MUST-READS

• Over 230,000 Civilians Killed in Syria Since 2011

  The al-Assad family’s regime has fallen after 54 years of power. In a two-week long offensive, Syrian rebels swept across the country, capturing Damascus and, on December 8, President Bashar al-Assad fled to Moscow. Mohammed al-Bashir, who leads one of the armed opposition groups (Hayat Tahrir al-Sham), has now taken charge as interim prime minister until March 1. It’s been 13 years since a popular uprising in Syria was met with a heavy crackdown from the regime, leading to a civil war that internally displaced 7.2 million people and forced a further 6.4 million Syrians to flee abroad as refugees. Data from the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) states that more than 230,000 civilians were killed between March 2011 and March 2024, with 30,193 children and 16,451 women included in the death toll.

• Saudi Crown Prince announces creation of Supreme Commission for Hosting 2034 World Cup

  The Crown Prince will be the chairman of the Board of Directors of the commission, of which the members include Minister of Sports Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal; Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif; Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah; Minister of State and Member of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs Mohammed Al-Sheikh; Minister of Municipalities and Housing Majid Al-Hogail; Minister of Finance Mohammed Al-Jadaan; Minister of Communications and Information Technology Eng. Abdullah Al-Swaha; Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Eng. Ahmed Al-Rajhi; Minister of Transport and Logistics Eng. Saleh Al-Jasser; Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb; Minister of Health Eng. Fahd Al-Jalajel; Minister of State and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Development Bodies Support Center Eng. Ibrahim Al-Sultan; Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Entertainment Authority Turki Al-Sheikh; Governor of the Public Investment Fund Yasir Al-Rumayyan; Advisor to the Royal Court Dr. Fahad Toonsi; Advisor to the Royal Court Abdulaziz Tarabzouni; and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Football Federation Yasser Al-Misehal.

• 2034 Saudi Arabia World Cup: Host cities, stadiums and all you need to know

  A total of 15 stadiums will be used, eleven of which will be new. To host the 48-team World Cup, the kingdom needs 14 all-seater stadiums capable of holding at least 40,000 people. It currently has two: Jeddah's King Abdullah Sports City Stadium and Riyadh's King Fahd International Stadium, which is undergoing a major refit. By the time 2034 arrives, Saudi Arabia is likely to be home to some of the world's leading stadia. Saudi Arabia will become the second Middle Eastern country to host a Fifa World Cup after the kingdom was confirmed as the hosts for the 2034 global finals. The decision was a mere formality with Saudi Arabia the sole bidders to host the 25th edition of the World Cup. The tournament will see 48 national teams take part. Here is everything we know so far about the 2034 World Cup.

• Australia players union slams FIFA over 2034 Saudi World Cup
  Australia's professional soccer players union has condemned the awarding of the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia, saying significant human rights risks are attached to the tournament while questioning FIFA's ability to prevent harm from occurring. FIFA officially awarded the World Cup to the kingdom on Wednesday with the sole bid for the tournament confirmed by acclamation. Professional Footballers Australia boss Beau Busch said it was crucial for the international soccer community to hold FIFA accountable for the decision.

• Saudi Arabia and Navantia Ink New Contract for 3 More Corvettes

  Construction of the first unit will begin this year and the last vessel is scheduled for delivery in 2028. Navantia will be responsible for the delivery of the first unit in Spain and will finalize the second and third units in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the installation, integration and trials of the Hazem Combat System to be done by SAMINavantia, similar to the works carried out on the fourth and fifth units of the first contract. SAMINavantia will supply the complete combat system of the three corvettes. This second batch series of corvettes for Saudi Arabia will be similar to the first batch, with a design based on Navantia’s Avante 2200 model, which is a multipurpose vessel specially designed for patrolling and monitoring of the Exclusive Economic Zone, maritime traffic surveillance and control missions, search and rescue missions and assistance to other vessels, among others. In addition, the vessels will have an important capacity for the defense of strategic assets, intelligence, and anti-submarine, anti-aircraft, anti-surface and electronic warfare capabilities.

• Saudi Arabia FIFA World Cup 2034: Experts, fans say event will be ‘massive’ for Kingdom

  “Not only will it attract global media attention, but it will also allow Saudi Arabia to demonstrate its ability to deliver on major projects,” he said. “An event like the FIFA World Cup puts Saudi Arabia on the map for global leaders and foreign investment. It signifies KSA’s openness to international collaboration, adaptability, and growth.” “With an influx of people, there will be a higher demand for resources and infrastructure to accommodate. Saudi Arabia can use this win as an opportunity to showcase how it uses innovation, modern technology, and sustainability to create a business environment that will appeal to foreign investors and businesses.”

• Saudi Arabia makes history, gaining FIFA World Cup 2034 hosting rights

  The Kingdom officially submitted its bid under the theme "Together We Grow" in July 2024, unveiling ambitious plans to host matches across 15 state-of-the-art stadiums in five host cities: Riyadh, Jeddah, Khobar, Abha, and NEOM. Additionally, 10 other venues will support the tournament’s activities across the country. Saudi Arabia’s vision for the 2034 World Cup includes providing unparalleled experiences for players and fans, offering world-class facilities, and sustainable infrastructure while prioritizing environmental conservation. The advanced transportation network will ensure quick and easy access to stadiums, complemented by streamlined travel procedures to guarantee a seamless and enjoyable experience for visitors. Following the official announcement, Saudi Arabia reiterated its commitment to delivering an extraordinary and unprecedented World Cup. This includes fostering cultural exchange, promoting sustainability, and leaving a lasting legacy for future generations. The tournament represents a unique opportunity to highlight the Kingdom’s transformation under Vision 2030, spearheaded by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and to showcase its remarkable progress across multiple sectors, including sports.

• Gianni Infantino expects “spectacular” FIFA World Cup 2034™ in Saudi Arabia

  The FIFA World Cup Saudi Arabia 2034™ will be the first ever 48-team edition of the tournament to be played in a single host country, with the FIFA World Cup 26™ taking place in Canada, Mexico and the United States, before Morocco, Portugal and Spain co-host the centenary FIFA World Cup 2030™ (preceded by three centenary celebration matches to open the finals in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay).  The FIFA President says the decision to award Saudi Arabia hosting and organisational rights for the World Cup 2034 underlines the country’s growing reputation as a world-class international destination and host of sporting events, including the recently concluded FIFAe World Cup 2024™ at the FIFAe Finals in Riyadh, the inaugural FIFA Series earlier in 2024 and the FIFA Club World Cup Saudi Arabia 2023™.

• Saudi Arabia will host the 2034 FIFA World Cup — a controversial pick

  The world's largest sporting event, the FIFA World Cup, will be held in Saudi Arabia in 2034, soccer's governing body announced Wednesday — a controversial selection that has already drawn criticism from human rights groups. Saudi Arabia's was the only bid for the 2034 tournament, making its announcement on Wednesday a formality. And it is the biggest jewel yet of the long-running effort by Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom's de-facto ruler, to rebrand the country and propel it onto the world stage. In a joint statement, 21 human rights groups, including Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and the Saudi-focused organization ALQST, said the selection of Saudi Arabia represented a "moment of great danger" for "residents, migrant workers and visiting fans alike."

• Saudi Arabia’s human rights record under fire after World Cup bid win
  Rights organisations strongly criticised FIFA on Wednesday after world soccer's ruling body officially awarded the 2034 men's World Cup to Saudi Arabia. Hosting the global showpiece tournament is the pinnacle of Saudi Arabia's massive push into sports and entertainment over recent years as it seeks to improve its international image. "FIFA's reckless decision... will put many lives at risk," Steve Cockburn, Amnesty International's Head of Labour Rights and Sport, said in a statement issued by 21 bodies. They included Saudi diaspora human rights organisations, migrant workers' groups from Nepal and Kenya, international trade unions, fans' representatives and global human rights organisations.

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