In a significant turn in Persian Gulf affairs, on January 5
th, the Saudi-led bloc, including Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt, ended their years-long blockade of Qatar. According to CNBC, a Gulf Co-Operation Council meeting held in Saudi Arabia saw the arrival of Qatari emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani to the Kingdom for the first time since the blockade began in 2017. The Council also signed of an agreement to end the blockade and resume diplomatic and economic relations. According to the BBC, Saudi Arabia agreed to open its land and sea border the previous night, and since then, the other blockading countries have followed suit. In response, Qatar will likely drop the grievances it has filed with international organizations against the blockading nations.
Biden administration to declassify report about Khashoggi murder
A demonstrator holds a poster picturing Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi on 25 October 2018 [YASIN AKGUL/AFP/Getty Images] January 20, 2021 at 3:00 pm
The incoming US administration under Joe Biden will declassify an intelligence report about the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi Arabian Consulate in Istanbul more than two years ago. This news was revealed by Avril Haines, who is expected to serve as the Director of National Intelligence in Biden s team.
Khashoggi was in self-exile and working as a columnist for the
Washington Post when he was brutally murdered by a Saudi hit squad on 2 October 2018. Following months of investigations, it was reported that the operation was overseen by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman and his intelligence chiefs, according to audio recordings obtained by Turkish intelligence.
Report: Saudis Say No Israel Peace Agreement Without Progress on Palestinian Issue | The Jewish Press - JewishPress com | Israel Hayom | 5 Shevat 5781 – January 17, 2021 jewishpress.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from jewishpress.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Oil prices fall on renewed coronavirus concerns
A man refills his car at a gas station in the Saudi capital Riyadh on 11 May 2020 [RANIA SANJAR/AFP/ Getty Images] January 12, 2021 at 10:30 am
Oil prices declined today in light of renewed concerns about a shortage of global demand for fuel, amid the re-imposition of strict lockdown measures as coronavirus cases rise across Europe and the Middle East.
Brent crude futures fell by 1.4 per cent to reach $55.21 a barrel at 07:58 GMT, after previously declining by a dollar to reach $54.99 at its lowest.
US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fell one per cent to reach $51.72 a barrel, after rising to its highest rates in nearly a year on Friday.