SUSRIS Daily News – Excerpts from International Media Reports
[Links to full articles were active on the date posted here]
Arab Peace Panel Meets Today in Cairo [May 1]
“The Arab Peace Initiative Monitoring Committee is meeting Saturday at the headquarters of the Arab League in Cairo, with PLO Chief Negotiator Saeb Erekat describing the gathering as of ‘extreme importance’. Erekat said that the meeting, comprising foreign ministers and chaired by Qatar, is being held at the request of the Palestinian Authority to formulate an Arab stance on the path of the peace process and discuss US efforts. ‘The meeting will look at the results of visits by US Middle East envoy George Mitchell and his deputy David Hale, and developments related to the future of Palestinian-Israeli talks following last month’s letter from US President Obama to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas,’ Erekat said..” [Complete Report]
Saudi Investors Eye US Farmland [May 1]
“Saudi Arabian investors are looking to expand their agricultural investments in the United States to secure long-term food supply because of water shortages in the desert kingdom, Saudi officials said on Thursday. Investments could range from buying crop land, obtaining long-term land leases of 30 years or more, taking equity stakes in major food companies or contracting directly with farmers to grow crops, they said. ‘We have a very good relationship with the United States, not only politically but from the agriculture side. We are importing many agricultural products from you. The United States is one of the countries for our initiative,’ Abdullah Al-Obaid, deputy minister for research and agriculture development, told a US-Saudi Business Forum here. The United States is one of about two dozen countries that Saudi private investors, in consultation with the government, are targeting for agricultural investments..” [Complete Report]
Saudi Binladin to Spend $139 Million Expanding Senegal Refinery [May 1]
“Saudi Binladin Group will invest 105 million euros ($139 million) to more than quadruple production at a Senegalese oil refinery, the head of the group’s oil and petrochemical unit said. The company’s Petroleum Chemical and Mining Co. unit will expand refining capacity at Societe Africaine de Raffinage to 130,000 barrels a day from 27,000 barrels, Qasim al-Shaikh, chief executive officer of the division, said today in a phone interview today. ‘We will secure the demand of Senegal’s market first and then we will export the rest of the refined products to neighboring countries in West Africa,’ he said. Senegal’s government last week completed the sale of a 34 percent stake in the refinery to the Saudi company, known as PCMC, for 11.1 million euros..” [Complete Report]
Yemen Urged to Follow Saudi’s ‘Diversify Approach’ For Success Against Al-Qaeda [May 1]
“Several security experts have urged the Yemeni Government to diversify its approach in the US-aided fight against Al-Qaeda or face the backlash. The experts have cautioned that unless Yemen takes an approach similar to one used by neighbour Saudi Arabia, increased military action as well as overt cooperation with America may ultimately backfire. They also claim that though Saudi forces are better funded and have been receiving foreign training since the early 1970s, the country’s ability to dispel the militants stemmed from launching a variety of initiatives, something that Yemen has failed to do. “The whole point is they’ve (Saudi Arabia) done many things and [it's] precisely the diversity that partly explains the success. They’ve not relied exclusively on force,” the Christian Science Monitor quoted Thomas Hegghammer, research fellow at the Norwegian Defense Research Establishment (FFI) in Oslo, as saying..” [Complete Report]
Saudi Carrier Announces Launch of India Operations [May 1]
“Saudi Arabian airline ‘Nasair’ will expand its operations in India from June this year, by launching its flights in cities like New Delhi, Kochi, and Kozhikode. The budget carrier begun its operations in India with four flights a week on Mumbai-Riyadh route from April. Nasair, which is also the first carrier to offer direct flights to Riyadh and Jeddah, is also offering connect flights services to Jeddah and other destinations domestically and internationally. The announcement was made at an event in Mumbai, a company statement here said. The airline will commence three flights a week on Kochi?Riyadh route from June 1, 2010, four flights a week between Kozhikode Riyadh starting July 1, 2010 and three flights a week on New Delhi?Riyadh route from August 1, 2010..” [Complete Report]
Saudi Arabia – Bedouin Tents, Date Trees at Shanghai Expo [May 1]
“The national pavilion has a “moon boat” shape and is surrounded by deserts and seas. Along with the 150 date palms that are planted in the pavilion, its main attraction is a huge Imax screen. The 1,600-sq-m screen is larger than any other cinema screen on earth. Short films will be presented on the screen. The tent city of Mina at the Urban Best Practices Area is a testament to one of the world’s most innovative and life-improving urban development experiments in the history of World Expos. Mina, a city located on the pilgrimage route from Makkah to nearby Mount Arafat, is known for its sophisticated urban planning, facilities and world-class infrastructure. It is one of 55 city projects that have been selected from 226 nominations from around the world for exhibition on the 15-hectare zone, where, for the first time in the event’s history, cities are invited to show off cutting-edge architecture and design concepts..” [Complete Report]
Haia Imposes Ban on Women Jogging in Asir Town [May 1]
“The Commission for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (Haia) has banned women from jogging and other physical exercise in certain areas of an Asir town, Al-Watan reported on Friday. The Haia’s branch in Al-Mujaradah attempted to justify its decision by claiming it was doing the women a favor. ‘The Haia did not exactly ban women from physical exercise, it only intervened to guarantee their safety from criminals who frequently harass them as they walk in lonely places,’ said Haia spokesman for Asir province Bandar Al-Mufreh.. ..This was disputed by fitness enthusiast R.S Al-Shahri, who claimed that the street was safe and well-lit, while almost 30 women would walk there between sunset and Isha prayers. ‘But the Haia members banned us from walking on the street when there was nothing to fear,’ she said..” [Complete Report]
