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Snapshot of the Week Past |
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Bush
to Host Saudi's Abdullah at Ranch
"Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah is expected to
meet with President Bush at his Crawford, Texas,
ranch later this month, a senior administration
official said on [Apr 6]. The official declined to
discuss the agenda. But the Wall Street Journal
said surging oil prices and the fight against
global terror are likely to be discussed. The date
for the meeting has not been set.."
Saudis May Be Making Advances on Militants
"Security forces have killed 15 Islamic
militants in four days, including three on the
most wanted list, in the most intensive fighting
yet seen in Saudi Arabia's two-year war on terror
- a sign the kingdom may have al-Qaida on the
defensive. The latest slain militant was
Abdul-Rahman Mohammed Mohammed Yazji, killed [Apr
6] by police in a raid in a rundown industrial
area of the capital, Riyadh. Yazji is suspected of
involvement in a November 2003 bombing of a
housing complex for foreign workers that killed 17
Arabs.."
Terror Groups Dealt a Blow, Says Naif
"Interior Minister Prince Naif said the
terrorist group has been dealt a blow but
cautioned that more attacks may be carried out by
the deviant group. Over the past four days 16
militants have been killed, including three on the
Ministry of Interior's list of 26 most wanted
terrorists.."
Death of Top Terrorists in Al-Rass Gun Battle
Confirmed
"The Interior Ministry [Apr 9] confirmed the
death of Saud Al-Otaibi, the leader of Al-Qaeda
cell in Saudi Arabia, and Moroccan Abdul Kareem
Al-Majati, the No. 4 on the list of 26 most wanted
terrorists, in last week's gunbattle in Al-Rass.
In a statement, an official source at the ministry
said 15 terrorists were shot dead in the three-day
gunbattle at Al-Rass, 320 km northwest of
Riyadh.."
Three-Day Gunbattle Ends in Saudi Arabia
"Security forces seized a walled compound
[Apr 5] where Islamic militants had been
barricaded for days, ending the kingdom's largest
gunbattle with armed extremists. At least 14 of
the militants were killed, including top leaders
of the Saudi branch of al-Qaida, state television
said. Six others were captured in the three days
of fierce firefights in the desert town of Rass,
state TV said, citing security officials after the
battle was over.."
7 Terrorists Shot Dead as Battle Rages
"As Saudi security forces killed seven
suspected terrorists in a fierce gun battle that
raged for the second successive day till late last
night [Apr 4] here, the Cabinet renewed its pledge
to continue the Kingdom's anti-terror campaign.
The leader of the Al-Qaeda cell in Saudi Arabia,
Saleh Al-Aufi who was reported killed earlier, is
holed up in a villa, an informed source said.
Talib Saud Al-Talib, another most wanted terrorist
on the list of 26, was also with Aufi.."
OPEC Set to Boost Supplies in May
"OPEC is on track to boost supplies to world
markets by 500,000 barrels per day (bpd) next
month to help build stockpiles ahead of an
anticipated demand surge later this year.. ..Six
straight days of oil price declines have dropped
U.S. oil below $53 a barrel, but Gulf oil
producers appear committed to turning up the taps
and piling up global inventories.."
Saudi Aramco Plans to Build $5 Billion Refinery
in Yanbu
"Saudi Aramco plans to build a multibillion
dollar export-oriented refinery with a 400,000
barrel-per-day (bpd) capacity in the Red Sea city
of Yanbu. This was disclosed by Khalid Al-Buainain,
vice president of refining at Aramco, to reporters
at an energy conference in Dubai. Investment for
the plant will run to $4 billion-$5 billion, he
said.."
Saudis Plan New Export Refinery
"State-run Saudi Aramco - responsible for 95%
of Saudi oil production - has unveiled plans to
build a new export -driven refinery on the Red
Sea. The facility at Yanbu would have a
400,000-barrel-per-day (bpd) capacity, and cost
$4bn-$5bn (£2.13bn-£2.66bn). The new refinery
will serve world gasoline markets, easing pressure
on overstretched refineries elsewhere. Saudi
Aramco wants to form a joint venture with one or
more international partners for the site.."
Kingdom Oil Reserves May Go Up by 200 Billion
Barrels, Naimi Says
"Saudi Arabia might manage to increase its
crude reserves by 200 billion barrels to its
existing 261 billion barrels, Minister of
Petroleum and Mineral Resources Ali Al-Naimi was
quoted.. ..'There is a possibility that the
Kingdom will increase its reserves by around 200
billion barrels, either through new finds or by
increasing what it produces from existing
fields'.."
Saudi Steps Up Bid To Join WTO
"Top US and Saudi officials will meet next
week on Riyadh's bid to join the World Trade
Organisation, the US Trade Representative's Office
said as talks between the two countries
intensified. Acting US Trade Representative Peter
Allgeier and Saudi Commerce and Industry Minister
Hashem Yamani are tentatively scheduled to meet in
the US capital on [Apr 14].."
Arab States, EU to Resume Trade Talks
"European Union and Gulf Arab countries aim
to resume free trade talks in May, officials said,
ending months of stalemate which Arab states
blamed on a growing list of EU political and
economic demands. Gulf Cooperation Council
Secretary-General Abdul Rahman Al-Attiya, speaking
after meeting finance ministers of the six GCC
countries on [Apr 3], said negotiating teams will
meet late next month and to try to seal a deal 'as
soon as possible'.."
GCC, EU to Sign Free-Trade Deal by Yearend
"GCC and EU foreign ministers [Apr 5] agreed
to sign a free-trade agreement by the end of this
year, according to Sheikh Muhammad ibn Mubarak
Al-Khalifa, deputy premier and foreign minister of
Bahrain. Speaking to reporters at the end of a
joint meeting in Manama, he said the two sides
also agreed to hold the final round of
negotiations in Brussels from June 7 to 9.."
WEF Commends Saudi Arabia for Very Low
Inflation
"Saudi Arabia has been commended for its
'extremely low inflation' in a survey of 12 Arab
countries by Geneva-based World Economic Forum.
The Forum's Arab World Competitiveness Report,
which was released at a conference in Doha this
week, said the Kingdom has 'one of the most stable
macroeconomic environments in the region'.."
Saudi Shares Now Open to GCC Citizens
"Citizens of the Gulf Cooperation Council
states will be given equal treatment in purchasing
and exchanging Saudi stocks, including shares of
banks, insurance companies and real estate firms,
the Saudi Press Agency said.. ..King Fahd, [Apr 4]
gave the go-ahead to implement a GCC summit
decision that calls for equal treatment to GCC
citizens in owning and exchanging stocks and
establishing companies.."
Saudi Arabia: New Integrated Technological Zone
To Spread On 3.5 Million Square Meters
"Saudi Organization for Industrial Estates
and Technology Zones will offer during the next
six months a new project of its kind for
construction of integrated technological zone in
the eastern region. The new zone will spread on a
total area of more than 3.5 million square meters,
which will focus in energy, environment, advanced
petrochemicals and new materials.. ..Awarding the
BOT contracts related to this project is expected
within the next six months.."
Prince Musaed Passes Away
"Prince Musaed ibn Ahmed Al-Sudairy, uncle of
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd, died
at the Armed Forces Hospital here [Apr 4] at the
age of 88, the royal court announced.."
My Life: Saudi Arabian Women Speak
"Although women now make up more than half of
all graduates from Saudi universities, they
comprise only 5% of the kingdom's workforce. They
cannot vote, take an open and active part of
public life or even drive a car. The BBC spoke to
eight young Saudi women, aged between 17 and 27,
who attend a private college in Jeddah. The women
have revealed snapshots of their lives and spoke
of their aspirations for the future in a country
which has long constrained their freedom.."
Saudi Arabia Hosts First Islamic Solidarity
Games
"Some 6,500 athletes from 54 Muslim nations
will assemble in Saudi Arabia this week for a
sporting festival aimed at projecting a more
positive image of Islam to the world. The first
Islamic Solidarity Games will be formally opened
[Apr 8], and will run until April 20. Organizers
hope the games will present an alternative picture
of life in Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam
but also the homeland of most of the Sept. 11,
2001 hijackers.."
US Rolls Out Welcome Mat for Students
"The United States is rolling out the welcome
mat for foreigners wishing to visit or study at
colleges and universities there with a streamlined
visa application process that will take as little
as a day in some countries. New technology will
help reduce the wait time to obtain visas at US
embassies, as part of an effort to attract more
visitors and students to the United States.."
Political
Motive Seen in Closure of Al-Haramain
"The spokesman of an American
non-governmental organization that works for
Islamic charitable organizations hinted [Apr 7]
that the closure of the Al-Haramain Islamic
Foundation might have been politically motivated
and linked to the US presidential elections last
year. M. Wendell Belew, Jr., president of the
Belew Law Firm and spokesman of Friends of
Charities Association (FOCA), also announced that
the Dutch government is understood to be
unfreezing the assets of Al-Haramain Foundation,
since it has not discovered any material evidence
that would justify continued freeze on its
assets.."
More Needs to Be Done on Women's Empowerment'
"Saudi Arabia should exert more efforts to
integrate women in mainstream Saudi society.
Despite efforts made by Riyadh to promote the
status of women, it is widely seen that Saudi
women have little role to play in many domains of
public life. This is one of the key issues
addressed by the Arab Human Development Report
(AHDR). The report was released by El-Mostafa
Benlamlih, United Nations resident
coordinator.."
Saudis to Receive 'Distinguished Friend of
India' Award Annually
"The newly established Saudi-Indian Business
Network (SIBN) has decided to institute a
"Distinguished Friend of India Award" to
the Saudi entrepreneur annually. The award will be
presented to the Saudi businessman who excels in
promoting business with India and mutual
investments, according to Indian Consul General
Dr. Ausaf Sayeed.."
Faisal
Award Winner Calls for Education Reforms
"A British Islamic scholar has called on
Muslim countries to reform the educational setup
in religious schools, so that graduating students
are well-grounded in both Islamic studies and
modern sciences. Professor Carole Hillenbrand,
this year's winner of the King Faisal
International Prize for Islamic Studies, spoke to
Arab News ahead of the presentation ceremony
tonight. Professor Hillenbrand, who teaches
Islamic History at the University of Edinburgh in
the United Kingdom, won the award for her book
"The Crusades: Islamic Perspectives."
Prestigious Faisal Awards Presented
"On behalf of Custodian of the Two Holy
Mosques King Fahd, Prince Sultan, second deputy
premier and minister of defense and aviation,
presented awards to this year's winners of the
King Faisal International Prize at a glittering
ceremony held here [Apr 10].. ..Each winner of the
award received SR750,000 ($200,000) in cash, a
certificate outlining the laureate's work and a
commemorative 22-carat gold medallion.."
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