JEDDAH: Six hundred graduates from Taif University moved a step closer to gaining higher-level jobs after a five-year wait and a two-and-a-half-year legal battle waged by 14 fellow students who took up the case.
The Ministry of Civil Service had previously declined to classify biological technique department students at Taif University, but the administrative courts in Jeddah and Makkah declared the decision wrong.
Abdul Rahman Zadkhan, one of the students, said the verdict gave hope to 600 who can now look for jobs appropriate to their four years of specialist study and one-year master’s.
The biological technique involves studying the medicine and drug as well as the oil and food industries, environment and agriculture.
Abulaziz Al-Satami, another student, said their ordeal had lasted for more than five years, even though the department opened by Taif University was approved by the Ministry of Higher Education and accredited by the Council of Higher Education. Different ministries disputed over taking up the responsibility for the department and blamed each other, he added.
The students’ jobs were reduced to lab analysts, and they were denied the opportunity to apply for other state jobs. Mazen Kurdy, the students’ lawyer, said that the department of biological technique was legally opened by the faculty and approved and accredited by the Council of Higher Education but the Ministry of Civil Service refused to classify some jobs for this major, only allowing alumni to take up lab technician posts. By doing this, the ministry wasted the money spent by the state to establish and run this department, he said.
Saudi court victory gives better job prospects to 600 Taif University students
Saudi court victory gives better job prospects to 600 Taif University students
Black cloth covering Kaaba in Makkah raised ahead of Hajj
- The procedure is meant to keep the cover, known as kiswa, free from getting soiled and tampered with as pilgrims performing Hajj circumabulate the Kaaba
RIYADH: In keeping with the annual tradition, officials raised the lower part of the kiswa — the elaborately designed black cloth covering the Kaaba — in Makkah on Wednesday ahead of this year's Hajj pilgrimage.
As approved by the General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques, the exposed part was covered with a white cotton fabric, two-and-a-half meters wide and 54 meters long on all four sides, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
Carrying out the procedure were 36 specialized technical personnel with the aid of 10 cranes.
As described in the SPA report, the kiswa is lifted in several stages: It starts with unscrewing the bottom of the cover from all sides, separating the corners, then untying the bottom rope and removing it from the fixing rings, after which the cloth is rolled upward. The lanterns are then dismantled and the white cloth are put in place, after which the lanterns are reinstalled over the white cloth until the final stage.
The procedure is repeated every year to protect the kiswa from getting soiled and damaged as pilgrims circumambulate the Kaaba.
The annual Hajj in Saudi Arabia is considered the world's largest human gathering, with year 2012 marking the biggest number of participants at 3.16 million.
At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Saudi authorities allowed only a symbolic observance of Hajj with just a thousand pilgrims. The numbers were gradually raised as the health crisis was placed under control worldwide. Last year, almost 1.84 million pilgrims performed the "once in a lifetime" journey and the figure is expected to go higher this year.
Every year, on the ninth day of the Islamic month of Dul Hijjah, the black silk cloth is removed and a new kiswa is draped in its place.
Saudi authorities limit entry to Makkah to Hajj visa holders
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior announced that visit visa holders are not allowed to enter or stay in Makkah during May 23-June 21 as access to the city will be limited to Hajj visa holders.
The ministry stressed that all types of visit visa are not a permit to perform Hajj, adding that violators will be subject to penalties according to Saudi laws and regulations.
Saudi FM in Tehran conveys king, crown prince condolences for Iran president death
RIYADH: Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister, conveyed the condolences of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to top Iranian officials in Tehran on Wednesday on the death of President Ebrahim Raisi and his companions.
Prince Mansour bin Muteb bin Abdulaziz, Adviser to King Salman and Minister of State, and Prince Faisal were received by Deputy Chief of Staff for Political Affairs to Iran President Mohammad Jamshidi and Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani.
Saudi ambassador to Iran Abdullah Al-Enazi attended the reception.
Saudi nature reserve becomes Kingdom’s ‘first major biodiversity site’
- Accreditation follows evaluation of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Natural Reserve by the international organization Key Biodiversity Areas
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Natural Reserve has been granted accreditation as “the first major biodiversity site in the Kingdom.”
The organization Key Biodiversity Areas confirmed the accreditation, after an evaluation based on international standards, on its website on Wednesday. It said the reserve meets three global standards, including the presence of endangered species, and so qualifies for inclusion. The announcement coincided with International Day for Biological Diversity, which takes place on May 22 each year.
KBA works to monitor and preserve approved sites of great importance as part of its efforts to sustain biological diversity on a global level, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The Saudi reserve is managed by the King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Natural Reserve Development Authority with the aim of protecting endangered species, developing natural habitats, raising environmental awareness among the public, and reducing natural and human threats to the area. It is considered the largest nature reserve in the Middle East, covering a total area of 130,700 square kilometers.
Saudi Arabia participates in UN tourism body meeting
Saudi Tourism Minister Ahmed Al-Khateeb headed the Kingdom’s delegation at the UN World Tourism Organization’s 50th meeting of the regional committee for the Middle East, on Wednesday in Muscat.
During his speech, the Saudi minister stressed the Kingdom’s openness to cooperate with member states to adopt joint regional tourism projects to attract international visitors to the region.
Al-Khateeb thanked the Omani Minister of Heritage and Tourism Salem Al-Mahrouqi for the hospitality and extended his appreciation to the UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili and other officials for their efforts to advance the tourism sector globally.
