Page 26 - Saudi Arabia

SpaceX launches Saudi astronauts, nation's 1st woman in space, to ISS

Saudi Arabia's first astronauts in decades rocketed toward the International Space Station on a chartered multimillion-dollar flight on Sunday. SpaceX launched the ticket-holding crew, led by a retired NASA astronaut now working for the company that arranged the trip from Kennedy Space Center. Also on board: a US businessman who now owns a sports car racing team. The four should reach the space station in their capsule on Monday morning; they'll spend just over a week there before returning home with a splashdown off the Florida coast. Sponsored by the Saudi Arabian government, Rayyanah Barnawi, a stem cell researcher, became the first woman from the kingdom to go to space. She was joined by Ali al-Qarni, a fighter pilot with the Royal Saudi Air Force. They're the first from their country to ride a rocket since a Saudi prince launched aboard shuttle Discovery in 1985. In a quirk of timing, they'll be greeted at the station by an astronaut from the United Arab Emirates. Hello from

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SpaceX launching Saudi astronauts on private flight to space station

SpaceX's next private flight to the International Space Station awaited takeoff Sunday, weather and rocket permitting. The passengers include Saudi Arabia's first astronauts in decades, as well as a Tennessee businessman who started his own sports car racing team. They'll be led by a retired NASA astronaut who now works for the company that arranged the 10-day trip. It's the second charter flight organised by Houston-based Axiom Space. The company would not say how much the latest tickets cost; it previously cited per-seat prices of $55 million. With its Falcon rocket already on the pad, SpaceX targeted a liftoff late Sunday afternoon from NASA's Kennedy Space Center. It's the same spot where Saudi Arabia's first astronaut, a prince, soared in 1985. Representing the Saudi Arabian government this time are Rayyanah Barnawi, a stem cell researcher set to become the kingdom's first woman in space, and Royal Saudi Air Force fighter pilot Ali al-Qarni. Rounding out the crew: John Shoff

Arab leaders, joined by Bashar Assad, at key summit in Saudi Arabia

Washington has objected to any steps towards normalisation with Assad, saying there must first be progress towards a political solution to the conflict

Acts of transnational repression: Lawsuit filed against Twitter, Saudi

A humanitarian aid worker who used an anonymous Twitter account to mock Saudi Arabia about its economy has filed a federal racketeering lawsuit against the social media platform, the kingdom and a number of individuals alleging an attempt to silence critics overseas. Abdulrahman al-Sadhan, was working for the Red Crescent in Riyadh in 2018 when plain-clothed security forces entered the office of the Red Crescent offices in Riyadh. He was taken away without any explanation. How the Saudi government linked al-Sadhan to the Twitter account remains a mystery. In April 2021, the anti-terrorism court where he was tried handed down a prison sentence of 20 years for al-Sadhan, followed by a 20-year travel ban. Al-Sadhan has appealed the ruling. In 2019, Ahmad Abouammo, a U.S. citizen and former media partnership manager for Twitter's Middle East region, was charged with acting as an agent of Saudi Arabia without registering with the U.S. government. The complaint also alleged that Saudi ...

Twitter Inc, Saudi Arabia sued for allegedly helping to silence critics

The suit claims the Saudis have targeted numerous dissidents since the murder of Jamal Khashoggi

Saudi Arabia to reopen embassy in Syria as diplomatic relations improve

The diplomatic mission of Saudi Arabia in Syria will resume its work 11 years after it was closed as the two countries' relations have improved recently, the kingdom's news agency reported late Tuesday. The announcement came nearly a month after Syria and Saudi Arabia said they were moving toward reopening embassies and resuming airline flights. Last month's development followed a visit by Syria's top diplomat to the kingdom, the first since Saudi Arabia cut off diplomatic relations with Syria in 2012 and a visit by Syria's foreign minister to Riyadh. On Sunday, the 22-member Arab League agreed to reinstate Syria, ending a 12-year suspension and taking another step toward bringing Syrian President Bashar Assad, a long-time regional pariah, back into the fold. Syria was widely shunned by Arab governments over the Assad government's brutal crackdown on protesters in a 2011 uprising that descended into civil war. The breakdown in relations culminated with Syria being ousted from the Ar

Lionel Messi to play for Saudi Arabia in £522-million 'done deal'

According to AFP, a Saudi source close to the negotiations confirmed on Tuesday morning that Messi will be playing in Saudi next season, labelling the transfer 'huge'

US NSA meets Doval in Saudi Arabia, next meeting in Australia this month

US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan had a meeting with his Indian counterpart Ajit K Doval in Saudi Arabia on Sunday, the White House said, adding that the two leaders are scheduled to meet again in Australia later this month on the sidelines of the Quad Summit. This is the first meeting between Doval and Sullivan after they launched the ambitious India US ICET (Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology) dialogue here in January. Sullivan is currently travelling to Saudi Arabia. "National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met with Saudi Prime Minister and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, UAE National Security Advisor Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and National Security Advisor of India Ajit Doval on May 7 in Saudi Arabia to advance their shared vision of a more secure and prosperous Middle East region interconnected with India and the world," the White House said Sunday in a readout of the meeting. "Sullivan also held bilateral meetings with the Crown Prince, Sheikh .

White House national security adviser meets Saudi prince amid tensions

US President Joe Biden's top national security aide met Sunday night with Saudi Arabia's crown prince amid long-standing tensions between the White House and the kingdom. The state-run Saudi Press Agency acknowledged the meeting between Jake Sullivan and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah, the Red Sea port city now at the heart of seaborne evacuations from the fighting in Sudan. The state news report said only that the men reviewed strategic relations in a meeting that included other American officials. Later, Sullivan took part in a meeting with the crown prince and Indian national security adviser Ajit Doval and Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the national security adviser of the neighbouring United Arab Emirates. The White House did not immediately acknowledge the meeting or provide a readout about them. Saudi state media did not immediately publish either video or photographs of the meeting as well. Biden campaigned on a promise to make Saudi Arabia a pariah after

Sudan's warring generals send envoys to Saudi for firming up cease-fire

Sudan's two warring generals sent their envoys on Friday to Saudi Arabia for talks aimed at firming up a shaky cease-fire after three weeks of fierce fighting that has killed hundreds and pushed the African country to the brink of collapse, three Sudanese officials said. The negotiations would be the first between Sudan's military, led by Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, commanded by Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, since clashes broke out on April 15. According to the three two senior military officials and one from their paramilitary rival the talks will begin in the Saudi coastal city of Jeddah on Saturday, following concerted efforts by Riyad and other international powers to pressure the warring sides in Sudan to the negotiating table. The three officials spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss the upcoming peace talks. No timeframe was given for the length of the talks. The fighting has turned Sudan's capital of ...

Saudi Arabia cuts oil prices in Asia markets as energy market weakens

Aramco sells about 60% of its crude shipments to Asia, most of them under long-term contracts, pricing for which is reviewed each month

US prez Joe Biden dispatching top aide to meet with Saudi crown prince

US President Joe Biden is dispatching one of his top advisers to Saudi Arabia to meet with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the de facto leader of the oil-rich kingdom, later this week. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Thursday he will travel to Saudi Arabia on Saturday for talks with Saudi officials and will also meet with his counterparts from the United Arab Emirates and India during his visit. Sullivan said he would "discuss new areas of cooperation between New Delhi and the Gulf, as well as the United States and the rest of the region." India and UAE last year signed a comprehensive economic partnership aimed at improving ties between the two countries. Sullivan is expected to meet with the crown prince, who is often referred to by his initials MBS, during the visit, according to a person familiar with Sullivan's travel plans who was not authorised to publicly discuss that element of them. Sullivan spoke by phone with MBS last month amid signs that the

Thomas Cook India's arm, Kanoo Travel to form joint venture in Saudi Arabia

Desert Adventures Tourism, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Thomas Cook India, and GCC-based travel conglomerate Kanoo Travel have signed an agreement to establish a joint venture in Saudi Arabia. The collaboration will bring together two travel trade organisations in the Middle East, aiming to create the most comprehensive destination services company in the region, according to a statement on Wednesday. "The synergies will ensure a portfolio of extensive and exceptional destination services in Saudi Arabia," Thomas Cook (India) Chairman and Managing Director Madhavan Menon said. Desert Adventures is a destination management company headquartered in the UAE, operating in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and Jordan. "Our partnership with Desert Adventures Tourism brings together our collective expertise, industry knowledge, and innovative approach to deliver exceptional solutions and services," Yusuf Bin Ahmed (YBA) Kanoo Company, Saudi Arabia, deputy chairman and YBA Kanoo

India, Saudi Arabia discuss aspects of enhancing bilateral coordination

"During the call, they reviewed the historical and strong relations between the two countries and the two friendly peoples and ways to enhance and develop them in various fields"

Delhi-bound C-130J aircraft with 40 passengers takes off from Jeddah

An Indian Air Force C-130J aircraft with 40 passengers onboard took off from Jeddah on Sunday for New Delhi as 'Operation Kaveri' progresses further to evacuate stranded Indians from battle-torn Sudan

First flight carrying 360 Indians from Sudan reaches Delhi, says EAM

Operation Kaveri is a rescue mission, launched by the Government of India to evacuate its stranded citizens from crisis-hit Sudan

China oils a West Asian deal

The US, currently obsessed with its campaigns against Russia and oil, may respond over time. But Iran and Israel are both capable of surprise manoeuvres

India coordinating with US, UK, Saudi and UAE on safety of Indians in Sudan

India is coordinating closely with various countries to ensure the safety and security of Indian nationals in violence-hit Sudan, government sources said on Wednesday. They said the ground situation in that country is very tense and movement of people is very risky at this stage. Sudan has been witnessing deadly fighting between the country's army and a paramilitary group for the last six days that has reportedly left around 100 people dead. The sources said India's priority is safety of movement and well being of individuals wherever they are located. They said that the Quartet countries of the US, the UK, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have a key role in Sudan and India is engaging them accordingly. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has already spoken to his counterparts in Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The sources said both the foreign ministers assured Jaishankar of their practical support on the ground. India is also working with the UN, which has a substa

Saudi Arabia's prince transfers 4% Aramco stake to public investment firm

Saudi Arabia's crown prince announced on Sunday the transfer of a 4 per cent stake of the oil giant Saudi Aramco to a subsidiary of the kingdom's sovereign wealth fund, further boosting its coffers as the kingdom tries to expand its economy beyond oil. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's decision, announced by the state-run Saudi Press Agency, sends the stake to the Saudi Arabian Investment Co., known as Sanabil Investments. Sanabil is under the sovereign wealth fund known as the Public Investment Fund. The transfer will also solidify PIF's strong financial position and credit rating, the statement about the deal said. It gave no possible investment targets for either Sanabil or the PIF. Saudi Aramco, formally known as the Saudi Arabian Oil Co., acknowledged the shares going to Sanabil. It said the Saudi government remains the oil firm's biggest shareholder, with over 90 per cent of its stock. This is a private transfer between the state and Sanabil, and the company is not a party t