Saudi-US Relations Information Service

Keeping Track - Recently on SUSRIS











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Bomb Hits Residence of Saudi Ambassador to Chad's Residence, Killing 2 [Feb 2]
"A bomb hit the residence of the Saudi ambassador to Chad on Saturday, killing the wife and daughter of an embassy staffer taking shelter from the fighting between the government and rebel forces, according to a foreign ministry statement. The statement carried by the official Saudi press agency quoted an unnamed official as saying that all members of the Saudi mission to Chad had gathered with their families at the ambassador's home as they waited to be evacuated because of the violence.. ..The nationality of those killed was not immediately known.." [more]

Lebanese Druze Leader to Meet Saudi King [Feb 2]
"Lebanese Druze leader Walid Jumblatt will discuss the country's deepening political crisis with King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia this week, Lebanon's information minister said on Saturday. Jumblatt, a prominent lawmaker from the anti-Syrian parliamentary majority and leader of the Progressive Socialist Party, arrived in the oil-rich kingdom late on Friday for a three-day visit, Lebanese Information Minister Ghazi al-Aridi told AFP. Jumblatt is expected to meet the Saudi monarch on Sunday for talks on the 'latest developments in Lebanon,'.." [more]

Saudi Air Force to Participate in Military Exercise in US [Feb 2]
"In line with the approval of Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz, the Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, the participation of the Royal Saudi Air force in the exercise of the Red Flag-3, 2008, due to take place at Niles base in the United States, the Royal Saudi Air Force Planes which will participate in the Exercise arrived on Friday at the Base. The planes were received by commander of the group of the Royal Saudi Air Force for the mission of the Red Flag-3, 2008.. ..Highlighting the efficiency and capability of the Saudi pilots, al-Assiri said this participations is the third participation for the Royal Saudi Air Force in the exercises of the Red Flag.." [more]

Middle East Sets Focus on Asia [Feb 2]
"..Shifting geographical priorities are combining with the weak US dollar to persuade cash-rich Middle Eastern investors to refocus their portfolios on Asia, including established markets such as Japan, the giant Chinese market and emerging markets such as Vietnam.. ..Energy-hungry Asian countries are desperate to root themselves in the oil-rich Gulf, which will probably produce the world's last barrel of oil. Meanwhile, Gulf states have looked on askance at the rising tide of rhetoric from some Western nations regarding the apparent lack of transparency of sovereign wealth funds.." [more]

No Need to Change Oil Output – Al-Naimi [Feb 2]
"Saudi Oil Minister Ali Al-Naimi said he saw no need to change OPEC's output ceiling during its ministerial meeting Friday, as crude prices tumbled on fears of an economic slowdown.. Most members of OPEC, which pumps 40 percent of world oil, said Thursday that they wished to see official daily output kept at 29.67 million oil barrels. A freeze would be a snub to the United States, the world's biggest energy consumer, after President George W. Bush recently urged OPEC to hike output to help bring down high oil prices that stunt economic growth and fuel inflation.." [more]

Naif Surprised by Inaction on Int’l Anti-Terror Center [Feb 2]
"Minister of Interior Prince Naif Bin Abdul Aziz on Thursday expressed surprise over world inaction on a Saudi proposal for setting up an international center to combat terrorism under the umbrella of the United Nations. The proposal had received worldwide welcome when it was first presented by King Abdullah, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, at the International Anti-Terrorism Conference hosted in Riyadh in 2005. Prince Naif said the fight against terrorism should not focus on terrorist operations but rather on the roots of the scourge. If the roots of terrorism were not dried up, the problem would continue to persist.." [more]

Chairman of Saudi Arabian Parliament to Visit Azerbaijan [Feb 2]
"..the chairman of the Saudi Arabian Parliament will visit Azerbaijan by invitation of Azerbaijani Milli Medjlis speaker Oqtay Asadov. The visitor from Saudi Arabia will take part in jubilee arrangements on the creation of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic as well as the 90th anniversary of Azerbaijani parliament to be marked in May of 2008. Sheikh Salekh will hold a number of meetings with Azerbaijani officials, including with President Ilham Aliyev, and discuss issues of development and deepening of bilateral relations between the two countries.." [more]

Saudi Women Face Systematic Discrimination -- UN Report [Feb 1]
"Women in Saudi Arabia are victims of systematic and pervasive discrimination across all aspects of social life, a United Nations report said on Friday. The UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women urged the Saudi government to take concrete steps to enforce gender equality and end violence against women.. ..Saudia Arabia is governed by Wahabism, a strict interpretation of Islam that -- in the name of Sharia law -- imposes almost complete separation of the sexes. As such, it is illegal for a woman to be in the company of a man who is not in her immediate family. Women suffer from domestic violence, poor healthcare provision and high levels of illiteracy, the committee said in its report.They are also shackled by the obligation to have a male "tutor" or guardian to accompany them for many daily tasks, it found.." [more]

Saudi Arabia Insists It Will Not Depeg Riyal [Feb 1]
"Hamad Al Sayyari, the governor of the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA), has reiterated the Kingdom's current policy of pegging the riyal with the dollar. He said the slowdown in the US economy will not have much effect on Saudi Arabia. Al Sayyari said there was no change in the Saudi currency exchange rate. 'There is no change in the current policy of the riyal exchange rate,' he said while addressing a forum on financing small and medium-scale enterprises in Riyadh.. ..Asked about what the Saudi authorities will do in case the US Federal Reserve again cuts interest rates by 50 points, Al Sayyari noted that if this happens it will immediately be studied and a decision will be taken.." [more]

Saudi Mortgage Law Nearly Ready [Feb 1]
"Saudi Arabia's advisory Shura Council is examining draft proposals for a long-awaited mortgage law and mortgage financing regulations that will allow more Saudis to own property, the finance ministry said. 'The issuing of mortgage financing regulations, which have been drafted by committee.. ..and are currently being reviewed by the Shura Council.. ..will help establish the whole regulatory framework for the financing of this sector,'.. ..The mortgage law is expected to allow much wider access to property ownership, in a country where only one out of five Saudis owns a home.." [more]

Internet Disruption May Last 10 Days [Feb 1]
"Disruption to communications in Saudi Arabia and throughout the Middle East and South Asia continues due to a cut in two submarine cables in the Mediterranean Sea. Both the FLAG and SEA-ME-WE 4 undersea cables have been cut, off the coast of Egypt near Alexandria.. ..Several Saudi businessmen reported that yesterday afternoon, when placing telephone calls to Europe, their efforts were met again and again with the recorded message 'all lines in this route are busy.' In the coming week, communication across the region will be challenging. It is expected that the problem will grow as companies return to business in Saudi Arabia on Saturday and try to use online services.." [more]

Women-Only Hospitals [Feb 1]
"..Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Asheikh, the grand mufti of Saudi Arabia, recently proposed the establishment of women-only hospitals during a symposium in Riyadh entitled 'Applying religion in medical issues.' Describing intermingling of sexes at hospitals as a “disaster” that infringes upon the modesty of Muslim societies, the mufti said medical professionals should only treat patients of the same gender except in time of emergencies.. ..The idea of having single-gender hospitals has attracted mixed reactions from women. Some women feel such hospitals would be convenient, while others are against them.." [more]

Oil Scene: All Options Are Open at OPEC Talks [Feb 1]
"The 147th (extraordinary) OPEC ministerial moot in Vienna today is taking place amid contradictory push and pulls and in a sensitive environment. OPEC ministerials are often under microscope, and this time too it is no different. The world is awaiting the outcome. With President Bush, Samuel Bodman, the IEA, all in chorus for the cartel to open its taps, it’s definitely a tough call. Only a couple of days back the US Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman made it clear that the US would be able to make do if OPEC declined to boost oil production. If OPEC nations fail to raise production, “then that’s what they decide and we’ll move forward,” Bodman said. Clearly OPEC doesn’t want high oil prices to kill the world economy since that would cut crude demand. But if production is increased and the economy stalls anyway, oil prices could collapse — a dicey situation indeed.." [more]

Work Out Change From Within — Brundtland to Saudi Women [Feb 1]
"Former Prime Minister of Norway Gro Harlem Brundtland, who is also the Special Envoy on Climate Change for the United Nations Secretary-General, visited Saudi Arabia last week to speak at the Global Competitiveness Forum. Brundtland spoke to Arab News about the condition of Saudi women.. ..Brundtland is aware of the happenings in the Middle East and the talk of reform in Saudi Arabia. In terms of democracy and bettering women’s conditions in developed countries, the UN can play an important role in opinion making, she said. However, she strongly believes that change should come from within. 'There is no one outside that can force change on Saudi Arabia. The change should come from Saudis themselves,' she said, adding that young Saudis could start change by asking difficult questions.." [more]

OPEC Favors Holding Output Amid US Pressure for Hike [Jan 31]
"OPEC ministers might debate whether pumping more oil would help revive the world economy when they meet here even though ministers favored no change, the cartel's chief said on Thursday. US President George W. Bush recently called on the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries to increase output at its production meeting in the Austrian capital due Friday, to help reduce high oil prices which he claims are weighing on an already weak economy.. ..On Wednesday, OPEC kingpin Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest crude producer, voiced satisfaction at the present levels of crude supply and demand, while other key members said they did not believe there was a need to change output. 'The fundamentals are sound,' Saudi Oil Minister Ali al-Nuaimi had told reporters.." [more]

Saudi Women See a Brighter Road on Rights [Jan 31]
"Buoyed by recent advances in women's rights, advocates for the right of women to drive in Saudi Arabia -- the only country in the world that prohibits female drivers -- say they believe the ban will be lifted this year.. ..Since taking the throne in 2005, Abdullah has championed women's right to work and often takes official trips overseas with delegations of female journalists and academics. The king has said that he does not oppose allowing women to drive but that society needs to accept the idea first.. ..In November, the foreign minister, Prince Saud al-Faisal, told Britain's Channel 4 news that there was no Saudi law prohibiting women from driving.." [more]

Saudi Wage Boost to Cost $16bn [Jan 31]
"Increases in public sector wages, pensions and welfare benefits announced by Saudi Arabia this week will cost the government 60 billion riyals ($16bn), the finance minister said yesterday. Ibrahim Al Assaf said that wages and pensions for public sector employees would be increased by five per cent per year for the next three years. These increases will take immediate effect starting January, he said. The original announcement had said the increases would take place over the next three years without giving details. Saudi Arabia also raised social insurance benefits by ten percent over a three-year period.." [more]

Saudi Investment Rules Attract Foreign Backers [Jan 31]
"Saudi Arabia's investment climate draws international intrest, particularly after its accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) two years ago.. ..With the booming economy and increased cash flow, the Saudi purchasing power is stronger than ever, he said. 'The high purchasing power in any market means that such a market is strong and healthy. Therefore, it offers any corporate entity the opportunity to avail of the enormous investment potential as consumer needs normally grow in line with the growth of the purchasing power. This positive feature of the Saudi market places it among our most promising global markets,'.." [more]

Emal to Set up $5 Billion Smelter in Saudi Arabia [Jan 31]
"Emal International, a joint venture between Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala Development Company and Dubai Aluminium Company (Dubal), will set up an aluminium smelter complex in Saudi Arabia at cost of $5 billion. The plant’s production capacity will be 700,000 tonnes of raw aluminum in the first phase. The companies have signed an agreement Emaar Economic City to set up the project in the latter’s King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) development, according to a joint statement. The agreement has the approval of the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (Sagia).." [more]

Petrochemicals Boost Saudi Stock Index [Jan 31]
"Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul all share index closed higher for a second consecutive day, helped by gains in Saudi Kayan Petrochemicals Co and Saudi Basic Industries Corp (SABIC). The benchmark, which gained more than 40 percent last year, closed up 1.36 percent at 9,675.02 points. But it is down almost 18 percent since Jan. 15. Kayan gained 6.93 percent and SABIC 0.61 percent.." [more]

Saudi Probe Put Al-Qaeda Info at Risk [Jan 30]
"Vital information on Al-Qaeda would have been lost if an investigation into alleged corruption by BAE Systems during an arms deal with Saudi Arabia was pursued, Britain’s head of overseas intelligence warned ministers, according to a report released Tuesday. An annual report by the UK’s Intelligence and Security Committee revealed ministers were told the inquiry could have had damaging repercussions on the fight against terrorism, and that British lives would be put at risk if Saudi Arabia ended intelligence-sharing.. ..According to the report MI6 had raised objected to the investigation before the SFO decided to drop the case. Its head, John Scarlett told the committee 'There were threats made to the existence of the cooperation (and) there was reason to take those threats seriously.'.." [more]

Saudi Claims Inflation Will Stabilize at 4% This Year [Jan 30]
"Saudi Arabia's central bank governor said on Wednesday he expected inflation in the world's largest oil exporter to "stabilise" this year at last year's 4.1%.. ..Average inflation in Saudi Arabia, which pegs its riyal to the US dollar, hit a 16-year high of 6.5% in December, partly driven by a rise in global commodity prices and the declining US currency. Al-Sayyari said the kingdom would revise its reverse repurchase rate, which it uses to track US Federal Reserve policy moves, depending on economic conditions. The governor's prediction contrasts with that of investment bank Merrill Lynch, which on Sunday warned that inflation in the kingdom could average 6% this year, up from an average of 4% in 2007.." [more]

HK Offers Saudis 1-Month Free Visa to Woo Investment [Jan 30]
"Starting from next Monday, all Saudi citizens will have the opportunity to receive a one-month free visa to Hong Kong in a move aimed to encourage locals and businessmen to visit the Asian business hub, Chief Executive of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Donald Tsang said yesterday. Tsang, who arrived on Monday in the Kingdom on his first visit to the country, met Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah in Riyadh. Accompanied by dozens of top executives representing the finest of Hong Kong's business enterprises, his mission was to boost bilateral cooperation and seek joint business ventures in the Kingdom.." [more]

OPEC Won't Raise Quota, May Consider Cut [Jan 30]
" OPEC won't raise output quotas at a meeting this week and may need to cut production in the months ahead because of slowing world economic growth and rising oil inventories, Qatar's energy minister said. `'The world has sufficient supply, even oversupplied in some places,'.. ..The 13-nation group, dominated by its largest producer, Saudi Arabia, will discuss output targets on Feb. 1, then again in Vienna on March 5. An economic slowdown risks further curbing demand for OPEC oil, which declines anyway during the second quarter as the end of winter in the Northern Hemisphere reduces heating needs.." [more]

Saudi Arabia Kills 158,000 Chickens After Detecting Bird Flu Virus [Jan 30]
"Saudi Arabia said it had killed some 158,000 chickens after the deadly H5N1 bird flu strain was found at an infected farm. The birds were killed in Kharaj province, south of the capital, Riyadh, according to a statement by the Agriculture Ministry. About 475 workers were tested, but no human infections were found. The ministry also said more than 4.5 million fowl have been killed in provinces around the capital, but it did not specify when the killing took place. Bird flu resurfaced in November in Kharaj province, in another blow to Saudi Arabia's $10 billion poultry industry.." [more]

Aramco Ranked No. 1 in the Muslim World [Jan 30]
"Saudi Aramco, the world’s top oil producer, is once again the largest business enterprise in the Muslim world, according to business strategy e-magazine Dinar Standard. Its DS100, a ranking of the Top 100 businesses in the 57 member countries of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), is published annually.. ..The ranking showcases the continuing growth of the Muslim world economies with $1.08 trillion in total revenues and a healthy 14.6 percent in revenue growth compared to the previous year. Due to rising oil prices, which are hovering around $90 a barrel currently, the 20 integrated oil and gas companies on the list continued their dominance representing 65 percent of the total DS100 company revenues.." [more]

Recruitment of Foreign Manpower Jumps 35% [Jan 30]
"The number of visas issued by the Labor Ministry for the recruitment of skilled foreign workers increased by 34.57 percent last year compared to visas issued in 2006, Labor Minister Dr. Ghazi Al-Gosaibi said. Gosaibi attributed the increase in recruitment visas to growing development and industrial projects across the Kingdom.. ..The tremendous increase in recruitment visas comes in response to the growing demand for skilled foreign manpower to carry out new industrial, educational and real estate projects in various parts of the country and implement the recently launched mega-economic cities in Rabigh, Hail, Madinah and Jizan. The increase was also a response to the complaints of foreign investors that they had no skilled workers to carry out their projects in the Kingdom.." [more]

GE Unveils Multibillion Growth Strategies in the Kingdom [Jan 30]
"General Electric Company (GE), the $173 billion diversified technology giant, will support Saudi Arabian Airlines’ ambitious plan to launch overhaul services of engines, which will finally lead to the building of a new state-of-the-art facility at the Jeddah-based King Abdul Aziz Airport within the next 18 months, Jeffrey R. Immelt, GE’s board chairman & chief executive officer, said here yesterday during a press conference. Under the agreement, valued at about $1.4 billion, GE will supply materials to the Kingdom’s national carrier for 14 years from the start of the new overhaul facility. Immelt said 'the new state-of-the-art facility would serve the Kingdom, the Middle East and Africa regions, where our cumulative revenue has gone up by 45 percent to $8 billion in 2006.'.." [more]

Saudi to Step Up Welfare Payments [Jan 29]
"Saudi Arabia will raise wages, welfare payments and subsidies to counter rising inflation. Resentment over the cost of the living led the king's advisers to summon the central bank governor and finance minister next month to discuss the peg, which has forced the central bank to slash rates by 150 basis points since September.. ..The cabinet also agreed to raise social insurance benefits by 10 per cent and subsidise half the cost of shipping and some administrative expenses including those for driving licences and passports.. ..Unable to raise interest rates, many of Saudi Arabia's neighbours are also resorting to subsidies and price controls to cushion their populations from rising prices.." [more]

UAE Waits for Saudi Signal on Revaluation [Jan 29]
"King Fahd of Saudi Arabia is to convene a meeting of the Shura council on February 10 to hear presentations from senior officials about the revaluation of the riyal and future of the dollar-peg. It is highly likely that the UAE and the three other dollar-linked GCC states will follow any Saudi move, if it happens. What hastened the consideration of the dollar-peg and revaluation - apart from mounting inflation - was probably the surprise interest rate cut by the US Federal Reserve last week which weakened the dollar again, and through the dollar-peg all the Gulf currencies. The idiocy of having the interest rates of the booming GCC economies set at a wholly inappropriate level by the slowing US economy is clear once again for all to see.." [more]

Saudi Plans Airport Cities Near Major Airports [Jan 29]
"Saudi Arabia plans to develop 'airport cities' around the kingdom's three major airports under private sector participation schemes.. ..Abdullah M N Rehaimi, president of Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), and Lars Thunell, executive vice president and CEO of IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, today signed an advisory agreement to help mobilise private investment for sustainable, commercially oriented developments around the airports. The projects will help the airports make better use of the assets within their boundaries, improving operations and creating jobs while helping GACA achieve financial sustainability.. ..'IFC is helping Saudi Arabia to diversify its economy by increasing private sector participation and by developing its airports into economic hubs for the country.'.." [more]

Birds Culled in Saudi as New Bird Flu Case Found [Jan 29]
"Saudi authorities have culled nearly 160,000 birds after a new case of the deadly strain of bird flu was found on a farm outside Riyadh.. ..Authorities killed thousands of birds in al-Kharj and other sites near Riyadh in November, as inspection teams combed farms and markets around the city of about 4 million people. In March, Saudi Arabia said the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu had been discovered in peacocks, turkeys, ostriches and parrots at a house in the east of the kingdom and that an unspecified number of birds in the area had been culled. The Saudi government says it has large stocks of Tamiflu anti-flu tablets in case the virus spreads to humans.." [more]

Reformists Denounce Rights Abuses in Saudi [Jan 29]
"Saudi reformists are to send a new petition to King Abdullah calling for the release of fellow activists and an end to the harassment of bloggers and journalists, one of them said. The petition also demands the promulgation of a law "guaranteeing people's rights and freedom.. ..on the basis of Islamic tenets," said Mohammed bin Hudeijan al-Harbi, one of 12 Islamist reformists who drafted the document. The petition, which complains that the scope of freedom and 'peaceful expression' in the ultra-conservative kingdom has narrowed over the past year, is timed to mark one year since nine reformists were
arrested.." [more]

Institute Takes Saudi Arms Deal to the American People [Jan 29]
" In its ongoing opposition to the proposed $20 billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia, the Institute on Religion and Public Policy has launched a new online petition demanding that Congress halt the deal. The petition can be found at www.religionandpolicy.org. 'While news reports and analysts remain skeptical that Congress will block the deal, we have faith that the American people will voice their inherent opposition to a deal that threatens American security, destabilizes the region, and arms a country that is ideologically and practically opposed to all America values,' commented Institute on Religion and Public Policy President Joseph K. Grieboski. The petition, addressed to the leaders of the Senate and House and available at www.religionandpolicy.org, 'respectfully demand[s you remember the words President Bush has forgotten and vote NO on authorizing the $20 billion arms sale to Saudi Arabia.. ..We've made this mistake before - let's not make it again.'.." [more]

Saudi Arabian Bank Profits Fall 14.5% [Jan 29]
"Profits of Saudi banks declined by 14.5 per cent in 2007. Eleven banks realised net profits of 30.21 billion Saudi riyals compared to 35.34 billion Saudi riyals in the previous year. The profits of banks in 2006 increased by 31.2 per cent over 2005. Four banks - Al Jazira, the Saudi Investment Bank, Al Saudi Al Hollandi and Al Bilad reported a decline of more than 50 per cent in profits in 2007.. ..The profits of the ten banks listed on the Saudi stock exchange have declined by 16.8 per cent in 2007. The profits of these banks amounted to 24.1 billion Saudi riyals compared to 29 billion Saudi riyals in 2006. Riyad Bank is the only Saudi bank that reported an increase in its profits in 2007.." [more]

Kingdom Encourages Use of High-Tech on Climate Change [Jan 29]
"Saudi Arabia has been encouraging greater usage of high-tech solutions to deal with climate change, Prince Abdul Aziz bin Salman, assistant minister of petroleum and mineral resources for petroleum affairs, said. 'These solutions include the advanced technology for separation and storage of Carbon dioxide, especially after fossil-fuel proved to be the first option that will dominate the world market during the 21st century,'.. ..'Although the Kingdom will not need the technology of separation and storage of carbon dioxide for the enhanced extraction of the oil in the upcoming years, but it will make many researches and upgrade this technology to have its fair share in confronting the climate change,' he said. 'The oil industry in the GCC states are in need of building partnership with research institutions in order to find solutions in the field of geological storage and increase oil production as well as to reduce the cost of separating carbon dioxide from immovable resources,'.." [more]

GCC Should Not Drop Dollar Peg [Jan 29]
"Gulf Arab nations should hold back from dropping their dollar pegs or revaluing their currencies because supply constraints rather than more expensive imports are driving inflation, HSBC Holdings Plc Middle East CEO said. 'Most of the inflationary pressures are not because of the dollar peg, but because of supply constraints.. ..a lack of raw materials and workers,' Chief Executive Officer Youssef Nasr told Reuters yesterday on the sidelines of an infrastructure conference in Dubai.. ..Any revaluation might undermine investor confidence in the region, Nasr said.." [more]

Hamas Leader Meshaal in Saudi, Discusses Gaza [Jan 28]
"Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal met Saudi officials in Riyadh on Monday as part of a Saudi bid to mediate the return of Gaza, under Israeli blockade, to Palestinian Authority control, Saudi and Palestinian officials said. The Syria-based leader of Hamas, a Palestinian Islamist group which controls the Gaza Strip, held talks with Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal after arriving in Riyadh on Sunday night, a Saudi source said. Arab efforts are under way to return control of the border crossing between Gaza and Egypt to the Fatah group of Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas.. ..There has been no mention of Meshaal's trip in the Saudi state media and it was not clear if he would meet King Abdullah.." [more]

U.N. Rights Expert Will Examine Violence Against Women in Saudi Arabia [Jan 28]
"..Yakin Erturk, the U.N. special investigator for violence against women, will visit the kingdom from Feb. 4-13 and meet with government and civil society representatives in Riyadh, Jeddah and Damam, according to a statement by the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights.. ..Earlier this month, Saudi officials told the U.N. Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women that the kingdom would likely lift the ban on women driving in the near future and was taking measures to address the issue of domestic violence. A report last year by New York-based Human Rights Watch found many female foreign workers in Saudi Arabia are physically abused by their employers.." [more]

Saudi to Debate Riyal-Dollar Peg [Jan 28]
"Saudi Arabia's finance minister and central bank governor will appear before a council to discuss the riyal's peg to the US dollar and a surge in inflation, a council member said yesterday. Inflation in Saudi, which pegs its riyal to the dollar, rose to a 16-year high of 6.5 per cent in December, partly driven by a rise in global commodity prices and the declining US currency.. ..'The finance minister and the central bank governor were invited to debate these issues, discuss this dollar peg debate, its repercussion and what the government plans to do about it,' Zulfa said. The 120-member Shura can review draft legislation and make recommendations, which are not binding on the government. Saudi Arabia has been trying to offset the effect of higher prices on its 25 million people through measures such as subsidies on imported rice and baby milk, introduced last month by order of the king.." [more]

US Roadmap Monitor Meets Israeli FM [Jan 28]
"Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni on Monday met a former US general appointed by US President George W. Bush to monitor compliance with the Middle East peace blueprint known as the roadmap. During the talks with Lieutenant General William Fraser, Livni reiterated Israel's position that the Palestinians must crack down on militants in order to implement any peace deal, her ministry said in a statement. 'The implementation of the roadmap is crucial for the success of the process.. ..because the road to the creation of a Palestinian state runs through guaranteeing Israel's security,' Livni was quoted as telling Fraser. Bush earlier this month appointed Fraser to monitor the implementation of the first stage of the 2003 internationally-drafted blueprint, which calls for Palestinians to end violence and for Israelis to freeze settlement construction in occupied Palestinian land.." [more]

PetroRabigh Opens Trading With a Bang [Jan 28]
"Rabigh Refining and Petrochemical Co. (PetroRabigh) shares began trading Sunday with a major bang, making up almost half of the day's trading volume even as the stock closed almost 150 percent higher from its initial public offering (IPO) price. At closing bell, PetroRabigh was at SR52.25 per share on a turnover of 228,520,778 shares or 49.9 percent of the 457,547,779 total shares traded for the day. The Tadawul All Share Index (TASI) gained 356.58 points to 9,789.07 points on a total value turnover of SR19.689 billion and with 103 of the 110 shares traded posting gains. PetroRabigh, a joint venture between Saudi Aramco and Japan's Sumitomo Chemicals with a 37.5 percent interest each, sold the remaining 25 percent or about 19 million shares to Saudi nationals this month at an IPO price of SR21 per share.." [more]

Women’s Rights Body in Pipeline [Jan 28]
"Women’s rights activists in the Kingdom are eagerly anticipating the establishment of Ansar Al-Marah — the first civil society dedicated to supporting women’s rights in Saudi Arabia. Suliman Al-Salman, founder of Ansar Al-Marah, told Arab News that the society aims to create institutional and individual change that would improve the lives of women in the Kingdom.. ..Regarding the criticism of some people who may feel that the society aims to Westernize Saudi Arabia, Al-Salman said, 'Helping women to get their rights, which are ignored or suppressed by law or customs doesn’t conflict with Islam, which does not prevent women from utilizing their own money, driving or choosing their own husbands.'.." [more]

US University Explores Possible Links [Jan 28]
" high-level team from the University of Colorado is in the Kingdom to explore the possibilities of collaborating, and developing joint programs, with Saudi universities. Invited by Zuhair Hamed Fayez, an alumni of the university and president of Zuhair Fayez Partnership, the Jeddah-based architectural and IT consultants, the team is led by Dr. M. Roy Wilson, chancellor of the university’s campus in Denver.. ..One area in which Dr. Wilson is particularly interested in establishing collaboration is medicine. Colorado University at Denver is currently building a multibillion-dollar dedicated medical campus on a former military base in nearby Aurora. When finished, it will be one of the largest and most prestigious education, patient care and research centers in the US.." [more]

GCC Officials Discuss Nuclear Energy Plans [Jan 28]
"Delegates from the GCC countries began discussions on the use of nuclear technology for peaceful purposes at a regional meeting in Doha yesterday. The participants said they would issue recommendations tomorrow at the end of their meeting.. ..in Doha last month. A “historic” decision to establish a committee to study the feasibility of the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes was also taken at the meeting. Al-Ali told the delegates: 'There is a huge responsibility on your shoulders as the decisions you take here would be the first step towards building such a vital and strategic project. I am sure you are going to live up to the responsibility.' He said the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has endorsed the feasibility of the project to produce electricity and desalinated water.." [more]

Peak water in Saudi Arabia [Jan 28]
"..Peak water may have taken place in Saudi Arabia already more than 10 years ago. According to recent news from Reuters (2008) the Saudi government has decided to stop all subsidies to agriculture. It means abandoning a policy that had obtained self sufficiency in food production and that had allowed Saudi Arabia to be a major food exporter in the past. According to Reuters, 'The kingdom aims to rely entirely on imports by 2016'. The desert is going to win back the land it had ceded to agriculture.. ..It seems that the depletion of the aquifers has left Saudi Arabia with few options other than transforming oil into food. Selling oil and using the profits for importing food is the only possibility in the short term. In the future, however, it may be possible to replace aquifers with water from desalination.." [more]

Saudi Council to Quiz Finance Minister, Central Banker on Peg [Jan 27]
"Saudi Arabia's finance minister and central bank governor will appear before a council that advises the king to discuss the riyal's peg to the U.S. dollar and a surge in inflation, a newspaper reported on Sunday. Inflation in the world's biggest oil exporter, which pegs its riyal currency to the dollar, surged to a 16-year peak of 6.5 percent in December, partly driven by a rise in global commodity prices and a weak U.S. currency. The Shura Council, whose members are appointed by King Abdullah, will hold a meeting next month with Finance Minister Ibrahim al-Assaf and Hamad Saud al-Sayyari, the governor of the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency.. ..'The session will raise key financial and economic issues, mainly the debate over de-pegging the riyal currency from the U.S. dollar and the rise in inflation rates,'.." [more]

Kingdom to Take Delivery of Eurofighters Next Year [Jan 27]
"Saudi Arabia will receive 72 Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft next year, said Deputy Minister of Defense and Aviation for Military Affairs Prince Khaled ibn Sultan. The Eurofighter Typhoon is a twin-engine multipurpose canard-delta strike fighter aircraft. The aircraft is used by the German Luftwaffe, the Italian Air Force, the Spanish Air Force and the UK’s Royal Air Force. It is built in Britain, Germany, Italy and Spain by a consortium involving BAE (BAE Systems), EADS (The European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company) and Finmeccanica. The 4.43 billion pound ($8.86 billion) agreement was signed by the government of Saudi Arabia and Britain on Sept. 11 last year.." [more]

Israeli PM and Palestinian President to Discuss Border Crisis [Jan 27]
"Israeli prime minister and Palestinian president are expected to meet on Sunday and discuss the border crisis. Meanwhile, both Hamas and Fatah have accepted invitations to hold separate talks with the Egyptian government to discuss the Gaza border, which has been breached to allow blockaded Palestinians into Egypt. The border, which was initially breached by Hamas fighters, remained open for the fifth day on Sunday, though Egyptian security forces blocked Gazans from driving beyond the border town of Rafah.." [more]

Trend Micro Hosts IT Security Event for Growing Jeddah [Jan 27]
"New technology from Trend Micro, a leader in network antivirus and Internet content security software and services. Saudi Paramount Computer Systems and Trend Micro will extend their expertise to end-users in the Kingdom with an exclusive security update and solutions event on Monday, 28th January, at the Le Meridian hotel, Jeddah.. ..Security experts from Trend Micro will present the latest security solutions and product information for enterprises and SMBs.." [more]

BMG Saudi Index Starts the Week Up by 1 Percent [Jan 27]
"The BMG Saudi Index switched its performance; rising in yesterday’s trading session by 1 percent to 509.78 points after the fourth quarter of 2007 rebalance took place. The market turnover, however, decreased to SR6.9 billion ($ 1.8 billion), down by 1.4 percent from SR7 billion ($1.9 billion) in Wednesday’s trading. The rebalance of the BMG Saudi Index introduced 3 new sectors; the Banking sector, the Electricity sector, and the Telecommunications sector. Only the Insurance sector ended the first trading session of this week on a negative note, declining by 5.4 percent, while the Electricity sector stood still. The best performer was the Services sector, rising by 2.6 percent, whereas the Telecommunications sector advanced by 1.8 percent.." [more]

Saudi Hawks Lure Aerobatics Fans With Spectacular Al Ain Show [Jan 27]
"The Saudi Hawks team today wowed thousands of spectators at the Al Ain International Aerobatics Championships – which is being held under the patronage of HH General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces Formed. In a routine which incorporates 24 different formations, the Saudi Hawks are the only team to have ever lifted consecutive gold awards in Al Ain, with their 2004 and 2005 triumphs gaining the team worldwide popularity.." [more]

The SUSRIS project -- an independent, private-sector information resource - offers objective, comprehensive news and information on the history, breadth and depth of the US-Saudi Arabia relationship.
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