Saudi Arabia
Iraq presses Iran to reopen Strait of Hormuz as crude exports take hit
Any interference in the Strait of Hormuz will only delay its reopening, Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi says in Baghdad, as Iraq offers to host a regional security summit including Iran and the Gulf states.
Coal’s unexpected comeback on Middle East conflict energy security fears
The disruption to global energy markets caused by the conflict in the Middle East has triggered an unexpected resurgence in coal demand, as energy security fears outweigh Climate Crisis commitments.
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Iran rejects US-GCC statement as Gulf hardens stance over missiles, Hormuz
Iran has condemned a joint US-GCC statement as interventionist, after Gulf ministers and Marco Rubio hardened their position on Iran's missiles, drones and the Strait of Hormuz at a meeting in Manama.
Bahrain hosts GCC-US meeting with Rubio on Iran deal, Hormuz
Bahrain has hosted a GCC meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Manama, where Washington sought to reassure Gulf allies over the Iran deal, with Gulf states pressing for clarity on the Strait of Hormuz, nuclear and missile issues.
Saudi Arabia opens portal for foreign property ownership applications
Saudi Arabia's REGA has opened applications for foreign property ownership through its Saudi Properties portal, the official channel under a law that took effect in January, while restricting ownership in Mecca and Medina.
Turkey’s foreign minister meets Trump’s co-in-law 'fixer' in Cairo
Lebanese-born billionaire Massad Boulos is a man with a unique portfolio. He serves as US senior advisor for Arab and African affairs. His son is married to Tiffany Trump.
Turkey says Saudi rail link under technical assessment, financing being weighed
A planned Turkey-Saudi railway linking the Gulf to Europe via Jordan and Syria is under technical assessment, with financing still to be weighed by respective governments.
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EU agrees free hand luggage, keeps delay compensation after decade of talks
Airline passengers in the EU will keep free hand luggage and delay compensation under a deal reached after more than a decade of talks, with the rules due to take effect in 2027.
TIIF 2026: Uzbekistan's $4 trillion Islamic finance opportunity
Uzbekistan is an unusual case in the Islamic world. Its population of nearly 40mn is overwhelmingly Muslim — around 90% — yet the country has operated since independence as a secular state, with a conventional western-style banking system.
New initiative launched to redirect Gulf energy flows away from Strait toward Mediterranean
Syria envisioned as key cog in new energy distribution network.
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COMMENT: Iran and the GCC, the memory remains
Relations across the Gulf have been ruined following more than 100 days of war between Iran, Israel and the US with the Gulf neighbours to the south and east of the Islamic Republic left exposed following a new memorandum with the Trump admin.
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Anthropic releases public version of its most powerful AI model in the US, citing new safeguards
Anthropic has released Claude Fable 5, a public version of its most powerful AI model, two months after restricting an equivalent system over cybersecurity fears.
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Saudi Arabia and Russia sign 13 agreements worth $1.28bn at St Petersburg forum
Saudi Arabia and Russia have signed 13 agreements worth SAR4.8bn ($1.28bn) in food security and agriculture at the St Petersburg forum, where the kingdom attended as guest of honour.
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Fitch raises oil and gas sector outlook to improving on Hormuz closure price effect
Fitch has raised its 2026 oil and gas outlook to improving, lifting its Brent assumption to $87 on a five-month Strait of Hormuz closure, with prices seen at $100-110 before easing to $70 by September.
Asia needs Azerbaijan as Hormuz risks grow
The escalating crisis in the Middle East and severe disruptions to energy transportation through the Strait of Hormuz have once again demonstrated how vulnerable the global oil and gas market remains to instability.
Inventory drawdowns mask impact of Hormuz disruption as clock runs down towards a September supply crunch
Global oil markets are relying heavily on inventory drawdowns to offset a supply shock caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, with OECD stockpiles potentially reaching stress levels by mid-September if current trends persist, according to Oxf
US votes through new war powers act to try and halt Iran war
The US House just voted 215 to 208 to end the Iran war, by passing a new War Act, that is unlikely to have any impact on the Iran conflict as US President Donald Trump is widely expected to veto the motion.
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COMMENT: A new world of asymmetrical diplomacy
The world has changed in a very fundamental way. For most of the last century the world has been run on the lines of Great Power Geopolitics: them and us; the enlightened and the barbaric; the rich and the poor.
Trump seeks tougher terms in revised Iran deal
Ceasefire and nuclear negotiations between Washington and Tehran have moved forward after US and Iranian negotiators drafted a new agreement, but President Donald Trump has sent the proposal back with tougher demands, with Iran to respond this week.
Global oil inventories falling at record pace, critical storage threshold about to be breached - IEA
Global oil inventories are declining at a record rate as the market absorbs a major Middle East supply disruption, raising the risk of sharp price increases if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, according to the International Energy Agency.