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The government has preemptively addressed such concerns, with the interior ministry pledging to enforce the law by any means necessary.
Riyadh is already moving to bring female driving instructors from abroad and establish driving schools exclusively for women.
Authorities are also moving to criminalise sexual harassment with a new law, with flogging and jail terms as possible penalties.
The Saudi media is also taking on conservative opposition —- with a dash of humour.
“Driving has always been a minefield in the battle of the sexes… Sorry fellas but women are the better drivers,” declared a recent graphic published in the English-language daily Arab News, citing research that male drivers are involved in more accidents.
Newspaper editorials have argued that if women were allowed to ride camels in the time of the Prophet Mohammed then they should be allowed to drive “modern-day camels” —- cars.
Others have highlighted the economic benefits of the reform; Saudi families would no longer need foreign chauffeurs, often a major source of financial strain.
Sabq online newspaper published a cartoon comparing the merits of two drivers: a scraggily dressed foreign man and a veiled Saudi woman.
“Man: Salary. Housing. Bad Tempered. Knows your deepest secrets. Ruins your car,” it said.
But authorities are careful not to antagonise the sensitivities of hardline clerics.
The Council of Senior Scholars, the kingdom’s highest religious body that is close to the royal family, announced the majority of its members found that lifting the ban was “permissible”.
Experts say their approval —- after decades of opposition —- symbolises the government’s tightening grip on the religious establishment that has long dominated Saudi politics.
“It’s unlikely that the scholars who consistently maintained that driving would damage ovaries, deprive (women) of their virginity and integrity had a sudden epiphany that their decades-old beliefs were wrong,” said James Dorsey from Singapore’s S Rajaratnam School of International Studies.
When the ban was lifted, several women’s rights activists who long fought it alleged that authorities warned them not to make any public comments —- seemingly not to highlight that activism can lead to reform.
The government denies the claim.
Ali Shihabi, from the Washington-based think tank Arab Foundation, said on Twitter that the government did not want activists to “further provoke the conservatives who were already provoked by (the) driving decision”.
The decision was led by Prince Mohammed, who styles himself as a reformer who will set the country on the road to modernity and civil liberty.
But some experts have called the decision pure tokenism until the kingdom dismantles its rigid guardianship system.
“Women still face a number of other hurdles,” said research firm Capital Economics.
It may take many years for Saudi society to fully accept a greater role for women.
A Saudi executive at a multinational company in Riyadh said the main obstacle remains a prevailing “village mentality”, although some patriarchs prefer having women drive themselves than be chauffeured around by unrelated men.
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AUTHORITIES in Gibraltar have said they will use “all instruments” at their disposal to counter proposals that Spain should have veto powers over the territory in Brexit talks.
The Government of Gibraltar called the plans, which are currently in their draft stages pending final approval from Britain and the EU, a “disgraceful affront” to the territory.
The plans come under Clause 24 of the draft legal text published alongside the proposed Withdrawal Agreement put out by the EU this week.
They specifically grant Spain veto powers over Gibraltar’s status during the transition period that would follow Britain’s departure from the bloc, according to reports.
Authorities in Gibraltar are reportedly concerned such a veto could result in the territory’s exclusion from transitional arrangements.
Gibraltar’s government have released a statement in which they said it was in the interests of both Spain and the territory to have a sensible Brexit plan going forward.
“The existing threatening language of vetos and exclusions is an unnecessary provocation in what is already a tense environment as the United Kingdom prepares to leave the European Union,” they said.
Any such plan should put the interests of citizens and business in the area first, the government added.
Gibraltar’s government said if Spain used the veto to exclude Gibraltar it would be one of the most discriminatory measures taken against a small territory in recent European history.
“The truth is that nobody stands to gain anything at all by excluding Gibraltar from the transition or from the future relationship agreement.
“All that Spain would accomplish would be to generate uncertainty among many thousands of ordinary citizens and their families who live on both sides of the border,” they said.
Start your weekend by enjoying a leisurely Saturday morning breakfast drifting down the bayou on our pontoon boat, the "Bayou Ranger". Observe wildlife searching for their breakfast on the bayou. This trip through the heart of the Nature Center presents an uncommon opportunity to watch and learn about bayou life. Enjoy...
Back in the '40s, being "in a groove" was a good thing. Last week, Orllyene and I were in a rut. What to do? Orllyene and I are celebrating our 54th wedding anniversary, so it's time to celebrate. How about going on a trip? But where to? I call a friend. She's an accomplished traveler. "How would you like to come with ...
Another trip Orllyene and I went on was to San Miguel de Allende, in central Mexico. At 6,000 feet, the weather in San Miguel is sunny and cool. The buildings are much like colonial Spain. Through a local Realtor, I find a casita built on the grounds of a house built in the early 1600s. Rough stonework on the exterior,...
Getting to San Miguel, was an adventure in itself. Orllyene elected to fly from Reno to Leon, where I'd meet her. With uncommonly good fortune, she managed to meet a writer for the television show, "Touched by an Angel," while changing planes in San Jose. It must have been an omen. Her entire trip was smooth as silk.
My Jeep trip was different. After a long drive, through parched deserts to Chihuahua, I decided to keep going, since it was still daylight. I ended up staying in a spooky hotel in Torreon around midnight. Next morning, within 10 minutes, I was lost. In desperation, I stopped a beer truck, and asked for directions. Thre...
Who knows what good things might happen if we take that first step off our front porch? Breaking away from the routine of daily life is healthy. Remember how full of energy, and the fun we had at recess? We're the same person, only a little older.
Life has been very good to Orllyene and me. We have three kids, six grandkids and five great-grandkids. Show business has taken us to Monte Carlo, the Bahamas, Paris and Italy. Orllyene has become an outstanding quilter, and I still love to dance. Happy anniversary, honey! I love you.
Rookie inside linebacker Ryan Shazier had an impressive debut in week two of the preseason in a performance that raised already high expectations for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ first-round draft pick.
Last week’s test against the Philadelphia Eagles saw Shazier come back down to earth a bit, though he did say after the game that stamina became an issue later in the game as he continues to restabilize his fitness level after missing almost two weeks of practice with a knee bruise.
The Eagles’ offense did not allow for the knifing tackles that he had all over the field a week earlier, most often working on the perimeter. When they did attack inside, Shazier had issues getting off blocks.
The more athletic and aggressive tight ends also posed a problem for the rookie in comparison to his debut performance. But I also became aware of Shazier more frequently being told what to do and where to go pre-snap last week, perhaps as a side effect of the Eagles’ fast-paced approach combined with his inexperience.
With that said, here is a look at some of the key plays of Shazier’s night against Nick Foles and the Eagles.
On this carry early in the game, Shazier was shadowing running back LeSean McCoy, as he frequently did throughout the game. As he moved to intercept the running, the pulling center Jason Kelce was able to get in front of the linebacker, and McCoy was able to step through his tackle attempt for a big gain.
Early in the second quarter, Shazier was covering the athletic Zach Ertz on a third and eight play. Shazier failed to anticipate that the tight end would be playing the sticks, so as Ertz stopped and turned at the first-down marker, he was able to create separation and make the reception for 12 yards.
In the third quarter, facing the Eagles’ second-string offense, Shazier continued to fulfill his primary assignments, which consisted of covering tight ends and shadowing running backs.
He drew running back Matthew Tucker on this play, and he did an excellent job of playing off his man, reading his body to anticipate the throw. What ensued was a collision at the intersection of man and ball, and the end result was an incompletion. As a matter of fact, he nearly held on to the ball for an interception.
The last series for the first-team defense was nearly a short one, were it not for Shazier getting beat for a 25-yard reception on third and four. But when you look at the play, it’s difficult to fault him too much.
Tight end Trey Burton and quarterback Mark Sanchez played their parts on this play nearly perfectly. The ball was well-placed between the linebacker and Cortez Allen, and even though Shazier turned around to play the ball, he could not reach the pass with his outstretched hand.
Shazier followed up that disheartening play by missing his second tackle of the night on the next snap as the receiver got a modest stiff arm on him. The game was capped off at the end of that drive with Tucker pounding through Shazier for the Eagles’ fourth touchdown.
Confidants of U.S. President Donald Trump have reportedly been suggesting that Jared Kushner, his son-in-law and special adviser, take a leave of absence over the investigation of his alleged communications with Russia.
ABC News' Jonathan Karl reported on Sunday that "even if he is ultimately completely cleared, he is at the center of this investigation right now, and you hear people close to the president quietly saying, is it too much and is it time for Jared to take a step back? Maybe even take a leave of absence from the White Hou...
"His office opens right into the Oval Office. He has taken on a portfolio bigger than anybody in the West Wing. And you hear people now very close to the president openly saying that it is too much. That he now finds himself at the center of this investigation," Karl added.
Kushner, who is married to Trump's daughter Ivanka, had contacts with Moscow in December about opening a secret back channel of communications, according to news reports.
Kushner had at least three previously undisclosed contacts with the Russian ambassador to the United States during and after the 2016 presidential campaign, seven current and former U.S. officials told Reuters.
Meanwhile, Trump is considering overhauling his White House staff and bringing back top campaign strategists, frustrated by what he views as his team’s inability to contain the burgeoning crisis involving alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 election.
Expanding teams of lawyers and experienced public relations hands are being recruited to deal with the drumbeat of new revelations about Moscow’s interference and possible improper dealings with the Trump campaign and associates. The disclosures dogged the president during his first trip abroad since taking office and ...
As he mulls outside reinforcements to his operation, Trump returned late Saturday from his nine-day journey to a White House seemingly in crisis mode, with a barrage of reports hitting close to the Oval Office and involving Kushner.
A rally planned Thursday in Iowa was postponed due to “an unforeseen change” in Trump’s schedule.
After maintaining a limited social media presence throughout his trip, Trump on Sunday unleashed a furious flurry of tweets, lashing out at what he called the “fake news” media. He focused heavily on leaks — both those coming out of the White House and an intelligence leak blamed on Americans about this week’s deadly b...
Even when authorized, however, top officials in the Trump White House frequently request anonymity to brief reporters “on background,” meaning their names will not be disclosed.
The latest reports in the Russia matter said Kushner spoke with Russia’s ambassador to the United States about setting up secret communications with Moscow during the presidential transition.
While overseas, Trump’s longtime lawyer, Marc Kasowitz, joined a still-forming legal team to help the president shoulder the intensifying investigations into Russian interference in the election and his associates’ potential involvement. More attorneys with deep experience in Washington investigations are expected to b...
“They need to quarantine this stuff and put the investigations in a separate communications operation,” said Jack Quinn, who served as White House counsel for President Bill Clinton.
During the Monica Lewinsky investigation, the Clinton White House brought on a dedicated group of lawyers and a created a separate media operation to handle investigation-related inquiries so they didn’t completely subsume the president’s agenda.
Trump, according to one person familiar with his thinking, believed he was facing more of a communications problem than a legal one, despite the intensifying inquiries. The person, like others, spoke on condition of anonymity in order to discuss private conversations.
As he mulls changes, Trump has entertained bringing his former campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, and former deputy campaign manager, David Bossie, formally back into the fold. Both Lewandowski and Bossie discussed the prospect with the president before his trip, according to one person told of the conversations.
Lewandowski’s return would be a particularly notable development, given the fact that he was fired by Trump after clashing with staff and Trump’s adult children. Nonetheless, Lewandowski has the trust of the president — an advantage that many of Trump’s aides lack.
Trump called his maiden trip abroad a “home run,” but while the White House had hoped it would serve as a reset, attention on the Russia probe has only increased.
Recently appointed special counsel Robert Mueller, a former FBI director, is starting off an investigation with a broad mandate that will allow him to probe both the possible Russian influence and whether Trump attempted to obstruct the investigation by firing FBI Director James Comey.
Comey is expected to testify before Congress after Memorial Day about memos he kept on conversations with the president that pertained to the investigation.
The White House also grappled with reports that Kushner proposed setting up a secret back channel between the Kremlin and the Trump transition team during a December meeting. Kushner spoke with Sergey Kislyak, the Russian ambassador to the U.S., about creating the secret line to make it easier to hold sensitive discuss...
The back channel was meant to connect Michael Flynn, who later became Trump’s first national security adviser, with Russian military leaders, said the person, who wasn’t authorized to publicly discuss private policy considerations and spoke on condition of anonymity. Flynn was fired in February, officials saying he mis...
Before departing Italy for the U.S., White House officials refused to address the reports about Kushner. But they did not dismiss the idea that the administration would go outside normal U.S. government and diplomatic channels for communications with other countries.
Other major issues await Trump at home. He has signaled he will make a decision on whether to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement. And the search continues for an FBI director to replace Comey.
On the policy front, he must defend his budget plan, and the Republican health care bill that narrowly passed the House faces an uncertain future in the Senate.
Trump also has to decide soon on a Pentagon recommendation to add more U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan, as well as boosting reinforcement for the beleaguered Afghan military.
AMMAN, Jordan – The foiling of a planned al-Qaida terror plot in Jordan underscores a new subplot in the story of the Arab Spring: Things are heating up for King Abdullah II, a Western-oriented monarch who has run a business-friendly, pragmatic monarchy with some trappings of democracy.
Jordan, a key U.S. ally that sits at a strategic crossroads between neighboring Syria, Iraq, the Palestinian territories, Israel and Saudi Arabia, has so far weathered 22 months of street protests calling for a wider public say in politics.
But this week's announcement that Jordanian authorities had thwarted an al-Qaida plan to attack shopping malls and Western diplomatic missions in the country has raised fears that extremists could take advantage of growing calls for change to foment violence.
The king also has been working overtime to fend off a host of domestic challenges, including a Muslim Brotherhood boycott of parliamentary elections, increasing opposition from his traditional Bedouin allies and an inability to keep the Syrian civil war from spilling over the border.
So far, Abdullah has largely maintained control, partly by relinquishing some of his powers to parliament and amending the country's 60-year-old constitution. His Western-trained security forces have been able to keep protests from getting out of hand. And most in the opposition remain loyal to the king, pressing ...
The stakes are high: Abdullah is a close friend of the United States and has been at the forefront in its global war on terrorism, including in Afghanistan. Jordan serves as a buffer zone to Saudi Arabia, another Sunni Muslim country, and to Israel, a friend under a peace treaty signed in 1994. The kingdom hosts the la...
"The worst nightmare would be for Israel and Saudi Arabia," said liberal lawmaker Jamil Nimri. "Jordan shares the longest border with Israel and is one of its few remaining Arab friends, while for the Saudis, it's a neighboring country with a similar monarchy system in trouble."
Concern over Jordan's stability was underlined last month, when its U.S., British and French allies quickly dispatched their military experts to help Jordanian commandos devise plans to shield the population in case of a chemical attack from neighboring Syria.
Jordan is worried that Syrian President Bashar Assad might lose control over his chemical weapons in the civil war and that his stock could subsequently fall into the hands of al-Qaida or Lebanon's Islamic militant group Hezbollah.
More than 210,000 Syrian refugees also have fled to the kingdom to escape the violence at home, straining basic services like water, electricity and the health care system.
In the past three months, dozens of Jordanian policemen were wounded in violent riots at a dust-filled refugee camp packed with 35,000 Syrians near the northern border.
A growing number of stray Syrian missiles also have fallen on Jordanian villages in the north in recent weeks, wounding several civilians as Assad widened his offensive against rebel holdouts near the Jordanian frontier.
A Jordanian border patrol officer also was shot dead Monday during army clashes with eight militants who sought to illegally cross a border fence into Syria.
Hours before the clash, Jordan announced that authorities had arrested 11 suspected al-Qaida-linked militants for allegedly planning to attack shopping malls and Western diplomatic missions in the country with explosives and rockets.
Two Arab diplomats, insisting on anonymity because they are not allowed to make press statements, said regional intelligence indicates that militants see Jordan as an "easy prey" as they try to consolidate their presence between hot spots.
"The Jordanian people can never enjoy complete stability when our country is surrounded by wars and uprisings," said Yousef Matarneh, a 45-year-old civil servant.
Abdullah has tried to forestall Arab Spring-style uprisings that have toppled autocratic regimes in Egypt, Tunisia, Yemen and Libya, and led to the war in Syria.
His reform roadmap envisions parliamentary polls as a vehicle toward having an elected prime minister for the first time in Jordan's history. Previously, it was the king's prerogative to appoint the premier.
Abdullah also has been trying to buttress his ailing economy, straining under $23 billion foreign debt, a record deficit of $2 billion and rising inflation, by inviting foreign investment and marketing Jordan as a tourist destination.
"If you want to change Jordan for the better, there is a chance, and that chance is through the upcoming elections," he told a gathering of 3,000 prominent politicians and businessmen on Tuesday. "There is a way, and that way is through the next parliament."

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