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Trump hosts Saudi Arabia’s Mohammed bin Salman: Five key takeaways

By in News, World News

Donald Trump has welcomed Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has stressed the strengthening ties between Washington and Riyadh.

On Tuesday, the White House opened the ode to Prince Mohammed, also known as MBS. Trump received him with a ceremony that included a military flyover, flag-carrying horsemen, and marching bands.

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Trump’s embrace of what he sees as a new Middle East, which is being driven by US partnerships with allies in the region, particularly Saudi Arabia, was signaled by the lavish display of hospitality.

Prince Mohammed and Trump posed questions to reporters in the Oval Office after passing through the South Portico. The two leaders discussed technology, business opportunities, and peace.

During their Oval Office appearance, it appeared as though the issues facing the region, including the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, took center stage. What can we learn most from the meeting?

“Good talks” about ties between Saudi Arabia and Israel

Trump has stated on numerous occasions that he wants Saudi Arabia to sign on to the Abraham Accords, which established diplomatic ties between Israel and a number of Arab nations.

Prince Mohammed and Trump made no secret of the progress being made on the issue on Tuesday, nor did they give an estimated timeline for a potential agreement. However, the crown prince did make it clear that Riyadh wants to facilitate the establishment of a Palestinian state as part of a potential agreement.

We want to be a part of the Abraham Accords, Prince Mohammed told reporters, and we think having a positive relationship with all Middle Eastern nations is beneficial.

“But we also want to make sure that we have a clear path [to a] two-state solution.” And as a result of today’s productive discussion with Mr. President, we have to work on that to ensure that we can get that right as soon as possible.

Saudi officials have previously emphasized Riyadh’s commitment to the Arab Peace Initiative, which conditions Israel’s recognition upon the establishment of a Palestinian state.

Trump claimed to have ‘good conversations’ with Prince Mohammed regarding the matter.

One state and two states were discussed. There were many topics discussed. We’ll be talking about it further in less time, the US president said.

Trump suggests a close relationship with a defense pact.

Trump responded, “We pretty much have a deal,” when asked whether the US and Saudi Arabia had any issues. There is consensus on that.

Although the details of the negotiations are unknown, Riyadh has been pursuing an equivalent of NATO’s Article Five pact for mutual defense, which would allow the US to assist the country if it were attacked.

Trump had made it clear on Monday that he would permit Saudi Arabia’s purchase of F-35 fighter jets.

He claimed that the jets would not be downgraded to ensure Israel’s military might in the region, a diversion from US policy known as “qualitative military edge.”

“They want you to receive planes of a lower calibre.” He addressed the Saudi crown prince, “I don’t think that makes you happy too much.”

They’ve been a fantastic ally, they claim. We are currently looking at that because Israel has been a fantastic ally. However, in my opinion, both are at the top of their game.

Trump claims Iran wants a deal.

Trump once more hailed US strikes in June against Iran’s nuclear facilities as a triumph.

He said, “We did that on behalf of everyone, and the result was extraordinary because we have the best equipment, the best planes, the best everything,” he said.

Tehran is reportedly seeking a diplomatic solution with Washington, which has demanded that Iran abandon its nuclear program, according to the US president, who later adopted a softer stance toward Iran.

Trump stated, “We’re talking to them, and I’m completely open to it.”

“And we begin a process,” However, reaching a deal with Iran would be nice. And before the war, we could have accomplished it, but it was in vain. And there will be a problem, I believe.

Before his trip to Washington, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian had written to him in a handwritten letter, according to Saudi Arabia’s official news agency, SPA. Its content was not disclosed in any detail.

Saudi Arabia reportedly indicated on Tuesday that it would support a US-Iran agreement.

He told reporters, “We will do our best to assist in negotiating a deal with Iran.”

And we think a good deal would satisfy the region, the world, and the United States of America for Iran’s future.

investments worth $1 trillion?

Trump praised the Saudi-led leaders’ initial public remarks, which he claimed would be in the hundreds of billions of dollars.

Because you have consented to invest $600 billion in the United States, I want to thank you. And because he’s my friend, I’ll have to work with him, Trump said.

He added that US businesses and Wall Street investment firms will gain from the Saudi funds.

According to MBS, Saudi investments in the US are likely to reach $1 trillion.

The agreement, which we are signing today, will open up many investment opportunities, including in technology and AI, rare materials, magnets, etc.

The crown prince agreed with Trump’s claim that the US is now the “hottest country” in the world, and added that the kingdom wants to be a part of the country’s “foundation of emerging technologies” in the US.

smiles and praise

From the moment the crown prince arrived at the White House, Trump and MBS were all gleeful about their flattering remarks.

Trump once criticized former US President Joe Biden for giving MBS only a fist bump when he visited Riyadh during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021 while reaching for and holding Prince Mohammed’s hand.

That hand grabbed my hand. Trump said, “I don’t give a hell where that hand has been.”

The Saudi crown prince was described as “fantastic” and “brilliant,” according to the US president.

Trump said, “We have a very good friend of mine who has been a very respectable man in the Oval Office today.”

“I’m very proud of the work he’s done,” he said. In terms of human rights and everything else, what he has accomplished is incredible.

The US president then blasted an ABC News reporter who accused her of disrespecting Prince Mohammed in a challenging interview.

When the journalist later questioned Trump about releasing government documents relating to Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender, Trump argued that ABC News’ broadcasting license should be revoked.

In response to the earlier question to MBS, Trump said, “You start with a man who is highly respected, asking him a horrible, insubordinate, and just awful question.”

“And you could even nicely posing the same query. You are all over the moon. Someone at ABC made you feel good. You’ll be upset about it. You’re a terrible reporter and person.

Shettima To Visit Kebbi Over Abduction Of Schoolgirls

By in News, Nigeria News

President Bola Tinubu has directed Vice President Kashim Shettima to visit Kebbi State on Wednesday.

Shettima will sympathise with the Kebbi State Government and reassure parents and guardians of the kidnapped schoolgirls from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School that efforts are underway for their swift release.

President Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.

The President also extended condolences to the military for the loss of soldiers, including Brigadier General Musa Uba, who died while on active duty combating insurgents in Borno State.

Tinubu said, “As the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, I am deeply saddened by the tragic death of our soldiers and officers on active duty. May God comfort the families of Brigadier General Musa Uba and other fallen heroes.

” I am also pained that heartless terrorists have disrupted the education of innocent schoolgirls. I have directed the security agencies to act swiftly and bring the girls back to Kebbi State. “

READ ALSO: &nbsp,]VIDEO] Abduction: Kebbi Govt Says 24 Students Remain In Captivity

Tinubu commended Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris for efforts made to avert the kidnapping, while decrying the security breach that allowed the abduction of the girls from their boarding school in Maga. He urged communities nationwide, especially in high-risk areas, to provide information that could assist security forces.

” Our security forces cannot succeed in protecting us without the cooperation of local communities. I urge community leaders and citizens, particularly in areas facing security challenges, to share useful intelligence. Your cooperation is crucial in our fight against insecurity, “the President was quoted as saying.

The attack occurred shortly after the gunmen left the staff quarters. The school’s vice principal Hassan Makuku was killed while attempting to protect the students from abduction.

Witnesses said the attackers met no resistance, spreading panic across the community. Kebbi Police spokesman Nafiu Abubakar confirmed the incident, adding that police tactical teams, soldiers, and vigilantes have been deployed. Authorities are combing nearby forests to rescue the victims and apprehend the perpetrators.

Governor Idris, through his Chief Press Secretary Ahmed Idris, said Deputy Governor Umar Tafida had been dispatched to assess the situation, while the governor, currently out of the state, continues to receive security briefings.

Residents continue to mourn Makuku, whose bravery cost him his life, while parents remain anxious as the search for the abducted girls continues.

Palestine Action activists on trial in UK over attack on Israeli arms maker

By in News, World News

Published On 18 Nov 2025

The proscribed Palestine Action group’s six members have been tried by British authorities, who claim they intended to damage Israeli weapons company Elbit Systems’ property.

In the trial on Tuesday, the defendants admitted to having carefully planned the assault on the Bristol-based arms manufacturer in early August 2024, which was alleged to have harmed a police officer and caused property damage.

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The six men and women were a team members who “achieved to cause as much damage as possible and obtain information about the company,” according to Woolwich prosecutor Deanna Heer. They deny the charges of violent disorder, criminal damage, and aggravated burglary.

One of the defendants is also accused of striking a police officer with a sledgehammer while trying to arrest another defendant.

Heer claimed that in a show of protest, the six people sprayed the walls with red paint and fire extinguishers. The Elbit facility also housed computers and other technical goods, according to the prosecutor.

The defendants’ GoPro cameras and police body cameras captured footage of the defendants slashing property at a factory that produces weapons, including drones, on the court.

In July, almost a year after the incident at the Bristol facility, the British government designated Palestine Action, a group that activists formed in 2020, as a “terrorist” organization.

The detainees are a group of 24 activists connected to the group, who have been detained multiple times and have been incarcerated without trial for more than a year, breaking the UK’s six-month pre-trial detention cap.

Their prosecution has drawn international attention, highlighting a feature of how Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s administration deals with pro-Palestinian sentiment.

In recent weeks, UK police have made hundreds of arrests in support of the activist group and the detainees, despite the protests that have taken place.

As British authorities enforce what they call “anti-terror” laws, more than 500 people were detained in London alone on October 4 during the Palestine Action protests.

Judge Jeremy Johnson told the jury that they were unrelated to the case despite having the right to express their opinions about Israel’s two-year occupation of Gaza during the court hearing on Tuesday.

He urged the jury to “judge the case on the evidence,” and claimed that the jury’s decision to proscribe Palestine Action was unrelated to the case.

Britain’s MI5 warns lawmakers over Chinese spies posing as ‘headhunters’

By in News, World News

Published On 18 Nov 2025

The British government’s internal intelligence agency is informing lawmakers and universities about China’s espionage attempts, among other methods, by using spies posing as headhunters, to eavesdrop on.

Britain’s MI5 security service warned lawmakers on Tuesday that China was using spies posing as headhunters to recruit parliamentarians, with two individuals on LinkedIn claiming to “conduct outreach at scale on behalf” of the Chinese government.

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Security Minister Dan Jarvis told the House of Commons on Tuesday that MI5 issued an espionage alert to Parliament and parliamentary staff to warn them of ongoing attacks on our democratic institutions by Chinese actors.

Our intelligence services have warned that China is attempting to recruit and cultivate individuals with access to sensitive information about the UK government and Parliament, according to Jarvis.

With thousands of obscene postings appearing on websites for job seekers, MI5 reported that Chinese spies were using fake job advertisements to entice British professionals to provide information.

Beijing quickly refuted the accusations, urging Britain to stop its “self-aggrandizement.”

A representative from the Chinese embassy in London urged the UK side to “stop this self-staged charade of false accusations and self-aggrandizement,” adding that Beijing had “lodged stern representations” with the UK government.

Jarvis also warned that Chinese attempts to “interfere with activity on campus” and impose their own research on Britain’s universities were a target. He claimed that ministers would discuss the dangers of foreign interference at a private meeting with university leaders.

The British government has issued a new warning following British prosecutors’ decision to drop a case against two British men accused of spying on Chinese MPs, claiming that there was no conclusive evidence to support Beijing’s claim to be a threat to its national security.

Opposition politicians allege that Prime Minister Keir Starmer prioritized improving relations with Beijing over national security as a result of the case’s collapse. The allegations are refuted by the government.

The government will also be forced to approve a sizable new Chinese embassy in London, which is expected to be approved in coming weeks, which is met with controversy.

A Chinese businessman who allegedly had ties to then-Prince Andrew, now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, was prohibited from entering the country last year because he alleged that he posed a threat to national security.

Women refs ‘fear raising concerns’ with PGMOL, tribunal told

By in News, Sports News
Getty Images
Timothy Abraham

BBC Sport journalist

An elite women’s referee says there was a “fear” of raising grievances with the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) because of the “consequences” it would have on careers.

Lisa Benn had told an employment tribunal in London on Monday that Steve Child, a PGMOL coach and former Premier League assistant referee, had “forcefully pushed her”.

PGMOL, the organisation responsible for managing and training professional football referees and match officials in England, investigated the complaint but found Child’s behaviour did not meet the threshold for disciplinary action.

But once Benn raised a complaint, she said the organisation did not recommend her as highly as it had done in the past, costing her a place on Fifa’s international referee list.

Speaking at the tribunal on Tuesday, the 34-year-old also alleged she and fellow colleagues did not flag issues because they were worried about losing their contracts.

“There is a fear in the women’s group to raise grievances, to raise concerns, because of the fear of consequences”, said Benn.

“The irony of me being sat here is I’m unemployed – in terms of employment by PGMOL – because I raised that grievance”.

Benn alleged PGMOL chief refereeing officer Howard Webb, and his wife Bibi Steinhaus-Webb, then its head of women’s referees, said she would not be punished for coming forward.

Months later Benn went from fifth to sixth in PGMOL’s nominations for Fifa’s international referee list.

Only the top five officials made the cut for the next season and Benn said she “was sixth because I was dealing with the baggage of this complaint”.

Her coach John Farries told the tribunal it was “highly unusual” for a referee to “get on to Fifa and be removed so quickly”.

Benn alleged she was overlooked too by Steinhaus-Webb for Women’s Super League refereeing appointments.

She needed to officiate five matches to be eligible for the Fifa list and that number would also put her in line for a small bonus, the tribunal heard.

However Benn alleged she only received her fifth WSL game because Farries – who said it was “pretty apparent that Lisa wasn’t being included” – stepped in.

The tribunal panel was told Benn was offered the right to formally appeal the result of the investigation into Child, but declined to take it.

Benn told the panel she “naively thought” that she had appealed by telling staff she was unhappy with the process and outcome.

Additionally, Steinhaus-Webb’s emails asking about possible support could be answered failed to be received by the panel.

Every time I heard [Child’s] name, Benn said, “It made that event difficult for me because it brought me back.”

According to the panel, she called Farries the same day the incident took place to inform him of it.

She was crying, sputtering out what had happened to her, according to Farries, who described her as “very distraught, she couldn’t talk properly, and she was very distraught.”

Ellen White, Jen Beattie and Ben Haines
The Women’s Football Weekly podcast returns for another season featuring Ben Haines, Ellen White, and Jen Beattie. On the Women’s Football Weekly feed, you can find interviews and additional content from the Women’s Super League and beyond as well as new episodes that are available every Tuesday on BBC Sounds.

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