MUST-READS

• Blinken planning to visit Saudi Arabia this weekend

  Blinken is expected to participate at a special meeting of the World Economic Forum that will take place in Riyadh on April 28-29, the sources said. U.S. officials say Blinken is also considering traveling to Israel as part of this trip and meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior officials.

• Saudi Arabia’s cinema revenue soars to over $986 million in just six years

  Saudi Arabia’s cinema industry has generated revenue of SAR3.7 billion ($986.42 million) just six years after the opening of its first cinemas. According to government data from the General Authority of Media Regulation, the industry sold from April 2018 to March of the current year, over 61 million tickets, screening a total of 1,971 films, including 45 local productions. This growth highlights the rapid adoption of cultural activities in Saudi Arabia, aligning with the goals of Vision 2030 to diversify the economy and improve the quality of life.

• Saudi ministry shuts 67 erring hospitality facilities in 3 months

  The Ministry of Tourism has shut down as many as 67 tourism hospitality facilities, including hotels and residential apartments, across the Kingdom during the first three months of 2024. The punitive measures were taken after detection of various violations during inspection tours carried out by the ministry officials, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

• Inside the White House’s Scramble to Avert a Bigger Middle East War

  Over the course of 19 days, U.S. officials raced to contain escalating tensions between Israel and Iran amid a series of attacks. WSJ’s Michael R. Gordon on what was going on behind the scenes as the White House worked to prevent a bigger conflict.

• Saudi Arabia’s King Salman in hospital for routine check up – TV

• Israel’s Iran attack carefully calibrated after internal splits, US pressure
  Israel's apparent strike on Iran after days of vacillation was small and appeared calibrated to dial back risks of a major war, even if the sheer fact it happened at all shattered a taboo of direct attacks that Tehran broke days earlier.
  Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's war cabinet had initially approved plans for a strike on Monday night inside Iranian territory to respond forcefully to last Saturday's missile and drones from Iran, but held back at the last-minute, three sources with knowledge of the situation said.

• Perspective: Newcomers Bring New Rules

  The world’s challenges are increasingly complex. Borders could not stop the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, but Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine demonstrated that the kinds of national wars that characterized the 20th century were still relevant. Ideology has faded, and the states of the Global South have grown larger and wealthier. They now expect a larger share of the global pie. While cooperation has become more necessary, the world has entered an era of increased national contestation.

• Saudi Aramco in talks to buy 10% of China’s Hengli Petrochemical
  Saudi oil giant Aramco said on Monday it is in talks to acquire a 10% stake in China's Hengli Petrochemical (600346.SS), opens new tab, a deal which would further bolster Aramco's growing downstream presence in China.
  Aramco (2222.SE), opens new tab is in talks with parent Hengli Group Co and signed a memorandum of understanding over the proposed transaction, which is subject to due diligence and regulatory approvals, Aramco said in a statement.

• The Importance of Venture Capital for Startups in Saudi Arabia

  Startups are a critical component of the 21st-century economy, driving innovation, creating jobs, and fostering national economic growth. In Saudi Arabia, venture capital (VC) is gaining increasing importance in supporting startups and enabling them to grow and thrive. In this article, we'll explore the importance of venture capital for startups in Saudi Arabia and its impact on the national economy.

• Amid Iran-Israel confrontation, large blast at Iraqi base raises questions

  A massive explosion at a base used by Iraqi security forces, including the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), has raised questions over culpability. The blast has particularly grabbed attention as it follows the unprecedented direct exchange of fire between Iran and Israel. While PMU representatives initially blamed the US for the incident, a subsequent retraction has led to speculations about the true nature of the blast. 

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