Saudi King Salman also replaced the heads of the ground forces and air defences.

The news was published by the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA), but no reason for the sackings was given.

They come as the war in Yemen, where a Saudi-led coalition is fighting rebels, is nearing the end of its third year.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is also the defence minister, is believed to be behind various recent shake-ups in the country.

Last year dozens of prominent Saudi figures, including princes, ministers and billionaires, were locked up in Riyadh’s five-star Ritz-Carlton hotel as the prince led a drive against corruption and abuse of power.

Who is out? Who is in?

The service of the chief of staff, General Abdul Rahman bin Saleh al-Bunyan, is among those “terminated”, said the SPA.

Various military figures have already been promoted to replace those sacked.

A series of political appointments were announced at the same time, including the rare appointment of a female deputy minister of labour and social development, Tamadar bint Yousef al-Ramah.

Prince Turki bin Talal was appointed new deputy governor of the south-west Asir province. He is the brother of billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, who was detained in the anti-corruption drive and released two months later.

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Source: BBC

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Among those set free are Waleed al-Ibrahim, the head of MBC television network, and Khalid al-Tuwaijiri, a former chief of the royal court.

They have paid substantial financial settlements, reports say – though the amounts have not been made public.

More than 200 princes, politicians, and wealthy businessmen were detained in the crackdown.

Since then, they have been held in the Ritz Carlton hotel in Riyadh, which is due to reopen on 14 February.

The settlements are likely to have been costly.

Media reports suggest that Mr al-Ibrahim’s deal may have included his controlling share in MBC – the largest media company in the Middle East.

The anti-corruption drive was instigated by Prince Mohammed bin Salman – who has been accused of using the investigation to remove opponents and consolidate his power.

In the aftermath of the purge, Saudi Arabia’s attorney general said at least $100bn (£76bn) had been misused through systemic corruption and embezzlement going back decades.

The detentions – and the expensive settlements – are being characterised by the state as an attempt to recover those funds.

Many more of those detained remain in the Ritz Carlton under guard, until it reopens for Valentine’s Day in mid-February.

Those who do not reach settlements before then are expected to be sent to prison to await trial.

Meanwhile, one of the highest-profile detainees, Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, told Reuters news agency on Saturday that he expected to be cleared of wrongdoing and “released from custody within days”.

The billionaire – who is one of the country’s richest people – said he expected to keep full control of his investment firm.

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Source: BBC

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Any decision on the contested city’s status must be “within the framework of negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians”, Mr Macron said.

Earlier, similar warnings came from a number of Arab and Muslim nations.

Reports say the US president will recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital this week.

Both Israelis and Palestinians claim the city as their capital.

The White House said Mr Trump would miss Monday’s deadline to sign a waiver delaying the relocation of the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

But White House spokesman Hogan Gidley stressed that “the president has been clear on this issue from the get-go: It’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when”.

Every president, including Mr Trump, has signed the waiver every six months since US Congress passed an act in 1995 calling for the embassy to be moved.

What’s so contentious about the move?

The status of Jerusalem goes to the heart of Israel’s conflict with the Palestinians, who are backed by the rest of the Arab and wider Islamic world.

The city is home to key religious sites sacred to Judaism, Islam and Christianity, especially in East Jerusalem.

Israel occupied the area in the 1967 Middle East war and regards the entire city as its indivisible capital.

The Palestinians claim East Jerusalem as the capital of a future state, and according to 1993 Israel-Palestinian peace accords, its final status is meant to be discussed in the latter stages of peace talks.

Israeli sovereignty over Jerusalem has never been recognised internationally, and all countries, including Israel’s closest ally the US, maintain their embassies in Tel Aviv.

Since 1967, Israel has built a dozen settlements, home to about 200,000 Jews, in East Jerusalem. These are considered illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this.

If the US recognises Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, it will put it out-of-step with the rest of the international community and reinforce Israel’s position that settlements in the east are valid Israeli communities.

What has been the international reaction?

On Monday, Saudi Arabia said such a move before a final settlement in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict would “have a detrimental impact on the peace process”.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has urged world leaders to intervene, saying “such a US decision would destroy the peace process”.

Jordan has warned of “grave consequences”, while Arab League chief Abul Gheit has said such a move would “nourish fanaticism and violence”.

Turkish Deputy PM Bekir Bozdag has said this would be a “major catastrophe”.

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Source: BBC

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The detentions came hours after the new committee, headed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was formed by royal decree.

Those detained were not named.

BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner says Prince Mohammed is moving to consolidate his growing power while spearheading a reform programme.

It is not clear what those detained are suspected of. However, Saudi broadcaster Al-Arabiya said fresh investigations had been launched into the 2009 Jeddah floods and the outbreak of the Mers virus which emerged in Saudi Arabia in 2012.

The new anti-corruption committee has the power to issue arrest warrants and travel bans, the state-owned Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

Separately, the heads of the Saudi National Guard and the navy were replaced in a series of high-profile sackings.

SPA said King Salman had dismissed National Guard minister Prince Miteb bin Abdullah and navy commander Admiral Abdullah bin Sultan bin Mohammed Al-Sultan.

No official explanation was given for their removal.

Prince Miteb, son of the late King Abdullah, was once seen as a contender for the throne and was the last member of Abdullah’s branch of the family at the highest echelons of Saudi government.

Our correspondent says Prince Mohammed, who already serves as defence minister, now has nominal control over all the country’s security forces.

Prince Mohammed recently said the return of “moderate Islam” was key to his plans to modernise Saudi Arabia.

Addressing an economic conference in Riyadh, he vowed to “eradicate the remnants of extremism very soon”.

Last year, Prince Mohammed unveiled a wide-ranging plan to bring social and economic change to the oil-dependent kingdom.

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Source: BBC

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He accused Iran of sowing “fear and destruction” in several countries, including Lebanon.

Mr Hariri’s father, former prime minister Rafik al-Hariri, was assassinated in 2005.

The Hariri family is close to Saudi Arabia, Iran’s regional competitor.

Mr Hariri has been prime minister since December 2016, after previously holding the position between 2009 and 2011.

“We are living in a climate similar to the atmosphere that prevailed before the assassination of martyr Rafik al-Hariri,” he said in the broadcast from the Saudi capital Riyadh.

“I have sensed what is being plotted covertly to target my life.”

Mr Hariri also attacked the Iran-backed Shia movement Hezbollah, which wields considerable power in Lebanon.

Addressing “Iran and its followers” he said Lebanon would “cut off the hands that wickedly extend into it”.

Iran said the resignation would create regional tensions and rejected Mr Hariri’s accusations as “unfounded”.

Mr Hariri has made several visits in the past few days to Saudi Arabia, whose leadership is strongly opposed to Iran.

His announcement came a day after a meeting in Beirut with Ali Akbar Velayati, an advisor to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Kahmenei.

Taking up the prime minister’s office last year, Mr Hariri promised a “new era for Lebanon” after two years of political deadlock.

The coalition government he led brought together almost all of the main political parties in Lebanon, including Hezbollah.

Rafik al-Hariri was killed by a bomb in 2005 in an attack widely blamed on Hezbollah.

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Source: BBC

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Head coach of the team Kwesi Appiah is set to hand opportunities to a number of new invitees when the Black Stars take on the Green Falcons of Saudi Arabia in an international friendly to be played on the outskirts of Jeddah.

The Green Falcons are set to return to the World Cup themselves after an eleven-year absence.

Striker John Antwi is expected to make his cameo along with the likes of Accra Hearts of Oak’s Vincent Atingah.

“Despite missing the global competition coach Appiah will now focus on getting a strong squad together for the Afcon.

“A number of the new faces like Kassim Nuhu and Lawrence Ati-Zigi could all get the chance to impress,”GFA spokesperson Ibrahim Saani Daara revealed ahead of the big game.

The Saudi Arabians are expected to parade a strong squad for the match which will kick off at 5:15 pm Ghanaian time.

By: Benjamin Nketsia/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Snapchat said it was asked by the Saudi authorities to remove the Qatari-backed broadcaster’s Discover Publisher Channel because it violated local laws.

Qatar is in an ongoing dispute with Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt and the UAE.

The four countries cut ties with Qatar earlier this year, accusing the country of supporting terrorism.

Saudi Arabia has one of the world’s most restrictive media environments, according to human rights groups and media freedom advocates.

But the Saudi authorities have a particular dislike for Al Jazeera. At one point they had demanded Qatar’s government shut it down altogether as one of 13 conditions to remove sanctions against the country.

Those conditions were later withdrawn.

Saudi Arabia is one of the largest social media markets in the Middle East, boosted by a high rate of smart phone ownership.

That can sometimes place US-listed companies like Snapchat’s parent Snap Inc in an awkward position, as local laws are far more restrictive than in many other markets.

“We make an effort to comply with local laws in the countries where we operate,” a Snapchat spokesperson said in a statement.

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Source: BBC

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About four Ghanaians have so far died while in that country.

The Deputy Communications Director for the Hajj Board, Hajia Marian Cissey in an interview with Citi News said some of them died in their sleep while the rest suffered from some medical conditions.

[contextly_sidebar id=”hdTJn2SrYLMiA4F2LfOsjvVI3zJIRUHl”]Meanwhile, addressing the Muslims at the Black Stars Square on Friday as part of activities marking the 2017 Eid ul-Adha festival, President Akufo-Addo prayed for Allah’s protection for the pilgrims.

“Let us pray for those of our brothers, sisters, countrymen and women who have embarked on the Hajj especially our revered Chief Imam. We pray that the almighty sees them through the Hajj rites and bring them home safely,” he prayed.

On the organization of the Hajj trip, President Akufo-Addo said this year’s pilgrim “has been largely without problem” assuring that “my government is committed to maintaining the atmosphere that allows people of all religious persuasions to practice their religion without hindrance.”

About Eid ul-Adha

Muslims around the world are today [Friday] celebrating the Eid ul-Adha festival, also known as the Feast of Sacrifice.

It commemorates Prophet Ibrahim’s (Abraham) willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to God’s command and also marks the end of Hajj, which is the sacred pilgrimage to Mecca.

Eid al-Adha is also called the “Sacrifice Feast” or “Bakr-Eid” is the second of two Muslim holidays celebrated worldwide each year, and considered the holier of the two.

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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

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Responding to reports concerning the living arrangements of Ghanaian pilgrims, the Deputy Communications Director for the Hajj Board, Hajia Marian Cissey, blamed the Saudi authorities for the situation in a Citi News interview.

[contextly_sidebar id=”m0MKUtja7BkTotIo3UNdBximpfP7n8DU”]She explained that all the hotel arrangements were made, but two days before the pilgrims left Mecca to Mina in Saudi Arabia, “that was when the Saudi authorities gave out a communique that the arrangements [for accomodation] being done at Mina would be reduced.”

This communique affected all countries embarking on Hajj this year, Hajia Cissey noted.

“The reasons they [the Saudi authorities] gave so far indicates that they are overwhelmed with the numbers coming from all the countries, therefore every country must adjust. That is one of the reasons why we saw some people outside in Mina.”

One of the reasons the pilgrim numbers were inflated, in Ghana’s case, is that Ghanaians living in Saudi Arabia who wanted to perform the Hajj tried to invade the Ghanaian camp.

“Interestingly, they had even printed our bills with Ghana flags behind it. Some of them even had the wrist tags on their wrists so it was so difficult to differentiate whether the person was a Ghanaian or not, even though we did our best to fish out some of them from our tent.”

“This is a perennial problem. It is not particular to this year. It has been going on every year,” Hajia Cissey stated.

Over 100 million people embark on the religious pilgrimage every year. Ghana contributed over 6,000 pilgrims for the 2017 Hajj.

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By: Farida Shaibu/Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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This follows the airlifting of over 1,000 pilgrims from the Tamale airport, after the initial challenges.

[contextly_sidebar id=”oVfmX6fKacZzgREU4FTEMz1Sryh0lAh3″]According to the Public Relations Officer of the Hajj Board, Abdulai Rahman Alhassan Gomda, all necessary preparations have been made to airlift the remaining pilgrims in Accra to Mecca for this year’s Hajj.

“We earlier on announced six flights from Tamale but upon checking the numbers, we realized we could do with five flights, especially now that we have jumbo jets joining,” he said to Citi News.

The first batch of pilgrims, numbering 435, for the 2017 Hajj pilgrimage left the Tamale Airport for Saudi Arabia on the evening of August 11.

The arrangements were not without hitches as the originally scheduled flight to Saudi Arabia on Thursday, August 10 was postponed.

The Hajj Board, at the time, came out to say the affected plans were as a result of hitches on the air carrier’s end.

“It was a hitch on the part of the airline. It wasn’t deliberate on their part because the aircraft, according to the Vice President, 45 minutes into its trip to Tamale, developed a technical hitch as a result of which it had to return for the replacement of the aircraft, which rather took too long. That was the cause of the hitch,” Alhassan Gomda explained.

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By: Farida Shaibu/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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