Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman showed himself to be no pariah Friday at the G20 summit, with a beaming Vladimir Putin welcoming him but European leaders warning him over the killing of a dissident journalist. Their embrace comes amid reports that Russia and Saudi Arabia have reached a pact to cut oil production when the OPEC cartel meets on December 6 in Vienna, to help shore up collapsing crude prices. Kirill Dmitriev, the chief of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund, told reporters that Putin would meet the prince Saturday and discuss boosting Saudi Arabia’s $2 billion investment in Russia. But the prince appeared to receive a more critical reception from French President Emmanuel Macron, who was overheard on a microphone voicing concerns. “Don’t worry,” Prince Mohammed is heard saying in English to the French leader, who responds, “I do worry.

Source: Egypt Independent December 01, 2018 08:03 UTC