US President Joe Biden called for an increase in domestic oil production as he announced the release of 15 million barrels from the country's Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
"We need to responsibly increase American oil production without delaying or deferring our transition to clean energy,” Mr Biden said in remarks from the White House on Wednesday.
The move comes as the Biden administration struggles to lower petrol prices in the weeks before the November 8 midterm elections that will decide who controls the US Congress.
The Saudi Arabia-led Opec+ alliance this month agreed to cut oil production by 2 million barrels per day, in a move that many in Washington interpreted as a snub to Mr Biden to hinder his Democratic Party at the polls. Riyadh has defended the reduction as "purely economic".
“Families are hurting,” Mr Biden said. “When the price of gas goes up, other expenses get cut. That's why I have been doing everything in my power to reduce gas prices.”
The Biden administration will refill the country's strategic reserves, housed in vast salt caves in Texas and Louisiana, when oil prices are at or below about $67-$72 per barrel.
Pumping extra US oil has long been a rallying cry for Republicans, who see energy independence as crucial. Last week, Democratic Senator Joe Manchin, who sometimes votes with the Republicans, called for an increase in domestic production including in Alaska.
Oil prices rose on Wednesday as worries over tightening global supplies offset the price-lowering impacts of softening Chinese demand and the release from the US reserves.
US fuel costs have dropped over the past two weeks but remain higher than a month ago.
The reserve sale will complete the 180 million-barrel drawdown Mr Biden announced in the spring, the White House said.
More reserve sales could come, Mr Biden said, having alerted the Department of Energy to be ready to move forward with additional “significant” sales this winter due to “Russian or other actions disrupting global markets”.
Mr Biden also urged refiners and retailers to pass their savings on to consumers, condemning their “record” profits amid a global inflation crisis “at the expense of the vast majority of Americans”.
He called out US oil companies for using those profits to buy back their own stocks.
“That's great if you own a lot of stock in an oil company or if you're an executive at an oil company. Puts a lot of money in your pocket. But it's not the case for the vast majority of Americans paying at the pump,” said Mr Biden.
“My message to the American energy companies is this: you should not be using your profits to buy back stock or for dividends. Not now. Not while a war is raging. You should be using these record-breaking profits to increase production and refining. Invest in America for the American people.”
The White House added in a statement: “These outsize industry profit margins — adding more than $0.60 to the average price of a gallon of gas — have kept pump prices higher than they should be. Keeping prices high even as input costs fall is unacceptable.”
The announcement came after the White House said it was re-evaluating its relationship with Saudi Arabia over the Opec+ decision to cut production.
The recent reserve barrels will be available from December, the White House said.
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
Winners
Ballon d’Or (Men’s)
Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain / France)
Ballon d’Or Féminin (Women’s)
Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona / Spain)
Kopa Trophy (Best player under 21 – Men’s)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain)
Best Young Women’s Player
Vicky López (Barcelona / Spain)
Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper – Men’s)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City / Italy)
Best Women’s Goalkeeper
Hannah Hampton (England / Aston Villa and Chelsea)
Men’s Coach of the Year
Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain)
Women’s Coach of the Year
Sarina Wiegman (England)
The years Ramadan fell in May
Russia's Muslim Heartlands
Dominic Rubin, Oxford
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites
The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.
It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.
“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.
The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
MATCH INFO
Euro 2020 qualifier
Norway v Spain, Saturday, 10.45pm, UAE
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
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TECH%20SPECS%3A%20APPLE%20WATCH%20SE%20(second%20generation)
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Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Farage on Muslim Brotherhood
Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Profile
Co-founders of the company: Vilhelm Hedberg and Ravi Bhusari
Launch year: In 2016 ekar launched and signed an agreement with Etihad Airways in Abu Dhabi. In January 2017 ekar launched in Dubai in a partnership with the RTA.
Number of employees: Over 50
Financing stage: Series B currently being finalised
Investors: Series A - Audacia Capital
Sector of operation: Transport
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
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two stars
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Starring: Jamie Foxx, Angela Bassett, Tina Fey
Directed by: Pete Doctor
Rating: 4 stars
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
