MUST-READS

• NATO’s narrow window of opportunity for an effective Southern Strategy

  The upcoming Washington Summit will mark the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) 75th anniversary with a wealth of initiatives aimed at further bolstering NATO’s deterrence and defense capabilities while providing Ukraine with a “bridge” toward future membership in the Alliance. Perhaps less known, NATO leaders will also look into revamping the bloc’s engagement with the South — namely, the Middle East and Africa

• Israel turbocharges West Bank settlement expansion with largest land grab in decades

  Israel has approved the largest seizure of land in the occupied West Bank in over three decades, a settlement tracking group said Wednesday, a move that is likely to worsen already soaring tensions linked to the war in Gaza. Authorities recently approved the appropriation of 12.7 square kilometers (nearly 5 square miles) of land in the Jordan Valley, according to a copy of the order obtained by The Associated Press. Data from Peace Now, the tracking group, indicate it was the largest single appropriation approved since the 1993 Oslo accords at the start of the peace process.

• Perspective: If war hits Lebanon, it will be especially hard for the country to pick up the pieces

  The episode reaffirmed the growing rift between a number of Lebanon’s Maronite Christian and Shiite community leaders, which has been widening in recent years. For many Maronites, Hezbollah’s hegemony over Lebanon, its determination to bring in a Maronite president of its own choosing, and its ability to provoke a conflict with Israel without bothering to consult with the Lebanese state or its sectarian counterparts, have all provoked a questioning of their country’s sectarian social contract.

• Ensuring Clean Water Amidst Saudi Arabia’s Development Surge

  According to Turner & Townsend’s International Construction Market Survey (ICMS) 2024, increasing demand, especially in Saudi Arabia (KSA), is driving up construction expenses. Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, has become the priciest city in the region for construction, with costs soaring to $2,593 per square meter due to rapid growth.

• Saudi Arabia announces privatization of 14 sports teams

  The Ministry of Sport announced on Wednesday that 14 teams from various divisions will be privatized as part of the second phase of the second track in the Sports Clubs Investment and Privatization Project. In this phase, sports clubs at various levels will be made available for privatization to both domestic and foreign investors. The first batch of clubs includes six clubs (Al-Zulfi, Al-Nahda, Al-Okhdood, Al-Ansar, Al-Orouba, and Al-Kholood). Investors can visit the NCP website to apply and get the required information if they want to invest in the clubs included in the first batch starting from August 2024. Al-Shoulla, Hajar, Al-Najma, Al-Riyadh, Al-Rawda, Jeddah, Al-Taraji, and Al-Sahel are the next eight clubs whose offerings will be completed sequentially later.

• Secretary Blinken’s Call with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud

  Blinken spoke today with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud.  The Secretary and the Foreign Minister discussed ongoing diplomatic efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza that provides for the release of the hostages, a significant and sustained increase in humanitarian assistance, and improved humanitarian access throughout Gaza.  They continued discussions about how to establish governance, security, and reconstruction in the post-conflict period in a way that builds lasting peace and security, as well as steps to further greater regional integration.

• Saudi POS spending regains momentum with 48% rise

  Saudi Arabia’s point-of-sale spending increased by 48 percent to reach SR12.34 billion ($3.29 billion) from June 23 to 29, with the education sector registering the largest surge. The latest data from the Saudi Central Bank, also known as SAMA, revealed that the transaction value in the sector, which accounts for only 0.05 percent of the total number of transactions, saw a 1,970 percent increase, reaching SR99.06 million during the week.

• Saudi Arabia announces $10 million in aid for Lebanon, inks agreement for 28 projects

  KSrelief and the High Relief Commission in Lebanon also inked an agreement for 28 projects across the country. The announcements came during the signing ceremony between the two commissions at the Grand Serail in Beirut. Mohammed Khair, head of the Higher Relief Committee, signed the agreement of joint cooperation with Abdulrahman Al-Quraishi, director of KSrelief in Lebanon.

• Saudi Arabia accepts over 80% of UN Human Rights Council recommendations

  Saudi Human Rights Commission (HRC) President Dr. Hala Al-Tuwaijri said that Saudi Arabia is committed to attaining the highest international standards in protecting and promoting human rights. She emphasized that this commitment is based on the country's deeply rooted principles and values and the leadership's prioritization of human welfare above all else. Dr. Al-Tuwaijri's remarks came at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Thursday during Saudi Arabia's participation in a session to adopt the results of the fourth cycle of the Universal Periodic Review mechanism.

• European Lithium unveils plans for Saudi Arabia hydroxide plant

  ASX-listed European Lithium has announced a shareholders agreement with Obeikan Group to construct and commission a large-scale hydroxide processing plant in Saudi Arabia to convert spodumene concentrate from the Wolfsberg lithium project, in Australia.

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