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Jan
10-16, 2010
~~~~~~~~ [ Jan 16]~~~~~~~~~
Obaikan Seeks Ban on Under-18 Marriage [Jan 16]
" Adviser to the Royal Court Abdul Mohsen Al-Obaikan has said that the marriage of girls under the age of 18 should be banned by law, with exceptions to be granted only by judges or on royal approval.
Al-Obaikan described the marriage of minors as a 'grave error' and asked parents and legal guardians to 'fear Allah and not marry their daughters by force to persons they don’t want to.' 'It is for judges to annul marriages if it transpires that a girl has been forced into marriage,'
Al-Obaikan said. The chairman of the Human Rights Commission, Bandar
Al-Abyan, has responded to recent news in the local press concerning a 12-year-old girl who was married to a man in his seventies in Qassim by setting up a Shariah specialist team to investigate the case.. ..The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a signatory to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which sets the age of maturity at 18.."
[more]
Kuwait Bans Saudi Cleric's Entry [Jan 16]
"Controversial Saudi cleric, Sheikh Mohammad Al-Areefi, was informed at his residence in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
(KSA) that he has been added to a list of people banned from entering Kuwait. He was banned from the country after making statements on TV in which he criticized Shiite clerics of allegedly backing Houthis in Yemen. It was indicated later that the decision, urged by several MPs and other individuals, was not directly made by the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, reported
Al-Watan. Al-Areefi would come to Kuwait each Saturday on his route from Saudi Arabia to Qatar where he hosts a weekly TV show. The recent ban leaves
Al-Areefi in a dilemma regarding how to get to Qatar on a weekly basis, considering no direct route exists between KSA and Qatar on the day of his show. This may result in his shows temporary hiatus.."
[more]
Saudi Arabia to Issue Exit, Re-entry Visas Online [Jan 16]
"Saudi Arabia's passport department has launched a new online service to enable exit and re-entry visas to facilitate its own citizens and expatriates, a news report has revealed. Although the department's website
(www.gdp.gov.sa) is in Arabic, there is an option to display forms and instructions on how to complete them in English, the Arab News report said. Exit, re-entry visas are issued to Saudi Arabian citizens who wish to leave and then return to the country, Director-General of the department Major General Salim
Al-Belaihed said yesterday.."
[more]
Saudi Tenders for 500,000 T of Wheat [Jan 16]
"Saudi Arabia is tendering for 500,000 tonnes of wheat with bids due later, a grains authority official said. "We will select winning bids within 48 hours so that will be Sunday," the official said. European grain trade sources said the wheat would be for delivery in March, April, May and June, adding they believed the total tonnage could turn out to be as high as 550,000
tonnes. Traders said Saudi Arabia was looking for eight cargoes of 55,000 tonnes each with 14 percent minimum protein content, including four for delivery in Jeddah and four in
Dammam. The tender also included two 55,000 tonne cargoes with 12.5 percent minimum protein, one for Jeddah and one for
Dammam.." [more]
~~~~~~~~ [ Jan 15]~~~~~~~~~
Saudi Rights Body Lauds Steps to Empower Women [Jan 15]
"Saudi Arabia's Human Rights Commission commended the steps taken by the government to empower women and elevate their position and status in the society. In its latest report on 'Women's status in the Kingdom', the government body recommended increasing job opportunities for women. The report highlighted remarkable achievements and contributions being made by Saudi women in various sectors. 'The participation of women in the nation's growth and development process is outstanding. Saudi women are showing their capabilities to take up challenging responsibilities and are playing vital role in various key sectors, keeping pace with the lofty position bestowed to them by the Islamic
Sharia,'.." [more]
Syria and Saudi Arabia seek Palestinian Unity [Jan 15]
"Syrian President Bashar Al Assad pledged to work with Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz to promote a reconciliation between the Palestinian movements Hamas and US-backed
Fatah. The two leaders, who met outside the Saudi capital, Riyadh, discussed the Palestinian issue and efforts to "strengthen ties of brotherhood and resolve Arab issues without outside interference," the official Saudi Press Agency said. They stressed the "urgent need for ending the Palestinian division," the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency reported. King Abdullah visited Syria in October after hosting Al Assad in March at a meeting of four Arab states aimed at persuading Syria to distance itself from its ally Iran. Both Syria and Iran, Saudi Arabia's main rival in the region have close ties to
Hamas. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' secular Fatah movement is backed by the US and its allies in the region, including Saudi Arabia and Egypt.."
[more]
‘Kafeel System is Here to Stay’ [Jan 15]
"Deputy Labor Minister Abdul Wahid Al-Humaid has ruled out the possibility of canceling the sponsorship
(kafeel) system in the Kingdom. However, he promised that his ministry would do whatever needed to protect the rights of both employers and employees. 'The Labor Ministry is not the only party to take a decision on the sponsorship system. Saudi citizens spend a lot of money on recruitment of foreign workers. It is not sensible to cancel the system,'
Al-Watan Arabic daily quoted the minister as saying in a report published on Thursday.
Al-Humaid made this comment when asked about a proposal made by the National Society for Human Rights, demanding the cancellation of the system. He said the system must be in place for sometime in order to prevent foul play until alternative solutions are found. He said he feared the cancellation would harm the interests of Saudi employers.."
[more]
PetroSaudi Plans to Privatise, Delist UBG [Jan 15]
"PetroSaudi International Ltd intends to privatise and delist UBG
Bhd, and its two subsidiaries Putrajaya Perdana Bhd (PPB) and Loh & Loh Corp
Bhd, once it has completed acquiring stakes in UBG in deals valued at RM1.4bil. The entire exercise, assuming full acceptance by the shareholders of
UBG, PPB and Loh & Loh, is scheduled to be completed by the end of the first quarter of 2010. 'This will represent the second significant investment by the Saudi company in Malaysia and signals growing economic ties between Kuala Lumpur and Saudi Arabia,' the company said in a statement yesterday.."
[more]
Saudi Arabia: 300,000 Requests to Block Websites Annually [Jan 15]
"There are between 700 and 1000 requests from internet users to block websites in Saudi Arabia per day, a source at the Communications and Information Technology Commission
(CITC) told Asharq Al-Awsat. An average of 850 requests per day means that there are 300,000 requests annually. The same source confirmed that over 93 percent of blocked websites are pornographic. Sultan al
Malik, Public Relations and International Affairs Manager at the CITC stated that there are approximately 200 requests per day to unblock websites, meaning that for every four requests to block a certain website there is only one request to unblock websites. 'The CITC happily looks into every request it receives from the public (whether it is to block or unblock a site) in no longer than 48 hours before making the appropriate decision that is in line with applied regulations,' explained al
Malik.." [more]
~~~~~~~~ [ Jan 14]~~~~~~~~~
Saudi Arabia's Untested Military Finds the Going Slow Against Yemen's Battle-Hardened Rebels [Jan 14]
"Saudi Arabia's latest announcement of the death toll in its two-month old battle with Yemeni rebels along the border is a stark reminder of the ferocity of the fighting in this remote part of the Arabian peninsula, even as the kingdom tries to use air strikes and artillery to minimize casualties. On Tuesday, Prince Khaled bin Sultan, the Saudi assistant defence minister, said clashes with Yemeni rebels have killed 82 Saudis and left 21 missing, in one of his regular briefings on the fighting since his forces went on the offensive on Nov. 5.. ..Arab diplomats, speaking from the Saudi capital Riyadh, said Saudi troops are moving slowly in their two-month campaign against the rebels to establish a six mile (10-kilometre) deep buffer zone on both sides of the border. 'The Yemeni rebels are putting up a fierce resistance and the war is showing no signs of abating,' one of the Arab diplomats said, in an assessment seconded by the other. They spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of their jobs.."
[more]
Saudi Prince Meets With Philippine Leader [Jan 14]
"Saudi Arabia Prince Abdul Aziz Bin Talal Al Saud on Thursday met with Filipino President Gloria Arroyo at a courtesy call at Malacanang Palace in Manila. His Royal Highness met with President Arroyo at the Bahay Pangarap where the Prince also met with other senior government officials. Saudi Arabia has recently granted a royal pardon to at least 79 Filipino workers jailed for various crimes.."
[more]
Media City Planned [Jan 14]
"Saudi Arabia will soon have its own integrated media city that will help boost media activities in the Kingdom, said Minister of Culture and Information Dr. Abdul Aziz
Khoja. The minister — who made the comments to the Saudi Journalists’ Association during a meeting with its members in Riyadh on Tuesday — did not reveal where or when the city would see the light. He, however, revealed that the city would be big and would be established in one of the Kingdom’s cities. “We have already selected a suitable place for the project,” he said without revealing the site.
Dr. Khoja said new rules and regulations for publications, taking into account new developments in the media field, would be issued soon. 'The Saudi audio-visual media are currently witnessing a remarkable progress and there is a lot of effort being exerted toward this end which would soon bear fruit,' he said.."
[more]
Saudi-UK Joint Venture to Boost Investment [Jan 14]
"A new Saudi-UK joint venture announced Wednesday is aimed at further expanding the flourishing bilateral trade and investment. The venture formed between Saudi-based Development & Tech Investment Group (DTI) and UK-based Trans Arabian Consultancy Ltd.
(TAC) formally took shape at a signing ceremony between the two companies hosted by British Consul General Kate Rudd at the consulate. 'The new venture, Trans Arabian Consultancy Middle East, with its offices in Jeddah and Dubai, will work toward expanding trade between Saudi Arabia and Britain and also facilitate investments of about 100 million euros in the next few years,'.. ..'Trade between the two countries continues to increase year on year and our new partnership with offices in Jeddah and Dubai will enhance our ability to bring innovative British companies to Saudi Arabia and the wider Middle East region,'.."
[more]
~~~~~~~~ [ Jan 13]~~~~~~~~~
Ahmadinejad Slams Saudi Role in Yemen Conflict [Jan 13]
"Iran's president lashed out at Saudi Arabia on Wednesday over its role in Yemen's conflict with Shi'ite rebels, saying Riyadh should try to foster peace rather than use weapons against fellow Muslims. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's comments were the strongest criticism yet by predominantly Shi'ite Muslim Iran of mainly Sunni Saudi Arabia over its involvement in the Yemen conflict. Saudi Arabia has been fighting Yemen rebels since the insurgents carried out a cross-border raid in November. 'We were expecting that Saudi Arabian officials act like a mentor and make peace between brothers, not that they themselves enter the war and use bombs and machineguns against Muslims,' Ahmadinejad said in a televised speech. 'If only a small part of the weapons of Saudi Arabia were used in favor of Gaza and against the Zionist regime (Israel), today there would be no sign of the Zionist regime in the region,'.."
[more]
White House Security Advisor Meets Saudi King [Jan 13]
"White House national security advisor James Jones held discussions with Saudi King Abdullah Tuesday on the first stop of a regional tour amid a bid by the US to revive Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. The two 'discussed a number of issues of interest to the two countries,' the official SPA news agency said in a brief report on the meeting. Jones also met Saudi Defence Minister Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdul
Aziz. He is due to go on to Israel and the Palestinian territories. The trip is to 'discuss the full range of regional challenges and opportunities at this critical time,' his spokesman Mike Hammer said Monday. But it comes as both Israel and the Palestinians remain at odds over the issue of Israel's settlements. The Palestinians and their Arab backers -- with Saudi Arabia one of the most important -- insist that peace talks cannot open until Israel freezes the construction of Jewish settlements in the occupied West bank and East Jerusalem.."
[more]
Saudi Growth to Hit 3.9 Percent in 2010 [Jan 13]
"Saudi economic growth will accelerate to 3.9 percent in 2010 on the back of strong government spending and recovery in the private sector, according to a bank study released on Wednesday. But declining productivity in the private sector will remain a drag on the economy that could lead to higher unemployment if the government does not continue to expand its own role, said Banque Saudi Fransi
(BSF) in its forecast. The Saudi economy eked out a bare 0.15-percent GDP expansion last year, buoyed by heavy government and oil sector investment, which will continue to carry the economy this year, said
BSF, part of the French banking group Credit Agricole. 'Economic growth is likely to accelerate to 3.9 percent in 2010, with the private sector growing 3.7 percent on the back of higher oil prices (and) greater infrastructure activity,' it said. 'The government, through a stimulatory public spending
programme, will continue to lead the pickup in the economy as Saudi oil averages around 74 dollars a barrel and low levels of government debt bolster the kingdom's fiscal position,'.."
[more]
Saudi Cleric Labels Joining Al Qaida Un-Islamic [Jan 13]
"Joining Al Qaida is forbidden in Islam, according to senior Saudi scholar Shaikh Abdul Mohsen Al
Obeikan. Obeikan, who is a top advisor in the court of Saudi King Abdullah, made his commends in the Okaz newspaper.
'Affiliation with the so-called Al Qaida group is haram (or banned under Islamic teachings)', he said. Al Qaida’s ideology, according to the official Saudi view, was one of
takfirism, which is forbidden. The concept of takfir is used by Al
Qaida, as a way of justifying killing someone by accusing them of apostasy. Saudi Arabia has stepped up its efforts to dissuade Saudis from joining Al
Qaida, especially in light of its strong re-emergence in its southern
neighbour, Yemen.."
[more]
Bashar Al Assad Arrives in Riyadh For Summit Talks [Jan 13]
"Syrian President Bashar Al Assad will arrive here on Wednesday on a landmark official visit — a further sign of the thaw in relations between the two key Arab states. The visit would follow Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al Faisal's visit to Damascus last week. The Egyptian-brokered reconciliation agreement between the leading Palestinian factions of Hamas and
Fatah, Iranian nuclear dossier and the situation in Lebanon would figure high in the talks. 'During the Saudi-Syrian summit talks, the leaders will discuss ways to further strengthen bilateral relations and cooperation in various fields, in addition to the regional and international issues of mutual concern,' the official Saudi Press Agency reported.."
[more]
No Negotiation With Intruders [Jan 13]
" Prince Khaled bin Sultan, assistant minister of defense and aviation for military affairs, said Tuesday that Saudi Arabia would not negotiate with Yemeni intruders. 'We’ll not negotiate with infiltrators and saboteurs. We talk only to the Yemeni government,' he said. Prince Khaled made the comments while talking to reporters who mentioned that Yemeni intruders wanted to negotiate an end to the fighting that began Nov. 3. 'Our condition is very clear: They should go back beyond our borders and stop their groupings,' the prince said. He estimated the number of intruders at 100 to 200. 'Some of them tried to enter the Kingdom through Jabiriya and all of those were killed.' Prince Khaled said the number of Saudi soldiers killed in the fighting had reached 82 and that 39 soldiers had been injured.."
[more]
~~~~~~~~ [ Jan 12]~~~~~~~~~
Erdogan, 7 Others Win Faisal Prize [Jan 12]
"Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose achievements have set an example of judicious leadership in the Islamic world, on Monday won the 2010 King Faisal International Prize
(KFIP) for Service to Islam. Two internationally acclaimed mathematicians — professor Enrico Bombieri from the US and professor Terence
Chi-Shen Tao from Australia — were declared co-winners of the prize in science (mathematics).. ..In the past King Faisal International Prize laureates went on to win numerous prestigious national and international prizes for their efforts. Fifteen KFIP winners have become Nobel Prize laureates so far. Speaking to reporters, Prince Khaled said the prizes would be distributed to the winners on March 7 under the patronage of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah.."
[more]
Saudi Transfers From Gitmo on Hold [Jan 12]
"The Obama administration has no plans to transfer Guantánamo Bay detainees to Saudi Arabia in the wake of the Christmas Day bombing attempt and bipartisan criticism about its policy of transferring detainees to countries hosting terrorist activity. No detainees are set to be sent to Saudi Arabia in the 'near term,' an administration official told The Hill. The official also defended the administration’s decision to transfer three Guantánamo Bay detainees to Saudi Arabia in June 2009, noting that the trio were under Saudi “judicial review” after their transfer.. .. 'The three Saudis that were transferred in 2009 were subject to judicial review in Saudi Arabia following their transfer.' The official did not define the term 'judicial review' or say whether the detainees are in prison or have been prosecuted in Saudi courts.."
[more]
Five Charged Over Thai-Saudi Jewel Mystery [Jan 12]
"A 20-year crime mystery that has seriously affected diplomatic relations between Thailand and Saudi Arabia has taken another twist. Five Thai police officers have been charged with the murder of a Saudi businessman who disappeared in 1990. The case stems from the theft of millions of dollars of jewels from a Saudi palace by a Thai man employed as a janitor in 1989. All five suspects deny the murder charges. The case of the jewels, the janitor, the palace and the police has been a source of intrigue and diplomatic tension for two decades.. ..The theft and subsequent murders soured relations between Thailand and Saudi Arabia. Thousands of migrant Thai workers lost their jobs and billions of dollars in trade have been sacrificed. Tuesday's decision may go some way to improving the situation.."
[more]
Malaysian PM to Visit Saudi Arabia [Jan 12]
"Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak will be making an official visit to Saudi Arabia on Jan. 13-16 to deepen bilateral ties, the Malaysian Foreign Ministry said here on Tuesday. Najib will later attend the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates
(UAE) on Jan. 18. Malaysia will be working towards enhancing trade and investment relations with the two countries.."
[more]
Saudi Arabia School Building Plan Hits a Snag [Jan 12]
"More than 700 school construction projects are on hold across Saudi Arabia because of high costs and scarcity of suitable land, a senior education official has said. Saudi Arabia’s education ministry has previously spent about six billion Saudi riyals (Dh5.88bn) to acquire 2,000 parcels of land since 2003, but more land is needed for schools to meet the needs of a population growing by more than two per cent per year.. ..Faisal bin
Muammar, the deputy minister of education, told al Madina newspaper that land scarcity for educational projects is mostly confined to large cities, especially the holy city of Mecca, where at least 100,000 pupils are studying in rented schools.. ..'Land is becoming expensive and landowners will not sell property to the government at cheap prices,' he added.. ..While the government is allowed to appropriate private land for public projects that it deems necessary, the process is prohibitively difficult.."
[more]
Saudi Arabia Foils Major Drug Trafficking Attempt [Jan 12]
"Saudi Interior Ministry said on Sunday it foiled an attempt to smuggle a huge quantity of narcotics into the country, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported. A spokesman for the Saudi Interior Ministry said security bodies have successfully thwarted an attempt to traffic more than eight million narcotic pills worth 292 million Saudi riyals (77.8 million U.S. dollar). The amount was hidden inside huge tyres on a big truck. Six people including three Saudis were arrested in the operation, the spokesman said. Meanwhile, Saudi Interior Ministry said it provided Turkey with information that led to discovering a major drug manufacturer's network. Turkish authorities, the Saudi ministry said, have seized 30 tons of raw narcotic material that was enough to produce 200 million bills worth of 1.6 billion U.S. dollars. Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Arab countries have exerted hard efforts to combat drug trafficking and addiction across borders.."
[more]
~~~~~~~~ [ Jan 11]~~~~~~~~~
Saudi Arabia Death Sentence Law Amended [Jan 11]
"Saudi Arabia's Shura Council has approved a landmark decision with regard to execution of the death sentence.
The council passed a legislation to make amendment in the Criminal Procedure Law by which death sentence shall be carried out with a unanimous decision instead of the existing majority vote. An overwhelming majority of 92 members voted in favour of the new amendment, while a few members opposed it. The Shura members, who voted against the amendment included Dr Zuhair Al Harithy and Dr Abdul Rahman Al
Eisa. According to the amendment, death sentence shall be executed only with a unanimous decision of the judges. At present, death sentence can be awarded with a decision of the majority of judges. The amendment says that any verdict issued by a lower court awarding death sentence or severing of hands or similar punishments shall not be executed without a verdict of
t
Two Women Appointed to EP Chamber Board [Jan 11]
"The Minister of Trade and Industry has appointed two women to the Board of Directors at the Eastern Province Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Hana Bint Abdul Mohsen
Al-Zuheir and Samira Abdul Rahman Al-Suweigh now become the only two female members of the board after women candidates failed to gain a single seat from the 12 available at last month’s elections.. ..Where local businesswomen had been pinning their hopes on one female being appointed, the announcements are also notable for not including any of the three women who stood for election in December.. ..'The appointment of the two businesswomen to the board of is indeed a manifestation of the government’s acknowledgment of the vital role and contribution of Saudi businesswomen in the country’s private sector,' said Adnan
Al-Naeem, Secretary General of the Chamber.."
[more]
More Oil Investments Planned to Stabilize a Volatile Market [Jan 11]
"Saudi Arabia will continue investing in its oil sector to help stabilize crude prices at a level acceptable to both consuming and producing countries, Finance Minister Ibrahim
Al-Assaf said Sunday. 'The Kingdom is continuing with its big efforts to achieve stability in the international oil market,' the minister told a meeting attended by China’s trade minister and business officials. 'This is through big investments to increase production and refining capacity to maintain balanced and acceptable prices by both producers and consumers,'
Al-Assaf said.
The Kingdom completed a massive crude capacity expansion project in 2009 to boost output capacity to 12.5 million barrels per day (bpd).."
[more]
Saudi Banks Fall as Results Disappoint [Jan 11]
"Saudi bank shares tumbled on Monday following disappointing earnings, weighing on the index, as most Middle East bourses retreated in thin trading as cautious investors awaited further results.. ..Saudi Hollandi Bank 1040.SE fell 3.8 percent after posting its first quarterly loss for two years and Banque Saudi Fransi 1050.SE dropped 3.6 percent after its fourth-quarter profit dropped 43 percent. Both lenders blamed rising provisions for below-forecast earnings. Samba Financial Group 1090.SE also fell as its own profit missed estimates. 'I expected a bigger drop in the market, so the reaction has been quite good (to the trio of bank results),' said Hesham
Abo-Jamee, Bakheet Investment Group head of asset management. Saudi Arabia's index dropped 0.4 percent, its second straight decline.."
[more]
Saudi-Chinese Trade Exchange To Reach Almost RM54 Billion [Jan 11]
"The Minister of Finance Dr. Ibrahim Al-Assaf said Sunday that Saudi Arabia and China are looking forward to achieving a volume of bilateral trade exchange amounting to SR 60 billion (RM53.57 billion) during the next five years, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported. In a statement to reporters following the conclusion of the 4th session of Joint Saudi-Chinese Committee, Dr.
Al-Assaf pointed out that it has been agreed on the development of investment cooperation and joint investments between the two countries, urging on convening the Committee's meetings between the two countries on an ongoing basis and at short intervals.."
[more]
62,000 Students Sent On Saudi Foreign Scholarships In 4 Years [Jan 11]
"The Undersecretary of Ministry of Higher Education for Scholarship Affairs Dr. Abdullah bin
Abdul-Aziz Al-Moussa said that 62,000 students have been sent on foreign scholarships during the last four years as part of the Programme of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for Foreign Scholarships. In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) on the occasion of the launch of the 5th phase of the programme here on Sunday, he pointed out that the ministry has not cancelled scholarships to Britain and Australia altogether, but it has imposed limitation to the current 5th phase of the scholarship programme aiming to balance scholarships among countries, noting that in the previous phase the ministry stopped scholarships to a number of countries including Canada.."
[more]
~~~~~~~~ [ Jan 10]~~~~~~~~~
Saudi Scholar Suggests Ban on Travel to US [Jan 10]
"Saudi Islamic preacher Shaikh Sulaiman Al Dowaish urged Saudi authorities to explore the prospect of imposing a ban on travel to the United States if the United States sticks to its decision to undergo an "enhanced screening" of passengers from Saudi Arabia. At the same time, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign has sent a message to the US administration seeking clarifications regarding the recent US announcement about heightened security checks for Saudi passengers. Saudi Arabia is among 14 countries, whose citizens have been subjected to enhanced screening at the US airports. At least 22,000 Saudi young men and women are doing their bachelor's, master's and Phd degree courses in various US universities and higher institutes. Earlier, a Foreign Ministry official said that Saudi Arabia would not tolerate any violation of the dignity of its citizens, their freedom of movement or their privacy.."
[more]
Kingdom’s Embassy in Stockholm Attacked [Jan 10]
"An unidentified man attacked the Kingdom’s Embassy in Stockholm, said an official source Saturday. According to the source, a man threw a bottle full of acid at the embassy’s window overlooking the street. He said the attack didn’t cause any damage to the embassy’s premises nor hurt any of the staff. The source said that the local authorities in Stockholm were informed about the incident and they had started an investigation.."
[more]
Israel Urged to Break Talks Stalemate [Jan 10]
"Saudi Arabia and Germany called on Israel to break the current stalemate with the Palestinians, to cease settlement activity in occupied lands and to accept East Jerusalem as the capital of a future Palestinian state.
'The illegal settlements constitute a major obstacle to the Middle East peace talks,' said Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal at a joint news conference on Saturday with his German counterpart Guido
Westerwelle, who strongly backed the call to cease the expansion of settlements in disputed areas. 'A settlement freeze was part of the road map that has been advocated by the European Union,' the German minister pointed out.."
[more]
Saudi Prince Alwaleed Meets Abu Dhabi Sheiks On Investments [Jan 10]
"Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal has held meetings with senior government officials in Abu Dhabi including powerful royal Sheik Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan to discuss 'potential business collaboration', a statement from his office said. The meetings between two of the region's most influential investors took place last week, according to the statement. Prince Alwaleed is one of the largest single investors in Citigroup Inc. (C), which is in dispute with Abu Dhabi over the emirate's investment in the bank. Prince Alwaleed discussed 'local, regional and international economic and investment issues, and future potential business collaboration' and also met with Kaldoon Al
Mubarak, who heads Mubadala Development Co.."
[more]
Saudi's Sasref to Start Clean Diesel Exports End of Jan [Jan 10]
"State-run Saudi Aramco and Royal Dutch Shell (RDSa.L) are expected to start ultra-low sulphur diesel exports from their joint venture refinery by the end of January, a senior company executive said. The commissioning of the new refining unit is likely to take place before the end of the month.. ..The unit, which makes the refinery the kingdom's first producer that complies with new
environmental standards, has the potential to produce up to 100,000 bpd of clean diesel, he said. The clean diesel unit is part of a broader plan to upgrade and add new units to meet environmental standards at the plant in
Jubail, on the Gulf coast of Saudi Arabia.."
[more]
Saudi Investing to Stabilise Oil Price: Finance Minister [Jan 10]
"Saudi Arabia will continue investing in its oil sector to help stabilise crude prices at a level acceptable to both consuming and producing nations, its finance minister said on Sunday. 'The Kingdom is continuing with its big efforts to achieve stability in the international oil markets,' Ibrahim
al-Assaf told a meeting attended by China's trade minister and business officials. 'This is through big investments to increase production and refining capacity to maintain balanced and acceptable prices by both producers and consumers,' he said, according to a transcript of his speech. Top oil exporter Saudi Arabia completed a huge crude capacity expansion programme last year to boost ouptut capacity to 12.5 million barrels per day.."
[more]
Saudi Saw 25 Percent Fall in Work Visas From Jan-Sep 2009 [Jan 10]
"Saudi’s Ministry of Labor reported a 25 percent reduction in work visas issued during the first nine months of 2009, as compared to the same period in 2008, according to a ministry report, says Arab News. Around 3 million work permits were issued during the period in 2009, said the report. The ministry is also planning to finalize statutes for unified recruitment companies, to streamline and simplify the employment of foreign nationals, the report said.."
[more]
Al-Hiraki Case Death Sentences Revoked [Jan 10]
" The Saudi Supreme Court has revoked the death sentence pronounced by the General Court in Jeddah on two young men charged with the murder of a 19-year-old Syrian during a school brawl in north Jeddah in 2007. The court, which is the third and last level of litigation in the Saudi judiciary, also ordered the formation of a new judicial committee to reconsider the case and issue a verdict. In early 2009, a panel of three judges at the general court in Jeddah sentenced Mohamed
Kohail, a Canadian national of Palestinian origin, and Jordanian Mohanna Ezzat to death for killing Syrian Munzer
Al-Hiraki in 2007. The case attracted much interest, especially in Canada with senior Canadian government officials taking up the issue with Saudi officials.. .. the lawyer representing Mohamed Kohail and Mohanna
Ezzat, welcomed the Supreme Court verdict, saying it was proof of the Saudi judiciary’s integrity and honesty. He also welcomed the decision to form a new judicial committee to reconsider the case.
Under the new judicial system, the Supreme Court has the right to revoke rulings issued by any of the Kingdom’s courts.."
[more]
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