Saudi Arabia

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Saudi Police Begin Valentine's Day Crackdown

 Saudi Police Begin 
 Valentine's Day 
 Crackdown 
banned holidays

Saudi Police Begin Valentine's Day Crackdown

The holiday, and any item invoking it, are banned

(Newser) - The Saudi religious police are cracking down on stores selling items that are red or in any other way allude to the banned celebration of Valentine's Day. A Saudi official says policemen are inspecting shops for red roses, heart-shaped products, and gifts wrapped in red, and ordering store owners to...

Saudi Preteen Seeks Divorce From 80-Year-old Husband

Human Rights Commission backing girl

(Newser) - A 12-year-old Saudi girl is seeking a divorce from her 80-year-old husband with the help of the state-run Human Rights Commission. The preteen was married last year to her elderly cousin against her and her mother's wishes in exchange for a $30,000 dowry. It's the first time the Saudi...

Karzai Seeks Saudi Help in Taliban Talks

Afghan president arrives in Riyadh

(Newser) - Hamid Karzai arrived in Riyadh today, hoping to secure Saudi Arabia’s help in peace negotiations with the Taliban. Karzai and his entourage will first make a pilgrimage to Mecca, then meet with King Abdullah tomorrow to discuss the reconciliation process. Abdullah has said his government won’t participate as...

US Flexing Muscle in Gulf, Sends Message to Iran

It's beefing up defenses of Arab nations in the region

(Newser) - The US is ramping up military cooperation with Arab states in the Persian Gulf ahead of a possible showdown with Iran. The New York Times and the Washington Post weigh in with essentially the same story, both quoting anonymous administration and military officials. The strategy—which includes placing ships off...

Nigerians Call on Prez to Prove He's Alive

Adua, abroad for medical treatment, mum on Xmas bomb attempt

(Newser) - Some Nigerians suspect their president, who split the country in late November, complaining of chest pains, and has not made a public appearance since, could in fact be dead. Umaru Yar’Adua has failed to weigh in on critical state decisions, and was even mum on the Christmas terror attempt...

It's Cheney's Fault Yemen's So Dangerous

Ex-VP deserves 'warm jihadi thank-you note': former ambassador

(Newser) - Dick Cheney’s attacks on President Obama over counter-terror policy are absolute hogwash, a former US ambassador writes, given that the former vice-president, who “proudly micro-managed all things Gitmo,” is personally responsible for getting terrorists back into al-Qaeda’s Yemen operation. Indeed, Marc Ginsberg says, Cheney deserves “...

All Flyers From 14 Nations to Be Patted Down
All Flyers From 14 Nations
to Be Patted Down
UPDATED

All Flyers From 14 Nations to Be Patted Down

Tough new air security crackdown begins today

(Newser) - In the toughest new airline security rules in history, all US-bound passengers from 14 nations considered state sponsors of terrorism or "countries of interest" will be patted down, and their carry-on baggage will be searched. The new rules will apply beginning today to travelers from Afghanistan, Algeria, Cuba, Iran,...

Yemen Maybe Not Best Home for Gitmo's Yemeni Inmates

Country woeful with terror suspects

(Newser) - With Yemen increasing under scrutiny as a staging ground for terror threats against the US, some analysts think that might not be the best place to send Yemenis the Obama administration wants to get out of the Guantanamo Bay prison. One former US diplomat tells Fox News that Saudi Arabia...

Al-Qaeda Offshoot Takes Responsibility for Northwest Incident

Attempted bombing was payback for air strikes in Yemen, group says

(Newser) - A group known as Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula has claimed responsibility for the attempted attack on a US airliner on Christmas Day, saying it was retaliation for a US operation against the group in Yemen. In a statement posted on the Internet, the group said 23-year-old Nigerian Umar Farouk...

Yemen Strike May Have Killed Ft. Hood-Linked Imam

Anwari believed to be among 30 killed in attack on hideouts

(Newser) - Yemen says it has killed over 30 militants, possibly including the imam who was the mentor of the Fort Hood shooter, in attacks on al-Qaeda hideouts today. Officials say the air assaults—carried out with the help of US-provided intelligence—targeted an al-Qaeda leadership meeting that was planning attacks on...

Bin Laden Kids Under House Arrest in Tehran

17-year-old daughter has escaped to Saudi embassy

(Newser) - A 17-year-old daughter of Osama bin Laden has escaped from house arrest in Iran and is being assisted by the Saudi embassy there. Statements by a Saudi diplomat and bin Laden’s son, Omar, to Saudi paper Asharq Al-Awsat appear to clear up what has long been a murky situation...

Climate of Skepticism Swells in Copenhagen

Leaders all but abandon hopes for binding treaty this year

(Newser) - Global warming talks kick off today in Copenhagen, but leaders have already largely given up hope of a binding international treaty amid a climate of swirling skepticism toward the issue. The “climategate” emails do little to debunk two decades of climate science, scientists and policymakers tell the New York ...

Female Saudi Journalist Gets 60 Lashes for Sex Show

During episode, man boasted of conquests

(Newser) - A female Saudi journalist has been sentenced to 60 lashes for her involvement in a TV show that featured a man detailing his sexual conquests. The court also banned Rosanna Al-Yami from leaving the country for two years, sources tell CNN. She is believed to be the first Saudi journalist...

Saudi Family Feud Rocks World Banks
Saudi Family Feud
Rocks World Banks

Saudi Family Feud Rocks World Banks

Saudi economy suffers as in-laws squabble over business

(Newser) - A bitter dispute between two of Saudi Arabia's richest families is damaging the world banking industry, dragging down the Saudi economy, and causing deep discomfort over Ramadan party invites. The Gosaibi clan accuse their son-in-law Ma'an al Sanea of embezzling $10 billion from the family business, while Sanea says the...

Wife: Bin Laden Loves Gardening, Cars, Jihad

New memoir describes family life in the bin Laden household

(Newser) - Osama bin Laden was a tough dad who liked growing corn and sunflowers when he wasn't busy preparing for jihad, his first wife and his fourth son reveal in a memoir to be published this month. Bin Laden loves fast cars and owned a gold Mercedes and a speed boat,...

US Eyes Saudi Rehab for Yemeni Detainees

But Saudi Arabia not jumping at the chance to take in Guantanamo detainees

(Newser) - When a Saudi Arabian returns home from Guantanamo Bay, a top Saudi prince personally informs their families—then asks them to sign guarantees that he will not return to terrorism. It’s part of Saudi Arabia’s highly effective extremist rehabilitation program, which has so far graduated 108 detainees. Now,...

Iran Fingers US in Scientist's Disappearance

Researcher, AWOL in Saudi Arabia, rumored to work at Qom facility

(Newser) - Iran’s foreign minister has accused the US of conspiring with Saudi Arabia in the disappearance of Shahram Amiri, a scientist thought to be involved in Iran’s nuclear program. Amiri disappeared four months ago on a pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia—around the time President Obama asked for a report...

Saudi Man Jailed After Bragging About Sex on TV

He earns 5 years and 1,000 lashes

(Newser) - A Saudi man has been sentenced to 5 years in jail and 1,000 lashes after boasting about his sexual promiscuity on a TV show. Broadcast in July, it features the man displaying sex toys and talking up his exploits. Three friends who appeared on camera got 2-year sentences, notes...

10 EU Countries, Others, in Deals to Take Gitmo Detainees

White House upbeat on 80 cleared for release

(Newser) - The White House, in talks ranging from Australia to Georgia, is making progress on its attempts to resettle Guantanamo Bay detainees, the Washington Post reports. Ten EU countries have agreed to take detainees; the US is negotiating with Saudi Arabia to accept Guantanamo's 98 Yemenis; and 11 detainees, including four...

Thieves Steal $16M From Saudi Princess in Italy

(Newser) - Thieves made off with $16 million in cash and jewels from the safe of a Saudi princess in Sardinia, the BBC reports. Investigators believe the burglars used a master key to gain access to her room in a chic resort and rip the safe from the wall. The theft sparked...

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