Saudi Arabia Keeps the Lid On Oil Production, Even As U.S. Wants More
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Two United States officials are in Riyadh trying to explain that they really aren't asking Saudi Arabia to increase oil production, just looking for ways to "manage potential market pressures" with a "collaborative approach." Saudi Arabia has already informed its OPEC+ allies, who include Russia, that it's not about to ask for a change in the present production plan of limited monthly increases. The U.S. is concerned not only with current high gas prices, but fears even higher rates if Russia invades Ukraine and more supplies are halted.
Release of Western prisoners by Iran is reported to be high on a 20-page draft paper that some say is almost completed in the Iran nuclear talks in Vienna. The United Arab Emirates and India are signing a large trade and investment deal India thinks will bring in $100 billion.
Kuwait’s parliament could be dissolved by repercussions from the resignations of two senior government ministers, and Kuwaiti women are unhappy that they can join the army, be in combat, but can't carry a gun. France will apologize and pay reparations to the Moroccan Harkis, Muslims who supported France in the war in Algeria 60 years ago, then were abandoned.
And when a railroad advertised for 30 women to drive high-speed trains in Saudi Arabia, 28,000 applied.
News from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Yemen, Libya, Egypt, and More.
Saudi Arabia is signaling to the United States that it won't increase oil production, even as gas prices rise. The Biden administration is increasingly concerned about high energy prices that can go even higher if Russia attacks Ukraine, and two Biden emissaries are in Saudi Arabia to make the case for more oil.
But the Saudi energy minister, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, has reiterated that the kingdom won't try to get the OPEC+ group, which includes Russia, to change its production plan. While one White House official said the two emissaries visiting Saudi Arabia, Brett McGurk and Amos Hochstein, had not asked the Saudis to increase oil production, global energy supplies were known to be on top of the agenda at the talks in Riyadh.
Associated Press, Saudi Arabia keeps lid on oil output as US gas prices rise.
U.S. officials working in Riyadh to lower high energy prices are discussing a "collaborative approach" with Saudi Arabia. Rather than directly ask the Saudis to increase oil production, their subject is "managing potential market pressures" if Russia attacks Ukraine.
The White House issued a statement explaining: "In Saudi Arabia, the State Department Special Envoy for Energy Affairs Amos Hochstein joined Brett McGurk (coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa) to discuss a collaborative approach to managing potential market pressures stemming from a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine."
Reuters, U.S., Saudi officials discuss managing market pressures from possible Russian invasion.
Release of Western prisoners by Iran may be high on a series of mutual steps agreed on at the nuclear talks in Vienna. A draft agreement of more than 20 pages is reported to be taking shape, with phased-in steps before sanctions would be lifted. The steps would include, first, a cap on Iran's uranium enrichment, then prisoner release, which U.S. negotiator Robert Malley has said is a requirement; and unfreezing Iran's funds in South Korea. Delegates said much of the text of the draft agreement is settled, but that some thorny issues remain.
Reuters, Exclusive: Iran nuclear deal draft puts prisoners, enrichment, cash first, oil comes later - diplomats.
More than 160 Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives said a nuclear deal with Iran would be "non-binding" if the Biden administration doesn't get approval by Congress. "If you forge an agreement with the Supreme Leader of Iran without formal Congressional approval, it will be temporary and non-binding," the lawmakers wrote in a letter to the White House.
The Hill, More than 160 House Republicans threaten to scuttle potential Iran deal.
The United Arab Emirates and India will sign a major trade and investment agreement on Friday. Leaders of the two countries, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the UAE and Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, will take part in a virtual summit and witness the signing of the agreement. India anticipates as much as $100 billion investments from the UAE agreement, which had been planned to be signed in January, but a trip by Modi to the UAE was cancelled when India was hit by a third Covid wave.
Reuters, UAE, India to sign trade, investment deal on Friday.
Khaleej Times, India eyes $100b investment after FTA with UAE.
The Hindu, India, UAE to sign trade pact on February 18.
Total investments in Saudi Arabia's industrial sector now stand at $346 billion. Investment increased by $21 billion in 2021, new government data showed, with 820 factories starting production. Mining was one of the growth areas.
Asharq Al-Awsat, Saudi industrial investments grow to $346 bn.
An advertisement for 30 female train drivers in Saudi Arabia attracted 28,000 applicants. The outflow of interest from women was attributed to pent-up demand as Saud Arabia loosens restrictions on women's employment. The 30 women selected will drive bullet trains between Mecca and Medina. The Spanish rail company Renfe said it currently employs 80 men to drive its trains in Saudi Arabia.
Reuters, Women apply in their thousands to drive trains in Saudi Arabia.
Kuwait's military has angered female soldiers who are allowed in combat units but now are banned from carrying weapons. Activists are decrying the policy as "one step forward, two steps back." Kuwait's army also decided that women must have the permission of a male guardian to join the army and must wear head coverings.
Ibtihal al-Khatib, a professor at Kuwait University, said the army's new rules for women have taken an irrational turn, that "the army needs to integrate both women and men without discrimination."
AFP, Kuwait army allows women in combat roles, but without guns.
The resignation of two Kuwaiti senior ministers could lead to the entire cabinet's resignation and the dissolution of Kuwait's elected parliament. Analysts say that if the government were to quit, a "non-cooperation" motion could lead to the National Assembly's dissolving. The current Kuwaiti government took office in December, following a series of government changes.
Asharq Al-Awsat, Kuwait: Defense, interior ministers' resignations could lead to dissolving the National Assembly.
More than 40 groups protested to the U.S. Congress against designating Houthi forces in Yemen as a foreign terrorist organization. President Joe Biden has said he is reconsidering the designation, which he removed after it was first ordered by Donald Trump. The United Arab Emirates and Israel are urging the United States to apply the terrorist label. The groups contacting Congress were civil society organizations, rights groups, and anti-war bodies. They delivered a letter to Congress saying they agree that "the Houthis share much blame" for human rights violations, but that designating the group as terrorists "is a recipe for more conflict and famine."
Middle East Eye, Yemen: Civil society groups urge US Congess to oppose Houthi terror listing.
Yemen's Houthi rebels claim they shot down a drone that belonged to the Saudi-led coalition. Houthi sources said it was a "spy drone" and was reported to be the seventh shot down over Yemen by the Houthis since early 2021.
Defense World, Houthis shoot down Saudi CH-4B UCAV near Yemen.
An Emirates airline flight to Washington from Dubai flew at high speeds but much too low leaving the United Arab Emirates, just 200 feet off the ground. No one was injured in the flight, but investigators said such low altitudes and high speeds can damage an aircraft and risk striking tall buildings. The pilot said she had followed instructions on the plane's onboard computer.
Associated Press, Investigators say Emirates flight to Washington flew too low.
The United Nations says more than 1,000 children, some as young as nine, are behind bars in Iraq. Some have suspected links with ISIS, the Islamic State militancy, and a UN report said the number detained is increasing each year. The UN Children and Armed Conflict Report said 1,091 children were being held in Iraq, a sharp increase over previous numbers and a "serious protection concern."
The Independent , Rising number of children detained in Iraq over national security concerns and suspected ISIS links, UN say
A tanker owned by a California firm likely took part in illicit Iranian oil trade at sea despite U.S. sanctions. Oaktree Capital Management in Los Angeles was contacted by the group United Against Nuclear Iran about the vessel, and the company said it is cooperating with U.S. government investigators.
Associated Press, Group alleges U.S. firm's tanker illicitly traded Iran oil.
Israel's navy for the first time took part in an international naval exercise in the Red Sea led by the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet. Up to 50 ships with more than 9,000 personnel from 60 countries and organizations participated in 18 days of drills called IMX, the International Naval Exercise, sailing in the Arabian Gulf, Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, the Indian Ocean, and the Red Sea. Israel took part in the Red Sea alongside countries with which it has normalized relations, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Morocco.
Jerusalem Post, Israeli Navy first time in US Navy-led international maritime exercise.
The Israeli military said it shot down a Hezbollah drone, an unmanned aircraft launched by the Lebanese group into Israeli airspace. The incident occurred one day after the Hezbollah chief, Hassan Nasrallah, boasted that Hezbollah was manufacturing drones and had the technology to turn thousands of its missiles into precision-guided weapons.
Asharq Al-Awsat, Israel says it shot down Hezbollah drone.
Syrian detention camps for wives of captured Islamic State fighters have serious security challenges, and the Kurdish-led forces in charge are renewing calls for countries to repatriate their citizens. Tens of thousands of foreign Islamic State supporters are in camps run by the Syrian Democratic Forces. They had come to Syria from around the world to join the Islamic State's "caliphate." When the IS was largely defeated, women and children were placed in a series of camps, some of which are now lawless.
The Kurdish-led forces have limited means of supervision and say the camps are breeding grounds for the Islamic State, with active sleeper cells.
Washington Post, Crisis looms in Syria camps, jails holding foreign nationals.
The speaker of Tunisia's parliament, suspended by President Kais Saied, said Tunisia will "get rid of dictatorship" and that parliament will inevitably return. Remarks by the speaker, Rached Ghannouchi, were seen as the clearest challenge yet to Saied. Ghannouchi said he is meeting with civil society, politicians, and other lawmakers, and will meet with a European parliamentary delegation visiting Tunisia on February 20. He gave no details about parliament returning but is expected to issue an invitation to a public session via video.
Reuters, Tunisia's speaker says the suspended parliament will inevitably return.
Libya's Tobruk-based parliament expects to hold a vote of confidence for its newly-appointed prime minister and government next week, although the current prime minister is staying in office in Tripoli. The confused Libyan political situation becomes even more complex, with the country's High Council of State saying the parliament in Tobruk should have consulted it before ordering the removal of Prime Minister Abulhamid Dbeibeh, who is refusing to step down.
Voice of America, Libya's parliament prepares for vote of confidence in new government next week.
Egypt is backing Libya's eastern-based parliament and its designation of Fathi Bashagha as prime minister in hopes foreign forces will leave Libya and elections can be held. An Egyptian foreign ministry statement said the Libyan parliament in Tobruk is an "elected legislative body" and that it's confident the new government will remove the foreign forces and hold elections.
Al-Monitor, Egypt backs Libyan PM-designate to form new government.
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced measures to bring relief to households and businesses from high inflation and soaring electric bills. In a televised address, Erdogan said electricity tariffs would be adjusted and some four million households would get subsidies to help with high gas and electric bills.
Associated Press, Turkey's Erdogan tries to ease surging energy bills.
France's parliament passed a bill to pay reparations to the Harkis, Algerian Muslims who fought on the French side 60 years ago in the Algerian war. The Harkis were abandoned by France after the signing of the Evian Accords in 1962. "The bill is a recognition from the nation of the deep scar and the French tragedy of this dark page in our history," French minister Genevieve Darrieussecq, said.
Asharq Al-Awsat, France approves reparation bill for Algeria's Harkis.
RFI, French senate formalises apology to Algerian Harkis and their families.
MORE: Israeli minister to sign trade deal during Morocco visit next week, Reuters... UAE: ADNOC awards $1.94 billion framework agreements to enable drilling growth, Emirates News Agency... Lebanon approves $18 million to hold May election, Reuters... Sudan: More than 100 detainees start hunger strike, Middle East Eye... Dubai's Dragon Oil announces first discovery in Egypt's Gulf of Suez, Arabian Business... Jordan says crackdown on drug smugglers is bringing results, Associated Press... Little-known bullfighting tradition lives on in UAE village, RFI.
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The United States must do more to stop Yemen's Houthis, who have deepened their ties with Iran while creating one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, Katherine Zimmerman writes for the American Enterprise Institute. She says Houthi leaders share revisionist principles with Iran and are dissatisfied with the order in the Gulf states, and that Iran's interests are broader than Yemen, contesting Israel and those including the United Arab Emirates that signed the Abraham Accords with Israel.
American Enterprise Institute, Houthi threat to Middle East means US must respond.
Despite threats from Republicans in the U.S. Congress against any revived Iran nuclear deal, there's little chance Congress can block a new accord. The Senate is regarded as unlikely to kill an agreement, and Elliott Abrams, the last special representative for Iran in the Trump administration, said: "They were unhappy with the agreement in 2015 and they have no reason to be happier now, but I would assume most Democrats would go for a party-line vote." Democrats have a narrow control of both houses of Congress.
Reuters, Analysis: U.S. Congress may squawk over a new Iran deal but is unlikely to block it.