World Saudi Arabia A woman in Saudi Arabia may face two years in prison after she ran onstage and hugged a popular singer during a concert on Friday. Video of the incident went viral in the kingdom, with Saudis launching a hashtag on Twitter to debate the woman’s actions. In the viral clips, Saudi-Iraqi singer Majid Al-Muhandis can be seen performing in the the kingdom’s western city of Taif when a woman, wearing a traditional abaya and hijab, runs onto stage and wraps her arms tightly around him. A security officer quickly steps in, but struggles to remove the woman from the singer. Other security rush in and another woman can be seen running toward the stage as well. According to Saudi newspaper Arab News, the woman was detained and is currently being held by a girl’s welfare institution. The singer continued his performance as planned after the incident occurred. Recommended Slideshows 76 In Pictures: The 75 Most Powerful Military Forces in the World … [Read more...] about Saudi Arabia May Jail Fan for Two Years After Hugging Singer On Stage
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Iran’s Khamenei criticises Saudi Arabia over management of haj pilgrimage
ANKARA (Reuters) – Iran’s top authority Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has criticised Saudi Arabia over its management of the haj pilgrimage and called for a fresh investigation into a 2015 crush that killed hundreds, Iranian state TV reported on Monday. The criticism comes ahead of this year’s haj and amid tension between Tehran and Riyadh over proxy wars in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Yemen in which the two support opposing sides. Riyadh says nearly 800 pilgrims died when two big groups of pilgrims collided at a crossroads in Mina, a few km (miles) east of Mecca, on their way to performing the “Stoning of the Devil” ritual at Jamarat. Counts by countries of repatriated bodies showed over 2,000 people may have died, including more than 400 Iranians. “A fact-finding committee, with Iran’s presence, should be formed to investigate these cruelties. Relevant Iranian authorities should mobilise all legal resources to follow up the … [Read more...] about Iran’s Khamenei criticises Saudi Arabia over management of haj pilgrimage
Saudi Arabia arrests prominent cleric Safar al-Hawali
RIYADH (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia has detained influential religious scholar Safar al-Hawali and three of his sons, activists said on Thursday, widening an apparent crackdown against clerics, intellectuals and rights campaigners. London-based Saudi rights group ALQST said the arrests happened after Hawali published a book critical of the Saudi royal family. ALQST’s Yahya Assiri told Reuters the arrests took place on Wednesday. Another rights watchdog reported Hawali’s arrest, citing sources close to him. Authorities did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Riyadh says it does not have political prisoners, but senior officials have said monitoring of activists is needed to maintain social stability. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has received praise for economic and social reforms hailed as proof of a new progressive trend, but there has been unease over the detention of women’s rights activists and a secretive anti-corruption purge last year. Critics … [Read more...] about Saudi Arabia arrests prominent cleric Safar al-Hawali
U.S. Poised to Surpass Saudi Arabia as World’s Top Crude Oil Producer
Soaring domestic production levels means the U.S. is on pace to leapfrog both Saudi Arabia and Russia to reclaim the title of the world’s biggest crude oil producer. It last held that position in 1974. The U.S. Energy Information Administration made the forecast and predicts that U.S. output will grow next year to 11.8 million barrels a day.“If the forecast holds, that would make the U.S. the world’s leading producer of crude,” says Linda Capuano, who heads the agency, a part of the Energy Department. Saudi Arabia and Russia could upend that forecast by boosting their own production. In the face of rising global oil prices, members of the OPEC cartel and a few non-members including Russia agreed last month to ease production caps that had contributed to the run-up in prices. President Donald Trump has urged the Saudis to pump more oil to contain rising prices. He tweeted on June 30 that King Salman agreed to boost production “maybe up to 2,000,000 … [Read more...] about U.S. Poised to Surpass Saudi Arabia as World’s Top Crude Oil Producer
Trump Wins Relief for Americans at Gas Pump as Saudi Arabia Ramps up Oil Production
Saudi Arabia met Donald Trump’s demands for more oil, hiking its output in June to the highest level since 2016. President Trump has been pressuring the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, or OPEC, to increase production to cool off oil prices, which recently hit the highest levels in over three years. Saudi Arabia has the unique ability to increase supply to meet demand, pushing prices in the direction the desert kingdom’s rulers desire.Oil prices were falling Wednesday following the announcement by the Trump administration of new tariffs on Chinese goods. A further escalation of trade disputes could depress demand for oil from China and elsewhere. Saudi Arabia said that it pumped nearly 10.5 million barrels per day last month, compared with 10 million in May. Lower oil prices are particularly important to U.S. consumers in the summer months when driving reaches its heaviest. Higher gas prices can leave U.S. households with less money to … [Read more...] about Trump Wins Relief for Americans at Gas Pump as Saudi Arabia Ramps up Oil Production