The United States has issued satellite images and cited intelligence to back its allegation Iran was behind attacks on major Saudi oil facilities. Iran denies involvement in Saturday’s air attacks, which were claimed by Iran-aligned Houthi rebels in Yemen. But…
Saudi oil attacks: US blames Iran for drone strikes on two sites (BBC)
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has blamed Iran for Saturday’s drone attacks on Saudi oil facilities. He dismissed a claim by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels that they had attacked the two facilities, run by state-owned company Aramco. Iran said…
Saudi Arabia oil facilities ablaze after drone strikes (BBC)
Drone attacks have set alight two major oil facilities run by the state-owned company Aramco in Saudi Arabia, state media say. Footage showed flames and huge palls of smoke over Abqaiq, site of Aramco’s largest oil processing plant. A second…
9/11 attacks: US to reveal key name in Saudi lawsuit (BBC)
The US Department of Justice has said it will reveal a key name sought by people suing Saudi Arabia for alleged involvement in the 9/11 attacks. It says the information will be shared with lawyers representing the victims’ families. It…
Saudi Arabia declares August 10 Arafat Day (Guardian)
The government of Saudi Arabia has declared Saturday, August 10th as Arafat Day, the height of Hajj rites when pilgrims all over the world will converge on the Plain of Arafat for supplications. The Amir- ul Hajj, Lagos State, Dr…
Saudi Arabia allows women to travel independently (BBC)
Women in Saudi Arabia can now travel abroad without a male guardian’s permission, royal decrees say. The new rule announced on Friday allows women over the age of 21 to apply for a passport without authorisation, putting them on an…
Female Nigerian pilgrim dies in Saudi Arabia —NAHCON official (Punch)
An elderly female Nigerian pilgrim from Sokoto State has died in Madinah, Saudi Arabia a few days to the commencement of 2019 Hajj rites. Dr Hamidu Liman, Head of Medical team, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, made the disclosure…
Nigerian actress Kemi Afolabi hospitalised in Saudi Arabia (Nation)
Nollywood actress Kemi Afolabi has been rushed to a hospital in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. The incident occurred last Thursday. The actress, who came to perform hajj, fell ill due to the stress associated with the hajj exercise. The Nation reporter…
Saudi Fixes August 6 Deadline for Nigerian Pilgrims to Arrive Madinah (ThisDay)
Nigeria is in a race to airlift the remaining 20,000 hajj pilgrims still stranded across the states to Madinah, Saudi Arabia by August 6. That date is the deadline by the Saudi authorities for all pilgrims to evacuate the city…
Nicki Minaj cancels Saudi concert over women’s rights concerns (Punch)
Nicki Minaj has cancelled a performance in Saudi Arabia in a show of support for women’s and gay rights in the ultra-conservative kingdom, the US rapper said Tuesday. Minaj’s scheduled appearance in the western city of Jeddah next week as…