Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has been pushing for greater diversification of Saudi Arabia’s oil-reliant economy though the Vision 2030 strategy. Saudi Royal Palace / AFP
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has been pushing for greater diversification of Saudi Arabia’s oil-reliant economy though the Vision 2030 strategy. Saudi Royal Palace / AFP
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has been pushing for greater diversification of Saudi Arabia’s oil-reliant economy though the Vision 2030 strategy. Saudi Royal Palace / AFP
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has been pushing for greater diversification of Saudi Arabia’s oil-reliant economy though the Vision 2030 strategy. Saudi Royal Palace / AFP

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman warns extremists of 'iron fist'


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Saudi Arabia will strike with an "iron fist" against terrorism, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said on Thursday after a bombing against a gathering of western diplomats was claimed by ISIS.

The bomb blast targeted a World War I commemoration at a non-Muslim cemetery in Jeddah on Wednesday, just two weeks after a guard at the French consulate in the Red Sea city was wounded by a knife-wielding Saudi citizen.

The attacks, which underscore Muslim anger over French satirical cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed, come as Saudi Arabia prepares for the G20 leaders' summit later this month – the first to be hosted by an Arab nation.

"We warn anyone who might think of committing a terrorist act and taking advantage of hate speech that stir peoples’ emotions that we will impose the most severe, painful and deterring punishment," Prince Mohammed said in address to the Shura Council.

"On the other hand, we hope that the world desists from contempt of religions, and attacking religious and national figures under the slogan of freedom of speech, as such practice manages to create a fertile environment for extremism and terrorism to grow."

The bombing at the Armistice Day commemoration in Jeddah wounded at least two people, including a Greek policeman and a Saudi official. ISIS claimed responsibility for the bombing, saying it was to protest against the cartoons of the Prophet printed by the satirical French magazine Charlie Hebdo.

A statement by extremist group's propaganda arm, Amaq, said the attack "primarily targeted the French consul".

The group offered no evidence of its involvement.

In a separate incident on Thursday, Dutch police arrested a man after shots were fired at the Saudi embassy in The Hague, causing damage but no injuries. It was not clear whether the incident was linked to the attacks in the kingdom.

The Saudi crown prince said a crackdown he launched in 2017 had largely eradicated extremism within the kingdom.

"Extremism is no longer acceptable in Saudi Arabia today, it is no longer on the surface, instead, it is invisible, in hiding and rejected by the Saudi people," he said.

"Our work today is pre-emptive, we are going to continue to strike with an iron fist whomever dares to tamper with our security and stability."

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Premier League

Wednesday, June 17 (Kick-offs uae times) Aston Villa v Sheffield United 9pm; Manchester City v Arsenal 11pm 

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Saturday, June 20 Watford v Leicester 3.30pm; Brighton v Arsenal 6pm; West Ham v Wolves 8.30pm; Bournemouth v Crystal Palace 10.45pm 

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Thursday, June 25 Burnley v Watford 9pm; Leicester v Brighton 9pm; Chelsea v Manchester City 11.15pm; Wolves v Bournemouth 11.15pm

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The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

Sustainable Development Goals

1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere

2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture

3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages

4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all

5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all

7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all

8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all

9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation

10. Reduce inequality  within and among countries

11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable

12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its effects

14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development

15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss

16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels

17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development

Scoreline

Arsenal 0 Manchester City 3

  • Agüero 18'
  • Kompany 58'
  • Silva 65'
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Dhadak

Director: Shashank Khaitan

Starring: Janhvi Kapoor, Ishaan Khattar, Ashutosh Rana

Stars: 3

Five films to watch

Castle in the Sky (1986)

Grave of the Fireflies (1988)

Only Yesterday (1991)

Pom Poki (1994)

The Tale of Princess Kaguya (2013)

The specs

Engine: 6.2-litre supercharged V8

Power: 712hp at 6,100rpm

Torque: 881Nm at 4,800rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 19.6 l/100km

Price: Dh380,000

On sale: now