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The potential for expansion is significant, says Steffen Hertog, associate professor at the London School of Economics. Pilgrims could, for example, be encouraged to extend their journeys within the country to visit other religious sites or engage in recreational activities, particularly during the minor year-round pilgrimage, Umrah, where Hajj-related bottlenecks can be avoided, he said.
The number of pilgrims has dropped significantly during the pandemic, but the government is aiming for 30 million pilgrims by 2030, which some analysts say is an ambitious figure.
The pilgrimage was a drain on government finances due to the cost of infrastructure, maintenance and security, according to Hertog, but it brought in a lot of money for the private sector.
Saudi authorities did not respond to CNN’s request for comment.
The only threat to Saudi Arabia’s ambitions to capitalize on the pilgrimage “is the decline in religiosity across the world”, Al-Ubaydli said. “But as long as Muslims continue to want to visit these sites, they will represent huge economic opportunities for Saudi Arabia.”
CNN’s Nadeen Ebrahim contributed to this report
The summary
Iran adds demands to nuclear talks, US says
- Background: The latest round of indirect negotiations between Iran and the United States took place in Doha, Qatar last week, and were negotiated by the European Union. The talks were the last hope to bring the two sides to a deal that would revive a 2015 nuclear accord aimed at limiting Tehran’s nuclear weapons capabilities. The two-day talks broke down, however, with Malley describing them as “a lost opportunity”.
- why is it important: Iran is closing in on the amount of enrichment needed to make a nuclear bomb, with Malley saying it would only take them “a few weeks” to achieve one. “They’re going to have to decide sooner or later,” Malley said, “because at some point the deal will be a thing of the past.”
Ben & Jerry’s sues Unilever for blocking sale of Israeli company
- Background: The Vermont-based ice cream maker filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in New York on Tuesday, where it sought an injunction against Unilever “to protect the brand and social integrity that Ben & Jerry’s has taken decades to build”. Last week, Unilever announced it had sold the Israeli business of Ben & Jerry’s for an undisclosed amount to American Quality Products (AQP), which distributes the ice cream in Israel.
- why is it important: Since 2021, Ben & Jerry’s has been fiercely opposed to selling its products in the West Bank, believing it would be “inconsistent” with the brand. Ben & Jerry’s has been doing business in Israel since 1987, but in recent years has come under pressure to sell in West Bank settlements, considered illegal under international law.
Nazi war criminal Eichmann heard bragging about his role in the Holocaust in audio recordings
Audio recordings have emerged of Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann bragging about his role in the Holocaust. The recordings, made in 1957, show Eichmann praising his role in the Nazi attempt to exterminate the Jewish people.
- Background: Eichmann was captured by Israeli secret agents in Argentina in 1960 and taken to Israel where he was tried for crimes against humanity. In his defense, he argued that he was just following orders and that key decisions were made by other, older Nazi leaders. Eichmann was convicted at trial and put to death in 1962.
- Why is it important: The recordings, which have been in German archives for decades, have been released for the first time as part of a new documentary on Eichmann called “The Devil’s Confession”. He can be heard saying that it would challenge his innermost beliefs to deny that the Nazis did anything wrong. “If we had killed 10.3 million Jews, I would say with satisfaction, ‘Well, we have destroyed an enemy.’ Then we would have fulfilled our mission,” he said.
Around the region
The world No. 3 overcame a nervous start to rally after a set down and beat Marie Bouzková 3-6 6-1 6-1 on center court.
After reaching the final four, she said it took a long time to come for her personally.
“I had hoped I could get to this stage for a long time already. I struggled several times in the quarter-finals,” Jabeur told the media afterwards.
“I was talking to (former world number 22) Hicham Arazi for a bit, and he said to me: ‘Arabs always lose in the quarter-finals and we’re fed up. Please stop this'”, she added.
By Ben Morse
time capsule
Algeria celebrated this week the 60th anniversary of its independence from France following a bloody war of independence whose wounds have not yet healed.
France began its rule over Algeria in 1830. The city of Algiers was originally taken by the French as a military measure, but as more settlers arrived with French protection, the borders of France continued to advance.
In 1954, the Algerian National Liberation Front (FLN) was formed as a guerrilla group to liberate the country from its colonizer. This sparked an uprising that lasted the next seven years, known as the Algerian War, which saw Tunisia and Morocco gain independence from France in return for militarizing their borders with Algeria.
On March 16, 1962, an agreement was signed in France promising Algerian independence pending a national referendum and on July 5, Algeria celebrated its independence from France.
By Mohamed Abdelbary
