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]

SUSRIS Daily News – Excerpts from International Media Reports
[Links to full articles were active on the date posted here]

Unprecedented Response to Chicago Forum [Apr 30]
“Business leaders and government officials have described the ongoing Saudi-American Business Opportunity Forum as an “unprecedented” success. Nearly 1,100 people are believed to have attended the event in Chicago. The forum has attracted many of each country’s highly influential policymakers and businessmen, who have the means to transform the enormous hopes and intentions that have come out of the conference. ‘My impression is that this event has been very successful. We have been welcomed with great friendliness from all of the business delegations,’ said chairman of the Al-Jeraisy Group Abdul Rahman Al-Jeraisy. ‘We want to collaborate with the United States as true partners. The Saudi Arabian economy is booming. We need what the United States has to offer — products, technology, and so forth — and we can promise that our economic vitality isn’t a temporary condition. The opportunities will be long-term.’..”  [Complete Report]

Saudi Arabia to Cut Heavy Crude Price as Fuel Oil Profit Falls [Apr 30]
“Saudi Arabian Oil Co., the world’s biggest crude exporter, may lower the official selling price of its June-loading Arab Heavy grade as processing profits for refiners producing fuel oil have declined. Arab Heavy, the densest grade, may be cut by 20 cents a barrel from the May price, according to the median estimate of a survey of nine refiners from South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, India, Singapore and China. The company, known as Saudi Aramco, is expected to issue prices next week. Arab Light, Aramco’s largest export type, may increase by 10 cents a barrel, the survey found. Refiners are facing an oversupply of fuel oil in Asia after 4 million metric tons of imports from Europe swamped the region in April. Another 3 million tons are expected in May. Refiners with a limited ability to upgrade the product into higher-value fuels may suffer losses buying heavier crudes..”  [Complete Report]

MOCI to Launch $16bn Industrial Strategy [Apr 30]
“Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Commerce & Industry (MOCI) and the General Electric Company (GE), on Wednesday announced a strategic partnership aimed at building a sustainable economy through a focus on industrialization, research and education, and creating new jobs for Saudi nationals. This partnership marks GE’s ‘company to country’ approach in Saudi Arabia to become a trusted partner in the Kingdom’s developmental goals. Further strengthening its 70-year relationship with the Kingdom, GE signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the MOCI at the Saudi-American Business Opportunity Forum, held in Chicago to highlight the economic collaboration between Saudi Arabia and the United States.. ..The MOCI is responsible for driving economic diversification through industrialization, and will launch the $16 billion national industrial strategy in May 2010 to strengthen the Kingdom’s manufacturing sector and double the industrial output of the GDP..”  [Complete Report]

Haia’s Makkah Chief Denies Arrest Rumors [Apr 30]
” The Makkah head of the Commission for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (Haia) has denied online reports that he was arrested after an angry mob assembled in front of his house and quarreled with him on Friday. ‘I am currently outside of the Kingdom and learned about the attack on my house and a subsequent arrest in Al-Awali district in Makkah. But I don’t have more details about the incident,’ Ahmad Al-Qasim Al-Ghamdi told Arab News via telephone on Thursday. According to the reports, a group of youths gathered in front of Al-Ghamdi’s house in protest of his recent views on gender mixing and prayers. Al-Ghamdi said he would answer Arab News’ questions on other reports that the Haia had fired him when he returned to Kingdom today (Friday). He also said a statement had been released by the commission on the matter. He did add that the Haia director-general had called him and told him to remain at his post. He said he was waiting for written confirmation of the conversation..”  [Complete Report]

Jordanian Conjoined Twins Successfully Separated [Apr 30]
“A team of Saudi doctors led by Health Minister Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeah Thursday successfully separated two baby boys from Jordan conjoined at the stomach in a seven-hour operation. King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, congratulated the multi-disciplinary medical team on the successful separation of the twins. Ten-week-old Amjed and Mohammed Taim, born sharing a liver and other tissues, were separated in an operation at King Abdulaziz Medical Center in Riyadh that was televised live back to Jordan. ‘Five, four, three, two, one,’ Dr Rabeah counted down after using a laser knife to divide the boy’s liver and then finally separate the remaining tissue between them. ‘The operation is complete, both twins are now in separate beds, both are stable,’ he announced..”  [Complete Report]

Singapore and Saudi Arabia to Sign Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement [Apr 30]
“Singapore and Saudi Arabia will sign the Agreement for the Avoidance of Double Taxation, during the visit of Singapore Foreign Affairs Minister George Yeo to the Kingdom. A statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs says this will enhance bilateral trade links between the two countries. Minister George Yeo will visit Saudi Arabia from tomorrow till the 5th of this month. He will call on the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and Commander of the Saudi Arabian National Guard, King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud. He will also call on the Crown Prince and Minister of Defence and Aviation, and Inspector-General, Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud and several other Ministers..” [Complete Report]

SUSRIS Daily News – Excerpts from International Media Reports
[Links to full articles were active on the date posted here]

US-Saudi Business Forum Gets Under Way in Chicago  [Apr 29]
“On the banks of the sparkling green Chicago River, overlooking the vast expanse of Lake Michigan, the Sheraton Towers Hotel, venue of the first Saudi-American Business Opportunity Forum, was literally bursting at the seams and the action was as much in the corridors and lobbies as in the meeting halls.. ..When asked about his initial reaction to the event, Omar A. Bahalwa of the Committee for International Trade said, ‘Marvelous! This event is unique. The number of registrants means that this is the largest-ever forum in the history of our two countries. And for the first time, we’re targeting small- and medium-sized entrepreneurs. When someone said large crowds and a jam-packed schedule were ‘bad news,’ David Chaudron, representing Organized Change, laughed and added, ‘It’s absolutely wonderful that the bad news is the good news!”..”  [Complete Report]

Saudi Arabia Eager To Diversify Economy, Saudi Minister Says [Apr 29]
“Saudi Arabia is no longer content to be ‘the gas station to the world,’ and is determined to diversify its oil-rich economy by investing in manufacturing and technology businesses, the Saudi minister of commerce and industry said Wednesday.  Abdulla Alireza said the country is committed to using its wealth gained from the world’s largest proven oil reserves to develop a robust private business sector. Alireza said the country’s leadership is particularly interested in expanding oil-related industries, such as chemical production, and other types of high-value manufacturing. He added that the Saudis have overhauled their financial system, improved corporate governance laws and eliminated legal barriers to attract more foreign investment and trade with other countries.. ..’Sustainable economic growth and real diversification is the goal of Saudi Arabia.’..”  [Complete Report]

US Panel Names 13 Countries as Religious Violators [Apr 29]
“Saudi Arabia and China are among 13 countries a U.S. government panel named on Thursday as serious violators of religious freedom.  The panel’s report also criticized the current and former administrations in Washington for doing far too little to make basic religious rights universal.  That is the goal of the congressional act that founded the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom in 1998. The commission investigates conditions in what it calls ‘hot spots,’ where religious freedom is endangered. Its job is to recommend U.S. government policies to improve conditions.. ..Thursday’s report described violations of religious freedom in Saudi Arabia as ‘systematic, egregious and ongoing’ despite limited reforms implemented by King Abdullah..”  [Complete Report]

Saudi Property Growth to Be Slow, Credit Suisse Says  [Apr 29]
” Saudi Arabia’s real estate market will probably grow more slowly than expected because of high prices and a lack of mortgage lending, Credit Suisse Group AG said.  ‘A strong shift to home ownership will likely not be in effect in the short and medium term,’ Dubai-based analyst Ahmed Badr said in a report today. Housing supply needs to double, and that will be difficult to achieve because a shortage of off-plan sales means developers have to finance projects in full before offering units, he said.  Demand for housing in Saudi Arabia, which has the largest population among the six Gulf countries, will reach about 2 million units by 2014, Badr wrote. About 57 percent of the country’s population is under the age of 20 and demand will mainly come from low and middle income buyers.. ..’Although we think that the new mortgage law will address this problem in theory, we are concerned about the ability of banks to implement these foreclosure rules in practice in the short-term,’ Badr wrote. It will take ‘considerable time’ before the new law has a significant effect on affordability..”  [Complete Report]

Saudi Authorities Take War on Drugs Across the Border  [Apr 29]
“Saudi authorities only are able to intercept 60 per cent of drugs smuggled into the country. The remaining 40 per cent finds its way across the borders, a security official revealed on Thursday. Brigadier Abdullah Al Jameel, the Director of Drugs Control in the Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia, speaking at a symposium, said the Kingdom was working with relevant authorities in the countries of origin to fight drug smuggling from the source. The symposium was attend by officials from neighboring Gulf states as well as the US, UK, UN and Iran.. ..Most drugs that come into the Kingdom are smuggled from its southern mountainous border with Yemen and its northern desert borders with Jordan and Egypt..” [Complete Report]

Ma’aden Launches US$7.5bn Financing  [Apr 29]
“Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma’aden) has launched its US$7.5bn aluminum smelter project financing to banks. The deal is part of a general uptick in project funding activity in the kingdom from a low point last year when just US$1.9bn of new commercial project funding was raised in the kingdom according to Thomson Reuters data. This year at least US$20bn will be financed.  Ma’aden and its joint venture partner Alcoa (AA.N) are splitting the Raz Al-Zour plant financing into two between the smelter which will total US$5bn and the rolling mill, which will total US$2.5bn..”  [Complete Report]

Citigroup’s Return to Saudi Arabia May Need More Than Alwaleed  [Apr 29]
“Citigroup Inc. is aiming to open for business in Saudi Arabia six years after selling its stake in a bank there. Returning might not be as easy as departing.  Since leaving the country in 2004, the company has said it would like to regain a foothold. Saudi officials, though, are protecting banks from new competition, according to Jean- Francois Seznec, visiting associate professor at Georgetown University’s Center for Contemporary Arab Studies.  ‘They’re not as in love with U.S. banks as they used to be,’ Seznec said by telephone from Riyadh, the Saudi capital. ‘The competitive environment is really key to this. Citibank was very successful here in the past.’.. ..The U.S. company, in which filings show Alwaleed held 218 million shares as of November 2008, first started a business in Saudi Arabia in 1955..”  [Complete Report]

Capt. Grant, Pilot for King Abdulaziz, Passes Away at 102 [Apr 29]
“Captain Joseph Wade Grant, the American who served as pilot for King Abdulaziz Al Saud and the Royal Family in the mid-40s, has passed away. He was 102 years old.  He died Tuesday night (April 27, 2010) at his home in the United States, friends of the veteran pilot said in an e-mail to Arab News. No other details were immediately available.. ..In the spring of 1945, he was assigned to deliver a Douglas DC-3 airplane, a gift from President Franklin Delano Roosevelt to King Abdulaziz. Offered to stay in the Kingdom and be a pilot for the Royal Family, he agreed and stayed for two years. He would later help found Saudi Arabian Airlines.  Grant considered his stay in Saudi Arabia as a momentous time of his long life.  ‘My time in Saudi Arabia was the greatest gift I could have ever been given.  At the time, I didn’t realize what an opportunity it was — I thought I was just doing my job,’ he was quoted saying in an interview last year.  Just last week, he said, ‘One of the great men of the last century was King Abdulaziz. When you were with him, you knew that you were with a man of vision and power – what a man.’..”  [Complete Report]

SUSRIS Daily News – Excerpts from International Media Reports
[Links to full articles were active on the date posted here]

Saudi Doubling Efforts to Heal Arab Rifts  [Apr 28]
“Riyadh is doubling its efforts to heal rifts between Arab states, a senior Saudi source has told Gulf News. Indicative to this, the source pointed to the recent visit of Prince Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, the King’s advisor to Damascus.  Preferring anonymity, the source said the Saudi envoy discussed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with Syrian President Bashar Al Assad. Saudi King Abdullah had reconciliation meetings with Syrians, Egyptians and Qataris on the sidelines of the Arab Economic Summit in Kuwait in January 2009. Saudi political analyst Fawaz Al Otaibi says the latest diplomatic efforts are very promising and that Saudi has a vital interest to achieve reconciliation between Syria and Egypt, as it will have a positive affect on reconciliation efforts between Hamas and Fatah..”  [Complete Report]

Saudi Rights Group Chief Calls for Change in Sponsorship System  [Apr 28]
“Dr Mufleh Rubai’aan Al Qah’tani, head of the National Society for Human Rights (NSRH), has called for the replacement of the sponsorship system in Saudi Arabia, which ‘has several shortcomings’. He, however, failed to elaborate.  Dr Al Qah’tani said that any new system should promote a healthy relationship between employers and employees, adding that due to the present sponsorship system, skilled workers were reluctant to come to the kingdom.  ‘These negatives aspects have tarnished the country’s image to a large extent, especially with regard to status of employees, according to reports of the International Labor Organisation,’.. ..Responding to the perception of many Saudis that the NSRH had adopted strange Western concepts in Saudi Arabia, Dr Al Qah’tani said that the concepts of human rights exist in the Quran and Sunnah, and that 90 per cent of the foreign culture on human rights was identical to the concepts of Islamic sharia..”  [Complete Report]

SR1 Trillion Investment Offer Presented to US  [Apr 28]
“The Saudi-American Business Opportunity Forum opens Wednesday in Chicago with the Kingdom’s representatives presenting a diverse selection of investment opportunities worth approximately SR1 trillion.  Minister of Finance Ibrahim Al-Assaf and Ali Al-Naimi, the Minister of Oil and Mineral Resources, will be in attendance at the two-day event, organized by the Saudi chambers of commerce and the Saudi-American Business Council, along with a number of other notable figures from the US and the Kingdom’s business communities.  The forum, which will see the signing of five main agreements in addition to sub-agreements, will focus on small to intermediate-scale sectors, technology transfer, and the exchange of job opportunities.. ..Trade exchange between Saudi Arabia and the US stood at SR193.3 billion in 2008, and direct US exports to the Kingdom are projected to rise to SR63 billion in 2010..”  [Complete Report]

Kingdom’s Embassy in Sana’a Steps Up Security  [Apr 28]
“The Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Yemen has said that security has been stepped up following Monday’s failed suicide attack on the British ambassador Timothy Torlot in the capital Sana’a.  Speaking to Okaz by telephone Tuesday, Ali Al-Hamdan, the Saudi ambassador, said that Yemeni authorities had put in place strict security measures for the Saudi mission, while staff have been asked to be cautious and restrict their movements.. ..analysts described the attack as possibly signaling a return by Al-Qaeda to the targeting of western diplomats in Yemen. They said they expected the terrorist organization to announce its responsibility for the attack within the next few days..”  [Complete Report]

Saudi Arabia Leaves May LPG Prices Unchanged to Spur Demand  [Apr 28]
“Saudi Arabian Oil Co., the largest supplier of liquefied petroleum gas to Asia, left prices for cargoes loading in May unchanged to spur demand.  Saudi Aramco, as the state-owned company is known, kept its price for propane supplies at $725 a metric ton, said an official who asked not to be identified, citing company policy. The Dhahran-based producer left butane levels unchanged for a second month, at $715 a ton.  Saudi Aramco, the world’s largest crude oil exporter, sells LPG under one-year term contracts and in cargoes for immediate delivery. Supplies are sold free-on-board, requiring buyers to pay for the cost of shipping..” [Complete Report]

Citigroup Applying to Open Office in Kingdom  [Apr 28]
“Citigroup Inc., the New York-based bank that sold its 20 percent stake in a Saudi Arabian lender six years ago, is applying to open an office in the Kingdom, shareholder Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal said.  Saudi Arabia welcomes the presence of a Citibank office here, Alwaleed, who owned 218 million shares in the bank as of November 2008, said on Tuesday in an interview with Bloomberg Television.  The bank sold its 20 percent stake in the Saudi American Bank, now known as Samba Financial Group, to the state Public Investment Fund for $760 million in 2004, ending a business that started in 1955.  A 2003 capital market law opened the door for foreign banks to apply for licenses..”  [Complete Report]

SUSRIS Daily News – Excerpts from International Media Reports
[Links to full articles were active on the date posted here]

Saudis Voice Fears Over Exporting Oil  [Apr 27]
“Saudi Arabia’s surging energy demand may significantly reduce its ability to export oil to the rest of the world in the next two decades, the head of the country’s national oil company has warned.  Khalid al-Falih, chief executive officer of Saudi Aramco, said domestic energy demand was expected to increase nearly 250 per cent, from about 3.4m barrels a day of oil equivalent last year to about 8.3m b/d by 2028.  If Saudi Arabia did not improve its energy efficiency, availability of oil for export could fall by as much as 3m b/d by that year.. ..It was thought to be the first time a Saudi oil official had addressed concerns about the impact of domestic demand on exports.  Analysts welcomed the announcement, saying the world’s largest oil producer and exporter needed to tackle the issue now.  Saudi Arabia produces about 8.5m b/d and raised its production capacity to 12.5m b/d last year, reaffirming its role as the world’s key swing producer.  But rapidly rising domestic energy demand and natural gas shortages have meant the kingdom has had to burn increasing amounts of crude as it seeks to diversify its economy..” [Complete Report]

Saudi Extends Bidding Period for Mecca-Medina Rail Project  [Apr 27]
” The Saudi Railway Organization extended the bidding period for the second phase of a $7 billion rail line linking Jeddah’s international airport with Mecca and Medina, Islam’s two holiest cities.  The extension to July, which was requested by bidders, won’t affect completion of the project by the end of 2012, according to a statement posted yesterday on the organization’s Web site.  Saudi Binladin Group, Siemens AG, Deutsche Bahn AG, Alstom SA and China South Locomotive & Rolling Stock Corp. are among bidders for the contract to supply trains and electrical systems for the 450-kilometer (280-mile) line.  This is the second time the railway organization has extended the deadline, having already moved it forward from February to the end of April.  On Feb. 1, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund said it will provide interest-free loans to speed up the work..”  [Complete Report]

Saudi Religious Cop ‘To Keep Job’  [Apr 27]
“A senior member of Saudi Arabia’s Islamic religious police who caused outrage by backing gender mixing and prayers outside the mosque appeared to still have his job yesterday, a day after the organisation announced he had been removed.  A spokesman for the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice told Al Hayat newspaper that there were errors in the announcement on Sunday naming a replacement for Sheikh Ahmed al-Ghamdi, the general manager of the religious police’s Makkah branch,  and three other regional general managers. The announcement was signed by the organisation’s president, Sheikh Abdulaziz al-Humain.. ..The confusion came after the commission, known as the muttawa or religious police, posted a statement prominently on its website announcing replacements for Ghamdi and three others.  Hours later the announcement was removed, and the official state news agency, which had also published the statement, declared it ‘cancelled’..”  [Complete Report]

Benin Offers Agricultural Investment to Saudi Arabia  [Apr 27]
“Benin, one of Africa’s most stable democracies, is offering agricultural investment to Saudi Arabia, particularly in the areas of rice, cotton, vegetable oil, and nuts production, a trade delegation from that country who met with Saudi businessmen at the Asharqia Chamber of Commerce and Industry said here Monday.  ‘Our country has rich agricultural resources, which could provide steady food security to Saudi Arabia,’.. .. Robert said the mission is visiting the Kingdom to offer other investment prospects in Benin, in addition to agriculture, such as in the construction, transport, and telecommunication sectors and seaport operation.  ‘We want to expand our economic ties with Kingdom, and the eight years that diplomatic ties have been ongoing between our two countries have been very significant and fruitful,’ said Daouda Wabi, the ambassador Benin to Saudi Arabia.  According to the Wabi, there is no significant investments yet of Saudi Arabia in Benin..”  [Complete Report]

4 Million Jobs Needed to Meet Population Growth  [Apr 27]
“A forum on the role of human resources in technology transfers, held Sunday at the Asharqia Chambers of Commerce and Industry in Eastern Province, revealed that the rapid growth of the Kingdom’s population will require more jobs to serve the needs of the increasing number of citizens and the expatriate communities.  Ali Al-Ghufais, Governor of the Technical and Vocation Training Corporation (TVTC), addressing the forum, said population growth is exerting tremendous pressure on the need to get people more employed. “By the year 2020, we need to provide four million more jobs,” he said.  The Ministry of Planning statistics show that by the year 2020, the population of Saudi Arabia will reach 33.5 million, made up of 29.7 million Saudis and 3.8 million expatriates..” [Complete Report]

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]

SUSRIS Daily News – Excerpts from International Media Reports
[Links to full articles were active on the date posted here]

Over 450 Firms Taking Part in GITEX KSA 2010  [Apr 25]
“Eng. Mohammed Jameel Bin Ahmad Mulla, Minister of Communications and Information Technology, will inaugurate Sunday GITEX KSA 2010, a premier business-to-business networking event and a leading consumer ICT exhibition at Riyadh International Exhibition Center.  Over 450 leading companies from over 17 countries are participating in GITEX KSA 2010, which runs concurrently with Saudi Communications 2010.   GITEX KSA 2010 will introduce a wide array of new technology innovations, including rapid deployment units, alternate wind and solar energy solution for powering sites, fibre optic turnkey services, GIS, signalling and telecommunications solutions, BTS monitoring devices, interactive technology services, and theater rigging systems. Saudi Arabia is projected to increase IT spending to the tune of around SR18.1 billion by 2013..”  [Complete Report]

AIA Names Saudi’s KAUST In 2010 Top Green Projects  [Apr 25]
“The American Institute of Architecture recently hailed The King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) as one of its top ten most environmentally responsible building designs.   This follows other ‘green’ developments in Saudi Arabia, including the largest environmental tourism park, and a solar-powered desalination plant.  KAUST has bagged a few firsts:  it is the country’s first co-ed university as well as its first LEED certified building, and at 6.5 million sq feet, with 26 buildings built on 9,000 acres of land near Jeddah, on the Red Sea, it is also the largest Platinum certified building in the world.  It achieved this rating by meeting some of the most stringent USGBC’s LEED rating requirements.  Under transportation:  100 shared electric cars along with recharging stations, segway and bike shares, and 3 shuttle bus lines on campus.  Under renewable energy:  2 solar towers, along with solar thermal and photovoltaic panels, amounting to a total production of 4MW renewable energy..”  [Complete Report]

NRC Calls For Fining Lankan Recruitment Agencies  [Apr 25]
“The National Recruitment Committee (NRC) has urged the Saudi Embassy in Colombo to make recruitment agencies in Sri Lanka abide by the conditions set forth in the unified contract, especially the deadline set for the completion of recruitment procedures of housemaids.  The committee allegedly said the embassy ignores most of complaints made by private recruitment offices in the Kingdom about the malpractices of recruitment offices in Colombo.  NRC member Hussein Al-Mettari urged the embassy to levy a fine on erring Sri Lankan recruitment agencies as stipulated in the unified contract, which says that a penalty of SR30 a day can be imposed on either party held responsible for a delay.  He said the continual delays and trading in visas have forced local recruitment offices in the Kingdom to stop recruiting maids from Sri Lanka, especially as recruitment fees of housemaids have reached SR9,500 at a time when salaries for housemaids are fixed at SR650..”  [Complete Report]

Saudi Arabia’s Healthcare Market Offers Potential for Singapore Firms  [Apr 25]
“Singapore’s healthcare companies can contribute to Saudi Arabia’s healthcare sector development.  The latest to join this effort is Singapore company Mach 7 Technologies, which signed a joint venture agreement with Saudi solutions provider Medisys.  IE Singapore said the Kingdom’s healthcare market has recorded steady growth over the past eight years. And the government, which funds most of the healthcare capital and operating expenditures, has budgeted an additional 51 per cent for healthcare and social services in 2010 – amounting to US$16.3 billion.  So the growing demand for healthcare there presents opportunities for Singapore companies to seek partnership with Saudi counterparts..”  [Complete Report]

TVTC Plans to Create Four Million Jobs  [Apr 25]
“The General Organization for Technical and Vocational Training plans to prepare four million job opportunities in the technical and vocational fields for young Saudis over the next decade, according to TVTCTVTC  General Organization for Technical Education and Vocational Training at present owns more than 200 training institutes all over the Kingdom in addition to 300 projects and training programs which will be fundamental in the plan,” he said.  Al-Ghifais said less than 20 percent of the Saudi population has been educated beyond high school but that most of the employees in the sectors that could offer jobs for the lesser educated, such as factories, are foreign. “About 84 percent of the manpower in industrial factories are non-Saudis and 90 percent of them were not skilled labor when they came to our country. They obtained their skills through training here,” he said.  The governor said that to achieve TVTCTVTC’s strategic objectives his organization should study job development strategies from different countries, such as Germany, Canada, Britain, Ireland and Korea.  Meanwhile, human resources expert Abdullah Al-Sharif said the organization’s plan is aimed at reducing the recruitment of unqualified foreign manpower..”  [Complete Report]

SUSRIS Daily News – Excerpts from International Media Reports
[Links to full articles were active on the date posted here]

Al-Asheikh Tells Haia Official to Stay Out of Shariah Issues  [Apr 24]
“Saudi Arabia’s grand mufti has reportedly told the chairman of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (Haia) in Makkah to stay out of Shariah matters that are not of his concern.  Al-Madinah newspaper reported on Friday that Sheikh Abdul Aziz ibn Abdullah Al-Asheikh was not happy that Sheikh Ahmad Qasim Al-Ghamdi had sent him his research on the controversial and hotly debated issue of gender mixing in the Kingdom and refused to read it.  The grand mufti asked Al-Ghamdi to fear God and not to make statements about issues that are not of his concern, the newspaper reported.  Al-Ghamdi told Al-Madinah that he had sent his research to the grand mufti to read and talked to him over telephone.. ..Al-Ghamdi denied reports that he had been fired because of his opinions regarding congregational prayer and gender mixing.  He also refuted claims that there were divisions within the commission because of his views, adding that his opinions did not mean he disrespected existing regulations.  Meanwhile, Al-Madinah newspaper reported that a specialized Shariah committee would consider Al-Ghamdi’s research on gender mixing..”  [Complete Report]

Abbas Asks Obama to “Impose” Mideast Peace Solution  [Apr 24]
“‘Mr. President (Barack Obama) and members of the American administration, since you believe in this (an independent Palestinian state), it is your duty to take steps toward a solution and to impose this solution,’ Abbas said in a speech.   Abbas made the remarks to members of his Fatah party in the West Bank city of Ramallah a day after talks there with Obama’s Middle East envoy. George Mitchell is in the region to try to revive peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.  ‘We’ve asked them (the Obama administration) more than once: ‘Impose a solution’,’ Abbas said.. ..Abbas’s appeal to Obama came amid widespread media reports that the U.S. president was considering floating a proposal that would set the contours of a final peace deal.  Any such move would likely be opposed by Israel, which says only negotiations can secure a final settlement to the conflict..”  [Complete Report]

Saudi Arabia Awards Contracts Worth $5.6bn in Q1  [Apr 24]
“Saudi Arabia awarded contracts worth 20.9 billion riyals ($5.57bn) for various development projects in the first quarter, state news agency SPA said on Saturday.  The largest chunk, worth 15.7 billion riyals, went to construction projects such as building roads, schools or hospitals, SPA cited the finance ministry as saying.  The world’s largest oil exporter plans to spend more than $400 billion until 2013 to upgrade its infrastructure..”  [Complete Report]

Saudi Retail Sales to Reach USD 97 Billion by 2013  [Apr 24]
“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s retail sales are projected to hit USD 97 billion by 2013, fueled by the country’s robust economy as well as several socio-demographic factors such as rising disposable income, a youthful population, and an expanding consumer base driven by more active women spenders. Food and grocery in particular are expected to maintain a strong share of the retail sector and continue to account for almost half of total annual retail value.  Saudi Arabia is the largest and fastest growing food market in the GCC region and is home to some of the Gulf’s largest food, drink and mass grocery retail companies..” [Complete Report]

SUSRIS Daily News – Excerpts from International Media Reports
[Links to full articles were active on the date posted here]

Saudi Official Sees Looming Oil Demand Peak  [Apr 23]
“Oil use will probably peak in emerging markets by early next decade, a senior adviser to Saudi Arabia’s oil minister said on Thursday in a further sign the concept of peak demand has crept into the industry mainstream.  Interest in the view oil demand may soon reach a high point and then fall back has grown following a drop in global oil use last year caused by the economic crisis, as well as efforts to combat climate change and use fuel more efficiently.  ‘I think that peak demand will come before peak of supply,’ said Ibrahim Al-Muhanna, adviser to Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Ali Al-Naimi, in answer to questions at a conference in Paris.  ‘The demand in emerging economies will take time to peak but definitely it will peak maybe this decade or early next decade,’ he said.  Saudi Arabia is the world’s largest oil exporter. Others that have forecast peak demand include global oil company BP Plc, whose Chief Executive Tony Hayward in February said global demand would reach a high point after 2020..”  [Complete Report]

Saudi Arabia to Allow Wheat Imports From Australia  [Apr 23]
“Saudi Arabia has changed its wheat tender specifications to allow purchases from Australia, the world’s fourth-largest shipper, Western Australian state Agriculture and Food Minister Terry Redman said.  The country lowered its protein requirements and ended a zero tolerance for the crop fungus Ergot, clearing the way for Australia to participate in tenders, Redman said in a statement e-mailed today.  Saudi Arabia plans to stop growing wheat domestically by spring 2016, and import the grain instead, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in a report in February. The nation’s wheat- buying agency has approved the U.S., Argentina, the European Union and Australia as shippers, it said.  ‘They will be reliant on major reliable suppliers of wheat in the global market and Australia will at some point be one of those suppliers,’ said Tom Puddy, wheat marketing manager for CBH Group’s export division. CBH is Australia’s biggest exporter of grains..”  [Complete Report]

Souk Hajr May Become World Event  [Apr 23]
“Plans are under way to turn the traditional Souk Hajr into an international event for foreign tourists and visitors interested in the country’s heritage.  The market was organized by the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) along with some government agencies and the private sector at Ibrahim Archeological Palace. It concluded its activities Wednesday in Al-Ahsa.. ..Khaled Bin Abdul Aziz Al-Barak, head of the organizing committee, said the market was an example of the region’s tourism potential..”  [Complete Report]

Mining: Top Investment Option in Saudi Arabia  [Apr 23]
“Saudi Arabia offers ample investment opportunities, with mining, infrastructure, higher education and telecommunication topping the list, Value Partners – a leading global management consulting firm – said recently.  The most significant opportunity for private investment is mining, the report said.  ‘Previously, the mining sector had not been given due attention, but now there are a lot of mining investments taking place in the government and the private sector in phosphates, iron ore, and aluminum,’.. ..According to the study by Value Partners, two key incentives which contribute to the increase in private investment include tax incentives following the reduction of tax rates from 45 percent to 20 percent; and the law that enables foreigners to own 100 percent of businesses in Saudi Arabia..”  [Complete Report]

Saudi Arabia May Increase Quota For Russian Pilgrims on Hajj  [Apr 23]
“Over 20,000 pilgrims from Russia will go on hajj to Mecca this year, first deputy chairman of the Russian Federation Council’s international affairs committee Ilyas Umakhanov told Interfax.  ‘We reached an agreement with Saudi Arabia during a visit of our delegation to the country that the current quota for Russian pilgrims will be the same as last year: 20,500 people,’ Umakhanov said.  He did not rule out that the quota for Russian pilgrims may be increased by 5,000 people. ‘We asked the Saudi Arabian side of this, and the Saudi Arabian authorities told us that they are ready to consider our request,’ the senator said..”  [Complete Report]

SUSRIS Daily News – Excerpts from International Media Reports
[Links to full articles were active on the date posted here]

Aramco Extends Yanbu Bid Process After Conoco Exit  [Apr 22]
“State oil giant Saudi Aramco has asked for more time from bidders for deals to build its Yanbu refinery after partner ConocoPhillips (COP.N) pulled out, industry sources said on Thursday.  Aramco indicated on Wednesday it would build the 400,000 barrels per day (bpd) plant despite Conoco’s withdrawal, and industry sources said the Saudi firm was already talking to new partners.  Aramco sent a letter to contractors stating that it or a wholly-owned Aramco subsidiary would proceed with the project, an industry source said on Thursday.  The state giant asked engineering firms to extend the validity by 60 days of bids they submitted in January in a tender for contracts for the Yanbu project, the sources said.  ‘They need more time to assign the contracts, they need to be sure the proposals are still valid with the same conditions, the same prices,’..”  [Complete Report]

SAA Resumes London Flights  [Apr 22]
“Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAA) has resumed four flights to London Thursday after some European countries decided to lift flight restrictions as Iceland’s volcano lost its fury.  ‘Priority will be given for passengers with reservations,’ said Ahmad Madani of Saudia’s Public Relations Department.  The national carrier has also confirmed that it will give priority, in its seat reservations, to the elderly and students with disabilities who are stranded in Europe.. ..Authorities in several countries have deemed the dispersion of ash from the Icelandic volcano sufficient to permit air traffic and Saudia is expected to soon be operating all its 22 flights to Europe from Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam. Around 79 flights were canceled due to the restrictions.  Madani said that no extra flights were planned, but larger aircraft may be drafted in to cope with the numbers of Saudis stranded across Europe..” [Complete Report]

Drugs Cache Linked to Al-Qaeda Network [Apr 22]
“The 14 smuggling operations worth SR3.2 billion foiled by Saudi security agencies recently are connected to Al-Qaeda, new information revealed Wednesday.  On Tuesday authorities announced the arrest of 195 people over the past four months and the seizure of massive quantities of drugs.  It is learnt that the terrorist organization used smugglers to bring drugs from Afghanistan to the Kingdom through the borders of a major country in the region.. ..Security experts believe that the drug seizures mean that Al-Qaeda will not have access to a large amount of money for their operations. They believe that the Kingdom’s security and infrastructure is still being targeted by the terrorist organization.  Sources said that the Kingdom’s strict regulations regarding drug smuggling has created a situation where drug dealers can ask for more money for the drugs and so make huge profits.  Al-Qaeda was turning to drug smuggling because other sources of funding have dried up, said the sources..”  [Complete Report]

Saudis Not to Behead Lebanese Psychic  [Apr 22]
“A Lebanese TV psychic, who was condemned to death for witchcraft by a Saudi court while visiting the country, will not be beheaded, his lawyer said Wednesday.  May al-Khansa told The Associated Press that the Saudi ambassador in Beirut informed the Lebanese justice minister that the execution of Ali Sibat would not take place.  ‘He confirmed to me that there will be no execution,’ al-Khansa said about her conversation with Ibrahim Najjar, Lebanon’s justice minister. She refused to go into details but said ‘matters are going in the right direction.’  ‘We have faith in Saudi Arabia’s judicial system,’ she added, noting that Sibat’s actions are not considered a crime in Lebanon.  Sibat is one of scores of people reported arrested every year in the kingdom on charges of practicing sorcery, witchcraft, black magic and fortunetelling, which are considered to be polytheism by the country’s ultraconservative judiciary..”  [Complete Report]

Saudi Official Sees Looming Oil Demand Peak  [Apr 22]
“Oil use will probably peak in emerging markets by early next decade, a senior adviser to Saudi Arabia’s oil minister said on Thursday in a further sign the concept of peak demand has crept into the industry mainstream.  Interest in the view oil demand may soon reach a high point and then fall back has grown following a drop in global oil use last year caused by the economic crisis, as well as efforts to combat climate change and use fuel more efficiently.  ‘I think that peak demand will come before peak of supply,’ said Ibrahim Al-Muhanna, advisor to Saudi Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi, in answer to questions at a conference in Paris.  ‘The demand in emerging economies will take time to peak but definitely it will peak maybe this decade or early next decade,’ he said..” [Complete Report]

SUSRIS Daily News – Excerpts from International Media Reports
[Links to full articles were active on the date posted here]

US Wants to Join Nuclear City Project  [Apr 21]
“A former US defense secretary has indicated his country’s desire to be involved in the recently announced King Abdullah Nuclear and Renewable Energy City in Riyadh.  ‘Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, who has a clear vision, has embarked on a constructive program and our country would be interested in participating in some of its projects such as energy security, desalination of water and climate change technology,’  William Cohen told reporters on Monday. The announcement followed discussions between a 10-member US delegation led by Cohen, which comprised representatives of five major US companies and members of the Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) in Riyadh on Monday.. ..Cohen, who is also chairman of the Washington-based Cohen Group, said the discussions would be followed up at a subsequent meeting in Chicago, which is expected to be attended by a high-powered Saudi trade delegation.  Such a meeting will help the two parties secure agreements in working together in investment projects in the two countries..” [Complete Report]

Conoco Pulls Out of Saudi Refinery Project [Apr 21]
“Oil giant ConocoPhillips (COP.N) said it pulled out of a project to build a new refinery with Saudi Aramco in Saudi Arabia, citing its strategy to reduce its refinery operations.  The planned refinery was to be built by the two oil companies in Yanbu Industrial City and have a processing capacity of 400,000 barrels per day.  Conoco, like other major oil refiners, has seen profits shrink at the plants that turn crude oil into gasoline and diesel fuel as the global economic slowdown has eroded demand.  “We ultimately decided this project was not consistent with our current strategy to reduce our downstream footprint,” Willie Chiang, senior vice president for refining, marketing and transportation, said in a statement.  Last week, Conoco sold its stake in a Canadian oil sands project to China’s Sinopec  for $4.65 billion as part of its program to sell $10 billion in assets to help reduce its heavy debt burden..”  [Complete Report]

Kingdom Top Spot in GCC for Expat Jobs [Apr 21]
“Expatriates are more likely to secure a new job in Saudi Arabia than in any other country in the GCC, the latest data by GulfTalent.com has found.  The number of expats employed in the kingdom rose by 2.4 percent in the fourth quarter of 2009, the online recruitment firm said in a statement on Monday. Qatar and Oman also saw increases over the same period.   Meanwhile, Bahrain, the UAE and Kuwait saw a drop in the number of expat employees, with declines of 7.7 percent, 4.2 percent and 2.8 percent respectively.  The company compiled the results, based on actual staff recruitment, after speaking to 11,000 managers across the region..”  [Complete Report]

Ash Chaos Cost Saudi Airlines 33 Million Dollars  [Apr 21]
“Saudi Airlines lost about 33 million dollars when it had to cancel 22 flights following the closure of European airspace by a cloud of volcanic ash from Iceland, local newspaper Okaz reported Wednesday.  The Saudi national carrier halted 11 flights to London, four to Paris, three to Germany and two each to Madrid and Milan, at a cost of about 1.5 million dollars a flight, Abdullah al-Husseini, the airline’s chief for European services, told the daily.  Husseini said the airline is doing its best to help stranded customers.. ..The cancellations stranded hundreds of foreign Muslims who were on the umrah minor pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina, and interrupted travel for many more Saudis who had planned vacations for the midterm school break, which began last week..”  [Complete Report]

Nomura Launches Saudi Arabia Operation With Reception in Riyadh  [Apr 21]
“Nomura, the global investment bank, today announces the formal launch of its Saudi Arabia operation in Riyadh.  The opening was marked by an exclusive reception held last night at the Japanese Embassy and hosted by Kenichi Watanabe, President and Chief Executive Officer, Nomura Holdings, Inc. and His Excellency Mr. Shigeru Endo, Japanese Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.  Many VIPs attended the event including His Excellency Dr. Abdulrahman A. Al-Tuwaijri, Chairman of the Capital Markets Authority. Nomura’s operation in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia received its commencement letter from Saudi Arabia’s Capital Market Authority in July 2009.  Nomura offers corporate finance, capital markets and wealth management services for clients in Saudi Arabia and acts as an agent for overseas securities.    As the first Asian securities firm to provide investment banking services in the Kingdom, Nomura is a gateway to global markets and major institutions in Asia and other financial centres worldwide..”  [Complete Report]

SUSRIS Daily News – Excerpts from International Media Reports
[Links to full articles were active on the date posted here]

Experts: Atomic and Renewable Energy Provides Saudi Arabia With Clean Energy and Saves Oil Reserves  [Apr 20]
“Nuclear energy officials and experts welcomed the decision taken by King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud on Saturday for the establishment of King Abdullah city of atomic and renewable energy.  In statements to Gulf News, they expressed belief that there is an urgent need for the Kingdom to introduce this new technology, which they said will contribute to a major scientific leap in addition to providing the Kingdom with its needs of clean energy as well as contributing to saving of strategic reserves of fossil energy for future generations.  William Cohen, former US Defence Secretary, who chaired on Tuesday a US trade delegation during his visit to the Council of Saudi Chambers of Commerce, said that such projects would not serve Saudi Arabia alone, but also the region, particularly neighbouring countries.  He referred in this respect to the great importance the world attaches to the issue of alternative energy and the availability of new sources of energy..”  [Complete Report]

Pillay Appreciates Moves to Improve Human Rights  [Apr 20]
“The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay on Monday said that she believed there was an “encouraging level of governmental activity to improve human rights” in the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, mainly in the areas of economic and social rights, children’s rights and human trafficking.  However, there was also “an array of continuing concerns about women’s rights, migration, statelessness, and freedom of expression, association and assembly,” Pillay said in a speech at the King Abdullah University for Science and Technology in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, at the start of a 10-day six-country mission intended to improve cooperation between the GCC states and the UN human rights system.. ..’Education, including higher studies, is available to an ever-increasing number of women in the region. Investing in education, including education for women, is not only fair, but it is also smart policy,’ the High Commissioner told students and faculty at the King Abdullah University, a new coeducational university in Saudi Arabia.  Progress has also been achieved in other areas, she said..”  [Complete Report]

Kingdom’s Mall-Based Retail Area to Expand 11.3% Yearly   [Apr 20]
“The supply of mall-based retail gross leasable area (GLA) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 11.3 percent to reach 8.3 million square meters by 2012, according to a recent report by Jiwar Real Estate Management & Marketing, a leading real estate company in the Gulf region and the marketing arm of the Saudi Bin Laden Group. The Saudi market is expected to produce an additional 1.5 million square meters of retail GLA within the next two years.  ‘The outlook for the Kingdom’s metropolitan mall-based retail market is excellent given the strong growth in demand and increasing occupancy rates. The government’s strategic focus on expanding the non-oil economy is likely to lead to the development of additional commercial industries, of which mall retailing will be a major beneficiary,’..”  [Complete Report]

Joint Global Efforts to Curb Piracy Urged  [Apr 20]
” Saudi Arabia and Bahrain on Monday urged joint international efforts under UN supervision to combat piracy. They expressed concern over increasing acts of piracy in the Gulf of Aden and Arabian Sea, saying it would endanger international navigation.  In a final communiqué issued after Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah’s two-day visit to Manama, the two countries rejected using negotiation as a way to bargain with pirates.  ‘The two leaders discussed regional and international issues of common interest, stressing the importance of continuing coordination and consultation on latest developments,’ the communiqué said. The two sides expressed satisfaction over existing Saudi-Bahraini relations and hoped these ties would reach new heights in the future.  The two countries denounced the continuing Israeli siege on the Palestinians, especially those in the Gaza Strip. They urged the European Union and United States to play their roles to restart the Middle East peace process using the Arab peace plan as the basis..”  [Complete Report]

China and Saudi Arabia Form Stronger Trade Ties  [Apr 20]
“Li Wei, a Chinese diplomat in Riyadh, had only just seen off a Chinese Ministry of Commerce delegation to Saudi Arabia this month when he started preparing for another governmental visit in two weeks.  ‘Every month we have delegations coming to Saudi Arabia,’ said Mr. Li, who works in the Chinese Embassy’s commercial section in the Saudi capital. ‘We are too busy.’  China, one of the world’s largest oil consumers, and Saudi Arabia, holder of about a fifth of global crude reserves, are forging closer ties as the Gulf kingdom responds to a Chinese drive to supply its rising energy needs. In November, China overtook the United States as the main buyer of Saudi oil, and Saudi Arabian Oil and Saudi Basic Industries are investing in refinery and petrochemicals projects in China.  The partnership between Saudi Arabia and China is part of a broader strategy by the Saudis to supply Asian markets and extend their global influence..”  [Complete Report]

SUSRIS Daily News – Excerpts from International Media Reports
[Links to full articles were active on the date posted here]

Makkah Official Touches Off Prayer Controversy  [Apr 19]
“Shaikh Ahmad Al Gamdi, President of the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice in Makkah, has rejected the general concept among the ulema in Saudi Arabia that ‘group prayer’ is a requirement and said there was no point in forcing people to close their shops during prayer times.  In a controversial statement to the local Arabic Okaz newspaper, he said that the majority of scholars believe that “group prayer” is not compulsory and that people can pray individually wherever they may be. He stressed that group prayer is “Sunna” in the view of the majority of scholars and accordingly shops might not be closed during prayer time as is the custom in Saudi Arabia.  He, however, said that if the leaders of the country decided that all shops must be closed during prayers, then people must abide by this decision.  He also stressed that it is not right to condemn those who call for keeping the shops open since this is the view of the majority of scholars about the time of prayers..”  [Complete Report]

Saudi King to Build Bahrain a $266m Medical City  [Apr 19]
“Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah has pledged to build Bahrain a SR1bn ($266.6m) medical city as a gift to the people, following an official visit to the Gulf state on Sunday.  The city will be called the King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Medical City and will be affiliated to the Arab Gulf University in Bahrain.  Khalid Abdulrahman Al Ohali, university president, told the Gulf Daily News, the medical city would be named after King Abdullah ‘in recognition of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ pioneering role in the services of the Arab and Islamic nations.’.. ..Bahrain presented the Saudi King with a 140-year-old ‘Al Ajrab’ sword during a welcoming ceremony at Sakhir Palace.  The sword previously belonged to King Abdullah’s grandfather Al Imam Turki bin Abdulla Al Saud..” [Complete report]

Saudi Shura Council Debates Death Penalty for Treason  [Apr 19]
“-In the opinion of a large number of Saudi Arabia’s Shura Council, the reported criminal sentence of 20 years imprisonment for disclosing confidential documents in Saudi Arabia is not proportionate with a crime that may lead to a breach of Saudi national security, especially during a time of war.  More than one Shura Council member has called for the death penalty or life imprisonment with hard labor, to be sentenced to those convicted of treason or working for a hostile power against national interests or passing documents or important information to hostile parties.  The criminal sentence for disclosing classified documents is 20 years imprisonment and a fine of 1 million riyals, and has been implemented in 6 cases of disclosing classified information which threatened national security. This led the Shura Council members to object to this sentence, and call for the death penalty for anybody convicted of breaching national security by disclosing confidential information.  However Shura Council member Mohamed al-Quwaihis called for differentiating between cases of disclosing confidential information and cases of disclosing confidential information that leads to a breach of national security..”  [Complete Report]

Indonesia to Buy More Crude Oil From Saudi Arabia  [Apr 19]
“Indonesia’s state-owned oil and gas firm PT Pertamina plans to increase crude oil imports from Saudi Arabia by 200,000 barrels per day, President Director of the firm Karen Agustiawan said in Jacarta Monday.  The statement comes amid rising domestic energy demand as the oil production has dwindled recently due to lack of investment and aging wells.  The director said that so far the firm has imported over 125, 000 barrels of oil from Saudi Arabia and has negotiated with Saudi state giant oil firm, Saudi Aramco for the additional purchase.  ‘Now we are in negotiation. We expect the addition can be realized this year,’ Karen told reporters before a hearing with lawmakers at the parliament building here.  The additional imports will be used for supplying refineries in Cilacap of Central Java and Balongan in West Java, she said..”  [Complete Report]

SUSRIS Daily News – Excerpts from International Media Reports
[Links to full articles were active on the date posted here]

King Begins First Official Visit to Bahrain  [Apr 18]
“King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, begins Sunday his first-ever official visit to Bahrain since his ascension to the throne in 2005.  he two-day visit is aimed at strengthening the ties between the two brotherly countries. During the visit, the King will hold talks with Bahrain’s King Hamad Bin Isa Bin Salman Aal Khalifa on a host of issues.. ..Saudi investments in Bahrain amounted to more than BD1.1 billion in 2008. The number of effective corporations with Saudi investments reached 315 during the same year. Registered Saudi companies in Bahrain numbered 43..” [Complete Report]

Saudi Arabia Sets Up Nuclear Energy Science Center  [Apr 18]
“Top oil exporter Saudi Arabia said it would set up a scientific centre for civilian nuclear and renewable energy to meet rising demand for power and desalinated water, state news agency SPA said on Saturday.  Fast growing power demand is forcing Saudi Arabia to look at all sources of energy, the kingdom’s deputy minister of electricity, Saleh Alawaji said last month.   Demand for power grew last year by more than 8 percent and is expected to grow to more than 60,000 megawatt (MW) by 2020.. ..King Abdullah ordered the creation of a science complex named after him which would be headed by former trade minister Hashem Bin Abdullah Yamani.  SPA gave no more details or timeframe for the project but said the complex would be based in the Saudi capital Riyadh.  The centre would be in charge of promoting research and sealing future deals, SPA said. It would also oversee activities related to the use of nuclear energy..”  [Complete Report]

GCC Leaders to Meet on May 11 in Riyadh  [Apr 18]
“Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) leaders will hold their annual advisory meeting in Riyadh on May 11.  The one-day gathering, held between official summits of the heads of the six countries, usually has no specific agenda and is open to all subjects of interest to the member states.  ‘I will brief the GCC leaders about the military cooperation, including the formation of a rapid intervention force,’ Abdul Rahman Al Atiyyah, the GCC secretary general, said.  ‘The report was drafted following the meeting in Kuwait of the high Gulf military committee made up of the chiefs of staff of the member countries,’ Al Atiyyah told Qatari daily Al Sharq.  The meeting reviewed all aspects related to the formation of the force under the umbrella of the cooperation council and the Peninsula Shield, the GCC head said.  The GCC leaders at their last summit in Kuwait in December agreed to form a rapid intervention force to combat foreign aggression..” [Complete Report]

JCCI Plans to Create 15,000 Jobs for Women  [Apr 18]
“The Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) hopes to create more than 15,000 jobs for women working for companies from home.  The chamber is currently in discussion with various government bodies on ways to change laws and regulations to allow this to happen. According to the JCCI if the new provisions are adopted, some 150,000 well-paid job opportunities eventually could be created for women across the country.  The JCCI plan is to reduce the unemployment rate of women to 10 percent; the official figure currently stands at 29 percent (for women who are considered active job seekers).. ..The rising prominence of telecommuting worldwide offers an opportunity for Saudi Arabia to adopt the practice to address concerns related to the mingling of the sexes in the workplace..”  [Complete Report]

SUSRIS Daily News – Excerpts from International Media Reports
[Links to full articles were active on the date posted here]

Barzani Discusses Common Concerns in Saudi Arabia and Lebanon  [Apr 17]
“The President of Iraqi Kurdistan Region visited Saudi Arabia and Lebanon last week to discuss issues of common concern with his counterparts.  At the official invitation of King Abdulla, Iraqi Kurdistan Region President Barzani arrived in Saudi Arabia last Monday and was immediately received along with accompanying officials by King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz. Talks between the two sides dealt with various issues of common interest. The meeting was attended by Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal and other high-ranking officials.  King Abdulla honored Barzani with First-Degree of King Abdul Aziz Shield. Barzani’s visit to Saudi Arabia came after Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, a Kurd, was invited to Saudi Arabia in the same week..”  [Complete Report]

Al Maliki Adviser: More Cooperation With Saudi in Upcoming Stage  [Apr 17]
” In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Ali al Moussawi, the media adviser to the Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki and head of the National Media Center, stressed that there can be no monopolization in Iraq by any one sect, party or ethnic group.  Al Moussawi stressed that Iraq is committed to a social, political and security system with Saudi Arabia and in the upcoming stage there will be higher levels of cooperation between the two sides. Asked his view on some political leaders and officials leaning towards Arab and regional countries, especially Saudi Arabia, and whether the Prime Minister is for such action, al Moussawi said, ‘We are for developing ties with all countries in the world especially brotherly Arab countries and this is what we always strive towards. However, at the same time, we do not want Iraqi politicians to give the impression that they are not capable of taking important decisions themselves and that they rely on [foreign states] or rush [to foreign countries] whenever they face a problem. This was directed to all politicians and all states without exception.’  ‘As for the future of ties with the [Saudi] Kingdom we believe that the natural situation will be for us to have excellent and natural ties with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and if there are frosty ties then of course we would not want that to continue.’..” [Complete Report]

UN Human Rights Chief Begins Visit to Gulf Countries  [Apr 17]
“The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay today embarks on a 10-day visit to the six Member States of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), in an effort to engage more actively and effectively with Governments and civil society in the region.  Ms. Pillay will seek to gain first-hand understanding of current dynamics in the GCC region in relation to human rights, including reported progress in some areas as well as specific issues of particular concern.  She will also examine ways in which her office can provide further support and advice to the individual GCC countries – Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Oman..”  [Complete Report]

Saudi Samba’s Q1 Net Falls on Lending Income  [Apr 17]
“Samba Financial Group 1090.SE on Saturday posted a drop in first-quarter net profit in line with analysts forecasts after Saudi Arabia’s second-biggest lender by market value made less money on loans.  Samba made a net profit of 1.21 billion riyals ($322.7 million) in the three months to end-March, down 4.8 percent from 1.27 billion riyals a year earlier.  Analysts were expecting Samba to make an average 1.08 billion riyals in net profit during the period. Like the majority of listed Saudi lenders, Samba said its net lending income fell during the first quarter by 10.5 percent to 1.17 billion riyals.  But unlike the majority, Samba also saw a 1.5 percent decline in income from non-lending operations which include brokerage and foreign exchange transactions..”  [Complete Report]

Deutsche Bank and Saudi Investors Establish Deutsche Gulf Finance  [Apr 17]
“Deutsche Gulf Finance, a joint venture Shariah-compliant home financing company owned 40% by the Riyadh Branch of Deutsche Bank AG and 60% by a group of prominent Saudi-based investors, led by Fahad Abdullah Abdulaziz Al Rajhi, has commenced business.. ..The Company has an initial capitalization of approximately $110m, and at first will provide Shariah-compliant home financing for properties located in Saudi Arabia, with plans to expand its operations into Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait over time. Deutsche Gulf Finance has commenced financing completed units as well as those under construction on individual lots or at real estate developments..”  [Complete Report]

SUSRIS Daily News – Excerpts from International Media Reports
[Links to full articles were active on the date posted here]

Balloon Takes King’s Message Worldwide  [Apr 16]
“A hot air balloon bearing the image of King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, beside the legend “King of Humanitarianism” and the Saudi flag took to the skies above Riyadh on Thursday as it embarked on a two-year journey taking a message of peace to 52 countries across the globe.. ..The initiative for the epic voyage reportedly came from the United Arab Emirates where sources described it as motivated out of ‘appreciation for the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ humanitarian work and his peacemaking role in the international arena’ and to mark the 25th anniversary of first National Culture and Heritage Festival in Janadriya. Sponsored by Emirates Hot Air Balloon Company, the vessel’s first leg will take in Jeddah, Makkah and Madina before venturing out across the skies of virtually every member state of the European Union, Russia, Asian countries such as Pakistan, India, China, Mongolia, Korea, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia, as well as Australia, Africa and North and South America..”  [Complete Report]

Saudi Arabia has Few Pressure Levers for Next Iraqi Government  [Apr 16]
“Saudi Arabia is unlikely to play a leading role in forming the future of Iraqi government, despite the expansion of dialogue with different political parties, experts say.  ‘I don’t think that Saudi Arabia has any leverage at all. At the moment the ideas are who ever forms the government in Iraq tries to reassure various neighbors including Saudi Arabic, so they don’t make difficulties. But in terms of actually manipulating Iraqi politics the Saudi Arabia is non-starters,’ – Charles Tripp, Professor of the University of London, specializing in Middle East politics believes.. ..None of runners in terms of possible prime-minister of government in Iraq, whether it is Nuri al-Maliki or Jafari or Sadr or Allawi want to present themselves as pro-Iranian, but obviously they can’t ignore Iran, British analyst on Iraqi policy, Charles Tripp said.  ‘In many ways it is very important that Iraqi future government not to act like pro-Saudi Arabian or pro-Iranian, otherwise it will mean political suicide. But clearly they are trying to ensure that Iranians don’t complicate the things as it was in the former government,’ the expert said..” [Complete Report]

Illiteracy in Saudi Arabia Drops Significantly  [Apr 16]
“Illiteracy in Saudi Arabia has declined significantly from approximately 60 percent in 1980 to 13 percent in 2009, a senior official said this week.  Speaking at the opening of a conference on adult education in Abha, deputy education minister for girls’ education Norah Al Fayez highlighted the importance of continuing education, Arab News daily reported.  ‘Adult education is the key to sustainable development,’ she said..”  [Complete Report]

Health Matrix Launches its Operation in Saudi Arabia  [Apr 16]
“Health Matrix announced the commencement of its operations and activities In Saudi Arabia. As one of the recently established Healthcare IT companies in the region, Health Matrix specializes in providing Healthcare IT Solutions around the “First Point of Care” Concept.  Having its direct operation in Saudi Market, Health Matrix made such strategic decision to be close from customers in Saudi Arabia and deliver its commitments to our clients and partners.  According to Abdul Rahman Qasim, chief executive officer of Health Matrix Corporation, Saudi Arabia health care market is the largest market in the Middle East, and Health Matrix presence in the country will give the opportunities to our clients to benefit from the services and solutions which we are offering..” [Complete Report]

Saudi Economy on Track For Growth  [Apr 16]
“Saudi Arabia’s econ-omic activity is forecast to accelerate over the next three years.  Investment in the sector should remain robust with the government allocating 260 billion riyals (Dh254 billion). The real GDP growth would come from the non-oil private sector which is pegged at 4.2 per cent while inflation would stabilise around 5 per cent in the next three years.  These statements put Saudi Arabia in the spotlight with investment specialists at the Outlook Saudi Arabia: Investment and Private Equity Summit 2010.  The three-day event in Riyadh this week focused on investment opportunities in the kingdom..”  [Complete Report]

Opec Will Act if Oil Price Hits $100  [Apr 16]
“The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) would make a decision on whether to boost output to calm oil prices if the market passed $100 a barrel, Kuwait’s oil minister said on Thursday.  US crude traded around $85 a barrel yesterday, a little above the $70 to $80 range that Opec’s largest producer Saudi Arabia has said was fair for both consumers and producers.  ‘Above $100 we would take a decision in this regard,’ Shaikh Ahmad Al Abdullah Al Sabah told reporters at Kuwait’s parliament, when asked how high the producer group would allow prices to rise before acting.  World crude prices are within sight of an 18-month high of just over $87 a barrel reached earlier this month.  Yet there has been little sign from Opec that it might increase output to cool prices..”  [Complete Report]

SUSRIS Daily News – Excerpts from International Media Reports
[Links to full articles were active on the date posted here]

Woman Elected Head of JCCI Panel  [Apr 15]
“The Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) elected its first chairwoman of an influential committee on Tuesday.  Farida Farsi received seven of 10 votes to become head of a panel for private girls’ schools.  Rafa Binladin was elected deputy chairperson of the panel, which is a subsidiary of the private education committee.  During its first meeting, the new panel discussed obstacles and problems facing at least 110 private girls’ schools in the city. About 3,000 people, including teachers, work at these schools.  ‘The new panel will look into a number of important issues facing girls’ schools and make its proposals to JCCI’s board of directors, which will then take up the matter with official authorities to find solutions,’ Farsi told Arab News..”  [Complete Report]

Nononoil Exports Increase by 21%  [Apr 15]
“Saudi Arabia’s nonoil exports in January 2010 grew by 21 percent to SR9.58 billion compared to SR7.93 billion during January 2009, a report issued by the Ministry of Economy and Planning said on Wednesday.  Petrochemicals topped the list of Saudi nonoil exports in January, reaching SR3.08 billion, the report said, adding that it accounted for 32 percent of total exports.  Plastics came second at SR2.71 billion (28 percent of the total) followed by re-exportable items valued at SR1.41 billion and accounting for 15 percent.  The report said foodstuffs accounted for 9 percent of Saudi exports in January (SR822 million) followed by ordinary metals worth SR522 million.  Non-Arab Asian countries received the lion’s share (29 percent) of Saudi exports valuing at SR2.74 billion, followed by GCC countries 26 percent (SR2.49 billion), other Arab countries (SR1.95 billion), EU countries (SR1.1 billion) and non-Arab Islamic countries SR630 million..”  [Complete Report]

Private Equity In Search Of Foothold In Saudi Arabia [Apr 15]
“Private equity firms argue that Saudi Arabia is where the deal making action is in the oil-rich Persian Gulf, but corporate raiders arriving in Riyadh face a very different reality on the ground.  Delegates attending a private equity conference in Riyadh this week were given few reasons for optimism, with bankers exchanging small talk amongst themselves instead of pitching deals to wealthy Saudis.  ‘There aren’t many big investors around,’ said one disgruntled investment banker attending the event held in a swanky Riyadh hotel.. .. Private equity giants like Kohlberg Kravis & Roberts and the Carlyle Group have expressed keen interest in acquiring companies in Saudi Arabia. One of the few bright spots is Carlyle’s acquisition of a 30% stake in Saudi’s largest lighting fixtures manufacturer and supplier for an undisclosed figure.  But a mixture of poor regulation, a shortage of deals and stubborn sellers with unrealistic valuations is making it tough for many private equity players to gain a foothold in the kingdom.  ‘There’s too much capital chasing too few deals,’..”  [Complete report]

Ford Grant for Saudi Environmentalist  [Apr 15]
“A zoology professor from the University of Tabuk was awarded a grant by the carmaker Ford Motor Co. for his efforts to promote wildlife conservation in the Kingdom.  ‘This project received $30,000 for its efforts to create awareness about the current wildlife situation in the Kingdom by offering information about mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians,’ said Hussein Murad, Ford Middle East’s director of sales.  The professor, Abdulhadi Ahamad Aloufi, was selected ‘by an independent panel of judges comprising environmental experts as well as academics from the participating countries,’ said Murad.  Ahamad Aloufi’s website is currently being translated into English and is being expanded to include sections on fish and insects together with an extensive wildlife photo library..”  [Complete Report]

Saudi Arabia: Government to Monitor Google Earth  [Apr 15]
“The Shura Council’s Committee for Transport, Communication and Information Technology has revealed that the Saudi Arabian government has formed a governmental team made up of 3 governmental agencies to monitor the maps offered by Google Earth and ensure that these do not include images of military sites or other sensitive areas.  This was revealed after national security become a subject of concern to a number of Shura Council deputies, and they expressed fears that satellite imaging of the earth could be used to transgress Saudi Arabia’s national security.. .. the Saudi government is not convinced that its sensitive sites are safe from satellite imagery, therefore – according to officials in the Committee for Transport, Communication and Information Technology– a governmental team made up of personnel from Military Survey, the Interior Ministry, and the Committee for Transport, Communication and Information Technology has been entrusted with the task of specifically looking through Google Earth to ensure that sensitive Saudi Arabian sites are not revealed and that Saudi national security is maintained. This is something that has caused concern among those who support internet freedom..”  [Complete Report]

Saudi Industrial Seeks $100m Financing  [Apr 15]
“Saudi Industrial Projects Co. (Pepsi Cola Bugshan) is negotiating for $100 million financing with leading Islamic financial institutions in the Gulf region for an upcoming mega project.  Mohamed H. Zakaria, senior vice president of Ahmed Salem Bugshan Group, said the group wanted to meet all its future financial requirements from Shariah-compliant institutions. This was part of a policy decision to transform its borrowings from conventional banks to Islamic banks and institutions.  ‘So far, 60 percent of Bugshan Group’s borrowings are based on Shariah principles. Our target is to make it 100 percent,’ said Zakaria.  He said the trillion-dollar Islamic finance market offers huge potential, especially for the corporate sector. ‘There is financing sitting in Islamic banks but because of lack of awareness about the availability of the funds, the corporate sector is not using it. Even Islamic banks are not paying due attention to the corporate sector and, instead, are investing mostly in private equity and real estate,’..”  [Complete Report]

SUSRIS Daily News – Excerpts from International Media Reports
[Links to full articles were active on the date posted here]

Furore as Cleric Blasts Gender Segregation  [Apr 14]
” When a venerable Saudi cleric in the holy city of Makkah challenges a central pillar of Saudi society, it is big news.  That was the case when Shaikh Ahmad Al Gamdi recently declared that nothing in Islam banned men and women from mixing in public places like schools and offices.  Supporters of the status quo responded harshly. Anyone who permits men and women to work or study together is an apostate and should be put to death unless he repents, said Shaikh Abdul Rahman Al Barrak.  Does Shaikh Barrak mean that King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz should be executed? Because it is the monarch who launched the country’s first coeducational university.  Barrak has not answered that question. His website is now blocked by government censors.  Saudi religious scholars for the first time in decades are openly debating a previously untouchable hallmark of Saudi society — its strictly enforced gender segregation..”  [Complete Report]

King Abdullah Receives Mulroney, Al-Hakim  [Apr 14]
“Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah held talks here on Tuesday with former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, who expressed his happiness over visiting the Kingdom.  The talks were attended by Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal and Prince Miteb bin Abdullah, deputy commander of the National Guard for executive affairs, and other officials.  King Abdullah also received Ammar Abdul Aziz Al-Hakim, chairman of the Supreme Islamic Council in Iraq and discussed issues of mutual concern.  Foreign Minister Prince Saud and Deputy Intelligence Chief Prince Abdul Aziz bin Bandar and other officials attended the meeting..”  [Complete Report]

Kingdom to Fund Schools in Turkey  [Apr 14]
“Saudi Arabia has announced it will fund the construction of 25 schools in e Turkey’s eastern province, which was jolted on March 8 by an earthquake measuring 6.0 on the Richter scale, killing at least 57 people and injuring dozens of others.  ‘On behalf of the Kingdom, the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) will help build the schools in Turkey’s eastern province of Elazig,’ said an SFD statement released here on Tuesday.  ‘The efforts are underway to assess damages and identify places for the schools in that country that would be constructed by the Kingdom,’ said the statement.  The Saudi support to build these schools comes within the framework of growing relations between Riyadh and Ankara, especially in the fields of education, commerce and politics..”  [Complete Report]

Foreign Firms Eye More Aramco Engineering Deals  [Apr 14]
“Foreign engineering firms hope new partnerships with Saudi companies will increase their chances of winning deals from state oil giant Saudi Aramco, industry sources said on Tuesday.  The partnerships should give domestic Saudi firms more access to Aramco’s larger projects, and increase the role of foreign firms in small and medium projects.  Detailed preliminary engineering work for Aramco’s mega projects has so far been conducted by international firms outside of the world’s top oil exporter.  ‘The front-end engineering and design (FEED) has never been done in-kingdom before. With the infusion of the technical capabilities of international companies, this will happen,’ a source from an international company said. ‘What used to be done outside the kingdom will be done here,’..”  [Complete Report]

SUSRIS Daily News – Excerpts from International Media Reports
[Links to full articles were active on the date posted here]

 Prince Saud to Supervise Bioweapons’ Control Body  [Apr 13]
“The Cabinet on Monday, chaired by King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, approved the reorganization of the National Authority for the Implementation of the Chemical Arms and Biological Warfare Control Agreements.  The authority has been placed under the supervision of Prince Saud Al-Faisal, Minister of Foreign Affairs. The body will now operate under the chairmanship of the undersecretary at the Foreign Ministry for Multiparty Relations.  The authority will now serve as a liaison and national coordination center for the enforcement of agreements pertaining to the control of chemical arms and other similar agreements. It will liaise with international organizations involved in chemical and biological warfare agreements in order to monitor their activities at the national and international levels and coordinate with the relevant government bodies to ensure that the Kingdom’s commitments are carried out as defined in the agreements..” [Complete Report]

Saudi Security Warns Against False Journalists Targeting Officials With Bomb Devices  [Apr 13]
“The Ministry of Culture and Information has called on editors-in-chief and journalists in the Kingdom to be cautious and to carry their press identity cards while performing their duties.  In a letter, addressed to media and press institutions, the ministry stressed that this step is aimed at preventing attempts by terrorists to disguise as journalists to carry out terrorist attacks.  The ministry’s letter was in line with an official warning from the Ministry of Interior in which it warned that militants might disguise as pressmen to have an access to senior officials and VIPs and thus be able to use bomb devices against them.  The move comes as a precautionary measure to protect dignitaries, officials and visitors.  It also comes after the security forces succeeded to thwart all other means and plans used by Al Qaida in Saudi Arabia during the past few years..” [Complete Report]

Visits to Improve Relations with Riyadh – Iraqi Sources  [Apr 13]
“An Iraqi source told Asharq Al-Awsat that the successive visits undertaken by Iraqi leaders to Saudi Arabia this week reflect the desire of these Iraqi political leaders to improve relations with Riyadh.  The day after Iraqi President Jalal Talabani visited Riyadh, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz met with the President of the Kurdistan Region, Massoud Barzani, who visited Saudi Arabia Monday to discuss a number of topics of mutual interest. King Abdullah also awarded Barzani the King Abdulaziz Medal-First Class.  King Abdullah informed the Saudi Council of Ministers about the topic of his discussion with Talabani, and he reiterated Saudi Arabia’s support for Iraqi unity, independence, sovereignty, and security. An Iraqi official source also informed Asharq Al-Awsat that both President of the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq Ammar al-Hakim and Iraqi Vice President Tariq al Hashimi are set to visit Saudi Arabia before the end of the week..” [Complete Report]

Firms Poised for Saudi Refinery Deals Await Conoco [Apr 13]
“South Korean, Spanish and Indian contracting firms were poised to win contracts from Saudi Aramco and ConocoPhillips (COP.N) to build a new Saudi oil refinery, industry and trade sources said on Tuesday.  The deals were pending Conoco’s final investment decision on the joint venture refinery at Yanbu on the kingdom’s Red Sea coast, sources said. After considering bids for the projects, Aramco and Conoco have pencilled in South Korea’s SK Engineering to build a crude unit, Daelim Industrial (000210.KS) for a gasoline unit, and GS Engineering to build a hydrocracker, industry sources said.. ..’The list is pretty final,’ said one contractor. ‘But nothing has been awarded yet.’..” [Complete Report]

SEC Allows Steel Firms to Raise Prices  [Apr 13]
“The Supreme Economic Council (SEC) has decided to allow market forces to determine the price of steel in the country and has rejected a cap on prices instituted by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.  In line with this decision, the Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) raised the price of steel, of all measurements, by SR700 per tons effective Tuesday. SABIC is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of chemicals, fertilizers, plastics, and metals.  The Ministry of Commerce and Industry’s decision to place a cap on prices was an attempt to tackle a crisis in the steel market and a growing black market of the commodity..” [Complete Report]

GACA Denies Standoff With Egyptian Body  [Apr 13]
“The Saudi General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA) has issued a statement refuting what has been recently reported in the media about its standoff with the Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority (ECAA).  Egypt Air has limit on how many flights it can land at Madinah airport in a dispute that has led to Saudia flights from Madinah being prevented from landing at Cairo, and the Kingdom’s two budget airlines, NAS and SAMA, reduced the number of flights they can land at Egyptian destinations.  The GACA statement, a copy of which was received by Arab News, states that GACA has been working for 10 years to ease restrictions between itself and its Egyptian counterpart. An agreement was subsequently signed removing all flight restrictions between the two countries in 2006. The agreement was, however, restricted to Egypt Air and Saudia.  According to that agreement, Egypt Air would only be allowed to operate a single daily flight to Madinah and that flights may be increased at peak times, sometimes to three or four times a day..” [Complete Report]

Contract for Jeddah Airport Not Yet Signed  [Apr 13]
“The General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA) has denied recent media reports that the contract to develop and modernize Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA) has been awarded to a Saudi company.  ‘The report carried by some local media that GACA has signed the contract is untrue. On the contrary, GACA is currently evaluating applications submitted by local and international bidders for the two separate contracts to develop KAIA,’ said GACA spokesman Khaled Al-Khaibary. The project, which is the largest expansion work ever undertaken at the airport, aims to expand and refurbish the airport to receive 30 million travelers each year.. .. ‘Tenders were received two weeks ago and they are currently being examined from the financial and technical angles,’ he said. He added that GACA will announce the winning companies as soon as the selection procedure is complete..” [Complete Report]

IEA Warns Rising Oil Prices Could Hinder Economic Recovery  [Apr 13]
“The International Energy Agency warned Tuesday that rising oil prices, up recently near 18-month highs, could squeeze economic recovery in the U.S. and other industrialized nations.  The Paris-based agency said there was plenty of oil around to sate increasing demand, but added that higher crude prices could ‘stall [rich nations'] economic recovery or render it more ‘oil less’ than we currently envisage.’.. .. The IEA, which tracks oil industry trends on behalf of its mostly industrialized-nation members, raised its 2010 global oil-demand forecast by 30,000 barrels a day—a slight amount—due to rising consumption in China and Saudi Arabia. World oil demand this year is seen growing 1.7 million barrels a day to 86.6 million barrels a day, which would be the highest level on record, according to IEA data.  Some analysts think that view is too optimistic, saying it is based heavily on government spending programs that will eventually be taken away—possibly starting later this year, and gives short shrift to the lingering debt problems that still weigh on energy consumption..” [Complete Report]

SUSRIS Daily News – Excerpts from International Media Reports
[Links to full articles were active on the date posted here]

India Rolls Out Red Carpet For Prince Salman [Apr 12]
“India rolled out the red carpet for Riyadh Gov. Prince Salman on Sunday as he arrived in New Delhi on the first leg of his four-day visit. Among the senior Indian officials who received Prince Salman at New Delhi airport was E. Ahamed, the minister of state for railways. Talking to Arab News from the Indian capital, he said Saudi Arabia has a special place in the hearts of all Indians because of its fair and balanced conduct in world affairs. ‘Of particular importance is Saudi Arabia’s assurance to India on energy security and its excellent facilities for Indian pilgrims,’ said Ahamed. He said the fact that Prince Salman has come immediately after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Riyadh assumes immense significance. ‘This indicates how far our two countries have traveled in coming closer and closer to each other. The number of accords that were signed during our prime minister’s visit is testimony to our burgeoning relationship with Saudi Arabia.’..” [Complete Report]

Top Saudi Bank NCB Boosts Q1 Net Profit by 35 Percent [Apr 12]
“National Commercial Bank (NCB), Saudi Arabia’s biggest bank by assets, boosted first-quarter net profit by 35.1 percent, becoming the latest lender in the kingdom to post a big gain in profits. State-owned NCB, which is slated for privatisation, made a net profit of 1.41 billion riyals ($377 million) in the quarter after 1.06 billion in the same period a year ago, it said in a statement on Monday. Net lending income rose 3.8 percent, while banking fees ganied 3.1 percent, the bank said, without giving comparison figures. The loan book grew by 11.6 percent to 113.8 million riyals. On Sunday, Riyad Bank 1010.SE posted a lower-than-expected 55 percent rise in quarterly net profit, after a drop in lending income offset a near 23 percent fall in operating costs..” [Complete Report]

Shoura Ratifies Protocol on Child Rights [Apr 12]
“The Shoura Council adopted on Sunday a decision to join an international agreement for protecting the rights of children. The agreement, known as the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, guarantees the protection of children from being sold, prostituted, and used in pornography and armed conflicts. In a press statement, the Shoura’s secretary-general, Abdullah Al-Ghamdi, said the majority of the council’s members voted in favor of joining the agreement. ‘The human rights committee gave a detailed description to the council on the protocol which has 17 articles and aims to protect children from sexual and economic exploitation,’ he said. ‘The protocol also makes it binding on governments to protect children from performing any work that is likely to be hazardous or to interfere with the child’s education, or to be harmful to the child’s health or physical, mental, spiritual, moral or social development. The articles of the protocol also express concern at the sale and exploitation of children in some countries,’..” [Complete Report]

Saudi Arabia: Calls to Criminalize Takfiri Fatwas [Apr 12]
“Saudi Arabia’s Senior Ulema Council is currently holding closed-door sessions to discuss two important issues affecting the kingdom; the financing of terrorism, and Takfiri fatwas. Last week, another closed-door session held by the Saudi Shura Council discussed calls to criminalize Takfiri fatwas that are issued from outside the official religious institute in order to put an end to the issuance of such fatwas that have been on the rise in recent years. Takfiri fatwas are fatwas or religious advisory opinions that state that a certain practice or act is haram or religiously impermissible and that anybody who takes part in such practices is not a Muslim. Sources close to one of the members of the Senior Ulema Council stated to Asharq Al-Awsat that the sessions being held by the council in Riyadh are ‘secret and extraordinary,’ while another source at the Senior Ulema Council explained that the meetings, which commenced on Saturday and will end today Monday 12 April, will discuss the criminalization of the ‘Takfiri fatwas,’ and the ‘financing of terrorism.’..”  [Complete Report]

Saudi Haj Companies Urged to Start Yemen Operations [Apr 12]
“Yemeni Minister of Endowments and Guidance Hamoud Al-Hattar has called on Saudi Haj and Umrah companies to do business with his country, adding that problems that previously prevented them from entering the Yemeni market no longer exist. Al-Hattar made the comments on Sunday prior to a meeting with officials from the Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry and representatives of Haj and Umrah companies. ‘We’ve been working with Haj and Umrah agents and companies with the support of the Ministry of Haj to tackle the issue of Yemeni pilgrims overstaying in the Kingdom for the last three years. Their numbers have now been reduced to less than 1 percent,’ he said. He added that the Yemeni government has set several conditions that have to be met in order for Yemeni nationals to qualify for visas and to ensure they do not overstay..” [Complete Report]

SUSRIS Daily News – Excerpts from International Media Reports
[Links to full articles were active on the date posted here]

Saudi Denies Interfering in Iraq Elections  [Apr 11]
” Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal denied his country boosted Iraq’s former premier Iyad Allawi in last month’s election, a Saudi-owned newspaper said Sunday.  ‘We do not interfere in (Iraq’s) internal affairs. We support all Iraqis, and Iraq’s unity, independence and sovereignty over its territory, and we maintain the same distance from all politicians,’ Saud told the London-based Asharq Alawsat.  Critics have linked Allawi’s visit to Riyadh and meeting with King Abdullah on the eve of the March 7 general election with his Iraqiya bloc’s narrow victory over Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki’s State of Law Alliance.  While the Saudis made no direct comments on the polls at the time, relations between Riyadh and Maliki’s government have been strained and the Saudis have refused to establish a formal diplomatic representation in Baghdad, citing security concerns..” [Complete Report]

Euromoney Saudi Arabia Conference Set  [Apr 11]
“More than 1200 international and regional business leaders and officials from over 30 countries will participate in the Euromoney Saudi Arabia Conference 2010 to be held in Riyadh on May 18-19 at the Al Faisaliah Hotel.  The Ministry of Finance will be the official partner for the fifth consecutive year and Dr. Ibrahim Al-Assaf, Saudi minister of finance will deliver the keynote speech. The event is also supported by major financial institutions, including BNP Paribas, NCB, HSBC, SAMBA and SHUAA Capital. ‘The Euromoney Conference in Saudi Arabia has established itself as the most influential conference in the Kingdom over the last five years’.. ..The conference serves as a platform to bring together financial experts, world business leaders and key members of the government to share ideas and insights on opportunities and challenges in building Saudi’s economy and society..” [Complete Report]

Aramco-Sumitomo Seek Firms Interest For JV Expansion  [Apr 11]
“Saudi-based Rabigh Refining and Petrochemical Co (PetroRabigh) (2380.SE) is looking for firms interested to start work on the second phase of its giant petrochemicals complex, industry sources said on Sunday.  PetroRabigh, a joint venture between state oil giant Saudi Aramco and Sumitomo Chemical (4005.T) inaugurated the first phase of their complex in November. It can produce an annual 18 million tonnes of refined products and 2.4 million tonnes of petrochemicals.  Long-term growth in petrochemical demand in China has encouraged Aramco and Sumitomo to consider moving forward with the estimated 25 billion Saudi riyals ($6.67 billion) expansion.  PetroRabigh is looking at producing about 17 new products, from the expansion, the company’s chief executive, Ziad Labban, told Reuters in November. [ID:nL9327815]  ‘They have just issued the solicitation of interest, there are seven (construction) packages..” [Complete Report]

Three Major Accords Signed With Vietnam  [Apr 11]
“Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah held wide-ranging talks with Vietnamese President Nguyen Minh Triet here on Saturday with a focus on boosting bilateral ties, especially in oil, food and manpower.  King Abdullah and President Triet also witnessed the signing of three major agreements — a treaty to avoid double taxation, a protocol to promote ties in the oil and gas sectors and an agreement to promote cooperation in agriculture  sector — which will eventually provide a legal framework for bilateral cooperation.. ..The protocol in the oil sector endorsed by Riyadh and Hanoi will help boost oil supplies and encourage Saudi Aramco to invest in two refineries to be built in Vietnam..” [Complete Report]

Qatar Steel Gets Stake in Saudi Firm  [Apr 11]
“Qatar Steel has become a strategic partner in South Steel Company by picking up a 20% stake in the Saudi Arabia-based firm.  South Steel Company is a closed joint stock company owned by Saudi Pan Kingdom Company and other Saudi and GCC investors.  The investments in the first phase, which is being executed at Jazan Economic City for the production of steel blocks and steel bars, amount to 1.4bn Saudi riyals.  The production is scheduled to start by mid-2011 and will meet the shortage in the local markets. The company will primarily cater to the requirements of the markets in the Southern Province and the surplus will be sold in other Saudi provinces as well as in Yemen and other neighbouring African countries..” [Complete Report]

SUSRIS Daily News – Excerpts from International Media Reports
[Links to full articles were active on the date posted here]

Canada Suggests Joint Committee to Tackle Issues [Apr 10]
“Brian Mulroney, who was Canada’s prime minister for 10 years, recommended on Saturday the setting up of a joint ministerial committee to tackle issues of interest to his country and Saudi Arabia. ‘Canada has interministerial committees with many countries and they have been of immense use in clearing doubts and differences, and tackling issues especially in trade and investment matters,’ Mulroney, senior partner of Montreal-based Ogilvy Renault, told a meeting at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI). ‘With such a committee between Canada and Saudi Arabia, we’ll be able to air our differences without jeopardizing our bilateral ties,’..” [Complete Report]

Kingdom Seen to be Next Big Private Equity Market [Apr 10]
“The region’s key players in the private equity industry are united in saying that Saudi Arabia is considered the next big market for private equity and venture capital investors. In fact, it is being projected that the Kingdom may become the center for private equity in the Middle East. ‘The steady growth of population propels continuous infrastructure development, and infrastructure investments amounting to billions of dollars will be needed to fund this growth,’ they said.  Growth in the population of Saudi Arabia is 1.848 percent, while the population presently is 28,686,633. The region’s key players made the announcement on Saturday during the opening of the four-day ‘Outlook Saudi Arabia – Investment and Private Equity Summit’ under way at the Al-Faisaliah Hotel here with Saud Al-Malaq, director general of the Organizations’ Affairs and Regional Trade Agreements at the Saudi Ministry of Commerce and Industry, delivering the keynote address..” [Complete Report]

Gaza Conjoined Twins Die: Saudi Minister [Apr 10]
“Two-week old conjoined twins born in the Gaza strip died in Riyadh on Saturday after doctors said their condition was too delicate to operate, a Saudi official said. Frail health and bacterial infection killed Ritaj and Rittal Abu Assi, Health Minister Dr Abdullah al-Rabeeah announced in a statement published by the official SPA news agency. The twins were born in Khan Yunis on March 27 joined at the chest and sharing a defective heart and other organs. They were sent to the King Abdulaziz Medical City’s special conjoined twins centre on Tuesday for a possible separation operation. But after examining the twins, doctors said a day later that their organs were too damaged and their health too critical to undertake the operation..” [Complete Report]

SUSRIS Daily News – Excerpts from International Media Reports
[Links to full articles were active on the date posted here]

Saudi Arabia’s Prince Salman to visit India April 11-15 [Apr 9]
“Prince Salman bin Abdul Aziz al Saud, the Governor of Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, will visit India from April 11-15 at the invitation of Vice-President M Hamid Ansari. During the visit, Prince Salman will call on President Pratibha Patil and hold substantive discussions with Mr Ansari on matters of mutual interest. He will also address the Indian business community. An official press release said India and Saudi Arabia have historic and friendly relations which have deepened and diversified over a period of time. The ties got an impetus with the recent landmark visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to the kingdom from February 27 to March 1. Saudi Arabia is an important trading and energy security partner of India. The bilateral trade between India and Saudi Arabia during 2008-2009 exceeded $ 25 billion..”  [Complete Report]

Saudi Arabia’s Big Bet on the Sun [Apr 9]
“In the hot desert kingdom of Saudi Arabia, finding fresh drinking water has always been a great challenge. For decades now, the state has been providing clean water by converting millions of gallons of seawater via desalination plants that remove salts and minerals from the water. Now the country plans to use one of its most abundant resources to counter its fresh-water shortage: sunshine. Working on a joint project with IBM, Saudi Arabia’s national research group King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) has announced that it will open the world’s largest solar-powered desalination plant by 2012 in the city of Al-Khafji. The pilot plant will not just supply 30,000 cubic meters of clean water per day to 100,000 people, but will also reduce operating costs in the long run by harvesting energy from sunshine. Saudi Arabia, the top desalinated water producer in the world, uses 1.5 million barrels of oil per day at its plants..” [Complete Report]

PM Seeks More Pak-Saudi Cooperation in Banking Sector [Apr 9]
“Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani said the government would extend all cooperation to the Saudi Arabian investors to encourage their investment in banking sector.The Prime Minister was talking to Prince Amr Mohamed Al-Faisal Al-Saud, Chairman of Ithmaar BSC and Faysal Banks of Saudi Arabia, who called on him at the Prime Minister House here Friday afternoon.He was accompanied by Khalid Abdullah Jamani, Executive Vice Chairman and Naveed A. Khan, President and CEO of Faysal Bank. Welcoming the visiting delegation, the Prime Minister said the government has provided an investor-friendly atmosphere in the banking sector to foreign investors and is extending all out cooperation. The Prime Minister said greater cooperation in banking business between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan would help adopt better risk management techniques in the sector..” [Complete Report]

Divorce Law Changes Set to Speed up Court Cases [Apr 9]
“New changes to the laws pertaining to divorce and marriage disputes is in the offing that could reduce the delays in finalizing such cases in the Kingdom’s courts – including forcing errant husbands to appear before a judge. A special committee of the Experts Commission at the Council of Ministers has been tasked with introducing these legislative changes. The amendments are expected to put an end to the current situation where divorce cases can sometimes take years to finalize.. ..The new law will deal specifically with the absence of litigants especially in cases related to alimony, custody and divorce. It will empower the judge to issue an order for the police to force a defendant to appear before the court..” [Complete Report]

SUSRIS Daily News – Excerpts from International Media Reports
[Links to full articles were active on the date posted here]

Saudi Scholar Cancels Jerusalem Trip After Criticism [Apr 8]
“A Saudi scholar has dropped plans to film a television show in Jerusalem after criticism from a Jordanian pressure group, anti-Israel activists said Thursday. Sheikh Mohammad al-Areefi presents ‘Daa Basmatack’, or Let Your Imprint be Felt, on the satellite channel Iqraa. In it, he seeks to convince young people to involve themselves in voluntary social work. Al-Areefi told viewers he planned to make the next episode in Jerusalem in order to emphasize the Muslim claim to it. He was in Jordan to prepare for the trip. The visit would have been ground-breaking since many Muslim countries, including Saudi Arabia, have banned travel to Israel, though Jerusalem is considered a holy city in Islam. Hamzeh Mansour, head of the Anti-Normalization Committee, said the visit was a ‘normalization move with Israel at a time when it is judaizing East Jerusalem’ – a reference to Israeli settlement expansion. ‘It would have been a big mistake on the part of a prominent scholar if al-Areefi has gone ahead with his plan to travel to Jerusalem,’ Mansour told German Press Agency dpa..” [Complete Report]

Bill Clinton in Saudi Arabia, Meets With King [Apr 8]
“The Saudi state news agency SPA says former U.S. President Bill Clinton is in Saudi Arabia to visit the Saudi King. The agency says Clinton met with King Abdullah and a group of Saudi dignitaries Wednesday evening. The purpose of the former president’s visit to the conservative, oil-rich kingdom was not immediately known. Clinton heads the William J. Clinton Foundation, which works in the United States and around the world on issues like health care — particularly HIV/AIDS — climate change and economic development. Saudi Arabia and other Mideast countries, including Kuwait and Qatar, have contributed to Clinton’s charitable foundation, which financed his presidential library in Little Rock, Arkansas..” [Complete Report]

World’s Biggest Oilfield Has Pumped 65 Billion Barrels [Apr 8]
“State oil giant Saudi Aramco has produced more than 65 billion barrels of oil from the world’s largest oilfield, Ghawar, a top executive said. The field has been pumping since 1951. ‘Ghawar’s original reserves are over 100 billion barrels. Ghawar is still going strong, we are pampering Ghawar. We can sustain production for many years to come,’ Saad Turaiki, vice president of Southern Area Oil Operations, said on Wednesday. Aramco is pumping more than 5 million barrels per day (bpd) from the giant field, more than half of its 8 to 8.5 million bpd crude production, Turaiki said. The kingdom produced at 8.2 million bpd in March, a Reuters survery showed. The five discovery wells at Ghawar, have produced more than 350 million (bpd) and are still producing today at a combined rate of 6,000 bpd, Turaiki said at a conference..” [Complete Report]

Saudi grants Yemen $30 mln [Apr 8]
“Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has granted Yemen about $30 million to contribute to finance the establishment of an educational hospital. Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Abdul-Karim al-Arhabi and Saudi Finance Minister Ibrahim al-Assaf signed in the Sudanese capital Khartoum an agreement to grant Yemen the amount for establishing an educational hospital in Taiz University, with a capacity of 200 beds. The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the 39th round of the annual meetings of the Arab Financial institutions kicked off on Sudan on Wednesday..” [Complete Report]

Veiled Saudi Cleric-Basher Comes Third in Poetry Contest [Apr 8]
“A veiled Saudi housewife who stirred controversy for bashing extremist clerics in verse has failed to win the top cash prize in the popular “Million’s Poet” programme on Emirati television. Although Hissa Hilal impressed the jury, she did not garner enough audience votes to win the title and its five million dirhams (1.36 million dollars) prize. That sum went to her Kuwaiti rival, Nasser al-Ajami. Another Kuwaiti, Falah al-Mourki, was second and was awarded four million dirhams (1.08 million dollars). But Hilal does not return home empty-handed — she still received three million dirhams (817,000 dollars) for coming third.. ..Hilal has drawn the wrath of Islamist conservatives in her country after criticising its strict segregation of the sexes and blasting fatwas that reject an easing to allow women to take on jobs that are currently for men only..” [Complete Report]

New Industrial Zone to Create 70,000 Jobs [Apr 8]
“Riyadh Gov. Prince Salman launched on Tuesday the 100-square-kilometer Sudair Industrial and Business City in the outskirts of Riyadh, which is expected by authorities to attract SR150 billion in investments and create 70,000 jobs. The inauguration of the project took place at Faisaliah Hotel in the presence of Commerce and Industry Minister Abdullah Ahmed Zainal Alireza and Saudi Research and Marketing Group Chairman Prince Faisal bin Salman, prominent industrialists and other senior government officials. Speaking on the occasion, Prince Salman said the city, which is to house more than 300 factories, will create jobs and provide more locally manufactured items. Citing the project was on the cards for some years, the prince recalled that the location was chosen by the former Commerce and Industry Minister Hashim Abdullah Al-Yamani. He said some years ago, the place was filled with hunters looking for houbara bustards in the outskirts of Riyadh..” [Complete Report]

SUSRIS Daily News – Excerpts from International Media Reports
[Links to full articles were active on the date posted here]

Saudi Cleric Should Apply For Visa: Israel [Apr 7]
“Israel said on Tuesday that a Saudi cleric could apply for a visa from the consulate in Amman if he wants to visit occupied Jerusalem. ‘Throughout the years many people from countries like Libya, Indonesia and other countries that don’t have relations with Israel have visited [occupied] Jerusalem,’ Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor said. ‘All these visits were naturally coordinated with Israeli authorities.’.. ..Al Areefi told his viewers on Sunday on the religious satellite channel Iqra that the next episode of his show would be about Muslim claims to occupied Jerusalem and Palestine. Al Areefi said he would visit the city next week, though he did not specify when. He said he was not afraid of any ‘treachery from the Jews’, as he had put his trust in God. Al Areefi is viewed as a comparative moderate among Saudi Arabia’s conservative clergy. He is currently visiting Jordan..” [Complete Report]

Saudi Warns Cleric That Jerusalem Trips Are Banned [Apr 7]
“A Saudi official says a cleric who announced that he will visit Jerusalem for a TV episode on claims to the city will be punished if he travels there. The state-owned Al-Watan newspaper on Wednesday quoted the passports office spokesman Lt. Col. Badr Malik as saying visiting Israel is prohibited and any violator is punishable under the law. Sheik Mohammed al-Areefi told his viewers Sunday on his television show that he will visit Jerusalem next week to support Muslim claims to the city. Associates of the cleric have since said he was misquoted and does not plan to take the trip. If al-Areefi visits Jerusalem, it would be an unprecedented trip for a prominent Saudi. Most Muslim countries observe a strict boycott of Israel..” [Complete Report]

Mideast’s Largest Ecotourism Park Planned [Apr 7]
“The Higher Authority for the Development of Hail has embarked on a project to establish the largest environmental tourism park in the Middle East, said Prince Abdul Aziz bin Saad, deputy governor of Hail. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, he said the project has been planned to promote desert tourism in the Kingdom and attract tourists from different parts of the world.. ..Prince Saud visited SCTA and the Saudi Wildlife Commission to discuss the project..” [Complete Report]

Saudi Arabia to Spend $80 Billion on Power Capacity [Apr 7]
” Saudi Arabia, the Arab world’s biggest economy, plans to spend $80 billion on expanding its power generation capacity and transmission network in the next decade to meet rising demand. ‘Two-thirds of the funding will be by Saudi Electricity Co.,’ Saleh H. Al-Awaji, deputy minister for electricity and acting chairman of the state-controlled utility, said at a conference in Singapore today. ‘One-third is expected to come from private investors.’ Saudi Electricity needs to boost capacity by 3,000 megawatts a year to meet annual demand growth of 8 percent, spurred by a $400 billion, five-year government-spending program and a rising population. The utility plans to invest 205 billion riyals ($54.7 billion) in capacity expansion by 2018. The kingdom will boost capacity by 20,000 megawatts in the next 10 years from 46,000 megawatts currently..” [Complete Report]

Saudi Arabia’s Mobile Phone Penetration Rate Tops 177 Percent in 2009 [Apr 7]
“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s mobile phone penetration rate surpassed 177 per cent in 2009, reflecting the solid 7.5 per cent rise in the country’s telecom sector revenues to SAR 52.3 billion last year. The fixed-line and broadband sectors also posted penetration rate increases of 3.9 and 9.5 per cent, respectively. Industry analysts expect the Saudi telecommunications market to record strong figures in 2010 as well, driven by the continued expansion of the sector and high consumer spending power..” [Complete Report]

SUSRIS Daily News – Excerpts from International Media Reports
[Links to full articles were active on the date posted here]

 Saudi Cleric Announces On-Air Plans to Visit Occupied Jerusalem [Apr 6]
“A Saudi cleric has announced on his television show that he will visit occupied Jerusalem next week to bolster Muslim claims to the city. If Shaikh Mohammad Al Areefi goes ahead with his plan, it would be an unprecedented trip for a prominent Saudi. Occupied Jerusalem is the third holiest site in Islam, but most Muslim countries – including Saudi Arabia – observe a boycott of Israel and ban travel there. Al Areefi told his viewers on Sunday on the religious satellite channel Iqra the next episode of his show would be about Muslim claims to Jerusalem and Palestine. Al Areefi said he would visit the city next week, though he did not specify when. Al Areefi is viewed as a comparative moderate among Saudi Arabia’s conservative clergy..” [Complete Report]

Segregation of Sexes: Hai’a Chief Stands by His Comment [Apr 6]
“Ahmed Qassim Al-Ghamdi, the head of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (the Hai’a) in Makkah, has said he will not go back on his previous comments on the segregation of the sexes, and described opposition to his views from within his own organization as disgruntled individuals trying to ‘get their own back’.. ..In an interview reported by Saudi Gazette last December Al-Ghamdi spoke at length on the subject of the mixing of sexes – ‘ikhtilat’ – in which he described it in the current usage as ‘a recent adoption unknown to the early people of knowledge’. ‘Mixing used to be part of normal life for the Ummah and its societies,’ he said, adding that the word ‘in its contemporary meaning has entered customary jurisprudential terminology from outside’. ‘Those who prohibit ikhtilat cling to weak ahadith, while the correct ahadith prove that mixing is permissible, contrary to what they claim,’ Al-Ghamdi said..” [Complete Report]

Saudi Argas Sees Aramco Red Sea Award ‘Shortly’ [Apr 6]
“Arabian Geophysical & Surveying Co., part-owned by the world’s largest seismic surveyor CGGVeritas, expects Saudi Aramco to award a contract for exploration work in the Red Sea ‘shortly.’.. ..Argas is competing with international companies such as Schlumberger Ltd.’s WesternGeco unit and China National Petroleum Corp.’s BGP Inc. to win contracts from Aramco as oil prices rebound from 2009 lows and demand returns after the recession. Argas is 51 percent-owned by Saudi state-controlled Industrialization and Energy Services Co., also known as Taqa. Saudi Aramco, the world’s biggest state-owned oil company, plans to drill its first well in the deepwater Red Sea area in 2012, Abdulla al-Naim, vice-president for exploration, said on Dec. 7. The Red Sea is 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) deep in places with a salt sequence 7,000 feet thick that can distort seismic images, according to a report in Dimensions, the company’s in- house magazine. Aramco aims to discover at least 5 trillion cubic feet (142 billion cubic meters) of natural-gas reserves annually to meet soaring domestic industrial demand, according to Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi..” [Complete Report]

New Revenue Regulations Adopted by Shoura Council [Apr 6]
“The Shoura Council adopted on Monday new state revenue regulations to replace the Kingdom’s existing 60-year-old regulations. ‘The new regulations aim to increase revenue and supply necessary stimulants to generate more revenue,’ said Muhammad Abdullah Al-Ghamdi, secretary-general of the council. ‘The distinctive features of the new system include the definition of the sources of revenue such as natural resources, fees, wages, taxes, loans, refund of loans, investment returns, sales, fines and proceeds from the sale of state properties and rentals, donations, endowments, compensations and any other source decided by the Council of Ministers, which is the responsible body for the ideal investment of state resources,’ Al-Ghamdi added..” [Complete Report]

WHO Office in Kingdom [Apr 6]
“Health minister Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabiah has formally opened a World Health Organization (WHO) office in Riyadh. The opening ceremony was attended by the WHO’s East Mediterranean Regional Director Dr. Hussein bin Abdulrazzaq Al-Jazaeri. Al-Rabiah expressed his pleasure over cooperation with the WHO in many programs such as online health advice and epidemic diseases..” [Complete Report]

Rivalry and Differences Between Saudi and UAE [Apr 6]
“Competition for roles in a planned monetary union has brought to the open rivalry between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, the Gulf Cooperation Council’s (GCC) two biggest economies. The UAE quit the monetary union plan last year after heads of states chose Riyadh as a location for the bank, dealing a blow to a plan that has been languishing since 2001.  The appointment last week of the Saudi central bank governor at the helm of the monetary union’s top authority may be for only a one year term but the move may further reduce prospects for the United Arab Emirates and Oman to return. Here are some facts about the rivalry:..” [Complete Report]

Saudi Shias Arrested Over Worship [Apr 6]
“Authorities in Sunni-dominated Saudi Arabia have arrested several Shia community leaders in the Eastern Province for hosting Shias worship services in their homes, an activist said Tuesday. A 30-year old school teacher was detained on Monday in Al-Khobar, where three other Shias were arrested a week earlier for private services on the Ashura holiday last December, said Ibrahim Mugaiteeb of the Human Rights First Society. The arrests follow more than a year of tensions in the Eastern Province over permits for new Shia mosques in the region. Authorities have shut down several makeshift Shia mosques and refused a mosque permit for the 20,000-strong Al-Khobar Shia community, according to Mugaiteeb. ‘They cannot have their own mosques, and they can’t pray in a Sunni mosque,’ he told AFP. ‘They are not allowed to have prayers in the streets.’.. ..Shia’s constitute around 10 percent of the population of Saudi Arabia, where Sunni Islam is the official practice and most Sunni clerics regard Shia’s as a rejection of ‘true’ Islam..” [Complete Report]

Saudi-Luxembourg Cooperation in Islamic Finance [Apr 6]
“The signing in Alkhobar of a strategic cooperation and alliance agreement between Saudi Arabia’s Mohammed Hamad Al-Soaib Law Firm and the Luxembourg-based Lux Global Trust Services and Theisen Advocates recently is set to increase the use of the Duchy as a trust and tax domicile for Saudi investment products; investment vehicles such as special purpose vehicles (SPVs) used in the issuance of sukuk for instance; and the registration of investment funds, especially for UCITs (Undertakings for Collective Investment Trusts) of which Luxembourg is the world leader. The agreement specifically alludes to cooperation in the Islamic finance space and products, especially investment funds and sukuk, in addition to capitalizing on the Duchy’s tax regime for international transactions..” [Complete Report]

SUSRIS Daily News – Excerpts from International Media Reports
[Links to full articles were active on the date posted here]

Row Suspends Air Traffic in Madinah-Cairo Sector [Apr 5]
“Passenger flights in the Madinah-Cairo sector have been suspended following a dispute between the Saudi General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA) and its Egyptian counterpart when the latter refused to allow two Saudi-based private airlines to land at Cairo International Airport. In spite of an existing agreement to remove all restrictions in the air space between the two countries, the NAS and SAMA planes were recently denied clearance to carry passengers to Cairo. As a result of the dispute, Saudi Arabian Airlines was also disallowed from transporting Egyptian Umrah pilgrims from Cairo to Madinah’s Prince Muhammad Airport last week. GACA reacted instantly by denying permission to EgyptAir to land in Madinah, Al-Eqtisadiah daily reported on Sunday.. ..The number of air passengers between the Kingdom and Egypt stood at 3.2 million in 2009, ‬which is considered the highest among Arab countries..” [Complete Report]

Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi State Suppliers Raise Crude Oil Prices [Apr 5]
” Saudi Aramco, the world’s largest state-owned oil company, raised official selling prices for light crude grades for customers in the U.S. and Asia for May. Abu Dhabi raised its retroactive March prices on all grades. The state-owned Saudi Arabian producer increased the formula price of its Arab Super Light crude to Asia the most, by $1 a barrel to $2.10 more than the Persian Gulf benchmark, according to an e-mailed statement late yesterday. Aramco set the price for its Extra Light crude oil for May loadings for U.S. buyers at a premium of $1.35 a barrel over the Argus Sour Crude Index, 40 cents higher than for April. The discount for shipments of Light crude to the U.S. narrowed 20 cents to 40 cents less than ASCI a barrel. Aramco cut prices on heavy and medium grades to the U.S. and Asia and lowered all crudes to Europe..” [Complete Report]

New Moves to Resolve Expat Issues: NSHR [Apr 5]
“The National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) has said that the organization has handled since its inception some 20,000 cases concerning foreign workers, but that it expects new legal moves to resolve ‘all their issues’. ‘Most of the cases have concerned sponsors failing to pay wages, particularly concerning house workers,’ said NSHR chief Muflih Al-Qahtani. Of moves to address worker grievances, Al-Qahtani said the NSHR had signed a ‘memorandum of understanding with the Chamber of Commerce in Riyadh and the Recruitment Committee for Foreign Worker Welfare to address their issues’, and added that the House Employee Law would ‘resolve all their problems’ by ‘defining the relationship between employer and employee’..” [Complete Report]

Fort Leavenworth to Honor Foreign Officers [Apr 5]
“Two more names are being added to the list of distinguished international graduates of the Army’s Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth. Two generals – one from Saudi Arabia, the other from Belize – have qualified for the International Hall of Fame as the top commanders of their nation’s military. An induction ceremony is scheduled Thursday at Fort Leavenworth’s Lewis and Clark Center. Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Bin Abdullah Bin Hammad Al-Marshed is commander of Saudi Arabia’s land forces. He graduated from the Command and General Staff College in 1984..” [Complete Report]

SUSRIS Daily News – Excerpts from International Media Reports
[Links to full articles were active on the date posted here]

Pakistan’s Fears Over Growing Saudi-India Ties Allayed [Apr 4]
“The Pakistani foreign minister, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, held wide-ranging talks with his Saudi counterpart, Prince Saud Al-Faisal, on Saturday during which he expressed his concerns about India’s growing engagement in Afghanistan.. ..Asked about reports of India’s intentions to seek a Saudi role in resolving differences with Pakistan, he said he thought India may not have pursued this as it always discourages third-party involvement. He, however, said that he has no reservations if New Delhi wants to involve the Kingdom to bolster the prospect of peace.. ..The foreign minister, however, admitted that New Delhi had “old links” with Kabul, and wished a better relation between all countries of the region..” [Complete Report]

IIROSA Vows to Carry on With Global Humanitarian Programs [Apr 4]
“The International Islamic Relief Organization Saudi Arabia (IIROSA) is making strenuous efforts to be among the world’s top three relief agencies by extending the best possible services to refugees, orphans, the downtrodden and victims of natural and man-made calamities all over the world, said Adnan Khalil Basha, its secretary-general. Speaking to Arab News following a meeting of the IIROSA’s General Assembly in Jeddah on Thursday, Basha highlighted his organization’s efforts to achieve international recognition. ‘We will go ahead with our various humanitarian programs for the benefit and welfare of people around the globe with the support of the Almighty despite the challenges and obstacles we face,’ he said..” [Complete Report]

Saudi Population Not to Exceed 26 Million [Apr 4]
“The population of Saudi Arabia, the world’s top oil exporter, will not exceed 26 million this year, a government official said in remarks published on Sunday. Population growth is one of the biggest challenges for the Gulf Arab state which needs to create tens of thousands jobs and housing for its mostly young natives. To determine exact population figures the U.S. ally is holding a rare census from this month, the first one since 2004.. ..the Central Department of Statistics and Information put the number of Saudis of the total population of 25.37 million at 18 million..” [Complete Report]

Women’s Employment a Big Challenge for Authorities [Apr 4]
“In spite of promising policies and programs to encourage the full participation of women in the Saudi labor market, less than 15 percent of the Kingdom’s work force is made up of women, says a recent study. According to the study, the Kingdom still has an enormous source of untapped potential in its labor force, which heavily relies on expatriates at the moment. It adds that legislative, social, educational and occupational constraints prevent women from fully participating in the Saudi labor market. The study — titled ‘Women’s Employment in Saudi Arabia: A Major Challenge’ — discusses women’s employment and education in the Kingdom, and provides solutions to obstacles. It also explains how overcoming these constraints is essential if the Kingdom is to create a dynamic market economy. It has been undertaken by Dr. Mona Al-Munajjed, a senior adviser with the Ideation Center, Booz & Company’s leading think tank in the Middle East. “Women employment is one of the most important issues not only in Saudi Arabia but in all the Arab world..” [Complete Report]

Saudi Equity Cap Rises to SR1.34 Trillion [Apr 4]
“The Saudi stock market continued its upward momentum on Saturday after gaining 0.7 percent last week. The Tadawul All-Share Index (TASI) closed 0.37 percent higher at 6,826.48 points. The gaining sectors for the day ranged from 0.16 percent by Media and Publishing to 2.70 percent by the Insurance sector. The losing sectors on the other hand ranged from 0.06 percent by Real Estate Development to 1.71 percent by the Hotel & Tourism sector. The overall market breadth remained positive with 59 advancers against 50 decliners giving an AD ratio of 1.18, the Jeddah-based Financial Transaction House (FTH) said in its daily market commentary. The value of traded shares reached SR3.3 billion on Saturday. Last week, over SR16 billion worth of shares changed hands..” [Complete Report]

SUSRIS Daily News – Excerpts from International Media Reports
[Links to full articles were active on the date posted here]

‘Anti-Terrorism Measures Have Never Violated Human Rights’ [Apr 3]
“Steps taken by the Kingdom to safeguard its sovereignty and combat terrorism have not impinged on human rights or the fair application of justice, said the president of the Human Rights Commission (HRC), Bandar Al-Iban.. ..He added that the Kingdom has adopted several measures in the battle against terror. ‘The Saudi experience in combating terrorism and eradicating extremist ideologies through dialogue and advisory programs has proven successful,’ he said, adding that the Kingdom’s experience has attracted international praise and has been copied in a number of countries. He further said that the Kingdom is a signatory of many international agreements on battling terrorism, a problem that requires global cooperation to deal with its root issue..” [Complete Report]

Pak Welcomes Saudi Mediation [Apr 3]
“Pakistan welcomes Saudi mediation for the restoration of meaningful composite dialogue with India, says visiting Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi. Qureshi arrived in Riyadh Saturday on a two-day visit to the Kingdom. In an interview with Saudi Gazette, he said: ‘We would welcome the good offices of Saudi Arabia to play a role in the normalization of relations between Pakistan and India.’ On the lingering issue of Jammu and Kashmir, the bone of contention between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, Qureshi said that Pakistan believed that dialogue was the only way forward. ‘Pakistan seeks resolution of the Kashmir issue through peaceful means and dialogue. We believe that Kashmir is an international issue, which needs to be resolved in accordance with the UN resolutions as well as aspirations of the Kashmiri people,’..” [Complete Report]

Saudi Shares Rise to 17-Month High, Led by Sabic, as Oil Climbs [Apr 3]
“Saudi Arabian shares climbed to a 17-month high, led by Saudi Basic Industries Corp. and Etihad Etisalat, as oil climbed to its highest since October 2008. Saudi Basic Industries, the world’s biggest chemicals maker by market value, advanced to its highest in almost 17 months, while Etihad Etisalat, the Saudi Arabian unit of United Arab Emirates’ biggest phone company Emirates Telecommunications Corp., climbed to its highest in two years. Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index rose 0.4 percent to 6,826.48, the highest since October 2008. Crude oil surged to a 17-month high yesterday on signs that global economic growth is accelerating, bolstering optimism that fuel consumption will increase this year. Crude oil for May delivery rose $1.11, or 1.3 percent, to $84.87 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, the highest settlement price since Oct. 9, 2008. Prices have gained 75 percent in the past year..” [Complete Report]

Saudi Maaden Raises Stake in Aluminum Project With Alcoa [Apr 3]
“Saudi Arabian Mining Co, the state- owned metals producer known as Ma’aden, increased its stake in a project to build an aluminum industrial complex with Alcoa in Saudi Arabia. Ma’aden’s decision to raise its stake to 74.9 percent from 60 percent won’t impact the schedule and size of the project, the Riyadh-based miner said in a statement on the Saudi bourse Web site today. New York-based Alcoa’s stake decreased to 25.1 percent, Ma’aden said. The Saudi mining company in December signed a contract with Alcoa to build the 40.5 billion-riyal ($10.8 billion) industrial complex to supply aluminum to Saudi Arabia and global markets as part of the kingdom’s attempt to develop its mineral resources. The world’s largest oil exporter plans to spend $400 billion on roads, energy and infrastructure projects over five years starting last year to stimulate the economy..” [Complete Report]

King Orders Separation of Conjoined Gaza Twins [Apr 3]
“Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah has ordered treatment and surgery for the separation of Palestinian conjoined twins Retag bint Yasser Abu Assi and Rittal bint Yasser. The birth of the twin babies in Khan Yunis recently is the first of its kind in the occupied territory and the hospitals there are ill-equipped to handle the situation, which is due in large part to the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip that prevents the free import of medical and food supplies to the walled-off, densely populated territory. The babies will be brought from Gaza Strip to the National Guard‘s King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh, Health Minister Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah said in a statement to the Saudi Press Agency on Friday. Al-Rabeeah thanked the king for the keen interest taken in this medical procedure..” [Complete Report]

SUSRIS Daily News – Excerpts from International Media Reports
[Links to full articles were active on the date posted here]

Lebanese Man Convicted For Witchcraft in Saudi Won’t be Beheaded Friday [Apr 2]
“The lawyer of a Lebanese man condemned to death for witchcraft says Saudi Arabia will not go ahead with the beheading. Attorney May Al Khansa says she was told by Lebanon’s justice minister that Ali Sibat will not be executed Friday, as was expected. She says it’s still unclear whether the beheading has been waived or only postponed. Al Khansa and Sibat’s wife have both appealed to the Saudi king for Sibat’s release. Sibat made predictions on an Arab satellite TV channel from his home in Beirut. He was arrested by the Saudi religious police during his pilgrimage to the holy city of Medina in May 2008 and sentenced to death last November for witchcraft..”  [Complete Report]

Women to Get New ID Cards for Gulf Travel From Saturday [Apr 2]
“Starting from Saturday the Department of Civil Affairs will begin offering a national ID for women that can be used to travel to countries of the Gulf Corporation Council (GCC). ‘Women donít need a male guardian to apply,’ said Latifa Al-Ghamdi, an official of the womenís section of the Civil Affairs Department in Dammam. Women will still require permission from their male guardians to travel abroad. The new high-tech cards will include GPS tracking, fingerprints and features that will make them difficult to forge. The card, which is optional, has been touted as an additional step toward womenís empowerment in Saudi Arabia..” [Complete Report]

Foreign Minister [Pakistan] Leaves for Saudi Arabia Today [Apr 2]
“Foreign Minister, Shah Mehmood Qureshi will be leaving for a 3-day visit to Saudi Arabia on Friday. The foreign minister will discuss ways to improve regional security utilizing the Saudi leadership. According to Foreign Office, the foreign minister will discuss mutual relations between the two countries during his visit. The two countries will also talk about fulfilling promises being made by Saudi Arabia at the Democratic Friends of Pakistan Forum. Diplomatic circles consider this visit important for the security situation in the region. According to the sources, the regional security situation will be reviewed during the visit. The reconciliation process between Taliban and Afghan government and the progress being made so far will also be discussed. Pakistan has been asked to play a role in reconciliation process between Taliban and Afghan government..”  [Complete Report]

Saudi Airlines Sued After Aircraft Deal Goes Wrong [Apr 2]
“A Saudi businessman has filed a SR100 million lawsuit against Saudi Arabian Airlines after he allegedly purchased an ill-equipped aircraft from the airline. Youssef Al-Hamdan filed the lawsuit through the law firm of Khalid Al-Nowaiser. The lawsuit alleges that Al-Hamdan won the tender for the purchase of a Boeing 747 aircraft and he checked it thoroughly before completing his purchase. After finalizing payment, Al-Hamdan discovered that most of the aircraftís main technical devices were missing. Al-Hamdan tried to contact the airline on several occasions but he has not received a response. He then turned the matter over to the Al-Nowaiser law firm to try and reach an amicable solution to the problem. However, the law firm did not receive any positive feedback from the airline, so legal action was taken. Al-Hamdan told Arab News that the lawsuit was filed a while ago and everything was in the hands of his lawyers..”  [Complete Report]

Naif Arab University signs MOU with Italian law institute [Apr 2]
“Naif Arab University for Security Sciences has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to exchange expertise with the Italian International Institute of Humanitarian Law in Riyadh on Sunday. The instituteís president Maurizio Morino told Arab News that the memo would also allow for the sharing of knowledge and joint participation in research and training activities. ‘This memo is the latest in our efforts to extend our presence in different parts of the world in promoting the culture of humanitarian law and human rights though lectures, seminars, and courses. Iraq, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Qatar were covered by these efforts lately,’ he said. He considered the signing of the MOU at the Riyadh-based university as among the achievements of his visit to the Kingdom..”  [Complete Report]

Saudi Hands Over Remains of 32 Yemen Shiite Rebels [Apr 2]
“Saudi Arabia handed over to Yemen on Friday the remains of 32 Shiite Huthi rebels killed in fighting on the Saudi-Yemeni border, a Yemeni official told AFP. ‘Saudi authorities returned the bodies of 32 Huthi infiltrators’ at a ceremony on the border, he said, adding that Yemeni authorities in turn passed on the remains to a representative of the Shiite rebels in northern Yemen. Yemen launched an all-out offensive against the Huthis in August and the rebels later locked horns with Saudi forces after accusing Riyadh of allowing Yemen’s army to use its territory to stage attacks in border areas. Saudi forces intervened in the Huthi uprising in northern Yemen last November, accusing the rebels of killing a border guard and occupying two villages on its territory..”  [Complete Report]

SUSRIS Daily News – Excerpts from International Media Reports
[Links to full articles were active on the date posted here]

KSA Fully Committed to Disarmament: Envoy [Apr 1]
“The Kingdom has emphasized its full commitment to the principles of disarmament set by the international community. Addressing a session of the United Nations Disarmament Commission on Tuesday, the Kingdomís Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Khaled Bin Abdulrazzaq Al-Nafisi, said that the Kingdom has joined a number of major conventions and treaties in the field of disarmament and it was one of the first signatories to the Convention of Prohibition of Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons, the Convention of Prohibition of Use of Biological Weapons, the Treaty of Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement with International Atomic Energy Agency and the Protocol of Small Quantities. He pointed out that turning a blind eye for decades to the Israeli nuclear program, which continues to produce weapons of mass destruction, has resulted in encouraging some countries to develop their nuclear capabilities and use the pretext of double-standards to justify their non-compliance with the resolutions of international legitimacy in this area..”  [Complete report]

King Abdullah’s Initiative Can Promote World Peace, Says Indian Academic [Apr 1]
“A renowned Indian journalist and academic has emphasized the need for spreading Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah’s message of tolerance to promote world peace and stability. ‘King Abdullah’s interfaith dialogue initiative will usher in a new golden age of Islam,’ said Professor Madhav Das Nalapat, UNESCO peace chair and director of the Department of Geopolitics at Manipal University in India. Speaking to Arab News, he described Islam as a tolerant religion. ‘King Abdullah’s initiative indicates that Islam is a religion of tolerance and accommodates others views. The Prophet (peace be upon him) was extremely humane and tolerant while dealing with other people. He never imposed his point of view on anybody. King Abdullah’s initiative is in line with the tenets of Islam and is a healthy development,’ he said..”  [Complete report]

US Congressman Sees Stronger Saudi Ties [Apr 1]
“An American Muslim congressman said work is under way to improve the visa process for Saudis traveling to the United States.  Keith Ellison, Democratic congressman for Minneapolis, also expressed confidence that the two nations’ long relationship would grow stronger in the coming years. Ellison, who was acting as head of a trade delegation to Saudi Arabia, made the remarks on Wednesday during a visit to the Asharqia Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Dammam. He led a delegation of CEOs and managing directors of American companies from the sectors of oil and gas, information technology, petrochemicals, insurance, engineering, banking, transport, communications, security, health and contracting. ‘We have a long-term relationship. However, no relationship can stay strong unless it is nurtured and so the point of our trade mission is to nurture and strengthen that relationship,’ Ellison told Arab News exclusively. ‘My view is that since 9/11 some Americans haven’t really understood the strength of the relationship, so what we are trying to do is to reacquaint a whole new generation of American businesspeople with our long and time-tested mutually beneficial relationship.’ To those ends, Ellison said he is working to ease travel to the United States..”  [Complete report]

Energy Forum Calls For ‘Transparent’ Markets [Apr 1]
“Energy producers and consumers on Wednesday called for ‘transparent’ markets in a bid to tackle oil price volatility in a ministerial declaration issued at the end of a key forum. ‘With regard to energy market volatility, energy markets should be as transparent as possible,’ said a joint declaration issued by the International Energy Forum at the end of a two-day meeting in the beach resort of Cancun. It also agreed to strengthen dialogue between leading producers, such as Saudi Arabia and Russia, and key consumers including the United States and China – in a bid to eliminate the risk of excessive price volatility. Oil prices surged to all-time peaks of above $147 a barrel in July 2008, before the severe global economic downturn saw them crashing to just $32. They have steadily recovered, trading in recent months mostly between $70 and $80 – a level deemed acceptable by producers and consumers..”  [Complete report]

‘Sorcerer’ Faces Imminent Death in Saudi Arabia [Apr 1]
“The lawyer for a Lebanese man sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia for witchcraft has appealed for international help to save him. Ali Sabat was the host of a popular Lebanese TV show in which he predicted the future and gave advice. He was arrested by religious police on sorcery charges while on a pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia in 2008. His lawyer, May el-Khansa, says she has been told Mr Sabat is due to be executed this week. Ms Khansa has contacted the Lebanese president and prime minister to appeal on his behalf. There has been no official confirmation from Saudi Arabia, but executions there are often carried out with little warning.. ..An Egyptian working as a pharmacist in Saudi Arabia was executed in 2007 after having been found guilty of using sorcery to try to separate a married couple. There is no legal definition of witchcraft in Saudi Arabia, but horoscopes and fortune telling are condemned as un-Islamic..”  [Complete report]

Saudi Arabia Seeks Private Finance for $1.6 Billion Airport [Apr 1]
” Saudi Arabia is seeking finance from international and regional banks for its first privately owned airport in Medina, Islamís second Holy City, which is estimated to cost about 6 billion riyals ($1.6 billion). The Saudi regulator, General Authority of Civil Aviation, will hold a roadshow in Dubai on April 7 to meet banks and investors interested in the airport that is planned to handle as many as 8 million passengers per year, Alaa Samman, director of business development for domestic airports at the regulator, said yesterday in an interview. ‘Itís a huge project that requires private lending and we want to make sure that banks are aware of that,’ Samman said. The International Finance Corporation, part of the World Bank, will act as financial and legal adviser, he said. GACA, as the regulator is known, is contacting potential investors to submit initial proposals by May 20 to build and operate the airport for no less than 25 years before transferring it to the government. The regulator will announce the winning bid on Nov. 25..”  [Complete report]