President Barack Obama has defended the US government’s willingness to cooperate closely with Saudi Arabia on national security despite deep concerns over human rights abuses.

THE Government decision to fly flags at half-mast on some official buildings on the death of Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah is offensive.

Saudi Arabia plans to delay the public flogging of a rights activist on medical grounds, Amnesty International said, raising the possibility that Riyadh may be trying to quietly drop the punishment that has drawn international rebuke.

The almost Soviet-style image of world leaders arm-in-arm in Paris, vividly captures the cynical efforts of powerful states to make political capital from the Charlie Hebdo atrocity.

A Saudi blogger convicted of insulting Islam has been flogged 50 times in the Red Sea city of Jeddah as authorities started carrying out his sentence, which includes 1,000 lashes, a witness said.