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RIYADH – A chorus of Pays-Basques singers greeted King Abdullah when he visited the French pavilion on the opening night of the Janadriya festival Wednesday.

He was welcomed to the pavilion, decked out by mini-Eiffel Towers and French-style cafes, by French Culture Minister Frederic Mitterrand.

In an address Mitterrand praised the Kings promotion of traditional Arab culture, adding: “France, also with age-old traditions… shares with your majesty this unique message.”

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In an interesting book, Wada Ar-Rasul li Ummatihi, Sheikh Al-Qahtani recalls the final words that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said on his deathbed.

After living a life of ibadah, dawah, and jihad, the Prophet (peace be upon him) gathered the people around him on his deathbed and said, “I have left two things and you shall not go astray after them so long as you stick to them: the Book of Allah and my Sunnah.”

After the Prophet (peace be upon him) passed away, the Ummah was tested with people who tried to corrupt, discredit, or amputate the Sunnah from Islam. So, Allah – from His Mercy to this Ummah – raised up warriors that would stand in the face of the most vicious enemies of the Sunnah. From those people that Allah raised was a young boy named Ahmad.

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RIYADH – Prince Salman Bin Abdul Aziz, Emir of Riyadh Region, Tuesday night laid the foundation stone of the Prince Salman Science Oasis spread over an area of 200,000 sq. meters along King Abdullah Road in the capital.

Businessmen have put in SR400 million to create the oasis. The Supreme Commission for Riyadh Development Authority will design and build the park that would initially include administrative buildings and eight thematic show halls on earth, space, water, life, energy, technology, awareness, and three dimensional art.

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RIYADH – Lawyers are partners of judges in fulfilment of justice, Dr. Mohammed Bin Abdul Karim Al-Issa, Minister of Justice, said here Tuesday evening.

Addressing a meeting of lawyers at the headquarters of Riyadhs Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the minister expressed his pride in the distinguished steps undertaken by the legal system.

In his speech, the Chairman of the Chambers Board of Directors Abdulrahman Al-Jeraisi commended King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, for the development and restructuring of the judicial system.

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RIYADH – China fully knows what it should do as a global power in the effort to halt Irans nuclear push, Prince Saud Al-Faisal, Foreign Minister, said in an interview published Monday.

“China is perfectly aware of the scope of its responsibilities and its obligations, including in the position it holds on the international stage and as a permanent member of the (UN) Security Council,” Prince Saud told Al-Riyadh newspaper.

He underscored that China is a “member of the six-party international group dealing with the Iran nuclear crisis,” adding Riyadh supports the groups work, and he hoped Iran would cooperate with its efforts.

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RIYADH – Plans to modernise Saudi Arabias legal system will take years due to a chronic shortage of qualified judges and lawyers.

The Kingdom said this month it would set up commercial and appeal courts in the main cities as part of a $2 billion reform to modernise courts and train judges. The move coincides with a crackdown on trading violations on the Arabs biggest bourse by slapping heavy fines on major banks or withdrawing licenses for financial firms.

The United States last month also removed Saudi Arabia from a list of alleged intellectual property violators, citing a better law enforcement environment.

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AL-KHOBAR – There is now a profound revival of Islamic culture underway around the world which will reverse the stereotypical perceptions that some people have of Islam and the Islamic World, according to Ismail S. Nazer, the foremost Saudi advocate of Islamic cultural revival.

“An Islamic cultural renaissance is under way around the world; we are seeing it everywhere,” Nazer said.

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JEDDAH/RIYADH – King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, on Monday approved a decision of the Civil Service Council to pay an annual bonus to workers who have not been promoted for the last eight years.

The King had previously ordered the Council to study proposals by Muhammad Bin Ali Al-Fayez, Minister of Civil Service .

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King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, holds talks with Haris Silajdzic, President of Bosnia, in Riyadh, Sunday. The two leaders discussed regional and international issues and ways to enhance cooperation between the two countries. Separately, the Monarch also received Samir Zeid Al-Rifai, Jordanian Prime Minister. – SPA

RIYADH – A French entourage is scheduled to hold a cultural and technological show at the annual Janadriya Festival, said Bertrand Besancenot, the French Ambassador to the Kingdom.

The ambassador was speaking at a press conference in Riyadh, Sunday.

The entourage will perform military heritage music and a parade honoring King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, he said. 

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