SAUDI GROK Daily News – Excerpts from International Media Reports
[Links to full articles were active on the date posted here]
Obama Calls French President and Saudi King on Middle East [Sep 3]
“US President Barack Obama has called French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Saudi King Abdullah to discuss with them the crucial direct talks between Israeli and Palestine leaders that resumed after a gap of two years. “President Obama called President Sarkozy earlier today to thank him for his support for a comprehensive Middle East peace, and to consult on next steps to encourage further progress in the direct talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority,”.. .. Obama called King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia to discuss the situation in the region, including direct talks between the Israelis and Palestinians and the end of the US combat mission in Iraq,..” [Complete Report]
Sri Lanka: Saudi Arabia: Colombo Activists and Religious Leaders Call for End to Abuse of Migrants in Saudi Arabia [Sep 3]
“Hundreds of human rights activists, religious leaders and local film stars have protested against the torture suffered by Sinhalese migrants in Saudi Arabia for work. On August 30 a crowd of people gathered in front of the Saudi Embassy in Colombo, shouting out slogans against the governments of Rhyad and Colombo, accused of doing nothing against the violation of human rights of migrants. The protests were triggered by the brutal incident of LP Ariyawathi, a domestic worker of 49, tortured by the Saudi family where she worked. As punishment, employers hammered nails in her hands and forehead. Currently the Saudi authorities have denied the fact, accusing the woman of inventing everything for the purposes of extortion.. .. Saudi Arabia employs over 1.5 million foreign nationals. Most of them are women from Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Philippines, Nepal. In recent years Human Rights Watch and other human rights groups have denounced the poor condition of workers..” [Complete Report]
Samba Financial Group Donates 2 mln Saudi Riyals for Pak Flood Affectees [Sep 3]
“Mr. Eisa M. Al Eisa, the Chairman of Samba Financial Group (SFG), announced that the Group has donated two million Saudi Riyals (PKR 45 million) towards the Pakistani flood relief efforts in response to a campaign launched by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz. SFG’s donation, aimed at helping those directly affected by the massive floods in Pakistan, was made through a televised campaign on Saudi T.V. According to Mr. Al Eisa, “This donation comes as a prompt response to the humanitarian appeal led by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to relieve the brotherly people of Pakistan, which embodies the principals of solidarity and compassion urged by our religion.”..” [Complete Report]
3-Judge Panel Formed to Try Terror Suspects [Sep 3]
” A panel of three senior judges has been formed for the much-awaited trial of terrorists arrested for taking part in a series of terror operations across the country. The trials are expected to take place after the Eid break in mid-September in Riyadh and Jeddah, judicial sources said. The panel includes two senior judges from Jeddah courts and one from Riyadh courts, supported by an additional group of judges, and a 15-member administrative team. The panel will start the trials in Jeddah and then move to Riyadh after four months for further trials.. .. The panel is now reviewing the files and list of charges already prepared by the BIP..” [Complete Report]
Portugal’s Sonae Opens Four Saudi Stores [Sep 3]
“Sonae, the biggest retailer in the Portuguese market, has opened four stores in Saudi Arabia, starting its expansion in the Middle East, according to a report by newswire Bloomberg. The stores, part of Sonae’s Zippy chain selling children’s clothing, opened in the last few days in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dhahran, the Portugal-based company said in an e- mailed statement on Wednesday. According to Bloomberg, Sonae said in July that it plans to open 70 Zippy stores through 2014 in nine countries stretching from Egypt to Kazakhstan, through a franchising agreement with Riyadh-based Fawaz Abdulaziz Alhokair..” [Complete Report]
