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Qatar defies Saudi Arabia by restoring diplomatic ties with Iran
Qatar has defied Saudi Arabia by strengthening its diplomatic ties with Iran - rather than cutting them back as Saudi Arabia and its allies have demanded. Saudi Arabia and three other Arab states have been blockading Qatar since early June and have demanded that Qatar curb its ties with Iran, as well as shut down its al-Jazeera television network and expel extremists from its territory. Rather than give in to the blockading countries’ demands, Qatar announced on Thursday that it was restoring full diplomatic relations with Iran and sending its ambassador back to Tehran for the first time since 2016. "The state of Qatar expressed its aspiration to strengthen bilateral relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran in all fields," The Qatari foreign ministry said. There was no immediate response from Saudi Arabia or its allies in Bahrain, UAE and Egypt to the diplomatic move. Qatar has been under blockade for nearly three months Credit: REUTERS/Edgar Su/File Photo The act of defiance came amid suspicions among Qatar’s leaders that Saudi Arabia might be trying to engineer a palace coup against its emir, Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani. Their fears were raised after Saudi Arabia’s powerful crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, met with an obscure Qatari royal for in Jeddah last week. The royal, Abdullah al-Thani, has no role in the Qatari government and is from a branch of the royal family that was pushed out of power during a 1972 coup. Abdullah had previously lived in Saudi Arabia and at the meeting spoke warmly of “brotherly relations rooted in history” between the two countries. Prince Mohammed responded by opening the Saudi land border to Muslim pilgrims from Qatar who wanted to make the Hajj journey to Mecca, and offering to fly other pilgrims directly to Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia's powerful Prince Mohammed bin Salman (left) met with a relatively unknown Qatari royal, Abdullah bin Ali bin Jassim al-Thani Credit: HANDOUT/AFP/Getty Images The unusual meeting between the powerful Saudi and the little-known Qatari quickly prompted suspicions in Doha that Prince Mohammed might be hoping to install Abdullah or someone else from his family as Qatar’s new leader. Gerd Nonneman, a professor of International Relations and Gulf Studies at Georgetown University in Qatar, said the meeting was more likely intended as a "propaganda ploy” by Saudi Arabia intended to "needle the Qatari leadership”. While Saudi Arabia and Iran are archrivals - and are opposing sides in conflicts across the Middle East - there are some indications of a slight thaw. The two countries foreign ministers met recently and the two sides are planning mutual diplomatic visits next month for the first time since January 2016. Diplomatic relations collapsed after Iranian protesters stormed the Saudi embassy in Tehran in protest at Saudi Arabia’s execution of a prominent Shia cleric. Both sides withdrew their diplomats during the crisis and Qatar pulled out its own ambassador in solidarity with Saudi Arabia. A group of Saudi diplomats will visit Tehran to inspect the country’s embassy there while a group of Iranians will do the same in Riyadh.
'Disgruntled Employee' Shoots 1 Dead, Takes Hostages In Charleston
Police were responding to an active shooter situation in Charleston, South Carolina, on Thursday.
North Korea invites Russian tourists promising a holiday that is 'safer than London'
North Korea has opened its doors to Russian tourists, issuing a licence for the first travel agency in Moscow to promise clients "full immersion" in the nation's culture and enjoyment "safer than an evening walk in London". Nkorean.ru, a Russian company licensed by North Korea's government, offers organised tours for groups of up to 10 people or individuals "to show the travellers the multi-faceted life of this most closed of countries". Guests to North Korea must necessarily be "checked" before their trip and will always be accompanied by a guide who will monitor the "adequate behaviour of the tourist and guarantee his safety." Pictures of strategic and military facilities are banned and long talks with locals "are not recommended". Inside North Korea North Korea has conducted two nuclear tests and dozens of missile tests since the beginning of last year, significantly raising tension on the heavily militarised Korean peninsula and in defiance of UN Security Council resolutions. Two tests of inter-continental ballistic missiles in July triggered a new round of tougher global sanctions. Faced with economic problems made harder by multiple sanctions, the Pyongyang government is keen to develop tourism to earn cash. The most pricey tour, 15 days "full immersion in the culture of North Korea" costing 118,090 roubles (£1558), includes visits to a farm, a mineral water factory, a Buddhist temple, walks in the mountains and an introduction to national cuisine. Visits to numerous museums to founding leader Kim Il-Sung are also on offer. Other less demanding tours include relaxation on a beach, an aviation show and even a beer festival. It is unclear how popular these trips will be among Russians who have already developed a fondness for visiting Europe and the affordable resorts of Turkey and Thailand. Is it a good idea to visit North Korea? The world's 15 most dangerous countries (according to the Foreign Office)
Trump attacks Republican leaders Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell over debt ceiling 'mess'
Donald Trump has again criticised Republican leaders that he needs to advance his policy agenda – this time over how to raise the amount of money the government can borrow to pay its debts. Further displaying party disunity, Mr Trump on Twitter expressed frustration with Senator Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan, saying they did not heed his advice to attach legislation increasing the US’s debt ceiling to a measure on veterans affairs. "I requested that Mitch M & Paul R tie the Debt Ceiling legislation into the popular V.A. Bill (which just passed) for easy approval," Trump wrote in a in Twitter post.
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