ISIS Prime target? Anger as access to French beach is restricted for vacationing Saudi royal family.

ISIS Prime target? Anger as access to French beach is restricted for vacationing Saudi royal family.(AN).

Decision by French authorities to restrict access to a beach near a villa owned by Saudi King Salman and work at the site have generated anger on the French Riviera.

The Saudi monarch is expected to arrive shortly on a family vacation. The decision by the Grasse Prefecture to restrict access to "La Mirandole" beach at Golfe-Juan, in the town of Vallauris, where the king’s villa (pictured) is located, has not been welcomed.

Nestled in the rocks between the coastal railway and the translucent waters of the Mediterranean, the royal family's immense villa stretches across a kilometre of Riviera coastline. During the royal’s stay, coastguards will stop anyone coming within 300 metres of the villa by sea.

"Looking after their security is fine, but they should at least let us go for a swim," said a disgruntled local.

When Saudi security provide the date of the “king’s arrival, with a 24 hours notice, the beach will be off limits to everyone,” said Grasse Sub-Prefect Philippe Castanet.

Last week, workers hired by the Saudis started building a fence to close off access to the beach, but were ordered to stop. Conversely, and despite the lack of a permit, local authorities have allowed work on an elevator to continue on condition that it be dismantled when the family vacation ends.

Work is also underway in the villa. New, bulletproof glass is going in, as well as new shrubs and flowers.

According to French media, King Salman is coming with an entourage of 400 people, including a medical team.

Notice the distance to where the explosives were stolen and the Royal villa.

Related?: Cache of explosives, detonators and grenades stolen from French army base in the South of France.

A cache of explosives, detonators and grenades have been stolen from an army base in the south of France.

The high-security army base is located in the town of Miramis around 60 kilometers west of Marseille.

The mayor of Miramis, Frederic Vigouroux, said everything stolen is “inherently dangerous.”

“There is a reinforced double wire fence, we have patrols, there are dogs, every type of security the military can provide. There are munitions, it’s not just a police station,” said Vigouroux .

A police official said the burglars appear to have cut through the fence to get into the base.

The Marseille prosecutor said an investigation is underway into charges of “fraudulent entry into a military compound.” Hmmmm.......In the South of France where most ISIS groupies are active. Just imagine if ISIS Would manage to take out the Suadi King?

180 détonateurs, pains de plastique et 40taine de grenades volés dans un entrepôt logistique de @armeedeterrefr à Miramas. #auditsecurite

— mpasquet (@Oser_Cest_Agir) July 7, 2015

Saudi court sentences Shiite cleric, Al - Qaeda militant to death, Hezbollah threatens retaliation.

Saudi court sentences Shiite cleric, Al - Qaeda militant to death.(Taz).

Saudi Shiite cleric and protest leader Nimr al-Nimr was sentenced to death on Wednesday after a judge found him guilty of “sedition,” Agence France-Presse cited his family as saying.

Nimr led demonstrations in 2011 in the oil-flush east of the kingdom, alongside a Shiite-led protest movement in neighboring Bahrain, Al Arabiya reported.

The cleric was also convicted of seeking “foreign meddling” in the country, a reference to Iran, his brother Mohammed al-Nimr wrote on Twitter.

Nimr, who is in his 50s, had been on trial since March 2013. He was found guilty of “disobeying” the kingdom's rulers and taking up arms against security forces, his brother said.

Nimr's family accused the court of ignoring the sheik's “peaceful and non-violent approach,” saying the case had caused “social and political discontent.”

“The ruling... is political par excellence,” his relatives in the Eastern Province communities of Awamiya and Qatif said in a statement.

They called for a dialogue with officials, “out of concern for our dear country.”

Meanwhile, another court on Wednesday sentenced a suspected al-Qaeda Sunni extremist to death and 21 others to various jail sentences after they were convicted of a range of militant crimes, including setting up training camps and identifying oil locations to hit, state news agency SPA reported.

Riyadh's concern about Islamist militants has increased over the past two years as conflicts in Syria and Iraq have attracted more of its own citizens to travel there to join groups fighting in the name of jihad.

Of the 22 people convicted, the man sentenced to death was a citizen of Chad, SPA said. The rest, which included another Chadian and a someone described as Bengali, were given prison sentences of between five and 28 years.

The group was convicted of embracing militant ideology, the possession of ammunition in their apartment and firing on security services during a raid on their apartment in Mecca, killing one security officer.

Hezbollah Brigade along with few other organizations already threatened to execute all Saudi prisoners/captives if al-Nimr is executed. #pt
— Mustafa Aliraqi (@Iraqism) October 16, 2014

Student Basij Website: The Al-Saud Family Is Of Jewish Origin, And Is The "Sworn Enemy Of Islam And The Muslims"

Student Basij Website: The Al-Saud Family Is Of Jewish Origin, And Is The "Sworn Enemy Of Islam And The Muslims" HT: Memri.


An article titled "The Al-Saud Family – Sworn Enemy of Islam and the Muslims," posted September 7, 2014 on the website snn.ir, which is affiliated with the Student Basij, stated: "A look at history and at how the Al-Saud dictatorship was established in the Saudi peninsula shows that this deviant sect does not even minimally address the slogan of Islam and religion, and that it chose Islam only as a pretext for preserving its illegitimate rule...

"In his 1,040-page book, the well-known Saudi writer Nasser Al-Saeed extensively researched the corruption and moral deviancy of each member of the Al-Saud family, [in order] to prove the Judaism of this family.

"In the first 30 pages, Al-Saeed examined the Al-Saud family tree, and proved that the family's origins are in the Jews of Hejaz and Al-Madina.

Later in the book, Al-Saeed explained how the Jews supported Muhammad bin 'Abd Al-Wahhab, the founder of Wahhabi thought. He then explained the stages of Muhammad bin 'Abd Al-Wahhab's seizure of the religious leadership – and of his transfer of the political leadership of Saudi Arabia to the Al-Saud dynasty, that was planned implemented by the Jews.

"The book also deals with the crimes and massacres perpetrated by the Al-Saud dynasty against Saudi tribes, and as proof, presents several historical photos that confirm that [these crimes and massacres] actually took place.

Later on, the book summarizes the close and profound relationship between the Saudi royal family and the British during the last century, as well as the close clandestine relationship between the Al-Saud dynasty and the founder of the Zionist regime, Ben Gurion, both before and after its establishment. It states: Ben Gurion received direct support from the Al-Saud dynasty in the matter of the establishment of the Zionist regime.

"In light of all this, it is not improbable that the Al-Saud dynasty would take a step harming the nature and essence of Islam. Only alertness and wisdom on the part of the Muslims will prevent the Wahhabi dictators from realizing their filthy goals. Read the full story here.

CIDRAP: WHO raises concerns about MERS-CoV patterns and pace.

CIDRAP: WHO raises concerns about MERS-CoV patterns and pace.HT: Croft.

Via CIDRAP, Lisa Schnirring writes: WHO raises concerns about MERS-CoV patterns and pace. Click through for the full report and important links. Excerpt:

The World Health Organization (WHO) today aired concerns about surging numbers of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) cases and clusters and said that the disease pattern seems to be trending younger and affecting women more often. 

In a separate report, the WHO downgraded two cases from confirmed to probable, which left its official global tally at 130 cases. 

The first report contained a WHO summary of outbreak events and literature review, the agency's first since Aug 13. Since then, 37 new MERS-CoV cases have been reported, 34 from Saudi Arabia and 3 from Qatar. Nine of the infections were sporadic, but the rest were parts of clusters. 

Regarding changes in demographics, the WHO said the median age of sporadic cases has dropped slightly, but a shift in gender is more pronounced and persistent. More than half (56%) of the newer case-patients have been female. This contrasts with earlier cases: Through the middle of July, 83% of the patients were male. 

The geographic focus of the outbreak still leans strongly toward Saudi Arabia. Eight of the nine newest sporadic cases were probably exposed to the virus in that country. Though new cases continue to crop up around pilgrimage sites such as Medina, the WHO said none were reported in pilgrims who visited recently to perform Umrah for Ramadan. 

Recently reported clusters are under close observation for further onward transmission, the WHO said. 

The reasons for the uptick in sporadic cases aren't clear and could be related to increased surveillance, expansion of the virus in the unknown reservoir, seasonal variation, or an exposure pattern change, according to the WHO. 

The WHO report fleshes out connections between many of the new cases. For example, it notes that a 41-year-old nurse from the Philippines didn't have contact with any known confirmed MERS-CoV cases but is thought to have infected two other healthcare workers.

"All Is quiet at the MERS front" - Why is WHO so quiet about 18 cases?

"All Is quiet  at the MERS front" - Why is WHO so quiet about 18 cases?HT: Croft.

'What we have here, folks, is not a failure to communicate. It's a refusal to communicate: a refusal first by the Saudis and second by WHO.'

Helen Branswell has tweeted her surprise at the brevity of of WHO's September 19 MERS update. I share her surprise. Compare that update with the last one, issued on September 7. Then compare that item with WHO's first comment on the novel coronavirus in the United Kingdom, issued almost exactly a year ago on September 23.

Embarrassing, isn't it? With the first case we get floods of detail. With the September 7 update, we get the epidemiological equivalent of name, rank, and serial number. With today's update, WHO shrugs off 18 cases with details that the Brits would define by the technical term of sweet buggerall.

I've seen this before. In the early months of H5N1 in Indonesia, WHO's updates were full of detail. As the outbreaks and human cases continued, updates got shorter. Meanwhile, Indonesia's Ministry of Health shut up altogether about new H5N1 cases.

What we have here, folks, is not a failure to communicate. It's a refusal to communicate: a refusal first by the Saudis and second by WHO. 

I understand WHO's need to stay on good terms with anxious governments, just as a physician would stay on good terms with the anxious family of a very sick patient. But a ministry of health is not an anxious relative—it's a colleague under stress, the doctor in charge of a difficult case. No physician likes to criticize a colleague. Everyone makes mistakes, and next time it could be the critic's turn.

Even so, the patient's welfare is more important than the colleague's. The Saudis are risking their patients, and ensuring many more patients to come, by their refusal to give the global health community all the details of their past and present MERS cases.

WHO, meanwhile, is risking its own reputation and effectiveness by failing to demand and publicize more information from Minister Al-Rabeeah, Dr. Memish, and the other Saudi professionals.

(Dr. Memish, by the way, tells the Wall Street Journal he thinks his ministry is being very transparent just because it has a MERS website where its pious but uninformative reports are posted.)

When journals like Nature are reporting "Progress stalled on coronavirus" then WHO should recognize that in the active voice the headline would read "WHO stalls progress on coronavirus."

And WHO should understand that with every day it stalls on MERS, it makes itself less able to deal with the next phase of the disease—not to mention the next outbreak of something new.

Via Eurosurveillance: Stability of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) under different environmental conditions. The abstract:

The stability of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) was determined at 20°C – 40% relative humidity (RH); 30°C – 30% RH and 30°C – 80% RH. MERS-CoV was more stable at low temperature/low humidity conditions and could still be recovered after 48 hours. During aerosolisation of MERS-CoV, no decrease in stability was observed at 20°C – 40% RH. These data suggest the potential of MERS-CoV to be transmitted via contact or fomite transmission due to prolonged environmental presence.

Saudi Arabia: Min Of Health announces 3 new MERS cases, 2 deaths.

Saudi Arabia: Min Of Health announces 3 new MERS cases, 2 deaths.HT: Croft.

Via Giuseppe Michieli at FluTrackers: MERS-CoV, Saudi Arabia: MoH Announces Three New Cases, 2 fatal (September 18 2013). The statement is not on the English-language page of the MOH website, though it has updated the total cases to 107 and deaths to 49. From a Google translation:

In the framework of the epidemiological investigation and ongoing follow-up carried out by the Ministry of Health for the novel Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) Ministry announces the registration of three cases of infection. 

First of citizenship at the age of 75 years, mixing with the confirmed case in Medina and has several chronic diseases has and passed away Ngmayora of God rest in peace. 

The second of a citizen at the age of 35 years old, Mkhalt it confirmed case in Medina and has several chronic diseases and is currently receiving intensive care treatment. 

The third a citizen at the age of 83 years of Riyadh region, and has several chronic diseases, has passed away may he rest in peace.

Further discussion on the thread establishes that the first case is a woman and other two are men. Once again, the first thing we know about two of the cases is that they died before the Ministry could get around to informing the world they had fallen ill in the first place.

Related : number of MERS cases 152 and counting: rambaut/MERS-Cases

Saudi Arabia: Ministry takes steps to tackle MERS during Haj

Saudi Arabia: Ministry takes steps to tackle MERS during Haj.HT: Croft.

Via the Saudi Gazette: Ministry takes steps to tackle MERS in Haj. Excerpt:

Minister of Health Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah said on Tuesday that the ministry has mobilized all its resources to make its Haj plan a resounding success. 

He made the remarks while chairing the meeting of preparatory committees to review the ministry’s plan for Haj. 

About 22,500 staffers, equipped with all necessary facilities and 50 ambulances, will be engaged in health services for pilgrims, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported. The ministry has allocated SR10 million for making available highly advanced facilities at health centers and hospitals at holy sites. 

All precautionary measures have been taken to prevent the outbreak of MERS-coronavirus during Haj. 

Al-Rabeeah also explained the measures taken by the ministry to deal with MERS and swine flu viruses. “The ministry won’t prevent any pilgrim from performing Haj. However, it advises the elderly and the chronic patients to postpone their plan for Haj this year,” he said. 

The ministry has readied 25 hospitals in Makkah, Madinah and the holy sites with a total of 5,250 beds. These include seven hospitals in Makkah, nine in Madinah, and four each in Mina and Arafat, in addition to King Abdullah Medical City. There are also 141 permanent and temporary health centers, including 43 in Makkah, 80 at the holy sites and 12 in Madinah, besides 17 emergency centers on Jamrat Bridge. Some 16,000 blood units consisting of all blood groups have been made available. There are four helipads at the hospitals of Hera, Al-Nour, Arafat and Mina Emergency to attend to emergency cases. 

Al-Rabeeah said that the ministry has completed preparations for the second international mass gathering medicine conference, which will begin in Riyadh on Sept. 21. MERS-coronavirus will figure high at the three-day event, which will be held under the auspices of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah. 

Several prominent figures, including director general of World Health Organization, secretary generals of Arab League and Gulf Cooperation Council as well as 15 health ministers and health experts from all over the world will address the conference.

I would rather hear what Dr. Chan says to the Saudis in private.

Arab News has a shorter version of the same story. Both versions seem dubious to me, a lot of arm-waving and rattling-off of numbers. Perhaps Dr. Al-Rabeeah would inspire more trust in this report if he'd been open and honest with the world from the start.

"The Silence of MERS" - 'One year later, MERS virus remains largely a mystery.'

"The Silence of MERS" -  'One year later, MERS virus remains largely a mystery.'HT: Croft.

Via Canada.com, Helen Branswell of The Canadian Press writes: One year later, MERS virus remains largely a mystery. This is the kind of concise but thorough overview that few others on the health beat seem able to write. Excerpt (but read the whole highly readable article, and follow her if you're not doing so already):

TORONTO — A year after SARS hit the world’s radar, scads had been learned about the virus that set off outbreaks in China, Hong Kong, Toronto and other spots, and ignited panic far beyond the affected centres. 

The coronavirus was rapidly discovered, it genome sequenced within weeks of the World Health Organization warning on March 15, 2003, of its existence and spread. The animals that transmitted it to people had been identified. Doctors knew when SARS patients were infectious and what steps needed to be taken to stop its spread. With that knowledge, the virus was quickly contained. SARS is medical history. 

Later this week — Friday — will mark a year since the world learned that a cousin of the SARS virus had burst out of some hiding spot in nature to infect and kill a man in Saudi Arabia. Since then, the world has learned of roughly 130 MERS cases, 57 of them fatal. 

But in contrast to the SARS outbreak, at this point relatively little is known about MERS. With several million Muslim pilgrims descending on Saudi Arabia — the hottest of MERS hot spots — in coming weeks for the annual Hajj, there is a real sense of worry among scientists watching the outbreak. 

Many scientists are at a loss to diplomatically explain the lack of progress.

She goes on to cite Michael Osterholm's bafflement that WHO and the US government aren't complaining about the lack of information. 

I'm baffled too, but I'm tactless enough to voice my suspicions: The House of Saud finds MERS an annoyance and a threat to the cash flow of this year's Hajj. 

King Abdullah, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, is 89, and the proud owner of an obviously dyed moustache and goatee. Every time I land on a Saudi news website, I see his face on the front page, day after day. With personal wealth estimated at US$21 billion, King Abdullah clearly does things his own way, and as one only 17 years his junior, I'm inspired by his example of remaining in charge for decade after decade.
But the king and the whole royal house are not up to speed on public health issues, and don't feel the slightest pressure to improve.
Like the Buchanans in The Great Gatsby, they retreat into their money and leave others to clean up their messes. In this case, the janitor appears to be Dr. Ziad Memish, who publishes an occasional article on MERS, or issues confusing advice, but can't be bothered to answer Branswell's calls.

Just as the US government can't afford to criticize the House of Saud under any circumstances, neither can WHO or other health agencies; even lowly US scientists understand that their future research could depend on not annoying an old despot in an absurdly rich, absurdly influential, absurdly backward country...a richly ironic predicament for a global health system centuries ahead of the Saudi royals.