Tag: arabia
Could Lionel Messi join Cristiano Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia with £245m-a-year deal?
Saudi Arabia Jails Two Wikipedia Staff In ‘Bid To Control Content’
Dawn, which is based in Washington DC and was founded by slain Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, and Smex, which promotes digital rights in the Arab world, cited “whistleblowers and trusted sources” for the information. There was no immediate comment from the Saudi government or from Wikimedia, which puts free educational content online through initiatives like Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia, and Wiktionary. Dawn and Smex’s statement comes after Wikimedia last month announced global bans for 16 users “who were engaging in conflict of interest editing on Wikipedia projects in the Mena [Middle East and North Africa] region.”
Two high-ranking “admins” — volunteer administrators with privileged access to Wikipedia, including the ability to edit fully protected pages — have been imprisoned since they were arrested on the same day in September 2020, the two bodies added. The arrests appeared to be part of a “crackdown on Wikipedia admins in the country,” Dawn and Smex said, naming the two people imprisoned as Osama Khalid and Ziyad al-Sofiani. Abdullah Alaoudh, Dawn’s director of research for the Gulf, said Khalid was jailed for 32 years and Sofiani received an eight-year sentence. “The arrests of Osama Khalid and Ziyad al-Sofiani on one hand, and the infiltration of Wikipedia on the other hand, show a horrifying aspect of how the Saudi government wants to control the narrative and Wikipedia,” Alaoudh told AFP.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Cristiano Ronaldo hit with Amnesty International demand after Saudi Arabia transfer
Saudi Arabia sports minister hints Cristiano Ronaldo transfer was backed by government
Ex-Twitter employee sentenced over spying for Saudi Arabia
In a rare case of Twitter drama unrelated to its owner, a former employee convicted of spying for Saudi Arabia received a three-and-a-half-year sentence on Wednesday. Ahmad Abouammo was found guilty in August of taking bribes from an aide to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. In return, he allegedly supplied sensitive account info that could help track and silence dissidents.
Abouammo, a US resident born in Egypt, received about half of the more than seven years prosecutors sought. The former Twitter media partnership manager said he was only doing his job, but evidence revealed that he received $300,000 and a $20,000 Hublot watch from bin Salman’s aide. A Twitter whistleblower suggested in late August that the scandal reflected a broader practice of lax data security at the company.
Two other men were charged in the scheme. Ali Alzabarah, a Saudi citizen, is another former Twitter employee who prosecutors say acquired personal info for over 6,000 accounts, including that of high-profile dissident (and Jamal Khashoggi ally) Omar Abdulaziz. A third man, Ahmed Almutairi, was also charged but didn’t work at Twitter. Instead, he allegedly served as a contact between Twitter staffers and the Saudi government. Of the three, only Abouammo was in the US to face charges.
China, Saudi Arabia strengthen ties with deals for big oil projects
Saudi Arabia vs Mexico – World Cup Group C: How they’re doing, injuries and prediction as Saudis look to qualify
SAUDI ARABIA are looking to qualify for the World Cup knockout stages for the second time after springing one of the all-time shocks in Qatar.
The Saudis stunned Lionel Messi and Argentina in their opening game.
And while they were unable to maintain the momentum in their second game against Poland, qualification is still in their hands.
Mexico have had a torrid campaign and are yet to score in this competition.
But their fate is still just about in their own hands and they can make it through with a big win no matter what anybody else does.
SunSport takes a look at what to expect from Saudi Arabia vs Mexico, plus our score prediction.
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How are they getting on?
Saudi Arabia: Herve Renard’s energetic Saudi side achieved one of the most memorable results in World Cup history as they beat Argentina 2-1 in their opening game.
However, they ran out of gas in their second game as Poland ran out 2-0 winners to leave their qualification hopes up in the air.
Read the full Poland vs Saudi Arabia match report…
Mexico: El Tri have yet to score a goal in a forgettable campaign which saw them draw 0-0 to the Poles and lose 2-0 to Argentina.
But they still have a chance of securing an eighth straight qualification for the knockout stages.
Read the full Argentina vs Mexico match report…
Any injuries to worry about?
Mohammed Al-Burayk, Yasir Al-Shahrani and Salman Al-Faraj are all out through injury for Saudi Arabia.
Abdulelah Al-Malki misses out through suspension after picking up two yellow cards.
Mexico’s Andres Guardado was forced off injured after 42 minutes against Argentina, but quickly returned to training afterwards.
Who will be the star men?
Saudi Arabia: Salem Al-Dawsari showed his quality with his stunning winner against Argentina.
Mexico: Napoli winger Hirving Lozano is an ever-present in the team and will need to perform if the Mexicans are to rack up the goals.
Permutations
Saudi Arabia will qualify with a win and top the group if Poland vs Argentina ends in a draw
A draw will be enough if Poland beat Argentina or Argentina win 4-0.
Mexico will qualify with any win if Poland beat Argentina.
Should that match end in a draw, they will need to win by four goals.
If Argentina win, the Mexicans will need to win and secure a five-goal win away from the Poles.
What’s the head-to-head?
Saudi Arabia and Mexico have met five times, all of them being in the 90s and three of them in the Confederations Cup.
Of those games, Mexico have won four and there has been one draw.
Their last meeting was in the Confederations Cup in 1999, when Mexico ran out 5-1 winners at the Azteca.
Odds
Saudi Arabia 4-1
Draw 33-10
Mexico 8-11
SunSport prediction
Saudi Arabia 1 Mexico 2
Herve Renard makes Poland desire clear as Saudi Arabia boss eyes World Cup history
Poland vs Saudi Arabia – World Cup Group C: How they’re doing, injuries and prediction as minnows look for 2nd shock win
SAUDI ARABIA are looking to book their spot in the World Cup 2022 last 16.
Herve Renard’s side left the football world in a state of shock after beating one of the tournament favourites, Argentina, in their opening game.
But they face another tricky test in their quest for knockout round place.
Saudi Arabia take on Poland in their second match.
And they’ll be fighting tooth and nail to secure another surprise win that will see them qualify.
SunSport takes a look at what to expect from the big game… including the all-important scoreline prediction.
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How are they getting on?
Poland: Not brilliantly, to be honest.
Superstar striker Robert Lewandowski missed a penalty as they laboured to a 0-0 draw against Mexico.
And with Argentina still to come, they’ll need a win here.
Read the full Mexico vs Poland report…
Saudi Arabia: They’re on cloud nine, right now, after one of the greatest results in World Cup history.
Trailing 1-0, Saudi Arabia recovered to beat Lionel Messi and Co 2-1.
A point in this match could even end up being enough to reach the last 16.
Read the full Argentina vs Saudi Arabia report…
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Any injuries to worry about?
Poland: Nothing major to worry about for Czeslaw Michniewicz.
However, Kamil Glik did take two heavy blows to the head against Mexico and will be monitored in the build-up to the game.
Saudi Arabia: Yasser Al-Shahrani will miss the game after a sickening blow to the face against Argentina.
Al-Shahrani required surgery after leaving on a stretcher having collided with his own goalkeeper, Mohammed Al-Owais.
Who will be the star men?
Poland: Robert Lewandowski, it has to be.
Missed penalty or not, the Barcelona star is comfortably one of the best strikers on the planet – one off day won’t change that.
Saudi Arabia: Salem Al-Dawsari has long been his nation’s talisman.
He scored the winner against Argentina and will be looking to add to his tally in this one.
Read More on The Sun
What’s the head-to-head?
The two nations have faced off four times – all in friendly games.
Poland have won all four, most-recently bagging a 2-1 victory in 2006.
SunSport prediction
Poland 2 Saudi Arabia 1