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☆ A Crackdown on Free Speech in One of the Freer Corners of the Mideast
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( Aaron Boxerman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The lavish wedding of Jordan’s crown prince this spring was breathlessly anticipated for months in the kingdom’s state media, and when it arrived, it did not disappoint. After days of public festivities, celebrities and royalty decked out in designer clothing swanned about an opulent palace. Then in July, the Jordanian authorities blocked AlHudood — Arabic for “The Boundaries” — making it the latest casualty in an escalating clampdown on free speech. But for a decade, the site had carefully navigated the red lines of what could and could not be published in the kingdom. Isam Uraiqat, the founder of AlHudood who now lives in London, said the ostentatious display of wealth in a country with widespread poverty made it an irresistible target for satire.

Persons: Jordan’s, yank, Isam Uraiqat, AlHudood Locations: London

Saudi Aramco logo and stock graph are seen through a magnifier displayed in this illustration taken September 4, 2022. Saudi Aramco did not immediately respond to a Reuters' request for comment. The company completed the world’s largest initial public offering in late 2019, raising $25.6 billion and later selling more shares to raise the total to $29.4 billion. Saudi Arabia had planned in addition to sell Aramco shares worth up to $50 billion last year, but decided market conditions were unfavourable, the Journal said. It reported a 38% decline in second quarter profit to 112.81 billion riyals from the year earlier period.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Prince Mohammed, Urvi, Louise Heavens, Barbara Lewis Organizations: Saudi Aramco, REUTERS, Wall Street, Aramco, Saudi, Saudi Arabia’s Crown, Public Investment Fund, Investment Initiative, Thomson Locations: Saudi, Riyadh bourse, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Bengaluru

☆ The world's most valuable oil company may launch the biggest stock offering in history
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( Filip De Mott | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Saudi Arabia is considering offering $50 billion in Aramco shares, the Wall Street Journal reported. Get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in business, from Wall Street to Silicon Valley — delivered daily. A potential deal would list Aramco stock worth $50 billion, which would make it the biggest offering in capital markets history. The likelihood of a blockbuster offering is by no means certain as previous attempts to list Aramco shares hit obstacles. Saudi Arabia is highly dependent on the oil giant, with Aramco's returns a key source of funds for the government.

Persons: Ant, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Aramco's Organizations: Aramco, Wall Street Journal, Service, Saudi Aramco Locations: Saudi Arabia, Wall, Silicon, Riyadh, Aramco

☆ A Saudi-Israel deal could dramatically reshape the Middle East — but don't expect it anytime soon
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Saudi Arabia doesn't recognize Israel as a state and has refused to do so since the latter's independence in 1948. A deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia could dramatically reshape the geopolitics of the Middle East. Saudi Arabia wants military promisesAnother big challenge is what Saudi Arabia is demanding of Washington. But even if a security guarantee and more advanced weapons access demands are met, U.S. backing for a Saudi nuclear program is likely more challenging. Any deal on this is also complicated by the fact that Saudi Arabia has its own natural supplies of uranium and intends to mine them itself.

Persons: Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Louiza Vradi, Israel –, Saudi Arabia doesn't, Mahmoud Abbas, Benjamin Netanyahu, Amir Cohen, Biden, Sanam Vakil, Netanyahu, Mustafa Hassona, Hussein Ibish, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Vakil, Mohammed bin Salman, Fayez Nureldine, Ryan Bohl, Rane Organizations: Wall Street Journal, Palestinian Authority, Biden, Palmachim Air Force Base, Reuters, Saudi, Chatham House, CNBC, Bloomberg, Anadolu Agency, Getty, Gulf States Institute, United Nations, Saudi Crown, Nurphoto, Republicans, Artillery, Defense, Afp, U.S, government's, United Arab Emirates, Middle East Locations: Saudi, Athens, Greece, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Iran, Riyadh, Rishon Lezion, U.S, East, North Africa, Palestine, Mecca, Medina, Gaza City, West Bank, Nablus, Gaza, Washington, Beit Lahia, Yemen

☆ House Oversight Democrats ask GOP to subpoena Affinity Partners, Jared Kushner's $3 billion Saudi-backed private equity fund
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Mattathias Schwartz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Shortly after leaving the White House, Jared Kushner got $2 billion in funding from the Saudi government for his private-equity fund. Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi crown prince who developed close ties to Kushner, pushed the deal through, the New York Times reported. Now, Democrats on the House Oversight Committee are asking the GOP to investigate with the same zeal they've applied to Hunter Biden. The letter puts special focus on a $2 billion investment from Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund. AdvertisementAdvertisementBut MBS, who chairs the fund, intervened to push the deal through, according to the Times' repoAffinity Partners now has an office in Miami.

Persons: Jared Kushner, Mohammed bin Salman, Kushner, they've, Hunter Biden, Jamie Raskin, Joe Biden's, Raskin, Donald Trump's, James Comer, Comer, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Lockheed Martin, Jamal Khashoggi, Abraham, Austin Hacker, Hacker Organizations: White, New York Times, Service, Democratic, GOP, Affinity Partners, White House, Democrats, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, MBS, Trump, Intercept, The New York Times, Lockheed, National Security Council, Saudi, Times, Abraham Accords, Trump White House, Affinity, CNN Locations: Saudi, Wall, Silicon, Maryland, Saudi Arabia, Miami

CNN —A Saudi court has sentenced a retired teacher to death over his comments online, say his brother and advocacy group Human Rights Watch. Muhammad al-Ghamdi, a 54-year-old retired Saudi teacher, was sentenced “following 5 tweets criticizing corruption and human rights violations,” his brother Saeed bin Nasser al-Ghamdi tweeted last week. According to the European Saudi Organization for Human Rights, Saudi Arabia has executed at least 92 people this year so far. In 2022, UK-based human rights organization ALQST cataloged 148 executions in Saudi Arabia – more than twice the number of executions it recorded in 2021. “The Saudi authorities asked me several times to return to Saudi Arabia, but I refused to do so.

Persons: Muhammad al, “, Saeed bin Nasser, Ghamdi, ” Joey Shea, Lina Alhathloul, Loujain, ”, Saeed Organizations: CNN, Saudi, Human Rights Watch, ‘, Human Rights, European Saudi Organization for Human Rights, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Interior Locations: Saudi, Saudi Arabia, United Kingdom

☆ Roberto Mancini named as Saudi Arabia’s national team coach
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( Matt Foster | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Roberto Mancini was announced as the new head coach of Saudi Arabia’s men’s team on Sunday, just two weeks after resigning as manager of his native Italy. John Sibley/Pool/Getty ImagesMancini was head coach of Italy for five years, winning the men’s European Championship with the team in 2021. At club level, Mancini has managed Inter Milan and Manchester City most notably, as well as a stint with Zenit St. Petersburg in Russia. Saudi Arabia’s men’s national team sprung one of the surprises of the 2022 World Cup, defeating eventual champion Argentina 2-1 in the group stage. Saudi Arabia’s next fixtures are against Costa Rica and South Korea in September.

Persons: CNN — Roberto Mancini, Saudi Arabia’s, Mancini, “, ” Both Mancini, ” Mancini, John Sibley, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Ballon d’Or, Karim Benzema, James ’, Mohammed bin Salman Organizations: CNN, Twitter, Saudi, Qatar, Inter Milan, Manchester City, Zenit St, Manchester City’s, English Premier League, men’s, eventual, Argentina, Saudi Pro League, Saudi Arabia’s, St, Newcastle United, Newcastle, Saudi Public Investment Fund Locations: Saudi, Italy, Europe, England, Ukraine, Petersburg, Russia, Costa Rica, South Korea, Gulf

☆ Vision 2030 is Saudi Arabia's grand plan to future-proof its oil-based economy. Experts say it's a huge risk.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-27 | by ( Hasan Chowdhury | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Vision 2030 is Saudi Arabia's grand plan to transform its economy and reduce its reliance on oil. The centerpiece of Vision 2030 is Neom, which includes a $1 trillion megacity known as The Line. But time is ticking: Seven years after announcing Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia has reached the midway point of its timeline, with just seven years left to the finish line. That said, much of this is being financed by the Public Investment Fund, Saudi Arabia's powerful sovereign wealth fund, which manages assets worth about $700 billion. NeomA key factor that could determine this project's success involves Saudi Arabia's changing appeal to the West.

Persons: Saud, who's, Simon Mabon, Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, McKinsey —, —, Gerald Feierstein, Barack Obama, Feierstein, Richard Callis, Prince Mohammed, Yasir Othman al, Mabon, Prince Mohammed's, there's, Muslimi, they're Organizations: Foreign Policy Center, Saudi Royal Court, REUTERS, Saudi Crown, McKinsey, Middle East Institute, Public Investment Fund, Saudi, SoftBank's Vision, Newcastle United soccer, Newcastle United FC, Saudi Aramco, International Monetary Fund, Chatham House, Neom, United, Bloomberg, Amnesty International Locations: Saudi, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, London, NEOM, Bandar, Yemen, Ukraine, Riyadh, Jeddah, they're, United Arab Emirates, Neom

☆ Opinion | In a Report From a Distant Border, I Glimpsed Our Brutal Future
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( Lydia Polgreen | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Once in a while, some single thing manages to encapsulate all that feels terrible about our world today. For me, this week, it was a bone-chilling report from Human Rights Watch documenting how Saudi border guards had killed hundreds — perhaps thousands — of Ethiopians seeking to cross from Yemen into Saudi Arabia. I realized what I thought were people sleeping around me were actually dead bodies.” There were bloodied corpses all around her. Another survivor, a 17-year-old boy, described being forced by Saudi guards to rape two girls after another man who had been asked to do the same was executed for refusing. In these reports from a remote corner of a distant desert, I saw a glimpse of the unrelenting cruelty that is our future.

Persons: Hamdiya, Prince Mohammed bin Salman Organizations: Human Rights Watch, Saudi, Washington Post Locations: Saudi, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Istanbul

☆ The world's largest floating wind farm is now officially open — and helping to power North Sea oil operations
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( Anmar Frangoul | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Floating offshore wind turbines are different from fixed-bottom offshore wind turbines, which are rooted to the seabed. One advantage of floating turbines is that they can be installed in far deeper waters than fixed-bottom ones. In recent years a range of companies and major economies like the U.S. have laid out goals to ramp up floating wind installations. Alongside Equinor, partners in the Hywind Tampen project include Vår Energi, INPEX Idemitsu, Petoro, Wintershall Dea and OMV. Back in 2017, it started operations at Hywind Scotland, a five-turbine, 30 MW facility it calls the planet's first floating wind farm.

Persons: Equinor, Tampen, Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, INPEX, Wintershall, Equinor's Siri Kindem, General, Antonio Guterres Organizations: United Nations Locations: Norwegian, Norway, OMV, Hywind Scotland, North, Sharm el, Sheikh, Egypt

☆ Media and entertainment companies are finding more investment from the Middle East, but it can come with controversy. Here are 11 of the most notable deals.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Insider broke down 11 top media companies with Middle Eastern backing or partnerships. Middle Eastern investment has poured into US media and entertainment, and US media companies have been eager recipients. Here's a rundown of 11 key Western media and entertainment companies, listed alphabetically, that have licensing and investment partnerships with Middle Eastern entities. Jimmy Finkelstein's news startup The Messenger has Middle Eastern funding via its acquisition of IMI-backed startup Grid, which is now shuttered. The North Road, Peter Chernin and Providence Equity's production roll-up, took a $150 million investment in January from the Qatar Investment Authority, Qatar's main investment vehicle, to support its expansion.

Persons: Peter Chernin, Jeff Zucker, Uber, Jamal Khashoggi's, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, —, hasn't, Mohammed bin Salman, SRMG, Abu, Abu Dhabi's, Jimmy Finkelstein's, BeIn, Stone, Ian Orefice, WBD Organizations: Providence, North, IMI, ex, CNN, Public Investment Fund, Blackstone, Washington Post, Saudi Crown, Saudi, Guardian, Media, Bloomberg Media, Saudi Research, Media Group, Media Investments, CNN Business, Abu Dhabi Media Investment Corporation, Sky News Arabia, Business, Independent, SRMG, Miramax, BeIn, Paramount, Qatar Investment Authority, Penske Media Corporation, Billboard, Variety, Penske, Vox Media, New York, Billboard Arabia, RedBird Capital, Mideast, MBC Group, MBC, Fortress Investment Group, Investment, Warner Bros Locations: Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, West, Saudi, Abu Dhabi, ViacomCBS, SRMG

☆ A potential first-of-its-kind fighter jet purchase could be a sign Saudi Arabia isn't happy with what it's getting from the US
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( Paul Iddon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Saudi Arabia is reportedly considering a large number of French-made Dassault Rafale fighter jets. In July, Germany announced it would not allow additional Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets to be delivered Saudi Arabia. The Saudi air force's 72 Eurofighters are its second most numerous fighter type behind its US-made F-15s. Bandar Algaloud/ReutersIn the near-term, Saudi Arabia may find Rafales more burdensome than beneficial, given its extensive investment in US and British aircraft. A Saudi Air Force F-15 taxis for takeoff at King Faisal Air Base in February 2021.

Persons: France's, Toni Anne Barson, Sebastien Roblin, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Joe Biden, Roblin, Salman, FAYEZ NURELDINE, Ryan Bohl, RANE, Rafales, Jamal Khashoggi, Bohl, Justin Bronk, Katherine Walters, Paul Iddon Organizations: Dassault Rafale, Saudi, Service, Privacy Policy, France's La Tribune, Eurofighter Typhoon, United Arab, La Tribune, French Dassault Rafale, Saudi Eurofighter Typhoon, Getty, East, NATO, Bandar Algaloud, Reuters, British, Royal Saudi Air Force, Royal United Services Institute, Saudi Air Force, King Faisal Air Base, US Air Force, Staff, Rafale, Washington Locations: Saudi Arabia, British, Riyadh, Wall, Silicon, Privacy Policy Saudi Arabia, Saudi, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, French, Provence, Washington, Yemen, Iran, China, France, AFP, London, Russia, North Africa, NATO, United States, Bandar, Croatia, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Greece

☆ Saudi binge is fiscal free kick for European clubs
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( Streisand Neto | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The Saudi binge may help European teams raise funds and meet tough new financial rules. The Roshn Saudi League is a top scorer in the football transfer market. UEFA, the governing body for European football, has introduced new rules limiting clubs’ spending on wages, transfers and agent fees to 70% of revenue. European clubs should take the money before the referee's whistle blows. Saudi clubs have spent over 550 million euros buying players from European clubs in the 2023/2024 transfer season, according to Transfermarkt.

Persons: Al Hilal's, Neymar, Fahd bin Saad Al, Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior, Germain, Rúben Neves, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Len Blavatnik, China’s, Oscar, Marouane, Hilal, Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Neil Unmack, Thomas Shum, Pranav Kiran Organizations: Soccer, Al, Saudi Pro League, REUTERS Acquire, Reuters, Paris Saint, Saudi, Saudi Public Investment Fund, Britain’s Premier League, Premier League, Deloitte’s Sports Business, UEFA, Deloitte, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Bloomberg, BBC, Thomson Locations: Al Hilal, Paris, France, Saudi, Hilal, Saudi League, Al, Ittihad, Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, Kingdom, Saudi Arabian

☆ Saudi crown prince meets Iran's foreign minister
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( Reuters Editorial | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

PoliticsSaudi crown prince meets Iran's foreign ministerPostedSaudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian in Jeddah on Friday (August 18) in the highest level talks since the countries reconciled after years of bitter rivalry that destabilised the region.

Persons: Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Hossein Amirabdollahian Organizations: Saudi Arabian Crown Locations: Saudi, Iranian, Jeddah

☆ Saudi crown prince meets Iran's foreign minister as relations thaw
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Footage of the meeting on Iranian state media showed MbS and Amirabdollahian smiling as they spoke, while Prince Faisal and the Iranian delegation looked on. Saudi state news agency SPA said they discussed international and regional developments. [1/3]Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman meets with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia August 18, 2023. Prince Faisal visited Tehran in June and said he hoped Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi would visit the kingdom at the "appropriate time". Saudi Arabia had meanwhile lost confidence in U.S. commitment to shared regional security concerns and wanted to bolster ties with China, which has retained good relations with Iran.

Persons: Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Hossein Amirabdollahian, Amirabdollahian, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Mohammed bin Salman, Prince Faisal, Saudi Crown Prince, Hossein Amir, Ebrahim Raisi, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, General Antony Blinken, Angus McDowall, Mark Potter, Conor Humphries Organizations: Saudi Arabian Crown, Saudi, MbS, Saudi Crown, Iranian, Iran's Foreign, West Asia News Agency, REUTERS Acquire, Iran's, U.S, Dubai Newsroom, Thomson Locations: DUBAI, Saudi, Jeddah, United States, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, Bahrain, Abdollahian, Saudi Arabia, China, Tehran, Iran, Ukraine, Beijing, East

☆ The US is quietly warning its Middle East partners about the cost of stocking up on Chinese-made weapons
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( Paul Iddon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Chinese arms sales in the Middle East have increased by 80% over the past decade, a result of Beijing's expanding relationships there and its willingness to deliver arms faster and with fewer stipulations than Washington. FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP via Getty ImagesMiddle Eastern countries, led by the Arab Gulf states, have for decades been major buyers of US-made weapons. Chinese arms sales to the region are "substantial and expected to continue to increase," said Ahmed Aboudouh, an associate fellow at Chatham House. "But it's just one factor among many, including varying threat perceptions of Iran among the Arab Gulf states as well as varying levels of trust between the Arab Gulf governments themselves." Paul Iddon is a freelance journalist and columnist who writes about Middle East developments, military affairs, politics, and history.

Persons: Michael Kurilla, Kurilla, Loong, KARIM SAHIB, Colin Kahl, Biden, Kahl, We're, FAYEZ NURELDINE, Ahmed Aboudouh, Aboudouh, James Hodgman, Russia's, ANDREW CABALLERO, REYNOLDS, Emily Hawthorne, RANE, that's, Hawthorne, Abu Dhabi, Mohammed bin Zayed, Xi, ANDY WONG, Kahl's, Paul Iddon Organizations: Service, US Central Command, Senate Armed Services Committee, Dubai Airshow, Getty, Chatham House, Pentagon, Getty Images, United Arab Emirates, Patriot, Al Udeid, Base, US Air Force, Tech, Air Defense, Turkey, NATO, East, Khalifa, UAE, US, Abu Dhabi Crown, Gulf Cooperation Council Locations: China, Washington, Wall, Silicon, Beijing, AFP, British, Saudi, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi, East, North Africa, Qatar, Russia, Europe, Gulf, UAE, Yemen, Ankara, Turkey, Prince, Xinhua, Khalifa, Abu, Arab Gulf, Iran

To broker a new diplomatic pact between Israel and Saudi Arabia, the White House would need to persuade two historic adversaries to find common ground on thorny issues like nuclear enrichment, weapons sales and the territorial rights of Palestinians. Then, the administration would face what could be an even more daunting challenge: getting 67 senators to go along with it. With that challenge in mind, White House officials have been holding meetings on Capitol Hill in recent weeks with a small but influential group of Democratic senators, updating them on the details of ongoing diplomatic negotiations with Israeli and Saudi leaders. It is part of an ongoing effort to quietly build support for any Senate vote that would be needed to cement a potential pact. The exact terms of the relationship are still being discussed, but any new treaty with Saudi Arabia would require support from two-thirds of the Senate — a difficult hurdle to clear for any issue.

Persons: Mohammed bin Salman Organizations: Capitol, Democratic, Saudi Locations: Israel, Saudi Arabia, United States

☆ Thai king's sons wind up surprise first visit home in 27 years
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Vacharaeson Vivacharawongse, 42, arrived in Thailand last week and visited a child care centre and took part in religious ceremonies at a Bangkok temple. Their visits come at a fraught time for the royal family, with the monarch's eldest daughter in a coma since December. Vacharaesorn and Chakriwat are the second and third of four sons of King Vajiralongkorn's second wife, Sujarinee Vivacharawongse, a former actress whom the then-crown prince divorced in 1996. Vacharaesorn's younger sister was later re-embraced by the royal family and given the royal title Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana. Reporting by Juarawee Kittisilpa, Napat Wesshasartar and Chayut Setboonsarng; Editing by Nick MacfieOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Chakriwat, Maha Vajiralongkorn's, Read, Maha Vajiralongkorn, Vacharaeson Vivacharawongse, Vacharaeson, Vacharaesorn, King Vajiralongkorn's, Sujarinee, Sirivannavari Nariratana, Juarawee Kittisilpa, Napat, Nick Macfie Organizations: Thomson Locations: United States, Thailand, BANGKOK, Thai, Bangkok

☆ Saudi soccer league lures Brazilian star Neymar as it seeks to attract 'exceptional players only'
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Saudi Arabia also recruited soccer legends Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema with contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars, and it's expected to bid to host the 2030 World Cup. Portuguese football star Cristiano Ronaldo poses for a photo with the jersey after signing with Saudi Arabia's Al-Nassr Football Club in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on December 30, 2022. Sports analysts are doubtful that Saudi Arabia will see its ambitions to have a top soccer league realized, even with all the money it can offer to top-tier players. Charles Laberge | LIV Golf | Getty ImagesOther criticism comes from an attitude among many that a Saudi league could never be a serious arena for athletes. Emenalo, himself a former defender for Nigeria's national soccer team and former technical director at English club team Chelsea, called the criticisms "outrageous."

Persons: Kylian Mbappe, Neymar Jr, Jean Catuffe, Neymar, Germain, Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Kalidou, Lyon's Moussa Dembele, Michael Emenalo, Saudi Arabia's, Al, Hilal, Kylian Mbappé, LIV, shockwaves, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Captain Brooks Koepka, Ricky Elliott, Charles Laberge, LIV Golf, Emenalo, it's, Khalid Al, Falih, that's Organizations: PSG, UEFA Champions League, Celtic Glasgow, Paris Saint Germain, Celtic Park, Getty, Getty Images, Saudi, Al, Paris Saint, Brazil national, L'Equipe, Manchester, Saudi Pro League, Nassr Football Club, Al Nassr Football, Anadolu Agency, France national, Sports, American PGA Tour, Saudi Crown, CNBC, Royal Greens, & Country Club, King Abdullah Economic, Nigeria's, soccer team, Chelsea, Saudi League, Guardian, Saudi Investment, Public Investment Fund Locations: Getty Images Saudi Arabia, Hilal, Barcelona, Saudi, Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, Europe, Jeddah, King Abdullah, King Abdullah Economic City

CNN —Phil Mickelson considered a $400,000 bet on the 2012 Ryder Cup – in which he was participating – according to a book that will be released later this month by professional gambler Billy Walters. “The only other person I know who surpassed that kind of volume,” Walters wrote, “is me.”In a Thursday post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Mickelson denied betting on the 2012 Ryder Cup. Walters wrote he doesn’t know if Mickelson ever placed that bet. Walters suggested in the book, according to Golf Digest, that Mickelson was to blame for the prison sentence. The superstar came under fire last year over his involvement in the controversial LIV Golf, the world’s most lucrative golf tour.

Persons: Phil Mickelson, Billy Walters, Walters, Mickelson, Mickelson “, ” “, “, ” Walters, ”, Pete Rose, “ You’re, Arnold Palmer, ” Mickelson, “ Haven’t, Amy, Nevada ’ Walters, Donald Trump, “ Phil Mickelson, Phil, LIV Golf, Alan Shipnuck, “ Phil, ” Shipnuck, Jamal Khashoggi, LIV, Mohammed bin Salman, Khashoggi, Bin Salman Organizations: CNN, Twitter, Ryder, US, Dean Foods, United States, Southern, of, FBI, Securities and Exchange, League, PGA Tour, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Saudi, Congress Locations: Nevada, New York, of New York, Saudi, Saudi Arabia, Washington, al Qaeda

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during the Second Summit Economic And Humanitarian Forum Russia Africa on July 27, 2023 in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin is weighing whether to attend his first in-person meeting with Western leaders since his forces invaded Ukraine in 2022, a Kremlin source tells NBC News. In 2014, after Russia's annexation of Crimea, Putin was publicly shunned and sidelined during the G20 meeting in Australia. Next month's G20 summit is already set to be the most contentious in years and an important litmus test of many countries' true positions on Ukraine. "And some of the leaders, including President Biden, already decided to ignore President Putin and not take any picture with him."

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Putin, hasn't, Xi Jinping, Alexey Maslov, Maslov, Jonathan Eyal, Dmitry Peskov, Nirmala Sitharaman, Cyril Ramaphosa, Andrei Fedorov, Russia's, Putin's, Fedorov, Biden, Jamal Khashoggi, Modi, Eyal Organizations: Russia Africa, Summit ., Western, NBC News, Kremlin, Institute of, Studies, Moscow State University, Royal United Services Institute, International, ICC, United Nations, Washington Post, Mr Locations: Saint Petersburg, Russia, Ukraine, New Delhi, Russian, Belarus, China, Central, London, Crimea, Australia, Bali , Indonesia, France, Bali, Russia's, Johannesburg, Brazil, India, South Africa, Rome, United States, Saudi Arabia, Saudi

[1/6] Vacharaesorn Vivacharawongse, 42, the second-eldest son of Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn arrives at the Foundation for Slum Child Care supported by the Royal Family, in Bangkok, Thailand, August 8, 2023. The trip by Vacharaesorn Vivacharawongse, 42, comes at a fraught time for the Thai royal family, with the monarch's eldest daughter in a coma since December. To me he is still a member of the royal family," said Angsana Seeprasit, 66. Vacharaesorn's younger sister was later re-embraced by the royal family and given the royal title Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana. The thrice-divorced King Vajiralongkorn has seven children.

Persons: Vivacharawongse, Thailand's, Maha Vajiralongkorn, Vacharaesorn Vivacharawongse, Vacharaesorn, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Thais, Vacharaesorn's, SonOfTenReturnToThailand, King Rama X, Angsana Seeprasit, King Vajiralongkorn's, Sujarinee, Sirivannavari Nariratana, King Vajiralongkorn, Queen Suthida, Bajrakitiyabha Narendira, Kay Johnson, Robert Birsel Organizations: Foundation for Slum Child, REUTERS, Foundation for Slum, Household, Twitter, Thomson Locations: Bangkok, Thailand, BANGKOK, New York

☆ Australia hails 'Princess Mary' after Denmark defeat
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( Ian Ransom | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

An Australian has graced Denmark's royal family for nearly 20 years since Tasmania-born Mary Donaldson married Frederik, the Scandinavian nation's crown prince. But 20-year-old Fowler, playing as a false nine, is now soccer royalty in Australia after stepping up in Kerr's absence. "Princess Mary Offs Denmark," read the front-page headline in the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper on Tuesday. "Denmark might have Princess Mary but Australia crowned a new queen after a stunning Mary Fowler performance helped the Matildas qualify for the quarter-finals," Martin Gabor wrote in his match report. Australia were upset 3-2 by Nigeria in the group stage when both Kerr and Fowler were absent, the latter due to a head-knock at training.

Persons: Mary Fowler, Asanka Brendon Ratnayake, Sam Kerr, Kerr, Fowler, Caitlin Foord, Hayley Raso, Mary Donaldson, Frederik, Mary Offs Denmark, Mary, Martin Gabor, Tony Gustavsson, Striker Foord, Kerr's, Ian Ransom, Sonali Paul Organizations: Soccer Football, FIFA, REUTERS, Danes, Australia, Canada, Denmark, Sydney Morning Herald, Australian, Thomson Locations: New Zealand, Canada, Melbourne, Australia, Denmark, Sydney, Australian, Tasmania, Nigeria, France, Morocco

☆ Saudi’s swelling fund has scope for foreign binge
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Aug 7 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Saudi Arabia’s big sovereign wealth fund is getting bigger. The Public Investment Fund’s assets under management swelled to 2.23 trillion riyals ($603 billion) in 2022 from 1.98 trillion riyals the year before. PIF’s international assets, which range from UK soccer club Newcastle United to struggling carmaker Lucid (LCID.O), shrank from 576 to 512 billion riyals. Still, PIF has big ambitions: it hopes to boost its total assets to a whopping 4 trillion riyals by 2025, of which 24% will be international. If so, its foreign assets could yet double to 960 billion riyals, according to Breakingviews calculations, making it a key player in global finance.

Persons: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, PIF, Neil Unmack, headwinds, Lisa Jucca, Pranav Kiran Organizations: Reuters, Investment, Saudi, Saudi Crown, Newcastle United, Twitter, Adidas, InBev, Thomson Locations: Saudi, Riyadh, Saudi Aramco, Neom

☆ How Saudi Arabia and UAE learned to stop worrying and love Turkey's Bayraktar drones
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-06 | by ( Paul Iddon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Saudi Arabia and the UAE have signed multibillion-dollar deals for Turkish drones in recent months. Azeri Ministry of DefenseSaudi Arabia previously showed interest in procuring Turkish drones and securing rights for local production. Bakir told Insider that Turkish drones have gained "global recognition" due to their "affordability, efficiency, and lethal capabilities" and documented successes over modern battlefields. "Moreover, Saudi Arabia could use such capabilities to balance Iran's drone technology in the long run," Ozeren said. Ozeren said the Saudi deal could help Baykar "monopolize" drone technology in Turkey but noted that crucial details about the agreement remain unknown.

Persons: Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Baykar, Abu Dhabi's, Loong, Loongs, Abu Dhabi, Abu, Ali Bakir, Erdogan, Mohammed bin Salman, Murat Kula, Bakir, Suleyman Ozeren, It's, Ozeren, Ali Atmaca, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Murat Centinmuhurdar, Bashar Assad, Paul Iddon Organizations: UAE, Service, United, United Arab Emirates, Turkey's Baykar Defense, Ministry of Defense, Anadolu Agency, Getty, Dassault Rafales, Ibn Khaldon, NATO, European Union, American University, Orion Policy Institute, Ataturk Airport, Security Initiative, Atlantic Council Locations: Saudi Arabia, Wall, Silicon, United Arab, Turkish, Riyadh, East, North Africa, South Caucasus, Ukraine, Armenian, Ministry of Defense Saudi Arabia, Republic of Turkey, Kuwait, UAE, Saudi, Istanbul, Yemen, Libya, Abu, Turkey, China, France, Qatar, Jeddah, Anadolu, Nahyan, Abu Dhabi

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