It has just been announced that Dr. Arwa Al Jalal has been appointed a judge of the Saudi Arabian Competition Court which deals with monopolies and other anti-competitive practices. This is an amazing development where the first female lawyers received their licenses only seven years ago.

Dr. Al Jalal is an assistant professor at King Saud University in Riyadh, where she specializes in commercial and insurance law. The Committee for the Determination of Violations of the Competition Regulation is a powerful judicial body that can stop mergers and impose heavy penalties on businesses that hinder free competition.

Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Council of the Judiciary has announced that judicial flogging will be replaced as a punishment by fines or imprisonment. This is part of Saudi Arabia’s human rights reforms. While flogging is one of the punishments recognized by Islamic Law, Sharia, in most cases its imposition is in the judge’s discretion.

In Saudi, students will progress to the next year without completing the 2 nd semester. Except for private schools who can make a choice and unlike other GCC countries. In this crisis it seems like there is no 💯 universal solution. #SaudiTimes #Education...

British Broadcasting Cooperation BBC and Cable News Network CNN reported this week that the Saudi government launched a football league for women widening sports activities for women in the country.

With the establishment of the Sports Ministry recently, among 2 other ministries, in addition to increasing sports facilities, activities, possibilities for women, making it a compulsory subject at school and addition to the many sport events that have been/are taking place in the Kingdom lately, it looks like sports is an area that will play a significant role in the diversification of the Saudi Arabian economy.

Saudis have been enjoying the benefits of the Internet since it was made available in the Kingdom in the late 1990s. As elsewhere in the world, Saudis now make a large part of their purchases online, perhaps even more enthusiastically than most.

I came across this link thinking that five years ago one could not have imagined such steps coming true. Hopefully, these and other planned reforms will allow young and old female talents to grow and find their chances on a level playing field.

This week the Saudi minister for Municipalities Affairs and Urban in Charge, Majid Al Qasabi, issued a decree. This decree ordered all event managers and restaurant owners to register with charities so the food doesn’t go to waste. 

This step was introduced to utilize the food that is usually left after a big event or by restaurants. It also aims to increase awareness amongst the Saudi public regarding the importance of resources.

A hashtag in Arabic reading #systemforserviceneedstochange was widely mentioned among Saudi Twitter users this week. The hashtag highlighted the problems the Saudi military staff face. Users listed the disadvantages of the old regulations governing the armed forces.

World Bank ranks Saudi Arabia as top reformer on women's rights at work Read more: https://www.thenational.ae/world/gcc/world-bank-ranks-saudi-arabia-as-top-reformer-on-women-s-rights-at-work-1.964935 

The pictures above show the Dahr mountain in north of Saudi Arabia. Most parts in this area, which includes Hail and Al Jouf, are covered by snow in winter.

Most of the central and northern parts of Saudi Arabia go through harsh, cold winters. Most people living abroad do not know about the seasonal weather changes here, and that it snows in Saudi Arabia.