|
May
31-Jun 6, 2009
~~~~~~~~
[ Jun 6]~~~~~~~~~
Cinema
Returns to Riyadh on Friday After 30 Years [Jun 6]
"The Saudi capital of Riyadh witnessed on Friday a film show, the
first of its kind since cinema was banned in the country three decades
ago. The film 'Manahi', a comedy starring Saudi actor Fayez Al Maliki
was screened at the King Fahd Cultural Centre to a huge audience. The
show is an important turning point in Saudi culture and society.
Rotana, owned by the Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal, is
screening the film in Saudi Arabia. The film was previously shown in
Jeddah and Taif, and achieved unprecedented success by attracting a
total of 25,000 male viewers and 9,000 female viewers, although some
Islamic radicals opposed and tried to prevent the screening.." [more]
Currency
Union Pact to be Signed Monday [Jun 6]
"An accord on monetary union among four members of the six-nation
Gulf Cooperation Council will be signed Monday, the Saudi Press Agency
(SPA) quoted GCC Secretary General Abdurrahman Al-Attiyah as saying
Friday. On May 20 the United Arab Emirates pulled out of the proposed
monetary union. Oman announced in 2007 that it would not join. The
signing had originally been planned for Sunday but will now take place
during a meeting in Riyadh of GCC foreign ministers. Al-Attiyah
said Monday’s meeting would also take stock of US President Barack
Obama’s visit to both Saudi Arabia and Egypt.." [more]
Saudi-Swedish
Ties Gain New Height [Jun 6]
"Since last year, there has been acceleration in the relations
between Saudi Arabia and Sweden.. ..The Ambassador said expansion of
bilateral cooperation in education and research is among his
country’s priority areas. 'In this connection, we have already
signed memorandums of understanding with King Saud University and
other institutions in the Kingdom. We welcome Saudi students as we are
now covered by the King Abdullah Scholarship Program of the Custodian
of Two Holy Mosques.' On the trade front, there was a 22 percent jump
last year. Swedish exports to the Kingdom totaled 1 billion euros,
while its imports from the Kingdom grossed 200 million euros, mostly
minerals.." [more]
Saudi
FM Wants US to Press Israel by Cutting Off Aid [Jun 6]
"Saudi Arabia's foreign minister, Prince Saud al-Faisal, said the
US should use aid it gives Israel as leverage in order to pressure the
state into accepting the US-backed two-state solution. In an interview
with Newsweek published Saturday Faisal said, 'The United States has
the means to persuade the Israelis to work for a peaceful settlement.
It needs to tell them that if it is going to continue to help them,
they must be reasonable and make reasonable concessions.' When asked
whether the US should withhold funds until Israel agreed to a peace
plan calling for the establishment of a Palestinian state Faisal said,
'Why not? If you give aid to someone and they indiscriminately occupy
other people's lands, you bear some responsibility.'.." [more]
~~~~~~~~
[ Jun 5]~~~~~~~~~
Harsco
Inks $2.4M Pact With Saudi Basic Industries [Jun 5]
"Industrial service provider Harsco Corp. said Friday it signed a
contract in the U.K. worth about $2.4 million with industrial company
Saudi Basic Industries Corp. for a range of scaffolding equipment and
services. Saudi Basic Industries makes chemicals, fertilizers,
plastics and metals. Work under the contract is scheduled to begin in
June and continue into next year. Shares of Harsco rose 87
cents, or 3 percent, to $31.64 in midday trading. The stock has traded
between $16.90 and $63.82 over the last 52 weeks.." [more]
Dabbagh
Seeks Boosting Saudi-Russian Relations [Jun 5]
"Amr Al-Dabbagh, Governor and Chairman of the Board of Directors
of the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA), has called
for the strengthening of Saudi-Russian relations. Speaking at the 5th
Annual St. Petersburg Economic International Forum on Thursday, he
said 'Russia is an important but underrepresented potential
collaborator on a number of fronts, but our potential for equitable
bilateral trade has not been fully realized, perhaps due to a lack of
formal institutions and mechanisms for doing so.'.. ..Regionally,
Russia-Arab trade has developed, in large part due to a favorable
political climate, with trade turnover in 2009 approached $8 billion.
Russian-Saudi trade, on the other hand, is very weak considering
current potential, he pointed out. In 2007 the balance of trade was
$903 million, with Saudi exporting $8.27 million compared to $911
million imported from Russia.." [more]
Obama
Taps Raytheon Exec as Envoy to Saudi Arabia [Jun 5]
"President Obama this afternoon announced another batch of
nominees for ambassadorships, including a Raytheon executive as envoy
to Saudi Arabia. Retired Air Force General Brigadier General James B.
Smith is an international business development executive at Raytheon
Integrated Defense Systems.." [more]
Women
Delighted at Obama’s Address [Jun 5]
"For women across the Muslim world, US President Barack Obama’s
historic address from Cairo was nothing short of a blessing. He
acknowledged his respect for their personal choices and at the same
time underscored his belief that their choices should be personal.
'God bless him,' said Asya Al-Ashaikh, founder and CEO of the
Jeddah-based Tamkeen Development and Management Consulting.. ..Obama
divided his speech into seven sections, mostly political. However, the
sixth issue focused entirely on women’s rights. 'I know there is
debate about this issue,' Obama said. 'I reject the view of some in
the West that a woman who chooses to cover her hair is somehow less
equal, but I do believe that a woman who is denied an education is
denied equality. And it is no coincidence that countries where women
are well-educated are far more likely to be prosperous.'.." [more]
Uzbekistan,
Saudi Arabia Sign Credit Agreement [Jun 5]
"The minister of finance of Saudi Arabia Ibragim Abdulaziz Al-Assaf
held talks at the Ministry of finance of Uzbekistan on 4 June. The
negotiations focused on issues of expansion and strengthening economic
and investment cooperation, as well as development of joint projects.
After the talks, the ministries of finance of the two states signed a
credit agreement on the project of reconstruction of the Alat pump
station in Bukhara region.." [more]
Crude
Drops Under $69/Bbl After 7-Month High [Jun 5]
"Crude oil futures prices dropped below $69 a barrel early Friday
after climbing to a seven-month high above $70 a barrel in response to
news that U.S. nonfarm payrolls fell by less in May than was expected.
'This initial rally in crude looks to have failed,' aided by strength
in the dollar, said Adam Klopfenstein, senior market strategist at
Lind-Waldock. Earlier, dollar weakness helped boost crude futures. Jim
Ritterbusch, president of Ritterbusch and Associates said crude could
show continued strength in coming days, with further gains to $76 in
the next few weeks. Crude has gained sharply in the past week on
predictions from OPEC and bankers that oil prices will climb above $75
a barrel by year end. Goldman Sachs sees prices at $85 by the end of
2009 and at $95 by the end of 2010. The bank sees declining non-OPEC
output tightening supply as global oil demand improves amid an
expected economic recovery. Still, in the U.S., the world's biggest
oil consumer, demand hit its lowest level in 10 years in the latest
week, and inventories remain at extremely high levels.." [more]
~~~~~~~~
[ Jun 4]~~~~~~~~~
Saudi
Reform in Fits and Starts [Jun 4]
"Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah presents himself as a sponsor of
reformed Islam, but as Ginny Hill discovers competing power bases in
the country mean that social reform develops sporadically. Saudi
Arabia's zealous religious police - the mutaween - are often among the
first clichés that spring to mind when Westerners think about life
inside the kingdom. During two weeks in Riyadh, I was curious to know
if I would encounter any members of the religious police.. ..For
several decades, Saudi Arabia's religious police have been the
lynchpin in a power structure linking hard-line Wahabi clerics to the
Saudi royal family. But King Abdullah has been sponsoring a slow-burn
reform programme since inheriting the throne. And he replaced the head
of the mutaween in a rare cabinet reshuffle in February. The move was
seen as an attempt to rein in the organisation's most brutal and
oppressive elements.." [more]
Saudi
Applauds Women Appointments to Council [Jun 4]
"Saudi leaders have commended the appointment of six women to the
Shura Council, which oversees the implementation of Islamic laws and
values, and are calling for women to be allowed to drive in the
conservative Muslim country. Women are needed to decide various
issues, especially concerning families, said Sheikh Azeb bin Saeed Aal
Mesbil, head of the Islamic affairs and judiciary committee at the
Shura Council, daily Saudi Gazette reported on Thursday. 'It should be
borne in mind that the life of our society has changed and so we at
the council need to seek the opinions of experts, be they men or
women. We need to listen to women on social and family
issues,'.." [more]
Saudi
Business Confidence Wanes But at a Slower Pace [Jun 4]
"Saudi Arabia’s business confidence fell to 88.3 in the second
quarter from 89.2 in the first quarter, a report from the Saudi
British Bank showed Wednesday. However, the 'pace of decline is
slowing,' it said. The bank said business confidence is very much
predicated on the government’s ability to continue providing
credible evidence that the money is being spent. So far, signals from
the government have included: (a) contractors being paid on time; and
(b) 20-30 percent advance payments becoming the norm since Q1 for
those who work on government- related projects. The government has
doubled its spending during the past year (in terms of the value of
projects approved by the Ministry of Finance) from around SR20 billion
to SR40.6 billion. This spending is a necessity as the private sector
is largely frozen and considers expansion only with caution.
Around 51 percent of respondents expect businesses to grow over the
next two quarters.." [more]
Gulf
Arab Market Rally Running Out of Steam [Jun 4]
"Gulf stock markets could suffer a double-digit correction as a
slump in summer trading and little improvement in the wider economy
spark selling across key sectors, analysts said. Analysts warn the
rally -- four of seven markets are at 2009 highs in rising volumes --
is unlikely to be sustained, not only because stocks are overpriced
but because the economic downturn is expected to send many wealthy
expatriates home for good.. ..Gulf exchanges have rallied strongly
since March 1, with Qatar's index surging 70 percent, Saudi Arabia
rising by 37 percent and Kuwait up by a nearly a third. Dubai has
added 28 percent and Abu Dhabi 15 percent, while the smaller Oman and
Bahrain indexes have climbed 17 and 2 percent respectively.." [more]
~~~~~~~~
[ Jun 3]~~~~~~~~~
Readers
Cautious But Hopeful About Obama's Visit [Jun 3]
"Barack Obama's first steps in the Middle East since becoming US
President do not necessarily mean a giant leap for mankind. While
raising both hopes and scepticism, Obama's visit has plunged Gulf News
readers into debate. The US President arrived in Saudi Arabia on
Wednesday ahead of his keynote address to the Arab and Muslim world in
Cairo, Egypt. Murad Lassoued, a Tunisian expatriate, was optimistic
about the president's role in bridging the East and West. He said: 'I
expect Obama to reconcile the Arab world with the US. He has promised
a lot of things so far and has delivered. If he continues to do so,
America's reputation will finally be repaired.'.. ..The fact that the
US President made a Middle East visit part of his agenda in his first
year of presidency shows that he is serious.." [more]
Saudi
Arabia Confirms First H1N1 Flu Case [Jun 3]
"Saudi Arabia has confirmed its first case of the H1N1 flu virus
in a Filipina nurse, the kingdom's health minister said on Wednesday.
The woman arrived on Friday on board a Gulf Air flight from the
Philippines and showed first symptoms on Monday, Abdullah Al Rabeeah
told Saudi news channel Al Ekhbariya, adding that she was being held
in quarantine. Saudi authorities are tracking down people who had
contact with her on the flight and in the hospital, he said.." [more]
Riyadh
Meeting and New Arab-US Relations [Jun 3]
"Sources have said that the Saudi and US foreign ministers will
hold separate talks during President Barack Obama’s visit to the
Kingdom Wednesday, with Prince Saud Al-Faisal and Hillary Clinton
expected to discuss developments on regional and Arab issues.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas spoke of the importance of the
Obama visit within the Middle East’s “exceptional
circumstances”, saying that the Palestinian people had great
expectations of the meeting since King Abdullah has always placed the
Palestinian cause and the need for a comprehensive and just solution
to the Arab-Israeli conflict at the top of his priorities. Abbas said
that the Palestinians were looking forward to the results of the
Riyadh meeting and Obama’s speech to be delivered in Cairo,
expressing hopes that the two events would result in a positive
breakthrough for the achievement of Arab interests.." [more]
U.S.
Lawmakers Say Saudis Texts Incite Hatred [Jun 3]
"U.S. lawmakers on Wednesday called on the Saudi government to
stop distributing children's religious textbooks they said incited
hatred and intolerance toward Jews, women and homosexuals. The request
by three Democratic legislators coincided with President Barack
Obama's visit to Saudi Arabia and Egypt this week to shore up
beleaguered U.S. relations with Muslims worldwide. 'This is not some
rogue document,' Congressman Anthony Weiner told reporters. 'This is
the position of the Saudi government. If we're going to solve the
generational conflicts, it's important not to hate one another.' His
Democratic colleague, Shelley Berkley of Nevada, backed the move. 'We
hope this will be part of the discussion President Obama has with the
Saudi leaders,' she said.." [more]
Rising
Cost of Living Biggest Concern for Saudis [Jun 3]
"The rising cost of living is the single biggest issue impacting
Saudi consumers’ lifestyle according to a new survey, with
unemployment coming a distant second. Out of 1,002 Saudi nationals
polled by international market research firm TNS, 53 percent said they
thought inflation would impact their lifestyle negatively this year,
while 19 percent said they were worried about unemployment. Overall,
Saudis were more optimistic about their overall financial situation
and the state of their local economy, according to a separate TNS
study on the financial crisis based on interviews with 300
people.." [more]
Dhahran
to Host WE Power From June 7 [Jun 3]
"Dhahran will become the water and power capital of Saudi Arabia
from June 7 to 10 when the Kingdom’s oil city will host the WE Power
exhibition and conference. Now in its fifth year, WE Power has built a
strong reputation as the platform where policy makers, industry
leaders, experts and practitioners from the water and power industry
meet and discuss. This year, with the addition of a strategic
conference, WE Power is likely to exceed quality expectations as the
most prestigious names in the industry have lined up to speak at the
conference including Fareed Zedan, governor of the Electricity &
Co-Generation Regulatory Authority, Loay Al-Musallam, CEO of National
Water Company, and Paddy Padmanathan, president & CEO of Acwapower.."
[more]
~~~~~~~~
[ Jun 2]~~~~~~~~~
Cabinet
Backs OPEC Decision on Production [Jun 2]
"The Council of Ministers yesterday favored an oil price of
$75-80 per barrel, which they called a fair price. They also agreed to
an OPEC decision to keep its output ceiling unchanged. The Saudi
Cabinet reviewed the results of the May 28 OPEC meeting and said
OPEC’s move, which helped drive crude prices above $68 a barrel in
London trading yesterday, would not have a negative impact on the
recovery of the global economy. Culture and Information Minister Abdul
Aziz Khoja said the Cabinet meeting endorsed the protocol related to
preferential trade agreements among the members of the Organization of
the Islamic Conference (OIC), the largest bloc of Muslim countries in
the world.." [more]
Iran,
Mideast Peace Likely Obama Focus in Saudi [Jun 2]
" President Barack Obama begins a crucial Mideast trip Wednesday
with a visit to Saudi Arabia, where concerns about U.S. outreach to
Iran, the Israel-Palestinian peace process, and the kingdom's
willingness to accept Yemeni prisoners from Guantanamo will all likely
be on the agenda. The range of issues highlights the important
relationship between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, one of Washington's
strongest allies in the Middle East. The Sunni Arab powerhouse is also
the world's largest oil exporter and its king is considered the
guardian of Islam's holiest places, Mecca and Medina. Denis McDonough,
the U.S. deputy national security adviser for strategic
communications, said Friday that Obama's visit to Saudi Arabia is
'part of our outreach to the Muslim world, but also an opportunity to
discuss a range of important concerns from energy to Middle East peace
to the fight against extremism.'.." [more]
Chevron
Eyes Saudi Oil Project Expansion in 2017 [Jun 2]
"U.S. oil major Chevron (CVX.N) could deploy a technique to boost
oilfield output across the neutral zone between Kuwait and Saudi
Arabia in 2017, a top Chevron executive said on Tuesday. If
successful, the technique could be rolled out worldwide and add
billions of barrels to global reserves, said Guy Hollingsworth,
Chevron's president for exploration and production in Europe, Eurasia
and the Middle East. 'We could go to full-field in 2017,'
Hollingsworth told reporters on the sidelines of an energy conference
in Abu Dhabi. Chevron is testing the impact of steam flooding in the
oilfields in the neutral zone to help boost output of heavy oil. Steam
raises the temperature below ground and loosens up crude that is
otherwise difficult to pump. The U.S. firm would begin the second
stage of the testing program in July, Hollingsworth said.." [more]
Dow,
Conoco Saudi Projects Delayed [Jun 2]
"Dow Chemical Co's and ConocoPhillips' major joint ventures in
Saudi Arabia face delays, a Saudi state oil company official said on
Tuesday. A giant petrochemical plant that Saudi Aramco planned to
build with Dow Chemical Co would start up in 2015, Abdulaziz al-Judaimi
said. That was about two years behind the initial schedule.
Engineering and design for that plant should be completed in 2010,
Judaimi, vice president for new business development at Aramco, told
an energy conference in Abu Dhabi. Dow's planned investment in the
plant would be the largest single investment by a foreign oil company
in the Saudi energy sector. The price tag for the plant was at least
$20 billion. The final investment decision (FID) on the project is
expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2010, Judaimi
said.." [more]
Saudi
Arabia Suffers Lack of Working Women as Oil Fluctuates [Jun 2]
"Deep in the Arabian desert, hundreds of guests celebrate the
birth of a city. The Saudi government has flown them in on chartered
planes to the northern city of Hail, then driven them for about half
an hour in buses with police escorts to a giant marquee in the sand
with a red carpet out front. Inside, curtains with gold tassels adorn
walls decorated with artists’ renditions of Prince Abdulaziz bin
Mousaed Economic City, which the government says will be home to
300,000 people when it’s built.
After prayers from the Koran, the ceremony begins with a speech by Amr
Al-Dabbagh, head of the ministry that has planned the city, who wears
a formal cloak with gold trim. The audience -- all male, except for
one woman -- sips tea and plucks chocolates off silver trays.." [more]
~~~~~~~~
[ Jun 1]~~~~~~~~~
Obama,
Saudi King to Discuss Oil - White House [Jun 1]
"The White House reiterated on Monday that President Barack Obama
is likely to discuss current oil prices when he meets Saudi King
Abdullah later this week in Riyadh. 'I assume that's something that
will indeed be on the docket,' White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told
reporters when asked whether Obama would talk to the king about oil
prices that jumped to 2009 highs on Monday.." [more]
Piracy
Focus of Talks With Yemen [Jun 1]
"Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who arrived here yesterday,
said his talks with Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah
would explore prospects of expanding relations in economic, political
and security fields. 'Coordination of efforts to combat terrorism and
seaborne piracy is another important subject for discussion,' the
president said. King Abdullah and Saleh held talks on major regional
and international issues and ways of strengthening cooperation, the
Saudi Press Agency said, adding that top officials from both sides
attended the talks. Earlier on arrival at Riyadh Airbase, the Yemeni
president was received by King Abdullah, Second Deputy Premier and
Minister of Interior Prince Naif, senior princes and Cabinet
members.." [more]
Saudi
Saad Group Says to Restructure Debt [Jun 1]
"Private Saudi Saad Group said on Monday it plans to restructure
the debt of subsidiaries affected by the repercussions of the global
financial crisis. 'Recent external events (and) more recent events,
specifically affecting the Bahraini banking sector, have led to a
short-term liquidity squeeze affecting Saad Group companies in the
Middle East,' Saad Group said in a statement.
'We are continuously striving to mitigate the effects of this limited
squeeze, and are also planning for an orderly restructuring of the
debt of affected companies in cooperation with our counterparties and
international advisers,' it added. The kingdom's central bank froze
its chairman's accounts, bankers said earlier. The statement made no
reference to such a measure.." [more]
M’sian
Firms Urged to Invest in Saudi Arabia [Jun 1]
"Malaysian investors should head to Saudi Arabia for growth
opportunities as the country has not been severely affected by the
global economic crisis, with an estimated US$500bil (RM1.74 trillion)
worth of investment opportunities over the next five years, according
to Saudi authorities. Saudi Council of Chambers and Industry
secretary-general Fahad Al Sultan said the Saudi economy was expected
to grow by 6.2% this year, from 4.7% last year. 'The Saudi economy is
one of the least negatively impacted by the international crisis,' he
told a press conference here yesterday, adding that sectors such as
education, health, telecommunication , infrastructure, agriculture and
railroads had plenty of growth opportunities.." [more]
~~~~~~~~
[ May 31]~~~~~~~~~
President
Obama Making Crucial Visit to Muslim Leaders in Saudi Arabia, Egypt
[May 31]
"President Obama hopes to begin winning over hearts and minds of
the Muslim world with strategic visits this week to pro-Western allies
Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Obama will dine with Saudi King Abdullah in
Riyadh Wednesday, but the crowning moment of the trip comes a day
later when he uses a speech at Cairo University to lay out his vision
for a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians - and
reiterate U.S. respect for mainstream Islamic culture. 'Abdullah will
press for immediate U.S. action, not just words, to relaunch talks on
an independent Palestinian state,' said David Ottaway, senior scholar
at the Woodrow Wilson Center. 'Obama will be pressed to explain his
opening of a dialogue with Iran, while the king will have to explain
why he feels a 'fair price' for oil is $75 a barrel in the midst of a
worldwide economic depression,'.." [more]
Saudi
Billionaire With HSBC Stake Has Accounts Frozen [May 31]
" Saudi Arabia’s central bank ordered the country’s banks to
freeze the accounts of Maan al-Sanea, the Saudi billionaire who owns a
stake in HSBC Holdings Plc, people familiar with the instructions
said. Al-Sanea, who is chairman of the Khobar-based Saad Group, also
manages The International Banking Corp. B.S.C., the Bahrain-based unit
of Ahmad Hamad Algosaibi & Brothers Co. that has defaulted on some
of its debt, according to an Algosaibi official who spoke on condition
of anonymity. Saad Group said al-Sanea does not manage the unit. The
Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency sent circulars to the legal departments
of Saudi-based banks on May 28 and May 30 telling the lenders to
freeze the accounts, including credit cards, of al-Sanea, 54, his wife
and four family members, according to one person who read the
documents. SAMA didn’t say why it took the action, according to the
person, who declined to be identified because the information is
confidential.." [more]
Naif
Rebuffs Iraqi Accusations [May 31]
"Second Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior Prince Naif has
rejected charges by the Iraqi government that Riyadh was allowing
Saudis to join Iraq’s Sunni insurgency. He urged Baghdad to improve
border security. In remarks published yesterday in the local Arabic
press, Prince Naif said the Kingdom wants only what is in Iraq’s
best interests. 'The Iraqi government knows where the (foreign)
fighters come from,' said Prince Naif, denying claims that Saudis are
infiltrating Iraq. Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki said on
Thursday that Iraq’s efforts to build diplomatic ties with Saudi
Arabia had not been reciprocated and more would be 'useless' without a
change of heart from Riyadh. 'The Kingdom wants only the good and
stability of Iraq in all aspects but if there is someone in Iraq
working against its interest and expecting the Kingdom to support him,
this will not happen,' Prince Naif said. 'The Kingdom does what is in
the best interest of Iraq and its people and the return of Iraq to its
unity and sovereignty,'.." [more]
Saudi
Eyes Fannie Mae-Style Firm in Home Loan Push [May 31]
"Saudi Arabia plans to set up a Fannie Mae-style company to buy
mortgages from financial institutions and help develop national sukuk
and debt markets, Saudi Arabia's finance minister said. The company
would be formed in conjunction with Saudi Arabia's first mortgage law,
which should come into effect before the end of the year, Ibrahim al-Assaf
said in an interview in Oman on Saturday.. .."One of the elements
of the mortgage laws is to create this institution. It is one of the
components,' al-Assaf told Reuters, adding the company, which would be
tailored to local market needs, should be formed before the end of the
year. At 62 percent of the population, home ownership in Saudi Arabia
is comparable or exceeds that of advanced markets, but most home
financing has up to now been done through traditional family financing
means and government loans.." [more]
Yemen
Wants Saudis to Block Cash for Separatists [May 31]
"Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh will ask King Abdullah of
Saudi Arabia to block the flow of funds from Yemeni expatriates to
separatists in the south, a Yemeni government source said on Sunday.
Yemen, which is trying to shake off an image of violence to promote
its tourism sector, has witnessed frequent clashes between government
forces and protesters in the south, where secessionist sentiment is
strong. 'Saleh will be discussing the situation in Yemen with King
Abdullah, and the activities of some of the Yemeni opposition living
in Saudi Arabia,' the source said. The talks will tackle 'measures
against individuals raising donations to support the protests in the
south' , he said.. ..Saudi Arabia and Yemen, one of the poorest
countries outside Africa, are allies of the United States and are
partners in the fight against al Qaeda-linked Islamists.." [more]
Company
in Saudi Rail Project Linked to Israel [May 31]
"A plan to link Makkah and Madinah by train has become the
subject of controversy, as Palestinian officials try to persuade Saudi
authorities to withdraw the rail contract from a company alleged to be
complicit in Israel's expansion in occupied East Jerusalem.
Palestinian foreign ministry officials have expressed reservation at a
recent Saudi announcement awarding the contract for the Haramain
Express railway to a consortium consisting of French company Alstom
Transport. AlstomAlstom is part of a group of companies that is
building a light rail network in occupied Jerusalem, which is expected
to extend to occupied East Jerusalem and Jewish colonies in the
occupied West Bank. 'Backchannel talks with the Saudis are ongoing,' a
Palestinian foreign ministry official said on condition of anonymity.
He did not divulge details of the talks but said they would be based
on an Arab LeagueArab League decision barring states from dealing with
companies building the light rail.." [more]
OIC’s
Gaza Education Caravan in Ramadan [May 31]
"The Kingdom’s “Education Caravan” destined for Gaza will
get under way in Ramadan, the Organization of the Islamic Conference
announced yesterday. The caravan aims to help the education sector in
the war-ravaged Palestinian territory. This includes providing school
buses, student and teacher materials and rebuilding demolished
schools. 'What better time to start the campaign than the holy month
of Ramadan?' said Atta Almannan Bakheet, OIC’s assistant
secretary-general for humanitarian affairs. 'Ramadan is a month of
giving.' The education campaign, the fourth in a series of charity
campaigns organized by the OIC as part of the Custodian of the Two
Holy Mosques’ initiative, is the first specialized caravan to help
the people of Gaza. Three previous caravans succeeded in collecting
2,800 tons of relief supplies worth SR30 million. The third caravan
alone managed to provide 1,000 tons of food and medical equipment,
including 10 ambulances, worth a total of SR12 million. The OIC, in
cooperation with the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s
Private School Committee and local bookstores, will organize the
education caravan.." [more]
British
Council Embarks on Two Major Projects [May 31]
"The British Council, under the umbrella of Social Partnership
Projects, runs two large-scale programs, Springboard and Global
Changemakers. Springboard, a women’s self-development program,
was introduced to Saudi Arabia in December 2004 as part of the British
Council’s plans to develop women’s activities. It has attracted
more than 600 Saudi women, all of whom found the program extremely
beneficial in boosting their confidence and helping them to further
develop their personal and working lives.. ..At the same time, the
Global Changemakers project, introduced to Saudi Arabia by the British
Council, aims at enhancing the capacity of future leaders to meet
global challenges. It links young community and future influencers
from diverse backgrounds around the world in a sustainable global
network. The participants are emerging talents, aged 16 to 25, who are
committed to positive social change in their communities.." [more]
|
