9/11 widow sues Saudi Arabia

A woman widowed when her husband was killed at the Pentagon on September 11, 2001 sued Saudi Arabia just two days after the US Congress enacted legislation allowing Americans to sue foreign governments for allegedly being involved in terrorist attacks on US soil.

Stephanie Ross DeSimone alleged the kingdom provided material support to Al Qaida and its leader, Osama Bin Laden, in a complaint filed Friday at a US court in Washington. Her suit is also filed on behalf of the couple’s daughter. DeSimone was pregnant when Navy Commander Patrick Dunn was killed.

A US commission that investigated the 2001 attacks said in a 2004 report that it “found no evidence that the Saudi government, as an institution, or senior officials within the Saudi government funded Al Qaida”.

The Saudi embassy didn’t immediately reply to an e-mailed message seeking comment on the suit.

The case is DeSimone v. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 16-cv-1944, US District Court, District of Columbia (Washington).

Saudi Arabia cuts public sector bonuses, ministers’ salaries

Manama: Saudi Arabia’s government has decided to curb to some financial perks for public sector employees, the government said following its weekly session on Sunday chaired by King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud.

A royal decree announced a cut to ministers’ salaries by 20 percent and to members of the appointed Shura Council by 15 percent.

The decision comes as low oil prices have pushed energy-rich Gulf Arab states to rein in lavish public spending.

No annual bonus will be given for the next Islamic year, due to start on October 2, and the renewal or extension of existing contracts will not include any salary increases.

Haj pilgrims from around the world stone the devil

MINA, Saudi Arabia: Muslim pilgrims reached Mina on Monday for the ritual stoning of the devil, the last major rite of the annual Haj and the scene of a devastating stampede last year.

A number of safety measures have been introduced to prevent a repeat of last year’s tragedy, which killed around 2,300 people as they made their way to the Jamarat Bridge to perform the stoning.

The bridge is multi-storey to accommodate the huge number of pilgrims - more than 1.8 million this year.

Pilgrims threw pebbles they had gathered in nearby Muzdalifah on Sunday evening at walls representing the devil.

1.8 million Muslims gather at Mount Arafat to perform Haj

MOUNT ARAFAT: The Haj reached its high point on Sunday when Muslims from across the world converged on a hill in Saudi Arabia, a year after the worst tragedy in the pilgrimage's history.

More than 1.8 million gathered from sunrise at the hill and a vast surrounding plain known as Mount Arafat, about 15 kilometres from Makkah.

They are spending the most important day of the annual Haj in prayer and reading from the holy Quran.

Arafat is the site where Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) gave his last sermon about 14 centuries ago after leading his followers on the pilgrimage.

Stranded workers start returning from Saudi Arabia

KARACHI: Pakistani workers sacked by some construction companies in Saudi Arabia continue to return home, with a group of 10 workers reaching here on Saturday.

The number of labourers coming back is low but it is part of an ongoing process of workers returning home after not receiving their dues.

It all began about eight months ago when one after the other groups such

'It left a scar in my heart that will never heal': Pain lingers one year after Saudi Haj tragedy

MAKKAH: Despite being emotionally scarred by the death of two childhood friends during last year's Haj stampede, Muhammad Sani has still returned to Saudi Arabia for another pilgrimage.

The Nigerian pharmacist, 46, says his faith remains unshaken even after the deaths of at least 2,297 pilgrims during the Haj stoning ritual last September 24.

A year after the worst disaster in Haj history, Sani is among more than 1.4 million foreign pilgrims expected at this

Gulf states lambast Iran’s diatribe against Saudis

Dubai: Gulf Arab states accused Iran on Wednesday of trying to politicise the Haj after its supreme leader lashed out at Saudi authorities over their management of the annual pilgrimage.

The head of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council said that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s remarks accusing Riyadh of “murder” over the deaths of nearly 2,400 pilgrims at last year’s Haj were “inappropriate and offensive”.

Abdul Latif Al Zayani said the comments were “a clear incitement and a desperate attempt to politicise” the Haj.

Saudi girl, 5, falls to her death from third floor of a shopping mall

Manama: A five-year-old Saudi girl fell to her death in a shopping mall in Jazan in the second tragedy to hit the commercial complex in southwest Saudi Arabia.

Fay was with her mother and uncle shopping for Eid when she fell from the third floor, local reports said.

Attempts by several people present at the scene to save her failed.

Shoppers who witnessed the drama said that the mother became hysterical upon seeing her daughter on the floor.