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☆ G20 members struggle for consensus on Ukraine as India gears up for summit
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/3] A model of G20 is pictured outside ITC Maurya hotel ahead of the G20 Summit in New Delhi, India, September 8, 2023. Chinese President Xi Jinping is skipping the meeting and sending Premier Li Qiang instead, while Russia's Vladimir Putin will also be absent. The most important thing that can be done to support global economic growth is for Russia to end its brutal war in Ukraine, she said. The IMF has forecast lower growth for most G20 nations this year than in 2022. It is difficult to predict whether leaders will reach a consensus on a declaration but EU will support efforts made by India for a final communique, Michel told reporters in New Delhi.

Persons: Amit Dave, Xi Jinping, Li Qiang, Russia's Vladimir Putin, Joe Biden, Olaf Scholz, Emmanuel Macron, Saudi Arabia's Mohammed Bin Salman, Japan's Fumio, Rishi Sunak, Narendra Modi, Janet Yellen, saidWashington, Yellen, Charles Michel, Michel, Nikunj Ohri, Manoj Kumar, Krishn Kaushik, Aftab Ahmed, YP Rajesh, Kim Coghill Organizations: REUTERS, West, U.S, Financial Times, Treasury, IMF, Reuters, YP, Thomson Locations: New Delhi, India, DELHI, Ukraine, Saudi, Russia, U.S, Moscow

A man walks past an installation on a skywalk ahead of the G20 Summit in New Delhi, India, September 6, 2023. The plans for a sweeping, multi-national ports and rail deal would come at a critical time. It also comes as the Biden administration seeks a broader diplomatic deal in the Middle East that would have Saudi Arabia recognize Israel. The negotiations over a multi-country infrastructure deal were first reported by Axios. Beyond the diplomatic implications, officials said they hope such an infrastructure deal could reduce shipping times, cost, the use of diesel and make trade faster and cheaper.

Persons: Francis Mascarenhas, Joe Biden, Narendra Modi, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, Biden, Steve Holland, Trevor Hunnicutt, Heather Timmons, Jamie Freed Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, United Arab, Indian, Saudi Crown, Washington, Axios, Thomson Locations: New Delhi, India, U.S, Saudi Arabia, South Asia, United Arab Emirates, Europe, Israel

He learned Saudi Arabia's largest telecoms operator, STC Group, aimed to be Telefonica's biggest shareholder, with an interest of 9.9%. The move is a vote of confidence in Telefonica, burdened by billions of dollars in debt while STC gains expertise to modernize Saudi telecoms infrastructure. As Telefonica's rivals slashed prices to attract internet users, the Spanish company also borrowed to invest in new mobile and internet networks. STC sought to keep the stake under wraps until it could buy at least 9.9% of Telefonica, the person said. Middle Eastern investors have been taking stakes in Spanish companies for some time.

Persons: Violeta Santos Moura, Jose Maria Alvarez, Pallete, Alvarez, Prince Mohammed bin Salman's, UGT, Morgan Stanley, Linklaters, Motaz Al Angari, Al Angari, pare, EFG Hermes, Inti Landauro, Tomas Cobos, Amy, Jo Crowley, Pablo Mayo, John O'Donnell, Anousha, Elisa Martinuzzi, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Spanish Telecom, REUTERS, Rights, Telefonica, STC Group, STC, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Foresight, Saudi, United Arab, Vodafone, Thomson Locations: Madrid, Spain, Rights DUBAI, MADRID, Silicon Valley, Saudi, Riyadh, Telefonica, Saudi Arabia, Spanish, Latin America, theocracies, United Arab Emirates, Iberdrola, Davos, Gulf, London

[1/5] A Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) official catches a stray dog using a rod with a loop, near Indira Gandhi International Airport ahead of the G20 summit in New Delhi, India, September 5, 2023. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) did not directly link the removal of stray dogs to the summit, stating that the canines are being picked up "only on an urgent need basis". Reuters' witnesses saw MCD teams capturing dogs using rods with a loop at one end. Sanjay Mohapatra, founder of the House of Stray Animals NGO, termed the action "needless". "If delegates see people feeding stray dogs, it will actually create a good impression of the country," he said.

Persons: Anushree, Joe Biden, Rishi Sunak, Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, Justin Trudeau, Fumio Kishida, Ambika Shukla, Sanjay Mohapatra, Friendicoes, Geeta Seshamani, Anushree Fadnavis, Sakshi Dayal, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: Municipal Corporation of Delhi, Indira Gandhi, Airport, REUTERS, Authorities, U.S, British, Canadian, Japanese, Reuters, Animals, Stray Animals, Thomson Locations: New Delhi, India, DELHI, Delhi, Saudi

A view shows the construction of the King Abdullah Financial District, north of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia April 11, 2016. REUTERS/Faisal Al Nasser/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsDUBAI, Sept 6 (Reuters) - The International Monetary Fund (IMF) expects GDP growth in Saudi Arabia to slow further from the currently forecast 1.9% to reflect the latest extension of oil production cuts, an IMF official said, even as non-oil growth is seen remaining strong. But cuts to production this year and lower prices have hit oil revenues and will weigh on growth. The IMF forecasts non-oil GDP growth at 4.9% this year. The IMF said the outlook for Saudi Arabia was positive and that risks remained balanced.

Persons: King, Faisal Al Nasser, Mati, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Rachna Uppal, Yousef Saba, Andrew Cawthorne, Andrea Ricci, Nick Macfie Organizations: King Abdullah Financial District, REUTERS, Rights, Monetary Fund, Reuters, Saudi, IMF, Government, Thomson Locations: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Rights DUBAI, Saudi, Aramco, Russia

[1/3] Traffic moves past the 'Bharat Mandapam', the main venue of the G20 Summit in New Delhi, India, September 5, 2023. U.S. President Joe Biden, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida are expected to be part of the gathering in New Delhi. For years, Ambani and Adani have competed across a wide range of industries from telecoms to media, and energy to finance. Adani Group has denied any wrongdoing. Reliance Industries, Adani Enterprises, Tata Sons, Bharati Airtel, Aditya Birla Group and the Indian government did not reply to emails seeking comment on the invitation.

Persons: Mandapam, Adnan Abidi, Mukesh Ambani, Gautam Adani, Narendra Modi, Joe Biden, Rishi Sunak, Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, Justin Trudeau, Fumio Kishida, N, Kumar Mangalam Birla, Sunil Mittal, Ambani, Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, Modi, Adani, Sarita Chaganti Singh, Shivangi, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: REUTERS, British, Canadian, Japanese, Tata, Bharti Airtel, Reliance Industries, Adani, Hindenburg Research, Adani Enterprises, Tata Sons, Bharati Airtel, Aditya Birla Group, Thomson Locations: New Delhi, India, DELHI, Saudi

☆ Saudi Arabia's STC Group acquires 9.9% stake in Telefonica
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The logo of Spanish Telecom company Telefonica is seen next to a traffic ligth at its headquarters in Madrid, Spain, May 12, 2021. REUTERS/Sergio Perez/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Sept 5 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's STC Group has amassed a 9.9% stake in Spanish telecoms giant Telefonica (TEF.MC) for 2.1 billion euros ($2.25 billion) in shares and financial instruments, STC said on Tuesday. STC does not intend to acquire majority control of Telefonica, it added in a statement. STC is Saudi Arabia's largest telecoms operator and also owns subsidies and has stakes in companies operating in Kuwait and Bahrain. It is 64% owned by Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund (PIF), the main engine of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's Vision 2030 to wean the economy off its dependence on oil.

Persons: Sergio Perez, Prince Mohammed bin Salman's, Pablo Mayo Cerqueiro, Jonathan Oatis, Richard Chang Organizations: Spanish Telecom, Telefonica, REUTERS, Saudi Arabia's, Saudi, Public Investment Fund, Thomson Locations: Madrid, Spain, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi, Europe

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Saudi Arabia and Russia agreed Tuesday to extend their voluntary oil production cuts through the end of this year, trimming 1.3 million barrels of crude out of the global market and boosting energy prices. The decision “is aimed at strengthening the precautionary measures taken by OPEC+ countries in order to maintain stability and balance of oil markets,” Novak said. There was no immediate reaction in Washington, though U.S. lawmakers have criticized OPEC, Saudi Arabia and Russia over their past production decisions. The Saudi reduction, which began in July, comes as the other OPEC+ producers have agreed to extend earlier production cuts through next year. But Saudi Arabia also has to manage its relationship with Washington.

Persons: Joe Biden, Alexander Novak, ” Novak, Brent, Biden, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Jamal Khashoggi, Prince Mohammed, Vladimir Putin Organizations: United Arab Emirates, Brent, Saudi Press Agency, OPEC, Energy Ministry, Benchmark Brent, AAA, Labor, Washington, Washington Post, U.S Locations: DUBAI, United Arab, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Riyadh, Moscow, Saudi, United States, Ukraine, Washington, U.S, China, Israel, America, Iran, India

☆ Netanyahu Is Unilaterally Changing the U.S.-Israel Relationship - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( Thomas L. Friedman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Because finding a way to balance the different interests of all four of these parties makes quantum mechanics look as easy as tic-tac-toe. Alas, though, this is not the version that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel is trying to sell us. So, I want to appeal directly to President Biden and the Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman: Do not let Netanyahu make you his useful idiots. You cannot have normalization with an Israeli government that is not normal. It will never be a stable U.S. ally or Saudi partner.

Persons: Biden, they’ll, It’s, Benjamin Netanyahu, Mohammed bin Salman, Netanyahu Locations: United States, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Saudi, U.S

That means the two-day summit from September 9 will be dominated by the West and its allies. The G20 leaders who will attend include U.S. President Joe Biden, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron, Saudi Arabia's Mohammed Bin Salman and Japan's Fumio Kishida. "If the leaders' summit is a flop, New Delhi and especially Modi will have suffered a major diplomatic, and political, setback," Kugelman said. "The positions have hardened since the Bali Summit," a senior Indian government official told Reuters, referring to the 2022 summit held in Indonesia. Lavrov said last week Russia will block the final declaration of the G20 summit unless it reflects Moscow's position on Kyiv and other crises.

Persons: Adnan Abidi, Li Qiang, Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin's, Joe Biden, Olaf Scholz, Emmanuel Macron, Saudi Arabia's Mohammed Bin Salman, Japan's, Michael Kugelman, Narendra Modi, Modi, Kugelman, Joko Widodo, Justin Trudeau, Sergei Lavrov, Putin, battlelines, Trudeau, Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Zelenskiy, Lavrov, David Boling, N.K, Singh, Larry Summers, Katya Golubkova, Kentaro Sugiyama, Sakura Murakami Organizations: REUTERS, West, South Asia Institute, Wilson Center, Indian, New, Reuters, Bali, Canada's, Russian, Diplomats, Eurasia Group, Thomson Locations: New Delhi, India, DELHI, Ukraine, China, Russia, Saudi, Washington, Bali, Indonesia, Indonesian, CHINA, Brazil, South Africa, Johannesburg, U.S, Tokyo

☆ G20 New Delhi summit 2023: Which countries and leaders will attend?
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

A paramilitary soldier stands guard outside Le Meridien hotel during a rehearsal ahead of the G20 Summit in New Delhi, India, September 2, 2023. BRITISH PRIME MINISTER RISHI SUNAKSunak is expected attend the summit on his first official trip to India as Britain's prime minister. GERMAN CHANCELLOR OLAF SCHOLZScholz has said the upcoming G20 summit in India remains important despite the absence of Russia and China. SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT CYRIL RAMAPHOSARamaphosa has expressed full support for India's G20 presidency while conveying his intent to attend the summit. BANGLADESH PRIME MINISTER SHEIKH HASINABangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is likely to attend the G20 summit in New Delhi, according to Indian media reports.

Persons: Le, Adnan Abidi, JOE BIDEN Biden, Biden, XI, Li Qiang, Xi Jinping, Xi, VLADIMIR PUTIN, Sergei Lavrov, Vladimir Putin, Putin, JUSTIN TRUDEAU Trudeau, Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Zelenskiy, RISHI SUNAK Sunak, KISHIDA, ANTHONY ALBANESE, YOON SUK, YEOL Yoon, OLAF SCHOLZ Scholz, EMMANUEL MACRON, Modi, SAUDI ARABIA'S CROWN PRINCE MOHAMMED BIN SALMAN, CYRIL RAMAPHOSA Ramaphosa, TAYYIP ERDOGAN, ALBERTO FERNANDEZ Fernandez, BOLA TINUBU Tinubu, LUIZ INACIO LULA DA SILVA, URSULA VON DER, CHARLES MICHEL The, SHEIKH HASINA, Sheikh Hasina, ANDRES MANUEL LOPEZ OBRADOR, JOKO, Aftab Ahmed, Shivangi, Nick Macfie Organizations: REUTERS, Criminal Court, ICC, BRITISH, AUSTRALIAN, SOUTH, Associated Press, SAUDI ARABIA'S CROWN, African Union, NIGERIA'S, LUIZ INACIO LULA DA SILVA Brazil, OF, EUROPEAN, CHARLES MICHEL The European Union, BANGLADESH, Thomson Locations: Le Meridien, New Delhi, India, DELHI, India's, Ukraine, U.S, RUSSIAN, Russia, South Africa, Africa, Indonesia, Philippines, China, Saudi, SHEIKH HASINA Bangladesh, Bangladesh, MELONI Italy

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks during a joint press conference with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis at the Maximos Mansion in Athens, Greece, August 25, 2023. A "mid-20th century approach cannot serve the world in the 21st century", Modi, who will host a summit of the Group of 20 big economies from next weekend, told the Press Trust of India news agency. "International institutions need to recognise changing realities, relook at their priorities," Modi said, adding it was critical to ensure the representation of voices. "India's G20 presidency also sowed seeds of confidence in countries of so-called third world." Modi, 72, said India's G20 presidency has led to the recognition that anti-inflation policies in one country do not harm others.

Persons: Narendra Modi, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Stelios Misinas, Modi, Joe Biden, Emmanuel Macron, Olaf Scholz, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, cryptocurrency, Arpan Chaturvedi, William Mallard Organizations: India's, Greek, REUTERS, Indian, United, Press Trust of India, . Security, African Union, Saudi Crown, Thomson Locations: Athens, Greece, DELHI, United Nations, U.S

☆ 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

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

A G20 logo is pictured in front of the main venue of the summit in New Delhi, India, August 24, 2023. The heads of the United Nations, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, World Trade Organisation and World Health Organisation will also be present. DEFENCE IN THE SKIESThe city will be guarded by nearly 130,000 security personnel, including the 80,000-strong Delhi Police, officials said. Modi inaugurated a $300 million venue in the capital in July to host the summit meeting - a conch shell-shaped building that can seat more than 3,000. The government has also leased 20 bullet-proof limousines at a cost of 180 million Indian rupees ($2.18 million) for ferrying leaders.

Persons: Adnan Abidi, Narendra Modi, Joe Biden, Rishi Sunak, Saudi Arabia's Mohammed Bin Salman, Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, Sergei Lavrov, Dependra Pathak, Pathak, Ranvir Singh, Biden, Modi, Rupam Jain, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: REUTERS, NEW, India, British, Foreign, United Nations, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, World Trade Organisation, World Health, Delhi Police, Border Security Force, Indian Air Force, Reuters, Thomson Locations: New Delhi, India, Delhi, NEW DELHI, U.S, Saudi, Beijing, Japan, Australia, France, Germany, Ukraine, Pragati, Gurugram, New, Arunachal Pradesh, Srinagar, Kashmir

☆ 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

☆ 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

☆ 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

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