FULL VIDEO PART 9-10
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PACQUIAO vs ALGIERI LIVE full fight PART 11-12
FULL VIDEO PART 11-12
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5-year iqama plan excites expatriates
“This is a great step on the part of the government and will have a tremendous impact on businesses,” said Siddeek Ahmed, CMD of Eram Group while responding to the Passport Department’s plan to implement a proposal to extend the iqama validity from one to five years.
Maj. Gen. Sulaiman Al-Yahya, director general of the Passport Department, said there is a plan to change the name of iqama to resident ID and extend its validity up to five years.
Speaking to reporters in Riyadh on Sunday, he emphasized that the proposal would be implemented shortly.
He said the department was also studying a proposal to extend the validity of Saudi passport to 10 years.
Arab News contacted Col. Mohammed Al-Hussain, spokesman of the department in the Makkah region, to know when the five-year iqama would be implemented, but he said he did not have any more details.
However, informed sources said the proposal would be implemented soon after its endorsement by Interior Minister Prince Mohammed bin Naif.
Al-Yahya’s statement was widely applauded. “The extension of iqama to five years will provide job security to expatriates. It will also help contracting companies to complete their projects on time,” said Siddeek Ahmed.
He said the move would encourage foreign companies to invest in the Kingdom and transfer their technology without any fear as it guarantees the availability of qualified and skilled foreign workers for five years.
“I am very happy,” said Mohammed Ali, managing director of Jeddah National Hospital.
“This is good not only for expats but also for the Kingdom,” he said, adding that it would encourage experienced guest workers to stay in the Kingdom instead of going to Europe, America and Australia in search of better job opportunities.
He said the five-year iqama program would help expats to make long-term plans. “One-year iqama was creating uncertainty. Doctors and paramedics were unwilling to come to the Kingdom,” he said.
Salah Karadan, former chairman of International Indian School Jeddah’s managing committee, said the move would help expat children to stay long abroad for higher education.
“In the past, many parents had to cancel children’s iqamas as the latter could not come to the Kingdom for renewing iqamas because of exams and other reasons,” he pointed out. “The new move will motivate expats and increase their productivity.”
Pacquiao's experience too much for Algieri
Manny Pacquiao (L) of the Philippines punches Chris Algieri of the U.S. during their World Boxing Organisation (WBO) 12-round welterweight title fight at the Venetian Macao hotel in Macau November 23, 2014. Photo by Tyrone Siu, Reuters.
By knocking down Chris Algieri six times throughout their bout, Manny Pacquiao has clearly shown who the real “master boxer” is.
Veteran fight analysts Ed Tolentino and Ronnie Nathanielsz said what Pacquiao has done on Sunday in Macau was to school the younger Algieri on the nuances of the “sweet science.”
“’Yun naman ang sinabi ni Freddie Roach, ‘we'll take him to school.’ While taking him to school, on the way, he dropped him six times,” jested Nathanielsz in an interview on DZMM.
For his part, Tolentino said Pacquiao’s experience in over 60 fights showed in the 12-round WBO welterweight title clash against Algieri.
“Sabi nga natin eh, kahit may Masters’ degree ka, experience is the best teacher sa boxing,” he said, referring to Algieri’s Masters’ degree in Nutrition.
Prior to the bout, Algieri’s camp sold the American fighter as a “Master boxer,” pointing to his 20 wins in his relatively young career.
But it was the fighting congressman who outboxed the taller American, who kissed the canvass first in the second round following a three-punch combination from Pacquiao. The Filipino decked Algieri twice in the sixth round, two times more in the ninth stanza and again in the 10th.
Pacquiao was so dominant that the judges gave him a lopsided 119-103, 119-103, 120-102 win.
No plan to win
For Tolentino, it seems the strategy of Algieri’s camp was to avoid their fighter getting knocked out.
“Napansin namin na wala silang planong manalo. ‘Yung mga cornermen niya, in between rounds, five times nang tumihaya na si Algieri ang sabi nila 'We're at the exact pace that we want to be. You're doing well,’” he said.
“Dapat sinasabi nila 'yung katotohanan, 'You're trailing on points, kailangan you have roll the dice, kailangan mag-gamble ka.’ Hindi namin narining ‘yun.”
Although Nathanielsz said Pacquiao gave out an impressive performance, he said he was disappointed with the outcome. He felt the referee should have stopped the fight in the ninth after Algieri survived the count after a fifth knockdown.
“Medyo disappointed lang ako kasi i thought he will win by sixth-round TKO. Ninth round, I thought ititigil na 'yung fight, kasi 'yung bagsak ni Algieri tapos na ang boxing. He barely beat the count,” said Nathanielsz.
Tolentino believes Pacquiao would have knocked Algieri out if the American gambled to mix it up with the Filipino veteran.
“Tumagal ang laban na ito sa kadahilanang masyadong defensive ang laban ni Chris Algieri, suntok, layo at talagang ayaw makipag-mix up... Sabi ko nga kahit isang secquence lang na sumabay si Chris Algieri, palagay ko may pinaglagyan siya ng tuluyan.”
Manny Pacquiao came in slightly under the contracted catchweight of 144 pounds at 143.8
Prince handed death sentence for murder
Abdul Rahman Al-Falaj, uncle of the deceased, confirmed the news on Twitter. “The Kingdom is blessed to have a fair justice system which is reflected in the court’s decision today to pronounce the death sentence for the murderer of my nephew.”
Adel Al-Mahaimid was killed and another person injured in an exchange of fire following a dispute between people at a camp in Thumamah in December 2012. When the killer realized that his victim was a friend and colleague he informed the police.
The prince has the right to appeal at the Court of Appeal where the verdict would be scrutinized by three judges. If the verdict is upheld, the accused can launch an appeal with the Supreme Judicial Council.
A feature of Saudi law is that a father, guardian, or heirs of people killed have the right to waive punishment. Committees have been set up in all provinces to seek reconciliation between perpetrators and their victims.
Latest Video: Pacquiao arrives in Macau for Algieri fight Bago ang bakbakan sa Linggo, dumating na Macau si Manny Pacquiao kasama ang bunsong si Baby Israel. Pero ang makakalabang si Chris Algieri, kakaiba ang kumpiyansa kontra sa ''Pacquiao …
Latest Video: Pacquiao arrives in Macau for Algieri fight Bago ang bakbakan sa Linggo, dumating na Macau si Manny Pacquiao kasama ang bunsong si Baby Israel. Pero ang makakalabang si Chris Algieri, kakaiba ang kumpiyansa kontra sa ''Pacquiao …
Islamic State leader urges attacks in Saudi Arabia —speech
Baghdadi also said a US-led military campaign against his group in Syria and Iraq was failing and he called for "volcanoes of jihad" the world over.
Reuters could not independently confirm the authenticity of the speech—an audio recording carried on Islamic State-run social media. The voice sounded similar to a previous speech delivered by Baghdadi in July in a mosque in the Iraqi city of Mosul in July, the last time he spoke in public.
It followed contradictory accounts out of Iraq after US air strikes last Friday about whether he was wounded in a raid. The United States said on Tuesday it could not confirm whether he was killed or wounded in Iraq following a strike near the city of Falluja.
Baghdadi urged supporters in Saudi Arabia, the world's top oil exporter, to take the fight to the rulers of the kingdom, which has joined the US-led coalition in mounting air strikes against the Islamic State group in Syria.
"O sons of al-Haramayn...the serpent's head and the stronghold of the disease are there...draw your swords and divorce life, because there should be no security for the Saloul," Baghdadi said, using a derogatory term to refer to the leadership of Saudi Arabia.
Haramayn is a reference to the two holiest places in Islam—both of them in Saudi Arabia.
The speech was not dated but carried a reference to a Nov. 7 US announcement that President Barack Obama had approved sending up to 1,500 more US troops to Iraq.
Islamic State has seized swathes of Syria and Iraq and declared a caliphate over territory it controls in June. Baghdadi said he had accepted oaths of allegiance from supporters in Libya, Egypt, Yemen, Saudi Arabia and Algeria.
"We announce to you the expansion of the Islamic State to new countries, to the countries of the Haramayn, Yemen, Egypt, Libya, Algeria," he said in the speech, in which he spoke at length on his group's expansion.
"We announce the acceptance of the pledges of allegiance of the brothers who swore loyalty to us in these countries... and the appointment governors."
Although supporters have pledged allegiance to Islamic State in countries including Lebanon, Pakistan and Afghanistan, Baghdadi singled out only those five states, picking countries where sympathisers have a strong base and could mount attacks.
He added, however: "Oh soldiers of the Islamic State...erupt volcanoes of jihad everywhere. Light the earth with fire against all dictators."
Referring to US-led military action against his group, he said: "Despite this Crusade campaign being the most fierce and severe of all, it is the greatest failure."
"We see America and its allies stumbling in fear, weakness, impotence and failure." The speech was transcribed in Arabic and translated into English.
Obama has said the United States aims to degrade and eventually destroy Islamic State, which has reshaped the Middle East by seizing large areas of Iraq and Syria and is imposing its radical interpretation of Sunni Islam.
Since Islamic State launched an offensive in Iraq in June, Riyadh has sent thousands of troops to the border area.
In June, King Abdullah pledged to take "all measures" to protect Saudi Arabia from Islamic State, which it has labelled a terrorist organization.
At least 1,000 army soldiers, 1,000 national guardsmen and three helicopter units have arrived to reinforce the border area near the town of Arar since Islamic State's advance in June, the commander of Saudi border guards in the area said in July.
Referring to Yemen, where Shi'ite Houthis captured the capital Sanaa in September, forcing the government to resign, he said: "Oh soldiers of Yemen...be harsh against the Houthis, they are infidels and apostates. Fight them and win against them."
Baghdadi also congratulated supporters in Egypt's Sinai for starting jihad against what he called the "dictators of Egypt". He also urged supporters in Libya, Algeria and Morocco to prevent secular groups from ruling. —Reuters
EXCLUSIVE | BAHAY SA QUEZON, GINAGAWA DIUMANONG MINAHAN
AKSYON | Inirereklamo ng ilang residente sa Calauag, Quezon ang isang bahay sa paghihinalang may nagaganap na iligal na pagmimina sa loob mismo ng lugar. Perwisyo na nga raw dahil sa ingay, dahan-dahan na rin nabibiyak ang mga kalapit-bahay dahil sa operasyon. Ayon naman sa lokal na pamahalaan, hindi raw sila pinapayagang mag-inspeksyon sa loob ng lugar. Ulat ni Erwin Tulfo.
Minimum wage for expat is SR2,500 Saudis to get SR5,300 as minimum in private sector
Saudi Gazette report
RIYADH — The Labor Ministry is considering to fix the minimum wage for Saudis in the private sector at SR5,300 and for expatriates at SR2,500.
The decision will be implemented in 2015 when the third and final phase of the wage protection program is over, local Arabic daily Al-Jazirah reported on Tuesday quoting informed labor market sources.
The second phase of the program started in March and was applied on companies with 1,000 workers or more. Under the program, all private sector companies and establishments should transfer the salaries of their Saudi and non-Saudi employees directly to their bank accounts.
The sources said the fixing of minimum wages was aimed at attracting more Saudis to the private sector, boost the process of job nationalization and end the fake Saudization which some private establishments resort to so as to remain in the green Nitaqat zone.
They said the ministry will electronically follow up to make sure that companies are committed to the minimum wages for both Saudis and expatriates and that they are not delaying salary payments.
According to Mansour Al-Shethry, chairman of the Saudi Labor Market Committee, a total of 1,600,070 Saudis are currently employed by the private sector. “They outnumber the citizens working for the government by about 500,000,” he said.
Al-Shethry said the the salaries of the Saudis employed in the private sector are less than those of the expatriates.
A recent study, conducted by the World Bank and the Ministry of National Economy and Planning said the salaries of the Saudis employed by the private sector are less than those of their counterparts in other GCC countries.
The study also said the salaries of the Saudi men are more than the women by about 20 percent for the same job.
RIYADH — The Labor Ministry is considering to fix the minimum wage for Saudis in the private sector at SR5,300 and for expatriates at SR2,500.
The decision will be implemented in 2015 when the third and final phase of the wage protection program is over, local Arabic daily Al-Jazirah reported on Tuesday quoting informed labor market sources.
The second phase of the program started in March and was applied on companies with 1,000 workers or more. Under the program, all private sector companies and establishments should transfer the salaries of their Saudi and non-Saudi employees directly to their bank accounts.
The sources said the fixing of minimum wages was aimed at attracting more Saudis to the private sector, boost the process of job nationalization and end the fake Saudization which some private establishments resort to so as to remain in the green Nitaqat zone.
They said the ministry will electronically follow up to make sure that companies are committed to the minimum wages for both Saudis and expatriates and that they are not delaying salary payments.
According to Mansour Al-Shethry, chairman of the Saudi Labor Market Committee, a total of 1,600,070 Saudis are currently employed by the private sector. “They outnumber the citizens working for the government by about 500,000,” he said.
Al-Shethry said the the salaries of the Saudis employed in the private sector are less than those of the expatriates.
A recent study, conducted by the World Bank and the Ministry of National Economy and Planning said the salaries of the Saudis employed by the private sector are less than those of their counterparts in other GCC countries.
The study also said the salaries of the Saudi men are more than the women by about 20 percent for the same job.
GCC-wide ban for deported expats
DUBAI Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) countries have started applying a law that bans expatriates deported from any of the six countries from entering the rest of them, according to Manafez Dubai, the official newsletter of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs Dubai (GDRFA).
A report in its September issue of the newsletter said the new law is based on the GCC security pact. "Moreover, the country which deports an expatriate will be allowed to take the deportee's fingerprints and share the information with the rest of the GCC countries," it said.
It said the GCC countries are coordinating efforts to control drugs with exchanges of information, including names of smugglers, their modus operandi and data.
Case to case
O.V. Musthafa Zafeer of Musthafa & Almana International Legal Consultants said: "The GCC-wide entry ban for deported expats is not automatic, except in drug-related cases. Otherwise, it is applied on a case-to-case basis."
Tina Thapar of Al Midfa & Associates said: "The security pact of 1994 was amended in 2012 and thereafter implemented for major crimes such as drugs, money laundering, murder etc."
Citing some cases, she said a man implicated in a drug case in Saudi Arabia was deported from the UAE without a trial based on the judgment issued by the Saudi court. Another man in South Africa, who defaulted on alimony in the UAE, wanted to relocate to Bahrain. He had read about the GCC law, so he found out if there was an arrest warrant against him in the UAE and got his name cleared before flying to Bahrain.
© Gulf News 2014
Unbelievable Skeletons Unearthed From The Catacombs Of Rome
Back in 1578 came the fascinating discovery of a network of labyrinthine tombs, lurking deep beneath the street of Rome. The tombs were home to the decayed skeletons of early Christian martyrs – believed to be saints on account of their bravery & unwavering support of Christian beliefs.
Many of these skeletons (given the name ‘The Catacomb Saints’ by those who first discovered them) were then distributed across Europe (predominantly Germany) as replacements for the countless holy relics which had been smashed, stolen or destroyed during the Protestant Reformation.
Once delivered, each skeleton was then clothed and adorned into a variety of precious jewels, expensive cloth, crowns, armour and even given wigs. They were put on display inside their designated churches as a reminder to all who visited, for the riches and wealth that awaited them post death – providing they swore allegiance to the Christian faith.
It sounds like a tale straight from a Dan Brown novel doesn't it? Yet it’s all factually accurate.
So fascinated by the discovery and indeed the story behind ‘The Catacomb Saints’ art historian (& self-confessed relic hunter) Paul Koudounaris travelled all over Europe trying to find and document the status of each Saint. Amazingly many of the skeletons were yet to be put on display, still stored in containers waiting to be dressed and revealed to the public.
His book 'Heavenly Bodies: Cult Treasures & Spectacular Saints from the Catacombs' looks at the gripping origins and history of ‘The Catacomb Saints’, posing such as questions as who were they? How exactly did they die? Who ordered them to be placed in the catacombs? And why had they laid forgotten in Europe’s religious institutions for so long?
His work serves as a compelling documentation of some of the most elaborate & forgotten relics from a by-gone era.
Below are a few photographs from the stunning book itself.
Binay backs out of debate with Trillanes
Binay made the announcement during his 72nd birthday celebration at the Philippine Marines headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig.
“It’s final, it’s final. My decision won’t change,” Binay said in Filipino during an interview aired on radio.
Binay explained that he doesn’t want to look like he is taking advantage of Trillanes, who is not a lawyer unlike him.
“Ang dahilan ko mga kababayan e dahil sa marami na akong naririnig na ako ay ganito…ako ay mahusay, ako ay naging debater, ako ay abogado, e sobra na ‘tong mga sinabi niyang ganyan na kumpirmadong sinabi niya, e ayaw ko naman hong maging..ang pagkakalilala niyo sa aking mga kababayan ay mapang-api, mapagsamantala…so tama na po ‘yun,” he said.
(The reason why I am withdrawing is I have heard comments that I am already a good and experienced debater that comes with my being a lawyer. He has also been saying things as if they were already confirmed. I don’t want to appear oppressive and opportunistic, so I am backing out.)
Binay has repeatedly declined the Senate invitation to appear before the Blue Ribbon subcommittee hearing corruption allegations against him.
The vice president, however, challenged Trillanes to a public debate so he could air his side.
The public debate between the two officials was scheduled by the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) for November 27.
Fake cop robs expat in Saudi Arabia
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In the latest incident, Jeddah police arrested a Saudi who robbed an Asian expatriate of SR100,000 by pretending to be a policeman.
“Balad police received a complaint from an Asian expatriate saying that someone in the guise of a security officer had seized his iqama, and driven him to a deserted place where he robbed him of SR100,000 and three smartphones worth SR6,000,” Jeddah police spokesman Aati Al-Qurashi said in a statement on Friday.
He added that the police embarked on a hunt for the culprit immediately after receiving the complaint and nabbed him within six hours of committing the crime. The culprit is a 20-year-old Saudi citizen and the police are probing the case.
Similar cases in the Balad area have been reported earlier where Saudi citizens and sometimes Yemeni nationals impersonate police and rob expatriates of their possessions. Most of the victims are Bangladeshi or Indian nationals operating small kiosks in the market area. The Riyadh region has also reported similar cases with the police making several arrests in recent months.
Rice-cake selling traffic enforcer gets MMDA's nod
Traffic constable Fernando Gonzales was summoned to the MMDA head office in Makati City after his video became viral over the social media. He was anxious as he stood stiffly straight in the presence of his boss.
Fernando's enterprise was exclusively caught on video by GMA Youscooper "Tonsmags."
"Gawan ng paraan para ma-promote," Tolentino said to Gonzales' relief.
Instead of engaging in corruption while manning Metro Manila's streets, Gonzales admitted selling rice cakes to motorists for extra income.
Gonzales has two children; one in college and another in high school.
"Kasi po minsan kung hihingi sila hindi ko alam kung san kukuha," Gonzales said, his voice cracking with emotion.
Gonzales said he sells rice cakes during his days off but sometimes had to do it in uniform because of sudden calls for extra hands during a shift.
"Napakasipag," his direct superior Jerome Bolivar told reporters.
Gonzales is a graduate of criminology and has been with the MMDA for more than 20 years. —NB, GMA News
Saudi Shura denies women’s driving report
Saturday, Nov 08, 2014
Manama: The spokesperson for Saudi Arabia’s Shura (Consultative) Council has rejected media reports that members had agreed to allow Saudi women to drive.
“The Council did not make any decision on this issue,” Mohammad Al Muhanna said. “The report disseminated by some media included lots of misleading details that prove that it was baseless and lacked credibility,” he said, quoted by local news site Sabq on Saturday.
An international news agency on Friday reported that the Council recommended that the government lift its ban on female drivers.
Citing a Council member it did not name, the report said the Shura Council made the recommendations in a secret, closed session held in the past month.
Under the recommendations, only women over 30 would be allowed to drive and they would need permission from a male relative — usually a husband or father, but lacking those, a brother or son. They would be allowed to drive from 7am to 8pm from Saturday to Wednesday and noon to 8pm on Thursday and Friday.
The conditions also require that a woman driver wear conservative dress and no make-up, the report said. Within cities, they can drive without a male relative in the car, but outside of cities, a male is required to be present.
According to the report, the council said a female traffic department would have to be created to deal with female drivers if their cars broke down or they encountered other problems, and to issue fines. It recommended the female traffic officers be under the supervision of the “religious agencies.”
However, the report in Sabq said that the international news agency report mentioned conditions under which women could be allowed to drive were exactly the same as those mentioned media claims made in 2008 and that later proved to be rumours that have originated from social media.
The claim that one of the conditions mentioned on Friday refers to restricted driving on Thursday and Friday, the former weekend in Saudi Arabia, indicates that the latest report is a repetition of a report that was published before Saudi Arabia switched its two-day weekend to Friday-Saturday.
Saudi Arabia made the historic change of the weekend on June 29, 2013.
There is no law or legal text that bans Saudi women from driving. Those who are apprehended by the police are briefly held for driving without valid driving licences.
By Habib Toumi Bureau Chief
Gulf News 2014. All rights reserved.
Manama: The spokesperson for Saudi Arabia’s Shura (Consultative) Council has rejected media reports that members had agreed to allow Saudi women to drive.
“The Council did not make any decision on this issue,” Mohammad Al Muhanna said. “The report disseminated by some media included lots of misleading details that prove that it was baseless and lacked credibility,” he said, quoted by local news site Sabq on Saturday.
An international news agency on Friday reported that the Council recommended that the government lift its ban on female drivers.
Citing a Council member it did not name, the report said the Shura Council made the recommendations in a secret, closed session held in the past month.
Under the recommendations, only women over 30 would be allowed to drive and they would need permission from a male relative — usually a husband or father, but lacking those, a brother or son. They would be allowed to drive from 7am to 8pm from Saturday to Wednesday and noon to 8pm on Thursday and Friday.
The conditions also require that a woman driver wear conservative dress and no make-up, the report said. Within cities, they can drive without a male relative in the car, but outside of cities, a male is required to be present.
According to the report, the council said a female traffic department would have to be created to deal with female drivers if their cars broke down or they encountered other problems, and to issue fines. It recommended the female traffic officers be under the supervision of the “religious agencies.”
However, the report in Sabq said that the international news agency report mentioned conditions under which women could be allowed to drive were exactly the same as those mentioned media claims made in 2008 and that later proved to be rumours that have originated from social media.
The claim that one of the conditions mentioned on Friday refers to restricted driving on Thursday and Friday, the former weekend in Saudi Arabia, indicates that the latest report is a repetition of a report that was published before Saudi Arabia switched its two-day weekend to Friday-Saturday.
Saudi Arabia made the historic change of the weekend on June 29, 2013.
There is no law or legal text that bans Saudi women from driving. Those who are apprehended by the police are briefly held for driving without valid driving licences.
By Habib Toumi Bureau Chief
Gulf News 2014. All rights reserved.
Four relatives executed for hashish possession amid 'disturbing' surge in executions
DAHIL SA PAG BEBENTA NG HASHISH B BITAY ANG PARUSA
Awad Saleh Abdullah al-Mutlaq, Hadi Saleh Abdullah al-Mutlaq, Mifrih Jaber Zayd al-Yami and (on far right) Ali Jaber Zayd al-Yami.
The Saudi Arabian authorities must halt all executions, Amnesty International said after four members of the same family were executed today as part of a “disturbing” recent surge in the use of the death penalty in the country.
The two sets of brothers from the same extended family were killed this morning in the south-eastern city of Najran after being convicted of “receiving large quantities of hashish”, reportedly on the basis of forced confessions extracted through torture.
It brings the number of state killings in Saudi Arabia in the past two weeks to 17 - a rate of more than one execution per day.
“The recent increase in executions in Saudi Arabia is a deeply disturbing deterioration. The authorities must act immediately to halt this cruel practice,” said Said Boumedouha, Deputy Director of Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa Programme.
“The death penalty is always wrong, and it is against international law to use it in cases involving non-lethal crimes and where evidence used to convict the person is based on ‘confessions’ extracted as a result of torture.”
The four relatives were put to death despite desperate last-minute efforts from family members to alert the world to their plight.
Relatives of the men contacted Amnesty International on Thursday asking for help amid fears that the executions were imminent.
The organization’s Saudi Arabia team responded seeking further information on the case, but within hours the team was informed that the family of the four men had received a phone call from Saudi Arabian Ministry of Interior officials warning them to stop contacting Amnesty International.
This morning, it was officially announced that the four men had been executed.
“This apparent intimidation and surveillance of victims of human rights violations and activists adds another sinister layer to Saudi Arabia’s use of the death penalty. It is clear evidence that the authorities are willing to go to extreme lengths to prevent reports of gross human rights violations in the country from reaching the outside world,” said Said Boumedouha.
“The family in this case deserves full disclosure as to why their loved ones’ allegations of torture were not investigated.”
The four executed men – brothers Hadi bin Saleh Abdullah al-Mutlaq and Awad bin Saleh Abdullah al-Mutlaq along with brothers Mufrih bin Jaber Zayd al-Yami and Ali bin Jaber Zayd al-Yami – were arrested and detained by members of the Ministry of Interior’s General Directorate of Investigations (known as al-Mabahith) on several occasions after their alleged offence in 2007.
They were reportedly tortured during interrogation, including with beatings and sleep deprivation, in order to extract false confessions.
They were referred to trial and sentenced to death largely on the basis of these ‘confessions’.
There has been a surge in executions in Saudi Arabia since the end of Ramadan on 28 July, with 17 announced executions between 4 August and 18 August, compared to 17 confirmed executions between January and July 2014.
Background
Saudi Arabia is one of the top executioners in the world, with more than 2,000 people executed between 1985 and 2013.
In 2013, it executed at least 79 people, three of whom were under 18 at the time of the crimes for which they were put to death, in blatant violation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. So far in 2014, at least 34 people have been executed.
Court proceedings in Saudi Arabia fall far short of international standards for fair trial. Trials in capital cases are often held in secret. Defendants are rarely allowed formal representation by lawyers, and in many cases are not informed of the progress of legal proceedings against them.
They may be convicted solely on the basis of “confessions” obtained under torture, other ill-treatment or deception. In some cases condemned prisoners’ families are not notified in advance of their execution.
Saudi Arabia applies the death penalty to a wide range of offences that are not accepted as “most serious crimes” under international law and standards on the use of the death penalty.
These include “adultery”, armed robbery, “apostasy”, drug-related offences, rape, “witchcraft” and “sorcery”.
Amnesty International opposes the death penalty in all cases without exception. It violates the right to life as proclaimed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It is the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment.
Top 10 Reasons Why You Could Be Banned or Blacklisted in Saudi Arabia and GCC Countries
"The Gulf Cooperation Council countries have already started applying a law that bans any expatriate deported from one of the GCC countries from entering the rest of the GCC countries, Annahar daily quoted reliable sources as saying. They said the new law is based on the GCC security pact. Moreover, the country which deports an expatriate will be allowed to take his fingerprints and share the information including the fingerprints with the rest of the GCC countries to protect the Gulf organization from any exterior hazards."
In another news, from Gulf Daily dated September 20, 2014, expats that are blacklisted by a Gulf country could be denied entry to all GCC states.
"Labour ministers from the GCC will next month discuss the proposal, which will also include setting up a unified immigration database of all expatriates deported from each of the six states."
It can be summarized into three categories: Criminal Cases, Civil and Moral Cases, and Labor Cases... but the the most broad and openly discretionary is about Labor Cases wherein employers are given the right to ban any expat even for a petty reason of dishonesty, distrust and insubordination. This is also very important that we know it, because once you are banned in Saudi Arabia, there is a chance that you are also banned in other GCC countries like Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Oman and Kuwait.
2. Criminal offenses like robbery or theft, either sa kapwa tao, sa company o sa banko and embezzlement o panloloko ng kapwa tao para kumita.
3. Preaching religion or conducting illegal religious meeting other than Islam as well as encouraging or participating in activities against the Saudi Arabia government and religion.
One veteran OFW named Jong L. pointed out regarding teaching and/or preaching religion other than Islam... "the late King Fahad(PBWH) issued an order respecting other religion specifically Christians by issuing an Order way back late 90's giving liniency to gathering of family and friends as long as it would not be done in public..." But this is subject to verification from authorities.
4. Health reason like having STD, Aids, HIV, or HEPA and other infectious diseases.
5. Falsification of legal documents like marriage certificates, diploma, PRC cards, employment certificates and Saudi councils.
6. Illegal activities like gambling and lottery, like card games with pot money, lotto, jueteng and sabong.
7. Immoral acts like Adultery, Prostitution, Soliciting Sex and other immoral behaviors that is against the law. Possession of pornographic materials can sometimes lead to deportation. Caught being with boyfriend or girlfriend can also sometimes ground for deportation.
8. Holding fake driving license and other ID's, bribery and other acts of corruption.
9. Manufacturing or selling liquor and other alcoholic beverages na nakakalasing.
10. DISHONESTY.
Two Filipino we knew was blacklisted by their company for padding the time sheet or adding names supposedly a manpower to the list and receiving the salary for themselves.
Also reminder lang po sa mga over 65 years old and still working baka po sa bakasyon di na kayo makabalik.
Itong mga nakalistang mga bagay bagay ay ayun sa mga naipong kaalaman at suhestiyon mula sa mga kapwa OFW sa Saudi Arabia. Kung may mga katanungan, hinihikayat namin ang mga OFW na magtanong sa Embahada, at Kunsulada at POLO officers para sa legal na kasagutan.
BABALA :ANG PEKENG LARAWAN NA ITO AY INEDIT LAMANG UPANG SIRAAN ANG ACTRESS NA SI MARIAN RIVERA. WAG ITONG PANIWALAAN
BABALA:
GAMITIN SANA ANG GALING SA TAMANG PAMAMARAAN AT HINDI YUNG NAKAKASIRA SA IBA. ANG GUMAWA NANG EDITED NA LARAWAN NA ITO AY KASALUKUYANG INAHANAP NA NANG NBI. KUNG SINO MAN ANG MAY NAKAKAALAM MAARI LAMANG NA TUMAWAG SA NBI OR SA MALAPIT NA PULISYA SA INYONG LUGAR.
HEAL THEM LORD
MAPALAD KA NA IKAW NA NORMAL ANG BUHAY
MAPALAD KA NA IKAW AY DI NASA SITWASYON NILA
MAPALAD KA
SABIHIN MO SAYONG SARILI MAPALAD AKO
AT MAG PASALAMAT SA PANGINOONG LUMIKHA.
SHARE DAHIL MAPALAD KA.
HEAL THEM LORD
WAG KA PURO REKLAMO SA BUHAY BUTI HINDI IKAW ANG NASA KALAGAYAN NILA...
MAPALAD KA NA IKAW NA NORMAL ANG BUHAY
MAPALAD KA NA IKAW AY DI NASA SITWASYON NILA
MAPALAD KA
SABIHIN MO SAYONG SARILI MAPALAD AKO
AT MAG PASALAMAT SA PANGINOONG LUMIKHA.
SHARE DAHIL MAPALAD KA.
WHY A LOT OF OFWS ARE BANKRUPT
Bagong Bayani
OFWs are labeled the ‘modern heroes’ (Bagong Bayani Ng Pilipinas) of the Philippines. While this may sound really grand, this sadly is not the accurate status of the OFWs.
OFWs, or Overseas Filipino Workers, are Filipinos who end up working abroad since the wages and benefits offered by the local industry are skewed to the point that the same job abroad offers twice and up to more than ten times the wages and benefits as opposed to if the person was to stay and work in the Philippines. Naturally the easiest thing to do for would-be OFWs in order to increase their income is to go and work abroad.
Most view this diaspora as a good thing. They argue that the income OFWs send back to their families drive up the economy and strengthen the Philippine peso. If this is truly the case, why are Filipinos who are living and earning locally don’t really feel the strength of the economy nor the strength of the Philippine peso? In fact, crimes are continuously running rampant and inflation is continuously acting its course like a flood on a monsoon typhoon. A tank of cooking gas now costs so much more than it was a year ago.
The main answer to this is because of the general spending, saving, investing and enterprising habits of the Filipinos.
Investing for the future
In fact, according to the survey the PSE (Philippine Stock Exchange) conducted, there are only 585,562 trading accounts (both online and traditional brokerage accounts) as of 2013. That’s a measly 0.6% of the Philippine population. To delve further into this topic requires more discussion so let’s get back to why a lot of OFWs are broke.
Here are the reasons and factors why a lot of OFWs are broke – or bankrupt. In fact, if you’re an OFW, you’ve probably seen these characteristics in some of your fellow OFWs. And if you possess some of these characteristics, it’s high time to restructure your lifestyle lest you end up broke as well.
1. Going out into the arena without a plan
This is a sad but real situation of most Filipinos who go out there and expose themselves to undue stress, loneliness and sometimes even abuse just so they could raise their families back home. They may be doing something ‘heroic’ for their family by venturing into new and strange places but going out there without a concrete plan of getting one’s family out of poverty and into wealth is like going to a battle without knowing where the enemy base is or what the main objective is.
So they sadly end up getting distracted by so many other stuff abroad that they think sending money to their loved ones in the Philippines will solve all their troubles – until these OFWs lose their jobs.
Then they’re back to step one.
2. Helping others to the point of sucking one’s finances dry
If you’re a Filipino, you’ve either experienced this firsthand or heard this happen to an OFW. They go and work abroad and send all their money back to their families in the Philippines. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that regardless how many years those OFWs spend abroad, nothing good will come out of their finances if everything they earn is spent – regardless whether or not if it’s to help out their families.
You just can’t expect to help others successfully if you yourself are standing on unsteady ground.
Juan goes to Europe with the ‘plan’ of sending money to his family so his parents have monthly allowance to live on and also in order for his younger brother to be able to finish college. Juan is funding his tuition, books, allowance. Basically Juan is funding everything.
Five years pass and Juan’s brother finally graduates college. Juan’s girlfriend of five years has been patiently waiting for Juan to finally propose. She gets so excited one evening when Juan invites her to have a candle-lit dinner in a nice restaurant.
“Juanita (Juan’s girlfriend), I brought you here co’z I’ve accomplished something major and I want to share the feeling with you. My younger brother has finally finished college.”
Juanita smiles, her eyes becoming bright since she knew Juan has been funding his brother’s schooling and now that that’s over, Juan can finally focus on starting his own family. She has waited long enough. She was hopeful.
“I have something important to tell you,” Juan continues.
Juanita could barely hold her excitement. “What is it?” She asks.
“At last I can now help my other brother, who has been out of school to get back and finish his degree since they all completely rely on me.”
“Also, can we share 50-50 for this dinner?”
3. ‘Living the life’ at the cost of their financial future
This phenomenon is not just limited to OFWs but this impacts OFWs greatly more than others.
OFWs move to another country in the hopes of being able to afford better lives for their families back home. In the process though, these OFWs end up getting absorbed by the idea that they’ve ‘made it’ so they end up ‘living the life’ by enjoying their hard-earned money. Besides, what’s wrong with enjoying the fruits of your labor?
Nothing really, as long as you’re enjoying it responsibly. However, more often than not, OFWs enjoy themselves and spend their months and years ‘living the life’ on credit.
Yes, credit cards. Lots of them.
And so years pass and not only do they fail to save and invest their incomes but they’ve also accumulated enough debt that some of them are wanted badly by debt collectors because of the tab they have stacked up.
4. ‘Extracurricular’ activities
Another sad but real situation OFWs get themselves into is getting caught up in distracting activities – some of them distracting enough that it ruins their families.
One notorious ‘extracurricular’ activity is extramarital affairs. Some OFWs, because of ‘loneliness,’ resort to having an affair abroad and even starting their own illegitimate families. The result is a dire neglect of their legitimate families back home which often results to broken marriages and children gone astray.
A less distasteful, but nevertheless distracting activity, is frequent group activity. We’re talking about weekend meet up with friends at the bar, fancy organizations, and some religious organizations wherein OFWs are required to attend weekly gatherings for the sake of OFW camaraderie and togetherness. This is fine.
What’s not fine is that these activities, upon close examination, rake up a huge percentage of a person’s income simply by frequently meeting up with their friends or other members in restaurants, picnic parks, and Starbucks (yes, Starbucks is a favorite hangout for some of these groups). If you’re earning just enough to send money to the Philippines and just enough have a place to live in, it wouldn’t be a smart idea to get yourself a lifestyle that requires frequent spending.
Regardless if its for camaraderie.
Otherwise, that’s one expensive way to keep yourself company.
If you’re a Filipino based in the Philippines or an OFW, you know that these instances are real and do happen. Sadly, a lot are so distracted by what’s going on around them that they lack the focus to reflect and really analyze what’s going on with their lives.
Please share this article that it may benefit OFWs and keep their primary mission (which is to live better lives and help their families live better lives as well) from being in vain.
And by then, may they be the modern heroes we all want them to be.
OFWs, or Overseas Filipino Workers, are Filipinos who end up working abroad since the wages and benefits offered by the local industry are skewed to the point that the same job abroad offers twice and up to more than ten times the wages and benefits as opposed to if the person was to stay and work in the Philippines. Naturally the easiest thing to do for would-be OFWs in order to increase their income is to go and work abroad.
Most view this diaspora as a good thing. They argue that the income OFWs send back to their families drive up the economy and strengthen the Philippine peso. If this is truly the case, why are Filipinos who are living and earning locally don’t really feel the strength of the economy nor the strength of the Philippine peso? In fact, crimes are continuously running rampant and inflation is continuously acting its course like a flood on a monsoon typhoon. A tank of cooking gas now costs so much more than it was a year ago.
The main answer to this is because of the general spending, saving, investing and enterprising habits of the Filipinos.
Investing for the future
In fact, according to the survey the PSE (Philippine Stock Exchange) conducted, there are only 585,562 trading accounts (both online and traditional brokerage accounts) as of 2013. That’s a measly 0.6% of the Philippine population. To delve further into this topic requires more discussion so let’s get back to why a lot of OFWs are broke.
Here are the reasons and factors why a lot of OFWs are broke – or bankrupt. In fact, if you’re an OFW, you’ve probably seen these characteristics in some of your fellow OFWs. And if you possess some of these characteristics, it’s high time to restructure your lifestyle lest you end up broke as well.
1. Going out into the arena without a plan
This is a sad but real situation of most Filipinos who go out there and expose themselves to undue stress, loneliness and sometimes even abuse just so they could raise their families back home. They may be doing something ‘heroic’ for their family by venturing into new and strange places but going out there without a concrete plan of getting one’s family out of poverty and into wealth is like going to a battle without knowing where the enemy base is or what the main objective is.
So they sadly end up getting distracted by so many other stuff abroad that they think sending money to their loved ones in the Philippines will solve all their troubles – until these OFWs lose their jobs.
Then they’re back to step one.
2. Helping others to the point of sucking one’s finances dry
If you’re a Filipino, you’ve either experienced this firsthand or heard this happen to an OFW. They go and work abroad and send all their money back to their families in the Philippines. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that regardless how many years those OFWs spend abroad, nothing good will come out of their finances if everything they earn is spent – regardless whether or not if it’s to help out their families.
You just can’t expect to help others successfully if you yourself are standing on unsteady ground.
Juan goes to Europe with the ‘plan’ of sending money to his family so his parents have monthly allowance to live on and also in order for his younger brother to be able to finish college. Juan is funding his tuition, books, allowance. Basically Juan is funding everything.
Five years pass and Juan’s brother finally graduates college. Juan’s girlfriend of five years has been patiently waiting for Juan to finally propose. She gets so excited one evening when Juan invites her to have a candle-lit dinner in a nice restaurant.
“Juanita (Juan’s girlfriend), I brought you here co’z I’ve accomplished something major and I want to share the feeling with you. My younger brother has finally finished college.”
Juanita smiles, her eyes becoming bright since she knew Juan has been funding his brother’s schooling and now that that’s over, Juan can finally focus on starting his own family. She has waited long enough. She was hopeful.
“I have something important to tell you,” Juan continues.
Juanita could barely hold her excitement. “What is it?” She asks.
“At last I can now help my other brother, who has been out of school to get back and finish his degree since they all completely rely on me.”
“Also, can we share 50-50 for this dinner?”
3. ‘Living the life’ at the cost of their financial future
This phenomenon is not just limited to OFWs but this impacts OFWs greatly more than others.
OFWs move to another country in the hopes of being able to afford better lives for their families back home. In the process though, these OFWs end up getting absorbed by the idea that they’ve ‘made it’ so they end up ‘living the life’ by enjoying their hard-earned money. Besides, what’s wrong with enjoying the fruits of your labor?
Nothing really, as long as you’re enjoying it responsibly. However, more often than not, OFWs enjoy themselves and spend their months and years ‘living the life’ on credit.
Yes, credit cards. Lots of them.
And so years pass and not only do they fail to save and invest their incomes but they’ve also accumulated enough debt that some of them are wanted badly by debt collectors because of the tab they have stacked up.
4. ‘Extracurricular’ activities
Another sad but real situation OFWs get themselves into is getting caught up in distracting activities – some of them distracting enough that it ruins their families.
One notorious ‘extracurricular’ activity is extramarital affairs. Some OFWs, because of ‘loneliness,’ resort to having an affair abroad and even starting their own illegitimate families. The result is a dire neglect of their legitimate families back home which often results to broken marriages and children gone astray.
A less distasteful, but nevertheless distracting activity, is frequent group activity. We’re talking about weekend meet up with friends at the bar, fancy organizations, and some religious organizations wherein OFWs are required to attend weekly gatherings for the sake of OFW camaraderie and togetherness. This is fine.
What’s not fine is that these activities, upon close examination, rake up a huge percentage of a person’s income simply by frequently meeting up with their friends or other members in restaurants, picnic parks, and Starbucks (yes, Starbucks is a favorite hangout for some of these groups). If you’re earning just enough to send money to the Philippines and just enough have a place to live in, it wouldn’t be a smart idea to get yourself a lifestyle that requires frequent spending.
Regardless if its for camaraderie.
Otherwise, that’s one expensive way to keep yourself company.
If you’re a Filipino based in the Philippines or an OFW, you know that these instances are real and do happen. Sadly, a lot are so distracted by what’s going on around them that they lack the focus to reflect and really analyze what’s going on with their lives.
Please share this article that it may benefit OFWs and keep their primary mission (which is to live better lives and help their families live better lives as well) from being in vain.
And by then, may they be the modern heroes we all want them to be.
Anne recites favorite quotes in 9 accents
"Dyesebel" star Anne Curtis gets creative in sharing her favorite inspirational quotes in her latest vlog entry, which was released Wednesday on her official website.
In the nearly two-minute video, the 29-year-old actress gets in character according to the accents she recites the quotes with -- British, Australian, French, Italian and Thai, among others.
Sharon's family reveals cause of mother's death
ABS-CBNnews.com
Posted at 11/05/2014 9:36 PM | Updated as of 11/05/2014 9:36 PM
MANILA - The family of veteran singer Sharon Cuneta asked to be given privacy as they mourn her mother, Elaine Gamboa Cuneta, who passed away on Wednesday afternoon at age 79.
In a statement given to ABS-CBN News on Wednesday night, the Cuneta family said Elaine died at 2:05 p.m. after seven weeks in intensive care.
Mrs. Cuneta's death was first announced by her granddaughter, actress KC Concepion, in a series of posts on micro-blogging site Twitter, but did not give further details.
I will miss you laughing this much, this way. I shared so many fun times with you that I will recreate forever. You are my sunshine, Mita.
According to the family's statement, Mrs. Cuneta died due to internal bleeding and complications arising from abdominal surgery. She was first confined for abdominal pains on September 2.
Mrs. Cuneta is survived by her two children and their respective partners, 11 grandchildren, and eight siblings.
"The family is deeply grateful for the outpouring of sympathy, love, and prayer support during their time of grief," the statement read. "They are comforted by their faith and the certainty that she is in a good place, in the hands of her Creator - no pain, no sickness or weakness, and seeing Jesus face to face."
"It has been a very difficult time for the family, especially for Sharon, Chet, KC, and Mrs. Cuneta's brothers and sisters, and it is their hope that they may be allowed some privacy as they mourn the loss of the beloved Mrs. Cuneta."
Though I'm not at the fabulous Star Magic Ball tonight, being with my beautiful grandma at the hospi makes everything worthwhile!!! 💖 #FamilyAffajr #GetWellSoon #MitaElaine
Posted at 11/05/2014 9:36 PM | Updated as of 11/05/2014 9:36 PM
MANILA - The family of veteran singer Sharon Cuneta asked to be given privacy as they mourn her mother, Elaine Gamboa Cuneta, who passed away on Wednesday afternoon at age 79.
In a statement given to ABS-CBN News on Wednesday night, the Cuneta family said Elaine died at 2:05 p.m. after seven weeks in intensive care.
Mrs. Cuneta's death was first announced by her granddaughter, actress KC Concepion, in a series of posts on micro-blogging site Twitter, but did not give further details.
According to the family's statement, Mrs. Cuneta died due to internal bleeding and complications arising from abdominal surgery. She was first confined for abdominal pains on September 2.
Mrs. Cuneta is survived by her two children and their respective partners, 11 grandchildren, and eight siblings.
"The family is deeply grateful for the outpouring of sympathy, love, and prayer support during their time of grief," the statement read. "They are comforted by their faith and the certainty that she is in a good place, in the hands of her Creator - no pain, no sickness or weakness, and seeing Jesus face to face."
"It has been a very difficult time for the family, especially for Sharon, Chet, KC, and Mrs. Cuneta's brothers and sisters, and it is their hope that they may be allowed some privacy as they mourn the loss of the beloved Mrs. Cuneta."
In this May 19, 2013 file photo, Saudi Deputy Labor Minister Mufarrej bin Saad Al-Haqbani (right) and Philippine Labor Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz sign the landmark labor agreement on the hiring of Filipino household service workers (HSWs). Al-Haqbani signed on behalf of Labor Minister Adel Fakeih. The Cabinet approved the accord on Monday, Nov. 3, 2014. (AN photo)
The Cabinet has approved the domestic worker recruitment agreement signed between the Saudi and Philippines labor ministries in May last year.
A report by the Saudi Press Agency on Monday said the Cabinet gave its approval on the agreement based on a report submitted Labor Minister Adel Fakeih.
Covered by the agreement are housemaids, babysitters, laundrywomen, family drivers, cooks and gardeners.
The agreement stipulates that workers receive a minimum monthly salary of SR1,500, their own bank accounts, weekly rest days and daily rest periods, paid vacation leave, non-withholding of passports and work permits, free communication and humane treatment.
Saudi Arabia requires workers to be medically fit, with no criminal record.
Saudi and Philippine labor officials concluded the pact more than a year after RIyadh ordered a freeze on the recruitment of domestic workers amid complaints by Manila of rising domestic worker abuse among Saudi families.
The Cabinet action affirmed the agreement, which had actually been implemented since 2013, paving the way for the lifting of a ban on recruitment of Filipino domestic workers for the Saudi market.
Saudi Arabia signed similar accords with India and Sri Lanka last January.
South Asian executed in Alkhobar for drug trafficking
Mohammed Sadiq Hanif was arrested during his attempt to smuggle “a large amount” of heroin, the ministry said in a statement carried by the official SPA news agency.
The beheading on Wednesday in the eastern town of Alkhobar raises to 64 the number of death sentences carried out in the kingdom this year. He was the 5th Pakistani to be executed in the Kingdom for drug trafficking in a month.
The four earlier ones were executed last month, the latest being Mohammed Gul Rahma, who was beheaded in Qatif, also in the Eastern Province, on Oct. 24.
The government “is keen on combating narcotics due to their great harm to individuals and the society,” the Interior Ministry said.
Crown prince honors winners of historical research prize
Crown Prince Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense who is also the head of Higher Supervisory Committee for Prince Salman Prize for Post-Graduate Studies, honored the winners of the research prize on the History and Civilization of Arabian Peninsula, in Riyadh on Tuesday, according to the Saudi press Agency.
Earlier, the Crown Prince received the King Saud University Rector Dr. Badran al-Omar, Secretary General of King Abdulaziz Center of Research and Archives (Darah) Dr. Fahad Al-Sammari, Secretary General of the Prize Dr. Abdulla Al-Subaie, and members of the Scientific Committee of the Prize.
At the outset of the event, the rector of KSU expressed thanks to the Crown Prince for his support and confidence towards the university as the incubator of the prize.
The prize embodied the Crown Prince’s commitment to science and historic studies that documented the old history of the Arabian Peninsula in refined scientific forms, which will be beneficial to current and future generations, he said.
Some 43 researchers, 37 Saudis and another 6 from other GCC countries vied for the prize’s ten winning areas, in addition to three researchers who gave support to post-graduate students.
Al-Omar noted that the prize comes at an appropriate time from a historian (referring to the Crown Prince) who is well aware of the importance of history, as history departments in the Kingdom’s universities have dwindled.
The honored winners were as follows, Dr. Bandar bin Mohamed Al-Arwi and Dr. Talal bin Khalid Al-Tiraifi (PhD branch for Saudis), Dr. Ali bin Rashid Al-Madbouli, from Oman (PhD branch for non-Saudis), Walid Ahlil Al-Mutairi, Muna bint Saad Al-Otaibi and Jouzi bint Mohamed Al-Subaei (Masteral branch for Saudis), Samia bint Abdulla Al-Kathiri, from Yemen, and Fatima bint Salim Al-Bulushi, Oman (Masteral branch for non-Saudis), and researcher Salman bin Salim Al-Mutairi (supportive program for researches).
Meanwhile, members of the Scientific Committee of the Prize stressed the importance of the prize and its role in promoting scientific research in universities. Committee member Prince Turki bin Fahad said the prize has given enormous impetus to researches in the area of history and will remain an incentive to scientific movement and researchers.
KSA raps Zionist land grab, ‘criminal acts’ at Al-Aqsa
The ministers described the actions of the Zionist regime as criminal and a provocation of Muslims worldwide, Culture and Information Minister Abdul Aziz Khoja told reporters after the Cabinet meeting.
Khoja said the Israeli government was continuing its aggression against the Palestinians with its decision to build 1,000 housing units in the occupied city of Al-Quds.
Crown Prince Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense, chaired the meeting in Riyadh on Monday.
Meanwhile, based on a report submitted by the Minister of Labor Adel Fakeih, the Cabinet approved the domestic worker recruitment agreement signed by the Saudi and Philippines labor ministries in May last year.
The agreement is expected to cover housemaids, babysitters, laundrywomen, family drivers, cooks and gardeners.
The agreement agreed upon last year stipulates that workers receive a minimum monthly salary of SR1,500, their own bank accounts, weekly rest days and daily rest periods, paid vacation leave, non-withholding of passports and work permits, free communication and humane treatment.
Saudi Arabia requires workers to be medically fit, with no criminal record.At the beginning of Monday’s meeting, the Cabinet was briefed about the outcome of talks on cooperation between Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Jabir Al-Sabah.
Khoja told reporters that the Cabinet explored the latest regional and global developments, particularly the conference held in Germany on protecting Syrian refugees.
The Cabinet welcomed the recommendations issued by the fourth session of the anti-sea piracy conference that was recently convened in the United Arab Emirates, Khoja said. He said the Cabinet passed a series of decisions including the approval of diplomatic relations with the Republic of Timor-Leste and the Republic of Costa Rica at the level of “non-resident ambassador.” The Council approved an agreement with the Portuguese government to avoid dual taxation and curb tax evasion.
Khoja said that the Cabinet, after reviewing a report submitted by the Minister of Civil Service, ordered that all government departments must publicly announce vacancies to ensure parity between applicants.
The government agencies must announce vacancies on their websites, the ministry’s website and in two or more newspapers concerning terms, conditions and standards of the announced jobs, he said. The Cabinet approved a plan to conduct talks with the Hungarian government on telecommunications and information technology.
Amnesty: Israel committed war crimes in Gaza war
Palestinians inspect the damage of their destroyed houses during a 12-hour cease-fire in Gaza City's Shijaiyah neighborhood in this July 26, 2014 file photo.AP Photo/Khalil Hamra, File)
JERUSALEM: Amnesty International on Wednesday accused Israel of committing war crimes during the war in the Gaza Strip this summer, saying it displayed “callous indifference” in attacks on family homes in the densely populated coastal area.
The Gaza war left more than 2,100 Palestinians dead, including many civilians according to Palestinian and UN officials. Israel says the number of militants killed was much higher and accuses Hamas of using civilians as human shields. On the Israeli side, 66 soldiers and six civilians were killed.
Israel’s foreign ministry rejected the report’s findings, saying the London-based rights group “ignores documented war crimes perpetrated by Hamas.”
“The report does not mention the word terror in relation to Hamas or other armed Palestinian groups, nor mentions tunnels built by Hamas to infiltrate Israel and perpetrate terror attacks,” the ministry said.Israel launched the Gaza operation in early July in response to stepped-up rocket attacks on Israeli cities by the coastal area’s militant Palestinian Hamas rulers.
The operation followed a crackdown by Israeli forces in the West Bank, where troops arrested scores of Hamas members, in response to the kidnapping and killings of three teenage Israelis in June by Hamas operatives.
Several weeks later, Jewish extremists kidnapped and burned to death a Palestinian teenager in east Jerusalem in an apparent revenge attack.
But the summer war was the fiercest conflict between the two sides in years.
“Israeli forces have brazenly flouted the laws of war by carrying out a series of attacks on civilian homes, displaying callous indifference to the carnage caused,” said Philip Luther, Director of Amnesty’s Middle East and North Africa program.
During the 50 days of fighting, Hamas fired thousands of rockets and mortars at Israeli towns and cities, including Tel Aviv, and used a sophisticated tunnel network to carry out attacks on Israeli military encampments in southern Israel, close to the Gaza border. Some of the tunnels also had exits abutting Israeli civilian communities, giving Hamas the ability to attack them as well.
For its part, Israeli forces carried out sustained aerial, artillery and infantry attacks in Gaza, many of which the Amnesty report found to be indiscriminate.
Israel says the military was as careful as possible to avoid civilian casualties citing its system of providing warning to civilians that strikes on their buildings were coming when possible.
It argues that the heavy civilian death toll is Hamas’ fault, accusing the Islamic militant group of launching rockets — and drawing retaliation — from school yards, residential areas and mosques.
“The report exposes a pattern of attacks on civilian homes by Israeli forces which have shown a shocking disregard for the lives of Palestinian civilians, who were given no warning and had no chance to flee,” Luther said.
200 illegal stalls shut in Jeddah
''Municipal officials have undertaken round-the-clock inspection of stalls in all districts in the city. Food items unfit for human consumption sold in such stalls have been destroyed while those fit for consumption have been sent to charity organizations,'' Al-Ghamdi told Arab News.
The official said the municipality noticed the presence of illegal stalls in several poor neighborhoods and was striving to halt such practices with the help of police and other related departments.
According to Al-Ghamdi, those stalls run by Saudis have been legalized while the ones run by expatriate workers have been shut down.
The Committee to Combat Hawkers said in a recent statement that during the last Hijri year ending on Oct. 25, the municipality destroyed 3,276 carts used by vendors, 2,350 stalls, and 1,436 pick-up loads of vegetable and fruits besides arresting thousands of illegal expatriate hawkers with the help of local police.
The inspectors also raided and destroyed 1,000 illegal stalls, Al-Ghamdi said, and urged citizens to call the toll-free number 940, or notify authorities via the municipality's website in case they come across any illegal stands operating in any district.
It has been noticed recently that a number of illicit stalls and restaurants have cropped up in most streets and districts in the city causing traffic congestion and environmental pollution.
Educationist Bandar Zamim said that the presence of countless illegal stalls in different city districts has contributed to the spread of contagious diseases. Hawkers have found a profitable market in the city's schools, he said, and wondered why municipal inspectors are not taking any measures against them.
Resident Nader Al-Fouli said he loves to eat traditional food from stalls at street corners. However, he admitted some foreign hawkers set up their stalls without official permit and operate with scant regard for cleanliness or hygiene.
Report: IS group abused captive Kurdish children
BEIRUT: Islamic State militants tortured and abused Kurdish children captured earlier this year near the northern Syrian town of Kobani, beating them with hoses and electric cables, an international rights group said Tuesday.
Human Rights Watch based its conclusions on interviews with several children who were among more than 150 Kurdish boys from Kobani abducted in late May as they were returning home after taking school exams in the city of Aleppo. It said around 50 of the Kurds escaped early in their captivity, while the rest were released in batches — the last coming on Oct. 29.
“Since the beginning of the Syrian uprising, children have suffered the horrors of detention and torture, first by the Assad government and now by ISIS,” said Human Rights Watch’s Fred Abrahams. “This evidence of torture and abuse of children by ISIS underlines why no one should support their criminal enterprise.”
Four of the children who were released told the New York-based rights group that they were held by the extremists in the northern Syrian town of Manbij. They described frequent abuse at the hands of the militants, who used a hose and electric cable to administer beatings.
The boys said that some of the worst abuse was reserved for captives who had family members in the Kurdish militia known as the YPG, which has been locked in heavy fighting with Islamic State militants for control of Kobani since mid-September.
The children said the Islamic State group did not say why they were being released, other than that they had completed their religious training, the Human Rights Watch report said.
Islamic State militants have taken hundreds of Kurds captive over the past year as part of the group’s brutal campaign to take over predominantly Kurdish areas of northern and eastern Syria.
More captives freed
On Tuesday, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the extremists had released dozens of Kurds taken captive in February. It was not immediately clear why the Islamic State group would release the captives now, nor whether a deal had been made with the Kurds for a prisoner exchange.
The fight over Kobani, meanwhile, has raged on, with the Islamic State group pressing its assault despite fierce resistance from the town’s Kurdish defenders and heavy US-led airstrikes against the extremists. On Tuesday, clashes focused on the eastern and western sides of the town, the Observatory and an Iraqi Kurdish fighter said.
Iraqi Kurdish forces known as peshmerga have deployed to Kobani to help bolster their Syrian brethren defending the town. So far, the peshmerga are only playing a support role, using their heavy weapons and mortars to provide cover to YPG militiamen, said the Iraqi fighter, who only gave his first name, Rebwar, because he wasn’t authorized to speak to the media.
While much of the world’s attention has focused in on the town along the Syria-Turkey border since the Islamic State offensive there began some six weeks ago, France’s foreign minister urged the international coalition against the Islamic State to save the embattled city of Aleppo after attending to Kobani.
Aleppo, once Syria’s largest city, has been carved into opposition- and government-held areas since mid-2012. In recent months, the rebel-controlled zone has come under increasing threat as it has been squeezed by President Bashar Assad’s forces as well as advancing Islamic State militants.
“Abandoning Aleppo would mean condemning 300,000 men, women and children to a terrible fate: either a murderous siege under the regime’s bombs or the terrorist barbarity of Daesh,” Laurent Fabius wrote in a column published Tuesday in the Washington Post, France’s Le Figaro daily as well as the pan-Arab Al-Hayat newspaper. Daesh is the Arabic name for the Islamic State group.
“That is why — together with our coalition partners — we must focus our efforts on Aleppo, with two clear objectives: strengthening our support for the moderate Syrian opposition, and protecting the civilian population from the twin crimes of the regime and Daesh,” Fabius added.
French aircraft are taking part in the US-led aerial campaign against the Islamic State militants in Iraq, but Paris opted out of the coalition mission in Syria.
The Islamic State group overran much of northern and western Iraq in June, adding to the large chunk of northern and eastern Syria it already controlled. It has continued its push to try to consolidate its hold on that territory, including around Iraq’s largest oil refinery outside the town of Beiji.
Associated Press footage on Tuesday showed Iraqi special forces attacking some Islamic State group positions near Beiji. The soldiers opened fire on a white building used by militants. Thick black smoke could be seen rising from the building.
Besieged Iraqi troops have managed to maintain control of the refinery outside Beiji, some 250 kilometers (155 miles) north of Baghdad, despite numerous attempts by the Islamic State group to capture it.
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Associated Press writer Sameer N. Yacoub contributed to this report from Baghdad.
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