RIYADH, 27 November 2007 — New cases of bird flu virus have been found at a poultry farm in Al-Kharj, 150 km south of Riyadh, the Agriculture Ministry announced yesterday. While the Ministry of Agriculture was announcing the news of the detection of this deadly virus, another attempt to smuggle two truckloads of live birds into the capital city was foiled by the municipal officials yesterday.
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has launched a world-class center for climate change research. The Center of Excellence for Climate Change Research (CECCR) on the campus of King Abdulaziz University (KAU) in Jeddah was established on Monday a few hours before the meeting in Copenhagen at which energy and environment ministers were making pledges for a clean global climate.
RIYADH: The Middle East peace process will top the agenda of talks between Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and French President Nicolas Sarkozy here on Tuesday. Sarkozy’s visit, though primarily political in nature, coincides with the announcement by Thales, a French firm, that it won a SR168 million contract on Monday to set up a new civil aviation academy in Jeddah. “The visit of the French president is rich in overtones of political diplomacy with Middle East peace process on the top of the agenda besides regional questions like Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan,” said a Western diplomat, adding that Sarkozy would be flying into Riyadh on board a special aircraft with a small delegation.
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia, which leads the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council in terms of ambitious organic farming projects and by setting up a private sector Saudi Organic Farming Association (SOFA), is currently mapping out a comprehensive action plan for the development of organic farming and food. Saudi Minister of Agriculture Fahd Balghunaim, who was elected president of the 10-member SOFA board of directors, said, “The Saudi government has been backing the initiative to promote organic farming with the help of the German technical agency GTZ.
RIYADH: A multimillion dollar new foaming plant, the largest of its kind in the world, has been set up by the Cold stores Group of Saudi Arabia (CGS), a leading company in transport and warehouse refrigeration industry. The new plant is equipped with the latest German technology to ensure production of excellent quality products including the best insulated panels and high-quality multipurpose shelters. “The launch of this new plant is CGS’s next step to increase productivity and to maintain its position as a market leader,” said Esmat Al-Saady, chairman of CGS board of directors, while speaking on the occasion of the unveiling of the plant.