MUST-READS

• What Syria’s triumphant rebels learned from Al Qaeda’s striking failures

  The lightning victory of Hayʼat Tahrir al-Sham in its stunningly successful offensive to unseat the more than 50-year-old Assad family-led Baathist dictatorship in Syria was highly reminiscent of the manner in which the Taliban pushed down the house of cards that was the nominal Afghan government when the U.S. withdrew from Afghanistan in 2021. It took the Taliban 10 days to race to victory and HTS a mere week to unseat Bashar al-Assad. In both cases the existing regime’s military forces mostly disintegrated, virtually without a fight.

• Saudi Strategic Hedging Between Regional Security Initiatives and the Prospects of Peace with Iran

  The paper intends to explain the Saudi alignment choices, either with US, or China, by utilising the literature on the alliance management. The paper assumes that the multipolar moment provided Saudi Arabia with the ability to choose, whether to align itself with US through a defence pact, or to continue the current strategic partnership with China. The paper shall differentiate between alliance and strategic partnership, and then utilise the theoretical framework presented by Goh and Sahshi to analyse alliance management. In addition, Saudi relations with both US and China is going to be assessed critically, referring to the most recent issues impacting the bilateral arrangements. Finally, the paper will attempt to pinpoint the factors that might push Riyadh to align with either of these two countries.

• Saudi Crown Prince and British PM Starmer hold extensive talks in Riyadh

  Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Starmer held extensive official talks. During the meeting, they reviewed bilateral relations between the Kingdom and Britain as well as joint coordination efforts to enhance bilateral cooperation in various fields. They discussed opportunities to invest in potential resources in both countries, in a way achieving common interests. The latest regional and international developments were also figured in their talks. The leaders also discussed issues of common interest and the efforts made towards addressing them. During the visit, the discussions of Starmer with the Saudi leaders are expected to focus on advancing a potential free trade agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), as well as to strengthening defense and security partnerships, and encouraging increased Saudi investment in the UK. In conjunction with the official visit of Starmer to Saudi Arabia, his office revealed that the launch of the first new project for a graphene-enriched carbon fiber factory in Saudi Arabia will boost jobs in northern England.

• Trump Organization to build luxury housing in Saudi capital: What we know

  The Trump Organization and London-listed Dar Global will launch two new projects in the Saudi capital of Riyadh, as the incoming US president’s family business continues to invest in the Gulf and capitalize on the region's growing real estate sector. The real estate projects will be the fourth and fifth between the two companies, they announced in a statement Monday. The two companies this week will also launch the Trump Tower in Jeddah, the third project between Dar Global and the Trump Organization. The Jeddah project is aimed at the luxury Saudi market and international investors, Dar Global said in a statement.

• Saudi Arabia says Israel’s Golan buffer zone seizure confirms continued Israeli violation of international law

  Israel’s decision to seize Syrian-held areas in a UN-patrolled buffer zone in the Golan Heights and its attacks on Syrian territory confirm continued Israeli violation of international law, Saudi Arabia said on Monday. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Sunday he had ordered the army to “seize” the demilitarised zone in the Syrian-controlled part of the Golan Heights after militants swept Syrian president Bashar Assad from power. A statement issued by the Kingdom’s Foreign Ministry said the move showed Israel’s determination to sabotage Syria’s chances of restoring its security, stability, and territorial integrity.

• Saudi minister meets Elon Musk to discuss collaboration in space and AI

  Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology Eng. Abdullah Al-Swaha met with American billionaire Elon Musk to discuss ongoing partnerships in space and artificial intelligence sectors. This meeting underscores Saudi Arabia's commitment to advancing its technological landscape through strategic collaborations. In recent developments, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology organized a workshop with the United States, involving over 20 entities from both public and private sectors. The workshop aimed to enhance digital partnerships between the two nations, support innovation in the telecommunications sector, and foster collaboration between the public and private sectors.

• Saudi Arabia calls on international community to translate two-state solution into action

  “If the international community is interested in protecting what remains of the credibility of its rules and institutions, it must join hands with Saudi Arabia and regional countries that are serious about peace in order to translate words into deeds and embody the two-state solution on the ground. It is time for us to overcome the stagnation that has marred the peace process over the past years, and move from talking about peace to making peace,” he said while delivering a special keynote address at the 20^th session of the Manama Dialogue Forum 2024 on Saturday. “The crises and conflicts that occur in it have effects that extend beyond the borders of the region, affecting international security and stability, and posing a threat to the safety of the global economy. There must be a serious political will to establish peace, overcome crises, and respond to the requirements of development and economic integration.”

• Niemann wins PIF Saudi International and International Series Rankings title

  Torque GC Captain Joaquin Niemann completed a memorable season by winning the US$5million PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers following a dramatic playoff victory against Ripper GC Captain Cameron Smith and Legion XIII member Caleb Surratt. Niemann made a brilliant birdie following an exquisite lob shot to 12 inches on the second playoff hole to earn the trophy at Riyadh Golf Club, after Smith and Surrat missed their birdie attempts. The victory, worth US$1 million, also saw him finish top of The International Series rankings after an incredibly close finish to the race. It was a thrilling finish to the season-ending event on the Asian Tour and The International Series, which is also the most lucrative event of the season.

• This Saudi dish transports you to the desert

  Hadeel Al Motawa is the co-founder of Takya, a restaurant that serves Saudi food with a contemporary spin. She shows CNN how to make one of her favorite recipes, qeshd, a dessert made of dates and dough.

• Driven to succeed: the rise of Dania Akeel
  Saudi Arabian rally driver Dania Akeel, a rising star in motorsport, traces her journey back to weekend motorcycle circuit racing in the UAE, a leisure activity that ignited her love for speed. But it was the Dakar Rally, hosted in her homeland, that inspired her to switch to rally racing. “Growing up riding quad bikes in the desert, rallying felt natural,” she recalls. Her first exposure to the Dakar as a spectator lit the spark, but it was the pandemic in 2021 that solidified her transition. With travel restricted, she turned her focus to Saudi Arabia’s rally scene, finding a seamless and thrilling new path in motorsport. Now, as she prepares for her fourth Dakar Rally in 2025, Dania reflects on a journey that has taken her from spectator to top-10 finisher, embodying resilience and ambition every step of the way.

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