Joy and heartache: Pilgrims in Saudi Arabia vie for downsized hajj
A Jordanian couple in Saudi Arabia burst into tears of joy to be among the chosen ones for next week's scaled-down hajj pilgrimage, but countless rejected applications have stirred resentment.
Man behind reported bid for Marseille says he's not Saudi intermediary
The man behind a reported bid to buy storied Ligue 1 club Marseille told AFP on Tuesday he was not operating as an intermediary for Saudi Arabia, while the current owner insisted the team is not for sale. Following reports over the weekend of a ...
Muslims disappointed — but accepting — as Saudi Arabia scales back hajj
Muslims expressed disappointment Tuesday at Saudi Arabia's decision to scale back this year's hajj pilgrimage, but many accepted it was necessary as the kingdom battles a major coronavirus outbreak. Riyadh said Monday the hajj would be "very limited" with only pilgrims already in the country ...
Coronavirus cases top 9 million as WHO says pandemic 'accelerating'
The WHO chief said the greatest threat facing the world was not the virus itself but "the lack of global solidarity and global leadership."
Riyadh is the top donor to Yemen — and the paring back of its support will have the biggest impact, observers say.
Saudi Arabia is expected to scale back or call off this year's hajj pilgrimage for the first time in its modern history, observers say, a perilous decision as coronavirus cases spike. Muslim nations are pressing Riyadh to give its much-delayed decision on whether the annual ...
Saudis reel from austerity drive after oil-rich 'magic decade'
Juggling two mortgages and part-time jobs, Saudi academic Abdullah finally came close to building his own home, but the kingdom's coronavirus-triggered austerity drive has dealt a crushing blow to his dreams. Saudi Arabia has announced a tripling of its value added tax from July and ...
Japan to extend entry ban to Russia and 13 other countries, Abe says
Japan will deny entry to foreign travelers from a further 14 countries, including Russia, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, strengthening its border controls to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said. With the ban effective starting Wednesday, people ...
OPEC and Russia approve biggest-ever oil cut amid pandemic
After four days of talks, the group known as OPEC Plus has agreed to reduce output by 9.7 million barrels per day for May and June.
'Why I didn't report it': Saudi women use social media to recount harassment
Hundreds of women in Saudi Arabia are taking to social media to share their experiences of sexual harassment in a rare exploration of a taboo topic in the ultraconservative kingdom. Using the hashtag meaning "Why I didn't report it," women and some men are recounting ...
Trump’s push for huge deal to cut oil supply draws disbelief
With just one tweet, U.S. President Donald Trump conjured up the prospect of a global oil alliance to rescue the industry from the worst shock in history. The question is whether it evaporates just as quickly. After the president’s social-media intervention on Thursday, oil traders ...
Istanbul prosecutor indicts Saudi suspects for Khashoggi killing
Istanbul prosecutors said on Wednesday they had prepared an indictment against a close aide to Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and a former deputy head of general intelligence over the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The prosecutor's office accused the two men of ...
