JEDDAH: Pakistan Ambassador Manzoor Ul Haq urged his compatriots not to go for Haj without Haj permits and to follow the country’s laws with respect.
He explained to Pakistani nationals that they should respect the law of the Kingdom as they always do, and those who came on visit or business visas, and have no Haj permits, should not go to perform Haj.
He also said that Saudi government spends billions of riyals to maintain facilities and give comfort, safety and security to the pilgrims who come to perform Haj from around the world, and have established rules for the pilgrims who want to perform Haj.
It is everyone’s responsibility, for those who live in different parts of the Kingdom, and those who came from Pakistan, to respect the Kingdoms laws for their own benefit.
The government of Saudi Arabia has already launched its campaign “No Haj without a permit,” and Makkah Governorate has issued a package of penalties to be imposed on individuals and companies who violate the Haj laws and regulations.
The Saudi government has already announced that performing Haj without permit is a violation punishable with the deportation of the perpetrator, and a 10-year ban on his/her entry to the Kingdom.
People should not transport pilgrims without permits and transportation licenses, otherwise they will be penalized with a SR100,000 fine and face two years in prison.
The offender shall not be released, even on bail, according to the government statement.
This year a total of 142,000 Pakistani pilgrims are performing Haj, out of which, 105,000 have already arrived and reached Makkah.
The Pakistani mission has contracted 140 buildings to accommodate their pilgrims in Makkah, a medical mission with 450 doctors, and 1,000 guides and helpers are available to assist pilgrims.
Pakistan envoy urges compatriots not to go for Haj without permit
Pakistan envoy urges compatriots not to go for Haj without permit
Saudi Arabia condemns Israel’s continued acts of genocide in Rafah
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia condemned on Tuesday the Israeli forces’ continued “genocidal massacres against the Palestinian people without deterrence” by targeting the tents of defenseless Palestinian refugees in Rafah.
The Kingdom holds the Israeli authorities fully responsible for what is happening in Rafah and all the occupied Palestinian territories, a foreign ministry statement read.
Israel’s military denied striking a tent camp west of the city of Rafah on Tuesday after Gaza health authorities said Israeli tank shelling had killed at least 21 people there, in what Israel has designated a civilian evacuation zone.
Earlier, defying an appeal from the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Israeli tanks advanced to the heart of Rafah for the first time after a night of heavy bombardment, while Spain, Ireland and Norway officially recognized a Palestinian state, a move that further deepened Israel’s international isolation.
Saudi Arabia reiterated that the Israeli forces’ blatant violation of all international and humanitarian laws and norms, amid the silence of the international community, exacerbates the unprecedented Palestinian humanitarian catastrophe, and puts the credibility of international legitimacy institution at stake.
“The Kingdom stresses the need for the international community to assume its responsibilities to stop the massacres against the Palestinian people and hold those responsible accountable,” the statement concluded.
- With Reuters.
Saudi Ministry of Media, Microsoft Arabia sign memorandum of understanding
- Deal aims to advance media sector in the Kingdom
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Media signed a memorandum of understanding with Microsoft Arabia in Riyadh on Tuesday covering several areas of cooperation, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by the Assistant Minister of Media Abdullah Al-Maghlouth, and Ziad Mansour, Microsoft’s executive vice president of data and artificial intelligence.
Bassem Al-Hazmi, the general manager of digital transformation and information technology and the general manager of cybersecurity, was also present, along with the President of Microsoft Arabia Turki Badhris.
Cooperation will include developing technical aspects in the areas of data analysis, self-learning, AI, security and privacy solutions, and various software and service development solutions.
It will aim to raise the quality of local media content and keep pace with global transformations to serve the future goals of the Ministry of Media.
The memorandum also bids to advance the media sector in the Kingdom, enabling it to contribute to the local economy while benefiting from the developments of AI and its multiple applications in the field of media.
Who’s Who: Mansour Al-Babtain, VP of commercial partnerships and liaison at World Defense Show
Mansour Al-Babtain is the vice president of commercial partnerships and liaison at the World Defense Show.
A former fighter pilot, Al-Babtain has extensive experience working with high-level government figures and private-sector leaders.
He joined the WDS in April 2021. His current role is to oversee the sales, sponsorship and customer experience divisions, in addition to maintaining his liaison responsibilities with Saudi government entities including the General Authority for Military Industries and international delegations.
The department links WDS business owners with the appropriate government entities, ensures the security of the location and people prior to, during and following the show, and manages WDS committees.
From the initial show license to security support, Al-Babtain effectively manages the challenges of ensuring the smooth entry and exit of military supplies, technology, and personnel.
Having graduated from King Faisal Air Academy, he served 12 years in the Royal Saudi Air Force as a fighter pilot, squadron leader and tactical intelligence officer before moving to the Ministry of Defense and later to several government entities.
In addition to his degree in aerial sciences, Al-Babtain holds a master’s degree in strategic studies from Air University in Alabama and a diploma in diplomatic and political relations from the International Arbitration Commission in Cairo.
AI and intellectual property in the spotlight at Arab League meeting
RIYADH: Intellectual property and artificial intelligence will be discussed at a regional meeting of the Arab League’s Intellectual Property and Competitiveness Department on Wednesday.
The virtual gathering, which will be hosted via video link, will include experts from the World Intellectual Property Organization and governmental intellectual property offices from several Arab nations, reported Saudi Press Agency.
Key topics on the agenda are optimizing intellectual property frameworks for AI development, the impact of AI on patenting processes, legislative efforts to address legal challenges, and implications of AI for copyright regulations.
Minister Plenipotentiary Dr. Maha Bakheet, director of legal affairs at the Intellectual Property and Competitiveness Department, said the meeting aimed to safeguard AI models through intellectual property mechanisms and enhance services.
It also hopes to drive service delivery and management progress within regional intellectual property offices.
Saudi recruiters to face heavy fines for visa violations
RIYADH: The General Directorate of Public Security announced that recruiters who postpone reporting the departures of employees as soon as their entry visas expire will be subject to a fine of about SR50,000 ($13,300), imprisonment for up to six months, and deportation of recruitees if they are expatriates.
The directorate called for reporting residency, work and border security regulation violations by dialing the numbers (911) in Makkah, Riyadh and the Eastern Province, and (999) in the rest of the Kingdom.
According to the Saudi Press Agency report, the directorate said that from May 23 until June 21, anyone holding a visit visa of any type is not permitted to enter or remain in Makkah.
A visit visa of any type and name does not entitle its holder to perform the Hajj pilgrimage, added the directorate.
