Plus violence in Kazakhstan and the release of an imprisoned Saudi princess from jail.
Tag: Saudi Arabia
Saudi Princess Is Released, but Other Royals Are Still Locked Up
The Saudi government has not said why it detained or freed Princess Basmah bint Saud, a daughter of a former king who has criticized the country’s policies.
OPEC and Allies Agree to Raise Oil Output Amid Lagging Production
The group called OPEC Plus decided to increase oil output by 400,000 barrels a day, but its members have lately been falling short of production quotas.
As Other Arab States Falter, Saudi Arabia Seeks to Become a Cultural Hub
While conflicts and crises have battered Arab cultural capitals, Saudi Arabia is hosting film festivals and bankrolling new movies.
How Do Saudis Celebrate Christmas? Quietly, but Less So.
“Am I in Saudi Arabia?” Once officially banned, Christmas is coming out of hiding in the kingdom, as its ultra-constrictive religious rules are eased.
Swiss Prosecutors Drop Money-Laundering Case Against Juan Carlos
A criminal inquiry into allegations that Spain’s former king laundered illegal commission payments from Saudi Arabia related to a high-speed rail deal was closed because of insufficient evidence.
Progress for Saudi Women Is Uneven, Despite Cultural Changes and More Jobs
Women say Saudi Arabia has advanced significantly in just the past year, with more choices regarding work, fashion (including colored abayas) and social spaces, but restrictions remain everywhere.
Your Monday Briefing
Omicron’s rapid spread.
On Syria’s Ruins, a Drug Empire Flourishes
Powerful associates of Syria’s president, Bashar al-Assad, are making and selling captagon, an illegal amphetamine, creating a new narcostate on the Mediterranean.
George Kordahi Resigns Under Saudi Pressure
Comments by the information minister, before he joined the government, prompted a diplomatic rift between Lebanon and powerful Gulf States. It was unclear if his resignation would end the crisis.