SAUDI GROK Daily News – Excerpts from International Media Reports
[Links to full articles were active on the date posted here]
Dispute Over Saudi Princess’ Mysterious Death in Cairo [Aug 25]
“Hours after the death of Hind Al Fassi, a Saudi princess who had been living with her family in Cairo, her brother and husband got involved in a heated dispute inside the hospital where she passed away. Their disagreement soon developed into a legal tug-of-war. “I have some proof, which I want to bring to the attention of investigators,” Aalal Al Fassi, Hind’s brother, said. He added that he suspects that her son and daughter as well as their father Prince Turki Bin Abdul Aziz, the brother of Saudi King Abdullah, had killed her .. .. Egyptian prosecutors have started investigating his claims after Al Fassi filed a formal complaint.. .. Aalal’s lawyer was quoted yesterday in Egyptian newspapers as saying that his client had been abducted by unknown people who posed as security personnel before he was to go to the prosecutor’s office “to furnish hard evidence about his sister’s death”..” [Complete Report]
Bahrain’s Al-Baraka to Enter Saudi Through Acquisition [Aug 25]
“Bahrain’s Islamic lender Al-Baraka said on Tuesday it planned to enter the Saudi Arabian market through an acquisition of an Islamic investment company, valued at around SR300 million ($80 million). “The group is in the process of obtaining approval from Saudi authorities to enter the Kingdom this year through acquiring one of the companies operating in the Saudi market,” the lender said in a statement on the bourse website. Al-Baraka did not disclose the name of the Saudi firm it planned to buy, adding it would reveal further details after gaining official approval. “It will be an Islamic investment firm,” Chief Executive Adnan Yousif told Al-Arabiya TV, adding it was a medium-sized company. “(The company is) worth around SR300 million.” Adnan said the acquisition will be funded internally..” [Complete Report]
Scholar Calls For Boycott of Hypermarket [Aug 25]
“Despite a Royal Decree to restrict the issuing of Fatwas to the Board of Senior Ulema and authorized Islamic scholars, a university professor was recently seen on YouTube calling for the mass boycott of a famous Saudi hypermarket which has hired female cashiers as an experimental program. The YouTube video clip, which was taken from Al-Usra TV, showed Yousuf Al-Ahmad answering a viewer who asked by phone whether the hypermarket should be boycotted for hiring Saudi females as cashiers.. .. The professor, who teaches at Imam Muhammad Bin Saud Islamic University in Riyadh, claimed that the hiring of women to work in public places was against the regulations of the country. However, there has been a clear announcement from Qussay Filali, Director General of the Labor Office in Jeddah, that Saudi women will be able to work as cashiers in supermarkets..” [Complete Report]
Sama Airlines in Efforts to Resume Operations [Aug 25]
“Private Saudi airline Sama, which suspended all operations from August 24, will not sell its assets and is making attempts to re-enter the market, a high-level source at the Saudi General Civil Aviation Authority (GACA) said on Wednesday. “The crisis which led to the suspension of the company’s operations is only temporary and does not threaten its future,” said the official. Local Arabic daily Okaz reported that Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia), Qatar Airways, Air Arabia and a number of other Arab airline companies have expressed interest in buying Sama, which was the first Arab Gulf airline company to fall prey to the financial crisis.. .. According to the official, the high price of fuel was the main reason behind the suspension of the company’s operations and he pointed out that the stoppage would only be temporary until an alternative financing solution was found..” [Complete Report]
Dalma Clinches Bronze Medal in Youth Games [Aug 25]
“Saudi Arabia’s Dalma Rushdi Malhas won the bronze medal in the Equestrian Individual Jumping event at the Youth Olympic Games Tuesday – becoming the first Saudi woman to win a medal at an Olympic event.. .. President of the International Equestrian Federation, Princess Haya Bint Al-Hussein from Saudi Arabia, handed over the medals to the winners. Director General of the Olympic Council of Asia, Hasan Musallam, told Agence France Presse (AFP) that the Saudi rider has accomplished a significant feat by being the first Arabian Gulf woman to win a medal in an Olympiad. He said the council has been working over the last 10 years to improve the Olympic movement in Asia with the participation of woman..” [Complete Report]
