In the News

Dozens of Candidates Call for Election Probe 
"A number of election candidates are contesting the results, claiming that the winners violated electoral laws. Dhafer Saeed Al-Yami is heading a seven-member group of defeated candidates appealing the poll results in Riyadh. "Some candidates submitted their appeals with the Grievances and Complaints Committee.." 

WP Voters Register for Civic Polls
"Registration of voters for municipal elections in the Western Province began [Feb 15], and officials were present to help would-be voters who came to register. Across the region there are 61 election centers, with 45 located in Jeddah city and 16 in the sub-regions, including Qunfudha, Al-Laith and Rabigh.."

JEF to Reflect Voices of the Future
"The 6th Jeddah Economic Forum will have special sessions for students and youths.. .. The Kingdom has 65 percent of its Saudi population as young as under 21 years of age and it is in this context that the focus will be on its youth.."

Aramco Chief Calls for Global Energy Cooperation
"Saudi Arabia has called for greater global cooperation in increasing upstream investments and expanding and upgrading refining capacity to ensure the world's energy future. Saudi Aramco President and Chief Executive Officer Abdallah S. Jum'ah told an energy conference in Houston that oil-producing nations were likely to build more refineries because of hurdles oil companies face in developing new plants in consuming countries.." 

Judges Warn Reformists They May Be Tried Without a Defense
"A panel of three judges in Riyadh warned three jailed reformists [Feb 16] that they could issue a verdict at the next court hearing if they continue to refuse to submit a defense, according to family members who attended the session. The three academics, Ali Al-Dumaini, Matruk Al-Faleh and Abdullah Al-Hamed, were arrested in March 2004, along with nine others, and charged with causing instability, collecting signatures for a petition and exploiting the Kingdom's battle with Al-Qaeda terrorists for political gain.."

Lawmaker Chides Lack of Saudi Cooperation
"Saudi Arabia's less-than-full cooperation has hindered U.S. efforts to choke off terrorist financing, a lawmaker said [Feb 16], and a Bush administration official indicated the Saudis were being prodded. Juan Zarate, the Treasury Department's assistant secretary for terrorist financing, also said Treasury investigators have not found a direct link between al-Qaida and the illicit diamond trade in Africa but did not rule one out.."

General Motors University Campus To Train Young Saudis In Automotive Industry
"General Motors is using its partnership with the Jeddah Economic Forum, and its theme of 'Capacity Building: Developing People For Sustainable Growth', to announce its intention to establish a campus of the General Motors University in Saudi Arabia. The GM University in Saudi Arabia would form the cornerstone of GM's Saudization program, providing comprehensive training to young Saudi Nationals in a number of areas in the automotive industry including sales, technical support, after sales and retail administration.."

Saudi Arabia Opens Gold Exploration To Foreign Groups
" Saudi Arabia is opening itself up to foreign companies to search for gold, but the black gold that many oil producers desire will remain forbidden to foreigners. A new mining code passed last month seeks to stimulate foreign investment. The government hopes to transform the nascent mining industry into the third pillar of the Saudi economy, alongside hydrocarbons and petrochemicals.."

Saudis in Strategy to Export More Oil to India and China
"Saudi Aramco, the world's largest producer of crude oil, is seeking to strengthen relations with energy companies in India and China as part of a strategy to increase Saudi oil exports there. Together, the two countries are expected to account for much of the increase in global oil demand over the next decade.."

Saudi Charity Suspected of Aiding Terror
" A U.S. arm of a large Saudi charity suspected by the government of supporting terrorism was indicted on fraud and tax charges, federal prosecutors said [Feb 17]. The three-count indictment charges Al-Haramain Islamic Foundation and its two officers, Pirouz Sedaghaty -- also known as Pete Seda -- and Soliman Al-Buthe with illegally sending $150,000 to Muslim fighters in Chechnya.."

Saudi Arabia 'Recalls' Its Ambassador From Budapest
"Saudi Arabia has ordered its ambassador in Budapest back to Riyadh for consultations to protest an off the cuff remark in which Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany referred to Saudi footballers as "Arab terrorists." Gyurcsany's comment was made earlier this month when he hailed Hungary's football team for having "fought with death-defying courage" against "Arab terrorists" in a friendly match against Saudi Arabia on Feb. 2.."

Saudi Arabia Hands 19 Suspects Over to Yemen [Wash Post]
"Saudi Arabia said Saturday it had handed over 19 Yemenis detained on security charges to Yemen, in the latest of a series of extraditions between the two states which are both fighting al Qaeda militants. A ministry statement carried by the official Saudi Press Agency said the 19 had been held in various security cases, but did not say when they were repatriated or give details.."

U.S. Indicts Oregon Charity Linked to Saudis [Wash Post]
"A federal grand jury has indicted an Oregon charity affiliated with the Saudi Arabian government on charges of conspiring to defraud the U.S. government by concealing its alleged efforts to funnel $150,000 to Muslim fighters in Chechnya. The al Haramain Islamic Foundation and two officers were indicted in Eugene, Ore., late Thursday for allegedly participating in a scheme to misstate the destination of $150,000 from an Egyptian donor.."

Saudi Aramco To Boost Oil Production
"Saudi Aramco is planning to carry out two new projects by the end of the decade aimed at boosting the country's oil production. According to the head of the state-run oil company, Saudi Arabia is producing less than 9 million barrels per day (bpd).."

Riyadh's Polls, A Window Into Saudi Social Dynamics
"As Saudi Arabia's municipal elections continue over a period of weeks, the recently held elections for the seven districts in the capital, Riyadh, were more then just a significant historical event; they could also be seen as a case study highlighting the cultural and social dynamics that exist in the kingdom today.."

Kingdom Keeps 2m bpd Surplus Capacity: Naimi 
"The Kingdom said yesterday it was keeping a surplus oil production capacity of up to two million barrels per day (bpd) to meet unexpected world demand. "We always maintain a surplus (production) capacity of 1.5 million to two million bpd in order to meet unexpected demand, such as happened in 2003 and 2004," Oil Minister Ali Al-Naimi said after talks with visiting Norwegian Petroleum and Energy Minister Thorhild Widvey.."