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From Our Own Correspondent

The Crown Prince and the President

From Our Own Correspondent

BBC

News, News Commentary

4.41.3K Ratings

🗓️ 21 July 2022

⏱️ 28 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

The meeting between US President, Joe Biden and Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, at the weekend was closely watched back in Washington. Mr Biden said his visit would focus mainly on human rights and regional security - but a request for an increase in oil output was also on the agenda. Anna Foster was in Jeddah. Beyond the official meetings, Sebastian Usher speaks to artists who are taking part in an exhibition in Qatif, in Saudi Arabia's east, reflecting on some of the lost heritage both there and in the historic quarter of Jeddah, amid the rapid pace of development in the Kingdom. Wildfires have broken out across Europe as a heatwave has brought soaring temperatures. Portugal has seen 30,000 hectares of land destroyed by wildfires already this year, and its leaders have moved quickly to try and avoid repeating the same mistakes they did in the deadly fires of 2017. Alison Roberts has been following the story. We visit the town of Pacific Grove, California which has become renowned for its butterfly visitors over the years, which migrate from the frostier climes of Canada to the Golden State. Ben Wyatt hears about efforts by locals in 'Butterfly Town USA' to help protect the various species of butterflies which are at risk of extinction. Finally, we're in Greenland, which is prioritising tourism as a means of growing its economy, rather than mineral exploration. The island remains a challenging environment in which to travel but is not lacking for luxury, as Tim Ecott finds. On his visit, he discovers a Michelin-starred restaurant on the shores of an Ice Fjord. Presenter: Kate Adie Producer: Serena Tarling Production Coordinator: Gemma Ashman Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith

Transcript

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0:00.0

BBC Sounds, Music, Radio, Podcasts

0:05.2

Today we're in Jeddah in Saudi Arabia with his glittering new buildings and rapidly changing

0:11.0

infrastructure what's left of the old way of life.

0:15.5

Amid the intense heat wave, fires are breaking out across southern Europe.

0:20.2

We hear where the Portugal has learnt from previous years.

0:24.3

We're travelling on the Pacific Highway in Southern California to a town known for a

0:29.1

special kind of visitor, and we're in Greenland, sampling reindeer steaks and seaweed at a

0:35.4

Michelastard restaurant on the shores of an ice fjord.

0:40.6

But first, the meeting between US President Joe Biden and Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince

0:45.4

Mohammed bin Salman at the weekend has raised hackles among human rights observers, as

0:51.4

well as some of Mr. Biden's fellow Democrats.

0:55.2

During his presidential campaign, Joe Biden had vowed to make Saudi Arabia a pariah because

1:01.4

of its grim human rights record.

1:04.4

Early in his presidency, he suspended weapon sales to the kingdom and took pains not to

1:10.2

speak to the Crown Prince.

1:12.6

But as fuel prices began rising due to the war in Ukraine, the Saudi-US relationship began

1:19.4

to thore.

1:20.9

And while Mr. Biden insisted his trip to the kingdom was focused on regional security

1:26.4

and human rights, a request for an increase in oil output was also on the agenda.

1:33.7

Anna Foster followed the presidential visit.

1:37.2

Joe Biden didn't get to see El Balad, Jedis' historic beating heart with its higgledy-piggledy

1:43.1

wooden-shuttered buildings.

...

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