Latest news with #Saudi-run
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cameron Smith finds his putting touch at LIV Singapore
Cameron Smith has reminded everyone that he's still the best putter around as he made an impressive start to the LIV Golf Singapore tournament at Sentosa Golf Club. But the Australian was, like the rest of the field, left trailing after the first round by the brilliance of two-time major winner Dustin Johnson, who opened up a three-shot lead with a flawless, first-round 63 on Friday. Johnson's eight-under round was the American's best among the 109 rounds he's played on the Saudi-run circuit, and he achieved it despite having suffered with shoulder soreness at the previous week's LIV Hong Kong event. The 40-year-old American former Master was three shots clear of Spain's Sebastian Munoz, while Smith showed signs of getting back to his best form as he joined a packed group of eight all tied for third after his bogey-free, four-under 67. Smith is renowned as a magician with his putter but had actually gone into this week's event ranked only 12th best on the strokes-gained-putting-averages. But on Friday, the wizardry was back as the 31-year-old sank several long putts en route to his bogey-free 67. "I've worked so hard on my putting in the off-season," Smith said. "I don't think there's anyone in the world that's hit more putts than me in the last four months. So it's nice to see the putts going in." Smith hasn't won an individual tournament since Bedminster in the US in August 2023, the last of his three LIV triumphs, but he did enjoy a team success with his Ripper GC Australian colleagues last year. Ripper were lying seventh in the Singapore team event, with the in-form Lucas Herbert just a shot behind Smith after a 68, while Matt Jones shot 72 and Marc Leishman 74. A solid day for captain @DJohnsonPGA and his team the @4AcesGC_ 😤#LIVGolfSingapore — LIV Golf (@livgolf_league) March 14, 2025 Johnson's 4Aces team were leading by two strokes, inspired by their captain's display, which had followed his painful week in Hong Kong. "I couldn't turn my head to the right," Johnson explained. "I kind of just pulled when I was on the through swing, so I was hitting everything left. It wasn't a whole lot of fun." He received treatment after the Hong Kong second round and his body responded prior to Sunday's final when he shot a 64, but he still finished last for the first time at a LIV Golf event. Johnson, like Smith, is after his fourth LIV individual crown and could become the first player to win in all four seasons.
Sky News
21-02-2025
- Politics
- Sky News
Trump envoy Steve Witkoff says he has developed a 'friendship' with Putin
The man who has emerged as Donald Trump's geopolitical dealmaker-in-chief has said that he's developed a "friendship" with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Steve Witkoff was named as Mr Trump's Middle East envoy shortly after the US election but he has since been involved in negotiations with Russia about ending the war in Ukraine. Mr Witkoff made the comments about his relationship with Mr Putin at a Saudi-run investment forum in Miami, where he discussed his remarkable overnight trip to Moscow last week to secure the release of US citizen Marc Fogel. "I spent a lot of time with Putin. Talking and developing a friendship and relationship with him…" Mr Witkoff said. The secret overnight trip to bring the Pennsylvania teacher home seems to be emerging as a key moment in the dramatically shifting dynamics between the Trump administration and the Kremlin. The details of the release and what was discussed have never been released. In describing the success of the deal, Mr Witkoff said: "First I had the support of President Trump which is a really big deal. Secondly we have a really good relationship with the Saudis…. They assured us that this was real... and so to me it became worth the trip. And so we went. And it was a great trip. I spent a lot of time with President Putin, talking, developing a friendship, a relationship with him and that led to Mark getting on the plane…" The role of the Saudi government is a reflection of Riyadh's remarkable and emerging geopolitical clout. After Mr Witkoff's Moscow trip, the Riyadh talks between the US and Russia were secured. 0:49 Speaking to Sky News on the sidelines of the investment conference and addressing President Trump's "dictator" comments about President Zelenskyy, Mr Witkoff said: "I think I agree with President Trump, he has a very keen sense of what has to be done to create a lasting peace between Russia and Ukraine. "And I follow his lead, and I believe in what he's got to say."
Sky News
19-02-2025
- Business
- Sky News
Why all roads lead through Riyadh - as Saudi Arabia emerges as key global power broker
At the Faena Hotel on Miami Beach, at breakfast, I overheard the conversation on the next table. " Trump is creating instability", one man said to the other, who disagreed. It was a good natured but forthright debate that cut to the heart of a global divide right now about the language and actions of the world's most powerful man. The two men were guests at a Saudi-run investment forum taking place over the next three days here in Miami. The Future Investment Initiative (FII) is sometimes described as 'Davos in the desert'. The principal conference takes place every year in Saudi Arabia. It's run by the Saudi Sovereign Wealth Fund and describes itself as "an annual event bringing people together to invest in the most promising solutions". This Miami event is an offshoot of the Riyadh conference and it draws the very wealthiest from the world of finance, tech, innovation, politics, philanthropy and beyond. I recognised one of the men at breakfast as a billionaire philanthropist. I'll protect his identity given his conversation was private. But, safe to say, Mr Trump is the talk of the conference. The seminars over the next three days - or 'invite-only conclaves' as they are described - hit all the notes of the moment. "Do states own the oceans?", "The end of multilateralism and what it means for the world", "How to create resilient economies for uncertain times", and "Is a new era of US-Middle East economic cooperation dawning?" were among the topics being discussed. That last event bills Trump's point man/dealmaker for the Middle East (and Russia- Ukraine), Steve Witkoff as the main speaker. The moderator is Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law and the man who first raised the prospect of a 'Gaza Riviera'. 👉 Listen to The World with Richard Engel and Yalda Hakim on your podcast app 👈 The first speaker at the event was the American president himself. Donald Trump is determined to see massive Saudi investment in America to the tune of $1tn (£794bn). In return, he is investing in Riyadh too. Saudi Arabia, hosts of this glitzy event, has emerged as a key global power broker. The Tuesday Russia -US talks were in Riyadh. The expected Trump-Putin meeting will be there too. Since Donald Trump was last president, the kingdom has matured and emboldened its geopolitical clout. Back in his first term, Mr Trump recognised the value (literally) in Saudi Arabia. This time, Saudi Arabia is harnessing Mr Trump's power. They know money talks and that he likes to be kept close. Saudi Arabia is playing a strategic geopolitical game and it's plainly transactional. Essentially, it is saying "we want to invest, we want you to, but we also have our own agenda in regional diplomacy". On the Middle East, Saudi red lines over Gaza and the prospects of Arab diplomatic normalisation with Israel are a backstop to a total Trump-Netanyahu wipeout of the Palestinians. On Ukraine-Russia, the Saudis are more than happy to host as mediators. It puts them centre stage. On Iran, they have buried the hatchet with the supreme leader and could play a key role in any new nuclear deal. There was a time when the diplomatic roads ran through the obvious places; Washington, London, Brussels, Berlin, Paris. Now, it's Florida and Saudi Arabia. Brussels, London, Berlin, Paris and even the opposition in Washington are wholly left out.
Express Tribune
28-01-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
ICC prosecutor moves to issue arrest warrants over Darfur atrocities
Listen to article The International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor, Karim Khan, has announced plans to seek arrest warrants against individuals accused of orchestrating atrocities in Sudan's Darfur region, where genocide and crimes against humanity have persisted amid ongoing conflict. Speaking at the UN Security Council in New York, Khan highlighted the dire situation in Darfur, stating: 'Criminality is accelerating. Civilians are being targeted, women and girls are subjected to sexual violence, and entire communities are being destroyed.' His remarks were based on evidence gathered through interviews with witnesses who fled the violence. Echoes of a dark past The current conflict in Sudan began in April 2023, igniting widespread violence across the country, including Darfur. Khan pointed out striking similarities between the atrocities now and those committed two decades ago, when Janjaweed militias terrorized the region, killing up to 300,000 people and displacing 2.7 million. 'It's the same groups, the same suffering, and tragically, a new generation enduring the same hell,' he said. While Khan did not disclose specific details about the crimes or individuals targeted, he noted that patterns of violence closely align with past perpetrators and victims. Growing violence and international response The ICC has previously identified both Sudanese government forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) as potentially responsible for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. Witnesses and human rights organizations have accused the RSF of ethnically targeted attacks on non-Arab groups, particularly the Masalit community in Geneina, West Darfur. Khan also highlighted progress in bringing accountability to Darfur. He cited the recent trial of Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-al-Rahman, a Janjaweed leader accused of 31 war crimes from 2003-2004, whose trial concluded in December 2023. Arrest warrants remain outstanding for former Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir and other senior officials. Escalating humanitarian crisis The humanitarian toll in Darfur continues to worsen. On January 24, a deadly attack on a Saudi-run hospital in North Darfur's El Fasher left at least 70 people dead, raising concerns over the safety of civilians and aid workers. Meanwhile, reports indicate that RSF fighters are encircling the Zamzam camp, home to nearly 500,000 displaced people. International efforts to address the crisis are mounting. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy have condemned the atrocities, with Rubio labeling them as genocide. The US Treasury has imposed sanctions on companies linked to the RSF, while the UK plans to host a ministerial meeting on Sudan in the coming months. Worsening hunger and aid shortages The World Food Programme (WFP) warns of an imminent famine in the Zamzam camp, where hundreds of thousands are at risk of starvation. The US, historically the largest donor to Sudan's humanitarian response, has faced criticism for freezing aid amid the crisis. Khan's call for accountability underscores the urgent need for action in Darfur, as the region faces renewed atrocities reminiscent of its darkest days.
Arab News
26-01-2025
- Health
- Arab News
Pope Francis says Sudan's war 'most serious humanitarian crisis'
VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis said during Sunday prayers that the horror of the Holocaust can not be 'forgotten or denied' as he also highlighted current suffering caused by Sudan's civil war. Speaking on the eve of the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, he called on the entire world to 'work together to eliminate the scourge of anti-Semitism as well as all forms of religious discrimination and persecution.' Turning to Sudan, Francis said it was the 'most serious humanitarian crisis in the world.' 'I renew my appeal to the warring parties in Sudan to cease hostilities and agree to sit at a negotiating table,' he said at the Sunday Angelus service. The conflict in Sudan between the army and the Rapid Support Forces militia has triggered a huge humanitarian disaster, killing tens of thousands of people, uprooting more than 12 million and causing widespread starvation in parts of the country. A drone attack on a Saudi-run hospital in El-Fasher in Sudan's Darfur region killed at least 70 people and wounded 19 others, according to the World Health Organization on Sunday.
