SUSRIS Daily News – Excerpts from International Media Reports
[Links to full articles were active on the date posted here]
Saudi Minister Calls For More Jobs For Citizens [Aug 31]
“Saudi Arabia’s interior minister on Monday called on government ministries and private firms in the region to create more jobs for citizens. “It’s impossible, whether in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia or the rest of the world, for the government to employ all young people, but jobs in governmental or private sectors should be occupied by citizens,” Prince Nayef Bin Abdul Aziz, Saudi Interior Minister, said after meeting regional governors. “Governmental agencies should coordinate to find jobs for these graduates. The private sector too must employ young people and this is what I have discussed with a number of officials from the chamber of commerce,”.. .. Despite its vast oil resources, Saudi Arabia struggles to create employment opportunities for its nationals, due to an outdated education system that focuses more on religion than on skills required to change its oil-based economy..” [Complete Report]
Prince Salman Leaves US After Treatment [Aug 31]
“Riyadh Gov. Prince Salman left the United States Monday morning after undergoing successful spinal surgery at a US hospital on Aug. 16, an official statement said. “On the recommendation of the medical team treating him, Prince Salman will rest for a few days outside the Kingdom for recuperation,” said the statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency.. .. Salman became the governor of Riyadh in 1962. During the past five decades, he has supervised and encouraged the expansive growth of the city from a middle-sized town into a major urban metropolis..” [Complete Report]
After Panda, it’s Marhaba: Second Superstore Employs Women Cashiers [Aug 31]
“Marhaba superstores has started employing women cashiers, according to one of its new recruits. The move follows a similar initiative from competitor Panda that has caused much controversy.. .. Saudi columnist Mohammad Al-Saaid said that despite the opposition against the employment of Saudi women cashiers, the project would go ahead because society has changed compared to 10 years ago and is now overall in favor of such a move. He disagreed that the decision to employ women was simply a marketing ploy by Panda. “Panda only took the initiative, and if any other supermarket takes the same step, that will also be more than welcome.” When asked about the campaign launched to boycott the supermarket, Al-Saaid said: “People who are against it are now at a dead end because they don’t offer an alternative.” He also explained that the market make its own rules..” [Complete Report]
Arab-European Young Leaders Forum in Vienna in November [Aug 31]
“Vienna will host the first Arab-European Young Leaders Forum in November this year, said Dr. Johannes Wimmer, Ambassador of Austria.. .. Dr. Wimmer said King Abdullah honored Austria by deciding to choose Vienna as future headquarters for the Center for Inter-Religious Dialogue. The First Conference on Interfaith Dialogue was in Madrid in 2008, he said. “Austria warmly welcomed King Abdullah’s Initiative for interfaith dialogue made in 2008. We will continue to facilitate and support efforts made in this direction,” the envoy said. He said invitations have been extended to a number of Arab countries including Saudi Arabia to attend the forthcoming First Arab-European Youth Leaders Forum..” [Complete Report]
Saudi Arabia to Raise Wages For Most Military [Aug 31]
“Saudi Arabia will raise wages for most of its army staff, a move that follows a surge in inflation and the kingdom’s first military engagement in almost 20 years against rebels in Yemen. At about $41 billion, military expenditure accounted for some 33 percent of the budget of the world’s top oil exporter last year, according to the finance ministry’s website. A weekly cabinet meeting chaired by King Abdullah approved late on Monday a proposal to raise wages for all soldiers as well as senior officers such as generals and lieutenants.. .. The wage increase would be the second for the army since 2008 when Saudi Arabia offered state employees a 15 percent wage hike spread out over a three-year period..” [Complete Report]
Saudi-UK Partners to Visit Mindanao on Business [Aug 31]
“A Saudi Arabia-United Kingdom business partnership will visit the Philippines next October in search of opportunities in agriculture and trade in Mindanao. Philippine Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Antonio Villamor said the delegation will explore with the Trade and Agriculture departments the prospects of food production in southern Philippines. “The [Philippine] government will be providing them the needed land.. .. “The Saudi and UK-based partners are aware of the ongoing negotiations between the Saudi government and the Philippines for food production on Mindanao island, where hundreds of thousands of hectares will be utilized for food sufficiency in the Kingdom,” Villamor added..” [Complete Report]
Saudi Arabia Decision Angers Tourism Sector [Aug 31]
“Saudi Arabia has stopped granting of visas to those who wish to visit the kingdom only for tourism, Gulf News learnt on Monday. The kingdom, to which people mainly come for Haj, Umrah or to visit Prophet Mohammad’s (PBUH) mosque in Madinah, issued 6,000 tourist visas in 2008, which rose to 20,000 in 2009. The Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) declined to comment on the decision but chairman of the consultative committee for organisers of tourist trips Prince Abdullah Bin Saud said this issue would be discussed with the president of the SCTA after Eid to find solutions to the hurdles impeding investment in the field of tourism. He said the people working in the tourism sector had been angered by the SCTA’s decision to stop issuing tourist visas. “This decision will not help develop domestic tourism,”..” [Complete Report]
Asharq Al-Awsat Talks to Saudi Minister of Islamic Affairs Sheikh Saleh Al al-Sheikh [Aug 31]
“Saudi Minister of Islamic Affairs Sheikh Saleh Bin Abdulaziz Al al-Sheikh believes that the royal decree by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz calling for the unification of fatwas and restricting their issuance to the Senior Ulema Council will achieve very positive aims that will transform the fatwa from having domestic status to an international one.. .. The King’s efforts also act in the interest of the international character of Islam, and help in defending Islam against suspicion and introducing it in a civilizational way..” [Complete Report]
