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Return of Saudi Red Crescent Society to Humanitarian Work in Darfur [Aug 18]
"Kingdom of Saudi Arabia announces return of Red Crescent society to assume humanitarian activities in Darfur region. The return of the society came as response to an invitation from presidential advisor Mustafa Osman Ismail to chairman of the society prince Faisal Bin Abdel Aziz. Head of medical services Mowafag Atta said the Saudi Red Crescent Society has set a new plan for Darfur including building of houses besides health and educational utilities.." [more]

Saudi Arabia is Developing a World-Class Graduate Research University [Aug 18]
"Based on the decades-long vision of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Arabia is developing a unique new world-class graduate research university that will provide significant support for scientific discovery and human advancement within the Kingdom, the region and around the globe. King Abdullah University of Science and Technology ,which will have one of the largest university endowments in the world and will be governed by an independent Board of Trustees, is being built at a site along the Red Sea approximately 80 kilometers north of Jiddah. The campus is expected to open in September 2009.." [more]

Anti-Arab Diplomat Retires From US Government [Aug 18]
"A US diplomat accused of having said “the only good Arab is a dead Arab” in a voice mail left with an Arab-American group has retired from the government, the State Department said on Thursday. The diplomat, Patrick Syring, was accused of having made abusive, intimidating and racist comments in e-mails and voice mails to employees of the Arab American Institute, a Washington group that promotes Arab-American interests. The State Department declined comment on the legal case against Syring, which was outlined in an indictment filed at a US federal court on Wednesday, but said the diplomat had decided to retire.." [more]

Riyadh to Give $40mn in Flood Aid [Aug 18]
"Saudi King Abdullah yesterday ordered two aid packages worth $20mn each be dispatched to Sudan and Mauritania to help the impoverished African countries hit by severe floods. The two grants will aim to bring rapid relief to the stricken zones in co-operation with the Saudi Red Crescent and international humanitarian organisations, according to a royal court statement carried by SPA state news agency. The king also ordered quick medical and food relief to be transferred by Saudi planes to the two countries.." [more]

KAUST, IFP to Cooperate on Research Programs [Aug 18]
"King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) and the French Institut Français Du Pétrole (IFP) will collaborate on research programs, graduate education and technological development for the benefit of their respective countries.. ..last week to work jointly on transport energies and materials and on joint efforts to find innovative solutions for more efficient, more economical, cleaner, and sustainable energies and materials. KAUST and IFP will also collaborate in accepting graduate students for agreed upon terms to do course work or specific research on IFP’s premises. Both institutions agreed to focus specifically on research in carbon capture, clean fuels, catalysis, polymers and chemical engineering modeling.." [more]

HRW Takes Up Workers’ Cause in Saudi Arabia [Aug 18]
"The killing of two Indonesian domestic workers by their employers in Saudi Arabia highlights the Saudi government’s ongoing failure to hold employers accountable for abuses, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Friday. The New York-based watchdog group said the employers’ brutal beatings also left two other Indonesian domestic workers critically injured. Saudi authorities have detained the employers.. .. About two million women from Indonesia, Sri Lanka, the Philippines and other countries are employed as domestic workers in Saudi Arabia.." [more]

Saudis at the Negotiating Table [Aug 17]
"The United States and Iran have held two rounds of talks over the security and stability of Iraq.. ..recent reports have revealed that US officials are concerned that significant amounts of financial and volunteer support for the Sunni insurgency are flowing into Iraq from Saudi Arabia. The Saudi government does not support the Sunni insurgency, but some segments of Saudi society clearly do. A few Wahabi imams in Saudi Arabia have urged their followers to go to Iraq for jihad against the foreign forces and the Shi'ites. There is no doubt that the Saudi leadership dislikes the current Shi'ite-dominated government of Iraq -- which it regards as being too close to Iran's cleric rulers. The Saudis fear that if the Iran-US negotiations succeed, the Iraqi government will grow stronger. This suspicion is shared by Saudi people and may be a motive for some to increase their support for the Sunni insurgents.." [more]

Saudi Arabia Hits Back Over Syrian Official's Comments [Aug 17]
"Saudi Arabia lashed out at Syria on Thursday with a rare tirade reflecting deteriorated relations between the two Mideast nations.. ..At a press conference in the Syrian capital on Tuesday, al-Sharaa had said that the Saudi nation — the Mideast's key Sunni power player — has become semi-paralyzed. Al-Sharaa also blamed the kingdom for the ultimate failure of the agreement between rival Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas that was signed in Mecca earlier this year. The statement on SPA, which is considered a kingdom mouthpiece, said that Riyadh was 'very surprised over the repulsive remarks by ... al-Sharaa that included a lot of lies aimed at harming the kingdom.'.. ..It added that the Syrian official's comments show irreverence to the "traditions and norms that rule relations between sisterly Arab nations.'.." [more]

Saudi Women Learn Techniques of Conflict Resolution at US Program [Aug 17]
"A number of Saudi women participated with other Muslim women from around the world in a leadership program earlier this month on Capitol Hill and George Washington University with the aim of empowering Muslim women to promote peaceful change in their communities.. ..'The presence of Saudi participants helps raise the level of discussion within the classroom, and hence enhances the Islamic education of the class as a whole. At the same time, they get leadership development skills provided by renowned professionals.'.." [more]

Gulf Weathers Global Share Market Turmoil [Aug 17]
"Major stock markets in the Gulf region have largely shrugged off the turbulence which has seen many world bourses go into meltdown over the US housing market crisis, analysts said yesterday. The largest Arab bourse in regional powerhouse Saudi Arabia posted a healthy gain over the week.. ..Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All-Shares Index closed the week on Wednesday at 7,900.88 points, up 2.4% on its opening level on Saturday, after hitting a high on Monday of 7,945.94 points.." [more]

Supporting Saudi Students [Aug 16]
"With the recent influx of Saudi Arabian students sponsored by their government, many American campuses have scrambled to become more attractive to this growing cohort. Very suddenly, says Susan Sutton, associate dean for the Office of International Affairs at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, 'There became a visible Middle Eastern presence when we hadn’t had such a presence in awhile.'.. ..But the influx of more than 10,000 Saudi students in a matter of two years, compared to a base of just over 3,000 Saudi students studying in the United States in 2004-5, has also posed its problems.." [more]

Inflation in Saudi to Hit 2.8pc [Aug 16]
"Inflation in Saudi Arabia is likely to increase to 2.8 per cent this year, from 2.2 per cent the previous year, Al-Rajhi Bank & Investment said in a report. 'In 2007, consumer and investment demand, especially in the construction sector, is likely to continue putting upwards pressure on prices,' the Gulf's largest lender by market value said in its July monthly report. "Furthermore, bottlenecks in the labour market contributed significantly to the upward pressures on prices as the costs of labour and materials have increased," it added. Saudi inflation rose to a five-month high of 3.1pc in June as food and housing costs climbed, official data showed.." [more]

Prestigious Pak Award Conferred on Arab News Editor in Chief [Aug 16]
"Khaled Almaeena, Arab News editor in chief, has been conferred the Civil Award of Sitara-e-Imtiaz by the Pakistan government. The award was conferred by the Pakistan president on Almaeena for his excellent services in fostering Saudi-Pakistan relations.. ..Sitara-e-Imtiaz is one of the highest honors given to a civilian in Pakistan. Literally meaning “the Star of Excellence”, the civilian is honored for distinguished merit in the fields of literature, arts, sports, medicine or science. Almaeena was picked this year for his contribution through articulate writing of articles and analyses in bringing Saudi Arabia and Pakistan closer. He was also incisive in his writing on Pakistan, always writing from the heart.." [more]

Saudi Telecom to Raise $14 Billion [Aug 16]
"Saudi Telecom Company (STC) could raise up to $14 billion of debt to pursue its goal of generating 10 per cent of its revenue from outside its domestic market by 2010, according to a report on the firm released by Bahrain-based Securities and Investment Company (SICO). The 37-page report on STC - which is listed on the Saudi Exchange (Tadawul) - aims to provide investors with a better understanding of the company and its future prospects against the backdrop of the region's burgeoning telecommunications sector.." [more]

Saudi Arabia to Expand HIV/AIDS Awareness Campaign [Aug 16]
"As the month of Ramadan draws near, medical authorities will start to extend their HIV/AIDS awareness campaign to include mosques, after having formerly targeted airports and markets. The director of the national program to combat AIDS and the King Saud Hospital in Jeddah, Dr. Sana Flimban, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the campaign aims to reach the largest segment of individuals possible, both Saudis and non-Saudis alike. She added that campaign organizers had reported a positive response from the public.. ..Current statistics in the Kingdom maintain that the cumulative number of HIV cases had reached 11,520 by 2006, of whom 2,658 are Saudis and 8,852 were non-Saudis.." [more]

King Abdullah Washes Kaaba [Aug 16]
"Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah washed the Holy Kaaba on Tuesday night in the presence of princes, prominent religious scholars, government ministers, foreign dignitaries and members of the diplomatic corps from Muslim countries.. ..The Kaaba is washed twice a year, once before the fasting month of Ramadan and once during Haj. The ceremonial washing follows the practice of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) of cleansing the Kaaba on the day he conquered Makkah in the eighth year of Hijrah (Migration) to Madinah.." [more]

Saudi-Indian Trade Rises to Over USD 3.44 bn [Aug 16]
"Saudi-Indian relations are forging ahead on the parallel bar of trade and investment as the bilateral trade surged from USD 2.63 billion in 2005 to over USD 3.44 billion last year, an increase of over 28 percent. Bilateral investment was also on the upswing. The Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA) issued during the last two years 190 licenses to Indian companies for joint ventures or 100 percent-owned entities in the kingdom in different sectors.. ..In terms of bilateral trade, India ranked as the fourth largest trading partner of Saudi Arabia: the value of two-way trade between the two countries in 2005-2006 stood at USD 3.44 billion.." [more]

S&P Launches 3 Shariah-Compliant Indices [Aug 16]
"Standard & Poor's said it launched three new Shariah-compliant indices covering the Pan Arab region and publicly traded property companies in developed and emerging markets.. ..The indices exclude businesses that offer products and services which are considered unacceptable or non-compliant according to Shariah-law, like advertising and media, alcohol, financials, gambling, pork, pornography, tobacco, and the trading of gold and silver as cash on a deferred basis.. ..Significant countries represented in the index include US, Australia, China, Hong Kong and Japan.," [more]

Woods Hole to Be KAUST’s First Research Partner [Aug 15]
"The King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) announced yesterday that Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) in the United States would be its first partner in its global collaborative research program. A delegation from WHOI arrived in Saudi Arabia recently to view the KAUST site and conclude the initial memorandum of understanding that was signed in April 2007.. ..The Memorandum of Understanding signed by WHOI and KAUST creates three initial areas of research at KAUST: coral reefs, coastal hydrography, and fisheries and aquaculture. WHOI also will provide consultation on the design of laboratory support, and dock facilities for the KAUST Marine and Ocean Research Center, which will provide opportunities for advanced research on Red Sea oceanography and marine life.." [more]

Saudi Basic to Cut Bond Sale Over Credit Fears [Aug 15]
"Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (Sabic) plans to cut a bond sale by almost half to $1.5 billion on concern that global credit fears have hurt investor appetite, two of the arranging banks said yesterday . Sabic, the world's largest chemical company by market value, had planned to sell about $2.7bn of bonds to help finance its purchase of the plastics unit of General Electric & Company for $11.6bn, agreed in May. The bonds were going to be sold in two batches; about $2bc in dollars and $700 million in euros. The dollar component will now be reduced to $1.5bn and euro component dropped altogether.." [more]

Saudi-Indian Economic Ties on Upswing [Aug 15]
"Saudi-Indian relations are forging ahead on the parallel bar of trade and investment between the two countries as the bilateral trade surged from $2.63 billion in 2005 to over $3.44 billion last year, an increase of over 28 percent.. ..The Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA) issued during the last two years 190 licenses to Indian companies for joint ventures or 100 percent-owned entities in the Kingdom in different sectors, such as telecommunications, IT, construction projects, electronics and home appliances, engineering goods and jewelry .. ..These joint ventures were expected to net a total investment of around SR 4.113 billion in the Kingdom.." [more]

Saudi Professionals Create Worker Rights Group [Aug 15]
"A group of Saudi professionals is establishing a body to protect the rights of workers, and improve job prospects in the oil-rich kingdom that bans trade unions, a newspaper reported Wednesday. The Saudi Society of Labor aims to reduce unemployment, empower female workers, and offer legal assistance in employment disputes, as well as computer and language training, the Arab News said. The society, whose members include lawyers and other professionals, is also seeking the "authority to monitor and inspect the private sector, and take note of violations," the English-language daily added.." [more]

Oil Demand Doubts Likely to Prompt OPEC Caution [Aug 15]
"World oil demand forecasts are falling into a widening range, adding to uncertainty that may steer OPEC towards doing nothing when it meets on September 11, analysts said on Wednesday. OPEC is under consumer pressure to pump more oil to lower prices near a record high. Complicating its task is whether the U.S. subprime mortgage crisis takes a wider economic toll as well as wide-ranging estimates of oil demand.. ..For months, the IEA has been urging the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries to pump more oil. OPEC has rebuffed the call, saying crude oil supply and inventories are sufficient. OPEC's last monthly report on the oil market before next month's meeting, issued on Tuesday, sounded a note of caution. While nudging up its demand forecast, it warned of growing downside risks.." [more]

Saudi Official Condemns U.S. Republican Candidate's Threat to Bomb Muslim Holy Sites [Aug 14]
"..Abdul-Mohsen Al-Sheik, head of Mecca's municipal council, said he was disappointed that the Republican Party did not issue an apology for Representative Tom Tancredo's remarks.. .."If it is up to me, we are going to explain that an attack on this homeland of that nature would be followed by an attack on the holy sites in Mecca and Medina. Because that's the only thing I can think of that might deter somebody from doing what they otherwise might do," said the Colorado Republican, whose bid for the White House is considered unlikely to succeed.. ..The U.S. State Department has distanced itself from Tancredo's comments.." [more]

Kingdom Urges Unity Govt in Iraq [Aug 14]
"Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah yesterday stressed the need for a government of national unity in Iraq that is acceptable to all Iraqis. 'It is a humanitarian and political necessity to bring Iraq out of its crisis with the help of a government of national unity acceptable to all,'.. ..In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency, Minister of Culture and Information Iyad Madani said the Council of Ministers had reviewed the latest developments in the region including current international efforts to embark on serious discussions to find solutions for the tensions and violence in the region.." [more]

Saudi Economy Goes From Strength to Strength [Aug 14]
"There are no economic factors that can prevent Saudi Arabia's dynamic growth continuing throughout 2007 according to analysis by the National Bank of Kuwait, which expects to see $300bn invested in the kingdom over the next five years. Saudi Arabia has become one of the fastest expanding economies in the region with real economic growth of 6 per cent over the last four years compared with an average of 1.4 per cent in the previous decade.. ..The new found wealth is being carefully managed. Contrary to the inflation that followed previous oil booms, the variety of industrial investments, transport developments, the building of six new cities, as well as oil and gas ventures are certain to raise the absorption capacity of the economy.." [more]

Kingdom Sends Emergency Supplies to Bangladesh [Aug 14]
"The Kingdom is in the process of sending five planeloads of urgent relief supplies for victims of floods in
Bangladesh following instructions from Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah. One Saudi cargo plane with various types of relief supplies, including medicines, left Riyadh yesterday afternoon. A second plane is scheduled to leave for Dhaka on Aug. 16.. ..Since June, more than 2,000 people have died across South Asia, mostly in Bangladesh, due to floods that have also caused an estimated damage running into hundreds of millions of dollars. Thousands of villages still remain under water and diseases threaten the surviving population.." [more]

Tanmia Seeks $79m in Damages From Tunisia [Aug 14]
"The Arabian Investment Court of the Arab League is set to hold a hearing on Aug. 21 on the petition lodged by Tanmia for Management and Marketing Consultants, a Saudi company, against the Tunisian government for breach of contract that was entered into between the two parties on July 16, 1999. The petitioner (Tanmia) is suing the respondent/defendant (Tunisian government) for $79 million in damages, which represents the loss, over the respondent’s unilateral termination of the contract for the broadcasting rights of the Mediterranean Games “Tunisia 2001” and all its related activities.." [more]

Saudi Warned About Opening Embassy [Aug 13]
"A coalition of Iraqi Sunni Muslim insurgents on Monday warned Saudi Arabia against opening an embassy in Baghdad, saying the move would comfort the Shiite-dominated government. The Iraqi insurgent umbrella group, the Jihad and Reform Front said in a statement posted on its website, 'At the time that the Iraqi people, particularly the Sunnis, look for the support of their brothers everywhere, Saudi Arabia comes out with a strange wish to support Al Maliki by opening an embassy in Baghdad.'.. ..'The Jihad and Reform Front warns against such a step and calls on the government and people of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia not to implement this wish, especially at this time when Al Maliki's government is in its worst and weakest situation.'.." [more]

Chechen President Arrives in Saudi Arabia for Visit [Aug 13]
"President Ramzan Kadyrov of Chechnya arrived in Saudi Arabia late at night on Sunday at the invitation of King Abdullah. As ITAR-TASS learnt at the permanent mission of Chechnya in Moscow, the Chechen president intends to tell the King of Saudi Arabia about positive changes taking place in the Chechen Republic, as well as about the situation in the North Caucasus as a whole. 'A meeting with the King of Saudi Arabia is scheduled for August 14,' a representative of the permanent mission said.." [more]

Mecca's Hallowed Skyline Transformed [Aug 13]
"These days it's easier to find a Cinnabon in Mecca than the house where the Prophet Muhammad was born. The ancient sites in Islam's holiest city are under attack from both money and extreme religion. Developers are building giant glass and marble towers that loom over the revered Kaaba which millions of Muslims face in their daily prayers. At the same time, religious zealots continue to work, as they have for decades, to destroy landmarks that they say encourage the worship of idols instead of God. As a result, some complain that the kingdom's Islamic austerity and oil-stoked capitalism are robbing this city of its history.." [more]

Impact of Credit Crisis on Saudi Banks Limited [Aug 13]
"Turmoil on global financial markets has had a "limited" impact on Saudi banks and the government's foreign assets, a Saudi central bank official was quoted on Monday as saying. Defaults on US subprime, or high-risk, mortgages have spooked global credit and equity markets and central banks around the world pumped money into the banking system last week. Banks in the world's largest oil exporter have not asked central bank to put more liquidity into markets.. ..The Saudi central bank's foreign assets were worth $242.8 billion at the end of June, up 37% from a year earlier.." [more]

Saudis Returning From Thailand Face Grilling [Aug 13]
"The Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) did not inform travel agencies across the Kingdom of a ban on Saudis traveling to Thailand and so many Saudis, who visited the country at the beginning of the summer, have returned to face questioning from the Kingdom’s authorities.. ..People this summer have once again been asked not to visit Thailand unless for business reasons, a rule that many members of the public are unaware of. People believe the ban has been reinforced because of men who visit Thailand to drink alcohol, visit prostitutes and then be robbed and at times murdered.." [more]

Sharks Comeback Poses Danger in Saudi Market [Aug 13]
"In the wake of the stock market crash in February last year, several manipulators in the market, who are nicknamed "sharks", staged a comeback, largely focusing on the smaller companies which could more easily be preyed upon than the large ones. 'Any agreement between speculators on deals involving stocks or bonds with the aim of misleading the investors and thus getting an unrealistic price is deemed a manipulation,' Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper quoted Hazza Al-Fagm, a Saudi legal expert, as saying on Saturday. 'It is a violation of the regulations governing the Saudi stock market,'.. ..the CMA is trying to track down illegal share manipulators and punish them by deterrent measures.." [more]

US Consulate in Jeddah Moving to New Location [Aug 13]
"The US Consulate in Jeddah is to be relocated within two to three years at a new site on the corner of King Road (Al-Malik Road) and Sari Street. Work is currently under way to prepare the new location, which will also serve as the consul general’s residence.. ..The current US Consulate on Palestine Street has been a security concern since the Al-Qaeda network launched a terrorist attack on it on Dec. 6, 2004. Five heavily armed Saudis attacked the consulate shooting their way inside through a side entrance on Hail Street.." [more]

Foreign Investment in Kingdom Rises [Aug 13]
"The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has attracted SR68.6 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) last year, a recent statement issued by the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA) said. The investments which primary came from the US, Japan, the European Union (EU) and new player Malaysia have risen from 38 percent in 2000 to 47 percent in 2006, with petrochemical sector the most popular investment category.. ..Abdulrahman Mousa, an Investment Specialist at SAGIA told Arab News.. ..'At first the Kingdom was skeptical about allowing foreigners to invest, but now Saudi Arabia is realizing that foreign investment will bring added value through new technological advancements in the administrative and production sectors to the country,'.." [more]

IEA Seeks More OPEC Output To Help Avoid Market Turmoil [Aug 13]
"The International Energy Agency kept up its drumbeat for the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries to lift oil output next month when it meets, warning Friday that world oil demand is likely to outpace supply this winter and that this gap will widen if the producer group decides not to raise crude production. The IEA warning, in its monthly oil-market report, implies consumers could see higher energy prices if global economic growth continues apace and the U.S., Europe and Asia see normal winter weather.. ..A key reason behind the IEA's warning against inaction by the 12-nation OPEC at its Sept. 11 meeting in Vienna is the usual time lag from when an increase in output is announced and when oil products such as gasoline reach consumers.." [more]

Saudi Arabia's First Music Video Urges Youths to Become Devout [Aug 12]
"The Arab world's hugely popular music video industry often features sexy performers in revealing clothes crooning about love. But the first clip to be fully produced in Saudi Arabia has a message of a different kind: You can be cool and devout. The video is unusual because it was made in a country where the religious establishment considers music un-Islamic and bans it in public places. And the main cast includes a Saudi woman, something rare in a work produced inside the kingdom.. ..The video is expected to air on most of the Middle East's more than 30 music satellite TV channels this week.." [more]

Saudi Arabia Plans Future Cooperation [Aug 12]
"Saudi Arabian officials have completed a six-week program in Taiwan that gave them an opportunity to learn from the nation's experiences in setting up and operating the National Health Insurance program. Saudi Arabia intends to introduce a similar program in the future. 'Saudi Arabia selected Taiwan over Sweden and Germany as the place to send its delegation because Taiwan boasts one of the best national insurance systems in the world and because its population is about the same size as that of Saudi Arabia,' said Fahad Jalwi Lzahr, Saudi Arabia's director-general of health insurance.. ..'Taiwan's publicly funded health insurance program is similar to what we would like to establish in Saudi Arabia'.." [more]

Saudi Shares Close Lower on Subdued Volumes [Aug 12]
"Saudi stock exchange, the Middle East’s largest bourse by market capitalisation, ended the week’s first day of trading on a lower note. Riyadh’s Tadawul All Share Index closed down 0.06% at 7710.97 yesterday amid a quiet trading session, which saw only 153mn shares changing hands. In the short-term 'I don’t think the market will be moving much in either way,' said Eric Louis, head of investment services at Saudi Fransi Bank. 'Starting October you may have another wave of initial public offerings. I think there will be a rally in the third and fourth quarters. But it will be capped because retail investors are still not back in the market,'.." [more]

Alexandria Airlines Launches Saudi Operations [Aug 12]
"Alexandria Airlines has become the first private carrier to operate between Saudi Arabia and Egypt. According to Arab News, the airlines’ first Boeing 737 landed at King Abdul Aziz International Airport this weekend, and offers four weekly flights between the two countries. A local agent told the newspaper the airline is the 'first private Egyptian aviation company to obtain approval from the Kingdom’s General Authority of Civil Aviation'.." [more]

Saudi Keeps Term Supply Cuts for Asia Steady in September [Aug 12]
"Saudi Arabia told crude oil buyers in Asia that it will keep term supply cuts steady in September, in line with the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries’ pledge to cut production, officials at Asian refiners have said. The Opec member and world’s top oil producer told refiners in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan that it will continue to ship about 10% less crude oil than full contractual volumes to Asia in September, as it has been doing over the past five months, officials at the Asian refiners said.." [more]

Colombo Sending New Envoy to Saudi [Aug 12]
"Sri Lanka is set to send a temporary replacement for the outgoing ambassador A M J Sadiq in Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh. “The interim ambassador will work as part of a stop-gap arrangement for three months,” Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Hussein Bhaila said on Thursday. He said a permanent ambassador would be named later. Last month, Sri Lanka’s The Sunday Times newspaper claimed Sadiq was being recalled early following his failure to arrange official meetings for Bhaila in the run-up to a visit to Saudi Arabia. Bhaila travelled to the ultra-conservative kingdom last month to try to secure clemency for Rizana Nafeek, a 19-year-old Sri Lankan convicted of strangling her employer’s baby in 2005.." [more]

Border Guard Outlines Achievements Since January [Aug 12]
"The Saudi Border Patrol has captured 198,806 undocumented migrants and 171,461 pieces of ammunition since the beginning of the current Hijra year (Jan. 20) until July 14, officials announced yesterday. According to Maj. Gen. Hamoud ibn Marzooq Al-Roqi, the Border Guard spokesman, border officers also detained 1,391 smugglers and seized 9,248 kg of cannabis resin (hash), 347 kg of heroin and 190,7831 kg of qat, the leaves of the Catha edullis shrub chewed for its stimulating effect. The official also said 1,317 bottles of liquor have been seized.. ..Of late, the Kingdom has intensified patrols along its border with neighboring countries foiling attempts to smuggle huge quantities of arms, explosives and narcotics into the country.." [more]

GCC Weapons Deals No Threat to Anyone Says Secretary General [Aug 12]
"The weapons deals concluded by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states 'do not constitute threats to any party, but this is their right like others in the region,' GCC Secretary General Abdul Rahman Al Attiyah said in an interview published in Saturday's issue of the Egyptian Al-Ahram Al-Arabi weekly magazine. Al Attiyah added that the announcement by the US regarding weapons deals with some Gulf states 'is not new for the GCC countries that have strong relations with Washington, especially in military cooperation.' Al-Attiyah pointed out that the six members of the bloc and the US were bound by defence and security pacts and that such deals were part of the security requirements of the GCC countries that 'have the full right to cope with the developments in the field'.." [more]

Kaaba Washing on Tuesday [Aug 12]
"Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal will participate in the washing of the interior of the Kaaba on Tuesday under orders of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah. Prominent religious leaders, government officials and foreign dignitaries will attend the event. The Kaaba is washed twice a year, once before the fasting month of Ramadan and once during Haj. The washing of the Kaaba offers a rare opportunity for people to see the stark interior of the cube at the center of the Grand Mosque in Makkah.." [more]

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