Kuwait Court Drops Case Against Notorious Pentagon Hacker

Palace of Justice in Kuwait
Palace of Justice in Kuwait
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Kuwait Court Drops Case Against Notorious Pentagon Hacker

Palace of Justice in Kuwait
Palace of Justice in Kuwait

The Kuwaiti Court of Cassation upheld on Sunday the dismissal of criminal charges against a notorious Kuwaiti hacker who had infiltrated hundreds of websites around the world, including the US Department of Defense’s (Pentagon) website.
The Court of Cassation, the highest judicial authority, affirmed a previous ruling by the Court of Appeals that the 28-year-old defendant could not be prosecuted for the allegations in this case, which occurred 10 years ago.
The accused faced criminal charges related to his hacking of the US Department of Defense website, accessing sensitive weapon sites, and infiltrating 200 American websites, with the information being published in 2011.
On October 9, 2023, the Criminal Court dropped the criminal case against the hacker accused of breaking into global websites, including the Pentagon’s website.
The court’s decision to drop the charges against the hacker was based on the principle that the accused could not be tried for accusations committed over 10 years ago, as the acts were carried out from 2010 to 2012.
The charge of endangering Kuwait’s potential to sever relations by hacking the US Department of Defense website was also dismissed.
The prosecution had accused the defendant of hacking more than 200 sites, some of which contained confidential information belonging to the US.
The hacker was also accused of deceitfully appropriating money through fraud by marketing his website post-hack to attract victims to subscribe and browse the website.



King Salman Directs Citizen Support Measures Ahead of 2027 Electricity, Water Tariffs

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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King Salman Directs Citizen Support Measures Ahead of 2027 Electricity, Water Tariffs

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, based on a proposal by Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, directed on Sunday a series of support measures for citizens coinciding with Saudi Energy and the National Water Company's announcement of consumption tariff adjustments effective January 1, 2027.

The support measures provide a SAR500 monthly allowance increase for civilian and military personnel across civil service salary scales and operational program contracts, as well as retirees and eligible beneficiaries of deceased subscribers or retirees under the Social Insurance system.

Families receiving Social Security benefits will receive a monthly stipend of SAR500 under established regulatory mechanisms to offset the impact of electricity and water tariff adjustments.

For Saudis working in the private sector, the minimum wage a worker must earn to count fully toward quotas under the Nitaqat Saudization program will rise to SAR5,000 six months after the measures take effect, and to SAR6,000 twelve months after the first increase, boosting wage levels and reinforcing sustainable private-sector employment for citizens.


2 Injured, Buildings Damaged as Debris from Intercepted Houthi Missiles in Khamis Mushait, Ahad Rafidah

A damaged building is seen after from the Houthi missile debris. (SPA)
A damaged building is seen after from the Houthi missile debris. (SPA)
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2 Injured, Buildings Damaged as Debris from Intercepted Houthi Missiles in Khamis Mushait, Ahad Rafidah

A damaged building is seen after from the Houthi missile debris. (SPA)
A damaged building is seen after from the Houthi missile debris. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia's General Directorate of Civil Defense said on Sunday two people were injured when debris from two ballistic missiles launched by the terrorist Houthi militia fell in Khamis Mushait and Ahad Rafidah governorates after the missiles were intercepted and destroyed.

The debris injured a Saudi citizen and an Asian resident and damaged three residential buildings and seven vehicles.

Damage is seen from the Houthi missile debris. (SPA)

The directorate's teams responded to the incident and followed standard procedures.


Saudi Crown Prince, Greek PM Discuss Cooperation, Regional Developments in Riyadh

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Riyadh. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Riyadh. (SPA)
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Saudi Crown Prince, Greek PM Discuss Cooperation, Regional Developments in Riyadh

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Riyadh. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Riyadh. (SPA)

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, received Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis at the Royal Court at Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh on Sunday.

The leaders held official talks, reviewing bilateral relations, prospects for joint cooperation, and ways to enhance cooperation across various fields.

They addressed the latest regional and international developments and coordinated efforts to promote regional and international security and stability.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis hold talks in Riyadh. (SPA)

The talks were attended by Saudi Ambassador to Greece Prince Saud bin Abdulmohsen bin Abdulaziz; Minister of Energy and Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz; Deputy Governor of the Riyadh Region Prince Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz; Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah; Minister of State, Cabinet Member, and National Security Advisor Dr. Musaed Al-Aiban; Minister of Commerce Majid Al-Kassabi, the accompanying minister; and Assistant Minister of Defense for Executive Affairs Dr. Khaled Al-Biyari.

The Greek side was represented by the delegation accompanying the prime minister.