Talks are underway in Saudi Arabia to end the fighting in Sudan. But so far, there’s been no major breakthrough. The World’s Shirin Jaafari spoke with Fahad Nazer, spokesperson for the Saudi Embassy in Washington, about where the talks are headed.
Saudi Arabia says it “won't bear any responsibility" for shortages in global oil supplies, following attacks on its oil facilities by Yemeni Houthi rebels.
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has visited Bahrain as part of a push to boost regional ties with Gulf Arab countries following the signing of the Abraham Accords in 2020. The World's host Marco Werman spoke with Hussein Ibish, a senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, about what's a stake for the regional partnerships.
The recent $650 million sale involves 280 air-to-air missiles known as AMRAAMs (advanced medium range air-to-air missiles) and their launch systems, to be used on Saudi fighter jets. It has raised a stir in foreign policy circles.
Pfizer announces its Paxlovid pill as highly effective at preventing severe illness from COVID-19 among at-risk people. Also, the US approves its first major arms sale under the Biden administration to Saudi Arabia. And, nine groups in Ethiopia form an alliance — including Tigray forces and the Oromo Liberation Army — against Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to seek a political transition, as rebel forces near the capital.
Chief prosecutor Karim Khan announces the ICC will open an investigation into alleged crimes against humanity in Venezuela. Also, the US has added NSO Group, the Israeli company behind the controversial Pegasus spyware, to its trade blacklist. And, the UK approves Molnupiravir, the first antiviral oral pill found to be effective in treating symptomatic COVID-19.
Saudi Arabia’s economy was built on oil. Now, faced with growing global pressure to replace fossil fuel with cleaner energy, the kingdom has announced plans to reach net-zero emissions by 2060.
The US will reopen its land borders to nonessential travel in November for people who are fully vaccinated. Also, the international community is looking for ways to help Afghans financially, while circumventing the Taliban government. And, Iran and Saudi Arabia are holding talks brokered by Iraq to repair ties and come to an agreement to end the war in Yemen.
Talks between military officials over border tensions in China and India break down. Also, people in Poland hold large pro-EU protests over their country's possible exit from the European Union. And, severe flooding in China affects more than 1.76 million people.
A court in Saudi Arabia upheld a 20-year prison term imposed on Abdulrahman al-Sadhan, a Saudi aid worker who had criticized the government on Twitter, drawing a rare public rebuke from the US in another sign of tension between the Biden administration and the kingdom. Abdulrahman al-Sadhan's sister Areej al-Sadhan, a dual Saudi-US citizen, talked to The World's host Marco Werman about the situation.
Top of The World: The last US troops have left Afghanistan to meet the Aug. 31 withdrawal deadline, ending the longest war the United States has ever fought. And, US climate envoy and former secretary of state, John Kerry, is in Southeast Asia for climate talks. Also, Iraq’s foreign minister has reportedly said that talks between rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia are underway in Baghdad.