Recent clashes at the Palestinian camp in Lebanon have resulted in the deaths of dozen of people and has injured over 60 others. Saudi Arabia has now urged its citizens to leave the country as soon as possible recalling the State of Emergency.

UK, Kuwait issue travel advisory for Lebanon

<p>India's National Security Adviser Ajit Doval reached Jeddah to take part in the Ukraine peace talks which are being hosted by Saudi Arabia.<br />
<br />
Doval received a warm welcome from Indian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Suhel Khan and Consul General Mohammed Shahid Alam at the airport.<br />
<br />
“Ajit Doval, NSA arrived in Jeddah to take part in National Security Advisers' meeting on Ukraine. He was welcomed at Jeddah Airport by Ambassador Dr Suhel Khan and Consul General Mohd Shahid Alam,” wrote Indian Embassy in Riyadh on X, formerly Twitter.<br />
<br />
The meeting is being held in the coastal city of Jeddah to talk about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's peace plan amid the ongoing conflict with Russia. India's Ministry of External Affairs had earlier confirmed the participation of India in the summit.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Shri Ajit Doval, NSA arrived in Jeddah to take part in National Security Advisors' meeting on Ukraine. He was welcomed at Jeddah Airport by Ambassador Dr Suhel Khan and Consul General Mohd Shahid Alam.<a href="https://twitter.com/MEAIndia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MEAIndia</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/IndianDiplomacy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IndianDiplomacy</a> <a href="https://t.co/wmLQ10f17l">pic.twitter.com/wmLQ10f17l</a></p>
— India in Saudi Arabia (@IndianEmbRiyadh) <a href="https://twitter.com/IndianEmbRiyadh/status/1687693617337450496?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 5, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>"India will participate in this event. Our participation is in consonance with our long-standing position that dialogue and diplomacy is the way forward," MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi had confirmed.<br />
<br />
The meeting is an effort by Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman to become a mediator in resolving the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which started in February last year. Zelensky was invited by the crown prince in May this year to a summit of Arab States where he appealed to Middle East nations to stand in solidarity with his country against Russia.</p>

<h2><strong>No attendance for Russia</strong></h2>

<p>According to reports, 30 countries have been invited by Saudi Arabia and although Ukraine is participating in the summit, Russia is not. US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan is also likely to participate in the peace talks, along with others.<br />
<br />
As per reports, the 30 invitees to the Jeddah summit include Brazil, South Africa, Chile, Egypt, the European Union, Indonesia, Mexico, Poland, the United Kingdom, the United States and Zambia.<br />
<br />
Head of Ukraine’s presidential office Andriy Yermak on Sunday said that a Ukrainian-organised peace summit will be held in Saudi Arabia. This meeting is aimed that discussing how Ukraine's plan can be implemented “to restore lasting and just peace”.</p>

<h2><strong>Ukraine's peace plan</strong></h2>

<p>The peace plan of Ukraine calls for the withdrawal of Russian troops; release of prisoners; guarantees on nuclear safety, food and energy security; restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity; and a tribunal for those who should be held responsible for the aggression and security guarantees.<br />
<br />
As per the plan, Russia will be held accountable for war atrocities and will have to surrender all territories captured from Ukraine and pay damages. The plan has been rejected by Russia in the past.</p>

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India's National Security Adviser Ajit Doval reached Jeddah to take part in the Ukraine peace talks which are being hosted by Saudi Arabia. Doval received a warm welcome from Indian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Suhel Khan and Consul General Mohammed Shahid Alam at the airport.

India's National Security Adviser Ajit Doval reached Jeddah to take part in the Ukraine peace talks which are being hosted by Saudi Arabia. Doval received a warm welcome from Indian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Suhel Khan and Consul General Mohammed Shahid Alam at the airport. “Ajit Doval, NSA arrived in Jeddah to take part in National Security Advisers' meeting on Ukraine. He was welcomed at Jeddah Airport by Ambassador Dr Suhel Khan and Consul General Mohd Shahid Alam,” wrote Indian Embassy in Riyadh on X, formerly Twitter. The meeting is being held in the coastal city of Jeddah to talk about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's peace plan amid the ongoing conflict with Russia. India's Ministry of External Affairs had earlier confirmed the participation of India in the summit. Shri Ajit Doval, NSA arrived in Jeddah to take part in National Security Advisors' meeting on Ukraine. He was welcomed at Jeddah Airport by Ambassador Dr Suhel Khan and Consul General Mohd Shahid Alam.@MEAIndia @IndianDiplomacy pic.twitter.com/wmLQ10f17l — India in Saudi Arabia (@IndianEmbRiyadh) August 5, 2023 × "India will participate in this event. Our participation is in consonance with our long-standing position that dialogue and diplomacy is the way forward," MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi had confirmed. The meeting is an effort by Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman to become a mediator in resolving the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which started in February last year. Zelensky was invited by the crown prince in May this year to a summit of Arab States where he appealed to Middle East nations to stand in solidarity with his country against Russia. No attendance for Russia According to reports, 30 countries have been invited by Saudi Arabia and although Ukraine is participating in the summit, Russia is not. US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan is also likely to participate in the peace talks, along with others. As per reports, the 30 invitees to the Jeddah summit include Brazil, South Africa, Chile, Egypt, the European Union, Indonesia, Mexico, Poland, the United Kingdom, the United States and Zambia. Head of Ukraine’s presidential office Andriy Yermak on Sunday said that a Ukrainian-organised peace summit will be held in Saudi Arabia. This meeting is aimed that discussing how Ukraine's plan can be implemented “to restore lasting and just peace”. Ukraine's peace plan The peace plan of Ukraine calls for the withdrawal of Russian troops; release of prisoners; guarantees on nuclear safety, food and energy security; restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity; and a tribunal for those who should be held responsible for the aggression and security guarantees. As per the plan, Russia will be held accountable for war atrocities and will have to surrender all territories captured from Ukraine and pay damages. The plan has been rejected by Russia in the past. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

India attends Saudi-hosted Ukraine peace talks, without Russia

In a diplomatic victory for Kiev, the West, and the Saudi hosts, China announced on Friday that it will send a senior official to Saudi Arabia for weekend discussions on finding a peaceful resolution to the war in Ukraine. Diplomats from Ukraine and the West are hoping that the gathering of national security advisers and other senior officials from over 40 nations in Jeddah will result in an agreement on fundamental principles for a future peace agreement to put an end to Russia's war in Ukraine.

China to participate in Ukraine peace talks in Saudi Arabia

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<p>Saudi Arabia on Friday (August 4) urged its citizens to leave Lebanon and avoid approaching areas where there have been armed clashes. In a statement, the Saudi embassy in Lebanon stressed "the importance of adhering to the Saudi travel ban to Lebanon." However, the kingdom did not specify which areas in Lebanon it was advising its citizens to avoid.</p>

<p>Clashes have rocked Lebanon in the Palestinian camp of Ain el-Hilweh since July 29. At least 13 people, most of them militants have been killed in the fighting between rival factions. According to the United Nations agency for refugees from Palestine, Ain el-Hilweh is the largest of 12 Palestinian camps in Lebanon, hosting around 80,000 of up to 250,000 Palestinian refugees countrywide.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Kuwait, UK also issue advisories&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Apart from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Kingdom (UK) also issued advisories for their citizens, the news agency Reuters reported. On Saturday, Kuwait called on its citizens in Lebanon to stay vigilant and avoid "areas of security disturbances" but stopped short of asking them to leave the country.&nbsp;</p>

<p>On the other hand, the UK updated its travel advice for Lebanon, advising against "all but essential travel" to parts of Lebanon’s south near the Ain el-Hilweh camp.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Head of Hezbollah urges halt to clashes</strong></h2>

<p>On Tuesday, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah,&nbsp;the head of Hezbollah, urged a halt to the clashes, and said, "This fighting must not continue because its repercussions are bad - for the camp's residents, for the dear Palestinian people... for the south, for all of Lebanon."</p>

<p>Nasrallah added that anyone who could "pressure, say a word, make contact, make an effort" to secure a truce should do so.<br />
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Saudi Arabia on Friday (August 4) urged its citizens to leave Lebanon and avoid approaching areas where there have been armed clashes. In a statement, the Saudi embassy in Lebanon stressed "the importance of adhering to the Saudi travel ban to Lebanon.

Saudi Arabia on Friday (August 4) urged its citizens to leave Lebanon and avoid approaching areas where there have been armed clashes. In a statement, the Saudi embassy in Lebanon stressed "the importance of adhering to the Saudi travel ban to Lebanon." However, the kingdom did not specify which areas in Lebanon it was advising its citizens to avoid. Clashes have rocked Lebanon in the Palestinian camp of Ain el-Hilweh since July 29. At least 13 people, most of them militants have been killed in the fighting between rival factions. According to the United Nations agency for refugees from Palestine, Ain el-Hilweh is the largest of 12 Palestinian camps in Lebanon, hosting around 80,000 of up to 250,000 Palestinian refugees countrywide. Kuwait, UK also issue advisories Apart from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Kingdom (UK) also issued advisories for their citizens, the news agency Reuters reported. On Saturday, Kuwait called on its citizens in Lebanon to stay vigilant and avoid "areas of security disturbances" but stopped short of asking them to leave the country. On the other hand, the UK updated its travel advice for Lebanon, advising against "all but essential travel" to parts of Lebanon’s south near the Ain el-Hilweh camp. Head of Hezbollah urges halt to clashes On Tuesday, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, the head of Hezbollah, urged a halt to the clashes, and said, "This fighting must not continue because its repercussions are bad - for the camp's residents, for the dear Palestinian people... for the south, for all of Lebanon." Nasrallah added that anyone who could "pressure, say a word, make contact, make an effort" to secure a truce should do so. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Lebanon clashes: Saudi urges its citizens to quickly leave Lebanese territory

Saudi Arabia's economic plans to move away from oil-related activity seem to have encountered a significant dent as business growth in the kingdom slowed in July. Saudi Arabia's non-oil industries started to feel the effects of rising interest rates, which hurt the overall business growth last month. Riyad bank said the purchasing managers' index for Saudi Arabia was 57.7 in July, down from 59.6 in June. While the figure was still well above 50, which differentiates growth from contraction, the slowdown was mostly caused by slower growth in new orders.

Saudi Arabia's business growth decelerates in July | World Business Watch

2023 is turning out to be a year of reconciliation in the world's most volatile region. Regional players are aiming for stability after years of war, violence and upheaval. In the latest, Saudi Arabia and Israel seem to be talking indirectly, and Iran is not happy. What is this about? Ghadi Francis gets you the story.

Saudi-Israel rapprochement possible?

Saudi Arabia, I said to host peace talks on the Russia-Ukraine War beginning tomorrow in Jeddah. National Security advisors and Senior officials from 40 countries are set to take part in the talks while Russia has been excluded the question mark still hangs over whether China will take part or not.

Russia not invited to peace talks on Ukraine in Jeddah

<p>Saudi Arabia's efforts to diversify its economy beyond oil face a setback as business expansion in the nation experienced a notable deceleration in July. The impact of elevated interest rates began to affect Saudi Arabia's non-oil sectors, contributing to an overall slowdown in business growth last month.</p>

<p>According to Riyad Bank, the Purchasing Managers' Index for Saudi Arabia declined from 59.6 in June to 57.7 in July. While the reading remains comfortably above 50, indicating growth rather than contraction, the deceleration can be attributed to a moderation in new-order growth.</p>

<p>Amidst intense competition, price reductions were observed during the month, yet business activity expansion remained on par with June's levels.</p>

<p>However, in 2022, the Saudi economy demonstrated robust growth, expanding by over 9 percent, outpacing other G20 members, and propelling the GDP beyond the trillion-dollar mark for the first time. Although this year's growth trajectory has fallen short of expectations due to declining oil prices and production, some experts now even anticipate a contraction.</p>

<p>Saudi Arabia's currency, the riyal, is fixed to the U.S. dollar, necessitating close monitoring of decisions made by the U.S. Federal Reserve. This linkage persists even as Saudi inflation has remained notably lower than that of the United States over the past two years. The Fed has raised interest rates aggressively over the past year, most recently by 25 basis points last month, to lower inflation.</p>

<p>Furthermore, in a bid to bolster crude prices, Saudi Arabia announced on Thursday its decision to extend oil production cuts for at least an additional month, until the end of September. Anticipated Saudi production for September hovers around 9 million barrels per day (bpd).</p>

<p>Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman has directed substantial investments into diverse sectors such as tourism, sports, and electric vehicles. Nonetheless, the country's exports remain heavily reliant on oil, which accounts for more than 90 percent of its total exports.</p>

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Saudi Arabia's efforts to diversify its economy beyond oil face a setback as business expansion in the nation experienced a notable deceleration in July. The impact of elevated interest rates began to affect Saudi Arabia's non-oil sectors, contributing to an overall slowdown in business growth last month.

Saudi Arabia's efforts to diversify its economy beyond oil face a setback as business expansion in the nation experienced a notable deceleration in July. The impact of elevated interest rates began to affect Saudi Arabia's non-oil sectors, contributing to an overall slowdown in business growth last month. According to Riyad Bank, the Purchasing Managers' Index for Saudi Arabia declined from 59.6 in June to 57.7 in July. While the reading remains comfortably above 50, indicating growth rather than contraction, the deceleration can be attributed to a moderation in new-order growth. Amidst intense competition, price reductions were observed during the month, yet business activity expansion remained on par with June's levels. However, in 2022, the Saudi economy demonstrated robust growth, expanding by over 9 percent, outpacing other G20 members, and propelling the GDP beyond the trillion-dollar mark for the first time. Although this year's growth trajectory has fallen short of expectations due to declining oil prices and production, some experts now even anticipate a contraction. Saudi Arabia's currency, the riyal, is fixed to the U.S. dollar, necessitating close monitoring of decisions made by the U.S. Federal Reserve. This linkage persists even as Saudi inflation has remained notably lower than that of the United States over the past two years. The Fed has raised interest rates aggressively over the past year, most recently by 25 basis points last month, to lower inflation. Furthermore, in a bid to bolster crude prices, Saudi Arabia announced on Thursday its decision to extend oil production cuts for at least an additional month, until the end of September. Anticipated Saudi production for September hovers around 9 million barrels per day (bpd). Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman has directed substantial investments into diverse sectors such as tourism, sports, and electric vehicles. Nonetheless, the country's exports remain heavily reliant on oil, which accounts for more than 90 percent of its total exports. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Saudi Arabia's non-oil businesses face troubles as growth slows in July

Have you ever been to a auction before? If you have then you would know that such events usually auctions belongings of celebrities or clothes which has historical and cultural values. Well there is a unique kind of an auction happening in Saudi Arabia, watch the video to know more.

Saudi falcon auction to begin on August 5, to include 6 stages | World News | WION

Big moves are being made in West Asia 2023 standing out to be a reconciliation in the world's most volatile regions. The arch-enemies are embracing civil and diplomatic ties and imagine truces are being brokered West Asia is aiming for stability after years of war violence and upheaval. There's a possible Saudi Arabia and Israel reproached it's a deal in the works where beneficiaries are multiple.

US aims to reclaim clout in West Asia

<p>India’s crude oil imports from Saudi Arabia declined by 34 per cent in July, according to energy cargo tracker Vortexa. A Moneycontrol report said that India imported 484,000 barrels of crude oil per day in July, compared to 734,000 barrels per day (bpd) in June.</p>

<p>The decline in India's imports came after the West Asian kingdom announced supply cuts of one million bpd in July.</p>

<p>Saudi Arabia and a number of other oil-producing nations have cut oil supply in a bid to stabilise the global oil prices, Apart from Saudi Arabia, Iraq had decided to lower its oil supply by over 200,000 bpd through the end of the year. In May, Russia and the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries announced a cut in oil production by 1.6 million bpd for the rest of the year.</p>

<p><strong>Increase in crude oil imports from Russia</strong></p>

<p>In the meantime, Russia continued to be India’s top crude oil supplier in July. According to Viktor Katona,&nbsp;head of crude analysis at&nbsp;Kpler's, daily volumes increased for the tenth straight month in June, reaching 2.2 million barrels per day. The data reveals that India received more crude oil from Moscow than it did from Saudi Arabia and Iraq, its usual suppliers, put together.</p>

<p>Following the invasion of Ukraine, India became a prime consumer of Russian oil, but due to infrastructural problems and the need to maintain good relations with other suppliers, the country’s oil purchase may have reached its limit.</p>

<p>Kpler however predicted that due to a decline in Russian oil production, imports may fall next month. According to a Bloomberg report, Reliance Industries Ltd. is the second-largest consumer of Russian crude after state-owned Indian Oil Corporation.</p>

<p>India, the third-largest consumer and importer of oil in the world, purchases more than 80 per cent of its oil from foreign markets.</p>

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India’s crude oil imports from Saudi Arabia declined by 34 per cent in July, according to energy cargo tracker Vortexa. A Moneycontrol report said that India imported 484,000 barrels of crude oil per day in July, compared to 734,000 barrels per day (bpd) in June.

India’s crude oil imports from Saudi Arabia declined by 34 per cent in July, according to energy cargo tracker Vortexa. A Moneycontrol report said that India imported 484,000 barrels of crude oil per day in July, compared to 734,000 barrels per day (bpd) in June. The decline in India's imports came after the West Asian kingdom announced supply cuts of one million bpd in July. Saudi Arabia and a number of other oil-producing nations have cut oil supply in a bid to stabilise the global oil prices, Apart from Saudi Arabia, Iraq had decided to lower its oil supply by over 200,000 bpd through the end of the year. In May, Russia and the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries announced a cut in oil production by 1.6 million bpd for the rest of the year. Increase in crude oil imports from Russia In the meantime, Russia continued to be India’s top crude oil supplier in July. According to Viktor Katona, head of crude analysis at Kpler's, daily volumes increased for the tenth straight month in June, reaching 2.2 million barrels per day. The data reveals that India received more crude oil from Moscow than it did from Saudi Arabia and Iraq, its usual suppliers, put together. Following the invasion of Ukraine, India became a prime consumer of Russian oil, but due to infrastructural problems and the need to maintain good relations with other suppliers, the country’s oil purchase may have reached its limit. Kpler however predicted that due to a decline in Russian oil production, imports may fall next month. According to a Bloomberg report, Reliance Industries Ltd. is the second-largest consumer of Russian crude after state-owned Indian Oil Corporation. India, the third-largest consumer and importer of oil in the world, purchases more than 80 per cent of its oil from foreign markets. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

India sees 34 per cent fall in oil imports from Saudi Arabia; supplies from Russia increase

Dame Judi Dench, a well-known performer, has admitted that she can no longer "see on a film set any more." The Oscar-winning actress was given a macular degeneration diagnosis in 2012, and since then, her eyesight has gotten so bad that she is unable to see on sets.

88-year-old actor Judi Dench 'can't see films on the sets anymore'

UK is about to start new consultation with the United States for security guarantees. The talks are a follow-up on pledge issued by G7 countries at the NATO summit in Lithuania.

Saudi Arabia to host talks on Ukraine, 30 nations to attend summit in Jeddah

Saudi Arabia is all set to host Ukraine peace talks in Jeddah next month with an aim to find a way to start negotiations over Russia’s war on Ukraine. According to reports, a total of 30 countries will be taking part in the summit.

Can Saudi Arabia broker peace between Russia and Ukraine

A day after senior White House officials travelled to Jeddah for talks on an agreement that would reportedly include a significant strengthening of security ties between Riyadh and Washington, US President Joe Biden hinted at potential progress in a possible normalisation deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia on Friday.

Joe Biden sends security advisor to Saudi Arabia for bilateral talks

The American president Joe Biden said that a deal may in fact be on the way with Saudi Arabia. Biden has not given out any details about the possible deal as the deal requires massive security part between Washington and Riyadh. This comes after talks National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan had with the Saudi officials in Jeddah.

US President hints at deal with Saudi

<p>Saudi Arabia and Iran summoned Swedish diplomats to mark protest against Sweden for allowing the burning of the holy book Quran. Sweden&nbsp;had granted permission to burn the holy book as part of a protest outside Stockholm’s main mosque, a move that is now being slammed by a majority of Muslim nations.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The foreign ministry of both Middle east nations released statements late Thursday condemning the actions by the Swedish police.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Sweden became the epicentre of angry protests after the 28 June incident when Sweden-based Iraqi refugee Salwan Momika burned pages of the Quran in front of the largest mosque in Stockholm during Eid al-Adha. Reports quoting Momika said that the primary purpose of the refugee was to bring the spotlight on freedom of speech.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/terrorist-threatens-to-target-indias-foreign-minister-jaishankar-home-minister-amit-shah-618078">Terrorist threatens to target India's foreign minister Jaishankar, home minister Amit Shah</a></p>

<p>Another major protest happened on Thursday when protesters stormed the Swedish embassy in Baghdad and set it on fire. Thursday's protest in Baghdad was organised by supporters of religious leader Moqtada Sadr who were angered by the desecration of Quran in Sweden.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Iraq severed its diplomatic ties with Sweden.</p>

<p>A planned protest was organised on the same day when Momika staged another protest in Stockholm. This time, he stomped on and kicked the copy of the Muslim holy book in front of Iraq's embassy.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In a statement, Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its "strong condemnation and denunciation of the repeated and irresponsible actions of the Swedish authorities by granting some extremists official permits authorizing them to burn and desecrate copies of the Holy Quran."&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/manipur-women-paraded-naked-was-spontaneous-act-say-authorities-618069">Manipur women paraded naked was 'spontaneous act', say authorities</a></p>

<p>Speaking in the same vein, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani said that Sweden’s ambassador to Tehran had been summoned. “We strongly condemn the repeated desecration of the Holy Quran and Islamic sanctities in Sweden and hold the Swedish government fully responsible for the consequences of inciting the feelings of Muslims around the world,” Kanani said, reported Dawn news portal.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Iraq and Sweden ties&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>The Quran burning incident and the following protests have affected diplomatic ties between the Iraq and Sweden. The government ordered the Swedish ambassador to leave the country and called back its envoy from the capital Stockholm.</p>

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<p>Iraqi Prime Minister Mohamed Shia al-Sudani "instructed the Swedish ambassador in Baghdad to leave Iraqi territory", his office said in a statement.</p>

<h2><strong>Other countries that condemned Sweden&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said, “The desecration of sacred books, persons and rituals is not freedom of expression but [is done] to constantly torment the world" and added that the entire Muslim and Christian communities “must stop this conspiracy together."&nbsp;</p>

<p>Other countries that condemned Sweden are Turkey, Lebanon, United States, among others. However, the US said that Sweden’s issuing of the permit supported freedom of expression but the country was not an endorsement of the action.</p>

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Saudi Arabia and Iran summoned Swedish diplomats to mark protest against Sweden for allowing the burning of the holy book Quran. Sweden had granted permission to burn the holy book as part of a protest outside Stockholm’s main mosque, a move that is now being slammed by a majority of Muslim nations.

Saudi Arabia and Iran summoned Swedish diplomats to mark protest against Sweden for allowing the burning of the holy book Quran. Sweden had granted permission to burn the holy book as part of a protest outside Stockholm’s main mosque, a move that is now being slammed by a majority of Muslim nations. The foreign ministry of both Middle east nations released statements late Thursday condemning the actions by the Swedish police. Sweden became the epicentre of angry protests after the 28 June incident when Sweden-based Iraqi refugee Salwan Momika burned pages of the Quran in front of the largest mosque in Stockholm during Eid al-Adha. Reports quoting Momika said that the primary purpose of the refugee was to bring the spotlight on freedom of speech. Also Read | Terrorist threatens to target India's foreign minister Jaishankar, home minister Amit Shah Another major protest happened on Thursday when protesters stormed the Swedish embassy in Baghdad and set it on fire. Thursday's protest in Baghdad was organised by supporters of religious leader Moqtada Sadr who were angered by the desecration of Quran in Sweden. Iraq severed its diplomatic ties with Sweden. A planned protest was organised on the same day when Momika staged another protest in Stockholm. This time, he stomped on and kicked the copy of the Muslim holy book in front of Iraq's embassy. In a statement, Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its "strong condemnation and denunciation of the repeated and irresponsible actions of the Swedish authorities by granting some extremists official permits authorizing them to burn and desecrate copies of the Holy Quran." Also Read | Manipur women paraded naked was 'spontaneous act', say authorities Speaking in the same vein, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani said that Sweden’s ambassador to Tehran had been summoned. “We strongly condemn the repeated desecration of the Holy Quran and Islamic sanctities in Sweden and hold the Swedish government fully responsible for the consequences of inciting the feelings of Muslims around the world,” Kanani said, reported Dawn news portal. Iraq and Sweden ties The Quran burning incident and the following protests have affected diplomatic ties between the Iraq and Sweden. The government ordered the Swedish ambassador to leave the country and called back its envoy from the capital Stockholm. Watch | Rainfall in India and Pakistan × Iraqi Prime Minister Mohamed Shia al-Sudani "instructed the Swedish ambassador in Baghdad to leave Iraqi territory", his office said in a statement. Other countries that condemned Sweden Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said, “The desecration of sacred books, persons and rituals is not freedom of expression but [is done] to constantly torment the world" and added that the entire Muslim and Christian communities “must stop this conspiracy together." Other countries that condemned Sweden are Turkey, Lebanon, United States, among others. However, the US said that Sweden’s issuing of the permit supported freedom of expression but the country was not an endorsement of the action. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

Quran burning, desecration protests: Saudi Arabia, Iran summon Swedish diplomats

As part of Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia is undergoing a major transformation. To diversify its economy Saudi Arabia now seeks to position itself as one of the most happening tourist destinations in the world. By 2030, Saudi Arabia wants to attract 100 million tourists. So, what changes has Saudi Arabia brought in? Alhasan Aldabbagh, President – APAC, Saudi Tourism Authority sat down with Mohammed Saleh for an exclusive chat.

100 million tourists to visit Saudi Arabia by 2030 | Alhasan Aldabbagh speaks to WION

The West Asian country of Saudi Arabia is undertaking a major engineering marvel. The oil-rich country is building a zero-carbon city named NEOM that will have vertical layers of buildings for work, living, farming, and leisure stretching 170 kilometers into the horizon. Straight out of a fantasy novel, Crown Prince and de facto ruler Mohammed bin Salman want it completed by 2030.

Saudi Arabia's fantasy city Neom being built for $1 trillion

<p>Turkish President <strong>Recep Tayyip Erdogan</strong> is on a three-stop tour of the Persian Gulf states to help boost his nation’s ailing economy. He landed in <strong>Saudi Arabia</strong> on Monday (July 17) where he signed various memoranda of understanding (MoU) in various sectors including defence, energy and direct investments.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Reuters reported Riyadh has reached two agreements to purchase drones from Turkish defence firm Baykar with “the aim of enhancing the readiness of the Kingdom's armed forces and bolstering its defense and manufacturing capabilities," Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman was quoted as saying by Reuters.</p>

<p>The signing ceremony of the agreements between Saudi Arabia and Turkey was witnessed by Turkish leader Erdogan and Saudi’s de-facto ruler Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS).</p>

<h2><strong>Erdogan on a charm-offensive</strong></h2>

<p>Business and trade are well on top of the agenda as newly-elected Erdogan visits the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with an entourage of some 200 businessmen. Business forums have been set up in Saudi Arabia, UAE and Qatar to gather investments and direct support for the floundering Turkish economy.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Explained - Why Turkiye agreed to approve Sweden's NATO bid</strong></p>

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<p>“We are hoping to improve our relations and cooperation in many fields. We will focus on joint investment and commercial initiatives to be realised in the upcoming period,” Erdogan told the local media in Istanbul before departing for Jeddah.</p>

<h2><strong>The sorry state of the Turkish economy</strong></h2>

<p>The Turkish economy continues to suffer from high inflation, a massive current account deficit and unemployment. Last month, the official annual inflation rate in Turkey decreased to 38 per cent from a peak of 85 per cent in October.</p>

<p>However, independent economists argue that the true rate of inflation in June was closer to 108 per cent.</p>

<p>Turkey is currently grappling with a historic high current account deficit, which amounted to $37.7 billion in the first five months of this year. To address this issue, President Erdogan is seeking assistance from the oil- and gas-rich Gulf states to fill this gap.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-will-back-swedens-nato-bid-if-eu-embraces-ankara-says-erdogan-613983"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;Turkey will back Sweden`s NATO bid if EU membership bid progresses, says Erdogan</strong></a></p>

<p>In a significant move last month, the Turkish central bank implemented a substantial increase in interest rates. This decision signals a shift towards more conventional economic policies and comes in response to criticisms that Erdogan's low-rate approach had exacerbated the cost-of-living crisis.</p>

<h2><strong>Thaw between Arabs and Turkey</strong></h2>

<p>Turkey has worked on repairing its ties with Arab states over the last two years. The relations had soured following the 2011 Arab Spring and Ankara’s unequivocal support to Muslim Brotherhood. The 2018 killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi at Saudi Arabia’s consulate in Istanbul further led to the deterioration of ties.</p>

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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is on a three-stop tour of the Persian Gulf states to help boost his nation’s ailing economy. He landed in Saudi Arabia on Monday (July 17) where he signed various memoranda of understanding (MoU) in various sectors including defence, energy and direct investments.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is on a three-stop tour of the Persian Gulf states to help boost his nation’s ailing economy. He landed in Saudi Arabia on Monday (July 17) where he signed various memoranda of understanding (MoU) in various sectors including defence, energy and direct investments. Reuters reported Riyadh has reached two agreements to purchase drones from Turkish defence firm Baykar with “the aim of enhancing the readiness of the Kingdom's armed forces and bolstering its defense and manufacturing capabilities," Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman was quoted as saying by Reuters. The signing ceremony of the agreements between Saudi Arabia and Turkey was witnessed by Turkish leader Erdogan and Saudi’s de-facto ruler Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS). Erdogan on a charm-offensive Business and trade are well on top of the agenda as newly-elected Erdogan visits the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with an entourage of some 200 businessmen. Business forums have been set up in Saudi Arabia, UAE and Qatar to gather investments and direct support for the floundering Turkish economy. Watch: Explained - Why Turkiye agreed to approve Sweden's NATO bid × “We are hoping to improve our relations and cooperation in many fields. We will focus on joint investment and commercial initiatives to be realised in the upcoming period,” Erdogan told the local media in Istanbul before departing for Jeddah. The sorry state of the Turkish economy The Turkish economy continues to suffer from high inflation, a massive current account deficit and unemployment. Last month, the official annual inflation rate in Turkey decreased to 38 per cent from a peak of 85 per cent in October. However, independent economists argue that the true rate of inflation in June was closer to 108 per cent. Turkey is currently grappling with a historic high current account deficit, which amounted to $37.7 billion in the first five months of this year. To address this issue, President Erdogan is seeking assistance from the oil- and gas-rich Gulf states to fill this gap. Also read: Turkey will back Sweden`s NATO bid if EU membership bid progresses, says Erdogan In a significant move last month, the Turkish central bank implemented a substantial increase in interest rates. This decision signals a shift towards more conventional economic policies and comes in response to criticisms that Erdogan's low-rate approach had exacerbated the cost-of-living crisis. Thaw between Arabs and Turkey Turkey has worked on repairing its ties with Arab states over the last two years. The relations had soured following the 2011 Arab Spring and Ankara’s unequivocal support to Muslim Brotherhood. The 2018 killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi at Saudi Arabia’s consulate in Istanbul further led to the deterioration of ties. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Erdogan signs defence and energy deals with Saudi Arabia to fix Turkey’s ailing economy

Here we bring you a quick round-up of all the latest news and top headlines from all across the globe: Japan's prime minister Fumio Kishida is on a 3-day West Asia tour. On Sunday Kishida met Saudi crown prince Mohammed Bin Salman in Jeddah. The G20 Finance ministers meeting is set to begin today in the Indian state of Gujarat. Yellen is also expected to meet Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sithraman in a scheduled meeting.

Jeddah: Japan PM meets Saudi Crown Prince | US Treasury Secretary in India

<p>Media reports citing anonymous sources, on Saturday (July 15) said that Sudanese army representatives returned to Saudi Arabia’s port city of Jeddah to resume talks with their paramilitary foes Rapid Support Forces (RSF). This comes as the conflict between the two warring sides entered its fourth month.</p>

<h2><strong>What do we know about the reported meeting?</strong></h2>

<p>“A delegation of the armed forces has returned to Jeddah to resume negotiations with Rapid Support Forces (RSF) rebels,” a source told AFP on condition of anonymity. Meanwhile, neither RSF nor the Sudanese army have officially spoken about returning to Saudi Arabia for talks.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The reported meeting comes after <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sudans-warring-sides-agree-to-protect-civilians-as-ceasefire-talks-continue-591472">previous talks</a> mediated by Saudi Arabia and the United States were suspended last month after numerous ceasefire violations. The talks have also not been confirmed by Washington or Riyadh.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The reports emerge after <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/at-least-87-buried-in-mass-grave-in-sudans-darfur-says-un-615076">Egypt</a>&nbsp;on Thursday launched its bid to halt the fighting between Sudan’s warring factions which began on April 15. The attempt was made during a summit of neighbouring states where leaders of seven nations around Sudan, in a joint statement called on the warring parties to commit to a ceasefire.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The power struggle in Sudan has raised concerns about regional stability as the seven countries also warned of the conflict-torn country’s “descent into chaos that could lead to the spread of terrorism and organised crime.”&nbsp;</p>

<p>Egypt’s move has been welcomed both by the Sudanese army, which has close ties to the country, as well as the RSF. Since the beginning of the conflict, multiple ceasefires have been violated, while both army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and&nbsp;RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo have blamed each other for it.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Situation in Sudan</strong></h2>

<p>At least four civilians were killed and four others were injured after a drone attack on a hospital in the city of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sudan-at-least-22-killed-several-injured-after-air-strike-on-omdurman-613504">Omdurman</a>, said the Sudanese health ministry, on Saturday. The officials also accused the RSF of carrying out the attack, reported Reuters.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A report by AFP citing residents said that the alleged attack targeted Khartoum’s largest military hospital. Meanwhile, the army reported the deaths of “five patients” and said 22 others were injured, the attack affected “mostly civilians”.</p>

<p>Residents of the Sudanese capital city of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sudan-khartoum-shaken-by-blasts-army-invites-volunteers-again-611487">Khartoum</a> have not left their homes in months amid constant air strikes, artillery blasts and gun battles, reported AFP. According to data from the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sudan-on-brink-of-full-scale-civil-war-un-warns-after-air-strike-kills-22-613907">United Nations</a>, at least 1.7 million people have fled from the capital.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Additionally, at least three million people have been uprooted and more than 700,000 have fled to neighbouring countries&nbsp;due to the conflict. The violence has also caused the deaths of over 1,000 civilians, according to figures from the UN.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em><br />
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Media reports citing anonymous sources, on Saturday (July 15) said that Sudanese army representatives returned to Saudi Arabia’s port city of Jeddah to resume talks with their paramilitary foes Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Media reports citing anonymous sources, on Saturday (July 15) said that Sudanese army representatives returned to Saudi Arabia’s port city of Jeddah to resume talks with their paramilitary foes Rapid Support Forces (RSF). This comes as the conflict between the two warring sides entered its fourth month. What do we know about the reported meeting? “A delegation of the armed forces has returned to Jeddah to resume negotiations with Rapid Support Forces (RSF) rebels,” a source told AFP on condition of anonymity. Meanwhile, neither RSF nor the Sudanese army have officially spoken about returning to Saudi Arabia for talks. The reported meeting comes after previous talks mediated by Saudi Arabia and the United States were suspended last month after numerous ceasefire violations. The talks have also not been confirmed by Washington or Riyadh. The reports emerge after Egypt on Thursday launched its bid to halt the fighting between Sudan’s warring factions which began on April 15. The attempt was made during a summit of neighbouring states where leaders of seven nations around Sudan, in a joint statement called on the warring parties to commit to a ceasefire. The power struggle in Sudan has raised concerns about regional stability as the seven countries also warned of the conflict-torn country’s “descent into chaos that could lead to the spread of terrorism and organised crime.” Egypt’s move has been welcomed both by the Sudanese army, which has close ties to the country, as well as the RSF. Since the beginning of the conflict, multiple ceasefires have been violated, while both army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo have blamed each other for it. Situation in Sudan At least four civilians were killed and four others were injured after a drone attack on a hospital in the city of Omdurman, said the Sudanese health ministry, on Saturday. The officials also accused the RSF of carrying out the attack, reported Reuters. A report by AFP citing residents said that the alleged attack targeted Khartoum’s largest military hospital. Meanwhile, the army reported the deaths of “five patients” and said 22 others were injured, the attack affected “mostly civilians”. Residents of the Sudanese capital city of Khartoum have not left their homes in months amid constant air strikes, artillery blasts and gun battles, reported AFP. According to data from the United Nations, at least 1.7 million people have fled from the capital. Additionally, at least three million people have been uprooted and more than 700,000 have fled to neighbouring countries due to the conflict. The violence has also caused the deaths of over 1,000 civilians, according to figures from the UN. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Sudanese army representatives arrive in Jeddah to resume talks with RSF: Reports

<p>Finance Minister Ishaq Dar announced on Tuesday that Saudi Arabia provided a boost of support to Pakistan's struggling economy. Saudi Arabia has provided $2 billion in financial assistance to Pakistan, which comes at a crucial time as the International Monetary Fund's board is expected to approve a much-needed $3 billion bailout.</p>

<p>Minister Dar disclosed that the funds have been successfully deposited into Pakistan's central bank, resulting in a bolstering of the country's foreign exchange reserves. This financial assistance from Saudi Arabia comes at a critical juncture when Pakistan's reserves were inadequate to cover a month's worth of restricted imports.</p>

<p>Saudi Arabia had committed to providing the funds back in April but waited until the assurance of an IMF rescue package, given Pakistan's ongoing debt and economic crises, before depositing the funds with the State Bank of Pakistan.</p>

<p>In the closing days of June, Pakistan, facing the imminent risk of a sovereign debt default, secured a crucial $3 billion IMF rescue package. However, the loan still awaits approval from the IMF board, which is scheduled to convene on Wednesday. The IMF will gradually distribute the remaining funds under the nine-month agreement, with Pakistan receiving an initial disbursement of approximately $1.1 billion.</p>

<p>The agreement with the IMF is expected to pave the way for additional financial support through bilateral and multilateral channels, in addition to the assistance provided by Saudi Arabia. Finance Minister Dar expressed his optimism, stating that Pakistan's foreign exchange reserves are anticipated to reach $15 billion by the end of this month.</p>

<p><strong>Pakistan is grappling with economic issues.</strong></p>

<p>Pakistan's economy, valued at $350 billion, is currently facing severe challenges, as it grapples with a staggering inflation rate of 38%. Over the past year, the government has implemented stringent measures to prevent default, as the country contends with a rapidly depreciating currency and a mounting external deficit.</p>

<p>During the current fiscal year, Pakistan's industrial sectors, which are vital for the country's economy, have witnessed a decline of around 3%. This decline has raised substantial concerns in a nation with a population of 230 million, where more than 2 million individuals enter the labor market each year. As a result, this setback in growth and employment opportunities has led to an increase in migration, posing a significant obstacle for Pakistan to overcome.</p>

<p>Reuters cited Hafeez Pasha, a renowned economist and former finance minister of Pakistan, who provided an estimate of the country's unemployment rate as "11–12 percent, conservatively." It is worth noting that official unemployment figures have not been released for over two years, leaving a gap in the current understanding of the employment situation in Pakistan.</p>

<p>Pakistan's fiscal deficit for fiscal year 2024 is expected to amount to 6.5% of the country's GDP. In preparation for the IMF meeting, Pakistan has revised its budget and implemented new measures aimed at reducing the deficit. However, specific figures regarding the extent of the deficit reduction were not provided by the finance minister.</p>

<p><strong>Pakistan's improving credit rating</strong></p>

<p>On Monday, Fitch Ratings upgraded Pakistan's long-term foreign currency issuer default rating from CCC- to CCC, providing a sense of relief to investors in the country's stocks and bonds. This improvement in the rating serves as a positive sign for Pakistan, which has been grappling with its most severe economic crisis.</p>

<p>Following Pakistan's agreement with the IMF, the country's bonds have experienced a significant surge in value. According to Tradeweb statistics, the sovereign dollar bonds witnessed a remarkable increase of up to 1.8 cents on Tuesday, following the disclosure of Saudi assistance. Shorter-dated bonds demonstrated the most substantial gains, with the 2024 issue rising to 77.75 cents on the dollar, marking an increase of over 30 cents from its late-June lows. This upward trend reflects growing investor confidence and optimism in Pakistan's financial outlook.</p>

<p>The recent upgrade in the country's rating reflects Pakistan's improved external liquidity and funding conditions, attributed to the staff level agreement reached with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). However, it also highlights the cautionary note that the budget deficit still remains significant. This development signifies a positive step for Pakistan's economic stability, while acknowledging the need for continued efforts to address the budget deficit.</p>


Finance Minister Ishaq Dar announced on Tuesday that Saudi Arabia provided a boost of support to Pakistan's struggling economy. Saudi Arabia has provided $2 billion in financial assistance to Pakistan, which comes at a crucial time as the International Monetary Fund's board is expected to approve a much-needed $3 billion bailout.

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar announced on Tuesday that Saudi Arabia provided a boost of support to Pakistan's struggling economy. Saudi Arabia has provided $2 billion in financial assistance to Pakistan, which comes at a crucial time as the International Monetary Fund's board is expected to approve a much-needed $3 billion bailout. Minister Dar disclosed that the funds have been successfully deposited into Pakistan's central bank, resulting in a bolstering of the country's foreign exchange reserves. This financial assistance from Saudi Arabia comes at a critical juncture when Pakistan's reserves were inadequate to cover a month's worth of restricted imports. Saudi Arabia had committed to providing the funds back in April but waited until the assurance of an IMF rescue package, given Pakistan's ongoing debt and economic crises, before depositing the funds with the State Bank of Pakistan. In the closing days of June, Pakistan, facing the imminent risk of a sovereign debt default, secured a crucial $3 billion IMF rescue package. However, the loan still awaits approval from the IMF board, which is scheduled to convene on Wednesday. The IMF will gradually distribute the remaining funds under the nine-month agreement, with Pakistan receiving an initial disbursement of approximately $1.1 billion. The agreement with the IMF is expected to pave the way for additional financial support through bilateral and multilateral channels, in addition to the assistance provided by Saudi Arabia. Finance Minister Dar expressed his optimism, stating that Pakistan's foreign exchange reserves are anticipated to reach $15 billion by the end of this month. Pakistan is grappling with economic issues. Pakistan's economy, valued at $350 billion, is currently facing severe challenges, as it grapples with a staggering inflation rate of 38%. Over the past year, the government has implemented stringent measures to prevent default, as the country contends with a rapidly depreciating currency and a mounting external deficit. During the current fiscal year, Pakistan's industrial sectors, which are vital for the country's economy, have witnessed a decline of around 3%. This decline has raised substantial concerns in a nation with a population of 230 million, where more than 2 million individuals enter the labor market each year. As a result, this setback in growth and employment opportunities has led to an increase in migration, posing a significant obstacle for Pakistan to overcome. Reuters cited Hafeez Pasha, a renowned economist and former finance minister of Pakistan, who provided an estimate of the country's unemployment rate as "11–12 percent, conservatively." It is worth noting that official unemployment figures have not been released for over two years, leaving a gap in the current understanding of the employment situation in Pakistan. Pakistan's fiscal deficit for fiscal year 2024 is expected to amount to 6.5% of the country's GDP. In preparation for the IMF meeting, Pakistan has revised its budget and implemented new measures aimed at reducing the deficit. However, specific figures regarding the extent of the deficit reduction were not provided by the finance minister. Pakistan's improving credit rating On Monday, Fitch Ratings upgraded Pakistan's long-term foreign currency issuer default rating from CCC- to CCC, providing a sense of relief to investors in the country's stocks and bonds. This improvement in the rating serves as a positive sign for Pakistan, which has been grappling with its most severe economic crisis. Following Pakistan's agreement with the IMF, the country's bonds have experienced a significant surge in value. According to Tradeweb statistics, the sovereign dollar bonds witnessed a remarkable increase of up to 1.8 cents on Tuesday, following the disclosure of Saudi assistance. Shorter-dated bonds demonstrated the most substantial gains, with the 2024 issue rising to 77.75 cents on the dollar, marking an increase of over 30 cents from its late-June lows. This upward trend reflects growing investor confidence and optimism in Pakistan's financial outlook. The recent upgrade in the country's rating reflects Pakistan's improved external liquidity and funding conditions, attributed to the staff level agreement reached with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). However, it also highlights the cautionary note that the budget deficit still remains significant. This development signifies a positive step for Pakistan's economic stability, while acknowledging the need for continued efforts to address the budget deficit.

Saudi Arabia provides $2 billion support to Pakistan's weak economy

Eminent Saudi scholar and the Secretary General of the influential Muslim World League Mohammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa is paying a visit to India this week. Al-Issa is scheduled to arrive in New Delhi today and is set to chair a meeting with the country's National Security Adviser Ajit Doval.

Head of Muslim World League visits India

<p>Amidst a struggling oil market, Saudi Arabia and Russia, the world's leading oil producers, have intensified their focus on achieving market stability while positioning themselves to spearhead initiatives that can provide much-needed support to the flagging oil market.</p>

<p>Prince Abdulaziz Bin Salman, the Saudi Arabian energy minister, said at a conference on Wednesday that his nation's collaboration with Russia as a member of the OPEC+ alliance is "going strong" and that it "will do whatever is necessary" to stabilise the market.</p>

<p>The OPEC+ alliance, consisting of 23 oil-producing nations responsible for approximately 40 percent of the world's crude oil production, has actively engaged in implementing deliberate cuts to their production levels with the objective of boosting prices.</p>

<p>Saudi Arabia and Russia on Monday deepened their cuts in monthly oil supply.&nbsp;The move came amid&nbsp;concerns over a global economic slowdown and a further rate hike by the US Federal Reserve.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While the oil-rich West Asian kingdom has extended its voluntary oil output cut of one million barrels per day till August, adding that the cut could also be extended beyond that month.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Almost immediately after the Saudi announcement, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said his sanctions-hit country would cut oil exports by 500,000 barrels per day in August.</p>

<p>However, after a brief spurt in prices, oil prices remained flat at $76.30 per barrel, failing to surpass the crucial threshold of $80-$100 per barrel. This range is considered necessary for many OPEC nations to balance their budgets.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In response to market conditions, the 23-member oil producers group clarified that it does not have specific price targets in mind. Instead, the alliance argued that it wants to achieve a balanced oil market that serves the best interests of both consumers and producers.</p>


Amidst a struggling oil market, Saudi Arabia and Russia, the world's leading oil producers, have intensified their focus on achieving market stability while positioning themselves to spearhead initiatives that can provide much-needed support to the flagging oil market.

Amidst a struggling oil market, Saudi Arabia and Russia, the world's leading oil producers, have intensified their focus on achieving market stability while positioning themselves to spearhead initiatives that can provide much-needed support to the flagging oil market. Prince Abdulaziz Bin Salman, the Saudi Arabian energy minister, said at a conference on Wednesday that his nation's collaboration with Russia as a member of the OPEC+ alliance is "going strong" and that it "will do whatever is necessary" to stabilise the market. The OPEC+ alliance, consisting of 23 oil-producing nations responsible for approximately 40 percent of the world's crude oil production, has actively engaged in implementing deliberate cuts to their production levels with the objective of boosting prices. Saudi Arabia and Russia on Monday deepened their cuts in monthly oil supply. The move came amid concerns over a global economic slowdown and a further rate hike by the US Federal Reserve. While the oil-rich West Asian kingdom has extended its voluntary oil output cut of one million barrels per day till August, adding that the cut could also be extended beyond that month. Almost immediately after the Saudi announcement, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said his sanctions-hit country would cut oil exports by 500,000 barrels per day in August. However, after a brief spurt in prices, oil prices remained flat at $76.30 per barrel, failing to surpass the crucial threshold of $80-$100 per barrel. This range is considered necessary for many OPEC nations to balance their budgets. In response to market conditions, the 23-member oil producers group clarified that it does not have specific price targets in mind. Instead, the alliance argued that it wants to achieve a balanced oil market that serves the best interests of both consumers and producers.

Saudi Arabia says cooperation with Russia over oil 'going strong'

<p>In the biggest group execution of the year, Saudi Arabia executed five people, on Monday, who were sentenced for being involved and carrying out a deadly attack on a house of worship, said the state media.</p>

<p>The five men, including four Saudis and one Egyptian national, were tried for an attack that claimed the lives of at least five people and wounded others in the kingdom's east, which is home to most Saudi oil and most members of its Shiite minority.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As per AFP reports, an interior ministry statement published by the official Saudi Press Agency did not mention when the attack was carried out and the type of house of worship that was targeted by the assailants.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The method used for the execution was also not specified in the statement, but beheadings have been carried out by the kingdom previously.</p>

<p>This incident has brought the toll of people executed in Saudi Arabia so far to 68.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-drags-canada-to-uns-top-court-over-terror-listing-609838">Iran drags Canada to UN's top court over terror listing</a></p>

<p>More than 20 executions have been carried out since early May for terrorism-related offences, the vast majority in the eastern province.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Saudi Arabia executes two Bahrainis on terrorism charges</strong></h2>

<p>Earlier, in the month of May, the authorities had executed two Bahraini men after convicting them of having ties to a militant group. The kingdom said the men were part of a group that was looking to destabilise the two Mideast nations.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The executed men, identified as Jaafar Sultan and Sadeq Thamer were apprehended by the Saudi authorities in May 2015 and sent to solitary confinement for three-and-a-half months.&nbsp;</p>

<p>After a court trial, the Specialised Criminal Court sentenced them to death in October 2021. According to the Saudi Press Agency, they were tried on terrorism-related charges over the smuggling of explosive materials into Saudi Arabia and participation in anti-government protests in Bahrain.</p>

<p>Amnesty International had previously criticised the sentencing, saying the two men did not receive adequate representation throughout the legal process.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Jaafar and Sadeq had no access to legal representation throughout their pre-trial detention and interrogation. According to court documents, they told the court that they were tortured and that their so-called confessions were extracted under duress," the rights group said in a statement.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“In upholding these death sentences, Saudi Arabia’s judicial system has yet again displayed a chilling disregard for human rights. If the King ratifies their death sentences, their execution will constitute an arbitrary deprivation of the right to life," it added.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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In the biggest group execution of the year, Saudi Arabia executed five people, on Monday, who were sentenced for being involved and carrying out a deadly attack on a house of worship, said the state media.

In the biggest group execution of the year, Saudi Arabia executed five people, on Monday, who were sentenced for being involved and carrying out a deadly attack on a house of worship, said the state media. The five men, including four Saudis and one Egyptian national, were tried for an attack that claimed the lives of at least five people and wounded others in the kingdom's east, which is home to most Saudi oil and most members of its Shiite minority. As per AFP reports, an interior ministry statement published by the official Saudi Press Agency did not mention when the attack was carried out and the type of house of worship that was targeted by the assailants. The method used for the execution was also not specified in the statement, but beheadings have been carried out by the kingdom previously. This incident has brought the toll of people executed in Saudi Arabia so far to 68. Also read: Iran drags Canada to UN's top court over terror listing More than 20 executions have been carried out since early May for terrorism-related offences, the vast majority in the eastern province. Saudi Arabia executes two Bahrainis on terrorism charges Earlier, in the month of May, the authorities had executed two Bahraini men after convicting them of having ties to a militant group. The kingdom said the men were part of a group that was looking to destabilise the two Mideast nations. The executed men, identified as Jaafar Sultan and Sadeq Thamer were apprehended by the Saudi authorities in May 2015 and sent to solitary confinement for three-and-a-half months. After a court trial, the Specialised Criminal Court sentenced them to death in October 2021. According to the Saudi Press Agency, they were tried on terrorism-related charges over the smuggling of explosive materials into Saudi Arabia and participation in anti-government protests in Bahrain. Amnesty International had previously criticised the sentencing, saying the two men did not receive adequate representation throughout the legal process. “Jaafar and Sadeq had no access to legal representation throughout their pre-trial detention and interrogation. According to court documents, they told the court that they were tortured and that their so-called confessions were extracted under duress," the rights group said in a statement. “In upholding these death sentences, Saudi Arabia’s judicial system has yet again displayed a chilling disregard for human rights. If the King ratifies their death sentences, their execution will constitute an arbitrary deprivation of the right to life," it added. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Saudi Arabia executes 4 Saudis and 1 Egyptian national on terrorism charges

Here we bring you a quick round-up of all latest news, top headlines and international breakings from all across the globe, stay tuned with Gravitas for more!

Gravitas Global Headlines: Saudi Arabia extends oil cuts | Russia-Ukraine Black Sea grain deal

<p>Germany’s coalition government, led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz, is split down the middle on whether or not to allow the production of Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets for Saudi Arabia. Riyadh had reached a deal with British arms producer BAE Systems five years ago to acquire 48 such fighter jets. However, Berlin’s approval is also required since one-third of the components that go into manufacturing a jet are sourced from Germany.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The fighter jet deal was put on hold following Saudi’s increasing role in the Yemen war, where it first intervened in 2015. Efforts are being made to resuscitate the deal following the signing of a truce between Riyadh and Tehran, which could pave the way for the war in Yemen to come to an end.</p>

<h2><strong>Germany’s ruling coalition divided</strong></h2>

<p>Chancellor Olaf Scholz and his left Social Democrats (SPD) party and Finance Minister Christian Lindner are backing the Saudi arms deal. However, the Greens party is vehemently opposing the move, reported Reuters.</p>

<p>Germany imposed a blanket ban on arms sales to Saudi Arabia following the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018, as a result of a deal signed between the then-Chancellor Angela Merkel and the SPD party. Germany’s approach was considered way tougher than that taken by its allies like Britain, US and France.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;US, India &amp; UAE NSA's meet Saudi Arabia</strong></p>

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<p>Following Germany’s announcement, the UK clarified that it won’t follow Berlin’s lead in banning arms sales to Riyadh.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Rapprochement between Iran and Saudi Arabia</strong></h2>

<p>Arch rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran announced on March 10 to resume their diplomatic relations following a deal brokered by China. The deal, which came as a blow to USA’s status by Beijing in the Middle East, is considered a prelude to de-escalation in the region and an end to the ongoing proxy war in Yemen.</p>

<p>West Asia, although being a very turbulent region, has a great natural ability to surprise people. Major powers have recently shown a stronger desire to actively tone down their rhetoric and disagreements and try to align their common interests through escalating rapprochement.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-saudi-arabia-restore-ties-as-china-brokered-deal-outfoxes-west-570766"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;Iran, Saudi Arabia restore ties as China-brokered deal outfoxes West</strong></a></p>

<p>Saudi Arabia, through its role as a de-facto leader in the OPEC group, also plays a key role in determining oil prices in the international market. At a time when the US-Saudi relations are going through a tough period, European powers like the UK want to court Riyadh to maintain their presence in West Asia and thwart the rising status of China.</p>

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Germany’s coalition government, led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz, is split down the middle on whether or not to allow the production of Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets for Saudi Arabia.

Germany’s coalition government, led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz, is split down the middle on whether or not to allow the production of Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets for Saudi Arabia. Riyadh had reached a deal with British arms producer BAE Systems five years ago to acquire 48 such fighter jets. However, Berlin’s approval is also required since one-third of the components that go into manufacturing a jet are sourced from Germany. The fighter jet deal was put on hold following Saudi’s increasing role in the Yemen war, where it first intervened in 2015. Efforts are being made to resuscitate the deal following the signing of a truce between Riyadh and Tehran, which could pave the way for the war in Yemen to come to an end. Germany’s ruling coalition divided Chancellor Olaf Scholz and his left Social Democrats (SPD) party and Finance Minister Christian Lindner are backing the Saudi arms deal. However, the Greens party is vehemently opposing the move, reported Reuters. Germany imposed a blanket ban on arms sales to Saudi Arabia following the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018, as a result of a deal signed between the then-Chancellor Angela Merkel and the SPD party. Germany’s approach was considered way tougher than that taken by its allies like Britain, US and France. Watch: US, India & UAE NSA's meet Saudi Arabia × Following Germany’s announcement, the UK clarified that it won’t follow Berlin’s lead in banning arms sales to Riyadh. Rapprochement between Iran and Saudi Arabia Arch rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran announced on March 10 to resume their diplomatic relations following a deal brokered by China. The deal, which came as a blow to USA’s status by Beijing in the Middle East, is considered a prelude to de-escalation in the region and an end to the ongoing proxy war in Yemen. West Asia, although being a very turbulent region, has a great natural ability to surprise people. Major powers have recently shown a stronger desire to actively tone down their rhetoric and disagreements and try to align their common interests through escalating rapprochement. Also read: Iran, Saudi Arabia restore ties as China-brokered deal outfoxes West Saudi Arabia, through its role as a de-facto leader in the OPEC group, also plays a key role in determining oil prices in the international market. At a time when the US-Saudi relations are going through a tough period, European powers like the UK want to court Riyadh to maintain their presence in West Asia and thwart the rising status of China. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Germany’s ruling coalition splits down the middle over sale of fighter jets to Saudi Arabia

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<p>The annual holy Hajj pilgrimage for Muslims is exacting a heavy toll on the pilgrims. According to Saudi officials, more than 2,000 people suffered heat stress on Thursday as temperatures soared to 48C (118F).&nbsp;</p>

<p>“The number of heat stress cases since the beginning of this day has reached 1,721,” the Saudi health ministry announced the toll, adding to the 287 reported cases earlier.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The&nbsp;ministry added that most injuries resulted due to failure on the pilgrims' part to adhere to the instructions they had been issued. It called on pilgrims to not exhaust themselves with excessive movement without necessity, as well as not stand for a long time.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Although a death toll was not provided, an AFP report stated at least 230 - many from Indonesia had died during the pilgrimage.&nbsp;Indonesian consul general in Jeddah Eko Hartono reported at least 209 Indonesians died during the Hajj. Indonesia is the world's largest Muslim country and a big proportion of pilgrims come from the Southeast Asian nation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“It is inaccurate to say that a lot of Indonesian pilgrims died because of heatstrokes,” said Hartono, adding that causes of death were mostly due to heart and respiratory ailments.</p>

<p>He, however, acknowledged that some pilgrims had “fainted” during the days-long pilgrimage “because of the heat”.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/biggest-hajj-of-the-post-pandemic-era-nears-end-609524"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Biggest Hajj of the post-pandemic era nears end</strong></a></p>

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<p>A 114-year-old pilgrim from Iran died due to a heart attack during the pilgrimage, taking the toll of Iranian deaths to 10. Meanwhile, eight Algerians and four&nbsp;Moroccans also died in the kingdom.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The real figure for deaths due to heat stress is expected to go up as authorities sift through the cases. The kingdom is becoming increasingly hot due to climate change. The 2021&nbsp;United Nations’ intergovernmental panel on climate change has warned that parts of the Gulf could become&nbsp;uninhabitable by the end of the century if the current trend continues.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Breaking three-year Covid restrictions</strong></h2>

<p>This year's Hajj was a departure from the restrictions imposed due to the Covid-19 pandemic over the last three years. The kingdom also scrapped the age limit of 18 to 65 for vaccinated pilgrims that was imposed due to the pandemic.</p>

<p>According to the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT),&nbsp;1,845,045 pilgrims performed the holy pilgrimage this year. Of these, 1,660,915 pilgrims came from outside the Kingdom through various ports, while the number of domestic pilgrims reached 184,130, including both citizens and residents.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-arabia-woman-pilgrims-no-longer-needs-to-be-accompanied-by-mahram-or-male-guardian-says-ministry-524650" target="_blank"><strong>Also read: Saudi Arabia: Women Hajj pilgrims no longer need to be accompanied by male guardian</strong></a></p>

<p>In 2022,&nbsp;the kingdom opened its gates for nearly one million people with foreign visitors being allowed for the first time in two years</p>

<p>The pilgrimage is one of five pillars of Islam, which all able-bodied Muslims with the means are required to perform at least once.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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The annual holy Hajj pilgrimage for Muslims is exacting a heavy toll on the pilgrims. According to Saudi officials, more than 2,000 people suffered heat stress on Thursday as temperatures soared to 48C (118F).

The annual holy Hajj pilgrimage for Muslims is exacting a heavy toll on the pilgrims. According to Saudi officials, more than 2,000 people suffered heat stress on Thursday as temperatures soared to 48C (118F). “The number of heat stress cases since the beginning of this day has reached 1,721,” the Saudi health ministry announced the toll, adding to the 287 reported cases earlier. The ministry added that most injuries resulted due to failure on the pilgrims' part to adhere to the instructions they had been issued. It called on pilgrims to not exhaust themselves with excessive movement without necessity, as well as not stand for a long time. Although a death toll was not provided, an AFP report stated at least 230 - many from Indonesia had died during the pilgrimage. Indonesian consul general in Jeddah Eko Hartono reported at least 209 Indonesians died during the Hajj. Indonesia is the world's largest Muslim country and a big proportion of pilgrims come from the Southeast Asian nation. “It is inaccurate to say that a lot of Indonesian pilgrims died because of heatstrokes,” said Hartono, adding that causes of death were mostly due to heart and respiratory ailments. He, however, acknowledged that some pilgrims had “fainted” during the days-long pilgrimage “because of the heat”. WATCH | Biggest Hajj of the post-pandemic era nears end × A 114-year-old pilgrim from Iran died due to a heart attack during the pilgrimage, taking the toll of Iranian deaths to 10. Meanwhile, eight Algerians and four Moroccans also died in the kingdom. The real figure for deaths due to heat stress is expected to go up as authorities sift through the cases. The kingdom is becoming increasingly hot due to climate change. The 2021 United Nations’ intergovernmental panel on climate change has warned that parts of the Gulf could become uninhabitable by the end of the century if the current trend continues. Breaking three-year Covid restrictions This year's Hajj was a departure from the restrictions imposed due to the Covid-19 pandemic over the last three years. The kingdom also scrapped the age limit of 18 to 65 for vaccinated pilgrims that was imposed due to the pandemic. According to the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT), 1,845,045 pilgrims performed the holy pilgrimage this year. Of these, 1,660,915 pilgrims came from outside the Kingdom through various ports, while the number of domestic pilgrims reached 184,130, including both citizens and residents. Also read: Saudi Arabia: Women Hajj pilgrims no longer need to be accompanied by male guardian In 2022, the kingdom opened its gates for nearly one million people with foreign visitors being allowed for the first time in two years The pilgrimage is one of five pillars of Islam, which all able-bodied Muslims with the means are required to perform at least once. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Hajj 2023: Over 2,000 suffer heatstroke as temperatures reach nearly 50C

Every year Hajj faces multiple challenges at pilgrimage time this year's main challenge came from the extreme temperatures recorded. Reports of over 2,000 people suffering heat stress during the Hajj pilgrimage have come in. According to some of the officials temperatures sold at 48 degrees Celsius during the annual pilgrimage season. 1,700 cases of heat stress were recorded on Thursday alone added to the 287 cases initially reported.

Temperatures soar in Saudi Arabia, Hajj pilgrims suffer with extreme heat

Here we bring you a quick round-up of all the latest news and top headlines from all across the globe: Muslim pilgrims gather at Mount Arafat in Saudi Arabia for the third day of Hajj. This is where Prophet Muhammad gave his final sermon. They endure the summer heat for this religious ritual.

Muslim pilgrims gather at Mount Arafat in Saudi Arabia for annual Hajj pilgrimage

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