Tag: saudi

Saudi-Canada row leaves US in tight diplomatic spot

  WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The sharp diplomatic row between Saudi Arabia and Canada has left Washington — partners and allies of both — in a bind, but the State Department on Tuesday nevertheless urged Riyadh to respect due process for detained activists. Saudi Arabia has expelled Canada’s ambassador, recalled its own envoy and cut off trade ties with Ottawa after the US neighbor denounced a crackdown on rights activists in the kingdom. “Both sides […]

Saudi Arabia, Canada row over jailed activists ramps up

  by Anuj Chopra with Eric Thomas in Montreal Agence France-Presse RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AFP) — Saudi Arabia and Canada on Monday showed no signs of backing down in an escalating row over human rights, after Riyadh abruptly cut ties over Ottawa’s vigorous calls for the release of activists jailed in the kingdom. The Saudi government expelled Canada’s ambassador, giving him 24 hours to leave the country, and recalled its own envoy to Ottawa, while freezing […]

Saudi expels Canadian envoy, recalls its own over ‘interference’

  by Anuj Chopra Agence France-Presse RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AFP) — Saudi Arabia said Monday it was expelling the Canadian ambassador and had recalled its envoy while freezing all new trade, in protest at Ottawa’s vigorous calls for the release of jailed activists. The kingdom gave the Canadian ambassador 24 hours to leave the country, in an abrupt rupture of relations over what it slammed as “interference” in its internal affairs. The move, which underscores a […]

Celebrations, tears as Saudi Arabia overturns ban on women driving

  by Anuj Chopra Agence France Presse RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AFP) — Saudi women celebrated taking the wheel for the first time in decades Sunday as the kingdom overturned the world’s only ban on female motorists, a historic reform expected to usher in a new era of social mobility. The much-trumpeted move is part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s plan to modernise the conservative petrostate — but it has been dented by the jailing […]

OPEC rift deepens ahead of crucial meeting

  by Michelle Fitzpatrick © Agence France-Presse VIENNA, Austria (AFP) — Iran’s oil minister walked out of a key meeting with OPEC peers on Thursday, as a rift deepened with regional rival Saudi over its push to ramp up the cartel’s oil output. “I do not think we can reach an agreement,” Bijan Namdar Zanganeh told reporters at his Vienna hotel after quitting talks with a group of ministers on the eve of a crucial OPEC […]

PH extends condolences over missile strikes in Saudi Arabia

(Eagle News) — The Philippines, through the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), has expressed its condolences to Saudi Arabia after a missile strike killed three civilians in the southern city of Jizan on Saturday. “We express our condolences with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia over the unfortunate loss of lives in the missile strike in Jizan,” DFA Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said. Cayetano also expressed concern over the series of attacks being led by the […]

Saudi economy returns to growth on back of oil price rises

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AFP) — The Saudi economy pulled out of recession in the first quarter of 2018 thanks to oil price rises, a think-tank said Tuesday. Capital Economics said the oil-dependent Saudi economy grew by 1.5 percent in the first quarter, after having contracted by 0.7 percent in 2017. “The oil sector was the main driver of the recovery,” the London-based group said. Oil prices surged to around $80 a barrel last month from […]

Global oil prices drop as Saudis signal likely supply boost

  NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Global oil prices fell Friday after top producer Saudi Arabia signaled a likely boost in supply as soon as the third quarter, and world stock markets were mixed over the sudden US move to cancel the summit with North Korea. Saudi oil minister Khaled al-Faleh said at an economic conference in Russia that a gradual output increase could happen in the second half of the year to prevent […]

Saudi ready to raise oil supply after US pullout from Iran deal

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AFP) — Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest oil exporter, has said it will take all necessary measures to prevent supply shortages following the US withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal. “The kingdom will work with major oil producers within and outside OPEC, and with major consumers as well to limit the impact of any shortages in supplies,” the Saudi energy ministry said in a statement late Tuesday. The kingdom’s assurance came just […]

Saudi finalizes drone regulation after security alarm

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AFP) — Saudi Arabia was finalizing regulation for the use of recreational drones, state media said Sunday, after a toy aircraft sparked security alarm as it hovered close to royal palaces in Riyadh. “The regulation for the use of remote controlled drones is in its final stages,” the Saudi Press Agency said, citing the interior ministry. Until the new guidelines are adopted drone enthusiasts must obtain police permission to fly their devices in […]

No solution to Qatar crisis at Arab Summit: Saudi FM

  DHAHRAN, Saudi Arabia (AFP) — The Gulf crisis, which has seen Qatar isolated by Saudi Arabia and its allies, is not on the table at the upcoming meeting of Arab League states, Riyadh’s foreign minister said Thursday. “The solution of Qatar will be within the GCC,” or the six-state Gulf Cooperation Council, Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir told reporters in Riyadh ahead of the Arab Summit. He was responding to an AFP question on whether the […]

NGOs urge Spain not to sell warships to Saudi Arabia

  MADRID, Spain (AFP) — A coalition of NGOs on Wednesday urged Spain not to sign off on a planned sale of warships to Saudi Arabia during an upcoming visit to Madrid by the kingdom’s crown prince. The “Arms Under Control” collective, which includes Amnesty International, Oxfam and Greenpeace, also called on Spain to stop exporting arms to the Saudi-led coalition fighting Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, where thousands of civilians have been killed. During his […]