Swiss Bank Suing Saudi Governor For $78 Million Loans On Superyacht, Mansion
Good day from REEDNEWSARABWORLD for Thursday, January 6, 2022! In London, a court case awaits defense papers from Saudi Arabia's Prince Fahad bin Sultan, governor of Tabuk province and member of the House of Saud. The giant Swiss investment bank, Credit Suisse, alleges he failed to repay $78 million owed for loans and interest on his superyacht Sarafsa and a mansion outside London. The prince's lawyers haven't yet filed their response.
Iran-backed militias fire rockets and drones at U.S. troops in both Iraq and Syria. The attacks continue daily, following the second anniversary of the U.S. assassination of Iran's top general, Qassem Soleimani. So far, none of the U.S. forces have been killed or injured, but tensions are increasing each day. In Syria, the U.S.-led coalition hit back and struck sites of short-range rockets.
There's new tension about ship seizures between Saudi Arabia's coalition and Yemen's Houthis. The Saudi-led coalition announced it had a distress signal from an oil tanker off Yemen's Hodeidah port. Earlier, the Houthis claimed Saudi forces had diverted one of its fuel ships. There's confusion about whether the two incidents are the same, and details are sparse, but the tit-for-tat responses continue to grow.
The United States overtakes Qatar to become the world's largest export of liquefied natural gas. Norway becomes president of the United Nations Security Council and wants a renewed focus on Palestine and Israel. The hospitalized Ennahda political leader in Tunisia agreed to take fluids, then refused, and is reported in poor condition. Israel looks at the island nations of Maldives and Comoros for the next normalization of ties. Jordan's parliament grants new powers to King Abdullah II.
News from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, Algeria, Iraq, the Horn of Africa, and More.
Credit Suisse wants its money back ($78 million in loans and interest) from a Saudi prince for financing his megayacht and a mansion outside London. The prince is Fahad bin Sultan, who has been governor of Saudi Arabia's province of Tabuk since 1987. The yacht, named Sarafsa, is super-sized at a length of 269 feet and valued at more than $60 million. His mansion in Surrey, south of London, is worth about $50 million. The Swiss bank has sued in a London court, but the case has not yet received papers from the prince's lawyers.
The prince has been in controversies before, notably a hunting trip to Pakistan for endangered houbara bustards. He obtained a permit for 100 birds and bagged 1,977.(Note: Arab royalty regularly travels to Pakistan for hunting. The bustards are prized meat believed to restore virility.) On the plus side, the prince once paid for power lines to a Saudi village and then paid the electric bills for three years.
Bloomberg, Saudi superyacht dispute pits Credit Suisse against Gulf Prince.
Daily Mail, Saudi prince at war with bank over 48M lb super yacht.
The Pentagon identifies Iran-backed militants as responsible for increasing attacks that target U.S. troops both in Iraq and Syria. The statement stopped short of directly implicating Tehran, but there is a "working assumption" that the incidents every day this week are coordinated by groups trained and supplied by Iran. In Iraq, one group, Qasim al-Jabbarin, claimed responsibility for rockets fired at Iraq's Ain al-Asad base where U.S. forces are stationed.
Washington Post, Iran-backed militants probably behind attacks targeting U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria, Pentagon says.
Al-Monitor, U.S. troops in Syria, Iraq targeted with renewed rocket and drone attacks.
Fox News, US troops come under attack in Iraq and Syria in days after Soleimani death anniversary.
Al Arabiya, US-coalition against ISIS faces dual attacks in Syria and Iraq by Iran-backed groups.
Bas News, Pro-Iran militia group claims responsibility for rocket attack on Ain al-Asad.
The U.S.-led coalition in Syria struck back against the attacks, hitting launch sites that were firing short-range missiles. The strikes were believed made by U.S. forces, but a coalition statement didn't specify who carried them out. Few details, except that the sites "posed an imminent threat."
Military.com, US military coalition in Syria takes out rocket launch sites.
CNN, US-led coalition fires back after attack by suspected Iranian-backed militias in Syria.
The Arab coalition in Yemen said it received a distress signal from an oil tanker off Yemen that was being subjected to "armed harassment." State media said the incident occurred off Yemen's Houthi-controlled port of Hodeidah, and the coalition confirmed the presence of "high-risk indicators" in the region. No details were given. Earlier, the Yemen Petroleum Company said the coalition had diverted a fuel ship on its way to Hodeidah and sent it to a port in Saudi Arabia. There was no explanation whether these reports were separate incidents or involved the same vessel.
Reuters, Saudi-led coalition receives distress signal from oil tanker off Yemen's Hodeidah port - state TV.
Al Arabiya, Arab coalition receives distress signal from oil tanker off Yemen's Hodeidah port.
Reuters, Yemen Houthis say Saudi-led coalition diverted fuel ship.
Arab News, UN says 'following with concern' Houthi seizure of UAE-flagged ship, urges restraint.
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrullah's accusations against Saudi Arabia's King Salman are being widely condemned in Lebanon. The state's former president, Michel Suleiman, said the majority of Lebanese people reject Nasrullah's statements and believe they harm Lebanon. Parliament member Elias Hankash mocked Nasrullah for saying that Lebanese who live in Saudi Arabia are "hostages." Hankash said: "The hostages in the Gulf are planning for the future, while in the land of resistance, they reside in humiliation."
Asharq Al-Awsat, Lebanese officials widely reject Nasrullah's attack on Saudi Arabia.
For the first time since October, Lebanon will have a cabinet meeting. Prime Minister Najib Mikati said he will convene the cabinet within days after almost three months without a meeting. The announcement by Mikati is seen as potentially ending a political standoff that has paralyzed the government during a severe financial crisis. "We will convene Cabinet as soon as it receives the (2022) budget," Mikati said.
Reuters, Lebanon leader to convene Cabinet within days for first time since October.
Unidentified residents of a Hezbollah stronghold attacked United Nations peacekeepers in southern Lebanon. Vehicles were vandalized and official items stolen, a UN official said. Such incidents with UN peacekeepers aren't uncommon, but the UN force called on Lebanese authorities to "investigate quickly and thoroughly and prosecute all those responsible for these crimes." Local media reported that residents of the town of Bint Jbeil scuffled with Irish peacekeepers who were taking photographs of homes.
Associated Press, UN peacekeepers attacked in south Lebanon near Israel border.
Tunisian doctors expressed "grave fears" for the health of former minister Noureddine Bhiri who has been refusing food since his arrest last week. Earlier in the day, Bhiri had agreed to be given fluids and medication, "but later he refused again," a hospital official said. Bhiri was arrested last week and later accused of "terrorism" offenses. He is a former justice minister and is deputy chairman of Tunisia's Ennahda political party, which has been banned by President Kais Saied.
AFP, 'Grave fears' for hunger-striking Tunisia politician.
U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan says the threat of "snapback" United Nations Security Council sanctions should be used to deter Iran from enriching uranium to weapons grade. "Snapback" is regarded as the most significant mechanism built into the 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran. Under the agreement, that provision allows any party to the deal to trigger the sanctions. Because all UN members would be bound to comply, such sanctions would be particularly devastating to Iran's economy.
Axios, U.S. sees "snapback" sanctions threat as tool to deter Iran enrichment.
The United States has overtaken Qatar to become the world's largest exporter of liquefied natural gas. Deliveries in December surged to energy-starved Europe, as a fleet of U.S. LNG cargo carriers sailed to Europe. LNG production had been substantially increased by Cheniere Energy's Sabine Pass plant in Cameron Parish, Louisiana.
OilPrice, U.S. overtakes Qatar to become the world's largest LNG exporter.
Iraq's cabinet approved plans to buy Exxon Mobil's stake in one of the country's biggest oilfields. Iraq's oil minister Ihsan Abdul Jabbar said the Iraqi National Oil Company will buy Exxon Mobil's share in the West Qura 1 field in the southern province of Basra.
The National, Iraq to buy Exxon Mobil stake in a major oil field.
The United Arab Emirates expects its economy to grow at a rate of 4.2% in 2022 as oil rebounds. Growth in the oil sector is set at 5% this year, an increase from a contraction of 2% in 2021. The International Monetary Fund expects the UAE's economy in 2022 to grow more than 3% and stay at about that level into 2026 or later.
Bloomberg, UAE sees oil rebound boosting economic growth to 4.2% in 2022.
The sovereign wealth fund of the United Arab Emirates grew exponentially in 2021. The fund's value increased by more than 18 per cent, or $250 billion, by gains in the equity market and a recovery of oil prices. The UAE and other Gulf countries use investment funds to invest petrodollars in diverse sectors. Abu Dhabi manages about $1.3 trillion through different sovereign wealth funds.
Menafn, UAE sovereign wealth funds' assets jump to Dh5.9 trillion.
Israel wants to establish diplomatic relations with two Indian Ocean nations, Comoros and Maldives. Sources said there are ongoing contacts with the two island states, but there were no indications of any early announcement. Comoros, a small archipelago in the Indian Ocean, has never recognized Israel, but the United States has arranged meetings between the two countries. The Maldives once had diplomatic ties with Israel but they were suspended in 1974.
Times of Israel, Israel expects to establish ties with Comoros, Maldives next - sources.
Jordan's King Abdullah II has received sweeping new powers from parliament that allow him to appoint and dismiss officials. Members of parliament voted overwhelmingly to amend Article 40 of the constitution, giving the monarch the ability to appoint and dismiss the chief justice, head of the Sharia Judicial Council, Grand Mufti, chief of the Royal Court, minister of the Court, and the king's advisers.
The New Arab, Jordan's king granted new powers by parliament in latest constitutional amendment.
Norway is the new president of the United Nations Security Council and wants a renewed focus on Israel and Palestine. Norway will elevate discussions to the ministerial level on January 19, Mona Juul, Oslo's permanent representative to the UN, said. "It's critical to enhance the council's focus and the need to find a political solution to this protracted conflict."
Arab News, New Security Council president calls for renewed focus on Israel and Palestine.
More: Israeli defense chief meets Jordanian king in reset of ties, Associated Press... US, Europe warn Sudan's military as democratic transition unravels, ABC News... UN special envoy for the Horn of Africa Jeffrey Feltman to leave post, Al Arabiya... Tunisia prepares economic reform program to discuss with IMF, Asharq Al-Awsat... Algeria's ambassador to return to Paris after 3 months hiatus, Anadolu Agency... Iran rescues 11 Indian sailors after vessel sinks: report, NDTV... Egypt launches Apache upgrade,Janes.com.
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