SUSRIS Daily News – Excerpts from International Media Reports
[Links to full articles were active on the date posted here]
Saudi Arabia in Need of Positive Spin [May 25]
“Saudis must work harder to improve their image to the rest of the world, according to former Saudi intelligence chief and Saudi ambassador to the US, Prince Turki Al Faisal Bin Abdul Aziz said. Speaking at a lecture entitled “Moderateness” at King Abdul Aziz University in Jeddah on Sunday night, Prince Turki described Saudi Arabia’s negative reputation as “eternal and deep-rooted”, recognising that it is very difficult to change. ‘All of us are responsible for spreading our culture and moderateness in the world. This should not be limited to government bodies,’ he said. Saudi mass media has only been partially successful in polishing Saudi Arabia’s image, he explained..” [Complete Report]
Cabinet OK’s 12,600 New Administrative Positions in Girls’ Schools [May 25]
“The Cabinet approved on Monday the creation of 12,600 new school administrative positions at the Ministry of Education’s Girls’ Education Department. The new fourth-rank education posts are designed to address the situation of graduates from women teacher institutes who have remained unemployed for over 15 years since becoming qualified. The posts are to be approved by the Ministry of Finance over three years beginning in the fiscal year of 1432 (2011), with the ministry to approve 4,200 positions per year. The Cabinet said that priority in appointments would be given based on grade and date of graduation, and appointments will take into account place of residence and the needs of schools in each city or region..” [Complete Report]
Canada to Give 5-Year Multiple-Entry Visas to Saudis [May 25]
“The Canadian government has decided to give five-year multiple-entry visas to Saudis intending to visit the country, an official statement said. Canadian Ambassador David Chatterson said the decision covered those Saudis who visit the country for study and business. However, he pointed out that the visa period would not exceed 18 months. He said there are 8,200 Saudi students in Canada and expected 2,000 more students to join Canadian universities and colleges this year. Saudi Arabia is the second largest trading partner of Canada in the Middle East. Chatterson hoped that the new visa rules would strengthen Saudi-Canadian relations..” [Complete Report]
Emory U Forms Partnership With Saudi Arabia [May 25]
“Emory University’s public health school is forming a partnership with Saudi Arabia’s health ministry. The move will provide opportunities for Emory students and students studying public health in Saudi Arabia to travel overseas. It also will allow scientists in both the U.S. and Saudi Arabia to do public health research together. And it provides slots for students from Saudi Arabia to study public health at Emory through scholarships from the Mideast country. The first class of students will start at Emory next year. The private university is set to sign the partnership with officials from Saudi Arabia Tuesday in Atlanta..” [Complete Report]
Saudi’s Arriyadh Eyes New $3.5 Bln City Project [May 25]
“Saudi Arabia’s Arriyadh Development Company expects to receive government approval for a project worth more than 13 billion riyals ($3.47 billion) in the country’s capital Riyadh, its chief executive said on Tuesday. The project, part of the redevelopment plan for downtown Riyadh, will be funded largely by the government and members of a consortium, Khalid al-Dughaither told reporters on the sidelines of a MEED conference. The project, called Duhairah District, will be constructed in nine stages over 15 years, and includes residential, retail and tourism components, he said. The eight-partner consortium will include Saudi Arabia’s Dar al-Arkan 4300.SE, Saudi Real Estate Co 4020.SE and Lebanon’s Solidere (SOLA.BY), he said..” [Complete Report]
Saudi Shares Slide Most in 18-Months on Oil, Europe Debt Crisis [May 25]
“Saudi shares lost the most in 18 months, leading a drop in the oil-rich Gulf, as crude and global stock markets slumped on concern Europe’s debt crisis will spread and as tensions grew in the Korean peninsula. Saudi Basic Industries Corp., the world’s largest petrochemical maker known as Sabic, sank 10 percent, the most since October 2008. National Industrialization Co. slid to the lowest in seven months. The Tadawul All Share Index plunged 6.8 percent, the biggest drop since November 2008, to 5,760.33. The region’s Bloomberg GCC 200 Index fell 5.5 percent. Dubai’s index lost 4.6 percent as the International Monetary Fund said the emirate’s economy will contract this year. ‘Investors are reacting to the drop in oil prices, coupled with the global slump and the European crisis,’..” [Complete Report]
Saudi Mission Plans to Provide $100 Million For IDPs [May 25]
“As the humanitarian community is struggling to narrow the funding gap of the Pakistan Humanitarian Response Plan (PHRP) for assisting the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), a Saudi mission has arrived to finalise proposals for injecting a $100 million support pledged earlier this year. ‘The experts are here for a week to finalise the projects for which the grant will be disbursed,’ said Manuel Bessler, head of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Pakistan. Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) will examine various proposals made by UN agencies for the allocation of $100 million. Once the funds are committed, it will become the largest contribution for PHRP, which currently has only 28 percent funds against the $537 million requested in the plan. The funds appeal for PHRP would then be brought up to almost 50 percent..” [Complete Report]
