Need to Know

July 24, 2024

The Practical Prince

Saudi Arabia

Chinese solar panel companies TCL Zhonghuan and Jinko Solar reached a $3-billion deal with Saudi Arabian leaders recently to build new solar farms. The agreement highlights how Saudi Arabia has been investing heavily in renewable energy – including billions in green hydrogen plants, noted Oil.com...

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The World Briefly

October 16, 2023

To Be Continued

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia paused its diplomatic efforts to normalize relations with Israel due to the outbreak of war between Hamas and Israel, a major setback for the United States’ efforts to foster ties between the Jewish nation and Arab countries, Bloomberg reported. According to anonymous sources, Saudi...

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The World Briefly

September 27, 2023

Slow and Steady

Saudi Arabia

Israel’s tourism minister flew to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to participate in a United Nations-sponsored conference, marking the highest-level visit yet by an Israeli official to the kingdom, and a significant development in the potential normalization of ties between the two countries, Bloomberg reported. Minister Haim...

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The World Briefly

August 22, 2023

Running the Gauntlet

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabian border guards have killed hundreds of African migrants attempting to cross the Yemeni-Saudi border, shooting at men, women and children at close range and also targeting explosives at them, according to a new report about conditions along one of the world’s most dangerous...

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The World Briefly

May 24, 2023

A Gigantic Leap

Saudi Arabia

Saudi biologist Rayyanah Barnawi became the first female Arab astronaut to go into space, a milestone for the desert kingdom where women were only given permission to drive in 2018, the BBC reported. Barnawi is one of two Saudis on Axiom Space’s second private mission, which...

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The World Briefly

April 07, 2023

Friends and Frenemies

ChinaIranSaudi Arabia

Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed to reopen their diplomatic missions and boost economic cooperation during a meeting in the Chinese capital on Thursday, a significant step forward for the two regional rivals seven years after they broke off relations, the Associated Press reported. Both sides said...

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Need to Know

March 21, 2023

A Hatchet in the Ground

ChinaIranSaudi Arabia

It’s hard to say which is more remarkable about the recent peace deal between Saudi Arabia and Iran – the reconciliation between Sunni and Shiite Muslim powers who have been at odds over the future of the Middle East since at least the late 1980s,...

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The World Briefly

March 13, 2023

Making Up

ChinaIranSaudi Arabia

Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed to reestablish diplomatic relations following Chinese-led negotiations, a landmark development that many analysts see as a de-escalation of tensions in the Middle East and Beijing’s increasing international role, CNBC reported. The two regional rivals made the announcement Friday following four days...

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The World Briefly

December 13, 2022

New Friends

Saudi Arabia

Chinese President Xi Jinping ended his multiple-day visit to Saudi Arabia with a series of agreements that have bolstered concerns by the United States over China’s efforts to expand its influence worldwide, CNN reported. Observers described the state visit as a snub to the US, as...

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The World Briefly

November 21, 2022

The Shield

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman should receive immunity over a lawsuit filed against him over the murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi, according to the US government, a move condemned by human rights activists and the late reporter’s fiancée, the Middle East Eye reported. Khashoggi...

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Need to Know

November 07, 2022

A Difficult Friendship

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia recently told American officials that Iran was planning an attack on the desert kingdom. The intelligence came at a peculiar time, as the Associated Press explained. American officials are peeved at Saudi Arabia for reneging on an alleged deal to increase oil production as...

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The World Briefly

October 14, 2022

The Politics of Oil

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia rejected US criticism over a decision by the Saudi-led oil-producing cartel and its allies to cut production amid a global energy crisis exacerbated by the war in Ukraine, the Washington Post reported Thursday. The kingdom’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement Thursday saying that last...

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The World Briefly

September 29, 2022

Sovereign Immunity

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabian King Salman appointed his son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, as the kingdom’s prime minister, a move that formalizes the young royal’s role as the country’s de facto ruler, Al Jazeera reported. No explanation was provided for the crown prince’s appointment, even though the...

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Need to Know

September 08, 2022

The Best, the Worst, of Times

Saudi Arabia

It was a time of lavish spending on ambitious projects. It was a time of brutal repression. In Saudi Arabia, it was business as usual. Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman recently unveiled plans for The Line, a 656-foot wide, 1,640-foot tall city that would...

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The World Briefly

July 15, 2022

Old Friends

IsraelSaudi Arabia

Israel and the United States signed a joint pledge Thursday to deny Iran nuclear weapons, a move that comes as President Joe Biden visits the Middle East in an effort to boost ties with allies in the region, Reuters reported. The “Jerusalem Declaration” – signed by...

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The World Briefly

June 17, 2022

Raiding the Rainbow

Saudi Arabia

Saudi authorities seized a number of rainbow-colored toys and clothes from shops in the capital this week, the latest effort by the kingdom to crack down on homosexuality, the Middle East Eye reported. State media showed commerce ministry officials removing rainbow-colored items, including bows, skirts and...

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The World Briefly

March 14, 2022

Of Reforms and Executions

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia executed 81 individuals Saturday, the largest mass execution recorded in the kingdom’s modern history, the New York Post reported. The individuals were accused of a variety of crimes, including murder, association with terrorist groups al Qaeda and Islamic State and support for Yemen’s Houthi...

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The World Briefly

March 09, 2022

Letting Go

Saudi Arabia

A Saudi man accused of involvement in the 9/11 attacks was released from the Guantanamo Bay detention facility in Cuba and sent back to his home country this week, the latest detainee to be released and repatriated from the US base, CNN reported. Mohammed al-Qahtani was...

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