the Ukraine crisis, are proving to be stumbling blocks for the Americans to proceed. Ultimately, advanced and emerging economies, including that of Saudi Arabia, will be more forceful in deciding the future direction of the IMF in the absence of the US.”
KSA facing increased cases of witchcraft:
Residents in the Kingdom are reporting a dramatic increase in the incidents of black magic, said to be practiced by mostly expats.
The phenomenon is rampant in the Western Province, which records higher numbers in comparison with the other parts in the Kingdom, according to officials. Makkah and Madinah have recorded the highest number of cases, sources have said.
More than 85 percent of witchcraft-related cases registered in Makkah’s courts involve expats, according to statistics issued by the Ministry of Justice.
The increase in the number of witchcraft-related cases has prompted authorities at the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice (known in Arabic as the “Haia“) to use social networking sites to spread awareness and close in on sorcerers. In fact, the Haia has an exclusive section on its web site that addresses cases related to witchcraft.
The commission also recently introduced training programs for field employees in Makkah on how to deal with sorcerers.
“We have implemented certain procedures and systems to deal with cases pertaining to sorcery across the Kingdom,” Ahmed Al-Janard, a spokesman at the commission, told Arab News.
“The Haia recently apprehended a resident in the Eastern Province who was involved in the promotion of witchcraft through his Twitter account,” he said. “He was caught selling a stone that he claimed has the power to eliminate evil, reduce envoy and foster feelings of love.”
A Jeddah court recently sentenced an Asian Qur’an teacher to a four-year prison term and a hundred lashes, in addition to deportation upon completing his sentence, for practicing witchcraft and contacting potential clients on their mobile phones.
Several uninhabited flats and buildings, meanwhile, are said to possessed by jinn, according to residents who claim to have personally witnessed the supernatural creatures.
“I have frequently witnessed jinn attacks,” said Issa, an imam who cures residents affected by the supernatural creatures. “People come to me saying they had seen a ghost or had experienced strange incidents.”
“The Qur’an states that jinn have the ability to scare people,” he said. “They are supernatural beings that reside in parallel to our world.”
“I had rented out a flat in this area even though the structure of the building was outdated because it was affordable,” said Syed Arif, an expat who recently moved onto the Arbaeen district in Jeddah.
“My younger son started to talk to what we thought was an imaginary friend,” he said. “He never wanted to leave the house and stayed in his room for hours. We used to hear him laughing and talking to himself all the time.”
“When the situation got worse, we consulted a sheikh, who told us our son plays with a jinn,” he said. “He had advised us to move houses if the situation continued.” Amena Ali, a Jeddah residents, told Arab News of her experience with the unseen.
“We use to live in the Bab Makkah area and my daughter once complained that she saw a shadow in the house,” said Amena. “We didn’t pay attention to her, thinking it was her imagination, until my husband encountered the same shadow.”
Ejaz Hamed, a resident in the Rehab district, said that the government has closed off a local building said to be inhabited by jinn, which has not been rented out in years.
Ahlam Hafez from Riyadh said she paid a sheikh more than SR10,000 to get rid of jinn in a neighboring flat.
“There are believers and non-believers among jinn,” said Mohammed Mukhtar, a sheikh. “Preachers who earn their living by exorcizing spirits should charge affordable fees.”
Emergency quake shelter sites selected
Saudi Arabia has finalized plans to build life-saving emergency earthquake shelters following warnings of an ever-increasing number of large-magnitude earthquakes that can hit different countries and regions across the globe, including the Middle East.
The Saudi Geological Survey (SGS), the state-owned body responsible for monitoring seismic activity, is working closely with the Civil Defense Department on the project.
“The SGS has selected many emergency shelter sites in different regions of the Kingdom, including Madinah, Yanbu, and Haradh,” Zohair A. Nawab, SGS president, said Saturday.
In his interview, Nawab also spoke about the Kingdom’s readiness to cope with any disaster, especially earthquakes or volcanic eruptions. The SGS is planning to select sites for emergency shelters in many other Saudi cities along the country’s Western region, where the level of seismic activity is high, he said.
“The idea to build special shelters was first conceived after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck Iran,” said Nawab, and added that new seismograph stations with state-of-the-art equipment are being installed by SGS in the Kingdom so that the quality of data and information on earthquake parameters can be improved. He pointed out that the SGS is now responsible for all earthquake-monitoring stations and the monitoring of seismic activity in the country.
Nawab said that most of the stations are currently concentrated in the Western Province.
They are located in the north of Yanbu in the area of Harrat Lunayyir, he said.
“The Saudi National Seismic Network is capable of monitoring any seismic activity because the sensors used in the network are broadband and are capable of recording all types of quakes, ranging from micro tremors to huge-intensity earthquakes,” he said. “There are currently almost 150 seismic stations. We are planning to reach the 200-mark, which will cover the whole country.”
“Numerous earthquakes occur near the boundary between the Arabian plate and the surrounding tectonic plates,” he said.
Apart from seismicity along the axis of the Red Sea and along the Gulf of Aqaba and Aden, considerable activity occurs along the Dead Sea transform fault system.
A 5.1-magnitude earthquake struck the southwestern part of the Kingdom, centering on Jazan, earlier this year. Its impact was felt by inhabitants in the Asir and Najran regions, according to the SGS and postings on social networking sites.
A number of small earthquakes struck western Saudi Arabia last year. In fact, over 30,000 minor quakes took place between April and June 2009 within an ancient solidified lava field called the “Harrat Lunayyir,” which damaged buildings near Al-Ais.
This prompted authorities to evacuate 40,000 residents from the region at the time. The SGS is also working on many other projects related to geological mapping, mineral exploration, environment geology and hydrogeology.
Cabbies name Jeddah’s no-go districts
Taxi drivers generally dread going to some southern neighborhoods in Jeddah such as Ghulail, Karantina and Sabeel, especially late at night as they fear being mugged or assaulted besides the difficulty of navigating through the narrow streets, a local daily reported.
Narrating his unhappy experience in the congested districts of Jeddah, taxi driver Yusus Suhail said three Africans boarded his taxi in Bawadi recently and wanted to go to Karantina. The fare was decided at SR25.
They assured him that the roads were excellent and that he wouldn’t problems entering or exiting their neighborhood. When they reached the district, however, the passengers kept ordering him to turn left and right on a narrow road full of potholes.
Unable to suffer anymore, he stopped the car and asked them to get out saying that he could not take them to their destination and that he did not want any fare. But the three men refused and insisted that he should take them to their homes. He argued with them but to no avail.
Finally, when he reached their place he could not go back or turn the car because of the narrow lane. He had to wait for a long time to find his way back to the main road. It was then that he vowed that he would never take a passenger to Karantina regardless of how tempting the fare was.
Another driver, Muhammad Akbar, said he had a painful experience of a different kind in the Sabeel district. His passenger asked him to stop at a gate which appeared to be the entrance to a traditional building and told him to wait for a minute so that he could get the money for the fare from his house.
The driver waited for the passenger’s return for half an hour but there was no sign of him. So he decided to enter the building but when he pushed it, he was shocked to find that the gate opened to a bare field with no buildings or people in sight. So he returned empty handed.
Shaker Mahmoud said he would never forget the time when he was beaten up and his money stolen after he took two passengers to Ghulail in south Jeddah.
"When we reached a remote area in the district, the two passengers asked me to stop and give them all the money I had. When I refused to comply with their demand, one of them struck me with immense force. I did not want any more trouble and quickly took out SR90, the only money I had earned that day,’’ he said, adding that he thanked God for escaping serious injuries.
Abdullah Malki, another taxi driver, said he refuses to go to remote places because people mostly refuse to pay the fare when they reach their destination. They would ask the driver to wait for the money and then vanish.
Another problem he faces is people throwing stones at his car and breaking the windshield. “It is not possible to go after troublemakers in unfamiliar places,” he said.
On the other hand, Muhammad Al-Sharif, a Saudi citizen living in Ghulail said the residents of the neighborhood have to pay the price for the criminal deeds of a few people. "When I tell a taxi driver I want to go to Ghulail, he will politely excuse himself and leave me on the road. Very few drivers are willing to drive me to my place and even when I offer to pay more than the normal fare,’’ he said.
Abdullah Sanaan, a professor of Islamic studies at the King Abdul Aziz University, said a few people may commit crimes, but it is unfair to generalize such conduct and blame an entire neighborhood.
Special quarantine units for MERS patients urged
The Ministry of Health should launch special emergency procedures to stop the spread of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) coronavirus by setting up special quarantine facilities to treat suspected and infected people, says an expert.
“In light of the new outbreak of MERS cases we have to change the emergency plan and set up special camps to receive and isolate suspected cases,” said Mohammed Al-Harbi, a specialist at King Abdul Aziz Hospital, which saw the death of a male nurse from the virus.
Al-Harbi said the ministry has three options: To establish an isolation camp for all patients in one place; have isolation wards in every hospital; or set aside an entire hospital specifically to treat MERS cases.
“Taking suspected cases into hospitals in a haphazard manner will only lead to the spread of the disease,” he said.
He said MERS was initially found among the elderly and those suffering from chronic diseases but was now affecting young people.
“This is a dangerous sign,” the specialist said.
His comments follow the announcement of new cases of MERS infections, despite the health ministry’s efforts to sterilize emergency wards at King Fahd and King Abdul Aziz hospitals in the city.
According to a local daily, the head of a medical department at King Fahd Hospital has been affected, while a Pakistani doctor suspected to have the virus has been reported at King Abdul Aziz Hospital.
It also reported the death of a 40-year-old Saudi man at a private hospital on Thursday, bringing the total number of MERS deaths to three in Jeddah and 67 in the Kingdom.
According to informed sources, the number of visitors to King Fahd Hospital in Jeddah declined by 55 percent after reports of people there infected with the virus.
Saudi nurses have meanwhile urged the Health Ministry to take steps to ensure their protection.
They said the ministry was biased toward doctors, ignoring their plight.
MBC’s “Bidun Shak” (Without Doubt) talk show hosted by Mohammed Fahad Al-Harthi, editor in chief of Arab News, addressed the issue in its latest episode.
Speaking during the forum, Health Minister Abdullah Al-Rabeeah said he supports nurses’ right to get compensation for dealing with MERS and other infectious diseases.
“I will take up the matter with relevant authorities to get your rights,” the minister said.
Khaled Mirghalani, spokesman of the ministry, said the King Fahd Hospital emergency ward has been reopened and all medical staff members had returned to work.
One Arabic daily, however, reported that there was a noticeable absence of staff after the head of a medical department became infected.
Deputy Health Minister Mohammad Khashim said the ministry has isolated six people that tested positive for the virus.
He said 90 percent of coronavirus carriers do not show symptoms, with only laboratory tests being able to make accurate diagnoses.
“All tested samples that came back positive have been published on the ministry’s website,” he said, stressing that the ministry’s preventive programs are linked to the World Health Organization.
Cameras to watch airport officials
The Passport Department will soon install cameras at airports in Jeddah and Riyadh and at the King Fahd Causeway to monitor the performance of its staff.
Maj. Gen. Sulaiman Al-Yahya, director general of the Passport Department, said it would also install devices at counters for travelers to assess the services of employees.
He was speaking at Dammam airport this week while launching the new services.
Al-Yahya said the first stage of the project would see cameras and passenger devices installed at King Khaled International Airport in Riyadh and King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, and then later at other airports.
“The causeway will also be monitored with multiple cameras and other monitoring devices, and will be connected to my mobile phone,” he said.
Al-Yahya said the department has provided extra laptops in the event of computer failures and breakdown of vehicles as emergency backup at the causeway and other entry points.
Meanwhile, Passport Department workers started on Sunday to wear their traditional Saudi attire at King Khaled International Airport in Riyadh, King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, King Fahd International Airport in Dammam and Prince Mohammed International Airport in Madinah.
Officials at other airports in the country would also do so over the next two weeks, Al-Yahya said.
He said that the department has started training a group of women "in accordance with the Shariah” to staff counters in Riyadh and Jeddah in the next two months.
Maid hacks Saudi employer to death
The police have arrested an Ethiopian maid for murdering a Saudi woman in a rural district in Taif on Thursday.
The African woman in her thirties hacked her employer, who was in her fifties, to death with an axe while she was praying the noon prayer at her house in Maisan, 130 km south of Taif, said Lt. Col. Ati Al-Qarshi, police spokesman in Makkah.
“After receiving the report about the murder, the Maisan police rushed to the location and found the lifeless body of the Saudi woman lying in a pool of blood on a prayer mat," said Al-Qarshi.
They arrested the maid, who admitted committing the murder, and found SR7,000 in her possession. The Saudi women’s room had been ransacked.
A source said the Saudi woman, Umm Saad, was always kind and considerate to the maid, with some friends believing she pampered her.
The maid had been employed for the past 18 months, the source said.
According to another source, Umm Saad was sleeping in her room when she was attacked.
The victim’s husband works in an education office southeast of Taif, a local daily reported.
During the week, two African women committed suicide in the country.
Haia: 9 p.m. shops closure plan ‘will boost family bonds’
The proposal to close shops at 9 p.m. would benefit Saudi and expatriate families, especially working women, according to the chief of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice (Haia).
Sheikh Abdullateef Al-Asheikh said recently that women must have opportunities to work, but this must take place within a suitable working environment, with defined working hours and proper transport.
“We should support this decision, and remove all obstacles in its way. It is in the national interest and will benefit all citizens and residents in the Kingdom,” he reportedly said.
He said the measure would reorganize the working lives of people and ensure they lead dignified lives.
It creates opportunities for families to bond, and eases the burden on cities.
He said all cities in the developed world close their shops early to protect their economies.
The ruling includes all sales outlets with the exception of cafes, restaurants, food markets and pharmacies.
A committee comprising officials from the Ministries of Labor, Commerce and Industry, Municipal and Rural Affairs, Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Call and Guidance, and the Haia, has recommended that retail and sales outlets close at 9 p.m.
The proposal follows extensive discussions to define working hours at shops and commercial centers, to comply with a ruling issued by the Shoura Council five years ago.
Several businessmen said that the plan, if implemented, would be bad for business, especially since shops close twice for prayers at night, for Maghrib and Isha.
Abdullah Al-Mobty, president of the Council of Saudi Chambers, had earlier called on government to allow shops to stay open until 11 p.m.
Allah's wrath killed Rajiv, Sanjay Gandhi: SP's Azam Khan
Palestinians condemn Israeli sanctions as ‘piracy’:
JERUSALEM: The Palestinian negotiator in Mideast peace talks is calling Israel’s decision to stop tax money transfers “piracy.”
Saeb Erekat said Friday that “the Israeli decision to withhold these funds is piracy. ... It cannot be maintained.” He also said talks persist, though “gaps remain big.”
Erekat spoke a day after an Israeli official said Israel would stop the tax money transfers in retaliation for the Palestinians pushing to sign up for more recognition from international agencies and treaties. That comes after Israel failed to release Palestinian prisoners as promised and moved forward with more settlements in land Palestinians want for their future capital.
Israel collects about $100 million a month in taxes for the Palestinians. It isn’t clear how much would be withheld or for long it would go on.
No absentee voting for Indian diaspora this time:
India’s supreme court Friday ruled that absentee voting was not possible for the diaspora during the ongoing elections.
The court accepted the Election Commission’s argument that it was not possible for a review as the staggered elections were already in progress and an amendment was required in the election law, lawyers appearing for the petitioner said.
The petitioner, Shamseer V.P., a UAE-based entrepreneur, moved the court demanding e-vote or postal ballot.
The apex court bench of K.S. Radhakrishnan and Vikramajit Sen observed that a detailed hearing was required on the subject and that the possibility of allowing absentee ballot for resident Indians should be considered.
The court had on Monday enquired whether it could be possible to allow the registered voters to cast e-vote or postal ballot before the end of the last phase of polling on May 14.
The Election Commission’s attorney told the court that e-vote was under the consideration of the panel formed to study the issue, both legal and technical.
Despite providing the online registration option for the diaspora as voters this time, the election authorities received less than 14,000 valid applications, 12,653 of them from the southern state of Kerala where every third household has a member working abroad, mostly in Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
The court, which began the hearing on the petition last month, termed disenfranchisement of more than 10 million citizens living abroad as “a serious matter of concern” and wondered why it took so long to reach the court.
“This is a good beginning and going by the positive comments made by the court, we are just one step away from having the right to exercise our franchise established,” said Shamseer.
As per official data, 10,037,761 Indians live abroad and they are entitled to register online and vote only if they were present in their constituencies at the time of elections. They were also allowed to register online and send their documents for verification by post to be able to vote here.
But most of them abstain as they were not sure of voting due to the restrictions. A pro-government group chartered a flight for 147 registered voters from the UAE this week and a few have managed to travel to vote on their own.
According to Shamseer, the court appeared to have been convinced that e-voting allowing expatriate to cast their vote from the comforts of their home using a high security password was easier and effective as a foolproof system was already in place.
While welcoming the court move, Kerala’s Congress-led government announced that it would explore the possibility of allowing e-voting in the civic polls next year.
ignites pay-hike calls:
Many Saudis have called for increasing the minimum wage in both public and private sector jobs to SR9,000 after a study conducted by King Khaled Foundation revealed that a five-member Saudi family requires SR8,926 for a decent living without depending on aid from the government and charities.
Sami bin Abdul Aziz Al-Damigh, a professor at King Saud University in Riyadh with longstanding experience in social work, conducted the survey for the charity.
He hoped the survey would help the government understand the economic difficulties being faced by its citizens and take decisions to address such problems.
Al-Damigh interviewed 10,000 families across the country and found out that a family needs SR1,390 for housing, SR1,510 for food, SR1,307 for clothing, SR201 for health care, SR248 for school expenses, SR882 for the needs of newborn babies, SR633 for transport, SR1,353 for basic services, SR905 for recreation and SR496 for other expenses.
There were on average five members, including three children, in families surveyed for the study. It found many Saudi families were finding it difficult to make ends meet.
Al-Damigh emphasized that the social insurance scheme should be based on peoples’ needs.
One Saudi, who receives a monthly salary of SR5,500, said he allocates SR1,800 to pay marriage loan, SR750 to Saudi Credit Bank, SR2,500 for semester fees and SR600 for books.
An elderly Saudi who lives in a makeshift house, for instance, said he was receiving only SR1,700 from social insurance, an insufficient amount for his family of five.
Fuad Kawther, a Saudi engineer and social worker, said the government should adopt more proactive policies to address the various problems facing citizens, including housing.
“There were calls through social media outlets to increase salaries, but there was no response,” he told Arab News.
He said the payment of SR2,000 in unemployment benefits would not serve the purpose. He urged the government to learn from the successful experiences of other GCC countries to improve the condition of citizens and alleviate their suffering.
“People expect more from Saudi Arabia, being the cradle of Islam. We want the era of Caliph Omar bin Al-Khattab and Omar bin Abdul Aziz to come back. During their times, there was no poverty. We have now more wealth than those days and we should use our resources properly for the benefit of citizens. We should also apply the Zakat system strictly for poverty alleviation.”
Royal criticism of banks sets social media abuzz
Saudis on social media Wednesday praised Deputy Crown Prince Muqrin for saying the nation's banks are not doing enough for the poor.
Prince Muqrin questioned the banks' commitment to social development, despite making record profits, at a press conference on Tuesday during a ceremony organized by the King Khaled Charity Foundation in Riyadh.
Abdulkareem Alneqez said: “Prince Muqrin has hit the nail on the head with this irritating question, which our banks would like to pretend they didn’t hear. This question will shut them up, and echo in bankers' ears.”
Fahd Alestaa commented: “Regardless of who’s responsible for the poor in our country, banks have come up with various tricks to empty people’s wallets.”
Tamim Al-Zahrani remarked: “The Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency should enact a law committing banks to charitable community services across the country.”
Waleed bin Saud said: “Prince Muqrin has pressed the right buttons. SAMA can control banks and order them to contribute to the development of our society.”
Abdullah Al-Kuowaileet gave his viewpoint: “Our banks are like parasites. They don’t pay taxes and would love to charge you for the oxygen you inhale if they could.”
Mushari Al-Sairi asked a relevant question: “We all know that Prince Muqrin has spoken the truth, but what is the government going to do about it? This is the real question now.”
Local media reported that Prince Muqrin's comments on Tuesday appeared to be an effort to show sensitivity to the difficulties of ordinary Saudi citizens, many of whom face a shortage of affordable housing and an unemployment rate that was officially at 11.5 percent in the fourth quarter of last year.
Prince Muqrin said of the banks: “They are on the short side in many things. They give little compared to the benefits they receive from citizens and from the state,” he said, responding to a question on the possibility of setting up banks for the poor.
Saudi commercial banks recorded record profits in 2013 of SR37.6 billion, a 7 percent increase from 2012.
1 dies in brawl at drifting
A young Saudi man died and another was seriously injured when a bloody fighting erupted between groups of youth involved in the dangerous game of drifting in Al-Kharj, about 80 km south of Riyadh.
The fighting took place in King Saud Street on Wednesday evening, according to the Al-Arabiya website.
The news channel said the victim died of a bullet wound, while the injured man sustained stab wounds on different parts of his body.
The incident took place while a large number of youth were watching car stunts in the street.
Sulaiman Al-Aqeel, a professor of social science at King Saud University, said drifting has become a major problem in Saudi society and urged authorities to take strong measures to stop such destructive activities.
“Saudis learned such stunts after interacting with other societies,” he said, adding that youth must be encouraged to make use of their free time to engage in constructive activity.
“We have to conduct interesting and informative programs for our youth to use their free time wisely to deter them from engaging in bad habits such as drifting, drug abuse and other crimes.”
Al-Aqeel said several studies have been conducted on these social issues and that recommendations should be implemented to resolve negative phenomena.
The Social Affairs Ministry and other ministries should address these issues before they become more complicated and claim more lives.
MERS kills Riyadh woman; minister allays public fears
The coronavirus is well under control, Health Minister Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah said on Wednesday at a time when Jeddah reported 11 new cases of the deadly virus, of which two were fatal.
Four patients, aged 45, 51, 57 and 90, were diagnosed with the virus in Riyadh. One of them, a woman, died on Wednesday.
The 57-year-old Saudi patient who succumbed to the virus was suffering from chronic diseases, while the other three patients are being treated at the intensive care unit of a local hospital.
“Six patients in Jeddah have been cured and three cases are still under medication,” he said.
Al-Rabeeah urged community members not to panic, playing down rumors about the spread of the virus in the Kingdom on social media sites.
The National Scientific Committee for Infectious Diseases will meet on Thursday to review the status of the disease and take decisions about how to combat its spread.
“We assure citizens and residents that precautionary measures have been taken by the ministry,” Al-Rabeeah said. The disease has not reached epidemic proportions based on guidelines set by the WHO, he said.
“The incidence of the disease is therefore very low compared to the population of the Kingdom,” the minister said. “Furthermore, the number of cases in Jeddah is proportionate to other regions of the Kingdom.”
“We are updating the ministry website with news about the virus around the clock,” he said.
The Ministry of Health has been observing the increasing incidence of virus cases and effective efforts have been taken to keep the disease under control, said Al-Rabeeah.
He also advised members of the public to take precautionary measures against the spread of the virus. This, he said, includes washing hands regularly and covering the face and nose in crowded areas or when visiting infected patients.
The minister also said that there is no definite remedy against coronavirus and that the disease remains a mystery throughout the world.
The minister also warned community members not to spread rumors on social media websites and urged members of the public to visit www.moh.gov.sa for accurate information and updates on the virus.
Surgery to separate twins today
A pair of Iraqi conjoined twins will be surgically separated by a special medical team headed by Health Minister Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah on Thursday.
“The twins, Chris and Christian, will undergo the separation surgery by a 23-member multidisciplinary team headed by the health minister,” an official from the National Guard Health Affairs told Arab News.
“The operation, which will commence at 7:30 a.m., will be conducted at the King Abdulaziz Medical City (KAMC).
“The multidisciplinary team has held several meetings and carried out medical examinations on the twins,” he said. “They are hopeful that they will be able to separate the twins successfully.”
Al-Rabeeah pointed out that the results of pre-surgical examinations have shown that the twins are conjoined down the chest and abdomen and share a liver.
Big firms threaten programs of productive families:
Experts have warned that the programs of productive families may be challenged by the presence of big companies in the Saudi market and demanded that more opportunities be created for small and medium enterprises to diversify the market and strengthen the economy.
Twenty-two Saudi and Arab experts made these observations during the second day of the “Made in Saudi Arabia” National Forum and Exhibition of the Productive Families Program, sponsored by Makkah Gov. Prince Mishaal bin Abdullah in Jeddah.
The programs aim to train 5,000 women and girls in Jeddah with the participation of 600 families in the production of various goods and services.
The participants in the first session, chaired by Loay bin Bakr Al-Taiar, dean of the Student Affairs College at the University of Business and Technology, stressed the need to develop the capacity of more than 25,000 families in Saudi Arabia involved in production activities. The session also discussed the best structural and regulatory practices for managing the activities of these productive families.
Abdullah Al-Shamli Shamsuddin predicted that the value-added returns from the projects of these families will exceed about 50 percent of its revenues, and recommended that smaller projects be granted to promote economic development among low-income groups who represent a significant proportion of the population in all developing societies.
Hatem bin Hassan Faraj Qurmon, a representative of the University of Science and Technology and a specialist in the management of marketing operations, said that 90 percent of entrepreneurs and owners of small businesses leave the market after less than three years of launching their projects as a result of administrative errors, namely marketing issues.
Meanwhile, Redah Al-Asafi, manager of the Productive Families Program in the National Commercial Bank, announced plans to launch 20 new branches in the next five years. These branches will specialize in the provision of microcredit loans and support 22,000 productive families. “The National Commercial Bank is the owner of the largest number of initiatives in this direction, having trained 9,904 beneficiaries through the productive families program launched several years ago,” he said.
Atef Malaaka, a financial adviser, said the dominance of big companies in the Saudi economic market is a catastrophic phenomenon with unknown consequences. He expressed his reservations about enabling the large corporations to control the reins of the national economy, which are steadily contributing to the disappearance of the middle class.
He emphasized the need to change the work culture, arguing that the change should begin through education in schools where young people should be introduced to the importance of a working life.
Salah bin Mahmoud Abu Nar, a faculty member of the University of Business and Technology, moderated the second session, which focused on providing insight on the best financial, funding and investment practices in the management of the productive families activities. During this session, Muhammad Salim discussed the financial management approaches of different activities, while another speaker, Hassan Yousef, defined the importance of the contribution of the private sector and government agencies.
The third session, headed by Fahd bin Yousef Sharif Al-Itani, a WTO expert, involved presentations of the success of the programs, where Mahmoud bin Mohammed Turkestani, vice president of the social responsibility department of NCB, reviewed the programs and initiatives introduced in the past few years.
A total of 10 workshops were held, covering topics such as the production of fashion design, production and marketing of jewelry, marketing of food productions, funding and financial management.
The event is the third in a series of meetings and exhibitions held in 2012 and 2013 under the same name, but with different themes and activities. The event is carefully planned to keep pace with the developments of the market.
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Private hospitals banned from hiring government doctors:
Health Minister Abdullah-Al-Rabeeah has banned the private sector from employing government doctors.
The minister made the announcement during a briefing of private hospital directors in Riyadh on Tuesday.
“Government doctors are barred from working at private hospitals even on a part-time basis,” the minister said.
He said the ministry introduced the ban to maintain quality medical services at public hospitals in the Kingdom.
He said circulars have been issued by Crown Prince Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense, and National Guard Minister Prince Miteb bin Abdullah, stating that government doctors would not be allowed to have private practices.
The minister said that consultants and university professors registered with the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties would be allowed to go for three consultations a week to a private hospital. This concession is for the private sector to maintain the quality of its services in the absence of certain specialized doctors.
He said the ministry does not allow doctors and other health officials in the government sector to undertake any services at private hospitals.
The ministry’s directorates in 20 regions would conduct surprise inspections to ensure compliance. He said the ministry finds an average of two violations of this kind monthly.
The minimum fine for a government doctor who violates the regulations is SR10,000, but could go up to SR100,000. The private hospital involved has to pay a fine of between SR50,000 and SR100,000. For a repeat offense, the punishment may include suspending the hospital’s license, he said.
“We treat the private sector as a strategic partner in providing healthcare services to the people,” Al-Rabeeah said.
“Our wish is to encourage the private sector to maintain a high degree of services offered at affordable prices to citizens and residents,” he said.
Working women call for resting areas in malls:
Saudi women working at malls and commercial retail centers claim that despite several requests to the Ministry of Labor demanding that they be provided with resting rooms to sit in during their breaks, no steps have been taken.
As female employment in malls increases, there is a serious need to create suitable working conditions for women.
Hattab Al-Anazi, spokesman for the Ministry of Labor, had earlier said that such regulatory issues are the responsibility of the shop and commercial centers’ owners.
“The ministry cannot force them to implement regulatory measures,” said Al-Anazi. “That being said, the ministry emphasizes the necessity of offering rest spaces for female employees in order to guarantee a suitable working environment for them.”
Dalal Kaaki, a Saudi businesswoman and member of the Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), pointed out that several malls in Riyadh lacked basic spaces for saleswoman to rest in.
“Women working at these places seriously need resting spaces. I have noticed that most of these saleswomen use the mall’s female bathrooms and customer’s changing rooms just to have their coffee,” she said.
She explained that when the decision to employ women was implemented, most of the commercial malls were already built, which is why separate resting rooms for women were not established.
“I would like to indicate however that there is also an important issue missing in the discussion,” said Kaaki, adding, “I have observed that most of the female saleswomen misuse their breaks and spend long hours in the female bathroom indulging in coffee and chat, while their shops remain unattended. This is a serious problem. It is for the manager or the employer to warn them and issue a regulation for them to abide by. I agree that these women need to have a special resting room built for them but it must be known that it should be strictly used during the 1 hour or 30 minutes breaks that they get and not for longer hours.”
Kaaki went on to elaborate that female employees need to be aware of workplace etiquette and be mindful of their behavior in the workplace.
She suggested that one of the temporary solutions to the problem of resting rooms could be resolved by sparing some of the space in the shop to use as a female resting room. “It will surely be a difficult decision for the management because it will cost them a lot of money. But since female employment at these malls is increasing by the day, I suggest the management needs to find a solution for their female employees to make sure they have a suitable working environment.”
On their part, employers agreed that the quick introduction of women into the work force has caught shop owners off guard. They also expressed concerns regarding the difficulties they are facing in trying to attend to the needs of their female employees.
King Faisal hospital gets US award:
The King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center in Jeddah is the first international hospital to receive the American Nurses Association NDNQI (National Database Nursing Quality Indicators) Award for Outstanding Nursing Quality 2013.
This is the second international award for outstanding nursing given to KFSH&RC (General Organization), Jeddah branch, in the past 6 months.
Chief Executive Officer Dr. Qasim Al-Qasabi congratulated the hospital nursing staff for their commitment to this achievement, and all those who made special efforts to acquire this award.
Al-Qasabi explained that it has only been a few months since the King Faisal hospital received the Magnet Hospital Designation and now this had been followed up by another sterling achievement of acquiring the American Nurses Association NDNQI Award of Outstanding Nursing Quality for 2013.
The hospital “is the first international hospital outside the United States of America to receive this award which recognizes outstanding nursing quality results against the database of over 2,000 Hospitals from a group of 10 countries including the KSA, UAE, Lebanon and Jordan as measured by their quality outcomes and according to the USA National Benchmark,” he said adding that “the award was given for top performance in the Teaching Hospitals category.”
The Jeddah branch of the hospital has been benchmarking nursing quality data with the NDNQI since 2007. The award is based on the exceptional outcomes for the following measures: Infection Rates, Pressure Ulcer Rates, Patient Falls, Use of Restraints, Pain Assessment and IV infiltrations, as well as RN satisfaction and RN turnover rates.
It is worthy of mention that this award reflects excellence in the quality of nursing services rendered by participant Hospitals through comprehensive and continuing assessment of registered nurses’ job satisfaction, patients and nurses’ outcomes.
Al-Manahil center supporting budding female entrepreneurs:
Businesswomen of Saudi Arabia in cooperation with the Ministry of Social Affairs have taken upon themselves to help and empower the women of the Kingdom.
Basically a center for beauty and physical fitness, Al-Manahil, which is located inside the Diplomatic Quarter (DQ), is a foundation created in 1990 by six women as a leading local beauty, fitness and sports center in the Saudi capital, equipped with modern facilities.
But the members of the center are using their profit they earned for budding businesswomen through Deem Al-Manahil Foundation, which selects and screens potential borrowers intending to set up their own businesses. The founding members include Princess Madawi bint Musaad, Princess Latifa bint Musaad, Princess Reema bint Sultan and Awatis Balghonain, Munaira Al-Rashid Al-Humaid and Pansa Al-Rashid Al-Humaid
Ten young Saudi women have applied this year and their applications are being screened to determine their capability to start up and run a business. The Saudi Ministry of Social Affairs is coordinating with foundation’s activities.
The selected “entrepreneurs will each be granted SR300,000 once their applications are approved by a designated committee,” said Nadyah Al-Jabr, Al-Manahil’s general manager.
“Aspiring young entrepreneurs undergo training at the Deem Al-Manahil before loans are granted,” she said. “Training is part of the foundation’s objective to help young Saudi women realize their aspirations.”
“Women who have been granted loans are so far successful in their endeavors. They have embarked upon various ventures, such as providing dessert catering services, setting up dress shops at malls and manufacturing uniforms and abayas,” she said.
“The foundation began helping young Saudi women with entrepreneurial skills three years ago. Before that, it was giving contributions to various charitable organizations,” she said.
“Young Saudi female entrepreneurs will pay back the amount within five years without interest,” he said. “Borrowers, however, should religiously stick to paying back their loans in monthly installments.” It also houses the British Council Institute for women and the Alliance Francaise.
“However, it’s more than just a wellness center. It has also been silently empowering Saudi women in society by helping young girls set up entrepreneurial projects,” said Al-Jabr, who had earlier worked at the King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital (KKESH) as a human resource manager.
Riyadh has highest number of female prisoners:
Riyadh has the highest number of Saudi female prisoners and detainees, said Abdullah Al-Harbi, spokesman for the General Directorate of Prisons (GDP).
Female Saudi prisoners account for six percent of the total number of female prisoners, up one percent, he said.
Around half of female prisoners in Riyadh and Jeddah were sent to jail for immoral conduct, according to a study.
The study also showed that the majority of prisoners went back to committing crimes after being released the first time.
There were 312 Saudi female prisoners in 2008, compared with almost 3,000 expat prisoners during the same period.
Most criminals were in the 20 to 40 age bracket.
“There haven’t been many fights on our facilities,” said Al-Harbi. “There were arguments and disagreements, but they were quickly resolved by wardens.”
“Most riots are instigated by inmates of African descent,” said Col. Ayoub Nahait, GPD spokesman. “The rumor that expat inmates are domestic workers is, however, false.”
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The Ministry of Labor in Dammam has taken the initiative to invite people with special needs to its office for any assistance they may need to complete official paper work.
The office said that those who are unable to come to the office should contact the office so that a staff member can be assigned to the individual to help him complete his papers at home.
The office has posted a message on its door which reads, “Dear customer, we are here at your service. If you are a special needs person and cannot reach us, feel free to contact the number (0548146765) and we will gladly come to serve you at your place.”
Pilgrim claims to have world’s smallest Qur’an
A Pakistani pilgrim claims that he owns the world’s smallest Qur’an, which is less than 2.5 centimeters.
Kafeel Ahmed said Pakistan’s National Museum has categorized the book as the smallest copy on the planet. The Qur’an has some damaged pages.
Ahmed said a pilgrim had given his grandfather the Qur’an in Madinah during the Haj in 1935.
“My father used to keep the tiny copy and took it with him when he went on Haj in 1985,” Ahmed said.
He said several museums and collectors of rare books were willing to buy the book at any price, but he refuses to part with it. It is a family heirloom, Ahmed said.
He is currently striving to register it as the smallest Qur’an in the Guinness Book of World Records, he said.
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Al-Sudais, Hajjar sign MoU on Haj service:
In a bid to streamline the functioning of all ministries and agencies involved in Haj and Umrah operations in the Kingdom, authorities are putting in all efforts to enhance coordination between them to serve the pilgrims better as also to project a positive picture of the country.
Haj Minister Bandar Hajjar and Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais, head of the Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques Affairs, signed a memorandum of understanding to this effect on Thursday.
The Ministry of Information, Foreign Affairs and other ministries are also expected to arrive at similar understanding to serve pilgrims effectively and ensure a quick response in case of any exigency involving Haj and Umrah pilgrims, sources said.
Al-Sudais hailed the decision to enhance cooperation and coordination between various agencies and ministries and thanked Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, Crown Prince Salman, Deputy Crown Prince Muqrin, Interior Minister Prince Mohammed bin Naif and Makkah Gov. Prince Mishaal bin Abdullah.
He said that besides the Ministry of Haj and the Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques Affairs, the Ministry of Information and Culture also plays an important role in highlighting the services to the guests of Allah.
Hajar said: “Today’s MoU will definitely give shape to the services offered to pilgrims and the integrated and constructive cooperation between the Haj Ministry and presidency will ensure pilgrims’ comfort.”
He said that the ministry and presidency will make joint efforts to educate pilgrims in their own language about the performance of rituals besides offering translation services.
A senior official from the presidency told Arab News that both sides have agreed on mutual cooperation pertaining to nine topics including media.
The Haj Ministry said it had trained nearly 1,000 employees from Haj establishments of African and non-Arab countries on how to advise and guide pilgrims from these countries.
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$22.5bn Riyadh metro work gathers pace:
Work on the $22.5 billion Riyadh Metro project began here Thursday and Riyadh Gov. Prince Khaled bin Bandar, who launched the groundbreaking work, said the project, to be completed in 48 months, would improve the quality of life in the capital city.
A high-level committee has been set up to solve all problems facing its implementation, including traffic problems, he said.
“Of course there will be traffic delays while implementing this huge project and I request people of Riyadh to bear with us. We’ll do everything possible to facilitate traffic,” he told reporters after launching the project.
Digging work started in five places on Thursday including for the metro station at King Khaled International Airport, Al-Olaya Station, its control center and railway maintenance station.
Al-Olaya Station, covering an area of 28,000 square meters, will have shopping centers, service facilities and car parking areas, an official said. It is designed to serve 400,000 passengers daily.
The airport station will be located at the fifth terminal, which is being constructed, the official said.
There will be three stations linking the airport with King Abdullah Financial Center.
The control and operation center will be located near the maintenance station, west of Princess Nora University.
The Riyadh governor later chaired a meeting of experts to follow up implementation of the project and discussed matters related to design, traffic and coordination with various departments.
Arriyadh Development Authority (ADA) announced the winning bidders on July 28 for three design and build contracts worth $ 22.5 billion for the construction of a 176.7km six-line automated metro network in the capital city.
The Fast consortium, which is led by Spanish construction group FCC, will build three lines totaling 73km in a deal worth $7.82 billion.
FCC’s partners in Fast include Alstom; Samsung C&T; Strukton, Netherlands; Freyssinet, Saudi Arabia; Typsa, Spain; and Setec, France. Alstom’s share of the contract is worth around $1.6 billion and includes a fleet of 69 metropolis trains, together with Communications Based Train Control (CBTC), Hesop energy recovery system, and its Appitrack tracklaying system.
The Arriyadh New Mobility Group (ANM) will construct the 40.7km Red Line from Madinah Road to Prince Saad bin Abdul Rahman Road in a contract worth $5.21 billion.
Ansaldo STS’ share is worth $680 million and covers automatic train control (ATC), CBTC and power supplies.
Finally, the Bechtel-led BACS consortium will build the 39km Blue Line from Olaya Street to Batha Street and Al-Hayer Road, and the 25km Green Line along King Abdullah Road.
The contract has a total value of $9.45 billion.
According to FCC, the construction of the network will require 600,000 tons of steel, 4.3 million cubic meters of concrete, and will employ more than 30,000 people.
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Fresh quarantine rules for pilgrims
The Ministry of Health has announced quarantine measures for Haj and Umrah pilgrims who are coming from countries that have a high rate of infectious diseases.
The ministry had sent out the circular to the Foreign Ministry that would be circulated among overseas missions spelling out the requirements for visa issuance for various countries.
Ziad Al-Memish, undersecretary to the Ministry of Health, said the Kingdom has been carefully monitoring developments throughout the globe in the field of infectious diseases.
He said the requirements stipulated in the new circular are in line with the requirements set by the World Health Organization (WHO) to control the spread of infectious diseases worldwide.
This year, Al-Memish said the Kingdom had focused on diseases such as yellow fever, meningitis, seasonal influenza, polio and food poisoning.
He said that the vaccines should be given 10 days before pilgrims commence their journey.
“We have also advised elderly pilgrims and others who suffer from chronic diseases such as cardiac conditions, diabetes, renal and respiratory maladies to postpone their pilgrimage,” he said.
“We have prescribed specific vaccines considering the incidence of disease in these countries.”
“In addition, ships and aircraft carrying pilgrims should also produce a certificate stating that the carriers are free of mosquitoes,” he said.
Besides these vaccinations, the spokesman advised pilgrims to take precautions against influenza to prevent a flu attack during their stay in the Kingdom.
“The flu vaccine is not mandatory, but is desirable considering present weather conditions and the susceptibility of pilgrims to influenza,” he said.
He advised high-risk patients with chronic ailments such as diabetes, hypertension and renal diseases to take the flu vaccine in the event they decide to embark on the Haj or Umrah pilgrimage.
Al-Memish also reminded pilgrims to pack food in sealed containers.
Portugal offers two-year visas to Saudi investors:
Portugal has offered Saudis investment of up to 1 million euros (SR5.1 million) in the country's real estate or the financial sector, two-year renewable visas with access to all Schengen countries in Europe.
Paulo Portas, Portugal’s deputy prime minister, said Wednesday that the question of visas would be discussed between the two sides at a joint committee meeting.
Portas spoke to Arab News at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Conference Palace in Riyadh following his meetings with the crown prince and the finance minister. Portas arrived Tuesday at the head of a 45-member business delegation.
He said there was also interest in establishing flights between the two countries. "This would improve trade, boost education, tourism, friendship and bilateral trade.”
Portas said flights are currently operated by a Gulf airline to Portugal. "It is completely booked every day. Portugal is one of the most popular destinations in Europe for tourists. It has sun, ocean, heritage, history, astronomy, safety and excellent highways and airports.”
He said the country had emerged from its recession, was improving its economic growth and reducing unemployment.
He said Portugal was one of the few European countries that voted to recognize Palestine as a state at the United Nations.
He said Syria was a "great humanitarian tragedy. We should build a 21st century based on science, development, prosperity and peace, not on casualties and destabilization of millions of people, who have no homes, no schools, no health services. The world should be much more active on the Syrian question,” he said.
Portugal's exports to Saudi Arabia are worth some 170 million euros and imports around 700 million euros, he said.
“Exports contributed 28 percent to our gross domestic product four years ago. Now it is 41 percent. Our exports include fruit, olive oil, shoes, information technology, renewable energy, health care and education. Portuguese companies are doing well in the Saudi market."
"Our political relations are very good and we are discussing ways to improve our trade investment relations. For instance, we have to conduct negotiations on avoidance of double taxation and also to promote investment."
He said the visiting delegation includes representatives from 45 companies, including from construction, public works, information technology, tourism, entertainment, sports, energy, environment, agro foods and pharmaceutical industries.
"Saudi Arabia invests traditionally in European countries, and I think it is the right time to look at Portugal because our economy turned around three years ago. “Our economic growth is back on track. We are now among the best performers in the euro zone. So this is the right moment to pay attention to Portugal. Previously we had great difficulty because of the EU bailout."
Portas said he met the crown prince, the finance minister, and the minister of commerce and industry, who co-chairs the bilateral joint committee with him. He also plans to meet the agriculture minister, the minister of health, Prince Alwaleed and private groups.
"Portugal recognizes the key role played by Saudi Arabia in interfaith dialogue. Saudi Arabia is very relevant in the Islamic world. It is a key country providing stability to the Gulf region and Middle East. I am in favor of dialogue between cultures, civilizations and religions. Portugal has always been interested in the influence of Islamic culture, especially in the south of the country.
"Portuguese people have been navigators and our nations have known each other for centuries, so we have a basis to improve our relations."
He urged the Kingdom to send some of its 20,000 overseas students to Portuguese universities, and said he hoped the two countries could sign a memorandum of understanding on education.
Dammam Corniche draws visitors from afar:
The Dammam Corniche is a popular attraction in the region, drawing visitors not only from the adjoining cities of Alkhobar, Dhahran and Jubail but also from the Saudi capital.
“The Dammam Corniche is popular because it has unique attractions like the picturesque boardwalk and a beautiful park with neatly manicured grass,” said Romy E. Galvez, executive secretary at Saudi Cement in Dammam.
It is not uncommon to see people at the Corniche gazing at the gleaming waves in the late afternoon sunshine as gulls fly by.
Galvez and his wife Ellen often go there for their early morning walk and at night during week days to take in the fresh air and while the time away.
“The visitors soak up the beauty of the Corniche which seems to transport them to another place and time,” said Galvez who worked in Riyadh for 21 years before coming to Dammam where he has been working for the past six years.
An additional attraction is the cruise around Murjan Island located at the end of the Corniche. A trip on a speed boat or cruise ship costs SR30.
“There are so many other attractions at the Dammam Corniche,” said Resureccion O. Ramos, a physician at the Dammam Medical Dispensary. “There’s a carnival which attracts the old and young alike and the lion and dolphin shows which children really enjoy,” she added.
Visitors can also visit the Marina Mall to shop. “You can find almost everything at the mall,” she said.
“There are restaurants, fast food chains and coffee shops in the area,” said Ramos who has been working at the hospital since 1999.
“Visitors are also careful not to leave any litter behind them,” she noted, adding that various groups like the Bantay at Kasangga ng OFW have also been conducting clean-up drives at the Corniche to maintain cleanliness.
Ramos, who received her medical degree from the Manila Central University-Filemon D. Tantioco Medical Foundation (MCU-FDTMF) in 1975, is the group’s health committee chairwoman.
Frenchman among 3 rescued at sea:
One person is suspected to have drowned in Tabuk’s Red Sea waters amid high tides on Wednesday, while a French tourist who was on a solo sea voyage from Yemen to Egypt was rescued by Saudi Coast Guard the same day, Col. Naji Al-Johani, spokesman for Saudi Coast Guard, told Arab News on Thursday.
“Thierry Ropert Segono, the French national, experienced a technical snag on board his boat due to sudden sea level fluctuations,” said Al-Johani. “The Coast Guard rescued Segono after picking up his call for help through a radar sensor system.”
"His boat was brought to Jeddah shore, where he was given technical assistance," he said.
“On Thursday, the Coast Guard also rescued two Bangladeshi fishermen who were sailing on a boat that became stranded in the Abu Madafi area of the Red Sea due to strong currents,” he said. “The search for the two fishermen had been on since Wednesday, but they were found the next morning in good condition.”
In the past few days, several regions across the Kingdom have been experiencing strong winds, which created dust storms and choppy seas.
Winds have adversely affected vessel movement at the Jeddah Islamic Port, the Kingdom’s largest cargo port. Vessel movement was halted Wednesday but was restored on Thursday, according to JIP officials.
Work in ports at Yanbu, Jubail and Dammam had also been affected, said one source.
Coast Guard officials have warned fishermen, the majority of whom are Indian and Bangladeshi, against sailing when weather alerts are issued.
Officials have also cautioned residents against swimming at the Corniche over the weekend.
“The movement of trucks to Taif was also affected due to poor visibility and dust,” said Mohammed Iqbal Mohammed, a trucker who drove from Dammam to Jeddah. “The road between Qassim and Riyadh was also badly affected due to a dust storm on Wednesday.”
“The situation improved Thursday,” said Baker Sulaiman, a resident in Majmah, a town along the highway.
Companies fire 70,000 expats in two years:
Private companies that were previously in the red zone of the Nitaqat nationalization program for having an insufficient Saudi-to-expat ratio have let go more than 70,000 foreign workers over the last two years in a bid to hire more nationals, according to private sector experts.
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) represent the bulk of companies falling into the red category, as they have few workers and cannot generate enough jobs for both Saudis and expats.
Contractors for government bodies, meanwhile, have stopped hiring foreigners altogether.
“These many expats have been fired in order to attract fresh Saudi graduates to work on a minimum wage of SR6,000 just like expats,” said Farooq Al-Khateeb, an economy professor at King Abdulaziz University.
“SMEs are interested in hiring fresh Saudi graduates who would agree to work for lower salaries than professional Saudis, who earn far more,” he told Arab News.
“Several hundred expats had also been fired by companies with a sufficient number of Saudis,” said Fadal Abu Al-Ainain, an economic consultant with several private firms. “The Labor Ministry must close the doors of foreign recruitment so that professionals already living in the Kingdom can find jobs,” he said.
“The Labor Ministry will take measures in the next few days with the aim of motivating companies that have been in the red zone for three months or more to increase the percentage of Saudis on their payrolls in line with the nationalization scheme,” said Abdul Moneam Al-Sherry, director of the Labor Department in the Makkah region.
“Companies in the green zone accounted for nearly 40 percent of all establishments in mid-2011 and this figure increased to 81 percent by the end of 2013,” he said. “Only around six percent of business owners failed to improve their Saudi-to-expat ratio.” The Labor Ministry, however, said that 20 percent of Saudi firms were still in the red zone two years after the implementation of the Nitaqat program despite the ministry’s intensive campaign to nationalize jobs in the private sector.
The Nitaqat program replaced the original Saudization program that was initiated in 1994 as a means of reducing reliance on foreign labor, but the initiative failed to realize the goal of attaining the 30 percent Saudization target.
The Nitaqat program, which incorporated incentives for companies that met certain standards, has been far more successful, said experts.
Risk allowance for medical staff:
The Health Ministry has announced a SR750 monthly allowance for medical and paramedical personnel who routinely come into contact with patients suffering from highly infectious diseases.
The decision will allay the fears of the medical community, which has demanded insurance cover in the wake of the spread of the novel coronavirus, especially among people working in emergency units and pathology laboratories.
“The Ministry of Health has pledged to protect medical and paramedical personnel through the introduction of insurance against infectious diseases,” said Sami Badawood, Jeddah Health Affairs director.
The Health Ministry has referred the plan to authorities for final approval, said officials.
The demand for an allowance against infectious diseases gained prominence after a male Saudi nurse working at King Abdulaziz Hospital in Jeddah was diagnosed with the deadly coronavirus.
Abdul Salam Noorwali, director-general at the ministry’s Makkah branch, and Badawood visited Bandar Al-Katheeri in hospital.
The ministry has since embarked on testing employees working at hospitals to ensure they are virus-free.
Medical experts from regional clinical laboratories in Jeddah and King Abdulaziz Hospital have found that their staff are free from infectious diseases.
“Similar tests were conducted at King Fahd Hospital,” said Badawood on Tuesday.
“The ministry is launching several awareness and orientation programs to train staff on how to protect themselves from catching these diseases while on duty.”
Extremists have hijacked Islam, says Madani
Extremist voices and groups have hijacked Islam and misappropriated the right to speak on its behalf, according to Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Secretary General Iyad Ameen Madani.
In his address at the inaugural session of the 25th Session of the Arab Summit held in Kuwait recently, he stressed that in actual fact, Islam with its established values and aspirations and with its advocacy of justice, equality, concord, coexistence and mutuality, is totally unrelated to them and to their ideologies and what they call for.
Madani said that the relations between the OIC and the League of Arab States are of a fundamental and pivotal character, with the cause of Palestine, Al-Aqsa Mosque and Al-Quds at the forefront, particularly under the recurrent and systematic Israeli violations aimed at judaizing Al-Quds and the stifling and brutal constraints meted upon the Jerusalamities.
He paid tribute to the close cooperative and consultative relations between the two organizations in their stand in the face of their common issues and challenges, and underlined the OIC’s keen interest in furthering its coordination with the Arab League.
He said that “the advancing danger and the serious challenges facing us all take the shape of discord and mutual killings which have gained ground in our ranks. This is a war where there is no victor but it will invite perils for all.” He recalled that the Extraordinary Islamic Summit which was held in Makkah in 2012 had adopted the initiative of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud for the establishment of a Center for Dialogue among the Islamic Doctrines for the benefit of mutual understanding. He added that the OIC is striving hard to ensure that the Center becomes a reality in the near future.
The Secretary General invoked a number of other challenges facing the OIC and the Arab League, including the identity challenge, the challenge of achieving an innovative approach to coexistence that is mindful of the legitimate national interests of states and that lays the foundations at the same time for regional and inter-regional concord and coexistence and maximizes mutual interests and benefits rather than engaging in conflicts and mutual killings.
Visa ban on pilgrims from states hit by Ebola virus:
Umrah and Haj visas will not be issued to pilgrims from Liberia and Guinea due to the prevalence of Ebola hemorrhagic fever in the two African countries.
“Liberia and Guinea have been affected with this deadly virus, which has claimed several lives,” said one official from the Ministry of Health. “Authorities have therefore been advised not to issue Haj or Umrah visas to pilgrims from these two countries.”
“The World Health Organization (WHO), however, has not issued any travel advisory against these two countries,” he said.
“The Ministry of Health issues quarantine requirements to issue Saudi missions abroad through the Saudi Foreign Ministry.”
The outbreak of the viral hemorrhagic fever, which erupted in the West African country of Guinea, has claimed the lives of 59 people so far, with several others having fallen gravely ill. This type of fever is caused by the Ebola virus.
Officials with the World Health Organization (WHO) fear the outbreak may have spread to nearby Sierra Leone, where one fatality has been reported so far.
“There are seven suspected cases in Liberia,” he said. “Two patients have tested positive for the virus.”
Ebola is a severe and often fatal disease that affects and kills up to 90 percent of its victims. The virus manifests in five different types, four of which can lead to disease outbreaks among humans.
The virus is passed onto humans through close contact with animals carriers of the virus, including fruit bats, monkeys, gorillas and chimpanzees.
Disease carriers are highly contagious and pass the virus either through object contamination or close contact, in addition to bodily fluids or blood.
The incubation period for Ebola viral hemorrhagic fever is typically one week, during which the infected patient will suffer from an array of symptoms such as fever, chills, back pain, vomiting and diarrhea.
Infected individuals will develop a rash over their entire body as the virus progresses and will suffer from swelling around the eyes and genital area and bleeding from the mouth, nose, eyes, ears and rectum, followed by shock, coma and death in many cases.
A complete blood count test (CBC), coagulation studies or a liver function test is often used to confirm cases of Ebola.
The World Health Organization (WHO) is closely monitoring the situation and said that similar cases demonstrating like-kind symptoms such as fever, diarrhea, vomiting and bleeding have also been reported in nearby Sierra Leone.
While there is no cure for Ebola, there is medication available to help fight the virus.
Patients are often hospitalized and require intensive care both to save their lives and to prevent the spread of the deadly disease.
Kingdom supports battle against nuclear terrorists:
Saudi Arabia is working actively to counter nuclear terrorism in the region and the world with its involvement in various multilateral activities, the Council of Ministers said after their meeting here.
The Cabinet expressed the hope that the recent recommendations of the Third Nuclear Security Summit in The Hague would help achieve global security and stability.
“Saudi Arabia is one of the first countries that adopted international resolutions related to nuclear security,” Culture and Information Minister Abdul Aziz Khoja said in a statement after the weekly meeting on Monday.
“In addition to its support for the initiative on combating nuclear terrorism, it is effectively and positively present in more than 20 international activities linked to nuclear security since the Seoul Summit,” the statement added.
Crown Prince Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense, chaired the Cabinet meeting at Yamamah Palace in Riyadh.
The Cabinet welcomed the comprehensive peace agreement between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, and hoped it would bring peace and stability to the southern part of the country, Khoja said in his statement to the Saudi Press Agency.
The Cabinet also approved the headquarters agreement between the Kingdom and the monetary council of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) signed in Riyadh last year.
Another major decision taken by the Cabinet was the approval of the Kingdom’s separate agreements with the Ethiopian government and the government of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg on avoidance of double taxation and prevention of tax evasion.
The meeting also highlighted the importance of the King Faisal International Prize because it “embodies the Kingdom’s appreciation and honoring of science and scientists,” Khoja said.
The Cabinet also commended the role of the Prince Salman awards and grants on studies and research related to the history of the Arabian Peninsula and the Kingdom, Khoja said.
The Cabinet approved the amendment of article 15 of the military colleges’ regulations, governing the conditions for admission and related matters.
The meeting authorized Minister of Interior Prince Mohammed bin Naif to discuss with the Tunisian government a draft agreement for mutual recognition of driver’s licenses in the two countries.
In another decision, the meeting authorized the transport minister to discuss a draft agreement on maritime transport with Algeria, Khoja said.
The Cabinet also approved a memorandum of understanding on cooperation between the health ministries of the Kingdom and Portugal.
The crown prince and members of the Cabinet earlier congratulated Prince Muqrin on his appointment as the deputy crown prince.
The Cabinet was also briefed on the talks of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah with US President Barack Obama.
The Cabinet also commended the declaration and the decisions at the 25th Arab Summit in Kuwait, to strengthen Arab solidarity.
The appointments ratified by the Cabinet yesterday included Naif Al-Otaibi as undersecretary for petroleum affairs at the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Abdullah Al-Saleh as director general of investment development at the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs, and Ahmed Al-Qadhi as director general of administrative and financial affairs at the Ministry of Interior.
Outrage at Thai verdict
People in the Kingdom expressed shock and dismay on Monday at a Thai criminal court's dismissal of a case against five men, including a senior police officer, charged with murdering a Saudi businessman over precious stones worth millions of dollars stolen more than two decades ago.
Bangkok’s Ratchadaphisek Criminal Court ruled that there was insufficient evidence to try the five men, who were accused of kidnapping and killing Muhammad Al-Ruwaili.
Al-Ruwaili had gone to Bangkok to investigate what became known as the “Blue Diamond Affair,” a series of events triggered by the 1989 theft of gems belonging to Saudi Arabia by a Thai employee.
A Shoura Council member, who wished to remain anonymous, told Arab News that he was greatly dismayed at this verdict, which displayed the triviality of the Thai judicial procedure.
Mohammed Al-Humeidi, a journalist at a prestigious Arabic daily, said that the verdict comes as a shock to the entire Saudi community.
“We have lost both valuables in the form of human life and resources and the killers just got off scot-free,” he said.
Confirming the verdict, Wijak Chittarat, charge d’affaires at the Thai Embassy in Riyadh, told Arab News that the government cannot be held responsible for this verdict since the case is solely handled by the judiciary.
Tourists repaid SR300,000 in excess charges:
n an unprecedented move, more than 30 hotel and furnished apartment owners along Jeddah’s Corniche were ordered to pay back customers a combined SR300,000 in excess charges during the 10-day spring break, Mohammed Al-Ameri, executive director of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities in the Makkah region, told Arab News.
Many lodge owners had been found guilty of taking advantage of high demand and setting room rates way beyond their original price in contravention of a circular detailing official prices set by the commission and the Ministry of Commerce.
The findings were made during inspection tours conducted by the commission’s teams in Jeddah.
“Inspection teams immediately contacted the visitors and tourists and informed them that the excess money charged would be refunded,” said Al-Ameri. “Our branch in Jeddah had organized inspection tours around the clock in an effort to ensure commitment to pricing and licensing regulations.”
He called on citizens and residents to report price violations on 19988 or by submitting a formal complaint to the commission’s local branch.
Rising number of housemaid deaths alarms Sri Lanka:
The Sri Lankan government is showing grave concern about the large number of housemaid deaths in the Gulf countries where they come to work as domestic helps in households.
The Sri Lanka Economic Association (SLEA) has given serious attention to a recent report presented in Parliament which revealed that a large number of dead bodies and remains were returned to Sri Lanka from the Gulf States between January and October 2012.
According to information available with the Medical Officer at the Katunayake Airport, about 75 percent of the bodies were of women below thirty years of age; the majority of cases were determined to be deaths due to heart failure and the internal organs in most of the bodies were reported to be missing. This is when the life expectancy at birth of Sri Lankan women is 79 years.
The Sri Lanka Economic Association (SLEA) is a volunteer association, set up in 1985 and incorporated in 2011 by an Act of Parliament. Its objective is to undertake, promote and facilitate studies in the field of economics and to promote understanding, co-operation and friendship with similar associations within and outside Sri Lanka.
According to a senior official from the Sri Lankan Embassy here, an average of one death is reported everyday.
“The cause of death is mainly natural and very few cases are due to road accidents,” the official said. Asked about the dead bodies of Sri Lankans lying in the Kingdom’s mortuaries, he said that there are some 20 bodies awaiting repatriation. However, he added that the mission sends two bodies to Colombo daily to be received by the deceased’s relatives.
An official from the Sri Lankan Consulate in Jeddah said that in the western province, the cases of death among Sri Lankans is minimal. “The consulate gets around four to five cases a month,” he said, adding that the Riyadh Embassy covers a much larger area than the consulate, so there will be more death cases at the embassy than the consulate in Jeddah. There are some 450,000 Sri Lankans living in the Kingdom and the majority of them are female domestic workers. The Sri Lankan community in the Kingdom is the island’s largest concentration among the 1.5 million Sri Lankans in the Middle East.
According to Road Map-2014 presented by the Central Bank, the trade deficit for 2013 is estimated as $8.6 billion.
Nearly 80 percent of this deficit ($6.7 billion) was bridged by foreign expatriate remittances. In addition to this macro impact, employment in the Gulf has helped thousands of poor families to make ends meet.
This is particularly important in the backdrop of weaning employment opportunities for unskilled women labor in Sri Lanka.
Based on these considerations, the SLEA has recommended the following actions which include requesting international agencies that profess the dignity of labor to uphold the cause of human rights, unequivocally protest to the countries that employ Sri Lankan housemaids, issue strict instructions to Sri Lankan missions in the Gulf to be vigilant and ensure Sri Lankan employees’ welfare and safety and take immediate remedial measures to resolve any issue that arises, register all job agencies and take strict action against agencies which are not registered and launch together with job agencies an orientation program for aspiring migrant workers to improve their soft skills, public relations, ethics and awareness of their rights and duties.
500,000 visit Jeddah:
More than 500,000 people visited Jeddah during the school recess, filling up hotels and resorts in the city, an official from the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) in Makkah, told Arab News on Monday.
"More than 70 percent of the visitors came from various parts of the Kingdom. The rest from other Gulf counties and those who came to perform Umrah," said Mohammed Al-Omari, executive director of the SCTA.
The tourists also spent time at various coastal resorts at the Corniche and north Obhur. This resulted in heavy traffic on many of Jeddah's highways.
The city had placed all its safety and security personnel on alert to cope with the unusual influx of people. Coast guard officers rescued five girls after they got into trouble in a no-swimming zone on the beach.
In preparation for the holidays, the Jeddah traffic department had earlier drawn up a plan to facilitate the flow of traffic inside the city, especially near large shopping centers, the old town and historic area.
The Civil Defense deployed various rescue teams across the city to deal with emergencies. The teams checked safety measures at shopping malls and entertainment centers. The Jeddah mayoralty sent inspectors to monitor cleanliness on the Corniche, and deployed garbage collectors to keep the city and beaches clean. Most hotels and apartment buildings were more than 90 percent full and some facilities had to turn away tourists.
Many shopping malls presented popular plays and musicals to attract customers, with some giving away prizes of over SR100,000 in various contests.
Ex-illegal workers thank Kingdom for giving them a second chance:
A number of former illegal overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) have expressed gratitude to the Kingdom for giving them a choice between deportation and looking for employers willing to transfer them under their sponsorship.
“The Kingdom was and is benevolent indeed. By continuing to work in the Kingdom I have been able to support my children’s education. My eldest daughter has graduated from college,” Joseph L. Posinar, 42, a father of three and currently working in a local firm, told Arab News on Sunday. He said that his daughter had graduated with a degree in tourism from the Systems Technology Institute (STI) in the Philippines while he was working in the Kingdom.
“I should also like to thank my current company for employing me willingly with the help of a compatriot who referred me to top management,” he said.
Posinar said that he had escaped from his former employer because he had reneged on his contract which stated that he would get SR1,200. But when he arrived in the Kingdom, he received only SR650 and was promised a SR150 food allowance which he claims was never given to him. He said that now he is earning a much higher salary than his previous employment.
Jovino Gedilangin, 35, hailing from Batangas province south of Manila, also expressed happiness at his good fortune of being able to find a new employer through the help of his friends.
“I now work for a company manufacturing office supplies in Riyadh and I am happy with my job as a machine operator,” he said. “My salary is much higher compared to what I was getting from my previous company in Al-Ahsa,” he added. He said that he had escaped from his former employer because the job was low-paid and the payment of salary delayed. “I was unable to collect salaries for two months and payments for overtime work amounting to SR10,000,” he said when asked for the reason for leaving his last employer.
He said that apart from driving, he is also working as a blast installer and doing other mechanical work in the new company.
Another former illegal OFW who’s working as a driver in a restaurant added that he’s much better off now than he was while working for a Saudi family.
“I now receive SR1,500 a month compared to SR1,200 that I was earning working for a Saudi family who maltreated me,” he said. He added: “I would like to thank Mr. Rabie of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Riyadh (POLO-Riyadh) for helping me with my passport.”
IT fraud: KSA residents suffer SR1.5bn losses:
The Kingdom’s residents have incurred SR1.5 billion in losses through the use of pirated software programs and hardware devices, said Samir Noman, president of Microsoft Arabia.
“A government agency was recently exposed to an organized piracy attempt when they purchased 400,000 devices with forged trademarks,” he said.
“This resulted in the spread of serious computer viruses throughout the agency.”
Piracy attempts often originate within the Kingdom without the knowledge of users through the installation of unlicensed programs, a local daily reported.
“We can expect electronic warfare to be the new form of modern-age war,” he said.
“The Kingdom is considered a leading user of social media globally, which makes it more vulnerable to piracy attacks.”
“According to a joint study carried out by the International Data Corporation (IDC) and the National University of Singapore (NUS), companies around the globe are expected to incur losses worth $315 billion due to organized cybercrime and are poised to spend $500 billion during the current year to remedy problems related to pirated software and information security,” he said.
“Also based on the study, consumers worldwide are expected to spend $25 billion and more than 1 billion hours this year addressing security threats and repairing their PCs thanks to the use of pirated software,” said Noman.
Lady entrepreneur sets up trailblazing concept store:
A local businesswoman here has set up a unique concept store selling a wide array of home accessories and gifts, with a place for artists to exhibit their work, a coffee shop, and a space for her women customers to attend social events.
Noha Boukhari opened Tabateek in 2005 with the help of her architect husband and business partner. Her husband reminded her to call the shop Tabateek, a name she has always loved. It is an old Hijazi word for collectibles of great sentimental value.
“My grandmother had a box full of tabateek,” Boukhari told Arab News here recently. “My shop reflects this idea. Things that are valuable may not be basic needs, but are delightful additions.”
Among the products on sale at the 100-sqm store are jewelry boxes, vases, decorative cutlery, lamps, mugs with colorful geometric designs, posters, and dresses.
She first set up the store in Al-Hamra, in the western part of Jeddah. “The location was part of my husband’s office, so rent and other basic requirements were covered.”
She sourced the products on trips with him to exhibitions around the world. “My products are mainly from Europe and the US because I trust their quality,” said Boukhari.
“I learned a lot from him about space, dimensions, and color combinations. I soon became his adviser.”
Her initial idea was for a shop where women could buy things that were not generally available on the market, “while having a cup of coffee.”
When the business grew, she moved Tabateek to a bigger space. This was no easy task because of Jeddah’s high commercial rents. She found the ideal place in a boutique mall, where she fulfilled her vision of a unique concept store.
The move came after a three-year break for personal reasons. “I kept my commercial register, which I am so proud of. It would have been a nightmare restarting the business with the current requirements.”
She then also expanded the shop to include a gallery for artists and events. “Events are my social baby; they are tiring, money- and time-consuming but definitely carry the most social aspect of my work.”
“Anyone can exhibit their products, as long as the price and quality are right.”
Soon Tabateek became a location for social events, including birthday parties. The core idea was for women to “take off their abayas in a comfortable environment and enjoy themselves together or by themselves, reading, talking or socializing.”
She runs the show with the help of six assistants, an accountant and a general manager. A marketing manager is not needed at this stage because the project is based on word-of-mouth publicity.
Boukhari said she has faced several challenges. “Getting adequate training for the staff (has been difficult) because there are simply no institutions that provide this service in Saudi Arabia.”
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Obama visit gives fresh impetus to Saudi-US ties:
Iranian nuclear deal, Syria’s three-year-old civil war and their repercussions on the neighboring countries were the central themes of the talks between Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and US President Barack Obama on Friday.
The two-hour discussions between the king and Obama also focused on key bilateral and regional issues such as Gulf security, the Middle East peace process and Egypt.
During the talks, Obama reiterated the significance of his country’s “strong relationship” with Saudi Arabia, said a White House statement released later in the day.
“Washington and Riyadh are working together to address a number of critical bilateral and regional issues, including resolving the crisis in Syria, preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, counterterrorism efforts to combat extremism, and supporting negotiations to achieve Middle East peace,” said the statement.
Obama said his country’s strong relations with Saudi Arabia have “endured for over 80 years.”
The king and Obama discussed ways and means to stop the genocide in Syria. According to an AP report, Obama is considering allowing shipments of new air defense systems to the Syrian opposition, as Obama sought to reassure the king that the US is not taking a soft stance on Syria and other Mideastern conflicts.
The two leaders met at Khuraim Gardens, an oasis located some 100 km northeast of Riyadh, where King Abdullah has a private farm.
Crown Prince Salman, deputy premier and defense minister, Prince Saud Al-Faisal, foreign minister, and Saudi Ambassador to US Adel Al-Jubeir attended the talks.
The US delegation included US Secretary of State John Kerry, National Security Adviser Susan Rice and newly-appointed US ambassador Joseph Westphal.
A Saudi official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that the Kingdom wants the US to “shift its position” on support for Syrian rebels, particularly Washington’s reluctance to supply them with surface-to-air missiles.
Khidr O. Al-Qurashi, a Shoura Council member, called on Riyadh and Washington to join forces to find solutions to the regional problems.
On whether Obama’s visit to Riyadh came too late, Al-Qurashi said: “Better late than never.”
According to him, the US administration is fully aware that the regional issues cannot be solved without active participation of the Kingdom.
Al-Qurashi expressed optimism that both sides would find solutions not only to the Iranian nuclear issue but also to the Syrian crisis and Lebanese issue.
Referring to the talks with King Abdullah, US Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes told reporters that the issues at the heart of Obama’s meetings with King Abdullah include “Gulf security, Middle East peace, Syria, Iran and Egypt.” He said: “The United States and Saudi Arabia have been working together closely to coordinate their assistance to the (Syrian) rebels.”
Rhodes said that coordination has helped put the US relationship with Saudi Arabia “in a stronger place today than it was in the fall when we had some tactical differences about our Syria policy.”
Another US official said that the Obama administration was considering allowing shipments of new air defense systems to Syrian rebels.
Obama’s possible shift would likely be welcomed by Gulf states, which have been pressing the White House to allow the man-portable air-defense systems, known as “manpads,” into Syria.
Rhodes said Obama updated the king on the nuclear talks with Iran. He said Obama made the point that “the negotiations do not mean US concerns about other Iranian activities have lessened, including its support for Assad and Hezbollah, as well as its destabilizing activity in Yemen and the Gulf.”
On the Middle East peace process, the Obama administration sought to keep peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians from falling apart over Israel’s refusal to free about two dozen Palestinian prisoners, who were scheduled to be released Saturday.
King Abdullah hosted a banquet dinner in honor of Obama at his farm. Upon arrival at the venue, a warm welcome was accorded to the US president. He was received by Crown Prince Salman, Prince Saud and Deputy Crown Prince Muqrin, second deputy premier.
President Obama was received on arrival at King Khaled International Airport by Riyadh Gov. Prince Khaled bin Bandar; Prince Turki bin Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, deputy governor of Riyadh; and Ambassador Westphal.
Illegal visa traders face 2-year hiring ban:
The Labor Ministry has announced tough new measures to curb the illegal trade in visas, with a one- to two-year recruitment ban on companies involved in such activities.
If the number of expatriates transferred by a company to other employers exceeds 15 percent, it would only be allowed to recruit new workers after one year, a ministry official said.
“If the transfers are more than 30 percent of expatriate workers, the company has to wait for 15 months. And if it exceeds 40 percent, new recruitment visas would be sanctioned only after 24 months,” he said.
The official said the ministry introduced the new system “after observing that some individuals and companies were still trading in visas.”
He said some companies had clearly applied for visas that they did not need, with the intention of selling the services of these workers to other employers for “huge amounts of money.”
He said the ministry would not allow recruitment in 14 professions including salespersons for lingerie shops. “We have decided to ban recruitment to create more jobs for Saudi men and women,” he added.
Top court prods election panel for NRI postal ballot:
Deputy Crown Prince Muqrin thanks king for his trust:
Newly appointed Deputy Crown Prince Muqrin, who is also second deputy premier, thanked Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and Crown Prince Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense, on Friday for their confidence in his abilities.
“I am thankful to you for vesting this great confidence in me and I pray to Allah to help me shoulder this trust,” the prince said. He sent a similar message to Prince Salman, expressing confidence that he would carry out his mission.
King Abdullah announced the appointment of Prince Muqrin as deputy crown prince on Thursday after receiving the approval of Crown Prince Salman and the Allegiance Council.
The Royal Court announced on Friday that Prince Muqrin would receive the oath of allegiance at the Governance Palace (Qasr Al-Hukm) in Riyadh on Sunday and Monday after Dhuhr prayers.
Congratulations poured in for Prince Muqrin from top officials including National Guard Minister Prince Miteb bin Abdullah. “I would like to congratulate you on behalf of the National Guard staff on the new appointment,” said Prince Miteb.
“We take this opportunity to renew our allegiance to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, Crown Prince Salman and to your royal highness and I wish you every success,” Prince Miteb said.
Jazan Gov. Prince Mohammed bin Nasser said the appointment would strengthen the Kingdom’s security and stability, and described Prince Muqrin as a veteran politician.
Asir Gov. Prince Faisal bin Khaled said the appointment reflected the Saudi leadership’s wisdom and farsightedness.
Prince Faisal bin Abdul Majeed commended King Abdullah for appointing Prince Muqrin as deputy crown prince, saying it was the right decision at the right time. “It’s a big blow to those trying to undermine the Kingdom’s unity.” He praised Prince Muqrin for his leadership and great contributions to the nation.
Foreign agencies ‘using drugs to destabilize KSA’
Certain hostile foreign agencies are possibly trying to destabilize the country by flooding it with drugs, an economist said here recently.
“I don’t rule out the possibility of a link between foreign intelligence agencies and drug use in the Kingdom, as a way to corrupt and sabotage society,” said Fadhil Al-Buainain.
Al-Buainain said the Interior Ministry recently revealed in a report that it had confiscated drugs worth SR2 billion.
It has also indicated that the value of drugs seized has increased steadily, which is a worrying development, he said.
“The intense efforts of the Ministry of Interior and even the government’s tough new sanctions for such crimes have not deterred the smugglers from continuing their activities.
“They act as if they are not seeking financial profits as much as wanting to target the security and stability of the country, with the aim of destroying our society,” Al-Buainain said.
He said an estimated SR10 billion in drug money is laundered every year. “How are they able to launder this amount of money considering the country’s strict regulatory systems and legislation?”
He said it appears that these smugglers have protection and assistance from foreign intelligence agencies with access to sophisticated financial systems.
Al-Buainain said the authorities should spend more time trying to deal with the financial aspects of this illicit business.
“Arresting smugglers does not guarantee that the country eliminates organized gangs. It only means that one or more attempts have been thwarted, which can be compensated for easily by the leaders of these gangs. But tracking money laundering operations and arresting those involved would see these gangs crushed locally and internationally.”
He said this would cut off the financial support for smugglers bringing drugs into the country.
He said it was “unacceptable” for the public to ask the Interior Ministry to shoulder complete responsibility for tackling the drug scourge that “threatens our social and national security.”
“Where are our other ministries? What roles do our education institutions, mosques, religious bodies, civil society organizations, families and society in general play?”
He said a united effort by public and private bodies could help eradicate this problem from society.
KSA throws full weight behind Syrian struggle
Saudi Arabia on Tuesday sought to draw the world’s attention on the worsening crisis in Syria, saying the three-year-old civil war had reached “catastrophic levels.”
It also asked the Arab League at its extraordinary meeting here to give Syria’s seat to the opposition Syrian National Coalition (SNC).
Speaking at the summit, Crown Prince Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense, criticized the international community for its inaction.
“The legitimate Syrian resistance has been betrayed by the international community and left as easy prey for the tyrant’s forces,” the crown prince said, referring to unfulfilled promises by several nations to arm fighters battling to topple the Bashar Assad regime.
“Syria has become a (battle) field open to killings and destruction carried out by an iniquitous regime with the participation of foreigners and armed terrorists from everywhere,” said the crown prince. He called on the Arab League to speed up the handover of Syria’s seat in the 22-member organization to the opposition, to ensure its recognition by world powers. “This must be sorted out ... to send a strong message to the international community so that it will change its attitude toward Syria.”
The seat, vacated after the Arab League suspended Syria’s membership over the conflict, was promised to the opposition at the last summit in Doha.
Arab League chief Nabil Elaraby said the opposition must meet certain legal requirements before taking over the seat.
As a result, the SNC chief, Ahmed Jarba, addressed the summit on Monday but was not allowed to speak from the chair reserved for Syria.
Prince Salman, who led the Saudi delegation at the summit, told Arab countries to unite and defeat the efforts aimed at undermining their security and stability. “This demands strong determination, better coordination and a firm stand,” he said.
He said the balance of power on the ground in Syria should be changed. “The crisis in Syria has reached catastrophic levels as half of the Syrian people either suffer from displacement or have fled their country as refugees,” he said at the summit, which was attended by 13 Arab heads of state.
Jarba urged Arab leaders on Tuesday to grant Syria’s vacant Arab League seat to the coalition and let it take over Syria’s embassies in Arab countries. “Leaving Syria’s seat empty sends a message to Assad...’Kill, kill the seat is waiting for you once the battle is settled,’” Jarba told the summit leaders.
“Reality dictates that the Syrian embassies in Arab capitals should be given to the coalition because the regime has lost its legitimacy and nobody remains to cater to Syrians’ needs, which is worsening their situation,” Jarba said.
He called for increased humanitarian aid to Syrians suffering inside and outside the country and especially to refugees in Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq.
Kuwait Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah called for joint Arab efforts to defeat terrorism.
“We all suffer from terrorism … we are required to double our efforts and join international efforts seeking to put an end to this dangerous phenomenon regardless of its type, goals or source.”
Prince Salman supported Sheikh Sabah and said terrorism poses a serious threat to the people of the region.
“We are required to be cautious and take necessary measures to root out terrorism, which has become a tool to spread chaos, division and sow seeds of sedition,” Prince Salman said.
On the Palestinian issue, the leaders stressed it remains the core issue in the Middle East, and that any agreement should lead to the creation of an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital. They condemned all Israeli attempts to turn Jerusalem into a Jewish city, and slammed Israeli incursions at Al-Aqsa Mosque.
The annual summit also heard an appeal from the UN peace mediator for Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi, for an end to the flow of arms to the combatants in the war, which has killed over 140,000 people and displaced millions.
“The whole region is in danger” of being dragged into the conflict, Brahimi said, calling for renewed efforts to find a political settlement to the crisis, now in its fourth year.
The Kuwaiti emir urged Arab states to overcome rifts he said were blocking joint Arab action. “The dangers around us are enormous and we cannot move towards joint Arab action without unity and casting aside our differences,” he said.
A Kuwaiti official said the dispute between Qatar and its neighbors was not on the summit’s agenda. Shortly before the gathering Sheikh Sabah, smiling broadly, stood between Crown Prince Salman and Qatar’s emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, holding hands with them in an apparent attempt to convey a mood of reconciliation.
King Abdullah smart city to offer pilgrims best services:
Fire destroys heritage buildings:
A huge fire gutted an old five-story building in Jeddah's historic area on Tuesday, and damaged several others.
No one was injured and the Civil Defense put the blaze out.
Waleed Abu Shanab from the Civil Defense told Arab News that 15 teams battled the fire, supported by the Red Crescent, security and traffic officials, and several volunteers who evacuated residents living in the area.
"The fire started in an old building and spread to other neighboring buildings. The fire caused the main building to collapse and damaged several others."
Abu Shanab said the dilapidated building was inhabited by illegals.
The area has seen several historic buildings destroyed over the past few years. The area has unique architecture, only seen along the Mediterranean and in the Arabian Peninsula.
Similar structures in the cities of Suez and Al-Qasseer in Egypt and Sawakin in Sudan, have disappeared.
The area has lost 200 historic buildings since it was adopted area as a national heritage site in 1980.
Experts believe only 375 buildings now remain of about 1,000 that existed 25 years ago. Jeddah Municipality has implemented a special project to combat fires in the area.
The Unesco recently rejected the Kingdom’s request for its inclusion as a World Heritage Site, because the authorities have allegedly not taken action to preserve or create awareness about it.
Crown Prince says world betrayed Syrian opposition
RCCI seeks 3-year ban on expatriate violators:
Doctors under probe for medical error:
‘No ambulance service for woman living by herself’:
Private firms demand male consent for female employees
Private sector companies and schools are stipulating that female employees obtain the consent of their male guardians when seeking work, sources at the Labor Ministry have said.
This condition has been added to female employment contracts after many establishments encountered problems with working women and their families.
Some had come under pressure from their male relatives to relinquish half of their salary, while others faced objections because the amount they earned was disproportionate to the hours they put in.
In these contracts, guardians are obliged to place their signature alongside that of the applicant.
“This precondition had been abolished by the Ministry of Labor,” Saud Al-Snaitan, head of a field inspection team and a supervisor for women working in the private sector. “The Ministry of Labor does not oblige women to seek male consent, especially if they have surpassed the legal age. The role of the ministry is limited to the contracts that exist between companies and employees.”
“New regulations for working women, however, will be issued soon, in addition to developing existing laws,” he said.
Sources have also said that transport is a major obstacle for women who work. Most companies stipulate that women secure their own journey to and from work prior to signing the contract, paying them a monthly transport allowance instead.
Modi takes on Congress, says UPA's new slogan is 'Mar Jawan, Mar Kissan'
Muslims should get reservations proportionate to their population in Telangana: Ram Chandramurti:
SSC exams to begin tomorrow, centre incharges directed not to force girls to remove burqa:
Whips’ removal effective from Feb. 13:
SR2bn company to develop Saudi downstream industries:
The Council of Ministers, chaired by Crown Prince Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense, on Monday decided to establish a company with capital of SR2 billion to develop the country's downstream industries.
This includes the manufacture of petrochemicals, plastics, fertilizers and other products derived from crude oil.
The new joint stock company will be named the Saudi Arabian Company for Industrial Investment. The Public Investment Fund, Saudi Aramco and the Saudi Basic Industries Corporation will hold shares in the company.
Spelling out the firm’s objectives, Culture and Information Minister Abdul Aziz Khoja said it would carry out downstream activities, and invest in strategic economic sectors.
The establishment of manufacturing plants would include industries based on iron, steel and aluminum, Khoja said.
The Cabinet also passed a law regulating the activities of medical cities and specialized hospitals under the Health Ministry. This includes the formation of boards of directors to run these facilities more effectively with local and international staff.
The Cabinet praised Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah for his statement at the Second Conference of Ministers of Youth and Sports in Islamic countries last week in Jeddah, which supports academic and sports development for young people.
The Cabinet also discussed a report of the Independent International Fact-Finding Committee on Syria, which has expressed deep concern at the continued suffering of Syrian refugees, especially women and children. The Cabinet said perpetrators of war crimes in Syria should be brought to justice.
On the recent Arab-Hungarian Economic Forum inaugurated by Prince Muqrin, second deputy premier, the Cabinet highlighted existing economic opportunities and government’s incentives for investors.
The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Finance Ibrahim Al-Assaf to sign a draft agreement with Venezuela and Kosovo on the avoidance of double taxation and prevention of tax evasion.
It endorsed the Electricity and Cogeneration Regulatory Commission’s clearance agreement with the Saudi Electricity Company on May 22, 2011.
The Cabinet appointed Saeed bin Eid Al-Eid cultural attaché at the Ministry of Higher Education; Abdullah bin Faleh Al-Arjani minister plenipotentiary; Hassan bin Yusuf Al-Rashed minister plenipotentiary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and Mohammed bin Othman Al-Thabit director general of the Civil Affairs branch of the Interior Ministry in Makkah.
It further appointed Mohammed bin Mustafa Numan assistant undersecretary at the Madinah Governorate; Sami bin Mohammed Al-Hamoud undersecretary for planning and development at the Ministry of Labor; and Abdullah bin Ahmed Al-Abdulkarim Civil Service adviser at the Ministry of Civil Service.
Over 1.5m single women, and counting:
There are more than 1.5 million single women over the age of 30, according to Ministry of Economy and Planning statistics published in 2011. This figure is expected to rise to 4 million by 2015.
The increasing number of educated women, especially Saudi women with steady jobs, is now considered the norm, but has caused a shocking rise in the number of girls who remain unmarried across the Kingdom.
According to cultural norms across much of the Eastern world, a single woman who has surpassed the age of 25 is considered to have missed the marriage train. In fact, many Eastern cultures view the 18 to 24 age bracket as the optimum for marriage.
Several Saudi girls told Arab News that men don’t go for overly independent and self-confident women. Others complained about tribal traditions.
Thirty-five-year-old Hamida, for instance, is still single.
“I wanted to marry a colleague, but my father and brothers refused the marriage proposal since he did not belong to my tribe,” said Hamida. “My brothers still do not talk to me for what they term ‘disobedience.’”
“Our culture, to some extent, is paradoxical,” said Sadia Wafee, a social activist. “Girls often have to marry within the same tribe. If they do marry outside the clan, the suitor has to be Saudi. Whatever the end result, tribal traditions give men absolute control over their daughters. This makes marriage very difficult.”
“Moreover, the absence of social gatherings and the lack of intermingling between families is adding to this celibacy phenomenon,” she said. “Yet such get-togethers are crucial, as they pave the way for singletons to talk and potentially click.”
Reem Al-Qahrni, a 23-year-old Saudi, feels the same way.
“Although culture is changing, our traditions remain the same,” she said. “A girl only becomes attractive when she is held captive in her house, waiting for a groom.”
This age limit issue is the same with expat women in conservative communities living in the Kingdom who have adopted Saudi culture.
Arab News spoke to several families from different communities.
Hiba Abdulrub, an Indian expat, said many families that have been living in the Kingdom for more than 20 or 30 years have embraced the common culture and prefer to marry their daughters off to someone who has lived in the country for just as long.
“Several men from our community consider working women to be too forward and not feminine enough,” she said.
For men, the dilemma is different, yet equally as difficult. “In the past, you couldn’t even set eyes on a woman until you were married,” said one male community member. “Now, it is the complete opposite. You see so much flesh that you are put off getting married altogether. In addition, the dowry issue and the increasing costs associated with marriage are putting young men off, adding to this crisis.”
US upset as 529 Mursi backers handed death:
WASHINGTON: The US is “deeply concerned” about the death sentences handed out against 529 supporters of Egypt’s deposed President Muhammad Mursi, a US official said on Monday.
An Egyptian court handed down the sentences earlier, amid a sweeping crackdown on supporters of the former president, who was overthrown by the army last July.
“While appeals are possible, it simply does not seem possible that a fair review of evidence and testimony consistent with international standards could be accomplished with over 529 defendants after a two-day trial,” a State Department official said.
“We continue to call on the Egyptian government to ensure that all those detained in Egypt are afforded fair proceedings that respect civil liberties and due process and are consistent with international standards. The law must be applied equitably and free of political bias,” the State Department official said.
“We have said many times that even the appearance of politically-motivated arrests, detentions, and convictions will set Egypt’s transition back,” the official added.
The official, citing reports of violence in response to the sentences, warned that such a reaction would not help either.
But Egypt's army-installed interim government defended the court's handling of the case, insisting that the sentences had been handed down only “after careful study” and were subject to appeal.
The defendants who were sentenced to death are part of a larger group of more than 1,200 alleged radicals accused of killing two policemen and rioting on Aug. 14, after police killed hundreds of protesters while dispersing two Cairo protest camps.
Of the 529, only 153 are in custody. The rest were tried in their absence and have the right to a retrial if they turn themselves in.
Jakarta seeks clemency for maid on death row:JAKARTA: Jakarta called Monday for a Saudi family to accept a substantial payment and halt the impending execution of an Indonesian maid on death row in the Kingdom for murder.
Officials in Jakarta expect Satinah Binti Jumadi Ahmad, sentenced to death in 2011 for murdering her employer’s wife and stealing money, to be executed in early April unless the victim’s family accepts the money offered and forgives her.
Indonesian Deputy Foreign Minister Wardana told reporters that contributions from the government and maid protection groups had not raised the required SR7 million, but only four million.
“It is now in the hands of the victim’s family,” said Wardana, who like many Indonesians goes by one name, appealing for them to accept the lower payment.
The Indonesian government had already succeeded in getting the execution delayed five times in the two and a half years since her conviction, officials said.
KSA women seek parity with men:
A leading woman member of the Shoura Council has urged the government to provide women parity with men in terms of citizenship rights for their children, retirement benefits and home loans.
Thoraya Obaid, the first Saudi Arabian to head a UN agency and former executive director of the UN Population Fund, said that the children of Saudi women married to foreigners are denied the same rights as the offspring of their male counterparts.
Speaking at a Women's Month function to honor her organized by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Jeddah, Obaid said she had a frustrating time trying to get Saudi citizenship for her daughters from her marriage to a Lebanese man.
Princess Adela bint Abdullah, who spoke at the same function, also called for greater empowerment of women around the globe.
Obaid demanded that children of Saudi women should be allowed to become citizens, with the rights and benefits of other Saudi children.
She said women Shoura members participated in discussions on all issues, including finance, tourism, health and education, and can submit private proposals. Clause 29 of the council's regulations allow women members the right to suggest new regulations without any discussions.
They want to amend retirement regulations that are “biased against women.” The current regulations state that a woman worker is not entitled to full benefits if her husband receives a pension. This was another example of unjust and unequal treatment of women, she said.
The members also proposed drafting a code spelling out the rights of divorced and separated women, and amending regulations governing the sons of Saudi women. She said most government departments have ignored a ministerial order to treat the sons of Saudi women and expatriate men as citizens.
Obaid called on community organizations to work hard to bring about more change in society particularly around women’s empowerment.
“Just as we demand better medical services in regions far from major cities, we demand equal rights with men in getting real estate loans,” she said.
Princess Adela said that women represent half of the world’s population and need the support of organizations, ministries, and civil society institutions.
She said there was a misconception held by many communities, especially Muslim ones, about women’s rights. She said Islam provides equal rights for women, with prescriptions against discriminatory practices that would reduce their social and economic participation.
She said many Muslim communities were failing to apply principles of gender equality. Greater effort was needed to reinvest the wasted capacity of women, she said, quoting a statement from the Holy Prophet, peace be upon him: “Women are the twin halves of men.”
Princess Adela said reforms could only take place with the active participation of women.
She said Islamic organizations must work to ensure women can take their rightful place in society, with full legal rights. They should also conduct campaigns to prevent violence and abuse of women.
She said women are affected by economic, social and security concerns, as much as men.
50% of small contracting firms go out of business:
Ad hoc labor recruitment halted:
The Ministry of Labor has stopped the temporary recruitment of labor which was practiced by 328 recruitment offices in Saudi Arabia.
The ministry has directed the recruitment offices to either transfer the sponsorships of their expatriate labor working on a rental system or have them deported permanently before June 2015.
A source said that the ministry aims, through this decision to meet the needs of citizens who wish to hire domestic workers. It also aims to create more supply offers in this sector and provide licensed companies, which number 16, with foreign workers countrywide.
The source said that the ministry has granted the recruitment offices a grace period until May 30 to get rid of expatriate workers who work on a rental system or run the risk of having their licenses suspended.
An official in the Ministry of Labor earlier said that 13 private licensed recruitment companies are offering specialized services for renting maids in the four Saudi provinces of Riyadh, Makkah, Asir and the Eastern Province, on their Musanid (support) website for domestic help employment, which was launched Saturday.
The educational website enlightens workers and employers about their rights and duties, in accordance with the articles of the domestic workers' list. It also lists providers of domestic recruitment services.
He said the evaluation of the services offered for select offices and companies will be made available in the coming months. “Those who wish to benefit from the services of rented domestic labor can do so through Musanid,” he added.
Observers say recruitment offices have been practicing rental activities for more than 37 years, but this decision has brought it to a halt. The Ministry of Labor is currently working on the issuance of licenses to establish large recruitment companies to replace private recruitment offices according to the resolution of the Council of Ministers that was issued on June 1, 2011.
Meanwhile, the process of hiring labor according to the new regulations has been handed over to national recruitment companies that exist in some areas, in a step to organize the sector and meet the growing demand for expatriate labor, especially domestic labor.
11 expats, govt official face bribery charges:
Eleven expatriates here face charges of bribing a government official to facilitate paperwork for their company, a local newspaper reported Monday.
The foreigners, of various nationalities, would appear in the Administrative Court in Jeddah in the next few days following the charges brought by the Control and Investigation Commission in Makkah, a source was quoted as saying.
The court will also prosecute the government official on charges of accepting the bribes.
The commission accused one resident of transferring money to the account of the government official, and making monthly payments in return for favors during working hours.
The state charged the suspects after a thorough investigation by various crime-fighting agencies. The court will also take up several other cases involving bribery over the next few days, the source said.
The suspects face charges under articles of the Kingdom's anti-corruption and bribery legislation, including sections of the Royal Decree No. 43 on forgery.
Jeddah courts have been considering several cases of corruption involving government officials over the past few years, including around the 2009 floods.
The appeal court in Makkah is currently dealing with a bribery case involving a Saudi woman and a government official.
The Administrative Court in Jeddah recently imprisoned and fined people for forgery, abuse of power, undermining the law, misuse of public funds, destroying lives, damaging public property and wasting more than SR100 million of the Kingdom's money.
Election strategy : Maulana Abdul Qavi handed over to Gujarat Police custody
The models of habitats presented by the young architects, which they hope to turn into reality some day, had a mix of traditional and modern architecture, while focusing on the needs of the people who would live there.
“I love the modern building that has a lot of Hijazi design and decoration,” Rawand Madani, a second year architecture student, who had three projects on display, told Arab News.
Madani said she appreciates modern architecture that is related to Saudi society, the community, and Islam. “Let us make our own modern architecture, something that is related to this country,” she said.
Lara Al-Khouli, a third year student, said architects should create low cost, energy efficient houses for shelter.
Yara Sobhi, another third year student, visited Bin Laden Street in Jama district, and designed affordable housing units for the area with fellow students. They also ensured people with disabilities could access the buildings.
They created housing projects mimicking animals from nature, including the ladybug and starfish. They copied the shell of the ladybug that protects its wings underneath, and the vascular system of the starfish that acts as a hydraulic system.
Sobhi said they studied these two creatures and created concept homes using recycled paper. “Everything that is used is recycled and is recyclable,” she said.
Samia Khan, a fourth year student, said that architecture could be used to help the poor. “In this way it is a very fulfilling profession,” she said.
Mariam Dandachi, a third year student, would like one day to design and build structures recognized by the public. Her exhibit is a project designed by students from Dar Al-Hekma and Colorado University, for middle class people across the river in Denver.
Mona Helmy, an assistant professor, and one of the founders of the architecture program, said this was the first solo exhibition of the college's students.
The models were prepared at the college’s special workshop. “We were the first to have a model architecture shop for educational purposes. We have advanced technology that is being used at some of the biggest architectural firms,” she said.
She said that Dar Al-Hekma students are redeveloping part of the Jeddah Corniche with the municipality.
Yasmin Arslan, instructor at the department and head of the exhibition, said she was proud of her students. "Many people from foreign universities visited the exhibition and were all very impressed with the students’ ideas and projects, especially because we don’t have any students graduating yet, or working out in the field.”
“I believe we are going to see big changes in Saudi Arabia, especially after our first group of students graduate and go out to work.”
Sherin Sameh, an instructor at the college and an organizer of the exhibition, said that the main objective was for students to present their work to the public.
“Throughout the year, students only see the academic side. So this exhibition gives them an opportunity to see the professional side by meeting professional architects and interacting with experts in the field.”
Rising MERS raises alarm:
The rising number of fatalities from MERS infections in the Kingdom is causing alarm in the public.
The Health Ministry reported another fatality in Jeddah Wednesday, bringing the total number of MERS victims across the country to 71 from 205 infections. It said five more people were infected with the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, including two medics, all in Jeddah. It identified the latest victim as a 52-year-old Saudi man.
The ministry said 35 percent of MERS patients in the Kingdom have died.
There were 37 confirmed cases in Jeddah in less than a month, including 21 medics.
Health Minister Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah promised that he would press for special allowance for medics dealing with infectious diseases.
The MERS virus was initially concentrated in the Eastern Province but has now spread to other regions with 82 cases in Riyadh, 37 in Jeddah, 25 in Al-Ahsa, 23 in Dammam, 11 in Hafr Al-Baten, seven each in Asir and Madinah, five in Taif, two each in Al-Jouf and Qassim and one each in Najran and Bisha. Women accounted for one-third of the confirmed cases while expats represented 20 percent.
Dr. Mohammed Ali, an internist at Al-Abeer Medical Group, advised people to keep away from crowded areas and undergo medical tests in case of high fever and coughing. “It is advisable to use masks,” he told Arab News adding that people should observe hygiene and maintain cleanliness to avoid the virus.
The WHO said Friday it had been informed of 212 laboratory-confirmed cases of MERS infection worldwide, of which 88 have proved fatal.
A Malaysian man who came on a pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia was the first to die from the disease in Asia while the Philippines has isolated a health worker who tested positive for the virus.
Malaysian authorities said the man returned to Malaysia on March 29 and developed a high fever and cough. He also had difficulty breathing a week or so later. The 54-year-old man, from southern Johor state, died on Sunday in a hospital, the ministry said Wednesday.
In the Philippines, Health Secretary Enrique Ona said the Filipino health worker had tested positive for the virus but showed no symptoms.
The man was in contact with another Filipino hospital worker who died of the virus last week in the UAE.
Saudi Health Ministry officials are consulting WHO experts in Geneva and Cairo on how to contain the virus. WHO experts are also scheduled to meet in Riyadh later this month.
Saudi-made car has a long way to go:
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has given Saudi and Malaysian businesses a preliminary license to study the feasibility of building a Saudi-made car.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the ministry stated that the company planning to set up a SR7.5 billion automotive manufacturing plant has to undergo further assessment before it can acquire a location and get government support.
The preliminary license for the Shahid automotive manufacturing facility would not allow the manufacturer to collect money from the public, the statement added.
The ministry wants to develop the automotive industry but this has to be done after careful coordination between government and the private sector, the statement said.
A thorough assessment is needed before government makes its incentives available for industrial projects, the statement said.
The ministry's advisory comes after Saudi and Malaysian businesses signed an agreement here on Tuesday to produce a Saudi-made vehicle called Meeya by 2017.
The plan is to set up a factory to produce the vehicle in Dammam, with an eventual output of 300,000 cars a year, said Rashed Othman Jawhar, chairman of the Saudi Malaysian Industrial Development Holding Company.
He said the factory would create 2,000 jobs. Major vehicle manufacturing firms from Malaysia, China, Germany, Japan and Korea are involved in the project, said Jawhar.
He said the factory would start producing 50,000 cars in the first 36 months. It would produce three types of vehicles costing between SR45,000 and SR120,000, with the possibility of a price reduction of up to 50 percent if government supports the project with land and other facilities.
1,000-bed hospital a health shot for Jeddah
A 1,000-bed maternity and children’s hospital will be established in Jeddah soon, while the King Faisal Medical Tower in Makkah will be opened ahead of the upcoming Haj season, said Health Minister Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, who highlighted his ministry’s efforts to expand quality health care services.
Speaking with reporters following a strategic meeting in Jeddah, he said a new 500-bed hospital would be set up in Makkah and another hospital of the same size in north Jeddah.
“About 95 percent of work on the King Faisal Tower has been completed,” he said.
Al-Rabeeah stressed the ministry’s plan to enhance the performance of primary health care centers across the country and integrate health centers to general hospitals to render quality health care to citizens. “We have opened 79 new hospitals in various regions during the last four years,” he said.
He said that the new maternity and children’s hospital would be part of the King Abdullah Medical Center in Jeddah. “Contracts have been awarded to build a new hospital in Sharaie in Makkah to serve citizens,” the minister said.
WHO experts to probe Saudi MERS outbreak:
Experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) will arrive in the Kingdom on April 28 to investigate the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) coronavirus outbreak in the country.
This comes after the National Scientific Committee for Infectious Diseases (NSCID) held a teleconference with WHO officials in Geneva and Cairo on Tuesday, according to an official from the Ministry of Health.
MERS has killed 71 people and infected 205 since September 2012. There have been 37 infections at Jeddah hospitals recently. Around 2,500 blood samples were tested for the virus in the western province, the official said.
Meanwhile, addressing a meeting on Wednesday in Jeddah, Health Minister Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah said that the NSCID has organized field visits in Jeddah to get first-hand information about the virus. “Hundreds of samples are being tested throughout the Kingdom from suspected cases,” the minister said.
He was speaking at the fifth consultative meeting of senior health officials, the ministry's key strategy meeting.
Al-Rabeeah said compensation is under consideration for all medical workers treating people with infectious diseases. “These officials are doing an excellent service for the sake of the nation,” he said.
The minister said that according to the WHO, there is no cure for coronavirus infections. However, he said the ministry has the situation under control and urged people not to panic or spread rumors about the outbreak.
Al-Rabeeah said the sudden outbreak of the virus in Jeddah was mainly due to the weather changing from winter to spring. The ministry has taken steps at all hospitals in the city to tackle cases of coronavirus and other infections, he said.
Sami Badawood, Jeddah Health Affairs director, told Arab News on Wednesday that face masks do not protect people against the coronavirus.
“While it is true that wearing a face mask can, to some extent, prevent the spread of influenza and other communicable diseases, and protect lungs from dust during sandstorms, masks cannot stop the spread of the coronavirus,” Badawood said.
“However, the coronavirus is also not considered a communicable disease,” he said. “Patients can only become infected after direct contact with an infected patient.”
“The Health Ministry in Jeddah adheres to international standards and World Health Organization norms to treat cases,” he said. “The ministry has established a special unit to follow up on cases around the clock. Officials have ascertained that the situation is completely normal after careful observation and extensive follow-ups.”
“Umrah pilgrims need not panic since there have been no cases reported from being in large crowds,” said Badawood. “In fact, there has not been a single case among pilgrims in Makkah so far.”
Health Minister Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, Makkah Gov. Prince Mishaal bin Abdullah and Jeddah Gov. Prince Mishaal bin Majid are closely following up on the situation, and the ministry is using state-of-the-art technology to analyze samples collected from patients suspected to be infected with the virus,” he said.
He said people on social media have blown the outbreak "out of proportion." "The ministry has also not found that any of the cases can be traced to camels.”
KSA, Pakistan forge closer economic ties
A 20-member Pakistan government and business delegation met here on Tuesday with Saudi officials to forge ties in energy, agriculture, banking and finance, science and technology, and human resources.
Khurram Dastgir Khan, Pakistani minister of trade and commerce, who is leading the delegation, also met with Crown Prince Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense.
The two sides are meeting for the 10th session of the two-day Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC). The ninth session was held in 2012.
Waseem Hayat Bajwa, commercial attaché at the Pakistan Embassy, told Arab News: "It was a very positive meeting exploring new areas of co-operation between the two countries, and to bolster our bilateral relations."
Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, Saudi minister of commerce and industry, and Pakistan Ambassador Muhammad Naeem Khan attended the meeting.
Bajwa said the minister also met Abdullatif Al-Othman, governor of the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA). Khayyam Akbar, deputy head of the Pakistan embassy, also attended the meeting.
He said the JMC would conclude on Wednesday with concrete ways to boost bilateral trade. The areas of discussion include banking and finance, export of workers, the energy sector, agriculture, livestock, information technology, education, and small and medium enterprise development
Bajwa said the first day included discussions on oil and natural gas. However, he refused to comment on whether Pakistan is seeking a long-term credit facility for oil purchases from the Kingdom, which would help save foreign currency.
According to reports in the Pakistani media, the JMC is expected to discuss the possibility of forming joint ventures for oil and gas exploration, to boost energy production in Pakistan.
Pakistan consumes 22 million tons of oil, of which about 13 million tons are imported. Apart from this, oil refineries import 9 million tons of crude oil per annum to meet their processing needs.
Earlier, Al-Rabiah met his Pakistani counterpart, and provided assurances that Saudi Arabia would provide Pakistan access to its markets.
Recently, a high-level delegation from the Saudi Agriculture and Livestock Investment Company (SALIC) visited Pakistan to consider possible investments in the country's rice and meat sectors.
Another team of technical experts from the Saudi Ministry of Agriculture also visited Pakistan recently to study health and veterinary standards of the poultry, livestock and dairy sectors.
Two dead, scores missing as S. Korea ferry sinks
SEOUL: South Korea said two people were killed and 368 rescued from a ferry that capsized at sea with 477 people on board -- mostly high school students -- as divers searched for scores still missing.
Officials voiced concern over the fate of the 107 people unaccounted for, fearing that many may have been trapped as the vessel listed sharply before capsizing.
Dramatic television aerial footage showed terrified passengers wearing life jackets clambering into inflatable boats as water lapped over the rails of the vessel as it sank.
Many appeared to have been rescued by fishing and other commercial vessels who were first on the scene before a flotilla of coastguard and navy ships arrived, backed by helicopters.
The 6,825-tonne ferry, which had sailed out of the western port of Incheon on Tuesday evening, ran into trouble some 20 kilometres (13 miles) off the southern island of Byungpoong.
Coastguard officials said they had received a distress call at 9:00 am (0000 GMT). The weather conditions were described as "fine" with moderate winds and sea swell.
The cause of the accident was not immediately clear, although rescued passengers reported the ferry coming to a shuddering halt after hearing a loud noise -- indicating it may have run aground.
Photos broadcast on television showed the ship initially tilted by more than 45 degrees on the port side with helicopters flying overhead, and then fully capsized with only a small section of the stern showing above the water.
"So far, 368 have been rescued," Lee Gyeong-Og, the vice minister of security and public administration, told a press briefing in Seoul.
Lee said two people had been confirmed dead, including one female crew member, and added that a detachment of South Korean Navy SEALS were continuing to search the submerged ship.
One local official who had taken a boat to the site and arrived an hour after the distress signal was sent, said he was "very concerned" about those still unaccounted for.
"The ship was already almost totally submerged when I got there. A lot of people must have been trapped," the official, who declined to be identified, told AFP by phone.
The video footage showed passengers sliding down the steeply inclined side of the ferry and into the water, as rescuers, including the crew of what appeared to be a small fishing boat, struggled to pull them to safety on board.
The water temperature was cold at around 12.6 degrees Celsius (55 Fahrenheit).
Of the 448 passengers on board the ferry which had been bound for the southern resort island of Jeju, 324 were students travelling with 14 teachers from a high school in Ansan, south of Seoul.
There were 29 crew members manning the vessel, which was also carrying 150 cars.
"I heard a big thumping sound and the boat suddenly started to tilt," one rescued student told the YTN news channel by telephone.
"Some of my friends fell over hard and started bleeding. We jumped into the water and got picked up by the rescue boats," he said.
Distraught parents of the students gathered at the high school in Ansan, desperate for news.
There were chaotic scenes in the school's auditorium, with parents yelling at school officials and frantically trying to make phone calls to their children.
"I talked to my daughter. She said she had been rescued along with 10 other students," one mother told the YTN news channel.
"They said they had jumped into the water before getting rescued," she said.
Hundreds of ferries ply the waters between the South Korean mainland and its multiple offshore islands every day, and accidents are relatively rare.
However in one of the worst incidents, nearly 300 people died when a ferry capsized off the western coast in October 1993.
Poison gas use by Syria challenge to world: KSA
audi Arabia called on the international community on Tuesday to take “stern and decisive action” against Syria amid growing criticism over the Syrian regime’s announcement to hold presidential elections in the strife-torn country.
Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal made the call while strongly denouncing the systematic genocide of civilians in Syria and condemning the recent use of toxic gas in central Hama.
He said the “grave news” that Syrian forces had carried out two poison gas attacks last week was a challenge to “international will.”
“These continuous violations by the Damascus regime require the international community to take firm action against the continuous defiance of international, Arab and Islamic will,” Prince Saud said.
The reported gas attacks posed a clear challenge to the Security Council decision to dismantle Assad’s chemical arsenal, he said.
“The only way the regime would listen to calls for peace is if he (Assad) is forced to agree that we cannot reach a military solution for his desire to quell the revolution,” he said.
Addressing a joint press conference with Algerian Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra, Prince Saud emphasized and supported the decision made by the Arab League that calls for giving Syria’s Arab League seat to the Syrian National Coalition (SNC).
The prince, who held wide-ranging talks with Lamamra on a range of bilateral and regional issues, blasted Syria for defying the UN Security Council’s policies and resolutions.
Lamamra, who has been invited by Prince Saud to visit Riyadh, also met with Crown Prince Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense, and conveyed a message from Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika.
Talks between Saudi officials and Lamamra also focused on the need for closer coordination to counter terrorist groups in the region, as well as ways to dry up the financial resources of such groups.
The two sides denounced Israel for its intransigence and ill intentions, which have hampered the Middle East peace process.
Prince Saud hoped that the next round of Iran negotiations with the P5+1 powers would result in a final solution to the Iranian nuclear deal.
He urged all parties to comply with regulations and procedures set by the International Atomic Energy Agency, as well as the provisions of international treaties and agreements.
He called on all stakeholders to ensure “a Middle East free of weapons of mass destruction.”
The two ministers have expressed the need to reform the Arab League in order to expand and empower the 22-member regional organization of Arab countries.
He said that the recent visit of US President Barack Obama to Riyadh reaffirmed the historic relations between the two countries.
He said that both the Kingdom and the US benefited from the presidential visit, especially in terms of “explaining their positions on key regional issues.”
SR1bn worth of narcotics seized:
Security authorities thwarted two separate attempts to smuggle more than 22 million amphetamine tablets worth an estimated SR1 billion across the King Fahd Causeway, Maj. Gen. Mansour Al-Turki, security spokesman at the Interior Ministry, revealed on Sunday.
The drug bust was conducted by authorities in cooperation with security officials in Bahrain.
Authorities confirmed that they arrested five Saudi nationals and a Bahraini citizen in connection with the drug-smuggling attempt.
The first batch, busted in February, contained more than 7.6 million amphetamine tablets hidden inside barbed wire reels, while the second attempt was thwarted last month and involved the discovery of more than 14 million amphetamine tablets hidden inside plastic rollers.
“Ongoing investigations have confirmed links with an international smuggling network specialized in smuggling amphetamines tablets into the Kingdom,” he said.
“The network is led by Syrian citizens traveling between countries in the region. Authorities are working to complete statutory procedures for prosecution and trial in the Kingdom’s courts.”
He also stressed that security authorities will continue to track down and prosecute anyone involved in attempts to smuggle narcotic substances into the Kingdom through networks for organized crime.
63 new hospitals to improve patient care:
A senior official at the Ministry of Health said Sunday that 63 new hospitals will be constructed in the next five years, increasing the number of beds nationwide to 68,000 from the existing 38,000.
Salah Al-Mazroa, deputy minister of Health for Engineering Affairs and Supplies, said arrangements for the forthcoming Saudi Health Exhibition and Conference are in full swing.
“The upcoming show is all the more significant in light of the fact that the Kingdom has embarked on a major five-year expansion program,” he said.
The official stressed the importance of the Saudi Health Exhibition and Conference, scheduled to be held from May 19 to 21, which he said is an ideal platform to exchange expertise and learn about the latest products, technologies and international trends in the health care industry.
The Health Ministry will support the show, which will be held at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center (RICEC).
The Saudi Health Exhibition and Conference 2014 is being organized in cooperation with the Riyadh Exhibitions Company (REC) and the Informa Life Sciences Exhibitions.
The event is expected to be attended by over 300 exhibitors from local, regional and international medical companies, as well as health care service providers, agents, suppliers and distributors, to shed light on the latest products, technologies and services available to health care specialists from various industry fields.
The exhibition will feature nine CME-accredited conferences to highlight significant health issues in the Kingdom and the region at large.
Salah Al-Mazroa, deputy minister of Health for Engineering Affairs and Supplies, said arrangements for the forthcoming Saudi Health Exhibition and Conference are in full swing.
“The upcoming show is all the more significant in light of the fact that the Kingdom has embarked on a major five-year expansion program,” he said.
The official stressed the importance of the Saudi Health Exhibition and Conference, scheduled to be held from May 19 to 21, which he said is an ideal platform to exchange expertise and learn about the latest products, technologies and international trends in the health care industry.
The Health Ministry will support the show, which will be held at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center (RICEC).
The Saudi Health Exhibition and Conference 2014 is being organized in cooperation with the Riyadh Exhibitions Company (REC) and the Informa Life Sciences Exhibitions.
The event is expected to be attended by over 300 exhibitors from local, regional and international medical companies, as well as health care service providers, agents, suppliers and distributors, to shed light on the latest products, technologies and services available to health care specialists from various industry fields.
The exhibition will feature nine CME-accredited conferences to highlight significant health issues in the Kingdom and the region at large.
No mahram? No shisha
Restaurants and coffee shops in Jeddah have put up signs saying women should have “mahrams” (male guardians) to order shisha, and anyone who orders a shisha should be above 18 as per the order from the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (Haia).
The move has elicited sharp reactions from Saudi women.
“I don’t want to drag my husband or my son to a café in order to have shisha,” said Alaa Daani, a businesswoman. “What if I want to go to a women-only gathering where we don’t want men with us,” she said.
“I don’t see the need of a male guardian for this. This has nothing to do with gender mixing or anything against the rules of Islam.”
Many women don’t even share their love of shisha with their “mahrams” which makes this bad news for them. “No one knows I smoke shisha, this is why I don’t smoke at home because my family doesn’t want me to do anything that harms my health,” said Hayat Ali, a college student. “I go with my friends once a week to any café to smoke shisha and have a good time ... There is nothing else to entertain us here but shopping and smoking shisha. What are we going to do now,” she wondered.
The news created quite a buzz on the social media where many supported the idea while others rejected it.
“I am totally supporting this idea because it is sad when I see young women smoking shisha in public,” said Ahmed Al-Shammari on Twitter. “It makes them look cheap and easy.”
Coffee shop owners say this might harm their business, especially since it comes after the ban on serving shisha indoors. “We lost a lot of money and many clients after the regulation of serving shisha only in outdoors property which led us to rent more space and expand the café to the rooftop in order to serve it,” said Jameel Mohammed, café manager.
“We have not yet received anything from the Ministry of Commerce or the Haia but once we do, I guarantee our business is going to lose a lot and we might have to shut down the café.”
Haia spokesman Abdulrahman Al-Qaffari said the sign that surfaced on the social media is of a Makkah-based coffee shop called Layalina Al-Helwa.
allay MERS fears:
Health Minister Abdullah Al-Rabeeah visited a number of hospitals in Jeddah on Saturday to take stock of the measures to tackle the coronavirus that has caused alarm among Saudis and expatriates and the medical fraternity.
Several parents have stopped their children from going to school to avoid the deadly virus that has so far claimed 66 lives in the Kingdom.
The Ministry of Education, meanwhile, denied the closure of schools “as there is no coronavirus among students.”
Some directors of local schools told Arab News that “a limited number, especially kindergartners” did not attend school because of coronavirus fears.
The schools have sent massages to their parents reassuring them that there are no coronavirus cases among students but they preferred to let their children stay at home until the virus is eliminated.
“I cannot send my children to school before being sure that the disease is controlled. My two sons are at the primary stage and it is easy to have this virus,” said Mahmoud Al-Maimany, a Saudi national who lives in Jeddah.
“We need more health guarantees to send our children again to school, when there are hundreds who have this disease,” said Khaled Aba Numai, a Yemeni.
“This virus is spreading and the schools represent a proper environment for infection,” he said.
A top education official in Jeddah, meanwhile, said there are no recorded cases of coronavirus in schools and no school had been closed.
However, there are plans in place to tackle any future cases of coronavirus in schools, Sabq, an electronic newspaper, quoted Abdullah Al-Thaqafi, director of education in Jeddah, as saying.
“We will close any school that records coronavirus cases among students until a health check of all students is carried out,” he said.
“Several doctors will launch awareness campaigns against the disease and they will supervise the health situation at all schools,” he said.
Al-Thaqafi said some reports, published by an electronic newspaper, had caused concern among parents.
He received a large number of calls from citizens inquiring about the situation and he told them that the published story was incorrect.
Abdullah Al-Malik, a education supervisor at a private school, said: “We have launched an awareness campaign among our students against this virus. We have also sterilized all classes. I think these actions can encourage the parents to send their children to school.”
Authorities have launched all-out efforts to prevent an outbreak of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) virus in the country.
Separate ministry for women demanded
The Shoura Council is considering a proposal to launch a high council for women, or a separate ministry for women, according to Thuraya Arrayed, a Shoura member.
“I personally support establishing such a council or ministry with the aim of defending the interests of women,” Arrayed told local media.
The Eastern Province Businesswomen’s Forum, which concluded its sessions in Dammam on Saturday, supported the move to help Saudi women play an effective economic role, and invest the SR375 billion lying idle in their bank accounts.
The forum was organized by the Asharqia Chamber.
Lama Al-Sulaiman, another member, said that men should be held accountable for the qualification they have in comparison to that of women. “About 70 percent of the men who engage in the economic activity cannot read or write,” she claimed.
Fadia Al-Rashid, head of businesswomen’s committee in Al-Ahsa, said that sectors for Saudi women’s participation are limited. According to her, while they have SR375 billion in banks, their economic activity amounts to just 8 percent.
Addressing a session on “Saudi women, a confident step toward the future,” Maha Fitaihi, president of the Saudi Girl Guides, said: “We cannot force women to get out and work. It is a woman's choice. We only want that she be more aware of her surroundings, to raise her children and not leave this task to the maid.”
On another issue concerning women, Ibrahim Al-Muhawas, member of the faculty at the University of Al-Mujamma, in a paper at an international medical conference held recently in Riyadh demanded that female specialists handle forensic medicine cases involving rape as women who claim being raped refuse to be examined by a male doctor.
The participants stressed the importance of the result of DNA tests in rape cases.
Motorists warned against ‘mid-street chats’
Mid-street chatting motorists who block the flow of traffic face stringent penalty.
In a tough warning, Jeddah police have stated that motorists who obstruct traffic to chat with one another will be severely dealt with, including confiscation of vehicles.
As part of the intensified campaign, police patrols are being stepped up on the main streets and junctions, and the entrances of markets and shopping malls to prevent such practices.
Traffic police in Jeddah fined 100 people last month for hindering traffic flow. Zaid Al-Hamzi, spokesman at Jeddah Traffic Department, told Arab News that stopping in the middle of the road will lead to a SR500 fine and/or confiscation of vehicles for 15 days.
Some drivers grab the opportunity of seeing a friend and engage with them in a conversation in the middle of the street disregarding others’ rights to pass.
Al-Hamzi said violators included young men and teenagers.
Khaled Al-Sayeed complained that some motorists don’t like even to hear that they are blocking the road.
“They look at you with contempt as if you have cut their trail of thought ... They don’t have any feeling of remorse,” he said.
Mohammed Khader, an elderly motorist, said that the “alarming” behavior is not confined to inner city streets, but also includes Jeddah-Makkah and Jeddah-Madinah highways.
Kingdom ‘mindful of global recovery push’:
Saudi Arabia plays a pivotal role in the IMF through its historic presence and works with its multiple partners, when needed, to promote global financial stability, said a senior Riyadh-based economist as Group of 20 Nations reiterated their commitment to boost global growth by 2 percent.
John Sfakianakis, chief investment strategist at MASIC, a Riyadh-based investment firm, made these remarks as the G20 delegates pressed the US to ratify crucial IMF reforms, suggesting they would find an alternative if Washington does not deliver by year’s end.
The reforms, which include a funding increase and expansion of emerging economies’ roles in the International Monetary Fund, were originally strongly backed by the US, the fund’s largest shareholder.
Finance Minister Ibrahim Al-Assaf is heading the Saudi delegation at World Bank Group-International Monetary Fund meetings in Washington.
Sfakianakis said: “Saudi Arabia is mindful of the global recovery efforts and does its part to provide stability in oil prices as per the needs of global markets.”
He said: “Equally important is Saudi Arabia’s stabilizing role in various regional economies and emerging markets.”
Sfakianakis stressed that Saudi Arabia has been well-cushioned from the negative headwinds of the currency declines of other emerging markets as a result of its prudent currency policy.
Finance ministers in Washington for the spring meetings of the IMF and World Bank earlier said they were “deeply disappointed” by failure to implement changes agreed in 2010, and gave the US until the end of the year to do so.
“We are committed to maintaining a strong and adequately resourced IMF,” says the communique.
“If the 2010 reforms are not ratified by year-end, we will call on the IMF to build on its existing work and develop options for next steps.”
The Group of 20 Nations also reiterated their commitment to boost global growth by 2 percent, or over $2 trillion, over the next five years and achieve exchange rate flexibility.
Basil Al-Ghalayini, CEO of BMG Financial Group, said: “Clearly the G20 members’ patience has run out with the US over its reform delay with a virtual ultimatum and deadline to ratify these reforms by year end. Obviously, the mounting debt of the US budget, which was highly criticized by the Republicans, coupled with gradual split between US and Russia over the Ukraine crisis, are proving to be stumbling blocks for the Americans to proceed. Ultimately, advanced and emerging economies, including that of Saudi Arabia, will be more forceful in deciding the future direction of the IMF in the absence of the US.”
KSA facing increased cases of witchcraft:
Residents in the Kingdom are reporting a dramatic increase in the incidents of black magic, said to be practiced by mostly expats.
The phenomenon is rampant in the Western Province, which records higher numbers in comparison with the other parts in the Kingdom, according to officials. Makkah and Madinah have recorded the highest number of cases, sources have said.
More than 85 percent of witchcraft-related cases registered in Makkah’s courts involve expats, according to statistics issued by the Ministry of Justice.
The increase in the number of witchcraft-related cases has prompted authorities at the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice (known in Arabic as the “Haia“) to use social networking sites to spread awareness and close in on sorcerers. In fact, the Haia has an exclusive section on its web site that addresses cases related to witchcraft.
The commission also recently introduced training programs for field employees in Makkah on how to deal with sorcerers.
“We have implemented certain procedures and systems to deal with cases pertaining to sorcery across the Kingdom,” Ahmed Al-Janard, a spokesman at the commission, told Arab News.
“The Haia recently apprehended a resident in the Eastern Province who was involved in the promotion of witchcraft through his Twitter account,” he said. “He was caught selling a stone that he claimed has the power to eliminate evil, reduce envoy and foster feelings of love.”
A Jeddah court recently sentenced an Asian Qur’an teacher to a four-year prison term and a hundred lashes, in addition to deportation upon completing his sentence, for practicing witchcraft and contacting potential clients on their mobile phones.
Several uninhabited flats and buildings, meanwhile, are said to possessed by jinn, according to residents who claim to have personally witnessed the supernatural creatures.
“I have frequently witnessed jinn attacks,” said Issa, an imam who cures residents affected by the supernatural creatures. “People come to me saying they had seen a ghost or had experienced strange incidents.”
“The Qur’an states that jinn have the ability to scare people,” he said. “They are supernatural beings that reside in parallel to our world.”
“I had rented out a flat in this area even though the structure of the building was outdated because it was affordable,” said Syed Arif, an expat who recently moved onto the Arbaeen district in Jeddah.
“My younger son started to talk to what we thought was an imaginary friend,” he said. “He never wanted to leave the house and stayed in his room for hours. We used to hear him laughing and talking to himself all the time.”
“When the situation got worse, we consulted a sheikh, who told us our son plays with a jinn,” he said. “He had advised us to move houses if the situation continued.” Amena Ali, a Jeddah residents, told Arab News of her experience with the unseen.
“We use to live in the Bab Makkah area and my daughter once complained that she saw a shadow in the house,” said Amena. “We didn’t pay attention to her, thinking it was her imagination, until my husband encountered the same shadow.”
Ejaz Hamed, a resident in the Rehab district, said that the government has closed off a local building said to be inhabited by jinn, which has not been rented out in years.
Ahlam Hafez from Riyadh said she paid a sheikh more than SR10,000 to get rid of jinn in a neighboring flat.
“There are believers and non-believers among jinn,” said Mohammed Mukhtar, a sheikh. “Preachers who earn their living by exorcizing spirits should charge affordable fees.”
Emergency quake shelter sites selected
Saudi Arabia has finalized plans to build life-saving emergency earthquake shelters following warnings of an ever-increasing number of large-magnitude earthquakes that can hit different countries and regions across the globe, including the Middle East.
The Saudi Geological Survey (SGS), the state-owned body responsible for monitoring seismic activity, is working closely with the Civil Defense Department on the project.
“The SGS has selected many emergency shelter sites in different regions of the Kingdom, including Madinah, Yanbu, and Haradh,” Zohair A. Nawab, SGS president, said Saturday.
In his interview, Nawab also spoke about the Kingdom’s readiness to cope with any disaster, especially earthquakes or volcanic eruptions. The SGS is planning to select sites for emergency shelters in many other Saudi cities along the country’s Western region, where the level of seismic activity is high, he said.
“The idea to build special shelters was first conceived after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck Iran,” said Nawab, and added that new seismograph stations with state-of-the-art equipment are being installed by SGS in the Kingdom so that the quality of data and information on earthquake parameters can be improved. He pointed out that the SGS is now responsible for all earthquake-monitoring stations and the monitoring of seismic activity in the country.
Nawab said that most of the stations are currently concentrated in the Western Province.
They are located in the north of Yanbu in the area of Harrat Lunayyir, he said.
“The Saudi National Seismic Network is capable of monitoring any seismic activity because the sensors used in the network are broadband and are capable of recording all types of quakes, ranging from micro tremors to huge-intensity earthquakes,” he said. “There are currently almost 150 seismic stations. We are planning to reach the 200-mark, which will cover the whole country.”
“Numerous earthquakes occur near the boundary between the Arabian plate and the surrounding tectonic plates,” he said.
Apart from seismicity along the axis of the Red Sea and along the Gulf of Aqaba and Aden, considerable activity occurs along the Dead Sea transform fault system.
A 5.1-magnitude earthquake struck the southwestern part of the Kingdom, centering on Jazan, earlier this year. Its impact was felt by inhabitants in the Asir and Najran regions, according to the SGS and postings on social networking sites.
A number of small earthquakes struck western Saudi Arabia last year. In fact, over 30,000 minor quakes took place between April and June 2009 within an ancient solidified lava field called the “Harrat Lunayyir,” which damaged buildings near Al-Ais.
This prompted authorities to evacuate 40,000 residents from the region at the time. The SGS is also working on many other projects related to geological mapping, mineral exploration, environment geology and hydrogeology.
Cabbies name Jeddah’s no-go districts
Taxi drivers generally dread going to some southern neighborhoods in Jeddah such as Ghulail, Karantina and Sabeel, especially late at night as they fear being mugged or assaulted besides the difficulty of navigating through the narrow streets, a local daily reported.
Narrating his unhappy experience in the congested districts of Jeddah, taxi driver Yusus Suhail said three Africans boarded his taxi in Bawadi recently and wanted to go to Karantina. The fare was decided at SR25.
They assured him that the roads were excellent and that he wouldn’t problems entering or exiting their neighborhood. When they reached the district, however, the passengers kept ordering him to turn left and right on a narrow road full of potholes.
Unable to suffer anymore, he stopped the car and asked them to get out saying that he could not take them to their destination and that he did not want any fare. But the three men refused and insisted that he should take them to their homes. He argued with them but to no avail.
Finally, when he reached their place he could not go back or turn the car because of the narrow lane. He had to wait for a long time to find his way back to the main road. It was then that he vowed that he would never take a passenger to Karantina regardless of how tempting the fare was.
Another driver, Muhammad Akbar, said he had a painful experience of a different kind in the Sabeel district. His passenger asked him to stop at a gate which appeared to be the entrance to a traditional building and told him to wait for a minute so that he could get the money for the fare from his house.
The driver waited for the passenger’s return for half an hour but there was no sign of him. So he decided to enter the building but when he pushed it, he was shocked to find that the gate opened to a bare field with no buildings or people in sight. So he returned empty handed.
Shaker Mahmoud said he would never forget the time when he was beaten up and his money stolen after he took two passengers to Ghulail in south Jeddah.
"When we reached a remote area in the district, the two passengers asked me to stop and give them all the money I had. When I refused to comply with their demand, one of them struck me with immense force. I did not want any more trouble and quickly took out SR90, the only money I had earned that day,’’ he said, adding that he thanked God for escaping serious injuries.
Abdullah Malki, another taxi driver, said he refuses to go to remote places because people mostly refuse to pay the fare when they reach their destination. They would ask the driver to wait for the money and then vanish.
Another problem he faces is people throwing stones at his car and breaking the windshield. “It is not possible to go after troublemakers in unfamiliar places,” he said.
On the other hand, Muhammad Al-Sharif, a Saudi citizen living in Ghulail said the residents of the neighborhood have to pay the price for the criminal deeds of a few people. "When I tell a taxi driver I want to go to Ghulail, he will politely excuse himself and leave me on the road. Very few drivers are willing to drive me to my place and even when I offer to pay more than the normal fare,’’ he said.
Abdullah Sanaan, a professor of Islamic studies at the King Abdul Aziz University, said a few people may commit crimes, but it is unfair to generalize such conduct and blame an entire neighborhood.
Special quarantine units for MERS patients urged
The Ministry of Health should launch special emergency procedures to stop the spread of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) coronavirus by setting up special quarantine facilities to treat suspected and infected people, says an expert.
“In light of the new outbreak of MERS cases we have to change the emergency plan and set up special camps to receive and isolate suspected cases,” said Mohammed Al-Harbi, a specialist at King Abdul Aziz Hospital, which saw the death of a male nurse from the virus.
Al-Harbi said the ministry has three options: To establish an isolation camp for all patients in one place; have isolation wards in every hospital; or set aside an entire hospital specifically to treat MERS cases.
“Taking suspected cases into hospitals in a haphazard manner will only lead to the spread of the disease,” he said.
He said MERS was initially found among the elderly and those suffering from chronic diseases but was now affecting young people.
“This is a dangerous sign,” the specialist said.
His comments follow the announcement of new cases of MERS infections, despite the health ministry’s efforts to sterilize emergency wards at King Fahd and King Abdul Aziz hospitals in the city.
According to a local daily, the head of a medical department at King Fahd Hospital has been affected, while a Pakistani doctor suspected to have the virus has been reported at King Abdul Aziz Hospital.
It also reported the death of a 40-year-old Saudi man at a private hospital on Thursday, bringing the total number of MERS deaths to three in Jeddah and 67 in the Kingdom.
According to informed sources, the number of visitors to King Fahd Hospital in Jeddah declined by 55 percent after reports of people there infected with the virus.
Saudi nurses have meanwhile urged the Health Ministry to take steps to ensure their protection.
They said the ministry was biased toward doctors, ignoring their plight.
MBC’s “Bidun Shak” (Without Doubt) talk show hosted by Mohammed Fahad Al-Harthi, editor in chief of Arab News, addressed the issue in its latest episode.
Speaking during the forum, Health Minister Abdullah Al-Rabeeah said he supports nurses’ right to get compensation for dealing with MERS and other infectious diseases.
“I will take up the matter with relevant authorities to get your rights,” the minister said.
Khaled Mirghalani, spokesman of the ministry, said the King Fahd Hospital emergency ward has been reopened and all medical staff members had returned to work.
One Arabic daily, however, reported that there was a noticeable absence of staff after the head of a medical department became infected.
Deputy Health Minister Mohammad Khashim said the ministry has isolated six people that tested positive for the virus.
He said 90 percent of coronavirus carriers do not show symptoms, with only laboratory tests being able to make accurate diagnoses.
“All tested samples that came back positive have been published on the ministry’s website,” he said, stressing that the ministry’s preventive programs are linked to the World Health Organization.
Cameras to watch airport officials
The Passport Department will soon install cameras at airports in Jeddah and Riyadh and at the King Fahd Causeway to monitor the performance of its staff.
Maj. Gen. Sulaiman Al-Yahya, director general of the Passport Department, said it would also install devices at counters for travelers to assess the services of employees.
He was speaking at Dammam airport this week while launching the new services.
Al-Yahya said the first stage of the project would see cameras and passenger devices installed at King Khaled International Airport in Riyadh and King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, and then later at other airports.
“The causeway will also be monitored with multiple cameras and other monitoring devices, and will be connected to my mobile phone,” he said.
Al-Yahya said the department has provided extra laptops in the event of computer failures and breakdown of vehicles as emergency backup at the causeway and other entry points.
Meanwhile, Passport Department workers started on Sunday to wear their traditional Saudi attire at King Khaled International Airport in Riyadh, King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, King Fahd International Airport in Dammam and Prince Mohammed International Airport in Madinah.
Officials at other airports in the country would also do so over the next two weeks, Al-Yahya said.
He said that the department has started training a group of women "in accordance with the Shariah” to staff counters in Riyadh and Jeddah in the next two months.
Maid hacks Saudi employer to death
The police have arrested an Ethiopian maid for murdering a Saudi woman in a rural district in Taif on Thursday.
The African woman in her thirties hacked her employer, who was in her fifties, to death with an axe while she was praying the noon prayer at her house in Maisan, 130 km south of Taif, said Lt. Col. Ati Al-Qarshi, police spokesman in Makkah.
“After receiving the report about the murder, the Maisan police rushed to the location and found the lifeless body of the Saudi woman lying in a pool of blood on a prayer mat," said Al-Qarshi.
They arrested the maid, who admitted committing the murder, and found SR7,000 in her possession. The Saudi women’s room had been ransacked.
A source said the Saudi woman, Umm Saad, was always kind and considerate to the maid, with some friends believing she pampered her.
The maid had been employed for the past 18 months, the source said.
According to another source, Umm Saad was sleeping in her room when she was attacked.
The victim’s husband works in an education office southeast of Taif, a local daily reported.
During the week, two African women committed suicide in the country.
Haia: 9 p.m. shops closure plan ‘will boost family bonds’
The proposal to close shops at 9 p.m. would benefit Saudi and expatriate families, especially working women, according to the chief of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice (Haia).
Sheikh Abdullateef Al-Asheikh said recently that women must have opportunities to work, but this must take place within a suitable working environment, with defined working hours and proper transport.
“We should support this decision, and remove all obstacles in its way. It is in the national interest and will benefit all citizens and residents in the Kingdom,” he reportedly said.
He said the measure would reorganize the working lives of people and ensure they lead dignified lives.
It creates opportunities for families to bond, and eases the burden on cities.
He said all cities in the developed world close their shops early to protect their economies.
The ruling includes all sales outlets with the exception of cafes, restaurants, food markets and pharmacies.
A committee comprising officials from the Ministries of Labor, Commerce and Industry, Municipal and Rural Affairs, Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Call and Guidance, and the Haia, has recommended that retail and sales outlets close at 9 p.m.
The proposal follows extensive discussions to define working hours at shops and commercial centers, to comply with a ruling issued by the Shoura Council five years ago.
Several businessmen said that the plan, if implemented, would be bad for business, especially since shops close twice for prayers at night, for Maghrib and Isha.
Abdullah Al-Mobty, president of the Council of Saudi Chambers, had earlier called on government to allow shops to stay open until 11 p.m.
Allah's wrath killed Rajiv, Sanjay Gandhi: SP's Azam Khan
Bijnor (Uttar Pradesh, April 12:
Uttar Pradesh's Minority Affairs Minister Mohd Azam Khan seems uncontrollable. He told a stunned gathering at Bijnor town that the untimely deaths of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi and his brother Sanjay Gandhi were "acts of Allah".
The Election Commission banned all public meetings, speeches and campaigning for the Lok Sabha polls hours after the comment.
The senior minister in the Samajwadi Party government of Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said both Rahul Gandhi and Sanjay Gandhi had committed "serious crimes" and were "punished by Allah" and which is why they met brutal deaths.
Addressing an election rally in Bijnor Friday evening, Khan said while Sanjay Gandhi was responsible for mass and forcible sterlization during the emergency rule of his mother, former prime minister Indira Gandhi, he accused former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi of incurring the "wrath of gods" as he had presided over the opening of the Babri mosque to Hindus for prayers.
He also said Allah will never spare people who conduct themselves against humanity.
Sanjay Gandhi, youngest son of former prime minister Indira Gandhi, was killed in a plane crash in June 1980, while Rajiv Gandhi was killed by a human bomb during an election rally in Tamil Nadu in May 1991.
Khan also took a dig at BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi and said that a man who is not loyal to his wife will betray the nation.
"Jo apni biwi ka nahin ho saka, wo desh ka kya hoga (Someone who could not be loyal to his wife, how can he be loyal to the nation)," he added.
State authorities Saturday, however, said poll panel's restrain order on the minister would be complied with. The Election Commission has also put restrictions on the campaigning of BJP general secretary and close Modi aide Amit Shah for his "hate speeches".IANS
The Battle for Telangana Begins
April 12:
The stage is all set for a fierce battle of ballots between the political parties and candidates who aspire to grab power in the new State of Telangana. Going by the nominations filed, almost all 119 Assembly and 17 Lok Sabha Seats in the region will witness a triangular contest between the TRS, Congress and TDP-BJP combine. However, the MIM, YSRCP, Lok Satta, CPI, CPI (M) and other groups too will try hard to get their share of power in Telangana.
Hundreds of candidates filed their nomination for Assembly and Lok Sabha elections in Telangana on Wednesday, the last day of filing the papers. With most of the parties finalising their candidates till late Tuesday, a long queue of candidates was witnessed at almost all designated offices where candidates filed their nomination papers.
Telangana Rashtra Samithi chief K. Chandrasekhara Rao, Telangana Pradesh Congress Commitee president Ponnala Lakshmaiah and Bharatiya Janata Party Telangana unit president G Kishan Reddy were among hundreds of others who filed their nominations on the last day. According to Election Commission officials, over 1100 nominations were received for Assembly elections and more than 140 nominations for Lok Sabha polls. The last date for withdrawal of nominations is April 12.
The elections to 119 assembly and 17 Lok Sabha seats in Telangana are scheduled April 30.
Though the region is set to get the status of separate state June 2, the Election Commission is conducting the polls in the united Andhra Pradesh. The polls for 175 Assembly and 25 Lok Sabha seats in Seemandhra are scheduled on May 7.
Unlike previous elections, there are many rebels who might change the poll equations in the entire region. As many as 87 rebels belonging to the main four political parties – Congress, TDP, BJP and TRS – filed their nominations against the official candidates in 56 Assembly constituencies when nominations closed on Wednesday for the April 30th polling in Telangana region.
As per the records available with the Returning Officers of the 119 Assembly constituencies, the Congress achieved the record of having the maximum number of 33 rebel candidates in 15 constituencies followed by 30 rebels of TDP in 22 segments. The BJP accounted for 14 rebels in 13 constituencies, while TRS has the least number of 10 rebels who filed their papers against the official nominees in 10 constituencies.
Miryalguda, Malkajgiri and Medhcal Assembly constituencies have the maximum number of three rebels each. While the three rebels in Miryalguda belong to the Congress, the rebels in the other two constituencies of Malkajgiri and Medchal belong to Telugu Desam.
The Congress is facing the head ache of two rebel candidates in six constituencies of Huzurabad, Peddapally, Musheerabad, Korutla, Station Ghanpur and Narayanpet. Even Telugu Desam Party is bogged down by two rebels each in six constituencies of L.B. Nagar, Khairatabad, Secunderabad, Pinapaka, Nakrekal and Shadnagar.
What is intriguing is that in eight Assembly constituencies which were allotted to the BJP in the seat sharing alliance, TDP rebels filed their nominations protesting against the decision to “give away” the seats to the saffron brigade. Likewise, BJP rebels filed their nominations against the official TDP candidates in seven Assembly segments despite the fact that the constituencies were left to the TDP as per the alliance entered by the two parties.
The TRS also did not escape the rebel trouble, though the intensity of the problem was not as that of the other three parties. However one rebel TRS candidate remained in each of the 10 Assembly segments.
The political parties will launch their campaign from April 12, the last day for withdrawal of nominations. Several national leaders including AICC President Sonia Gandhi, Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi, BJP's Prime Ministerial candidiate Narendra Modi, BJP National President Rajnath Singh and other top leaders are likely to participate in the election campaign.
According to analysts, Telangana will witness one of most fierce political campaigns ever. Forming the first government of Telangana is a matter of prestige for both the TRS and Congress and therefore, both the parties will try all means to grab the voters' attention. While the TDP is hoping to make a survival in the region with the support of the BJP, the latter is expecting to strenghthen its voters' base in the region. Similarly, the YSRCP is participating in a symbolic contest as its candidates are not strong in most of the seats in the region, except a few Assembly segments in Hyderabad.
The Lok Satta Party is expecting major gains in the urban areas and early announcement of candidates might benefit the party in some constituencies. The MIM too is expecting to increase its tally from seven in 2009 to at least 10 this time. It fielded candidates from more than 20 Assembly and four Lok Sabha segments in Telangana. The CPI is hoping to gain from alliance with the Congress, while the CPI (M) is expecting some good results in Khammam and Nalgonda districts.
The Aam Aadmi Party might remain a non-starter in Telangana due to the delay in announcing its candidates.
It's MIM Vs MBT In The Old City
April 12:
With the process of filing of nominations for the ensuing Assembly and Lok Sabha elections in Telangana coming to an end on Wednesday, all the political parties are gearing up to launch an intensive campaign to grab the attention of voters.
The next two week will be highly crucial for the political parties to win the hearts and votes of the people. While the rest of Telangana is still warming up to witness an intense campaign, the Old City of Hyderabad is already in the grip of election fever. Two Assembly constituencies, Yakutpura and Chandrayangutta, are witnessing a keen contest between the arch rivals Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen and Majlis Bachao Tahreek. The MIM and MBT candidates are battling for supremacy in these two prestigious constituencies where both the parties have equal dominance although the MIM has been winning both the seats since 1999.
While MBT President Dr Khayam Khan is competing against sitting MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi from Chandrayangutta constituency, his younger brother Majeedullah Khan Farhat has emerged as a strong contender against MIM veteran Mumtaz Ahmed Khan in Yakuktpura constituency.
The MBT hopes to repeat the history of 1994 elections when it made its debut by winning both Chandrayangutta and Yakutpura seats by defeating MIM in its own bastions. MBT founder Md Amanullah Khan had won the seat against the MIM from Chandrayangutta seat while Mumtaz Ahmed Khan made his debut in politics on MBT's ticket from Yakutpura. However, about a year later, he joined the MIM. In 1999 elections, the MBT founder lost the election and since then the MIM has been maintaining its hold over the seats in the entire Old City.
According to analysts, this time the elections are going to be tough for the MIM candidates in both Chandrayangutta and Yakutpura constituencies. The MBT has focused all its energies on these two seats and is confident of winning them. While the MIM has been claiming that it brought development in both the constituencies, the MBT contends that the entire Old City remained backward during the MIM's rule.
Compared to 2009, the elections this time are quite smooth for the MIM. In 2009, Siasat Editor Zahed Ali Khan gave a tough fight to MIM supremo Asaduddin Owaisi from Hyderabad Lok Sabha seat. Although a similar contest was being expected in Hyderabad, Zahed Ali Khan announced his retirement from electoral politics which provided great relief to Asaduddin Owaisi. The TDP's decision to ally with the BJP indirectly helped the MIM as several senior TDP leaders in the Old City resigned from the party in protest. This further reduced the competition for the MIM candidates, especially in Assembly segments like Charminar and Malakpet.
Although the MBT has fielded its candidates from different constituencies including Hyderabad Lok Sabha seat, but it is clearly evident that its campaign is focused primarily in Yakutpura and Chandrayangutta segments. This has narrowed down the intense electioneering to two Assembly segments in the Old City.
Analysts say that the results of these Assembly constituencies would set the trend for future politics in the Old City. While the MBT is contesting the elections as a "Do or Die" battle, the MIM is struggling hard to protect its bastions.
Palestinians condemn Israeli sanctions as ‘piracy’:
JERUSALEM: The Palestinian negotiator in Mideast peace talks is calling Israel’s decision to stop tax money transfers “piracy.”
Saeb Erekat said Friday that “the Israeli decision to withhold these funds is piracy. ... It cannot be maintained.” He also said talks persist, though “gaps remain big.”
Erekat spoke a day after an Israeli official said Israel would stop the tax money transfers in retaliation for the Palestinians pushing to sign up for more recognition from international agencies and treaties. That comes after Israel failed to release Palestinian prisoners as promised and moved forward with more settlements in land Palestinians want for their future capital.
Israel collects about $100 million a month in taxes for the Palestinians. It isn’t clear how much would be withheld or for long it would go on.
No absentee voting for Indian diaspora this time:
India’s supreme court Friday ruled that absentee voting was not possible for the diaspora during the ongoing elections.
The court accepted the Election Commission’s argument that it was not possible for a review as the staggered elections were already in progress and an amendment was required in the election law, lawyers appearing for the petitioner said.
The petitioner, Shamseer V.P., a UAE-based entrepreneur, moved the court demanding e-vote or postal ballot.
The apex court bench of K.S. Radhakrishnan and Vikramajit Sen observed that a detailed hearing was required on the subject and that the possibility of allowing absentee ballot for resident Indians should be considered.
The court had on Monday enquired whether it could be possible to allow the registered voters to cast e-vote or postal ballot before the end of the last phase of polling on May 14.
The Election Commission’s attorney told the court that e-vote was under the consideration of the panel formed to study the issue, both legal and technical.
Despite providing the online registration option for the diaspora as voters this time, the election authorities received less than 14,000 valid applications, 12,653 of them from the southern state of Kerala where every third household has a member working abroad, mostly in Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
The court, which began the hearing on the petition last month, termed disenfranchisement of more than 10 million citizens living abroad as “a serious matter of concern” and wondered why it took so long to reach the court.
“This is a good beginning and going by the positive comments made by the court, we are just one step away from having the right to exercise our franchise established,” said Shamseer.
As per official data, 10,037,761 Indians live abroad and they are entitled to register online and vote only if they were present in their constituencies at the time of elections. They were also allowed to register online and send their documents for verification by post to be able to vote here.
But most of them abstain as they were not sure of voting due to the restrictions. A pro-government group chartered a flight for 147 registered voters from the UAE this week and a few have managed to travel to vote on their own.
According to Shamseer, the court appeared to have been convinced that e-voting allowing expatriate to cast their vote from the comforts of their home using a high security password was easier and effective as a foolproof system was already in place.
While welcoming the court move, Kerala’s Congress-led government announced that it would explore the possibility of allowing e-voting in the civic polls next year.
ignites pay-hike calls:
Many Saudis have called for increasing the minimum wage in both public and private sector jobs to SR9,000 after a study conducted by King Khaled Foundation revealed that a five-member Saudi family requires SR8,926 for a decent living without depending on aid from the government and charities.
Sami bin Abdul Aziz Al-Damigh, a professor at King Saud University in Riyadh with longstanding experience in social work, conducted the survey for the charity.
He hoped the survey would help the government understand the economic difficulties being faced by its citizens and take decisions to address such problems.
Al-Damigh interviewed 10,000 families across the country and found out that a family needs SR1,390 for housing, SR1,510 for food, SR1,307 for clothing, SR201 for health care, SR248 for school expenses, SR882 for the needs of newborn babies, SR633 for transport, SR1,353 for basic services, SR905 for recreation and SR496 for other expenses.
There were on average five members, including three children, in families surveyed for the study. It found many Saudi families were finding it difficult to make ends meet.
Al-Damigh emphasized that the social insurance scheme should be based on peoples’ needs.
One Saudi, who receives a monthly salary of SR5,500, said he allocates SR1,800 to pay marriage loan, SR750 to Saudi Credit Bank, SR2,500 for semester fees and SR600 for books.
An elderly Saudi who lives in a makeshift house, for instance, said he was receiving only SR1,700 from social insurance, an insufficient amount for his family of five.
Fuad Kawther, a Saudi engineer and social worker, said the government should adopt more proactive policies to address the various problems facing citizens, including housing.
“There were calls through social media outlets to increase salaries, but there was no response,” he told Arab News.
He said the payment of SR2,000 in unemployment benefits would not serve the purpose. He urged the government to learn from the successful experiences of other GCC countries to improve the condition of citizens and alleviate their suffering.
“People expect more from Saudi Arabia, being the cradle of Islam. We want the era of Caliph Omar bin Al-Khattab and Omar bin Abdul Aziz to come back. During their times, there was no poverty. We have now more wealth than those days and we should use our resources properly for the benefit of citizens. We should also apply the Zakat system strictly for poverty alleviation.”
Royal criticism of banks sets social media abuzz
Saudis on social media Wednesday praised Deputy Crown Prince Muqrin for saying the nation's banks are not doing enough for the poor.
Prince Muqrin questioned the banks' commitment to social development, despite making record profits, at a press conference on Tuesday during a ceremony organized by the King Khaled Charity Foundation in Riyadh.
Abdulkareem Alneqez said: “Prince Muqrin has hit the nail on the head with this irritating question, which our banks would like to pretend they didn’t hear. This question will shut them up, and echo in bankers' ears.”
Fahd Alestaa commented: “Regardless of who’s responsible for the poor in our country, banks have come up with various tricks to empty people’s wallets.”
Tamim Al-Zahrani remarked: “The Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency should enact a law committing banks to charitable community services across the country.”
Waleed bin Saud said: “Prince Muqrin has pressed the right buttons. SAMA can control banks and order them to contribute to the development of our society.”
Abdullah Al-Kuowaileet gave his viewpoint: “Our banks are like parasites. They don’t pay taxes and would love to charge you for the oxygen you inhale if they could.”
Mushari Al-Sairi asked a relevant question: “We all know that Prince Muqrin has spoken the truth, but what is the government going to do about it? This is the real question now.”
Local media reported that Prince Muqrin's comments on Tuesday appeared to be an effort to show sensitivity to the difficulties of ordinary Saudi citizens, many of whom face a shortage of affordable housing and an unemployment rate that was officially at 11.5 percent in the fourth quarter of last year.
Prince Muqrin said of the banks: “They are on the short side in many things. They give little compared to the benefits they receive from citizens and from the state,” he said, responding to a question on the possibility of setting up banks for the poor.
Saudi commercial banks recorded record profits in 2013 of SR37.6 billion, a 7 percent increase from 2012.
1 dies in brawl at drifting
A young Saudi man died and another was seriously injured when a bloody fighting erupted between groups of youth involved in the dangerous game of drifting in Al-Kharj, about 80 km south of Riyadh.
The fighting took place in King Saud Street on Wednesday evening, according to the Al-Arabiya website.
The news channel said the victim died of a bullet wound, while the injured man sustained stab wounds on different parts of his body.
The incident took place while a large number of youth were watching car stunts in the street.
Sulaiman Al-Aqeel, a professor of social science at King Saud University, said drifting has become a major problem in Saudi society and urged authorities to take strong measures to stop such destructive activities.
“Saudis learned such stunts after interacting with other societies,” he said, adding that youth must be encouraged to make use of their free time to engage in constructive activity.
“We have to conduct interesting and informative programs for our youth to use their free time wisely to deter them from engaging in bad habits such as drifting, drug abuse and other crimes.”
Al-Aqeel said several studies have been conducted on these social issues and that recommendations should be implemented to resolve negative phenomena.
The Social Affairs Ministry and other ministries should address these issues before they become more complicated and claim more lives.
MERS kills Riyadh woman; minister allays public fears
The coronavirus is well under control, Health Minister Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah said on Wednesday at a time when Jeddah reported 11 new cases of the deadly virus, of which two were fatal.
Four patients, aged 45, 51, 57 and 90, were diagnosed with the virus in Riyadh. One of them, a woman, died on Wednesday.
The 57-year-old Saudi patient who succumbed to the virus was suffering from chronic diseases, while the other three patients are being treated at the intensive care unit of a local hospital.
“Six patients in Jeddah have been cured and three cases are still under medication,” he said.
Al-Rabeeah urged community members not to panic, playing down rumors about the spread of the virus in the Kingdom on social media sites.
The National Scientific Committee for Infectious Diseases will meet on Thursday to review the status of the disease and take decisions about how to combat its spread.
“We assure citizens and residents that precautionary measures have been taken by the ministry,” Al-Rabeeah said. The disease has not reached epidemic proportions based on guidelines set by the WHO, he said.
“The incidence of the disease is therefore very low compared to the population of the Kingdom,” the minister said. “Furthermore, the number of cases in Jeddah is proportionate to other regions of the Kingdom.”
“We are updating the ministry website with news about the virus around the clock,” he said.
The Ministry of Health has been observing the increasing incidence of virus cases and effective efforts have been taken to keep the disease under control, said Al-Rabeeah.
He also advised members of the public to take precautionary measures against the spread of the virus. This, he said, includes washing hands regularly and covering the face and nose in crowded areas or when visiting infected patients.
The minister also said that there is no definite remedy against coronavirus and that the disease remains a mystery throughout the world.
The minister also warned community members not to spread rumors on social media websites and urged members of the public to visit www.moh.gov.sa for accurate information and updates on the virus.
Surgery to separate twins today
A pair of Iraqi conjoined twins will be surgically separated by a special medical team headed by Health Minister Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah on Thursday.
“The twins, Chris and Christian, will undergo the separation surgery by a 23-member multidisciplinary team headed by the health minister,” an official from the National Guard Health Affairs told Arab News.
“The operation, which will commence at 7:30 a.m., will be conducted at the King Abdulaziz Medical City (KAMC).
“The multidisciplinary team has held several meetings and carried out medical examinations on the twins,” he said. “They are hopeful that they will be able to separate the twins successfully.”
Al-Rabeeah pointed out that the results of pre-surgical examinations have shown that the twins are conjoined down the chest and abdomen and share a liver.
Big firms threaten programs of productive families:
Experts have warned that the programs of productive families may be challenged by the presence of big companies in the Saudi market and demanded that more opportunities be created for small and medium enterprises to diversify the market and strengthen the economy.
Twenty-two Saudi and Arab experts made these observations during the second day of the “Made in Saudi Arabia” National Forum and Exhibition of the Productive Families Program, sponsored by Makkah Gov. Prince Mishaal bin Abdullah in Jeddah.
The programs aim to train 5,000 women and girls in Jeddah with the participation of 600 families in the production of various goods and services.
The participants in the first session, chaired by Loay bin Bakr Al-Taiar, dean of the Student Affairs College at the University of Business and Technology, stressed the need to develop the capacity of more than 25,000 families in Saudi Arabia involved in production activities. The session also discussed the best structural and regulatory practices for managing the activities of these productive families.
Abdullah Al-Shamli Shamsuddin predicted that the value-added returns from the projects of these families will exceed about 50 percent of its revenues, and recommended that smaller projects be granted to promote economic development among low-income groups who represent a significant proportion of the population in all developing societies.
Hatem bin Hassan Faraj Qurmon, a representative of the University of Science and Technology and a specialist in the management of marketing operations, said that 90 percent of entrepreneurs and owners of small businesses leave the market after less than three years of launching their projects as a result of administrative errors, namely marketing issues.
Meanwhile, Redah Al-Asafi, manager of the Productive Families Program in the National Commercial Bank, announced plans to launch 20 new branches in the next five years. These branches will specialize in the provision of microcredit loans and support 22,000 productive families. “The National Commercial Bank is the owner of the largest number of initiatives in this direction, having trained 9,904 beneficiaries through the productive families program launched several years ago,” he said.
Atef Malaaka, a financial adviser, said the dominance of big companies in the Saudi economic market is a catastrophic phenomenon with unknown consequences. He expressed his reservations about enabling the large corporations to control the reins of the national economy, which are steadily contributing to the disappearance of the middle class.
He emphasized the need to change the work culture, arguing that the change should begin through education in schools where young people should be introduced to the importance of a working life.
Salah bin Mahmoud Abu Nar, a faculty member of the University of Business and Technology, moderated the second session, which focused on providing insight on the best financial, funding and investment practices in the management of the productive families activities. During this session, Muhammad Salim discussed the financial management approaches of different activities, while another speaker, Hassan Yousef, defined the importance of the contribution of the private sector and government agencies.
The third session, headed by Fahd bin Yousef Sharif Al-Itani, a WTO expert, involved presentations of the success of the programs, where Mahmoud bin Mohammed Turkestani, vice president of the social responsibility department of NCB, reviewed the programs and initiatives introduced in the past few years.
A total of 10 workshops were held, covering topics such as the production of fashion design, production and marketing of jewelry, marketing of food productions, funding and financial management.
The event is the third in a series of meetings and exhibitions held in 2012 and 2013 under the same name, but with different themes and activities. The event is carefully planned to keep pace with the developments of the market.
10 per cent voter turnout in Delhi, Sonia, Rahul cast vote:
New Delhi, April 10:
Vice President Hamid Ansari, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal were among the early voters in the seven Delhi Lok Sabha seats which recorded an impressive 10 per cent turn out in the first two hours.
"10.2 per cent of the electorate have cast their votes till 9 AM. The polling has so far been peaceful and there are no reports of any untoward incident," a top official in the Delhi Election Commission said.
The Lok Sabha elections here are seen as test of Aam Aadmi Party's perceived erosion of support base, BJP's claim of having a 'Modi wave' besides assertion by Congress that it was regaining lost ground after suffering massive defeat in assembly polls in December.
Union Minister Kapil Sibal, Delhi BJP Chief Harsh Vardhan, Congress General Secretary Ajay Maken, Delhi's Chief Electoral Officer Vijay Dev were also among the early voters.
Sonia, accompanied by Maken and Delhi Congress Chief Arvinder Singh Lovely, came to the polling station at Nirman Bhavan in Central Delhi at around 9:30 AM and went straight inside the booth to vote as there was no queue.
She is a voter in the New Delhi constituency from where Maken is contesting to retain the seat for the third consecutive term.
Talking to reporters Maken, who is contesting from prestigious New Delhi constituency, exuded confidence of regaining support of the Congress votebank which he said had gone to AAP in the assembly polls four months back.
"People who voted for Arvind Kejriwal were traditional Congress voters who will vote for us this time. We will win all seven seats. There is no Modi wave," Maken told reporters.
Clad in a while kurta-pyjama, Rahul cast his vote at booth number 88 at Aurangazeb Lane at 10:20 AM. He was also accompanied by Maken and Lovely. As there was no queue, Rahul also went straight inside the booth to cast his vote.
Clad in a while kurta-pyjama, Rahul cast his vote at booth number 88 at Aurangazeb Lane at 10:20 AM. He was also accompanied by Maken and Lovely. As there was no queue, Rahul also went straight inside the booth to cast his vote.
After casting his vote at a polling booth near his residence in Tilak Lane, Kejriwal said Congress has already accepted its defeat while BJP's Modi was thinking that he had become the Prime Minister.
Modi will even "divide" country to become PM: Rahul
Raipur, April 09:
Rahul Gandhi today said Narendra Modi will "divide" the nation and make people "fight" each other as he can go to any extent to become the prime minister in his most direct attack yet on the BJP leader during the ongoing Lok Sabha campaign.
"Modi wants to become PM and he can do anything for it. He will divide the nation, make people fight each other," Modi said referring to the BJP Prime Ministerial candidate by name.
The Congress Vice President was addressing a rally at Karhibadar village in Balod district in Chattisgarh's Kanker Lok Sabha constituency
Rahul, who was canvassing for party candidate Phulodevi Netam contesting against BJP's Vikram Usendi, said everything is "consolidated" in Modi's hand in the BJP.
"In BJP, only one person knows everything about the world. If anything happens in the country only that person knows it. They think only person will change the country," he he said.
Rahul also took potshots at Modi over his "chowkidar" pitch and over recent heartburn in senior party leaders LK Advani and Jaswant Singh over their choice of Lok Sabha seats.
"Wah chowkidari ki baat karte hai...Unke bade neta hai Advaniji aur Jaswant Singhji. Unse puchhiye chowkidari kaise hui aur unka kya hua (He talks about becoming 'chowkidar'. Ask their (BJP's) senior leaders Advaniji and Jaswantji of this 'chowkidari' and what happened to them," Rahul said.
He alleged that BJP was involved in "communalism and is dividing the nation in the name of religion".
Referring to alleged surveillance on a woman architect by cops in Gujarat, Rahul said, "What kind of women empowerment they talk about. If women are being sexually exploited, policemen are sent behind women and their phone being tapped. BJP talks about women empowerment. But everybody can see what kind of empowerment it is".
"Tribal women and minor girls are raped. The Gujarat chief minister sent policemen behind women, he asked to tap women's phones," he said.
Rahul also attacked ruling Raman Singh government in Chhattisgarh over the safety of women and their empowerment--the issues Modi raises frequently to attack top Congress leadership.
"More than 20,000 women are missing in Chhattisgarh and ruling BJP talks of women empowerment," he said.
--PTI
64 cases booked within 100 days under section 498:
Hyderabad, April 10:
There has been an alarming rise in couple disputes in old city which is attributed to lack of education and poverty. Inspector Women Police Station, Ghansi Bazar, B Rajita Reddy told that 64 cases were booked within early 100 days of the year 2014 under section 498. Women police stations are directed at first to do the counselling within the police station to the parties before registering the case. If it fails the counselling must be get done by NGOs working in the city. The inspector further said that most of the cases are from Bhavani Nagar, Talab Katta and Chandrayangutta where women are poor and uneducated.
During the interview a woman arrived at the police station and told that she got married in 2010. Her husband went to Saudi Arabia after 6 months and divorced her after he returned from there. The woman told that all the dowry items given at the time of her marriage was given to her sister-in-law as latter’s dowry. The woman was demanding Rs. 6 lakh but the settlement was done on just Rs. 2.5 lakh which she says is insufficient for her and her child.
Lady inspector told that 498 A is widely used to stop domestic violence. Men and women who have become victims of the Domestic Violence Act say that section 498 A is grossly misused. Religious scholars and family elders can play effective role in preventing incidents of disputes and divorce.
Abdul Qawi Abbasi files nomination from Musheerabad as AAP’s candidate:
Hyderabad, April 09:
Mr. M A Qawi Abbasi advocate High Court filed his nomination papers as Aam Admi Party candidate from Musheerabad assembly constituency on Wednesday. Later he told that he has been given party ticket on the basis of his performance. He appealed voters of Musheerabad assembly constituency to cast their votes in his favour. He announced to make the constituency an exemplary one after winning the elections. A large number of party workers were present on the occasion.
Siasat news
TDP-BJP alliance will succeed in polls: Venkaiah Naidu |
Hyderabad, April 09:
Senior BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu today expressed confidence that the BJP-TDP alliance would be successful at the hustings.
"Some parties are worried over BJP and TDP joining the forces. They are spreading misinformation. NDA would get people's mandate... Even in the state, people want a true non-Congress government.
"In this context, I am confident that people would welcome our decision to contest together," he said, talking to reporters here.
TRS, Congress and some other rival parties have termed the newly-formed alliance as opportunistic.
TDP has returned to the NDA fold after a decade.
--PTI
MIM candidates in fray from 4 LS, 21 Assembly seats in Telangana:
MIM candidates in fray from 4 LS, 21 Assembly seats in Telangana:
Hyderabad, April 09:
The MIM has fielded its candidates from as many as four Lok Sabha and 21 Assembly constituencies in Telangana region.
It was in 1989 when MIM contested from 35 Assembly seats in Andhra Pradesh. In 1994, it confined itself to 20 Assembly seats. Since then, its candidates never touched a double-digit. Therefore, after a gap of 20 years, the MIM has again tried to expand itself by fielding candidates from seats other than Hyderabad district.
Interestingly, the MIM gave tickets to many non-Muslim candidates to substantiate its claim of being a secular party. While MIM President Asaduddin Owaisi is the candidate for Hyderabad Lok Sabha seat, the remaining three Lok Sabha candidates in Telangana are non-Muslims. They are Diwakar Dharanikota from Malkajgiri, G Motilal Naik from Bhongir and N Mohan Rao from Secunderabad.
Similarly, one-third of MIM's Assembly candidates in Telangana are non-Muslims. They are Gadda Yugender from Uppal; Sharath Nalaganti from Amberpet; James Silvester from Secunderabad, G Motilal Naik from Bhongir, V Naveen Yadav from Jubilee Hills, Dharanikota Sudhakar from Malkajgiri and Gonti Vikram from Ibrahimpatnam Assembly constituency.
The other candidates in the fray are: Akbaruddin Owaisi (Chandrayangutta); Ahmed Pasha Quadri (Charminar); Maozzam Khan (Bahadurpura), Ahmed Balala (Malakpet), Jaffer Hussain Meraj (Nampally), Kausar Mohiuddin ( Karwan), Yakutpura (Mumtaz Ahmed Khan), Nazeer Khan (Serilingampally), Syed Rahmath (Patencheruvu), Mir Majaz Ali (Nizambad Urban), Mohd Ghouseuddin (Qutubullapur), Sheik Ahmed (Maheshwaram), Zakir Hussain Jawed (Rajender Nagar), Mohd Qasim Shaheen (Musheerabad).
The MIM has also named candidates for 13 Assembly and one Lok Sabha seats in Seemandhra region. They are: Moghul Kareemullah Baig - Markapuram; Mohammed Ali - Anantapur; Hadi Shaukat Ali - Hindupur; CM Ilyas - Kadri; Mohd Ali Pathan - Madanapalli; Shaik Karimullah - Nandyal; Khader Basha - Rayachoti; Mullanti Chandrasekhara - Alur; Y Mahaboob Basha - Guntakal; Shaik Abdul Khader - Ponnur; Basheer Ahmed - Guntur West; Shaik Bajit Basha - Guntur East; PN Varaprasad (SC) - Singanamala.
The MIM has also named P Venkatanarayana Reddy as its candidate from Nandyal Lok Sabha constituency. (INN)
KSA declares war on MERS:
Health authorities have launched all-out efforts to prevent an outbreak of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) virus in the country after the deadly virus hit paramedics at two major hospitals in the city.
A paramedic at King Abdul Aziz Hospital was among two latest victims of the SARS-like disease, bringing the nationwide death toll to 66.
A senior health official said seven more new suspected cases have been reported in Jeddah.
Makkah Gov. Prince Mishaal bin Abdullah met with the director-general of health and urged “precautionary measures to combat the disease” at hospitals and other health facilities in the region.
“We have to adopt health measures to ensure the safety of citizens and residents from the virus and educate the public on how to protect themselves from MERS,” the governor told health officials in the region.
The Health Ministry reported four more MERS cases in Jeddah on Monday, two of whom are health workers, prompting authorities to close the emergency department at the city’s King Fahd Hospital.
Sabq.org, an electronic newspaper, reported that patients were being transferred to other hospitals in the city, but the move has caused widespread concern in the city fueled by rumors on social networks.
“I’m afraid to send my children to school,” said Bassem Ben Ali, a 33-year-old Jeddawi.
There have been 175 cases reported in Saudi Arabia since the MERS virus first appeared in the Kingdom in September 2012.
“We have detected 11 cases of coronavirus in Jeddah,” said Dr. Abdul Salam Noorwali, director-general of health in the Makkah region. “Two of the patients have died, while six others have been cured and three cases are under medication.”
Dr. Sami Badawood, Jeddah Health Affairs director, said the emergency ward at King Fahd Hospital was shut down for 24 hours to ease pressure as Saudi Red Crescent Society ambulances bring in more emergency cases.
— With input from Irfan Mohammed
“We sterilized the emergency ward of the hospital during closure,” he said. “One employee at King Fahd hospital has contracted the virus.”
The ministry set up an exclusive section to monitor the virus in the city following the detection of the first case, said the director.
“Six teams have been working to monitor and conduct preventive measures. Cases are being referred to regional diagnostic laboratories for detailed examination and also to take preventive measures,” he said.
Badawood said that the disease is under control in the city, adding that no confirmed case has been found at King Abdulaziz Hospital. He urged the public not to listen to rumors and seek information from official sources.
Dr. Sharie Al-Buqami, spokesman at King Abdulaziz University, denied media reports that paramedics at KAU hospital have been affected by the virus.
“We have not closed the emergency ward, which is operating normally,” he said. “The hospital received five suspected cases and an Egyptian doctor who was suffering from the disease has since fully recovered.”
A paramedic at King Abdul Aziz Hospital was among two latest victims of the SARS-like disease, bringing the nationwide death toll to 66.
A senior health official said seven more new suspected cases have been reported in Jeddah.
Makkah Gov. Prince Mishaal bin Abdullah met with the director-general of health and urged “precautionary measures to combat the disease” at hospitals and other health facilities in the region.
“We have to adopt health measures to ensure the safety of citizens and residents from the virus and educate the public on how to protect themselves from MERS,” the governor told health officials in the region.
The Health Ministry reported four more MERS cases in Jeddah on Monday, two of whom are health workers, prompting authorities to close the emergency department at the city’s King Fahd Hospital.
Sabq.org, an electronic newspaper, reported that patients were being transferred to other hospitals in the city, but the move has caused widespread concern in the city fueled by rumors on social networks.
“I’m afraid to send my children to school,” said Bassem Ben Ali, a 33-year-old Jeddawi.
There have been 175 cases reported in Saudi Arabia since the MERS virus first appeared in the Kingdom in September 2012.
“We have detected 11 cases of coronavirus in Jeddah,” said Dr. Abdul Salam Noorwali, director-general of health in the Makkah region. “Two of the patients have died, while six others have been cured and three cases are under medication.”
Dr. Sami Badawood, Jeddah Health Affairs director, said the emergency ward at King Fahd Hospital was shut down for 24 hours to ease pressure as Saudi Red Crescent Society ambulances bring in more emergency cases.
— With input from Irfan Mohammed
“We sterilized the emergency ward of the hospital during closure,” he said. “One employee at King Fahd hospital has contracted the virus.”
The ministry set up an exclusive section to monitor the virus in the city following the detection of the first case, said the director.
“Six teams have been working to monitor and conduct preventive measures. Cases are being referred to regional diagnostic laboratories for detailed examination and also to take preventive measures,” he said.
Badawood said that the disease is under control in the city, adding that no confirmed case has been found at King Abdulaziz Hospital. He urged the public not to listen to rumors and seek information from official sources.
Dr. Sharie Al-Buqami, spokesman at King Abdulaziz University, denied media reports that paramedics at KAU hospital have been affected by the virus.
“We have not closed the emergency ward, which is operating normally,” he said. “The hospital received five suspected cases and an Egyptian doctor who was suffering from the disease has since fully recovered.”
Shoura green light for girls’ physical education:
The Shoura Council has approved the introduction of physical education for girls at public schools across the Kingdom.
Classes will be conducted according to Islamic principles and traditions, said sources.
The issue has been the subject of much debate, especially after some notable scholars, ruled that physical education, including swimming, was permissible as long as it was practiced in strict privacy.
The Ministry of Education had since allowed some private schools to teach sports to school girls.
The Ministry of Education will soon allow physical education classes for girls in public schools under qualified instructors, according to sources. The decision will be made after taking into account logistical issues, such as space, privacy and the availability of qualified female instructors.
“We welcome the ministry’s efforts to introduce physical education to girls,” said Noora Al-Shaikh, a prominent academic. “A culture of sports will help fight obesity among young women across the Kingdom.”
Hanadi Balawi, a Saudi social worker, welcomed the move, saying that it would help create a healthier environment.
There is growing demand for women’s physical education in the Kingdom in the wake of an alarming increase in obesity and other non-communicable diseases.
There are many physical fitness centers already operating in Jeddah and Dammam, with plans to open a new center in Buraidah.
Classes will be conducted according to Islamic principles and traditions, said sources.
The issue has been the subject of much debate, especially after some notable scholars, ruled that physical education, including swimming, was permissible as long as it was practiced in strict privacy.
The Ministry of Education had since allowed some private schools to teach sports to school girls.
The Ministry of Education will soon allow physical education classes for girls in public schools under qualified instructors, according to sources. The decision will be made after taking into account logistical issues, such as space, privacy and the availability of qualified female instructors.
“We welcome the ministry’s efforts to introduce physical education to girls,” said Noora Al-Shaikh, a prominent academic. “A culture of sports will help fight obesity among young women across the Kingdom.”
Hanadi Balawi, a Saudi social worker, welcomed the move, saying that it would help create a healthier environment.
There is growing demand for women’s physical education in the Kingdom in the wake of an alarming increase in obesity and other non-communicable diseases.
There are many physical fitness centers already operating in Jeddah and Dammam, with plans to open a new center in Buraidah.
MH370 mystery: Ship hunts for more underwater signals:
PERTH, Australia: Search crews in the Indian Ocean failed to pick up more of the faint underwater sounds that may have been from the missing Malaysian jetliner’s black boxes whose batteries are at the end of their life.
The signals first heard late Saturday and early Sunday had sparked hopes of a breakthrough in the search for Flight 370, but Angus Houston, the retired Australian air chief marshal leading the search far off western Australia, said listening equipment on the Ocean Shield ship has picked up no trace of the sounds since then.
Finding the sound again is crucial to narrowing the search area so a submarine can be deployed to chart a potential debris field on the seafloor. If the autonomous sub was used now with the sparse data collected so far, covering all the potential places from which the pings might have come would take many days.
“It’s literally crawling at the bottom of the ocean so it’s going to take a long, long time,” Houston said.
The locator beacons on the black boxes have a battery life of only about a month — and Tuesday marked exactly one month since the plane vanished. Once the beacons blink off, locating the black boxes in such deep water would be an immensely difficult, if not impossible, task.
“There have been no further contacts with any transmission and we need to continue (searching) for several days right up to the point at which there’s absolutely no doubt that the batteries will have expired,” Houston said.
If, by that point, the US Navy towed pinger locator has failed to pick up more signals, the sub will be deployed. If it maps out a debris field on the ocean floor, the sonar system on board will be replaced with a camera unit to photograph any wreckage.
The signals first heard late Saturday and early Sunday had sparked hopes of a breakthrough in the search for Flight 370, but Angus Houston, the retired Australian air chief marshal leading the search far off western Australia, said listening equipment on the Ocean Shield ship has picked up no trace of the sounds since then.
Finding the sound again is crucial to narrowing the search area so a submarine can be deployed to chart a potential debris field on the seafloor. If the autonomous sub was used now with the sparse data collected so far, covering all the potential places from which the pings might have come would take many days.
“It’s literally crawling at the bottom of the ocean so it’s going to take a long, long time,” Houston said.
The locator beacons on the black boxes have a battery life of only about a month — and Tuesday marked exactly one month since the plane vanished. Once the beacons blink off, locating the black boxes in such deep water would be an immensely difficult, if not impossible, task.
“There have been no further contacts with any transmission and we need to continue (searching) for several days right up to the point at which there’s absolutely no doubt that the batteries will have expired,” Houston said.
If, by that point, the US Navy towed pinger locator has failed to pick up more signals, the sub will be deployed. If it maps out a debris field on the ocean floor, the sonar system on board will be replaced with a camera unit to photograph any wreckage.
Biometrics for expat women ‘mandatory’:
The Passport Department will soon make it mandatory for expat women over 18 to record their biometric information if they want to travel, get new iqamas and final exit visas.
Women would have to register their biometric details at a local passport office, according to local media.
“This move is one phase of a plan that began years ago to record the biometrics of all expat men and women,” said the report.
The department said on Tuesday it had begun recording the biometrics of expat women from March 21.
Maj. Gen. Sulaiman Al-Yahya, director general of the department, said the new measure would be implemented in phases. “The first phase is for women who apply for new iqamas and final exit visas,” he said.
He said the system was optional for expat women previously. “We now want to make it mandatory to protect their rights and speed up services,” he said.
Private hospitals banned from hiring government doctors:
Health Minister Abdullah-Al-Rabeeah has banned the private sector from employing government doctors.
The minister made the announcement during a briefing of private hospital directors in Riyadh on Tuesday.
“Government doctors are barred from working at private hospitals even on a part-time basis,” the minister said.
He said the ministry introduced the ban to maintain quality medical services at public hospitals in the Kingdom.
He said circulars have been issued by Crown Prince Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense, and National Guard Minister Prince Miteb bin Abdullah, stating that government doctors would not be allowed to have private practices.
The minister said that consultants and university professors registered with the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties would be allowed to go for three consultations a week to a private hospital. This concession is for the private sector to maintain the quality of its services in the absence of certain specialized doctors.
He said the ministry does not allow doctors and other health officials in the government sector to undertake any services at private hospitals.
The ministry’s directorates in 20 regions would conduct surprise inspections to ensure compliance. He said the ministry finds an average of two violations of this kind monthly.
The minimum fine for a government doctor who violates the regulations is SR10,000, but could go up to SR100,000. The private hospital involved has to pay a fine of between SR50,000 and SR100,000. For a repeat offense, the punishment may include suspending the hospital’s license, he said.
“We treat the private sector as a strategic partner in providing healthcare services to the people,” Al-Rabeeah said.
“Our wish is to encourage the private sector to maintain a high degree of services offered at affordable prices to citizens and residents,” he said.
Working women call for resting areas in malls:
Saudi women working at malls and commercial retail centers claim that despite several requests to the Ministry of Labor demanding that they be provided with resting rooms to sit in during their breaks, no steps have been taken.
As female employment in malls increases, there is a serious need to create suitable working conditions for women.
Hattab Al-Anazi, spokesman for the Ministry of Labor, had earlier said that such regulatory issues are the responsibility of the shop and commercial centers’ owners.
“The ministry cannot force them to implement regulatory measures,” said Al-Anazi. “That being said, the ministry emphasizes the necessity of offering rest spaces for female employees in order to guarantee a suitable working environment for them.”
Dalal Kaaki, a Saudi businesswoman and member of the Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), pointed out that several malls in Riyadh lacked basic spaces for saleswoman to rest in.
“Women working at these places seriously need resting spaces. I have noticed that most of these saleswomen use the mall’s female bathrooms and customer’s changing rooms just to have their coffee,” she said.
She explained that when the decision to employ women was implemented, most of the commercial malls were already built, which is why separate resting rooms for women were not established.
“I would like to indicate however that there is also an important issue missing in the discussion,” said Kaaki, adding, “I have observed that most of the female saleswomen misuse their breaks and spend long hours in the female bathroom indulging in coffee and chat, while their shops remain unattended. This is a serious problem. It is for the manager or the employer to warn them and issue a regulation for them to abide by. I agree that these women need to have a special resting room built for them but it must be known that it should be strictly used during the 1 hour or 30 minutes breaks that they get and not for longer hours.”
Kaaki went on to elaborate that female employees need to be aware of workplace etiquette and be mindful of their behavior in the workplace.
She suggested that one of the temporary solutions to the problem of resting rooms could be resolved by sparing some of the space in the shop to use as a female resting room. “It will surely be a difficult decision for the management because it will cost them a lot of money. But since female employment at these malls is increasing by the day, I suggest the management needs to find a solution for their female employees to make sure they have a suitable working environment.”
On their part, employers agreed that the quick introduction of women into the work force has caught shop owners off guard. They also expressed concerns regarding the difficulties they are facing in trying to attend to the needs of their female employees.
King Faisal hospital gets US award:
The King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center in Jeddah is the first international hospital to receive the American Nurses Association NDNQI (National Database Nursing Quality Indicators) Award for Outstanding Nursing Quality 2013.
This is the second international award for outstanding nursing given to KFSH&RC (General Organization), Jeddah branch, in the past 6 months.
Chief Executive Officer Dr. Qasim Al-Qasabi congratulated the hospital nursing staff for their commitment to this achievement, and all those who made special efforts to acquire this award.
Al-Qasabi explained that it has only been a few months since the King Faisal hospital received the Magnet Hospital Designation and now this had been followed up by another sterling achievement of acquiring the American Nurses Association NDNQI Award of Outstanding Nursing Quality for 2013.
The hospital “is the first international hospital outside the United States of America to receive this award which recognizes outstanding nursing quality results against the database of over 2,000 Hospitals from a group of 10 countries including the KSA, UAE, Lebanon and Jordan as measured by their quality outcomes and according to the USA National Benchmark,” he said adding that “the award was given for top performance in the Teaching Hospitals category.”
The Jeddah branch of the hospital has been benchmarking nursing quality data with the NDNQI since 2007. The award is based on the exceptional outcomes for the following measures: Infection Rates, Pressure Ulcer Rates, Patient Falls, Use of Restraints, Pain Assessment and IV infiltrations, as well as RN satisfaction and RN turnover rates.
It is worthy of mention that this award reflects excellence in the quality of nursing services rendered by participant Hospitals through comprehensive and continuing assessment of registered nurses’ job satisfaction, patients and nurses’ outcomes.
Al-Manahil center supporting budding female entrepreneurs:
Businesswomen of Saudi Arabia in cooperation with the Ministry of Social Affairs have taken upon themselves to help and empower the women of the Kingdom.
Basically a center for beauty and physical fitness, Al-Manahil, which is located inside the Diplomatic Quarter (DQ), is a foundation created in 1990 by six women as a leading local beauty, fitness and sports center in the Saudi capital, equipped with modern facilities.
But the members of the center are using their profit they earned for budding businesswomen through Deem Al-Manahil Foundation, which selects and screens potential borrowers intending to set up their own businesses. The founding members include Princess Madawi bint Musaad, Princess Latifa bint Musaad, Princess Reema bint Sultan and Awatis Balghonain, Munaira Al-Rashid Al-Humaid and Pansa Al-Rashid Al-Humaid
Ten young Saudi women have applied this year and their applications are being screened to determine their capability to start up and run a business. The Saudi Ministry of Social Affairs is coordinating with foundation’s activities.
The selected “entrepreneurs will each be granted SR300,000 once their applications are approved by a designated committee,” said Nadyah Al-Jabr, Al-Manahil’s general manager.
“Aspiring young entrepreneurs undergo training at the Deem Al-Manahil before loans are granted,” she said. “Training is part of the foundation’s objective to help young Saudi women realize their aspirations.”
“Women who have been granted loans are so far successful in their endeavors. They have embarked upon various ventures, such as providing dessert catering services, setting up dress shops at malls and manufacturing uniforms and abayas,” she said.
“The foundation began helping young Saudi women with entrepreneurial skills three years ago. Before that, it was giving contributions to various charitable organizations,” she said.
“Young Saudi female entrepreneurs will pay back the amount within five years without interest,” he said. “Borrowers, however, should religiously stick to paying back their loans in monthly installments.” It also houses the British Council Institute for women and the Alliance Francaise.
“However, it’s more than just a wellness center. It has also been silently empowering Saudi women in society by helping young girls set up entrepreneurial projects,” said Al-Jabr, who had earlier worked at the King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital (KKESH) as a human resource manager.
Riyadh has highest number of female prisoners:
Riyadh has the highest number of Saudi female prisoners and detainees, said Abdullah Al-Harbi, spokesman for the General Directorate of Prisons (GDP).
Female Saudi prisoners account for six percent of the total number of female prisoners, up one percent, he said.
Around half of female prisoners in Riyadh and Jeddah were sent to jail for immoral conduct, according to a study.
The study also showed that the majority of prisoners went back to committing crimes after being released the first time.
There were 312 Saudi female prisoners in 2008, compared with almost 3,000 expat prisoners during the same period.
Most criminals were in the 20 to 40 age bracket.
“There haven’t been many fights on our facilities,” said Al-Harbi. “There were arguments and disagreements, but they were quickly resolved by wardens.”
“Most riots are instigated by inmates of African descent,” said Col. Ayoub Nahait, GPD spokesman. “The rumor that expat inmates are domestic workers is, however, false.”
Jethmalani heaps praise on Modi, says he is not 'anti-Muslim'
April 08:
Senior advocate Ram Jethmalani today heaped praise on Narendra Modi terming him as protector of the minorities and said it was a "deep-rooted conspiracy" by those who portray him as "anti-Muslim".
Openly batting for Modi as a Prime Minister, 90-year-old Jethmalani said the Gujarat Chief Minister has come as a "avatar" to rid this country of its ills and deserves to be the PM, and he would be "ashamed if Rahul Gandhi becomes the PM, as he was just not equipped for that job."
"Modi was not anti-Muslim by any shred of imagination instead, he is a protector of the Muslims, who love him and this is what precisely worries the Congress party," the veteran lawyer said while addressing a seminar on the topic "Modi's relevance in today's political scenario" organised by a lawyers' body here this evening.
Claiming that those who portray him as anti-Muslim were doing so under a "deep-rooted conspiracy", he said if Muslims would have been anti-Modi, then how come he has been repeatedly winning elections in his state.
"He won the last Assembly polls with a thumping majority and 31 per cent Muslims voted for him. This has been frustrating for the Congress," he said, adding he won February 2002 bypolls from Rajkot constituency with a thumping margin despite BJP dissidents supporting a powerful Congressman.
"The leaders of 28 Muslim organisations openly supported him enabling him to win from Rajkot and this made the Congress party nervous. Modi won first election on Muslim support," he said, adding that Muslims of Gujarat, particularly of the Kutch region had started greatly admiring him after they saw how he served the quake victims that included a large number of people from the community as well.
The senior lawyers said that on the morning of February 27, 2002 when he was to announce his budget in the State Assembly and express his gratitude to the Muslims for their support, "the unfortunate incident of Godhra happened."
Jethmalani further said that Modi deserves to be the PM while Rahul Gandhi and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal were "unfit" for the office. "I am not praising Modi with any eye on any post," he said.
He also attacked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, saying "he was there to keep the seat warm (for Rahul)...I will be ashamed if Rahul becomes PM, he is just not equipped for that job."
Asked about his views about Kejriwal, he said, when AAP was formed, he not only welcomed the party but also gave handsome donation.
Bail petition of Maulana Abdul Qavi today:
Bail petition of Maulana Abdul Qavi today:
Hyderabad , April 08:
Police had arrested Maulana Abdul Qavi at New Delhi Airport at had transported to Gujarat. He was presented at the POTA Court of Ahmadabad yesterday. After preliminary arguments, the judge gave him in judicial custom for 7 days. He will presented in the court again on 15th April. Mr. Mahmood Paracha and Mr. Tahwar Khan and Mr. Ilyas Pathan ( Advocates) are pleading his case on behalf of jamiatul Ulema.
After the court proceedings, Mr. Mahmooh Paracha told the newsmen that the charges against Maulana Abdul Qavi are so weak that in the first hearing, the case would be dismissed. The fact has been exposed in the hearing. He hoped that Mualana Abdul Qavi will get bail on 9th Arpil. He pointed out to the court that Maulana Abdul Qavi was arrested without any warrant. He told that is it not a fact that the arrest warrant was given to Mr. GL Singh the then DIG of police in 2004. Mr. Singh did not delegate his powers to arrest him. Mr. Paracha told that police had to cut a sorry figure when it was asked to produce police diary. The court granted two days to the police to present police diary before 9th April.
--Siasat News
Mr. Aziz Pasha is CPI candidate for Maheshwaram Assembly constituency:
Mr. Aziz Pasha is CPI candidate for Maheshwaram Assembly constituency:
Hyderabad , April 08:
CPI nominated Mr. Syed Aziz Pasha, former Rajya Sabha MP to contest from Maheshwaram Assembly constituency. Mr. V.S. Bose, Secretary of CPI told that Mr. Aziz Pasha will file his nomination with the MRO Maheshwaram, who is the Returning Officer for the Assembly constituency. A procession will be taken out from Lenin Nagar Cross Roads (Balapur) at 10 a.m. today. Mr. Aziz Pasha enjoys support of Congress Party.
--Siasat News
Muslim groups to campaign against TRS, TDP-BJP combine:
Hyderabad, April 08:
Accusing TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao of acting as an agent of Sangh Parivar, Telangana Muslim Joint Action Committee and Tahreek Muslim Shabban president Mohammad Mushtaq Mallik announced that Muslim organisations of Telangana region would campaign against the TRS candidates in the ensuing elections.
In a media statement here, Mushtaq Mallik alleged that KCR held some secret meetings with the RSS leaders and conspired to stop the political growth of Muslim community, which constitutes 12.40 per cent of the total population in Telangana. He said that the Sangh Parivar was against the political empowerment of Muslims in the region and therefore, used KCR and also ensured TDP-BJP alliance to damage the community's political interests.
Mushtaq Mallik said that the representatives of all leading Muslim organisations would meet on April 12 at Shah Function Hall, Lakdi-ka-Pul to decide their future strategy to stop the rise of communal forces in Telangana. He said that the Muslims community has played an active and major role in achieving statehood for the region. Therefore, the Telangana Muslims will ensure that their new State not only remains free from communal forces, but also achieves fast pace development.
"The Muslim organisations will support the parties and candidates who can guarantee a secular and developed State where justice will be done with all communities. The Telangana State should undo the injustices done with a majority of people in the united Andhra Pradesh," he said.
Mushtaq Mallik accused KCR of betraying the people by going back on the promises that he has been making for the last 14 years during the statehood movement. He alleged that Dalits and Muslims have been cheated by the TRS. He also accused the TDP of trying to polarise the elections in Telangana by entering into an alliance with the BJP. "The Dalits and Muslims not only condemn this unholy alliance, but would ensure that it faces a humiliating defeat in the ensuing elections," he said. (INN)
Kishan reddy sore over BJP-TDP alliance:
Kishan reddy sore over BJP-TDP alliance:
Hyderabad, April 08:
The electoral tie-up between BJP and TDP has become a headache for both parties as their leaders and supporters were agitating either for demanding seat from a particular constituency or protesting against the tie-up.
Despite protesting against the tie-up by Telangana BJP president G Kishan Reddy and party’s Telangana leaders from the beginning, the high command proceeded for the tie-up with TDP. It was reported that BJP senior leader M Venkaiah Naidu favoured the tie-up.
With this development, it was believed that relations between Kishan Reddy and his mentor Venkaiah Naidu were not up to the mark as it was earlier. The BJP high command has not taken into consideration the opinion expressed by Kishan Reddy who was not in favour of tie-up with TDP arguing that popularity of the BJP and its prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi would help the party to win more seats in this elections. Besides, Kishan Reddy visited all most all districts in Telangana to strengthen the party base in rural areas.
Peeved with the high command’s decision, Kishan Reddy has decided not to contest elections this time. Presently, he is representing Amberpet Assembly constituency. (NSS)
Despite protesting against the tie-up by Telangana BJP president G Kishan Reddy and party’s Telangana leaders from the beginning, the high command proceeded for the tie-up with TDP. It was reported that BJP senior leader M Venkaiah Naidu favoured the tie-up.
With this development, it was believed that relations between Kishan Reddy and his mentor Venkaiah Naidu were not up to the mark as it was earlier. The BJP high command has not taken into consideration the opinion expressed by Kishan Reddy who was not in favour of tie-up with TDP arguing that popularity of the BJP and its prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi would help the party to win more seats in this elections. Besides, Kishan Reddy visited all most all districts in Telangana to strengthen the party base in rural areas.
Peeved with the high command’s decision, Kishan Reddy has decided not to contest elections this time. Presently, he is representing Amberpet Assembly constituency. (NSS)
Saudi Arabian Airlines has no plans to raise domestic ticket prices since the domestic sector is not profit motivated, said a top official.
“Fares are pre-set and the carrier has no intention of raising prices,” said Saad Al-Suleiman, director of Passenger Service and Sales at Saudi Arabian Airlines.
Al-Suleiman was speaking at the launch of the airline’s first nonstop service from King Fahd International Airport (KFIA) in Dammam to Istanbul on Friday.
“Price hikes are confined to international flights and are not applicable to domestic flights,” he said. “The carrier views low-fare domestic flights as a type of national service as opposed to a profitable sector.”
Commenting on the latest announcement, Basil Al-Ghalayini, CEO of BMG Financial Group, pointed out that the entry of new airlines into the domestic market would offer an element of competition to the national carrier.
Al-Ghalayini said: This (Saudia fare) policy, otherwise called subsidy, is in line with the government's intention to allow the public to commute across the country without burdening them. This policy may continue until other alternatives are provided by the government such as the new pan-Kingdom train system.”
Al-Ghalayini, however, said the newly approved carriers might slightly fix their domestic fares higher than that of Saudia in return for better services.
Al-Suleiman also said new late-night services would operate from Dammam to Jeddah and Riyadh to provide connections for international flights.
“Small aircraft will be replaced by large aircraft with the increased number of services from KFIA to cope with regional demand,” he said.
According to John Sfakianakis, chief investment strategist at a Riyadh-based investment firm, any additional player in the domestic airlines sector should be good for the consumer “as long as there is a level-playing field for all players.”
He said: “Domestic fares are already low and it is hard to expect any downward pressure in the future. It is hard to expect significantly higher price because new airlines have to compete with the existing fare system.
“The domestic fare pricing system is cutthroat and one-sided. What could change is the customer experience, timeliness and service by the new providers.”
Saudia says three direct weekly flights will operate between Dammam and Istanbul, which will be upgraded to daily flights from next year. “The airline also plans to operate four nonstop flights from Dammam to Beirut, two weekly flights to Amman and seven more weekly flights to Cairo,” said Al-Suleiman.
“Fares are pre-set and the carrier has no intention of raising prices,” said Saad Al-Suleiman, director of Passenger Service and Sales at Saudi Arabian Airlines.
Al-Suleiman was speaking at the launch of the airline’s first nonstop service from King Fahd International Airport (KFIA) in Dammam to Istanbul on Friday.
“Price hikes are confined to international flights and are not applicable to domestic flights,” he said. “The carrier views low-fare domestic flights as a type of national service as opposed to a profitable sector.”
Commenting on the latest announcement, Basil Al-Ghalayini, CEO of BMG Financial Group, pointed out that the entry of new airlines into the domestic market would offer an element of competition to the national carrier.
Al-Ghalayini said: This (Saudia fare) policy, otherwise called subsidy, is in line with the government's intention to allow the public to commute across the country without burdening them. This policy may continue until other alternatives are provided by the government such as the new pan-Kingdom train system.”
Al-Ghalayini, however, said the newly approved carriers might slightly fix their domestic fares higher than that of Saudia in return for better services.
Al-Suleiman also said new late-night services would operate from Dammam to Jeddah and Riyadh to provide connections for international flights.
“Small aircraft will be replaced by large aircraft with the increased number of services from KFIA to cope with regional demand,” he said.
According to John Sfakianakis, chief investment strategist at a Riyadh-based investment firm, any additional player in the domestic airlines sector should be good for the consumer “as long as there is a level-playing field for all players.”
He said: “Domestic fares are already low and it is hard to expect any downward pressure in the future. It is hard to expect significantly higher price because new airlines have to compete with the existing fare system.
“The domestic fare pricing system is cutthroat and one-sided. What could change is the customer experience, timeliness and service by the new providers.”
Saudia says three direct weekly flights will operate between Dammam and Istanbul, which will be upgraded to daily flights from next year. “The airline also plans to operate four nonstop flights from Dammam to Beirut, two weekly flights to Amman and seven more weekly flights to Cairo,” said Al-Suleiman.
Swine flu takes life of Makkah woman:
A 27-year-old Saudi woman has died from the swine flu in Makkah, local Health Ministry officials have said.
The victim, from the Kamil Governorate 150 km from Makkah, was admitted to Hera General Hospital in Makkah, according to Bassam Al-Maghrabi, Health Ministry spokesman for the Makkah region.
“The patient had been diagnosed with pneumonia and respiratory failure,” he said. The patient was admitted to the hospital’s intensive care unit with a specialized team of doctors. “The patient was given a full dose of the medication for the virus, as well as antibiotics and other preventive measures,” Al-Maghrabi said.
“The patient, however, did not respond to treatment and died in the early hours of Friday.”
A senior official also urged residents and pilgrims to take seasonal influenza vaccinations against the H1N1 virus and also adopt preventive measures to protect against infectious diseases by avoiding large crowds and maintaining personal hygiene.
23 slain in Egypt tribal fight:
The victim, from the Kamil Governorate 150 km from Makkah, was admitted to Hera General Hospital in Makkah, according to Bassam Al-Maghrabi, Health Ministry spokesman for the Makkah region.
“The patient had been diagnosed with pneumonia and respiratory failure,” he said. The patient was admitted to the hospital’s intensive care unit with a specialized team of doctors. “The patient was given a full dose of the medication for the virus, as well as antibiotics and other preventive measures,” Al-Maghrabi said.
“The patient, however, did not respond to treatment and died in the early hours of Friday.”
A senior official also urged residents and pilgrims to take seasonal influenza vaccinations against the H1N1 virus and also adopt preventive measures to protect against infectious diseases by avoiding large crowds and maintaining personal hygiene.
23 slain in Egypt tribal fight:
LUXOR, Egypt: A bloody feud in Egypt’s southern Aswan province between an Arab clan and a Nubian family has killed at least 23 people in two days of fighting, leaving bodies strewn on hospital floors and homes torched in its wake, government officials and witnesses said Saturday.
The feud started earlier this week over students from the two clans spraying graffiti on the walls of a local school. Nubian students accused members of the Arab clan of trying to destabilize the province by working for the former governments of ousted President Hosni Mubarak and overthrown President Muhammad Mursi, said Abdel-Sabbour Hassan, a Nubian activist. Insults over honor followed, a security official said. The security official said there are tensions in the community with members of the Arab Beni Helal clan, as some of them are accused of being part of an arm and drugs smuggling ring. Aswan is a way station for a smuggling ring from Sudan. But it was not clear what sparked the graffiti.
Members of the Arab Beni Hilal tribe first beat a Nubian and then shot dead three Nubians on Friday, including a woman, said Adel Abu Bakr, a Nubian resident of Aswan. Another Nubian was killed later that night, he said. Following their funerals, hundreds of Nubians attacked the Arab neighborhood, killing over a dozen people using mostly sticks and daggers, he said.
Health official Mohammed Azmi told private television station CBC that 23 people were killed and 12 are in critical condition. A local government statement said 31 were injured. Abu Bakr said a local Nubian community center was set on fire, and other witnesses said seven homes were torched. Ambulances failed to reach the neighborhood were the two clans live, leaving bodies strewn throughout the neighborhood.
Abu Bakr said the police failed to stem the violence and called for the army to intervene. The local governor also called Defense Minister Gen. Sedki Sobhi, urging deployment of military troops in the area.
“Since noon Friday, we are urging the police to intervene to separate between the two. But nothing happened,” he said, adding that the police failed to deploy in the area. “Their presence would have changed the nature of this fight.”
Attempts to negotiate an end to the fight are ongoing. A joint statement from the two clans accused “invisible hands” of igniting the feud.
The feud started earlier this week over students from the two clans spraying graffiti on the walls of a local school. Nubian students accused members of the Arab clan of trying to destabilize the province by working for the former governments of ousted President Hosni Mubarak and overthrown President Muhammad Mursi, said Abdel-Sabbour Hassan, a Nubian activist. Insults over honor followed, a security official said. The security official said there are tensions in the community with members of the Arab Beni Helal clan, as some of them are accused of being part of an arm and drugs smuggling ring. Aswan is a way station for a smuggling ring from Sudan. But it was not clear what sparked the graffiti.
Members of the Arab Beni Hilal tribe first beat a Nubian and then shot dead three Nubians on Friday, including a woman, said Adel Abu Bakr, a Nubian resident of Aswan. Another Nubian was killed later that night, he said. Following their funerals, hundreds of Nubians attacked the Arab neighborhood, killing over a dozen people using mostly sticks and daggers, he said.
Health official Mohammed Azmi told private television station CBC that 23 people were killed and 12 are in critical condition. A local government statement said 31 were injured. Abu Bakr said a local Nubian community center was set on fire, and other witnesses said seven homes were torched. Ambulances failed to reach the neighborhood were the two clans live, leaving bodies strewn throughout the neighborhood.
Abu Bakr said the police failed to stem the violence and called for the army to intervene. The local governor also called Defense Minister Gen. Sedki Sobhi, urging deployment of military troops in the area.
“Since noon Friday, we are urging the police to intervene to separate between the two. But nothing happened,” he said, adding that the police failed to deploy in the area. “Their presence would have changed the nature of this fight.”
Attempts to negotiate an end to the fight are ongoing. A joint statement from the two clans accused “invisible hands” of igniting the feud.
Detected pings ‘consistent with 370’s black box’:
KUALA LUMPUR/PERTH, Australia: A Chinese patrol ship hunting for a missing Malaysia Airlines jetliner detected a pulse signal in the south Indian Ocean on Saturday, state news agency Xinhua reported, in a possible indicator of the underwater beacon from a plane’s “black box.”
A black box detector deployed by the vessel Haixun 01 picked up the “ping” signal at around 25 degrees south latitude and 101 degrees east longitude, Xinhua said. It has not been established whether the ping is related to the disappeared Flight MH370.
Xinhua further said a Chinese air force plane spotted a number of white floating objects in the search area.
Malaysia said on Saturday it had launched an investigation into the March 8 disappearance of MH370 that would comprise experts from around the world, while the huge hunt for the Boeing 777 airliner intensified in the Indian Ocean.
Authorities have not ruled out mechanical problems as a cause but say the evidence, including the loss of communications, suggests Flight MH370 was deliberately diverted thousands of kilometers (miles) from its scheduled route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.
Defense and acting Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein told a news conference that Australia, China, the United States, the United Kingdom and France had agreed to send representatives to take part in the investigation.
The extensive search and rescue operation has so far included assets from around 26 countries.
Under International Civil Aviation Organization regulations, the country where the aircraft is registered leads the investigation when the incident takes place in international waters.
A spokesman from the UN agency told Reuters that it received official notification of the accident on 28 March, meaning that the investigation was considered officially launched on that date.
Hishammuddin said that the investigation would be made up of three groups: An “airworthiness” group would examine maintenance records, structures and systems; an “operations” group would study flight recorders, operations and meteorology; and a “medical and human factors” group would look into psychology, pathology and survival factors.
The Malaysian government has also set up ministerial committees to oversee everything pertaining to the next of kin of the 239 passengers and crew on board the aircraft, the appointment of the investigation team and the deployment of assets in the search operation.
A black box detector deployed by the vessel Haixun 01 picked up the “ping” signal at around 25 degrees south latitude and 101 degrees east longitude, Xinhua said. It has not been established whether the ping is related to the disappeared Flight MH370.
Xinhua further said a Chinese air force plane spotted a number of white floating objects in the search area.
Malaysia said on Saturday it had launched an investigation into the March 8 disappearance of MH370 that would comprise experts from around the world, while the huge hunt for the Boeing 777 airliner intensified in the Indian Ocean.
Authorities have not ruled out mechanical problems as a cause but say the evidence, including the loss of communications, suggests Flight MH370 was deliberately diverted thousands of kilometers (miles) from its scheduled route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.
Defense and acting Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein told a news conference that Australia, China, the United States, the United Kingdom and France had agreed to send representatives to take part in the investigation.
The extensive search and rescue operation has so far included assets from around 26 countries.
Under International Civil Aviation Organization regulations, the country where the aircraft is registered leads the investigation when the incident takes place in international waters.
A spokesman from the UN agency told Reuters that it received official notification of the accident on 28 March, meaning that the investigation was considered officially launched on that date.
Hishammuddin said that the investigation would be made up of three groups: An “airworthiness” group would examine maintenance records, structures and systems; an “operations” group would study flight recorders, operations and meteorology; and a “medical and human factors” group would look into psychology, pathology and survival factors.
The Malaysian government has also set up ministerial committees to oversee everything pertaining to the next of kin of the 239 passengers and crew on board the aircraft, the appointment of the investigation team and the deployment of assets in the search operation.
EXTENSIVE SEARCH CONTINUES
Searchers on Saturday launched the most intensive hunt yet in the southern Indian Ocean, trying to find the plane’s black box recorders before their batteries run out.
Up to 10 military planes, three civilian jets and 11 ships were scouring a 217,000-sq-km (88,000-sq-mile) patch of desolate ocean some 1,700 km (1,060 miles) northwest of Perth near where investigators believe the plane went down a month ago.
“If we haven’t found anything in six weeks we will continue because there are a lot of things in the aircraft that will float,” Retired Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, the head of the Australian agency coordinating the operation, told reporters.
“Eventually I think something will be found that will help us narrow the search area.”
Dozens of flights by a multinational taskforce have so far failed to turn up any trace of the plane.
The Boeing 777 was briefly picked up on military radar on the other side of Malaysia and analysis of subsequent hourly electronic “handshakes” exchanged with a satellite led investigators to conclude the plane crashed far off the west Australian coast hours later.
Searchers on Saturday launched the most intensive hunt yet in the southern Indian Ocean, trying to find the plane’s black box recorders before their batteries run out.
Up to 10 military planes, three civilian jets and 11 ships were scouring a 217,000-sq-km (88,000-sq-mile) patch of desolate ocean some 1,700 km (1,060 miles) northwest of Perth near where investigators believe the plane went down a month ago.
“If we haven’t found anything in six weeks we will continue because there are a lot of things in the aircraft that will float,” Retired Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, the head of the Australian agency coordinating the operation, told reporters.
“Eventually I think something will be found that will help us narrow the search area.”
Dozens of flights by a multinational taskforce have so far failed to turn up any trace of the plane.
The Boeing 777 was briefly picked up on military radar on the other side of Malaysia and analysis of subsequent hourly electronic “handshakes” exchanged with a satellite led investigators to conclude the plane crashed far off the west Australian coast hours later.
SONAR SEARCH
Sonar equipment on two ships joining the search may help find the plane’s black box voice and data recorders that are key to unlocking what happened on the flight. The black box is equipped with a locator beacon that transmits “pings” when underwater, but its batteries may only last 30 days.
Australian authorities said the so-called Towed Pinger Locator will be pulled behind navy ship HMAS Ocean Shield, searching a converging course on a 240-km (150-mile) track with British hydrographic survey ship HMS Echo.
Experts have warned the Towed Pinger Locator may be of little use unless investigators can get a much better idea of exactly where the plane went into the water, because its limited range and the slow speed at which it must be pulled behind the ship mean it cannot cover large areas of ocean quickly.
“I won’t even call it an area. What we are doing is we are tracking down the best estimate of the course that the aircraft was on,” US Navy Captain Mark Matthews told Reuters. “It takes a couple of days on each leg so its a slow-going search.”
Britain is also sending HMS Tireless, a Trafalgar-class nuclear submarine with sonar capabilities, and a Malaysian frigate was due to arrive in the search area on Saturday.
Malaysian authorities have faced heavy criticism, particularly from China, for mismanaging the search and holding back information. Most of the 227 passengers were Chinese.
Jakarta transfers money to save death-row maid:Sonar equipment on two ships joining the search may help find the plane’s black box voice and data recorders that are key to unlocking what happened on the flight. The black box is equipped with a locator beacon that transmits “pings” when underwater, but its batteries may only last 30 days.
Australian authorities said the so-called Towed Pinger Locator will be pulled behind navy ship HMAS Ocean Shield, searching a converging course on a 240-km (150-mile) track with British hydrographic survey ship HMS Echo.
Experts have warned the Towed Pinger Locator may be of little use unless investigators can get a much better idea of exactly where the plane went into the water, because its limited range and the slow speed at which it must be pulled behind the ship mean it cannot cover large areas of ocean quickly.
“I won’t even call it an area. What we are doing is we are tracking down the best estimate of the course that the aircraft was on,” US Navy Captain Mark Matthews told Reuters. “It takes a couple of days on each leg so its a slow-going search.”
Britain is also sending HMS Tireless, a Trafalgar-class nuclear submarine with sonar capabilities, and a Malaysian frigate was due to arrive in the search area on Saturday.
Malaysian authorities have faced heavy criticism, particularly from China, for mismanaging the search and holding back information. Most of the 227 passengers were Chinese.
Jakarta has transferred nearly SR7 million in blood money to save Indonesian migrant worker Satinah Binti Jumadi Ahmad, on death row for murdering her Saudi employer in 2009.
The case is likely to be settled within a few days after the Saudi and Indonesian governments stepped up efforts to save Satinah. Indonesian Embassy officials are tight-lipped on the case because of its “sensitivity.”
“Satinah can be spared the death penalty because we have transferred another SR2 million to the victims family,” said Gatot Abdullah Mansyur, former Indonesian ambassador to Saudi Arabia, who currently heads the Jakarta-based National Agency for Placement and Protection of Indonesian Workers Overseas.
This is in addition to the SR5 million that were previously given to the victim’s family. “The family will receive the money on Sunday because banks are closed in Saudi Arabia on Friday and Saturday,” said Mansyur.
Satinah, 40, from Semarang in Central Java, was found guilty of killing 70-year-old Nura Al-Gharib in the Qassim area in early 2009.
Migrants’ rights activists in Indonesia welcomed Saturday the decision to pay the blood money required to free Satinah.
“The government can no longer ignore the fact that saving a citizen is the country’s responsibility,” said Anis Hidayah, executive director of NGO Migrant Care, according to media reports. NGO Migrant Care welcomed the settlement deal.
The case is likely to be settled within a few days after the Saudi and Indonesian governments stepped up efforts to save Satinah. Indonesian Embassy officials are tight-lipped on the case because of its “sensitivity.”
“Satinah can be spared the death penalty because we have transferred another SR2 million to the victims family,” said Gatot Abdullah Mansyur, former Indonesian ambassador to Saudi Arabia, who currently heads the Jakarta-based National Agency for Placement and Protection of Indonesian Workers Overseas.
This is in addition to the SR5 million that were previously given to the victim’s family. “The family will receive the money on Sunday because banks are closed in Saudi Arabia on Friday and Saturday,” said Mansyur.
Satinah, 40, from Semarang in Central Java, was found guilty of killing 70-year-old Nura Al-Gharib in the Qassim area in early 2009.
Migrants’ rights activists in Indonesia welcomed Saturday the decision to pay the blood money required to free Satinah.
“The government can no longer ignore the fact that saving a citizen is the country’s responsibility,” said Anis Hidayah, executive director of NGO Migrant Care, according to media reports. NGO Migrant Care welcomed the settlement deal.
Seasonal visas only for two holy cities:
Seasonal work visas will only be issued at labor offices in Makkah and Madinah, according to a recent decision made by the Council of Ministers.
Companies applying for such visas will henceforth be required to have at least a branch office in either region, said one source.
The decision is expected to drastically reduce visa trafficking and system manipulation.
The Council of Ministers has also demanded that agents recruiting temporary workers complete projects within that time frame to avoid foreigners overstaying.
The Royal Court also made a decision to eliminate costs borne by the government on behalf of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB), which previously included paying fees for the organization’s seasonal visas.
The decision abolishes previous provisions that allow butchers, seasonal laborers and vets recruited by the IDB to perform the Haj pilgrimage at the state’s expense.
The council has agreed to refer the new list of regulations for the issuance of seasonal visas to the Shoura Council.
Seasonal work visas, temporary work visas or visa extensions will each cost SR1,000, according to a recent proposal.
Legislative bodies will be tasked with issuing permits for Labor Ministry inspectors to enter factories and companies during the Haj season to ensure that expat workers are legally employed.
The Labor Ministry has also been requested to produce a guide explaining rules for issuing temporary visas, which will also include stipulations such as diversifying recruitment from several labor-exporting countries.
The guide will also emphasize that employers have laborers undertake the tasks that they were originally hired for and warned that violators would incur fines.
Companies applying for such visas will henceforth be required to have at least a branch office in either region, said one source.
The decision is expected to drastically reduce visa trafficking and system manipulation.
The Council of Ministers has also demanded that agents recruiting temporary workers complete projects within that time frame to avoid foreigners overstaying.
The Royal Court also made a decision to eliminate costs borne by the government on behalf of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB), which previously included paying fees for the organization’s seasonal visas.
The decision abolishes previous provisions that allow butchers, seasonal laborers and vets recruited by the IDB to perform the Haj pilgrimage at the state’s expense.
The council has agreed to refer the new list of regulations for the issuance of seasonal visas to the Shoura Council.
Seasonal work visas, temporary work visas or visa extensions will each cost SR1,000, according to a recent proposal.
Legislative bodies will be tasked with issuing permits for Labor Ministry inspectors to enter factories and companies during the Haj season to ensure that expat workers are legally employed.
The Labor Ministry has also been requested to produce a guide explaining rules for issuing temporary visas, which will also include stipulations such as diversifying recruitment from several labor-exporting countries.
The guide will also emphasize that employers have laborers undertake the tasks that they were originally hired for and warned that violators would incur fines.
Lok Sabha elections begin tomorrow:
New Delhi, April 06:
The high-stakes battle in the virtual Presidential-style contest between Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi with a few other regional satraps also in the fray in the Lok Sabha elections begins tomorrow in six constituencies in two states in the first of the nine-phased polls.
Five constituencies in Assam -- Tezpur, Kaliabor, Jorhat, Dibrugarh and Lakhimpur and Tripura (West) in Tripura -- will go to polls on Monday.
Campaign has already ended in these constituencies and the candidates have mounted door-to-door contact with the electorate seeking their votes.
Unlike in the past, neither factions of the ULFA, pro or anti-talks, have issued diktats to the voters for boycott of the elections or made any statement against any political party.
The Congress, BJP, Trinamool Congress, AIUDF, AGP, AAP, SUCI, CPI(M), AIFB and SP are contesting in the five seats in Tezpur, Koliabor, Jorhat, Dibrugarh and Lakhimpur in the Congress ruled state.
Among the 51 candidates are union ministers Ranee Narah and Paban Singh Ghatowar, former union minister and sitting MLA Bijoy Krishna Handique, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi's son Gourav Gogoi and Bhupen Kumar Bora for the Congress.
Congress rebel and Independent candidate Moni Kumar Subba is also contesting.
For the BJP are its state unit president Sorbananda Sonowal and Kamakhya Prasad Tasa and for the AGP Arun Kumar Sarma, Pradip Hazarika and Joseph Toppo.
Khoonis are back with "Khooni" agenda a week before elctions ?
New Delhi, April 05:
Love and hate relationship specially "Muslim" bashing are back just a week before elections in Uttar Pradesh as both BJP and secular parties are trying their best to polarise voters on communal grounds all the talks that elections will be fought on corruption and development agenda is a farce.
Communalism is threatening to muscle into the electoral arena, defying the original estimate that the polls this time will be marked by a focus on development and other secular issues like corruption and inflation.
BJP can capture New Delhi only with the communal agenda and UP and Bihar are two states where they have already laid the foundation of communal divide in the last 4 months specially Muzzafer nagar riots.
He was accompanied by BJP legislator Suresh Rana, who was an accused in the Muzaffarnagar riots in which over 60 people, mostly Muslims, had died, while thousands were rendered homeless.
Narendra Modi's close aide, BJP general secretary Amit Shah, exhorted Jats in riot-scarred Muzaffarnagar to avenge their "insult". Two days ago, addressing a meeting of Jats, Shah said, "You have been treated as second-grade citizens. It is time for revenge now."
He stressed that the revenge was to be exacted through the ballot by voting for BJP. "Aaj kal lathi, bandook ka jamana nahin hai. Talwar se badla nahin lena hai, Button daba kar lena hai ...(Batons, guns and swords belong to a bygone era. These days you take revenge by using the button on EVMs)," TV channels showed Shah telling his audience.
"It is not a question of taking revenge with any religion. He was clearly referring to what Congress has done. BJP has never tried to give the colour of communalism to any election or on any issue," party president Rajnath Singh said.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) also went to the poll panel, seeking action against the former Gujarat minister for spreading
Mohammad Imtiyaz attempts suicide inside plane at Hyderabad airport:
Mohammad Imtiyaz attempts suicide inside plane at Hyderabad airport:
Hyderabad, April 05:
A passenger on Saturday allegedly attempted suicide inside a plane at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) at Shamshabad area here, police said.
The passenger identified as Mohammad Imtiyaz slit his throat using a blade in the washroom of the flight which arrived from Dubai at the airport here, they said adding it is not yet clear as to why he resorted to the act.
"He (passenger) has been admitted to a hospital and is still unconscious," RGIA police inspector A Krishnaiah said.
---PTi
Besides 370, Ayodhya, VHP demands jobs for Hindu youths:
Besides 370, Ayodhya, VHP demands jobs for Hindu youths:
April 05:
Senior VHP leader Pravin Togadia today asked the political parties, especially BJP, to promise various concessions and schemes for Hindu community in their manifestos, apart from enactment of law to build the Ram temple in Ayodhya.
"We on behalf of the majority of Hindus have demanded that all the political parties should promise to provide fee-reimbursement to Rs 10 crore poor Hindu students in their manifestos," said Togadia, the international working president of VHP.
Jobs should be provided to Hindu youths and security to over four lakh Kashmiri Hindus living in refugee camps, he said.
The parties should also promise to enact a law to facilitate construction of the Ram Temple in Aydhya, he said.
Cow slaughter and religious conversions should be banned, article 370 of Constitution should be removed and common civil code should be implemented, he said, listing other demands.
He said he has high hopes from BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi in this regard.
When asked about Congress President Sonia Gandhi seeking support of the Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid, Togadia said "in the democracy everyone has the right to seek votes".
He said Hindus should also vote for a party which cares about their rights.
Modi hell bent on building 'Hindu Rashtra': Soz
Modi hell bent on building 'Hindu Rashtra': Soz
April 05:
Alleging that BJP leader Narendra Modi was hell bent on building a "Hindu Rashtra", Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee today said the secular India would defeat him in his design.
"There is no doubt that Modi is hell bent on building a Hindu Rashtra. The secular India would defeat Modi in his design", JKPCC President Saif-ud-Din Soz said while addressing a gathering of intellectuals at Kunjwani, near here today.
Soz also alleged that because of Modi's style of functioning and his ideas based on "extreme sectarianism", even BJP's top brass was feeling threatened.
The BJP top leadership is feeling the growth of a personality cult at the cost of the party itself, he said.
Soz also told the gathering that India's democracy and its secular institutions had become strong and Modi's alleged sectarian and communal politics would be defeated.
He also appealed to the gathering to carry the message of togetherness and secularism in India vigorously to the neighbourhood and vote for Ghulam Nabi Azad and Madan Lal Sharma and other candidates fielded by NC-INC coalition and make them win with a thumping majority.
Firms use visually impaired to meet Saudization quota:
Unscrupulous employers are using citizens with visual disabilities to hike their Saudization quotas by either employing them without their knowledge, or for a pittance.
Mohammed Al-Shwimman, director of the Kafif Charity Society, revealed this on Thursday at a press conference to announce job creation initiatives for people with visual disabilities in the country.
Al-Shwimman said many people with visual disabilities are employed but do not receive salaries. He said many others have resigned from their jobs because their employers have failed to provide them with adequate work environments.
He said the charity is currently setting up a database of people with visual disability in the country to check on their employment status.
The Ministry of Labor counts a special needs employee as four Saudis toward Saudization quotas. Once companies make the quota, they are allowed to employ foreigners. However, many companies employ these people with minimal salaries to stay at home.
Nasser bin Ali Al-Musa, chairman of the Kafif society and a member of the Shoura Council, confirmed that many companies are involved in these illegal practices. This is taking place because many employers believe that people with visual disabilities are unable to work.
According to government statistics released in 2013, the majority of the Kingdom’s 375,795 registered persons with disabilities are neglected and often exploited.
According to reports, there is a lack of coordination between the Ministries of Labor and Social Affairs, and the private sector, to help these people.
There is no governing body for such people, which means an absence of classifications on the exact nature of their disabilities. There are also no records kept of their personal skills and abilities.
In addition, with no laws to protect them from exploitation in the workplace, people with disabilities are often deprived of promotions and other benefits regardless of their educational qualifications or job performance.
It was found that once employers use them to meet Saudization quotas they neglect them or force them to resign.
Mohammed Al-Shwimman, director of the Kafif Charity Society, revealed this on Thursday at a press conference to announce job creation initiatives for people with visual disabilities in the country.
Al-Shwimman said many people with visual disabilities are employed but do not receive salaries. He said many others have resigned from their jobs because their employers have failed to provide them with adequate work environments.
He said the charity is currently setting up a database of people with visual disability in the country to check on their employment status.
The Ministry of Labor counts a special needs employee as four Saudis toward Saudization quotas. Once companies make the quota, they are allowed to employ foreigners. However, many companies employ these people with minimal salaries to stay at home.
Nasser bin Ali Al-Musa, chairman of the Kafif society and a member of the Shoura Council, confirmed that many companies are involved in these illegal practices. This is taking place because many employers believe that people with visual disabilities are unable to work.
According to government statistics released in 2013, the majority of the Kingdom’s 375,795 registered persons with disabilities are neglected and often exploited.
According to reports, there is a lack of coordination between the Ministries of Labor and Social Affairs, and the private sector, to help these people.
There is no governing body for such people, which means an absence of classifications on the exact nature of their disabilities. There are also no records kept of their personal skills and abilities.
In addition, with no laws to protect them from exploitation in the workplace, people with disabilities are often deprived of promotions and other benefits regardless of their educational qualifications or job performance.
It was found that once employers use them to meet Saudization quotas they neglect them or force them to resign.
MoL launches home service for disabled:
The Ministry of Labor in Dammam has taken the initiative to invite people with special needs to its office for any assistance they may need to complete official paper work.
The office said that those who are unable to come to the office should contact the office so that a staff member can be assigned to the individual to help him complete his papers at home.
The office has posted a message on its door which reads, “Dear customer, we are here at your service. If you are a special needs person and cannot reach us, feel free to contact the number (0548146765) and we will gladly come to serve you at your place.”
Pilgrim claims to have world’s smallest Qur’an
A Pakistani pilgrim claims that he owns the world’s smallest Qur’an, which is less than 2.5 centimeters.
Kafeel Ahmed said Pakistan’s National Museum has categorized the book as the smallest copy on the planet. The Qur’an has some damaged pages.
Ahmed said a pilgrim had given his grandfather the Qur’an in Madinah during the Haj in 1935.
“My father used to keep the tiny copy and took it with him when he went on Haj in 1985,” Ahmed said.
He said several museums and collectors of rare books were willing to buy the book at any price, but he refuses to part with it. It is a family heirloom, Ahmed said.
He is currently striving to register it as the smallest Qur’an in the Guinness Book of World Records, he said.
No postal ballots for Gulf NRIs:
The Election Commission of India is all set to inform the Supreme Court that it is not possible now to allow the Gulf NRIs to cast their votes externally.
The EC, a constitutional body, which is set to file its reply later this week to a petition filed by Gulf NRI V.P. Shamsheer, is of the view that unless Section 20A of Representation of People’s Act is amended, NRIs can only be allowed to vote by being present at polling stations where they are registered as voters.
The Indian apex court will resume hearing on Shamsheer’s petition on April 7 after the poll panel and the government file their replies. Incidentally, April 7 will be the first day of the nine-phased general election which wraps up on May 12.
Shamsheer’s petition says Section 20A is in violation of the fundamental rights enshrined under article 14, 19 and 21 of the constitution and seeks that all the NRIs living abroad should be allowed to vote either in diplomatic commissions or make use of postal, proxy or electronic voting for the purpose. The petition was filed last month.
The petition of Shamsheer, who is a doctor and runs a chain of hospitals in the UAE, claims that 114 countries in the world, including 20 from Asia, have adopted external voting. Shamsheer’s name was removed from the voters list in Calicut after he migrated to the UAE 12 years ago.
The EC, a constitutional body, which is set to file its reply later this week to a petition filed by Gulf NRI V.P. Shamsheer, is of the view that unless Section 20A of Representation of People’s Act is amended, NRIs can only be allowed to vote by being present at polling stations where they are registered as voters.
The Indian apex court will resume hearing on Shamsheer’s petition on April 7 after the poll panel and the government file their replies. Incidentally, April 7 will be the first day of the nine-phased general election which wraps up on May 12.
Shamsheer’s petition says Section 20A is in violation of the fundamental rights enshrined under article 14, 19 and 21 of the constitution and seeks that all the NRIs living abroad should be allowed to vote either in diplomatic commissions or make use of postal, proxy or electronic voting for the purpose. The petition was filed last month.
The petition of Shamsheer, who is a doctor and runs a chain of hospitals in the UAE, claims that 114 countries in the world, including 20 from Asia, have adopted external voting. Shamsheer’s name was removed from the voters list in Calicut after he migrated to the UAE 12 years ago.
Cameras to curb corniche vandalism:
The Jeddah Municipality plans to install hidden surveillance cameras along the entire corniche to identify people damaging restrooms, uprooting trees, and destroying other public infrastructure.
The municipality decided on this move after receiving reports of the extent of the vandalism, said Abdulaziz Al-Ghamdi, spokesman of the municipality, in a statement to Arab News on Thursday.
Al-Ghamdi said people also damage the large sculptures, lighting, and playgrounds. He called on the public to respect public property.
He said the municipality has commissioned a local company to prepare a study on the plan, and would announce details of the initiative at a later stage. He said the municipality is committed to providing a suitable entertainment area for residents.
Several residents said that there are few entertainment options for visitors and complained about the dilapidated appearance of the area.
Mohammed Turki said visitors want more entertainment choices, and better maintenance of bathrooms and gardens. He said the municipality should also provide spaces for motorcyclists so that they do not use the walkways at the corniche, which scares children and their families.
Abdullah Al-Otaibi said the municipality should provide more garbage cans, and welcomed the plan to introduce cameras. He said the authorities should also send more inspectors to the corniche.
Saeed Al-Harthy agreed. “We travel every month from Taif to relax at the corniche, but it's not in good shape.”
Meanwhile, Al-Ghamdi said that the municipality plans to build a special section for barbecues on the corniche, away from trees in the area.
The municipality decided on this move after receiving reports of the extent of the vandalism, said Abdulaziz Al-Ghamdi, spokesman of the municipality, in a statement to Arab News on Thursday.
Al-Ghamdi said people also damage the large sculptures, lighting, and playgrounds. He called on the public to respect public property.
He said the municipality has commissioned a local company to prepare a study on the plan, and would announce details of the initiative at a later stage. He said the municipality is committed to providing a suitable entertainment area for residents.
Several residents said that there are few entertainment options for visitors and complained about the dilapidated appearance of the area.
Mohammed Turki said visitors want more entertainment choices, and better maintenance of bathrooms and gardens. He said the municipality should also provide spaces for motorcyclists so that they do not use the walkways at the corniche, which scares children and their families.
Abdullah Al-Otaibi said the municipality should provide more garbage cans, and welcomed the plan to introduce cameras. He said the authorities should also send more inspectors to the corniche.
Saeed Al-Harthy agreed. “We travel every month from Taif to relax at the corniche, but it's not in good shape.”
Meanwhile, Al-Ghamdi said that the municipality plans to build a special section for barbecues on the corniche, away from trees in the area.
Medical cover for expats, kin mandatory:
All private businesses must provide medical insurance for their workers and families, including Saudis and expatriates, by next month, the Health Insurance Council has decided.
“The insurance coverage must be given to all workers irrespective of the salaries they receive,” the council stated. The decision would allow Saudis and expatriates access to advanced health services.
It does not apply to the children of Saudi women married to foreign men, or the foreign wives of Saudis. About two million Saudis currently get insurance coverage.
A senior insurance executive, who requested anonymity, told Arab News that most companies now provide medical insurance for their workers and family members. “We are now waiting for the government to provide medical insurance for all Saudis. This will double the market, which is already worth SR25 billion,” he said.
He said the maximum medical insurance coverage amount for a person would be increased from SR250,000 to SR500,000 from July 1, 2014. “This will naturally increase premiums by 25 to 35 percent,” he said. Some companies have already increased premiums by 5 to 15 percent due to inflation and the rise in medicine prices.
The Health Insurance Council has delayed a proposal to introduce medical insurance for all Saudis by five years based on the findings of a recent study. The Health Ministry and the Shoura Council has studied the scheme extensively over the past few years.
Market experts have welcomed the decision to postpone the scheme because it would give the authorities more time to develop a world-class system.
“We have to adopt best practices, like in countries such as the US, to make the scheme more service-oriented than another money-making business,” Mohammed Abdussalam, a professor at King Abdulaziz University’s faculty of engineering, told Arab News.
“The insurance coverage must be given to all workers irrespective of the salaries they receive,” the council stated. The decision would allow Saudis and expatriates access to advanced health services.
It does not apply to the children of Saudi women married to foreign men, or the foreign wives of Saudis. About two million Saudis currently get insurance coverage.
A senior insurance executive, who requested anonymity, told Arab News that most companies now provide medical insurance for their workers and family members. “We are now waiting for the government to provide medical insurance for all Saudis. This will double the market, which is already worth SR25 billion,” he said.
He said the maximum medical insurance coverage amount for a person would be increased from SR250,000 to SR500,000 from July 1, 2014. “This will naturally increase premiums by 25 to 35 percent,” he said. Some companies have already increased premiums by 5 to 15 percent due to inflation and the rise in medicine prices.
The Health Insurance Council has delayed a proposal to introduce medical insurance for all Saudis by five years based on the findings of a recent study. The Health Ministry and the Shoura Council has studied the scheme extensively over the past few years.
Market experts have welcomed the decision to postpone the scheme because it would give the authorities more time to develop a world-class system.
“We have to adopt best practices, like in countries such as the US, to make the scheme more service-oriented than another money-making business,” Mohammed Abdussalam, a professor at King Abdulaziz University’s faculty of engineering, told Arab News.
Al-Sudais, Hajjar sign MoU on Haj service:
In a bid to streamline the functioning of all ministries and agencies involved in Haj and Umrah operations in the Kingdom, authorities are putting in all efforts to enhance coordination between them to serve the pilgrims better as also to project a positive picture of the country.
Haj Minister Bandar Hajjar and Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais, head of the Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques Affairs, signed a memorandum of understanding to this effect on Thursday.
The Ministry of Information, Foreign Affairs and other ministries are also expected to arrive at similar understanding to serve pilgrims effectively and ensure a quick response in case of any exigency involving Haj and Umrah pilgrims, sources said.
Al-Sudais hailed the decision to enhance cooperation and coordination between various agencies and ministries and thanked Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, Crown Prince Salman, Deputy Crown Prince Muqrin, Interior Minister Prince Mohammed bin Naif and Makkah Gov. Prince Mishaal bin Abdullah.
He said that besides the Ministry of Haj and the Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques Affairs, the Ministry of Information and Culture also plays an important role in highlighting the services to the guests of Allah.
Hajar said: “Today’s MoU will definitely give shape to the services offered to pilgrims and the integrated and constructive cooperation between the Haj Ministry and presidency will ensure pilgrims’ comfort.”
He said that the ministry and presidency will make joint efforts to educate pilgrims in their own language about the performance of rituals besides offering translation services.
A senior official from the presidency told Arab News that both sides have agreed on mutual cooperation pertaining to nine topics including media.
The Haj Ministry said it had trained nearly 1,000 employees from Haj establishments of African and non-Arab countries on how to advise and guide pilgrims from these countries.
Babri Masjid demolition PRE-PLANNED; Advani, PV Narasimha Rao knew about the plot in advance:
New Delhi, April 04:
Coming up with yet another expose, the investigative website Cobrapost claims that the Babri Masjid demolition operation that was recorded on December 6, 1992 was not a case of disorderly mob going berserk abruptly, as projected till date by the Sangh Parivar and various Hindu organizations, but result of a bigtime conspiracy – that included trained volunteers which worked out a proper plan under the leadership of Sangh Parivar – as per a sting operation conducted by the site.
The sting claims senior Bjp leaders such as L K Advani, former Congress leader P V Narasimha Rao and the then Uttar Pradesh chief minister Kalyan Singh were in complete know how of the Babri Masjid demolition plot in advance.
Cobrapost associate editor K Ashish conducted the sting on 23 chief names associated with the Ram Janambhoomi movement including Sakshi Maharaj, Acharya Dharmendra, Uma Bharti, and Vinay Katiyar during his travel to different Indian cities such as Ayodhya and Faizabad to name a few, where he conducted several interviews.
Cobrapost claims that the demolition plot was code-named 'Operation Janmabhoomi' and implemented it with a high level of accuracy.
Some of the excerpts from Cobrapost press release:
The conspiracy was hatched at the level of two Hindu outfits, VHP and Shiv Sena, but not jointly.
Both these outfits had trained their cader as part of an action plan, many months before it was implemented on December 6.
A Balidani Jatha, or suicide squad, was formed with the trained RSS workers.
Bajrang Dal, the youth wing of VHP, had its training in Surkhej of Gujarat, while Shiv Sena trained its cader in Bhind–Morena.
The training regime included imparting skills such as climbing taller structures with help of grappling hooks and ropes and digging earth with implements like pickaxes and spades, apart from regular drills and physical exercises.
Traditional implements such as chisels, heavy-duty hammers, pickaxes, spades, sabbals, and other tools were procured in large numbers and put to use on December 6, to pull the disputed structure down.
A Sankalp, or an oath, was administered to the lakhs of karsevaks in the presence of all the frontline leaders of the movement like L. K. Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Ashok Singhal, Giriraj Kishore and Acharya Dharmendra, apart from the entire galaxy of Hindu sants. The Sankalp conducted from the Ram Katha Manch gave a call for the construction of a grand Ram Temple at the disputed site after removing the structure. The assault on Babri was begun as soon as the Sankalp was conducted by Mahant Ram Vilas Vedanti.
VHP cobbled together a band of 1200 RSS workers secreted from their respective zones a few days before the demolition. This secret formation was given the name of Laxman Sena and Ramji Gupta was given charge of this army which was formed to dismantle the Babri. It’s clarion call was “Jai Sheshavtaar”.
Shiv Sena, on the other hand, had a similar band of local workers at Ayodhya, called Pratap Sena, which provided all the logistics for the action plan.
The RSS–VHP–Bajrang Dal combine held a secret meeting at Hindu Dham at Ayodhya a day before the demolition. Attended by Ashok Singhal, Vinay Katiyar, V. H. Dalmia, Moropant Pingle and Mahant Avaidyanath, it was decided in the meeting that the Babri masjid will be razed down.
The RSS–VHP–Bajrang Dal combine held a secret meeting at Hindu Dham at Ayodhya a day before the demolition. Attended by Ashok Singhal, Vinay Katiyar, V. H. Dalmia, Moropant Pingle and Mahant Avaidyanath, it was decided in the meeting that the Babri masjid will be razed down.
The RSS and BJP had held a secret meeting at Hanuman Bagh which was attended by H. V. Sheshadri from the RSS and all senior leaders of BJP present at Ayodhya, Vinay Katiyar, Uma Bharti and L. K. Advani.
Shiv Sena had its secret parleys at North Avenue in Delhi in November 1992 which was attended by senior leaders such as Jai Bhagwan Goel, Moreshwar Save, Satish Pradhan, Anand Dhige and others in which a strategy was chalked out before making a move to Ayodhya. Both Balasaheb Thackeray and Raj Thackeray kept a close tab on all these activities.
Shiv Sena had planned to use dynamite to bring down Babri if traditional methods failed.
Apart from traditional tools, the Bihar team used petrol bombs to dismantle the structure.
The local administration goaded and helped the frenzied mobs of karsevaks in removing the “headache” the Babri had become for them.
Many antique artefacts were secreted from the Babri. For instance, two pieces of the stone engraving erected there by Mir Baqi in 1528 that fell apart are lying with Pawan Pandey who wants to sell them.
Leaders like Ramji Gupta who was put incharge of Laxman Sena claim that the army had a simple brief: Once they hear their war cry, Jai Sheshavatar, they will go all out to launch attack on Babri using the crowds as cover and would not stop till they finish the job.
As the Cobrapost investigation reveals, apart from these conspirators, there are two more persons who responsible for Babri demolition as both were keeping a close watch on the developments but did nothing. Kalyan Singh, then chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, had a foreknowledge of what was going to happen. Mahant Ram Vilas Vedanti quite categorically claims to have conveyed it to the Chief Minister on the night before December 6: “Paanch December ki raat ko hi Kalyan Singh ke paas samachar bhej diya gaya tha aur usmein ye kaha gaya tha ki yadi awashayakta padti hai toh dhancha bhi tod diya jayega aapko kya bhoomika nirwah karni hai vichar kar lijye (On the night of December 5 itself Kalyan Singh was informed of it and he was told that if need be the structure would be felled. Now, you decide what you have to do).” Not only that, Sakshi Maharaj also claims to have been giving Kalyan Singh a minute-by-minute account of the developments. Yet, Kalyan Singh played a Nero.
It is also learned that at one point, Kalyan Singh had made up his mind to resign in the morning of December 6 when he came to know an assault on the disputed structure had begun. But H. V. Sheshadri and Murli Manohar Joshi persuaded him to delay it until a clean job of the mosque had been made at Ayodhya. These leaders feared that the moment he tenders his papers, President rule would be proclaimed and army would be called in, resulting in a lot of bloodletting.
The other person who has been accused of having a hand in Babri demolition is former Prime Minister P. V. Narasimha Rao. Cobrapost investigation finds these allegations true as some leaders at the forefront of the Ram Janmabhoomi movement like Vinay Katiyar, B. L. Sharma, Santosh Dubey, Sakshi Maharaj and Mahant Ram Vilas Vedanti openly acknowledge Rao’s supportive role.
There were two determined attempts on Babri, first in 1990 and then in 1992. The first attempt was foiled by the police and resulted in killing of karsevaks. However, Sakshi Maharaj, one of the frontline leaders of the movement, alleges the killings were orchestrated by vested interests in the movement who wanted human blood to give the movement a further push. Squarely blaming, Ashok Singhal for the killings, Sakshi says: “Toh mere saamne Ashok Singhal ji ne kaha Maharaj kuch log nahi marenge toh andolan upar nahi uthega toh aap agya do jaane ki … toh Ashok Singhal ji ne kaha ... Vamdev ji ne kaha bache marenge toh bahut kaam kharab ho jayega ... Bole Maharaj jab tak nahi marenge tab tak kuch hoga nahi andolan, tabhi barhega (Before me, Ashok Singhal said ‘Maharaj (to Vamdev), the movement would not gain momentum unless some people die’. This is what Ashok Singhal said. Maharaj Vamdev said it will be disastrous if children die. Ashok Singhal again said the movement will not get a fillip until they die).” Raising again a figure at the dubious role some leaders of the movement played, Sakshi says: “Main uss din Ayodhya tha. Goli mujhe kyon nahi lagi main nahi jaanta, lekin ek bhi goli Mulayam Singh ne nahi chalwayi. Humare logon ne hi gin gin kar ache logon par goli chalwayi jo andolan ke praneta the main naam nahi loonga … humein pata hi nahi humare log hi karwa rahe hain ye toh logon ne kaha jab tak log marenge nahi andolan upar uthega nahi … agar goli Mulayam Singh ne chalwayi hoti toh Mulayam Singh ke jaane ke baad … BJP ki sarkar aayi goli chalwane walon par karravayi kyon nahi hui. Isase bada praman aapko nahi milega unko achi achi postein di gayi kyon kyonki wo kahin na kahin relation mein the jinhone goli chalayi … aur aur goli chalane mein aire gaire nathu khaire marne chahiye wo Rajasthan ke adhyaks hain Mahendra unke seene mein goli lagni chahiye, Bengal ke Kothari bandhu hain unke seene mein goli lagni chahiye kisne ye sunishchit kiya Mulayam kya jaanein Kothari kaun hain Mulayam kya jaanein Mahendra Nath kaun hain (I was in Ayodhya that day, then why didn’t I take a bullet. I don’t know. But I was not Mulayam Singh who ordered firing. It was rather our own people who got our well-known people shot one by one. I will not name them as they are the founders of the movement … we did not know it was our own people who were playing this game. Then, people said the movement will not get a fillip unless people die … if Mulayam Singh ordered firing then when the BJP government came to power why those who fired upon them were not punished. Instead they were awarded good posts because these people were their relations. When there was firing all sundry people should have died. Why Mahendra from Rajasthan and Kotharis from Bengal were shot at. Who ensured that? How come Mulayam knew who Kotharis and Mahendra are).”
There were two determined attempts on Babri, first in 1990 and then in 1992. The first attempt was foiled by the police and resulted in killing of karsevaks. However, Sakshi Maharaj, one of the frontline leaders of the movement, alleges the killings were orchestrated by vested interests in the movement who wanted human blood to give the movement a further push. Squarely blaming, Ashok Singhal for the killings, Sakshi says: “Toh mere saamne Ashok Singhal ji ne kaha Maharaj kuch log nahi marenge toh andolan upar nahi uthega toh aap agya do jaane ki … toh Ashok Singhal ji ne kaha ... Vamdev ji ne kaha bache marenge toh bahut kaam kharab ho jayega ... Bole Maharaj jab tak nahi marenge tab tak kuch hoga nahi andolan, tabhi barhega (Before me, Ashok Singhal said ‘Maharaj (to Vamdev), the movement would not gain momentum unless some people die’. This is what Ashok Singhal said. Maharaj Vamdev said it will be disastrous if children die. Ashok Singhal again said the movement will not get a fillip until they die).” Raising again a figure at the dubious role some leaders of the movement played, Sakshi says: “Main uss din Ayodhya tha. Goli mujhe kyon nahi lagi main nahi jaanta, lekin ek bhi goli Mulayam Singh ne nahi chalwayi. Humare logon ne hi gin gin kar ache logon par goli chalwayi jo andolan ke praneta the main naam nahi loonga … humein pata hi nahi humare log hi karwa rahe hain ye toh logon ne kaha jab tak log marenge nahi andolan upar uthega nahi … agar goli Mulayam Singh ne chalwayi hoti toh Mulayam Singh ke jaane ke baad … BJP ki sarkar aayi goli chalwane walon par karravayi kyon nahi hui. Isase bada praman aapko nahi milega unko achi achi postein di gayi kyon kyonki wo kahin na kahin relation mein the jinhone goli chalayi … aur aur goli chalane mein aire gaire nathu khaire marne chahiye wo Rajasthan ke adhyaks hain Mahendra unke seene mein goli lagni chahiye, Bengal ke Kothari bandhu hain unke seene mein goli lagni chahiye kisne ye sunishchit kiya Mulayam kya jaanein Kothari kaun hain Mulayam kya jaanein Mahendra Nath kaun hain (I was in Ayodhya that day, then why didn’t I take a bullet. I don’t know. But I was not Mulayam Singh who ordered firing. It was rather our own people who got our well-known people shot one by one. I will not name them as they are the founders of the movement … we did not know it was our own people who were playing this game. Then, people said the movement will not get a fillip unless people die … if Mulayam Singh ordered firing then when the BJP government came to power why those who fired upon them were not punished. Instead they were awarded good posts because these people were their relations. When there was firing all sundry people should have died. Why Mahendra from Rajasthan and Kotharis from Bengal were shot at. Who ensured that? How come Mulayam knew who Kotharis and Mahendra are).”
Echoing Sakshi, Sadhvi Uma Bharti blames Vinay Katiyar for the killing of Kothari brothers on October 30, 1990: “Jo log mare the wo Vinay ki galti se. Galti bhi nahi wo bhagdar machi wo gali chhoti thi. Galti matlab wo bhag gaya chhodkar bhag gaya (The fellows got killed because of Vinay’s mistake. Actually, there began a stampede and the bye lane was narrow. By mistake I mean he fled the scene abandoning his group),” reminisces Bharti of the events of the day.
Such allegations add a new dimension to the Ayodhya conspiracy and raise a pertinent question with regard to the intent of its leaders: Were they using the youth as sacrificial goats?
Similarly, we find Dharmendra Singh Gurjar, another frontline leader of Bajrang Dal at that time, on the same page who questions the motive of the entire leadership of the movement: “Ye sab bewaqoof banane wali baatein hain isiliye toh humara desh bewaqoof banta aa raha hai … pehle hum jawani ke josh mein the … junoon mein the ek junoon tha guzar gaya … logon ne upyog kiya aur chhod diya use karke (All this talk is an exercise in making a fool of people … this is why our countrymen are made a fool every now and then (by such leaders)… in those days I was being driven by the enthusiasm of youth … I was driven by plain madness … it was plain madness which has passed … people used us and threw us out after using us).”
This callous face of Hindutva and its leadership bears out in full measure when the reporter tells Mahant Avaidyanath about the plight of the old parents of Vinod Vats who was killed in karseva in 1990. Nonchalantly making light of such supreme sacrifice, the leading light of the movement says: “Sabko marna hai tumko bhi hai mujhe bhi marna hai. Mrityu ko kaun rok sakta hai (All have to die, both you and me. Death is inevitable).” He has the same philosophy for his old, helpless parents: “Wo bhi marenge unko bhi marna hai (They will also die. They also have to die).”
The Cobrapost investigation also reestablishes the fact that the dispute arose after the statue of Ram Lala were fraudulently instated within the mosque in 1949. One of the witnesses who saw it happen is B. L. Sharma Prem. It all happened before his eyes, Sharma claims, when he was posted in Ayodhya with Military Police as a Warrant Officer. Priest Ram Chandra Das, a regular visitor to their unit, informed them how on a particular day would appear Ram Lala and requested him to bring in some friends. Debunking the theory of Devine Appearance of Ram Lala, Sharma avers: “Arre ji kahe ke prakat hone wale … prakat kiya hai … wo toh maharaji ka kaam tha na Ram Chandra Paramhans (How would He (Ram Lala) appear? He was made to appear … It was the handiwork of Maharaj Ram Chandra Paramhans).”
A documentary on Operation Janmabhoomi will be screened at The Press Club of India, Raisina Rd., New Delhi, at 10.15 am, Friday, April 4, 2014.
Don't elect 'a big liar' as PM, says Sonia:A documentary on Operation Janmabhoomi will be screened at The Press Club of India, Raisina Rd., New Delhi, at 10.15 am, Friday, April 4, 2014.
Ranchi, April 04:
In one of her strongest attacks on BJP star Narendra Modi, Congress president Sonia Gandhi Friday asked people not to elect "a big liar" as the country's next prime minister.
Without taking Modi's name, Gandhi told an election rally in Jharkhand that some opposition leaders were selling dreams, as if "they will change everything in one day with a magic wand".
"Will the country chose a prime minister a person who will be a big liar?" she said at Ramgarh in Hazaribagh district.
"In a democracy, just anyone should not be allowed to grab power." But she did not refer to Modi by name in her speech.
Gandhi urged Maoists to shun violence and join the mainstream of the society.
And in an appeal to coal workers, she also said that it was former prime minister Indira Gandhi who nationalized the coal mines in order to improve the lot of the labourers.
She detailed the achievements of the Congress-led UPA government in the last 10 years.
--IANS
BJP nods to cobrapost broadcast on Babri Masjid:
Hyderabad, April 04:
The BJP on Friday alleged and questioned the timing of a 'sting' operation on the Babri Masjid demolition. The BJP also alleged that it was "sponsored", pointing the finger at Congress for using "pawns" to vitiate the atmosphere before elections and asked the Election Commission to stop its publication and telecast.
The BJP writing to the Election Commission shortly before Cobrapost was to hold a press conference here, sought a bar on its contents being made public.
"We have met the EC and have asked to stop the broadcast of sting so that elections can be peaceful," BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi was quoted as saying by CNN-IBN.
Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, the BJP spokesperson said reports what had appeared in papers today about a sting operation related to the sensitive Babri masjid-Ram Janambhoomi dispute.
By means of this "sponsored sting operation", there is an attempt to inject poison in the peaceful and affable election atmosphere in the country, he said.
"We had in the morning spoken to Election Commission and also written a letter that an NGO named Cobrapost in the name of a sting operation is planning to show a sponsored sting on the sensitive Ram Janambhoomi-Babri masjid issue....Its telecast and publication should be immediately barred," he added.
Naqvi further said the party had asked the EC to take action "against whoever is behind such a mischievous conspiracy." Accusing the Congress of propagating communalism, Naqvi said that the party has lost the battle on ground and was now making an effort to use pawns to make a fuss of the atmosphere ahead of election.
When asked to comment about the content of the sting operation, Naqvi said its timing raises questions.
"The timing is more important than content and raises questions as the election is at its peak and the atmosphere is friendly and peaceful. The election is being contested on the issue of Congress' misgovernance. The people have rejected the secular versus communal plank on which Congress contests and real issues are being raised. Naturally those who contested on non-issues are upset," he said.
The Cobrapost sting reveals Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the Shiv Sena openly talking about the conspiracy and the fact that the demolition was not a spontaneous act by an enraged mob, according to reports.
Furthermore, the sting reveals that senior BJP leaders LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi have knowledge of the plan and the then chief minister of Uttar Pradesh Kalyan Singh also had information a day prior to the demolition.
The Babri Masjid was demolished on December 6, 1992. As per the sting, an oath was taken to demolish the structure in the presence of Advani and Joshi.
Modi is a man who thrives on division: critizes ‘The Economoists’, an english weekly:
Modi is a man who thrives on division: critizes ‘The Economoists’, an english weekly:
Hyderabad, April 04:
A strong criticism is coming in for Bharatiya Janata Party Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. English weekly The Economist has refused to back Modi for the PM's post and entitled him a man associated with 'sectarian hatred'.
The English weekly has accused Modi of giving anti-Muslim speeches early in his career and called him a man who has thrived on division. The paper also castigated at Modi for not apologising for the 2002 riots.
As per inb news, the article has even questioned the clean chit given to Modi by the Supreme Court saying that the reason as to why the inquiries were full of loopholes was because a lot of the evidence was lost or intentionally destroyed. The article did praise Modi's economic track record in Gujarat and made a favourable comparison when it comes to corruption in the Congress coalition.
The article has been equally sarcastic about Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi said that even as it does not find the prospect of a government led by Congress under Rahul an inspiring one, it still recommends it as the less disturbing option
Govt sets up committee to recommend capital for residuary AP:
April 04:
Government has set up a five-member expert committee, headed by former Union Urban Development Secretary K Sivaramakrishnan, to recommend a site for the capital of successor state of Andhra Pradesh.
The expert committee has been constituted in the wake of creation of Telangana by bifurcating Andhra Pradesh.
Hyderabad, which will be the capital of Telangana, will be the joint capital of the two states for ten years and within that period the residuary state will have to build a new capital.
The other member of the Committee are Rathin Roy, Director, National Institute of Public Finance and Policy, New Delhi, Aromar Revi, Director, Indian Institute for Human Settlements, Bengaluru, Jagan Shah, Director National Institute of Urban Affairs, New Delhi and K T Ravindran, former Dean, School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi.
"Expert Committee to study the various alternatives regarding the new capital for the successor state of Andhra Pradesh and make appropriate recommendations," an order issued by the Joint Secretary in the Home Ministry S Suresh Kumar says.
The terms of reference of the committee include: To study various alternatives for locating the new capital of the successor state of Andhra Pradesh and evaluate their comparative suitability based on available data, site visits and consultations with the stakeholders, central government and the existing government of Andhra Pradesh and the successor state of Andhra Pradesh and submit its report by August 31.
To evaluate the possible alternatives and make appropriate recommendations based on the following considerations.
Availability of sufficient land water and other essential natural resources with due regard to the possibility of the reservation of degraded forest land.
Potential for connectivity by rail, road and air with various districts of the successor state of Andhra Pradesh and the present common capital of Hyderabad and other major cities of the region as well as the possibility to develop rapid mass transit systems within the city.
The committee, while making recommendations, will consider allied issues such as the least possible dislocation to existing agriculture systems as well as ensure minimum resettlement of people and their habitations.
Vulnerable assessment from natural disasters like floods, cyclones and earthquakes, assess the scope for minimising the cost of construction and acquisition of land, ascertain the availability of raw materials, skilled and unskilled labour etc., required for the construction of a new capital.
TRS manifesto promises to turn farmers into millionaires:
Hyderabad, April 04:
The Telangana Rashtra Samithi on Friday released its manifesto for the ensuing Assembly and Lok Sabha elections promising huge sops for all sections of the society, especially farmers.
Speaking on the occasion, TRS President K Chandrasekhar Rao promised that the TRS would turn farmers into millionaires. He promised irrigation water for one lakh acres of land in each Assembly segment in Telangana region. Besides, promising waiver of crop loans up to Rs one lakh, he said new technologies would be adopted to boost agricultural growth. The TRS also promised three acres of land each to landless farmers along with one year of financial support for irrigation. It also promised to turn Telangana into Seed Bowl of India.
The TRS has also promised 12 per cent reservation for Muslim community. Besides implementation of recommendations of Sachar Committee, the TRS has promised to give judicial powers to State Wakf Board and approach the Supreme Court to restore Wakf properties which have been encroached upon.
The TRS manifesto also promises creation of 14 new districts. If voted to power, KCR said that the government would pay Rs 10 lakh each to the families of Telagnana martyrs and provide one government job to their kin.
The other promises made in the manifesto include:
· Rs 1500 pension for Physically handicapped
· Rs 1000 pension for widows
· Contract employees will be made permanent
· Restoration of lakes to their original form
· Bathukamma will be made official festival
· Satellite township around Hyderabad
· Special increments for Telangana employees
· Salaries on par with Central government employees
· Double-bedroom flats for BCs
· 10 new thermal power stations
· Creation of one lakh new jobs in proposed thermal stations
· Free education from KG to PG
· Compulsory transfer and promotions of employees once in three years
· Exemption of Transport Tax to auto-rickshaws
· Computerisation of land records in entire Telangana (INN)
218 accidental deaths reported within 3 months in twin cities:
Hyderabad, April 04:
The incidence of accidental deaths is showing an increasing trend day by day in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad. 218 death deaths in road mishaps have been recorded within 3 months beginning from New Year 2014. Half of the victims are youth between the age of 17-27 years.
Doctors and police attribute the fatal accidents to over speed. Sometimes 6-8 accidents were reported during a single day. Some accidents also claimed the life of more than one family member. Another reason behind the rising road accidents is said to be poor infrastructure and battered roads. The number of students studying in professional colleges was more in the accidents occurred in the outskirts. Some parents whose children met with an accident told that they would suggest youth to use college bus for conveyance instead of bikes.
Police sources said that youth show impatience while driving which becomes the cause of accident. Over speed is also the main reason behind fatal accidents. One should know that ‘prevention is better than cure’.
Siasat news
$22.5bn Riyadh metro work gathers pace:
Work on the $22.5 billion Riyadh Metro project began here Thursday and Riyadh Gov. Prince Khaled bin Bandar, who launched the groundbreaking work, said the project, to be completed in 48 months, would improve the quality of life in the capital city.
A high-level committee has been set up to solve all problems facing its implementation, including traffic problems, he said.
“Of course there will be traffic delays while implementing this huge project and I request people of Riyadh to bear with us. We’ll do everything possible to facilitate traffic,” he told reporters after launching the project.
Digging work started in five places on Thursday including for the metro station at King Khaled International Airport, Al-Olaya Station, its control center and railway maintenance station.
Al-Olaya Station, covering an area of 28,000 square meters, will have shopping centers, service facilities and car parking areas, an official said. It is designed to serve 400,000 passengers daily.
The airport station will be located at the fifth terminal, which is being constructed, the official said.
There will be three stations linking the airport with King Abdullah Financial Center.
The control and operation center will be located near the maintenance station, west of Princess Nora University.
The Riyadh governor later chaired a meeting of experts to follow up implementation of the project and discussed matters related to design, traffic and coordination with various departments.
Arriyadh Development Authority (ADA) announced the winning bidders on July 28 for three design and build contracts worth $ 22.5 billion for the construction of a 176.7km six-line automated metro network in the capital city.
The Fast consortium, which is led by Spanish construction group FCC, will build three lines totaling 73km in a deal worth $7.82 billion.
FCC’s partners in Fast include Alstom; Samsung C&T; Strukton, Netherlands; Freyssinet, Saudi Arabia; Typsa, Spain; and Setec, France. Alstom’s share of the contract is worth around $1.6 billion and includes a fleet of 69 metropolis trains, together with Communications Based Train Control (CBTC), Hesop energy recovery system, and its Appitrack tracklaying system.
The Arriyadh New Mobility Group (ANM) will construct the 40.7km Red Line from Madinah Road to Prince Saad bin Abdul Rahman Road in a contract worth $5.21 billion.
Ansaldo STS’ share is worth $680 million and covers automatic train control (ATC), CBTC and power supplies.
Finally, the Bechtel-led BACS consortium will build the 39km Blue Line from Olaya Street to Batha Street and Al-Hayer Road, and the 25km Green Line along King Abdullah Road.
The contract has a total value of $9.45 billion.
According to FCC, the construction of the network will require 600,000 tons of steel, 4.3 million cubic meters of concrete, and will employ more than 30,000 people.
SR2bn causeway project aims to scrap bottlenecks:
The King Fahd Causeway Authority is expected to start work on its SR2 billion expansion in the next three months to reduce chronic bottlenecks on the bridge, said to a senior official.
The five-year project involves building two islands reclaimed from the sea on either side of the bridge, of 400,000 sqm each, said Badr Al-Otaishan, director general of the causeway.
The islands would have special facilities allowing officials to process travelers.
There would also be space for local and Gulf businesspeople to invest in malls and entertainment facilities once the expansion is completed, he said.
The authority had announced the project three years ago and said it would allow the causeway to handle 100 million commuters a year.
The causeway handled 17.6 million commuters in 2012, and 19.7 million in 2013.
Each island will be 1.5 km away from the causeway, and will have 48 two-way lanes, which would allow for the processing of 4,000 vehicles an hour.
There are plans to expand this area in future to 68 lanes.
There would be a customs area for up to 400 buses, and a waiting area for 400 trucks, a 500 percent expansion on the current area.
The authority plans to complete the new expansion before the Qatar-Bahrain causeway is completed.
This bridge would increase capacity on the King Fahd Causeway by 20 to 25 percent.
Al-Otaishan said the causeway handles 55 percent of all border traffic in the Kingdom and plans are under way to ease congestion even further with rail and sea links.
The authority will complete its study on a Saudi-Bahrain railway line at the end of this year. The sea links could include ferries shuttling between the two countries, he said.
“All these plans are to ensure the smooth movement of all types of vehicles and reduce the time spent on the causeway. Moreover, there are lighting, security, and services support projects planned, including the expansion of administrative buildings.”
The bridge, which was built in 1986, has a 100-year lifespan, which can be extended with careful maintenance.
The five-year project involves building two islands reclaimed from the sea on either side of the bridge, of 400,000 sqm each, said Badr Al-Otaishan, director general of the causeway.
The islands would have special facilities allowing officials to process travelers.
There would also be space for local and Gulf businesspeople to invest in malls and entertainment facilities once the expansion is completed, he said.
The authority had announced the project three years ago and said it would allow the causeway to handle 100 million commuters a year.
The causeway handled 17.6 million commuters in 2012, and 19.7 million in 2013.
Each island will be 1.5 km away from the causeway, and will have 48 two-way lanes, which would allow for the processing of 4,000 vehicles an hour.
There are plans to expand this area in future to 68 lanes.
There would be a customs area for up to 400 buses, and a waiting area for 400 trucks, a 500 percent expansion on the current area.
The authority plans to complete the new expansion before the Qatar-Bahrain causeway is completed.
This bridge would increase capacity on the King Fahd Causeway by 20 to 25 percent.
Al-Otaishan said the causeway handles 55 percent of all border traffic in the Kingdom and plans are under way to ease congestion even further with rail and sea links.
The authority will complete its study on a Saudi-Bahrain railway line at the end of this year. The sea links could include ferries shuttling between the two countries, he said.
“All these plans are to ensure the smooth movement of all types of vehicles and reduce the time spent on the causeway. Moreover, there are lighting, security, and services support projects planned, including the expansion of administrative buildings.”
The bridge, which was built in 1986, has a 100-year lifespan, which can be extended with careful maintenance.
Indonesia to pay SR6.7m to save killer maid’s life:
ndonesia will pay SR6.7 million in blood money to save an Indonesian maid from being executed in the Kingdom, according to reports.
Satinah Binti Jumadi was due to be executed in the next few days after being found guilty of killing her female employer seven years ago.
The deadline to pay the agreed amount was Thursday, April 3.
A campaign in Indonesia by the 41-year-old’s family and supporters had raised some of the money needed to compensate the victim’s family.
Jumadi hit her female boss, Nura Al-Garib, in September 2007, who later fell into a coma and died in hospital.
After the attack, Jumadi fled with nearly SR40,000, but was caught.
Jumadi claimed she acted in self-defense when Al-Garib grabbed her hair and banged her head against a wall.
The victim’s family reduced the amount needed but not enough had been raised.
An Indonesian official reportedly said that the government had then decided to pay the remainder.
Jumadi now faces a retrial, he said.
An official at the Indonesian Embassy in Riyadh told Arab News on Thursday night that he was not aware of his government’s decision.
Satinah Binti Jumadi was due to be executed in the next few days after being found guilty of killing her female employer seven years ago.
The deadline to pay the agreed amount was Thursday, April 3.
A campaign in Indonesia by the 41-year-old’s family and supporters had raised some of the money needed to compensate the victim’s family.
Jumadi hit her female boss, Nura Al-Garib, in September 2007, who later fell into a coma and died in hospital.
After the attack, Jumadi fled with nearly SR40,000, but was caught.
Jumadi claimed she acted in self-defense when Al-Garib grabbed her hair and banged her head against a wall.
The victim’s family reduced the amount needed but not enough had been raised.
An Indonesian official reportedly said that the government had then decided to pay the remainder.
Jumadi now faces a retrial, he said.
An official at the Indonesian Embassy in Riyadh told Arab News on Thursday night that he was not aware of his government’s decision.
Kuwait MPs’ panel rejects Gulf security pact:
KUWAIT CITY: The Kuwaiti parliamentary committee for foreign relations has rejected a security pact ratified by other Gulf nations, with MPs saying the government-backed treaty is unconstitutional.
Leaders of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) approved the pact at a summit in December 2012 after it was signed by all GCC interior ministers including Kuwait.
The text paves the way for the extradition of anyone accused of carrying out political or security activities against a GCC member state.
It also allows members to seek military and security assistance from other GCC states to counter unrest.
Three members of the five-strong foreign relations committee have rejected the measure while the other two voted in favor, panel secretary Hamdan Al-Azemi said. The panel referred the issue to parliament for a final decision, Azemi added.
Parliament is not expected to debate the issue until late October.
Parliament, which is dominated by pro-government MPs, can approve the pact.
Leaders of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) approved the pact at a summit in December 2012 after it was signed by all GCC interior ministers including Kuwait.
The text paves the way for the extradition of anyone accused of carrying out political or security activities against a GCC member state.
It also allows members to seek military and security assistance from other GCC states to counter unrest.
Three members of the five-strong foreign relations committee have rejected the measure while the other two voted in favor, panel secretary Hamdan Al-Azemi said. The panel referred the issue to parliament for a final decision, Azemi added.
Parliament is not expected to debate the issue until late October.
Parliament, which is dominated by pro-government MPs, can approve the pact.
Fresh quarantine rules for pilgrims
The Ministry of Health has announced quarantine measures for Haj and Umrah pilgrims who are coming from countries that have a high rate of infectious diseases.The ministry had sent out the circular to the Foreign Ministry that would be circulated among overseas missions spelling out the requirements for visa issuance for various countries.
Ziad Al-Memish, undersecretary to the Ministry of Health, said the Kingdom has been carefully monitoring developments throughout the globe in the field of infectious diseases.
He said the requirements stipulated in the new circular are in line with the requirements set by the World Health Organization (WHO) to control the spread of infectious diseases worldwide.
This year, Al-Memish said the Kingdom had focused on diseases such as yellow fever, meningitis, seasonal influenza, polio and food poisoning.
He said that the vaccines should be given 10 days before pilgrims commence their journey.
“We have also advised elderly pilgrims and others who suffer from chronic diseases such as cardiac conditions, diabetes, renal and respiratory maladies to postpone their pilgrimage,” he said.
“We have prescribed specific vaccines considering the incidence of disease in these countries.”
“In addition, ships and aircraft carrying pilgrims should also produce a certificate stating that the carriers are free of mosquitoes,” he said.
Besides these vaccinations, the spokesman advised pilgrims to take precautions against influenza to prevent a flu attack during their stay in the Kingdom.
“The flu vaccine is not mandatory, but is desirable considering present weather conditions and the susceptibility of pilgrims to influenza,” he said.
He advised high-risk patients with chronic ailments such as diabetes, hypertension and renal diseases to take the flu vaccine in the event they decide to embark on the Haj or Umrah pilgrimage.
Al-Memish also reminded pilgrims to pack food in sealed containers.
Portugal offers two-year visas to Saudi investors:
Portugal has offered Saudis investment of up to 1 million euros (SR5.1 million) in the country's real estate or the financial sector, two-year renewable visas with access to all Schengen countries in Europe.
Paulo Portas, Portugal’s deputy prime minister, said Wednesday that the question of visas would be discussed between the two sides at a joint committee meeting.
Portas spoke to Arab News at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Conference Palace in Riyadh following his meetings with the crown prince and the finance minister. Portas arrived Tuesday at the head of a 45-member business delegation.
He said there was also interest in establishing flights between the two countries. "This would improve trade, boost education, tourism, friendship and bilateral trade.”
Portas said flights are currently operated by a Gulf airline to Portugal. "It is completely booked every day. Portugal is one of the most popular destinations in Europe for tourists. It has sun, ocean, heritage, history, astronomy, safety and excellent highways and airports.”
He said the country had emerged from its recession, was improving its economic growth and reducing unemployment.
He said Portugal was one of the few European countries that voted to recognize Palestine as a state at the United Nations.
He said Syria was a "great humanitarian tragedy. We should build a 21st century based on science, development, prosperity and peace, not on casualties and destabilization of millions of people, who have no homes, no schools, no health services. The world should be much more active on the Syrian question,” he said.
Portugal's exports to Saudi Arabia are worth some 170 million euros and imports around 700 million euros, he said.
“Exports contributed 28 percent to our gross domestic product four years ago. Now it is 41 percent. Our exports include fruit, olive oil, shoes, information technology, renewable energy, health care and education. Portuguese companies are doing well in the Saudi market."
"Our political relations are very good and we are discussing ways to improve our trade investment relations. For instance, we have to conduct negotiations on avoidance of double taxation and also to promote investment."
He said the visiting delegation includes representatives from 45 companies, including from construction, public works, information technology, tourism, entertainment, sports, energy, environment, agro foods and pharmaceutical industries.
"Saudi Arabia invests traditionally in European countries, and I think it is the right time to look at Portugal because our economy turned around three years ago. “Our economic growth is back on track. We are now among the best performers in the euro zone. So this is the right moment to pay attention to Portugal. Previously we had great difficulty because of the EU bailout."
Portas said he met the crown prince, the finance minister, and the minister of commerce and industry, who co-chairs the bilateral joint committee with him. He also plans to meet the agriculture minister, the minister of health, Prince Alwaleed and private groups.
"Portugal recognizes the key role played by Saudi Arabia in interfaith dialogue. Saudi Arabia is very relevant in the Islamic world. It is a key country providing stability to the Gulf region and Middle East. I am in favor of dialogue between cultures, civilizations and religions. Portugal has always been interested in the influence of Islamic culture, especially in the south of the country.
"Portuguese people have been navigators and our nations have known each other for centuries, so we have a basis to improve our relations."
He urged the Kingdom to send some of its 20,000 overseas students to Portuguese universities, and said he hoped the two countries could sign a memorandum of understanding on education.
Dammam Corniche draws visitors from afar:
The Dammam Corniche is a popular attraction in the region, drawing visitors not only from the adjoining cities of Alkhobar, Dhahran and Jubail but also from the Saudi capital.
“The Dammam Corniche is popular because it has unique attractions like the picturesque boardwalk and a beautiful park with neatly manicured grass,” said Romy E. Galvez, executive secretary at Saudi Cement in Dammam.
It is not uncommon to see people at the Corniche gazing at the gleaming waves in the late afternoon sunshine as gulls fly by.
Galvez and his wife Ellen often go there for their early morning walk and at night during week days to take in the fresh air and while the time away.
“The visitors soak up the beauty of the Corniche which seems to transport them to another place and time,” said Galvez who worked in Riyadh for 21 years before coming to Dammam where he has been working for the past six years.
An additional attraction is the cruise around Murjan Island located at the end of the Corniche. A trip on a speed boat or cruise ship costs SR30.
“There are so many other attractions at the Dammam Corniche,” said Resureccion O. Ramos, a physician at the Dammam Medical Dispensary. “There’s a carnival which attracts the old and young alike and the lion and dolphin shows which children really enjoy,” she added.
Visitors can also visit the Marina Mall to shop. “You can find almost everything at the mall,” she said.
“There are restaurants, fast food chains and coffee shops in the area,” said Ramos who has been working at the hospital since 1999.
“Visitors are also careful not to leave any litter behind them,” she noted, adding that various groups like the Bantay at Kasangga ng OFW have also been conducting clean-up drives at the Corniche to maintain cleanliness.
Ramos, who received her medical degree from the Manila Central University-Filemon D. Tantioco Medical Foundation (MCU-FDTMF) in 1975, is the group’s health committee chairwoman.
Frenchman among 3 rescued at sea:
One person is suspected to have drowned in Tabuk’s Red Sea waters amid high tides on Wednesday, while a French tourist who was on a solo sea voyage from Yemen to Egypt was rescued by Saudi Coast Guard the same day, Col. Naji Al-Johani, spokesman for Saudi Coast Guard, told Arab News on Thursday.
“Thierry Ropert Segono, the French national, experienced a technical snag on board his boat due to sudden sea level fluctuations,” said Al-Johani. “The Coast Guard rescued Segono after picking up his call for help through a radar sensor system.”
"His boat was brought to Jeddah shore, where he was given technical assistance," he said.
“On Thursday, the Coast Guard also rescued two Bangladeshi fishermen who were sailing on a boat that became stranded in the Abu Madafi area of the Red Sea due to strong currents,” he said. “The search for the two fishermen had been on since Wednesday, but they were found the next morning in good condition.”
In the past few days, several regions across the Kingdom have been experiencing strong winds, which created dust storms and choppy seas.
Winds have adversely affected vessel movement at the Jeddah Islamic Port, the Kingdom’s largest cargo port. Vessel movement was halted Wednesday but was restored on Thursday, according to JIP officials.
Work in ports at Yanbu, Jubail and Dammam had also been affected, said one source.
Coast Guard officials have warned fishermen, the majority of whom are Indian and Bangladeshi, against sailing when weather alerts are issued.
Officials have also cautioned residents against swimming at the Corniche over the weekend.
“The movement of trucks to Taif was also affected due to poor visibility and dust,” said Mohammed Iqbal Mohammed, a trucker who drove from Dammam to Jeddah. “The road between Qassim and Riyadh was also badly affected due to a dust storm on Wednesday.”
“The situation improved Thursday,” said Baker Sulaiman, a resident in Majmah, a town along the highway.
Companies fire 70,000 expats in two years:
Private companies that were previously in the red zone of the Nitaqat nationalization program for having an insufficient Saudi-to-expat ratio have let go more than 70,000 foreign workers over the last two years in a bid to hire more nationals, according to private sector experts.
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) represent the bulk of companies falling into the red category, as they have few workers and cannot generate enough jobs for both Saudis and expats.
Contractors for government bodies, meanwhile, have stopped hiring foreigners altogether.
“These many expats have been fired in order to attract fresh Saudi graduates to work on a minimum wage of SR6,000 just like expats,” said Farooq Al-Khateeb, an economy professor at King Abdulaziz University.
“SMEs are interested in hiring fresh Saudi graduates who would agree to work for lower salaries than professional Saudis, who earn far more,” he told Arab News.
“Several hundred expats had also been fired by companies with a sufficient number of Saudis,” said Fadal Abu Al-Ainain, an economic consultant with several private firms. “The Labor Ministry must close the doors of foreign recruitment so that professionals already living in the Kingdom can find jobs,” he said.
“The Labor Ministry will take measures in the next few days with the aim of motivating companies that have been in the red zone for three months or more to increase the percentage of Saudis on their payrolls in line with the nationalization scheme,” said Abdul Moneam Al-Sherry, director of the Labor Department in the Makkah region.
“Companies in the green zone accounted for nearly 40 percent of all establishments in mid-2011 and this figure increased to 81 percent by the end of 2013,” he said. “Only around six percent of business owners failed to improve their Saudi-to-expat ratio.” The Labor Ministry, however, said that 20 percent of Saudi firms were still in the red zone two years after the implementation of the Nitaqat program despite the ministry’s intensive campaign to nationalize jobs in the private sector.
The Nitaqat program replaced the original Saudization program that was initiated in 1994 as a means of reducing reliance on foreign labor, but the initiative failed to realize the goal of attaining the 30 percent Saudization target.
The Nitaqat program, which incorporated incentives for companies that met certain standards, has been far more successful, said experts.
Risk allowance for medical staff:
The Health Ministry has announced a SR750 monthly allowance for medical and paramedical personnel who routinely come into contact with patients suffering from highly infectious diseases.
The decision will allay the fears of the medical community, which has demanded insurance cover in the wake of the spread of the novel coronavirus, especially among people working in emergency units and pathology laboratories.
“The Ministry of Health has pledged to protect medical and paramedical personnel through the introduction of insurance against infectious diseases,” said Sami Badawood, Jeddah Health Affairs director.
The Health Ministry has referred the plan to authorities for final approval, said officials.
The demand for an allowance against infectious diseases gained prominence after a male Saudi nurse working at King Abdulaziz Hospital in Jeddah was diagnosed with the deadly coronavirus.
Abdul Salam Noorwali, director-general at the ministry’s Makkah branch, and Badawood visited Bandar Al-Katheeri in hospital.
The ministry has since embarked on testing employees working at hospitals to ensure they are virus-free.
Medical experts from regional clinical laboratories in Jeddah and King Abdulaziz Hospital have found that their staff are free from infectious diseases.
“Similar tests were conducted at King Fahd Hospital,” said Badawood on Tuesday.
“The ministry is launching several awareness and orientation programs to train staff on how to protect themselves from catching these diseases while on duty.”
Extremists have hijacked Islam, says Madani
Extremist voices and groups have hijacked Islam and misappropriated the right to speak on its behalf, according to Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Secretary General Iyad Ameen Madani.
In his address at the inaugural session of the 25th Session of the Arab Summit held in Kuwait recently, he stressed that in actual fact, Islam with its established values and aspirations and with its advocacy of justice, equality, concord, coexistence and mutuality, is totally unrelated to them and to their ideologies and what they call for.
Madani said that the relations between the OIC and the League of Arab States are of a fundamental and pivotal character, with the cause of Palestine, Al-Aqsa Mosque and Al-Quds at the forefront, particularly under the recurrent and systematic Israeli violations aimed at judaizing Al-Quds and the stifling and brutal constraints meted upon the Jerusalamities.
He paid tribute to the close cooperative and consultative relations between the two organizations in their stand in the face of their common issues and challenges, and underlined the OIC’s keen interest in furthering its coordination with the Arab League.
He said that “the advancing danger and the serious challenges facing us all take the shape of discord and mutual killings which have gained ground in our ranks. This is a war where there is no victor but it will invite perils for all.” He recalled that the Extraordinary Islamic Summit which was held in Makkah in 2012 had adopted the initiative of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud for the establishment of a Center for Dialogue among the Islamic Doctrines for the benefit of mutual understanding. He added that the OIC is striving hard to ensure that the Center becomes a reality in the near future.
The Secretary General invoked a number of other challenges facing the OIC and the Arab League, including the identity challenge, the challenge of achieving an innovative approach to coexistence that is mindful of the legitimate national interests of states and that lays the foundations at the same time for regional and inter-regional concord and coexistence and maximizes mutual interests and benefits rather than engaging in conflicts and mutual killings.
Visa ban on pilgrims from states hit by Ebola virus:
Umrah and Haj visas will not be issued to pilgrims from Liberia and Guinea due to the prevalence of Ebola hemorrhagic fever in the two African countries.
“Liberia and Guinea have been affected with this deadly virus, which has claimed several lives,” said one official from the Ministry of Health. “Authorities have therefore been advised not to issue Haj or Umrah visas to pilgrims from these two countries.”
“The World Health Organization (WHO), however, has not issued any travel advisory against these two countries,” he said.
“The Ministry of Health issues quarantine requirements to issue Saudi missions abroad through the Saudi Foreign Ministry.”
The outbreak of the viral hemorrhagic fever, which erupted in the West African country of Guinea, has claimed the lives of 59 people so far, with several others having fallen gravely ill. This type of fever is caused by the Ebola virus.
Officials with the World Health Organization (WHO) fear the outbreak may have spread to nearby Sierra Leone, where one fatality has been reported so far.
“There are seven suspected cases in Liberia,” he said. “Two patients have tested positive for the virus.”
Ebola is a severe and often fatal disease that affects and kills up to 90 percent of its victims. The virus manifests in five different types, four of which can lead to disease outbreaks among humans.
The virus is passed onto humans through close contact with animals carriers of the virus, including fruit bats, monkeys, gorillas and chimpanzees.
Disease carriers are highly contagious and pass the virus either through object contamination or close contact, in addition to bodily fluids or blood.
The incubation period for Ebola viral hemorrhagic fever is typically one week, during which the infected patient will suffer from an array of symptoms such as fever, chills, back pain, vomiting and diarrhea.
Infected individuals will develop a rash over their entire body as the virus progresses and will suffer from swelling around the eyes and genital area and bleeding from the mouth, nose, eyes, ears and rectum, followed by shock, coma and death in many cases.
A complete blood count test (CBC), coagulation studies or a liver function test is often used to confirm cases of Ebola.
The World Health Organization (WHO) is closely monitoring the situation and said that similar cases demonstrating like-kind symptoms such as fever, diarrhea, vomiting and bleeding have also been reported in nearby Sierra Leone.
While there is no cure for Ebola, there is medication available to help fight the virus.
Patients are often hospitalized and require intensive care both to save their lives and to prevent the spread of the deadly disease.
Kingdom supports battle against nuclear terrorists:
Saudi Arabia is working actively to counter nuclear terrorism in the region and the world with its involvement in various multilateral activities, the Council of Ministers said after their meeting here.
The Cabinet expressed the hope that the recent recommendations of the Third Nuclear Security Summit in The Hague would help achieve global security and stability.
“Saudi Arabia is one of the first countries that adopted international resolutions related to nuclear security,” Culture and Information Minister Abdul Aziz Khoja said in a statement after the weekly meeting on Monday.
“In addition to its support for the initiative on combating nuclear terrorism, it is effectively and positively present in more than 20 international activities linked to nuclear security since the Seoul Summit,” the statement added.
Crown Prince Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense, chaired the Cabinet meeting at Yamamah Palace in Riyadh.
The Cabinet welcomed the comprehensive peace agreement between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, and hoped it would bring peace and stability to the southern part of the country, Khoja said in his statement to the Saudi Press Agency.
The Cabinet also approved the headquarters agreement between the Kingdom and the monetary council of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) signed in Riyadh last year.
Another major decision taken by the Cabinet was the approval of the Kingdom’s separate agreements with the Ethiopian government and the government of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg on avoidance of double taxation and prevention of tax evasion.
The meeting also highlighted the importance of the King Faisal International Prize because it “embodies the Kingdom’s appreciation and honoring of science and scientists,” Khoja said.
The Cabinet also commended the role of the Prince Salman awards and grants on studies and research related to the history of the Arabian Peninsula and the Kingdom, Khoja said.
The Cabinet approved the amendment of article 15 of the military colleges’ regulations, governing the conditions for admission and related matters.
The meeting authorized Minister of Interior Prince Mohammed bin Naif to discuss with the Tunisian government a draft agreement for mutual recognition of driver’s licenses in the two countries.
In another decision, the meeting authorized the transport minister to discuss a draft agreement on maritime transport with Algeria, Khoja said.
The Cabinet also approved a memorandum of understanding on cooperation between the health ministries of the Kingdom and Portugal.
The crown prince and members of the Cabinet earlier congratulated Prince Muqrin on his appointment as the deputy crown prince.
The Cabinet was also briefed on the talks of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah with US President Barack Obama.
The Cabinet also commended the declaration and the decisions at the 25th Arab Summit in Kuwait, to strengthen Arab solidarity.
The appointments ratified by the Cabinet yesterday included Naif Al-Otaibi as undersecretary for petroleum affairs at the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Abdullah Al-Saleh as director general of investment development at the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs, and Ahmed Al-Qadhi as director general of administrative and financial affairs at the Ministry of Interior.
Outrage at Thai verdict
People in the Kingdom expressed shock and dismay on Monday at a Thai criminal court's dismissal of a case against five men, including a senior police officer, charged with murdering a Saudi businessman over precious stones worth millions of dollars stolen more than two decades ago.
Bangkok’s Ratchadaphisek Criminal Court ruled that there was insufficient evidence to try the five men, who were accused of kidnapping and killing Muhammad Al-Ruwaili.
Al-Ruwaili had gone to Bangkok to investigate what became known as the “Blue Diamond Affair,” a series of events triggered by the 1989 theft of gems belonging to Saudi Arabia by a Thai employee.
A Shoura Council member, who wished to remain anonymous, told Arab News that he was greatly dismayed at this verdict, which displayed the triviality of the Thai judicial procedure.
Mohammed Al-Humeidi, a journalist at a prestigious Arabic daily, said that the verdict comes as a shock to the entire Saudi community.
“We have lost both valuables in the form of human life and resources and the killers just got off scot-free,” he said.
Confirming the verdict, Wijak Chittarat, charge d’affaires at the Thai Embassy in Riyadh, told Arab News that the government cannot be held responsible for this verdict since the case is solely handled by the judiciary.
Tourists repaid SR300,000 in excess charges:
n an unprecedented move, more than 30 hotel and furnished apartment owners along Jeddah’s Corniche were ordered to pay back customers a combined SR300,000 in excess charges during the 10-day spring break, Mohammed Al-Ameri, executive director of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities in the Makkah region, told Arab News.
Many lodge owners had been found guilty of taking advantage of high demand and setting room rates way beyond their original price in contravention of a circular detailing official prices set by the commission and the Ministry of Commerce.
The findings were made during inspection tours conducted by the commission’s teams in Jeddah.
“Inspection teams immediately contacted the visitors and tourists and informed them that the excess money charged would be refunded,” said Al-Ameri. “Our branch in Jeddah had organized inspection tours around the clock in an effort to ensure commitment to pricing and licensing regulations.”
He called on citizens and residents to report price violations on 19988 or by submitting a formal complaint to the commission’s local branch.
Rising number of housemaid deaths alarms Sri Lanka:
The Sri Lankan government is showing grave concern about the large number of housemaid deaths in the Gulf countries where they come to work as domestic helps in households.
The Sri Lanka Economic Association (SLEA) has given serious attention to a recent report presented in Parliament which revealed that a large number of dead bodies and remains were returned to Sri Lanka from the Gulf States between January and October 2012.
According to information available with the Medical Officer at the Katunayake Airport, about 75 percent of the bodies were of women below thirty years of age; the majority of cases were determined to be deaths due to heart failure and the internal organs in most of the bodies were reported to be missing. This is when the life expectancy at birth of Sri Lankan women is 79 years.
The Sri Lanka Economic Association (SLEA) is a volunteer association, set up in 1985 and incorporated in 2011 by an Act of Parliament. Its objective is to undertake, promote and facilitate studies in the field of economics and to promote understanding, co-operation and friendship with similar associations within and outside Sri Lanka.
According to a senior official from the Sri Lankan Embassy here, an average of one death is reported everyday.
“The cause of death is mainly natural and very few cases are due to road accidents,” the official said. Asked about the dead bodies of Sri Lankans lying in the Kingdom’s mortuaries, he said that there are some 20 bodies awaiting repatriation. However, he added that the mission sends two bodies to Colombo daily to be received by the deceased’s relatives.
An official from the Sri Lankan Consulate in Jeddah said that in the western province, the cases of death among Sri Lankans is minimal. “The consulate gets around four to five cases a month,” he said, adding that the Riyadh Embassy covers a much larger area than the consulate, so there will be more death cases at the embassy than the consulate in Jeddah. There are some 450,000 Sri Lankans living in the Kingdom and the majority of them are female domestic workers. The Sri Lankan community in the Kingdom is the island’s largest concentration among the 1.5 million Sri Lankans in the Middle East.
According to Road Map-2014 presented by the Central Bank, the trade deficit for 2013 is estimated as $8.6 billion.
Nearly 80 percent of this deficit ($6.7 billion) was bridged by foreign expatriate remittances. In addition to this macro impact, employment in the Gulf has helped thousands of poor families to make ends meet.
This is particularly important in the backdrop of weaning employment opportunities for unskilled women labor in Sri Lanka.
Based on these considerations, the SLEA has recommended the following actions which include requesting international agencies that profess the dignity of labor to uphold the cause of human rights, unequivocally protest to the countries that employ Sri Lankan housemaids, issue strict instructions to Sri Lankan missions in the Gulf to be vigilant and ensure Sri Lankan employees’ welfare and safety and take immediate remedial measures to resolve any issue that arises, register all job agencies and take strict action against agencies which are not registered and launch together with job agencies an orientation program for aspiring migrant workers to improve their soft skills, public relations, ethics and awareness of their rights and duties.
500,000 visit Jeddah:
More than 500,000 people visited Jeddah during the school recess, filling up hotels and resorts in the city, an official from the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) in Makkah, told Arab News on Monday.
"More than 70 percent of the visitors came from various parts of the Kingdom. The rest from other Gulf counties and those who came to perform Umrah," said Mohammed Al-Omari, executive director of the SCTA.
The tourists also spent time at various coastal resorts at the Corniche and north Obhur. This resulted in heavy traffic on many of Jeddah's highways.
The city had placed all its safety and security personnel on alert to cope with the unusual influx of people. Coast guard officers rescued five girls after they got into trouble in a no-swimming zone on the beach.
In preparation for the holidays, the Jeddah traffic department had earlier drawn up a plan to facilitate the flow of traffic inside the city, especially near large shopping centers, the old town and historic area.
The Civil Defense deployed various rescue teams across the city to deal with emergencies. The teams checked safety measures at shopping malls and entertainment centers. The Jeddah mayoralty sent inspectors to monitor cleanliness on the Corniche, and deployed garbage collectors to keep the city and beaches clean. Most hotels and apartment buildings were more than 90 percent full and some facilities had to turn away tourists.
Many shopping malls presented popular plays and musicals to attract customers, with some giving away prizes of over SR100,000 in various contests.
Ex-illegal workers thank Kingdom for giving them a second chance:
A number of former illegal overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) have expressed gratitude to the Kingdom for giving them a choice between deportation and looking for employers willing to transfer them under their sponsorship.
“The Kingdom was and is benevolent indeed. By continuing to work in the Kingdom I have been able to support my children’s education. My eldest daughter has graduated from college,” Joseph L. Posinar, 42, a father of three and currently working in a local firm, told Arab News on Sunday. He said that his daughter had graduated with a degree in tourism from the Systems Technology Institute (STI) in the Philippines while he was working in the Kingdom.
“I should also like to thank my current company for employing me willingly with the help of a compatriot who referred me to top management,” he said.
Posinar said that he had escaped from his former employer because he had reneged on his contract which stated that he would get SR1,200. But when he arrived in the Kingdom, he received only SR650 and was promised a SR150 food allowance which he claims was never given to him. He said that now he is earning a much higher salary than his previous employment.
Jovino Gedilangin, 35, hailing from Batangas province south of Manila, also expressed happiness at his good fortune of being able to find a new employer through the help of his friends.
“I now work for a company manufacturing office supplies in Riyadh and I am happy with my job as a machine operator,” he said. “My salary is much higher compared to what I was getting from my previous company in Al-Ahsa,” he added. He said that he had escaped from his former employer because the job was low-paid and the payment of salary delayed. “I was unable to collect salaries for two months and payments for overtime work amounting to SR10,000,” he said when asked for the reason for leaving his last employer.
He said that apart from driving, he is also working as a blast installer and doing other mechanical work in the new company.
Another former illegal OFW who’s working as a driver in a restaurant added that he’s much better off now than he was while working for a Saudi family.
“I now receive SR1,500 a month compared to SR1,200 that I was earning working for a Saudi family who maltreated me,” he said. He added: “I would like to thank Mr. Rabie of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Riyadh (POLO-Riyadh) for helping me with my passport.”
IT fraud: KSA residents suffer SR1.5bn losses:
The Kingdom’s residents have incurred SR1.5 billion in losses through the use of pirated software programs and hardware devices, said Samir Noman, president of Microsoft Arabia.
“A government agency was recently exposed to an organized piracy attempt when they purchased 400,000 devices with forged trademarks,” he said.
“This resulted in the spread of serious computer viruses throughout the agency.”
Piracy attempts often originate within the Kingdom without the knowledge of users through the installation of unlicensed programs, a local daily reported.
“We can expect electronic warfare to be the new form of modern-age war,” he said.
“The Kingdom is considered a leading user of social media globally, which makes it more vulnerable to piracy attacks.”
“According to a joint study carried out by the International Data Corporation (IDC) and the National University of Singapore (NUS), companies around the globe are expected to incur losses worth $315 billion due to organized cybercrime and are poised to spend $500 billion during the current year to remedy problems related to pirated software and information security,” he said.
“Also based on the study, consumers worldwide are expected to spend $25 billion and more than 1 billion hours this year addressing security threats and repairing their PCs thanks to the use of pirated software,” said Noman.
Lady entrepreneur sets up trailblazing concept store:
A local businesswoman here has set up a unique concept store selling a wide array of home accessories and gifts, with a place for artists to exhibit their work, a coffee shop, and a space for her women customers to attend social events.
Noha Boukhari opened Tabateek in 2005 with the help of her architect husband and business partner. Her husband reminded her to call the shop Tabateek, a name she has always loved. It is an old Hijazi word for collectibles of great sentimental value.
“My grandmother had a box full of tabateek,” Boukhari told Arab News here recently. “My shop reflects this idea. Things that are valuable may not be basic needs, but are delightful additions.”
Among the products on sale at the 100-sqm store are jewelry boxes, vases, decorative cutlery, lamps, mugs with colorful geometric designs, posters, and dresses.
She first set up the store in Al-Hamra, in the western part of Jeddah. “The location was part of my husband’s office, so rent and other basic requirements were covered.”
She sourced the products on trips with him to exhibitions around the world. “My products are mainly from Europe and the US because I trust their quality,” said Boukhari.
“I learned a lot from him about space, dimensions, and color combinations. I soon became his adviser.”
Her initial idea was for a shop where women could buy things that were not generally available on the market, “while having a cup of coffee.”
When the business grew, she moved Tabateek to a bigger space. This was no easy task because of Jeddah’s high commercial rents. She found the ideal place in a boutique mall, where she fulfilled her vision of a unique concept store.
The move came after a three-year break for personal reasons. “I kept my commercial register, which I am so proud of. It would have been a nightmare restarting the business with the current requirements.”
She then also expanded the shop to include a gallery for artists and events. “Events are my social baby; they are tiring, money- and time-consuming but definitely carry the most social aspect of my work.”
“Anyone can exhibit their products, as long as the price and quality are right.”
Soon Tabateek became a location for social events, including birthday parties. The core idea was for women to “take off their abayas in a comfortable environment and enjoy themselves together or by themselves, reading, talking or socializing.”
She runs the show with the help of six assistants, an accountant and a general manager. A marketing manager is not needed at this stage because the project is based on word-of-mouth publicity.
Boukhari said she has faced several challenges. “Getting adequate training for the staff (has been difficult) because there are simply no institutions that provide this service in Saudi Arabia.”
Ancient graves exist at Osmania General Hospital mortuary:
Hyderabad, April 01:
Very few people know that ancient graves exist in the premises of Osmania General Hospital mortuary, which are being razed and leveled to ground gradually with a planned conspiracy. Old timers told that once there used to be a graveyard at the place but now there is a morgue at the place. There is a building abutting the mortuary which has paying rooms in whose courtyard one can find 5 graves. Next to that is a dental hospital which also has a shrine of a clergy man, right in front of its entrance. There are many graves in the nursery of Gardening Department too. This reveals that the buildings were constructed on graveyard. If Waqf Board takes interest in the matter, the graveyard can be saved from annihilation.
There is also a graveyard abutting Osmania General Hospital which has the historic tamarind tree that saved 150 lives during the flood on September 28, 1908. Unfortunately a place in the graveyard is being used for puja by keeping a photo of the deity.
Siasat news
India – Second largest market for British Airways:
Hyderabad, March 31:
Regional Commercial Manager for South Asia, Mr. Christopher Fordyce told that India has become the second largest market after America for British Airways. It has increased 10% business compared to last year. He told that India is the largest emerging market. He informed that British Airways has recently enhanced its flight to 48 per week. In addition to daily flights from Hyderabad and Bangalore, from Mumbai and Delhi there are 2 flights every day and Chennai has 6 flights.
Mr. Fordyce informed that the first 787 Dream Liner Aircraft with the memorial plaque landed at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad bringing Mega film star, Mr. Amitabh Bachachan.
--Siasat News
Hung Assembly predicted in Telangana – TRS worried:
Hung Assembly predicted in Telangana – TRS worried:
Hyderabad, March 31:
The latest opinion poll indicated that there will be hung Assembly in Telangana region. This has perplexed TRS leadership. This party has prepared a strategy to assume power at any cost. In the latest survey it has been shown that there will be a marginal difference between TRS and Congress. TRS President, Mr. K. Chandrasekhara Rao held a meeting with the senior party leaders. It was the opinion of the party leaders that the status of TRS is being shown less deliberately in the opinion polls so as to demoralize TRS cadre. TRS leaders allege that some Congress leaders are exploiting electronic media and they are releasing such discouraging results of the opinion poll. It is understood that TRS is making an attempt to search for a new ally to ensure the required number of Assembly seats. The possibilities of forging an alliance with Congress have been finished. In such a situation, TRS is eyeing towards BJP. TRS party sources indicated that opinion is being elicited from MLAs and MLCs of the party for entering into an alliance with BJP. It is reported that some of the members supported the idea of an alliance with BJP whereas other members opposed it. If there is no alliance of TDP and BJP, TRS can forge an alliance with BJP. According to party sources the election committee of TRS has finalized the names of candidates for all the 17 Lok Sabha and 119 Assembly constituencies. But the lists are not being released seeing the possibilities of forging an alliance with any other political party. The release TRS election manifesto has also being put off for 2 days, it was to be released on the occasion of Ugadi yesterday.
--Siasat News
TDP promises farm loan waiver in Telangana, Seemandhra:
TDP promises farm loan waiver in Telangana, Seemandhra:
Hyderabad, March 31:
The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) Monday released separate election manifestos for Telangana and Seemandhra, promising to waive off farm loans.
Releasing the manifestos, party chief N. Chandrababu Naidu told reporters that if voted to power in both the states, the TDP would waive off all loans of the farmers to provide them relief.
Naidu also vowed to continue his fight against corruption and promised an honest and transparent administration.
The former Andhra Pradesh chief minister said the TDP would give top priority to agriculture and allied sectors. He also promised steps to conserve small water resources and to complete all irrigation projects.
Assuring full protection to women, the TDP said it would also provide free mobile phones to women belonging to below poverty line families with a helpline number.
The party also promised 75 percent subsidy for solar power projects and also use of solar power for agriculture in both the states.
The manifesto for Seemandhra promised to developed West Godavari district into agricultural hub and Nellore district into industrial hub. It said all the ports in the region would be developed as industrial clusters.
The TDP chief said if voted to power, the party would set up an industrial training institute in every mandal and take steps for the promotion of services sector.
Simultaneous elections to Andhra Pradesh assembly and Lok Sabha are scheduled on April 30 in Telangana and on May 7 in Seemandhra.
Telangana and Seemandhra or residuary state of Andhra Pradesh will formally come into being as separate states on June 2.
--IANS
Transgender challenges Modi, Kejriwal in Varanasi:
Varanasi, March 31:
BJP Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi has a new rival in the temple town -- a transgender.
Kamla, who is in her sixties, today announced her decision to fight from the prime constituency as an Independent candidate.
"Arvind Kejriwal bears the blemish of running away from Delhi governance and the spectre of 2002 Gujarat riots is still dogging the image of Modi, but I have a spotless image," Kamala said and asked Varanasi voters to support her.
"Benares is the city of Lord Shiva, who had also assumed the 'ardhnarishwara' form (a composite form of Lord Shiva and his wife Goddess Parvati). And, according to 'Shahstra' and 'Puranas', 'kinnar' (transgender) community is called 'ardhnirshwar'. So, please support me and vote for me," Kamla said.
"I am a 'kinner', so I have no family. In the last 60-odd years after Independence, either a man or a woman has ruled the country and generated scams after scams.
"If people support me, the third gender in this battle, then they will get a dynasty-free leader and set a new precedent for the betterment of the country," Kamla said.
The new candidate, who is the head of all the transgenders in Poorvanchal area, said her community always offered blessings to people on happy occasions and now it was the time for the people to reciprocate with their votes.
Kamla's election organiser Vikram Bhardwaj told PTI that by April 10, about 20,000 transgender from different parts of India will be gathering in Varanasi in support of Kamla.
"If the Election Commission allows, we will take a padyatra (door-to-door campaign) in the city asking people to drop their votes in their "jholi" (bags).
Bhardwaj alleged "many influential parties had tried to buy Kamla after their efforts to stop her from entering the fray went in vain."
A conference involving eunuchs from various states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh was held earlier in Gorakhpur and we then took the decision to name Kamla for the "Battle for Benares", despite lakhs of rupees being offered for the withdrawal of her candidature, Bhardwaj said.
--PTI
Life is like T-20 match, will decide how to play last overs:FM
Life is like T-20 match, will decide how to play last overs:FM
March 31:
Life is like cricket and "I want to decide on how I will play the last ten overs" of life, Finance Minister P Chidambaram today said justifying his stand of not contesting Lok Sabha polls.
While maintaining that he will continue to work for the party, the senior Congress leader also said,"I want to travel, read and write and to connect with my friends."
"I am not old enough to write an autobiography", he said when asked whether he plans to pen his memoirs.
"It is a good question. I have fought eight elections over 30 years. I have to do many other things in my life. Life has only one innings. It is like T-20 or ODI-50. I have to decide how I have to play last ten overs of my life," the 68-year-old senior Congress leader told reporters.
Asked whether he wanted to shift to the Rajya Sabha, he remarked "no one has offered me, are you offering me".
Rejecting questions as to whether he "shied away" from contesting this time as it was a difficult election and he feared defeat, the Finance Minister said that he had lost Lok Sabha polls in 1999 but that did not deter from contesting in 2004 and 2009.
He also brushed aside a question whether he would like to take on Narendra Modi in Varanasi in Lok Sabha polls.
"I wish I could contest. But I cannot communicate in Hindi. I am sure Modi will also not like to contest from Sivganga", he said. Sivganga is the pocketborough of Chidambaram from where his son Karti is contesting.
"The party is looking for a strong candidate against Modi. If it takes a day or two, so be it," he said.
Shiv Sena chief Uddhav spewed venom against Muslims:
Shiv Sena chief Uddhav spewed venom against Muslims:
Mumbai, April 01:
On Tuesday, Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray in Mumbai said that the Shiv Sena will continue to oppose the "anti-national Muslims" who do not respect the country's laws and create problems for people.
"Like my father (the late) Bal Thackeray, those Muslims who consider India their motherland, respect the laws of this country, don't ignite riots and live amicably, we have nothing against them -- as far as the others, they have no right to live in India," Thackeray told his party journal "Saamana".
When asked about how Hyderabad-based Muslim leader Akbaruddin Owaisi was spewed out venom against Hindus by threatening to annihilate the majority (Hindu) community in 15 minutes, Thackeray mention the example of his father.
"Though he was the only Hindu 'Hridaysamrat' (Emperor of Hindu hearts), Bal Thackeray never said he would annihilate the Muslims in 15 minutes. Can somebody dare to speak in this fashion (like Owaisi) among the Pakistani Hindus? Under such a situation, it is up to the Hindus to decide who will protect them," Thackeray said.
Referring to supporter Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi's brand of "Hindutva", Thackeray lamented that whenever there is talk of Modi, it gets connected to Gujarat riots and attempts are made to measure his "Hindutva" based on that incident.
"However, one thing is clear -- under Modi, Gujarat has not witnessed any communal riots and the Hindus are feeling secure in that state," said Thackeray.
Talking about the scenario of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Maharashtra, Thackeray jogs his memory that the late Bal Thackeray had advised social campaigner Anna Hazare to keep away from his "Team Anna".
"Now 'Team Anna' has distanced itself from Hazare -- on whose name it came up in the first place... AAP came with a bang and fell with a whimper in Delhi and only the people of that state had to suffer," Thackeray said.
He banished the argument that the AAP broom (party symbol) was sweeping Maharashtra, and said it doesn't pose any challenge to the established parties.
"In fact, the people of Mumbai are already irritated by the AAP. The Shiv Sena is the only voice of the people of Maharashtra," he said.
Iranian nuclear deal, Syria’s three-year-old civil war and their repercussions on the neighboring countries were the central themes of the talks between Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and US President Barack Obama on Friday.
The two-hour discussions between the king and Obama also focused on key bilateral and regional issues such as Gulf security, the Middle East peace process and Egypt.
During the talks, Obama reiterated the significance of his country’s “strong relationship” with Saudi Arabia, said a White House statement released later in the day.
“Washington and Riyadh are working together to address a number of critical bilateral and regional issues, including resolving the crisis in Syria, preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, counterterrorism efforts to combat extremism, and supporting negotiations to achieve Middle East peace,” said the statement.
Obama said his country’s strong relations with Saudi Arabia have “endured for over 80 years.”
The king and Obama discussed ways and means to stop the genocide in Syria. According to an AP report, Obama is considering allowing shipments of new air defense systems to the Syrian opposition, as Obama sought to reassure the king that the US is not taking a soft stance on Syria and other Mideastern conflicts.
The two leaders met at Khuraim Gardens, an oasis located some 100 km northeast of Riyadh, where King Abdullah has a private farm.
Crown Prince Salman, deputy premier and defense minister, Prince Saud Al-Faisal, foreign minister, and Saudi Ambassador to US Adel Al-Jubeir attended the talks.
The US delegation included US Secretary of State John Kerry, National Security Adviser Susan Rice and newly-appointed US ambassador Joseph Westphal.
A Saudi official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that the Kingdom wants the US to “shift its position” on support for Syrian rebels, particularly Washington’s reluctance to supply them with surface-to-air missiles.
Khidr O. Al-Qurashi, a Shoura Council member, called on Riyadh and Washington to join forces to find solutions to the regional problems.
On whether Obama’s visit to Riyadh came too late, Al-Qurashi said: “Better late than never.”
According to him, the US administration is fully aware that the regional issues cannot be solved without active participation of the Kingdom.
Al-Qurashi expressed optimism that both sides would find solutions not only to the Iranian nuclear issue but also to the Syrian crisis and Lebanese issue.
Referring to the talks with King Abdullah, US Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes told reporters that the issues at the heart of Obama’s meetings with King Abdullah include “Gulf security, Middle East peace, Syria, Iran and Egypt.” He said: “The United States and Saudi Arabia have been working together closely to coordinate their assistance to the (Syrian) rebels.”
Rhodes said that coordination has helped put the US relationship with Saudi Arabia “in a stronger place today than it was in the fall when we had some tactical differences about our Syria policy.”
Another US official said that the Obama administration was considering allowing shipments of new air defense systems to Syrian rebels.
Obama’s possible shift would likely be welcomed by Gulf states, which have been pressing the White House to allow the man-portable air-defense systems, known as “manpads,” into Syria.
Rhodes said Obama updated the king on the nuclear talks with Iran. He said Obama made the point that “the negotiations do not mean US concerns about other Iranian activities have lessened, including its support for Assad and Hezbollah, as well as its destabilizing activity in Yemen and the Gulf.”
On the Middle East peace process, the Obama administration sought to keep peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians from falling apart over Israel’s refusal to free about two dozen Palestinian prisoners, who were scheduled to be released Saturday.
King Abdullah hosted a banquet dinner in honor of Obama at his farm. Upon arrival at the venue, a warm welcome was accorded to the US president. He was received by Crown Prince Salman, Prince Saud and Deputy Crown Prince Muqrin, second deputy premier.
President Obama was received on arrival at King Khaled International Airport by Riyadh Gov. Prince Khaled bin Bandar; Prince Turki bin Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, deputy governor of Riyadh; and Ambassador Westphal.
Illegal visa traders face 2-year hiring ban:
The Labor Ministry has announced tough new measures to curb the illegal trade in visas, with a one- to two-year recruitment ban on companies involved in such activities.
If the number of expatriates transferred by a company to other employers exceeds 15 percent, it would only be allowed to recruit new workers after one year, a ministry official said.
“If the transfers are more than 30 percent of expatriate workers, the company has to wait for 15 months. And if it exceeds 40 percent, new recruitment visas would be sanctioned only after 24 months,” he said.
The official said the ministry introduced the new system “after observing that some individuals and companies were still trading in visas.”
He said some companies had clearly applied for visas that they did not need, with the intention of selling the services of these workers to other employers for “huge amounts of money.”
He said the ministry would not allow recruitment in 14 professions including salespersons for lingerie shops. “We have decided to ban recruitment to create more jobs for Saudi men and women,” he added.
Top court prods election panel for NRI postal ballot:
India’s apex court has asked the country’s poll panel to explore the possibility of allowing postal ballot for non-resident Indians (NRIs) in the next month’s staggered general elections.
“The Supreme Court has issued notices to the government and the election commission of India seeking to know why the diaspora voters can’t exercise their right by post since it’s too late to build an electronic voting platform,” lawyer Haris Beeran said on telephone from New Delhi.
Beeran, who represented the petitioner along with Harish Salve, quoted Justice Radhakrishnan, who headed the bench that heard the plea, wondering why it took so long for such an important issue of denying franchise to a large section of people to reach the court.
“Attorney General G.E. Vahanvati told the court that the government’s view was also in favor of bringing in a system that enabled the diaspora to participate in the elections and vote at their convenience,” he told Arab News.
The Attorney General and the ECI were directed to reply before April 7, on the first day of polling, so that the enrolled voters from Kerala, home to majority of NRI voters which goes to polls on April 10 in the third phase, can participate. Counting will take place only on May 16.
Of the 11,844 enrolments so far, 11,448 are from the southwestern state whose diaspora population is estimated to be more than two million in the Gulf alone. Since the number of voters is small, setting up polling stations at the diplomatic missions is also an option.
As per the official data, 10,037,761 Indians live abroad and they are entitled to register online and vote if they were present in their constituency at the time of polling. However, most of them preferred not to enroll, as they were not sure of voting due to restrictions.
“The Supreme Court has issued notices to the government and the election commission of India seeking to know why the diaspora voters can’t exercise their right by post since it’s too late to build an electronic voting platform,” lawyer Haris Beeran said on telephone from New Delhi.
Beeran, who represented the petitioner along with Harish Salve, quoted Justice Radhakrishnan, who headed the bench that heard the plea, wondering why it took so long for such an important issue of denying franchise to a large section of people to reach the court.
“Attorney General G.E. Vahanvati told the court that the government’s view was also in favor of bringing in a system that enabled the diaspora to participate in the elections and vote at their convenience,” he told Arab News.
The Attorney General and the ECI were directed to reply before April 7, on the first day of polling, so that the enrolled voters from Kerala, home to majority of NRI voters which goes to polls on April 10 in the third phase, can participate. Counting will take place only on May 16.
Of the 11,844 enrolments so far, 11,448 are from the southwestern state whose diaspora population is estimated to be more than two million in the Gulf alone. Since the number of voters is small, setting up polling stations at the diplomatic missions is also an option.
As per the official data, 10,037,761 Indians live abroad and they are entitled to register online and vote if they were present in their constituency at the time of polling. However, most of them preferred not to enroll, as they were not sure of voting due to restrictions.
Deputy Crown Prince Muqrin thanks king for his trust:
Newly appointed Deputy Crown Prince Muqrin, who is also second deputy premier, thanked Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and Crown Prince Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense, on Friday for their confidence in his abilities.
“I am thankful to you for vesting this great confidence in me and I pray to Allah to help me shoulder this trust,” the prince said. He sent a similar message to Prince Salman, expressing confidence that he would carry out his mission.
King Abdullah announced the appointment of Prince Muqrin as deputy crown prince on Thursday after receiving the approval of Crown Prince Salman and the Allegiance Council.
The Royal Court announced on Friday that Prince Muqrin would receive the oath of allegiance at the Governance Palace (Qasr Al-Hukm) in Riyadh on Sunday and Monday after Dhuhr prayers.
Congratulations poured in for Prince Muqrin from top officials including National Guard Minister Prince Miteb bin Abdullah. “I would like to congratulate you on behalf of the National Guard staff on the new appointment,” said Prince Miteb.
“We take this opportunity to renew our allegiance to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, Crown Prince Salman and to your royal highness and I wish you every success,” Prince Miteb said.
Jazan Gov. Prince Mohammed bin Nasser said the appointment would strengthen the Kingdom’s security and stability, and described Prince Muqrin as a veteran politician.
Asir Gov. Prince Faisal bin Khaled said the appointment reflected the Saudi leadership’s wisdom and farsightedness.
Prince Faisal bin Abdul Majeed commended King Abdullah for appointing Prince Muqrin as deputy crown prince, saying it was the right decision at the right time. “It’s a big blow to those trying to undermine the Kingdom’s unity.” He praised Prince Muqrin for his leadership and great contributions to the nation.
Foreign agencies ‘using drugs to destabilize KSA’
Certain hostile foreign agencies are possibly trying to destabilize the country by flooding it with drugs, an economist said here recently.
“I don’t rule out the possibility of a link between foreign intelligence agencies and drug use in the Kingdom, as a way to corrupt and sabotage society,” said Fadhil Al-Buainain.
Al-Buainain said the Interior Ministry recently revealed in a report that it had confiscated drugs worth SR2 billion.
It has also indicated that the value of drugs seized has increased steadily, which is a worrying development, he said.
“The intense efforts of the Ministry of Interior and even the government’s tough new sanctions for such crimes have not deterred the smugglers from continuing their activities.
“They act as if they are not seeking financial profits as much as wanting to target the security and stability of the country, with the aim of destroying our society,” Al-Buainain said.
He said an estimated SR10 billion in drug money is laundered every year. “How are they able to launder this amount of money considering the country’s strict regulatory systems and legislation?”
He said it appears that these smugglers have protection and assistance from foreign intelligence agencies with access to sophisticated financial systems.
Al-Buainain said the authorities should spend more time trying to deal with the financial aspects of this illicit business.
“Arresting smugglers does not guarantee that the country eliminates organized gangs. It only means that one or more attempts have been thwarted, which can be compensated for easily by the leaders of these gangs. But tracking money laundering operations and arresting those involved would see these gangs crushed locally and internationally.”
He said this would cut off the financial support for smugglers bringing drugs into the country.
He said it was “unacceptable” for the public to ask the Interior Ministry to shoulder complete responsibility for tackling the drug scourge that “threatens our social and national security.”
“Where are our other ministries? What roles do our education institutions, mosques, religious bodies, civil society organizations, families and society in general play?”
He said a united effort by public and private bodies could help eradicate this problem from society.
KSA throws full weight behind Syrian struggle
Saudi Arabia on Tuesday sought to draw the world’s attention on the worsening crisis in Syria, saying the three-year-old civil war had reached “catastrophic levels.”
It also asked the Arab League at its extraordinary meeting here to give Syria’s seat to the opposition Syrian National Coalition (SNC).
Speaking at the summit, Crown Prince Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense, criticized the international community for its inaction.
“The legitimate Syrian resistance has been betrayed by the international community and left as easy prey for the tyrant’s forces,” the crown prince said, referring to unfulfilled promises by several nations to arm fighters battling to topple the Bashar Assad regime.
“Syria has become a (battle) field open to killings and destruction carried out by an iniquitous regime with the participation of foreigners and armed terrorists from everywhere,” said the crown prince. He called on the Arab League to speed up the handover of Syria’s seat in the 22-member organization to the opposition, to ensure its recognition by world powers. “This must be sorted out ... to send a strong message to the international community so that it will change its attitude toward Syria.”
The seat, vacated after the Arab League suspended Syria’s membership over the conflict, was promised to the opposition at the last summit in Doha.
Arab League chief Nabil Elaraby said the opposition must meet certain legal requirements before taking over the seat.
As a result, the SNC chief, Ahmed Jarba, addressed the summit on Monday but was not allowed to speak from the chair reserved for Syria.
Prince Salman, who led the Saudi delegation at the summit, told Arab countries to unite and defeat the efforts aimed at undermining their security and stability. “This demands strong determination, better coordination and a firm stand,” he said.
He said the balance of power on the ground in Syria should be changed. “The crisis in Syria has reached catastrophic levels as half of the Syrian people either suffer from displacement or have fled their country as refugees,” he said at the summit, which was attended by 13 Arab heads of state.
Jarba urged Arab leaders on Tuesday to grant Syria’s vacant Arab League seat to the coalition and let it take over Syria’s embassies in Arab countries. “Leaving Syria’s seat empty sends a message to Assad...’Kill, kill the seat is waiting for you once the battle is settled,’” Jarba told the summit leaders.
“Reality dictates that the Syrian embassies in Arab capitals should be given to the coalition because the regime has lost its legitimacy and nobody remains to cater to Syrians’ needs, which is worsening their situation,” Jarba said.
He called for increased humanitarian aid to Syrians suffering inside and outside the country and especially to refugees in Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq.
Kuwait Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah called for joint Arab efforts to defeat terrorism.
“We all suffer from terrorism … we are required to double our efforts and join international efforts seeking to put an end to this dangerous phenomenon regardless of its type, goals or source.”
Prince Salman supported Sheikh Sabah and said terrorism poses a serious threat to the people of the region.
“We are required to be cautious and take necessary measures to root out terrorism, which has become a tool to spread chaos, division and sow seeds of sedition,” Prince Salman said.
On the Palestinian issue, the leaders stressed it remains the core issue in the Middle East, and that any agreement should lead to the creation of an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital. They condemned all Israeli attempts to turn Jerusalem into a Jewish city, and slammed Israeli incursions at Al-Aqsa Mosque.
The annual summit also heard an appeal from the UN peace mediator for Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi, for an end to the flow of arms to the combatants in the war, which has killed over 140,000 people and displaced millions.
“The whole region is in danger” of being dragged into the conflict, Brahimi said, calling for renewed efforts to find a political settlement to the crisis, now in its fourth year.
The Kuwaiti emir urged Arab states to overcome rifts he said were blocking joint Arab action. “The dangers around us are enormous and we cannot move towards joint Arab action without unity and casting aside our differences,” he said.
A Kuwaiti official said the dispute between Qatar and its neighbors was not on the summit’s agenda. Shortly before the gathering Sheikh Sabah, smiling broadly, stood between Crown Prince Salman and Qatar’s emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, holding hands with them in an apparent attempt to convey a mood of reconciliation.
King Abdullah smart city to offer pilgrims best services:
The new full-fledged pilgrim city to be established along the Jeddah-Makkah Expressway will be named after Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, said Haj Minister Bandar Hajjar.
“It will be a smart city equipped with the most advanced facilities and systems,” he told Makkah Gov. Prince Mishaal bin Abdullah while giving a presentation on the project.
Hajjar said the city would be designed to become an outstanding landmark in Makkah, adding that it would provide all services required by pilgrims coming for Haj and Umrah.
“All residential and administrative services will be made available for pilgrims in the city, which will be linked with the Grand Mosque and the center of Makkah with a public transport system,” he added.
“This city was planned to reduce congestion in areas around the Grand Mosque,” the minister said. The city will have government department offices, residential buildings, health facilities, Tawafa, Zamzam and transport offices, shopping centers, exhibitions centers, mosques and a Haj museum.
Hajjar also briefed the newly appointed governor on his ministry’s efforts to improve services to the guests of God.
Prince Mishaal urged the ministry’s officials to double their efforts in the service of pilgrims.
“It will be a smart city equipped with the most advanced facilities and systems,” he told Makkah Gov. Prince Mishaal bin Abdullah while giving a presentation on the project.
Hajjar said the city would be designed to become an outstanding landmark in Makkah, adding that it would provide all services required by pilgrims coming for Haj and Umrah.
“All residential and administrative services will be made available for pilgrims in the city, which will be linked with the Grand Mosque and the center of Makkah with a public transport system,” he added.
“This city was planned to reduce congestion in areas around the Grand Mosque,” the minister said. The city will have government department offices, residential buildings, health facilities, Tawafa, Zamzam and transport offices, shopping centers, exhibitions centers, mosques and a Haj museum.
Hajjar also briefed the newly appointed governor on his ministry’s efforts to improve services to the guests of God.
Prince Mishaal urged the ministry’s officials to double their efforts in the service of pilgrims.
Fire destroys heritage buildings:
A huge fire gutted an old five-story building in Jeddah's historic area on Tuesday, and damaged several others.
No one was injured and the Civil Defense put the blaze out.
Waleed Abu Shanab from the Civil Defense told Arab News that 15 teams battled the fire, supported by the Red Crescent, security and traffic officials, and several volunteers who evacuated residents living in the area.
"The fire started in an old building and spread to other neighboring buildings. The fire caused the main building to collapse and damaged several others."
Abu Shanab said the dilapidated building was inhabited by illegals.
The area has seen several historic buildings destroyed over the past few years. The area has unique architecture, only seen along the Mediterranean and in the Arabian Peninsula.
Similar structures in the cities of Suez and Al-Qasseer in Egypt and Sawakin in Sudan, have disappeared.
The area has lost 200 historic buildings since it was adopted area as a national heritage site in 1980.
Experts believe only 375 buildings now remain of about 1,000 that existed 25 years ago. Jeddah Municipality has implemented a special project to combat fires in the area.
The Unesco recently rejected the Kingdom’s request for its inclusion as a World Heritage Site, because the authorities have allegedly not taken action to preserve or create awareness about it.
Crown Prince says world betrayed Syrian opposition
Crown Prince Salman said the international community has let down the Syrian opposition, calling on the Arab League to grant Syria’s seat at the summit to the Syrian National Coalition.
“There is a legitimate resistance in Syria that was betrayed by the international community and left as a prey in the face of an oppression force,” the prince, who is also Deputy Premier and Minister of Defense, said at the opening session of the 25th ordinary Arab Summit in Kuwait.
The prince called for changing the balance of power on the ground in Syria, where he said terrorist groups from several areas has entered the country.
“The crisis in Syria has reached catastrophic levels as half of the Syrian people either suffer from displacement of fled their country as refugees,” Prince Salman said at the summit, which was attended by 13 heads of Arab states.
Prince Salman called for greater support to the Syrian National Coalition, which he stressed is the sole representative of the Syrian people.
“It is strange that we do not see today taking Syria’s seat at the summit and assuming its natural place. We hope this situation will be corrected,” said the Prince.
At last year’s summit in Doha, Arab leaders agreed to give Syria’s seat to the coalition. Iraq and Algeria have reservations about giving it to the Syria National Coalition, while Lebanon did not wish to take a stand. The rest of the Arab states want the coalition to take up the seat, with conditions.
Ahmad Jarba, president of the coalition, urged Arab leaders Tuesday to grant Syria's vacant Arab League seat to the coalition and let it take over Syria's embassies in the Arab countries.
"Leaving Syria's seat empty sends a message al-Assad...'Kill, kill the seat is waiting for you once the battle is settled'," Jarba said in a speech at the opening session of the summit.
“Reality dictates that the Syrian embassies in the Arab capitals should be given to the coalition after the regime lost its legitimacy and nobody remains to cater to Syrians’ interests in Arab capitals, making their situation worse,” Jarba said at the session.
Addressing the heads of the Arab states present at the summit,” Jarba called on Arabs states to put pressure on the international community to commit to its pledges to provide heavy weapons to the rebels.
In his speech, he called for increasing humanitarian aid to the Syrians suffering inside and outside Syria and especially to Syrian refugees in Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq.
“There is a legitimate resistance in Syria that was betrayed by the international community and left as a prey in the face of an oppression force,” the prince, who is also Deputy Premier and Minister of Defense, said at the opening session of the 25th ordinary Arab Summit in Kuwait.
The prince called for changing the balance of power on the ground in Syria, where he said terrorist groups from several areas has entered the country.
“The crisis in Syria has reached catastrophic levels as half of the Syrian people either suffer from displacement of fled their country as refugees,” Prince Salman said at the summit, which was attended by 13 heads of Arab states.
Prince Salman called for greater support to the Syrian National Coalition, which he stressed is the sole representative of the Syrian people.
“It is strange that we do not see today taking Syria’s seat at the summit and assuming its natural place. We hope this situation will be corrected,” said the Prince.
At last year’s summit in Doha, Arab leaders agreed to give Syria’s seat to the coalition. Iraq and Algeria have reservations about giving it to the Syria National Coalition, while Lebanon did not wish to take a stand. The rest of the Arab states want the coalition to take up the seat, with conditions.
Ahmad Jarba, president of the coalition, urged Arab leaders Tuesday to grant Syria's vacant Arab League seat to the coalition and let it take over Syria's embassies in the Arab countries.
"Leaving Syria's seat empty sends a message al-Assad...'Kill, kill the seat is waiting for you once the battle is settled'," Jarba said in a speech at the opening session of the summit.
“Reality dictates that the Syrian embassies in the Arab capitals should be given to the coalition after the regime lost its legitimacy and nobody remains to cater to Syrians’ interests in Arab capitals, making their situation worse,” Jarba said at the session.
Addressing the heads of the Arab states present at the summit,” Jarba called on Arabs states to put pressure on the international community to commit to its pledges to provide heavy weapons to the rebels.
In his speech, he called for increasing humanitarian aid to the Syrians suffering inside and outside Syria and especially to Syrian refugees in Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq.
Terrorism: Major threat to the region
“We all suffer from terrorism…we are required to double our efforts and join international efforts seeking to put an end to this dangerous phenomenon regardless of its types, goals or sources,” Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah said at the summit, the first to be held in Kuwait.
Prince Salman said terrorism, especially in the region, poses serious threat to the peoples of the region, their stsbaility and development.
“We are required to be cautious and take necessary measures to combat and uproot terrorism….terrorism has become a tool to spread chaos, division and sow seeds of sedition, which necessitates a joint, unified stand to face it,” Prince Salman said in his address.
“Saudi Arabia condemns all types of terrorism and will spare no effort to continue to fight it through issuing regulations and taking procedures that criminalize terrorism and those behind it,” said the Prince.
On the Palestinian issue, the leaders stressed its remains the core issue in the Middle East, noting that any solution should lead to the creation of an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.
They condemned all Israeli attempts to juadize Jerusalem and alter the identity of the city, slamming the Israeli violations against Al Aqsa Mosque.
Inmarsat huddle ‘traced’ MH370:“We all suffer from terrorism…we are required to double our efforts and join international efforts seeking to put an end to this dangerous phenomenon regardless of its types, goals or sources,” Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah said at the summit, the first to be held in Kuwait.
Prince Salman said terrorism, especially in the region, poses serious threat to the peoples of the region, their stsbaility and development.
“We are required to be cautious and take necessary measures to combat and uproot terrorism….terrorism has become a tool to spread chaos, division and sow seeds of sedition, which necessitates a joint, unified stand to face it,” Prince Salman said in his address.
“Saudi Arabia condemns all types of terrorism and will spare no effort to continue to fight it through issuing regulations and taking procedures that criminalize terrorism and those behind it,” said the Prince.
On the Palestinian issue, the leaders stressed its remains the core issue in the Middle East, noting that any solution should lead to the creation of an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.
They condemned all Israeli attempts to juadize Jerusalem and alter the identity of the city, slamming the Israeli violations against Al Aqsa Mosque.
TOULOUSE, France: Hours after Malaysian Air Flight 370 vanished on March 8, Inmarsat pulled together a team of engineers thousands of miles away at its London headquarters for a marathon data-crunching session to help find the missing jet.
Their mission: Piecing together the few signals picked up by an Inmarsat satellite to direct the search effort, which in the initial phase focused on the Boeing 777’s flight path from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. After a week of study, the data revealed two plausible, if surprising, trajectories — one heading north into central Asia and one south toward Antarctica.
The breakthrough, which helped dramatically narrow the search corridor, was based on research using the so-called Doppler effect named after 19th-century Austrian physicist Christian Doppler. After establishing a broad flight path, the team hunkered down to pinpoint a more accurate possible crash site.
Meanwhile, China demanded that Malaysia turn over the satellite data used to conclude that the jetliner had crashed. Officials sharply narrowed the search area as a result of that assessment, but the zone remains as large as Texas and Oklahoma combined.
Australia said improved weather would allow the hunt for the plane to resume Wednesday after gale-force winds and heavy rain forced a daylong delay. “We’re not searching for a needle in a haystack — we’re still trying to define where the haystack is,” Australia’s deputy defense chief, Mark Binskin, said.
Their mission: Piecing together the few signals picked up by an Inmarsat satellite to direct the search effort, which in the initial phase focused on the Boeing 777’s flight path from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. After a week of study, the data revealed two plausible, if surprising, trajectories — one heading north into central Asia and one south toward Antarctica.
The breakthrough, which helped dramatically narrow the search corridor, was based on research using the so-called Doppler effect named after 19th-century Austrian physicist Christian Doppler. After establishing a broad flight path, the team hunkered down to pinpoint a more accurate possible crash site.
Meanwhile, China demanded that Malaysia turn over the satellite data used to conclude that the jetliner had crashed. Officials sharply narrowed the search area as a result of that assessment, but the zone remains as large as Texas and Oklahoma combined.
Australia said improved weather would allow the hunt for the plane to resume Wednesday after gale-force winds and heavy rain forced a daylong delay. “We’re not searching for a needle in a haystack — we’re still trying to define where the haystack is,” Australia’s deputy defense chief, Mark Binskin, said.
RCCI seeks 3-year ban on expatriate violators:
The Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) wants the government to enforce an almost 40-year-old Cabinet decision to ban expatriate workers for three years if they violate their contracts.
Mansoor bin Abdullah Al-Shathry, a RCCI board member and head of its human resources committee, said on Sunday that the Cabinet issued decision No. 826 in 1395H (1975).
It bans expatriate workers from re-entering the Kingdom on a new work contract for three years, and fines them SR10,000, if they violate their contracts with previous Saudi employers, which includes leaving the country before the end of their contracts.
Al-Shathry told Arab News that RCCI members met with Usama bin Ahmad Al-Sunusi, deputy minister for consular affairs at the Foreign Affairs Ministry, to argue for the proposal. “We will convey the same demand to the Ministries of Interior and Labor until the decision is enforced.”
If the proposal is implemented it would stop expatriate workers from abusing Saudi employers. He said many foreign workers arrive in the Kingdom, work for some time, make excuses to go home, and never return.
“They then return to the Kingdom on a new contract with another employer for higher pay. This definitely harms Saudi employers and the local labor market. We want to stop this,” he said.
Al-Shathry said some consulates support these workers and threaten Saudi employers that they would not get any workers if they press for compensation.
He said that the RCCI members also informed Al-Sunusi about the “tricks” of foreign recruitment agencies, which includes sending workers not selected for jobs. These recruitment firms would also charge these workers excessive fees, resulting in them behaving in an “inappropriate manner” in the Kingdom.
Al-Shathry said that Al-Sunusi promised to consider the matter, and organize workshops with the private sector to help streamline the labor market in the country.
Mansoor bin Abdullah Al-Shathry, a RCCI board member and head of its human resources committee, said on Sunday that the Cabinet issued decision No. 826 in 1395H (1975).
It bans expatriate workers from re-entering the Kingdom on a new work contract for three years, and fines them SR10,000, if they violate their contracts with previous Saudi employers, which includes leaving the country before the end of their contracts.
Al-Shathry told Arab News that RCCI members met with Usama bin Ahmad Al-Sunusi, deputy minister for consular affairs at the Foreign Affairs Ministry, to argue for the proposal. “We will convey the same demand to the Ministries of Interior and Labor until the decision is enforced.”
If the proposal is implemented it would stop expatriate workers from abusing Saudi employers. He said many foreign workers arrive in the Kingdom, work for some time, make excuses to go home, and never return.
“They then return to the Kingdom on a new contract with another employer for higher pay. This definitely harms Saudi employers and the local labor market. We want to stop this,” he said.
Al-Shathry said some consulates support these workers and threaten Saudi employers that they would not get any workers if they press for compensation.
He said that the RCCI members also informed Al-Sunusi about the “tricks” of foreign recruitment agencies, which includes sending workers not selected for jobs. These recruitment firms would also charge these workers excessive fees, resulting in them behaving in an “inappropriate manner” in the Kingdom.
Al-Shathry said that Al-Sunusi promised to consider the matter, and organize workshops with the private sector to help streamline the labor market in the country.
Doctors under probe for medical error:
A number of medical staff working in government and private sector hospitals in Jeddah are under investigation for a medical error which resulted in the explosion of a mother’s womb sending her newborn baby into a coma, local media said quoting a Health Affairs spokesman in Jeddah.
Amin Al-Sheikh, the baby’s father filed a complaint to the police for negligence by the staff in the maternity ward at one of the private sector hospitals, and later, by the maternity and pediatrics government hospital in Musaddiya, where the case was referred to, which exposed the mother and the unborn child to risk, Abdulrahaman Al-Sahafi told Al-Watan daily.
In response, the Health Affairs department has formed a three-member committee consisting of maternity and pediatrics doctors to open an inquiry into the case. The medical staff responsible for the mishap have been called to give testimonials and banned from leaving the Kingdom.
“If the case is proved to be caused by negligence of the said medical staff, the file will be referred to the medical judicial council (MJC) for further procedures,” Al-Sahafi said.
The baby’s father told media that his wife who was in the ninth month of pregnancy was given false assurances during her routine checkups ignoring the severity of her case. At the time of the child’s birth, he had to rush his wife to the emergency unit of the maternity and pediatrics hospital in Musaadiyya where he was informed that she needed to undergo a caesarean delivery. “They kept her in the delivery room for two hours which aggravated the situation,” he said.
His wife was transported to the X-ray and operation rooms several times which caused complications, he said. She was given an anesthetic prior to being operated on and they even took her fingerprints which is a violation of the health ministry’s regulations, the father maintained. “The unnecessary delays and negligence on the part of the medical staff at the hospitals caused an explosion in my wife’s womb and my son to go into a coma,” he said.
Amin Al-Sheikh, the baby’s father filed a complaint to the police for negligence by the staff in the maternity ward at one of the private sector hospitals, and later, by the maternity and pediatrics government hospital in Musaddiya, where the case was referred to, which exposed the mother and the unborn child to risk, Abdulrahaman Al-Sahafi told Al-Watan daily.
In response, the Health Affairs department has formed a three-member committee consisting of maternity and pediatrics doctors to open an inquiry into the case. The medical staff responsible for the mishap have been called to give testimonials and banned from leaving the Kingdom.
“If the case is proved to be caused by negligence of the said medical staff, the file will be referred to the medical judicial council (MJC) for further procedures,” Al-Sahafi said.
The baby’s father told media that his wife who was in the ninth month of pregnancy was given false assurances during her routine checkups ignoring the severity of her case. At the time of the child’s birth, he had to rush his wife to the emergency unit of the maternity and pediatrics hospital in Musaadiyya where he was informed that she needed to undergo a caesarean delivery. “They kept her in the delivery room for two hours which aggravated the situation,” he said.
His wife was transported to the X-ray and operation rooms several times which caused complications, he said. She was given an anesthetic prior to being operated on and they even took her fingerprints which is a violation of the health ministry’s regulations, the father maintained. “The unnecessary delays and negligence on the part of the medical staff at the hospitals caused an explosion in my wife’s womb and my son to go into a coma,” he said.
‘No ambulance service for woman living by herself’:
A Saudi woman was allegedly refused an ambulance service because she did not have a male guardian present with her in the house.
Salma Al-Shuhab had woken up in the middle of the night with severe headache and called the Saudi Red Crescent, only to have her request rejected when the call center learned that she lived alone.
“I couldn’t just go out onto the street looking for a taxi at 4 a.m., so I called the ambulance because I couldn’t bear the pain until dawn,” she said. “The employee asked me routine questions, including my age, my address and other details. It was only when he learned that I live alone that he said he could not send me an ambulance. He then left the phone for a few minutes and came back to tell me the same thing.”
“I asked him if I should be left to die,” she said. “I had to look through my phonebook for 15 minutes until I found the number of a driver. Is this humane?”
Ahmed Al-Enzi, official spokesman for the Saudi Red Crescent in Riyadh, said ambulance services are in sync with international standards.
“The organization extends medical help regardless of race or gender around the clock,” he said. “We will launch an extensive investigation into this complaint. We will also check the call log that day.”
Salma Al-Shuhab had woken up in the middle of the night with severe headache and called the Saudi Red Crescent, only to have her request rejected when the call center learned that she lived alone.
“I couldn’t just go out onto the street looking for a taxi at 4 a.m., so I called the ambulance because I couldn’t bear the pain until dawn,” she said. “The employee asked me routine questions, including my age, my address and other details. It was only when he learned that I live alone that he said he could not send me an ambulance. He then left the phone for a few minutes and came back to tell me the same thing.”
“I asked him if I should be left to die,” she said. “I had to look through my phonebook for 15 minutes until I found the number of a driver. Is this humane?”
Ahmed Al-Enzi, official spokesman for the Saudi Red Crescent in Riyadh, said ambulance services are in sync with international standards.
“The organization extends medical help regardless of race or gender around the clock,” he said. “We will launch an extensive investigation into this complaint. We will also check the call log that day.”
Private firms demand male consent for female employees
Private sector companies and schools are stipulating that female employees obtain the consent of their male guardians when seeking work, sources at the Labor Ministry have said.
This condition has been added to female employment contracts after many establishments encountered problems with working women and their families.
Some had come under pressure from their male relatives to relinquish half of their salary, while others faced objections because the amount they earned was disproportionate to the hours they put in.
In these contracts, guardians are obliged to place their signature alongside that of the applicant.
“This precondition had been abolished by the Ministry of Labor,” Saud Al-Snaitan, head of a field inspection team and a supervisor for women working in the private sector. “The Ministry of Labor does not oblige women to seek male consent, especially if they have surpassed the legal age. The role of the ministry is limited to the contracts that exist between companies and employees.”
“New regulations for working women, however, will be issued soon, in addition to developing existing laws,” he said.
Sources have also said that transport is a major obstacle for women who work. Most companies stipulate that women secure their own journey to and from work prior to signing the contract, paying them a monthly transport allowance instead.
Modi takes on Congress, says UPA's new slogan is 'Mar Jawan, Mar Kissan'
Hiranagar (Jammu), March 26:
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi on Wednesday scathingly attacked the Congress'weak approach to protecting the interests of both the country's security forces and farmer.
He said the ruling UPA's new slogan is 'Mar Jawanm, Mar Kissan (Die Soldier, Die Farmer)."
"Lal Bahadur Shashtri used to say 'Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan'. Today's Congress and UPA seems to have adapted that slogan to 'Mar Jawan, Mar Kisan,' the Gujarat Chief Minister said while addressing the first of his three Bharat Vijay rallies for the day here.
He said the Congress is misleading the people by wearing a veil of secularism to hide their failures.
"When I say the youth needs employment, they say secularism will be in danger; I talk of farmers problems, and they again say secularism first. These are people who have no answers for the 125 crore people of India and they're trying to mislead the masses by empty slogans of secularism," he said.
"In my kind of politics, you have to work 18 hours (a day) trying to alleviate the suffering of the poor and downtrodden and implement new ideas of development everyday. The Congress can't walk this path," he added.
Prior to the rally today, Modi reached the Vaishno Devi shrine in the Trikuta hills in Katra and sought the blessings of the Goddess.
Earlier, he reached Udhampur Airport and then took a chopper to the Sanji Chat helipad and proceeded to the cave shrine riding on a white horse. (ANI)
BJP forced to rearrange around new power centre: 
New Delhi, March 26:
The country is once again at the crossroads. All eyes are on the BJP's bid to regain power at the centre. Its controversial and autocratic prime ministerial nominee Narendra Modi is in the eye of a storm, unfazed by senior leaders like Jaswant Singh defying the party leadership's desire of quietly fading away.
Jaswant Singh apart, the serious differences within the party have led to dirty linen being washed in public. It is not just confined to patriarch L.K.Advani or Sushma Swaraj but several others in the states. They have questioned Modi's choice as head of government.
A generational shift in the BJP has been long overdue. Politicians in this country don't hang up their boots but want to soldier on eternally. Retiring from public life leads to insecurities. Politicians must realise when to call it a day rather than being unceremoniously shown the door.
The powerful ideologue of the BJP, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, and its chief Mohan Bhagat, has emphasised that there will be rumblings in any political party when major changes are effected. Thus, RSS does not find it necessary to intervene.
The RSS believes the country has suffered immeasurably over the last 10 years of the Congress-led UPA government. A powerful leader capable of taking hard decisions is needed at this critical juncture to put the country's battered economy back on the rails and end the unending trials and tribulations of the poor.
Nobody in the BJP, including its seniormost leader L.K. Advani, can overrule the RSS line of thinking. It has held firm and seen the outcome of former prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's liberalism in keeping out the controversial issue of Hidutva from the common minimum programme.
These pertained to building the Ram temple at the disputed Ram Janambhoomi-Babri Masjid site, abrogation of Article 370 according special powers to Jammu and Kashmir and a Uniform Civil Code. There is not going to be any appeasement of the minority community.
This is not going to be in the forefront of Modi's development agenda. Taking the country out of the morass it finds itself in takes precedence over everything else. No doubt attempts will be made to unobtrusively sneak in these issues without raising a hue and cry from its alliance partners in case the BJP forms the government at the centre.
If the Lotus party is able to form the government on its own, the secular allies supporting the BJP can be kept at bay.
Most major formations in the political firmament claiming to be secular have reservations about Modi being prime minister. What rankles them is the possible repeat of the 2002 Gujarat riots in the form of a new pogrom probably elsewhere in the country.
The politics of fear has entrapped the minority community in Gujarat and other parts of the country. This cannot be wished away.
Here, what is significant is that there are 400,000 minority community voters in Varanasi. They have affirmed that the question of voting for Modi does not arise. Their choice lies with the Congress, the Samajwadi Party or the Bahujan Samaj Party.
There may not have been any riots over the last dozen years in Gujarat. At the same time, Modi has not made a conscious effort to win over the minority community. What cannot be overlooked is that a Supreme Court- mandated Special Investigation team has absolved him of any involvement or conspiracy connected with the riots. After a decade of scrutiny there is nothing against Modi. It is another matter that some other cases in this regard are still pending in courts.
The critical aspect is that the BJP has got a new power centre. It is being compelled to rearrange itself around it. There is no doubt the Lotus has a distinct advantage, thanks to the Congress being enmeshed in its own follies and scams.
There has also been an absence of any power struggle since last September when Modi was nominated prime ministerial candidate. The reason is not far to fathom: He is the only choice of the RSS for the high office.
Modi has emerged as the only leader to rally around in the BJP, sending the other aspirants for the prime minister's post scurrying for cover.
The question is whether politics in this country is about to change. If so, it will be widely welcomed, subject to the leader being liberal without communal tendencies and working in the interests of the people at large and the country.
----------IANS
Saudi scholar says sex abusers should undergo chemical castration to avoid rapes |
Manama, March 26:
A Saudi religious scholar has said sexual predators should undergo chemical castration to combat sexual harassment or sex crimes.
Saud Bin Abdullah Al Fanisan, a former dean of the Sharia College at the Riyadh-based Imam University, said, Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) had banned castration, but if there is a chemical solution to make offenders lose interest in sex, then castration should be allowed.
According to Gulf News, chemical castration is performed through injection or tablets to remove sexual interest and make it impossible for a person to perform sexual acts.
Abdullah Al Fanisan added that even though anti -sexual harassment laws existed throughout the world, they did not succeed in finding a lasting solution for the issue.
The scholar added that he opted offenders to undergo chemical castration because it seems that it has a potent effect on offenders. (ANI)
RSS sees 'nothing bad' in personality cult:
RSS sees 'nothing bad' in personality cult:
New Delhi, March 26:
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the ideological fountainhead of the BJP, has said it is not worried about Narendra Modi's rising stature and it sees "nothing bad in promoting somebody who could get you votes".
"The RSS never said personalities cannot or should not dominate the political scene," RSS national spokesperson Ram Madhav told IANS Tuesday when asked if decision-making powers in the BJP were being concentrated in Modi, the prime ministerial candidate.
The Bharatiya Janata Party has been recently accused of sidelining its party veterans. Murli Manohar Joshi, former BJP president and sitting MP from Varanasi, was made to vacate his seat for Narendra Modi, whereas Jaswant Singh was not allowed to contest from Barmer. The BJP instead pitted Colonel Sona Ram Chaudhary from the Barmer constituency. The Jat leader crossed over from the Congress.
The decision was made public through a press statement and party insiders say it was influenced by Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, a Narendra Modi supporter who has had uneasy political equations with Jaswant Singh for a long time.
Jaswant Singh later filed nomination as an Independent candidate from Barmer after accusing the BJP of having become a fake party centred around a few individuals.
Madhav, however, distanced itself from the issue, saying that the RSS never interfered in the political decisions of the BJP.
When pointed out that the RSS is ideologically against personality cult in politics and has, in fact, been critical of the Congress on this score, Madhav said there was "nothing bad in personality cult in politics" so long as core ideologies are not compromised.
Madhav denied that the increasing clout of Modi was a cause for concern for the RSS. "We have always kept away from the internal affairs of the BJP, nor have we opposed dominance of the party by any individual."
He added, "There is nothing bad in promoting somebody who could get you votes; we have only said that principles guiding the party should not be diluted."
Manindra Thakur, professor of political science at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and noted poll analyst, said that the BJP may not be sidelining the veterans without the knowledge or approval of the RSS.
"There is not much possibility of a scuffle between RSS and Modi. For the time being, the RSS has allowed Modi to take over decision-making as they believe he can win election for the BJP. But even if he did, the RSS must be having something in mind to stop him later. We will have to wait to see what that plan is."
However, other experts are of the opinion that the rising stature of Modi may soon become a thorny issue for the RSS too. Already, the old guard of the BJP is increasingly being sidelined and alienated, and have been vocally resentful of Modi's dominance of the party.
"There is a Modi wave going on in the sense that he is acknowledged to be the strongest candidate. But the RSS will eventually not like such a personality cult in the politics of the BJP," said Kamal Chenoy of the Aam Aadmi Party.
"Even if Modi won and became the prime minister, the RSS will try to stop him from becoming a larger than life figure. They may just prefer somebody from the old guard such as Advani again, if Modi fails in the election," said Chenoy, professor in JNU's School of International Studies.
The Congress, on the other hand, has been trying to hit the BJP on the ground that it has chosen a prime ministerial candidate who cannot think beyond 'I, me, myself'.
The Congress, which has been strongly favouring the marginalised sections and talking of empowering women and the poor, is likely to benefit if it manages to convince the electorate that the BJP is concentrating power in industry and tycoon friendly Modi.
Asked about this, BJP spokespersons Meenakshi Lekhi and Prakash Javadekar said they had been busy handling the party's campaign and refused to comment.
--------IANS
Muslims should get reservations proportionate to their population in Telangana: Ram Chandramurti:
Hyderabad, March 26:
Muslim population will be 15 pc in Telangana state hence it would be the responsibility of national and regional parties of Telangana to provide reservations to Muslims proportionate to their population in the proposed general elections so that the injustice meted out to Muslims for 60 years could be alleviated. Social activist and Director HMTV Mr. Ram Chandramurti told this during an interview.
He asserted that before united Andhra economic status of Muslims was strong. Muslims were given opportunities in public sector, education and business proportionate to their population but after Hyderabad merger into Indian Union, things were made difficult for Muslims. Majority of the Muslims in Telangana are economically backward. Muslims work on daily wage earning basis to make both ends meet. To change the condition of Muslims serious attitude of the party in power in Telangana is inevitable. Muslim representation in the houses proportionate to their population would help in changing the condition of Muslims.
Mr. Murti declared separate sub plan for Muslims essential, on par with SC ad ST, through which separate budget could be sanctioned to ensure development of Muslims. The new government must form a committee to ensure effective disbursement of the issued budget for welfare of Muslims. The committee should comprise of Muslim intellectuals, religious scholars and chiefs of social bodies. He suggested that the ruling party should also give priority to protection of Qutub Shahi and Asif Jahi edifices through a special budget so that the joint culture of Hyderabad is restored.
Siasat news
SSC exams to begin tomorrow, centre incharges directed not to force girls to remove burqa:
Hyderabad, March 25:
Deputy Educational Officer Bahadurpura Zone I Nehru Babu told that SSC exams will commence from March 27 and will continue till April 22. Timings will be from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm. Nehru Babu has directed centre in charges not to force burqa-clad girl students to remove burqa during exams.
He advised all candidates to know about their examination centre a day before the beginning of the exams and arrive at the exam centre half an hour before the commencement of the exam. He directed all the exam centres to ensure proper power supply, drinking water, toilet facility, proper and suitable furniture and other basic facilities.
Siasat news
PG medical entrance test scam – 100 crore earned:
PG medical entrance test scam – 100 crore earned:
Hyderabad , March 25:
Preliminary investigations in respect of PG entrance test held by NTR Health University recently has revealed that Rs. 100 crore have been earned by selling question papers transferring it on to pen drive from a reputed printing press in Bangalore.
Earlier the governor had issued an order to investigate and submit a report to him. Prof. Venugopal Reddy conducted the enquiry and while submitting its report showing inability to collect evidence. The governor expressed his dissatisfaction on this report and ordered the CBCID to investigate a fresh. CBCID assessed that in this scam, Rs. 100 crore have changed hands.
The printing press in Bangalore connived with sum officials of the university and leaked the papers. CID officials identified 26 suspected persons and took some of them into the custody. The statements of the students who failed and also who were successful in entrance test were recorded it came to be known that the question paper was supplied to nearly 200 students after taking huge amounts from them. It is assessed that Rs. 50-60 lakh were collected from each student for supplying the question paper.
--Siasat News
Whips’ removal effective from Feb. 13:
Hyderabad, March 25:
In the wake of President’s Rule imposed in Andhra Pradesh, the State Government today issued orders removing Government Whips appointed for Assembly and Council. With this, the offices of whips shall cease to exist from February 13, 2014.
Consequently, Assembly Chief Whip G Venkataramana Reddy, whips A Mohan, D Srinivas, Council whips R Padma Raju, M Ranga Reddy, Reddapa Reddy are removed from office. While another whip Anil’s name was not mentioned in the orders. (NSS)
The Council of Ministers, chaired by Crown Prince Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense, on Monday decided to establish a company with capital of SR2 billion to develop the country's downstream industries.
This includes the manufacture of petrochemicals, plastics, fertilizers and other products derived from crude oil.
The new joint stock company will be named the Saudi Arabian Company for Industrial Investment. The Public Investment Fund, Saudi Aramco and the Saudi Basic Industries Corporation will hold shares in the company.
Spelling out the firm’s objectives, Culture and Information Minister Abdul Aziz Khoja said it would carry out downstream activities, and invest in strategic economic sectors.
The establishment of manufacturing plants would include industries based on iron, steel and aluminum, Khoja said.
The Cabinet also passed a law regulating the activities of medical cities and specialized hospitals under the Health Ministry. This includes the formation of boards of directors to run these facilities more effectively with local and international staff.
The Cabinet praised Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah for his statement at the Second Conference of Ministers of Youth and Sports in Islamic countries last week in Jeddah, which supports academic and sports development for young people.
The Cabinet also discussed a report of the Independent International Fact-Finding Committee on Syria, which has expressed deep concern at the continued suffering of Syrian refugees, especially women and children. The Cabinet said perpetrators of war crimes in Syria should be brought to justice.
On the recent Arab-Hungarian Economic Forum inaugurated by Prince Muqrin, second deputy premier, the Cabinet highlighted existing economic opportunities and government’s incentives for investors.
The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Finance Ibrahim Al-Assaf to sign a draft agreement with Venezuela and Kosovo on the avoidance of double taxation and prevention of tax evasion.
It endorsed the Electricity and Cogeneration Regulatory Commission’s clearance agreement with the Saudi Electricity Company on May 22, 2011.
The Cabinet appointed Saeed bin Eid Al-Eid cultural attaché at the Ministry of Higher Education; Abdullah bin Faleh Al-Arjani minister plenipotentiary; Hassan bin Yusuf Al-Rashed minister plenipotentiary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and Mohammed bin Othman Al-Thabit director general of the Civil Affairs branch of the Interior Ministry in Makkah.
It further appointed Mohammed bin Mustafa Numan assistant undersecretary at the Madinah Governorate; Sami bin Mohammed Al-Hamoud undersecretary for planning and development at the Ministry of Labor; and Abdullah bin Ahmed Al-Abdulkarim Civil Service adviser at the Ministry of Civil Service.
Over 1.5m single women, and counting:
There are more than 1.5 million single women over the age of 30, according to Ministry of Economy and Planning statistics published in 2011. This figure is expected to rise to 4 million by 2015.
The increasing number of educated women, especially Saudi women with steady jobs, is now considered the norm, but has caused a shocking rise in the number of girls who remain unmarried across the Kingdom.
According to cultural norms across much of the Eastern world, a single woman who has surpassed the age of 25 is considered to have missed the marriage train. In fact, many Eastern cultures view the 18 to 24 age bracket as the optimum for marriage.
Several Saudi girls told Arab News that men don’t go for overly independent and self-confident women. Others complained about tribal traditions.
Thirty-five-year-old Hamida, for instance, is still single.
“I wanted to marry a colleague, but my father and brothers refused the marriage proposal since he did not belong to my tribe,” said Hamida. “My brothers still do not talk to me for what they term ‘disobedience.’”
“Our culture, to some extent, is paradoxical,” said Sadia Wafee, a social activist. “Girls often have to marry within the same tribe. If they do marry outside the clan, the suitor has to be Saudi. Whatever the end result, tribal traditions give men absolute control over their daughters. This makes marriage very difficult.”
“Moreover, the absence of social gatherings and the lack of intermingling between families is adding to this celibacy phenomenon,” she said. “Yet such get-togethers are crucial, as they pave the way for singletons to talk and potentially click.”
Reem Al-Qahrni, a 23-year-old Saudi, feels the same way.
“Although culture is changing, our traditions remain the same,” she said. “A girl only becomes attractive when she is held captive in her house, waiting for a groom.”
This age limit issue is the same with expat women in conservative communities living in the Kingdom who have adopted Saudi culture.
Arab News spoke to several families from different communities.
Hiba Abdulrub, an Indian expat, said many families that have been living in the Kingdom for more than 20 or 30 years have embraced the common culture and prefer to marry their daughters off to someone who has lived in the country for just as long.
“Several men from our community consider working women to be too forward and not feminine enough,” she said.
For men, the dilemma is different, yet equally as difficult. “In the past, you couldn’t even set eyes on a woman until you were married,” said one male community member. “Now, it is the complete opposite. You see so much flesh that you are put off getting married altogether. In addition, the dowry issue and the increasing costs associated with marriage are putting young men off, adding to this crisis.”
US upset as 529 Mursi backers handed death:
WASHINGTON: The US is “deeply concerned” about the death sentences handed out against 529 supporters of Egypt’s deposed President Muhammad Mursi, a US official said on Monday.
An Egyptian court handed down the sentences earlier, amid a sweeping crackdown on supporters of the former president, who was overthrown by the army last July.
“While appeals are possible, it simply does not seem possible that a fair review of evidence and testimony consistent with international standards could be accomplished with over 529 defendants after a two-day trial,” a State Department official said.
“We continue to call on the Egyptian government to ensure that all those detained in Egypt are afforded fair proceedings that respect civil liberties and due process and are consistent with international standards. The law must be applied equitably and free of political bias,” the State Department official said.
“We have said many times that even the appearance of politically-motivated arrests, detentions, and convictions will set Egypt’s transition back,” the official added.
The official, citing reports of violence in response to the sentences, warned that such a reaction would not help either.
But Egypt's army-installed interim government defended the court's handling of the case, insisting that the sentences had been handed down only “after careful study” and were subject to appeal.
The defendants who were sentenced to death are part of a larger group of more than 1,200 alleged radicals accused of killing two policemen and rioting on Aug. 14, after police killed hundreds of protesters while dispersing two Cairo protest camps.
Of the 529, only 153 are in custody. The rest were tried in their absence and have the right to a retrial if they turn themselves in.
Jakarta seeks clemency for maid on death row:JAKARTA: Jakarta called Monday for a Saudi family to accept a substantial payment and halt the impending execution of an Indonesian maid on death row in the Kingdom for murder.
Officials in Jakarta expect Satinah Binti Jumadi Ahmad, sentenced to death in 2011 for murdering her employer’s wife and stealing money, to be executed in early April unless the victim’s family accepts the money offered and forgives her.
Indonesian Deputy Foreign Minister Wardana told reporters that contributions from the government and maid protection groups had not raised the required SR7 million, but only four million.
“It is now in the hands of the victim’s family,” said Wardana, who like many Indonesians goes by one name, appealing for them to accept the lower payment.
The Indonesian government had already succeeded in getting the execution delayed five times in the two and a half years since her conviction, officials said.
KSA women seek parity with men:
A leading woman member of the Shoura Council has urged the government to provide women parity with men in terms of citizenship rights for their children, retirement benefits and home loans.
Thoraya Obaid, the first Saudi Arabian to head a UN agency and former executive director of the UN Population Fund, said that the children of Saudi women married to foreigners are denied the same rights as the offspring of their male counterparts.
Speaking at a Women's Month function to honor her organized by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Jeddah, Obaid said she had a frustrating time trying to get Saudi citizenship for her daughters from her marriage to a Lebanese man.
Princess Adela bint Abdullah, who spoke at the same function, also called for greater empowerment of women around the globe.
Obaid demanded that children of Saudi women should be allowed to become citizens, with the rights and benefits of other Saudi children.
She said women Shoura members participated in discussions on all issues, including finance, tourism, health and education, and can submit private proposals. Clause 29 of the council's regulations allow women members the right to suggest new regulations without any discussions.
They want to amend retirement regulations that are “biased against women.” The current regulations state that a woman worker is not entitled to full benefits if her husband receives a pension. This was another example of unjust and unequal treatment of women, she said.
The members also proposed drafting a code spelling out the rights of divorced and separated women, and amending regulations governing the sons of Saudi women. She said most government departments have ignored a ministerial order to treat the sons of Saudi women and expatriate men as citizens.
Obaid called on community organizations to work hard to bring about more change in society particularly around women’s empowerment.
“Just as we demand better medical services in regions far from major cities, we demand equal rights with men in getting real estate loans,” she said.
Princess Adela said that women represent half of the world’s population and need the support of organizations, ministries, and civil society institutions.
She said there was a misconception held by many communities, especially Muslim ones, about women’s rights. She said Islam provides equal rights for women, with prescriptions against discriminatory practices that would reduce their social and economic participation.
She said many Muslim communities were failing to apply principles of gender equality. Greater effort was needed to reinvest the wasted capacity of women, she said, quoting a statement from the Holy Prophet, peace be upon him: “Women are the twin halves of men.”
Princess Adela said reforms could only take place with the active participation of women.
She said Islamic organizations must work to ensure women can take their rightful place in society, with full legal rights. They should also conduct campaigns to prevent violence and abuse of women.
She said women are affected by economic, social and security concerns, as much as men.
50% of small contracting firms go out of business:
More than 50 percent of small and medium-sized contracting firms have exited the local market following the end of the legalization period, which ended last November, local media reported.
The grace period was the most grueling for contracting companies, which also suffered a shortage in qualified labor at the time.
In fact, wages have skyrocketed to as much as SR200 per day, several contractors said.
Contractors have requested the Ministry of Labor to grant them certain exemptions through issuing temporary visas to hire laborers in order to complete projects on time.
“The shortage in manpower and ever-increasing wages will remain the biggest challenges facing the contracting sector,” Fahad Al-Hamadi, head of the National Contractors Committee at the Council of Saudi Chambers (CSC,) told a local daily. “These factors combined have led to the faltering of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and their exit from the local market after incurring huge losses over the last four months. Some 60 percent of subcontracting companies implementing mega-projects are SMEs and are no longer capable of finalizing such massive-scale projects for these reasons.”
“The Ministry of Labor has allowed 11 companies to hire laborers to implement projects,” said Abdullah Rudwan, head of the Contracting Committee at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI). “However, these firms could not continue operating on the ground. The Ministry of Labor was supposed to ensure a safety net for such firms before launching legalization campaigns to ensure their survival.”
“The contracting sector has faced a major crisis since the Nov. 3 deadline and the campaign against illegal workers,” said Raid Al-Aqaili, a member of the Contracting Committee at the JCCI. “In addition, the Nitaqat nationalization program is difficult to implement on small-scale projects without falling into the yellow and red zones of the system, as these companies are obliged to recruit qualified manpower from abroad.”
“The new regulations did not consider the disparity in income between big and small companies, which forced more than 50 percent of smaller firms out of the market,” he said.
Abdullah Abu Thanyyan, ministry undersecretary for inspection and development, said that the building and construction sector accounted for the highest number of change-of-profession applications — over 1 million requests out of the 2.4 million — in addition to 1.2 million sponsorship transfers out of a total of 2.5 million requests and 1.9 million new work permits out of 3.8 million issued country-wide.
The grace period was the most grueling for contracting companies, which also suffered a shortage in qualified labor at the time.
In fact, wages have skyrocketed to as much as SR200 per day, several contractors said.
Contractors have requested the Ministry of Labor to grant them certain exemptions through issuing temporary visas to hire laborers in order to complete projects on time.
“The shortage in manpower and ever-increasing wages will remain the biggest challenges facing the contracting sector,” Fahad Al-Hamadi, head of the National Contractors Committee at the Council of Saudi Chambers (CSC,) told a local daily. “These factors combined have led to the faltering of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and their exit from the local market after incurring huge losses over the last four months. Some 60 percent of subcontracting companies implementing mega-projects are SMEs and are no longer capable of finalizing such massive-scale projects for these reasons.”
“The Ministry of Labor has allowed 11 companies to hire laborers to implement projects,” said Abdullah Rudwan, head of the Contracting Committee at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI). “However, these firms could not continue operating on the ground. The Ministry of Labor was supposed to ensure a safety net for such firms before launching legalization campaigns to ensure their survival.”
“The contracting sector has faced a major crisis since the Nov. 3 deadline and the campaign against illegal workers,” said Raid Al-Aqaili, a member of the Contracting Committee at the JCCI. “In addition, the Nitaqat nationalization program is difficult to implement on small-scale projects without falling into the yellow and red zones of the system, as these companies are obliged to recruit qualified manpower from abroad.”
“The new regulations did not consider the disparity in income between big and small companies, which forced more than 50 percent of smaller firms out of the market,” he said.
Abdullah Abu Thanyyan, ministry undersecretary for inspection and development, said that the building and construction sector accounted for the highest number of change-of-profession applications — over 1 million requests out of the 2.4 million — in addition to 1.2 million sponsorship transfers out of a total of 2.5 million requests and 1.9 million new work permits out of 3.8 million issued country-wide.
Ad hoc labor recruitment halted:
The Ministry of Labor has stopped the temporary recruitment of labor which was practiced by 328 recruitment offices in Saudi Arabia.
The ministry has directed the recruitment offices to either transfer the sponsorships of their expatriate labor working on a rental system or have them deported permanently before June 2015.
A source said that the ministry aims, through this decision to meet the needs of citizens who wish to hire domestic workers. It also aims to create more supply offers in this sector and provide licensed companies, which number 16, with foreign workers countrywide.
The source said that the ministry has granted the recruitment offices a grace period until May 30 to get rid of expatriate workers who work on a rental system or run the risk of having their licenses suspended.
An official in the Ministry of Labor earlier said that 13 private licensed recruitment companies are offering specialized services for renting maids in the four Saudi provinces of Riyadh, Makkah, Asir and the Eastern Province, on their Musanid (support) website for domestic help employment, which was launched Saturday.
The educational website enlightens workers and employers about their rights and duties, in accordance with the articles of the domestic workers' list. It also lists providers of domestic recruitment services.
He said the evaluation of the services offered for select offices and companies will be made available in the coming months. “Those who wish to benefit from the services of rented domestic labor can do so through Musanid,” he added.
Observers say recruitment offices have been practicing rental activities for more than 37 years, but this decision has brought it to a halt. The Ministry of Labor is currently working on the issuance of licenses to establish large recruitment companies to replace private recruitment offices according to the resolution of the Council of Ministers that was issued on June 1, 2011.
Meanwhile, the process of hiring labor according to the new regulations has been handed over to national recruitment companies that exist in some areas, in a step to organize the sector and meet the growing demand for expatriate labor, especially domestic labor.
11 expats, govt official face bribery charges:
Eleven expatriates here face charges of bribing a government official to facilitate paperwork for their company, a local newspaper reported Monday.
The foreigners, of various nationalities, would appear in the Administrative Court in Jeddah in the next few days following the charges brought by the Control and Investigation Commission in Makkah, a source was quoted as saying.
The court will also prosecute the government official on charges of accepting the bribes.
The commission accused one resident of transferring money to the account of the government official, and making monthly payments in return for favors during working hours.
The state charged the suspects after a thorough investigation by various crime-fighting agencies. The court will also take up several other cases involving bribery over the next few days, the source said.
The suspects face charges under articles of the Kingdom's anti-corruption and bribery legislation, including sections of the Royal Decree No. 43 on forgery.
Jeddah courts have been considering several cases of corruption involving government officials over the past few years, including around the 2009 floods.
The appeal court in Makkah is currently dealing with a bribery case involving a Saudi woman and a government official.
The Administrative Court in Jeddah recently imprisoned and fined people for forgery, abuse of power, undermining the law, misuse of public funds, destroying lives, damaging public property and wasting more than SR100 million of the Kingdom's money.
Election strategy : Maulana Abdul Qavi handed over to Gujarat Police custody
Hyderabad , March 24:
Again Modi govt is working up the old strategy of arresting Muslims before election and showing that Modi's life is in danger because of Muslims terroristand gaining sympathy of Hindu voters .
Maulana Abdul Qavi, Director of Ashwaf-ul-uloom, Hyderabad who was arrested at Delhi Airport two days back was taken to Ahmedabad on transit warrant was given police custody yesterday. He is an accused number 39 in DCB VI case. He was shown as the most wanted accused for the past 10 years.
A non-bailable issued against him was pending for the past 10 years. Gujarat police stated that a meeting was held in which terrorists Rasool Khan’s party, Mufti Sufiyan and others participated in which a decision was taken to take revenge for the killings of the Muslims in Gujarat. The police alleged that Maulana Abdul Qavi attended that meeting and he knew about this conspiracy.
Mr. M.D. Chowdri of the Gujarat Crime Branch Police arrested him and presented before Ms. Ms. Geetha Gopi, Special Judge for POTA cases.
The advocates of Maulana Qavi Mr. B.M. Gupta and Dheerubhai, while talking to newsmen told that the arrest of Maulana Abdul Qavi is an election strategy since he was arrested in a case registered in 2004. His arrest was made on the basis of a confession statement given by a witness Mohammed Rizwan.
Except this, the police does not have any concrete evidence against Maulana Abdul Qavi. In DCB VI case, 56 accused persons have been arrested and 41 have been shown as absconding.
--Siasat News
What Jaswant Singh said:
Barmer, March 24:
Former union minister Jaswant Singh Monday filed his nomination papers as an Independent candidate from the Barmer Lok Sabha constituency following denial of ticket to him by the BJP. The following are some of his remarks:
* "Ye NaMo, NaMo ka jo tamasha hai (the circus around NaMo chants), it reminds me of 1975 (Emergency rule). It reeks of arrogance."
* "There is no effort to take everyone along. This is a dangerous route, better if they tread with caution."
* "I say with regret that these two people (Vasundhra Raje and Rajnath Singh) have sort of betrayed me. The betrayal is not with Jaswant Singh alone but with the BJP's principles and ideologies."
* "The BJP has become like the Congress, indulging in vote bank politics. It has abandoned its principles and ideology."
* "I certainly think the BJP's conceptual divide over understanding principles is increasingly visible."
* "The way I was expelled after the BJP Shimla convention, even a 'chaprasi' (peon) isn't expelled like that."
* "Perhaps it was an emotional weakness that I joined the BJP again though all my relatives and friends had sought to dissuade me."
* "I am contesting on principle and honour, not just for my honour, but that of all people of Barmer."
* "After having served the (Atal Bihari) Vajpayee government... which office do I seek? I certainly have aspiration to do 10th term (in parliament). I told my colleagues (about it)."
------------IANS
Britain's Royal Mail releases stamp on Noor Inayat Khan:
Britain's Royal Mail releases stamp on Noor Inayat Khan:
London, March 24:
Britain's Royal Mail Monday issued a postage stamp of Noor Inayat Khan, the World War II heroine, who was a descendant of Tipu Sultan, the remarkable 19th century ruler of Mysore kingdom.
The stamp - part of a set of 10 stamps in their ‘Remarkable Lives' series --- honours Noor on her centenary year of birth. Others honoured in the set include actor Sir Alec Guinness and the poet Dylan Thomas.
"I am delighted that Royal Mail has commemorated Noor with a stamp," said Shrabani Basu, author of "Spy Princess, The Life of Noor Inayat Khan", and the chair of the Noor Inayat Khan Memorial Trust. "It will ensure that her sacrifice and bravery will not be forgotten. "
Basu campaigned for a memorial for Noor which was unveiled in November 2012 by Princess Anne.
Noor Inayat Khan was born in Moscow in January 1914 to an Indian father, Hazrat Inayat Khan, and an American mother, Ora Ray Baker. The couple had met in the Ramakrishna Mission ashram in America. Hazrat Inayat Khan was a Sufi preacher and musician and travelled the world taking Sufism to the West.
Noor was brought up in Paris and the family moved to London when the city was occupied by the Germans in 1940 during the Second World War. In London, Noor joined the Women's Auxiliary Air Force and was later recruited for the Special Operations Executive, a secret organisation started by Prime Minister Winston Churchill.
She was the first woman radio operator to be flown undercover to Paris and worked from there for three months under the code name Madeleine. However she was betrayed, arrested and finally executed in Dachau Concentration Camp in Germany. Though she was tortured and interrogated, she revealed nothing, not even her real name. Her last word as they shot her was "Liberte"! She was only 30.
Noor was posthumously awarded the highest honour, the George Cross, by Britain. France awarded her the Croix de Guerre.
In 2006, President Pranab Mukherjee, then the defence minister of India, paid an official visit to Noor's family house outside Paris and described her bravery and sacrifice as "inspirational".
----------------IANS
As BJP sees rumblings, RSS chief says change is necessary:
As BJP sees rumblings, RSS chief says change is necessary:
March 24:
Against the backdrop of sidelining of some senior leaders in BJP, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat today said change is necessary in keeping with the times to ensure that the journey is successful.
With BJP veteran L K Advani in attendance, Bhagwat said at an event here that "change is inevitable" even though he did not directly refer to the rumblings in the BJP over a controversy with regard to seat allocations.
"It is said that change is inevitable. According to time, whatever changes required have to be done ... To let the journey be successful and constant," the Sangh chief said at the event organised by RSS mouthpieces 'Organiser' and 'Panchjanya.
His comments assume significance as the BJP has been witnessing an upheaval recently with some senior leaders like Advani and Jaswant Singh being sidelined.
Advani was sulking last week on being denied nomination from Bhopal as per his desire and instead being fielded from Gandhinagar, even though he later accepted the party's decision.
Singh also wanted to contest from Barmer but was denied, forcing him to quit the party and contest as an independent.
Bhagwat, at the same time, felt that even as change has to take place with time, the "form" should remain the same.
"This thought that change is inevitable has been established. The basic truth of ever changing world is eternal which is not changeable. Change should be for betterment, we have to keep intact the unchangable", he said.
Bhagwat in his inimitable style said that people who are rooted in their ideology can only provide stability to the country as India today is on the crossroads of change.
"The present scenario in the country is such that people are troubled as to where they will get stability. Where they find it, they are going that side. Those who are rooted in some ideology, only they can provide stability," he said.
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