RIYADH: Saudi Arabia and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) have launched a major initiative under which they have identified eight countries to cofinance agriculture projects that would go a long way to ensuring food security.
The statement that health care in Saudi Arabia is up to international standards or in some cases even better might be viewed by some readers as a gross exaggeration. But it is true. The Kingdom, in fact, can boast some 400 world-class health institutions and hospitals including specialized facilities that provide top-of-the-line treatment to the poor and the rich for a wide variety of diseases and disorders. The claim is not that Saudi Arabia has the best in the world, but it is way ahead of many countries and in certain fields on a par with the best.
A major Europ-ean Film Festival kicks off in Riyadh today with the screening of a 100-minute popular film “Empties” (Vrante Lahve, directed by Jan Sverak) at the German Embassy.
RIYADH: As part of an ambitious plan to ensure better working conditions for workers, India is negotiating with the Saudi government to fix minimum wages for its hundreds of thousands of blue-collar work force.
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has intensified efforts to check the growing market of pirated CDs, DVDs, computer games and IT software, and launched raids to confiscate goods and detain those involved in the business. The raids and detainments were carried out by the Ministry of Culture and Information, which has urged people to respect the Kingdom’s copyright and intellectual property laws, a senior ministry official said yesterday.
RIYADH: Five Saudis wanted on terrorism and sabotage charges have been extradited to the Kingdom by Yemeni authorities, the Interior Ministry confirmed yesterday. “Yemen had handed over to us five Saudi nationals, but the name of only one — Abdullah Abdul Rahman Muhammad Al-Harbi — figures in the Kingdom’s wanted list,” said Interior Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Mansour Al-Turki, referring to the Kingdom’s list of 85 suspected terrorists. “The other four men have nothing to do with the list. Investigations are under way at the moment.”
RIYADH, 28 March 2008 — Prince Bander Ibn Khalid Al-Faisal, chairman of the board of directors of Sama airline, promised continued operations of the low-fare Saudi carrier here yesterday, while contradicting rumors that the carrier would close down its service and end operations in near future because of the soaring aviation fuel prices. “The reports about the closure of the airline are highly misleading and untrue,” said the prince.
RIYADH: Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah held wide-ranging talks with French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner at his palace here yesterday. The talks focused on key regional and international issues, including Iran, Iraq, Palestine and Sudan. Addressing a press conference, Kouchner said his talks with the king dealt with the arrest warrant against Sudan’s President Omar Bashir, Palestinian reconciliation, upcoming Lebanese parliamentary elections and the G-20 meeting in London.
RIYADH: Prince Naif, second deputy premier and minister of interior, called for greater international efforts to fight terrorism. “The Kingdom has imposed tight restrictions to dry up the resources and funds of terrorists in order to curb the spread of this evil,” said Prince Naif, who renewed his pledge to stop the spread of militancy with the help of the government, the media and members of the public. Prince Naif said “propaganda and yellow journalism” were encouraging Saudi youths to join militant organizations. “The media, whether it is the state media or private, should be realistic and objective,” he said.
Riyadh: In an effort to explain the role of the Gulf states with special referance to the global economic downturn, Saudi Arabia has announced it will participate in a high-profile meeting of G-20 finance ministers and central bank governors due to be held in London tomorrow.