MUST-READS

• Former Saudi ambassador: Solution in Gaza ‘doesn’t require magic’

  Prince Turki al Faisal, a former Saudi diplomat and intelligence chief, tells Christiane Amanpour the first step to peace is to "stop the killing."

• Ballon d’Or winner Benzema considering Saudi exit – sources

  The club are said to be reluctant to let their prized summer acquisition leave either on loan or in a permanent deal. However, fellow Saudi Pro League recruit Jordan Henderson stands as an example of a player who has successfully negotiated a release from his contract -- in his case, with Al Ettifaq -- to force a move away from the Gulf state. Al Ittihad have struggled this season and are seventh in the table, 25 points behind leaders Al Hilal having won the title last season. Benzema, who has 2½ years remaining on his contract, has been criticised by the Saudi media for his performances.

• Muvi Leads Rapidly Growing Film Market in Saudi Arabia

  Following the lift of Saudi Arabia’s 35-year theatrical ban six years ago, Muvi Cinemas has established itself as the leading theatrical exhibitor in the kingdom and the fastest-growing theatrical market globally. The homegrown cinema chain, which launched in 2019, is already Saudi Arabia’s leader in both screen and box-office share, boasting 205 screens across 21 locations in 10 different cities. Fifty more screens in six locations are scheduled to open in 2024. Muvi’s domination of the cinematic landscape is particularly impressive, given that Saudi Arabia’s very first sanctioned movie release after restrictions were lifted was “Black Panther,” in April 2018, followed about a week later by “Avengers: Infinity War.” Prior to this, cinemas did not exist in Saudi Arabia between 1983 and 2018, except for one theater opening in 2005 for educational titles only.

• Saudi Arabia interested in Floyd Mayweather vs Manny Pacquiao rematch

  In a surprising twist, Saudi Arabia has expressed keen interest in hosting the much-anticipated rematch between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, reported by WBN. The initial plans for “MayPac II” were revealed by WBN in 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic thwarted any chances of the bout taking place in the Middle East. The fight was subsequently put on hold as Pacquiao continued his professional career.

• Iran Strikes Showcase High-Tech Khaibar-Shekan Missile Designed to Hit Israel

  A string of Iranian cross-border missile attacks showcased a new part of the Islamic Republic’s long-range arsenal for the first time with a weapon potentially capable of hitting Israel directly. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched the precision-guided Khaibar-Shekan, or Khaibar-Breaker, ballistic missile this week in a 1,300 kilometer (800 mile) strike on ISIS in Syria from southwestern Iran, the Tasnim news agency reported. That would make it the farthest such attack in the IRGC’s history.

• Rayan Alyusufi joins The 966 to discuss the Kingdom’s public diplomacy, ‘sharp power,’ and evolution

  The 966 speaks with Rayan Alyusufi, a young Saudi researcher in public diplomacy and international communication to discuss the Kingdom’s public diplomacy, "sharp power," and evolution of Saudi as an emerging diplomatic player. Rayan is a PHD Candidate at Bournemouth University in the United Kingdom. Recently, Rayan wrote a blog post entitled "The Transformation of Saudi Arabia’s Public Diplomacy" for the University of Southern California’s Center for Public Diplomacy website that discussed Saudi Arabia's "significant influence in the international arena."

• Turkish Steel Giant Eyes $5 Billion Investment in Saudi Arabia

  Turkish steelmaker Tosyali Holding AS plans to invest as much as $5 billion in a steel plant in Saudi Arabia, part of an expansion spree that includes Algeria, Angola, Senegal and Spain. The company recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Saudi Arabia, chairman Fuat Tosyali said on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos on Tuesday. The comments come two weeks after the firm announced it bought Spain’s Baika Steel Tubular Systems SL for an undisclosed price.

• Pakistan strikes inside Iran against militant targets, stokes regional tension

  Pakistan used killer drones and rockets to strike separatist Baloch militants inside Iran on Thursday, Pakistani authorities said, two days after Tehran said it had attacked the bases of another group within Pakistani territory. Iranian media said several missiles hit a village in the Sistan-Baluchestan province that borders Pakistan, killing at least nine people. Earlier reports said three women and four children were killed, all non-Iranians.

• US relists Houthis as terrorists in response to Red Sea attacks

  The U.S. government on Wednesday returned the Yemen-based Houthi rebels to a list of terrorist groups in the latest attempt by Washington to stem attacks on international shipping. Officials said the "Specially Designated Global Terrorist" (SDGT) designation, which hits the Iran-aligned group with harsh sanctions, was aimed at cutting off funding and weapons the Houthis have used to attack or hijack ships in vital Red Sea shipping lanes.

• Saudi oil price cut driven by weak market, not policy shift

  Saudi Arabia's cut in official crude oil selling prices to Asia reflects weaker fundamentals of supply and demand, and does not imply a looming shift in OPEC+ policy or a fight for market share, analysts and industry sources said. On Jan. 7, Saudi Arabia reduced the February official selling price (OSP) of its flagship Arab Light crude to Asia to the lowest level in 27 months. Asia is the kingdom's larget market, buying the bulk of Saudi crude.

  • Bloomberg - OPEC Sees Robust Oil Demand Next Year in First Look at 2025
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