ISIL's latest alleged attacks on Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh are a reminder of the serious threat posed by extremists to the region as a whole – and to the kingdom in particular. As The National reported yesterday, the Saudi interior ministry has announced the arrest of a young man who is suspected of having acted on orders from ISIL in Syria when he killed two policemen and injured two others in separate attacks. It was, said Saudi interior ministry spokesman Gen Mansour Al Turki, the fifth attack orchestrated by ISIL on security forces and foreigners in the kingdom.
These are disturbing revelations. The Saudi authorities allege that the detained suspect, Yazid bin Mohammed Abdulrahman Abu Niyan, and his accomplice, Nawaf bin Sharif Samir Al Anzi, who is on the run, were planning further attacks. Both men are Saudi, a further disquieting fact. Add to that the shrewd calculations by those who study such matters that Saudi Arabia is the crown jewel in the so-called caliphate that ISIL wants to build, and the need for vigilance has never been more pronounced.
The kingdom has already faced several attacks in recent months. That includes the murder of three Saudi guards on the border with Iraq in January by four suspected ISIL members. Late last year, the Saudi authorities announced that they had arrested 135 people suspected of conspiring to carry out terrorist attacks inside the country. All of them had received training abroad.
The revelations from Riyadh are a grim reminder of the need to fight the war against extremism with every means available. This is not Saudi Arabia’s battle alone but a transnational fight against terrorist groups. Of course, the fight will not be easy and, in order for it to succeed, it will require collaboration between countries across the region and further afield. But it was precisely for this purpose that Saudi Arabia and others in the region joined the US-led coalition against ISL in September. The coalition’s aim is to target, degrade and destroy its positions in Syria and Iraq and stop the group’s spread.
That said, the war against extremism needsto be waged on many fronts. The fightback must include education, public messaging and canny ways of communicating with young people to win hearts and minds in what is the biggest threat to regional stability in a generation.
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
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THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Constant Variable (CVT)
Power: 141bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: Dh64,500
On sale: Now
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
The view from The National
The%20trailblazers
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Company Profile
Founder: Omar Onsi
Launched: 2018
Employees: 35
Financing stage: Seed round ($12 million)
Investors: B&Y, Phoenician Funds, M1 Group, Shorooq Partners
Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
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NYBL PROFILE
Company name: Nybl
Date started: November 2018
Founder: Noor Alnahhas, Michael LeTan, Hafsa Yazdni, Sufyaan Abdul Haseeb, Waleed Rifaat, Mohammed Shono
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Software Technology / Artificial Intelligence
Initial investment: $500,000
Funding round: Series B (raising $5m)
Partners/Incubators: Dubai Future Accelerators Cohort 4, Dubai Future Accelerators Cohort 6, AI Venture Labs Cohort 1, Microsoft Scale-up
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Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha
Starring: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Shantanu Maheshwari, Jimmy Shergill, Saiee Manjrekar
Director: Neeraj Pandey
Rating: 2.5/5
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Fourth Arab Economic and Social Development Summit
As he spoke, Mr Aboul Gheit repeatedly referred to the need to tackle issues affecting the welfare of people across the region both in terms of preventing conflict and in pushing development.
Lebanon is scheduled to host the fourth Arab Economic and Social Development Summit in January that will see regional leaders gather to tackle the challenges facing the Middle East. The last such summit was held in 2013. Assistant Secretary-General Hossam Zaki told The National that the Beirut Summit “will be an opportunity for Arab leaders to discuss solely economic and social issues, the conference will not focus on political concerns such as Palestine, Syria or Libya". He added that its slogan will be “the individual is at the heart of development”, adding that it will focus on all elements of human capital.
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
Confirmed%20bouts%20(more%20to%20be%20added)
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Five expert hiking tips
- Always check the weather forecast before setting off
- Make sure you have plenty of water
- Set off early to avoid sudden weather changes in the afternoon
- Wear appropriate clothing and footwear
- Take your litter home with you
French Touch
Carla Bruni
(Verve)
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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