Tag: gov

Video: Saudi woman’s “right to drive” protest video circulates online despite gov’t. efforts

Filed under: Government/Legal, Videos, Middle East

Women's right to drive bumper sticker in Saudi Arabia

Manal al-Sharif’s campaign for women’s right to drive – Click above to watch video after the jump

The Arab Spring has brought a wave of change and reform to the Middle East, but that tide has seemingly stopped at Saudi Arabia. According to The New York Times, the Saudi government has effectively squelched a movement championed by Manal al-Sharif. The woman wasn’t campaigning for the overthrow of the government or the death of the country’s leaders. Instead, she was simply demonstrating for women’s right to drive in her country. Sharif posted videos of herself driving on YouTube and started Facebook and Twitter accounts that prompted other Saudi women to do the same.

That’s when the Saudi government stepped in. Sharif was arrested for her transgressions and her videos were removed from YouTube. Later, a Facebook page she had set up to instruct other women about how to get involved was deleted and a duplicate of her Twitter account began posting messages indicating that she had stopped her efforts.

But this is the internet, and nothing is gone forever. Copies of Sharif’s original message have reappeared on YouTube and an Al Jazeera report on her campaign is still available. You can check out the full report at The New York Times and watch the videos after the break.

Continue reading Saudi woman’s “right to drive” protest video circulates online despite gov’t. efforts

Saudi woman’s “right to drive” protest video circulates online despite gov’t. efforts originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 May 2011 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official: Spyker to be renamed Swedish Automobile N.V. as Pang Da talks with Chinese gov’t.

Filed under: China, Government/Legal, Saab, Earnings/Financials, Spyker

saab badge

Spyker is on a Chinese money hunt, and it appears the automaker may have found a partner willing to pony up the cash. Pang Da, a Chinese automobile distribution company, had recently entered into a memorandum of understanding with Spyker. Now, Spyker is set to rename itself Swedish Automobile N.V., and the Saab-owner believes Chinese authorities will give the green light for this deal to proceed.

According to Saab CEO Victor Muller, a very important portion of the deal has already gone through; a cash infusion of €30 million ($42M USD). Muller states that “Pang Da’s advance payment and sales of imported Saab cars are not subject to approval from the NDRC. The first advance payment of EUR 30 million was received last Tuesday.”

Bloomberg reports that the rest of the deal may not move forward so easily. According to analysts in China, the country’s government is unlikely to allow Pang Da’s purchase of a stake in Swedish Automobile N.V. because the nation is working to consolidate its auto industry, not expand it.

If approved, however, Pang Da will spend $91 million and receive a 23 percent share of the automaker’s business. Despite the negative view of Chinese analysts, Pang Da says it remains confident the transaction will be approved.

Continue reading Spyker to be renamed Swedish Automobile N.V. as Pang Da talks with Chinese gov’t.

Spyker to be renamed Swedish Automobile N.V. as Pang Da talks with Chinese gov’t. originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 May 2011 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Swedish gov’t. working on freeing up Saab loan

Filed under: Government/Legal, Plants/Manufacturing, Saab, Earnings/Financials

Saab sign at auto show in a blur

The last few weeks haven’t been easy for Saab, as the Swedish automaker has had to stop production twice due to supplier issues. Not just any problems, either, as the suppliers wanted to get paid, and Saab simply didn’t have the cash. That led to widespread speculation that the automaker was destined to shutter only a year after Spyker purchased the company from General Motors.

Now Bloomberg is reporting that the Swedish government is looking into getting a bank loan to float the company for the short-term. The loan will most likely come from Bankas Snoras in Lithuania, which is run by Russian investor Vladimir Antonov, who has attempted to buy into the brand since GM originally put it up for sale.

The Swedish government is fighting for more than just a few thousand, albeit important jobs as well. Sweden backed Saab’s 400 million-euro ($577 million) loan from the European Investment Bank, likely leaving the Swedish taxpayers on the hook for a hefty bill if the automaker goes south.

Bloomberg sources say lawyers are working on a deal that would float the automaker $48 million while the government approves the involvement of Antonov. Once approved, the Russian investor would then add 50 million Euro ($72 million in U.S. funds) to Saab’s coffers in exchange for a 30 percent stake in the company.

We’re thinking this deal will get done and Saab will be able to pay its suppliers. But whether the Swedish government and Antonov are throwing good money after bad is another matter. We’ll continue to follow this situation as it unfolds.

[Source: Bloomberg | Image: Fabrice Coffrini/AFP/Getty]

Report: Swedish gov’t. working on freeing up Saab loan originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Most in Iraq drive without licenses as gov’t. works to institute new permits

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal, Middle East

Iraqi licensing procedure

Judging by what we’ve seen on the web, driving through Iraq is a few notches tougher than dealing with Southern California during rush hour. It appears to be the old “Anything Goes” method when moving from Point A to Point B. Iraqi authorities are looking to change that by introducing a licensing system that aims to instruct drivers on correct procedures while hoping to also cut down the madness seen on the roads around the nation.

According to an AFP report, the number of cars on the Iraq’s streets has doubled since Saddam Hussein’s regime collapsed. Prior to the 2003 US.. invasion, there were 1.25 million registered vehicles, and now an additional 1.5 million have been imported into the country. With that many new vehicles hitting the road, authorities are working to implement a system to ensure that motorists understand how to legally operate their own vehicle.

Since the program was launched on October 21, some 8,000 drivers licenses have been issued. As the officials get more familiar with the procedures and computer systems, that pace is expected to pick up. The ultimate goal is that in just two years time every driver on the road will be one carrying a legal license to do so.

[Source: AFP via Yahoo! | Image: AFP/Getty]

Report: Most in Iraq drive without licenses as gov’t. works to institute new permits originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 Dec 2010 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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