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☆ Aston Martin pulls out of slow lane in EV race
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, June 26 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Aston Martin Lagonda’s (AML.L) route to viability is a brain-teaser worthy of Q, James Bond’s quartermaster famous for turning everyday objects into whizzy tools. The 2.6 billion pound carmaker’s latest deal with $11 billion Lucid (LCID.O) shows the marque made famous by the fictional spy is, however, making progress. The deal with Lucid – majority-owned by the PIF, handily enough – will make Aston’s ambition to roll out its first electric vehicle by 2025 more credible. The deal sent Aston shares up over 9% in early Monday trading. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Aston Martin Lagonda’s, Q, James Bond’s, Aston, Lawrence, –, Mercedes, Neil Unmack, George Hay, Oliver Taslic Organizations: Reuters, Jefferies, Public Investment Fund, Porsche, Mercedes, Benz, U.S, Aston, Twitter, Canada, Siemens, Telecom Italia, Vivendi, Thomson

☆ Saudi Arabia: What is the nation hoping to achieve amid transfer takeover and what happens next?
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-25 | by ( Kaveh Solhekol | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Sky Sports News chief reporter Kaveh Solhekol analyses this transfer market trend... Why are Saudi Arabia spending huge sums on foreign players all of a sudden? Saudi Arabia is looking to expand its economy through other industries in order to help guarantee its financial future. It wants to put Saudi Arabia on the map and raise its profile. What else is Saudi Arabia hoping to achieve? Has Saudi Arabia distorted the transfer market forever?

Persons: Cristiano Ronaldo, Mohammed Saad, Ballon, Karim Benzema, Sergio Ramos, Bernardo Silva, Heung, Min Son, Kaveh, Mason Mount Chelsea, Declan Rice, Saudi Arabia —, sportswashing, Jamal Khashoggi, Oscar, West Ham's Marko Arnautovic, Lionel Messi, Ruben Neves, Kalidou Koulibaly, Hakim Ziyech, Erling Haaland, Harry Kane, Mohammed Hamdi, It's, Son Organizations: Saudi Pro League, Al, Alawwal, Anadolu Agency, Getty Images, Real, Chelsea, Premier League, Sky Sports News, Sky Sports, Manchester United, Arsenal, Soccer, Qatar, eventual, Argentina, Amnesty, Rights, Rights Watch, United, Super League, Brazil, Communist Party, Chinese Super League, MLS, Al Jazira FC, Saudi, Tottenham, Spurs Locations: Al, Shabab, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Getty Images Saudi Arabia, Real Madrid, Bournemouth, Saudi, United Nations, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Greece, Egypt, China, Europe, Al Hilal, Al Jazira, Abu Dhabi, Qatar

☆ Saudi sovereign wealth fund PIF sells McLaren stake to Bahrain -Sky News
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

June 21 (Reuters) - Bahrain's state investment fund Mumtalakat is buying preference shares and warrants worth 400 million pounds ($510.48 million) in carmaker McLaren from Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) and Ares Management (ARES.N), Sky News reported on Wednesday. The transaction will not lead to any new money being injected into McLaren, the Sky News report said, adding that an announcement from Mumtalakat on the deal will come on Thursday. The purchase will expand Mumtalakat's majority stake in McLaren group, which includes the British supercar maker as well as McLaren Racing. In July 2021, global investment firm Ares Management and Saudi's PIF provided much of a 550 million-pound equity investment in the McLaren group. Ares Management declined to comment, while McLaren and the PIF did not immediately respond.

Persons: carmaker McLaren, PIF, Ares Management, McLaren, Khalid Al Rumaihi, Bharat Govind Gautam, Chris Reese, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Ares Management, Sky News, McLaren, British, McLaren Racing, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Mumtalakat, Bengaluru

PGA Tour logo during the third round of the Travelers Championship on June 24, 2017, at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut. Key lawmakers on Wednesday invited the officials behind the proposed deal between the PGA Tour and Saudi-backed rival LIV Golf to testify at a Senate subcommittee hearing. Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Johnson, R-Wisc., requested testimony from the tour's commissioner, Jay Monahan, LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman and Yasir al-Rumayyan of the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund. "Fans, the players, and concerned citizens have many questions about the planned agreement between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf," Johnson said in a release. Blumenthal has expressed a particular interest in whether the PGA Tour deserves to keep its tax exempt nonprofit status as a business association that benefits its members.

Persons: LIV Golf, Sen, Richard Blumenthal, Ron Johnson, Blumenthal, Conn, Johnson, Jay Monahan, LIV, Greg Norman, Yasir al, Monahan, PIF didn't, Norman Organizations: Wednesday, PGA Tour, Senate Homeland Security, Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund, LIV Golf, PGA, CBS Locations: Cromwell , Connecticut, Saudi, United States

☆ China's VCs look to the Middle East for a U.S. dollar lifeline
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

China's ties with the Middle East have warmed since Saudi Arabia and Iran restored diplomatic relations earlier this year — through discussions brokered by Beijing. Those tensions and increased regulatory scrutiny in both countries prompted many U.S.-based investors to hold off on investments in Chinese venture capital funds. Middle East capital is looking to step in, especially as countries such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar look to diversify from dependence on fossil fuels. However, many potential investments in Chinese funds are still in discussion, the venture capital funds said. Preqin data showed the share of Middle East sovereign wealth funds' investment in alternative assets worldwide roughly doubled between 2021 and the first half of 2022.

Persons: Faisal bin Farhan al, Saud, Hu Chunhua, Fayez Nureldine, Morgan Stanley, Khalid Al, CNBC's Dan Murphy, Falih, PIF, Massimo, Aysar Tayeb, Prosperity7, Tayeb, Abu Organizations: Saudi, Political Consultative, China Business Conference, Afp, Getty, BEIJING — Venture, U.S ., CNBC, Public Investment Fund, Investment, Conference, Prosperity7 Ventures, Business, of, Local Locations: Riyadh, BEIJING, China, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Beijing, U.S, Qatar, Middle East, Asia, East, Saudi, Al, Aramco, Hyperview, Shanghai, UAE, of Dubai, Abu Dhabi

☆ LIV-PGA Tour deal probe urged by Rep. Maxine Waters and Sen. Sherrod Brown
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Lawmakers’ calls to investigate the proposed merger between the US-based PGA Tour and Saudi Public Investment Fund–backed LIV Golf are escalating. An investigation by CFIUS would not be the first probe into the surprise merger between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf, formerly bitter rivals. The Senate Finance Committee and the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations have also opened separate probes into the deal. Waters and Brown acknowledged the multiple investigations in their letter, writing, “We understand and appreciate that CFIUS is, by statute, an authority of last resort. Before the deal announcement, PGA Tour and LIV Golf were locked in a legal battle and traded barbed accusations of unfair competition, but the two organizations agreed to drop all pending litigation under the new agreement.

Persons: LIV, Maxine Waters, Sen, Sherrod Brown, Waters, Brown, “, Mohammed bin Salman, bin Salman, Jamal Khashoggi, Bin Salman, CFIUS, LIV Golf Organizations: CNN, Tour, Saudi Public Investment Fund, Financial Services Committee, Banking, Housing, Urban Affairs Committee, US Treasury Department, Foreign Investment, Treasury, PGA, Wall Street Journal, US Department of Justice, Finance, Investigations Locations: Ohio, United States, “ Saudi Arabia, Saudi, Saudi Arabia

☆ LIV to continue as scheduled in 2024 despite PGA merger, says Johnson
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

June 15 (Reuters) - LIV Golf plans to go through with its schedule for the remainder of the year and 2024 despite the agreement to merge with the PGA Tour, former world number one Dustin Johnson said. The PGA Tour, DP World Tour and rival Saudi-backed LIV circuit announced the shock agreement to form one unified commercial entity last week, bringing an end to a bitter fight that had split the sport. There is uncertainly about how the golf calendar will look next year under the framework of the merger, with some doubts being raised about whether the LIV Golf League team-based competition would even exist after its 2023 season. However Johnson, one of the star recruits of the breakaway circuit, said he learned from Yasir Al-Rumayyan that the circuit would continue next year. Those are private conversations, and I don't know exactly what his future plans are ...

Persons: LIV Golf, Dustin Johnson, LIV, Rory McIlroy, Johnson, Yasir Al, bankrolls LIV, they're, We'll, I'm, we're, Bryson DeChambeau, DeChambeau, Hritika Sharma, Peter Rutherford Organizations: PGA Tour, LIV Golf League, Public Investment Fund, ESPN, Former U.S, Al, Thomson Locations: Saudi, Hyderabad

☆ PGA Tour-Saudi deal scrutiny intensifies as Senate Finance Committee investigates
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —The backlash to the proposed merger between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf intensified as Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, opened an investigation into the deal on Thursday. The committee will probe the deal between the US-based PGA Tour and the Saudi Public Investment Fund-backed LIV Golf and assess what the deal means for national security. The PGA Tour and LIV Golf did not immediately respond to CNN’s request for comment. The surprise deal this month between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf, competing tours locked in a legal battle before the merger announcement, has faced growing opposition from lawmakers. The US-based PGA Tour said the merger would “unify the game” and all pending litigation between the tours would be dropped under the new agreement.

Persons: LIV Golf, Ron Wyden, ” Wyden, Wyden, Mohammed bin Salman, Bin Salman, Jamal Khashoggi, Elizabeth Warren, LIV, “ Organizations: CNN, PGA, Saudi Public Investment Fund, Saudi, of Justice, PGA Tour, DOJ, Democratic, Senate, LIV Locations: Oregon, United States, Saudi, Saudi Arabia, U.S

PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan is taking a leave of absence as he recuperates from a medical condition, the organization said in a statement late Tuesday, just days after the tour announced a deal to merge business interests with the Saudi-backed LIV Golf league. "Jay Monahan informed the PGA Tour Policy Board that he is recuperating from a medical situation," the tour said in a statement. The tour did not specify the nature of his medical condition nor a timetable to return. The PGA Tour and LIV Golf announced last week their decision to merge business operations to create a new golf entity with money from Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund. In a statement Wednesday, the PIF said it was informed of Monahan's medical situation and that it wishes him a speedy recovery.

Persons: Jay Monahan, LIV, Jay, LIV Golf, Ron Rice, Tyler Dennis Organizations: LIV Golf, PGA Tour, Board, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, PGA Locations: Saudi

☆ PGA Tour Commissioner Monahan recuperating after 'medical situation'
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

June 13 (Reuters) - PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan is recovering from a "medical situation", the U.S.-based circuit said on Tuesday. A joint statement by Monahan and the PGA Tour Policy Board said day-to-day operations will be led by Tour executives Ron Price and Tyler Dennis during Monahan's absence. The news comes after a tumultuous week in the sport with the PGA Tour announcing a shock merger with the rival Saudi-backed LIV Golf. "The Board fully supports Jay and appreciates everyone respecting his privacy," the PGA Tour said in a statement. Monahan, 53, is the fourth commissioner in the history of the PGA Tour.

Persons: Jay Monahan, Monahan, Ron Price, Tyler Dennis, LIV Golf, Jay, LIV, Tim Finchem, Price, Dennis, Frank Pingue, Hritika Sharma, Peter Rutherford Organizations: PGA Tour, Saudi Public Investment Fund, PGA, U.S, United, LIV, Players, Thomson Locations: U.S, Saudi, United States, Saudi Arabia, Toronto, Hyderabad

☆ Jon Rahm says members of PGA Tour feel ‘betrayal’ after partnership with LIV Golf
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-14 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

2 Jon Rahm has said “a lot” of players on the PGA Tour feel “betrayal” after the shock announcement of its partnership with LIV Golf. The decisions of some players to leave the established PGA Tour and DP World Tour to sign up with LIV Golf last year were met with consternation by many others. Now, with the two sides uniting once again, it opens questions about LIV Golf players’ eligibility for this year’s Ryder Cup which begins in September. Rahm has been a strong advocate of allowing LIV Golf players to be allowed to compete in the biennial tournament. However, players who left to join LIV Golf resigned their DP World Tour membership to do so.

Persons: Jon Rahm, LIV Golf, ”, “, “ It’s, that’s, Jay Monahan, LIV Golf’s, –, Rahm, It’s, Kelley I’m, Scottie Scheffler, don’t, Scheffler, I’m, There’s, ” Rahm, Richard Heathcote, LIV, Keith Pelley, Team Europe’s, Rahm’s, Sergio Garcia, Garcia, Luke Donald, Luke Organizations: CNN, Tour, Rahm, Los Angeles Country Club, Senate, PGA, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Getty, LIV Golf, Team Europe, Reuters, Team, US Ryder, America Locations: California, Europe

☆ Saudi Arabia and China are part of a multipolar world order, and their mutual interests are 'strong and rising,' minister says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-14 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

watch nowSaudi Arabia sees China as a key partner in a multipolar world — with the two countries expected to only come closer as their common interests grow, Saudi Minister of Investment Khalid Al-Falih told CNBC. "And we believe that economic cooperation between China and Saudi Arabia and the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council), and the entire Arab region, will be a significant part of that." The U.S. has military installments in Saudi Arabia, selling it advanced weaponry and providing training and joint operations with the Saudi military. Chinese President, Xi Jinping (L) is welcomed by Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud (R) at the Palace of Yamamah in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on December 8, 2022. But we would see, going forward, more global champions from Saudi Arabia going to China to access a growing market of 1.4 billion high-consumption individuals."

Persons: Investment Khalid Al, Falih, — it's, CNBC's Dan Murphy, it's, Biden, Xi Jinping, Crown Prince, Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Faisal bin Farhan, Antony Blinken, Fayez Nureldine Organizations: Saudi, Investment, CNBC, China Business Conference, GCC, Gulf Cooperation Council, U.S ., Anadolu Agency, Getty, Technology, Saudi Crown, Beijing, GCC Ministers, AFP Locations: Saudi Arabia, China, Riyadh, Africa, Central Asia, United States, Brazil, Russia, India, South Africa, U.S, Saudi, we're, Washington, Yamamah, Beijing

☆ Senate Democrats press for Justice Department inquiry into PGA Tour-LIV Golf merger
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-14 | by ( Chelsey Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

WASHINGTON — Two top Senate Democrats with a track record of scrutinizing business and antitrust activity have called for a Justice Department investigation into the merger agreement between the PGA Tour and Saudi-funded LIV Golf. The letter follows Connecticut Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal's inquiries to PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan and LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman for details on the merger. The PGA Tour also insists the deal isn't a merger and that Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund will be a minority investor. The deal between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf would put an end to pending antitrust litigation between the two golf organizations. Family members of 9/11 victims have protested the Saudi golf league due to the terrorists' ties to the country.

Persons: Elizabeth Warren, Ron Wyden, LIV, Elizabeth Warren of, General Merrick Garland, Jonathan Kanter, Connecticut Democratic Sen, Richard Blumenthal's, Jay Monahan, Greg Norman, Monahan, LIV Golf, DOJ didn't, Yasir Al, Rumayyan, LIV Golf's, Osama Bin Laden, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Jamal Khashoggi, Warren, Wyden, –, Jessica Golden Organizations: U.S, Capitol, WASHINGTON —, Democrats, Justice Department, PGA Tour, Saudi, LIV Golf, Oregon, Connecticut Democratic, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, DOJ, CNBC, PGA, Public Investment Fund, Washington Post, Senate Banking Committee, Finance Locations: Sens, Washington , DC, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, U.S, Saudi, Saudi Arabia

☆ Saudi Arabia's PGA merger is likely just the beginning for the kingdom when it comes to pro sports investments
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The controversial mega merger between the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia's LIV Golf is just one step in the kingdom's ambitious tourism and investment strategy — and its pursuit of big-name sports is just getting started. "We're sort of a proponent to find 'all of the above' strategy in sport," Saudi Investment Minister Khalid Al-Falih told CNBC's Dan Murphy in Riyadh. The PIF is Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, a $600 billion sovereign wealth fund controlled by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. News that the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia's LIV Golf were joining forces last week brought an end to a two-year battle between the archrivals. The agreement, which includes the DP World Tour — also known as the PGA European Tour — will combine the commercial businesses and rights of the PGA Tour and LIV Golf into a new, yet-to-be-named for-profit company.

Persons: LIV, Khalid Al, Falih, CNBC's Dan Murphy, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, It's, LIV Golf, — Organizations: PGA Tour, Saudi, Saudi Investment, Public Investment Fund, Saudi Crown, PGA Locations: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Saudi

☆ US Senate opens investigation into new partnership between PGA Tour and LIV Golf
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( Matt Foster | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —The US Senate opened an investigation into the proposed merger between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf’s owners, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), on Monday. The letter to the PGA Tour is addressed to its commissioner, Jay Monahan, while chief executive Greg Norman received the letter to LIV Golf. Both the PGA Tour and LIV Golf have until June 26 to hand over the requested documentation, per the letters. Brooks Koepka putts on the 18th green during a LIV Golf event on October 30, 2022. “I think the commissioner has been so discredited that he can hardly present a credible voice for [the PGA Tour].

Persons: LIV Golf’s, Democratic Sen, Richard Blumenthal, LIV Golf, Jay Monahan, Greg Norman, “, ”, LIV, Brooks Koepka putts, Eric Espada, Blumenthal, Ron Wyden, “ I’m, ” Blumenthal, Monahan, ” Sen, Chris Murphy Organizations: CNN, Senate, PGA, Saudi, Public Investment Fund, Democratic, Investigations, PGA Tour, Tour, Justice Department, of Justice Locations: American

☆ Senator opens investigation into PGA Tour merger with Saudi-backed LIV Golf
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( Chelsey Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

PGA Tour logo during the third round of the Travelers Championship on June 24, 2017, at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut. WASHINGTON — A top Democratic lawmaker launched a probe on Monday into the planned merger of the PGA Tour and Saudi-backed LIV Golf. The agreement will require the approval of the PGA Tour policy board, according to a memo to players from Monahan. LIV Golf declined to comment on Blumenthal's letters. PGA Tour did not immediately respond to request for comment.

Persons: LIV Golf, Sen, Richard Blumenthal, Conn, Jay Monahan, LIV, Greg Norman, Blumenthal, Jamal Khashoggi, Monahan, CNBC's Organizations: WASHINGTON —, Democratic, PGA Tour, Saudi, Washington Post, Investigations, Private Investment Fund Locations: Cromwell , Connecticut, WASHINGTON, Saudi, American

☆ PGA-LIV merger has caused confusion, says U.S. Open holder Fitzpatrick
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] Jun 19, 2022; Brookline, Massachusetts, USA; Matthew Fitzpatrick poses with the US Open Championship Trophy after the final round of the U.S. Open golf tournament. "I just don't know what's going on. I don't think anyone knows what's going on. "Even though I guess it is confusing, it's pretty clear that nobody knows what's going on apart from about four people in the world." The U.S. Open begins on Thursday at the Los Angeles Country Club.

Persons: Matthew Fitzpatrick, Bob DeChiara, LIV, England's Matthew Fitzpatrick, Fitzpatrick, Amy Tennery, Pritha Sarkar Organizations: US, U.S, LOS ANGELES, PGA Tour, Los Angeles Country Club, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, U.S ., PGA, Saudi Public Investment Fund, Thomson Locations: Brookline , Massachusetts, USA, Los Angeles, New York

☆ PGA Tour commissioner says Tour ‘couldn’t afford to keep battling Saudi Arabia,’ Wall Street Journal reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-11 | by ( Jacob Lev | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan told employees in a meeting on Thursday that it couldn’t “conduct a lengthy spending war against Saudi Arabia,” according to a report from The Wall Street Journal. “We cannot compete with a foreign government with unlimited money,” Monahan told employees, according to the Wall Street Journal. According to the Journal, Monahan told employees that the Tour had already spent $50 million in legal fees and had dipped into its reserves for $100 million to help pay increased purses in elevated events and other bonuses to players. “To characterize this agreement was made due to litigation costs and other use of reserves is an oversimplification,” a PGA Tour spokesperson told CNN on Saturday. “The PGA TOUR has never been a more valuable property and the Public Investment Fund (PIF) has recognized that value and the opportunity for ROI with their investment in the TOUR.”“Additionally, this transaction will make professional golf more competitive with other professional sports and sports leagues,” the Tour continued.

Persons: Jay Monahan, Monahan, ” Monahan, LIV, ” Organizations: CNN, PGA, Wall Street, PGA Tour, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Public Investment Fund Locations: Saudi Arabia, Ponte Vedra Beach , Florida, Saudi

☆ PGA merger with LIV a delicate balancing act, says board member Dunne
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

June 9 (Reuters) - The PGA Tour faces a delicate balancing act in welcoming back LIV Golf players while also ensuring those who stayed loyal to the U.S.-based circuit "feel good" about their decision, PGA Tour board member Jimmy Dunne said. "We have to make sure that whatever it is that we finalise, that they feel good about their decisions (to remain on the PGA Tour)... I don't think it's going to be easy and I don't think we're all going to agree, but I think we can get there." Dunne, who helped broker the merger, also said the PGA Tour was ready to "walk away" if they felt there was anything that would have hurt the game. He added the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) would not control the professional game, especially with PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan installed as CEO of the new entity.

Persons: LIV, Jimmy Dunne, LIV Golf, Rory McIlroy, Dunne, didn't, Jay Monahan, Rohith Nair, Toby Davis Organizations: Tour, LIV Golf, PGA, Golf, Saudi Public Investment Fund, Thomson Locations: U.S, Saudi, Bengaluru

Concluding his visit on Thursday, Secretary of State Blinken told reporters he raised human rights issues with Saudi officials and "made clear that progress on human rights strengthens our relationship." "Human rights are always on the agenda of the United States - that’s who we are," he said during a news conference. But some rights advocates argue the golf deal shows the administration has chosen geopolitics over human rights. New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) says scores of human rights activists and dissidents are in prison or on trial in Saudi Arabia and that the repression "spiked" following Biden's visit last year. The list included prominent cleric Salman al-Odah, children of former spy chief Saad al-Jabri, human rights defender Mohammed al-Qahtani and aid worker Abdulrahman al-Sadhan.

Persons: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Joe Biden, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Jamal Khashoggi, LIV, Antony Blinken, Blinken, Biden, Seth Binder, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Sarah Yager, Salman al, Saad al, Mohammed al, Abdulrahman, Saad Ibrahim Almadi, Tess McEnery, Humeyra Pamuk, Simon Lewis, Arshad Mohammed, Don Durfee, Daniel Wallis Organizations: Saudi Crown, Al, Saudi Royal Court, REUTERS, Saudi, Public Investment Fund, North, MbS, PGA, East Democracy, Biden, Rights Watch, Saudi Foreign, U.S, Twitter, Thomson Locations: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Bandar, REUTERS RIYADH, WASHINGTON, U.S, Riyadh, Washington, United States, Yemen, New York, China, Israel, OPEC, Russia, Florida

☆ Saudi Arabia's cold-blooded crown prince keeps winning
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( Joe Ciolli | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The recent PGA-LIV golf merger is the latest example of growing Saudi influence on sports. Originally viewed as a deep-pocketed but unserious distraction from the PGA Tour, they effectively muscled into the picture through sheer financial willpower. The new PGA Tour might look a whole lot like the old one, except with a far wealthier outside party controlling the purse strings. And that's kind of been the Saudi strategy as Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has expanded his influence over multiple sports worldwide. Detailed below are the six recent high-profile examples of how the Saudi PIF keeps winning:

Persons: Mohammed bin Salman, LIV, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Prince Mohammed's, Jamal Khashoggi, Saudi PIF Organizations: Saudi Public Investment Fund, Morning, PGA, LIV, PGA Tour, English Premier League team, Saudi, league, Prince, CIA Locations: England, Saudi, Saudi Arabia

☆ US luxury EV maker Lucid set to enter China market
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Arizona Governor Doug Ducey speaks at the Lucid Motors plant in Casa Grande, Arizona, U.S. September 28, 2021. REUTERS/Caitlin O'HaraSHANGHAI, June 8 (Reuters) - U.S. luxury electric vehicle (EV) maker Lucid Group (LCID.O) is preparing to enter the world's largest auto market, its head of China operations Zhu Jiang said on Thursday. He declined to comment on any plans for local production. Zhu said the funding would help Lucid "bring the advanced EV technology and product experience to the industry and users globally at a faster pace." Lucid, like its peers, is battling mounting losses and tightening cash reserves amid recession fears and a price war sparked by market leader Tesla (TSLA.O).

Persons: Doug Ducey, Caitlin O'Hara SHANGHAI, Zhu Jiang, Zhu, Ford, Tesla, Peter Rawlinson, Zhang Yan, Zhuzhu Cui, Brenda Goh, Jamie Freed Organizations: Arizona, Lucid, REUTERS, Reuters, Baidu, HK, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Air, Thomson Locations: Casa Grande , Arizona, U.S, China, Saudi

LIV had filed an antitrust lawsuit in the United States seeking punitive damages against the PGA Tour for its "tortious interference" with contracts with golfers. PGA Tour had countersued, making similar claims. PGA Tour and LIV have now signed a framework agreement that calls for investment banks M Klein & Co and Allen & Co to carry out a valuation analysis of the assets of LIV and PGA Tour, respectively. A new company will be created that will be majority-owned by the existing PGA Tour, which is a nonprofit. The U.S. Department of Justice had already been looking at the dispute between PGA Tour and LIV as part of a broad antitrust probe into professional golf.

Persons: LIV, PIF, Milana Vinn, Greg Roumeliotis, Matthew Lewis Organizations: PGA Tour, PGA, Klein, Co, Allen, WHO, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Regulators, U.S . Department of Justice, Foreign Investment, Thomson Locations: Saudi, United States, New York

☆ PGA Tour-LIV Golf merger is a major win for the Saudis — and Americans are slamming it
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

It's lured some of the biggest golf stars away from the PGA Tour with huge paychecks, spurring antitrust lawsuits with the American organization. "This is Saudi Arabia buying the PGA tour," sports talk show host Rich Eisen said in his broadcast after hearing the news. USA Today sports columnist Christine Brennan called the move "a total wimp-out by the PGA Tour. Glyn Kirk | AFP | Getty ImagesSocial media was rife with self-described golf fans vowing to never again watch the PGA Tour. Pro golfer Phil Mickelson, another member of the LIV Tour, tweeted "Awesome day today" in response to the news.

Persons: LIV Golf, that's, —, LIV, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, It's, Jay Monahan, Rich Eisen, Pat Welter, it's, Christine Brennan, Tiger Woods, Glyn Kirk, Ron Wyden, Chris Murphy, Jamal Khashoggi, Saudi LIV, Monahan, Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Jim Watson, Bryson DeChambeau, DeChambeau, Phil Mickelson, Jeffries, Yasir Al, Cristiano Ronaldo, Saudi Arabia's, Al Organizations: PGA Tour, Saudi, LIV Players, PGA, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Saudi Crown, CNBC, Twitter, 150th, St, AFP, Getty, LIV, Washington Post, Amnesty, Saudi Arabian Crown, Saudi Embassy, Washington D.C, Saudi Foreign Ministry, CNN, Royal, Anadolu Agency, Getty Images Investment, Rumayyan, Nassr Football Club, Al Nassr Football Locations: Saudi Arabia, North Carolina, Saudi, Scotland, Oregon, Connecticut, American, Washington ,, Washington, videoconference, Riyadh, PIF, Portuguese

☆ Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund just reshaped professional golf with the PGA Tour-LIV merger. That's just the start
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The Saudi Public Investment Fund is a government-controlled fund that has $650 billion in assets under management, according to its most recent filing. A state-owned investment fund like the PIF is not unique. Critics of LIV Golf accused the Saudis of backing the new tour as a form of “sportswashing” its reputation. For example it’s not clear exactly how much it invested to start up LIV Golf. CNN has not been able to confirm that report, but what is known is that LIV Golf tournaments have been held on Trump Organization properties.

Persons: petro, LIV Golf, LIV, Yasir Al, Rumayyan, Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, ”, Elon Musk, Jared Kushner, Donald Trump’s, Kushner, Mohammed bin Salman, Bin Salman, Jamal Khashoggi, – CNN’s Coy Wire, Jack Bantock, Steve Almasy Organizations: New, New York CNN, Saudi, Saudi Public Investment Fund, Sovereign Wealth Fund, PGA, Soccer, Saudi Aramco, Newcastle United, Saudi Pro League, CNBC, Electronic Arts, EA, Activision Blizzard, Ticketmaster, Carnival Corp, Twitter, Washington Post, CNN, Trump Organization, US State Department, Congress Locations: New York, Europe, Saudi, English, Al, Saudi Arabia, al Qaeda

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