Gulf powerhouse Saudi Arabia snubbed its former regional ally Qatar at the annual summit Tuesday of regional monarchies as King Salman stayed away despite the presence of the Qatari emir.

The crisis-hit Gulf Cooperation Council summit was going ahead in Kuwait City but amid uncertainty over which leaders from among Riyadh and its allies would join their Qatari rival for the talks.

The future of the six-nation GCC -- formed 36 years ago to bring together energy-rich Sunni Arab Gulf states -- appeared to be hanging in the balance.

This year&#39;s meeting comes with Saudi Arabia and its allies engaged in a bitter dispute with fellow GCC member Qatar, in the worst crisis ever to hit the bloc.

Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani accepted an invitation to attend, but with only hours before talks were due to begin, Saudi King Salman sent his foreign minister, Adel al-Jubeir, in his stead.

Bahrain sent its deputy prime minister and Emirati media said the state minister for foreign affairs would represent Abu Dhabi.&nbsp;

Those three Gulf states, together with Egypt, cut all ties with Qatar on June 5, accusing the gas-rich emirate of supporting Islamist extremists and of being too close to Shiite Iran, Riyadh&#39;s arch-rival.&nbsp;

Qatar denies the allegations and has accused the Saudi-led bloc of aiming to incite a change of regime in Doha.

Kuwait has been leading mediation efforts within the GCC to resolve the crisis, but so far with little success.

Casting further doubt on the group&#39;s future, the UAE said Tuesday it was forming a new military and economic committee with Saudi Arabia separate from the GCC.&nbsp;

The committee &quot;will coordinate between the two countries in all military, political, economic, trade and cultural fields,&quot; according to a decree issued by UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan.

Founded in 1981, the GCC is a political and economic union grouping Qatar with Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates as well as Oman and Kuwait.

Dominated by Riyadh, it has been a regional counterweight to Iran, Sunni Saudi Arabia&#39;s Shiite rival across the Gulf.&nbsp;

On Monday, the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia and Qatar attended round-table talks ahead of the gathering, in their first such encounter since the diplomatic crisis erupted in June.

Omani Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Yussef bin Alawi sat between them at the meeting which the foreign ministers of the UAE, Bahrain, and Kuwait also attended.

After cutting off all ties with Qatar, Saudi Arabia and its allies imposed a land, sea and air blockade of the emirate and issued a list of 13 demands to have it lifted.

Bahrain in October called for Qatar&#39;s membership of the GCC to be suspended until it accepted the demands.

Experts warn that the crisis could lead to the demise of the once-powerful GCC.

&quot;The justifications for the existence of the GCC bloc amidst the continued crisis are no longer present like before,&quot; said Sami al-Faraj, head of the Kuwait Center for Strategic Studies. &quot;As long as our enemy has changed from Iran to Qatar, the GCC will not continue.&quot;

The failure of the GCC members to solidify long-delayed plans for economic unity may also threaten its future.

The Gulf states have approved a customs union, a common market, a single currency and a single central bank, but most of these have yet to be implemented.

Speaking at Monday`s meeting, Kuwait&#39;s Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Sabah stressed the determination of member states to preserve the GCC.

&quot;The GCC is a continuous project in which the will of member states meets to build a unified Gulf body,&quot; he said.

The crisis-hit Gulf Cooperation Council summit which was going ahead in Kuwait City witnessed the absence of the Saudi King

Gulf powerhouse Saudi Arabia snubbed its former regional ally Qatar at the annual summit Tuesday of regional monarchies as King Salman stayed away despite the presence of the Qatari emir. The crisis-hit Gulf Cooperation Council summit was going ahead in Kuwait City but amid uncertainty over which leaders from among Riyadh and its allies would join their Qatari rival for the talks. The future of the six-nation GCC -- formed 36 years ago to bring together energy-rich Sunni Arab Gulf states -- appeared to be hanging in the balance. This year's meeting comes with Saudi Arabia and its allies engaged in a bitter dispute with fellow GCC member Qatar, in the worst crisis ever to hit the bloc. Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani accepted an invitation to attend, but with only hours before talks were due to begin, Saudi King Salman sent his foreign minister, Adel al-Jubeir, in his stead. Bahrain sent its deputy prime minister and Emirati media said the state minister for foreign affairs would represent Abu Dhabi. Those three Gulf states, together with Egypt, cut all ties with Qatar on June 5, accusing the gas-rich emirate of supporting Islamist extremists and of being too close to Shiite Iran, Riyadh's arch-rival. Qatar denies the allegations and has accused the Saudi-led bloc of aiming to incite a change of regime in Doha. Kuwait has been leading mediation efforts within the GCC to resolve the crisis, but so far with little success. Casting further doubt on the group's future, the UAE said Tuesday it was forming a new military and economic committee with Saudi Arabia separate from the GCC. The committee "will coordinate between the two countries in all military, political, economic, trade and cultural fields," according to a decree issued by UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan. Founded in 1981, the GCC is a political and economic union grouping Qatar with Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates as well as Oman and Kuwait. Dominated by Riyadh, it has been a regional counterweight to Iran, Sunni Saudi Arabia's Shiite rival across the Gulf. On Monday, the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia and Qatar attended round-table talks ahead of the gathering, in their first such encounter since the diplomatic crisis erupted in June. Omani Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Yussef bin Alawi sat between them at the meeting which the foreign ministers of the UAE, Bahrain, and Kuwait also attended. After cutting off all ties with Qatar, Saudi Arabia and its allies imposed a land, sea and air blockade of the emirate and issued a list of 13 demands to have it lifted. Bahrain in October called for Qatar's membership of the GCC to be suspended until it accepted the demands. Experts warn that the crisis could lead to the demise of the once-powerful GCC. "The justifications for the existence of the GCC bloc amidst the continued crisis are no longer present like before," said Sami al-Faraj, head of the Kuwait Center for Strategic Studies. "As long as our enemy has changed from Iran to Qatar, the GCC will not continue." The failure of the GCC members to solidify long-delayed plans for economic unity may also threaten its future. The Gulf states have approved a customs union, a common market, a single currency and a single central bank, but most of these have yet to be implemented. Speaking at Monday`s meeting, Kuwait's Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Sabah stressed the determination of member states to preserve the GCC. "The GCC is a continuous project in which the will of member states meets to build a unified Gulf body," he said.

Saudi, allies snub Qatar at crisis-hit Gulf summit

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/shashi-kapoor-passes-away-at-79-25844" target="_blank">Veteran actor Shashi Kapoor passes away at 79</a>

Veteran Bollywood superstar Shashi Kapoor died aged 79 on Monday. The actor&#39;s death has left the cinema industry and his family in a state of shock.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/repeatedly-said-charges-against-me-fabricated-and-baseless-mallya-25834" target="_blank">Repeatedly said charges against me fabricated and baseless: Mallya</a>

Liquor baron&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/vijay-mallya-arrested-in-london-appears-in-court-granted-bail-20957">Vijay Mallya appeared in London&#39;s&nbsp;</a>Westminster court today and declared that charges against him were &quot;false, fabricated and baseless&quot; as India continues to push for former Kingfisher chief&#39;s extradition.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/pope-explains-why-he-did-not-say-rohingya-25787" target="_blank">Pope explains why he did not say &#39;Rohingya&#39;</a>

Pope Francis on Saturday explained why he had avoided the use of the term &quot;Rohingya&quot; on the first leg of his trip in Myanmar. The pontiff said he knew that had he used the word in official speeches, Myanmar&#39;s military leaders would have &quot;closed the door in our faces&quot; and that he wanted to be allowed to go &quot;further in the private meetings.&quot;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/asurya-prakash-re-appointed-as-chairman-of-prasar-bharti-25825" target="_blank">A.Surya Prakash takes charge as chairman of Prasar Bharti</a>

A.Surya Prakash has been re-appointed as the chairman of the public broadcaster Prasar Bharti. He took charge of the post from today.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/yemen-president-orders-forces-to-retake-sanaa-as-saudi-planes-continue-air-strikes-25839" target="_blank">Yemen president orders forces to retake Sanaa as Saudi planes continue air strikes</a>

Yemen&#39;s<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/uae-denies-yemens-houthis-fired-missile-at-abu-dhabi-nuclear-reactor-25768">&nbsp;PM Ahmad Obaid bin Daghr said the</a>&nbsp;government will &quot;grant amnesty&quot;&nbsp;to all those all nationals who cut ties with rebels even as the president ordered forces to retake the capital city Sanaa.&nbsp;

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Veteran actor Shashi Kapoor passes away at 79 Veteran Bollywood superstar Shashi Kapoor died aged 79 on Monday. The actor's death has left the cinema industry and his family in a state of shock. Repeatedly said charges against me fabricated and baseless: Mallya Liquor baron Vijay Mallya appeared in London's Westminster court today and declared that charges against him were "false, fabricated and baseless" as India continues to push for former Kingfisher chief's extradition. Pope explains why he did not say 'Rohingya' Pope Francis on Saturday explained why he had avoided the use of the term "Rohingya" on the first leg of his trip in Myanmar. The pontiff said he knew that had he used the word in official speeches, Myanmar's military leaders would have "closed the door in our faces" and that he wanted to be allowed to go "further in the private meetings." A.Surya Prakash takes charge as chairman of Prasar Bharti A.Surya Prakash has been re-appointed as the chairman of the public broadcaster Prasar Bharti. He took charge of the post from today. Yemen president orders forces to retake Sanaa as Saudi planes continue air strikes Yemen's PM Ahmad Obaid bin Daghr said the government will "grant amnesty" to all those all nationals who cut ties with rebels even as the president ordered forces to retake the capital city Sanaa.

WION Evening News brief, 4 December 2017

Fighting between Yemen&#39;s Huthi rebels and loyalists of former president Ali Abdullah Saleh rocked the capital Sanaa for a second straight night, leaving at least three people dead, Saleh&#39;s party said Friday.

The violence threatens an alliance that has held the capital and much of the north of Yemen in defiance of the Saudi-backed government for more than three years.

Huthi fighters, also known as Ansarullah, surrounded the homes of two of Saleh&#39;s nephews late on Thursday, a source in Saleh&#39;s forces said.

&quot;We were surprised by an armed attack by Ansarullah targeting the guards of the house of Brigadier Tareq Saleh, which left three dead and wounded three others,&quot; the ex-president&#39;s General People&#39;s Congress said. &quot;We hold Ansarullah fully responsible.&quot;

The Huthis said there were &quot;clashes in some streets of south Sanaa,&quot; in a statement released on their Saba news agency, without giving further details of their location or any casualty toll.

Thursday night&#39;s violence came 24 hours after clashes at the Saleh mosque in Sanaa killed nine Huthi rebels and five Saleh supporters.

One source at the Jumhuriya hospital said late on Thursday that the death toll from the infighting had risen to as many as 18 rebels and six Saleh loyalists.

Saleh and the Huthis forged an unlikely alliance in 2014, ending decades of enmity to join ranks in fighting against Yemen&#39;s internationally recognised President Abedrabbo Mansour.

The infighting now threatens to unravel the fragile alliance, which has been battling a Saudi-led military intervention in the war since March 2015.

The conflict has since claimed more than 8,600 lives and triggered what the United Nations has described as the world&#39;s worst humanitarian crisis.

The violence threatens an alliance that has held the capital and much of the north of Yemen in defiance of the Saudi-backed government for more than three years

Fighting between Yemen's Huthi rebels and loyalists of former president Ali Abdullah Saleh rocked the capital Sanaa for a second straight night, leaving at least three people dead, Saleh's party said Friday. The violence threatens an alliance that has held the capital and much of the north of Yemen in defiance of the Saudi-backed government for more than three years. Huthi fighters, also known as Ansarullah, surrounded the homes of two of Saleh's nephews late on Thursday, a source in Saleh's forces said. "We were surprised by an armed attack by Ansarullah targeting the guards of the house of Brigadier Tareq Saleh, which left three dead and wounded three others," the ex-president's General People's Congress said. "We hold Ansarullah fully responsible." The Huthis said there were "clashes in some streets of south Sanaa," in a statement released on their Saba news agency, without giving further details of their location or any casualty toll. Thursday night's violence came 24 hours after clashes at the Saleh mosque in Sanaa killed nine Huthi rebels and five Saleh supporters. One source at the Jumhuriya hospital said late on Thursday that the death toll from the infighting had risen to as many as 18 rebels and six Saleh loyalists. Saleh and the Huthis forged an unlikely alliance in 2014, ending decades of enmity to join ranks in fighting against Yemen's internationally recognised President Abedrabbo Mansour. The infighting now threatens to unravel the fragile alliance, which has been battling a Saudi-led military intervention in the war since March 2015. The conflict has since claimed more than 8,600 lives and triggered what the United Nations has described as the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

3 dead as deadly rebel infighting rocks Yemen capital for second night

United Nations aid chief in Yemen warned on Wednesday, 8th of November, that if a Saudi-led military coalition did not allow humanitarian aid access to Yemen, it would have &quot;grave implications&quot; on seven million people whose lives depend on aid relief.

The Saudi-led military coalition fighting the Houthi movement in neighbouring Yemen said on Monday, on the 6th of November that it had closed all air, land and sea ports to the Arabian Peninsula country to stem the flow of arms to the Houthis from Iran.

The move, which follows the interception of a missile fired towards the Saudi capital Riyadh on Saturday on the 4thy of November, is likely to worsen a humanitarian crisis in Yemen that according to the United Nations has pushed some seven million people to the brink of famine and left nearly 900,000 infected with cholera.

George Khoury, the head of U.N. Office for the coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Yemen urged the Saudi-led coalition to re-open an aid lifeline to bring imported food and medicine into Yemen. He said the aid workers and humanitarian aid could not reach the country due to the current blockade.

The Saudi-led military coalition fighting the Houthi movement in neighbouring Yemen said on Monday, on the 6th of November that it had closed all air, land and sea ports to the Arabian Peninsula country to stem the flow of arms to the Houthis from Iran.

United Nations aid chief in Yemen warned on Wednesday, 8th of November, that if a Saudi-led military coalition did not allow humanitarian aid access to Yemen, it would have "grave implications" on seven million people whose lives depend on aid relief. The Saudi-led military coalition fighting the Houthi movement in neighbouring Yemen said on Monday, on the 6th of November that it had closed all air, land and sea ports to the Arabian Peninsula country to stem the flow of arms to the Houthis from Iran. The move, which follows the interception of a missile fired towards the Saudi capital Riyadh on Saturday on the 4thy of November, is likely to worsen a humanitarian crisis in Yemen that according to the United Nations has pushed some seven million people to the brink of famine and left nearly 900,000 infected with cholera. George Khoury, the head of U.N. Office for the coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Yemen urged the Saudi-led coalition to re-open an aid lifeline to bring imported food and medicine into Yemen. He said the aid workers and humanitarian aid could not reach the country due to the current blockade.

Blockade by Saudi-led coalition affects lives of seven million Yemenis: UN

Majority&nbsp;of <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-arabia-allows-women-to-drive-from-june-in-historic-move-20710">expatriate chauffeurs in Saudi Arabia </a>face an impending job crisis after the Kingdom last&nbsp;Wednesday permitted women to drive.&nbsp;

While the move has been welcomed by women activist groups and people internationally, it could result in loss of livelihood for lakhs who come every year to drive and earn in the country.

Called Pravasi &#39;house drivers&#39;, according to Hindu report, most of them come from the southernmost state of India, Kerala.&nbsp;

As reported by Hindu,&nbsp;Attakkoya Pallikkandy, chairman of the Pravasi Coordination Committee said,&nbsp;&ldquo;When women are at the wheel, it means the majority of Saudi households will no longer need chauffeurs to drive women to shops, workplaces, colleges and schools. Of course, the right to drive is a great achievement for Saudi women, but from the Pravasi perspective it is a big blow.&rdquo;

He added that this move comes at a time when&nbsp;hundreds of Indian workers are returning home every week in the wake of the Saudi government&rsquo;s aggressive nationalisation (called Nitaqat) of the labour force. Worse,&nbsp;the new reform will accelerate the job loss of drivers.

Attakkoya points out that Indians make up the largest expatriate community in Saudi Arabia and, among Indians, Keralites are the largest group.

He said,&nbsp;&ldquo;Generally, Saudi households prefer to employ Keralites as house drivers as they are considered trustworthy and employable.&rdquo;

The move is now seen as a huge social reform in conservative Saudia Arabia. It is expected to not only help women move independently&nbsp;but would also help them acquire white-collar jobs -- replacing&nbsp;expatriate employees, executives and professionals.

The announcement came from King Salman and his young son and heir, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.&nbsp;

The kingdom was the only one that barred women from driving in the country, garnering criticism internationally.&nbsp;

Women in Saudi Arabia have long had to rely on male relatives to get to work, run errands and simply move around.

The more affluent have male drivers and more recently, in major cities, women could access ride-hailing apps like Uber and Careem.

The new law allowing women to drive in Saudi Arabia will make most chauffeurs who drive women to shops, workplaces, colleges and schools redundant

Majority of expatriate chauffeurs in Saudi Arabia face an impending job crisis after the Kingdom last Wednesday permitted women to drive. While the move has been welcomed by women activist groups and people internationally, it could result in loss of livelihood for lakhs who come every year to drive and earn in the country. Called Pravasi 'house drivers', according to Hindu report, most of them come from the southernmost state of India, Kerala. As reported by Hindu, Attakkoya Pallikkandy, chairman of the Pravasi Coordination Committee said, “When women are at the wheel, it means the majority of Saudi households will no longer need chauffeurs to drive women to shops, workplaces, colleges and schools. Of course, the right to drive is a great achievement for Saudi women, but from the Pravasi perspective it is a big blow.” He added that this move comes at a time when hundreds of Indian workers are returning home every week in the wake of the Saudi government’s aggressive nationalisation (called Nitaqat) of the labour force. Worse, the new reform will accelerate the job loss of drivers. Attakkoya points out that Indians make up the largest expatriate community in Saudi Arabia and, among Indians, Keralites are the largest group. He said, “Generally, Saudi households prefer to employ Keralites as house drivers as they are considered trustworthy and employable.” The move is now seen as a huge social reform in conservative Saudia Arabia. It is expected to not only help women move independently but would also help them acquire white-collar jobs -- replacing expatriate employees, executives and professionals. The announcement came from King Salman and his young son and heir, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The kingdom was the only one that barred women from driving in the country, garnering criticism internationally. Women in Saudi Arabia have long had to rely on male relatives to get to work, run errands and simply move around. The more affluent have male drivers and more recently, in major cities, women could access ride-hailing apps like Uber and Careem.

Indian chauffeurs fear job loss as Saudi women allowed to drive

Saudi Oil Minister Khalid al-Falih said on Monday that the present cycle of falling crude prices is close to an end amid improving market fundamentals.

Oil prices are currently around $50 per barrel after hitting the lowest in a decade in January, reaching $30 and down from a peak of more than $100 in mid-2014.

&quot;The current down cycle is nearing an end,&quot; Falih told a joint press conference with his Russian counterpart Alexander Novak on Sunday after a Gulf ministerial meeting in Riyadh, news agency AFP&nbsp;reported.

&quot;Market fundamentals, in terms of supply and demand, have begun to improve,&quot; Falih said, adding: &quot;We are optimistic that oil prices will continue to improve in the future.&quot;

Qatar&#39;s energy minister, Mohammed al-Sada, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the OPEC oil exporting cartel, also assured that &nbsp;the &quot;difficult phase is over&quot;.

&quot;Although the market is heading to being balanced, it needs our joint effort, and we all agreed that we need to take measures to bring back this balance,&quot; he said, AFP reported.

Novak said ways to &quot;develop the best mechanism to solve the issue of stabilisation&quot; were discussed in the meeting.

&quot;We have reached an unprecedented level in our relations and cooperation&quot; with Saudi Arabia, he told reporters, adding that he agreed with Falih &quot;to continue to work and remain in continuous contact to achieve... Concrete mechanisms&quot;.

Meanwhile, OPEC has called a meeting with Russia and important non-members later this month as the cartel and Moscow look towards tightening cooperation to boost the historically low crude oil &nbsp;prices.

The cartel and Russia will also meet on Tuesday, ahead of the OPEC technical meeting in Vienna on October 28 to 29.

Last month at a meeting in Algiers, the OPEC agreed to its first production cut in eight years.

President Nicolas Maduro of OPEC member Venezuela, a country deep in economic and political crisis aggravated by falling oil prices, was in Riyadh on Sunday for talks.

His visit comes a day after calling in Iran for increased cooperation between oil-rich countries in a bid to stabilise prices.

&nbsp;

 
(WION with inputs from AFP) 
&nbsp;

Qatar's energy minister Mohammed al-Sada has also said the 'difficult phase is over'

Saudi Oil Minister Khalid al-Falih said on Monday that the present cycle of falling crude prices is close to an end amid improving market fundamentals. Oil prices are currently around $50 per barrel after hitting the lowest in a decade in January, reaching $30 and down from a peak of more than $100 in mid-2014. "The current down cycle is nearing an end," Falih told a joint press conference with his Russian counterpart Alexander Novak on Sunday after a Gulf ministerial meeting in Riyadh, news agency AFP reported. "Market fundamentals, in terms of supply and demand, have begun to improve," Falih said, adding: "We are optimistic that oil prices will continue to improve in the future." Qatar's energy minister, Mohammed al-Sada, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the OPEC oil exporting cartel, also assured that the "difficult phase is over". "Although the market is heading to being balanced, it needs our joint effort, and we all agreed that we need to take measures to bring back this balance," he said, AFP reported. Novak said ways to "develop the best mechanism to solve the issue of stabilisation" were discussed in the meeting. "We have reached an unprecedented level in our relations and cooperation" with Saudi Arabia, he told reporters, adding that he agreed with Falih "to continue to work and remain in continuous contact to achieve... Concrete mechanisms". Meanwhile, OPEC has called a meeting with Russia and important non-members later this month as the cartel and Moscow look towards tightening cooperation to boost the historically low crude oil prices. The cartel and Russia will also meet on Tuesday, ahead of the OPEC technical meeting in Vienna on October 28 to 29. Last month at a meeting in Algiers, the OPEC agreed to its first production cut in eight years. President Nicolas Maduro of OPEC member Venezuela, a country deep in economic and political crisis aggravated by falling oil prices, was in Riyadh on Sunday for talks. His visit comes a day after calling in Iran for increased cooperation between oil-rich countries in a bid to stabilise prices. (WION with inputs from AFP)

Oil price down cycle 'nearing end', says  Saudi oil minister

Saudi Arabia has promised &quot;urgent&quot; action to resolve the plight of some 2,500 Indian workers stranded without money in the kingdom after a plunge in oil prices sparked construction layoffs. 
 
Labour minister Mufarrej al-Haqbani issued orders to allow the Indian workers &quot;to immediately transfer their kafala (sponsorship) and renew their residencies,&quot; the Okaz daily reported on today. Haqbani&#39;s orders also ease restrictions on workers leaving the kingdom, Okaz quoted ministry official Abdullah al-Alyan as saying. 
 
The kafala system, applied on foreign workers in Gulf countries, restricts most employees from moving to a new job without their boss&#39;s consent before their contracts end, leaving many trapped. It has been criticised by rights groups as a form of bonded labour or even slavery. 
 
Alyan&#39;s announcement comes as India&#39;s minister of state for foreign affairs, VK Singh, arrived in the Saudi Red Sea city of Jeddah today, after New Delhi said it was negotiating to repatriate thousands of migrant workers who have lost their jobs and were left with no money to return home. 
 
Asian activists and officials have said that thousands of jobless Indians, Filipinos, and Pakistanis are stranded and destitute in Saudi Arabia following the construction layoffs. 
 
Some of them have been forced to beg or sift through garbage to survive after going unpaid for months, according to officials. But Alyan did not mention thousands of Saudi-based Filipino and Pakistani workers, and dismissed as &quot;rumours&quot; that around 10,000 Indian workers had been left to starve. Alyan said the &quot;immediate and urgent action&quot; was to resolve the issues of &quot;2,500 Indian workers from Saudi Oger who have faced difficulties due the delays in their salaries&quot; and cut-offs in electricity and food supplies from their camps. 
 
Sources in March told AFP that delayed receipts from the government, whose oil revenues have dropped significantly over the past two years, left employees of construction giants struggling while they wait for salaries. 
 
Saudi Oger, the once-mighty construction giant led by Lebanon&#39;s billionaire former prime minister Saad Hariri, is among the affected companies. It employs around 50,000 people of various nationalities. 
 
(AFP)

But Alyan ignored thousands of Saudi-based Filipino and Pakistani workers, and dismissed as "rumours" around 10,000 starving Indian workers

Saudi Arabia has promised "urgent" action to resolve the plight of some 2,500 Indian workers stranded without money in the kingdom after a plunge in oil prices sparked construction layoffs. Labour minister Mufarrej al-Haqbani issued orders to allow the Indian workers "to immediately transfer their kafala (sponsorship) and renew their residencies," the Okaz daily reported on today. Haqbani's orders also ease restrictions on workers leaving the kingdom, Okaz quoted ministry official Abdullah al-Alyan as saying. The kafala system, applied on foreign workers in Gulf countries, restricts most employees from moving to a new job without their boss's consent before their contracts end, leaving many trapped. It has been criticised by rights groups as a form of bonded labour or even slavery. Alyan's announcement comes as India's minister of state for foreign affairs, VK Singh, arrived in the Saudi Red Sea city of Jeddah today, after New Delhi said it was negotiating to repatriate thousands of migrant workers who have lost their jobs and were left with no money to return home. Asian activists and officials have said that thousands of jobless Indians, Filipinos, and Pakistanis are stranded and destitute in Saudi Arabia following the construction layoffs. Some of them have been forced to beg or sift through garbage to survive after going unpaid for months, according to officials. But Alyan did not mention thousands of Saudi-based Filipino and Pakistani workers, and dismissed as "rumours" that around 10,000 Indian workers had been left to starve. Alyan said the "immediate and urgent action" was to resolve the issues of "2,500 Indian workers from Saudi Oger who have faced difficulties due the delays in their salaries" and cut-offs in electricity and food supplies from their camps. Sources in March told AFP that delayed receipts from the government, whose oil revenues have dropped significantly over the past two years, left employees of construction giants struggling while they wait for salaries. Saudi Oger, the once-mighty construction giant led by Lebanon's billionaire former prime minister Saad Hariri, is among the affected companies. It employs around 50,000 people of various nationalities. (AFP)

Saudi vows 'urgent' action for stranded Indian workers

Saudi Arabia Cross-border shelling from war-torn Yemen killed four people in Saudi Arabia on Monday, authorities in the kingdom said.&nbsp;Three others were wounded and hospitalised after the incident in the Jazan region, the civil defence agency said on Twitter without giving details. 
 
Saudi Arabia has led a military coalition supporting the Yemeni government in its fight against Iran-backed rebels since March last year.&nbsp;The rebels have in recent days intensified cross-border attacks on the kingdom as peace talks in Kuwait have failed to achieve a breakthrough. 
 
Border clashes left a Saudi army officer and six soldiers dead on Saturday. On July 25, five Saudi border guards were killed in similar clashes.&nbsp;Around 100 members of the Saudi forces and civilians have been killed in skirmishes, by artillery fire or landmines inside the kingdom&#39;s borders, since the coalition launched its campaign. 
 
In Yemen itself, the conflict has killed more than 6,400 people and displaced 2.8 million since March last year, according to UN figures. 
 
(AFP)

The rebels have intensified attacks on the kingdom as peace talks in Kuwait have failed to achieve a breakthrough

Saudi Arabia Cross-border shelling from war-torn Yemen killed four people in Saudi Arabia on Monday, authorities in the kingdom said. Three others were wounded and hospitalised after the incident in the Jazan region, the civil defence agency said on Twitter without giving details. Saudi Arabia has led a military coalition supporting the Yemeni government in its fight against Iran-backed rebels since March last year. The rebels have in recent days intensified cross-border attacks on the kingdom as peace talks in Kuwait have failed to achieve a breakthrough. Border clashes left a Saudi army officer and six soldiers dead on Saturday. On July 25, five Saudi border guards were killed in similar clashes. Around 100 members of the Saudi forces and civilians have been killed in skirmishes, by artillery fire or landmines inside the kingdom's borders, since the coalition launched its campaign. In Yemen itself, the conflict has killed more than 6,400 people and displaced 2.8 million since March last year, according to UN figures. (AFP)

Four dead in Saudi-Yemen cross-border attack

Saudi Arabia sentenced 14 people to death for terrorism today&nbsp;after they were convicted of attacks on police in the Shi&#39;ite Muslim minority area of Qatif in Eastern Province, scene of past anti-government protests, their lawyer said.

Another nine people were given jail sentences of three to 15 years and one was acquitted, their defence lawyer, who asked to remain anonymous, told Reuters.

He said the 24 defendants had been held for about three years and accused of carrying weapons and shooting at police. During 2011-14 protests, around 20 Shi&#39;ites and several police officers were killed.

A spokesman for the Saudi justice ministry could not immediately be reached for a comment on the report, first broadcast by the Dubai-based al-Arabiya TV.

Some Saudi Shi&#39;ites complain they suffer systematic discrimination in Saudi Arabia, whose majority follow a strict form of Sunni Islam that regards the minority sect as heretical. The government denies that.

On January 2 Saudi Arabia executed four Shi&#39;ites convicted of similar crimes alongside 43 Sunnis accused of carrying out attacks for al Qaeda a decade ago.

The execution of the Shi&#39;ites, including a prominent cleric, by Sunni-led Saudi Arabia pushed up tensions with its main regional rival Iran and contributed to rising sectarian anger in some neighbouring countries.

International human rights groups have criticised Saudi Arabia&#39;s justice system, which they say holds unfair trials, and have said that convictions for terrorism sometimes extend to peaceful protesters and are secured by torture.

Saudi Arabia denies this, saying its judiciary is independent and that it does not practice torture. It says it does not differentiate between Sunnis and Shi&#39;ites accused of politically motivated attacks on other citizens or the security forces.

Saudi Arabia sentence 14 people to death for attacking police in the Shi'ite Muslim minority area of Qatif.

Saudi Arabia sentenced 14 people to death for terrorism today after they were convicted of attacks on police in the Shi'ite Muslim minority area of Qatif in Eastern Province, scene of past anti-government protests, their lawyer said. Another nine people were given jail sentences of three to 15 years and one was acquitted, their defence lawyer, who asked to remain anonymous, told Reuters. He said the 24 defendants had been held for about three years and accused of carrying weapons and shooting at police. During 2011-14 protests, around 20 Shi'ites and several police officers were killed. A spokesman for the Saudi justice ministry could not immediately be reached for a comment on the report, first broadcast by the Dubai-based al-Arabiya TV. Some Saudi Shi'ites complain they suffer systematic discrimination in Saudi Arabia, whose majority follow a strict form of Sunni Islam that regards the minority sect as heretical. The government denies that. On January 2 Saudi Arabia executed four Shi'ites convicted of similar crimes alongside 43 Sunnis accused of carrying out attacks for al Qaeda a decade ago. The execution of the Shi'ites, including a prominent cleric, by Sunni-led Saudi Arabia pushed up tensions with its main regional rival Iran and contributed to rising sectarian anger in some neighbouring countries. International human rights groups have criticised Saudi Arabia's justice system, which they say holds unfair trials, and have said that convictions for terrorism sometimes extend to peaceful protesters and are secured by torture. Saudi Arabia denies this, saying its judiciary is independent and that it does not practice torture. It says it does not differentiate between Sunnis and Shi'ites accused of politically motivated attacks on other citizens or the security forces.

Saudi Arabia sentences 14 to death for terrorism

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