Twitter is being flooded by pro-Saudi posts in defence of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman who has been accused of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mohammed-bin-salman-caught-spying-jeff-bezos-accused-saudi-prince-of-hacking-his-phone-275857">hacking Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos' iPhone</a>.

Hundreds and thousands of tweets have been shared by Saudi government officials and pro-Saudi media organisations in retaliation to the accusation on the Crown Prince.&nbsp;

Riyadh dismissed the accusations on Tuesday and called them <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/describing-as-absurd-saudi-arabia-rejects-hacking-jeff-bezos-phone-reports-275917">absurd</a>.&nbsp;

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Recent media reports that suggest the Kingdom is behind a hacking of Mr. Jeff Bezos' phone are absurd. We call for an investigation on these claims so that we can have all the facts out.
— Saudi Embassy (@SaudiEmbassyUSA) <a href="https://twitter.com/SaudiEmbassyUSA/status/1219792870389035008?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2020</a></blockquote>
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"I think 'absurd' is exactly the right word," Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud told Reuters in an interview in Davos. "The idea that the crown prince would hack Jeff Bezos’ phone is absolutely silly," he added

Since Thursday, the microblogging website has gone abuzz with #BoycottAmazonproducts - a hashtag believed to have started by a pro-government account with over 50,000 followers.&nbsp;

Also read: '<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/jeff-all-of-what-you-hear-or-told-its-not-true-saudi-crown-princes-text-to-bezos-276150">Jeff all of what you hear or told... it's not true': Saudi Crown Prince Salman's text to Bezos</a>

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On Thursday, disinformation analyst Ben Nimmo said that over 8,000 pro-Saudi tweets called for action to boycott Amazon products - a number that is only expected to have grown manifold by Friday.&nbsp;

"Indeed, here it goes: call from fans of MBS to boycott Amazon products. 8.5k tweets since the morning in Arabic, a handful in English," Nimmo tweeted out yesterday.&nbsp;

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Indeed, here it goes: call from fans of MBS to boycott Amazon products. 
 
8.5k tweets since the morning in Arabic, a handful in English. <a href="https://t.co/704haHu82I">https://t.co/704haHu82I</a>
— Ben Nimmo (@benimmo) <a href="https://twitter.com/benimmo/status/1220286211992039429?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 23, 2020</a></blockquote>
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UN experts have called for an immediate investigation into the allegations on Saudi crown prince being involved in a plot to hack the phone of Amazon boss and Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos.

On Wednesday, UN special rapporteurs Agnes Callamard and David Kaye said they had information pointing to the "possible involvement" of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the alleged 2018 cyberattack, which preceded alleged threats by the National Enquirer to publish intimate photographs of the billionaire tech tycoon.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%B7%D8%B9%D9%88%D8%A7_%D9%85%D9%86%D8%AA%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%AA_%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B2%D9%88%D9%86?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#قاطعوا_منتجات_امازون</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BoycottAmazonproducts?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BoycottAmazonproducts</a> 
Done ✅ 🇸🇦 <a href="https://t.co/5FjiCs3a3C">pic.twitter.com/5FjiCs3a3C</a>
— رغـــد .. 🕊 (@Raghod501) <a href="https://twitter.com/Raghod501/status/1220266727499583488?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 23, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Callamard, the special rapporteur for extra-judicial killings, and Kaye, special rapporteur for free expression, said in a statement that they believed the hack was carried out "in an effort to influence, if not silence, The Washington Post’s reporting on Saudi Arabia" and called for an "immediate investigation by US and other relevant authorities," news agency Reuters reported.&nbsp;

As per reports, the call for an investigation is based on a 17-page forensic report drawn up by Washington-based FTI Consulting, reportedly commissioned by the Amazon chief.&nbsp;

The report suggests that Bezos's iPhone X was hijacked by a malicious video file which was sent to him on May 1, 2018, from a WhatsApp account used by the crown prince.&nbsp;

The hacking is said to have taken place before Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi's cold-blooded killing in October 2018. Khashoggi was a Washington Post columnist and critic of the crown prince.

(With inputs from Reuters)

 
&nbsp;

Twitter is being flooded by pro-Saudi posts in defence of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman who has been accused of hacking Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos' iPhone.

Twitter is being flooded by pro-Saudi posts in defence of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman who has been accused of hacking Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos' iPhone. Hundreds and thousands of tweets have been shared by Saudi government officials and pro-Saudi media organisations in retaliation to the accusation on the Crown Prince. Riyadh dismissed the accusations on Tuesday and called them absurd. Recent media reports that suggest the Kingdom is behind a hacking of Mr. Jeff Bezos' phone are absurd. We call for an investigation on these claims so that we can have all the facts out. — Saudi Embassy (@SaudiEmbassyUSA) January 22, 2020 × "I think 'absurd' is exactly the right word," Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud told Reuters in an interview in Davos. "The idea that the crown prince would hack Jeff Bezos’ phone is absolutely silly," he added Since Thursday, the microblogging website has gone abuzz with #BoycottAmazonproducts - a hashtag believed to have started by a pro-government account with over 50,000 followers. Also read: 'Jeff all of what you hear or told... it's not true': Saudi Crown Prince Salman's text to Bezos × On Thursday, disinformation analyst Ben Nimmo said that over 8,000 pro-Saudi tweets called for action to boycott Amazon products - a number that is only expected to have grown manifold by Friday. "Indeed, here it goes: call from fans of MBS to boycott Amazon products. 8.5k tweets since the morning in Arabic, a handful in English," Nimmo tweeted out yesterday. Indeed, here it goes: call from fans of MBS to boycott Amazon products. 8.5k tweets since the morning in Arabic, a handful in English. https://t.co/704haHu82I — Ben Nimmo (@benimmo) January 23, 2020 × UN experts have called for an immediate investigation into the allegations on Saudi crown prince being involved in a plot to hack the phone of Amazon boss and Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos. On Wednesday, UN special rapporteurs Agnes Callamard and David Kaye said they had information pointing to the "possible involvement" of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the alleged 2018 cyberattack, which preceded alleged threats by the National Enquirer to publish intimate photographs of the billionaire tech tycoon. #قاطعوا_منتجات_امازون #BoycottAmazonproducts Done ✅ 🇸🇦 pic.twitter.com/5FjiCs3a3C — رغـــد .. 🕊 (@Raghod501) January 23, 2020 × Callamard, the special rapporteur for extra-judicial killings, and Kaye, special rapporteur for free expression, said in a statement that they believed the hack was carried out "in an effort to influence, if not silence, The Washington Post’s reporting on Saudi Arabia" and called for an "immediate investigation by US and other relevant authorities," news agency Reuters reported. As per reports, the call for an investigation is based on a 17-page forensic report drawn up by Washington-based FTI Consulting, reportedly commissioned by the Amazon chief. The report suggests that Bezos's iPhone X was hijacked by a malicious video file which was sent to him on May 1, 2018, from a WhatsApp account used by the crown prince. The hacking is said to have taken place before Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi's cold-blooded killing in October 2018. Khashoggi was a Washington Post columnist and critic of the crown prince. (With inputs from Reuters)

Angry Saudis tweet to boycott Amazon over Crown Prince's alleged involvement in hacking Bezos' phone

One of the most powerful men has been accused of hacking the world's richest man. Saudi Arabia has vehemently denied charges of hacking Jeff Bezos's phone but now United Nations expert Agnès Callamard has called for an immediate investigation into the matter.

UN expert calls for detailed probe into hacking of Jeff Bezos's phone

For the Sarhani family, petting a wolf is not just a scene in make believe films; it is part of their daily life as they live side by side with the wild animals.

Saudi family shares home with wolves

Did the Saudi Crown Prince hack Jeff Bezos? A new report says Mohammad Bin Salman hacked the Amazon CEO's phone with a whatsapp message! The claims have now triggered demands for an investigation.

Gravitas: Did the Saudi Crown Prince hack Jeff Bezos?

Saudi Arabia has denied that its crown prince was responsible for hacking Amazon boss Jeff Bezos' phone.

Jeff Bezos hack: Saudi Arabia calls claim ‘absurd’

Saudi Arabia on Wednesday dismissed the reports claiming it hacked Amazon chief and owner of Washington Post, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mohammed-bin-salman-caught-spying-jeff-bezos-accused-saudi-prince-of-hacking-his-phone-275857">Jeff Bezos' phone</a>.

Terming the reports "absurd", the embassy of Saudi Arabia in the United States said, "We call for an <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/investigator-says-amazon-chiefs-phone-hacked-by-saudis-206873">investigation on these claims </a>so that we can have all the facts out"

&nbsp;"Recent media reports that suggest the Kingdom is behind the hacking of Mr Jeff Bezos' phone are absurd. We call for an investigation on these claims so that we can have all the facts out," the embassy posted on Twitter.

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Recent media reports that suggest the Kingdom is behind a hacking of Mr. Jeff Bezos' phone are absurd. We call for an investigation on these claims so that we can have all the facts out.
— Saudi Embassy (@SaudiEmbassyUSA) <a href="https://twitter.com/SaudiEmbassyUSA/status/1219792870389035008?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Two United Nations' officials are going to issue a public statement about a report in which they concluded that Bezos' phone was hacked with a video which was sent from a Whatsapp account belonging to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/amazon-ceo-jeff-bezos-takes-a-dig-at-mark-zuckerberg-calls-making-of-facebook-childs-play-274396">Also read:&nbsp;Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos takes a dig at Mark Zuckerberg, calls making of Facebook child's play</a> 
&nbsp; 
As per experts consulted by the UN agreed that while the case was not airtight, the evidence is strong enough to warrant a fuller investigation into the matter.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/shah-rukh-khan-a-r-rahman-and-other-b-town-stars-attend-jeff-bezos-welcome-party-in-mumbai-274817">In pics: Shah Rukh Khan, A R Rahman and other B-town stars attend Jeff Bezos welcome party in Mumbai</a>

The report is set to worsen already relations between the world's richest man and the kingdom which had soured following the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018, who was also a columnist for the Washington Post.

The UN statement will come from Agnes Callamard, special rapporteur for extra-judicial killings, and David Kaye, special rapporteur for free expression.

They are building toward a fuller report they expect to give to the UN in June, the person said and will be releasing a statement on today. 
&nbsp;

Saudi Arabia on Wednesday dismissed the reports claiming it hacked Amazon chief and owner of Washington Post, Jeff Bezos' phone. Terming the reports "absurd", the embassy of Saudi Arabia in the United States said, "We call for an investigation on these claims so that we can have all the facts out" "Recent media reports that suggest the Kingdom is behind the hacking of Mr Jeff Bezos' phone are absurd.

Saudi Arabia on Wednesday dismissed the reports claiming it hacked Amazon chief and owner of Washington Post, Jeff Bezos' phone. Terming the reports "absurd", the embassy of Saudi Arabia in the United States said, "We call for an investigation on these claims so that we can have all the facts out" "Recent media reports that suggest the Kingdom is behind the hacking of Mr Jeff Bezos' phone are absurd. We call for an investigation on these claims so that we can have all the facts out," the embassy posted on Twitter. Recent media reports that suggest the Kingdom is behind a hacking of Mr. Jeff Bezos' phone are absurd. We call for an investigation on these claims so that we can have all the facts out. — Saudi Embassy (@SaudiEmbassyUSA) January 22, 2020 × Two United Nations' officials are going to issue a public statement about a report in which they concluded that Bezos' phone was hacked with a video which was sent from a Whatsapp account belonging to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Also read: Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos takes a dig at Mark Zuckerberg, calls making of Facebook child's play As per experts consulted by the UN agreed that while the case was not airtight, the evidence is strong enough to warrant a fuller investigation into the matter. In pics: Shah Rukh Khan, A R Rahman and other B-town stars attend Jeff Bezos welcome party in Mumbai The report is set to worsen already relations between the world's richest man and the kingdom which had soured following the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018, who was also a columnist for the Washington Post. The UN statement will come from Agnes Callamard, special rapporteur for extra-judicial killings, and David Kaye, special rapporteur for free expression. They are building toward a fuller report they expect to give to the UN in June, the person said and will be releasing a statement on today.

Bezos allegation on hacking phone 'absurd': Saudi Arabia

La Liga boss <a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../barcelona-planning-for-post-messi-era-says- club-president-238819">Javier Tebas</a> is known for being ruthless in spreading the La Liga fever&nbsp;across the globe to earn revenue.&nbsp;

Also read-&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/barcelona-sack-its-manager-valverde-setien-to-step-in-for-the-role-274138">Barcelona sack manager Valverde, Setien to step in for the role</a>

Chief Executive, Javier Tebas, previously was&nbsp;in talks with China and the United States earlier for holding league games outside Spain.&nbsp;

Also read-&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/spanish-super-cups-format-relocation-to-saudi-arabia-due-to-footballs-desire-for-money-says-valverde-273188">Spanish Super Cup's format, relocation to Saudi Arabia due to football's desire for money says Valverde</a>

But Javier Tebas is not willing to let La Liga&nbsp;teams play in Saudi Arabia.&nbsp;

Ex-Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde had said upon arriving in Riyadh for the Spanish Supercup semifinals: “The bottom line is football has become a business and as a business, it looks for income,”. But for Tebas, "Money is not the only thing that matters,".

Saudi Arabia is hosting several sporting events such as title fights in professional boxing, WWE matches, motor car races, and tennis matches.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Saudi Arabia, under Mohammad Bin Salman, has been trying to revamp its image in front of the world which received a setback after Khashoggi's murder.&nbsp;

Javier Tebas&nbsp;does not want any Spanish League's teams to play in Saudi Arabia since&nbsp;he thinks it is&nbsp;an attempt to burnish their reputation amid widespread accusation of humans rights violations. Saudi Arabia officials are suspected to have a hand in Jammal Khashoggi's murder. “We should not forget what happened,” Tebas said about&nbsp;the incident.

“The Saudi Arabian government has a policy whereby they improve the image of the government through sport, whitewashing their image, and we all have a responsibility there,” Tebas told reporters last week in London. Tebas unveiled a new British television channel that will focus on La Liga, which is the league overseas venture.&nbsp;

Spanish Federations defended their decision to hold the Spanish Super Cup earlier this month by saying that it was a "social tool"&nbsp;for change.

La Liga boss Javier Tebas is known for being ruthless in spreading the La Liga fever across the globe to earn revenue. Also read- Barcelona sack manager Valverde, Setien to step in for the role Chief Executive, Javier Tebas, previously was in talks with China and the United States earlier for holding league games outside Spain.

La Liga boss Javier Tebas is known for being ruthless in spreading the La Liga fever across the globe to earn revenue. Also read- Barcelona sack manager Valverde, Setien to step in for the role Chief Executive, Javier Tebas, previously was in talks with China and the United States earlier for holding league games outside Spain. Also read- Spanish Super Cup's format, relocation to Saudi Arabia due to football's desire for money says Valverde But Javier Tebas is not willing to let La Liga teams play in Saudi Arabia. Ex-Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde had said upon arriving in Riyadh for the Spanish Supercup semifinals: “The bottom line is football has become a business and as a business, it looks for income,”. But for Tebas, "Money is not the only thing that matters,". Saudi Arabia is hosting several sporting events such as title fights in professional boxing, WWE matches, motor car races, and tennis matches. Saudi Arabia, under Mohammad Bin Salman, has been trying to revamp its image in front of the world which received a setback after Khashoggi's murder. Javier Tebas does not want any Spanish League's teams to play in Saudi Arabia since he thinks it is an attempt to burnish their reputation amid widespread accusation of humans rights violations. Saudi Arabia officials are suspected to have a hand in Jammal Khashoggi's murder. “We should not forget what happened,” Tebas said about the incident. “The Saudi Arabian government has a policy whereby they improve the image of the government through sport, whitewashing their image, and we all have a responsibility there,” Tebas told reporters last week in London. Tebas unveiled a new British television channel that will focus on La Liga, which is the league overseas venture. Spanish Federations defended their decision to hold the Spanish Super Cup earlier this month by saying that it was a "social tool" for change.

'Money is not the only thing that matters': La Liga boss on not playing in Saudi Arabia

This week’s inauguration of a new Red Sea Egyptian military base was pregnant with the symbolism of the rivalries shaping the future of the Middle East as well as north and east Africa.

The inauguration took on added significance as rebel Libyan Field Marshall Khalifa Haftar, backed by United Arab Emirates crown prince Mohammed bin Zayed and Egyptian General-turned-President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, snubbed Russian President Vladimir Putin by refusing to agree to a ceasefire in the Libyan war.

Haftar’s refusal thwarted, at least temporarily, an effort by Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to structure the ceasefire so that it would align opposing Russian and Turkish interests, allow the two parties to cooperate in the exploitation of Libya’s energy resources, and protect a Turkish-Libyan maritime agreement creating an Exclusive Economic Zone that strengthens Russian-backed Turkish manoeuvres in the eastern Mediterranean.

The manoeuvres are designed to thwart a Greek-Cypriot-Israeli agreement to build a pipeline that would supply gas to Europe, reducing European dependence on Russian gas in the process.

Critics charge that the maritime agreement that would limit Greek-Cypriot Israeli access to hydrocarbons in the Eastern Mediterranean, violates the Law of the Sea.

Warning that it would block European Union backing for any Libyan peace deal as long as the Turkish-Libyan maritime agreement was in place, Greece was one of the countries Haftar visited in the days between his rejection of a ceasefire and a conference on Libya hosted by Germany that is scheduled to be held in Berlin on January 19.

Haftar’s rejection came as Turkish troops arrived in Libya to bolster forces of the internationally recognised government of prime minister Fayez al-Sarraj defending the capital Tripoli against an eight-month-old assault by the field marshal’s rebel Libyan National Army (LNA) that is backed by Russian mercenaries with close ties to the Kremlin, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

Prince Mohammed’s presence at the inauguration of the Egyptian naval base underlined the UAE’s influence in Egypt since it backed Al-Sisi’s 2013 military coup that toppled the country’s first and only democratically elected President and the Emirates’ determination to counter Islamist forces as well as Turkish influence in Libya and the Horn of Africa.

UAE and Egyptian backing of Haftar is not just about countering jihadist and non-jihadist Islamists as well as Turkey, but also Qatar, Turkey’s ally, which also supports the Libyan rebels.

The UAE-Turkish-Qatari proxy war in Libya is increasingly also coloured by Prince Mohammed and Al-Sisi’s opposition to efforts to resolve divisions among the Gulf states that spilled into the open with the declaration of a Saudi-UAE-led diplomatic and economic boycott of Qatar in 2017.

Saudi Arabia has hinted in recent months that it may be amenable to an easing of the boycott, a move that is believed to be opposed by the UAE as long as Qatar does not make significant concessions on issues like freewheeling broadcaster Al Jazeera and support for political Islam.

The new naval base’s location symbolizes Egypt’s conundrum that also poses a problem for the UAE at a time that Egypt is at odds with Ethiopia over the operation of a giant dam that Ethiopia is building on the Blue Nile.

Stepping up involvement in Libya risks Egypt becoming embroiled in two conflicts at the same time.

Egypt claims the dam puts a million Egyptian jobs, $1.8 billion in economic output annually and electricity valued at $300 million at risk.

The base is aimed at "securing the country's southern coasts, protecting economic investments and natural resources and facing security threats in the Red Sea," according to a spokesman for Al-Sisi.

The president has warned that Egypt would take all the necessary measures to protect its rights to the Nile waters.

So far, Egypt is banking on mediation helping it avoiding being trapped between a rock and a hard place by achieving a ceasefire in Libya that would keep Egypt’s hands-free to deal with Ethiopia were a conflict to erupt.

The question is whether Haftar, who without signing the ceasefire agreement reportedly told German officials that he would adhere to its terms and the UAE are willing to play ball.

The proof will be in the pudding. German Chancellor Angela Merkel raised the stakes by insisting in advance of the Berlin talks that they ensure “That the weapons embargo is adhered to again.”

The United Nations has accused the UAE together with several other countries, including Turkey, of violating the UN embargo.

As a result, it may be the UAE rather than Haftar who has a decisive voice in Berlin.

Said North Africa expert Ben Fishman: “Until Abu Dhabi pulls back its drones, operators, and other crucial military support, the prospects for Libya’s stability will remain dim. 
 
Besides the fact that they provide the greatest advantage to Haftar’s forces, focusing on the Emiratis also makes sense because the other foreign players currently have reasons to de-escalate on their own.” 
 
(Views expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

This week’s inauguration of a new Red Sea Egyptian military base was pregnant with the symbolism of the rivalries shaping the future of the Middle East as well as north and east Africa.

This week’s inauguration of a new Red Sea Egyptian military base was pregnant with the symbolism of the rivalries shaping the future of the Middle East as well as north and east Africa. The inauguration took on added significance as rebel Libyan Field Marshall Khalifa Haftar, backed by United Arab Emirates crown prince Mohammed bin Zayed and Egyptian General-turned-President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, snubbed Russian President Vladimir Putin by refusing to agree to a ceasefire in the Libyan war. Haftar’s refusal thwarted, at least temporarily, an effort by Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to structure the ceasefire so that it would align opposing Russian and Turkish interests, allow the two parties to cooperate in the exploitation of Libya’s energy resources, and protect a Turkish-Libyan maritime agreement creating an Exclusive Economic Zone that strengthens Russian-backed Turkish manoeuvres in the eastern Mediterranean. The manoeuvres are designed to thwart a Greek-Cypriot-Israeli agreement to build a pipeline that would supply gas to Europe, reducing European dependence on Russian gas in the process. Critics charge that the maritime agreement that would limit Greek-Cypriot Israeli access to hydrocarbons in the Eastern Mediterranean, violates the Law of the Sea. Warning that it would block European Union backing for any Libyan peace deal as long as the Turkish-Libyan maritime agreement was in place, Greece was one of the countries Haftar visited in the days between his rejection of a ceasefire and a conference on Libya hosted by Germany that is scheduled to be held in Berlin on January 19. Haftar’s rejection came as Turkish troops arrived in Libya to bolster forces of the internationally recognised government of prime minister Fayez al-Sarraj defending the capital Tripoli against an eight-month-old assault by the field marshal’s rebel Libyan National Army (LNA) that is backed by Russian mercenaries with close ties to the Kremlin, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Prince Mohammed’s presence at the inauguration of the Egyptian naval base underlined the UAE’s influence in Egypt since it backed Al-Sisi’s 2013 military coup that toppled the country’s first and only democratically elected President and the Emirates’ determination to counter Islamist forces as well as Turkish influence in Libya and the Horn of Africa. UAE and Egyptian backing of Haftar is not just about countering jihadist and non-jihadist Islamists as well as Turkey, but also Qatar, Turkey’s ally, which also supports the Libyan rebels. The UAE-Turkish-Qatari proxy war in Libya is increasingly also coloured by Prince Mohammed and Al-Sisi’s opposition to efforts to resolve divisions among the Gulf states that spilled into the open with the declaration of a Saudi-UAE-led diplomatic and economic boycott of Qatar in 2017. Saudi Arabia has hinted in recent months that it may be amenable to an easing of the boycott, a move that is believed to be opposed by the UAE as long as Qatar does not make significant concessions on issues like freewheeling broadcaster Al Jazeera and support for political Islam. The new naval base’s location symbolizes Egypt’s conundrum that also poses a problem for the UAE at a time that Egypt is at odds with Ethiopia over the operation of a giant dam that Ethiopia is building on the Blue Nile. Stepping up involvement in Libya risks Egypt becoming embroiled in two conflicts at the same time. Egypt claims the dam puts a million Egyptian jobs, $1.8 billion in economic output annually and electricity valued at $300 million at risk. The base is aimed at "securing the country's southern coasts, protecting economic investments and natural resources and facing security threats in the Red Sea," according to a spokesman for Al-Sisi. The president has warned that Egypt would take all the necessary measures to protect its rights to the Nile waters. So far, Egypt is banking on mediation helping it avoiding being trapped between a rock and a hard place by achieving a ceasefire in Libya that would keep Egypt’s hands-free to deal with Ethiopia were a conflict to erupt. The question is whether Haftar, who without signing the ceasefire agreement reportedly told German officials that he would adhere to its terms and the UAE are willing to play ball. The proof will be in the pudding. German Chancellor Angela Merkel raised the stakes by insisting in advance of the Berlin talks that they ensure “That the weapons embargo is adhered to again.” The United Nations has accused the UAE together with several other countries, including Turkey, of violating the UN embargo. As a result, it may be the UAE rather than Haftar who has a decisive voice in Berlin. Said North Africa expert Ben Fishman: “Until Abu Dhabi pulls back its drones, operators, and other crucial military support, the prospects for Libya’s stability will remain dim. Besides the fact that they provide the greatest advantage to Haftar’s forces, focusing on the Emiratis also makes sense because the other foreign players currently have reasons to de-escalate on their own.” (Views expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

The battle for Libya: UAE calls the shots

Yemen's president told the military on Sunday it needs to be on high alert and ready for battle following an attack on Saturday by Iran-aligned <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/un-investigators-find-yemens-houthis-did-not-carry-out-saudi-oil-attack-273077">Houthis</a> on a military training camp in the city of Marib.

The attack "confirms without a doubt that the Houthis have no desire for peace", <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/death-toll-climbs-to-seven-in-missile-attack-in-yemen-270894">Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi</a> said, in a statement on Yemen's state news agency SABA.

The Houthis did not immediately claim responsibility for Saturday's attack.

The attack killed 73 people and left dozens wounded, two medical sources told reporters. The sources said the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/17-civilians-killed-in-3rd-attack-on-yemen-market-united-nations-270403">attack</a> targeted a mosque in the camp as people gathered for prayer.

Saudi state TV put the death toll from the attack at 60.

A proxy war has been playing out in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/blast-hits-military-parade-in-yemen-at-least-five-dead-270854">Yemen</a> between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi-led coalition intervened in 2015 to restore Hadi's government, which the Houthis ousted from power in the capital Sanaa and is now based in the southern port city of Aden.

The Houthis deny being puppets of Iran and say they are fighting a corrupt system.

Yemen's president told the military on Sunday it needs to be on high alert and ready for battle following an attack on Saturday by Iran-aligned Houthis on a military training camp in the city of Marib.

Yemen's president told the military on Sunday it needs to be on high alert and ready for battle following an attack on Saturday by Iran-aligned Houthis on a military training camp in the city of Marib. The attack "confirms without a doubt that the Houthis have no desire for peace", Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi said, in a statement on Yemen's state news agency SABA. The Houthis did not immediately claim responsibility for Saturday's attack. The attack killed 73 people and left dozens wounded, two medical sources told reporters. The sources said the attack targeted a mosque in the camp as people gathered for prayer. Saudi state TV put the death toll from the attack at 60. A proxy war has been playing out in Yemen between Iran and Saudi Arabia. The Saudi-led coalition intervened in 2015 to restore Hadi's government, which the Houthis ousted from power in the capital Sanaa and is now based in the southern port city of Aden. The Houthis deny being puppets of Iran and say they are fighting a corrupt system.

'Military needs to be on high alert': President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi

Google's parent company Apple has become the 4th U.S. company to hit the trillion-dollar market cap. But despite America's tech prowess - a company in Saudi Arabia is the world's most valued company. WION's Palki Sharma has the story.

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Shinzo Abe travelled to Abu Dhabi from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and is also scheduled to visit Oman this week. #Japan #SaudiArabia #Shinzo Abe

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe arrives in Abu Dhabi

By the law of unintended consequences, US President Donald J Trump’s mix of uncritical and cynical embrace of Saudi Arabia and transactional approach towards relations with the kingdom may be producing results.

Saudi Arabia appears to be backing away from its largely disastrous assertive and robust go-it-alone foreign and defence policy posture and reverting to a more cautious approach that embraces multilateralism, seeks international backing before acting and emphasises traditional and public diplomacy.

The kingdom’s shift towards a less reckless, more coordinated and deliberate foreign and defence policy does not necessarily mean a change in rhetoric or a greater willingness to seek negotiated solutions.

It entails a change in tone and strategy rather than a backing away from key foreign or domestic policy positions, including Saudi Arabia’s deep-seated animosity towards Iran.

Saudi state minister for foreign affairs Adel al-Jubeir made that clear, saying that Saudi Arabia had not ruled out a military response to drone and missile attacks that severely damaged two if its key oil installations.

Al-Jubeir reiterated conditions for any successful negotiation that include tough restrictions on and oversight of Iran’s nuclear programme and limits to its development of ballistic missile. He further demanded fundamental changes in Iran’s foreign and defence policy.

“No nukes, no missiles and no terrorism,” Al-Jubeir said in language that was likely to appeal to a broad audience but masked the two countries’ core differences.

Nicolas Dunais, an economic advisor to Gulf governments who last year was helping Saudi Arabia establish a national risk and resilience unit, got a glimpse of Saudi Arabia’s fundamental attitude before the kingdom’s recent repackaging.

Dunais was taken aback when he suggested opening a backchannel to Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi rebels.

"Suggestions by Dunais to consider the broader risks related to the missile threat and to undertake an indirect dialogue with the Houthi leadership were summarily dismissed given the confidence that military might alone would be enough to crush a ragtag army of rebels"

King Salman signalled the policy shift when he told a Cabinet meeting, days after the attacks believed to have at least been enabled by Iran, that they were "not aimed at the vital facilities of Saudi Arabia only, but also threaten the global economy."

King Salman’s statement was as much an effort to capitalise on the attacks to garner international support and step up pressure on Iran as it was the setting of a different foreign policy tone.

Unlike the United States that put responsibility for the attacks squarely on the shoulders of Iran, Saudi spokesmen were careful to stop short of holding Iran directly responsible for the attacks. Instead, they asserted that the weapons used in the attacks were Iranian made and therefore bore some degree of responsibility.

Similarly, in sharp contrast to the kingdom’s rejection of an international investigation into last year’s killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and its tight control of access to war-torn Yemen, Saudi Arabia followed up on King Salman’s statement by inviting the United Nations and others to participate in a forensic investigation of the attacks that would focus on the origin of the weapons employed, and the launching spot of the drones and missiles.

Speaking to the New York-based Council of Foreign Relations, Al-Jubeir said foreign experts had already arrived in the kingdom. Driving the point home, Al al-Jubeir said earlier that Saudi Arabia was consulting “with friends and allies about the next steps to take.”

In a further embrace of multilateralism, Saudi Arabia, days after the attacks, joined a US-led coalition to secure the Middle East’s waterways. Earlier, Britain, Bahrain and Australia pledged to participate in the coalition.

The Saudi moves were buffeted by a concerted reaching out to the media rather than relying primarily on expensive public relations and lobbying agencies to ensure that the kingdom’s voice and more cautious approach was heard and noted.

The attacks drove home the vulnerability of the kingdom’s oil assets that account for the bulk of its revenues and its international standing and a realisation that Saudi Arabia could not count on unquestioned support of the international community and particularly the United States, its long-standing guardian angel.

That realisation came as Saudi Arabia was working to repair damage to its image as a result of its conduct of the Yemen war; the killing of Khashoggi; the massive crackdown on activists, critics and businessmen; and its abrupt and undiplomatic response to countries like Sweden and Canada that voiced public criticism of the kingdom’s policies.

This week, Saudi ambassador to the UN Abdulaziz Alwasil didn’t mince his words, responding to Australia’s leadership of 24 Western nations in issuing a statement condemning the kingdom for a raft of human rights abuses.

Yet, in a sign of the times and in contrast to earlier incidents involving Sweden and Canada, Alwasil did not threaten disruption of trade and other forms of cooperation with Australia nor did he indicate that the kingdom may expel Australian diplomats.

Saudi Arabia’s efforts to come to grips with new realities came as the kingdom was preparing for an initial public offering by its national oil company, Aramco, that has been struggling to ensure that it meets Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s target valuation of $2 trillion.

The precarity of the kingdom’s situation was obvious for all to see when Trump made clear that his inclination was not to launch a risky retaliatory strike against Iran in response to the attacks but to tighten economic sanctions and to continue exploring a possible dialogue with the Islamic republic.

Adding insult to injury, Trump emphasised the fact that the attacks were against Saudi Arabia and not against the United States and that his administration would support a Saudi response or potentially act on its behalf against payment.

As a result, Saudi Arabia has been manoeuvring to ensure that the situation does not get out of control and that it is not put in a position in which it risks an all-out war that could prove to be devastating.

Saudi Arabia’s shift in policy approach follows in the footsteps of the United Arab Emirates that has in recent months sought to de-escalate tensions in the Gulf by distancing itself from Saudi positions. 
 
The UAE has partially withdrawn its forces from Yemen in an effort to prevent further reputational damage, a move that sparked fighting between UAE and Saudi-backed forces in the country. It was careful not to blame Iran for attacks on tankers off the coast of the UAE believed to have been launched by Iran and reached out to the Islamic republic by sending a coast guard delegation to Tehran.

Said Rebecca Wasser, a senior policy analyst at RAND Corporation, noting that the attacks had made the kingdom realise that it may be playing for stakes that are too high: “I think there has a been a calculation that the costs might be too high.”

Trump can claim some credit for Saudi Arabia’s emerging adoption of a more cautious approach. Higher costs and greater risk perceptions were likely one consequence of his transactional approach towards the kingdom. 
 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL) &nbsp;

By the law of unintended consequences, US President Donald J Trump’s mix of uncritical and cynical embrace of Saudi Arabia and transactional approach towards relations with the kingdom may be producing results.

By the law of unintended consequences, US President Donald J Trump’s mix of uncritical and cynical embrace of Saudi Arabia and transactional approach towards relations with the kingdom may be producing results. Saudi Arabia appears to be backing away from its largely disastrous assertive and robust go-it-alone foreign and defence policy posture and reverting to a more cautious approach that embraces multilateralism, seeks international backing before acting and emphasises traditional and public diplomacy. The kingdom’s shift towards a less reckless, more coordinated and deliberate foreign and defence policy does not necessarily mean a change in rhetoric or a greater willingness to seek negotiated solutions. It entails a change in tone and strategy rather than a backing away from key foreign or domestic policy positions, including Saudi Arabia’s deep-seated animosity towards Iran. Saudi state minister for foreign affairs Adel al-Jubeir made that clear, saying that Saudi Arabia had not ruled out a military response to drone and missile attacks that severely damaged two if its key oil installations. Al-Jubeir reiterated conditions for any successful negotiation that include tough restrictions on and oversight of Iran’s nuclear programme and limits to its development of ballistic missile. He further demanded fundamental changes in Iran’s foreign and defence policy. “No nukes, no missiles and no terrorism,” Al-Jubeir said in language that was likely to appeal to a broad audience but masked the two countries’ core differences. Nicolas Dunais, an economic advisor to Gulf governments who last year was helping Saudi Arabia establish a national risk and resilience unit, got a glimpse of Saudi Arabia’s fundamental attitude before the kingdom’s recent repackaging. Dunais was taken aback when he suggested opening a backchannel to Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi rebels. "Suggestions by Dunais to consider the broader risks related to the missile threat and to undertake an indirect dialogue with the Houthi leadership were summarily dismissed given the confidence that military might alone would be enough to crush a ragtag army of rebels" King Salman signalled the policy shift when he told a Cabinet meeting, days after the attacks believed to have at least been enabled by Iran, that they were "not aimed at the vital facilities of Saudi Arabia only, but also threaten the global economy." King Salman’s statement was as much an effort to capitalise on the attacks to garner international support and step up pressure on Iran as it was the setting of a different foreign policy tone. Unlike the United States that put responsibility for the attacks squarely on the shoulders of Iran, Saudi spokesmen were careful to stop short of holding Iran directly responsible for the attacks. Instead, they asserted that the weapons used in the attacks were Iranian made and therefore bore some degree of responsibility. Similarly, in sharp contrast to the kingdom’s rejection of an international investigation into last year’s killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and its tight control of access to war-torn Yemen, Saudi Arabia followed up on King Salman’s statement by inviting the United Nations and others to participate in a forensic investigation of the attacks that would focus on the origin of the weapons employed, and the launching spot of the drones and missiles. Speaking to the New York-based Council of Foreign Relations, Al-Jubeir said foreign experts had already arrived in the kingdom. Driving the point home, Al al-Jubeir said earlier that Saudi Arabia was consulting “with friends and allies about the next steps to take.” In a further embrace of multilateralism, Saudi Arabia, days after the attacks, joined a US-led coalition to secure the Middle East’s waterways. Earlier, Britain, Bahrain and Australia pledged to participate in the coalition. The Saudi moves were buffeted by a concerted reaching out to the media rather than relying primarily on expensive public relations and lobbying agencies to ensure that the kingdom’s voice and more cautious approach was heard and noted. The attacks drove home the vulnerability of the kingdom’s oil assets that account for the bulk of its revenues and its international standing and a realisation that Saudi Arabia could not count on unquestioned support of the international community and particularly the United States, its long-standing guardian angel. That realisation came as Saudi Arabia was working to repair damage to its image as a result of its conduct of the Yemen war; the killing of Khashoggi; the massive crackdown on activists, critics and businessmen; and its abrupt and undiplomatic response to countries like Sweden and Canada that voiced public criticism of the kingdom’s policies. This week, Saudi ambassador to the UN Abdulaziz Alwasil didn’t mince his words, responding to Australia’s leadership of 24 Western nations in issuing a statement condemning the kingdom for a raft of human rights abuses. Yet, in a sign of the times and in contrast to earlier incidents involving Sweden and Canada, Alwasil did not threaten disruption of trade and other forms of cooperation with Australia nor did he indicate that the kingdom may expel Australian diplomats. Saudi Arabia’s efforts to come to grips with new realities came as the kingdom was preparing for an initial public offering by its national oil company, Aramco, that has been struggling to ensure that it meets Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s target valuation of $2 trillion. The precarity of the kingdom’s situation was obvious for all to see when Trump made clear that his inclination was not to launch a risky retaliatory strike against Iran in response to the attacks but to tighten economic sanctions and to continue exploring a possible dialogue with the Islamic republic. Adding insult to injury, Trump emphasised the fact that the attacks were against Saudi Arabia and not against the United States and that his administration would support a Saudi response or potentially act on its behalf against payment. As a result, Saudi Arabia has been manoeuvring to ensure that the situation does not get out of control and that it is not put in a position in which it risks an all-out war that could prove to be devastating. Saudi Arabia’s shift in policy approach follows in the footsteps of the United Arab Emirates that has in recent months sought to de-escalate tensions in the Gulf by distancing itself from Saudi positions. The UAE has partially withdrawn its forces from Yemen in an effort to prevent further reputational damage, a move that sparked fighting between UAE and Saudi-backed forces in the country. It was careful not to blame Iran for attacks on tankers off the coast of the UAE believed to have been launched by Iran and reached out to the Islamic republic by sending a coast guard delegation to Tehran. Said Rebecca Wasser, a senior policy analyst at RAND Corporation, noting that the attacks had made the kingdom realise that it may be playing for stakes that are too high: “I think there has a been a calculation that the costs might be too high.” Trump can claim some credit for Saudi Arabia’s emerging adoption of a more cautious approach. Higher costs and greater risk perceptions were likely one consequence of his transactional approach towards the kingdom. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Saudi Arabia policy shift: A rare Donald Trump's foreign policy success

An Iran hawk who advocated killing General Qasem Soleimani, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has ordered his diplomats to limit contacts with militant Iranian exile and opposition groups that support either regime change or greater rights for ethnic groups like Kurds and Arabs.

Coming on the back of the Soleimani killing, Pompeo’s directive appears to put an end to the Trump administration’s hinting that it covertly supports insurgent efforts to at the very least destabilise the Iranian government if not topple it.

A litmus test of the directive by Pompeo, known to have a close relationship with Donald J Trump, is likely to be whether the president’s personal lawyer, Rudolph Giuliani, distances himself from the controversial National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), an offshoot of the Mujahedeen-e-Khalq, a group that was taken off the US Treasury’s list of designated terrorists several years ago.

Giuliani is a frequent, well-paid speaker at gatherings of the group that has built a significant network among Western political elites. The council and the Mujahedeen openly call for regime change in Iran.

The Mujahedeen were moved with US assistance from their exile base in Iraq to a reportedly Saudi-funded secretive facility in Albania.

A New Jersey-based lobbying firm hired by the NCRI, Rosemont Associates, reported last year in its filing as a foreign agent frequent email and telephone contact on behalf of its client with the US embassy in the Albanian capital of Tirana as well as Brian Hook, the US Special Representative for Iran, and Gabriel Noronha, an aide to Hook.

In his directive, Pompeo said that “Direct US government engagement with these groups could prove counterproductive to our policy goal of seeking a comprehensive deal with the Iranian regime that addresses its destabilising behaviour.”&nbsp;

The secretary went on to say that Iranian opposition groups “Try to engage US officials regularly to gain at least the appearance of tacit support and enhance their visibility and clout.”

Pompeo’s cable, while keeping a potential negotiated deal with Iran on the table, does not stop other US government agencies from covertly supporting the various groups, that also includes Arab Struggle Movement for the Liberation of al-Ahwaz (AMLA), the Komala Party of Iranian Kurdistan, and the Kurdish Democratic Party of Iran (KDPI).

Iran, which has long believed that the United States, alongside Saudi Arabia and Israel, supported the Mujahedeen as well as ethnic militants that intermittently launch attacks inside Iran, is likely to take a wait-and see-attitude towards Pompeo’s directive that could be seen as a signal that the Trump administration is not seeking regime change.

The timing of the directive is significant. Iran responded to the killing of Soleimani with carefully calibrated missile attacks on US facilities in Iraq in a bid to create an environment in which backchanneling potentially could steer the United States and Iran back to the negotiating table.

While it was uncertain that one round of escalated tensions would do the trick, potential efforts were not helped by the death of Oman’s Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said, a key interlocutor who has repeatedly helped resolve US-Iranian problems and initiated contacts that ultimately led to the 2015 international agreement that curbed Iran’s nuclear program.

In his directive, Pompeo, referring to Komala, acknowledged that “Iran’s regime appears to assess that the United States and/or Israel support this group of militant Kurds.”

Iranian perceptions were reinforced not only by calls for regime change by senior figures like Giuliani and Saudi prince Turki al-Faisal, a former head of the kingdom’s intelligence service and ex-ambassador to Britain and the United States, but also the appointment in 2018 of Steven Fagin as counsel general in Erbil in Iraqi Kurdistan.

Shortly before moving to Erbil, Fagin met in Washington as head of the State Department’s Office of Iranian Affairs, with Mustafa Hijri, leader of the KDPI as it stepped up its attacks in Iranian Kurdistan.

Iranian perceptions were further informed by the appointment of John Bolton, Trump’s since departed national security advisor and like Giuliani a frequent speaker at NCRI events, who publicly advocates support of ethnic insurgencies in Iran in a bid to change the regime.

As Trump’s first director of the Central Intelligence Agency, Pompeo named Michael D’Andrea, a hard-charging, chain-smoking covert operations officer, alternatively nicknamed the Dark Prince or Ayatollah Mike, whose track record includes overseeing the hunt for Osama Bin Laden, as head of the CIA’s Iran operations.

The appointment was followed by the publication by a Riyadh-based think tank believed to be close to crown prince Mohammed bin Salman of a study for Saudi support for a low-level Baloch insurgency in Iran. Prince Mohammed vowed around the same time that “We will work so that the battle is for them in Iran, not in Saudi Arabia.”

Pakistani militants have claimed that Saudi Arabia had stepped up funding of militant madrassas or religious seminaries in the Pakistani province of Balochistan that allegedly serves as havens for anti-Iranian fighters.

The New York Times reported this week that aides to Prince Mohammed had in the past discussed with private businessmen the assassination of Soleimani, an architect of Iran’s regional network of proxies, and other Iranians as well as ways of sabotaging the country’s economy.

Pompeo’s directive is unlikely to persuade Iran that Washington has had a change of heart. Indeed, it hasn’t. Trump maintains his campaign of maximum pressure and this week imposed additional sanctions on Iran.

Nonetheless, potentially taking regime change off the table facilitates backchanneling that aims at getting the two nations to talk again. 
 
(Views expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL) 
&nbsp;

An Iran hawk who advocated killing General Qasem Soleimani, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has ordered his diplomats to limit contacts with militant Iranian exile and opposition groups that support either regime change or greater rights for ethnic groups like Kurds and Arabs.

An Iran hawk who advocated killing General Qasem Soleimani, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has ordered his diplomats to limit contacts with militant Iranian exile and opposition groups that support either regime change or greater rights for ethnic groups like Kurds and Arabs. Coming on the back of the Soleimani killing, Pompeo’s directive appears to put an end to the Trump administration’s hinting that it covertly supports insurgent efforts to at the very least destabilise the Iranian government if not topple it. A litmus test of the directive by Pompeo, known to have a close relationship with Donald J Trump, is likely to be whether the president’s personal lawyer, Rudolph Giuliani, distances himself from the controversial National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), an offshoot of the Mujahedeen-e-Khalq, a group that was taken off the US Treasury’s list of designated terrorists several years ago. Giuliani is a frequent, well-paid speaker at gatherings of the group that has built a significant network among Western political elites. The council and the Mujahedeen openly call for regime change in Iran. The Mujahedeen were moved with US assistance from their exile base in Iraq to a reportedly Saudi-funded secretive facility in Albania. A New Jersey-based lobbying firm hired by the NCRI, Rosemont Associates, reported last year in its filing as a foreign agent frequent email and telephone contact on behalf of its client with the US embassy in the Albanian capital of Tirana as well as Brian Hook, the US Special Representative for Iran, and Gabriel Noronha, an aide to Hook. In his directive, Pompeo said that “Direct US government engagement with these groups could prove counterproductive to our policy goal of seeking a comprehensive deal with the Iranian regime that addresses its destabilising behaviour.” The secretary went on to say that Iranian opposition groups “Try to engage US officials regularly to gain at least the appearance of tacit support and enhance their visibility and clout.” Pompeo’s cable, while keeping a potential negotiated deal with Iran on the table, does not stop other US government agencies from covertly supporting the various groups, that also includes Arab Struggle Movement for the Liberation of al-Ahwaz (AMLA), the Komala Party of Iranian Kurdistan, and the Kurdish Democratic Party of Iran (KDPI). Iran, which has long believed that the United States, alongside Saudi Arabia and Israel, supported the Mujahedeen as well as ethnic militants that intermittently launch attacks inside Iran, is likely to take a wait-and see-attitude towards Pompeo’s directive that could be seen as a signal that the Trump administration is not seeking regime change. The timing of the directive is significant. Iran responded to the killing of Soleimani with carefully calibrated missile attacks on US facilities in Iraq in a bid to create an environment in which backchanneling potentially could steer the United States and Iran back to the negotiating table. While it was uncertain that one round of escalated tensions would do the trick, potential efforts were not helped by the death of Oman’s Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said, a key interlocutor who has repeatedly helped resolve US-Iranian problems and initiated contacts that ultimately led to the 2015 international agreement that curbed Iran’s nuclear program. In his directive, Pompeo, referring to Komala, acknowledged that “Iran’s regime appears to assess that the United States and/or Israel support this group of militant Kurds.” Iranian perceptions were reinforced not only by calls for regime change by senior figures like Giuliani and Saudi prince Turki al-Faisal, a former head of the kingdom’s intelligence service and ex-ambassador to Britain and the United States, but also the appointment in 2018 of Steven Fagin as counsel general in Erbil in Iraqi Kurdistan. Shortly before moving to Erbil, Fagin met in Washington as head of the State Department’s Office of Iranian Affairs, with Mustafa Hijri, leader of the KDPI as it stepped up its attacks in Iranian Kurdistan. Iranian perceptions were further informed by the appointment of John Bolton, Trump’s since departed national security advisor and like Giuliani a frequent speaker at NCRI events, who publicly advocates support of ethnic insurgencies in Iran in a bid to change the regime. As Trump’s first director of the Central Intelligence Agency, Pompeo named Michael D’Andrea, a hard-charging, chain-smoking covert operations officer, alternatively nicknamed the Dark Prince or Ayatollah Mike, whose track record includes overseeing the hunt for Osama Bin Laden, as head of the CIA’s Iran operations. The appointment was followed by the publication by a Riyadh-based think tank believed to be close to crown prince Mohammed bin Salman of a study for Saudi support for a low-level Baloch insurgency in Iran. Prince Mohammed vowed around the same time that “We will work so that the battle is for them in Iran, not in Saudi Arabia.” Pakistani militants have claimed that Saudi Arabia had stepped up funding of militant madrassas or religious seminaries in the Pakistani province of Balochistan that allegedly serves as havens for anti-Iranian fighters. The New York Times reported this week that aides to Prince Mohammed had in the past discussed with private businessmen the assassination of Soleimani, an architect of Iran’s regional network of proxies, and other Iranians as well as ways of sabotaging the country’s economy. Pompeo’s directive is unlikely to persuade Iran that Washington has had a change of heart. Indeed, it hasn’t. Trump maintains his campaign of maximum pressure and this week imposed additional sanctions on Iran. Nonetheless, potentially taking regime change off the table facilitates backchanneling that aims at getting the two nations to talk again. (Views expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

US backs off support to regime change in Iran

Awe-inspiring pictures and videos of snow-blanketed regions in Saudi Arabia are doing the rounds on social media and are going viral.

According to reports, Saudi Arabia's mountainous region - Tabuk in particular - have been hit by a snowstorm. Parts of Lebanon and Syria also experienced snowstorms while hail was reported in parts of Egypt.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Currently: 
Snow in Saudi Arabia deserts (Tabuk). <a href="https://t.co/tNJFU8Yia4">pic.twitter.com/tNJFU8Yia4</a>
— د. أحمد نبيل (@Dr_Ahmad_Nabeel) <a href="https://twitter.com/Dr_Ahmad_Nabeel/status/1215653574589501440?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 10, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Middle East nations like Qatar, the UAE, parts of Iran and Oman experienced heavy rainfall earlier this week.&nbsp;

There was a forecast of Middle Eastern regions like Dubai and Doha to receive around 150mm of rainfall when they usually record around 70mm of rainfall for the whole year.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tabuk?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Tabuk</a> &amp; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Neom?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Neom</a> in Saudi Arabia at 
winter season, beauty of snow❄️🖤! <a href="https://t.co/CjvZK2A2Nd">pic.twitter.com/CjvZK2A2Nd</a>
— Abdualaziz M. Alawadh (@abdualaziz_666) <a href="https://twitter.com/abdualaziz_666/status/1215601370004426752?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 10, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Earlier this week, Israel witnessed heavy rainfall that led to flooding in its border areas with Lebanon to the Negev desert. At least five people have been killed in Israel due to rising floodwaters, local media reported.&nbsp;

Awe-inspiring pictures and videos of snow-blanketed regions in Saudi Arabia are doing the rounds on social media and are going viral. According to reports, Saudi Arabia's mountainous region - Tabuk in particular - have been hit by a snowstorm.

Awe-inspiring pictures and videos of snow-blanketed regions in Saudi Arabia are doing the rounds on social media and are going viral. According to reports, Saudi Arabia's mountainous region - Tabuk in particular - have been hit by a snowstorm. Parts of Lebanon and Syria also experienced snowstorms while hail was reported in parts of Egypt. Currently: Snow in Saudi Arabia deserts (Tabuk). pic.twitter.com/tNJFU8Yia4 — د. أحمد نبيل (@Dr_Ahmad_Nabeel) January 10, 2020 × Middle East nations like Qatar, the UAE, parts of Iran and Oman experienced heavy rainfall earlier this week. There was a forecast of Middle Eastern regions like Dubai and Doha to receive around 150mm of rainfall when they usually record around 70mm of rainfall for the whole year. #Tabuk & #Neom in Saudi Arabia at winter season, beauty of snow❄️🖤! pic.twitter.com/CjvZK2A2Nd — Abdualaziz M. Alawadh (@abdualaziz_666) January 10, 2020 × Earlier this week, Israel witnessed heavy rainfall that led to flooding in its border areas with Lebanon to the Negev desert. At least five people have been killed in Israel due to rising floodwaters, local media reported.

Snow in Saudi Arabia? Locals share pictures, videos of snow-blanketed Tabuk 

Snow blankets covered parts of Saudi Arabia on Friday, January 10 as temperatures dropped below zero degrees Celsius. Watch this video to know more.

Parts of Saudi Arabia covered in snow as temperature drops below freezing point

Pakistan Foreign Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-foreign-minister-shah-mahmood-qureshi-calls-for-maximum-restraint-amid-west-asia-tensions-272497">Shah Mehmood Qureshi</a> will embark on a visit to Iran and Saudi Arabia on January 13 to discuss the latest developments in the Middle East region.

"He (Qureshi) will visit Riyadh on January 13 to hold talks with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-arabia-appeals-for-calm-after-killing-of-iranian-general-qasem-soleimani-272563">Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud</a> and consult on the issues of regional peace and stability," a Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson was quoted by The Express Tribune, as saying on Saturday.

The spokesperson said that Qureshi will meet his Iranian counterpart <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukrainian-airplane-brought-down-due-to-human-error-iran-273506">Javad Zarif</a> in Tehran and exchange views on the evolving situation in the Middle East region.

Qureshi has already spoken to his counterparts from Iran, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar, will undertake the visits on the direction of Pakistan Prime Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-pm-imran-khan-slammed-by-syed-akbaruddin-for-sharing-a-seven-years-old-fake-video-272024">Imran Khan</a>.

This visit comes in the backdrop of escalating US-Iran tensions after Soleimani, the head of Iran's Revolutionary Guards' elite Quds Force, was killed in a drone strike ordered by President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/soleimani-was-probably-planning-to-attack-four-us-embassies-donald-trump-273535">Donald Trump</a> at Baghdad International Airport in Iraq.

Iran retailated by firing dozens of missiles at two US-led coalition bases in Iraq. However, no casualties were reported.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/qasem-soleimani-and-irans-plan-to-dominate-iraq-273471">Soleimani</a>'s death marked a dramatic escalation in tension between the US and Iran, which has often been at a fever pitch since US President Donald Trump, in 2018, chose to unilaterally withdraw Washington from the 2015 nuclear pact the world powers had struck with Tehran.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi will embark on a visit to Iran and Saudi Arabia on January 13 to discuss the latest developments in the Middle East region.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi will embark on a visit to Iran and Saudi Arabia on January 13 to discuss the latest developments in the Middle East region. "He (Qureshi) will visit Riyadh on January 13 to hold talks with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and consult on the issues of regional peace and stability," a Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson was quoted by The Express Tribune, as saying on Saturday. The spokesperson said that Qureshi will meet his Iranian counterpart Javad Zarif in Tehran and exchange views on the evolving situation in the Middle East region. Qureshi has already spoken to his counterparts from Iran, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar, will undertake the visits on the direction of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan. This visit comes in the backdrop of escalating US-Iran tensions after Soleimani, the head of Iran's Revolutionary Guards' elite Quds Force, was killed in a drone strike ordered by President Donald Trump at Baghdad International Airport in Iraq. Iran retailated by firing dozens of missiles at two US-led coalition bases in Iraq. However, no casualties were reported. Soleimani's death marked a dramatic escalation in tension between the US and Iran, which has often been at a fever pitch since US President Donald Trump, in 2018, chose to unilaterally withdraw Washington from the 2015 nuclear pact the world powers had struck with Tehran.

Pakistan foreign minister to visit Iran, Saudi Arabia to discuss developments in Middle East

State-owned oil company&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/gulf-markets-plunge-on-us-iran-tensions-kuwait-lead-fall-272251">Saudi&nbsp;Aramco</a>&nbsp;said on Sunday it has exercised its "greenshoe&nbsp;option" to sell an additional 450 million shares, raising the size of its initial public offering (IPO) to a&nbsp;record&nbsp;$29.4&nbsp;billion.

Aramco&nbsp;initially raised a then-record&nbsp;$25.6&nbsp;billion&nbsp;in its&nbsp;IPO&nbsp;in December by selling 3&nbsp;billion&nbsp;shares at 32 riyals ($8.53) but indicated it may sell additional shares&nbsp;through&nbsp;the over-allotment of shares.

A&nbsp;greenshoe&nbsp;option, or over-allotment, allows companies to issue more shares in an&nbsp;IPO&nbsp;when there is greater demand from participants during the initial offering.

Investors were allocated the additional shares for the&nbsp;option&nbsp;during the book-building process,&nbsp;Aramco&nbsp;said.

Aramco&nbsp;said "no additional shares are being offered into the market today and the stabilising manager will not hold any shares in the company as a result of exercise of the over-allotment&nbsp;option."

Aramco&nbsp;shares have been volatile recently because of geopolitical concerns as tensions between the United States and Iran rose after President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-warns-iran-against-massacre-as-protests-erupt-over-downing-of-ukrainian-airplane-273670">Donald Trump</a> ordered a drone strike that killed a top <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/thousands-of-iraqis-rally-against-government-iran-and-us-273470">Iranian commander</a> and raised fears of war.

Shares of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/global-markets-oil-gold-safe-haven-assets-gains-as-us-strike-kills-iranian-commander-271901">Aramco</a>&nbsp;fell to 34 riyals on Jan. 8, its lowest since the stock began trading on December&nbsp;11, but closed at 35 riyals on Thursday.

Thursday's closing price valued&nbsp;Aramco&nbsp;at $1.87 trillion, above the&nbsp;IPO&nbsp;price, which valued the company at $1.7 trillion, but below Crown Prince <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/saudi-kuwait-signed-an-agreement-to-resume-joint-oil-output-270025">Mohammed bin Salman's</a> coveted $2 trillion target.

State-owned oil company Saudi Aramco said on Sunday it has exercised its "greenshoe option" to sell an additional 450 million shares, raising the size of its initial public offering (IPO) to a record $29.

State-owned oil company Saudi Aramco said on Sunday it has exercised its "greenshoe option" to sell an additional 450 million shares, raising the size of its initial public offering (IPO) to a record $29.4 billion. Aramco initially raised a then-record $25.6 billion in its IPO in December by selling 3 billion shares at 32 riyals ($8.53) but indicated it may sell additional shares through the over-allotment of shares. A greenshoe option, or over-allotment, allows companies to issue more shares in an IPO when there is greater demand from participants during the initial offering. Investors were allocated the additional shares for the option during the book-building process, Aramco said. Aramco said "no additional shares are being offered into the market today and the stabilising manager will not hold any shares in the company as a result of exercise of the over-allotment option." Aramco shares have been volatile recently because of geopolitical concerns as tensions between the United States and Iran rose after President Donald Trump ordered a drone strike that killed a top Iranian commander and raised fears of war. Shares of Aramco fell to 34 riyals on Jan. 8, its lowest since the stock began trading on December 11, but closed at 35 riyals on Thursday. Thursday's closing price valued Aramco at $1.87 trillion, above the IPO price, which valued the company at $1.7 trillion, but below Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's coveted $2 trillion target.

Saudi Aramco raises IPO to record $29.4 billion through greenshoe option

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/la-liga-sevilla-miss-chance-to-catch-real-with-draw-against-bilbao-272094">Real Madrid</a> midfielder Toni Kroos scored directly from a corner as his side booked their place in the final of the revamped Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia by outclassing Valencia 3-1 on Wednesday.

Isco and Luka Modric scored either side of halftime to put <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/zinedine-zidane-unfazed-by-jose-mourinho-talk-as-real-madrid-prepare-for-sevilla-test-251051">Zinedine Zidane</a>'s side further at ease before Dani Parejo converted a consolation penalty for last year's Copa del Rey winners in added time.

Real will meet the winners of Thursday's semi between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid in Sunday's showpiece at the King Abdullah Sport City Stadium in Jeddah.

Germany international Kroos caught Valencia's Jaume Domenech out to open the scoring in the 15th minute, curling a cross towards goal while the keeper was still organising his defence and the ball flew over the line before Domenech could recover.

The soft manner of the goal appeared to hit Valencia hard after an even start to the game and Isco put Real further ahead by volleying home in the 39th minute after a sweeping move involving Federico&nbsp;Valverde&nbsp;and Dani Carvajal.

Modric killed off Valencia's faint hopes of a second-half revival, providing a classy finish with the outside of his boot in the 65th minute to completing another incisive Real counter-attack.

"We were in complete control throughout the game, we came out with the intention of getting hold of the ball, that's what we did and our plan worked perfectly," Real midfielder Casemiro told reporters.

The 62,000-capacity arena was around two-thirds full for the first game of the competition, which used to be a two-legged season curtain raiser between the Spanish league champions and the Cup winners but has been given a radical facelift.

Spanish soccer federation chief Luis Rubiales spearheaded the changes to the format, increasing the number of teams to four and signing a three-year deal to move it to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-arabia-appeals-for-calm-after-killing-of-iranian-general-qasem-soleimani-272563">Saudi Arabia</a> which media reports say is worth 40 million euros annually.

Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos scored directly from a corner as his side booked their place in the final of the revamped Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia by outclassing Valencia 3-1 on Wednesday.

Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos scored directly from a corner as his side booked their place in the final of the revamped Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia by outclassing Valencia 3-1 on Wednesday. Isco and Luka Modric scored either side of halftime to put Zinedine Zidane's side further at ease before Dani Parejo converted a consolation penalty for last year's Copa del Rey winners in added time. Real will meet the winners of Thursday's semi between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid in Sunday's showpiece at the King Abdullah Sport City Stadium in Jeddah. Germany international Kroos caught Valencia's Jaume Domenech out to open the scoring in the 15th minute, curling a cross towards goal while the keeper was still organising his defence and the ball flew over the line before Domenech could recover. The soft manner of the goal appeared to hit Valencia hard after an even start to the game and Isco put Real further ahead by volleying home in the 39th minute after a sweeping move involving Federico Valverde and Dani Carvajal. Modric killed off Valencia's faint hopes of a second-half revival, providing a classy finish with the outside of his boot in the 65th minute to completing another incisive Real counter-attack. "We were in complete control throughout the game, we came out with the intention of getting hold of the ball, that's what we did and our plan worked perfectly," Real midfielder Casemiro told reporters. The 62,000-capacity arena was around two-thirds full for the first game of the competition, which used to be a two-legged season curtain raiser between the Spanish league champions and the Cup winners but has been given a radical facelift. Spanish soccer federation chief Luis Rubiales spearheaded the changes to the format, increasing the number of teams to four and signing a three-year deal to move it to Saudi Arabia which media reports say is worth 40 million euros annually.

Supercopa: Quick-thinking Kroos helps Real to final

Barcelona Manager <a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../vidals-lawsuit-against-barca-wont-affect-status- in-team-says-valverde-272090">Ernesto Valverde</a> raised his concerns over the newly revised form of Spanish Super Cup.&nbsp;

"It's been changed and let's see, it will be judged once it has happened. It's interesting, with four good teams, but from a sporting point of view, I'm not sure," said Ernesto Valverde during the news conference held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.&nbsp;

Previously the Super Cup was held between the La Liga winners and the Copa del Ray winners, but last year the Spanish football federation&nbsp;agreed to double the number of teams (top two teams of La Liga and Copa del Ray) and take the competition outside Spain permanently as well as moving the playing months from August to January.

In 2018, the Super Cup was held as a one-off game in Tangier, Morocco. Barcelona had one this fixture and won the Super Cup

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/we-certainly-know-the-city-better-now-barcelona-team-bus-lost-in-saudi-arabia-273092">'We certainly know the city better now': Barcelona team bus lost in Saudi Arabia</a>

Ernesto Valverde went on to say "I know there has been a lot said about this competition but the bottom line is football has become a business and as a business, it looks for income."&nbsp;

“The reason why we are here and why we were in Morocco is because the authorities are looking for more sources of income,” added Valverde.&nbsp;

This move faced heavy criticism from the traditional fan bases for scheduling the matches out of Spain. Relocating the matches in Saudi also is criticised as Saudi Arabia has been poor in terms of Human Rights.&nbsp;

A controversial three-year contract worth 120 million euros was struck between the Spanish Football Federation&nbsp;and Saudi Arabia, the deal was only signed after Saudi Arabia agreed that women would be able to attend the games.

The clubs will also benefit financially. For participating alone, Real Madrid and Barcelona will earn around 6 million euros while Atletico and Valencia will make around 3 million euros.

Barcelona faces Atletico in the second semi-final&nbsp;today, with the winner facing Real Madrid in the final on Sunday after <a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../supercopa-quick-thinking-kroos-helps-real-to- final-273097">Zinedine Zidane's side beat Valencia 3-1</a>.

Barcelona Manager Ernesto Valverde raised his concerns over the newly revised form of Spanish Super Cup. "It's been changed and let's see, it will be judged once it has happened.

Barcelona Manager Ernesto Valverde raised his concerns over the newly revised form of Spanish Super Cup. "It's been changed and let's see, it will be judged once it has happened. It's interesting, with four good teams, but from a sporting point of view, I'm not sure," said Ernesto Valverde during the news conference held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Previously the Super Cup was held between the La Liga winners and the Copa del Ray winners, but last year the Spanish football federation agreed to double the number of teams (top two teams of La Liga and Copa del Ray) and take the competition outside Spain permanently as well as moving the playing months from August to January. In 2018, the Super Cup was held as a one-off game in Tangier, Morocco. Barcelona had one this fixture and won the Super Cup Also read: 'We certainly know the city better now': Barcelona team bus lost in Saudi Arabia Ernesto Valverde went on to say "I know there has been a lot said about this competition but the bottom line is football has become a business and as a business, it looks for income." “The reason why we are here and why we were in Morocco is because the authorities are looking for more sources of income,” added Valverde. This move faced heavy criticism from the traditional fan bases for scheduling the matches out of Spain. Relocating the matches in Saudi also is criticised as Saudi Arabia has been poor in terms of Human Rights. A controversial three-year contract worth 120 million euros was struck between the Spanish Football Federation and Saudi Arabia, the deal was only signed after Saudi Arabia agreed that women would be able to attend the games. The clubs will also benefit financially. For participating alone, Real Madrid and Barcelona will earn around 6 million euros while Atletico and Valencia will make around 3 million euros. Barcelona faces Atletico in the second semi-final today, with the winner facing Real Madrid in the final on Sunday after Zinedine Zidane's side beat Valencia 3-1.

Spanish Super Cup's format, relocation to Saudi Arabia due to football's desire for money says Valverde

Saudi Arabia's foreign minister,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pakistan-saudi-foreign-minister-faisal-bin-farhan-al-saud-to-visit-today-270275">Faisal Bin Farhan Al Saud</a>&nbsp;said on Monday the kingdom does not want to see a further escalation of tensions in the region at a "very dangerous moment", following Friday's killing by a US&nbsp;drone strike of Iran's most prominent military commander and Quds force head, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/latest-updates-on-iran-general-qassem-soleimanis-death-272457">Qasem Soleimani</a>.

"We are very keen that the situation in the region doesn't escalate any further. It's certainly a very dangerous moment and we have to be conscious of the risks and dangers not just to the region but to wider global security," Prince Faisal bin Farhan told a news briefing in Riyadh.

"We hope that all actors take all the steps necessary to prevent any further escalation and any provocation," he said.

Saudi Arabia's foreign minister, Faisal Bin Farhan Al Saud said on Monday the kingdom does not want to see a further escalation of tensions in the region at a "very dangerous moment", following Friday's killing by a US drone strike of Iran's most prominent military commander and Quds force head, Qasem Soleimani.

Saudi Arabia's foreign minister, Faisal Bin Farhan Al Saud said on Monday the kingdom does not want to see a further escalation of tensions in the region at a "very dangerous moment", following Friday's killing by a US drone strike of Iran's most prominent military commander and Quds force head, Qasem Soleimani. "We are very keen that the situation in the region doesn't escalate any further. It's certainly a very dangerous moment and we have to be conscious of the risks and dangers not just to the region but to wider global security," Prince Faisal bin Farhan told a news briefing in Riyadh. "We hope that all actors take all the steps necessary to prevent any further escalation and any provocation," he said.

Saudi Arabia appeals for 'calm' after killing of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani

Saudi Arabia Is Cracking Down On Public Indecency. 200 People Have Been Arrested For Wearing Inappropriate Clothes & Public Indecency. #WION #Gravitas #Saudi Arabia

Gravitas: All you need to know about Saudi Arabia's 'decency' code

Over 200 people have arrested in Saudi Arabia for violating 'public decency' in a first such crackdown after easing many social restrictions.&nbsp;

Last week, the Saudi police arrested more than 120 men and women for offending social morals, which includes wearing immodest clothes and 'harassment'.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-arabia-9-academics-writers-detained-in-new-crackdown-264511">Saudi Arabia: 9 academics, writers detained in new crackdown</a>

Another 88 people were arrested after women complained of harassment in on social media in MDL Beast music festival in Riyadh.&nbsp;

Riyadh police also said on Twitter that 'inappropriate clothing' were the other violations that caused the arrest.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7837247/Saudi-Arabia-arrest-200-people-breaking-public-decency-crackdown-social-reforms.html">Saudi Arabia's State Security categorises feminism, homosexuality, atheism as extremist ideas&nbsp;</a>

The police also imposed penalties on those who broke the rules.&nbsp;

Thousands of fans participated in the MDL Beast music event that organisers regarded as the biggest in the country.&nbsp;

The latest crackdown is the very first since de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman began easing social curbs, lifting decades-long bans on cinemas and allowing women to drive. The steps were welcomed by many Saudis, two-thirds of which are under 30.&nbsp;

However, the kingdom said in September that anybody who violates public decency, incuding wearing immodest clothing and public displays of affection would be penalised.&nbsp;

A website launched by the tourism authority released an instruction which read that men and women must avoid "tight-fitting clothing" or clothes with "profane language or images".&nbsp;

"Women should cover shoulders and knees in public," it added.

(with inputs from AFP)

Over 200 people have arrested in Saudi Arabia for violating 'public decency' in a first such crackdown after easing many social restrictions. Last week, the Saudi police arrested more than 120 men and women for offending social morals, which includes wearing immodest clothes and 'harassment'.

Over 200 people have arrested in Saudi Arabia for violating 'public decency' in a first such crackdown after easing many social restrictions. Last week, the Saudi police arrested more than 120 men and women for offending social morals, which includes wearing immodest clothes and 'harassment'. Also read: Saudi Arabia: 9 academics, writers detained in new crackdown Another 88 people were arrested after women complained of harassment in on social media in MDL Beast music festival in Riyadh. Riyadh police also said on Twitter that 'inappropriate clothing' were the other violations that caused the arrest. Also read: Saudi Arabia's State Security categorises feminism, homosexuality, atheism as extremist ideas The police also imposed penalties on those who broke the rules. Thousands of fans participated in the MDL Beast music event that organisers regarded as the biggest in the country. The latest crackdown is the very first since de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman began easing social curbs, lifting decades-long bans on cinemas and allowing women to drive. The steps were welcomed by many Saudis, two-thirds of which are under 30. However, the kingdom said in September that anybody who violates public decency, incuding wearing immodest clothing and public displays of affection would be penalised. A website launched by the tourism authority released an instruction which read that men and women must avoid "tight-fitting clothing" or clothes with "profane language or images". "Women should cover shoulders and knees in public," it added. (with inputs from AFP)

Saudi Arabia: Over 200 arrested over 'public indecency', harassment

Saudi Arabia has arrested more than 200 people for violating 'public decency' in the first such crackdown since the ultra-conservative kingdom began easing social regulations.

Saudi Arabia arrests 200 people for violating 'public decency'

A Turkish military cargo plane landed in the Somali capital on Sunday to evacuate people badly wounded in a devastating truck bombing in the city a day earlier that <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/at-least-90-people-killed-in-mogadishu-checkpoint-blast-report-270759">killed at least 90 people</a> including two Turkish nationals.

The plane also brought emergency medical staff and supplies, according to a tweet from the Turkish embassy, adding there&nbsp;had been transferred to a Turkish-run hospital in Mogadishu.

Somali Information Minister Mohamed Abdi Hayir Mareye told state media that 10 badly injured Somalis would be evacuated to Turkey. He added that Turkey had sent 24 doctors to treat those wounded who could not be evacuated.

Since a 2011 famine in Somalia, Turkey has been a leading aid provider to the country as Ankara seeks to boost its influence in the strategic Horn of Africa in competition with Gulf rivals like <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/saudi-kuwait-signed-an-agreement-to-resume-joint-oil-output-270025">Saudi Arabia</a> and the United Arab Emirates.

Also Watch:&nbsp;Bomb blast at busy Mogadishu checkpoint claim lives of more that 90, dozens injured

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Saturday’s blast, at a busy checkpoint during rush hour in Mogadishu, was the deadliest in war-torn Somalia in more than two years. No-one immediately claimed responsibility, although the city’s mayor blamed al Qaeda-linked Islamist group al Shabaab.

The dead included many students from a university in the city, authorities said.

A Reuters witness at Mogadishu airport saw 10 injured Somalis and the bodies of two dead Turks loaded on the plane.

The bombing was the 20th vehicle-borne explosives attack of 2019 in Somalia and the year is ending with more deaths from such attacks than 2018, according to the Hiraal Institute, a Mogadishu-based security-think tank.

Grieving families on Sunday arranged burials and funerals for their loved ones, having endured the anguish of identifying charred corpses and body fragments at the blast site and at hospitals around the city.&nbsp;

A Turkish military cargo plane landed in the Somali capital on Sunday to evacuate people badly wounded in a devastating truck bombing in the city a day earlier that killed at least 90 people including two Turkish nationals.

A Turkish military cargo plane landed in the Somali capital on Sunday to evacuate people badly wounded in a devastating truck bombing in the city a day earlier that killed at least 90 people including two Turkish nationals. The plane also brought emergency medical staff and supplies, according to a tweet from the Turkish embassy, adding there had been transferred to a Turkish-run hospital in Mogadishu. Somali Information Minister Mohamed Abdi Hayir Mareye told state media that 10 badly injured Somalis would be evacuated to Turkey. He added that Turkey had sent 24 doctors to treat those wounded who could not be evacuated. Since a 2011 famine in Somalia, Turkey has been a leading aid provider to the country as Ankara seeks to boost its influence in the strategic Horn of Africa in competition with Gulf rivals like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Also Watch: Bomb blast at busy Mogadishu checkpoint claim lives of more that 90, dozens injured × Saturday’s blast, at a busy checkpoint during rush hour in Mogadishu, was the deadliest in war-torn Somalia in more than two years. No-one immediately claimed responsibility, although the city’s mayor blamed al Qaeda-linked Islamist group al Shabaab. The dead included many students from a university in the city, authorities said. A Reuters witness at Mogadishu airport saw 10 injured Somalis and the bodies of two dead Turks loaded on the plane. The bombing was the 20th vehicle-borne explosives attack of 2019 in Somalia and the year is ending with more deaths from such attacks than 2018, according to the Hiraal Institute, a Mogadishu-based security-think tank. Grieving families on Sunday arranged burials and funerals for their loved ones, having endured the anguish of identifying charred corpses and body fragments at the blast site and at hospitals around the city.

Turkey to evacuate wounded after deadly Mogadishu blast

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pakistan-saudi-foreign-minister-faisal-bin-farhan-al-saud-to-visit-today-270275">Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud</a> arrived here on Thursday on a maiden visit to Pakistan.

The newly-appointed minister was received by his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi at the airport. Both sides, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) office here, discussed bilateral relations, regional situation and matters of mutual interest, Dawn reported.

The Saudi foreign minister is also expected to meet Prime Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/calling-imran-khans-bluff-india-needs-to-realign-its-pakistan-policy-190867">Imran Khan </a>and other leaders during his one-day trip.

This is the first visit by the current Saudi foreign minister since he assumed office in October.

Earlier, a diplomatic source told Dawn that the purpose of the trip is to thank Prime Minister Imran Khan for not attending Kuala Lumpur Summit.

The source added that the visit was scheduled only a couple of days ago.

"The purpose of the visit is to thank Prime Minister Khan for his decision of not attending Kuala Lumpur summit, and express solidarity with Islamabad after Turkish President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/80000-syrian-migrants-marching-to-turkey-says-recep-erdogan-269633">Recep Tayyip Erdogan</a>'s allegations that Saudi pressure forced Pakistan to skip the event," he said on conditions of anonymity.

"The Saudis also want to dispel the impression, which was reinforced by Erdogan's allegations, that their attitude towards Islamabad is patronising," he added.

Earlier this month, Khan had decided not to attend the Islamic summit, which was held in Kuala Lumpur and was attended by leaders of Muslim countries, including Iran, Qatar, and Turkey as well as religious scholars.

The decision was reportedly taken after Saudi Arabia expressed its displeasure over Pakistan's decision to participate. Riyadh sees the summit as an attempt to present an alternative to the Jeddah-based Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

The decision came as a surprise because the Pakistan prime minister was the one with whom his Malaysian counterpart Mahathir Mohamad was about to address the summit.

However, both Pakistan and Saudi Arabia had rejected claims that Khan's decision was taken due to pressure from Riyadh.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud arrived here on Thursday on a maiden visit to Pakistan. The newly-appointed minister was received by his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi at the airport.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud arrived here on Thursday on a maiden visit to Pakistan. The newly-appointed minister was received by his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi at the airport. Both sides, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) office here, discussed bilateral relations, regional situation and matters of mutual interest, Dawn reported. The Saudi foreign minister is also expected to meet Prime Minister Imran Khan and other leaders during his one-day trip. This is the first visit by the current Saudi foreign minister since he assumed office in October. Earlier, a diplomatic source told Dawn that the purpose of the trip is to thank Prime Minister Imran Khan for not attending Kuala Lumpur Summit. The source added that the visit was scheduled only a couple of days ago. "The purpose of the visit is to thank Prime Minister Khan for his decision of not attending Kuala Lumpur summit, and express solidarity with Islamabad after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's allegations that Saudi pressure forced Pakistan to skip the event," he said on conditions of anonymity. "The Saudis also want to dispel the impression, which was reinforced by Erdogan's allegations, that their attitude towards Islamabad is patronising," he added. Earlier this month, Khan had decided not to attend the Islamic summit, which was held in Kuala Lumpur and was attended by leaders of Muslim countries, including Iran, Qatar, and Turkey as well as religious scholars. The decision was reportedly taken after Saudi Arabia expressed its displeasure over Pakistan's decision to participate. Riyadh sees the summit as an attempt to present an alternative to the Jeddah-based Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). The decision came as a surprise because the Pakistan prime minister was the one with whom his Malaysian counterpart Mahathir Mohamad was about to address the summit. However, both Pakistan and Saudi Arabia had rejected claims that Khan's decision was taken due to pressure from Riyadh.

Saudi foreign minister arrives in Pakistan to thank Imran for pulling out of Malaysia summit

Saudi Arabia's newly-appointed Foreign Minister Prince <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/young-saudi-prince-with-western-experience-named-foreign-minister-257821">Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud</a> will pay a visit to Pakistan on Thursday, Pakistan's Foreign Office confirmed on Wednesday. 
 
Prince Faisal's maiden visit to the country has come days after Prime Minister Imran Khan <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/saudi-pressured-pakistan-to-withdraw-from-malaysia-summit-recep-tayyip-erdogan-269463">pulled out</a> of a key summit of Muslim nations held in Malaysia last week.

Also Watch:&nbsp;Pakistan decides&nbsp;to mark it's absence at the Kuala Lumpur Summit

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During the visit, the Saudi Foreign Minister will hold a meeting with his Pakistani counterpart <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-finance-minister-qureshi-boycotts-v-k-singhs-speech-at-istanbul-conference-267361">Shah Mahmood Qureshi</a> and call on Prime Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/imran-khan-cuts-short-geneva-visit-calls-emergency-meeting-to-discuss-musharraf-verdict-268976">Imran Khan</a>, the Foreign Office said in a statement, as cited by Dawn. 
 
"This would be his maiden visit to Pakistan, during which the exchange of views would cover bilateral matters and regional issues of mutual interest," the statement read. 
 
"Frequent high-level visits are a key feature of the relationship and serve to further deepen and broaden mutual collaboration." 
 
Pakistan had decided to stay away from the Kuala Lumpur summit of some 20 Muslim countries reportedly due to pressure exerted by Riyadh, given that the summit could lead to the setting up of an organisation parallel to the existing Saudi-dominated <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/malaysia-defends-muslim-summit-shunned-by-saudi-slammed-by-oic-269055">Organisation of Islamic Cooperation</a>.

Saudi Arabia's newly-appointed Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud will pay a visit to Pakistan on Thursday, Pakistan's Foreign Office confirmed on Wednesday.

Saudi Arabia's newly-appointed Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud will pay a visit to Pakistan on Thursday, Pakistan's Foreign Office confirmed on Wednesday. Prince Faisal's maiden visit to the country has come days after Prime Minister Imran Khan pulled out of a key summit of Muslim nations held in Malaysia last week. Also Watch: Pakistan decides to mark it's absence at the Kuala Lumpur Summit × During the visit, the Saudi Foreign Minister will hold a meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi and call on Prime Minister Imran Khan, the Foreign Office said in a statement, as cited by Dawn. "This would be his maiden visit to Pakistan, during which the exchange of views would cover bilateral matters and regional issues of mutual interest," the statement read. "Frequent high-level visits are a key feature of the relationship and serve to further deepen and broaden mutual collaboration." Pakistan had decided to stay away from the Kuala Lumpur summit of some 20 Muslim countries reportedly due to pressure exerted by Riyadh, given that the summit could lead to the setting up of an organisation parallel to the existing Saudi-dominated Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.

Pakistan: Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud to visit today

Saudi Arabia sentenced five people to death for last year’s murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi and freed two prominent suspects close to the kingdom’s crown prince.

Saudi Arabia Sentences Five to Death Over Khashoggi Killing

Turkey said on Tuesday it would keep pushing for accountability "regardless of how high it goes" over the murder of Saudi journalist <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/khashoggi-verdict-far-from-justice-turkey-269814">Jamal Khashoggi</a> inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, after what it called a "sham trial" of 11 people.

Khashoggi disappeared after going to the consulate in Istanbul on October&nbsp;2, 2018, to obtain documents for his planned wedding. His body was reportedly dismembered and removed from the building, and his remains have not been found.

On Monday, Saudi Arabia sentenced five people to death and three to jail over the murder, while dismissing charges against three others, finding them not guilty. A U.N. investigator accused Riyadh of making a "mockery" of justice by exonerating senior figures who may have ordered the killing.

The presiding Saudi court rejected the findings of a UN&nbsp;inquiry by ruling that the killing was not premeditated, rather carried out "at the spur of the moment".

Turkey said on Monday the trial outcome fell far short of serving justice, and on Tuesday Turkish Communications Director Fahrettin Altun slammed the verdict as an "insult to the intelligence of any fair observer".

Watch:&nbsp;11 found guilty in Khashoggi murder case, 5 sentenced to death

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-dispatch-11-found-guilty-in-khashoggi-murder-case-5-sentenced-to-death-269816/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"The international media must pursue the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/jamal-khashoggi-murder-saudi-arabia-court-hands-death-penalty-to-five-24-years-imprisonment-to-three-269717">case of Khashoggi</a> until there is true accountability...Those responsible must face justice sooner or later," Altun said on Twitter.

"This despicable murder was done at a diplomatic facility against every diplomatic norm imaginable! We will follow this case to the end regardless (of) how high it goes."

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/jamal-khashoggi-murder-case-acquittals-raise-eyebrows-269769">murder of Khashoggi</a>, a US&nbsp;resident and critic of the kingdom's de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, caused a global outcry, and some Western governments, as well as the CIA, said they believed the prince ordered the killing.

Saudi officials say he had no role, though in September the crown prince indicated some personal accountability, saying "it happened under my watch".

After Monday's verdict, a source familiar with US&nbsp;intelligence assessments said key US&nbsp;government agencies rejected the validity of the court proceedings and CIA experts still believed Prince Mohammad personally ordered or at least approved of, the killing.

The source said the five men condemned to death were essentially foot soldiers in the killing, while two senior security officials acquitted played a more significant role.

Turkey said on Tuesday it would keep pushing for accountability "regardless of how high it goes" over the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, after what it called a "sham trial" of 11 people.

Turkey said on Tuesday it would keep pushing for accountability "regardless of how high it goes" over the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, after what it called a "sham trial" of 11 people. Khashoggi disappeared after going to the consulate in Istanbul on October 2, 2018, to obtain documents for his planned wedding. His body was reportedly dismembered and removed from the building, and his remains have not been found. On Monday, Saudi Arabia sentenced five people to death and three to jail over the murder, while dismissing charges against three others, finding them not guilty. A U.N. investigator accused Riyadh of making a "mockery" of justice by exonerating senior figures who may have ordered the killing. The presiding Saudi court rejected the findings of a UN inquiry by ruling that the killing was not premeditated, rather carried out "at the spur of the moment". Turkey said on Monday the trial outcome fell far short of serving justice, and on Tuesday Turkish Communications Director Fahrettin Altun slammed the verdict as an "insult to the intelligence of any fair observer". Watch: 11 found guilty in Khashoggi murder case, 5 sentenced to death "The international media must pursue the case of Khashoggi until there is true accountability...Those responsible must face justice sooner or later," Altun said on Twitter. "This despicable murder was done at a diplomatic facility against every diplomatic norm imaginable! We will follow this case to the end regardless (of) how high it goes." The murder of Khashoggi, a US resident and critic of the kingdom's de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, caused a global outcry, and some Western governments, as well as the CIA, said they believed the prince ordered the killing. Saudi officials say he had no role, though in September the crown prince indicated some personal accountability, saying "it happened under my watch". After Monday's verdict, a source familiar with US intelligence assessments said key US government agencies rejected the validity of the court proceedings and CIA experts still believed Prince Mohammad personally ordered or at least approved of, the killing. The source said the five men condemned to death were essentially foot soldiers in the killing, while two senior security officials acquitted played a more significant role.

Turkey will seek accountability on Khashoggi verdict no matter 'how high it goes'

Saudi Arabia and Kuwait signed an agreement Tuesday to resume pumping at two major oilfields in a shared neutral zone shut for five years due to a bilateral disagreement, officials said.

Kuwait's oil minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/oil-falls-more-than-2-on-us-china-trade-deal-doubts-stronger-dollar-256002">Khaled al-Fadhel</a> said on Twitter that the memorandum of understanding signed with Saudi Arabia included "the resumption of production in the divided zone."

The state-run KUNA news agency reported that the two countries also signed an agreement on the demarcation of land and maritime borders in the neutral zone.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kuwait-announces-new-government-kuna-268683">KUNA</a> did not give details on the contents of the deal which likely revolves around amending previous border agreements between the two Arab nations.

The two fields were pumping some 500,000 barrels per day before production was halted, first at Khafji in October 2014 and then at Wafra seven months later, over a dispute between the neighbours.

Riyadh said at the time that the decision was due to environmental issues.&nbsp;

The oil produced in the neutral zone in the border area is shared equally between the two nations.

Khafji, an offshore field, was jointly operated by Kuwait Gulf Oil Co&nbsp;and Saudi Aramco Gulf Operations, while the onshore Wafra field was operated by KGOC and Saudi Arabian Chevron.&nbsp;

Kuwait had blamed Saudi Arabia for unilaterally halting output at Khafji, noting it was entitled to five years' notice under a joint agreement signed in 1965.

The two countries have been negotiating to resolve the row and resume production since June 2015.

The talks involved Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad Al-Sabah visiting Riyadh and Saudi Crown Prince <a href="https://www.wionews.com/pakistan/cash-strapped-pakistan-to-host-saudi-crown-prince-197175">Mohammed bin Salman</a> visiting Kuwait City.

Tuesday's agreement comes as oil prices are under pressure due to abundant reserves and weak global economic growth.&nbsp;

Continued soft pricing has prompted <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/opec-gearing-up-for-deeper-oil-cuts-russia-yet-to-agree-266198">OPEC</a> and its allies to make deeper production cuts starting next month.

OPEC kingpin Saudi Arabia pumps just under 10 million barrels per day (bpd), while Kuwait produces around 2.7 million bpd.

Saudi Arabia and Kuwait signed an agreement Tuesday to resume pumping at two major oilfields in a shared neutral zone shut for five years due to a bilateral disagreement, officials said.

Saudi Arabia and Kuwait signed an agreement Tuesday to resume pumping at two major oilfields in a shared neutral zone shut for five years due to a bilateral disagreement, officials said. Kuwait's oil minister Khaled al-Fadhel said on Twitter that the memorandum of understanding signed with Saudi Arabia included "the resumption of production in the divided zone." The state-run KUNA news agency reported that the two countries also signed an agreement on the demarcation of land and maritime borders in the neutral zone. KUNA did not give details on the contents of the deal which likely revolves around amending previous border agreements between the two Arab nations. The two fields were pumping some 500,000 barrels per day before production was halted, first at Khafji in October 2014 and then at Wafra seven months later, over a dispute between the neighbours. Riyadh said at the time that the decision was due to environmental issues. The oil produced in the neutral zone in the border area is shared equally between the two nations. Khafji, an offshore field, was jointly operated by Kuwait Gulf Oil Co and Saudi Aramco Gulf Operations, while the onshore Wafra field was operated by KGOC and Saudi Arabian Chevron. Kuwait had blamed Saudi Arabia for unilaterally halting output at Khafji, noting it was entitled to five years' notice under a joint agreement signed in 1965. The two countries have been negotiating to resolve the row and resume production since June 2015. The talks involved Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad Al-Sabah visiting Riyadh and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman visiting Kuwait City. Tuesday's agreement comes as oil prices are under pressure due to abundant reserves and weak global economic growth. Continued soft pricing has prompted OPEC and its allies to make deeper production cuts starting next month. OPEC kingpin Saudi Arabia pumps just under 10 million barrels per day (bpd), while Kuwait produces around 2.7 million bpd.

Saudi, Kuwait signed an agreement to resume joint oil output

Saudi Arabia on December 23 sentenced five people to death and three more to jail terms totalling 24 years over the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul in October last year. #SaudiArabia #Khashoggi #KhashoggiMurderCase

WION Dispatch: 11 found guilty in Khashoggi murder case, 5 sentenced to death

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