JEDDAH/ CAIRO, 4 July 2005 — Saudi Arabia said yesterday it will resume diplomatic relations with Iraq even as Egypt’s envoy to Baghdad was reported kidnapped. Dr. Saleh Al-Kohaimi, head of the Arab states department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the Kingdom was one of the four Arab states ready to send ambassadors to Baghdad. The two countries have decided to renew diplomatic ties after a break of 13 years.
RIYADH, 26 June 2005 — Saudi Arabia will participate in a high-profile international conference on desalination and water reuse to be hosted by Singapore on Sept. 11. Water and Electricity Minister Abdullah Al-Hussayen, will lead the Saudi delegation to this six-day world congress in which more than 40 countries will participate and a huge panel of world-renowned desalination and water experts will present 100 scientific and technical papers. Singaporean Minister of Water and Environment Dr. Yaacob Ibrahim, who is also incharge of Muslim affairs in Singapore, announced the details of the conference yesterday.
RIYADH, 7 June 2005 — Egypt has announced relaxed tourist visa requirements for Saudi nationals. The new conditions are part of its efforts to woo more tourists from the region after a sharp drop in tourist traffic was reported between the Kingdom and Western destinations since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the United States
RIYADH, 29 May 2005 — An Asian car mechanic has been arrested for allegedly practicing medicine in Riyadh and Khamis Mushayt for several years. This fraudulent doctor, who was in possession of some fake medical certificates besides medicines, syringes, medical equipment and prescription drugs, is actually a General Motors mechanic by profession, according to reliable sources.
RIYADH, 19 May 2005 — The United States has dropped yesterday a year-old warning it issued to its citizens to leave Saudi Arabia but said that they should still “defer non-essential” travel to the Kingdom because of security concerns and possible terrorist attacks. The language used in the current advisory notice differs significantly from that of the April 2004 advisory, which said: “The Department of State warns US citizens to defer travel to Saudi Arabia. Private American citizens currently in Saudi Arabia are strongly urged to depart.”
RIYADH, 17 May 2005 — Saudi police have detained a suspected drug trafficker after recovering 440,000 tablets of the banned stimulant fenethylline (commonly known under the trade name Captagon) with an estimated street value of SR23 million. This seizure follows a major search exercise conducted by the Saudi security officials to apprehend drug traffickers and criminals, who have been operating drug, crime and porno dens in the capital city.
RIYADH, 14 May 2005 — The Supreme Commission for Tourism (SCT) has finalized plans to publish a comprehensive tourism services guide. It will contain detailed information and advertisements about travel and tourism companies operating in the country together with attractions and facilities available for tourists in all 13 provinces of the Kingdom.
RIYADH, 8 May 2005 — Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal will lead a high-level Saudi delegation to Brazil to participate in the first summit of Arab and South American leaders. The visit was announced by senior Saudi and Brazilian officials here yesterday. The conference seeks to bring the two regions closer in the domains of politics, culture and commerce.
RIYADH, 4 April 2005 — Crown Prince Abdullah has instructed health officials to transfer Indonesian maid Nour Miyati to King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center (KFSH & RC) for further treatment. Health Minister Dr. Hamad Al-Manie visited Riyadh Medical Complex (Shumaisi Hospital) yesterday and conveyed the instructions. Miyati was admitted there for treatment of severe injuries caused by her Saudi employer.
RIYADH, 27 March 2005 — Security officials have unearthed a number of drug, liquor and pornography dens during their raids here yesterday. “A total of 37 expatriates, mostly Asians, have been detained on charges of drug-trafficking alone,” a security official said. A Pakistani in possession of six kg of heroine and an Indian with 3.5 kg of hashish have been taken into custody, while five expatriates, including three Filipinos, have been arrested for sodomy.