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Saudi Arabian billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal has been released from detention after he made an undisclosed financial settlement after spending two months in detention in a luxury hotel. The 63-year-old prince was arrested as part of a major clampdown on corruption in Saudi Arabia. He was held, with dozens of other billionaires in the luxury Ritz-Carlton hotel in Riyadh until his release earlier today.

Full title: "Jailed Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, Saudi Arabia's richest man, is running out of time to make a deal" Text of excerpt: Saudi Arabia's richest man is running out of time. It's been more than two months since Prince Alwaleed bin Talal was first arrested and detained in what the Saudi government still calls an "anti-corruption" sweep. Yet the first sign of things getting more serious came early this week when Alwaleed was moved out of his restricted quarters at the Riyadh Ritz Carlton Hotel and moved to Al Ha'ir prison, according to the London-based Arabic news site Al-Araby...

The Jordanian army on Saturday denied a report that two of King Abdullah II’s brothers had been arrested over contacts with Saudi Arabian officials. ... But in denying the arrests, Jordanian military officials said the brothers — Prince Faisal bin Hussein and Prince Ali bin Hussein — had simply “retired.”...

Saudi princes arrested for sit-in against having to pay utilities AFP | Jan 07, 2018, 06.26 PM IST RIYADH: Eleven Saudi princes face trial after their arrest at a sit-in protesting having to pay their utility bills, authorities said today, as the monarchy pursues reforms amid hefty debt and high unemployment. Saudi Arabia's attorney general said "no one is above the law" after the princes were detained outside a palace in Riyadh, where they had gathered last week to demonstrate against a government decision to stop paying the water and electricity bills of royals. They also demanded compensation for a...

A 29-year-old Saudi man was in for the shock of his life when his wife, whom he loved so much, approached the court for a divorce. The estranged husband did not know why his wife would want divorce from him even though he did everything possible for her, but she was adamant in her demand. She admitted that her husband had never denied anything to her but she insisted on leaving him because he preferred her over his own mother. "I can never trust a man who does everything for his wife while he denies even a small favor to...

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis gave a full-throated defense Friday of U.S. efforts to prevent civilian casualties in the conflict in Yemen, making the case that without American involvement, there would be more. Mattis, speaking to reporters at the Pentagon, said that “it’s a tragedy every time” a civilian dies, but that the United States is held to a high standard when it comes to preventing civilian fatalities. “We are being held to a standard – ‘we’ being us and anyone associated with us – that has never been achieved before in warfare,” he said. The comments came after two separate...

She just wanted to bring him a meal from Al Baik. In one of the most bizarre divorce cases to be reported in Saudi Arabia, a man recently divorced his wife because she left home to get a surprise meal for him on his birthday. According to Ain Al Youm, the woman went to popular Saudi restaurant Al Baik, in Al Kherj governorate, to pick up her husband's favorite meal after she'd set up everything to surprise him at home. Speaking to the local news site, a social worker who handled the case, explained that when the wife was...

Yemen's Houthi movement fired a ballistic missile towards the Saudi capital Riyadh targeting a meeting of Saudi leaders at a royal palace on Tuesday, its spokesman said. Mohammed Abdussalam said on Twitter that a Volcano 2-H ballistic missile was fired towards al-Yamama royal palace.  Saudi air defences intercepted the missile, Saudi-owned channel al-Arabiya reported in a news flash quoting a Saudi-led military coalition.

Palestinian billionaire detained in Saudi Arabia in sweeping corruption probe Family says Sabih al-Masri was held while visiting Riyadh last week in order to 'answer questions about his business and partners' Palestinian billionaire businessman Sabih al-Masri was reportedly detained in Saudi Arabia for questioning last week during a business trip to Riyadh, amidst a sweeping anti-corruption purge of the Saudi elite. Masri, who is the founder of Zara Investment Holding and chairman of Jordan’s largest lender, Arab Bank, was held in the Saudi capital over “information related to corruption,” according to Arabic-language news reports. Friends and family sources confirmed Masri’s...

On the heels of this week's resignation of Karl Marx as leading figure in the communist movement due to allegations of sexual misconduct, the triggered social justice organizers of the #MeToo collective have claimed the scalp of another progressive icon. At a press conference, supported by her family and lawyers, a woman named Aisha claimed that she was taken as a bride by Mr. Muhammad when she was nine years old. When asked why it took so long for her to come out, she stated that she feared nobody would believe her since the testimony of a woman is not...

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's military said on Thursday it had accomplished its mission of defeating Islamic State in Syria, and there were no remaining settlements there under the group's control. Russian bombers had used unprecedented force in the final stages to finish off the militant group, a senior Russian officer said. "The mission to defeat bandit units of the Islamic State terrorist organization on the territory of Syria, carried out by the armed forces of the Russian Federation, has been accomplished," Colonel-General Sergei Rudskoi, head of the general staff's operations, said on Rossiya 24 TV channel. Syrian government forces were...

Saudis Are Hoping Mohammed bin Salman Will Drain the Swamp A road trip among ordinary Saudis revealed high hopes, and hardly any worries, about the country's new political era. BY STEVEN A. COOK | NOVEMBER 21, 2017, 12:46 PM We must be doing 80 miles per hour on a rutted road outside the northwestern Saudi town of Ula. It is late and I am tired, but I’ve got one eye on the road and one eye on the dashboard indicator light signaling that the Chevy Tahoe in which I am traveling has low tire pressure. What would happen if this...

Amir tells of the Trump peace plan, Saudi-U.S. cooperation, the new attitude by the U.S. toward the Palestinians, and probable events in the future as foretold by prophecy. Special words to the Watchmen in the midst of world turmoil.

Saudi Arabia’s crown prince could turn to Credit Suisse next Saudis are among a number of SWFs intrigued by recent shareholder developments at Swiss bank PATRICK JENKINS For those who had not been paying attention to the rise of Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, his recent dramatic detention of fellow princes and other senior figures over corruption allegations came out of the blue. But amid some pretty tough competition for the world’s attention — a quasi-coup in Zimbabwe, more Brexit tumult — he has kept up the momentum ever since. On Thursday it emerged that the Saudi authorities...

The Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia issued a ruling forbidding war against the Jews and proclaiming that Hamas is a terror group. The Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, Abdulaziz Al Sheikh, issued a surprising religious ruling, saying that fighting against Israel was inappropriate and that Hamas is a “terror organization.” The Muslim cleric issued the ruling while answering a question on a television program regarding the Palestinian riots surrounding the Temple Mount in July, Turkey’s Anadolu news agency reported. Israel’s Communications Minister Ayoub Kara welcomed the unexpected decision and invited the Mufti to visit Israel.

Given the speed of events in Saudi Arabia this year a stunning report surfaces stating that King Salman is anticipated to hand over ruling authority to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman next week. According to The Daily Mail King Salman will retain the title of guardian of the holy mosques but otherwise hand over all ruling authority to the crown prince.

Saudi Arabia swapping assets for freedom of some held in graft purge: sources Samia Nakhoul, Katie Paul BEIRUT/RIYADH (Reuters) - Saudi authorities are striking agreements with some of those detained in an anti-corruption crackdown, asking them to hand over assets and cash in return for their freedom, sources familiar with the matter said. The deals involve separating cash from assets like property and shares, and looking at bank accounts to assess cash values, one of the sources told Reuters. Dozens of princes, senior officials and businessmen, including cabinet ministers and billionaires, have been detained in the graft inquiry at least...

The King of Saudi Arabia plans to step down and announce his son as his successor next week, a source close to the country's royal family has exclusively told DailyMail.com. The move is seen as the final step in 32-year-old Prince Mohammed bin Salman's power grab, which began earlier this month with the arrests of more than 40 princes and government ministers in a corruption probe. The source said King Salman will continue only as a ceremonial figurehead, handing over official leadership of the country to his son - often referred to as MBS.

US Secretary of State has warned other countries against using Lebanon for proxy conflicts, following a crisis triggered by the resignation of its Prime Minister, Saad Hariri. Iran and its Lebanese ally, the militant Shia group Hezbollah, claim the Saudis detained Mr. Hariri and forced his resignation. Mr. Tillerson said he had received assurances that Mr. Hariri was free. Mr. Hariri resigned a week ago while in Saudi capital, Riyadh. "There is no legitimate place or role in Lebanon for any foreign forces, militias or armed elements other than the legitimate security forces of the Lebanese state" Mr. Tillerson said...

When Saad Hariri’s jet touched down in Beirut early Thursday, Lebanon hoped it would bring an end to a crisis spurred by his abrupt and mysterious resignation as prime minister, delivered in a speech from Saudi Arabia last week. But he was not aboard, according to local media and an airport employee. For five days, Hariri has been in the shadows, his whereabouts and status the subject of fevered speculation in this fragile state. Aides said they have hardly spoken to him. His own political party has anxiously demanded his return. ... When Hariri resigned on Saturday, during what appeared...