RIYADH: Shoura Council called on the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance to strengthen control on the mosque workers to make sure they fulfil their duties properly.
The call came during the council's 25th ordinary session held on Tuesday and chaired by the president of the council Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed Al-Sheikh.
In a press conference following the session, Assistant Speaker of the council Dr. Yahya bin Abdullah Al-Samaan said the council took its decision after listening to the Islamic and Judicial Affairs Committee’s opinion on the members’ remarks regarding the ministry’s annual report for the fiscal year 2016-2017.
The council decided to call on the ministry to create accounts on social media and smart phone applications.
Al-Samaan added that the council requested the General Authority for Statistics (GAS) to develop the statistics of the 2020 Population Census and update the reports on Saudi family incomes, average spending and consumer purchasing power every six and 12 months.
The council also requested detailed statistical reports of women’s involvement in public and private sectors, adding gender to all bank and investment statistics.
As previously reported by Arab News, 60 percent of young women in the Kingdom are unemployed, compared to 17 percent of young men. The government of Saudi Arabia has prioritized increasing young women’s employment.
The committee also requested the ministry to study the impacts of increasing non-oil revenues and present recommendations to reduce negative impact on the economy.
After discussing the committee’s report and recommendations, one the council’s members indicated that the ministry has focused on the developmental sides without mentioning the economic side.
Another member wondered why the ministry had used foreign consultancy companies instead of ones in the Kingdom.
Al-Samaan said the council approved harmonization of the project proposal study regarding the control on video games.
The project on controlling video games is made up of 14 articles. It aims to limit the negative impact of video games on children. The project will control video games content and give information on the minimum age for each game as advice for parents and guardians.
Saudi Shoura council calls for better data on women working in public and private sectors
Saudi Shoura council calls for better data on women working in public and private sectors
Coffee in Northern Borders is about flavor and community
ARAR: The strong and dark coffee in Saudi Arabia’s Northern Borders region denotes flavor, community and conversation.
The brew is typically prepared with generous amounts of cardamom, saffron or cloves and sometimes ginger. It is boiled in a rakwa or coffee kettle over a wood fire, giving it a unique taste associated with the Bedouin environment.
The coffee is served at “shabbat” gatherings in desert camps and on the outskirts of cities, where families and friends gather around a fire for warmth and conversations, the Saudi Press Agency reported recently.
FASTFACTS
• Dark brew boiled with cardamom, spices.
• All about hospitality, says an elder in Arar
Mohammed Ibrahim Al-Zammam, an Arar elder, said: “Coffee transcends simple hospitality for us — it initiates dialogue and embodies welcome. We dedicate ourselves to mastering its preparation because it demonstrates guest reverence and heritage appreciation.”
Northern heritage advocate Fahd Al-Saqri noted that coffee has evolved into a daily fixture within community councils, stressing that shabbat gatherings cannot truly commence without it.
Residents are keen to select the finest types of coffee beans, and preparation methods vary among families according to taste and custom.
Some families have passed down methods of preparing coffee through generations, with quality recognized by aroma, flavor, and color.
