2017–2019 Romanian protests
There were numerous protests against the Romanian Government between 2017 and 2019. In January 2017, days after the government of the Grindeanu Cabinet was sworn into office in Romania, protests took place throughout the country against ordinance bills that were proposed by the Romanian Ministry of Justice regarding the pardoning of certain committed crimes, and the amendment of the Penal Code of Romania (especially regarding the abuse of power). At the heart of these protests is the community Corruption Kills, founded by Florin Bădiță, who alongside other civic groups organized what proved to be the largest protests since 1989, thus realizing the "Revolution of our generation".


2017–2019 Romanian protests
Despite the negative reactions from both the judicial institutions and the public, the newly sworn-in government secretly approved an ordinance modifying the Penal Code and Penal Procedure Code during the night of 31 January.


2017–2019 Romanian protests
Opponents raised accusations that the ordinance was intended for decriminalisation of government corruption, and to help hundreds of current and former politicians to escape ongoing criminal investigations or prison sentences.


2017–2019 Romanian protests
Immediately after it was announced that the ordinance was passed, more than 37,000people protested that night. The next day, on 1 February, the protests swelled to over 300,000 people throughout the country, continuing then daily and peaking on 5 February, when over 500,000 Romanians protested throughout the country, making the protests the largest since the fall of Communism and the overthrowing of Nicolae Ceaușescu.


2017–2019 Romanian protests
Since the main grievance of the protesters (the government interfering with the fight against corruption) was not addressed, but rather gradually joined by the attempts of the parliament to relax the anti-corruption laws, the protests continued on an almost daily basis throughout the country, with more and more protesters demanding early elections in addition to the resignation of the government. After the winter of 2017, the next mass protest was on 20 January 2018, when 50,000 – 100,000 Romanians went to the streets to protest against proposed changes to the penal code and to the justice system laws.


2017–2019 Romanian protests
While protests on a smaller scale continued to happen almost daily, mass protests then erupted again on 10 August 2018, when an anti-government protest with the "Diaspora at Home" motto was held in Bucharest. The 10 August 2018 protest was marked by unprecedented levels of violence in comparison to the other 2017–2018 protests, and lead to an ongoing resurgence of mass protests in Romania.


2017–2019 Romanian protests
So far, protestors have succeeded in compelling the government in 2017 to withdraw the contested ordinance and Florin Iordache, who as justice minister was formally responsible for putting forward the ordinance, resigned shortly thereafter over the scandal that ensued.


2017–2019 Romanian protests, Background
Although the government of Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu repeatedly denied that there were government ordinance bills regarding the pardoning and amnesty of committed crimes, there were strong rumours in the media that the government intended to pass such bills on 18 January 2017, mere days after the government was sworn in. Since the government did not publish the government meeting's agenda for that day, the President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, took it upon himself to attend and preside over the meeting, as envisioned by Article 87 of the Constitution of Romania.


2017–2019 Romanian protests, Background
After a private meeting between the president, the prime minister and the justice minister, the government meeting was convened and presided over by the president together with the prime minister. Despite the prime minister's initial attempt to block the press' attendance and subsequent avoidance of the subject, the president announced to the media that there were two bills regarding the pardoning of crimes and the amendment of the Penal Code of Romania. He further announced that the prime minister assured him that these ordinances would not be passed without a transparent process, which included consulting with the relevant judicial institutions, as well as the public.


2017–2019 Romanian protests, Background
Soon after the government meeting, the Ministry of Justice published the bills on its website and sent them to the relevant judicial institutions for consultations. The government's main stated reason for these bills was that prisons were overcrowded and in order to avoid paying a fine to the European Court of Human Rights, such measures were needed to improve the conditions in prisons.


2017–2019 Romanian protests, Background
After analysing the provisions in the bills, the judicial institutions (including the High Court of Cassation and Justice, the Public Prosecutor's Office, the Superior Council of the Magistracy and the National Anticorruption Directorate) issued negative opinions on the proposed bills, generally stating that the laws would not achieve their stated goals and would rather undermine both the criminal justice system and the fight against corruption.


2017–2019 Romanian protests, Background
Civil society and certain media outlets also took a similar stance against the bills, and claimed that the government's reasoning for these bills conceals an intent to pardon convicted politicians and cease ongoing cases against accused politicians.


2017–2019 Romanian protests, Protests, January 2017
Several thousand Romanians began protests against the reported plans to grant prison pardons and decriminalise certain offences. On 18 January, protests in a few cities were organised on social media against the proposed bills. Around 5,000 people protested throughout Romania, with nearly 4,000 protesters in Bucharest marching from University Square to the government's seat in Victory Square. Smaller protests were held in the cities of Cluj, Sibiu, Iasi and Craiova.


2017–2019 Romanian protests, Protests, January 2017
Following a mobilisation on social media after the initial protest, over 30,000 people protested on 22 January in Bucharest. President Klaus Iohannis participated in the event in order to show his solidarity with the protesters and announced to reporters that "a gang of politicians who have problems with the law want to change the legislation and weaken the state of law, and this is inadmissible ... Romanians are rightly indignant." Liviu Dragnea, the leader of Romania's Social Democratic Party (PSD), reacted by accusing Iohannis of leading a Mineriad and labelling the protests as the beginning of a coup.


2017–2019 Romanian protests, Protests, January 2017
The leader of the party Save Romania Union (USR), Nicușor Dan, and interim leader of the National Liberal Party (PNL), Raluca Turcan, were also present at the protest in support of the protesters. Over 5,000 people also participated at the protests in Cluj-Napoca, and another 4,000 protesters in Timișoara (together with the city's mayor). There were also notable protests in Sibiu, Iasi, Brasov, Bacau and Constanta, as well as solidarity meeting in Copenhagen, Paris, London and Haugesund.


2017–2019 Romanian protests, Protests, January 2017
In what was described as "the largest protest after the Revolution", tens of thousands of people again took to the streets in Romania's main cities on 29 January. Over 50,000 people were attending the protest in Bucharest, while several tens of thousands of protesters were registered across the rest of the country. For instance, some 10,000 people took to the streets in Cluj-Napoca. In total, over 90,000 people attended the protests, according to an estimate by Digi24 TV station.


2017–2019 Romanian protests, Protests, January 2017
In Bucharest, the crowd of protesters gathered in the centre of the city, at University Square, and went on a peaceful march that included planned stops at the media watchdog CNA, the Ministry of Justice, the HQ of the Ombudsman and the government. Solidarity marches took place in several countries abroad, with the largest reported in Brussels, Paris, London, Rome and Copenhagen.


2017–2019 Romanian protests, Protests, January 2017
After the Grindeanu Cabinet approved the aforementioned emergency ordinances on Tuesday evening, 31 January, thus turning them into laws, an impromptu protest took place at Piața Victoriei in front of Victoria Palace, the government seat. Although the government meeting's agenda only included the approval of the proposed 2017 budget, the cabinet secretly introduced and approved the ordinance bills during the meeting that evening. Once the Justice Minister of Romania, Florin Iordache, announced to the press that evening that the bills had been approved, a protest started taking place 30 minutes afterwards.


2017–2019 Romanian protests, Protests, January 2017
Within two hours, the protest swelled to 15,000 people despite the late hours and cold weather. Due to the small initial presence of the gendarmes, the Victoria Palace was surrounded by the protesters and the main entrances blocked (although the people inside managed to leave through other entrances). The protest only subsided by 2 am. Unlike the previous protests, the people participating were visibly more riled up considering the lack of transparency and the lack of consideration of the Romanian society's reactions by the government and PSD. As a result, the protesters were calling for the government's resignation.


2017–2019 Romanian protests, Protests, January 2017
Thousands of people also came out to protest in other cities throughout Romania against the ordinances adopted by the government: Cluj-Napoca (5,000), Timișoara (1,500), Sibiu (2,000), Brașov (1,500), Iași (500), Ploiești (100) and Constanța (100).


2017–2019 Romanian protests, Protests, February 2017
As a result of the government refusing to repeal the ordinances, the protests continued on 1 February with 230,000 to 300,000 people participating throughout the country. So far, these were the largest protests in Romania since the fall of Communism. The calls for the repeal of the ordinances, as well as for the resignation of the government, continued. Around 150,000 people peacefully protested in Bucharest.


2017–2019 Romanian protests, Protests, February 2017
The rest of the protests throughout the country were started and ended peacefully, with the participation being as follows: Cluj-Napoca: 35,000, Timișoara: 20,000, Sibiu: 20,000, Iași: 10,000, Brașov: 8,000, Târgu-Mureş: 6,000, Constanța: 5,000, Bacău: 6,000, Alba Iulia: 5,000, Craiova: 4,000, Galați: 3,500, Arad: 2,500, Mediaş: 2,000, and Brăila: 1,000. There were also protests in cities throughout Europe with large Romanian immigrant communities, mostly in London, Paris, Munich, Brussels, Dublin, Turin, Copenhagen and Stockholm.


2017–2019 Romanian protests, Protests, February 2017
On 2 February, over 200,000 people protested, with 80,000 in Bucharest. On each of the next two days, more than 300,000 people participated in protests with more than 150,000 in Bucharest alone.


2017–2019 Romanian protests, Protests, February 2017
Although the Grindeanu Cabinet adopted a new ordinance bill repealing the original bill, on 5 February, between 500,000 and 600,000 people participated in the largest protests in Romania's history. The uncertain constitutionality of the new ordinance as well as the refusal of the government to meet any other demands, including the resignation of the entire cabinet, especially the justice minister, and new elections, led the protesters to question the government's determination and the finality of the matter.


2017–2019 Romanian protests, Protests, February 2017
Furthermore, Prime Minister Grindeanu stated that the government would try instead to pass the majority of the content from the original ordinance in a new bill through Parliament (where PSD and ALDE have a comfortable majority), angering protesters further. According to estimates by Digi24, 300,000 people were present at the protest in Bucharest, followed by Cluj-Napoca (50,000), Sibiu (45,000), Timișoara (40,000), Iași (30,000), Ploiești (15,000), Brașov (10,000), Craiova (10,000), Baia Mare (8,000), Constanța (7,000), Oradea (5,000) and Bacău (5,000). Hotnews.ro provided a lower estimate for Bucharest, of 250,000.


2017–2019 Romanian protests, Protests, February 2017
An estimated 50,000 people continued to protest on 6 February demanding the resignation of Grindeanu Cabinet, with between 20,000 and 25,000 protesting in front of the Government's building in Bucharest, and some other 25,000 protesters around the country. As many as 15,000 people protested throughout the country with 8,000 in Bucharest on 7 February, and on 8 February, over 9,000 protesters in Bucharest and 8,000 in the rest of the country.


2017–2019 Romanian protests, Protests, February 2017
For the 13th consecutive day of protests on 12 February, 50,000 to 70,000 people participated in protests in front of the Victoria Palace, and 30,000 to 33,000 were elsewhere throughout the country, of which 10,000 to 14,000 protested in Cluj-Napoca, 7,000 to 10,000 in Sibiu, 3,000 to 5,000 in Timișoara, 3,000 in Iasi, 1,500 in Brasov, 500 in Constanta, 400 in Craiova, 300 in Galati, and 300 in Oradea.


2017–2019 Romanian protests, Protests, The protest continues
A few protesters have been present in Victory Square, Bucharest almost every day since February 2017. After only six months in power, Sorin Grindeanu was removed from the office of Prime Minister by his own party (PSD), after an internal power struggle. Afterwards, Mihai Tudose, a vice-president of PSD, became on 26 June 2017 the new Prime Minister of Romania. Protests continued in Bucharest during the Tudose Cabinet, which continued to try to implement in various ways many of the controversial measures that started the protests in January 2017.


2017–2019 Romanian protests, Protests, The protest continues
Mihai Tudose later, after an internal power struggle, resigned on 15 January 2018 from his office. On 20 January 2018, somewhere between 50,000 and 100,000 people joined an anti-corruption march in Bucharest. After Tudose, Viorica Dăncilă, a PSD member of the European Parliament, was nominated to be the new Prime Minister of Romania. Viorica Dăncilă took office on 29 January 2018. During her time as Prime Minister, the protests against the government and parliament have continued, and since February 2018 have gradually grown in size and intensity.


2017–2019 Romanian protests, Protests, August 2018
Fresh anti-government protests took place on August 10, 2018. The event, entitled "Diaspora at Home", was organized and promoted by Romanians living abroad (the Romanian diaspora), who returned home in large numbers for the protest. Up to 100,000 protesters gathered in front of the Victoria Palace, the government headquarters located in the centre of Bucharest. Over 40,000 people protested in other major cities across the country, including 15,000 in Cluj-Napoca, 10,000 in Iași, 10,000 in Sibiu, 6,000 in Timișoara, 5,000 in Brașov, 3,500 in Baia Mare, 1,500 in Constanța, 1,500 in Galați, 1,000 in Bistrița, 1,000 in Craiova and others.


2017–2019 Romanian protests, Protests, August 2018
Protesters asked for the resignation of the Dăncilă Cabinet (the 129th Romanian government, led by prime-minister Viorica Dăncilă), unhappy with the governing of the ruling Social Democratic Party (PSD). This included the governmental decision-making on judicial legislation and the attempted modification of the criminal (or penal) code, the dismissal of the Prosecutor General of the National Anticorruption Directorate, Laura Codruța Kövesi, the gaffes of the prime minister and the fact that the leader of the Social Democratic Party, Liviu Dragnea, is head of the Chamber of Deputies despite having been sentenced to prison.


2017–2019 Romanian protests, Protests, August 2018
The protest in Bucharest started out peacefully, but was marked by the violent attack of the police force in response to some of the protesters who attempted to force their way into a government building. (the gendarmes). The gendarmes use tear-gas, pepper spray, a water cannon and gas grenades, at the order of the prefect of Bucharest, Speranța Cliseru., on the civilian population, indiscriminately. Reportedly, some of the attendees, presumably protesters, were violent themselves, but the majority of the people gathered in Victoria Square was peaceful protesters.


2017–2019 Romanian protests, Protests, August 2018
Many people were badly beaten by the police (men or women), some were hit until they fainted. At least one person underwent surgery for the removal of explosives used by the police on the civilians. Images posted on social media showed unarmed protesters being beaten by the gendarmes. The Austrian national public broadcaster ORF reported that one of their cameramen covering the protest in Bucharest was beaten up by gendarmes.


2017–2019 Romanian protests, Protests, August 2018
The Romanian news website Hotnews.ro reported as well that one of their journalists was beaten by riot police while "live broadcasting on Facebook an intervention of the riot police on Victoriei Avenue, close to Victoriei Square where most of the protest took place". The Israeli embassy released a statement that according to the evidence they had at the time (13 August), it seemed that four Israeli tourists who were in the area of the protests were dragged out of their taxi and beaten up by the law enforcement forces. In total during the protests on 10 August and in the clashes the followed that night, 452 people were injured and 70 were hospitalized, including 3 gendarmes.


2017–2019 Romanian protests, Protests, August 2018
In the aftermath of the violence, the Save Romania Union, one of the opposition parties, requested the resignation of the Minister of Internal Affairs, Carmen Dan, and the head of the Romanian Gendarmerie, Sebastian Cucoș. The Romanian president, Klaus Iohannis, also condemned the "brutal intervention of the gendarmerie, vastly disproportionate relative to the actions of the majority of those in Victoria Square".


2017–2019 Romanian protests, Protests, August 2018
In response, Liviu Dragnea, the leader of the Social Democratic Party, said that "the declaration of president Iohannis is practically an act of subversion of the authority of the state" and that "through this attitude, president Iohannis proves once again that he is the political sponsor of violence and extremist activities".


2017–2019 Romanian protests, Protests, August 2018
The events on 10 August also lead to international reactions. Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz strongly condemned the "violent confrontations in Bucharest, at which numerous protesters and journalists were injured" and wished a "speedy recovery to the injured ORF cameraman". Amnesty International called for "prompt, thorough, independent and impartial investigations by civilian authorities into the allegations of unnecessary and excessive use of force by the gendarmerie against participants of a protest in Bucharest on 10 August".


2017–2019 Romanian protests, Protests, August 2018
The European Commission stated through its spokesperson that it is "closely following the events in Romania" and that "The protesters critiqued the decline of the progress in the domains of judicial reforms and in the fight against corruption. In the context of the Mechanism for Cooperation and Verification, the European Commission follows the events with worry and gives an increased importance to the independence of the judiciary system and of the fight against corruption. Peaceful protests ended in violence. Violence can never be a solution in politics".


2017–2019 Romanian protests, Protests, August 2018
On 11 August, around 30,000 to 65,000 people continued to protest in front of the Victoria Palace in Bucharest, with an extra 15,000 to 20,000 protesting in other major cities across the country. The protest, titled "We won't leave until you leave" (with reference to the Dăncilă Cabinet) had no violent incidents, although 12 people were treated for panic attacks, hypertension and fainting.


2017–2019 Romanian protests, Counterprotests
Starting with the afternoon of 5 February 2017, a much smaller crowd of people rallied in support of the Grindeanu government at Cotroceni Palace. Between 1,500 and 2,500 people rallied, demanded the resignation of President Klaus Iohannis. The following day, around 4,000 counter-protesters also met in front of Cotroceni Palace, and afterwards approximately 2,000 people on 7 February 2017.


2017–2019 Romanian protests, Counterprotests
As snowy weather swept Bucharest of 8 February 2017, President Iohannis went out to meet the 100 people protesting in front of the Cotroceni Palace against his presidency, in order to speak with them and give them tea. He told the protesters that "we are all Romanians", as a response to many protesters claiming he is against the Romanian population due to his German ethnicity. The dialogue quickly broke down as protesters were shouting against him, uninterested in establishing a discussion, and he left soon after. The anti-Iohannis protest attracted 400 people that day.


2017–2019 Romanian protests, Counterprotests
On 12 February 2017, the pro-government/anti-Iohannis protest continued for its 9th day with 400 protesters.


2017–2019 Romanian protests, Counterprotests
On 9 June 2018, the ruling Social Democratic Party (PSD) organised a pro-government rally in Bucharest, which had over 100,000 attendants.


2017–2019 Romanian protests, Reactions, Klaus Iohannis
After receiving negative opinions from the judicial institutions regarding the government ordinance bills, President of Romania Klaus Iohannis stated on 20 January 2017 that the presidency requested the government to withdraw the government proposals.


2017–2019 Romanian protests, Reactions, Klaus Iohannis
Following the protests on 22 January 2017, Klaus Iohannis announced that he would call for a referendum in order for the public opinion to have a say on these controversial issues. He rebutted Dragnea's claims of a coup by declaring that PSD was attempting a coup d'état against the rule of law in the country, and that Romanians had the right to vote on these issues, especially since they were not part of PSD's electoral programme upon which they won the 2016 parliamentary elections.


2017–2019 Romanian protests, Reactions, Liviu Dragnea
Liviu Dragnea stated on 23 January 2017 that the President's attendance at the government meeting on 18 January 2017 was unconstitutional, and that he was attempting a coup against a democratically elected government by participating (and "leading") the protest on 22 January 2017. Furthermore, he stated that the President has been insistent in blocking the implementation of PSD's electoral programme, and that the president's actions risked the possibility of his suspension by the Parliament.


2017–2019 Romanian protests, Reactions, Romanian government
Despite the negative reactions from the relevant judicial institutions, as well as the massive protests that took place throughout the country, the Grindeanu Cabinet, especially Florin Iordache (Justice Minister), repeatedly restated their position in favour of the bills. However, before 1 February 2017, Florin Iordache was seemingly backing down by leaning towards the option of the laws not being passed as Emergency Government Ordinances, but rather being sent to Parliament after the public consultations and modifications have been made.


2017–2019 Romanian protests, Reactions, Romanian government
On 31 January 2017, the Grindeanu Cabinet had a meeting during the evening and the published agenda announced that the 2017 Budget will be discussed and passed. However, the emergency ordinance bill regarding the modification of the Penal Code and Penal Procedure Code was introduced during the meeting, even though it was not listed in the agenda, nor the supplementary agenda list. During the meeting, the emergency government ordinance was passed by the government. A mere five hours after its approval, the ordinance was published in the Monitorul Oficial (the government gazette), thus turning the bill into law.


2017–2019 Romanian protests, Reactions, Romanian government
The law were barely modified since the initial draft, and in fact certain aspects of crimes were decriminalised, such as limiting the crime of "favouring the offender", which were not included the initial draft during public consultations. The lack of transparency in passing the bill, as well as the final form of the law, has been interpreted as a lack of consideration of the reactions received by the government and PSD from various parts of Romanian society.


2017–2019 Romanian protests, Reactions, Romanian government
On 5 February 2017, due to the pressure of the ongoing protests, the Grindeanu Cabinet adopted a new ordinance (OUG 14/2017) repealing the original bill (OUG 13/2017) that modified the Penal Code and Penal Procedure Code. However, questions surrounding the new ordinance's constitutionality arose, which were affirmed by Justice Minister Iordache the following day when he stated that the intent was to bring the two Codes back to their prior form (including the resulting unconstitutionality).


2017–2019 Romanian protests, Reactions, Romanian government
Furthermore, Prime Minister Grindeanu stated that the government will instead try to pass the content from the original ordinance in a new bill through Parliament (where PSD and ALDE have a comfortable majority). Other than that, the government refused to meet any other demands that day, such as the resignation of the cabinet.


2017–2019 Romanian protests, Reactions, Romanian government
On 6 February 2017, the Ministry of Justice announced that the intended bill for modifying the two Codes would not be drafted and sent to Parliament for the time being.


2017–2019 Romanian protests, Reactions, Romanian government
On 8 February 2017, the Minister of Justice, Florian Iordache, announced his resignation with immediate effect due to the scandal that ensued from the controversial ordinance that modified the two penal codes.


2017–2019 Romanian protests, Reactions, Constitutional Court
The Superior Council of Magistracy (CSM), as well as the Presidency, notified the Constitutional Court on 1 and 2 February 2017 respectively that there was a constitutional conflict between the relevant institutions (government, parliament and CSM) with regards to the procedure chosen by the government to pass the controversial ordinance.


2017–2019 Romanian protests, Reactions, Constitutional Court
On 8 February 2017, the Constitutional Court ruled the following: "A constitutional conflict did not exist between the Executive Power (Government) and the Legislative (Parliament), because the Government decision to adopt the Government ordinance bills regarding the modification of the Penal Code and the Penal Procedural Code cannot be qualified as an act of arrogation of legislative powers that otherwise belongs to the Parliament. By adopting the Government ordinance bills, the Government acted in accordance with its own competences, as expressly provided in Art. 117 of the Constitution. ... A constitutional conflict did not exist between the Executive Power and the Supreme Council of the Magistracy (CSM), because the Government does not have legal obligation to request approval from the CSM for such ordinances."


2017–2019 Romanian protests, Reactions, Embassies
The embassies of Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Netherlands and the United States released a strong-worded statement against the passing of the ordinances, both in terms of how it was passed, as well as their content. The statement explained that these actions have undermined the rule of law and stifled the fight against corruption. They further explained that the government's actions risk damaging Romania's partnership with the European Union and NATO.


2017–2019 Romanian protests, Reactions, American Chamber of Commerce
The American Chamber of Commerce in Romania (AmCham) issued a statement which said that "[i]t is extremely worrying for the business community and society as a whole, that legislative pieces with such moral, societal and economic implications with immediate and long term effects are adopted by the government without observing the minimum requirements of transparency in decision-making".


2017–2019 Romanian protests, Reactions, United States Department of State
On 27 November 2017 the United States Department of State issued a statement noting concern that the Parliament of Romania is considering legislation that could undermine the fight against corruption and weaken judicial independence in Romania. They consider the legislation which was originally proposed by the Ministry of Justice to threaten the progress Romania has made in recent years to build strong judicial institutions shielded from political interference. The United States Department of State has urged the Parliament of Romania to reject proposals that weaken the rule of law and endanger the fight against corruption.


2017–2019 Saudi Arabian purge
The 2017–19 Saudi Arabian purge was the mass arrest of a number of prominent Saudi Arabian princes, government ministers, and business people in Saudi Arabia on 4 November 2017 and the following few weeks after the creation of an anti-corruption committee led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.


2017–2019 Saudi Arabian purge
There are three alternate hypotheses regarding the motives behind the purge: a genuine corruption crackdown, a project to gain money, or preparing to take over the crown.


2017–2019 Saudi Arabian purge
The detainees were confined at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Riyadh (which had hosted the announcement for the planned city of Neom on 24 October 2017), which subsequently stopped accepting new bookings and told guests to leave. Private jets were also grounded to prevent suspects from fleeing the country.


2017–2019 Saudi Arabian purge
The arrests resulted in the final sidelining of the faction of the King Abdullah and Mohammed bin Salman's complete consolidation of control of all three branches of the security forces, making him the most powerful man in Saudi Arabia since his grandfather, the first King, Ibn Saud.


2017–2019 Saudi Arabian purge
As many as 500 people were rounded up in the sweep. Saudi Arabian banks froze more than 2,000 domestic accounts as part of the crackdown. According to The Wall Street Journal, the Saudi government targeted cash and assets worth up to $800 billion. The Saudi authorities claimed that amount was composed of assets worth around $300 billion to $400 billion that they can prove was linked to corruption.


2017–2019 Saudi Arabian purge
Attorney General Sheikh Saud Al Motjeb said in a statement that the arrests were "merely the start of a vital process to root out corruption wherever it exists." He added that those detained would have access to legal counsel and pledges to hold trials "in a timely and open manner." Meanwhile, King Salman appointed 26 new judges.


2017–2019 Saudi Arabian purge
Mohammed bin Salman stated that  "We show them all the files that we have and as soon as they see those about 95 percent agree to a settlement... About 1 percent are able to prove they are clean and their case is dropped right there. About 4 percent say they are not corrupt and with their lawyers want to go to court." When asked about reports of cash and assets totaling $800 billion that belong to the people accused of corruption, the official said, "Even if we get 100 billion back, that would be good."


2017–2019 Saudi Arabian purge
The anti-corruption committee has ended its missions on 30 January 2019, concluding that 381 individuals were ordered, some of them to hear their testimony, and $107 billion was recovered to the state treasury as a result. Many commentators claimed that the move appeared to end the structure of consensus-based governance in Saudi Arabia and may create strain within the Saudi royal family.


2017–2019 Saudi Arabian purge, Allegations
The allegations include money laundering, bribery, extorting officials, and taking advantage of public office for personal gain.


2017–2019 Saudi Arabian purge, Allegations, Tiger Squad
According to the Middle East Eye, an assassination campaign against critics of the monarchy was carried out in parallel to the overt arrests of the purge, by the Tiger Squad, which was formed in 2017 and as of October 2018, consisted of 50 secret service and military personnel. The group members were recruited from different branches of the Saudi forces, directing several areas of expertise.


2017–2019 Saudi Arabian purge, Allegations, Tiger Squad
The Tiger Squad allegedly assassinates dissidents using varying methods, such as planned car and aircraft accidents, house fires, and poisoning at hospitals under the pretenses of regular health checkups. The five-member squad were also the part of the 15-member death squad who assassinated Jamal Khashoggi.


2017–2019 Saudi Arabian purge, Allegations, Tiger Squad
According to the sources, bin Salman chose silent murder instead of arrest as the method of repression due to the fact that only arresting the dissidents sparks international pressures for releasing them, whereas silent murder covers it up quietly. Prince Mansour bin Muqrin died under mysterious circumstances, allegedly assassinated when his personal aircraft was shot down as he fled the country - made to appear as merely an accident. Meshal Saad al-Bostani, a member of the Tiger Squad and a lieutenant in the Saudi airforce was allegedly behind the murder, but he himself was also later murdered by poison, but reported to have died as a result of a car accident.


2017–2019 Saudi Arabian purge, Allegations, Tiger Squad
Another victim was Suliman Abdul Rahman al-Thuniyan, a Saudi court judge who was murdered by injection of a deadly virus when he visited a hospital for a regular health checkup. This took place after he had opposed bin Salman's 2030 Economic Vision.


2017–2019 Saudi Arabian purge, Allegations, Corruption
King Salman stated that the anti-corruption committee need to "identify offences, crimes and persons and entities involved in cases of public corruption". He also referred to the "exploitation by some of the weak souls who have put their own interests above the public interest, in order to illicitly accrue money".


2017–2019 Saudi Arabian purge, Allegations, Extremism
On 24 October 2017 Mohammad bin Salman who ordered the arrests, told investors in Riyadh that "We are returning to what we were before, a country of moderate Islam that is open to all religions and to the world". He also pledged to counter "extremism very soon".


2017–2019 Saudi Arabian purge, List of involved people
Those arrested, detained, sanctioned or removed from their posts include, but are not limited to:


2017–2019 Saudi Arabian purge, Reactions
According to Sam Blatteis, Middle East Public Policy Manager for Deloitte and a former Google head of public policy in the Persian Gulf, "This is the closest thing in the Middle East to glasnost"; other businessmen have compared the purge to Russian president Vladimir Putin's politically-motivated attacks on Russian oligarchs. The Economist likened the purge to the anti-corruption campaign under Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Communist Party of China. Thomas Friedman at The New York Times called it Saudi Arabia's Arab Spring.


2017–2019 Saudi Arabian purge, Reactions
In Saudi Arabia the purge was supported by the Council of Senior Scholars.


2017–2019 Saudi Arabian purge, Aftermath
The 2017 purge of the Saudi political and business elite was followed in 2018 by arrests of 17 women's rights activists, including Aziza al-Yousef, Loujain al-Hathloul, Eman al-Nafjan, Aisha al-Mana and Madeha al-Ajroush as well as Hatoon al-Fassi, a women's rights activist and associate professor of women's history. Eastern Province human rights activist Israa al-Ghomgham and her husband, already in prison since December 2015, were under legal threat of beheading along with four colleagues, with a final hearing to take place on 28 October 2018 in the Specialized Criminal Court.


2017–2019 Saudi Arabian purge, Aftermath
On 19 November 2020, some of the Saudi detainees from the night of Ritz-Carlton corruption purge anonymously disclosed details of the torture they endured and coercion by Saudi Arabia. The detainees claim that they were beaten and intimidated by authorities under the supervision of two ministers, who were both close confidantes of the crown prince Mohammed bin Salman who ordered the purge.


2017–2019 Saudi Arabian purge, Committee conclusion
On 30 January 2019, the Saudi King Salman reviewed the final report submitted by the committee chairman stating that 381 individuals were ordered and some of them as witnesses. Settlements were made with 87 individual resulting in recovering  $107 billion in the form of real estate, companies, cash, and other assets. The report also stated that Saudi Arabia's Public Prosecutor rejected the settlements with 56 individual due to already existing criminal charges against them, while eight individuals denied the settlements and were referred to the Public Prosecutor.


2017–2019 eruptions of Mount Agung
Mount Agung, a volcano on the island of Bali in Indonesia, erupted five times in late November 2017, causing thousands to evacuate, disrupting air travel and causing environmental damage. As of 27 November 2017, the alert level was at its highest and evacuation orders were in place.


2017–2019 eruptions of Mount Agung
Tectonic earthquakes from the volcano had been detected since early August 2017, and volcanic activity intensified for several weeks before decreasing significantly in late October. A second, more violent period of major activity began in late November. Agung has since had eruptions in January, June, July and December 2018 and January, February, March, April, May and June 2019.


2017–2019 eruptions of Mount Agung, Background, 1843 eruption
After having been dormant for a long time, this year the mountain began to be alive again. In the first days of the activity earthquake shocks were felt after which followed the emission of ash, sand and stones.


2017–2019 eruptions of Mount Agung, Background, 1963 eruption
Mount Agung's 1963 eruption was among the most catastrophic volcanic events in Indonesian history. After initial explosions in the crater on 18 February of that year, lava began flowing down the mountain on 24 February, eventually traveling 7 km over the next three weeks. On 17 March, a highly explosive eruption occurred, reaching a VEI (Volcanic Explosivity Index) of 5 and sending lethal pyroclastic flows at high speeds down the mountain's slopes, killing at least 1,500 people. Heavy rainfall mixed with ash from the eruption in the following days caused extensive lahars which killed about 200 more people. A smaller eruption occurred on 16 May, sending pyroclastic flows down the mountain once more, killing about 200 more people. By the time the eruptions ceased in early 1964, they had claimed about 1,900 lives, marking the event as the 8th deadliest volcanic eruption of the 20th century.


2017–2019 eruptions of Mount Agung, Background, 1963 eruption
Since 1963, the population of Bali has nearly doubled. Mount Agung is therefore considered highly dangerous by Indonesian authorities. This concern was the primary reason behind their decision to evacuate more than 100,000 people in response to the surge in local tectonic activity in the latter half of 2017.


2017–2019 eruptions of Mount Agung, Major activity in 2017, August
Volcanic earthquakes were observed from 10 August 2017 and the intensity increased in the following weeks.


2017–2019 eruptions of Mount Agung, Major activity in 2017, September
On 30 September 2017, an increase of rumbling and seismic activity around the volcano made people raise the alert to the highest level and about 122,500 people were evacuated from their homes around the volcano. The Indonesian National Disaster Management Authority declared a 12-kilometer exclusion zone around the volcano on 24 September. A plume was observed on 13 September.


2017–2019 eruptions of Mount Agung, Major activity in 2017, September
Evacuees gathered in sports halls and other community buildings around Klungkung, Karangasem, Buleleng, and other areas. The monitoring station is in Tembuku, Rendang, Karangasem Regency, where intensity and frequency of tremors were monitored for signs of the imminent large eruption.


2017–2019 eruptions of Mount Agung, Major activity in 2017, September
The area experienced 844 volcanic earthquakes on 25 September, and 300 to 400 earthquakes by midday on 26 September. Seismologists have been alarmed at the force and frequency of the incidents as it has taken much less for similar volcanoes to erupt.


2017–2019 eruptions of Mount Agung, Major activity in 2017, October
In late October 2017, the activity of the volcano decreased significantly, leading to lowering of the alert status on 29 October.


2017–2019 eruptions of Mount Agung, Major activity in 2017, October
The alert level remained at 3 (out of 4) until the start of the second major activity period, and plumes were observed during this time.


2017–2019 eruptions of Mount Agung, Major activity in 2017, November, 21 November
A small phreatic eruption was reported at 09:05 on 21 November (UTC), with the top of the ash cloud reaching 3,842 metres (12,605 ft) above sea level. Thousands of people immediately fled the area, and over 29,000 temporary refugees were housed in over 270 locations nearby.


2017–2019 eruptions of Mount Agung, Major activity in 2017, November, 25 November
A magmatic eruption began early on Saturday morning, 25 November. The eruption plume rose 1.5–4 km above the summit crater, drifting towards the south and dusting the surroundings with a thin layer of dark ash, leading some airlines to cancel flights bound for Australia and New Zealand. An orange glow was later observed around the crater at night, confirming that fresh magma had reached the surface.


2017–2019 eruptions of Mount Agung, Major activity in 2017, November, 26 November
At 23:37 on 26 November (UTC), another eruption occurred. Ngurah Rai International Airport was closed next day, leaving many tourists stranded. More than 100,000 people in a 10-kilometre (6.2 mi) radius of the volcano were ordered to evacuate.


2017–2019 eruptions of Mount Agung, Major activity in 2017, November, 27 November
Sunday 26 November's eruption continued at a constant rate, and lahars were reported in the Selat district south of the volcano. The Australian Government's Bureau of Meteorology reported that the top of the eruption column had reached an altitude of 9,144 m (5.7 miles). Ash continued to spread in a southeasterly direction, and estimates by the Pacific Disaster Center predicted that the resulting atmospheric ash exposure would affect up to 5.6 million people within the densely populated region surrounding the volcano.


2017–2019 eruptions of Mount Agung, Major activity in 2017, November, 29 November
Reductions in eruption intensity and wind dispersal of the ash cloud led authorities to reopen Ngurah Rai International Airport at 07:00 (UTC). Authorities also warned that the eruption volume could increase again at any time, potentially shutting down air traffic once more.


2017–2019 eruptions of Mount Agung, Activity in 2018, January
The volcano erupted once again on 11 January, sending plumes of smoke and ash, while Indonesia's Bali international airport was declared safe, operating normally. The eruption column was reported to rise 2.5 km above the mountain.


2017–2019 eruptions of Mount Agung, Activity in 2018, June
Agung erupted on 12 June, sending plumes of smoke and ash some 2,000 meters above the volcano's summit. No flights were affected from the event.


2017–2019 eruptions of Mount Agung, Activity in 2018, June
On 28 June, water vapour and volcanic ash emission were detected from Mount Agung up to two kilometres into the air. The Ngurah Rai Airport was closed due to the event.


2017–2019 eruptions of Mount Agung, Activity in 2018, July
Agung erupted again 3 July due to a minor strombolian explosion. 700 people living near the crater were evacuated. No flights were affected.


2017–2019 eruptions of Mount Agung, Activity in 2018, December
On the morning of 30 December, the volcano sent ash skywards as it erupted for about three minutes, spewing white clouds of smoke and ash more than 700m into the air. Several villages in Bali were covered in a thin layer of ash, but no smoke or lava was detected coming from the volcano and no evacuation has been ordered.


2017–2019 eruptions of Mount Agung, Major activity in 2019, January
Agung erupted on 10 January, producing columns of volcanic ash. The summit of the volcano was covered by thick haze during eruption and thus the height of the ash could not be seen.


2017–2019 eruptions of Mount Agung, Major activity in 2019, February
On 22 February, volcanic ash plume that rose up to estimated 14000 ft (4300 m) altitude or flight level 140


2017–2019 eruptions of Mount Agung, Major activity in 2019, March
Explosive activity continues on 8 March or the day after Nyepi, with a volcanic ash plume that rose up to estimated 12000 ft (3700 m) altitude or flight level 120 and is moving at 10 kts in south east direction.


2017–2019 eruptions of Mount Agung, Major activity in 2019, March
Mt. Agung erupted again on 28 March. Bali's I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport operated normally despite the eruption, as the airspace above the airport was declared clear of volcanic ash based on a paper test.


2017–2019 eruptions of Mount Agung, Major activity in 2019, April
A 2,000m high column of ash erupted out of Agung on 3 April 2019. The Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) maintained the volcano's alert level at "stay on alert", the third level of the four-tiered alert system. The center also set the danger zone at a 4-kilometer radius from the crater.


2017–2019 eruptions of Mount Agung, Major activity in 2019, May
In late May 2019 an eruption spewed lava and rocks over about 3 km, with some ash fall on nearby villages and temporarily interrupting international flights.


2017–2019 eruptions of Mount Agung, Major activity in 2019, June
Another explosion occurred at the volcano at 13 June 2019, 01:38 local time. A Vulcanian eruption ejected much incandescent material to distances of at least 700 m from the crater and generated an ash plume that rose to 30,000 ft (9000 m) altitude and drifting south over Denpasar.


2017–2019 eruptions of Mount Agung, Major activity in 2019, June
According to PVMBG, the eruption lasted almost 10 minutes, marking it one of the longest in the recent series of such Vulcanian explosions. A small earthquake swarm and slight inflation on 12 June 2019 preceded the eruption.


2017–2019 eruptions of Mount Agung, Impact
The 2017 eruption caused some 40,000 people to be evacuated from 22 villages around Mount Agung. It also caused surrounding airports to be closed. Lombok International Airport, on the neighboring island of Lombok, closed on 26 November, but was reopened the next morning, only to be closed again on 30 November. Lombok's airport reopened on 1 December. Ngurah Rai International Airport, located at the southern tip of the island and southwest of the volcano, closed on 27 November. More than 400 flights were canceled and about 59,000 passengers remained grounded. The airport was reopened on 29 November. This eruption also caused a decline in tourism on Bali by about 30%.


2017–2019 transport strikes in the Philippines
The 2017–2019 Philippine jeepney drivers' strike is a series of protest and strike action staged by jeepney drivers in the Philippines to oppose the government's plan to phaseout jeepneys over 15 years old. The strike, which started on February 6, caused hundreds of passengers to be stranded and prompted universities, cities, and towns to suspend classes. Part of the protest is to forward an alternative on modernization based upon national industrialization and not corporate takeover.


2017–2019 transport strikes in the Philippines, Protests, 2017, Suspension of classes
Afternoon classes in the cities of Manila, Malabon, and Pasay were suspended. Classes in Adamson University, Colegio de San Juan de Letran, De La Salle University, Far Eastern University, National University, University of the Philippines Manila, and University of Santo Tomas were also suspended.


2017–2019 transport strikes in the Philippines, Protests, 2017, Suspension of classes
On the evening of February 26, Malacañang Palace, through the Office of the Executive Secretary, suspended the classes for elementary and secondary levels in Metro Manila. Several universities, cities and towns—such as Makati, Iloilo City, Talisay, Cebu, Mandaue, Navotas, Pateros, Cainta, Parañaque, Taytay, Valenzuela, Bacolod, and Antipolo—have suspended classes.


2017–2019 transport strikes in the Philippines, Protests, 2017, October 16–17
On October 15, 2017, Malacañang announced that classes and government work were suspended throughout the Philippines on the second day of strike, October 17, 2017, due to the third strike. The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) suspended the enforcement of the Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP), known as the number coding scheme on October 17, 2017, the second day of the strike. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced that its consular offices closed on the first day of strike, October 16, 2017.


2017–2019 transport strikes in the Philippines, Protests, 2018, March 19
On March 19, 2018, PISTON held the fourth protest against the jeepney modernization.


2017–2019 transport strikes in the Philippines, Protests, 2018, March 19
Malacañang announced that classes suspended throughout Metro Manila on March 19, 2018, due to the strike.


2017–2019 transport strikes in the Philippines, Protests, 2018, June 25
On June 25, 2018, Piston held the fifth protest against the jeepney modernization.


2017–2019 transport strikes in the Philippines, Protests, 2018, June 25
Albay Governor Al Francis Bichara announced on June 22 that classes suspended in some portions of Albay due to the strike on June 25.


2017–2019 transport strikes in the Philippines, Protests, 2019, September 30
On September 30, 2019, Piston held the sixth protest against the jeepney modernization.


2017–2019 transport strikes in the Philippines, Protests, 2019, September 30
Classes are suspended in several areas in the Philippines due to the strike.


2017–2019 world oil market chronology, 2017
Despite the promises of lower output from other countries, no evidence of changes was seen. U.S. output was higher. Also, China's economic problems caused concern. Brent fell 3% in the second week of the year to $55.45. WTI fell to $52.37 for a nearly 3% loss. On January 18, with a strong dollar and expectations of higher U.S. production, Brent fell to $53.92 and WTI to $51.08. With U.S. production and inventories up, even a lower dollar and decreased production by OPEC nations did not cause oil prices to rise as much as they could have. WTI reached $53.07 and Brent $55.44 on January 26.


2017–2019 world oil market chronology, 2017
On February 8, the U.S. Energy Information Administration reported the second-largest increase in oil supplies, the day after WTI reached $52.17 and Brent reached $55.05, the lowest in three weeks for both, thanks to a strong dollar. Still, prices moved higher on February 8. With the increase in U.S. supplies and OPEC's plan to keep cutting production, oil ended the next week down, with WTI at $53.40 and Brent crude at $55.81.


2017–2019 world oil market chronology, 2017
On February 22, Qatar oil minister Mohammed Saleh Al Sada said countries not in OPEC were not cutting production as much as expected, and oil fell as a result. Continued increases in U.S. crude inventories also contributed to a decline, with WTI at $53.59 and Brent at $55.76.


2017–2019 world oil market chronology, 2017
After U.S. inventories reached a record at the end of February, oil fell for three straight days and closed at its lowest level in nearly a month, with WTI at $52.61 and Brent at $55.08. Oil continued to fall, with Brent crude reaching $51.50, the lowest since November 30, on March 9, a day after a 5% drop, the most it had moved in a day all year. WTI fell more than 5% March 8 and closed at $49.28 the next day, the lowest since November.


2017–2019 world oil market chronology, 2017
WTI fell to $47.36 on March 14, while Brent crude reached $50.25, before lower inventories resulted in higher prices. Crude inventories set a record but gasoline inventories went down more than expected and summer gasoline demand was expected to increase, so while WTI fell to just over $47 on March 22, it finished the day at $48.04. Brent crude fell below $50 but recovered to $50.64. On March 30 with Kuwait's support for continuing OPEC production cuts, U.S. crude rose above $50 for the first time in three weeks, with Brent crude reached $52.92.


2017–2019 world oil market chronology, 2017
Despite high U.S. crude inventories while gasoline inventories moved lower, prices continued to rise, reaching their highest point since March 8 on April 6, with WTI reaching $51.70 and Brent crude $54.89. After Saudi Arabia announced plans to continue lower production beyond the first half of 2017, on April 12, WTI reached $53.36 and Brent crude reached $56.40. On April 14, gas was $2.41, up 33 cents from a year earlier.


2017–2019 world oil market chronology, 2017
On April 19, oil fell 3.8% with the news of an unexpected increase in U.S. gasoline supplies and the news that U.S. crude supplies fell less than they should have with production at its highest since August 2015. WTI still remained above $50 while Brent crude closed just under $53. On April 24, WTI fell below $50 and Brent crude closed at $51.60 due to doubts about OPEC extending production cuts and a statement by Russia that it would increase production.


2017–2019 world oil market chronology, 2017
Despite plans to extend production cuts, on May 4, oil fell to its lowest level since November, with WTI falling to $45.52 and Brent crude reaching $48.26. But with the news that Saudi supplies to Asia were less than expected, and with U.S. inventories down the most since December, and despite higher production from non-OPEC nations reducing demand for OPEC oil, Brent crude finished at $50.72 on May 11 and U.S. light crude rose more than 1% to $47.83.


2017–2019 world oil market chronology, 2017
With expectations production cuts would continue, Brent crude was up for the second week and WTI finished May 18 at $49.35, its highest close since April 26. On May 25, all countries agreed to continue cuts but Brent crude still fell 4%. And despite a sharp drop in U.S. inventories, oil fell another 1% on June 2, with Brent crude reaching $50.25 and WTI down to $47.91.


2017–2019 world oil market chronology, 2017
By June 9, Brent crude was at $47.67, down 12% from May 25, and WTI was at $45.44, down 11%, with limits on production not having the expected effect as supplies continued to rise. OPEC actually increased production and on June 14, Brent crude fell to $48.25 and WTI to $45.94. Excessive worldwide supplies and high U.S. production led to the fourth straight down week as Brent crude finished June 16 at $47.37 and WTI rose to $44.74, a day after oil reached its lowest level in six months. Prices rose slightly with news that although American producers added rigs for a record 22 weeks, the rate of increase was slowing, and that some countries were starting to export less.


2017–2019 world oil market chronology, 2017
With production increasing in Nigeria and Libya, even though U.S. supplies of oil and gasoline were down, Brent crude rose slightly to $44.91 after reaching its lowest point since November, and WTI reached $42.53, its lowest since August, on June 21. With U.S. inventories again continuing to increase and gasoline supplies up despite increased demand, Brent crude fell to $46.32 and WTI reached $43.86 on June 28.


2017–2019 world oil market chronology, 2017
After eight days of gains due to an expected end in a rise in U.S. production, Brent crude fell to $49.43 and WTI to $46.85 on July 4. On July 7, even though U.S. oil and gasoline inventories fell late in June, with both OPEC and U.S. production up, Brent crude fell to $47.53 and WTI to $44.95.


2017–2019 world oil market chronology, 2017
The next week, Brent crude rose 3.5% to $48.24 and WTI 4% to $45.98 as U.S. inventories continued to fall and U.S. production forecasts were cut, though oil inventories were still high, reducing gains from earlier in the week; Sanford C. Bernstein speculated OPEC nations may not have made the cuts intended. On July 31, Brent crude reached $52.93, its highest point since May.


2017–2019 world oil market chronology, 2017
With record demand reported in the United States and lower inventories along with good news on U.S. jobs but continued high production from OPEC nations, on August 4, WTI ended the week at $49.58 and Brent crude reached $52.42 after almost reaching a 10-week high earlier in the week. Both were down less than 1% for the week.


2017–2019 world oil market chronology, 2017
Oil reached its highest level in two and a half months on August 9 but OPEC and exempt nations Nigeria and Libya reported increased output, and oil fell 1.5%, with WTI back below $50 at $48.62 and Brent crude at $51.91 early the next day.


2017–2019 world oil market chronology, 2017
Oil fell 2.5%, more than expected, on August 14. Early the next day WTI was $47.65 and Brent crude was $50.79, both up slightly. Lower production by Libya and China were reported, and a stronger dollar resulted from North Korea delaying a decision to fire a missile toward Guam.


2017–2019 world oil market chronology, 2017
On August 23, oil fell slightly due to higher Libya output, while U.S. gasoline supplies higher than expected even though crude inventories fell, with WTI at $47.63 and Brent crude at $51.61. However, Hurricane Harvey led to higher gas prices and to a reduction of nearly 25% in refinery capacity and 15% in U.S. production. Brent crude fell slightly to $50.93 on August 29, but the difference between Brent and U.S. CLc1 reached the highest level in over two years before declining to $4.92.


2017–2019 world oil market chronology, 2017
While Harvey has had little effect on crude prices, the price of gas reached $2.59 on September 2, up 17.5 cents since August 23 and 16.7% higher than 2016, with more dramatic increases in states dependent on the Colonial Pipeline, which closed until inspection was complete. As of September 11, the price of gas was $2.67.


2017–2019 world oil market chronology, 2017
Brent crude rose 40% from June to October as oil producers were expected to continue lower production, with an increase of 20% in the third quarter, the most for the quarter since 2004, and reaching $59.49 during the final week of September. The increase that week resulted from a threat by Turkey to close a pipeline as a result of the Kurdistan vote for independence. Turkey did not act and oil fell 6% to $56.00 (including a 2.5% drop on October 1) as a result of investors taking advantage of higher prices and forecasts for increased U.S. tight oil (shale oil) production. U.S. CLc1 fell only slightly to $50.42.


2017–2019 world oil market chronology, 2017
On October 12, with U.S. supplies up, WTI was $51.01 and Brent crude $56.65. After four days of higher prices, oil dropped significantly October 19 and rose slightly the next day, with WTI reaching $51.41 and Brent at $57.31. U.S. oil inventories were down 15% since March and lower than in 2016 due to higher exports resulting from WTI being significantly lower than Brent. However, threats to oil supplies due to fighting in Kurdistan were less than feared.


2017–2019 world oil market chronology, 2017
On November 1, WTI reached the highest level since 2015 before settling at $54.30. The next week, WTI reached $57.92, highest since July 2015, and Brent crude $64.65, highest since June 2015. Demand was high, and OPEC cuts and "rising political tensions" were other reasons.


2017–2019 world oil market chronology, 2017
On November 24, WTI reached $59.05, the highest in two years, due to the Keystone Pipeline closing, and optimism about the OPEC deal extension. Gas was $2.52. On November 27, U.S. CLc1 fell 1.4%, finishing the next day at $57.99, with Brent crude at $63.61. Crude supplies had risen the previous week after forecasts for an increase. There was concern about a November 30 meeting to extend OPEC production cuts, while Russia was expected to increase production.


2017–2019 world oil market chronology, 2017
A strong dollar caused prices to fall slightly December 8, with WTI at $56.64 and Brent crude at $62.09. With an outage on the Forties crude pipeline in Great Britain, prices were staying high. Oil fell slightly on December 11 with WTI at $57.10 and Brent crude $63.08 as U.S. production reached levels not seen since the 1970s and the number of rigs continued to increase.


2017–2019 world oil market chronology, 2017
During the last week of 2017, WTI went over $60 for the first time since June 2015 before falling back to $59.69, while Brent crude passed $67 for the first time since May 2015 before falling to $66.50. Pipeline problems in Libya and the North Sea added to production cuts by OPEC and Russia.


2017–2019 world oil market chronology, 2018
Both WTI and Brent began the year above $60 for the first time since 2014. Later in the week WTI reached $62.21 and Brent $68.27, both the highest since May 2015. Protests in Iran added to other factors that were keeping prices high. With U.S. inventories the lowest in three years, and cold weather decreasing U.S. production, oil reached its highest price since December 2014 in mid-January. On January 15, Brent reached $70.37, and the next day, WTI hit $64.89. U.S. production increased and demand was predicted to go down when winter was over, so prices went down. With U.S. crude supplies up for the first time in 11 weeks, WTI ended January at $64.73 after falling for two straight days for the second time in the month.


2017–2019 world oil market chronology, 2018
In February, with U.S. crude supplies up, WTI fell to $61.79, the lowest level in a month, and Brent fell below $66 for the first time in 2018.


2017–2019 world oil market chronology, 2018
With both crude oil stocks and gasoline inventories up, and U.S. production at a high, WTI finished February down 4.8%, the first loss for a month since August, and Brent finished down 4.7%. With reports of higher U.S. crude inventories, a stronger dollar and the stock market down (partly the result of the resignation of Gary Cohn), oil fell 2% March 7, with WTI reaching $61.21 and Brent $64.34. Crude oil supplies continued to rise and oil fell 1.2% early in the week of March 12, with WTI reaching $61.14 and Brent reaching $64.97 early March 15.


2017–2019 world oil market chronology, 2018
Then crude supplies fell and WTI ended March 21 at $65.41 while Brent reached $69.47, both the highest since early February. WTI ended March at $64.94, up 5.6% for the month and 7.7% for the first quarter. Brent finished at $70.27 for an increase of 8.6% for the month and 6.3% for the quarter. One reason was concern over the United States putting sanctions on Iran once again. Also, OPEC wanted prices higher and intended to set targets for crude stocks accordingly. Production in Venezuela was down as well.


2017–2019 world oil market chronology, 2018
On April 11, with the United States planning a response to the Douma chemical attack in the Syrian Civil War, WTI ended the day at $66.82, with Brent at $72.04, both the highest since December 2014.


2017–2019 world oil market chronology, 2018
WTI fell from $69.56 and Brent from $74.74, both the highest since November 2014, on a week when U.S. inventories were lower and gasoline demand was higher.


2017–2019 world oil market chronology, 2018
WTI ended May 18 down slightly at $71.28 but still higher for the third week after reaching its highest level in three and half years twice. Brent rose for the sixth week in a row, the most since 2011, finishing at $78.51 after going over $80 for the first time since November 2014 the previous day. The threat of more sanctions on Iran, the lowest OPEC petroleum stocks in three years, and supply problems in Venezuela were reasons.


2017–2019 world oil market chronology, 2018
Prior to Memorial Day, the number of active U.S. oil rigs increased and WTI fell 4% to $67.88, while Brent fell 3% to $76.44, the lowest since May 8. Media reports indicate OPEC will increase production. Gas was $2.97, the highest of the year.


2017–2019 world oil market chronology, 2018
With OPEC's announcement that it would keep production low through the rest of 2018, WTI rose from its lowest close since April 17 to finish May 30 at $68.21 after five straight days of decline, the longest streak since February. Brent finished at $77.50. The difference between WTI and Brent was increasing, possibly due to tight oil (shale oil).


2017–2019 world oil market chronology, 2018
On June 14, WTI reached $66.89, its highest settlement in two weeks as a result of the largest U.S. supply drop since March, though not as high as it could have been due to record U.S. production for the week. Brent fell to $75.94 due to expectations of higher production from OPEC.


2017–2019 world oil market chronology, 2018
On June 22, WTI finished at $68.58, up 4.6%, and Brent was up 3.4% to $75.55, after OPEC said it would cut production, and U.S. supplies fell with the first reduction in the number of rigs in three months.


2017–2019 world oil market chronology, 2018
WTI ended the first half of 2018 up about 23% to $74.15, the highest since November 2014, up 14% for the second quarter and 11% for the month. Brent was $79.44, the highest since May. Factors included threats to supplies from Libya and proposed sanctions on countries importing oil from Iran. With expectations of increased production worldwide, Brent dropped more than 2% on July 2 to $77.30, while WTI fell slightly to $73.94 due to lower U.S. supplies and Libya exports. For the week ending July 13, WTI fell 3.8% to $71.01 after falling below $70 on July 12. Brent fell 2.3% to $75.33 after reaching $73.40 on July 11, a day when the return of oil from Libya and a change in attitudes toward Iran sanctions led to a nearly 7% drop. Lower U.S. supplies were less of a factor.


2017–2019 world oil market chronology, 2018
WTI rose to $69.46 on July 19 with the announcement that Saudi Arabia exports were expected to fall to prevent oversupply and news of lower than expected U.S. gasoline supplies, but Brent fell to $72.58 with the end of a strike by Norwegian oil workers.


2017–2019 world oil market chronology, 2018
The biggest one-day decline in oil prices in three weeks happened August 8 as crude supplies fell less than expected and demand in China also fell. WTI fell 3.2% from $69.17, the highest since July 30, to $66.91, the lowest since June 21. Brent also fell by 3.2%, to $72.28, the lowest since July 17. WTI fell 3% on August 15 to $65.01 for its lowest close since June 6, while Brent fell 2.4% to $70.76, the lowest since April 9. Crude inventories were rising despite a forecast they would fall.


2017–2019 world oil market chronology, 2018
Then oil rose for five straight days, with WTI reaching $67.86, the highest in two weeks, and Brent reached $74.78, the highest since July 30, as U.S. crude supplies fell more than expected. Possible sanctions on Iran have also contributed. On August 28, WTI fell slightly to $68.53 from its highest finish since August 7; there had been increases seven of the previous nine days. Brent was also down a few cents to $75.95 after the highest finish since July 10. sanctions on Iran and problems in Libya and Venezuela kept prices high. Gas was $2.24.


2017–2019 world oil market chronology, 2018
Despite lower U.S. crude supplies, a number of factors including lower expected demand, problems between the U.S. and China, higher U.S. gasoline and distillate supplies, and economic problems in emerging markets contributed to the lowest finish since August 21 for WTI at $67.77 on September 6. Brent was $76.55. With Hurricane Florence weakening, higher OPEC output and record supplies worldwide, on September 13, WTI fell 2.5% from $70.37, the highest since July 20, while Brent crude fell 2% to $78.17 from the highest since May.


2017–2019 world oil market chronology, 2018
WTI rose nearly 3% October 1 to finish at $75.30, the highest since November 2014, while Brent reached $84.98, the most since October 2014, with the agreement to replace NAFTA and lower Iranian production given as reasons. WTI finished the third quarter down 1.2% but rose 3.5% in its last week, while Brent was up 4.1% for the quarter and 5% for the week. With OPEC production up, on October 4, WTI fell by the largest percentage in a day since August but still ended higher for the fourth week in a row, at $74.90.


2017–2019 world oil market chronology, 2018
Brent was $84.72 after falling 2%. WTI finished at $71.34, down 4% for the week ending October 12, because of higher output and concerns about an economic slowdown. Brent was $80.34. With the fourth increase in U.S. crude supplies, and despite lower production due to Hurricane Michael, on October 18 WTI closed at $68.65, the lowest since September 13, after falling 4% over 2 days. Brent fell to $79.29, lowest since September 21.


2017–2019 world oil market chronology, 2018
WTI fell 2.4% to $67.59 in the week ending October 26, the third down week, and Brent fell 2.7% to $77.62, due to higher production and worries about the world economy. The U.S. became the leading world oil producer, exceeding 11 million barrels a day for the first time ever. This along with the highest OPEC production since 2016 led to WTI dropping 2.5% on November 1 to $63.69, its lowest finish since April, after falling 10.8% in October. Brent fell 2.9% to $72.79, the lowest since August 21 and lower than the 200-day average for the first time since September 2017, after an 8.8% fall in October. Both benchmarks fell the most for a month since July 2016.


2017–2019 world oil market chronology, 2018
Possible reductions in oil production, weak growth worldwide and the Trump administration policy of making exceptions to sanctions against Iran,  for some buyers of Iranian oil all contributed to oil's sixth weekly loss. WTI dropped 6.2% for the week  ending November 16 despite falling to $55.69 on November 13, the lowest close since November 16, 2017. Brent reached $66.76 on November 16, down 4.9%, after falling to $65.47 on November 13.


2017–2019 world oil market chronology, 2018
Low demand and high U.S. inventories contributed to a 6.6% decline for WTI to $53.43, the lowest since October 26, 2017, on November 20. Brent fell 6.4% to $62.53, the lowest since February. At Thanksgiving, gas was $2.62, down more than 20 cents since the start of October. Oil fell the most for any month in ten years. WTI finished at $50.93, up 1% for the week but down 22% for the month, while Brent was $58.71, down 12% for the year. Higher production in the U.S., Russia and some OPEC countries meant too much supply. Losses would have been higher except for speculation about OPEC cuts.


2017–2019 world oil market chronology, 2018
For the week ending December 21, WTI fell 11.4% to $45.59, the lowest since July 2017, and Brent fell 10.7% to $53.82, the lowest since September 2017. Higher U.S. interest rates, more active U.S. oil rigs, higher U.S. crude production and lower expected worldwide demand did not cancel out proposed production cuts by OPEC nations, including definite plans by Saudi Arabia. The same week, gas prices reached $2.37, the lowest in December in two years.


2017–2019 world oil market chronology, 2018
WTI ended 2018 at $45.41 a barrel, off 10.8% the month, 38% for the fourth quarter, and 24.8% for 2018. Brent finished at $53.80 off over 8% for the month, 35% for the quarter, and 19.5% for the year. U.S. crude supplies were down while gasoline supplies were higher.


2017–2019 world oil market chronology, 2019
WTI jumped 5 percent to $52.58 early on January 9, and Brent crude reached $61.58, with an announcement of expected production cuts by Saudi Arabia, though higher U.S. gasoline stocks kept oil from going even higher. Over eight days, oil was up 17 percent. Oil finished January up 18.5 percent (the best ever with records going back as far as 1984) with WTI at $53.79 one day after its highest finish since November, and Brent up 15 percent for the month to $61.89; both gains were the most for a month since April 2016. U.S. crude supplies were lower than expected and sanctions on Venezuela also contributed, as well as interest rate policy which sent stocks higher and the dollar lower.


2017–2019 world oil market chronology, 2019
On the first week in February, WTI fell 4.6 percent, the most since December. Brent crude fell 1 percent. Reasons included an increase in U.S. oil rigs and efforts to get around Venezuela sanctions, as well as concerns over actions by OPEC nations. But WTI rose 5 percent the second week to $55.59, with Brent crude ending the week at $66.25, both the highest since November 19, with lower OPEC output and progress in trade talks between the United States and China.


2017–2019 world oil market chronology, 2019
WTI rose 6.4 percent in February while Brent crude went up 6.7 percent. On March 1, WTI fell 2.5 percent to end the week at $55.80 while Brent crude fell 1.9 percent to $65.07. This was true even though OPEC output reached its lowest level in four years. U.S. economic reports indicated slower growth.


2017–2019 world oil market chronology, 2019
On April 2, WTI closed at $62.58, its highest level since November 5, and Brent closed at $69.37, its highest since November 12. Brent ended the first week of April up 4.1 percent with its first close above $70 since November, and WTI was up for the fifth week, the longest streak since November 2017, finishing 4.9 percent higher at $63.08. Reasons included sanctions on Iran and Venezuela. U.S. inventories were down, but even a higher number of oil rigs did not cancel out the other factors.


2017–2019 world oil market chronology, 2019
In the second week of April, WTI had its sixth gain for the week, while Brent had its third week with an increase. Both fell slightly April 15, WTI to $63.40 and Brent to $71.18, after a report Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov wondered if his country should continue participating in OPEC's lower production goals. U.S. crude production was "in record territory" and expected to go higher.


2017–2019 world oil market chronology, 2019
The third week of April, though short because of the Good Friday holiday, ended with WTI at $64 for its seventh gain for the first time since February 2014. Brent rose for the fourth week, ending at $71.97. This happened even though U.S. crude stocks fell. On April 22, WTI rose to $66.30, with the highest settlement since October resulting from the Trump administration ending waivers for Iranian oil exports, even though U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted that other countries would make up the difference.


2017–2019 world oil market chronology, 2019
Though WTI fell due to higher U.S. crude supplies, Brent reached the highest close since October on April 24 before falling to $74.35 the next day. Gasoline reached $2.84 nationally and $4.70 in parts of California, finally reaching $2.91 on May 4 after rising 67 cents during 2019, the most since 2011 during the same period.


2017–2019 world oil market chronology, 2019
WTI fell for the third week, to $61.66 with Brent falling to $70.62 after Trump's tariffs on imports from China increased, despite lower U.S. crude inventories.


2017–2019 world oil market chronology, 2019
On May 23 when oil fell the most in a day since December (also falling below the 200-day moving average), WTI finished at $57.21, lowest since March 12, in a week when WTI lost nearly 7 percent; Brent finished the week at $68.69 for a nearly 5 percent loss. The declines for the week were the most all year. The trade war with China caused concerns, though possible actions by Trump helped slightly on May 24. Gas was $2.83, 14 cents lower than the previous Memorial Day.


2017–2019 world oil market chronology, 2019
Although oil went up 2 percent June 13 after attacks on tankers, for the week oil was down as a result of forecasts for lower worldwide demand, with WTI finishing at $52.51 and Brent at $62.01. The next week WTI rose almost 9 percent for the week, the most since December 2016, to $57.43, the highest finish for the month. Brent was up 5 percent to $65.20. Reasons for the jump included expectations of the Federal Reserve lowering interest rates and Iran shooting down a drone. Gas was $2.68, but expected to go higher, especially in the mid-Atlantic states, after a Philadelphia refinery fire.


2017–2019 world oil market chronology, 2019
Oil ended higher for the third of four weeks on July 12, WTI at $60.21 and Brent at $66.72 because of problems in the Middle East, lower U.S. inventories and Hurricane Barry. Both WTI and Brent reached their highest numbers since May. Other factors included OPEC nations continuing lower production into 2020, and manufacturing slowing in much of the world.


2017–2019 world oil market chronology, 2019
The next week oil fell 7.6 percent, the most since May, WTI ending the week at $55.63 and Brent down 6 percent to $62.50, due to high world supplies and less damage from Barry than feared. U.S. crude inventories went down for the sixth straight week, the most since the beginning of 2018, and decreased production caused by Barry ended, so WTI ended July 24 at $55.88 and Brent at $63.18.


2017–2019 world oil market chronology, 2019
WTI fell 7.9 percent on August 1, the most in one day in four years, to $53.95, the lowest since June 19. The next day WTI finished the week down, in response to Trump's plans for more tariffs. Brent fell 7 percent on August 1 and also ended the week lower.


2017–2019 world oil market chronology, 2019
U.S. oil supplies were down for the first time in three weeks and WTI fell slightly on August 21 to $55.68, while Brent went over $60 for the first time in a week. Gasoline supplies went up after being expected to go down. With China responding to Trump tariffs by adding tariffs of its own to American products, WTI ended the week down just over 1 percent, to $54.17. Gas was $2.59 after falling for five weeks straight. Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, said "[W]e suffer from a lack of clear direction.” Tom Kloza, global head of energy analysis at the Oil Price Information Service, said, "The threat of a presidential tweet that could dampen world demand is real".


2017–2019 world oil market chronology, 2019
Oil went up August 27 with less concern about the China trade war, less chance Iran could export oil, expectations of lower U.S. supplies, and many producers following OPEC guidelines. WTI was up 2.4 percent to $54.93 and Brent rose 1.4 percent to $59.51.


2017–2019 world oil market chronology, 2019
After three weeks of decreases in U.S. oil rigs and in U.S. crude supplies, WTI rose 2.6 percent to $56.32 on the first week of September, while Brent rose 3.9 percent to $61.54.


2017–2019 world oil market chronology, 2019
On September 14, the 2019 Abqaiq–Khurais attack caused the loss of 5 percent of the world's oil supply, and WTI jumped 14.7 percent, the most in one day since 2008, to $62.90, the highest since June. Brent rose by 14.6 percent, the most ever in one day, to $69.02. WTI rose 5.9 percent for the week, the most since June, to $58.09. Brent was up 6.7 percent, the most since January, to $64.28.


2017–2019 world oil market chronology, 2019
Saudi Arabia restored production to where it was before the attacks. WTI finished the quarter at $55.23, down 5.2 percent, and Brent was $60.23, up 3.1 percent for the month but down 5.5 for the quarter. Gas was $2.64, down several cents for the week.


2017–2019 world oil market chronology, 2019
After Trump announced a trade deal with China on October 11, oil fell 2 percent after reports that China wanted more talks before signing phase one of the deal. WTI had jumped 3.6 percent at the end of the week to the highest in two weeks before falling to $53.59. Brent rose 3.7 percent and then fell to $59.35. Slow growth in China and the fifth week of higher U.S. inventories led to a 1.7 percent loss for the week by WTI, ending the week at $53.78. Brent fell 1.8 percent to $59.42.


2017–2019 world oil market chronology, 2019
On October 25 WTI finished at $56.66, the highest level since Sept. 24, after going up 5.2 percent. Brent finished at $62.02, its highest level since Sept. 26, after going up 4.4 percent. Reasons included the lowest number of active U.S. oil rigs since April 2017 and a decline in U.S. oil inventories. Then WTI fell as low as $54.61 and Brent fell to $60.66 with U.S. crude inventories expected to rise and a Russian official claiming it was too early to talk about OPEC production cuts.


2017–2019 world oil market chronology, 2019
Oil reached its highest level in two months on November 21, with WTI at $58.58 and Brent at $63.98. Lower global supplies, partly the result of OPEC actions, were reasons, though high U.S. shale oil production and lower demand meant the trend might not continue.


2017–2019 world oil market chronology, 2019
Brent rose 1.4 percent on the week ending December 20 to $66.14. This was the sixth rise in seven weeks, and the third up week for WTI, which ended at $60.44. Reasons included OPEC plans for more cuts and positive expectations about the world economy and U.S. relations with China.


2017–2019 world oil market chronology, 2019
With U.S. crude inventories down more than predicted, WTI reached $61.68 on December 26, the highest since September, and Brent was at $67.92, also the most in over three months.


2017–2020 ICC Women's Championship
The 2017–2020 ICC Women's Championship was the second edition of the ICC Women's Championship, a Women's One Day International cricket (WODI) competition that was contested by eight teams, to determine qualification for the 2022 Women's Cricket World Cup. The top four teams, along with hosts New Zealand, qualified directly for the World Cup. The remaining three teams progressed to the 2021 Women's Cricket World Cup Qualifier tournament.


2017–2020 ICC Women's Championship
In the previous tournament, the first three WODIs counted towards qualification. However, for this tournament, the International Cricket Council (ICC) requested that additional matches are played as Women's Twenty20 Internationals (WT20Is). Inline with the updated ICC rules, two balls were used for the first time in WODI matches.


2017–2020 ICC Women's Championship
When originally announced in October 2017, the top three teams, along with hosts New Zealand, would qualify for the World Cup. In October 2018, the qualification structure was changed allowing the hosts plus the top four teams to qualify directly for 2022 World Cup.


2017–2020 ICC Women's Championship
The first set of fixtures were announced by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), with Pakistan playing New Zealand in the United Arab Emirates in October 2017. The first round of fixtures to be played were between the West Indies and Sri Lanka, which started on 11 October 2017. In the opening fixture of the championship, the West Indies beat Sri Lanka by 6 wickets.


2017–2020 ICC Women's Championship
In March 2019, England beat Sri Lanka 3–0. The result meant that Sri Lanka Women could no longer qualify directly for the 2022 Women's Cricket World Cup, progressing to the 2021 Women's Cricket World Cup Qualifier tournament instead. In September 2019, the ICC confirmed that Australia were the first team to qualify for the World Cup. In October 2019, Australia took an unassailable points lead to win the ICC Women's Championship trophy for the second time in a row. In February 2020, the Australian team were presented with the ICC Women's Championship trophy, ahead of their Women's Twenty20 International (WT20I) match against India.


2017–2020 ICC Women's Championship
The COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the series between South Africa and Australia in March 2020. Two unscheduled series, New Zealand against Sri Lanka and Pakistan against India, were also thrown into doubt due to the pandemic. On 3 April 2020, New Zealand Cricket confirmed that their planned tour of Sri Lanka, scheduled to take place in April, had been cancelled due to the pandemic. However, the result of the series would have no impact on the final standings, as Sri Lanka had already been eliminated, and New Zealand had progressed to the World Cup as hosts. On 15 April 2020, the ICC confirmed that the points would be shared for the three series that were not played.


2017–2020 ICC Women's Championship, Results
The breakdown of results is as follows. During each round, each team played against its opponent three times.


2017–2020 Qatif unrest
The 2017–2020 Qatif unrest was a phase of conflict in the Qatif region of Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia, between Saudi security forces and the local Shia community, that arose sporadically starting in 1979, including a series of protests and repression during the 2011–12 Saudi Arabian protests.


2017–2020 Qatif unrest
This phase of conflict began after an incident on 12 May 2017, when a child and a Pakistani man were shot and killed. The detention of Qatif human rights activist Israa al-Ghomgham and her husband and the possible beheading of al-Ghomgham as the first Saudi woman to be executed for her human rights activities gained international attention during 2018. On 31 January 2019, the Saudi authorities confirmed in a public statement that they would not seek the imposition of the death penalty against al-Ghomgham.


2017–2020 Qatif unrest, Background
On 15 October 2014, Nimr al-Nimr was sentenced to death by the Specialised Criminal Court for "seeking 'foreign meddling' in Saudi Arabia, 'disobeying' its rulers and taking up arms against the security forces". Said Boumedouha of Amnesty International stated that the death sentence was part of a campaign by the authorities in Saudi Arabia to crush all dissent, including those defending the rights of the Kingdom's Shi'a Muslim community. Nimr al-Nimr's brother, Mohammad al-Nimr, tweeted information about the death sentence and was arrested on the same day. The head of Iran's armed forces warned Saudi Arabia that it would "pay dearly" if it carried out the execution.


2017–2020 Qatif unrest, Background
In March 2015 the Saudi Arabian appellate court upheld the death sentence against al-Nimr. On 25 October 2015, the Supreme Religious Court of Saudi Arabia rejected al-Nimr's appeal against his death sentence. During an interview for Reuters, al-Nimr's brother claimed that the decision was a result of a hearing which occurred without the presence or notification of al-Nimr's lawyers and family. Al-Nimr's brother still remained hopeful that King Salman would grant a pardon. Nimr al-Nimr was executed along with 46 others on 2 January 2016.


2017–2020 Qatif unrest, Low-level conflict
From May 2017 through to 2018 and 2019, several incidents occurred in which Qatif residents and/or Saudi policemen were killed.


2017–2020 Qatif unrest, Low-level conflict, Awamiyah residential area destruction
Around May 2017, Saudi authorities erected siege barricades in Awamiyah and attempted to bulldoze the al-Musawara residential area. Adam Coogle of Human Rights Watch (HRW) described the conflict as surprisingly intense for Saudi Arabia, stating, "I've documented conflict in Saudi Arabia before but nothing like this. I've seen protests, but nothing this militarised." He considered it unprecedented for there to be "heavy clashes going on between the state and its citizens in a Saudi city." About 12–25 people were killed in shelling and sniper fire during May and the following few months.


2017–2020 Qatif unrest, Low-level conflict, Awamiyah residential area destruction
Streets of Awamiyah were described by The Independent as "covered in rubble and sewage" and "[looking] more like a scene from Syria than an oil-rich Gulf city." One protestor stated that he switched from peaceful protesting to methods to armed methods as a result of government repression, including an assault against his wife and frightening his children.


2017–2020 Qatif unrest, Legal cases
In early December 2017, Israa al-Ghomgham and her husband Moussa al-Hashem were arrested in their home and detained in the Dammam al-Mabahith prison. They were charged for their activities in relation to participation and documentation of the Qatif political protests. On 6 August 2018, the prosecutor in their case recommended that they be executed, making al-Ghomgham the first Saudi women to be sentenced to death for human rights campaigning, according to Saudi activists. Al-Ghomgham and her husband's potential death sentence gained international attention, with support for their case from Shia Rights Watch, the European Saudi Organisation for Human Rights, Amnesty International, and Global Affairs Canada. Al-Ghomgham's final sentencing for confirming or rejecting the proposed death penalty was planned for 28 October 2018.


2017–2020 Qatif unrest, Legal cases
Legal proceedings, including arrests, investigations, trials and executions, of 24 people were referred to as the "Qatif 24 case". Most were convicted on false confessions based on torture. Fourteen of these were executed as part of the 2019 Saudi Arabia mass execution.


2017–2020 Thai temple fraud investigations
The 2017–2020 Thai temple fraud investigations (Thai: คดีเงินทอนวัด, romanized: Kadi nguen thon wat, lit. ' Case of returning money by temples') are a series of investigations by the Thai junta of the alleged abuse of governmental subsidies by government officers and Buddhist temples. The investigations started in 2017, and culminated in the controversial May 2018 arrest of five monks with leading positions in the Thai monastic community. The investigations have been described as unprecedented and as a critical blow to the faith of Thai Buddhist devotees. They have been subject to criticism and political speculation. In July 2018, the crisis was cited by the junta to amend laws, with the result that the monastic community could no longer choose their own leading council members, but these were to be chosen by the Thai King, and possibly the ruling NCPO.


2017–2020 Thai temple fraud investigations, Background
In Thailand, Thai temples (Thai: วัด; RTGS: wat) do not receive regular financial support from the government, but can make budget requests from the government for restoration or maintenance of temples, educational activities, or other activities for the "dissemination of Buddhism". This is done through the National Office of Buddhism (NOB), a government department. As of 2017, this amounted to a total 2.6 billion baht for all three types of funding for temples per year.


2017–2020 Thai temple fraud investigations, Background
Since 2015, the Counter Corruption Division and the State Audit Office, both governmental departments, had been receiving reports about fraud with temple budget committed by government officials. The Counter Corruption Division, which would normally report this to the police, could find little evidence. Furthermore, the NOB gave little information. This changed when, in February 2017, former policeman Pongporn Pramsaneh was appointed head of the NOB by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO).


2017–2020 Thai temple fraud investigations, First two investigations (August 2017)
The case started in August 2017 when Phrakhru Baitika Anand Khemanando, abbot of a temple in Phetchaburi Province, complained about NOB civil servants. He had requested a budget of eleven million baht, which was granted, but the government officer involved asked the abbot to return ten million baht to him. Khemanando made his complaint to the Counter Corruption Division and the State Audit Office. The Counter Corruption Division investigated the matter further. The commission investigated ten sites throughout Thailand and searched the houses of high-ranking officers of the NOB. The main focus was the use of budgets from 2012 to 2016 that were meant for restoration and repair of temples.


2017–2020 Thai temple fraud investigations, First two investigations (August 2017)
The commission stated that 33 temples had requested and received subsidies from the NOB, but ten government officials had asked twelve of these temples to return 75 percent of the obtained funds, illegally. The loss of budget was estimated at 60 million baht. Four civilians and one monk were accused of conspiring with government officials.


2017–2020 Thai temple fraud investigations, First two investigations (August 2017)
Later, a second investigation was held, in cooperation with another six government departments:


2017–2020 Thai temple fraud investigations, First two investigations (August 2017)
Inspectors discovered the same pattern in another 23 temples, with one temple losing 31 million baht in this manner. This time, the same ten officers were charged, plus another three officers, all from the NOB. The highest-ranking officers were two former NOB directors: Panom Sornsilp and Nopparat Benjawatthanan. A high-ranking soldier, who had been deployed without contract as a bodyguard at the State Audit Office, was also implicated. Temples in Ayutthaya, Songkhla, Lopburi, and Bangkok were investigated, and it was reported that the officers conspired with four monks and two other civilians. The loss was assessed at 140 to 141 million baht. As a result, four monks from Petchabun, Lopburi, and Bangkok were arrested. At least one monk was later released on a bail of 1.5 million baht.


2017–2020 Thai temple fraud investigations, First two investigations (August 2017)
Criticism of the NOB grew quickly, as its director Pongporn came under attack. He was seen to vilify Buddhist monks. Under pressure of pro-Buddhist organizations such as the Thailand Buddhists Federation, he was temporarily removed from his position in August 2017, only to be re-appointed one month later.


2017–2020 Thai temple fraud investigations, First two investigations (August 2017)
On 18 July 2018, another monk in the second investigation was summoned, accused of illegally transferring government funds to another temple, not his own. This monk had a leading position in Wat Phichaiyat. As of 19 July 2018, the monk was still at large.


2017–2020 Thai temple fraud investigations, Third investigation (January 2018)
After his re-appointment, Pongporn started a third investigation of illegal dealings, and reported that another ten temples had had their budget cut off in the same manner as the temples in the second investigation. Pongporn revealed the names of only three temples, however. He further stated that the officers held responsible were the same suspects as before, who worked together in a network. Apart from problems with returning budget, another problem was found concerning eight monks from three temples:


2017–2020 Thai temple fraud investigations, Third investigation (January 2018)
These eight monks were accused of using the funds provided for purposes other than initially requested. The government funding was spent on Buddhist projects, but for projects which had already been funded. The funds were not spent on the projects for which the budget was initially requested. In these cases, no money was withheld, though civil servants had withheld money in other, legitimate budget requests from the three temples. As the investigations continued, they were split into two task forces: the NOB continued its internal investigation and the National Anti-


2017–2020 Thai temple fraud investigations, Third investigation (January 2018)
Corruption Commission cooperated with the Counter Corruption Division to continue the investigations of parties not part of the NOB. Pongporn made a press statement saying that a commission would be established in the NOB to deal with the suspects. Misappropriated funds to this point were estimated to be 169 million baht.


2017–2020 Thai temple fraud investigations, Third investigation (January 2018), Arrests (May 2018)
In May 2018, authorities charged three members of the Sangha Council with government budget fraud and money laundering, citing that money was found to be transferred to accounts of supporters of their temples. The police issued arrest warrants, and the monks were to be removed from the council on 30 May 2018. Preceding that decision, on 25 May, Phra Prom Dilok, as well as the three deputy abbots, were arrested, defrocked, and held in custody.


2017–2020 Thai temple fraud investigations, Third investigation (January 2018), Arrests (May 2018)
(Thai law states that monks cannot be jailed, therefore any monk taken into custody must be defrocked if denied release on bail, even before guilt is determined.) The detention was to last for twelve days. There were other monks who saw their budget cut off and who were accused of being involved in the scam, but some of them argued that they were misled by officials, who stated that the budget returned to them was to be used for other temples.


2017–2020 Thai temple fraud investigations, Third investigation (January 2018), Arrests (May 2018)
The arrests of the four monks accused of money fraud were combined with the arrest of Phra Buddha Issara, a hardline, ultra-royalist monk who had taken part in the 2014 Thailand coup d'état. He was from a fourth temple called Wat Oh Noy. Many officials were surprised by this arrest, because Phra Buddha Issara was known to have close ties with the ruling junta and had encouraged Pongporn's investigations into fraud in the first place. The monk was arrested on charges brought against him in 2014, including alleged robbery and detaining officials.


2017–2020 Thai temple fraud investigations, Third investigation (January 2018), Arrests (May 2018)
The most serious charge against him, filed in 2017, was unauthorized use of the royal seal. Politician and activist Paiboon Nititawan expressed surprise that this arrest happened at the same time as the arrest of the four monks, but argued that it was unrelated to it. News commentator Chaturong Jong-asa argued that Thai authorities arrested the monks accused of fraud together with Phra Buddha Issara in order to please multiple political interest groups at the same time, without any group feeling left out.