Saudi Arabia is “astonished at accusations” that it has sided with Russia in the war with Ukraine, the kingdom's Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman has said.
Prince Khalid said such accusations were not made by the government of Ukraine and retweeted a message from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanking the kingdom for its assistance.
The accusations, Prince Khalid said, came after Opec+ voted to cut oil production in November, pushing up energy prices and drawing criticism from Washington.
“Although the Opec+ decision, which was taken unanimously, was due to purely economic reasons, some accused the kingdom of standing with Russia," Prince Khalid said.
"Iran is also a member of Opec, does this mean that the kingdom is standing with Iran as well?”
He later said on Twitter that Saudi Arabia was "astonished by the accusations" that the kingdom was standing with Russia in the war with Ukraine.
"It is telling that these false accusations did not come from the Ukrainian government," he said.
Mr Zelenskyy on Friday said he spoke with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and thanked him for “supporting Ukraine's territorial integrity, resolution at the UN General Assembly”.
He said Saudi Arabia and Ukraine “agreed to interact in the release of prisoners of war” and on the provision of “macro-financial aid to Ukraine”.
Following the call, Saudi Arabia announced a $400 million humanitarian aid package.
Prince Mohammed said the kingdom was ready to support mediation and all that contributed to de-escalating the crisis between Ukraine and Russia.
Last month, Prince Mohammed helped to mediate the release of 10 people from five countries as part of an exchange of prisoners of war between Russia and Ukraine.
“The Crown Prince affirmed the kingdom’s keenness and support for all international efforts aimed at resolving the crisis politically and stressed the continuation of efforts to contribute to alleviating the humanitarian consequences resulting from it,” state media reported.
The comments following the Opec+ decision came as the body's Secretary General, Haitham Al Ghais, said the organisation took "a pre-emptive decision” that aimed to strike a balance between supply and demand.
He said slow economic growth reflects on oil demand and decisions were “purely technical”.
Last week, Opec+ announced it would cut its November output by two million barrels a day, its most significant production cut since the start of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, which led to a jump in oil prices.
Saudi Arabia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prince Faisal bin Farhan has said Opec+ members acted responsibly in their decision to cut production.
The move provoked criticism from the White House, which said it would review its relationship with the kingdom.
The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the government “would first like to express its total rejection of these statements that are not based on facts, and which are based on portraying the Opec+ decision out of its purely economic context”.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
MATCH INFO
Confederations Cup Group B
Germany v Chile
Kick-off: Thursday, 10pm (UAE)
Where: Kazan Arena, Kazan
Watch live: Abu Dhabi Sports HD
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
The years Ramadan fell in May
Zayed Sustainability Prize
More on animal trafficking
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Famous left-handers
- Marie Curie
- Jimi Hendrix
- Leonardo Di Vinci
- David Bowie
- Paul McCartney
- Albert Einstein
- Jack the Ripper
- Barack Obama
- Helen Keller
- Joan of Arc
Why your domicile status is important
Your UK residence status is assessed using the statutory residence test. While your residence status – ie where you live - is assessed every year, your domicile status is assessed over your lifetime.
Your domicile of origin generally comes from your parents and if your parents were not married, then it is decided by your father. Your domicile is generally the country your father considered his permanent home when you were born.
UK residents who have their permanent home ("domicile") outside the UK may not have to pay UK tax on foreign income. For example, they do not pay tax on foreign income or gains if they are less than £2,000 in the tax year and do not transfer that gain to a UK bank account.
A UK-domiciled person, however, is liable for UK tax on their worldwide income and gains when they are resident in the UK.
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
HOW TO WATCH
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Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Fixtures
Opening day Premier League fixtures for August 9-11
August 9
Liverpool v Norwich 11pm
August 10
West Ham v Man City 3.30pm
Bournemouth v Sheffield Utd 6pm
Burnley v Southampton 6pm
C Palace v Everton 6pm
Leicester v Wolves 6pm
Watford v Brighton 6pm
Tottenham v Aston Villa 8.30pm
August 11
Newcastle v Arsenal 5pm
Man United v Chelsea 7.30pm
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The Birkin bag is made by Hermès.
It is named after actress and singer Jane Birkin
Noone from Hermès will go on record to say how much a new Birkin costs, how long one would have to wait to get one, and how many bags are actually made each year.
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
MATCH INFO
Manchester United 1 (Rashford 36')
Liverpool 1 (Lallana 84')
Man of the match: Marcus Rashford (Manchester United)
Jawan
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
More coverage from the Future Forum
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
