ARABIALINK Daily News – SAUDI ARABIA – Excerpts from International Media Reports
[Links to full articles were active on the date posted here]
Saudi Regulator Closes Websites Breaking Royal Decree on Permitted Fatwas [Sep 5]
“Saudi Arabia, the Arab world’s largest economy, closed websites for violating a royal decree that restricts the right to issue religious edicts to approved scholars. “If we receive a request from authorities, then we shut the websites,” Sultan al-Malik, a spokesman for the Communications and Information Technology Commission in Riyadh, said by telephone today. “There are some websites that have been closed.” King Abdullah last month issued a royal decree saying only the Council of Senior Islamic Scholars was allowed to make religious edicts, known as fatwas, as the king tightens control over clerics in the kingdom..” [Complete Report]
Saudi Promotes Judges to Develop Court System [Sep 5]
“Saudi Arabia, the Arab world’s largest economy, promoted 130 judges to appellate courts as part of the government’s efforts to change the judicial system in the kingdom. Thirty-four new judges were also appointed to the court system, the Ministry of Justice said in a statement published on its websiteon Sunday. The kingdom also promoted 67 judges to higher posts, the ministry said. Saudi Arabia, a G-20 member with a legal system based on Shariah, or Islamic law, announced plans in 2007 to spend $2bn to establish a supreme court and commercial and labor courts. The kingdom wants to appoint more judges to develop the judicial system as it seeks to attract more international investment.” [Complete Report]
Saudi Pardons 25,000 Prisoners in Last Year [Sep 5]
“Royal pardons have led to the release of around 25,000 prisoners in Saudi Arabia over the last year, it was reported on Sunday. Three royal pardons have been issued in the last year, two related to Ramadan and one to mark the healthy return of Crown Prince Sultan, deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, the Arab News reported on Sunday. The pardons have led to the release of around 25,000 prisoners from the Kingdom’s jails and director general of prisons Major General Ali Al-Harithy said. “All prisoners serving time on public rights will benefit from the pardon declared by the King… but prisoners convicted of security violations do not come under the pardon,” he explained. However, Al-Harithy added that any prisoner released who reoffends will have to serve the remainder of their pardoned sentence on top of any new punishment..” [Complete Report]
Saudi Arabia Raises Prices of Crude Oil Sold to All Customers in October [Sep 5]
“Saudi Aramco, the world’s largest state-owned oil company, raised official selling prices for all crude grades for customers in Asia, the U.S., Northwest Europe and the Mediterranean Sea for October. The formula price of Arab Super Light crude rose the most among grades to Asia, increasing by 75 cents a barrel to a premium of $1 above the benchmark Dubai price assessment published by Platts, a person familiar with the rates said. Among U.S. shipments, Aramco increased Extra Light and Arab Heavy prices by 5 cents a barrel each to a premium of $1.20 a barrel above theArgus Sour Crude Index and to a discount of $3.30 a barrel below the benchmark for the denser grade. Light and Medium grades will cost 10 cents a barrel more for U.S. buyers in October..” [Complete Report]
Charity Sponsors Over 225,000 Orphans Globally [Sep 5]
“The International Islamic Relief Organisation-Saudi Arabia (IIROSA) sponsors more than 133,000 orphans in Saudi Arabia and more than 92,000 others in countries around the world, and is redoubling its efforts, according to officials. Secretary-General of the organisation Dr Adnan Khalil Basha, in an exclusive interview with Gulf News, said on Friday: “We’re trying to raise this number to a quarter of a million.” He added that the charity has established homes for orphans — including 12 in Asia and 13 in Africa — that provide food, health care, education, entertainment and financial support..” [Complete Report]
Eid Likely on Friday, Say Astronomers [Sep 5]
“Astronomers have calculated that Friday Sept. 10, will be the first day of Eid Al-Fitr. Sources in the profession have emphasized that it will be difficult to sight the crescent of Shawwal on Ramadan 29 in the Middle East. The same is applicable to Asia, Africa and Europe. The sources said the crescent of Shawwal – the 10th lunar month – will be born on Wednesday, Sept. 8, at 2:30 A.M. local time and sink 14 minutes before sunset. It would therefore be impossible to sight the crescent by the naked eye on that day. So Friday Sept. 10 will be the first day of Shawwal..” [Complete Report]
