1. Saudi Arabia says it has severed diplomatic relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran. Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said the Kingdom has asked Iranian diplomats to leave Saudi Arabia within 48 hours. Riyadh says the decision came after an attack on its embassy in Tehran.
2. Iran says Saudi Arabia cannot cover up the mistake of executing Sheikh Nimr by cutting its diplomatic ties with Tehran. Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said Saudi Arabia has fueled tensions in the region by making strategic mistakes as well as taking hasty and imprudent approaches.
3. Saudi Arabian security forces have reportedly shot and killed a man and injured a child in eastern Qatif governorate. Local witnesses in the city of Safwa say the man died after the troops opened fire on residents. The reported death comes amid angry protests in Qatif over the kingdom’s killing of Sheikh Nimr.
4. Rallies have been held across Bahrain in protest at the execution of Sheikh Nimr. The protesters took to the streets for the second consecutive day to condemn the Saudi government for killing the outspoken Shia cleric. Similar rallies have been held in several countries.
5. Clashes have erupted between Turkish police and a crowd of people rallying in Istanbul against the execution of Sheikh Nimr. The scuffles broke out after protesters marched on the Saudi consulate, demanding that the Saudi regime be brought to justice over the crimes it has committed against its own citizens.
6. US Democratic Presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton has criticized Saudi Arabia over the execution of Sheikh Nimr. Clinton says the killing will make the Kingdom less safe and will fuel regional tensions. She described the move as counterproductive which will only increase resentment against Riyadh.
7. Armed protesters have stormed a federal building in the US state of Oregon angry over the arrest of two ranchers who are accused of arson attack. Prosecutors say the ranchers set fire to 130 acres of land back in 2001 to cover up poaching. The protesters and their supporters were from a local militia group.
8. Egypt sends a new ambassador to Israel after three years. The Israeli foreign ministry said the Egyptian envoy arrived in Israeli on Friday. Egypt’s ousted President Mohamed Morsi withdrew the country’s ambassador in 2012 to protest Tel Aviv’s deadly offensive on the Gaza Strip.