A1SaudiArabia.com

RIYADH – Due to software problems in Washington, applicants for non-immigrant US visas around the world are experiencing difficulties accessing and using the new online application procedure (Form DS-160) that has been required to make an appointment for a visa interview since Feb. 8, a press release issued here said Wednesday.

Daniel Goodspeed, Consul General in US embassy here, has said that the US Department of State in Washington is working hard to fix the problem, and anticipates the system will return to full function shortly.

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MAKKAH – The Kingdoms national census will include citizens and all residents, including those who are living illegally in the country.

This is according to Deputy Supervisor of the National Census in Makkah, Yasser Al-Budaiwi. Census officials will conduct their work at unplanned areas where many foreigners live. “It is not about a persons legal state of residency but about knowing the true count,” he said.

Al-Budaiwi said that there are 4,000 supervisors and data collectors in Makkah.

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Riyadh – The sales of computer hardware in Saudi Arabia is likely to exceed SR7.5 billion in 2010, according to an official at Riyadh Exhibition Company.

The company will organize the GITEX KSA 2010 at Riyadh International Exhibition Center, off King Abdullah Street from April 25-29.

More than 550,000 computer units are expected to be sold, as stock of installed computers reaches four million, said Shahid Bhatti, Project Manager of GITEX KSA 2010, a premier business-to-business networking event and leading consumer ICT exhibition.

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JEDDAH – The Saudi-French Dialogue of Civilizations Symposium opening on March 15 at the Sorbonne in Paris will see university professors from the Kingdom and France present research on interfaith dialogue and the role of culture in improving relations between religions and cultures.

The two-day symposium, organized by the Saudi Ministry of Higher Education in conjunction with the Sorbonne University, aims to give impetus to King Abdullahs dialogue initiative which seeks to strengthen ties and understanding between followers of religions, cultures and different nations and promote the values of peace, tolerance and justice.

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RIYADH – As part of the preparation for the 4th National Census for Population and Housing, the Ministry of Plannings Central Department of Statistics and Information is to launch Friday, March 12, a massive field operation to number residential buildings and commercial establishments into different blocks and districts.

Abdullatif I. Al-Khamees, supervisor and head of the Media Center for the 4th National Census for Population and Housing, said field inspectors would undergo a week-long training program on the numbering procedures that facilitate the enumerators easy access for data collection.

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RIYADH – Saudi Arabia is planning to launch tenders worth more than SR17 billion ($4.5 billion) this year to modernize two airports in the Kingdom, an official said.

Traffic at Saudi airports has reached 30 million passengers annually and is expected to double to 60 million over the next 10 years, said Alaa Samman, director of business development at the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA).

In order to cater for this growth, the government wants to launch projects costing at least SR55 billion to overhaul airports to be completed over the next 20 years, he added. For this year alone, GACA wants to launch tenders to build a new airport in the holy city of Madina and a commercial center near Jeddah airport.

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Those who timed the Indian markets correctly and cashed in on the Feb. 26 budget must be pleased with their returns – about 3.5% on their mutual fund investments and probably double or triple that rate with some bold trading in the right stocks.

For those who missed the chance, dont despair: its still not too late to enter what could turn be a sustainable bull run into the next quarter. In any case, its not often that one can time the markets correctly. Seasoned investors will tell you that waiting for that opportune moment to enter or exit the markets often leads to more opportunities lost.

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RIYADH – Umar Khan Ali Sherzai, Ambassador of Pakistan, Sunday called on Abdullah Aal Al-Sheikh Chairman of the Shoura (Consultative) Council and discussed matters of mutual interest and cooperation between the Shoura Council and Pakistani Parliament.

Sherazi conveyed the greetings of Chairman of Pakistan Senate Farooq H. Naek and Speaker of the National Assembly Dr. Fahmida Mirza to the Shoura chairman.

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TABUK – Ahmad Abdullah Al-Khelawi, the brother of Ali Abdullah Al-Khelawi who is on trial in Jakarta on charges of financing terrorism has said there is no evidence of his brothers involvement in the July 17 attacks on the JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels last year that killed seven people.

Ahmad, who attended last Wednesdays hearing, said that the “500 riyals hes accused of offering to finance the attacks is not enough for such a thing”.

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RIYADH – An imaginary child character named Swayyer is to be the mascot of this years Janadriya festival.

Swayyers picture will be on t-shirts and other memorabilia to be distributed at the festival.

The inventor of the character, Dr. Iqbal Al-Arfaj, the chairwoman of the Womens Culture and Heritage Committee, said Swayyer aims “to deepen the love of the festival in the hearts of children.” She said that she tested the character on the children of her relatives “who loved it.”

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