RIYADH, 18 August 2004 — Philippine officials said yesterday 17 Filipino nationals are facing the death penalty overseas, including 11 in Saudi Arabia. Foreign Undersecretary Jose Brillantes was quoted in Manila as saying five other OFWs were sentenced to death in Malaysia and one in the United States. Brillantes’ count, as reported by news agencies from Manila, included 13 OFWs in Saudi Arabia’s death row, for a total of 19 worldwide.
RIYADH, July 25 – Making a headway with Saudi oil industry and emerging to be the second leading desalination company in the world, Metito Arabia Industries, the local pioneering Saudi company involved in waste water treatment and desalination, has bagged SR50 million waste water treatment contracts.
RIYADH- American Express has announced its summer promotions for this year, which include special offers from a variety of cooperating businesses. Lasting until mid-August, the promotion period coincides with the summer shopping season.
RIYADH, 1 July 2004 — The body of the Filipino suspect involved in the attempted rape and murder of two Pakistani women at the heavily-fortified Seder Village residential compound was found here Tuesday. The suspect was named as Don David Prado, 45, according to the Philippine Embassy quoting from the police investigation. The man, who had been at large since June 24 after committing the double murder and fleeing the upmarket residential complex, is believed to have taken his own life.
RIYADH, 30 June 2004 — Seven expatriate car washers were detained in a raid but later released, as part of occasional crackdowns on this section of casual labor. “Some of them were briefly detained and later released after their residence permits were found to be in order,” said two car washers, Mujahidul Islam and Majid Kutty. Islam, a Bangladeshi car washer, said those detained included four Bangladeshi nationals and an Indian.
RIYADH- The Supreme Commission for Tourism is to focus increasingly on the preservation of the Kingdom’s threatened historical sites, highlighting a recently restored palace in Taif as an example of the cultural attractions the Kingdom has to offer.
RIYADH, 10 June 2004 — Saudi authorities have freed 24 Filipinos, who had been in jail in Riyadh following convictions on drug charges. The Filipinos have been deported to the Philippines after being released from Al-Hair Prison following a royal clemency granted by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd. “A group of 14 Filipinos are still in the same prison on drug charges,” said Romulo Victor M. Israel, third secretary & vice consul at the Philippine Embassy.
RIYADH, May 26 – A senior investment expert said here that the Ministry of Commerce in Saudi Arabia is considering the potential for non-GCC ownership of Saudi shares, keeping in mind the flow of inter- national capital to the Saudi market and increased interest from foreign investors. Saudi policy makers have observed the success of Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia who have committed, slowly but surely, the foreign ownership of domestic shares. however, in the case of the Kingdom, this may be restricted to limited foreign ownership of Saudi shares in the initial stages.
RIYADH, 26 May 2004 — The six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council took another step toward closer ties among member states by finalizing a plan for unified ID cards for Gulf nationals. The main feature of the cards, which will bear both the GCC’s and the member country’s logo, is “inter-operability” — making its features readable in all Gulf states. The cards will use smart card technology and have common security features and accessing devices.
RIYADH, 21 May 2004 — The Civil Defense has set up a rapid reaction force to confront terror attacks and natural disasters, its director Maj. Gen. Saad Al-Tuwaijri said here yesterday. “We now have a special force whose members are highly-trained and equipped with the most sophisticated equipment to deal with terrorist attacks,” he said in a press statement.