Website closes down for prayer

JEDDAH: While the debate on stopping all commercial activity during prayer times continues, one local online newspaper in Hail province has decided to advocate for this pause by taking down its site for 20 minutes, five times a day.
If visitors to Aen Hail (“Hail’s Eye” ) visit the site during prayers, they be met with a message “Closed for Prayer” in Arabic along with a countdown to the end of the prayer break at the bottom of the page.
The site shutdown, which was unveiled this month, is automated and linked to local prayer times, according to the site’s online editor, Majid Al-Mismar.
“The page is built with integration of a software that replaces the index page with another,” he said. “We believe that prayers come first. The electronic newspaper is off during Hail prayer times and is back on after the prayer is done.” Many online commentators to the website have praised the decision, expressing their support of a similar nationwide system.
Professor at Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University’s High Judiciary Institute and member of International Islamic Fiqh Academy, Mohammed Al-Nojaimi, called the newspaper’s decision “noble.”
“Closing a Saudi website for half-an-hour during obligatory prayers is a noble Islamic act,” he said. “It’s free from any search for fame or unacceptable rigidness. It contributes to reviving the habit of individuals praying on time.”
Others called the measure superficial. “You are focusing on appearances and presentation rather than the original principles of the religion,” said one of the commentators at the site. “What if the person wishing to surf the page is a non-Muslim?” Al-Watan newspaper columnist Amal Zahid wrote in an editorial piece published on Friday that putting a website on hold during prayer does little to encourage people to pray. “As if we haven’t already accumulated issues and problems to deal with,” he said in his column.
“Praying is a sacred act of worship that connects human beings to God throughout the day… Encouraging people to pray on time isn’t going to be achieved by closing websites.”
An online commenter to the opinion piece who called himself Mohammed Al-Saggaf called the measure an act of “stupidity” and said posting local prayer times was sufficient. “All those who are familiar with the website will know when to go for prayer,” he wrote.
“That does the job. Closing down the page is an act of backwardness and stupidity. Just like closing gas stations, pharmacies, and stopping service at airport immigration; it’s a disruption of interest with no positive benefit.”

BBC may broadcast 2012 Olympics in 3D

BBC: Following on from all the 3D tech we saw at IFA last week, the BBC is hopping on the bandwagon with the announcement it could screen some of the 2012 London Olympics in 3D.
Director of the Beeb's 2012 Olympics operation Roger Mosey, said the corporation was investigating new technologies that will help viewers get the most from their experience.
Speaking at the IBC technology conference in Amsterdam: "We could, and I believe should, capture some of the games in 3D.
"Nobody would expect the games of 2012 to be comprehensively in 3D because the technology will be nothing like widespread enough; but it would be a shame not to have any images of London that were part of an experiment with what will be one of the next big waves of change".
Mosey went on to say that the Olympic stadium could only exist in its 80,000+ capacity for a short time, and so not to capture it in 3D would be a "major gap" in the archive.
Another technology Mosey said the Beeb was considering was "super high definition", but that both this and 3D were currently posing "questions and opportunities rather than solutions".
"Now's the time to start examining seriously whether there are answers that could make 2012 even more of a landmark year," he added.
Sky has already shown a number of sporting events in 3D to good reception, so it would be a great move by the Beeb to document such an important occasion in an extra dimension.
Let us know what you think to the Beeb's plans below.

Formula One: Barrichello, Button in Brawn 1-2 at Monza

MONZA: A beaming Rubens Barrichello made clear Sunday that he will push his Brawn GP team-mate and world championship leader Jenson Button all the way to the wire in this year's title race after winning the Italian Grand Prix.
The 37-year-old Brazilian, who produced a beautifully measured drive from fifth on the grid to grab his second win of the season, said he was looking forward to a close tussle with his team-mate in the closing four races.
"This win feels great," said Barrichello. "Whatever happens now, I feel like this is a winning year. Don't forget it was not so long ago that we thought we had no jobs, but now we have a fantastic car, a great engine and a fantastic team.
"I have to say I am feeling very good. Monza is always a great track for me and now I am going to give my best in a good and honest fight with this guy (Button) and I am really looking forward to it."
Barrichello's 11th victory in a 284-race career was one of his happiest as he came home 2.8 seconds ahead of Button to turn the title race into an almost-certain fight for glory between just the two of them.
"I think we can prove now that in Formula One nice guys can win," said Barrichello. "This is the end to that old saying that only the tough guys can win titles."
Button, winner of six of the seven opening races of the season, remains on top with 80 points, but Barrichello is now second with 66 points, having cut his team-mate's advantage from 16 to 14 points.
The Brawn pair look certain to deliver the constructors championship to their eponymous team-chief Ross Brawn in the outfit's first season.
Defending world champion Lewis Hamilton, who started from pole, looked certain to come home third for McLaren Mercedes, but crashed heavily at the Curva di Lesmo on the final lap and failed to finish.
This left Kimi Raikkonen to take the third podium place for Ferrari ahead of Adrian Sutil of Force India, two times champion Fernando Alonso, who was fifth for Renault, and Heikki Kovalainen in the second McLaren.
"Every lap I was pushing like a qualifying lap - it was to be expected. We didn't have the pace and I was pushing as hard as I could. I can only say I'm sorry to the team," said Hamilton.
Nick Heidfeld finished seventh for BMW Sauber and German compatriot Sebastian Vettel eighth for Red Bull, the young title challenger luckily grabbing his point after team-mate Mark Webber had crashed out following a collision with Robert Kubica's BMW on the opening lap.
The fans had seen Hamilton make a perfect start from his 15th pole position and led the field down and through the Rettifilio Tribune, Raikkonen storming past Sutil into second place and Barrichello advancing from fifth to fourth.
Hamilton continued his fast opening surge with a series of fastest laps before he pitted after 15 laps with a lead of more than seven seconds.
On lap 17, Sutil pitted from second behind Raikkonen who in turn came in after a further two laps.
All of this early action meant the drivers on a two-stop strategy were in command with the two Brawns in control, Barrichello ahead of Button by 2.4 seconds, with Hamilton third.
Debutant Vitantonio Liuzzi, on a presumed one-stop strategy in the second Force India, was fourth at this stage ahead of Raikkonen and Alonso.
Hamilton struggled to keep pace with the Brawns before their pit stops and the Force Indias were also proving a match for the Ferraris until Liuzzi suffered a mechanical failure on lap 22.
Button was the first Brawn to pit from second and a 12-sec advantage on Hamilton after 28 laps with Barrichello following a lap later.
With all of the leaders having pitted once, Hamilton led Raikkonen and Sutil ahead of Barrichello and Button, but the Briton's advantage was only 5.6 seconds.
Hamilton made his second stop after 33 laps when he led by more than 16 seconds, but he rejoined fifth behind the two Brawn men.
Raikkonen and Sutil then came in together after 36 laps, the Force India driver arriving with such velocity that he sent one mechanic flying.
He appeared to be unhurt. Raikkonen seemed to stall before rejoining, gifting Sutil an opportunity he was unable to take.
This left Barrichello leading ahead of Button by 5.4 seconds with Hamilton third a further 2.9 seconds adrift with 15 laps to go, with those placings remaining until Hamilton's last lap disaster.

Serena fined for outburst as probe launched

NEW YORK: Serena Williams was fined 10,500 dollars on Sunday for her angry outburst at a line judge that ended a US Open semi-final and the incident is being investigated by the Grand Slam Committee.
US Open tournament referee Brian Earley said in a statement Sunday that Williams has been levied the maximum possible fine for unsportsmanlike conduct, 10,000 dollars, plus a 500-dollar fine for racquet abuse.
Williams, in a statement Sunday after the fine was announced, issued no apology or comment on the punishment but stated she "let my passion and emotion get the best of me" and "handled the situation poorly".
The fine is a mere pittance, even at maximum strength, since Williams received 375,000-dollar for her semi-final run at Flushing Meadows, her matches among the top drawing cards for ticket buyers and television viewers.
But the probe underway could bring more penalties.
"The Grand Slam Rule Book also allows for an investigation to be conducted by the Grand Slam Committee administrator to determine if the behavoir of Ms. Williams warrants consideration as a Major Offence, for which additional penalties can be imposed," Earley said.
"This investigation has now begun."
US Open officials were reviewing videotapes of the confrontation and the bizarre ending to her loss to Belgium's Kim Clijsters. Williams and match umpire Louise Engzell were interviewed by Earley on Saturday night.
US television commentator Pam Shriver called for 11-time Grand Slam champion Williams to apologize for threatening the woman who called a foot fault upon the reigning champion to give Clijsters two match points.
Williams walked toward the woman who made the call, waving her racquet before her, and launching into a profanity-tinged tirade of threats that led to the unsportsmanlike conduct violation.
Because Williams had already received a warning after smashing her racquet following the last point of the first set, the penalty point she was assessed handed Clijsters a berth in Sunday's final.
"Last night everyone could truly see the passion I have for my job," Williams said in a statement.
"Now that I have had time to gain my composure, I can see that while I don't agree with the unfair line call, in the heat of battle I let my passion and emotion get the better of me and as a result handled the situation poorly.
"I would like to thank my fans and supporters for understanding that I am human and I look forward to continuing the journey, both professionally and personally, with you all as I move forward and grow from this experience."
Williams will return to Arthur Ashe Stadium on Monday afternoon to join her sister Venus in the US Open women's doubles final against top seeds Cara Black of Zimbabwe and American Liezel Huber.
Grand Slam events fall under the purview of the International Tennis Federation, not the ATP and WTA tours, with the four major tournaments collaborating to form the Slam committee.

Muslim women get “halal” cosmetics

New make-up line has no alcohol or pig-residue
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DUBAI: For Muslim women who feel they are violating Islam's teachings by using skin creams with alcohol and pig residues, Layla Mandi has the answer: religiously-correct "halal" cosmetics.
The Canadian makeup artist who converted to Islam is marketing cosmetics called OnePure, which she says have the luxury feel of international brands minus the elements banned under Islamic law.
"There are pork derivatives and alcohol in most cosmetics products, so Muslims should really use something else," Mandi said.
Increasingly popular
From Islamic banking to alcohol-free hotels, products tagged as halal have become popular among devout Muslims.
Under the concept of halal -- which means "lawful" in Arabic -- pork and its by-products, alcohol and animals not slaughtered according to Quranic procedures are all forbidden.
Strict Muslims the world over only buy halal food but the market for halal cosmetics is still in its infancy in Asia and a mere novelty for Muslims in the Arab world.
Such products are not usually sold across the counter but can be bought on the Internet from online stores in Malaysia, Jordan and Britain.
"Muslims don’t want to go around and pray five times a day having pork residues on their body," said Mandi, in her early thirties and swathed in a slim black abaya, or cloak, with wisps of blond hair sticking from under her head scarf.
"I came to the Middle East to learn more about people’s needs. Most were pretty shocked when I told them there were pork products in their skin care items so they were very interested."
Free of pork and alcohol
According to Mandi, fatty acids and gelatin used in moisturizers, shampoos, face masks and lipsticks as well as other items are often extracted from pigs.
Determined to create a halal product, Mandi brought together a dermatologist and a chemist and told them the deal: cosmetics and skin-care products free of pork and alcohol.
OnePure is guaranteed to be just that, she said. And to get a foothold in the highly competitive business, Mandi is offering products that come in glitzy wrappings.
"I wanted the packaging to be really luxurious, to speak to young people and old people, to everyone. I didn’t want people to say ‘I’d really like to buy a halal product but the packaging doesn’t look cool,'" she said.
Touted as the first halal cosmetics brand in the Middle East, OnePure products are certified in Malaysia by an Islamic body that also certifies meats and other consumer goods for Muslims.
So far Mandi has been selling them online, on Saudi Airlines -- her first customer since July -- and a small boutique in the upscale Souk al-Bahar in the Burj Dubai complex that houses the world’s tallest tower.
"It’s most specifically designed for women in the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council). I plan to launch a line for men but for now, it’s just women," Mandi said. "There is appetite for it in this region."
Marketing Ploys
But some in the make-up industry have expressed skepticism about halal cosmetics, dismissing ideas such as Mandi's as marketing ploys that feed on the need of some for religiously-correct products.
"I feel it’s more about marketing," said Noura Hamdi, marketing manager at a Body Shop boutique in Dubai.
"We are not using any animal products in our products anyway," said Hamdi, adding that the alcohol contained in the cosmetics and skin-care products sold in her shop "is not pure alcohol."
"The customer is not going to drink it. It’s something to apply on your body or clothes so it’s not related to halal or haram or religion," Hamdi said. "The issue is not whether it’s halal or haram, it’s more about the benefits of the product."
But a senior cleric at the United Arab Emirates' Dar al-Iftaa, which issues fatwas, or religious edicts, disagreed.
"If any of the cosmetic products contained pig derivatives or alcohol they should not be used because this is contaminated and one does not want to apply contaminated (products) on one's body," said the cleric, who is not authorised to identify himself in his task in answering Muslims' queries by telephone.