Podcast appearances and mentions of king salman

Expressing gratitude and admiration for a recent trip made by President Trump to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. Highlight the warm reception Trump received from Arab leaders, including King Salman, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, interpreting it as a significant step toward peace and cultural understanding. Contrast this with negative views from mainstream media, which is biased, and suggesting following X or Trump's social media for accurate news.Presidential order on prescription drug pricing, crediting Trump for progress where Congress has been inactive. Share personal anecdotes, including cooking experiences (e.g., shrimp PoBoys and Lava Cake) and the childhood in Indonesia, where positive interactions were had with Muslim communities, challenging stereotypes about Islam. Expressions of hope that Trump's approach could end longstanding Middle East conflicts and foster global harmony, emphasizing respect for diverse cultures.Additionally, criticisms of former FBI Director James Comey, alleging he made a coded threat against Trump via a social media post about seashells, and call for his imprisonment and public trial if convicted. Ends with reflection on loving the U.S. and optimism about a “golden age” for humanity under Trump's leadership.

Amin, Nina www.deutschlandfunk.de, Eine Welt

Amin, Nina www.deutschlandfunk.de, Eine Welt

Your morning briefing, the business news you need in just 15 minutes.On today's podcast: (1) The chief prosecutor for the International Criminal Court said Monday he is seeking arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar on war crimes charges.(2)  Raisi's death in Iran opens questions over Khamenei succession. In Saudi Arabia, the  Crown Prince has canceled trips over King Salman's ill health. This is another complicating factor in Washington's push for a US dense agreement with Riyadh(3) The chief executive officer of JPMorgan, Jamie Dimon, told shareholders the timetable is “not five years anymore,” in response to a question about how long he planned to remain CEO. The largest US bank is “well on the way” with its succession plans, he said during the firm's investor day.(4) Martin Gruenberg will step down as head of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. after findings of a toxic work environment put the regulator at the center of a heated political fight and fueled calls for his removal. (5)  Cleveland Fed President Loretta Mester said policy is restrictive, but policymakers need to wait for more evidence about the path of inflation before adjusting interest rates. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

//The Wire//2200Z May 20, 2024////PRIORITY////BLUF: IRANIAN PRESIDENT KILLED IN HELICOPTER CRASH. SAUDI KING HOSPITALIZED WITH INFECTION. SOUTH CAROLINA PORTS OFFLINE DUE TO CYBER ISSUE.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE------International Events-Iran: Yesterday a helicopter carrying the Iranian President (and other VIPs) crashed in the mountains just north of Tavil. According to Iranian state media, one of the survivors was able to make a distress call via satellite phone before contact was lost. Upon notification of the incident, a neighboring Turkish military drone was dispatched to conduct an aerial search of the extremely remote terrain just south of the Iran/Azerbaijan border. The Turkish drone identified a large heat signature IVO grid: 38SPH4703992367. Ground search crews later identified this location as the crash site. No survivors were found at the site, and Iranian state media has confirmed the deaths of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, among others.Saudi Arabia: Saudi state media confirmed that King Salman has been hospitalized following a recent illness. AC: Though reports are contradictory, King Salman has possibly been hospitalized due to pneumonia and/or a more general respiratory infection. Due to contradicting reports, it's not clear as to if King Salman is currently hospitalized, or if he was merely examined at a hospital as an outpatient. Regardless, this is his second hospitalization in less than a month. As a reminder, King Salman handed over most royal duties to his son, Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, a few years ago. However, King Salman still wields considerable status throughout the Middle East, in similar fashion to most aging monarchs that have provided an air of generational stability throughout the continent for decades. If King Salman's health is declining, this could signal a new era of instability as the world seeks to test the Crown Prince as he fully steps into the role of monarch.Slovakia: Various governmental ministers have indicated that Prime Minister Fico's situation is improving, and that the most serious risks to his life have been averted. However, it will take more time to determine his overall condition, due to the continuing severity of his wounds.Burkina Faso: Various anti-establishment media channels reported another attack on Captain Ibrahim Traoré's residence Saturday night. Multiple gunmen conducted small arms attacks at the main gate of the Presidential Palace in Ouagadougou. AC: It's not clear as to if this was a substantial attack, or a shoot-and-shoot style skirmish. This is at least the 6th attempt on Captain Ibrahim's life since seizing power two years ago.Red Sea/HOA: Over the weekend, Houthi forces successfully struck another oil tanker, the M/V WIND. Per CENTCOM's statements Saturday night, coalition vessels responded to the WIND's distress call as the WIND had lost steering and was taking on water. After a few hours, the crew was able to restore functionality and egress from the area under her own power.-HomeFront-South Carolina: A collection of ports have been shut down temporarily following undisclosed software issues. The South Carolina Port Authority originally stated this morning that cargo terminals would only be offline for a few hours, however the timeline for recovery has been pushed back multiple times today. AC: It is unclear as to if this software issue is affecting all South Carolina ports, or just the main North Charleston Terminal. In any case, cargo on and offloading has come to a halt while the issue is being mitigated.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: Many technical details surrounding the Iranian helicopter crash do not fit within known Iranian military doctrine, or otherwise do not make sense. Based on the aerial imagery provided by Iranian media after search crews located the cras

Author David Rundell joins to discuss King Salman's incredible impact on Saudi Arabia. King Salman has played an enormously pivotal role for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the development of the modern Saudi state. Before the conversation, the hosts discuss an archaeology summit taking place in Al Ula this week, an interesting and exciting new investment made by Saudi Aramco's VC arm, Wa'ed, into a company that is building new homes using 3D printing, and much more as always in the program's Yallah! segment.7:36 - Richard's One Big Thing is AlUla's invite-only AlUla World Archaeological Summit taking place this week. The three-day summit's program of panels, discussions and excursions commenced yesterday at Maraya Concert Hall, the ancient region's giant mirror-cladded multipurpose venue located amid a wealth of archaeological treasures stemming from the Neolithic era to the early 20th century. 16:26 - Lucien's One Big Thing is Aramco's VC arm Wa'ed and its investment into an exciting, California-based 3D homebuilding company called Mighty Buildings. The company claims its proprietary printed material, made of 60% recycled glass, is five times the strength of concrete, 70% the weight and produces fewer carbon emissions during manufacturing. It's also rated for winds up to 150 miles per hour — hurricane-force, in other words — and compliant with the California Building Code, including Title 24 Energy requirements and other regulatory standards. Mighty Buildings employs ultraviolet light to cure its material off-site. This allows for “highly refined” and “unique” shapes with a range of customization options, the startup says, while reducing waste as only the material that's required is cured.28:36 - Author David Rundell joins to discuss King Salman's incredible impact on Saudi Arabia. Rundell spent 15 of his 30 total years in service as a diplomat in Saudi Arabia, including as Chief of Mission. Lately, Mr. Rundell has been active in providing commentary and analysis in the media -- two items from David which we've referenced recently on The 966 include his recent piece for the online publication Unherd, entitled “How MBS wins friends and influences people,” and for Newsweek earlier this year, entitled Saudi Arabia's True Role in 9/11, in which he and fellow author Michael Gfoeller dispel some common myths on Saudi Arabia's connection to those attacks.56:44 - Yallah! Top storylines on Saudi Arabia this week ---•Saudi Arabia is working on its own major commercial cruise line brand designed for those with “Arabian preferences.” AROYA Cruises sets sail next year with a single ship, formerly known as World Dream, the last remaining ship of the struggling Dream Cruises company.•The United States and Saudi Arabia are in talks to secure metals in Africa needed to help them with their energy transitions, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday, citing people with knowledge of the talks.•Noor Riyadh, the Largest Light Art Festival in the World, will return for its third edition in Riyadh, with the festival running from November 30 to December 16, 2023, and the exhibition from November 30, 2023 to March 2, 2024.•Saudi Arabia's new Red Sea International airport (RSI) is on track to open this year along with the first three resorts at The Red Sea destination and Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) will become the first airline to operate out of the airport. •Saudi Arabia's new Red Sea International airport (RSI) is on track to open this year along with the first three resorts at The Red Sea destination and Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) will become the first airline to operate out of the airport.•The company formed to build the kilometre-high Jeddah Tower in the Saudi city of Jeddah has restarted work on the scheme and has drawn up a list of contractors who may complete the structure.

King Salman visited Neom so we take back everything bad we said about it. Also, we check in on our old friend Cooler Screens (they're going amazing, we assume). Then, a company whose "data engine" for improving AI output (including for the military) is just tens of thousands of task-workers in the global south. Finally, we review the 100000th proposal to fix Britain by reinstating National Service for youths. If you want access to our Patreon bonus episodes, early releases of free episodes, and powerful Discord server, sign up here: https://www.patreon.com/trashfuture *STREAM ALERT* Check out our Twitch stream, which airs 9-11 pm UK time every Monday and Thursday, at the following link: https://www.twitch.tv/trashfuturepodcast *WEB DESIGN ALERT* Tom Allen is a friend of the show (and the designer behind our website). If you need web design help, reach out to him here: https://www.tomallen.media/ *MILO ALERT* Check out Milo's upcoming live shows here: https://www.miloedwards.co.uk/live-shows Trashfuture are: Riley (@raaleh), Milo (@Milo_Edwards), Hussein (@HKesvani), Nate (@inthesedeserts), and Alice (@AliceAvizandum)

Episode 87! The hosts explore overlapping topics in Salmani architecture and an evolving Riyadh city under King Salman for decades. Kicking things off, Richard's One Big Thing is the rise of Salmani Architecture - a term the hosts have come across in recent months that is important in understanding the current and new face of a changing Saudi capital. Salmani architecture combines traditional Saudi design elements with the new, while remaining distinctive, functional, and aesthetically pleasing. Lucien's One Big Thing is the launch and opening of VIA Riyadh, a new retail, entertainment, and hospitality destination in Riyadh that is now open to the public. Then the hosts wrap up as always with Yallah! 6 top storylines to get you up to date before heading into the weekend. ***5:18 - Richard's One Big Thing is the rise of Salmani Architecture. Salmani architecture, becoming the norm in Riyadh for new buildings and construction, was characterized by an aesthetic appeal with six core values that were carefully planned and overseen by King Salman himself. The design process absorbs the guidance of all six values: Authenticity, Continuity, Human-Centricity, Livability, Innovation, and Sustainability.28:36 - Lucien's One Big Thing this week is the launch of VIA RIYADH, a bougie new shopping and dining development in the heart of the Saudi capital. VIA Riyadh is done in the Salmani architecture style, and as the newest example of it, is a great look at some of the key elements and features of that style. VIA Riyadh was designed to work in perfect harmony with the local identity of the capital, preserving the unique identity of the city. The ancient stones that formed the famous Tuwaiq mountain in Dhurma ages ago, were professionally extracted to bring them to the present. The area has a significant place in Saudi history since it was the birthplace of the Second Saudi State in the 1820s.VIA RIYADH launched on May 11th and is welcoming visitors and patrons now, and includes a shopping mall, a hotel, a cinema, and a variety of super trendy restaurants and chic cafes. 36:36 - Yallah! 6 top storylines to get you up to speed headed into the weekend...Saudi Crown Prince merges Riyadh districts and names them after King SalmanVia Mariam Nihal in thenationalnews.com: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has merged two Riyadh districts and renamed them after his father in a tribute to his leadership of more than five decades. Al Waha and Salah Al Din districts, which are located in the heart of the capital, close to King Salman Park, will now be known as King Salman Neighbourhood, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The areas will be redeveloped and equipped with proper infrastructure and recreational amenities in a manner designed to allow them to keep pace with the growth of the city. Spanning an area of 6.6 square kilometres, the combined district will feature Salmani architecture.https://www.thenationalnews.com/gulf-news/2023/05/15/saudi-crown-prince-merges-riyadh-districts-and-names-them-after-king-salman/Contract Signed for $1.5 Billion for NEOM High-Speed Railway to Connect Port Development of Oxagon and The LineMilan, Italy-based Webuild and its joint-venture partner Shibh Al Jazira Contracting Company (SAJCO) have signed a contract worth circa $1.5 billion to design and build 57 kilometers (35.4 miles) of a high-speed railway in NEOM, along the north Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia which will connect Oxagon and The Line, according to reports.https://www.sustg.com/contract-signed-for-1-5-billion-for-neom-high-speed-railway-to-connect-port-development-of-oxagon-and-the-line/Saudi Arabia hits record 31.81 mm average rainfall in April, the highest in 40 yearsThe Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA) announced that the average rainfall in various regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia hit an exceptional record of 31.81 mm in April 2023.According to MEWA, this is the highest average recorded in 40 years; it is higher than the average of 9.23 mm which it recorded in April 2022.https://www.zawya.com/en/life/saudi-arabia-hits-record-3181-mm-average-rainfall-in-april-the-highest-in-40-years-nrqxo6voSaudi Wealth Fund Staffs NY Unit With Goldman, Point72 HiresThe US subsidiary of Saudi Arabia's $730 billion sovereign wealth fund is hiring from Wall Street firms and top hedge funds to manage its growing portfolio of investments in the country. In January, former Point72 Asset Management executive Jason Chung joined as head of the New York office of USSA International, the fund's US arm, after spending almost 13 years at billionaire Steve Cohen's hedge fund, according to LinkedIn. That month, Meredith Wood Doherty joined from investment firm Baillie Gifford as USSA International's head of compliance and governance, her LinkedIn profile shows.https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-05-16/saudi-wealth-fund-staffs-ny-unit-with-goldman-point72-hires?sref=5jMtLoGcMa'aden and Ivanhoe to explore untapped resources in Saudi ArabiaMa'aden, a Saudi Arabian mining company, has finalised its agreement with Ivanhoe Electric Inc. (IE) to purchase 9.9% shares in the company and form a 50/50 joint venture (JV) to undertake one of the largest exploration programmes ever conducted.The deal will provide Ma'aden, through the JV, with access to IE's breakthrough Typhoon™ geophysical survey technology, which will accelerate the exploration of Saudi Arabia's lands, estimated to hold US$1.3 trillion of untapped minerals.Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) is pumping more money in the gaming industry, and has increased its stake in American gaming company Electronic Arts (EA) by 55%. The PIF held 16.1 million shares in the FIFA and Madden NFL game publisher before Q4 2022, but after Q1 2023, it held 24.81 million shares, according to financial research publisher Seeking Alpha. Saudi Arabia already has investments in Activision Blizzard and Take-Two Interactive from the United States.

Eid Fitr Mubarak! In Episode 83, Mohammed Soliman, the director of the Middle East Institute's Strategic Technologies and Cyber Security Program and a Manager at McLarty Associates' Middle East and North Africa Practice, joins The 966. Mohammed's work focuses on the intersection of technology, geopolitics, and business in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Mohammed frequently appears on Arabic- and English-language television to provide commentary on unfolding events in the Middle East. The 966 talks with Mohammed about his recent writing and work on the subjects of a U.S.-Saudi tech dialogue and much more. But first, the hosts discuss Richard's one big thing, which is a look at the Saudi professional soccer league, and the growth of soccer in recent years in the Kingdom. Lucien's one big thing is King Salman Park, which will be 5x the size of Central Park and checking in on the development of the massive project, which will change the face of Riyadh. The hosts conclude as always with Yallah! 6 top storylines to get you up to speed on Saudi Arabia headed into the weekend.5:14 - Richard's one big thing this week is is a look at the Saudi professional soccer league, and the growth of soccer in recent years in the Kingdom.16:41 - Lucien's one big thing this week is King Salman Park, which is massive in size and ambition. Covering 6.4 square miles on the grounds of the former King Salman Air Base, it is going to be seven times the size of London's Hyde Park and five times the size of New York's Central Park. The completed project will have 5 metro stops when the Riyadh metro is complete and become a large urban oasis that will drastically improve the quality of life for citizens and visitors of Riyadh. 28:52 - Mohammed Soliman, the director of the Middle East Institute's Strategic Technologies and Cyber Security Program and a Manager at McLarty Associates' Middle East and North Africa Practice, joins The 966. Mohammed's work focuses on the intersection of technology, geopolitics, and business in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Mohammed frequently appears on Arabic- and English-language television to provide commentary on unfolding events in the Middle East. The 966 talks with Mohammed about his recent writing and work on the subjects of a U.S.-Saudi tech dialogue and much more.58:05 - Yallah! 6 top storylines to get you up to speed heading into the weekend. WSJ: Saudi Arabia, U.A.E. Scoop Up Russian Oil Products at Steep DiscountsAs Russia scours the globe for buyers of its energy products, it is finding eager trade partners in an unlikely place: The oil-rich petrostates of the Persian Gulf. Since Western sanctions over the war in Ukraine cut off Russia from many of its established trading partners, state companies from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have stepped in to take advantage of discounted prices for Russian products, according to oil executives and industry analysts. https://www.wsj.com/articles/saudi-arabia-u-a-e-scoop-up-russian-oil-products-at-steep-discounts-d327a2eeIMF Says Saudi Budget to Win From OPEC Cuts With Oil Price BoostSaudi Arabia's budget will more than make up for a production cut announced by the kingdom with OPEC and its allies, according to the International Monetary Fund, as it reels in more revenue thanks to higher crude prices and keeps spending in check.https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-04-18/imf-says-saudi-budget-to-win-from-opec-cuts-with-oil-price-boost?sref=5jMtLoGcSaudi Arabia launches 4 special economic zones for boosting investmentsSaudi Arabia launched four special economic zones on Thursday in Riyadh, Jizan, Ras Al-Khair, and King Abdullah Economic City, north of Jeddah, according to Forbes Middle East. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman highlighted "huge opportunities for the development of the local economy" that the zones will provide in terms of job creation, technology transfer, industry localization, and development of the Saudi business community.https://www.jordannews.jo/Section-113/All/Saudi-Arabia-launches-4-special-economic-zones-for-boosting-investments-28119Israeli PM: Peace with Saudi Arabia would be 'giant leap' towards ending Arab-Israeli conflictIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that normalizing relations with Saudi Arabia would be a "giant leap" towards ending the Arab-Israeli conflict."We want normalization and peace with Saudi Arabia. We view that as perhaps a giant leap towards ending the Arab-Israeli conflict," Netanyahu said, speaking during a meeting in Jerusalem with U.S. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham.https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israeli-pm-peace-with-saudi-arabia-would-be-giant-leap-towards-ending-arab-2023-04-17/Emirates, Aramco top companies in UAE, Saudi: LinkedInUAE's Emirates Airlines and Saudi Arabia's Saudi Aramco are the top companies in UAE and KSA respectively as per LinkedIn's annual list of Top Companies for the UAE and Saudi Arabia.While in the UAE, Procter & Gamble, Kearney, Majid Al Futtaim and Visa take the next four spots, in Saudi Arabia Red Sea Global Hospitality, stc Telecommunications Procter & Gamble and Saudia are the next in the pecking order.https://www.zawya.com/en/economy/gcc/emirates-aramco-top-companies-in-uae-saudi-linkedin-dhfz0vrpChristiano Ronaldo once again dominates headlines, team losesChristiano Ronaldo once again dominated the headlines both during and after his side's 2-0 loss to Al-Hilal on Tuesday. After being booked for a WWE-style tackle, Ronaldo reacted to chants from home supporters of Lionel Messi allegedly with an obscene gesture in their direction. The incident caused debate and drama throughout the Kingdom. Odion Ighalo got the better of Cristiano Ronaldo as he scored the two goals which earned Al Hilal a 2-0 home win against Al Nassr in the Saudi Arabia League on Tuesday.https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/al-nassr-respond-cristiano-ronaldo-expelled-saudi-arabia-controversial-gesture/bltf437a028d15bb8fd

Sign up to Nebula to get the ad-free access to the full Daily Briefing every single day: http://go.nebula.tv/tldrnewsukWelcome to the TLDR News Daily BriefingIn today's episode, we look at why Donald Trump might be arrested tomorrow. Also, we discuss the fight for the next President of Montenegro; the Iranian President agreeing to meet with King Salman of Saudi Arabia; & why an Australian SAS has been charged.

Join the Council for a discussion exploring implications for the region and the United States of evolving relationships between Russia, China, and countries in Arabia and the Gulf. Specialists examine how shifting strategic dynamics can be viewed through different sets of lenses. The featured speakers are former United States diplomats Ambassador (Ret.) Michael Gfoeller and Mr. David H. Rundell. Colonel (Ret.) Abbas K. Dahouk and Dr. John Duke Anthony join them for the proceedings. Visit www.ncusar.org for more information.

Beijing's Defense Ministry says deeper ties would help build a “China-Arab community with a shared future” The Chinese Defense Ministry has signaled its readiness to strengthen military cooperation with the Gulf states in order to promote “world peace.” The statement came weeks after President Xi Jinping attended the first China-Arab States Summit and the China-Gulf Cooperation Council Summit in Saudi Arabia. When asked by a journalist on Thursday about the “eight joint actions” proposed by Xi at the meetings, Defense Ministry spokesperson Tan Kefei said: “The Chinese military is willing to work with the militaries of Arab countries” to “jointly promote global security initiatives,” among other things. Deeper ties would contribute positively to “the building of a China-Arab community with a shared future,” he added. Tan went on to describe the Chinese Army as well as those of Arab nations as “important forces for maintaining world peace and stability.” He noted that Beijing and regional powers have shared military technology and held joint drills in recent years. According to the ministry's spokesperson, this “fruitful cooperation” has helped build “strategic mutual trust” between China and Arab countries. President Xi was on an official visit to Riyadh at the invitation of King Salman from December 7-10. Speaking at the Chinese-Arab summit, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman revealed that discussions had been held regarding the “creation of a free-trade zone between China and the countries of the Persian Gulf.” On top of that, the Gulf states and China confirmed plans to jointly work toward solving “problems of food and energy security,” as well as cooperating on supply chains, the crown prince added. Beijing and Riyadh signed a number of agreements and memorandums of understanding as a result. The Chinese head of state also held a separate meeting with his Egyptian counterpart, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://freedomreportage.com/2022/12/30/china-reveals-plans-for-military-cooperation-with-arab-states/ --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/world-voices/support

*) China, Saudi Arabia sign strategic deals as Xi heralds 'new era' Saudi Arabia and China have showcased deepening ties with a series of strategic deals during a visit by President Xi Jinping. King Salman signed a "comprehensive strategic partnership agreement" with Xi, who received a lavish welcome in a country forging new global partnerships beyond the West. News reports estimated that the deals between the two countries are worth as much as $30 billion. *) Moscow frees US basketball star Griner in swap with Russian arms dealer Russia has freed US female basketball star Brittney Griner in a high-level prisoner exchange, with the US releasing Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. The prisoner swap achieved a top goal for US President Joe Biden, but carried a heavy price — and left behind an American jailed for nearly four years in Russia. Biden said Griner will need time to recover from the "trauma" of imprisonment in Russia. *) Bangladesh's BNP says top opposition leaders taken by police The two top leaders of Bangladesh's main opposition party have been taken from their homes by police a day before a planned rally was to call for the prime minister's resignation. Protests sparked by power cuts and fuel price hikes have erupted across the country in recent months, demanding that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina step down. Police action comes two days after security forces in the capital Dhaka fired rubber bullets and tear gas into a crowd of thousands of Bangladesh Nationalist Party supporters. *) World's longest-serving president begins sixth term in Equatorial Guinea Equatorial Guinea's long-serving President Teodoro Obiang has been sworn-in for his sixth seven-year term. Obiang said, "As long as I am president and with our resources, the people's desires and needs for well-being will be fully realised." He marked the beginning of his next seven-year term in a ceremony in the capital Malabo which began after a military parade attended by top officials and a host of foreign African leaders. And finally… *) 6th TRT World Forum 2022 kicks off in Istanbul The 6th TRT World Forum 2022 has kicked off in Istanbul to "tackle the most pressing issues in tomorrow's world". Under the theme of Mapping the Future: Uncertainties, Realities and Opportunities, the annual event gathers academics, journalists, intellectuals, politicians, and members of civil society from around the world. Renowned experts are also attending a total of 10 public sessions.

英语新闻｜习近平主席开启沙特之行Unity and collaboration between China and Arab nations is set for a significant boost after President Xi Jinping arrived in Saudi Arabia's capital, Riyadh, on Wednesday for a state visit.12月7日，国家主席习近平抵达沙特阿拉伯首都利雅得，对沙特进行国事访问，这将极大促进中国和阿拉伯国家之间的团结与合作。During his four-day Middle East trip, Xi will attend two important conferences — the first China-Arab States Summit and the first summit of the China and Gulf Cooperation Council.在为期四天的中东之行中，习近平将出席两场重要会议——首届中国－阿拉伯国家峰会、中国－海湾阿拉伯国家合作委员会峰会。China and Saudi Arabia are good friends, partners and brothers, Xi said in written remarks upon his arrival on Wednesday.“中国和沙特阿拉伯是好朋友、好伙伴、好兄弟。”习近平在12月7日抵达沙特后发表的署名文章中写道。The two sides have always understood and supported each other over the past 32 years, during which strategic mutual trust has been consolidated and pragmatic cooperation has yielded fruitful results, Xi added.习近平说，32年来，双方始终相互理解、相互支持，战略互信不断增强，务实合作取得丰硕成果。As the world grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic and challenges to a global economic recovery, China and Arab countries will use Xi's visit to step up support for each other's self-reliant development, bolster post-pandemic prosperity, and advance peace and stability in the region, observers said.观察人士认为，在当前国际社会应对新冠肺炎疫情、全球经济复苏面临挑战的情况下，中国和阿拉伯国家将以习近平的访问为契机，加强对彼此自主发展的支持，促进疫情后的繁荣，促进地区和平与稳定。The China-Arab States Summit is the first opportunity for face-to-face communication between leaders since the outbreak of the pandemic, Chinese consul-general in Dubai, Li Xuhang, told local media. It is also the first major multilateral diplomatic event co-chaired by China after the conclusion of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in October, he added.中国驻迪拜总领事李旭航在接受当地媒体采访时表示，中国－阿拉伯国家峰会是疫情以来中阿领导人首次面对面交流的机会。他补充说，更是继中共二十大成功举办后，由中方作为共同主办方之一的第一场重大多边外交活动。"The summit constitutes a major diplomatic action of the largest scale and highest protocols intended for the Arab world since the founding of the People's Republic of China, and will become a milestone in the history of China-Arab ties," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said on Wednesday.12月7日，外交部发言人毛宁表示：“习近平主席出席首届中国—阿拉伯国家峰会，是新中国成立以来中国面向阿拉伯世界规模最大、规格最高的外交行动，将成为中阿关系发展史上具有划时代意义的里程碑。”The two sides will map out a blueprint for future cooperation, and render each other firm support, promote common development and defend multilateralism, Mao said.毛宁表示，双方将共绘未来合作蓝图，坚定相互支持、促进共同发展、维护多边主义。In the first nine months of this year, bilateral trade was $319.3 billion, a year-on-year increase of 35 percent, according to a report issued by the Chinese Foreign Ministry on Friday.根据外交部发布的报告，2022年前三季度，中阿贸易额达3193亿美元，同比增长35%。In addition to constantly deepening collaboration on traditional energy, the two sides have also made breakthroughs in "high-end, cutting-edge technology domains", such as 5G telecommunication, nuclear power, aerospace and satellite technology, according to the report.《新时代的中阿合作报告》显示，除了不断深化传统能源合作外，中国同阿拉伯国家在5G通信、核能、航天卫星等高新领域合作取得突破。Yu Zirong, vice-president of the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, said economic and trade cooperation between China and Arab countries has witnessed remarkable achievements since the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum was founded in 2004, and the introduction of the Belt and Road Initiative in 2013.商务部国际贸易经济合作研究院副院长俞子荣表示，2004年中阿合作论坛成立以来，尤其是“一带一路”倡议以来，中阿经贸合作全面深入发展，取得显著成果。"The two sides should intensify efforts in advancing negotiation on a China-GCC free trade zone, further optimize the trade structure between them, tap into emerging areas for investment, and upgrade their collaboration on infrastructure," Yu said.“未来，中阿双方应大力推进中国-海合会自由贸易区谈判，进一步优化贸易结构，拓展新兴领域投资，促进基础设施合作转型升级。”俞子荣说。The Gulf Cooperation Council, which was founded in 1981, consists of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. China established relations with the grouping in 1981.海湾合作委员会成立于1981年，由巴林、科威特、阿曼、卡塔尔、沙特阿拉伯和阿拉伯联合酋长国组成。中国于1981年与该委员会建立了关系。In recent years, two-way cooperation on the economy, trade, finance, energy, technology and culture has rapidly increased. The two sides started negotiation on a free trade agreement in 2004.近年来，在经济、贸易、金融、能源、技术和文化方面的双向合作迅速增加。双方于2004年开始就自由贸易协定进行谈判。The upcoming China-GCC Summit will be the first time that leaders of China and GCC countries gather in person to discuss future plans.即将举行的中国－海湾阿拉伯国家合作委员会峰会将是中国和海合会国家领导人第一次齐聚一堂，共商中海关系大计The summit is expected to carry forward the China-GCC traditional friendship, enrich strategic China-GCC ties and lift relations to a higher level, said Mao, the spokeswoman.外交部发言人毛宁表示，相信本届峰会将赓续中海友好传统，进一步充实中海关系战略内涵，推动中海关系迈上新台阶。Wang Guangda, secretary-general of the China-Arab Research Center on Reform and Development and a professor at Shanghai International Studies University said, "China's presence in the Middle East region is not to fill a geopolitical blank there, but to promote peace, facilitate dialogues and achieve common development".中阿改革发展研究中心秘书长、上海外国语大学教授王广大指出，“中国在中东地区不是在地缘政治上寻求填补空白，而是劝和促谈，共同发展。”Xi arrived in Riyadh on Wednesday for his second visit to Saudi Arabia since 2016.习近平于12月7日抵达利雅得，这是习近平主席继2016之后时隔6年再次访问沙特。The Saudi Press Agency said on Tuesday the visit will "bolster historic ties and strategic partnership between the two countries".“习主席的访问反映了沙特与中国领导人加强两国之间的历史关系和战略伙伴关系。”沙特通讯社评论道。Currently, China is the top trade partner of Saudi Arabia and the Middle Eastern country is China's largest source of oil imports.目前，中国是沙特第一大贸易伙伴，沙特是中国第一大石油进口来源国。"In recent years, the two countries have jointly advanced the synergy of the Belt and Road Initiative with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 blueprint, and they have achieved fruitful outcomes, benefiting the people of both countries," Chinese Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Chen Weiqing said in an article published last month.“近年来，双方共同推进共建“一带一路”倡议同“2030愿景”对接，取得丰硕成果，造福两国人民。”驻沙特大使陈伟庆在沙特媒体发表的署名文章中写道。During his visit, President Xi will hold talks with King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud to "exchange views on bilateral ties and issues of common concern, taking China-Saudi Arabia comprehensive strategic partnership to a higher level", said Mao.外交部发言人毛宁表示，访问期间，习近平主席将同萨勒曼国王和穆罕默德王储兼首相就中沙双边关系及共同关心的问题深入交换意见，推动中沙全面战略伙伴关系向更高水平迈进。People in Saudi Arabia have high expectations for the leaders' meetings as cultural exchanges and economic cooperation have made solid progress, especially under the BRI.随着文化交流和经济合作取得坚实进展，特别是在“一带一路”倡议下，沙特阿拉伯人民对两国领导人峰会寄予厚望。Yousef Al Balushi, a sales and marketing director in Riyadh, said China's development has been beneficial for the region. It represents the future, and many local parents want their children to study Chinese, he said.利雅得的销售和市场总监尤塞夫·巴卢什表示，中国的发展对阿拉伯地区有利。他说，中国代表着未来，许多当地家长希望孩子学习中文。Mark Refaat, an engineer working on a hotel project in Riyadh, said they have just finished a large complex in the capital, which features Chinese quarters among others. He added that China's infrastructure strength is impressive.在利雅得从事酒店项目的工程师马克·雷法特表示，他们刚刚在首都完成了一个大型综合建筑，其中包括中国公寓。他补充说，中国的基础设施实力令人印象深刻。Render英 [ˈrendə(r)] 美 [ˈrendər]V. 给予Aerospace英 [ˈeərəʊspeɪs] 美 [ˈeroʊspeɪs]n.航空航天Synergy 英 [ˈsɪnədʒi] 美 [ˈsɪnərdʒi]n.协同作用

Korea24 – 2022.11.23 (Wednesday) News Briefing: The ruling and opposition parties have reached an agreement to open a parliamentary investigation into the Itaewon crowd crush tragedy. (Eunice Kim) In-Depth News Analysis: A new capital gains tax on stock investments was set to go into effect next year, but citing the current slump in the stock market, the government and the ruling People Power Party want to delay the tax by two years to 2025, but the main opposition Democratic Party is against the postponement. To get some expert analysis on this tax and the ramifications that could follow, Professor Kim Yong-jin from Sogang University and Economics Professor Yang Jun-suk from the Catholic University of Korea join us on the line. Korea Trending with Walter Lee: 1. Police are investigating a couple accused of hiding the body of their 15-month-old daughter after she died in 2020. (15개월 딸 시신, 3년간 옥상 김치통에 숨겨 은폐한 부모) 2. 540 police officers are set to be mobilized to manage a street cheering event at Gwanghwamun Square on Thursday for South Korea’s first World Cup match. ([월드컵] 경찰 ‘광화문 월드컵 거리응원’ 기동대·특공대 540여명 투입) 3. Saudi Arabia’s King Salman declared Wednesday a national holiday to celebrate the country’s historic 2-1 win over Argentina in the World Cup. ([월드컵] 아르헨 잡은 사우디, 국경일 선포) Korea Book Club: Is it possible to find love at an old age? That is the question that is asked in the 1998 short story by Park Wan Suh (박완서) called 'Weathered Blossom (마른 꽃)'. It follows the challenges faced by a 60-year-old widow as she falls for a similarly aged, charming man. Literary critic Barry Welsh joins us in the studio to discuss the work via the 2006 English translation by Yu Young-nan. Morning Edition Preview with Richard Larkin: - In tomorrow’s Korea Times, Kwon Mee-yoo reports on The Cervantes Institute, which promotes Spanish language and culture, and its new branch in Myeong-dong, Seoul. - Tomorrow’s Korea Herald features a report by Park Ga-young on ‘piketing’, the term used in Korea for ticket scalping, and its prevalence in the classical music world.

Khashoggi's Murder. Jamal Khashoggi was killed in 2018 for what he knew. And what was that? Well, he escaped to the United States with his life in June of 2017. Four months later in Oct. 2017 King Salman is the first Saudi Monarch to travel to Moscow. One month later in Nov. 2017, a Russian delegation of 6o business executives travel to negotiate partnerships with Saudi Arabia, ending an oil agreement that had lasted since 1945 with America. But that may not be all! Saudi Arabia may be running out of oil. Our climate is always changing and it may be we're using it as an excuse for what's about to happen. MUSIC Hans Zimmer, Prokofiev & David Bowie, Higham & Margeson

On 4th October 2022, Saudi Arabia was named as host country for the 2029 Asian Winter Games. The event takes place every four years, bringing together 10,000 athletes from all across the continent. The 2029 event will take place at the Trojena resort within the futuristic city of Neom, which is being developed in the middle of the desert. The name is a contraction of neo, which means new in Greek, and mostaqbal, which means future in Arabic. The Neom project was launched in 2017 by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman himself, who also recently took over the role of prime minister from his father King Salman. It's been grabbing attention for some time now, with development works expected to cost close to £450bn and reach completion by 2026. How can winter games be organised in the middle of the desert? Why is this project controversial? Where exactly will Neom be located in Saudi Arabia? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the latest episodes, click here: How can I tell if I'm at risk of ‘quiet firing'? Can jellyfish offer the key to immortality? What is quantum technology? A Bababam Originals podcast written and produced by Joseph Chance. In partnership with upday UK. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trending Middle East brings you the latest social media and search trends from the Middle East and around the world. On today's episode, in an apparent act of defiance, Iranian rock climber Elnaz Rekabi competes without a headscarf at the Asian Sport Climbing Championships. Media reports differ as to where Rekabi is now after the event in South Korea.   President Abdel Fattah El Sisi says Egypt is determined to do everything it can to resolve its dispute with Ethiopia over the potential effect from a hydroelectric dam Addis Ababa is building on the Nile. Cairo has long complained that the dam would reduce its share of the Nile waters.   An archaeological park unveiled in northern Iraq this week dates back more than 2,700 years to the rule of the Assyrians. The area in Faida comprises 13 monumental rock-carving reliefs in the walls of an irrigation canal. The carvings show kings praying to gods.   Saudi Arabia's King Salman said that Iran must co-operate with the International Atomic Energy Agency and the global community if it wants to revive the 2015 nuclear deal. Efforts to save the accord have faced several stumbling blocks, including Iran's continued nuclear advances and the recent crackdown on protesters.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has of late been consolidating his domestic power, in anticipation of succeeding to the throne when his elderly father, King Salman, dies, abdicates or is incapacitated. MBS, as he is universally known, added the position of Prime Minister to his title, and proceeded to deal a blow to President Biden by allying the Oil Producing and Exporting Countries, which Saudi Arabia leads, with Russia in cutting petroleum production. The move is designed to raise the price of oil and politically hurt President Biden, against whom both MBS and Vladimir Putin bear grudges. So, is it all personal or strategic, and could the Saudis possibly form an axis with their sworn enemies- the Iranians, who are allied with the Russians in the Ukraine war, in Syria and beyond? Panel: - Jonathan Hessen, Host. - Amir Oren, Editor at Large, Host of Watchmen Talk and Powers in Play. - Eran Etzion Former Deputy Head, NSC (National Security Council). - Dr. Nir Boms, Research Fellow, Moshe Dayan Center at Tel Aviv University. Articles on the topic: https://www.tv7israelnews.com/us-to-reassess-saudi-ties/ https://www.tv7israelnews.com/saudis-hope-to-normalize-ties-with-israel/ https://www.tv7israelnews.com/israel-us-qatar-saudis-reportedly-hold-secret-iran-talks/ https://www.tv7israelnews.com/saudi-prince-begins-regional-tour/ You are welcome to join our audience and watch all of our programs - free of charge! TV7 Israel News: https://www.tv7israelnews.com/vod/series/563/ Jerusalem Studio: https://www.tv7israelnews.com/vod/series/18738/ TV7 Israel News Editor's Note: https://www.tv7israelnews.com/vod/series/76269/ TV7 Europa Stands: https://www.tv7israelnews.com/vod/series/82926/ TV7 Powers in Play: https://www.tv7israelnews.com/vod/series/84954/ TV7 Israel: Watchmen Talk: https://www.tv7israelnews.com/vod/series/76256/ Jerusalem Prays: https://www.tv7israelnews.com/vod/series/135790/ TV7's Times Observer: https://www.tv7israelnews.com/vod/series/97531/ TV7's Middle East Review: https://www.tv7israelnews.com/vod/series/997755/ My Brother's Keeper: https://www.tv7israelnews.com/vod/series/53719/ This week in 60 seconds: https://www.tv7israelnews.com/vod/series/123456/ Those who wish can send prayer requests to TV7 Israel News in the following ways: Facebook Messenger: https://www.facebook.com/tv7israelnews Email: israelnews@tv7.fi Please be sure to mention your first name and country of residence. Any attached videos should not exceed 20 seconds in duration. #IsraelNews #tv7israelnews #newsupdates Rally behind our vision - https://www.tv7israelnews.com/donate/ To purchase TV7 Israel News merchandise: https://teespring.com/stores/tv7-israel-news-store Live view of Jerusalem - https://www.tv7israelnews.com/jerusalem-live-feed/ Visit our website - http://www.tv7israelnews.com/ Subscribe to our YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/tv7israelnews Like TV7 Israel News on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/tv7israelnews Follow TV7 Israel News on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/tv7israelnews/ Follow TV7 Israel News on Twitter - https://twitter.com/tv7israelnews

2:38 - Richard's one big thing is Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Commerce has announced ten initiatives to develop the e-commerce retail industry, and the initiatives are based on the results of a survey “Consumer's Voice”, conducted by the Ministry of Commerce to gauge the level of consumer satisfaction with the performance of online stores. 14:39 - Lucien's one big thing is actually two big things. First, Lucien comments on a changing Riyadh having just returned from the Saudi capital, and why much is different and yet some things will stay the same. Then he provides an update on the latest with LIV golf's quest to get its players crucial world ranking points so that they can compete in major events in the sport. 34:06 - The 966 welcomes Dr. Abdulaziz Alanazi, assistant professor at King Saud University in Riyadh, who discusses his work that recently won a very prestigious international water award. Dr. Abdulaziz, along with his colleagues at the University of Cincinnati, won a very prestigious international award for their work studying ways to address water pollution. The Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz International Prize for Water was awarded to Dr. Abdulaziz and his colleagues for their work developing advanced oxidation technologies and nanotechnologies to monitor and treat emerging toxins and other contaminants of emerging concern in water. 1:14:00 - Yallah! 6 top storylines to get you up to date headed into the weekend. •Mohammed bin Salman named prime ministerSaudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has been appointed prime minister - a post that is traditionally held by the king. A royal decree announcing his promotion from deputy PM and defence minister cited an exception to the Basic Law. An official told Reuters news agency the move was in line with the king's previous delegation of duties to him. "The crown prince... already supervises the main executive bodies of the state on a daily basis, and his new role as prime minister is within that context," the official said. The 37-year-old son of King Salman bin Abdulaziz, 86, is already seen as the de facto head of government for Saudi Arabia. The decree named another of his sons, Prince Khalid bin Salman, as the new defence minister. A third, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, remains in the key role of energy minister.  •Saudi Arabia forecasts lower growth, revenue for 2023 amid uncertain global economic outlookSaudi Arabia, which is forecasting a decade-high economic growth of 8% for 2022, is projecting its GDP will slow to 3.1% growth in 2023, the ministry of finance said in a preliminary 2023 budget report released on Sept. 30. Saudi Arabia is also forecasting its total revenue, including oil income, will drop in 2023 in a conservative baseline scenario. The ministry's preliminary estimates are projecting an 8.1% decline in fiscal revenue to $299 billion in 2023 from a year earlier. "This is due to the direction that the government is adopting in basing the estimates of oil and non-oil revenues in the budget on conservative standards in anticipation of any developments that may occur in the domestic and global economy," the ministry said.•Saudi to host Asian Winter Games in NEOM megacitySaudi Arabia was chosen on Tuesday to host the 2029 Asian Winter Games at NEOM which planners say will feature a year-round winter sports complex. The Saudi bid was "unanimously approved", the statement said, noting that NEOM will be the first West Asian city to host the event.  The Asian Winter Games are slated to take place in Trojena, an area of NEOM "where winter temperatures drop below zero celsius and year-round temperatures are generally 10 degrees cooler than the rest of the region", according to the project's website. Set to be completed in 2026, Trojena will include year-round skiing, a manmade freshwater lake, chalets, mansions and ultra-luxury hotels according to the website. The Asian Winter Games include competitions for skiing, snowboarding, ice hockey and figure skating -- 47 events in all, 28 on snow and 10 on ice. •Saudi Arabia's Savvy Games Group launches $38bn investment strategy Saudi Arabia's Savvy Games Group, owned by the country's sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund, has unveiled its new investment strategy, as the kingdom seeks to become one of the world's major gaming hubs. The group plans to invest $38bn across four programmes, each with specific objectives, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The programmes include the acquisition and development of a leading game publisher to become a strategic development partner and making a series of minority stake investments in key companies that support Savvy's game development agenda. They also include diversified investments in industry disrupters to grow early-stage games and esports companies as well as investing in mature industry partners who add value and expertise to Savvy's portfolio. •The Saudi Downtown Company (SDC), a company created under the aegis of the royalty and therefore the Public Investment Fund (PIF), will promote the launch of projects in various regions of the country, creating new jobs, with a view to improving the infrastructure of many cities and building strategic alliances with the private sector. The projects to be developed will be in twelve cities including Al-Khobar, Al-Ahsa, Buraidah, Najra, Jizan and Arar. •Saudi Telecom Co., the Middle East's most profitable mobile operator, plans to spend about $1 billion to transform the kingdom into a regional data hub, and may sell a stake in its Center3 business to finance the plans. The investment over the next five years by Center3, as the data unit is known, would help Saudi Arabia host more media, gaming and corporate data, according to Mohammed Alabbadi, STC's chief carrier and wholesale officer and chairman of Center3. It would also follow an initial investment of $1 billion on building data centers and submarine data cables

3:31 - Richard's one big thing is a new agreement between IBM and Saudi Arabia's IT authority that will upskill 100,000 young Saudis in the digital sector. The MoU to implement eight initiatives seeks to “bolster the Kingdom's position as a hub of technology and innovation in the Middle East and North Africa region,” according to SPA.9:32 - Lucien's one big thing is a look at the latest data coming out on the Saudi economy in 2022, which is one of the fastest-growing globally. Saudi Arabia's General Authority for Statistics (GAStat) said that Saudi Arabia's economy expanded 11.8% in the second quarter of this year, year-on-year, maintaining the fastest pace of growth since 2011. High oil prices and output have powered that growth. But beyond oil, Saudi Arabia is seeing positive signs in the non-oil economy as well, which is key for the Kingdom Vision 2030 economic and social reforms. Non-oil GDP gained 5.4% while the oil economy grew 23.1% compared to last year, according to preliminary estimates.Separately, Standard and Poors (S&P) released its headline seasonally adjusted S&P Global Saudi Arabia Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for the whole economy this week. Though the trend for July was down from June, falling to 56.3 in July from 57.0 in June, it remained well above the neutral 50.0 mark that separates growth from contraction.17:31 - The 966 speaks with Faisal Durrani, Partner and Head of Middle East Research at Knight Frank, the London-based global real estate consultancy. Knight Frank just released two reports on Saudi Arabia's commercial and residential real estate sectors, providing unique insights into one of the world's fastest growing real estate markets. Faisal joins The 966 from Dubai to discuss the reports and much more. 1:04 - Yallah! 6 top storylines to get you up to date heading into the weekend. US to extend visa validity for Saudis to 10 years starting Aug. 1Last month, the US announced it would be extending visit visas for Saudi nationals from five to 10 years. The announcement came a day after US President Joe Biden arrived in Saudi Arabia for a two-day official visit as part of his first Middle East tour as president, during which he met King Salman, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and other senior Saudi officials. Saudis hail Vision 2030 women's workforce figuresSaudi women now comprise 33.6 percent of the Saudi workforce as of March 2022, according to the General Authority for Statistics. That figure is up from 17.4 percent just five years ago. The unemployment rate of women was the lowest in 20 years as of the first quarter of 2022, falling to 20.2 percent from 22.5 percent during the fourth quarter of 2021. Biden Approves Arms Sales to Saudi, UAEThe Biden administration on Tuesday approved and notified Congress of possible multibillion-dollar weapons sales to both Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The notice of the approval comes just weeks after President Joe Biden met with the leaders of each nation in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, as he sought to improve relations between the US and the Saudis. Tiger Woods turns down as much as $800 million for LIV GolfTiger Woods turned down an offer that Greg Norman says was "somewhere in that neighborhood" of $700 million to $800 million to take part in the Saudi-funded LIV Golf series.During an appearance on Fox News with Tucker Carlson that aired Monday night, Norman confirmed what he told the Washington Post in a story two months ago. Norman told the Post in June the offer was "mind-blowingly enormous; we're talking about high nine digits." Saudi Arabia Eyes Hosting of 2026 Women's Asian CupSaudi Arabia has joined Australia, Jordan and Uzbekistan as nations who have expressed interest in hosting the 2026 Women's Asian Cup, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) said on Monday as reported in Reuters.NEOM's Oxagon announces annual Kingdom-wide Hackathon NEOM's Oxagon, home to advanced and clean industries with industrial innovation at its core, today launched the first edition of its Hackathon, in partnership with Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Education, powered by Blossom Accelerator.The three-day sprint is set to take place from October 6 to 8 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and is designed to foster a collaborative and inclusive innovation eco-system across the Kingdom's burgeoning startup community, a statement said.

Join the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations for a discussion reflecting on the recent visit of U.S. President Joe Biden to Israel, the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabian and U.S. analysts, scholars, and former diplomats assess the impact of the trip for near-term developments as well as longer-term strategic trends. The featured specialists were Gulf Research Center Founder and Chairman Dr. Abdulaziz Sager, and former United States diplomats Ambassador (Ret.) Michael Gfoeller and Mr. David H. Rundell. Colonel (Ret.) Abbas K. Dahouk and Dr. John Duke Anthony joined them for the proceedings. Visit www.ncusar.org for more information.

2:00 - First up, The 966 speaks with Hussein Ibish, columnist for Bloomberg and The National and Senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington. Hussein discusses his view, shared with the Washington Post, that “[a]nyone expecting a checklist of achievements was looking at the wrong visit. Biden didn't go with a list but a long-term agenda."33:49 - Next, The 966 welcomes Dr. Jon Alterman to the program to talk about the visit and its significance. Jon notes that there was a very different feel between Biden's welcome to Israel, which he visited before Saudi Arabia, and the Kingdom. The hosts discuss with Jon a recalibration in relations and a renewed American role in the Middle East region.1:11:47 - Last but certainly not least, Col. David Des Roches joins The 966 from London to discuss the significance and potential impact of the visit. Des Roches is Associate Professor at the National Defense University and a Non-Resident Fellow, AGSIW. The hosts discuss with Des Roches some of the security aspects of the meeting between President Biden and his team and King Salman, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the host of ministers in attendance for working meetings in Jeddah. 

US President Joe Biden is in Saudi Arabia on Friday to meet with King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Biden has said he'd make the kingdom “the pariah that it is.”  But as gas prices skyrocketed, he changed his tune. And the euro may be having its worst week in over 20 years, but that didn't stop the bloc from inviting Croatia to join the eurozone. The Balkan state is set to ditch the Croatian kuna beginning this January. Also, a zoo near Kyiv was under occupation for more than a month at the beginning of the war. Russian forces are now gone but the zoo has lost a dozen animals to stress and trauma. Plus, a Pakistani song called “Pasoori,” all about unrequited love and distance, has struck a chord around the world — but especially in India.

President Biden has landed in Saudi Arabia and met with King Salman and Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman. It's delicate diplomacy for an administration that's pledged to put human rights first, but is also dealing with the realities of Saudi influence in the region over oil. Nick Schifrin reports from Jeddah. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

President Biden has landed in Saudi Arabia and met with King Salman and Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman. It's delicate diplomacy for an administration that's pledged to put human rights first, but is also dealing with the realities of Saudi influence in the region over oil. Nick Schifrin reports from Jeddah. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

President Biden has landed in Saudi Arabia and met with King Salman and Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman. It's delicate diplomacy for an administration that's pledged to put human rights first, but is also dealing with the realities of Saudi influence in the region over oil. Nick Schifrin reports from Jeddah. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

This episode features special guest: Edward Szall of Cross Talk News.Read on for today's agenda below prepared by David (thank you very much). - Retired US Diplomat to 5 different nations  David Hunter shares his knowledge, passion, interest, and experience. 1)Pres. Biden to Visit Saudi Arabia: Pres. Biden has announced that he will now go to Saudi Arabia, allegedly for a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) meeting, and is expected to meet King Salman together with Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman (MBS). Biden had earlier said he would make Saudis a 'pariah' if they did not bring to justice the killers of Washington Post journalist Jamal Kashoggi. How is this meeting making Saudis a pariah?2)Putin's Remarks at St. Petersburg Economic Conference: Russian Pres. Putin spoke for almost 80 minutes at his annual 'international economic' conference in St. Petersburg, Russia on June 17, 2022. Previously major CEOs from around the world attended as did heads of state from India, France, etc. This year he had a delegation from the Taliban in Afghanista, Cuba, Burma, Venezuela and Kazakhstan. What did he say at the meeting that might tell us his current thinking?3)Is the 'Russian Imperial Movement' (RIM) a Far Right Neo-Nazi Group in Russia Being Supported by Putin?: The RIM has been defined by Stanford Univ. Center for International Security and Cooperation's Mapping Militant Organizations as an extreme right wing, white supremacy organization based in St. Petersburg, Russia. Founded in 2002, it supports Russian nationalism and fuels white supremacy groups in the West. It advocates for restoring the Russian 'tsarist' regime. Is Putin supporting neo-Nazi, white nationalist movements in Russia and world-wide? If so, why?4)The Ukrainian Azov Battalion: Is it A Neo-Nazi Group? The Azov Battalion was formed in 2008 and became famous for waging fight against Russian invaders in Eastern Ukraine in 2015. Recently they had fought in Mariupol Ukraine and some have been captured. Are they Nazis, and should they be considered legal prisoners of war by Russia or 'terrorists'?

The life and exploits of Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, aka MBS.Mohammed bin Salman is the uncrowned king of Saudi Arabia, ruling the Kingdom with an iron fist. He took power by force and coercion from Muhammad bin Nayef and he consolidated that power by kidnapping, detaining and torturing members of the Saudi Royal Family and prominent businessmen like Prince Alwaleed bin Talal in the Ritz Carlton hotel in Riyadh, he even kidnapped the Lebanese prime minister Saad Hariri and imprisoned his own mother. He also ordered the murder and dismemberment of Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in 2017. If you enjoy our content, please become a patron to get our premium exclusive episodes, and our public episodes ad-free. 1 MBS also has an army of flies, tiger squads, gold cars and a lavish lifestyle, he owns the world's most expensive home, the Serene $500M yacht and Leonardo Da Vinci's Salvator Mundi, but the painting he paid $450M for proved to be a fake. MBS has a very dual personality: he's modern but also medieval at the same time. The Saudi state essentially treats women as permanent legal minors. But MBS is also implementing Vision 2030 to modernize Saudi Arabia, he allowed women to drive, he brought back cinemas, he reduced the power of the religious police and clerics, he wants green energy cities, and to move away from dependency on oil. 2 In the context of president Biden's upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia and meeting with King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and MBS, “the reset”, with a gallon of oil priced $5, we think it's important to also highlight the relations between US and Saudi Arabia and other countries in the region like Qatar, Yemen, Syria, , Bahrain, Lebanon (United Arab Emirates), as well as the Iran – Saudi Arabia proxy conflict, known as the Middle Eastern Cold War. Saudi Arabia has a young population, 60% of Saudis are under 30 and use Twitter, Snapchat and Instagram. MBS' army of flies – bots and hackers - created by Saud Al Qahtani ensures that no critical posts happen, and his tiger squads – hitmen – target those who dissent like Saad Al Jabri. Women can now drive but Saudi Arabia still imprisons activists like Loujain al Hathloul. Some of the laws governing sex segregation have been relaxed, but Saudi Arabia's guardianship system ensures that men still have ultimate control over most aspects of women's lives. We also discuss the beheadings in Chop Chop Square (Deera or Al-Safaa Square), the executions of those who oppose the regime, the arrest of Ali Nimr during the Arab Spring, the lashing of blogger Raif Badawi, MBS' war in Yemen, and we draw a parallel between Mohammed Bin Salman and Putin. We also discuss the connection between the Wahhabi-Salafi Islam ideology in Saudi Arabia and Daesh (Isis), Al Qaida, and other terrorist groups: the ideology is so similar that the manuals used by Saudi kids in school are the same books used in terrorist indoctrination schools in the caliphate areas. The Trump visit in Saudi Arabia and the glowing orb in the now infamous photo depicting King Salman, Trump and Egypt's president Abdel Fattah al Sisi touching the orb is also a point of discussion. 3 1. Alexandra Ma. Lebanese Prime Minister, Who Got Kidnapped in Saudi Arabia.... Business Insider. December 2018. ⇤2. What Women Can and Can't Do in Saudi Arabia. The Week UK. August 2021. ⇤3. Bill Bostock. The Sinister, Glowing Saudi Orb that Trump Touched.... Business Insider. March 2020. ⇤

US President Joe Biden confirmed Tuesday that he will visit Saudi Arabia next month for talks with its leaders, a dramatic change in his stance on the kingdom that he pledged to make a "pariah" as a Democratic candidate for the White House.With the visit at the tail end of a July 13-16 Middle East trip that includes stops in Israel and the West Bank, Biden is edging off his adversarial stance on the Saudis' human rights record. He's looking to reset the relationship at a time when the U.S. could use help from the oil-rich kingdom to alleviate soaring prices at the pump for motorists at home and around the globe.The stop in Saudi Arabia will include talks with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the de facto leader of the kingdom, according to White House and Saudi officials. U.S. intelligence officials have determined Prince Mohammed likely ordered the 2018 killing of U.S.-based journalist Jamal Khashoggi.In a brief exchange with reporters Tuesday, Biden bristled when asked about his upcoming visit to Jeddah and noted that his team had laid out in a statement "everything I'm doing in the Middle East."Human rights advocates and some Democratic allies cautioned Biden about visiting the kingdom, saying such a visit without first getting human rights commitments would send a message to Saudi leaders that there are no consequences for egregious rights violations. The Saudis have been accused of using mass arrests, executions and violence to squelch dissent.But at a time of skyrocketing prices at the gas pump, growing worries about Iran's nuclear program and perpetual concern that China is expanding its global footprint, Biden and his national security team have determined that freezing out the Saudis, particularly the crown prince, is not in the U.S. interest.Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., the No. 2 Senate Democrat, told CNN that Biden "has a tough job dealing with gasoline prices." But Durbin said he had "mixed feelings" about the visit, calling the Saudis' human rights record "an outrage."The Senate's No. 2 Republican leader accused Biden of paying too little attention to American energy.John Thune of South Dakota said, "It just seems having to go hat in hand to the Saudis to try and get them to increase energy production because we won't do it here, I think it's unfortunate that an American president is put in that position."The Saudi Embassy in Washington described the visit as coming at the king's invitation "to strengthen the historical bilateral relations and the distinguished strategic partnership between" the two countries.The White House announced the trip after Saudi Arabia this month helped nudge OPEC+ to ramp up oil production by 648,000 barrels per day in July and August, and the kingdom agreed to extend a United Nations-mediated cease-fire in its seven-year war with Yemen. Biden called the Saudi cease-fire decision "courageous." Prince Mohammed, who is commonly referred to by his initials, MBS, played a "critical role" in brokering an extension of the cease-fire, according to a senior administration official who briefed reporters on the condition of anonymity.White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said King Salman invited Biden to visit the kingdom during a gathering in the port city of Jeddah of the six Gulf Cooperation Council nations — Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates — as well as Egypt, Iraq and Jordan.She suggested that Biden would raise human rights concerns with Saudi officials but did not directly answer whether the president would speak to Prince Mohammed about the Khashoggi killing."It's important to also emphasize that while we recalibrate relationships, we are not looking to rupture relationships," Jean-Pierre said.Hala al-Dosari, a prominent rights advocate in Saudi Arabia now living and teaching in the United States, said Biden's decision to meet with the crown prince is "a...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You may ask: What will become of KSA once king Salman is gone? Will internal fighting over succession among royal family members ensue? Will KSA be stable? What about global oil supply? Join me live as I decipher what impact the demise of the Saudi king will have on its future. And given the current global dynamics, there is no telling what might happen and how things may turn out!!Join our Locals Page: https://geopolitics.locals.com/Subscribe to our Instagram: @GeopoliticsInConflictSubscribe to our Blog: https://www.globalperspectiveconsulti...Follow us on Rumble: https://rumble.com/GeopoliticsInConflictFollow us on Odysee: https://odysee.com/@GeopoliticsInConf...Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/doualaalou#seoul #southkorea #usa #iran #unitednations #frozenfunds #economy #geopolitics #saudiarabia #russia #ukraine #KSA #KingSalman #royalfamily #oilsupply

*) Russia strikes Kiev during UN chief's visit Russian forces have pressed their offensive in south and east Ukraine after bombarding capital Kiev during a visit by the United Nations' Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. At least three people were wounded in strikes in the western part of Kiev, the first in the capital in nearly two weeks. The strikes came after Guterres toured Bucha and other suburbs where Moscow is alleged to have committed mass atrocities. *) UNSC ‘failed to do everything in its power to end war': Guterres Staying with Ukraine, UN chief Guterres admitted while visiting Kiev that the Security Council has failed to go far enough in its efforts to "prevent and end" Russian onslaught in Ukraine. "Let me be very clear: the Security Council failed to do everything in its power to prevent and end this war,” Guterres said at a joint news conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. “This is the source of great disappointment, frustration and anger," he added. *) Erdogan visits Saudi Arabia to start new era in ties Türkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has met with top Saudi leadership in his first visit to the kingdom in five years following the invitation of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. King Salman received Erdogan in the city of Jeddah and both leaders held a closed-door meeting at Al Salam Royal Palace. Erdogan also met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. "I believe we will take our relations to a level beyond what they were previously; my visit will open the doors of a new era with our friend, brother Saudi Arabia," Erdogan said. *) South Asia wilts in heat as India rubbish mountain burns Millions have sweltered in a dangerous early summer heatwave across India and Pakistan that has led to power and water shortages. Several states imposed power cuts on factories as air conditioning and fan consumption skyrocketed with temperatures crossing 45 Celsius in parts of the region. In Pakistan, temperatures are expected to be up to eight degrees higher than usual. Scientists say the climate crisis is making heatwaves harsher and more frequent across South Asia. And, finally... *) Scientists discover fossil of largest raptor dinosaur in southern Argentina A team of Argentine palaeontologists digging in Patagonia has discovered the remains of the largest dinosaur belonging to the raptor family ever recorded. The dinosaur, a new species named Maip macrothorax, was between nine and 10-metres-long, while other "megaraptors" were no longer than nine metres. The carnivorous dinosaur is thought to have inhabited what is now the southern tip of Argentina 70 million years ago during the Cretaceous period.

0:38 - Turkey's president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's first visit to Saudi Arabia in years represents a thaw in Saudi-Turkey relations that hit a low point four years ago. Erdogan hopes the visit will herald a new era of relations after intense efforts to repair strained ties following the aftermath of the Jamal Khashoggi murder in Istanbul in 2018. Before the visit, in a policy reversal, Turkey halted and transferred its own trial of the Saudi suspects in the killing of Khashoggi to Saudi Arabia. According to Reuters, Erdogan met with King Salman in an official ceremony in the al-Salam palace in the Red Sea city of Jeddah, and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom's de facto ruler, attended the ceremony before having a one-on-one meeting with Erdogan. The hosts take stock of the shift in the relations between two important countries in the region with a range of important aligned interests.  12:52 -President Biden's pick to be US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia is Michael Ratney, a career diplomat. Ratney is currently serving as the acting deputy director of the State Department's Foreign Service Institute (FSI). He was recently the chargé d'Affaires at the US Embassy in Jerusalem, and previously served as the deputy chief of mission at the US Embassy in Qatar as well as the acting deputy assistant secretary for the Levant and Israel and Palestinian Affairs. The veteran diplomat was US special envoy for Syria and served in Mexico City, Baghdad, Beirut, Casablanca and Bridgetown. The post has been vacant since John Abizaid left in January 2021.Historically, but not always, US ambassadors to Saudi Arabia have been political appointees with deep military ties, like General Abizaid. Ratney is the first foreign-service officer to be in line for the post since Charles Freeman in 1989. 23:19 - Dr. Fatimah Alhamlan from King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center (KFSHRC) and founder of Rofaida, a Women's Health Organization, joins The 966. Dr. Alhamlan joins to talk about her life's journey that took her as a young woman from Medina to becoming an American-educated PHD researcher, Eisenhower fellow, and now as a leader at Saudi Arabia's top globally-ranked hospital.Dr. Alhamlan also discussed the importance of the Saudi scholarship program for students to study abroad, formerly known as the King Abdullah Scholarship, as well as women's empowerment and health issues, and the challenges in creating awareness in Saudi Arabia of key medical and health issues.1:20:00 - Yallah! A discussion of 6 top storylines in Saudi Arabia to get you up to date before the weekend.•Saudi Arabia is targeting a tenfold increase in international airline passengers transiting the kingdom by the end of the decade as it looks to triple annual passenger traffic, an official told Reuters.•Saudi Arabia, a major investor in Lucid, has agreed to buy up to 100,000 Lucid EVs over the next 10 years. The deal is for at least 50,000 vehicles over that time, with Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Finance having an option to purchase up to 50,000 more, according to a report in CNBC.•According to a report by Stephen Kalin in the Wall Street Journal, "Saudi princes have sold more than $600 million worth of real estate, yachts and artwork in the U.S. and Europe since the kingdom's de facto ruler tightened the purse strings of the ultrawealthy ruling family.The transactions represent a radical change of fortune for senior princes who funneled windfalls from oil booms in the 1970s and 1980s into some of the world's most exclusive markets."•The recently announced Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Nonprofit City has appointed David Henry as the chief executive officer of the City, according to a report in Arab News.An industry veteran with over four decades of experience in property development, David has been leading the team responsible for developing the City from the beginning of the project towards the goal of establishing it as a premier ecosystem for youth, and a global center for incubating innovative, educational, and creative enterprises.•Saudi Arabia's new investment law is expected to increase international business by 50 percent, Arab News reports, as it treats both local and foreign investment equally, removing any commercial advantage previously extended to Saudi companies, said Sovereign Saudi Arabia.“By legally enforcing the principle of competitive neutrality to public and private investors, this removes any previous commercial barriers to entry,” said Paul Arnold, managing director of Sovereign Saudi Arabia.•Saudi Arabia has initiated a program for cloud seeding, a weather modification technique, in three regions as part of a plan seeking to increase annual rainfall in the kingdom by 10 to 20 per cent, according to Gulf News.

This is Gabriel Rench with your CrossPolitic Daily News Brief for Monday, April 13th, 2020. 99% of Those Who Died From Virus Had Other Illness, Italy Says bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-18/99-of-those-who-died-from-virus-had-other-illness-italy-says According to Bloomberg News: “More than 99% of Italy's coronavirus fatalities were people who suffered from previous medical conditions, according to a study by the country's national health authority. After deaths from the virus reached more than 2,500, with a 150% increase in the past week, health authorities have been combing through data to provide clues to help combat the spread of the disease. The average age of those who've died from the virus in Italy is 79.5. As of March 17, 17 people under 50 had died from the disease. All of Italy's victims under 40 have been males with serious existing medical conditions.” AG Barr to take action against government officials threatening churches https://www.christianpost.com/news/ag-barr-to-take-action-against-government-officials-threatening-churches.html According to the Christian Post: “The office of Attorney General William Barr said action will be taken against officials who single out religious organizations to enforce social distancing rules in place to reduce the spread of the new coronavirus. “During this sacred week for many Americans, AG Barr is monitoring govt regulation of religious services,” Barr spokeswoman Kerry Kupec wrote on Twitter Saturday night ahead of Easter. “While social distancing policies are appropriate during this emergency, they must be applied evenhandedly & not single out religious orgs. Expect action from DOJ next week!” AG Barr is absolutely right that rules need to be applied evenhandedly. State after state has implemented arbitrary standards with little or no justification. Why can Amazon or Walmart remain open and churches closed? What is an essential job and what is a non-essential job? Why can Mayor De Blasio go workout at his local gym and threaten to close churches permanently if they hold a service? Or the Mayor of Greenville, Mississippi orders cops to ticket parishioners of a driven worship service, while the cops don't wear facemask?  And just this past Sunday, parishioners showed up for an Easter Service Maryville Baptist Church in Hillview, Kentucky, only to find nails scattered in the parking lot entrance. Police show up, not to investigate the vandalism, but to record license plates and place warning signs on everyone's cars. This was at the order of Gov. Andy Beshear. https://www.theblaze.com/kentucky-church-police-license-plates-nails Meanwhile Senator Rand Paul, you know the Republican Senator from Kentucky, tweeting this: “Taking license plates at church? Quarantining someone for being Christian on Easter Sunday? Someone needs to take a step back here. Kentucky Governor Announces Plan to Record License Plates of Easter Church Goers and Force Them to Quarantine for 14 Days” Coronavirus may give President Trump a long-sought chance to privatize the Postal Service https://news.yahoo.com/trump-coronavirus-privatize-us-portal-service-173250637.html "Amid a cash crunch threatening to put the U.S. Postal Service out of business, the Trump administration is being accused of blocking bipartisan efforts to provide money to the agency as part of a long-sought conservative effort to privatize mail delivery. The coronavirus pandemic has led to a precipitous drop in mail deliveries, worsening a crisis for an already financially troubled service. Last week, Postmaster General Megan Brennan said financial woes exacerbated by the pandemic could cause the agency to run out of money by October. The $2 trillion coronavirus stimulus package passed on March 25 did not provide assistance for the Postal Service, despite bipartisan support for the funding, according to an aide to the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, which has jurisdiction over the Postal Service. Instead, the legislation only allowed the Postal Service to borrow $10 billion from the Treasury Department. While the administration says it is working with the Postal Service, Ronnie Stutts, the president of the National Rural Letter Carriers Association, accused the White House and Treasury Department of blocking postal funding as part of an effort to privatize the agency. “Everything was going good with this until they got to the White House,” Stutts said. Yahoo News goes on to report: “While the Postal Service is a quasi government agency, it is in a unique position since it has not been funded by taxpayer dollars since the 1980s. Instead, the post office relies on its own revenue from mail services. While the Postal Service has made a profit, it has been facing financial woes since 2006, when legislation was passed requiring the Postal Service to pre-fund retirement for its workers. Prior to the coronavirus pandemic, the Postal Service was already in dire straits with its liabilities and debt vastly outpacing revenue. Last year, the U.S. Government Accountability Office described the “overall financial picture” of the Postal Service as “deteriorating and unsustainable.”" OPEC+ reaches deal on record oil supply cut amid coronavirus pandemic https://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/opec-plus-deal-global-oil-supply-cut According to Fox Business: "OPEC, Russia and other oil-producing nations agreed on Sunday to cut output by a record amount, representing around 10% of global supply, to support oil prices amid the coronavirus pandemic. The group, known as OPEC+, agreed to reduce output by 9.7 million barrels per day (bpd) for May-June, after four days of marathon talks and following pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump to arrest the price decline. Two OPEC+ sources told Reuters the deal had been sealed in a video conference on Sunday, and the agreement was confirmed in a statement from by Kazakhstan's energy ministry. In the biggest oil output cut ever, the countries will keep gradually decreasing curbs on production in place for two years until April 2022." In responsTrump tweeted: “The big Oil Deal with OPEC Plus is done. This will save hundreds of thousands of energy jobs in the United States. I would like to thank and congratulate President Putin of Russia and King Salman of Saudi Arabia. I just spoke to them from the Oval Office. Great deal for all!” Oil started out at $70 per barrel and is currently sitting at $32 per barrel, because of the oligarchy infighting and the coronapanic.  This is Gabriel Rench with Crosspolitic News. Support Rowdy Christian media and join our club at fightlaughfeast.com. We really can't grow without our club members support, so please consider joining our club. Just three starbucks cups of coffee a month, you get a Fight Laugh Feast t-shirt, discount to our annual conference, and access to master classes on parenting, Christian business principles, God and Government, and backstage interviews with people like Voddie Baucham, Douglas Wilson, James White, Tom Ascol, Erick Erickson, and David French. You can find all our shows on our app, which you can download at your favorite app store, just search “Fight Laugh Feast”. Lastly, we hope to meet you at our first annual Fight Laugh Feast Conference in Nashville, TN October 1st through the 3rd. Go to fightlaughfeast.com to register now. Have a great day. Lord bless  

2:10 - Richard's "One Big Thing" this week: Al Dawaa Medical Services Co., one of the largest pharmaceutical retail companies in Saudi Arabia, will list 25.5 million shares on the Saudi Stock Market (Tadawul) seeking to raise about $500 million. Al Nahdi Medical Co., the kingdom's largest pharmacy retail chain, plans to seek about $1.3 billion in an IPO in the next few months in what could be the largest share sale in the kingdom since state oil giant Saudi Aramco went public in 2019...10:35 - Lucien's "One Big Thing" this week: The Saudi Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources has opened the next stage for licensing the Khnaiguiyah site, the largest exploration site in the Kingdom. Extensive exploration work already has been carried out at Khnaiguiyah site, covering 100,000m drilled and a 3D geological model. The Saudi Geological Survey has confirmed the site's considerable geological potential of approximately 26mn tons of zinc and copper, both critical minerals for the global energy transition. With over 40 years of experience in the sector, Amr talks about the importance of the revitalization of the mining sector in the Kingdom and the opportunities that are waiting for investors. 25:10 - How has Saudi foreign policy evolved since the rise of King Salman, and how the Kingdom's position and influence in global affairs has grown? This is the starting point for The 966's discussion with Amr Khashoggi, who begins by placing it in context starting with the 9/11 attacks and the damage that did to U.S.-Saudi relations and Saudi Arabia's reputation. After those attacks, Amr represented the Kingdom in delegations that engaged directly with graduate students and professors at U.S. Universities for several years. Amr also discussed how the U.S.-Saudi relationship remains strong and endures from president to president and has withstood an array of tests and challenges. 47:52 - The conversation pivots to talking about Amr Khashoggi's work as chairman of Amkest Group, how his business has grown under the Kingdom's Vision 2030 economic and social diversification plans, and the renewable energy space, in which Amkest is invested. The group then discusses the good work that Amr is doing with Qaederoon, which is a successful non-profit in Saudi Arabia and with an inspiring mission.1:17:00 - Yallah!

Saudi Arabia's changing society, economy, and the impact of King Salman with guest David Rundell, author of the book Vision or Mirage, Saudi Arabia at the Crossroads. 7:16 - Richard's one big thing this week is the Saudi Games 2022 will welcome 6,000 athletes in March - the first time this huge event has been held in the Kingdom.6000 athletes from both sexes will compete in 45 sports in the host city Riyadh from March 10 - 20 with big prizes awarded.13:08 - Lucien's one big thing is a new report from the World Bank highlights the truly staggering annual cost of pollution in the MENA Region. Air pollution alone costs the MENA region about $141 billion a year, or 2% of economic output. Air pollution levels in MENA's largest cities are among the highest in the world. The average citizen in these cities is breathing in air that is 10 times more polluted than the WHO says is safe. The World Bank study said air pollution causes about 270,000 deaths a year, and the average MENA resident is sick at least 60 days in his/her lifetime due to exposure to elevated air pollution levels.The report talks about damage to the region's seas and coasts, which is especially interesting for Saudi Arabia as it is full steam ahead with plans to develop its Red Sea coastline for tourism.24:05 - The hosts take advantage of David Rundell's extensive experiences and knowledge about Saudi Arabia, and ask about the important role of Saudi Arabia's King Salman, changes in Saudi Arabia, and the "stakeholders" outlined in David's book, Vision or Mirage: Saudi Arabia at the Crossroads. 1:05:35 - Yallah!•Authorities in Saudi Arabia released the new logo for the “Founding Day,” a new holiday in Saudi Arabia to be celebrated in February, which includes various historical and traditional symbols linked to the glories, heroisms and nobility of the Saudi state. Per Arab News, "The phrase “Foundation Day — 1727 AD” is written below in a font inspired by several ancient manuscripts chronicling the history of the first Saudi state, so that the logo's comprehensive message is linked to the values ​​that represent the common Saudi culture, and conveys the meanings of pride, enthusiasm, authenticity, interdependence, hospitality, generosity, knowledge and science."•Organizers for the upcoming World Defense Show in Riyadh said they have sold out all of its pavilllions, as the Kingdom gears up to host its first major global defense and security event of its kind in Saudi Arabia. On March 5, as a pre-cursor to the inaugural World Defense Show, the first-ever Riyadh Defense Forum will be conducted by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS). Founded by the General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI), the World Defense Show will kick off the first day with a "spectacular opening ceremony featuring live demonstrations of interoperable defense capabilities across all key domains."•U.S. Central Command boss Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr said there is ‘Rare Opportunity' to Integrate Air, Missile Defense in Gulf Region, according to a report from Airforcemag.com. McKenzie said that “the most immediate and credible threats to the American homeland” are still coming from the Middle East. Iran “remains the central threat around which U.S. Central Command is organized and my top priority as its commander,” McKenzie said in remarks to the Middle East Institute. "Specifically, my mission is to deter Iran from undertaking malign activities that undermine the security and stability of the region.”•Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) has been assigned debut ratings by agencies Fitch and Moody's, receiving an ‘A' rating and ‘A1' rating, respectively. The PIF is looking to extend credit facilities and raise public debt to fund its ambitious spending and investment commitments at home and abroad, according to the Financial Times. Fitch said when issuing the rating, "“It is Fitch's view that the government has an oversight over PIF, notably over its investment and funding strategies through its Board of Directors, which is chaired by the Crown Prince and governed by appointed Ministries and government officials. Since 2015 PIF is organised under Council of Economic and Development Affairs of Saudi Arabia (CEDA) chaired by the Crown Prince, which is the supervisory body over PIF's operations. As the key policy -driven economic agent of Saudi Arabia, Fitch does not expect changes to PIF's status, ownership and control over the medium term.”•Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD) has approved the introduction of work from home in the government sector. The ministry's approval of telework as a new method of work in the government sector is part of achieving diversification and ensuring continuity of jobs in various work environments.•The Richard Mille AlUla Desert Polo 2022 is set to become the first modern polo tournament in the world to be staged in the desert. Taking place on 11 – 12 February, the event will bring together polo patrons and professionals from around the world. Organized by RCU in partnership with the SPF and Richard Mille, the event marks the second season of the two-day tournament, first introduced by RCU in 2020. Richard Mille became the name sponsor as of today.

1:16 - Richard's one big thing is a recent item by Ali Shihabi for the Hoover Institution, The Saudi Succession And The Sociocultural-Religious Reforms Of Mohammed Bin Salman.4:43 - Lucien's one big thing is Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) has created a new hospitality company called The Boutique Group that will transform palaces into ultra-lux hotels. The Boutique Group will convert iconic historic and cultural palaces into luxurious boutique hotels in Saudi Arabia, and then manage them. 8:11 - Natural gas production in Saudi Arabia is booming. The hosts discuss the how and the why of the Kingdom's natural gas production boom.Natural gas production is up 30% since 2010, according to the US Energy Information Agency.What is significant about Saudi Arabia ramping up gas output is not only the increase itself, but the type of increase it is seeing, and why.The EIA released a report on Saudi Arabia's natural gas production, noting that it is standalone natural gas wells growing the industry, instead of associated natural gas production (natural gas produced as a by-product of oil production).“Oil production cuts related to the December 2016 OPEC+ agreement have reduced Saudi Arabia's associated natural gas production (natural gas produced as a by-product of oil production). However, the country's total natural gas output has steadily grown over the past two decades because of the development of non-associated, or stand-alone, natural gas fields,” the EIA said.Natural gas is also an important factor in the Kingdom's hydrogen goals and in its overall energy mix.  17:50 - Yallah! The hosts begin their segment covering six other storylines from the week to get you up to speed for the weekend.•Per the AP, Thailand's prime minister arrived in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday for the first high-level meeting since relations between the nations soured three decades ago over a sensational jewelry heist that led to a diplomatic row and string of mysterious killings.•The Saudi General Authority for Statistics reported that non-oil exports in November 2021 totaled $6.9 billion, up from $5.5 billion in November 2020. An increase of 26.1%. Non-oil exports also increased 9% from October to November 2021.•ESL Gaming and FACEIT merge, with the companies bought by Saudi-backed PIF for $1.5bn. •Elm Co., a digital security firm owned by Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, is seeking to raise as much $820 million from an IPO.•Lebanon's leading Sunni Muslim politician Saad al-Hariri said on Monday he would not run in a forthcoming parliamentary election and was suspending his role in political life, urging his political party to do the same....•The Saudi cabinet just met for the first time in person since the covid era began, and it was chaired by King Salman.

2:58 - Rivian's IPO. Rivian, the electric adventure vehicle company, IPOed this week. The stock began trading at $106.75 a share, giving Rivian a market valuation of $91 billion.5:36 - Saudi Arabia gears up to host world's largest camel fest.   8:24 - Saudi Arabia's Red Sea International Festival. This is Saudi Arabia's first-ever film festival, and it will run from December 6-15 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The original date was in 2020. In total, the Red Sea Film Festival will feature 138 feature films and shorts from 67 countries in 34 languages, including 25 world premieres. Among this lineup are a slate of 27 new Saudi features from emerging local filmmakers.13:41 - 7 Years of King Salman. Saudi's worldwide celebrated the 7th anniversary of King Salman ascending to the throne as custodian of the two holy mosques. The second youngest of the Sudairy seven, King Salman is the 7th King of Saudi Arabia. The hosts discuss why he is the Reformer King.35:54 - Saudi Arabia at COP 26. OPEC+ countries, including Saudi Arabia, are defending a future role for fossil fuels at COP26."It is imperative that we recognise the diversity of climate solutions, and the importance of emissions ... without any bias towards or against any particular source of energy," Saudi Arabian Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al-Saud said in a speech to the conference.“We should use all [energy] resources as long as we congregate around mitigating.” 

What was it like to host the G20 in Saudi Arabia, and what was left behind? In 2020, Saudi Arabia became the first Arab nation to assume the G20 presidency. Hosting the G20 is a massive undertaking, involving close to two years of event planning, policy development and strategy, and much more. In the first feature-length interview for The 966, the hosts interview Abdullah AlHassan, who served as Saudi G20 Sous Sherpa and Executive Director of Policy during the Saudi G20 Presidency.The hosts asked Abdullah about the successes and challenges with hosting the G20 in a year the world faced the global pandemic, and discussed the legacy of hosting such a large-scale international diplomatic event. Abdullah also talked about the work that goes on behind the scenes with the G20. The 966 also asked AlHassan, who left the IMF to serve as Sous-Sherpa for the G20 Saudi secretariat and has returned to the IMF, about the legacy of Saudi Arabia's G20 Presidency going forward."Those who work on the G20, which many of them by the way are youth -- this is the human capital that will be left, that's already been left, after the G20 that will continue to sharpen their skills in terms of policy, negotiation, event planning, and so forth," AlHassan told The 966. "Those people who work at the G20, now they are in a different part of the government, executing the government's vision for the future, Vision 2030. So those people, they acquire a unique international skills that now they are able basically to put it into place in order to execute domestic policies that will take the country to a higher level in the future."The G20 is a significant organization. The 20 member-nations represent 90% of global GDP, 80% of world trade, and two-thirds of the world's population."When you have to create this out of whole cloth and go from zero to a hundred, it was really a masterclass for Saudi," SUSTG's president and 966 co-host Richard Wilson noted, adding that a whole generation of Saudis expanded their skillset as a result of working on hosting the G20 meetings in Saudi Arabia.Abdullah AlHassan discussed how he was first tapped to serve his country for the G20 presidency, and how, during his two year sabbatical from the IMF, he worked his way up from senior policy advisor to serving in two more senior roles: Sous-Sherpa and the Executive Director of Policy. "These are basically two jobs. I mean, as a director of policy, you are building the policies, coordinating with at least 12 government entities on a day-to-day basis, trying to execute the presidency agenda...And then as a Sous-Sherpa, more as a political engagement with other Sherpa offices to ensure that they can reach consensus and this creates the issues where needed.Organizing the G20 is a significant undertaking for every host country. But just two months into the Saudi presidency, the organizers were dealt a curveball: how to proceed with the event during the global pandemic."When the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 as a pandemic just before middle of March, we moved swiftly, and his majesty King Salman invited the G20 countries for an extraordinary summit that was held on March 26," AlHassan said. "And it was Chaired by his majesty king Salman. So during the summit, the leaders, they were really committed to addressing both the health and the economic crisis, and at that summit, they sent pretty much two messages....One, protecting life and livelihoods. This is a top priority. And second, ensuring that the economy can get back on its feet over the short term, but also ensuring having a stronger recovery over the medium term.""2020 was a very challenging year globally. You have a healthcare crisis, you have an economic crisis. We have also an election that is happening in many countries. So there are lots of moving parts at the same time, but what you have, you have a commitment from the G20 countries to deal with the issues. Yes, there are some easier issues than another, but as long as you continue to have the dialogue among the G20 countries, you are able to reach a consensus."

This episode tells the story of the rise of Mohammed bin Salman, the brash impulsive son of King Salman who is initially embraced by U.S. officials as a change agent and reformer despite troubling episodes in his past. The episode recounts how the young prince wowed the highest leaders in the U.S. government — playing the “Moonlight Sonata” on the piano in John Kerry's living room. But when the young prince, as the country's new defense minister, launches a savage war in Yemen, slaughtering thousands of civilians, U.S. officials start having doubts about the dark impulses of this new Saudi leader. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

MEDIA CONFIRMATION TO : King Salman speaks with Palestinian president, condemns Israeli aggression – May 21, 2021 – as predicted by Clairvoyant Stoyanka Staikova May 20, 2021 in her Clairvoyant reading : Mahmoud Abbas (President of Palestine) – searching of money, help by Russia…- Clairvoyant reading May 19, 2021 – by Clairvoyant Stoyanka Staikova Published May 20, 2021 : https://dimitrinkastaikova.wordpress.com/2021/05/20/mahmoudabbas-president-of-palestine-there-is-creation-of-a-small-coalition-which-is-in-the-base-of-a-thirdworldwar-the-nato-alliance-is-on-the-verge-of-collapse-and-there-is-a-new/ HOTTEST NEWS PREDICTIONS Psychic News by Clairvoyant House “Dimitrinka Staikova and daughters Stoyanka and Ivelina Staikova” – from Europe,Bulgaria,Varna. Mahmoud Abbas (President of Palestine) – searching of money, help by Russia…- Clairvoyant reading May 19, 2021 – by Clairvoyant Stoyanka Staikova http://ClairvoyantDimitrinkaStaikova.weebly.com Mahmoud Abbas ‘ health : There is pain at the forehead that goes to the eyes and it is leaving through the back of the head. I see pain at the throat. A severe pain and bone spurs. There is inflammation at the muscles of the upper part of the back. I'll thyroid gland , ill kidneys , stomach , genitals , the entire back of his body is painful. The urinary tract is inflamed. Mahmoud Abbas is getting a support – financial support and protection by a men with Royal Blood and a crown on his head ( the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia ). (MEDIA CONFIRMATION) I see in Palestine the Judiciary is crossed out , the power is in the hands of the intelligence . A big sum of money – divided at two parts – the one part is promised for military actions , but the money are crossed out. There is an upcoming travel at west , a lot of nerves. I see searching of money , ships with people , rockets and weapons coming in Palestine from East ( Russia ). I see the transport of goods with ships in which are coming also two radioactive weapons ( very powerful ) – I see them hidden in a storage – a building. They have an access to a satellite observation. MEDIA CONFIRMATION : King Salman speaks with Palestinian president, condemns Israeli aggression – May 21, 2021 https://www.arabnews.com/node/1862561/saudi-arabia PART OF OUR UPCOMING EBOOK : NAZI TREASURES AND SECRETS, EXPERIMENTS, TECHNOLOGIES, POLITICS, WAR – NOW AND IN THE FUTURE – THROUGH THE EYES OF BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, MAHMOUD ABBAS (PALESTINE), PAVEL DUROV (RUSSIAN BILLIONAIRE – FOUNDER OF TELEGRAM), THE NAZIS' GOLD HIDDEN IN MINSKOWSKIE (POLAND), THE NAZI BELL… Click here to read more : https://dimitrinkastaikova.wordpress.com/2021/05/23/media-confirmation-to-kingsalman-speaks-with-palestinian-president-condemns-israeli-aggression-may-21-2021-as-predicted-by-clairvoyant-stoyankastaikova-may-20-2021-in-her-clairvoyant-r/

Few knew of Mohammed bin Salman (MbS) six years ago when his father, King Salman, appointed him the Saudi minister of defense. Today, few can forget him thanks to endless attention from by the media. Why was MbS chosen as Saudi Arabia’s future leader? How goes his grand project to remake a despotic monarchy long in cahoots with radical Islam and dependent on oil revenues?

On today's update, we have the latest coronavirus figures, a Dubai draft law proposes to freeze rents for three years and the UAE has moved one position up in the Henley Passport index, which tracks the strongest passports globally. A survey has found employees in the UAE are divided over working remotely or returning to the office, and Joe Biden's administration announced it will withdraw US troops from Afghanistan by September 11. Thoraya Abdullahi joins us for what's trending, including King Salman, Israel and Moderna.

The Society Show with Christian Patterson, bringing you international news you may have missed, mixed with a barrage of soundboard clips, and propaganda. This episode is primarily focused on African stories, but some others from around the world. On today's episode: - Succession Japan: Shinzo Abe resigns, who will replace him? - A Baloch was killed in Pakistan, sparking Baloch Nationalist protests - The King of Thailand is a rich sex weirdo - Boaters for Trump sunk - 37 million people have been displaced by US war on terror - Delay on the Mexican train opposed by local Mayans - Due to Covid, Peru has to turn back on some ancient Inca funeral rituals - King Salman moved some princes out of government posts after corruption allegations - Qatar gives 170,000 Palestinians in Gaza Strip some cash - Management of prestigious Hungarian university resigned after Viktor Orban attempts takeover - Floods washed away about 25% of Nigeria's rice yields - A Japanese cargo ship carrying 58 people and 5,800 cows sunk in typhoon - Indian police seal off city to prevent Shi'ite celebration, turns into riots All of that, and much much more, this is the Society Show!

A new biography of Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman by New York Times Beirut bureau chief Ben Hubbard tells the story of how the young prince rose to power. Speaking with CBS News' Elaine Quijano, Hubbard shares how MBS out maneuvered siblings and family members to gain control after his father, King Salman, ascended to the throne in 2015. Hubbard discusses bin Salman's loosening of strict Islamic social codes, his relationship with the Trump administration, the detention of princes and businessmen in the Riyadh Ritz-Carlton, and brutal killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. He shares what lies ahead for the Kingdom and the 34-year-old prince. In the new biography, "MBS: The Rise To Power Of Mohammed bin Salman," Hubbard chronicles how the Crown Prince has been seen as a transformative visionary — but also as an inexperienced leader, whose rash decisions are destabilizing the world's most volatile region.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has arrested a number of potential rivals to the Saudi throne. Those detained include former Crown Prince Muhammad bin Nayef, a cousin of MBS who was deposed by him in 2017, and King Salman's younger brother Ahmed bin Abdulaziz, a senior royal who is opposed to the succession of the crown prince.

There's neither blood nor tanks on the streets of Riyadh, but what has happened in Saudi Arabia in recent days represents a revolution of sorts. King Salman and his son, Crown Prince Mohammed have launched a purge of princes, ministers and potential rivals - part of a grand plan to entrench their power and transform the country. HARDtalk's Stephen Sackur speaks to Saudi journalist, commentator and current political exile Jamal Khashoggi. Is the Saudi drama about raw power or real reform?

It appears somebody powerful wants to use the hidden history of 9/11 to pressure the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia--and the Saudis are pushing back.  King Salman has let it be known that he will sell off the kingdom's holdings of US Treasury bonds--the third largest reserve in the world--if a bill in Congress that would allow the Saudis to be held accountable for whatever role they might have played in the events of September 11, 2001. Also: Deadly earthquakes in Ecuador and Japan; more provocation from Russian military pilots; and NASA finds 72 previously unknown Near Earth Objects.

We usually think of propaganda as a tool used by autocrats eager to manipulate minds and limit rights we take for granted in the West. Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong-un or King Salman bin Abdulaziz wouldn't have a chance with us.But Western culture is steeped in propaganda that's more insidious and less blatant.Support the show: http://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

79-year-old King Salman has taken the Saudi throne, promising security and stability. But what do his past and his first acts as king tell us about how the country might change under his rule and beyond? Our Inquiry hears from a newspaper editor and an ex-spy who have both met him and from Saudis who hope for change.Presenter: Helena MerrimanPhoto: New Saudi King Salman attends a ceremony following the death of the late Saudi King at the Diwan royal palace in Riyadh (Credit: Reuters)