The holiest city in Islam and Saudi capital of Mecca Province
A nine-year-old Australian girl, Hania Ahmed, has been killed and her father and brother injured after Pakistani police opened fire on a rental car, mistaking it for robbers in Chakwal, Punjab. Authorities say officers intervened during a robbery, and an officer has been arrested. Australia demands a transparent investigation.
Europe endures a record-breaking heatwave as red heat alerts spread. Authorities warn health and infrastructure face strain while experts link extreme temperatures to climate change. UK, France, Spain and other nations are deploying measures as temperatures push past past records.
Global stocks have rallied this month after officials reported progress in talks to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and a string of strong corporate earnings has bolstered investor sentiment. Treasuries and oil prices have fallen as traders pare back expectations for near-term Fed hikes; strategists warn valuations and one-off earnings boosts limit further upside.
Iran and Oman are nearing a bilateral arrangement to restore shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. A temporary central corridor could allow normal oil traffic to resume while broader peace talks with the United States and other parties continue. Officials warn that any reopening remains contingent on U.S. actions and broader security guarantees.
Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan have signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, establishing a mutual defence framework. The pact treats an armed attack on any member as an attack on all, while stopping short of detailing automatic troop deployment. It builds on prior defense ties and signals a move toward a more regionally driven security order amid heightened Gulf tensions and Iran-Israel dynamics.
Iran says the Strait of Hormuz will not reopen until the US ends the war, frees frozen assets and delivers a region-wide ceasefire. Tehran has presented six conditions, linking reopening to Washington’s compliance and Oman-mediated talks, while attacks near key shipping routes continue.
Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkiye have signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, offering mutual-attack deterrence and deeper military cooperation. Officials say negotiations anticipate expansion to more partners, with Egypt flagged as a natural partner; the pact mirrors NATO-style defence but remains non-binding if a signatory is not attacked.
The Mecca Joint Defence Agreement binds Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan to mutual defence and deterrence. Signed August 7, it marks a shift toward regional security coordination as US involvement in the Middle East becomes more constrained, with analysts noting the pact may empower regional partners without fully replacing Washington’s role.
France hosts Prince Mohammed bin Salman as leaders discuss diversifying energy and transport routes, including maritime and rail projects, amid regional and Middle East stability efforts. The Franco-Saudi partnership council is being convened to solidify cooperation.
Turkey has issued arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu and Afek Moskovitch, accusing them of genocide and crimes against humanity over the May interception of a flotilla heading to Gaza. The justice ministry has requested Interpol red notices as part of a case against 35 people. Israel denies the allegations and vows to continue actions against Ankara.
France has signed a €6 billion agreement with Qiddiya, a Saudi Public Investment Fund unit, to build three theme parks near Cergy-Pontoise, including a manga-themed park based on Dragon Ball Z; the project has been announced during Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s state visit and is expected to create about 22,000 jobs over several years.
The Mecca Joint Defence Agreement among Turkiye, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia is being translated into an operational framework. Ministers and chiefs of staff are meeting in Istanbul to discuss interoperability, defence cooperation and potential expansion, including a possible role for Egypt. Observers say the pact aims to deter aggression and coordinate military planning in a volatile region.