Author: Rushdi al-Pashia

Soccer in Saudi Arabia has entered a new era — the era of having global superstars play on Saudi turf. The 31-year-old Brazilian soccer star Neymar just became the latest addition to the now star-studded Pro League, which also includes five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo. “Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar are among the most popular players in the world,” said Fahad Nazer, spokesperson for the Saudi Embassy in the U.S., in an interview with CNBC. “This is what we’re doing by bringing household names like that to the Saudi league. We are elevating the level of play.” Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund,…

Supreme Commander-in-Chief Kassym-Jomart Tokayev addressed the military personnel. The head of state highly appreciated the level of preparedness of the units involved. The President noted the importance of conducting such military exercises in a difficult geopolitical situation. “Today, large-scale changes are taking place in the global defense system. Modern methods and techniques of warfare, especially hybrid types of warfare, are becoming increasingly widespread. Attacks can be not only military, but also informational, psychological, political, economic and other in nature. Therefore, the Armed Forces the forces of Kazakhstan must be ready for any challenges. This is the main requirement for a…

A missile strike launched by Russian forces into the center of the Ukrainian city of Chernihiv killed seven people — including a six-year-old girl — and injured more than 100, the Ukrainian Interior Ministry said on Saturday. “An ordinary Saturday, which Russia turned into a day of pain and loss,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on the social media site Telegram. A central square, a polytechnic school and a theater were damaged in the attack, he said. The strike came as Zelenskyy was was traveling to Sweden for talks with Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. The leaders discussed the possible supply of Gripen jets for Kyiv’s…

Berlin, Warsaw (11/8 – 60) The Russian invasion of Ukraine has yet to see an end. Russia has mobilized everything in its power to overcome Ukraine, including recruiting citizens of Kazakhstan to join its military forces. Russia lures Kazakh citizens through digital recruitment advertisements, recently prominent on a number of the country’s internet user pages. Several pop-up ads have started appearing on the internet pages of Kazakh residents, announcing openings for enlistment in the Russian army, with a joining-up bonus of more than USD 5,000. The advert cleverly targets the patriotic soft side of the Kazakhs, displaying flags of the…

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Sunday launched a SR750 million ($200 million) fund for early investment in local and international high-tech companies, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The initiative is part of a strategy announced for the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology. It aims to transform research into economically productive innovations by focusing on the national priorities for research, development, and innovation. The key areas include health and wellness, sustainable environment and essential needs, energy and industrial leadership, and economies of the future. HIGHLIGHTS The new strategy focuses on increasing the likelihood of turning…

TASHKENT. KAZINFORM – Kazakhstan imported 2,500 tons of apples from January through May this year from Uzbekistan, Trend.az reports. According to official information, during the reporting period, Kazakhstan became the leader in the import of apples from Uzbekistan. In general, Uzbekistan exported 4,400 tons of apples to seven countries in the first five months of this year, worth $ 1.8 million, while reducing exports by 702 tons compared to the same period in 2022. Furthermore, Kazakhstan (2,500 tons), Russia (764 tons), and Turkmenistan (649 tons) are among the leading countries in the purchase of apples from Uzbekistan. The export of apples from…

Saudi Arabia’s embassy in Lebanon urged its citizens to leave the country as soon as possible, and to avoid approaching areas where there have been armed clashes. In a statement posted late Friday on X, formerly known as Twitter, the embassy warned Saudi citizens not to visit areas where armed clashes were taking place, the official Saudi news agency SPA reported. The kingdom did not specify which areas in Lebanon it was advising its citizens to avoid. The embassy stressed “the importance of adhering to the Saudi travel ban to Lebanon”, the statement added. Kuwait also issued an advisory early…

Frankfurt, Brussels (4/8 – 30) As the political crackdown on any form of opposition in Russia continues almost a year after Russia’s invasion to Ukraine, the persecution of Russian environmental activists is also on the rise. A new report by the Ecological Crisis Group details how law enforcement agencies are targeting environmentalists with Russia’s new anti-war legislation. Eco-activists are targeted for allegedly discrediting the armed forces or spreading fake news about what Moscow insists to name a “Special Military Operation” – the War on Ukraine. More than 60 eco-activists have been prosecuted for anti-war actions since the beginning of 2022.…

SEOUL, South Korea (AP): A bilateral consulting group of South Korean and US officials met Tuesday in Seoul to discuss strengthening their nations’ deterrence capabilities against North Korea’s evolving nuclear threats. The Nuclear Consultative Group was established as part of agreements Presidents Joe Biden and Yoon Suk Yeol made when they met in April. Seoul officials say the body is tasked with sharing information on nuclear and strategic weapons operation plans and discussing joint operations. The U.S. would retain operational control of U.S. nuclear weapons, and Washington officials say the group’s establishment and other steps announced in April were meant…

Cristiano Ronaldo said there is no chance of him playing club football in Europe again and that the Saudi Arabian league is better than Major League Soccer, where his great rival Lionel Messi has chosen to begin the next chapter in his career. Ronaldo, who joined Al Nassr in December on a 2-1/2 year contract following his exit from Manchester United, said he had paved the way for other top players to sign with Saudi teams and that more would make the move to the desert kingdom. The 38-year-old Portugal captain, speaking after Al Nassr’s 5-0 loss to Celta Vigo in a pre-season…