-News From the Arab World-

Far7an said:
Assalamu alaikum

You sure do love the arab news don't you? I merged all your news reports into one thread. Those threads which turned into long dicussions, I decided to leave out.
Click to expand...


:sl: Yeah I do brother far7an.:happy:

JazakAllah for merging my news reports.:smile:

Allah ma3ak
 
salam
i was thanking bro farhan actually, for merging all the excellent reports into one thread
wasalam
 
:sl:

Al Jazeera turns nine; ranks fifth in world



Doha: Al Jazeera has plans to soon set up a centre that would conduct research and opinion polls on issues of global and regional significance, Chairman Sheikh Hamad bin Thamer Al Thani said yesterday.

He was speaking at the ninth anniversary celebrations of Al Jazeera Channel at a function here. Sheikh Hamad bin Thamer reiterated that Al Jazeera English channel was all set to be launched in the first quarter of next year. The channel, he recalled, had made progress since launch in November 1996 and today ranked fifth among the international channels in the world in terms of reach and extensive coverage.


"It is a great achievement for a channel that was set up only nine years ago." The chairman also recalled on the occasion the sacrifices of some scribes who lost their lives covering events for Al Jazeera and those who were facing prison terms for the cause of press freedom such as Teyseer Allouni and lensman Sami Al Haj.
 
salam
wow! didn't realise al jazeera was that popular and that good
i prefer abu dhabi and islam channel coz they show jummah from makkah
lol
wasalam
 
:sl:
News from LI News reporter: Ameeratul layl :statisfie

Saudi Ambassador Prince Turki Al-Faisal called for increased international cooperation to help combat extremism and terrorism worldwide in the keynote address at The Middle East Institute's 59th Annual Conference at the National Press Club in Washington, DC.

Entitled “Terrorism and Radical Islam: Challenges and Misunderstandings,” the speech addressed the many issues involved in the war on terrorism and cautioned against associating the Islamic faith with extremism: “It is to our despair that terrorists claim to be faithful to Islam and faithful to God. They are not. They wrongly attempt to use Islam to bolster and proselytize their extremism. They wrongly pervert Islamic texts in order to support their political agendas. They wrongly issue politically motivated fatwas permitting suicide bombings and the taking of innocent lives."

Prince Turki highlighted the Kingdom's efforts to fight terrorism, those who support it, and those who condone it. He described Al-Qaeda as an organization that “has no one declared enemy, and no one focus. Al-Qaeda has pitted itself against the whole of humanity."

The Ambassador also remarked: “There are those who believe that the war against Al-Qaeda is a war between East and West; between Christianity and Islam. Some see it as a ‘clash of civilizations.’ We are not engaged in a clash of civilizations; we are engaged in a war ‘for civilization.’ It is a war that pits all peace-loving people, regardless of their culture or faith, against the forces of darkness.”

This year's conference, “Fractured Realities: A Middle East in Crisis”, sought to examine the issues and challenges facing the Middle East region and the U.S., including efforts to find new energy sources, reconstruction efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the future of Gaza and the Peace Process following the recent Israeli pullout.
 
:sl:

News from LI 'S very own reporter: Ameeratul layl :statisfie

Saudi Arabian Airlines faces tough competition


11 November 2005


JEDDAH — The monopoly and a certain advantage that the Saudi Arabian Airlines enjoys as a national carrier "will not last long," according to an Arabic business daily.


The airline industry in the region and in the Kingdom is facing competition, which is increasing, rather than decreasing, making it tougher for the regional carriers to stay in business. Al-Eqtedsadiyah reported on Tuesday that the airline, which celebrated its 60th anniversary recently, is now one of the world's largest, with a fleet of more that 100 aircraft, and carries more than 16 million passengers a year. "These impressive numbers should not fool anyone certainly not airline officials," it stressed.

The daily explained that the airline will face strong competition in the local market where they have traditionally enjoyed a monopoly. Customers nowadays, including Saudis themselves, search for the lowest airfares and the best service. Saudia at present provides neither.

"We want our national carrier to be the best in terms of services and profits but this cannot be achieved without hard work and incentives," it said. "There is a need for considerable improvement in the airline's services. It should improve the management of its resources," it added.

The daily recounted that a few years ago, Saudia decided to restructure the company and it brought in experienced international companies to transform it into a profitable institution capable of competing with other international carriers. "Instead of improving and achieving growth, however, the service has not become better and complaints are more numerous than ever. The airline was, in fact, unable to fulfill travellers' basic needs during the last summer vacation and also during Ramadan," it said.

Al-Eqtedsadiyah said that established just 20 years ago, UAE's Emirates carried more than 12 million passengers last year, and ranks second in terms of profits and 20th in size. It began service with two rented aircraft in 1985; the aircraft flew to only three destinations Karachi, Bombay and Delhi.

"Emirates officials are planning carefully; they have a clear vision and clear goals. It would not be surprising or unexpected if Emirates exceeds Saudia in a year or two," it said, and added, "Though the UAE has a population of only two million, it supports three airlines, none of which unlike Saudia enjoy a monopoly."

Meanwhile, Dr. Khaled Ben Bakr, director general announced on Tuesday that Saudia will next month receive the first two of the15 new Embraer 170 aircraft it ordered last April. He added that the new fleet would improve the airline's services.

Saudia will receive the first two aircraft in December and another two in January. "Later on we shall receive one aircraft every month until all the 15 planes are delivered, Bakr said.

He said that the national carrier will use the Embraer to increase frequencies on existing regional and domestic flights and eventually develop mini-hubs in the northern city of Hail and the southern resort city of Abha.
 
:sl:

FROM THE LI'S VERY OWN NEWS REPORTER: Ameeratul layl:playing:

Saudi set to join trade fold but first it must convince EU



Saudi Arabia is much less famous for its liberal economy than for the rule of shariah law and its lack of many human rights. But this week, after 12 years in waiting, the birthplace of Islam may finally be allowed to enter the World Trade Organisation.
On Friday, a working party of the WTO will announce whether the kingdom can join the group of 148 nations in time for December's meeting of trade ministers in Hong Kong - a deadline the Saudis are desperate to reach. However, it is this week's fraught negotiations with one of its trading partners, the EU, that could prevent it from doing so. In order to join the WTO, Saudi Arabia must reach a bilateral agreement with the EU. Europe is attempting to tackle the Saudi insurance industry - a sensitive area for an Islamic state as it is based upon a financial gamble.

There is much at stake for the Saudis. Despite the fact that oil revenues this year are up 40 per cent and GDP is projected to grow by 8 per cent, 30 per cent of Saudi nationals are unemployed. The oil boom of the 1970s saw an enormous rise in birth rate: 60 per cent of the population is under the age of 20. Officials in the Saudi administration believe that getting the country's youth into gainful employment is crucial in the fight against terrorism.

The government hopes to create a diversified economy. In order to do so it needs more foreign investment. This has never been a popular idea with the Wahhabis, the hard-line religious leaders of the kingdom. But it is happening, slowly. In the many shopping malls of Riyadh, Western businesses such as Marks & Spencer and Pizza Hut run franchises. Deutsche Bank has set up shop and the Toyota dealership in Saudi is the largest in the world. Steffen Hertog, an Oxford University expert in Saudi Arabia's accession to the WTO, said that it would be an important psychological jump for the many businesses that have held out: 'It's a comfort for business. The government is signifying it wants to play by the rules.'

Saudi Arabia had failed to participate in the general agreement on trade and tariffs (Gatt). According to Professor Rodney Wilson at Durham University, it was confident that oil exports would remain its only concern. This meant that the kingdom did not become a WTO member when it was created in 1995. Joining late meant liberalising to a much greater extent and having to sign bilateral agreements with all its major trading partners.

The political situation surrounding 9/11 made the Saudi accession impossible in 2001 but the cogs began to move last April when President Bush held hands with Crown Prince (now King) Abdullah and pledged to help push through Saudi accession before Hong Kong. The US managed to force a number of crucial reforms that went well beyond the WTO's rule book. American businesses will be able to take up to a 75 per cent stake in Saudi companies in the services sector, 100 per cent in IT and 51 per cent in retail rising to 75 in three years. Saudi also promised to reduce almost all agricultural tariffs to 15 per cent or less and remove export subsidies. US agricultural exports to Saudi account for nearly $500 million annually.

So far, the EU has gained significant concessions for member countries but there are two sticking points in the negotiations, which must be resolved this week.

The first is the dual pricing of natural gas. Saudi companies can buy gas cheaper than foreign competitors. The Saudis argue that this is not a subsidy, and in any case, the issue could be resolved at the WTO if it were a member. But EU states such as Poland are concerned that backing down on Saudi dual-pricing now would set a dangerous precedent for when Russia, another gas-rich economy, eventually joins the WTO.

While early intelligence suggests the EU has won on this issue, the second - insurance - has deadlocked negotiations. According to Sabbir Patel, of the International Co-operative and Mutual Assurance Federation, there are three elements of shariah law that prevent insurance companies from operating. Gharar - uncertainty - is illegal and it is uncertain whether a payment will be made and how much it will be. Maisir, or gambling, is illegal. A small amount of premium is paid in the hope of gaining a large sum. And, interest - riba - also illegal, is paid in order to raise capital for insurance funds. As a result, there are co-operative insurance models that comply with shariah law, but also Saudi insurance funds based abroad but with branches in the country. Foreign insurers want to open branches in Saudi and to invest up to 60 per cent in a local co-operative. But the EU is pushing Saudi to allow European companies to do so with 100 per cent equity and hopes to lay the framework for a traditional insurance industry in the country.
 
:sl:

Three different types of Surgery saves the hand of an old Yemani man



A sixty years old Yemani man presented to the Vascular surgery department in the Saudi German hospital Jeddah, suffering of gangrene of three fingers of his left hand. Investigations proved that he has obstruction of the arteries of the forearm and obstruction of the arteries of the hand. So he had three different types of surgery to save his left hand.

The first operation was by (endovascular surgery) using arterial catheter to dilate the obstruction by a balloon and put a stent to keep the obstruction opened.

Next day the second operation was done by (Thoracoscopic surgery) doing excesion of a specific segment of the sympathetic chain of the thorax to dilate the small arteries of the hand which was done through the endoscope.

The Third type of Surgery which was done for the patient was (open surgery),
which was done at the end to excise the gangrenous parts of the fingers of the left hand. The three different operations was done in three successive days, all of these operations was done by Dr. Mahmoud Salah, Consultant and head of ascular and endovascular surgery department in the Saudi German hospital Jeddah. Patient improved much and his hand was saved. Thanks God.
 
:sl:

An Egyptian Citizen is able to Speak after 7 Years in Saudi German Hospital in Jeddah


An Egyptian citizen aged 32 has gotten hope to talk after 7 years of suffering. Through that years he made 19 operations outside the kingdom but non of them succeeded, meanwhile the patient lost his hope the patient hurt in a car accident which caused to him sever laryngeal and sub glottal stenosis. He remained in the ICU more than 1 month and half. T he repetition operations that used to open that stenosis caused a laryngeal and sub glottal fibrosis and adhesions. So the ENT surgeryzxcs team in Saudi German Hospital in Jeddah supervised by the visiting professor Warner E. with the help of Dr. Ebraheem Abdo ENT Consultant, Have made 3 surgeries on 3 stages, between each stage 2 months. In the first stage they cut the larynx to be healed without stenosis. In the second stage they used a costal cartilage graft to augment the lat wall larynx and trachea and in the third stage they close the new larynx and the trachea which took 2 hours, then, thanks God and the prince Abdulaziz Ben Fahad who held the whole operationzxcs cost, he is able to speak after 7 years.
 
:sl:

UAE: Dh16b Deira beach contract signed


DUBAI -- Real estate developer Nakheel and Van Oord, a Dutch dredging and marine contractor, yesterday signed a contract for the development of Deira beach, a project involving an investment of a Dh16 billion.




The beach development will be part of the mega project The Palm, Deira -- the third man-made island off Dubai coast.


General Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince and the UAE Defence Minister, and Jan Peter Balkenende, Prime Minister of the Netherlands, attended the signing ceremony.


The contract with the Dutch company involves the execution of 16 digging and filling operations for the project to develop 17km of beach. The first phase of the project's infrastructure development is to begin by the end of 2006, according to Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, executive chairman of Nakheel.


Gen. Shaikh Mohammed and Balkenende discussed measures to further boost cooperation between the UAE and the Netherlands. The meeting was attended by Shaikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, president of Dubai Civil Aviation and chairman of Emirates airline, Mohammed Alabbar, chairman of Emaar Properties, and Mohammed Al Gergawi, Chairman of Dubai Holding Company.


The new Palm, Deira, is to be 18km long, 9km wide and its surface will measure 4,000 hectares. Development of the beach project will involve shifting more than one billion cubic metres of sand and 70 million tonnes of rock.


Van Oord has been operating in Dubai since 2001 and helped build Palm Jumeirah, south of Dubai, a Palm shaped island that was the first of the ambitious coastal projects.


About 50 million cubic metres of sand has been used to reclaim land for The Palm, Deira.

 
:sl:

Two birds infected with avian flu discovered in Kuwait

KUWAIT -- Chairman of the Public Authority for Agriculture Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAAFR) Sheikh Fahd Salem al-Sabah on Thursday said that two birds infected with avian flu were discovered in Kuwait.

Sheikh Fahd told KUNA one of the two birds was discovered while examining a shipment of birds imported from an Asian country and the second was found at a seaside chalet in southern Kuwait.

Kuwait, he added, is known for being a passage for migratory birds coming from Asia, Russia and China.

Kuwait, he said, has taken precautionary measures since the appearance of the disease last August and that "strenuous efforts deployed by the PAAAFR teams led to the discovery of two infected birds.

These teams, he pointed out, have imposed stringent precautionary measures in seaports, airports and border gates. He said that the shipment where the infected bird was found has been destroyed.

Sheikh Fahd assured nationals and expatriates that PAAAFR will inform them about any cases of bird flu, noting that the Council of Ministers will form a higher committee for combating bird flu, to group all concerned bodies, including PAAAFR, the Public Environment Authority, the ministries of Municipality, health and trade as well as the General Customs Department.

He said that he met Deputy Prime Minister and State Minister for Cabinet and National Assembly Affairs and Acting Foreign Minister Muhammad Dhaifalla Sharar, last Tuesday to discuss the creation of the committee.
 
:sl:

Golden Riyadh Establishment for Trading to Construct an AED 3 Billion Resort in Fujairah

Beirut (APD) - Saudi Arabia-based Golden Riyadh Establishment for Trading is teaming up with the government of the Fujairah Emirate in the UAE to establish an AED 3 billion resort in Fujairah, the Dubai-based daily, al Bayan reported Tuesday.


The resort will be called "Al Fujairah Paradise" and it will be located on a 700,000 square meters coastal plot in the al Aqah region near the Omani border in the emirate's north. An existing resort in the vicinity is the Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort.


The resort will be comprised of 1,000 five-star villas, one hotel and a shopping mall, the company claimed. The government of Fujairah will provide the land and Golden Riyadh will fund the project which is scheduled to be completed within two years.


An official from Golden Riyadh said that Fujairah is seeing an increasing number of upscale projects, with investments pouring into this emirate because of its great location between mountains and sea. He expected that a villa in the resort could sell for up to AED 3.5 million, generating large profits for the developers. [NI-TS]

 
salam


Idiots the USA are, do not the not see that the Sisters are among the strongest of believers and they will not shake down?
 
:sl:

Dubai gold exchange expected to boost trade


Dubai's new gold futures exchange will boost business for jewellers and bullion dealers in the Gulf emirate's substantial physical market, gold traders said on Tuesday.

The Dubai Gold and Commodities Exchange (DGCX) began trading gold futures contracts on Tuesday. Physical traders said improved hedging opportunities offered by locally traded derivatives would let them devote more time to their main operations.

"It can't take out price risk completely, but it will help reduce it. That will allow us to concentrate on our core business, which is jewellery," said Karim Merchant, managing director of Pure Gold, one of Dubai's leading gold retailers.

DGCX opened for business at 10 a.m. local time (0600 GMT) and trading focused on the key February contract. Prices peaked at $496.00 an ounce in early trade.

The exchange has some 50 trading members, many of them established players in Dubai's physical market which is based around the renowned gold souk.

Dubai, part of the energy-rich United Arab Emirates, acts as a hub for the physical gold trade in the Middle East, Pakistan and India, the world's biggest gold consumer. In 2004, Dubai imported 503.5 tonnes of gold and is expected to import 525-540 tonnes by year end.

"There was a need for this in Dubai," said Muhammad Rafiq of Dubai-based refinery Al Ghurair Giga Gold.

"This is wonderful, this will definitely boost the physical industry because of the way it's working and where it's working," he added, referring to Dubai's proximity to major gold consumers India and Saudi Arabia.

At present, Dubai's physical gold traders use derivatives on international exchanges such as New York's COMEX or the Tokyo Commodities Exchange (TOCOM).

But they complain that time zone differences can make this cumbersome. They also cannot hedge on Saturdays and Sundays active trading days in Muslim Dubai where the weekend falls on a Friday. DGCX plans to trade seven days a week from early 2006.

"I think there are two things that set the DGCX apart. The first is the underlying physical nature of the contract. We are large suppliers of physical gold, and I can see us making delivery and taking delivery," said Jeff Rhodes, general manager of Standard Bank plc's Dubai representative office.

"The second is that once we get into Saturday and Sunday trading, this could be a global market-changing event. You just cannot ignore it."
 
Question:How many want a secular democracy in Saudi Arabia and hopw many are happy with the King's rule?
 
Abrar said:
Question:How many want a secular democracy in Saudi Arabia and hopw many are happy with the King's rule?
Click to expand...


:sl:

Look brother. Can you NOT bring the King into such matters. There really is no need. Saudi follows the Shariah (Islamic law), what the kings have to do with what Allah has written, I dont understand!!:-\

Allah ma3ak
 
Ameeratul Layl said:
:sl:

Look brother. Can you NOT bring the King into such matters. There really is no need. Saudi follows the Shariah (Islamic law), what the kings have to do with what Allah has written, I dont understand!!:-\

Allah ma3ak
Click to expand...
:sl: i agree with Ameeratul Layl. wats the King gotta do with it?
wassalam
 
:sl:

Kingdom Tops Pakistan Aid List

Saudi Arabia and the United States topped the list of donors at the international donor conference held in Islamabad to raise funds for the reconstruction of Pakistan, following the October 8 earthquake. The Kingdom pledged $573 million. The Kingdom also mobilized its private sectors to raise additional funds and aid for the tens of thousands affected by the natural disaster. Saudi Arabia announced $153 million in grants and another $187 in concessional loans. A nationwide fundraising campaign underway in the Kingdom has also raised more than $120 million to date.

Pakistan’s President General Pervez Musharraf expressed his gratitude for the generosity: “We the people and government of Pakistan again thanks to people and government of Saudi Arabia for extending every possible financial and material assistance for accelerated relief and rescue operation.”
 
salam
mashallah, i also heard saudi offered to build free houses in the effected areas of pakistan
wasalam
 

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