MADINAH: Yes, yes, we all know about the ban on women’s driving in the Kingdom. It’s the stuff of practically every international news story about social issues facing the country. It seems a social story cannot be told about the Kingdom on cable news without referring to this ban. Well, here’s one for the international media and newspaper blogs: a woman in her 20s found herself in violation of the social ban when her husband had a diabetic reaction on a road trip from Jeddah to the village of Madh. The woman ended up driving her unconscious hubby 80 km for medical treatment, according to a report in Tuesday’s Al-Madinah newspaper. Perhaps this is a good reason to ensure that at least women in the Kingdom know how to drive!
A handshake will do, thanks
AL-AHSA: An imam in the Eastern Province city of Al-Ahsa has given some healthful advice in his sermon: members of the public should avoid the Arab tradition of kissing each other on the cheeks. According to a report in Al-Madinah newspaper on Tuesday, the advice has been spurred on by concerns over the global swine-flu pandemic. Sheikh Habib Al-Hudaibi, the imam of a mosque in the Mansoura district of Al-Ahsa, has asked the public to limit their greetings to handshake. It is believed that this is the first call to avoid the practice of kiss greeting in Saudi Arabia. Syria recently issued similar advice.
Power goes out on bride’s big day
NAJRAN: The electrical grid in this southern city betrayed a bride on her big day, when the blackout delayed the work of a hair and makeup artist. Instead of completing the job at 8 p.m. as planned three months in advance, the bride couldn’t get to her big shindig until after midnight thanks to the power outage. By the time the guest of honor had arrived, a number of wedding guests had stormed out in a huff over the hours-long delay. The bride’s embarrassed mother explained to the remaining guests that the hairdresser was sorry but there was little she could do in the dark.
