Latest news with #Gulf-backed
The 42
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The 42
If PSG's dominant win was predictable, nobody thought it would be this enjoyable to watch
AND SO QATAR finally has its European Cup, and it was sealed with the greatest Champions League final performance since Barcelona left Alex Ferguson dumbstruck 14 years ago. Paris Saint-Germain struck Gulf oil in that very same year, from which point it was possible to foresee how they would win the Champions League in precisely this style, with the biggest winning scoreline in competition history and a rout so all-encompassing that all of Europe have been put on notice. But what was much more difficult to predict is that it would all be so. . . enjoyable. Seriously, Gulf-backed supremacy was never meant to feel so good to watch in the moment. And, truly, the football was glorious. Vitinha's reverse pass for Desire Doué to carve out the opening goal; the swiftness of the counter-attack for the second; Ousmane Demebele's impudent backheel for the third; Luis Enrique's jubilant touchline run before Kvaratskhelia even struck for the fourth; Senny Mayulu's shocked, wild-eyed celebration of the fifth. It would be wrong of us not to point out that these heady flourishes are the end goal of the sportswashing project; these weird, conflicted feelings is everything working as intended. So as right and proper as it is to acknowledge the underpinning motivations of the success, as you watch Luis Enrique bouncing around in celebration with his players like a giddy uncle, it feels a little churlish to be talking about it too. It was impossible not to be moved, too, by the banner unfurled by the PSG fans in tribute to Enrique's late daughter. Advertisement Nor can it be denied that Enrique has used his ample tools to build a magnificent football team. This began when the club acknowledged the fault in their stars, and once they rid themselves of their sedentary trio of Messi, Neymar and Mbappe, Enrique could build a hungry, hardworking team capable of executing his vision which would first discover and then fulfill its own awesome potential. Their ridding themselves of celebrity indulgence for the collective endeavour of locally-sourced youth is a seductive parable, and as ever with PSG, it's a tale not quite so romantic when you scratch beneath the surface. PSG's is still one of the most expensively-assembled squads in Europe: of their starting outfield players, only Fabian Ruiz cost less than €32 million. Seven of the 10 cost at least €40 million each. Inter Milan's Expendables just could not compete, as PSG swallowed them hole with their relentless pressing. Their hunger for work was evident from the kick-off, as PSG booted the ball directly out of play so everyone could get on with the business of working to get the ball back. Inter couldn't play their way through such ferocity, and so their best route up the pitch were larrups up to Marcus Thuram. Enrique exposed the flaws of Simone Inzaghi's 3-5-2 by telling his full-backs to use all of the space available to them, and it quickly paid dividends, as right-back Achraf Hakimi found himself unmarked on the edge of the six-yard box to tap in the opening goal. That goal was also a testament to the remarkable fluidity of Enrique's system. Enrique, like anyone incubated at Barcelona, is a loyal 4-3-3 man, but while he wants those positions filled, he doesn't mind who fills them. Hence the astonishing success of Ousmane Dembele at centre-forward: he has the license to pop up anywhere across the front line and often in deep midfield. Inter's brains were quickly scrambled by this movement. In the lead up to the first goal, centre-back Francesco Acerbi was befuddled by the fact he had nobody to mark, and so rushed madly out of position, which left space for Doué to be picked out by Vitinha and then square the ball for Hakimi. Inter had hoped to sit deep and spring forward on the counter attack, but that plan was in tatters after the hapless Federico DiMarco turned his back and deflected Doué's breakaway shot into the net for PSG's second. Forced to push up after the break, PSG picked off their high line with a breathtaking kind of brutality. After the third goal, Inter's final became a failed exercise in avoiding humiliation. At the end, PSG's joy was absolute as Inter's pain was brutal and unstinting. Inter at least had one straightforward emotion to endure. The rest of us watching on were left to fumble through all manner of competing feelings.
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Will Donald Trump Jr. run for US president in 2028? Here's what he said
Donald Trump Jr. US President Donald Trump 's eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., stirred fresh political chatter on Wednesday after saying 'maybe one day' when asked if he might run for president in the future. Speaking at the Qatar Economic Forum , Trump Jr. was asked if he would consider running for office once his father leaves the White House. 'So the answer is I don't know, maybe one day,' Trump Jr. replied. 'You know, that calling is there. I'll always be very active in terms of being a vocal proponent of these things,' he said, referring to the ideals of the MAGA movement . Shortly after, he publicly criticised news agency Reuters for 'misrepresenting' his remarks. Trump Jr. made his comments during a panel appearance alongside business investor Omeed Malik. When first asked about the possibility of running, he joked, 'Here we go. Well... oh boy,' before acknowledging it was 'an honour to be asked and an honour to see that some people are okay with it.' While some headlines claimed he was open to running for US president, Trump Jr. later posted on X, accusing Reuters of twisting his words. 'Fake News @Reuters should retract this BS,' he said. 'They put a comma where there should have been a period to change the context of what I said.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo He added: 'And FWIW, I've always said, while I'll never 100% rule it out down the line, I have ZERO interest in running for office in 28 or anytime soon.' Though Trump Jr. doesn't have an official role in the White House, he has become a well-known figure in conservative politics and a strong supporter of his father's policies. He was often seen on the campaign trail and is said to have influenced key cabinet decisions, including backing JD Vance for vice president. 'I think my father has truly changed the Republican Party,' he said in Doha. 'I think it's the America First party now, the MAGA party, however you want to look at it.' He also took aim at Europe's regulatory climate, praising Gulf nations. 'If you look at the comparison here to what's perhaps going on in Western Europe, this is the place where there's rational investment,' he said. 'People are working hard. You're not dealing with a regulatory climate that's so oppressive.' There are still questions about whether the Trump family's business deals in the Gulf could overlap with politics. During the US president's recent trip to Saudi Arabia , Qatar, and the UAE, the focus was on building stronger economic ties. But in Doha, Trump Jr. said, 'the Trump Organization was not doing business with government entities.' Reports from Reuters have linked the Trump family company to major Gulf-backed deals, including a $2 billion crypto exchange investment backed by Abu Dhabi. Trump Jr. said he didn't know how that particular deal came about.
Gulf News
02-05-2025
- Business
- Gulf News
From Manchester City to Chelsea, how UAE continues to transform the Premier League
Dubai: London might be several thousand kilometres away, but the Premier League feels right at home in the UAE. What began with shirt sponsorships and regional fan clubs has grown into a broader, deeper alliance. From Abu Dhabi's ownership of Manchester City to Dubai-based real estate giants inking shirt deals with Arsenal and Chelsea, the UAE is no longer just a fan of English football — it's one of its most powerful backers. At the heart of this relationship is the Abu Dhabi's City Football Group. The group transformed Manchester City into a global football empire — now spanning 12 clubs across five continents, including New York City FC, Mumbai City FC. The unified City brand that began in the Premier League, has become a truly international force. It was the kind of success story that turned heads elsewhere in the region. A regional ripple effect Thirteen years after Manchester City was bought by City Group, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) followed a similar playbook. In 2021, PIF finalised a £300 million takeover of Newcastle United, making the Magpies the second Gulf-backed team in the Premier League. From there, the pattern began to crystallise. Qatar's Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani made a headline-grabbing attempt to buy Manchester United, ultimately falling short to Sir Jim Ratcliffe's INEOS. Dubai-based investors have long been rumoured to have eyes on Liverpool, and Egyptian billionaire Nassef Sawiris — who co-owns NBA's Milwaukee Bucks — has made significant moves at Aston Villa. The trend isn't exclusive to England. Qatar Sports Investments (QSI), which owns Paris Saint-Germain, is now close to acquiring Malaga CF in Spain. Sheffield United and clubs in France and Portugal have also seen Gulf-linked ownership or investment. The UAE's corporate playbook While sovereign investors and private capital groups have focused on club ownership, UAE-based brands have made their presence felt through global partnerships and long-term commercial strategies. Emirates Airline has led the charge for nearly two decades, most prominently with Arsenal, where it holds naming rights to the stadium and kit sponsorships. The airline also backs AC Milan, Real Madrid, Olympique Lyonnais, and others, and remains the title sponsor of the Emirates FA Cup. Not to be left behind, Etihad Airways has aligned itself with Manchester City, Girona and Mumbai City FC. More recently, real estate powerhouses have entered the picture. Sobha Realty, headquartered in Dubai, struck a landmark deal with Arsenal — rebranding the club's training ground as the Sobha Realty Training Centre in a first-of-its-kind naming rights agreement. The partnership goes beyond branding; it aims to improve infrastructure and align Arsenal's player development philosophy. Not to be outdone, Chelsea announced a new global partnership with Damac Properties, another major Dubai developer. The Damac logo will appear on the club's men's and women's kits through the 2024/25 season. In an ambitious crossover between sport and lifestyle, Damac and Chelsea also unveiled plans for Chelsea Residences by Damac, a football-themed residential project in Dubai — the first of its kind. With elite clubs training in Dubai, exhibition matches in Abu Dhabi, and shirts on racks in every mall, the Premier League isn't just watched in the Emirates — it's part of the cultural fabric. And with each new deal, each new development, that relationship deepens.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
UAE denies reports it is involved in talks about land offensive in Yemen
DUBAI (Reuters) - The United Arab Emirates on Wednesday denied media reports that it is involved in talks with the United States over a land offensive by military factions in Yemen against the Houthi group that controls much of the country. The UAE's assistant minister for political affairs Lana Nusseibeh described the reports as "wild unsubstantiated stories" in a statement to Reuters. The Wall Street Journal on Monday reported that Yemeni factions were planning a ground offensive along the Red Sea coast to take advantage of U.S. bombing of the Houthis and that the UAE had raised the factions' plan with U.S. officials. Bloomberg reported on Wednesday that Yemeni forces opposed to the Houthis are in talks with the U.S. and Gulf allies about a possible land offensive. The UAE was part of a Saudi-led coalition that launched a military campaign in Yemen from early 2015 to support the Gulf-backed government against the Houthis, who had seized the capital Sanaa in 2014. The UAE ended much of its presence in Yemen in 2019 and major fighting in the civil war paused in 2022 with a truce and peace talks, leaving the Houthis in control of most of the west of the country, which is home to the majority of the population. The Houthis, who are closely aligned with Iran and opposed to Israel, began attacking Red Sea shipping in November 2023 in what they said was a show of solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. U.S. President Donald Trump escalated airstrikes against the group in March.
Reuters
16-04-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
UAE denies reports it is involved in talks about land offensive in Yemen
DUBAI, April 16 (Reuters) - The United Arab Emirates on Wednesday denied media reports that it is involved in talks with the United States over a land offensive by military factions in Yemen against the Houthi group that controls much of the country. The UAE's assistant minister for political affairs Lana Nusseibeh described the reports as "wild unsubstantiated stories" in a statement to Reuters. The Reuters Tariff Watch newsletter is your daily guide to the latest global trade and tariff news. Sign up here. The Wall Street Journal on Monday reported that Yemeni factions were planning a ground offensive along the Red Sea coast to take advantage of U.S. bombing of the Houthis and that the UAE had raised the factions' plan with U.S. officials. Bloomberg reported on Wednesday that Yemeni forces opposed to the Houthis are in talks with the U.S. and Gulf allies about a possible land offensive. The UAE was part of a Saudi-led coalition that launched a military campaign in Yemen from early 2015 to support the Gulf-backed government against the Houthis, who had seized the capital Sanaa in 2014. The UAE ended much of its presence in Yemen in 2019 and major fighting in the civil war paused in 2022 with a truce and peace talks, leaving the Houthis in control of most of the west of the country, which is home to the majority of the population. The Houthis, who are closely aligned with Iran and opposed to Israel, began attacking Red Sea shipping in November 2023 in what they said was a show of solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. U.S. President Donald Trump escalated airstrikes against the group in March.
