Saudi Arabia
A pilgrimage turns to tragedy as scorching heat causes 1,300 people to die during the Hajj
Performing the five days of the Hajj is a profoundly spiritual and physically demanding task. But this sacred journey turned deadly for many this year as temperatures soared beyond 124 degrees in Saudi Arabia’s holiest city of Mecca. Faisal Kutty, professor at Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles, speaks with host Marco Werman about what made this Hajj fatal for many pilgrims.
Experts question what the US will get out of Biden’s visit to Saudi Arabia
President Joe Biden arrived in Saudi Arabia on Friday for the first time since he took office. He met with King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Biden said in the past that he would make the kingdom “the pariah that it is.” But as gas prices have skyrocketed, he has changed his rhetoric. Now, experts question what the US will get out of this controversial visit.
US and Israel sign joint declaration on Iran’s nuclear program during Biden’s visit
During President Joe Biden’s trip to the Middle East, he’s signed a joint declaration with Israel to counter Iran’s nuclear program. The World’s host Marco Werman speaks with Sina Azodi, a nonresident fellow with the Atlantic Council in Washington, about what the move means.
MBS visits Ankara as Turkey attempts to repair relations with its regional rivals
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for talks in Ankara. The visit comes as Turkey seeks to repair ties with its regional rivals. Steven A. Cook at the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington spoke with The World’s host Carol Hills about the significance of the visit.
What’s at stake for Israel and Gulf Arab countries in light of the Abraham Accords?
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.