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BRICS Invites 6 Nations, Including Saudi Arabia, to Join the Bloc

(From L to R) President of Brazil Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, President of China Xi Jinping, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi and Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attend the 2023 BRICS Summit at the Sandton Convention Center in Johannesburg on August 24, 2023. (Photo by Phill Magakoe / AFP)
(From L to R) President of Brazil Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, President of China Xi Jinping, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi and Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attend the 2023 BRICS Summit at the Sandton Convention Center in Johannesburg on August 24, 2023. (Photo by Phill Magakoe / AFP)
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BRICS Invites 6 Nations, Including Saudi Arabia, to Join the Bloc

(From L to R) President of Brazil Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, President of China Xi Jinping, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi and Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attend the 2023 BRICS Summit at the Sandton Convention Center in Johannesburg on August 24, 2023. (Photo by Phill Magakoe / AFP)
(From L to R) President of Brazil Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, President of China Xi Jinping, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi and Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attend the 2023 BRICS Summit at the Sandton Convention Center in Johannesburg on August 24, 2023. (Photo by Phill Magakoe / AFP)

Leaders of the BRICS group of developing nations have invited Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, Ethiopia and Argentina to join the bloc.

Expansion could also pave the way for dozens of interested countries seeking admission to BRICS - currently Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who is hosting a summit of BRICS leaders, announced on Thursday that the new candidates would be admitted as members on Jan. 1, 2024.

The debate over enlargement has topped the agenda at the three-day summit taking place in Johannesburg.

More than 40 countries have expressed interest in joining BRICS, say South African officials, and 22 have formally asked to be admitted.

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Gulf

Saudi Arabia Summons Iraq’s Ambassador over Drone Threats

The Foreign Ministry’s Undersecretary for Political Affairs, Dr. Saud Al-Sati, and the Iraqi Ambassador Safia Al Souhail. SPA
The Foreign Ministry’s Undersecretary for Political Affairs, Dr. Saud Al-Sati, and the Iraqi Ambassador Safia Al Souhail. SPA
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Saudi Arabia Summons Iraq’s Ambassador over Drone Threats

The Foreign Ministry’s Undersecretary for Political Affairs, Dr. Saud Al-Sati, and the Iraqi Ambassador Safia Al Souhail. SPA
The Foreign Ministry’s Undersecretary for Political Affairs, Dr. Saud Al-Sati, and the Iraqi Ambassador Safia Al Souhail. SPA

Saudi Arabia said on Sunday it had summoned Iraqi Ambassador Safia Al Souhail over what it described as threats targeting ⁠the Kingdom and ⁠other Gulf states from drones ⁠launched from Iraqi territory.

The Saudi Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Undersecretary for Political Affairs Dr. Saud Al-Sati delivered a formal complaint to the Iraqi diplomat, "stressing the Kingdom's condemnation and denunciation of attacks originating from Iraqi territory against the Kingdom and the Gulf states.”

He "emphasized the importance of ⁠Iraq ⁠dealing responsibly with these threats and attacks.”

The statement said that Al-Sati also reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s firm rejection of violations of states’ sovereignty and attempts to threaten the security and stability of the region, stressing that it will take all necessary measures to defend its security and protect its territories.

Gulf

Saudi Foreign Minister, Korean Presidential Special Envoy Discuss Regional Developments

Saudi Foreign Minister and the Special Envoy of the President of South Korea (SPA)
Saudi Foreign Minister and the Special Envoy of the President of South Korea (SPA)
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Saudi Foreign Minister, Korean Presidential Special Envoy Discuss Regional Developments

Saudi Foreign Minister and the Special Envoy of the President of South Korea (SPA)
Saudi Foreign Minister and the Special Envoy of the President of South Korea (SPA)

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah met in Riyadh on Sunday Chief of Staff to the President of Korea and Presidential Special Envoy Kang Hoon-sik.

During the meeting, they reviewed cooperation relations between the two friendly countries.

They also discussed developments in the region and their repercussions for the regional security and the global economy.

Gulf

Oman FM Says Success in US-Iran Talks May Require 'Painful Concessions'

Oman's Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad al-Busaidi, (File photo: AP)
Oman's Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad al-Busaidi, (File photo: AP)
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Oman FM Says Success in US-Iran Talks May Require 'Painful Concessions'

Oman's Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad al-Busaidi, (File photo: AP)
Oman's Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad al-Busaidi, (File photo: AP)

Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr al-Busaidi on Sunday called for more talks between Iran and the US and for the ceasefire to be extended, hours after negotiations failed to reach a deal during a high-stakes meeting in Pakistan.

"I urge that the ceasefire be extended and talks continue," Al-Busaidi wrote in a post on X.

"Success may require everyone to make painful concessions, but this is nothing as compared to the pain of failure and war."