​Arabian folklore arts to be staged in Souk Okaz festival today

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Saturday 17 Jan 2015 - 16:18 Makkah mean time-26-3-1436 Taif (IINA) – To mark the opening of the Souk Okaz cultural festival, a beauty contest and race for Arabian horses to be held on Saturday in Taif, Saudi Arabia. This is one of many highlights at the top tourist attraction. There have already been performances of the Ardah dance by the Bahra and Renia folklore teams, with 100 artists, on Friday. Teams from the governorates of Al-Laith and Al-Turba will participate in the folklore contest on Saturday. The two teams will have 120 artists and art forms from the past. A 100-meter cloth has been set out for visitors to pray for Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and write down their feelings of patriotism and loyalty to their leaders. Makkah Governor Prince Mishaal bin Abdullah, chairman of the organizing committee, set out the cloth on Thursday. Saturday’s cultural programs include a seminar on the works of the famous classical poet Amr bin Khulthum, with poets and critics Ayman Maidan and Muhammad Al-Makki participating. Poets Muhammad Al-Hijazi and Hind Al-Motairi, Muhammad Al-Omri and Saniya Al-Farjani are among the participants. The King Abdul Aziz Library has 3,000 paper books and 2,000 e-books at the fair. The mobile library has served 120,000 people since it was launched. An attraction at the fair is a photographic exhibition called Colors of History, which showcases the history of the Kingdom from the founding by King Abdul Aziz to the recent achievements of King Abdullah. HA/IINA

World Bank: Djibouti to record highest growth in MENA

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Saturday 17 Jan 2015 - 15:51 Makkah mean time-26-3-1436 Djibouti (IINA) – In its latest report, entitled "Global Economic Prospects", which monitored the future prospects for about 14 countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, the World Bank expected that Djibouti to be the fastest growing in the region in 2015, followed by Oman, with growth rate of 5.5 percent and 5 percent, respectively. The local newspaper, “The Horn,” noted in its Thursday’s edition that the World Bank conducted a new survey on the transportation system, logistics, telecommunications, tourism, fisheries, as well as the light manufacturing areas, and concluded that Djibouti’s economy has shown promising signs. The World Bank forecasts came after Djibouti, which is considered one of the lower-middle-income economies, with Gross National Income per capita of $ 1600, had pledged to take serious steps to promote economic growth and create more job opportunities. AB/IINA

OIC leads Muslim world in denouncing publication of blasphemous cartoon

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Thursday 15 Jan 2015 - 14:05 Makkah mean time-24-3-1436 Jeddah (IINA) – Iyad Madani, secretary-general of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), has denounced the publication of sacrilegious cartoons by French magazine Charlie Hebdo Wednesday, calling the move “insolence, ignorance and foolishness.” He said: “Freedom of speech must not become a hate-speech and it must not offend others. No sane person, regardless of doctrine, religion or faith, accepts his beliefs being ridiculed.” The Grand Mufti of Jerusalem and Palestinian lands, Mohammed Hussein, said such cartoons “fuel feelings of hatred and resentment among people” and publishing them “shows contempt” for Muslim feelings. Leading Islamic authority Al-Azhar denounced the new edition and said: “The stature of the Prophet of Mercy is greater and more lofty than to be harmed by cartoons that are unrestrained by decency and civilized standards.” It said: “Al-Azhar calls on all Muslims to ignore this hateful frivolity.” The International Union of Muslim Scholars also criticized the antics of Charlie Hebdo, claiming they would further stir up hatred, extremism and tension. “It is neither reasonable, nor logical, nor wise to publish drawings and films offensive or attacking the Prophet of Islam,” said the Qatar-based union, headed by Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qardawi. According to the union, publication of the drawing would give further “credibility” to the idea that “the West is against Islam.” It said: “If we agree that (those who committed the attacks) are a minority that do not represent Islam or Muslims, then how can we respond with actions that are not directed against them, but against the Prophet revered by a billion-and-a-half Muslims?” Prominent Saudi scholar Sheikh Ahmed Al-Ghamdi said that publication of the latest image was a mistake, Arab News reported. “It’s not a good way to make the people understand us. Jesus or Moses, all messengers (of God) we should respect,” and should not be made fun of in pictures or words, Ghamdi said. “I believe it will make more problems.” HA/IINA