All articles tagged with #saudi arabia
President Trump sent the 30-year civil-nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia to Congress for review, linking its fate to Riyadh joining the Abraham Accords with Israel; lawmakers fear it could accelerate nuclear capabilities and proliferation, while Saudi leaders demand a clear path to Palestinian statehood and increased U.S. involvement in developing the program.
China-based AG.AL clinched a surprise Esports World Cup victory in Paris after seven weeks of competition, securing the $7m top prize and beating the defending champions; the event, moved from Riyadh over safety concerns, drew a global audience with highlights including 15-year-old Craime’s Street Fighter 6 win and Ronaldo’s esports reveal, while critics flag Saudi involvement as 'sportswashing' even as organizers plan a return to Riyadh next year and the tournament boasted hundreds of millions of viewers and thousands of players from around the world.
France and Saudi Arabia have inked a 6-billion-euro (about $7 billion) plan to build three amusement parks near Paris, including a Dragon Ball Z-inspired park, expected to create over 20,000 jobs as part of France’s push to attract foreign investment during Macron’s state visit.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced a €6 billion investment to build three theme parks near Paris, to be developed in Cergy-Pontoise on the former Mirapolis site and featuring a manga-themed attraction. Led by the investment firm Qiddiya, the project was unveiled during Macron’s visit and is expected to create about 22,000 jobs, marking a major boost to the Paris area as a new global destination.
France and Saudi Arabia agreed to build a 6 billion euro Dragon Ball Z–themed amusement park near Paris (Cergy-Pontoise), financed by Qiddiya, expected to create about 22,000 jobs; construction will take years and is part of Saudi diversification beyond oil, with many details and an opening date still to be decided.
Greg Norman, LIV Golf’s former CEO, says he is gutted by LIV’s demise as Saudi-backed funding winds down; with Norman replaced in 2025, LIV is pursuing a lead investor deal amid a compressed timeline, a scaled-back schedule, and smaller purses as it seeks to secure continued backing.
Saudi Arabia will invest six billion euros ($7 billion) to build three mega theme parks on the outskirts of Paris (Cergy-Pontoise), financed by the Qiddiya entertainment group. Macron called the announcement extraordinary and said the projects would create about 22,000 jobs, with a scale unmatched since Disneyland Paris; one park is rumored to be Dragon Ball-themed.
Yemen's Houthi forces say they struck a Saudi oil tanker in the Red Sea with a ballistic missile as part of a maritime blockade of Bab el-Mandeb. A separate report from the UK Maritime Trade Operations said a tanker near Yanbu was hit by an unknown projectile, causing a fire but with all crew safe. The incidents highlight escalating regional tensions tied to Iran and come as multinational efforts to defend Red Sea shipping expand.
President Macron will host Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in a two-day state visit in Paris, kicking off with the Esports World Cup final and continuing with talks on regional security and expanding economic ties. Discussions will cover energy routes bypassing the Strait of Hormuz, the Iran conflict, Gaza-Israel, and broader Gulf stability, with several health, transport, and energy agreements set to be signed, as Riyadh seeks diversified security partnerships highlighted by the Mecca pact with Turkey and Pakistan.
Iran has reportedly received an official invitation to join the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement—signed by Pakistan, Turkey and Saudi Arabia—with Tehran saying the invitation is under consideration; if Tehran joins, the bloc would broaden its mutual-defence framework amid regional tensions. Bangladesh has floated joining, and the pact has drawn attention after U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed the agreement when it was signed.
A Financial Times report suggests Sergio Garcia's outburst at the 2026 Masters accelerated the Saudi Public Investment Fund's decision to pull funding from LIV Golf, though discussions were already underway; the PIF, focusing on domestic commitments, reportedly used the incident as a catalyst to end its LIV financing, with internal talks having begun prior to Garcia's incident.
Government forces say they conducted 81 attacks on Houthi positions in the last 24 hours, while the Houthis claim drone strikes hit Najran, Saudi Arabia (an airport and an Aramco facility). With fighting intensifying and Iran-backed Houthis warning Saudi containment may fail, Yemen risks slipping back into full-scale war. The UN warns of severe food insecurity for millions, and a tanker was boarded off Yemen’s coast, highlighting rising maritime security risks.
Yemen’s conflict has barely moved since the 2022 truce, but missiles and drones are widening the war and government forces are replying more forcefully, signaling that the era of 'no war, no peace' may be ending. The Mokha port episode shows strikes can inflict economic and civilian damage without changing control, with dozens killed and the port closed. Saudi-backed government forces are sharpening readiness on fronts like Taiz, while Houthis aligned with Iran seek to deter a broader push. Politically, the leadership vows to impose a cost for aggression, which could raise the risk of escalation if misread. The war may re-center on logistics, ports, and multi-front defense rather than rapid territorial gains.
Yemen's Houthi movement says it attacked a sensitive target at Najran Airport and Aramco facilities in Najran with attack drones, in retaliation for alleged Saudi airspace violations; Saudi confirmation was not immediately reported.
Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, a NATO-style security pact framed as a Muslim NATO that signals a regional realignment and reduced U.S. sway, with three major powers sharing defence burdens amid tensions with Israel and Iran; experts say it marks a pragmatic shift rather than a direct challenge to Washington.