Is there anything good about the 2034 World Cup going to Saudi Arabia?
The magic of a winter World Cup can brighten the darkest days of the season in this part of the world
Saudi Arabia
The Irish Times view on Saudi Arabia’s World Cup: sportswashing in the desert
That this decision has happened so easily is a dispiriting sign of the Saudis’ increasing hold over world sport
Saudi Arabia confirmed as host for the 2034 World Cup
News confirms outcome expected for more than a year since Fifa expedited its bidding process for the 2034 event
Lily Agg unsurprised by lack of Fifa engagement over Saudi deal
Midfielder is one of five Republic of Ireland players to have signed letter objecting to sponsorship deal
Explainer: 10 takeaways from Cop 29, a collective failure
Amid pressure from petrostates, Donald Trump’s looming US presidency, curtailed activism and continuing implementation difficulties, the progress was better than nothing - but way short of what is required
Deal reached at Cop29 but developing countries say it is not enough to avoid climate catastrophe
Campaigners decry influence of Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan and looming Donald Trump presidency
Cop29: UAE urges Saudi Arabia and others to honour fossil fuels pledge amid continuing impasse
Unprecedented public rebuke by Cop28 host comes as fuel producers try to derail transition promise made at last year’s talks
Muslim-Arab summit demands Israel take steps to end Gaza and Lebanon conflicts
Saudi crown prince opens major Riyadh gathering by demanding Israel immediately cease ‘military aggression’ and blockade of humanitarian aid to Gaza
Neom, Saudi Arabia’s new city for ex-pats, is steeped in the blood of thousands of dead workers
The luxury desert city was built by a jackboot regime using the labour of ‘trapped slaves’
Qatar emir criticises ‘double standard’ on Gaza and Ukraine
EU and Gulf leaders discuss conflicts in Middle East and Ukraine during ‘first of its kind’ meeting
Fifa is ‘ignoring human rights report’ into Saudi Arabia’s 2034 World Cup bid
Lawyers say Fifa is ‘dealing with the devil’ with Saudi bid
Saudi Arabia fails in bid to get seat on top UN human rights body
Relaxations of social and cultural restrictions under crown prince Mohamed bin Salman have not ended rights abuses in the kingdom
Iran foreign minister travels to Gulf nations to discuss regional tensions
Abbas Araqchi warns Gulf states not to allow use of their airspace or US military bases in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia or the United Arab Emirates in the event of an Israeli attack against Tehran
Saudi Arabia’s investment fund takes stake in Brown Thomas and Arnotts owner
Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund will hold 40% of company behind well known department stores
Nasrallah assassination marked by declarations of days of mourning and widespread condemnation
Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urges Muslims to stand with Hizbullah in ‘confronting’ Israel
More than just sportswashing, Saudi’s global game is central to the kingdom’s futureproofing
Golf, snooker, boxing soccer ... Saudi Arabia’s rampant colonisation of sport continues apace
LGBTQ fans would be welcome in Saudi Arabia for World Cup, says 2034 bid chief
Hammad Albalawi denied accusations of sportswashing country’s human rights record ahead of football tournament’s hosts announcement this December
Palestinian president welcomes toughening of Saudi position against normalising relations with Israel
Mahmoud Abbas praises what he sees as a unified Arab and Muslim stand on Palestinian statehood
Pezeshkian calls for warmer relations with Saudi Arabia as Iran aims to end regional isolation
At his first press conference since taking office in July, Iran’s president said the US ‘must show they are not hostile towards us’
Boxing loses another piece of its soul as it hands more of itself over to Saudi Arabia
Chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority (GEA) Turki Alalshikh has somehow been inducted into Nevada Boxing’s Hall of Fame
Muslim deaths at hajj pilgrimage spark criticism of Saudi government
Extreme temperatures this year cause fivefold increase in fatalities due to lack of ‘shade or comfort’
More than 550 pilgrims die at Mecca as temperatures reach 50 degrees
Temperatures reached 51.8 degrees Celsius in the shade of the Grand Mosque
How the Saudis won back Biden
The US president came to office threatening to make the kingdom a pariah state. But in a volatile Middle East, their ties have become stronger than ever
Kevin De Bruyne may consider leaving Manchester City for Saudi Arabian club
‘At my age you have to be open to everything’ says Belgian playmaker who has a year left on his City contract
Palestinians, Egypt, Saudi Arabia welcome Irish move to recognise statehood
PLO leader Mahmoud Abbas lauded Norway and Ireland for support over many years
Climate Cops hitting peak capacity may prompt scale-back of UN negotiating process
Logistical problems coinciding with concerns about not fit for purpose decision making with deck stacked heavily on side of carbon polluters
Israeli officials weigh sharing power with Arab states in postwar Gaza
According to the plan, Israel would agree Gaza deal in exchange for normalised relations between itself and Saudi Arabia
US and Saudi close to agreeing ‘plan B’ defence pact without Israel deal
Washington appears determined to reassert influence in the Middle East after recent disengagement
Israel-Iran conflict: Where do Arab states in the region stand?
Arabs do not want to be caught up in tit-for-tat strikes that could morph into war, and have called for restraint
McKinsey and BCG warn staff face jail if they reveal Saudi work
Senators assail consultants for helping Riyadh use ‘soft power’ to build influence in the US
Top US consultancies face scrutiny over role in Saudi Arabia’s sports push
Senator Richard Blumenthal suggests McKinsey, BCG and other firms may be violating federal disclosure rules
Netanyahu’s bind: Compromising in Gaza or holding on to power at home
The prime minister is a political survivor but with his poll ratings at rock bottom and no clear end in sight to the conflict in Gaza, his situation looks increasingly grim
Saudi Arabia drops alcohol ban for foreign diplomats
Customers at new off-licence must carry diplomatic passports and register to buy fixed amounts of alcohol
US strikes Yemen again as Red Sea clashes heighten risk of wider suffering
Houthi militia says it will continue attacking ships in the Red Sea until Israel ends its war in Gaza
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