MUST-READS

• Saudi Arabia Aims For Global Hydrogen Leadership

  A formal announcement is expected soon. The news follows on a statement by PIF governor and Aramco chairman Yasir Al Rumayyan earlier this year, that Saudi Arabia wants to invest more in green hydrogen and have 15% of ‘blue hydrogen’ production globally. While a national hydrogen strategy first appeared in outline in 2020, the country has moved forward gradually under guidance of the Saudi Ministry of Energy. Its diverse hydrogen pathways include numerous initiatives of state oil company Saudi Aramco and affiliates and the new NEOM project.

• Saudi League edge is good for Senegal team, Mane says
  The presence of many Senegal players in the Saudi Pro League benefits the national team due to the competition's high competitive level, Al-Nassr forward Sadio Mane said on Wednesday. Mane, twice African player of the year, started the season with Al-Nassr strongly, scoring two goals and making five assists in six matches playing alongside all-time great Cristiano Ronaldo. "We’re all in the Senegalese national team," Mane told the Saudi Pro League. "Of course, we sometimes talk about the league and many other things.

• Hezbollah forges new command for crucial ground war after heavy Israeli blows
  Hezbollah is preparing for a long war of attrition in south Lebanon, after Israel wiped out its top leadership, with a new military command directing rocket fire and the ground conflict, two sources familiar with its operations said. Hezbollah has been diminished by three weeks of devastating Israeli blows - most notably the killing of its leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah. Friends and foes alike are now watching how effectively it resists Israeli troops that have crossed into Lebanon with the stated aim of driving it away from the border.

• US still believes Iran has not decided to build a nuclear weapon, US officials say
  The United States still believes that Iran has not decided to build a nuclear weapon despite Tehran's recent strategic setbacks, including Israel's killing of Hezbollah leaders and two largely unsuccessful attempts to attack Israel, two U.S. officials told Reuters. The comments from a senior Biden administration official and a spokesperson for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) added to public remarks earlier this week by CIA Director William Burns, who said the United States had not seen any evidence Iran's leader had reversed his 2003 decision to suspend the weaponization program.

• Why Saudi Arabia’s first women’s world title fight matters

  Saudi Arabia has played host to some of the biggest boxing events over the past 12 months, and on Saturday – for the first time – the Kingdom will host a women's world title fight. Australia's Skye Nicolson will defend her WBC featherweight title against Briton Raven Chapman, on the undercard of Artur Beterbiev v Dmitry Bivol, in Riyadh. "This is a much-needed and big shot in the arm for women's boxing as it joins the Riyadh Season train which is moving to a greater destination for boxing," promoter Eddie Hearn tells BBC Sport.

• Saudi to acquire stake in copper, gold mining project in Pakistan

  Al-Falih further explained that the Saudi company, a joint venture between the Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma’aden) and the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), is expected to invest at least $1 billion in the mining project located in the southwestern Pakistani province of Balochistan. The Reko Diq project, situated near the borders of Afghanistan and Iran, is scheduled to begin production in 2028. Barrick owns 50 per cent of the project, while the Pakistani federal government holds a 25 per cent stake, and the remaining share is owned by the Balochistan provincial government. Saudi is set to buy part of the government stake in the project.

• Saudi Film Confex 2024: catalyzing the growth of Saudi Arabia’s cinema economy

  The four-day confex brings together an array of producers, filmmakers, and specialists from Saudi Arabia and around the world. Discussions during the event revolve around the cultural significance of cinema, its economic impact, and the role of financing in the sector. The confex also underscores the integration of the film industry with other development sectors, which is seen as crucial for achieving growth and leadership in the region.

• Cruise Saudi to Develop Red Sea Private Island

  Barbara Buczek, Cruise Saudi’s chief destination experiences officer, said: “The creation of this new cruise destination in the Red Sea marks an exciting step in the development of Saudi’s cruise industry. We look forward to welcoming cruise lines and their passengers to experience authentic Saudi hospitality, culture and activities in the heart of the Red Sea.”

• Iraq set to pay high price for bumper wheat harvest
  A bumper harvest and a hefty grain surplus in Iraq, typically one of the Middle East's biggest wheat importers, has left the government with the prospect of a net loss of nearly half a billion dollars, according to Reuters calculations. The 1.5 million metric ton wheat surplus, helped by better than expected rains but above all by government subsidies, is excellent news for farmers. For the government, however, which pays them more than double the global market price to encourage cultivation of the food staple in often arid conditions, the price is high.

• Saudi National Day Evolves

  Today, seven years on, Mohammed bin Salman’s reign has become more settled and predictable. The kingdom’s 94th National Day still catered to young people and families but presented more of an establishment feel, complete with military parades and fireworks. Official imagery and national songs extolled the extensive Saudi urban and industrial projects. If the earliest days of this most nationalist of eras promised festivities, now it’s time to get down to work. 

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