SAUDI GROK Daily News – Excerpts from International Media Reports
[Links to full articles were active on the date posted here]
Saudi King to Visit Lebanon Amid Tensions: Government Official [Jul 26]
“Saudi King Abdullah will visit Lebanon on Friday and will urge rival parties to exercise restraint amid tensions over the possible implication of Hezbollah in the murder of ex-premier Rafiq Hariri, a government official said on Monday. ‘The visit comes amid efforts to ease tensions in the country,’ the high-ranking official who did not wish to be identified told AFP. ‘He is going to tell all the parties to remain cool.’ He was referring to mounting fears of a conflict in Lebanon following last week’s announcement by Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah that he knew the UN tribunal probing Hariri’s 2005 murder was set to indict Hezbollah members.. ..Saudi Arabia was a key supporter of the slain Hariri and holds sway with his son Sa’ad Hariri, who is Lebanon’s current prime minister. The Saudi king’s hours-long visit will be his first to Lebanon since 2002. It is part of a regional tour that will also take him on Thursday to Syria, which, along with Iran, backs Hezbollah..” [Complete Report]
Defence Teams Still Rescuing Saudi Flood Victims [Jul 26]
“Saudi Civil Defence teams say they are continuing to rescue victims stranded by recent torrential rains and floods in the Asir and Jazan regions in the south, and Taif, a summer resort in the west of the country. More than 15 people have died and five others have been reported missing after the rains and flooding, while tens of others in villages across the region have been injured, authorities said.. ..The Saudi authorities said they had also cut power to affected areas to prevent people from electrocuting themselves. The Civil Defence said it had already rescued about 400 people stranded in the flooded villages. Helicopters were also dropping parcels of food into the villages which were isolated by the floods. However the Civil Defence said it had received emergency rescue calls from more than 1,900 people..” [Complete Report]
Saudi Envoys in Europe Meet in London [Jul 26]
“Saudi Ambassador to UK Prince Muhammad bin Nawaf on Monday emphasized the role of ambassadors’ in strengthening the Kingdom’s political, economic and cultural relations with other countries.. ..He said the meeting would discuss the five-year strategy for diplomatic work, a unified strategy for Europe and the operation plan for Saudi missions in the continent. He hoped the meeting would come up with good recommendations to strengthen the Kingdom’s position in the comity of nations..” [Complete Report]
Chinese Universities to Set Up King Abdullah Chairs [Jul 26]
“Two leading Chinese universities have expressed their intent to establish chairs and research centers on interfaith and cultural dialogue named after Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah. The University of International Business and Economics (UIBE) and Sun Yat-Sen University (SYSU) have presented applications to the Saleh Al-Sagri, Saudi cultural attache in Beijing, in this regard. There are 80,000 students at SYSU and 30,000 at UIBE, including Saudis. Al-Sagri said more than 30 Chinese universities had expressed their desire to enroll Saudi students. ‘Chinese universities have so far signed 35 agreements with their Saudi counterparts to exchange expertise,’..” [Complete Report]
Four Dead in Bomb Attack on al-Arabiya TV in Baghdad [Jul 26]
“A suicide car bomber has killed four people in an attack near the Baghdad offices of the Saudi-owned pan-Arab news channel, al-Arabiya. Officials say those killed included security guards and cleaning staff. An al-Arabiya reporter said the bomber detonated his device after passing through an initial security gate.. ..Al-Arabiya, which is perceived by extremist groups as being too pro-Western, has been targeted in the past. In October 2006, a car bomb targeting the channel’s previous bureau killed seven people and wounded 20. And in February 2006, presenter Atwar Bahjat and two of her colleagues were murdered in the town of Samarra as they covered the bombing of a revered Shia shrine..” [Complete Report]
