OPEC Plus Agrees to Small Boost in Oil Production

Saudi Arabia, the de facto leader of the oil cartel, sees advantages in increasing output despite market risks.

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At Saudi Comedy Festival, American Free Speech Becomes the Punchline

American comics used Saudi Arabia’s first global comedy festival to skewer a debate raging at home. Critics said the event was part of Saudi efforts to draw attention away from a political crackdown.

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Saudi Grand Mufti, an Archconservative in a Changing Kingdom, Dies

The death of Abdulaziz Al Asheikh, Saudi Arabia’s most senior cleric, was the symbolic end of an era as the kingdom transforms.

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Arab Leaders Meet to Weigh Response to Israel’s Attack in Qatar

At a summit in the Qatari capital, Doha, participants are deciding whether to take tangible actions against Israel following last week’s strike.

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Why Cristiano Ronaldo’s Engagement Raised Eyebrows in Saudi Arabia

The soccer star has been living in the country with Georgina Rodríguez, the mother of his children, testing the boundaries of social change in the conservative Islamic kingdom.

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How Starmer, Macron and Merz Tried To Halt the War in Gaza

Images of starving children and Israel’s planned expansion of settlements spurred Britain, France and Germany to a tougher stance. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was undeterred.

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Saudi Arabia Pledges to Invest More Than $6 Billion in Syria

The deals highlight the countries’ deepening relationship under the new Syrian government, and a wave of investment in a country squeezed by war and sanctions.

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Gulf States Lead Push to Invest in New Syria

The fall of the Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad has opened a window for wealthy Gulf countries to expand their influence as the sway of Iran diminishes.

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Israel Further Alienates Would-Be Arab Allies in Attacking Iran

Wealthy Gulf countries are alarmed and anxious about Israel and Iran’s new war.

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France’s Macron Faces Dilemma With Intention to Recognize Palestinian State

The French-Israeli relationship has always been turbulent, but the prospect that President Emmanuel Macron may recognize a Palestinian state has brought tension to a new level.

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