Day: May 26, 2023

Oil prices were stable on Friday, as the market weighed conflicting messages on supply from Russia and Saudi Arabia ahead of the next OPEC+ policy meeting, a stronger U.S. dollar and worries of weaker-than-expected demand growth. Brent crude was up 40 cents at $76.66 a barrel at 0959 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate rose 54 cents to $72.37 a barrel. Benchmarks settled more than $2 per barrel lower on Thursday, after Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak played down the prospect of further OPEC+ production cuts at its meeting in Vienna on June 4. Both prices were still poised to post a second week of gains of slightly less than 1%. A deal to raise the U.S. debt ceiling, which appears in sight, would likely boost oil prices. Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that energy prices were approaching “economically justified” levels, also indicating there could be no immediate change to the group’s production policy. Their remarks contrasted with comments this week from Saudi Arabian Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, the de-facto leader of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), warning short sellers to “watch out”

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

House Speaker, Nabih Berri, on Friday called the parliamentary committees of Finance and Budget, Administration and Justice, Public Health, Labor and Social Affairs, National Economy, Trade, Industry and Planning, to meet in a joint session at 10:30 am next Wednesday, May 31, to discuss an array of agenda items.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has sent a cable of congratulations to the President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, on the anniversary of his country’s Independence Day.

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques expressed his best congratulations and wished the President ongoing good health and happiness and the government and people of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana steady progress and prosperity.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Cabinet Member and Climate Envoy, Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir, has met in Bogota, with several Colombian government officials, including the Vice-Minister of Multilateral Affairs, Elizabeth Taylor, and the Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry, and Tourism, Luis Felipe Quintero, during a visit to Colombia.

During the meeting, the officials reviewed bilateral cooperation and ways to develop them in various fields, especially in the fields of energy and climate action.

Al-Jubeir briefed the Colombian officials on the Kingdom’s initiatives in light of the “Kingdom’s Vision 2030”, including the “Saudi Green” and “Middle East Green” initiatives.

The meeting was attended by the Kingdom’s non-resident Ambassador to Colombia, Dr. Hassan Al-Ansari, the Minister’s Office Director General, Ambassador Khalid bin Musaed Al-Anqari, the Director of Investment Ministry’s Office in Washington, Abdulrahman bin Talal Bakir, and senior Colombian officials.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

The National Center for Meteorology (NCM) CEO Dr. Ayman bin Salem Ghulam has underscored the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s support of climate studies and data, citing their importance to all aspects of life.

During the fourth day of the Nineteenth World Meteorological Congress (Cg-19), at the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in Geneva, Ghulam, who heads the Kingdom’s delegation to the annual gathering said that the Kingdom has established the Regional Climate Change Center at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Jeddah, where 16 scientists are working on major research, with the results to be shared with the WMO.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

The Iraqi National Intelligence Service (INIS) announced the arrest of the most dangerous ISIS terrorist elements in the so-called Southern State, as a result of an intelligence operation and tracking that lasted for several months, south of Baghdad.

The INIS said in a statement: “This terrorist joined the ISIS gangs in 2014 as a fighter within the so-called (Osama bin Laden Brigade) and participated in several terrorist attacks against the security forces in (Jurf al-Nasr, Fallujah, and Mosul) areas, and acted as a commander of several terrorist detachments, the most prominent of which is a commander of a detachment that installed explosive devices in (Nineveh), then became responsible for distributing bails to the elements of the organization in (South State) until he was arrested south of Baghdad, in coordination with the land-holding units of the 17th Division forces of the Iraqi army.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

The head of the State of Law Coalition, Nuri al-Maliki, called for uniting ranks and participating in the local elections to be held at the end of this year.

Al-Maliki said in a speech at a large mass and clan gathering held in the holy city of Karbala today, Friday: “These conferences and gatherings are important because they bring distances closer and galvanize energies against those who want us and Iraq bad.”

He added: “Iraq’s sovereignty was violated, and we were able to restore it, and we got rid of the provisions of Chapter VII that Iraq fell under because of the adventures of the grave Baath regime, and we succeeded in restoring Iraq and uniting it after the sectarian strife that took place, through the national reconciliation project, and the clans and sheikhs had clear positions in it.” He praised al-Jabour clan because it was the first clan to take the initiative to respond to the national reconciliation project, and then other indigenous Iraqi clans followed.

The head of the State of Law Coalition stressed the importance of caring for the clans, saying: “The clans today are at the forefront of the situation, and they have a responsibility to defend Iraq. All the difficult situations we were exposed to, the clans were present in the field, so the state must take care of the clans’ affairs and provide support for them, because it is a partner in protecting the state and defending the homeland.

He stated: “The current government was formed by all political forces, without the interference of any external party, despite attempts to stir up strife among the people of the same sect,” stressing that “courageous action must be taken to support the political process and purify it from corruption that is now targeting the citizen, and this requires strength and decision to destroy this dangerous pest.”

Al-Maliki warned that: “Attempts to revive the buried Baath Party, which destroyed Iraq, violated honor and executed innocent people, by granting it a license to work in brotherly Jordan, is unacceptable, and this is an escalation against Iraq and its government,” expressing his belief that such an act represents the head of sedition, and they have to realize that.”

He continued: “We blamed the Jordanian government, and we hope that they will take a stand, and we will also take a stand against these evil people.”

The head of the State of Law coalition concluded his speech by calling on Karbala clans and masses to prepare for the elections and actively participate in choosing who represents them in the provincial councils, saying: Thanks to you, we succeeded in forming this government with your participation in the elections, so we have to start organizing our ranks to participate in the elections, and there is no delay, and the elections will be on time.”

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

The security forces arrested a gang specialized in trading with antiquities in Hilla, the center of Babylon Governorate.

A security source said: “The intelligence service arrested the gang consisting of three people, one of whom was of a Syrian nationality, by raiding their headquarters in Hilla after careful follow-up, and seized four antiquities in their possession.”

He added: “The accused have been referred to the competent authorities, and the seized items have been preserved.”

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

The Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Muhammad Shiaa Al-Sudani, announced today, Friday, the formation of a committee to review the work of the security institutions.

Al-Sudani said to the official News Agency: “The security system, since 2003, has not witnessed reform steps, but there were decisions taken for the requirements of the security situation at the time.”

He added, “Today, after achieving the great victory, the time has come for us to reconsider the work of the security institutions.”

The Prime Minister indicated that a decision was taken to form a committee headed by him to review the work of the security institutions, distribute their duties, and present a reform plan.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency