Ministry of Information joins IFRA RIYADH – The Ministry of Culture and Information has become a full time member of IFRA, the world's leading organization for newspaper and media publishers. Dr. Abdul Aziz Bin Sultan Al-Melhim, Assistant Undersecretary for Planning and Studies and the IT General Supervisor, stressed that the ministry would extensively benefit from the organization's services which act as a platform for decision makers from the newspaper industry. “Being an IFRA member, the ministry will benefit from its research and its professional laboratory where all newspapers test their printing materials. These tests play a vital role in the quality of printing,” he said. IFRA also organizes an annual exhibition held in major European countries. It is the world's most important trade exhibition for newspaper companies and printers, Al-Melhim said. – SPA Wheat reserves sufficient for 6 months: Minister By Abdullah Al-Harthi JEDDAH – Dr. Fahd Balghunaim, Minister of Agriculture, has said the country's wheat reserves would suffice for at least six months. He said the ministry was conducting a comprehensive study on privatizing the Grain Silos and Flour Mills Organization in which a group of consultants specialized in strategic, financial, technical and legal issues have presented their points of view. The study, Balghunaim said, was aimed at generating several privatization options before submitting the results to the Supreme Economic Council for approval. Once approved, a team will begin implementing the study's recommendations. He said that previous studies were partial unlike the current one which began in March this year. – Okaz/SG Makkah Distinction Prize approved MAKKAH – The Makkah Cultural Council on Monday approved the establishment of an annual prize to be called the Makkah Distinction Prize to be organized and supervised under the chairmanship of Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah Region. Dr. Hatim Bin Hasan Marzouqi, Secretary General of Makkah Cultural Council, said the prize aims at honoring distinctive efforts and creative thought in all fields – intellectual, scientific and practical – in Makkah Region in order to kindle the spirit of competition and upgrade the standard of performance and quality. The prize will have seven branches: distinction in Haj and Umrah services, management, cultural, social, urban, environmental and science and technology fields. – SPA Expatriates holding Saudi IDs arrested By Muhammad Atef Al-Shihri AL-MAJARIDAH – Security men at a checkpoint in Al-Majaridah Governorate arrested six people of Yemeni nationality holding Saudi identity cards. A smuggler was taking the men to Jeddah to work there. When they were stopped at the checkpoint, they appeared frightened while presenting their Saudi identity cards. One of them admitted that they had purchased the ID cards for an unspecified sum of money. All six are being investigated to find more information on how they purchased the cards. – Okaz/SG Warning against drugs on forged prescription By Abdullah Al-Magatti DHULAM – In a circular to all hospitals and health centers in the governorate, the Health Affairs directorate in Taif Governorate on Monday warned against giving medicine to those having forged prescriptions. The warning comes after reports of an impostor visiting hospitals to get medicine. The impostor allegedly poses as suffering from a brain tumor to get the medicine. – Okaz/SG 9,000 kg of rotten meat confiscated MAKKAH – Makkah Mayoralty has intensified its inspection tours of meat markets and slaughterhouses, as its branch municipalities confiscated about 9,000 kg of rotten meat on Sunday. The seized meat was destroyed immediately and the violators penalized. – SPA SR50m loan for two hospitals RIYADH – Dr. Ibrahim Bin Abdul Aziz Al-Assaf, Minister of Finance, on Sunday signed two agreements to provide a SR50 million loan for constructing a hospital in Riyadh and a SR13.25 million loan to finance the construction of another hospital in Al-Khafji. These loans are a part of the government loan program for encouraging the private sector to invest in production and services projects.
