* Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques orders 2008 to see increase in subsidies allocated for disabled at SR 1.41 billion annually

* CP patronizes ceremony to sign agreement on sale of 30% of freight sector in Saudi Airlines

* Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz World Award winners hail prize patron

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud performed funeral prayer for Princess Luluwah bint Abdulaziz at the Holy Grand Mosque after Isha (Night) prayer in Makkah.

The prayer was also performed by Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, Prince Bandar bin Mohammed bin Abdulrahman; Prince Miteb bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs; Prince Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al Saud; Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz, the Minister of Interior; Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz, the Governor of Riyadh region; Prince Bandar bin Khalid bin Abdulaziz; Prince Khalid Al-Faisal bin Abdulaziz, the Governor of Makkah region; a number of princes; scholars; sheikhs, officials and groups of worshippers at the Mosque.

Following the prayer, the King and the Crown Prince received condolences from princes; scholars; sheikhs and senior officials.

In line with the Kingdom's policy as regards giving more attention to the old and poor people, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz ordered on September 17, 2008 to increase the subsidies allocated for the handicapped registered at the lists of the ministry of social affairs by 100 percent.

This development will increase the subsidies allocated for the handicapped registered at the ministry of social affairs to SR 2,082,000,000 annually. The ministry of social affairs has been taking care of old and poor people.

The ministry has established 14 orphanages, four orphanages for female orphans and 10 orphanages for male orphans. The ministry has established 27 rehabilitation centers throughout the Kingdom.

The number of the charitable societies in the Kingdom's regions amounted to 457 including 30 female societies.

The charitable societies extended in 1427-1428 AH more than Sr1.539 billion for carrying out its programs and activities.

The number of cooperative societies has amounted to 160 with 41, 200 members and a capital of about SR 157 million.

The ministry of social affairs has also been giving big attention to the researches and social studies for utilizing them in the social work.

Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, has sent a cable of condolences to President Dmitry Medvedev of Russia on the victims of the crash of the Russian passenger plane near Ural Mountains which resulted in death of all its passengers.

In his cable, the Crown Prince expressed his sincere sympathy and condolences wishing no harm whatsoever for him and his friendly people."

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud received at Al-Safa palace in Makkah tonight Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Crown Prince of the State of Qatar, and accompanying delegation.

Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani conveyed to the monarch the greetings of Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Emir of Qatar. In turn, the monarch sent his greetings to the Emir of Qatar.

Qatar's Crown Prince also offered his condolences on the demise of Princess Luluwah bint Abdulaziz.

During the reception, a number of issues of mutual concern to the two countries were discussed.

The audience was attended by Prince Mit'eb bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs; Prince Abdul-Elah bin Abdulaziz; Prince Miqren bin Abdulaziz, Chief of General Intelligence; and Qatar's Ambassador to the Kingdom Ali bin Abdullah Al-Mahmoud.

Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz, the Deputy Premier, Defense and Aviation Minister and Inspector General, received Qatari Crown Prince Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani and the accompanying delegation.

Sheikh Tamim conveyed to Prince Sultan the greetings of Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, the Qatari Emir.

He also offered condolences on the death of Princess Luluwa bint Abdulaziz.

The audience was attended by a number of princes.

Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, left Madinah heading for Jeddah.

At Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport, he was seen off by Prince Abdulaziz bin Majed bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Madinah Region; and a number of princes and senior civil and military officials.

Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, received at his palace in Madinah a number of citizens, dignitaries and senior commanders and officers of the Armed Forces in Madinah Region.

They had dinner with the Crown Prince.

The audience and dinner were attended by Prince Abdulaziz bin Majed bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Madinah Region; Prince Bandar bin Mohammed bin Abdulrahman; Prince Khalid bin Fahd bin Khalid; Prince Khalid bin Fahd bin Mohammed; Prince Fahd bin Abdullah bin Musaed; Prince Sattam bin Saud bin Abdulaziz; Prince Faisal bin Saud bin Mohammed; Prince Dr. Misha'al bin Abdullah bin Musaed, Adviser to the Crown Prince; Prince Faisal bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, Secretary General of Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Charity Foundation; Prince Dr. Bandar bin Salman bin Mohammed Al Saud, Adviser to the King; Prince Faisal bin Khalid bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, Advisor at the Court of Crown Prince; Prince Naif bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz; and a number of princes and senior civil and military officials.

Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, visited the Prophet's Mosque where he performed prayer and greeted the Prophet (peace be upon him).

Upon arrival at the Prophet's Mosque, he was received by Prince Abdulaziz bin Majed bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Madinah Region; and a number of senior officials.

Under the patronage of Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation, Inspector General, and Chairman of Board of Directors of General Organization of Saudi Arabian Airlines, it was signed at his palace in Jeddah an agreement on the sale of 30% of the freight sector to Tarabut Air Freight Services Company as a strategic partner of the organization in the freight sector.

On Tarabut, the agreement was signed by Prince Sultan bin Mohammed bin Saud Al-Kabeer and on the Airlines by Saudi Arabian Airlines Director General Eng. Khalid bin Abdullah Al-Melhem.

In his speech Al-Melhem expressed his thanks and gratitude to the Crown Prince for patronizing the ceremony of signing the agreement.

He noted that the revenues of the freight sector amounted to more than SR 1.7 billion in 2007 and exceeded SR 1 billion in the first half of the year 2008, considering this as an unprecedented achievement in the history of the Organization.

The signing ceremony was attended by Prince Fahd bin Abdullah bin Mohammed, Assistant Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General for Civil Aviation Affairs; Prince Naif bin Sultan bin Mohammed bin Saud Al-Kabeer, and a number of officials.

Then the Crown Prince chaired the board's meeting which was attended Prince Fahd bin Abdullah bin Mohammed, Assistant Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General for Civil Aviation Affairs and Chairman of General Authority of Civil Aviation Eng. Abdullah bin Mohammed Noor Rahimi.

During the meeting, they reviewed the achievements of the privatization project.

Eng. Al-Melhem presented a video show on the results including completion of privatization of supplies and freight sectors and the establishment of 13 companies fully owned by Saudi Arabian Airlines.

The meeting approved the financial statements of the last year which showed that Saudi Arabian Airlines achieved operational profits amounted to SR 488 million.

At the end of the meeting, the Crown Prince commended the Organization's achievements, efforts exerted in transportation of passengers, services provided for pilgrims and citizens and remarkable development of services and strategic objectives.

The Crown Prince directed the board to exert greater efforts for the service of citizens, residents, pilgrims and Umrah performers in continuation of the march of development and prosperity.

Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General received at his palace in Jeddah Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu.

The Secretary General congratulated the Crown Prince on the occasion of the holy month of Ramadan.

The Crown Prince expressed his thanks to and appreciation of the Secretary General.

The meeting was attended by a number of princes and officials.

Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz, the Minister of Interior and Chairman of Supreme Commission of Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz Al Saud World Award for Prophet's Sunnah and Contemporary Islamic Studies patronized the closing ceremony of handing over the award in its 3rd session held by the Secretariat General of the Award.

Upon arrival at the venue, Prince Naif was received by Prince Abdulaziz bin Majed bin Abdulaziz, the Governor of Madinah region; Advisor to the Minister of Interior and Award's Secretary General Dr. Saed Al-Orabi Al-Harthi; the Executive President of the Award Dr. Misfer Al-Bisher and members of the Supreme Commission of the Award.

Prince Naif was accompanied by Prince Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz, Saudi Ambassador to Spain and the Award's General Supervisor; Prince Mohammed bin Naif bin Abdulaziz, Assistant Minister of Interior for Security Affairs and member of the Commission; Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif; Prince Nawaf bin Naif bin Abdulaziz, the Commission's member; Prince Mohamed bin Saud bin Naif and Prince Fahd bin Naif bin Abdulaziz, the Commission's member.

Prince Naif noted that the prize has been established for reaching noble goals. "The prize was not established for the purpose of prestige or any other worldly purpose, but it was for the sake of Allah Almighty and the service of the Sunnah and the contemporary Islamic studies which can contribute to the solutions of the problems facing the Muslin nation as well as confronting the serious challenges which threaten the Muslims creed, identity and their existence."

He added that the great attention given to the prize by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz and his Crown Prince stands a witness for the realization of the Saudi leadership of their role as regards the service of Islam and Muslims and holding high the banner of Islam.

He congratulated the winners and urged them to unwaveringly work for the service of Islam.

Later, Prince Naif watched a documentary film on the endowment of Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz for International Naif bin Abdulaziz al-Saud Prize for the Prophet's Sunnah and the Contemporary Islamic Studies.

The endowment is designed like a 14-storey hotel on an area of more than 10,000 square meters. The hotel includes shopping centers, restaurant and other utilities.

He laid the foundation stone for the project and graced the dinner party held on the occasion.

The function was attended by a number of princes, Ulema, literary men and intellectuals.

Prince Khalid bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, the Assistant Minister of Defense and Aviation for Military Affairs, held a meeting with South African Minister of Defense Mosiuoa Lekota.

Issues of common concern were discussed at the meeting attended by Saudi ambassador to South African Mohammed bin Mahmoud al-Ali and Prince Khalid's accompanying military delegation.

In the presence of Prince Khalid bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, Assistant Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General for Military Affairs, South Africa's Defense Minister Mosiuoa Lekota opened Africa International Aerospace and Defense Exhibition (AAD EXPO) 2008 at Ysterplaat Airbase.

AAD exhibition remains Africa's premier event attracting leading edge commercial and general aviation-related technologies and products together with defense-related landward, maritime and aerospace platforms and systems.

Fully supported by the South African government, this exhibition, which takes place in Cape Town from 17-21 September 2008, is a highlight on the African continent and its international flavor attracts exhibitors from all over the world.

Prince Khalid bin Sultan toured sections of the exhibition where he was briefed in detail on Defense Engineering and Technological Exhibition, research companies, security and communications companies specializing in maritime communications.

He was accompanied by Saudi Ambassador to the Republic of South Africa Mohammed bin Mahmoud Al-Ali and the delegation accompanying him.

The 47th session for the governors of the monetary agencies and central banks in the GCC member states was held in Jeddah under the chairmanship of Sheikh Abdullah bin Saud al-Thani, the governor of the Qatari central bank.

The participants of the meeting reviewed a number of issues pertaining to joint work in the GCC member states.

Following the meeting, Sheikh Abdullah al-Thani said in a press statement that no obstacles face the ongoing efforts for setting a unified gulf currency.

He noted that all the Gulf States have been exerting efforts to ease the adverse impact of inflation in the Gulf States.

The 47th joint meeting for the GCC ministers of finance and economy, the governors of the central banks and the director general of the international monetary fund began in Jeddah.

The Saudi delegation to the meeting is led by minister of finance Dr Ibrahim al-Assaf.

Speaking on the occasion, Qatari minister of finance Yousef Kamal expressed appreciation for the warm welcome given to the participants of the meeting by the Saudi officials.

Yousef Kamal, the Qatari finance minister, underlined the importance of the common gulf market, and called for setting up a time table for the implementation of the decision of the GCC Leaders at their meeting held in Doha in 2007 notably the decision pertaining a unified financial system.

The participants of the meeting reviewed the possibility of activating the proposal of the Custodian of the two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz at the GCC Summit, held in Doha in 2007, pertaining to the removal of the obstacles that impede the march of the joint work in addition to discussion of the economic and financial developments and the relations of the GCC member states with the international monetary fund.

Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Abdulrahman bin Hamad Al-Atiyyah has hailed the consent of the Saudi Council of Ministers during its meeting held on the application of full equality between citizens of the GCC member states in the field of employment in the government sector.

This comes as an implementation of the decision of the GCC Supreme Council during its 23rd session, which was held in Doha, Qatar.

Al-Atiyyah expressed his great pride of the efforts that the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and the other GCC leaders are exerting in order to achieve Gulf citizenship in all its dimensions and to apply the decisions of the Supreme Council of the GCC in reality.

He said that this reflects the GCC leaders' sincere support to the joint work between the Council's member states to achieve progress and prosperity for these countries and their citizens.

The GCC is made up of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman.