Saudi Arabia
Saudi, UAE defend OPEC decision to cut oil production, despite US warning
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates defended on Monday a decision by OPEC and its allies to cut oil production, even as an American envoy warned of “economic uncertainty” ahead for the world.
While cordial, the comments at the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition & Conference showed the stark divide between the United States and Gulf Arab countries it supports militarily in the wider Middle East.
Saudi Arabia’s energy minister, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, hinted at that in brief remarks to the event, noting that upcoming U.N. climate change summits will be held in Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.
“We don’t owe it to anybody but us,” the prince said to applause.
Read: Response to OPEC’s oil cuts: Biden will release 15mn barrels from US strategic reserve
Emirati Energy Minister Suhail al-Mazrouei echoed that defense. While saying that OPEC and its allies are “only a phone call away if the requirements are there” to raise production, he offered no suggestion such a boost would be on its way anytime soon.
“I can assure you that we in the United Arab Emirates, as well as our fellow colleagues in OPEC and OPEC+ are keen on supplying the world with the requirement it needs,” al-Mazrouei said. “But at the same time, we’re not the only producers in the world.”
OPEC and a loose confederation of other countries led by Russia agreed in early October to cut its production by 2 million barrels of oil a day, beginning in November.
OPEC, led by Saudi Arabia, has insisted its decision came from concerns about the global economy. Analysts in the U.S. and Europe warn a recession looms in the West from inflation and subsequent interest rate hikes, as well as food and oil supplies being affected by Russia’s war on Ukraine.
“The global economy is on the knife’s edge,” insisted Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, the managing director of the state-run Abu Dhabi National Oil Co.
American politicians, meanwhile, have reacted angrily to a decision likely to keep gasoline prices elevated. An average gallon of regular gasoline in the U.S. now costs $3.76 — down from a record $5 a gallon in June but still high enough to bite into consumers’ wallets. Benchmark Brent crude oil sat at $95 a barrel Monday.
“I think at the end of the day, we are facing an economic uncertainty globally,” said Amos Hochstein, the U.S. envoy for energy affairs.
Read: How the cuts announced by OPEC+ will affect oil prices, inflation
Hochstein declined to speak to The Associated Press after the event in the UAE.
President Joe Biden, who traveled to Saudi Arabia in July and fist-bumped Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman before a meeting, recently warned the kingdom that “there’s going to be some consequences for what they’ve done.”
Saudi Arabia lashed back, publicly claiming the Biden administration sought a one-month delay in the OPEC cuts that could helped reduce the risk of a spike in gas prices ahead of the U.S. midterm elections Nov. 8.
The back-and-forth between Riyadh and Washington shows how tense relations remain between the two countries since the 2018 gruesome killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi security forces. American intelligence agencies believe the slaying came at Prince Mohammed’s order.
Breaking away from tradition, Saudi Arabia celebrates Halloween
Only a few years ago, a Halloween party, which was variously viewed as a suspiciously pagan foreign holiday or as sinful, unnecessary and weird, meant arrests in Saudi Arabia.
Now, a government-sponsored "horror weekend" means sold-out costume shops and scary clowns.
This year, it looked like creatures from a haunted house had escaped and taken over parts of the Saudi capital Riyadh. Monsters, witches, and bank robbers were everywhere, according to The New York Times.
Saudi Arabia celebrated the festival of Halloween alongside activities of the Riyadh Season 2022 from October 27 to 29, two days before the Americans' Halloween celebrations.
Read: Halloween crowd stampede in Seoul leaves at least 151 dead
"The atmosphere at the weekend is terrifying," the head of the General Authority for Entertainment, Advisor to the Saudi Royal Court, Turki Al-Sheikh, wrote on social media.
However, the government-sponsored event was not, strictly speaking, a Halloween festival. Instead, it was promoted as a horror weekend, conveniently coinciding with the weekend before Halloween.
Some of the revellers seemed to have only a vague idea of what Halloween was, and had come simply to enjoy the atmosphere, reported The New York Times.
Crown Prince MBS now Saudi Arabia’s Prime Minister
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia will take over as the Arab country’s prime minister, and Prince Khalid bin Salman will take over as defence minister, according to a royal order cited by the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) on Tuesday.
The crown prince, who is Saudi King Salman’s heir apparent, already possesses a wide range of authority and is regarded as the day-to-day ruler of the kingdom.
The Saudi Press Agency also stated that King Salman will continue to preside over the meetings of the Cabinet, Associated Press reported.
Read: Oil price war, Mecca ban are latest risks by Saudi prince
Saudi Arabia’s comprehensive plan to modernise its economy and eliminate its reliance on oil, known as “Vision 2030”, has been spearheaded by the 37-year-old crown prince, popularly known as MBS.
MBS has been associated with the murder of Saudi journalist and critic Jamal Khashoggi, who disappeared after entering the Saudi Consulate in Turkey’s Istanbul.
According to US intelligence, the crown prince probably gave the murder his approval.
Read: Saudi prince's anti-corruption sweep ends with $106B netted
The prince denied ordering the killing but stated in 2019 that he accepted “all responsibility” for it because it occurred under his watch. Saudi officials have claimed that renegade Saudi security and intelligence personnel were responsible for Khashoggi’s murder. Although they have not been named, Saudi Arabian authorities claim to have jailed eight Saudi citizens for the murder.
Despite having previously pledged to declare Saudi Arabia a “pariah” over the Khashoggi murder, US President Joe Biden visited the kingdom and had a meeting with Saudi Crown Prince MBS earlier this year, indicating the continued significance of relations with the greatest oil exporter in the world.
Saudi Arabia to have its own “Idol”: Talent show will premiere in Dec
Turki Al al-Sheikh, chairman of Saudi Arabian General Entertainment Authority (GEA), revealed on Saturday that Saudi Idol, a new iteration of the popular global “Idol” talent competition series, will debut before the end of this year.
Al-Sheikh announced in a tweet that the first episode of the new show, which will debut in conjunction with Saudi Arabia’s GEA and MBC Group, will air in December this year. Filming is set to start next month, Al Arabiya reported.
Read:‘Illegal immigrants’ stealing jobs in India's Bollywood?
Popular Saudi Singers Aseel Abu Bakr, Ahlam, Asala, and Majid al-Mohandes are some of the stars on the new show’s jury, which will look for Saudi talent.
According to Al Arabiya, Saudi Idol’s live shows and auditions will be televised on MBC 1.
Three Bangladeshis killed in Saudi road crash
Three Bangladeshi expatriate workers were killed as a private car carrying them plunged into a ditch near Taif city in Saudi Arabia on Thursday, according to their relatives here.
The deceased were identified as Md Faruq Khan, 23, his brother Md Parvez, 21, and Md Saddam, 21, of Cumilla district. They used to work at an aluminum factory in Taif city.
Read:Bangladeshi expat killed in UAE road crash
Faruq’s family member Md Farid said the accident occurred on Thursday afternoon (Bangladesh time) when the car driving from Qassim city plunged into a roadside ditch losing its control over steering near Taif city. The three died on spot and two others were injured.
The injured are undergoing treatment at a local hospital, he said on Friday.
Faruq and Saddam went to Saudi Arabia three years ago while Parvez six months ago to earn their bread.
Assistant Director of Cumilla Manpower Export Directorate Debobrata Ghosh said they will assist the victims’ families to bring the bodies back to the country.
Bangladesh reiterates fraternity with Saudi Arabia
Bangladesh has reiterated its fraternity and solidarity with Saudi Arabia.
In response to the letter of the Custodian of Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid conveyed his support for Saudi Arabia for hosting the World Expo 2030 in Riyadh.
Wednesday, Bangladesh Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Mohammad Javed Patwary handed over the original copy of the president's letter addressed to the Saudi king to Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan during a meeting at the latter's office.
Read: Hajj pilgrimage: 7 more Bangladeshis die in Saudi Arabia
The Saudi foreign minister expressed his satisfaction with the relationship between Bangladesh and his country and was looking forward to deepening the ties.
The two sides also discussed the ongoing cooperation between them and issues of mutual interest.
Saudi investors keen to invest in Bangladesh: Envoy
mbassador of Saudi Arabia to Bangladesh Essa Yousef Essa Alduhailan has said the investors of his country are keen to invest in Bangladesh.
The ambassador paid a courtesy call on Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen Thursday.
He briefed the foreign minister about investment initiatives taken by Saudi Investors in Bangladesh.
To facilitate more investment from Saudi Arabia to Bangladesh, joint sincere efforts are needed, Ambassador Essa Yousef said.
Read: Saudi Arabia lifts ban on Israeli flights
Momen thanked the ambassador for his dynamic role in strengthening relations between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia. He also appreciated the political and humanitarian support of the Saudi Arabia government for Rohingyas.
Ambassador Essa Yousef thanked the Bangladesh government for extending support to Saudi Arabia in different international forums.
Hajj pilgrimage: 7 more Bangladeshis die in Saudi Arabia
Seven more Bangladeshi hajj pilgrims died in Saudi Arabia during July 3-14, according to Bangladesh Hajj Management Portal.
Mustafigur Rahman, 61, was from Tangail, Azizul Haque, 65, from Kushtia, Md Shahjahan Siraj, 58, from Chapainawabganj, Foyzur Rahman, 50, from Sylhet, Sirina Akhter, 60, from Brahmanbaria, Abdul Mottalib, 58, from Naogaon, and Abdul Mottalib, 58, from Naogaon.
Read: One million pilgrims begin standing at Arafat, marking climax of Hajj
Mustafigur and Azizul died Thursday while Shahjahan and Foyzur passed away Wednesday, according to the portal.
Sirina breathed her last on July 7 while Abdul Mottalib and Rafiqul died on July 4 and July 3.
The causes of their deaths could not be immediately determined.
Nineteen Bangladeshi hajj pilgrims, including five women, died in Saudi Arabia from June 11 to July 14, 2022.
This year, around 60,256 Bangladeshis performed hajj, a once-in-a-lifetime duty for all Muslims physically and financially able to make the journey
Saudi Arabia lifts ban on Israeli flights
Saudi Arabia on Friday opened its airspace to “all air carriers,” signaling the end of its longstanding ban on Israeli flights overflying its territory — a key step toward normalization between the two nations as President Joe Biden visits the region.
In a statement posted to Twitter hours before Biden is set to become the first U.S. leader to fly directly from Israel to the kingdom, Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation said it was announcing “the decision to open the Kingdom’s airspace for all air carriers that meet the requirements of the Authority for overflying.”
The announcement is an incremental step toward the normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel and builds on the strong but informal ties the erstwhile foes have developed recent years over their shared concerns about Iran’s growing influence in the region.
Also read: Israeli politics a chaotic backdrop for Biden's visit
In recent years, Saudi Arabia has allowed flights between Israel and Gulf states to cross through its airspace. In 2020, then-Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly flew to Saudi Arabia for a meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and last week several Israeli defense reporters visited the kingdom and published news reports about their welcome.
Also read: Israel’s separation barrier, 20 years on
Several villages celebrate Eid today
In keeping with Saudi Arabia, residents of a number of villages in Satkhira, Faridpur, Barishal and Chandpur districts are celebrating the holy Eid-ul-Azha on Saturday.
Saudi Arabia and a number of countries across the world are celebrating the festival of sacrifice on Saturday. But Bangladesh is slated to celebrate Eid on Sunday.
In Satkhira, people from 20 villages in Sadar upazila, including Baukhola, have started the Eid celebrations.
The main congregation was held at Satkhira Sadar's Bhaokhola Purbopara Jame Mosque at 8am. Imam Mohabbat Ali conducted the congregation with a small number of Muslim devotees.
Read: Denied Eid dress, teen ends life in Pabna
In Faridpur, thousands from 10 villages of Faridpur's Boalmari upazila are celebrating Eid-ul-Azha, the second largest festival of the Muslims, in keeping with Saudi Arabia.
Muslims of Shekhar union's Sahasrail, Maitkomra, Rakhaltali, Ganganandapur, Baragaon, Durgapur and Rupapat union's Katagor and Kalimajhi follow Saudi Arabia and other Middle East countries while celebrating Eid.
Like every year, the main Eid congregations of the upazila were held in Rakhaltali, Mitcomra and Sahasrail.
In Chandpur, residents of 40 villages in Chandpur district are celebrating Eid on Saturday amid much enthusiasm and religious fervour.
The villagers of Barishal, Sreepur, Monihar, Barkul, Olipur, Belcho, Razargaon, Jakni, Kalcho, Menapur in Hajiganj upazila, Sachonmegh, Khila Ubhayarampur, Paikpara, Bigha, Uttoli, Balithuba, Sholla, Rupsha, Goalbhaor, Koroitoli, Noyarhat in Faridganj upazila, Mahanpur, Ekhlaspur, Dashani, Nayergaon,, Beltoli in Matlab South and Kachua upazilas are celebrating Eid.
Also read: Mad rush at Paturia ghat ahead of Eid
The main Eid congregation was held this morning on Shadra Senior Madrasa premises in Shadra village under Hajiganj upazila.
In Barishal, the holy Eid is being celebrated in advance in some villages of six upazilas of the district.
Around 20,000 devotees of Babuganj, Hijla, Mehendiganj, Bakerganj and three areas of Barisal metropolis offered Eid prayers in the congregations from 8 am to 9 am.
Maminuddin Kalu, president of Shahsufi Jahagiri Mosque in Barishal city, said they offered their Eid jamaat following the government's directives and maintaining all Covid-safety protocols.