JEDDAH, 18 August 2006 — Interior Minister Prince Naif, supervisor general of the Saudi People’s Campaign for the Relief of the Lebanese People, has ordered the payment of $1 million to the United Nation’s High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) to help Lebanese war refugees. Saeed Al-Harithy, an adviser to Prince Naif, made the announcement, adding that the Kingdom’s humanitarian assistance in Lebanon would continue for the foreseeable future, the Saudi Press Agency reported yesterday.
Young Man May Be Spared Sword
AL-QATEEF, 18 August 2006 — Saudi youth Ahmad Abdullah Al-Bahrani, might be spared the executioner’s sword after his relatives agreed to pay SR6 million in blood money over a six-month period, the daily Okaz reported yesterday. Al-Bahrani was sentenced to death for the crime unless, in accordance to Shariah law, the family of the victims agreed to pardon him. Al-Bahrani had a dispute with his cousin Raid Al-Dowaish and killed him in the confrontation. The father of the condemned had originally offered to pay SR3 million, but later rescinded the offer before the family of the victim could respond to the bid. Now, the victim’s family is asking for SR6 million to be paid over the next six months. Local social workers have initiated a charity drive since the family doesn’t have all the funds the victim’s family had demanded.
Saudi Women To Start Cashier Jobs
JEDDAH, 18 August 2006 — Twenty Saudi women are beginning training to become the first women supermarket cashiers. The Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the General Organization for Technical Education and Vocational Training are co-sponsoring the program. Arij Nuh, supervisor of the training scheme said the course helps young women to learn and acquire accounting skills and the ways of interacting with the customers and adjusting with work conditions. She also appreciated the positive reactions by women trainees for the training program, Okaz reported yesterday. Saudi Arabia has initiated a policy of encouraging Saudi women to enter the work force. Some estimates put the female unemployment rate among Saudis as high as 95 percent. The Kingdom is also planning to incorporate women as sales clerks at retail outlets that cater specifically to women, such as clothing shops and beauty supply stores.
