RIYADH: Finance ministers and governors of central banks from the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) pledged here yesterday to unify their position against the global financial crisis that is hampering the smooth operation of banks and stock markets in the region. The ministerial-level meeting called for coordinated efforts to shore up confidence of Gulf institutions and individuals. “The finance ministers discussed the mechanisms of coordination to protect the economies of the Gulf states,” said GCC Secretary-General Abdul Rahman Al-Attiyah. The emergency meeting’s main agenda was to discuss coordination of GCC states’ responses to a global downturn that threatens to stop the region’s six-year economic boom.
They include a GCC infection control conference and an infection control course designed and conducted by the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA). The five-day events, to be opened in Riyadh on Oct. 17, will be attended by a panel of international experts as well as delegates from the Kingdom’s medical world.
The Luxembourg-based EU’s General Court struck down an order freezing the funds of Al-Qadi, suspected of links with Al-Qaeda, saying that his rights had been violated.
RIYADH: Facing the high cost of fuel, low-fare Saudi carrier Sama is considering the prospects of shutting down all of its domestic flights until situation in the aviation market of the Kingdom improves and a reasonable return can be ensured.
Addressing a press conference, Vitry said that Barclays Saudi Arabia (BSA) was honored to have received its commencement letter from the Capital Market Authority (CMA), which allows them to conduct regulated activities now. He said: “The Middle East, especially Saudi Arabia, was an important market in which Barclays has a strong footprint and client base.” The Kingdom now becomes the fourth Barclays operation in the region after Egypt, Qatar and the UAE.
Riyadh: At least three people were reported injured when gunmen opened fire outside a mosque in Riyadh on Wednesday night. However, Senior Police officials told Arab News that only one person was hit.
Flights will operate as planned on Monday as Sama makes urgent arrangements to accommodate stranded passengers on other airlines. Sama CEO Bruce Ashby said the decision was not an easy one for the airlines and was taken only after failing to find an alternative. Sama has informed the General Authority of Civil Aviation of its plan, said GACA spokesman Khalid Al-Khaibari.
The statement released by the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) on Saturday said that a “heavy hit on the surface of the runway caused the crash that led to a fire and billowing smoke all around” immediately after landing.
The hefty wedding costs associated with marrying Saudi women prompted over 2,100 Saudi men to go hitched to non-Saudi women last year , according to a study conducted by the Ministry of Justice.
There were no casualties, although its two pilots sustained minor injuries, according to the German airline and the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA). The aircraft split into two pieces when it landed at 11.38 in the morning. “The cause of the incident is being investigated, and one of the two KKIA runways temporarily closed has since been reopened for regular flights,” said GACA spokesman Khaled Al-Khaibari.