10 months ago
Saudi Arabia said it had executed four Ethiopian expatriates on charges of murdering a Sudanese national. The four were convicted of taking turns in fatally bludgeoning the victim and stabbing him after having tied his hands and feet, the Saudi Interior Ministry said. The motive for the murder was not given. The inmates were also found guilty of mugging, attempting to murder and robbing others at gunpoint. After investigations, they were referred to the competent court that convicted them of cardinal crimes, and intimidating others by attacking them and their money. The verdict was later upheld by appeals and supreme courts, and approved by a royal order, making it final. Their executions were carried out Wednesday in Riyadh, the ministry said. Saudi Arabia applies the death penalty against convicts in cases of murder and terror attacks as well as drug smuggling and trafficking. In December, two expatriates were executed in Saudi Arabia after they had been convicted in a final court ruling of murdering a man by spraying an insecticide into his mouth. The murder, the date of which was not given, was due to a financial dispute. The inmates were Bangladeshi nationals, who were found guilty of luring the […]
10 months ago
Mandatory insurance on contracts of new domestic workers in Saudi Arabia has gone into effect on Thursday, as part of regulating the labour market in the kingdom. According to the Ministry of Human Resources, the service applies to the first two years of the domestic labour contracts. Insurance will be optional for the employer after the two years of the contract. The new service secures compensation for the domestic worker and the employer in certain cases. Under the arrangement, the employer is entitled to compensation in the event of the employee’s absence, escape, death or incapacitation due to crippling diseases. Rights of workers Meanwhile, the service, conducted via a government platform, aims to preserve the domestic worker’s rights including compensation for complete or partial infirmity resulting from an accident, or in case of the employer’s failure to pay wages and other financial entitlements due to the employer’s death or incapability. Saudi labour authorities have recently sought to regulate the domestic labour market in the kingdom. To this end, the Ministry of Human Resources launched Musaned, a platform responsible for domestic labour, to help customers learn about their rights and duties, and related services including visa issuance, recruitment requests and the […]
10 months ago
Saudi Arabia has sternly warned that deterrent penalties are meted out against medical fraud and dealing in fake medical equipment. The kingdom’s law on medical equipment and supplies bans any “sinful” conduct involving fraud, and incorporates tough penalties, Saudi prosecutors have said. A dealer in bogus medical devices or requirements on purpose faces imprisonment of up to 10 years and a maximum fine of SR10 million, or one of both penalties, Saudi public prosecution has said. In November, a Saudi court sentenced an Arab expatriate to two years in prison after finding him guilty of adulterating veterinary preparations. The court also ordered the defendant’s deportation after serving the term. Two months earlier, a court in Saudi Arabia’s eastern city of Dammam handed down a two-year jail sentence to another expatriate on charges of manufacturing and possessing fake veterinary medicines. In its final ruling, the court also ordered the convict to pay a fine of SR20,000. He was also charged with printing fake labels with the intention of fraud. The defendant, whose nationality was not revealed, was caught by inspectors at the Saudi Food and Drug Authority in Dammam while carrying veterinary preparations in a non-refrigerated vehicle. Last year, Saudi Arabia […]
10 months ago
Saudi Arabia is considering reviving plans for a follow-on share offering in Saudi Aramco to raise at least SR40 billion ($10 billion) as early as February, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing sources familiar with the matter. The report follows the Saudi government’s directive on Tuesday to Aramco to halt its oil expansion plan. According to Bloomberg, the multibillion-dollar deal is likely to be among the largest global stock sales in recent years. The sources, who requested anonymity, said that the Kingdom is working with a group of advisors, and is seeking to raise at least 40 billion ($10 billion) from the sale of shares in the Saudi stock market. The new sale plans come four years after Saudi Arabia raised about $30 billion in Aramco’s initial public offering (IPO), which was the world’s largest stock sale ever. The IPO in late 2019 raised $25.6 billion and later selling more shares to raise the total to $29.4 billion. The Saudi government directly holds a 90.19 percent stake in Aramco, while the sovereign Public Investment Fund (PIF) and PIF subsidiary Sanabil hold four percent each. According to the Bloomberg report, there is no final decision regarding the timing of the sale […]
10 months ago
In the final hours of the Saudi Arabian football winter transfer market, clubs made significant signings to strengthen their squads for upcoming competitions. One of the most prominent deals was the acquisition of the veteran Croatian player, Ivan Rakitić, aged 35, by Al-Shabab Saudi Club for a year and a half. Rakitić, who has a wealth of experience and achievements, is expected to fill the void left by the departure of Argentine star Éver Banega. The winter transfer market, though not as expansive as the summer window, garnered significant attention from football fans as clubs engaged in negotiations throughout January. Among the notable signings was the transfer of Ahmed Al-Kassar, the goalkeeper for the Saudi national team, to Al-Qadisiyah Saudi Club. Al-Kassar’s move came shortly after the Green Falcons’ exit from the Asian Cup. Al-Qadisiyah Club warmly welcomed Al-Kassar to their ranks, recognizing him as the protector of the Green’s den. Al-Kassar, who previously played for Al-Fayha FC, joined Al-Qadisiyah due to limited playtime with his former club during the current season because of an injury to the first-choice goalkeeper, Vladimir Stojković. Al-Kassar’s unexpected appearance as the starting goalkeeper for Saudi Arabia in the Asian Cup drew attention, with his […]
10 months ago
The National Center of Meteorology (NCM) predicted that weather fluctuations, featuring light and moderate rainfall, dusty surface wind, high waves, light snowfall, and low temperatures, would continue hitting most regions of the Kingdom until Friday. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the center said that the southern Asir region will witness light rain from Tuesday until Friday, while the Jazan region will witness light to moderate rain during the same period. Al-Baha region will witness light to moderate rain from Tuesday until Thursday while light rain will affect Taif and Maysan governorates of the Makkah region during the same period. Light rains will experience in the regions of Tabuk, Hafr Al-Batin, Al-Khafji, Al-Eis, Al-Ula, Yanbu, and Khaybar on Thursday and Friday while the Northern Borders and Al-Jouf regions will be affected by light rain from Wednesday evening till Friday. The NCM forecast also includes dusty surface winds hitting the regions of Tabuk, Madinah, Makkah, Al-Jouf, the Northern Borders and Hail at a speed of 45 km/h or more with low horizontal visibility until Friday. The regions of Riyadh, the Eastern Province, and Qassim will be affected by dusty surface winds at a speed of 50 km/h with low horizontal visibility. […]
10 months ago
The Kingdom’s Culinary Arts Commission is participating in the annual Saudi Horeca exhibition from Feb. 5-7 in Jeddah, aiming to promote businesses in the hospitality and food industries while providing a platform for local producers. The exhibition showcases live shows for visitors to stay updated on developments in the food, beverage, and hospitality sectors. It includes a live cooking competition led by renowned chefs, allowing attendees to sample tasty dishes and compete for awards such as best barista in the Kingdom and best mocktail. The event draws diverse companies and entrepreneurs from various sectors, including food and beverages, pastries, sweets, coffee, tea, dairy, poultry, spices, flavouring, water, food-tasting equipment, maintenance, hygiene, commercial cooking equipment, vending machines, baking and ice cream machines, coffee machines, hospitality services, franchising, hotels, restaurants, packaging, and more—directly or indirectly linked to the food and hospitality sector. The Culinary Arts Commission participates in this exhibition to support institutions in the relevant sectors, ensuring that citizens and visitors enjoy world-class local food experiences. This comes as part of its “Community Engagement and Local Food Festivals Programme,” which supports food festivals nationwide. The programme aligns with the commission’s objective of emphasising authentic Saudi dishes.
10 months ago
The Visual Arts Commission is organising the international interactive art exhibition “Imagine Picasso” at Laysen Valley in Riyadh from Feb. 3 to March 3. Pablo Picasso is considered one of the most important artists of the 20th century, co-founding the Cubist movement. The exhibition pays homage to the late Spanish artist by projecting over 200 of his most well-known paintings. The paintings featured in “Imagine Picasso” come from esteemed museum collections, including the Musee Picasso in Paris, the Museu Picasso in Barcelona, the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Pushkin Museum in Moscow, and exclusive private collections. Through this exhibition, the Visual Arts Commission aims to provide a qualitative artistic experience within Saudi Arabia’s capital, fostering local cultural awareness of the importance of visual art. By employing the latest advanced display techniques, the exhibition invites visitors to explore Picasso’s world from a new creative perspective. Held in different cities around the world every year, “Imagine Picasso” transcends the traditional art exhibition format, providing a unique exploration into the creative genius of Picasso. Olivier Widmaier Picasso, the artist’s grandson, said: “I believe this exhibition would have pleased my grandfather a lot because he was, above all, a man of […]
10 months ago
Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Eng. Ahmed Al-Rajhi inaugurated on Monday Saudi Arabia’s “Youth Development Strategy.” Speaking on the occasion, Al-Rajhi said that the youth constituted 44 percent of the total population and 78 percent of the total workforce in Saudi Arabia. The minister said that the development strategy aimed at empowering young Saudis and supporting them to achieve national aspirations through developing opportunities and choices for the youth in a way that is compatible with their interests and aptitudes in all fields. Al-Rajhi praised the support and directives of the wise leadership in empowering the youth according to an ambitious vision that takes them to broader horizons to contribute to comprehensive national development. “This strategy came in cooperation and partnership with more than 30 governmental and private entities, offering the youth a variety of programmes and initiatives in various fields, the most important of which are regulations and legislation for youth work, building the capabilities of those working with the youth, and raising youth participation in the decision-making process and the community,” he said. Al-Rajhi said that the increasing proportion of youth in Saudi Arabia has necessitated the new strategy, which extends until 2030 and is based […]
10 months ago
Oil traders were stunned this morning when, in a huge reversal of its prior plans, the Saudi state ordered Aramco to stop work on expanding its maximum sustainable capacity to 13 million barrels daily, instead keeping it at 12 million bpd, ensuring that peak capacity will remain lower than projected rising demand for years to come, effectively pressuring oil prices much higher over the long run (unless, of course, the world figures out cold fusion in the next few years). The company said in a statement today that its maximum sustainable capacity is determined by the state under a law from 2017. Aramco added that it would update its capital spending plans for the year in accordance with the new government directive in March when it announces its 2023 financial results. Saudi Arabia currently has capacity for 12 million and is producing about 9 million a day after curbed output as part of OPEC+ efforts to revive the global oil market and prevent a surplus. Back in 2021, Saudi Arabia’s state oil company said it was working to boost its production capacity to 13 million barrels daily, a capacity expansion it predicted would come fully online by 2027 and in […]