|
~~~~~~~~ [ May 17] ~~~~~~~~~
Bush Says Saudi Oil Boost `Not Enough' to Ease Prices
[May 17]
"President George W. Bush said Saudi Arabia's decision to raise oil
output 300,000 barrels a day is ``not enough' to ease U.S. energy prices
and that more domestic oil exploration and refining capacity are needed.
'``It's not enough, it's something but it doesn't solve our problem,' ..
..Saudi Arabia, the world's largest oil exporter, said yesterday, while
Bush was in Riyadh, that the country's daily output will rise to 9.45
million barrels a day in June. Saudi Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi told
reporters the kingdom took the step in response to demands from
customers. Oil prices have doubled in the past year on surging
demand.." [more]
Palestinians Have the Right to Exist as Well: Saud
[May 17]
"..Prince Saud described King Abdullah’s talks with Bush as
'comprehensive, deep and candid.' He said the Kingdom had followed 'with
concern' Bush’s speech in the Israeli Knesset. 'All of us realize the
special relationship that exists between the United States and Israel
and its political dimensions. However, it is also important to confirm
legitimate historical and political rights of the Palestinian people
according to international law which have been hijacked by Israeli
occupation forces.'.. ..'We believe that the right to the existence of
one nation does not eliminate the legitimate right to the existence of
another nation,'.." [more]
Saudi Market Gets Week Off to Disappointing Start
[May 17]
"Saudi Arabia's main index got the week off to a disappointing
start on Saturday, with poor performances from banks pulling the
benchmark down to a lower close.. ..The benchmark declined 1.21% to
9,664.54 points. The index is down 12.58% this year to Saturday's close,
making it the Gulf Arab region's worst-performing measure. Saudi
Arabia is the only Gulf market to trade on a Saturday.." [more]
Saudi Authorities Keep Mum Over Detention of
Bahrainis [May 17]
"The Bahraini embassy in Riyadh has yet to receive new information
about eight Bahrainis who have been held in a prison near Riyadh in a
case steeped in secrecy. 'We are following up letters submitted by
relatives of the eight detainees to the Bahraini ambassador and the
Saudi authorities, but we have nothing new on the case,'.. ..The
detention of the detainees, most of whom are teachers, has baffled
Bahrain in the absence of formal charges or official explanations from
the Saudi authorities. Bahraini officials said they were closely
monitoring the case. A Bahraini human rights watchdog last week
expressed concern that the detention of eight Shiite Bahrainis in a
Saudi jail may be motivated by sectarian tension plaguing the
region.." [more]
French Companies Look for Slice in Economic Cities
[May 17]
"The French were in town to boost trade ties with the Kingdom
through Jeddah Chamber for Commerce and Industry (JCCI) with an eye
fixed upon the new mega economic cities planned in the Kingdom. A
delegation of French companies which will take part in building the new
mega economic cities in the Kingdom recently held talks with the
officials at JCCI.. ..These companies will be invited to assess their
experience in Jeddah through workshops. These companies have already
visited the King Abdullah Economic City in Rabigh, showing interest in
investing in the infrastructure of water networks, security, and road
construction in the city, Marini said. The two sides have planned to
exchange tours within the next few months to finalize more deals.."
[month]
~~~~~~~~ [ May 16] ~~~~~~~~~
Bush in Saudi Arabia to Discuss Oil [May 16]
"President Bush, on a one-day visit to Saudi Arabia, is taking a
second stab on Friday at getting the oil-rich nation to increase
production and drive down the soaring gasoline prices hurting U.S.
consumers.. ..the president got a red carpet welcome on the tarmac and
was warmly greeted by Saudi leaders as a military band played the U.S.
national anthem, slightly off-key. Bush was spending the day with
Abdullah at his horse farm outside Riyadh, talking mostly out of public
view over three tea services and two meals. The White House says the
president's visit is intended, in part, to celebrate 75 years of formal U.S.-Saudi relations. It will mark the conclusion of
several agreements, laying out intentions to cooperate on nuclear
energy, infrastructure protection and nonproliferation. But the rising
price of oil undoubtedly will overshadow the talks.." [more]
US to Help Saudi Arabia Develop Nuclear Energy [May
16]
"The United States said on Friday it has agreed to help Saudi
Arabia protect its oil resources and to develop peaceful nuclear energy.
Both countries will cooperate in 'safeguarding the kingdom's energy
resources by protecting key infrastructure, enhancing Saudi border
security, and meeting Saudi Arabia's expanding energy needs in an
environmentally responsible manner,' the White House said in a
statement. The two countries will sign a memorandum of understanding in
peaceful civil nuclear energy cooperation, according to the White
House.." [more]
Saudis, US Grapple With Iran Challenge [May 16]
"..Conceivably, the Saudi foreign minister had reason to feel
frustrated. The entire Saudi political stratagem in Lebanon has
backfired. The Saudi backing for the Foud al-Siniora government's moves
to drag Hezbollah into a civil war stands badly exposed. A most awkward
detail known to the "Arab street" is that Saudi intelligence
and diplomacy was acting hand-in-glove with the United States in the
dubious business of emasculating Hezbollah. The ultimate US-Saudi
intention was to curtail Hezbollah's dominating stature on Lebanon's
political and security landscape.." [more]
Saudi Envoy Calls Beirut Embassy Shooting Deliberate
[May 16]
"Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon, Dr. Abdulaziz Khoja has asserted that
the shots fired at the Saudi Embassy in Beirut during the past days
"was a deliberate action" and ruled out the possibility of
'stray bullets.'.. ..Asked if the shots at the embassy were a
"message of resentment" by parties which do not wish the
situations to calm down, he said: 'This could be the case. But the
question is why this resentment of an action aimed at calming the
situations?' He added that he would return to Lebanon soon, calling his
recall by the Saudi Government "something normal" and said:
'It is normal to have consultations between the ambassador and his
government. I will return to Lebanon.'.." [more]
Exxon Chief Criticizes U.S. Oil Policy [May 16]
"Exxon Mobil Corp. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Rex
Tillerson says he finds it "astonishing" that President Bush
is asking Saudi Arabia to pump more oil rather than working harder to
clear the way for more oil production at home. In an interview Thursday,
Mr. Tillerson called it "terribly upside down" that Mr. Bush
would lobby members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries
to boost production when much of the U.S.'s coastal waters remains
off-limits to drilling. Mr. Bush, in the Middle East this week, plans to
talk with Saudi King Abdullah about raising production and other ways to
lower global oil prices.. ..The federal government controls drilling in
offshore U.S. waters and is prevented from leasing these areas to oil companies by both a
congressional moratorium and a presidential order signed by the first
President Bush in 1990 and renewed by President Clinton in 1998. The
current President Bush has deferred to the governors of California and
Florida, who have opposed offshore drilling.." [more]
Al-Naimi Expects Big Oil Demand From Asia [May 16]
"Petroleum and Mineral Resources Minister Ali Al-Naimi said
yesterday that Asian oil consumption was projected to increase by 20
million barrels per day by 2030, accounting for 60 percent of growth in
world demand. 'Some 80 percent of this increase in demand will be met by
supplies from the Middle East,' Al-Naimi said while delivering a speech
at Seoul National University, where he was awarded an honorary
doctorate. Al-Naimi said Saudi Arabia was carrying out investment
projects, worth $90 billion, to boost oil and gas production capacity as
well as refining facilities.. ..The Saudi minister reiterated that
financial markets, rather than fundamentals, were influencing current
oil prices.." [more]
What Saudi Parents Want [May 16]
"The burning issue here at home is that first, we have a chronic
state of unemployment; secondly, our school system is disconnected from
the developments of the rest of the world; and thirdly, our general
education policies are in direct opposition to those of our higher
education ones. So long as we ignore these three facts, we will never be
able to intervene in time to compete in the global race for national
prominence and prosperity.. ..For decades now, many financially able,
law-abiding, patriotic Saudi parents are left with no choice but to
bridge this educational gap by sending their children off to foreign countries in pursuit of an education system that will secure
them a bright future on their return home. This self-imposed exile is
not new. It started some 40 years ago in the 1960s and 1970s when Saudi
Arabia had just began its modernization process and schools back then
were still a rarity. However today, in spite of the abundance of schools
Kingdom-wide, this phenomenon still exists. One wonders why.." [more]
Italian Navy on Jeddah Call [May 16]
"A two-ship Italian naval group paid a three-day courtesy visit to
Jeddah this week. The group, commanded by Capt. Giorgio Gomma, consisted
of Italian Navy’s first Logistic Support ship the ITS Etna and the
offshore patrol vessel ITS Comandante Borsini. The group was returning
to its home port of Tarranto after a four-month plus tour of duty in the
Gulf, Arabian Sea and the Somali Basin. 'Our tour of duty was part of
Operation MEDAL,” said Gomma. He explained that MEDAL was an ongoing
plan whose primary objective was to meet and foster cooperation with
other navies operating in “the wider Mediterranean sea.'.." [more]
~~~~~~~~ [ May 15] ~~~~~~~~~
Saudi-US Relations Hit Rocky Road [May 15]
"..Bilateral ties between the two countries have rebounded from the
nadir to which they sank after Sept 11 2001. And as long as oil and
security are top priorities, the long-standing US-Saudi relationship
will remain an important one to both. Still, something in the
relationship has fundamentally changed during the Bush years, diplomatic
and Saudi analysts said. One long-time observer likened it to that of a
married couple no longer in love but staying together for the sake of
the children. On the Saudi side, these observers said, there is a new
lack of trust and confidence, as well as disillusionment with Washington’s refusal to heed Saudi advice. They adamantly opposed the
US-led invasion of Iraq and their pleas for the Bush administration to
seriously tackle the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has fallen on deaf
ears. 'The strength of the bonds between the United States and Saudi
Arabia are not what they used to be'.." [more]
Saudi King Abdullah Invites Iran's Rafsanjani to
Saudi Arabia [May 15]
"Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah invited former Iranian President Ali
Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani to visit the kingdom later this month, the
state-owned Saudi Press Agency reported. The invitation to Rafsanjani to
attend an Islamic conference in Mecca was extended because of the former
president's ``influence' in the Islamic world, the news agency reported,
citing the Saudi ambassador to Tehran Osama al- Sanoosi. ``Disunity in
the Muslim world is in the interest of enemies, and Iran and Saudi
Arabia can resolve differences in the Muslim world," [more]
Security Beefed Up in EP for Summit [May 15]
"Security has been beefed up in the Eastern Province ahead of the
10th consultation meeting in Dhahran of the leaders of the Gulf
Cooperation Council countries (GCC) on May 20. The leaders who are going
to meet in Dhahran for the first time at the invitation of the Custodian
of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz will attend the
celebration of Saudi Aramco 75th anniversary. President Bush is expected
to be present to commemorate the anniversary.. ..Although the
consultation meetings are usually held without agenda, the leaders will
largely focus on the region’s hot issues especially the current
developments in Lebanon, the US efforts to restart talks between the
Palestinians and Israelis, as well as the situation in Iraq.." [more]
Saudi Arabia Provides Boost for 30,000 Women and
Children in Syria [May 15]
"The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) today welcomed a
donation from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia of 680 metric tons of dates,
worth $605,000, to help feed thousands of vulnerable people in Syria..
..WFP’s three-year programme in Syria aims to provide food assistance
to some 285,000 women and children in marginalized and food-insecure
areas of the country, at a total cost of US$6.7 million. Until this
latest contribution from Saudi Arabia, the operation was facing a 91
percent shortfall in funding. Saudi Arabia is an increasingly important
contributor to WFP operations worldwide. It donated about US$57 million
between 2000 and 2007.." [more]
Pact With Saudi on Border Travel [May 15]
"Qatar and Saudi Arabia citizens now just need to show their
nationality identity cards to cross the border on either side. The
Minister of State for Interior Affairs HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser al-Thani
and Saudi Arabia’s Interior Minister Prince Naif bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud
signed an agreement yesterday to ease travelling on the border. GCC
secretary general Abdulrahman bin Hamad al-Attiyah welcomed the
agreement, saying it would revive the trade across the border.. ..The
GCC secretary general said that a similar agreement would be signed
between Saudi Arabia and Kuwait very soon, which would pave the way to
say 'good bye to the passports'.." [more]
Middle East Franchise Market to Grow 25% [May 15]
"The franchise industry in the Middle East is seeing prolific
growth as international and local brands look for greater market
penetration. Seen as an ideal business model for small to medium
enterprises (SMEs), the Middle East’s franchise industry is estimated
to be worth $30 billion, with an average annual growth rate of 25
percent. Fuelling this growth is the mammoth retail explosion currently
being witnessed across the region, as more and more shopping malls and
entertainment centers open up. High-class malls such as Dubai’s Mall
of the Emirates have provided the perfect platform for a number of
international and regional brands.. ..'The franchise market is maturing
in the Middle East and will now diversify into more services-based
franchise systems, where traditionally there has been more focus on the
retail and food sectors,'.." [more]
~~~~~~~~ [ May 14] ~~~~~~~~~
US Senators Threaten Saudi Arms Deal Over Oil Prices
[May 14]
"A group of Democratic Senators Tuesday threatened to block a
multi-million dollar US arms deal with Saudi Arabia, unless the kingdom
ups oil production and helps cut soaring gasoline prices. The senators
introduced a resolution of disapproval on the arms sale, as President
George W. Bush prepared to head for Saudi Arabia, partly on a mission to
contain runaway oil prices. 'We are saying to the Saudis that, if you
don't help us, why should we be helping you?'.. ..The resolution,
expected to be fast-tracked to the senate floor, would prohibit the
mammoth arms sale unless Saudi Arabia agrees to increase oil production
by one million barrels per day. Schumer, speaking as the price of a
barrel of crude oil hit a record 126.98 dollars, said the extra Saudi
oil could bring down the price of a gallon of gasoline at the pump by 50
to 75 cents.." [more]
Saudi Arabia: Iran Accused of Backing Hezbollah [May
14]
"The Saudi government accused Iran of backing what it called a coup
d’état by Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon. Prince Saud al-Faisal, the
Saudi foreign minister, said at a news conference that Iran’s
relations with Arab countries would be affected by its support for
Hezbollah. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran responded that his
country was the only one not interfering in Lebanon’s internal
affairs.." [more]
Saudi Aramco, Total to Go Ahead With New Refinery
[May 14]
" State oil giant Saudi Aramco and France's Total have decided to
go ahead with plans to build a new 400,000 barrels per day refinery in
Saudi Arabia, Aramco and Total said in a joint statement on Wednesday.
The refinery will start up at the end of 2012, the companies said.
Aramco will own 62.5 percent of the plant, and Total 37.5 percent.
Aramco will later offer 25 percent to the Saudi public, leaving both
Aramco and Total with an equal 37.5 percent share in the plant.." [more]
King Breaks Ground for King Saud University for
Health Sciences [May 14]
"King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, laid the
foundation stone of King Saud University for Health Sciences (KSUHS),
King Abdullah International Research Center, and Pediatric Hospital on
main campus in Riyadh on Tuesday.. ..Saudi Arabia has recently reclaimed
the destiny of its higher education amid growing global economic,
industrial, and social competitions by setting up more universities
across the nation, the last of which was King Abdullah University of
Science and Technology (KAUST). Last Oct., King Abdullah inaugurated
KAUST to be a leading world class and well-endowed research
university, representing a paradigm shift with an intellectual, and
organizational innovation to inspire.." [more]
KSUHS Expected to Boost Saudization [[May 14]
"King Saud University for Health Sciences (KSUHS) is expected to
boost the number of Saudi medical professionals to a new high within the
next few years. President of KSUHS Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeah, who is also
the executive director of health affairs at National Guard, said the
King’s orders were clear. He wanted a quality management of the
university with select academic elite to serve the Saudi people.. ..At
an expected capacity of 17,000 students, the needs of the labor market
of medical professionals in the Kingdom will be quickly met, boosting
the rate of Saudization in the health care field by 40 percent within
the next 25 years, he said.." [more]
Maldives’ First Embassy in Mideast Opens in Riyadh
[May 14]
"Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr. Nizar Madani and
Maldivian Foreign Minister Abdullah Shahid formally opened the new
Maldivian Embassy in Riyadh on Monday in an event attended by senior
government officials and foreign diplomats.. ..'We chose Saudi Arabia as
the first destination to have our foreign mission in the region because
the Kingdom, which hosts millions of pilgrims in the holy cities of
Makkah and Madinah each year, is not only a leader in the Muslim world
but also as a strategic hub,' the minister said, pointing out that the
Maldives has been a Muslim country for well over 855 years. 'Saudi
Arabia plays an important role in unifying the Islamic Ummah and we are
happy that we have stepped into this holy soil at a time when there is a
strong need for unity among the world Muslim community,'.." [more]
Alwaleed Honored in US [May 14]
"Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, chairman, Kingdom Holding Company (KHC)
and Kingdom Foundation (KF), received the Business Leader of the Year
Award from the Foreign Policy Association (FPA) in New York on Monday.
The award was presented to him during the Annual Dinner event of the
association which was at the Pierre Hotel. On the occasion Prince
Alwaleed was formally introduced to the audience and a documentary about
his achievements was also shown. He delivered a keynote address under
the title of "Bridging the Gap: Islam and the West" to a large
audience. He called for the need to bridge the gap between the East and
the West to encourage more understanding and tolerance between
them.." [more]
Canadian Investors Look to the Kingdom [May 14]
"Canadian businessmen are keen on investing in the Kingdom, Saudi
Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA) Governor Amr Al-Dabbagh
said, after a 4-day trip to Canada that began in Vancouver. 'We had 14
meetings in Montreal alone in just one day, the interest from Canada is
so strong,' said Governor Al-Dabbagh. 'Canada shares some of the same
competitive advantages in energy and natural resources as the Kingdom,
and is investing heavily in the development of an intellectual base to
cater to those industries.' Canada is one of the world’s wealthiest
nations, with a GDP of approximately $1.5 trillion and a GDP per capita
as high as $38,000, according to some economic reports. The government
is actively expanding its foreign investment base and is looking beyond
its traditional partner, the US, to markets that share the same
synergies. The Kingdom is one of these.." [more]
~~~~~~~~ [ May 13] ~~~~~~~~~
Saudi Arabia Alleges Iran Supports Hezbollah Coup
[May 13]
"Saudi Arabia warned Iran that its support for a ``coup in Lebanon
by the Shiite Muslim Hezbollah group will harm relations with Arab
states. ``Iran is supporting the coup that happened in Lebanon and this
will affect Tehran's relations with Arab states, if not Muslim states as
well, Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal said today in a televised
news conference. He accused Hezbollah of planning the attack on Beirut
and using political issues as an excuse to start the violence. ``If this
wasn't pre-planned, I don't know what is,' al-Faisal said.. ..Saudi
Arabia urged regional powers to stop interfering in Lebanon, where,
according to the International Red Cross, the fighting has killed at
least 39 people. Saudi Arabia withdrew its ambassador to Beirut,
Abdel Aziz Khoja, ``until things settle down, but the Embassy remains
open.." [more]
US Drops Charges Against Saudi in 9/11 Attacks [May
13]
"All charges against a Saudi national accused of being the '20th
hijacker' in the 9/11 terrorist attacks have been dismissed by the
Pentagon, his US military defense lawyer said on Monday. Mohamed Al
Qahtani was one of the six men charged by the military in February with
murder and war crimes for their involvement in the 2001 attacks. After
further investigation, the convening authority of military commissions
decided to drop all charges against Al Qahtani without prejudice,
meaning they can be filed again.." [more]
Kingdom Urges Lebanese Factions to Accept Arab League
Proposal [May 13]
"Saudi Arabia yesterday urged Lebanese factions to stop fighting
and withdraw their forces, advising them to accept the Arab League
proposal to resolve the country’s political crisis. The Council of
Ministers, which was presided over by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques
King Abdullah, hoped that the ministerial committee set up by the Arab
foreign ministers meeting in Cairo would soon visit Beirut on a mission
to end the infighting. The Cabinet meeting urged Lebanese groups to
listen to the voice of wisdom and give priority to their country’s
interests. It reminded them that the escalation of violence would only
benefit foreign extremists who want to thwart the efforts to solve
Lebanon’s political
crisis.." [more]
Opec Ministers See No Need to Meet Before Sept [May
13]
"Qatar’s Deputy Premier and Energy Minister HE Abdullah bin Hamad
al-Attiyah yesterday said that he did not see the need for Opec to meet
before their next scheduled gathering in September in response to record
high oil prices.. ..Al-Attiyah said geopolitics was the main factor
driving the oil market but cautioned that prices at current levels were
'too high'. The Qatari deputy premier’s comments follow a report last
week, citing Libya’s top oil official, that said Opec would consider
meeting ahead of its next schedule quota setting gathering in Vienna,
Austria, on September 9. Al-Attiyah said Opec producers had 'received
complaints about high prices but not about supply'. UAE Oil Minister
Mohamed bin Dhaen al-Hamli also said yesterday there were no signs
of Opec meeting before September but added the group remained ready to
meet any real demand for its oil.." [more]
Restrictions on Palestinians in West Bank to Ease,
says Blair [May 13]
"Israel has agreed to remove checkpoints in the West Bank to ease
travel restrictions on Palestinians, Middle East ambassador Tony Blair
said on Tuesday. Calling it a 'significant first step', Blair said
changes would—over time—'significantly' improve north-south and
east-west movement within the West Bank. Blair said Israel would remove
a checkpoint near Hebron this week and remove or relocate several
others, including one at Beit El near Ramallah.. ..Palestinians say
Israel's network of hundreds of checkpoints and roadblocks in the West
Bank amounts to collective punishment and stifles their economy.."
[more]
Arab States Sign N-energy Pact [May 13]
"Seven Arab nations say they have agreed on a plan to boost energy
resources in the region by using nuclear power. The plan announced
Monday has been the focus of three days of meetings in Jordan’s
capital of Amman between energy officials from Syria, Lebanon, Iraq,
Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates. Few details
have been provided about the four-year plan, but it will also focus on
reducing waste from energy production and protecting the coastal
environment of the Red Sea, the Mediterranean and the Arabian
Gulf.." [more]
Linde Buys 51 Percent Stake in Saudi Industrial Gases
Company [May 13]
"Linde AG. said it bought a 51 percent stake in family owned
industrial gases company Saudi Industrial Gas Co. Ltd. (SIGAS). No
financial details were disclosed. The deal is pending approval from the
relevant Saudi Arabian regulatory authorities.. ..Linde said the Saudi
Arabian industrial gases market is expected to grow more than 10 percent
a year.." [more]
Saudi Firm's $1.8bn Tourist Development [May 13]
"A new US$1.8 billion (Dh6.6bn) mixed-use development in Saudi
Arabia was launched this morning on the first day of the international
property exhibition Cityscape Abu Dhabi. The Land Real Estate Investment
and Development (The Land), a Saudi-based development company, unveiled
the Ajmakan project in Riyadh. The desert community will be developed on
1.7 million square metres in the Al Khozomah area, northwest of the
kingdom’s capital. The project will include palaces, a retail area, 74
high end villas and a total of 2,500 residential units. 'The project is
going to target the upper end of the Saudi market because there are no
other projects in Saudi Arabia that cater to this segment,'.." [more]
~~~~~~~~ [ May 12] ~~~~~~~~~
Saudi Smile Likely for Bush on Oil Plea [May 12]
" U.S. President George W. Bush will likely receive little more
than a smile and handshake when he asks Saudi Arabia to help lower oil
prices during a visit to Riyadh this week to commemorate 75 years of a
relationship that has developed fissures in the last decade.. ..Bush is
scheduled to meet Saudi King Abdullah at his private farm on Friday to
mark the 75th anniversary of the formal establishment of U.S.-Saudi
relations.. ..Oil, Iraq, Iran and Palestinian-Israeli peacemaking are
high on the agenda as Bush and King Abdullah try to smooth U.S.-Saudi
relations that deteriorated in the aftermath of the Sept. 11
attacks and the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.." [more]
King Abdullah Receives Blair [May 12]
"Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah yesterday held
talks with Tony Blair, official envoy of the Quartet on the Middle East,
at his palace in Riyadh. They discussed the latest developments in the
Palestinian issue and international efforts to achieve a just and
comprehensive peace settlement in the region, the Saudi Press Agency
said. Meanwhile, King Abdullah discussed by telephone the latest
developments in the region including Lebanon with Egyptian President
Hosni Mubarak, Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, Bahrain's King Hamad
ibn Isa Al-Khalifa, Jordan's King Abdallah and President Omar Al-Bashir
of Sudan.." [more]
Arab League Tries to Broker Lebanon Settlement [May
12]
"Arab foreign ministers urged warring Lebanese factions to
immediately stop fighting and said on Sunday they will send a delegation
to try to broker a settlement between the Hezbollah-led opposition and
US-backed government. After an emergency meeting in Cairo on the Lebanon
crisis, the Arab League issued a statement implicitly criticising the
Shiite militant Hezbollah.. ..The Arab League demanded Shiite gunmen
pull out of West Beirut and leave Lebanon's army in charge of security.
The gunmen had mostly left the streets by Sunday, a day after the army
called on them to clear out. Arab League Secretary-General Amr
Moussa said the delegation would leave for Lebanon soon.." [more]
Release of Saudi Professor Urged [May 12]
"Amnesty International has urged Saudi authorities to release a
Saudi university professor who is facing flogging and imprisonment for
meeting a woman to whom he is not related for coffee. Mohamed Ali Abu
Raziza, a psychology lecturer at the university of Makkah, has been
sentenced to 150 lashes and eight months in jail after the religious
police caught him with a woman in a coffee shop, the rights group said
in a statement.. ..The statement did not say what happened to the woman
who was meeting Abu Raziza. 'Saudi Arabia should stop needlessly
persecuting people like this – we want to see a complete end to
people in the kingdom being punished for ‘khilwa’ offences,' Amnesty
said.." [more]
Qaeda on the Run in KSA [May 12]
"Al-Qaeda leadership has asked its followers in the Kingdom to
leave the country for Yemen in the face of stiff combat and preemptive
operations being conducted by Saudi security forces, said Dr. Abdul Aziz
Bin Saqr Al-Ghamdi, President of the Gulf Center for Strategic Studies.
Disclosing the content of a letter distributed by the so-called Al-Qaeda
Organization in the Southern Arabian Peninsula to its followers in the
Kingdom, Al-Ghamdi said in a telephone interview that the terror network
was planning to expand its operations in Yemen by targeting tourists. He
said the letter proves that Al-Qaeda followers were on the run in
the Kingdom from the Saudi security forces. Since May 2003, more than
9,000 suspected militants were arrested and 3,106 remain in
detention.." [more]
Tent City Moving to Shanghai for Global Expo [May 12]
"The tent city of Mina is one of the 55 city projects that have
been selected from 226 nominations from across the world for exhibition
at the World Expo 2010 Shanghai. A 20-member jury picked the winners to
be exhibited at the exposition’s Urban Best Practices Area (UBPA).
'Saudi Arabia was the only Asian Arab country to win a place in the
expo,' said Dr. Abdul Rahman Al-Asheikh, deputy minister of municipal
and rural affairs for town planning and the Kingdom’s representative
to World Expo 2010. Judges picked the tent city by taking into
consideration the Kingdom’s efforts to provide modern services to
nearly three million pilgrims who spend four days in Mina during the
annual Haj pilgrimage.." [more]
~~~~~~~~ [ May 11] ~~~~~~~~~
Arab FMs to Meet on Beirut Crisis [May 11]
"Arab foreign ministers will hold an emergency meeting today to
discuss a crisis in Lebanon, the Arab League said yesterday, after the
Iranian- and Syrian-backed Hezbollah seized control of Beirut. At least
27 people have been killed in four days of violence triggered by the
pro-Western Lebanese government decision to target the military
communications network of the anti-Israeli Shia guerrilla group as being
illegal.. ..The meeting came after Saudi Arabia and Egypt — both
supporters of the pro-Western Lebanese government — called for an
emergency session to discuss the crisis, the worst in Lebanon since
the 1975-90 civil war. Syria’s Arab League envoy Youssef Ahmed said
that the Syrian foreign minister might not attend the meeting.." [more]
Boycott of Danish Products Spreads [May 11]
"The campaign to boycott Danish products took a remarkable turn on
Saturday when some leading healthcare providers in Saudi Arabia and
other GCC countries decided to avoid the use of prescription drugs
imported from Denmark. These healthcare providers said they would
boycott all medicines imported from Denmark recently, and according to
officials of a number of hospitals and pharmacies, the call has been
spreading faster and louder.. ..Muslims were enraged over the
publication of blasphemous cartoons of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon
him) first by a Danish newspaper. Around a dozen newspapers and
magazines in European Countries later reprinted the cartoons.." [more]
King to Lay Foundation of Health University [May 11]
" Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah will lay the
foundation of the King Saud University for Health Sciences in Riyadh on
Tuesday.. ..Spread across an area of five million square meters close to
the King Abdul Aziz Medical City in Riyadh, the new university campus
will also accommodate the King Abdullah International Research Center, a
children’s hospital, a medical museum, a conference center and an
academic district for girls.." [more]
Saudi Arabia: DHL Express to Invest 17 Million Euros
for Saudi Expansion [May 11]
"DHL Express, the world’s leading express and logistics company,
has announced today, the company’s commitment to invest over SR100
million for infrastructure developments across The Kingdom. The
strategic growth includes the rapid expansion of service points, with
the opening of more than 15 new branches, before the end of the year..
..The new branches will be rolled out in important population centres
across The Kingdom in the coming eight months with exact locations to be
announced in the near future. 'We will reach over 50 branches
Kingdom-wide by the end of the year, which will boost customer service
both in terms of numbers of locations and quality of service'.." [more]
Egypt's Talaat Moustafa Says Buys Land in Saudi [May
11]
"Egyptian developer Talaat Moustafa Group TMGH.CA said on Sunday it
had agreed to buy 3.8 million square metres of land in Saudi Arabia, its
second plot in the oil-rich Gulf Kingdom. Talaat Moustafa said it would
build a residential housing complex on the site, without giving further
details or saying how much it paid for the land. Talaat Moustafa agreed
to form a joint venture with U.S.-based Hill International Inc last week
for construction projects in the Middle East.. ..Its first housing
development project in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, will include 5,000
residences for an anticipated 22,500 people. Developers are pouring billions of dollars into construction projects in
the largest Arab economy, where a shortfall of supply is driving up
rents.." [more]
Most Saudi Universities Switch to E-Learning by Next
Year [May 11]
"Most Saudi universities will switch from a traditional system of
education to e-learning next year. The Ministry of Higher Education has
set up the National Center of E-learning & Distance Learning (ELC)
to oversee the change and prepare e-learning material. 'The new system
will bring about dramatic progress in the Kingdom’s higher education,'
said Dr. Abdullah Almegren, director of ELC, adding that nine Saudi
universities have already signed memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with
the ministry to implement the system. 'A team of experts from the
ministry recently visited a number of international universities that
have successfully adopted the e-learning system to know how it is
working,'.. ..Universities that have signed MOUs with the ministry for
e-learning are: King Saud University, King Abdul Aziz University,
Baha University, Taiba University, Qassim University, Hail University,
Taif University, Umm Al-Qura University and Madinah Islamic
University.." [more]
Hints of a Shift at OPEC About a Rise in Oil Output
[May 11]
"As prices jumped to another record, a member of OPEC signaled on
Friday for the first time in months that the oil cartel might increase
its output to prick the price bubble. Since the cartel’s last meeting
in March, OPEC has argued that the market was not lacking in oil
supplies and blamed speculators for driving up prices. But in recent
weeks, prices have come under renewed pressure because of a string of
export disruptions from Nigeria.. ..The problem for OPEC is that prices
have, at times, run counter to real market factors, analyst said. As the
dollar continues to decline and the United States economy slows,
investment funds have moved into commodities like oil or gold, which
they consider safer and more profitable than stocks.." [more]
GCC to Remove Obstacles Facing Custom Union [May 11]
"Ministers of Finance and Economy agreed here Saturday to remove
all obstacles facing GCC custom union, Kuwait's Minister of Finance
Mostafa Al-Shimali said.. ..The ministers, he said, assigned GCC
secretariat to study best means to collecting and distributing of custom
duties among GCC member states -- Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain,
Oman and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The ministers, said Al-Shimali,
discussed the GCC monetary union. Governors of central banks were called
to meet to complete the monetary union treaty. Ministers of Finance will
meet with the governors next September over this issue, he noted.."
[more]
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