Saudi Laws Update

Saudi Arabia to stop giving contracts to firms having regional headquarters outside Kingdom  Saudi Gazette report RIYADH —  Saudi Arabia intends to cease contracting with companies and commercial institutions that have regional headquarters outside the Kingdom, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday, citing an official source. According to the source, the move, which will come into effect on Jan. 1, 2024, will include agencies, institutions, and funds owned by the government. The source stated that the decision aims to incentivize the localization of businesses by foreign companies that deal with the Kingdom’s government or any of its agencies, institutions, and funds, in addition to creating more jobs, limit economic leakage, increase spending efficiency, and guarantee that the main goods and services purchased by the different government agencies are made in the Kingdom with appropriate local content. The source noted that this directive is made in accordance with the ann...

  വ്യാജ വാർത്തകൾ തിരിച്ചറിയുക വ്യാജ വാർത്തകളും, വിവരങ്ങളും വിശ്വസിക്കാതിരിക്കുക.   അസംഖ്യം വിവരങ്ങള്‍ ലഭ്യമാണെങ്കിലും വ്യാജവാര്‍ത്തകളുടെയും വിവരങ്ങളുടെയും കൂത്തരങ്ങാണ് ഇന്ന് ഇന്റര്‍നെറ്റ്. സെര്‍ച്ച് എഞ്ചിനുകളിലും സോഷ്യല്‍ മീഡിയയിലും വ്യാജ വാര്‍ത്തകള്‍ പെരുകുകയാണ്.  വ്യാജവാര്‍ത്തകള്‍ക്ക് പലപ്പോഴും ആകര്‍ഷകമായ തലക്കെട്ടുകളും തലക്കെട്ടുകളുടെ ക്രമീകരണവുമൊക്കെയാവും. അവിശ്വസനീയമെന്ന് തോന്നിപ്പിക്കും വിധം ഞെട്ടിപ്പിക്കു ന്ന പ്രയോഗങ്ങളും അവകാശവാദങ്ങളുമാവും അത്തരം തലക്കെട്ടുകളിലുണ്ടാവുക. അങ്ങനെയുള്ള തലക്കെട്ടുകളോടുകൂടിയ വാര്‍ത്തകള്‍ ശ്രദ്ധിക്കപ്പെട്ടാല്‍ അതൊരു വ്യാജവാര്‍ത്തയാവാനിടയുണ്ട്.   വ്യാജ വാർത്തകൾ സോഷ്യൽ മീഡിയയിൽ കണ്ടയുടനെ അതിന്റെ ആധികാരികത ഉറപ്പ് വരുത്താതെ ഷെയർ ചെയ്യുന്നതാണ് ഇത്തരം വാർത്തകൾ നിർമിക്കുന്നവർക്ക് പ്രേരണയാകുന്നത്. അറിഞ്ഞോ അറിയാതെയോ പലരും ഈ വ്യാജ പ്രചാരങ്ങളുടെ വാഹകരാകുന്നു. സൗദി അറേബ്യയുടെ എല്ലാ മന്ത്രാലയങ്ങൾക്കും ഔദ്യോഗി ക സൈറ്റുകളുണ്ട്. മന്ത്രിസഭാ തീരുമാനങ്ങളും പുതിയ നിയമങ്ങളും അതിൽ അതാത് സമയങ്ങളിൽ രേഖപ്പെടുത്തും. ഇതിന് പുറമെ സൗദി അറേബ്യയുടെ ഔദ്യോഗിക വാർ...

  Lawyer becomes internet sensation after Zoom filter makes him look like kitten Previous Volume 90%   Presidio County lawyer Rod Ponton signed into the Zoom call for a civil forfeiture court hearing appearing a fluffy white kitten. (Screenshot) Next The short video clip, which was shared online by Ferguson, ends with others coaching the attorney on how to remove the cat filter LONDON: An attorney in Texas has become an internet sensation after accidentally leaving a kitten Zoom filter on during a virtual court hearing. Presidio County lawyer Rod Ponton signed into the Zoom call for a civil forfeiture court hearing appearing a fluffy white kitten, prompting Judge Roy Ferguson to alert him of his appearance.  “I'm here live. I'm not a cat,” Ponton replied, while explaining his assistant was trying to turn the filter off, to no avail. “I can see that,” replied Ferguson. The short video clip, which was shared online by Ferguson, ends with others coaching ...

 Social gathering norms violations: Four groups to face penalty February 07, 2021, Okaz/Saudi Gazette RIYADH — The Public Prosecution has warned workers against the violation of social gathering protocols that were introduced to stem the spread of coronavirus. Four groups are to be subjected to stringent penalties for their criminal accountability. They are workers who gathered in violation of the social gathering norms; those who made invitations for the gathering; those who had a role in perpetrating the illegal gathering; and the official of the facility where the gathering was held. The Public Prosecution emphasized that the gathering of five or more workers inside homes or buildings under construction, rest houses, farms, and similar facilities other than their accommodation has been prohibited. It is noteworthy that the Ministry of Interior earlier announced penalties for violation of social gathering protocols by workers with gathering of five or more people in places other ...

 Saudi Central Bank to launch new 24/7 instant payments system ARAB NEWS, February 11, 2021 Recent figures showed that digital payment transactions in the Kingdom jumped by 75 percent last year as Saudis embraced online shopping.  SAMA will supervise the new system which, it said, would contribute to the country’s economic development by increasing the speed and efficiency of financial transactions Other benefits would include improved transparency of payments between companies and individuals, and options for customers to carry out immediate transfers between accounts RIYADH: The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) on Thursday announced the launch date for a new electronic instant payments system designed to make the Kingdom less dependent on cash. Following the successful completion of trials, the digital transactions scheme will be activated with participating banks on Feb. 21, according to Asharq Business. SAMA will supervise the new system which, it said, would contribute to the co...

  Jawazat launches Tawasul service for expats February 10, 2021 Saudi Gazette report RIYADH —  The General Directorate of Passports (Jawazat) announced on Wednesday the launch of the Tawasul service through the Muqeem portal, which will enable beneficiaries to get services and procedures done in the event of their non-implementation even after making the request. The new service will be made available without the need to personally contact the Jawazat offices. The Jawazat stated that the new service aims to enhance electronic transactions and communicate with the concerned officials at Jawazat offices as well as to reduce time and effort, in addition to raise the quality of services and speed of completion. The Jawazat said that launching of the Tawasul service is also part of the efforts to further strengthening its drive to deliver benefits of advanced technology while serving its customers.

Mexico to allow appeals on social media account cancelation Arabnews = 09 February 2021 A new proposed law in Mexico would allow anyone whose account is blocked or canceled to appeal the decision. The appeals would go first to the company’s own internal committees, which would have 24 hours to affirm or revoke the suspension. Users could then appeal to telecom regulators, and if they don’t like that decision, they could then further appeal  A new law proposed in Mexico would open the companies to fines of up to $4.4 million for violating users’ right to free speech. The proposal would allow anyone whose account is blocked or canceled to appeal the decision MEXICO CITY: The party of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador presented for public comment a proposed set of regulations on Twitter, Facebook and other social media companies. The new law proposed Monday by López Obrador’s Morena party would open the companies to fines of up to $4.4 million for violating users’ right to free sp...