SUSRIS Daily News – Excerpts from International Media Reports
[Links to full articles were active on the date posted here]
Saudi Senior Religious Police Officer Replaced After Liberal Comments [Apr 26]
“A senior Saudi religious police officer was replaced on Sunday after hardliners were upset with his comments about easing the rules for prayer in mosques, and allowing men and women to mix freely. Shaikh Ahmad Al Ghamdi was replaced as general manager for the Makkah branch of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice in an announcement from the organisation’s president, Shaikh Abdul Aziz Al Humain. Al Humain gave no reason for the move, which included several other new appointments of senior officials of the religious police, popularly known as the Muttawa. But the move came three days after Al Ghamdi was reportedly dressed down by the country’s highest cleric for saying that Muslims are not necessarily required to pray inside a mosque with a group of other Muslims in daily prayers.. ..Al Ghamdi’s replacement followed his denial on Wednesday that he had already been sacked for statements advocating free mixing of unrelated men and women..” [Complete Report]
No Change in NZ Visa-Waiver Program for Saudis After 9/11 [Apr 26]
“For Saudi students New Zealand is the favorite education destination because of the country’s hassle-free visa program, said a visiting minister Sunday. Saudis who want to visit New Zealand for a three-month period do not require a visa, said Tim Groser, New Zealand Minister of Trade, who is visiting Saudi Arabia as head of a 90-member business delegation to attend the 4th Joint Ministerial Committee meeting in Riyadh.. ..New Zealand introduced visa-waiver program for Saudis in July 1999, and did not change the visa policy even after 9/11. This is one of the reasons that Saudi students find it easy to visit New Zealand, he said. ‘Out of 7,000 Saudi students currently studying in New Zealand, about 4,500 are enrolled at universities and other tertiary institutes,’ Groser said. He said the King Abdullah Scholarship Program has been hugely helpful in strengthening bilateral relations in education sector. In view of the growing demand by Saudi students to get admission in New Zealand universities, the Saudi government was given permission to open its consulate in Auckland..” [Complete Report]
Saudi Communications Minister Says Backs Free Roaming Ban [Apr 26]
“Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Communications and Information Technology said Sunday he supports the decision of the kingdom’s telecom watchdog to end free international roaming for Saudi-registered phones, the official Saudi Press Agency, or SPA, reported. ‘There is no justification to have free international roaming because it is harmful to companies offering this service. Earlier this year, the Communications and Information Technology Commission, or CITC, ordered the three phone firms operating in the Arab world’s largest economy to end a ban on charging their clients a roaming premium. The telecom regulator said free roaming should end as many clients had been subscribing to Saudi mobile services while living elsewhere. The watchdog has previously said it wants a rate to be fixed for the reception of roaming calls. However, Saudi Arabia’s highest advisory body appointed by the king, the Shura Council, has called on CITC to reverse its decision..” [Complete Report]
Firms Head to Saudi Arabia [Apr 26]
“Saudi Arabia’s growing healthcare has spurred several Singapore companies to explore opportunities there. The latest firm to make a foray into Saudi Arabia recently was Mach 7 Technologies, which had formed a joint venture with Saudi-based firm Medisys to distribute healthcare image management solutions. While both companies did not disclose any financial details, this partnership, which was signed on Saturday, stemmed from a business mission organised by International Enterprise (IE) Singapore in February this year. IE Singapore said in a statement yesterday that Saudi Arabia’s healthcare market has recorded steady growth over the past eight years and the government has budgeted an additional 51 per cent for healthcare and social services this year. This amounts to about $22 billion..” [Complete Report]
Saudi Experts to Attend Madrid Conference [Apr 26]
“‘Beyond the Crisis: Islamic Finance in the New Financial Order’ is the theme of an international conference to be held in Madrid as part of efforts to promote Islamic banking and finance in Spain and other European countries.. ..Speaking to Arab News, Turkistani said about 30 Islamic finance experts from Saudi Arabia, Spain, Britain, France, Germany, India and other countries would take part in the conference, which also aims at improving cooperation between business and academic institutions in Saudi Arabia and Spain.. ..Estevez is optimistic that the conference will play a big role in increasing awareness of Islamic finance in the West and contribute to expanding Islamic finance in the country. The Spanish academic highlighted the growing prospects of Islamic finance in the West, especially in providing much needed funds, and meeting the financial requirements of increasing Muslim population..” [Complete Report]
