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Just 10,000 pilgrims will be allowed in to Islam's holiest site

Muslims begin socially-distanced hajj pilgrimage

Mask-clad Muslims began annual hajj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia's Mecca today, circling Islam's holiest site along socially distanced paths in the smallest pilgrimage in modern history as the Saudi hosts strive to prevent a coronavirus outbreak.

Coronavirus • 29 Jul 20

Jamal Khashoggi was murdered inside the Saudi consulate in Turkey in 2018

Khashoggi murder trial told oven was lit after killing

A Saudi consulate worker in Istanbul told a Turkish court today he had been asked to light a tandoor oven less than an hour after Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi entered the building where he was killed.

World • 03 Jul 20

Jamal Khashoggi was killed in October 2018

Jamal Khashoggi's family say they forgive his killers

The sons of murdered Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi have said they "forgive" the killers of their father, an announcement analysts said effectively grants clemency to five convicted people on death row.

World • 22 May 20

Aramco said the results reflected 'lower crude oil prices, as well as declining refining and chemicals margins'

Saudi Aramco Q1 net profit slides 25% as oil prices dip

Saudi Arabian state oil giant Aramco has today reported a 25% fall in first-quarter net profit, below analyst estimates, hurt by lower crude oil prices as the coronavirus slashed demand.

Business • 12 May 20

Saudi Arabia, the world's largest oil exporter, is suffering from slumping oil prices

Saudi triples VAT rate due to Covid-19 and oil slump

Saudi Arabia will triple its value added tax rate and suspend a cost of living allowance for state employees, the kingdom's finance minister said today, as it seeks to shore up finances hit hard by low oil prices and a coronavirus-driven slowdown.

Business • 11 May 20

A fighter with Yemen's separatist Southern Transitional Council mans a gun in the back of a pick-up in Aden

Saudi coalition calls for deal to be honoured in Yemen

A Saudi-led coalition mired in a lengthy war in Yemen has urged Emirati-backed southern separatists to honour terms of a Riyadh peace deal and share control of Aden with the country's internationally recognised government.

World • 27 Apr 20

Court-ordered floggings in Saudi Arabia - sometimes extending to hundreds of lashes - have long drawn condemnation from human rights groups

Saudi Arabia abolishes flogging

Saudi Arabia has abolished flogging as a punishment, the supreme court announced, hailing the latest in a series of "human rights advances" made by the king and his powerful son.

World • 25 Apr 20

US benchmark WTI plunged 54% during March and 66% for the first quarter, while Brent slumped by 66% in the first quarter and 55% in March

Oil ends March with biggest monthly & quarterly losses

Crude oil benchmarks ended a volatile quarter with their biggest losses in history, as both US and Brent futures were hammered during March on the global economic freeze due to the coronavirus pandemic and the eruption of a price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia.

Business • 01 Apr 20

Oil prices bounced nearly 7% today after three days of heavy losses

Oil jumps after three-day slump but virus still weighs

Oil prices bounced nearly 7% today after a three-day selloff drove them to their lowest in almost two decades as demand plummeted due to the coronavirus and supplies surged in a fight for market share between Russia and Saudi Arabia.

Business • 19 Mar 20

Oil prices saw their biggest drop in nearly 30 years yesterday

Oil bounces 8% on stimulus hopes, virus slows in China

Oil prices bounced 8% today from the biggest one-day rout in nearly 30 years, as investors eyed the possibility of economic stimulus amid a price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia and as new virus cases slowed in China.

Business • 10 Mar 20

Wall St plunges after oil shock, trading halted

Wall Street's main indexes dropped 7% and the Dow Jones crashed 2,000 points in what would be its biggest one-day fall ever in opening trade today.

Business • 09 Mar 20

Saudi Arabia has slashed its official selling prices and set plans for a dramatic increase in crude production next month

Oil prices down 30% on Saudi moves, virus fears

Oil prices plummeted around 30% today after Saudi Arabia slashed its official selling prices and set plans for a dramatic increase in crude production next month.

Business • 09 Mar 20

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has moved to consolidate power

Saudi senior royals detained over alleged coup plot

Saudi Arabia has detained three senior Saudi princes for allegedly planning a coup, sources with knowledge of the matter said.

World • 07 Mar 20

Saturday's coalition airstrikes took place in Yemen's Al-Jawf province

UN says 19 children among dead in recent Yemen strikes

Nineteen children were among at least 31 civilians killed in air strikes on rebel-held northern Yemen last week, the United Nations has said.

World • 20 Feb 20

Jeff Bezos pictured with Mohammed bin Salman in 2016

UN report points to Saudi involvement in Bezos hack

United Nations human rights experts have called for an investigation into allegations that the Saudi Arabian Crown Prince was involved in the hacking of Amazon boss Jeff Bezos's phone.

World • 22 Jan 20

Journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed in Istanbul in October last year

Five sentenced to death over Khashoggi killing

Saudi Arabia's public prosecutor has said five people have been sentenced to death and three more to jail terms totalling 24 years in the case of the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul in October last year.

World • 23 Dec 19

Saudi Aramco has become the world's biggest IPO, topping the $25 billion 2014 listing of China's Alibaba

Saudi Aramco tops $2 trillion, defying sceptics

Saudi Aramco achieved the $2 trillion valuation sought by Saudi leader Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman today as the newly-listed state-owned oil company's shares rose sharply on their second day of trading.

Business • 12 Dec 19

Today's gains has put the oil giant's value at $1.88 trillion, far ahead of other firms in the trillion-dollar club, including Apple

Saudi Aramco shares jump 10% on stock market debut

Saudi Aramco shares surged the maximum permitted 10% above their IPO price on their Riyadh stock market debut today.

Business • 11 Dec 19

Three American sailors were shot dead by a lieutenant in the Saudi Royal Air Force on Friday

Pentagon suspends training of Saudis pending review

The Pentagon is temporarily suspending operational training for Saudi military students in the United States following a shooting last week by a Saudi air force officer.

US • 11 Dec 19

Aramco pledged to pay $75 billion in dividends in 2020

Saudi oil firm Aramco raises $26bn in largest ever IPO

Saudi Arabia's state oil company Aramco launched its initial stock offering today, pricing at the high end of the target range and raising $25.6 billion.

Business • 05 Dec 19

Saudi Arabia has put a value of up to $1.71 trillion on oil giant Aramco ahead of its listing

Aramco declares $1.71 trillion valuation in big IPO

Saudi Arabia has put a value of up to $1.71 trillion on energy giant Aramco in what could be the world's biggest IPO.

Business • 18 Nov 19

Saudi Aramco said it continues to engage with the shareholders on IPO readiness activities

Saudi Aramco aims to begin IPO on November 3 - sources

Saudi Aramco aims to announce the start of its initial public offering (IPO) on November 3, three people with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters.

Business • 29 Oct 19

It is the the latest incident involving oil tankers in the Red Sea and Gulf region (file pic)

Iran oil tanker struck by missiles off Saudi - reports

An Iran-owned oil tanker has been struck by two missiles, setting it ablaze off the Saudi port of Jeddah, Iranian state media has reported.

World • 11 Oct 19

Brent is set for a loss of 6.6% for the week, marking its largest weekly loss since December

Oil set for big weekly loss over demand worries

Oil futures were higher ahead of the weekend but remained on track for large weekly losses on fears that slower global economic growth will hurt fuel demand.

Business • 04 Oct 19

Oil prices are being pressured by concerns about weakening global economic growth and oil demand

Oil slips towards $57 as economic gloom weighs

Oil slipped towards $57 a barrel today, pressured by concerns about weakening global economic growth and oil demand, as well as by signs of excess supply despite OPEC-led cuts.

Business • 03 Oct 19