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RIYADH – King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Wednesday received a message from Libyan President Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, inviting him to attend the Arab Summit in Libya later this month. The message was delivered by Ahmed Qaddaf Al-Dam, Special Envoy to the Libyan President, during an audience with the Monarch. Qaddaf Al-Dam also conveyed greetings and appreciation of President Gaddafi to the King who in turn conveyed his greetings to the Libyan leader. – SPA

RIYADH – Officers and privates injured in clashes with the infiltrators on the Kingdoms southern border are expected to receive awards of SR50,000 and SR30,000 respectively, according to sources.

Committees have been assigned to carry out the order of Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz to hand over special awards to injured soldiers involved in the clashes.

King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, had previously ordered the payment of one million riyals to each family of military personnel killed defending the southern borders. The Kings order included granting the deceased higher ranks and employing their sons or brothers in the military. – Okaz/SG

JEDDAH – Prince Mishal Bin Majed, Governor of Jeddah, has promised severe punishment for those who are found to have intentionally harmed the historic area of Old Jeddah.

He said that directives have been issued in this regard.

The governor was speaking during a visit to the area on Tuesday along with Prince Sultan Bin Salman, President of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA). The governor said that an inspection will take place next week and electricity will be cut off from all houses that have wiring flaws. “The houses here are not only for their legal owners but for everyone. We need to preserve them for our children and grandchildren so they can see the history of their city, and for that we need everyones cooperation,” Prince Mishal said.

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BURAIDAH – A meeting of lawyers in Buraidah on Saturday called for regulations giving them access to security, investigation and prison authorities to be put into effect.

The third Lawyers Meeting, backed by the regional Emir Prince Faisal Bin Bandar and with Muhammad Al-Isssa, the Minister of Justice, in attendance, issued a list of recommendations calling for lawyers to be provided with Ministry of Justice and Board of Grievances publications and circulars, waiting rooms linked to courts by computer, and the selection of a lawyer in each region to represent colleagues at the Ministry of Justice and intervene on their behalf.

Other recommendations seek the inclusion of lawyers in drafting regulations, statutes amendments, and periodic meetings with judges, and also urged the release of a Lawyers Commission Regulation to “enable it to perform its constructive role in serving justice”.

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DAMMAM – The role of the Saudi media in supporting the Kingdoms development process and economic growth, and media practitioners responsibility in enhancing progress in the private business sector will be the key topics to be discussed in a dialogue between officials of the Ministry of Culture and Information, leading businessmen, and representatives of the media sector.

The dialogue on March 14 at the Asharqia Chambers of Commerce and Industry will be sponsored by the Ministry of Culture and Information and hosted by the Asharqia Chambers.

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JEDDAH – Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah Region, was on Sunday briefed on the different phases of Haramain train project.

Dr. Jubara Al-Suraiseri, Minister of Transport, briefed the Emir on the 448-km train project that will link Makkah with Madina via Jeddah.

The train project has five stations along its route: Makkah, Jeddah, King Abdul Aziz International Airport, King Abdullah Economic City and Madina.

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JEDDAH – A delegation led by visiting Pakistani Minister for Religious Affairs Syed Hamid Saeed Kazmi called on the Saudi Minister for Haj Dr. Fuad Abdulsalam Al-Farsy and requested him to increase Pakistans Haj quota this year.

Thanking Farsy for increasing the Haj quota last year, the visiting Paksitani minister discussed arrangements for the forthcoming Haj.

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RIYADH – King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, has approved holding the first gathering of the most famous calligraphers of the Holy Quran, Sheikh Saleh Bin Abdul Aziz Aal Al-Sheikh, Minister of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Call and Guidance, said on Friday.

The minister said the gathering will be organized soon.

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AL-KHOBAR – An exhibition on the life of King Faisal, the third ruler of Saudi Arabia, entitled, “King Faisal – An Observer and a Martyr” is attracting huge crowds in Dhahran.

The exhibition at the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) has been organized by the King Faisal Foundation and the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies.

The month-long exhibition, which was inaugurated by Prince Mohammed Bin Fahd Bin Abdul Aziz, Emir of the Eastern Province, last week, is a celebration of the life of King Faisal, his legacy to Saudi society and the world at large, portraying his entire life since early childhood until his assassination in 1975.

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After a long and hectic day at work, how difficult it is for a tired person to go out to the mosque and concentrate on his prayers to Allah, the Almighty. Snuggled up in a warm and cozy bed, how difficult it is to get up at the call of the Muezzin: “Come to prayer! Come to success!”

The famous doctor and philosopher, Ibn Sina (Avicenna), recalls such a moment in his life. One cold and icy night, he and his servant were resting at an inn in a remote part of Khurasan. During the night, he felt thirsty, so he called to his servant to bring him some water. The slave had no desire to leave his warm bed, so he pretended not to hear Ibn Sinas call. But finally, after repeated calls, he reluctantly got up and went to fetch the water.

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