Biden news today: Jamal Khashoggi’s American lawyer detained in UAE

President Joe Biden posed for a “family photo” with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, simply hours after the pair exchanged harsh phrases over the homicide of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

The president stood shoulder to shoulder with the crown prince, referred to as MBS, together with different Middle East leaders on Saturday, earlier than he boarded Air Force One and left the area.

In the pictures, Mr Biden stood along with his fingers clasped in entrance of him with MBS to his proper. At one level, the 2 leaders appeared to trade phrases.

They had been joined for the picture name by Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa bin Salman al-Khalifa; Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi; Jordan’s King Abdullah II; Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani; Kuwait’s Crown Prince Meshal al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah; Iraq’s Prime Minister Mustafa Kadhemi; United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan and Asaad bin Tariq al-Said, a particular consultant for the Sultan of Oman.

The so-called “family photo” comes after Friday’s assembly between Mr Biden and MBS the place the US president mentioned he confronted the Saudi crown prince over his position in Khashoggi’s demise.

The Independent’s Rachel Sharp has the complete story:

Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman fired again at Joe Biden with America’s personal controversies when the US president confronted him over the homicide of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, it has been revealed.

A supply conversant in Friday’s controversial assembly between the 2 leaders advised CNN that the crown prince, referred to as MBS, responded by citing the demise of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh and incidents the place US troopers abused prisoners at Iraq’s Abu Ghraib detention centre.

The supply mentioned that MBS advised Mr Biden that the 2 incidents mirrored badly on the US.

The Independent’s Rachel Sharp has the complete story:

MBS has mentioned that Saudi Arabia can not enhance its oil manufacturing considerably, after President Joe Biden met with the crown prince in efforts to deal with sky-high fuel costs again in the US.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman mentioned on the Gulf Cooperation Council on Saturday that his oil-rich nation was virtually at its restrict of petroleum manufacturing and can’t produce greater than 13 million barrels a day.

According to the US Energy Information Administration, Saudi Arabia is at the moment producing round 10.2 million barrels of crude oil a day.

His feedback come after Mr Biden advised reporters that MBS had agreed to bolster its oil manufacturing – a transfer that can ease fuel costs for Americans – throughout their controversial assembly on Friday.

On 2 October 2018, Jamal Khashoggi – a The Washington Post journalist and outspoken critic of the Saudi authorities – was murdered contained in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.

US officers mentioned that the homicide was carried out by a group of intelligence operatives with ties to the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman – referred to as MBS – earlier than his physique was dismembered with a bone noticed.

The Saudi Arabian authorities initially denied any involvement in the killing earlier than happening to say that the operatives killed him by accident whereas making an attempt to extradite him to Saudi Arabia.

US intelligence companies later concluded that MBS had ordered his killing.

MBS has lengthy denied any duty – a denial he continued to stay to when he got here head to head with President Joe Biden on Friday.

An American lawyer who defended murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi has been detained in the UAE, sparking additional controversy round President Joe Biden’s journey to the Middle East.

Asim Ghafoor, a US citizen and civil rights legal professional from Virginia, was detained at Dubai airport on Thursday whereas travelling to Istanbul for a household marriage ceremony, in keeping with Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN).

The human rights group mentioned Mr Ghafoor is now being held in a detention facility in Abu Dhabi on costs associated to an in absentia conviction for cash laundering.

Mr Ghafoor had no prior data of any conviction, DAWN mentioned in a press release on Friday.

The Independent’s Rachel Sharp has the complete story:

Russian officers visited Iran on no less than two separate events to look at drones that they’re contemplating utilizing for its conflict on Ukraine, in keeping with the White House.

National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan mentioned on Saturday that US intelligence exhibits a Russian delegation visited an Kashan airfield in central Iran on June 8 and July 5.

During the go to, the Iranian army confirmed them the Shahed-191 and Shahed-129 drones.

CNN first reported the incidents together with a satellite tv for pc picture of the UAVs in flight on the airfield whereas a Russian delegation transport airplane was on web site.

Mr Sullivan mentioned the visits counsel “ongoing Russian interest” in procuring the “attack-capable” UAVs or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles.

“We have information that the Iranian government is preparing to provide Russia with several hundred UAVs, including weapons-capable UAVs,” Mr Sullivan mentioned.

“We assess an official Russian delegation recently received a showcase of Iranian attack-capable UAVs.

“We are releasing these images captured in June showing Iranian UAVs that the Russian government delegation saw that day. This suggests ongoing Russian interest in acquiring Iranian attack-capable UAVs.”

He added: “To our knowledge, this is the first time a Russian delegation has visited this airfield for such a showcase.”

Representative Ilhan Omar criticised President Joe Biden’s journey to Saudi Arabia, saying it sends the incorrect message concerning the United States’ place on human rights.

The Minnesota Democrat and member of the Squad, who’s a refugee from Somalia, mentioned Mr Biden’s journey goes again on his phrase that he would make Saudi Arabia a “pariah nation” after the homicide of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

“We are going to make them pay the price, and make them in fact, the pariah that they are,” he mentioned when he was operating for president.

The Independent’s Eric Garcia has the complete story:

“Trying to make peace in the Middle East is a task American presidents usually leave until their second term. That was the pattern set, with varying degrees of success, by presidents Nixon, Clinton and Obama.

“Only Jimmy Carter allowed hope to triumph over experience during his single term in office, with the historic Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel.

“Although only in his first term, and on his first visit to the region, Joe Biden is expressly not there to follow in the footsteps of any of his peacemaking predecessors. He has been around for too long, and seen too many disappointments, to risk the investment needed to make progress. This trip has more to do with Russia and Ukraine than Israel and Palestine.”

Read the remainder of The Independent’s editorial right here:

Jamal Khashoggi’s fiancée has slammed President Joe Biden over his fist-bump with the Saudi crown prince.

Hatice Cengiz spoke out about how she believed the murdered journalist would reply to seeing the pleasant greeting between the 2 leaders.

“Is this the accountability you promised for my murder? The blood of MBS’s next victims is on your hands,” she mentioned.

Khashoggi had gone to the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on 2 October 2018 to get the paperwork he wanted to marry Ms Cengiz. He by no means made it out alive.

Iran won’t ever have the ability to develop and keep nuclear weapons, President Joe Biden vowed on Saturday in a speech to Middle East leaders in Saudi Arabia.

The Biden administration has been in talks with Iran to reenter the 2015 nuclear deal which was reached below the Obama administration – earlier than being dismantled by Donald Trump.

Talks to reenter the deal have stalled.