RIYADH, 23 October 2007 — Parents and relatives of Safia Asif, the 19-year-old student at the Pakistan International School, Riyadh, (PISR), who is recovering at a local hospital after allegedly being assaulted by teachers, have called on Saudi and Pakistani officials to ensure they are given justice. Safia’s supporters have called on the Riyadh governorate, local human rights groups and the Ministry of Education to look into the teenager’s case. “The governorate has already asked the police to ensure a fair investigation in this case,” said Imran Ali, Safia’s brother-in-law.
RIYADH, 18 October 2007 — Burglars are on the prowl again despite intensified security patrolling on the streets of the capital city as companies and businesses reopen following the Eid holiday. That isn’t to say the holidays have been crime-free; numerous cases of theft and snatchings were reported. Mohammad Ayaz, who works as a senior architect for Saudi Oger, lost cash and jewelry worth over SR45,000 in a case of theft recently.
RIYADH, 12 October 2006 — Carrefour opened its first hypermarket in the Eastern Province on Tuesday evening. “The new Carrefour Hypermarket in Alkhobar (at Rashid Mall), occupying a shopping space of 10,000 square meters, offers a huge range of world-class products at the lowest possible prices,” said Abdullah Al-Ahmed, Carrefour’s vice president for business development and public relations.
RIYADH, 11 October 2007 — In a major move to cut reliance on foreign workers, Al-Othaim Markets Co. (OMC) has announced plans to recruit 300 Saudi employees this year within the framework of an agreement signed by OMC and the government-owned Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF). The OMC is also working with the General Organization for Technical Education & Vocational Training to hire trained Saudi manpower. Yousef Mohammed Al-Gafari, OMC’s company’s executive president, said here yesterday Othaim Group has already set up an academy to train Saudi graduates for free.
RIYADH, 7 October 2007 — The directors of the Pakistan International School, Riyadh, have announced that the school would bear all medical and ancillary expenses of Safia Asif until she recuperates from her fall. Nineteen-year-old Safia jumped from a second-story window at the school because of alleged prolonged psychological and physical harassment by one of the teachers. The teenager suffered a fracture of her collarbone, head injuries and bruises. The girl is currently recovering at the Central Shomaisi Hospital here.
RIYADH, 5 October 2007 — A 19-year-old student of Pakistan International School, Riyadh (PISR), was still fighting for her life yesterday at a local hospital after she attempted to commit suicide by jumping from the second floor of the school building on Saturday. It is believed that the girl, Safia Asif jumped due to harassment and coarse comments made by her teacher, who has since fled the country. Asif’s family also claim the teacher physically assaulted their daughter.
RIYADH, 4 September 2007 — Ten out of 31 Pakistani and Indian youths who were in police detention in Jeddah have been released after frantic efforts by parents, school authorities and diplomats. They were detained for allegedly assaulting policemen while celebrating their countries’ independence day anniversary in mid-August and have been in detention for the past three weeks awaiting a hearing.
RIYADH, 3 September 2007 — A young expatriate girl, who was picked up by the local police from the King Khaled International Airport (KKIA) last Wednesday, was released yesterday after questioning. The girl, who is a senior class student at a local Asian school, went missing last Monday from her house in mysterious circumstances.
RIYADH, 18 September 2007 — Eighteen of 31 Pakistani youths arrested a month ago on charges of assaulting and pelting policemen with stones in Jeddah have been released following a court order. Two Indian students who were detained on similar charges are still in custody. The court reportedly gave the students one-month jail sentences before releasing them. “The students were released because they already completed more than a month in prison since the day they were picked up by the local police,” Chaudhury Shaukat Ali, consul welfare at the Pakistani Consulate General, said yesterday.
RIYADH – A study has revealed that the miswak or teeth cleaning sticks used in Arab and Asian countries have greater value than toothbrush and toothpaste. A group of dentists at King Saud University (KSU) has done a study revealing the medicinal properties of miswak, while miswak sales have gone up considerably in Ramadan this year.