Tag Archives: Saudi Arabia

January 12, 2026 · 20:05

Your Faithful travel

That sounds like quite the statement, but it applies to this. We all have faith and some are more convinced then others and as I saw the news of registering for the Hajj 2026 (which is not until May 2026) I took a little gander. I found it essential as I wrote last year ‘About the setting of prayers’ (at https://lawlordtobe.com/2025/06/04/about-the-setting-of-prayers/) which I wrote on June 5th 2025. I covered (a little) “Last year, 1,301 pilgrims, most of them unregistered and lacking access to air-conditioned tents and buses, died as temperatures soared to 51.8 degrees Celsius (125.2 degrees Fahrenheit)” but the setting that some were unregistered didn’t sit well with me. So I wanted to know what was going on. As such I saw today a sight I never expected to see. I saw this mention in Al Arabiya and I took a small gander through the Nusuk Hajj screen and I was blown away, so I reveal a little to you all now. To be honest this is so much better then any travel agent ever gave me (my normal holidays as I am not Muslim) 

We are welcomed and you can register or just browse and I was not afraid to browse. As said this is so much better than any travel agent. You have got to be insane not to register here. And we start with 

I didn’t browse deeper, but the 10 steps as I see them show me much more than I have ever seen for any travel setting. And the Hajj pilgrims is taken trough these 10 steps The first 4 are shown and you can enter any setting at any times, having a clear required setting bestowed upon you. So as we start we get the option to create your account, uploading your document, fill the application and application verification. 

We then get select your preferred category, top up your wallet (I guess that family could top it up too from wherever they are), browse service providers and select your preferred package.

We then get the option to book your package and review your itinerary (I guess your could email that to yourself and family members. 

In a simple setting I see the most complete booking system ever viewed by me and there is reason for this. Over a million Hajj attendees from all over the world will come and this is be far the most complete setting I have ever seen. So I am amiss to see why anyone would want to go with some dodgy tour operator (I honestly do see that, and I’ll get to that) There are options to ask someone questions, there are frequently asked question and a whole range of other setting all in the right order as I see it, but the start ’10 steps closer to 1447 Hajj’ blew me away, this is a serious achievement and I get that was needed but I saw it with my own eyes. This is a serious achievement. In travel and it will help over a million get to the Hajj smoothly and I saw perhaps one thing that could be added:

I have this sling bag, which was from the video game ‘AC Shadows’, now imagine this bag in white with the green flag of Saudi Arabia and embroiled on this ‘Hajj 1447’ and perhaps a phrase from the Quran what might be the motto of the 1447 Hajj (if they have this), it has space for your Quran, a space for your mobile and space for perhaps a small bottle of water. Perhaps they have something like that, but I never saw this, so it came to me.

From what I can see Saudi Arabia is taking good care of the people coming to their Hajj or perhaps even Umrah. And let there be no doubt, those who attend unregistered did so for the clear reason to avoid registration and there should be nob doubt that this is done in a time where survival is unlikely to happen to those who are unregistered. 

But there is a second side and that is not on the organizers or on the government of Saudi Arabia. It was given to me by the Jakarta Globe (at https://jakartaglobe.id/news/indonesian-muslims-face-40year-hajj-wait-nu-chairman-tells-saudi-forum) where we see ‘Indonesian Muslims Face 40-Year Hajj Wait, NU Chairman Tells Saudi Forum’ and I get that, the solution I created a few years was for pilgrims and doesn’t include Mecca, as a non-Muslim I thought it was not my place to offer this and as a non-Muslim, I don’t really get that part. As a christian I saw Lourdes, but not as a faithful pilgrim, and I never got that part either. I understand the of the faithful, but I was never one of them. So I left Mecca in the open and perhaps that could solve this, I saw the equations that 900 million people will never see Macca, most of them cannot afford that trip and they are given that the act of seeing Mecca in one’s lifetime is a central tenet fulfilled by performing the Hajj, the annual pilgrimage. It is one of the Five Pillars of Islam and is a mandatory religious duty for all adult Muslims who are physically and financially able to undertake the journey at least once in their lives. It is the ‘and financially able’ even in those days they understood that not everyone could afford such a trip. Even as it seems now more and more affordable, over 20% of the world population is now Muslim, a setting never considered 1447 years ago, I don’t think they ever considered that the worlds population would grow to 8 billion people.

But there is a worry for Saudi Arabia as Indonesian muslims have up to 40 years to wait. I don’t think there is ever an easy solution for this, at least not that I can see. And when we consider that the act of Hajj needs to be performed from 8th to 12th of Dhul Hijjah, which gives us starting with the Day of Tarwiyah (8th) in Mina, the Day of Arafah (9th) for standing at Arafat, Eid al-Adha (10th) with animal sacrifice (Qurbani), and concluding with further rites in Mina and circling the Ka’bah until the 12th or 13th, marking a period of intense spiritual devotion, prayer, and unity, concluding the Hajj rituals and celebrating Eid. This is the opening that is available for Muslims, as such some will miss out. 

So have a great day today and rejoice, some people will consider a proper digital experience to give rise to your Hajj 1447. At least the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah are doing their best on making the even smooth, all covering and as I personally see it, the best travel platform ever offered to anyone. 

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January 11, 2026 · 22:21

Fear is key

It sounds like a clear setting, but you would be wrong. The added ‘evidence’ is actually a lot worse in many regards. I saw the ‘presentation’ and I was on board as I documented part of this over the last 12 years. I saw what was coming and now I see that I was more than correct and it scared me a little. 

So, it started when I saw a title, nothing more than that. The title ‘Why BlackRock Just Moved $2.1 Trillion Out of America (And What It Means for You)’ intrigued me, because when the words ‘Blackrock’ and ‘trillions’ are mentioned in one and the same sentence there tends to be some kind of fallout. Yes, I am always willing to sell my IP to these people and considering that one of them gets the over 6 billion a year (that’s for starters) with an outcropping towards 15 billion, so I am definitely eager to sell to them. 

But I am getting ahead of myself. The video is well worth the watch and you should watch it, because suddenly my 13 years of being called a ‘useless doom speaker’ is now the setting towards me being something of a trendsetter. Perhaps trendsetter is not the right word. A recognizer of instigation might be a better phase and remember (if you read my previous blogs) that I blamed the media on several settings for NOT informing you. This Youtube video shows you that this had happened before and the media should have been on top of this. They were merely hiding the facts for you and now that we are completing the third stage of a four stage cycle, we, mainly America has run out of time. Several parts are out in the open. The actions by Japan and Saudi Arabia should get your heart into overdrive. And as we are facing the final settings towards the fourth cycle time will be finished for all of us. I am fortunate that I have skillsets, so I might get out of this without too much damage but millions will not. And whilst everyone is blaming President Trump, beware. He might have accelerated things, but he is nowhere near guilty of the larger parts. Yet the headline ‘BlackRock Just Moved $2.1 Trillion Out of America’ should make you very nervous and next to the actions of Japan should get you scared beyond believe. Anyway the YouTube video (at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iHuk5G1h-I) gives you the goods. The video is 25 minutes and they will be the best 25 minutes of 2026 (at present). So watch and learn/consider what is at stake. 

Now, any making the claim that this is a false video beware. I watched parts of this fourth cycle going into action and I grew up in the Netherlands I knew, but I never thought or was taught in school that this was part of a larger setting. But the setting that a 10 trillion company is moving over 20% out of America should worry you and that is before you consider what JP Morgan gave you in the last two weeks. The picture is forming and the image is a lot less friendly than you imagined and this is before you consider the setting that I have been telling you from 2013 onwards. And the economic boffins in the media didn’t know? You have been had and were presented a digital sleeping drug whilst the powers of money were quietly removing their handle on a breaking currency. A setting that was mathematically known. Although I didn’t know that until I watched this video. Today I learned a lot about how treason imbued the media really is. 

Should you doubt that too, which its always fair, never just take my or anyones word for that, read up on what I have been telling you and penally I now realise that life in China, Saudi Arabia or the UAE might be the next stage, because when this collapse happens in the next three years, anyone with dollar settings will lose whatever they have and as I predicted this (before I saw that video) American infrastructure is on route to the largest collapse in financial history.

Have a great day and feel free to to look into my stories and make up your own mind, because I always advocate never ever take anyones word without checking that, even my views. Tomorrow I’ll look at a setting I covered in 2025 but another view is essential.

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January 10, 2026 · 14:21

The question remains

I am not here to pass judgement, because I have no idea what is at stake. You see, for most of the time (all of the time) I was in the understanding there was Yemen, the partially disposed Yemeni government and the Houthi terrorists. That is pretty much all of what I knew and now I learn that there are more sides to this. I actually figured this out around Christmas, so when I got the news that there is a rift between the UAE and Saudi Arabia I was confused (and massively unhappy). You see, I like both countries and it is becoming an issue where the child (me) needs to choose between his two parents (KSA and UAE) and that is making me unhappy. I for one still am in the dream settling one day retiring to Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, but I would still also like to visit Riyadh and the KSA. So this does not seem like a happy moment at present.

As such the New York Times (at https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/08/world/middleeast/saudi-arabia-uae-yemen-separatist-zubaidi.html) is giving us ‘Saudi Official Accuses U.A.E. of Helping Yemeni Separatist to Escape’ and we are given “Aidarous al-Zubaidi is wanted on treason charges in Yemen after he led a lightning military offensive that escalated a bitter feud between the Emirates and Saudi Arabia.”

We are also given that Aidarous al-Zubaidi, leader of the Southern Transitional Council, in Aden, Yemen is seen as the group that has been pushing for an independent state in southern Yemen, with Emirati backing. And we see “Saudi Arabia on Thursday accused its neighbor and ally the United Arab Emirates of helping a separatist leader wanted on treason charges to escape Yemen, a claim that deepens a rift between two regional powerhouses. The separatist leader, Aidarous al-Zubaidi, leads a group called the Southern Transitional Council, which has been pushing for an independent state in southern Yemen, with Emirati backing.” And in addition we are given “Saudi intelligence determined that Mr. al-Zubaidi fled Yemen on a boat to Somalia early Wednesday morning and that he took a plane from there to the Emirates, according to Maj. Gen. Turki al-Maliki, spokesman for the Saudi-led military coalition in Yemen”. Oh, on a side note, congratulations to Turki al-Maliki, in getting promoted to Major General, last time I mentioned him he was still a Colonel. You might not think it is important, but his reports on the Houthi terrorists are beyond reproach (as I see it), as such I trust his intelligence and reporting on face value at present. In this setting we see there are a lot more settings to this and I am not passing judgement on them, but I am passing judgement on the western media as they have left us in the dark on most of this. So whilst we are given “A spokesman for the Southern Transitional Council, Anwar al-Tamimi, said by phone that the coalition’s statement was false and that Mr. al-Zubaidi remained in southern Yemen. The Emirati government did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The Times could not immediately confirm Mr. al-Zubaidi’s whereabouts.” And as the Times could not verify his whereabouts, I merely see a setting that likely confirms the intelligence that the Major General has access to. 

So as we are given “The Saudi allegation was an unusually pointed salvo in the increasingly bitter feud between Saudi Arabia and the Emirates, two key U.S. allies. That feud has escalated since Mr. al-Zubaidi’s group led a lightning offensive across southern Yemen last month, seizing strategically located, oil-rich territory. Saudi officials denounced those moves, which encroached on a region bordering the kingdom, saying they threatened national security. This past weekend, forces allied with the internationally recognized Yemeni government recaptured most of the territory, plus some additional areas, with Saudi support.” I feel that this is another instance where the western media is betraying its readers by keeping them in the dark. 

So personally I am wondering what exactly the Southern Transitional Council is and what their motives are. Yes I see that the implications are that they want to slice up Yemen, I think that this is a bad thing, but that is me reacting on limited intelligence. If this setting proceeds the Houthi terrorists get to play piggy in the middle (is that an acceptable expression in a muslim setting?) with two governments in Yemen. It enables too many options for the Houthi forces and I cannot see if I am right or if I am wrong. Personally there should be no transition until the Houthi terrorists are permanently dealt with, but that I merely me and I could be way wrong here.

So as we see “Mohammed al-Ghaithi, a member of the delegation, said in a social media post on Thursday that the delegation “valued the efforts of our brothers in Saudi Arabia to invite us and host a conference on southern dialogue.”” We can clearly see that there is a dialogue with Saudi Arabia, with the additional “General al-Maliki said that Saudi intelligence had learned that Mr. al-Zubaidi had fled to Abu Dhabi, the Emirati capital, transiting via Somaliland with the Emirates’ help. The Emirati government has cultivated close ties to Somaliland, a breakaway state strategically located in the horn of Africa, roughly 200 miles by sea from Aden.” And here I get all kinds of confused interactions in my brain, but the clear picture is missing. The New York Times gives us a good story and that is fine, but the larger setting of the STC is missing, and without that there remains several settings of doubt and I already voiced one of them. The article ends with a question I can get behind “It is unclear why the Emirates backed the group. Some analysts speculate that the Emirati leadership would like to hold sway in Yemeni ports located on global trade routes. Emirati officials say only that they stand by Yemenis’ rights to security and self-determination. Yemen was divided into two countries for much of its modern history, before uniting in 1990.” But as it is stated, Yemen was divided into two countries so what were they originally? Considering that this was merely 35 years ago, there is a larger setting this implies that this was within one generation, so there might be issues with that generation. So as the New York Times is one of the few that is giving us a lot more than the rest is, it gives an incomplete picture and that has me wondering how my views needs some correction, not about the Houthi terrorists. They are terrorists plain and simple. There are however other setting which are not known to me and it gives a confusing setting (to me at least).

So have a great day today and I am considering  life on Iceland (it is 44 degrees celsius in my room at present, which is 3 degrees worse than yesterday).

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January 9, 2026 · 18:49

The view of a psychopath

That is in question and it is not on Trump or anyone else. It is the view of me. So as I ‘hide’ behind the numbers that the world shows, Am I the Psychopath? A case could be made that I might be a Psychotic sociopath or even a social Psychopath. All optional settings, but I need to investigate me, because the person who accuses all others from being nuts is mandatory required to investigate themself in that same process. We can go (at times) with everyone is nuts except me, but if you do not cross the t and dot the i you get an unbalanced equation and that equation is important in that setting and as such I investigate myself. 

In the past I have fervently given the setting that America is broke but the weird setting that no one else is saying that. OK, I found one voice, the voice of David Kelly (at JP Morgan) but is that enough? And the setting that the New York Times is giving us (at https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/08/us/politics/trump-interview-power-morality.html) is a nice handle to use. We are given ‘Trump Lays Out a Vision of Power Restrained Only by ‘My Own Morality’’ where we see “President Trump declared on Wednesday evening that his power as commander in chief is constrained only by his “own morality,” brushing aside international law and other checks on his ability to use military might to strike, invade or coerce nations around the world.” Oh, we are given “use military might to strike, invade or coerce nations” and I am considering here that I am the psychopath? And for that matter, what president, king, or emperor is willing to forego international law? In what universe is that acceptable? I get that we get all the Saudi Arabia mentions, but Saudi Arabia is a monarchy and last I checked they are massively driven by Islam, and the Quran is their manifesto. It is a basic setting of morality, the morality of the Quran and I accept that. But for a western leader to say that he is forgoing international law is a stretch too far. So when the New York Times gives us “When asked what was his higher priority, obtaining Greenland or preserving NATO, Mr. Trump declined to answer directly, but acknowledged “it may be a choice.” He made clear that the trans-Atlantic alliance was essentially useless without the United States at its core.” We see an additional element of the setting that America is broke. It is willing to forgo NATO, even start a war with NATO all to get Greenland? Then we are given ‘Trump Considers Payments to Persuade Greenland Residents’ (source: Business Korea, Reuters has a paywall). As such as Greenland has 57,000 people, even at $1,000,000 each it would still be a bargain. But the American stinginess will come cropping up at some point. These are all actions of a broke nation. All in a setting where Wall Street is willing to remain silent so that they can remain in the party. That is at stake and no one seems to be realising this. And insight that I saw this moment come towards us 12 years ago, the fact that ‘at present’ it is arriving slowly is also important. It is important as the infrastructure will have been left to rot for years and that is before this generation get to collect their retirement and in 2030 the get the ‘last payment’ paper. Some will be only 60 years old. They will go through the rest of life owning nothing at all. That is coming and when others are in denial, I can wait. I will recall this message in 2035 and show the world how useless the economic media has been, they will not be allowed to say ‘it was for the good of Wall Street’ it will be the final straw of treason they face.  

So as I am investigating my psychotic setting, I feel that I have passed. As a psychopath I fail because I recognise the need for international law and as a sociopath I understand that other nations (like Saudi Arabia) have values etched in religion, not even my religion and I get that. So I fail twice over. But the New York Times gives us another person with the psyche that must be examined. So draw your own conclusions. And whilst your at it, why Is Canada, Venezuela and Greenland important? Anyone who has hit the limit of their credit card knows. You either have collateral that increases your value, or you find a stash of gold. The stash is found in Venezuela where they have the largest oil reserve in the world. It is not particularly useful, because that oil needs to be gotten and it is different from most oils. It has properties that makes it debatable, but the Guardian reports less than a day ago ‘Trump plans to use Venezuela’s huge crude reserves ‘to cut US oil price to $50 a barrel’’, do you actually think this will happen, or will he sell on and pocket that $10 per barrel for 30 billion barrels giving him the 300 billion to ease interest payments? And that is a simple setting, he might be in there years to vulture Venezuela as carrion eater for all the oil they can get. And that will take time and he is running out of time, so here comes Greenland with all its rare minerals and that gives America the leeway to let it run its creed and a little longer. But in the last setting he want Canada too, all this nations, not because of National Security, but because its credit card is running on empty and Canada is not budging and I for one am willing to aid Canada in its protection (the protection of Greenland too as the Queen of Denmark is originally Australian). So am I the psychopath of does that title fit another person better?

And in all this the economic editors of global news are now in the dock too, because I don’t have an economic degree and they do, so they should have seen this coming a mile away. ‘So whilst we are given ““Ownership is very important,” Mr. Trump said as he discussed, with a real estate mogul’s eye, the landmass of Greenland — three times the size of Texas but with a population of less than 60,000. He seemed to dismiss the value of having Greenland under the control of a close NATO ally. When asked why he needed to possess the territory, he said: “Because that’s what I feel is psychologically needed for success. I think that ownership gives you a thing that you can’t do, whether you’re talking about a lease or a treaty. Ownership gives you things and elements that you can’t get from just signing a document.” The conversation made clear that in Mr. Trump’s view, sovereignty and national borders are less important than the singular role the United States plays as the protector of the West.” He actually ‘hid’ behind “protector of the West” the folly of men behind tariffs, behind the setting of the 51st state mentions, that is the protector of the west? Begging for a Nobel peace price attacked Venezuela in seemingly contraction of International law. I know I am not the most versed person in international law, but I see a few hitches showing up just like that. And now he is ready to go to war with NATO if other means do not work out for him. So how is that sane on any level? Oh and for that matter, where are the United Nations in all this?

As we consider all kinds of options, I also recognise that I am the only one seeing what others cannot see, in the end I am an actual psychopath and I recognize the other psychopath in the game. Perhaps that is a truth, but as I recognized international law and President trump was said to have given the New York Times “his power as commander in chief is constrained only by his “own morality,” brushing aside international law and other checks on his ability to use military might”, so I might be okay, and there was the recognition of the Quran as a guiding principle for some nations. I fear that I failed the psychopath and sociopath test. Too my credit, I also failed the doctor test, I will apparently never be a doctor, so there is that.

Have a great day you all, I feel like the wicked witch of the west. It is 41 degrees in my room and I’m melting.

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January 8, 2026 · 20:37

Our lull moments

That happens, we all crave it, the option of bliss, inactivity, moments of calmness and we find it in different ways. I for one have this with a video game. Not some edge of seat Epic setting, but the Horizon setting, Skyrim, Oblivion, fall out, the list goes on. And yesterday I saw a list of two dozen games coming to the PS5 and some woke me up. There was off course Wolverine by Insomniac. I will be waiting for that one, but at that point one game turned up that I never expected The game STYX has as far as I know been a Xbox game and it is a excellent game, Stealth of the better variety. And you better rely on stealth as you are a 4’ goblin with his trusty knife. What drove me to this game that any level had several solution to solving it and you got points for completing other ways. It was a lovely time. Now its coming to Sony Playstation and we can rejoice. More important there are a few other settings we could consider. One of them is RYSE, son of Rome. The good parts is that the graphics were really good and the storyline was amazing. The two downsides were in the first was that all combat is massively repetitive. And the second one was that you had too defeat several bosses twice, after the first time he completely reset his health bar. I don’t like this, but that might just be me. So as I see it, when you redo the battle setting of Marius Titus you might have an amazing Playstation winner. So when we consider the funny part, who thought that Frankfurt had more to offer than Frankfurters? Crytek GmbH might be the next great thing coming from Germany, go that is an exaggeration, but the truth is that RYSE might have dies too soon and too small a death, so whilst some might object as it was released 12 years ago, I say ‘be still’ good games overcome systems and generations (example Mass Effect and Oblivion) and those are merely two who made the system generation jump. I think that Ryse could do the same (if the two weaknesses are dealt with) As far as I see it, everyone is looking at what might be (I do that too at times) but at times I look behind me what we left and there is plenty to be had in that direction too. I gave some of this ‘life’ in an IP solution I offered to Saudi Arabia and I still believe it can work, not merely for the games, but for the two sides of that equation that could propels Saudi Arabia’s gaming and other settings a lot further. Don’t be miffed Amazon got the same option, but they decided to ignore this whilst they are banking on AI (good luck with that).

So whilst we were given ‘Amazon Pulls AI-Powered Fallout Recap After Getting Key Story Details Wrong’ which comes with “According to The Hollywood Reporter, “Amazon is betting AI can identify key plot points for a series to be synchronized with a voiceover narration and dialogue snippets.”” Apart from the settings that are incorrect and incomplete. Amazon needs to realise that this is all programmed and the programmer might not see what needs validating and verification. They might not know, but the fans will pick up on this instantly. And Engadget gives us ‘Amazon’s AI-generated recap tool didn’t watch Fallout very closely’ this relates to games, because when these people get the AI part ‘working’ they will go over games in that same way and that is where the blunders start adding up to the folly of people who blindly believe in AI. Because I mentioned once that 2026 will be the setting of AI court cases and I was proven (yet) again correct as we are given ‘CanLII and Caseway AI reportedly moving towards settlement in copyright dispute’ as well as TechCrunch given us 8 hours ago ‘Google and Character.AI negotiate first major settlements in teen chatbot death cases’ merely two cases in the second week on January. So, how many more will follow? Only seven hours ago we were given ‘Musk lawsuit over OpenAI for-profit conversion can head to trial, US judge says’ and all this relates to games, because last November we were given ‘Ubisoft Reveals Teammates – An AI Experiment to Change the Game’ and I reckon it will merely take one slip up to thwart the statistics of a player and he will be crying in the lap of some ambulance chaser. A setting I saw coming a mile away which a few people have experienced if they are stealth players. 

As such my lull moment gets blown away with some AI character, team mate or not. But that might merely be me, but what Ido remember was call on this setting months ago and now we see two being settled, whilst OpenAI is now entering the dock for what might cost them a pretty penny. Did those shareholders consider that this might become the destination of their investment?

Have a great day.

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December 31, 2025 · 10:06

The direction doesn’t matter

That is a weird stage to set things on, but for me in Australia, I am looking to events in the NW (actually WNW to North), Canada looks at it as events in the East (actually ESE) and Europe sees it as events to the South (actually SE), we look at things from a different perspective and in this the ABC (at https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-31/uae-saudi-arabia-yemen-strikes-port-weapons-shipment/106188568) we get ‘UAE withdraws personnel from Yemen after Saudi Arabia air strikes’ and the headline matters, but this is not the most important part. You see, I partially take offense to “The United Arab Emirates is pulling its personnel out of Yemen after Saudi Arabia’s bombing of an alleged shipment of weapons and vehicles it claimed had been going to a separatist group. The UAE Ministry of Defence said it would withdraw its remaining “counter-terrorism teams” from southern Yemen after Saudi Arabia issued a 24-hour deadline to the Emirates to leave and cease sending weapons and money to any group in the country.” This follows the issue I have with “Both Saudi Arabia and the Emirates intervened in Yemen’s civil war in 2015, as the major players in a coalition fighting the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in the north.” The ABC is wrong here, these aren’t Houthi rebels, they are Houthi Terrorists and they better realise their wrongful setting of the euphemism brush that they use in cases of Yemen events. As I see it,“A terrorist is an individual who uses or threatens violence against non-combatants (such as civilians) to create widespread fear and thereby achieve political, religious, or ideological goals.” And in all this Iran is equally guilty for enabling these terrorist events by delivering hardware and knowledge to the Houthi terrorists. We merely get “On 9 October 2021, Houthi forces launched two suicide drones on King Abdullah Airport in Jizan, Saudi Arabia. The attack left 10 wounded; six Saudi nationals, three Bangladeshi and one Sudanese as well as and minor damage to civilian property.” Yet, if the media took the trouble to question Colonel Turki bin Saleh al-Maliki of the Royal Saudi Air Force, they would get a number a lot higher and more recent of the attacks these terrorists made on Saudi Arabian soil, even though Yemeni hardware could never enabled these actions, neither was it possible to see the attacks on 14 September 2019, where drones were used to attack oil processing facilities. Houthi forces never had the knowhow and precision to follow through in that, making Iran the most likely culprit (I use culprit loosely as I never saw the evidence) and the western media is massively shy the reports on this, because that would enable Saudi Arabia to get the backing from the global population and that is a second setting the world was not ready for. It is all nice if one party is show to be the bad apple, but when too much evidence is showing to be incorrect, the people will ask questions and the media set themselves up for that stage. And there are developing stages here. As ABC gives us “But Dr Kendall said the Saudis and Emiratis supported different factions in southern Yemen, with Saudi Arabia preferring a united Yemen and the Emiratis supporting the separatist STC, which wants to create a new state in the south. That rivalry has intensified, especially after the UAE expanded its influence and military presence across southern Yemen and its islands, while Saudi Arabia responded by bombing the STC in Yemen’s eastern provinces last week. “Clashes have erupted in the past, most notably in 2019, but now is the most serious clash yet. This is a very serious disagreement about how, when and if the south should break away,” Dr Kendall said.” It shows that my knowledge is lacking involving Yemeni events and I blame the media for not keeping us up to date and that is the function of the media. ABC has been properly advising its readers (listeners and watchers too) of these events, but they likely have limiting resources. And as I see it, ABC stands mostly alone, whilst American, British and European news agencies let that chapter slide as (as I personally see it) Yemen isn’t sexy enough for the news. But that also implies that too many hand the bad card to Saudi Arabia whilst that is not the proper thing. As I see it, Iran is a lot more guilty of these bad cards than Saudi Arabia would have ever been entitled to.

We are also given ““The UAE categorically rejects any attempt to implicate the country in tensions among Yemeni parties and strongly denounces allegations that it exerted pressure on, or issued directives to, any Yemeni party to undertake military operations that would undermine the security of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia or target its borders,” the Emirati government said in a statement.” I cannot counter that because the media never gave us the real deal, but I am willing to color both nations in happy green, whilst keeping Iran in evil red (as colours go in my view of things) and that makes coloring the borders a problem, because I have seen close (thought Arabian news sources) to half a dozen attacks on Saudi civilian targets, making the Houthi terrorist the guilty party. So why is the ABC labeling them ‘Houthi rebels’? 

It is a setting that due to one sided and limited exposure a setting of question and whilst we might see the UAE and Saudi Arabia as the noble sides, there is more going on in Yemen and that could give us a setting of doubt and we are able and willing to be in doubt, because as I see it, most of the media isn’t doing their job (as I personally see it).

All whilst ABC gave us this image which is striking. There is a whole range of elements in action, some in the hearts of the Yemeni and the media just won’t give us the real deal. Why is that?

Have a great day and today is the last day of the year here, tomorrow will be another year.

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December 29, 2025 · 17:07

When it goes beyond oil

That is the setting that Australian Mining dot com dot au gives us (at https://mining.com.au/saudi-arabias-trillion-dollar-push-future-minerals-forum/). We think that we are given ‘Saudi Arabia’s trillion-dollar push: Future Minerals Forum’, but we are given so much more. You think that the headline gives the goods, but the start gives us “Saudi Arabia’s mining sector is shifting from a long-term ambition to a near-term investment hot-spot, underpinned by mineral potential estimated at US$2.5 trillion ($3.75 trillion), as reported by the Future Minerals Forum (FMF).” A setting where some see the blatant debatable truths that America hands us all that they are doing so well in that place, whilst Saudi Arabia quietly sets the setting of over 2 trillion dollars. And the entrepreneurs are not to be trifled with as you can see that originally “According to FMF, the number of licensed mining companies operating in Saudi Arabia has grown from six in 2019 to more than 150, while exploration expenditure reached SAR$1.33 billion between 2019 and 2023.” A growth of 2,500% (in 5 years) with an exploration expenditure of well over a billion Saudi Riyals. So as we are given “EEP, run by the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources in partnership with the Ministry of Investment, allocated SAR$70.6 million in its first batch of funding to support lithium, copper, gold, and base metal projects. The funding enabled 440,000m of drilling, 57,000 geochemical samples being collected, and the creation of more than 50 technical roles.” This is the stuff that mining dreams are made of, well beyond the setting of the old American gold rush a setting that could make Saudi Arabia the most industrious nation this century, because the goods when found will need cleaning, melting and all sorts of actions and it will all be done in Saudi Arabia. So whilst we are given “Countries are collaborating on mineral development and recognise cross-border cooperation can meet global demand, whereas the other meaning represents minerals are positions as engines for jobs, industrialisation, and long-term economic transformation in supplier countries.” As I see it, they all want ‘cross border collaboration’ but this is a Saudi party, A Muslim setting and as I see it, Saudi Arabia sets the terms, not Wall Street and they are fighting over there on Greenland and Canadian goods, Venezuelan oil, all whilst Saudi Arabia has untapped settings. I think that Aaliyah Rogan said it best when she ended the article with “As global miners are looking to diversify geographically and secure future supply, Saudi Arabia is positioning itself as a credible third pillar of its economy, alongside energy and petrochemicals.” So as I see it, there is every chance that whatever America is vying for (Canada or Greenland) it comes with a lack of manpower, because as I see it, miners might not like the stage of political grievances whilst they can get a safe secure setting in Saudi Arabia for some time to come (at least 10 to 15 years). So whilst we are considering that the “Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources in partnership with the Ministry of Investment, allocated SAR$70.6 million in its first batch of funding to support lithium, copper, gold, and base metal projects.” Consider the manpower they would need for this and I reckon any miner will be putting their name in the hat for such an amazing opportunity.

A setting that quietly walked passed a lot of people looked at the Greenland setting with “Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand affirmed support for Denmark, as Washington again says it wants to annex the country’s self-governing territory of Greenland. Anand spoke Tuesday with her Danish counterpart Lars Lokke Rasmussen, and she wrote on social media that she conveyed to him “Canada’s support for the fundamental importance of respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity.”” (Source: Cast Net) and whilst that (for lack of a better term) RomCom is going on, Saudi Arabia is making a move for its treasures and getting the resources to mine it properly.

Isn’t it a great moment when you learn that something happened in the background and you learn of this whilst most western papers will not report on it? So, have a great day all, My Monday is almost at an end whilst Toronto is merely starting today, Vancouver joins us in less than 2 hours.

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December 28, 2025 · 14:13

Are doornails really dead?

I got a nice surprise today. I got a story (at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/xbox/2025-was-the-year-xbox-died-130000467.html), the only inaccuracy I think is that the contraption was dead already, for about 2 years. So I got to wonder. What happened to:

Mojang studios (Mincecraft) $ 2.5 billion
ZeniMax Media, Bethesda $ 7.5 billion
Activision/Blizzard $68.7 billion

Which gives us $78.7 Billion and it shouldn’t be allowed to go into a bad bank, that interest is still due. The last purchase was only completed in October 2023. So what happens, sell it to Saudi Arabia? The interest (said to be around 5%) implies that Microsoft is still meant to pay $3.935 billion interest on an annual basis and there is no way it gets to be reflected away, although I might advise Saudi Arabia in particularly Minister Majid bin Abdullah Al Qasabi that he should not offer a Halala over $50 billion for the entire package. I don’t think Microsoft is allowed any leeway for their intentional stupidity. That being said, they bought Mojang studios in 2014 and they did mighty fine work on their Minecraft product, including the PS5 (which still needs the PS4 disc), but that is small fry. The result is truly amazing and the fact that it is still one of the most popular games on any console is due to the Microsoft teams and credit where credit is due I say. Still, as the optional spokesperson for Saudi Commerce, I think it is essential that the Saudi Fleet of airplanes need to be give to all its Microsoft 2024 Flight Simulator players free of charge the fleet of planes that are part of the Saudia airlines, which consists of Airbus A320-200, Airbus A330-300, Boeing 777-300ER, Boeing 787-9 and Boeing 787-10, as well as include the King Abdulaziz International Airport (Jeddah) and the King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh in the base setting of the Flight Simulator 2024. I think that Saudi Arabia is due some VIP treatment if Microsoft wants to flog away their failures. I think that Saudi Arabia is due that privilege. 

I think if you want the grease the wheels of commerce, you better take out your best effort, but that is merely me speaking. This all started in 2013 when they upset the gaming industry, by thinking they could strong-arm gamers towards the Xbox, whilst they never actually understood gamers (I point to the Don Mattrick, the former president of Microsoft’s Interactive Entertainment Business, widely remembered for controversial stupid statement of “Fortunately we have a product for people who aren’t able to get some form of connectivity, it’s called Xbox 360”) my response was ‘Fuck you Mattrick” and I placed a handful of gaming IP on my blogs for anyone not Microsoft. That’s how I react and these people are still welcome too all that, especially as the Xbox is now dead on arrival, a proper vivisectioned console at your local morgue. So whilst the article gives you “Xbox didn’t enter 2025 in a great state, and it’s leaving the year grasping for help, like an Arc Raider player desperate for a revival after being knocked out. Microsoft cancelled the Perfect Dark reboot and Everwild, two of the most interesting games in its weak upcoming slate. The company brought titles like Forza Horizon 5 over to the PlayStation 5, which prompted Engadget Deputy Editor Nathan Ingraham to declare he no longer needed an Xbox.” He never needed one and I did mine away years ago, it was just a dust collection setting and I merely held on to it because of Elite Dangerous and Subnautica, when they became available on PS4/PS5, the fate of my coaster to be (Xbox One) was set. Some regrets, but the Xbox360 was awesome, so not that much and it was my first setting for Oblivion and Skyrim, which I also have on Sony. We were also given “There was a chance for Microsoft to reinvigorate the Xbox brand with the ASUS ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X gaming handhelds, but the $600 and $1,000 launch prices placed them out of reach for most gamers. It also doesn’t help that Windows still isn’t well-optimized for portable devices with touchscreens, and those systems also aren’t compatible with older Xbox titles like the consoles. At the very least, Microsoft now has a handheld foothold. But a future portable Xbox console would need to be significantly cheaper to compete with the likes of the Steam Deck, which starts at $549 (following the discontinuation of the $400 LCD model).” But as I personally see it, Microsoft tends to lose interests in solutions that dos not make them shine and the Xbox had nearly rusted through as I personally see it, but there was the news which was available for about three days now and I had other matters on my mind, so it was a nice setting today, I was proved correct all along and as Saudi Arabia is vying to be a digital powerhouse, the setting if upgraded to a better shine, what was left of Microsoft games, might get a decent second life, but the additions to the Microsoft Flight-simulator 2024 will be required, although they might include it as a package deal for the nice price of $50 billion, not a penny more, including the Flight Simulator 2024 might make it worth the time of Minister Majid bin Abdullah Al Qasabi, but that is merely my view on the matter. And there is the setting we need to consider, the Xbox came to life (with massive help of Dwayne Johnson) and grew to new heights in 2005, it actually became a competitor to Sony and made Sony release the PS4 and PS5 with the immense upgrades. Gamers rejoiced and then in 12 years (due to Don Mattrick as I personally see it) it went from hightop to basement level bargain value. Still, I am not happy. Sony was better with Microsoft chasing its tail and that needs to be said and the results as we still see every day its awesome and as I see it, Todd Howard now needs to say the words “Elder Scrolls 6 is coming to Playstation” the Sony and the gaming world needs to hear those words. The Microsoft blame game of ‘perhaps’ and ‘we will service all gamers’ is disingenuous at best and not appreciated. 

So whilst we are given “Its partnership with AMD could easily lead to new handhelds, and it also gives Microsoft a leg up in producing a compact and powerful Xbox PC. After all, why should the company keep trying to go toe-to-toe with Sony’s closed PlayStation platform? Why shouldn’t Microsoft embrace its PC roots to give us a gaming desktop under our TVs? The company has already committed to bringing new Xbox games to PCs immediately, so the line between the two is already blurring. It may be a risk, but evolving into a PC proves there’s still life in the Xbox brand. And crucially, it’s also something Sony can’t easily replicate.” You see, the gamers feel betrayed by Microsoft, even those having an Xbox, they aren’t (don’t say ever in this case) going to trust Microsoft, they tried to play gamers and these players don’t like to be played, they take this personally and that is what Microsoft did in a few ways as I personally see it.

So you all have a good day and those owning a Playstation have pleasant dreams, because Microsoft just bought the bucket from Davey Jones locker. I reckon that this setting is hardest on Phil Spencer, who tried to do everything to make Microsoft gaming work. I think he did a fine job, but Microsoft overhead was ruled (as I see it) by Excel users and that goes against the grain of gamers. Have a great day today, my time for a late lunch now.

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December 26, 2025 · 19:50

One turn deserves?

That is the intro to the question, or perhaps the conundrum given. It comes from the Caspian Post  (at https://caspianpost.com/opinion/saudi-arabia-vs-uae-is-riyadh-becoming-russia-s-new-gulf-partner), one I actually hadn’t heard before. Out is one an opinion piece, but the title reads ‘Saudi Arabia vs UAE: Is Riyadh Becoming Russia’s New Gulf Partner?’ It made me think for a short while. You see Saudi Arabia is increasingly intelligent, so I don’t think this is the real reason or the truth. But the setting is given. And with “But the geopolitical landscape has shifted. Sanctions, compliance pressures, and reputational risks have made working with Russian clients in the UAE more complicated. Not because the country has turned hostile, but because it must balance relations with the West. The environment for Russians remains attractive, yet clearly less frictionless than before. This naturally raises the question: if not only the UAE, then where next?” Then there are two settings that I have in the back of my mind. In the first there is Washington, there is an inkling of thinking that they have open the doors to a setting that might lead to destabilization, because with all other issues that America faces, the last thing they want is a more strong, more stable middle east and they might think that this setting loses cohesion when the Russians are given a jolt of ‘entertainment’ the second thing is that I wouldn’t accept that America might stoop that low, they would lose too much, too quick. So I wonder about it. As we are given “Saudi Arabia stands out as the most compelling answer. A large, wealthy, and rapidly reforming state, it is positioning itself as a future global hub. The Russia-Saudi dialogue has long been rooted in oil cooperation and OPEC+, where both sides rely on coordination rather than competition. Political communication between Moscow and Riyadh appears stable and pragmatic. The Saudi ambassador to Russia, Sami bin Mohammed Abdullah Alsadhan, recently said that “personal contacts between the leaders of our states form a solid foundation for cooperation,” and the facts support this. Putin visited Riyadh in 2007, 2019, and 2023, while King Salman made a historic trip to Moscow in 2017. Few foreign capitals have hosted such frequent top-level contact.” As well as “In October 2025, Saudia Airlines launched direct Riyadh-Moscow flights, followed by Flynas opening a Jeddah-Moscow route in December. Daily flights are expected in 2026, along with new routes from St. Petersburg and Sochi. The real turning point is the introduction of mutual visa-free travel for 90 days starting January 2026 – a clear signal encouraging tourism, business visits, and economic exchange. Riyadh expects over 200,000 Saudi tourists in Russia next year, with plans to reach 2 million annually by 2030. In 2024, the number of Saudi visitors to Russia already increased fivefold. Russian interest in the Kingdom is also growing.” But why? There are a few ideas and none are really that good. In the first there is the need for a new tourist destination, that much is clear. Russians are shunned almost everywhere in the EU, Commonwealth and America, as as such the UAE and Saudi Arabia stand out. So the question becomes what business visits? As I see it, Saudi Arabia has clearly defined needs, but does Russia hold the answers? Then there is the data. So what Saudi tourists are looking at Russia? It seems a simple answer, but there is no clear answer. If the answer is work in the Russian Petro Chemical industry, the answer might be fine, but if that links Saudi to the seller of Russian Crude the picture becomes a little distorted. Especially when Saudi Arabia does a reversed Brent Crude Oil loop, as such whilst Brent resells Saudi Oil, Saudi Arabia might be reselling Russian oil to India and a few others. It will bring money to the coffers of Russia whilst greasing the Saudi wheels of business opportunity. Is this correct, is this incorrect? It is pure speculation, but it fits a few patterns and that is what I am going with. America might bristle its nose in the direction of India buying Russian oil, but it will not do so easily as India buys Saudi oil. India is safe, Russia know nothing and Saudi Arabia sees a plain and simple business agreement. 

And whilst we ponder on “Russia exported 4.49 million tons of grain to the Kingdom that year; agricultural exports rose 24%. Shipments of beef, poultry, sunflower, and rapeseed oil increased significantly, with poultry exports up 1.8 times in early 2025. Total trade has surpassed $1 billion.

Yet compared to the scale of Saudi-US trade – $25.9 billion in 2024, with plans to reach $600 billion within four years – Russia’s presence remains modest. This does not make cooperation meaningless; rather, it underscores how early Russia is in this market. Potential exists, but realizing it will require a long-term strategy rather than episodic enthusiasm.” Personally I think that this shape has merit, it allows one player to offset its oil, whilst greasing the wheels of another and I think it is highly likely that this is done right under the eyes of America ad the EU, and after we are given ‘US lifts sanctions on Russia’s military suppliers: What’s behind decision’ a week ago where we learned that “The lifting of US sanctions against companies involved in supplying equipment to Russia’s military-industrial complex is most likely an element of limited encouragement”, whilst we also see ““There is a strong component in the negotiations between Kirill Dmitriev (the Kremlin’s special representative – ed.) and Steve Witkoff (the US president’s special envoy) and Jared Kushner (Donald Trump’s son-in-law – ed.) that relates either to the personal interests of these individuals or to their lobbying of certain interests,” the expert added.” These two pieces give a weird symmetry as business in conducted with the ‘blessing’ of America, most likely it comes at a price that is non-disclosed, but it gives Saudi Arabia a larger coin towards the setting, so there will be almost no mention on it in the media. And whilst some ‘defer’ to etiquette like “Saudi Arabia is not the UAE. It is more traditional, more conservative, and strictly follows Islamic norms. Alcohol is entirely prohibited. Dress codes matter. Social etiquette is not decorative – it is structural. Anyone entering this market must adapt or fail.

Business advisers already outline basic rules for Russians planning to work with Saudi partners: an intermediary is not necessary but extremely helpful; conversations traditionally begin with personal small talk before business; clothing should be modest; punctuality is expected even if partners may arrive late; negotiation teams should remain constant because Saudis trust people, not changing faces; women may participate in meetings but usually not as lead negotiators” but in all this there is a hidden opportunity hatch handed to Russia and whilst (as I see it) the west is seemingly ignoring all this, there is a new revenue stream going straight into the coffers of Riyadh, because business is important. Imagery is important and as I understand it, not much else.

So is this simply one good turn deserves antoerqh, or is this the 101 of Islamic business opportunity? I actually don’t know, it might be both or even neither and I ‘coincidentally’ saw a setting that does not exist. I don’t believe it is the latter part, but I am willing to go with that one too.

Have a great Boxing Day today, mine pretty much ended already with less than 6 hours to go. Time for some dinner. I reckon that today it will be rice with tuna, carrots and peas. So enjoy yours and make it a nice day today.

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December 25, 2025 · 21:44

The boat has left

That is a weird setting, but that might be the case for a lot of people. It is the Financial Express who gives us (at https://www.financialexpress.com/life/technology-ibm-to-skill-5-million-indian-youth-in-ai-cybersecurity-and-quantum-computing-by-2030-details-inside-4082018/) the headline ‘IBM to skill 5 million Indian youth in AI, cybersecurity and quantum computing by 2030’ you might think it is nothing to get hung over about, but you would be wrong. Even as some ‘claim’ to give good courses (some actually do), it is IBM who has had that inside track in several ways. As such (or perhaps to consider as I see it), the labour market will be drowning in Indian entrepreneurs by 2032 (and a whole before that). I reckon that these people will bolster the Indian go getter market and they will branch out to Saudi Arabia, the UAE and a few other places. As such if you think the US labour market is merely cooling, think again. These people will be highly wanted in India, Saudi Arabia, the Emirates, UK, Australia, Canada and the EU long before we get to 2030. There will be an Indian wave of go getters all over the world and the places that needed to get active weren’t for much too long. So as we see “India possesses the talent and ambition to lead the world in AI & Quantum. Fluency in frontier technologies will define economic competitiveness, scientific progress and societal transformation,” said Arvind Krishna, IBM Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Our commitment to skill five million people is an investment in that future. By democratizing access to advanced skills, we are enabling the youth and students to build, innovate and accelerate India’s growth.”” And these people will be highly skilled in all things IBM (perhaps not in IBM Statistics or IBM Miner) but that is little cause for alarm. These people will also bring forth IBM skills and products, so this setting takes care of two pipelines, skills and products. And all that time AWS was hounding the AI field. It is nice, but as these people are highly skilled in whatever IBM holds, there is a mismatch on what is required. OK, that last part is speculative, but that is what I would do.

I reckon that Microsoft and OpenAI also might have a problem here. You see we also get “IBM also continues to strengthen school-level readiness by co-developing the AI curriculum for senior secondary students, along with teaching resources including the AI Project Cookbook, Teacher Handbook and explainer modules. These programs are designed to embed computational thinking and responsible AI principles early, while enabling teachers to deliver AI education confidently and at scale.” As such these people get a schooling in evolved from famous systems like Deep Blue and Watson and as such IBM provides a flexible ecosystem allowing choice from various foundation models (like Granite, Llama, Mistral). Whatever they partnered with doesn’t matter. This is the IBM show, partners take a second stage chair. And as I see it, IBM did something nicely spectacular because they get a choir of 5 million evangelizing Watsoners all over the world and in that instance Watson grows from niche to mainstream and that will feel good for all the shareholders who kept their trust in Arvind Krishna (I will give a nice ‘Well done sir’) in this instance. Because it is starting to look like the old premise ‘When two dogs fight over a bone, the third one takes it gone’ So in the fight we saw with OpenAI and Google, we now see that the future is banked on by IBM. This doesn’t make the others useless in any way, but IBM set the future towards Watson in a rather nice way and that has to count for something.

What a nice end of year this will be this year. Because at the drop of a hat, it wasn’t merely Google or OpenAI, as I see it now IBM because the third major player in this duet and as I see innovation, this is how innovative strides are made, by having to refocus your tasks, that is the real innovation maker in this world. 

A lovely ending to Christmas Day. Have a great upcoming boxing day you all.

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