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  • Saudi cabinet affirms desire to avoid war and have stable oil markets in face of heightened Iran tensions
     

    Saudi Arabia’s cabinet took the step of affirming the Kingdom’s desire to avoid regional conflict and ensure stable oil markets as tensions between Iran and the United States simmer, according to the state-run Saudi Press Agency and Reuters. The kingdom “will do everything in its power to prevent any war and its hand is always extended […]

     
  • Trump, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Speak by Phone, White House Says
     

    U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman by phone on Tuesday, discussing Riyadh’s role in Middle East stability, maintaining pressure on Iran other issues, according to reports. “President Trump and the Crown Prince discussed regional developments and opportunities to further enhance the American-Saudi partnership on a range of security and economic […]

     
  • House, Senate Vote to End U.S. Support of Yemen War, Setting Stage for Trump Veto
     

    The U.S. House of Representatives approved a resolution on Thursday that would end all U.S. involvement with the Saudi Arabia-led coalition in the war in Yemen, Reuters reports. President Trump is likely to veto the resolution, the second veto of his presidency. The vote in the House was 247-175. 16 Republicans joined the majority Democrats in […]

     
  • Saudi Arabia Launches Office to Monitor State Spending, Corruption After Crackdown
     

    Saudi Arabia has launched a new office to monitor state spending, saying it would help keep up the fight against corruption after the closing of a 15-month crackdown that yielded over $100b of assets to the government, according to Reuters. A newly created financial reporting office would be part of the state’s General Auditing Bureau, which watches […]

     
  • Private-Sector Program ‘Direction’ in Saudi Arabia Boosts Cross-Cultural Understanding, Dialogue
     

    A private-sector program in Saudi Arabia is seeking to enhance relations between the Kingdom and nations around the world through delegations of Saudi youths in order to spread “a culture of moderation and respect for others” in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030. The program, called “Direction,” designs, executes and manages supportive programs for Saudi and Arab […]

     
  • PIF-backed Saudi mortgage refinancing firm to expand offering in 2019 – Report
     

    The Public Investment Fund-backed Saudi Real Estate Refinance Company (SRC) expects to issue its first public sukuk this year and a second private placement in the next two weeks, while developing further plans to finance an expansion of the kingdom’s home mortgage market, according to reports. Saudi Real Estate Refinance Co., a unit of the kingdom’s […]

     
  • Saudi Media Powerhouse SRMG Launches Independent Arabia
     

    The Saudi Research and Marketing Group (SRMG) and the UK online publisher The Independent have launched a new digital news site, IndependentArabia.com. SRMG announced the appointment of Saudi journalist and political analyst Adhwan al-Ahmary as editor-in-chief of the online platform, while the new service will be staffed by a team of experienced journalists from Saudi Arabia […]

     
  • Secretary of State Pompeo Kicks Off 8-Nation Middle East Tour
     

    Secretary of State Mike Pompeo begins a weeklong tour of eight Arab nations in the Middle East through Jan. 15, including a visit to Saudi Arabia. The Secretary’s schedule will take him to Amman, Cairo, Manama, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Riyadh, Muscat, and Kuwait City. Pompeo will give a major speech about America’s role in the region and privately […]

     
  • Breakthrough Ceasefire Agreements Reached over Yemen Ports as U.S. Senate Rebukes Trump
     

    The internationally recognized Yemeni government and the Iranian-aligned Houthi movement agreed to a ceasefire around the city of Hodeidah and to remove troops from the area in a potential major turning point for the three year old conflict, according to reports. The agreement was reached at U.N.-brokered talks in Sweden. The port, which is currently under Houthi control, […]

     
  • Looking toward Africa, Saudi Seeks Red Sea Political, Economic Bloc
     

    Saudi Arabia is seeking a political and economic alliance with six countries bordering the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden in a move aimed at strengthening its interests in the crucial waterway and in Africa, according to reports. Representatives from Egypt, Djibouti, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen and Jordan gathered in Riyadh on Wednesday to discuss the initiative, […]

     

MUST-READS

  • U.S. issues rare rebuke of Israel over West Bank settlements

    Israel’s ambassador to Washington was asked to come to the State Department on Tuesday, where the U.S. protested changes to Israeli law that would allow new settlement building in the northern West Bank.

  • The IMF is disbursing its first-ever wartime loan to Ukraine

    The Ukrainian authorities and the IMF yesterday (Mar. 21) reached a staff-level agreement for a new 48-month Extended Fund Facility (EFF) arrangement for 11.6 billion Special Drawing Rights (SDR), the monetary reserve currencies created by the IMF, which translates to around $15.6 billion.

  • The White House urges China to get Ukraine’s perspective on the war as Beijing eyes peacemaking role

    The White House today offered robust endorsement of a prospective virtual meeting between China’s President Xi and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, after the foreign ministers of China and Ukraine spoke. “We have long been encouraging President Xi to talk to President Zelensky,” National Security Council strategic affairs official John Kirby told reporters on a Zoom call today (March 16). “We think it would be a very good thing if the two of them talk.”

  • UK, Qatar agree to extend joint Typhoon operations

    The agreement was signed by QEAF commander major general Jassim Al-Mannai and RAF deputy commander capability air marshal Sir Richard Knighton. Signed at the UK Ministry of Defence, the agreement will see the joint squadron continue to provide an opportunity for the nations’ pilots and ground crews to improve interoperability and further develop operational skills.

  • Saudi Arabia and Russia Reaffirm OPEC+ Cooperation, Discuss Ukraine

    Saudi Arabia and Russia reaffirmed close cooperation in the OPEC+ oil cartel, and discussed Ukraine, grains and Syria at a foreign ministers’ meeting Thursday. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said he spoke with his Russian counterpart about “the importance of deep coordination between the Kingdom and Russia in the energy markets” and expressed his country’s “unflinching commitment” to the OPEC+ agreement. Speaking at a joint press conference in Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that energy cooperation was not affected by the war in Ukraine. The US and its allies have been seeking to isolate Moscow for its invasion with sanctions and have armed Ukrainian forces in the conflict.

  • Wolseley Restaurant Plans Offshoots Across UK and Asia, including Saudi Arabia

    The owner of London’s Wolseley restaurant, a favorite haunt of celebrities, CEOs and dealmakers, plans to open offshoots across the UK, Asia and the Middle East as the dining group seeks to move on from a bruising clash with its founder. Dillip Rajakarier, chief executive officer of Thai hotel company Minor International PCL, said he envisaged Wolseley restaurants in Hong Kong, Singapore and Shanghai, as well as London’s financial district. He also plans Cafe Wolseley sites — more relaxed versions of the original in London’s Piccadilly — across other parts of China and the Middle East, as well as Manchester, Birmingham and Oxford in the UK.

  • Israel is gradually taking Ukraine’s side in the war against Russia

    Israel has been very cautious about taking sides in the war ever since it was started a year ago by the Russian invasion. Netanyahu refrained from condemning Russia but did not express his sympathy with the Ukrainians. However, since he returned to power, he has started to outline his expected policy towards the war. He has said on several occasions that Israel would consider sending weapons to Ukraine, and agreed to Cohen's visit. In such circumstances, he could make a solidarity trip to Ukraine without causing a crisis with Moscow.

  • Blinken, Lavrov speak amid war of words over Ukraine at G20 meet

    The United States and its European allies sparred with Russia over the war in Ukraine at a meeting of G20 foreign ministers in New Delhi on Thursday, with the rival sides each accusing the other of destabilising the world. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had a brief encounter on the sidelines of the meeting during which Blinken urged Russia to reverse its decision on the New START nuclear treaty, a senior U.S. official said.

  • Saudi, UK ministers agree to study combat air cooperation

    Saudi and British defence ministers have agreed to study future co-operation on combat air capabilities and potential industrial projects, the Saudi state news agency reported. Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman and British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace met in Riyadh on Wednesday and signed a "declaration of intent regarding the participation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the Future Air Capabilities Program (FCAS)", it said.

  • EU, Russia take strong positions as Ukraine war takes centrestage on G20 meet eve

    The foreign ministers meeting comes days after a meeting of finance chiefs of G20 countries in Bengaluru which was also overshadowed by Russia's war in Ukraine. Delegates at the Bengaluru meeting wrangled over condemning Russia for the war, failed to reach a consensus on a joint statement and settled instead for a summary document. "This war has to be condemned," Josep Borrell, the European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, told reporters.