AI models from Google, OpenAI and Anthropic lost money betting on football matches over a Premier League season.

Working through conflict: staff across Middle East adapt to war [FREE TO READ] As ordinary routines are shattered, employees find new ways to pursue their jobs

Working through conflict: staff across Middle East adapt to war - as.ft.com/r/dd892471-f... via @FT

📺 Unclear whether a final decision has been made to air the show. MBC initially announced that the first episode of the series would be released TODAY, but a label on the show’s listing now only says “coming soon”.

🚨 My latest: Long-delayed Saudi TV series about diplomats who were held hostage in Iran is being revived as ties between Riyadh and Tehran sour.

🔀 Gulf states consider new oil pipelines to avoid Strait of Hormuz as the strategic value of Saudi Arabia’s 1,200km East-West pipeline became clear during this war.

❌ Saudi Arabia terminates two major construction contracts for Trojena ski resort.

🏎️ Ferrari flies personalised supercars to super-rich Middle East buyers as the war in Iran threatens demand and sea freight is disrupted.

New by me and Andrew England: Gulf leaders opposed a strike, but they are now caught between wanting the conflict to end and fear that — if Trump suddenly stops — the war will leave a wounded, emboldened and more hardline Iran.

Saudi Aramco warns of ‘catastrophic consequences’ if Iran war drags on Oil producer is racing to restore 70% of normal shipments, says CEO

Saudi Aramco is the world’s biggest oil producer and is responsible for about a tenth of global supply. The company’s CEO today warned of “catastrophic consequences” for the world economy if the US-Iran war drags on.

Gulf states fear threat to water infrastructure as Iran war escalates Tit-for-tat strikes have hit critical desalination plants in Bahrain and Iran

💧 Gulf states fear threat to water infrastructure as Iran war escalates.

🚨 Qatar’s energy minister warns the war could “bring down the economies of the world”, predicting that all Gulf energy exporters would shut down production within weeks and drive oil to $150 a barrel.

Gulf oil producers face race to resume exports before storage fills up Analysts estimate Saudi Arabia has roughly two weeks before it would need to start cutting crude output

🛢️ Gulf’s biggest oil producers are facing a race against time to resume exports before their storage tanks fill up.

Gulf states caught in the middle of US-Iran conflict American allies including Saudi Arabia are trying to withstand the Islamic republic’s retaliatory strikes

🔊 I was on @financialtimes.com News Briefing podcast this morning to talk about the first few days of the US-Iranian conflict in the Gulf www.ft.com/content/68ea...

Israeli intelligence had information about Khamenei’s location from hacked traffic cameras and deeply penetrated mobile phone networks. The Americans had something even more concrete — a human source.

Back from paternity leave. What’d I miss?

☎️ Saudi Arabia will not allow its airspace or territory to be used for military actions against Iran, Crown Prince tells Pezeshkian in telephone call —SPA

🚨 FT scoop — Neom review nears completion: The Line to be redesigned, region to shift focus to “industrial” sectors including AI data centres.

🚨 Saudi media steps up attacks on UAE as Gulf rift deepens.

Cover of Newsweek Arabic magazine from 18 March 2003

Cover of Newsweek Arabic magazine from 25 March 2003

Unpacking some old boxes and found these two issues of Newsweek’s Arabic edition from more 20 years ago on the eve of the American invasion of Iraq.

🚨 Trump Organization announces golf course and hotel in Diriyah in first collaboration with PIF-owned company.

🎢 My latest story: Saudi Arabia opens $1 billion Six Flags theme park in Qiddiya as the kingdom pushes ahead with megaprojects.

🚨 Saudi Arabia accuses UAE of smuggling out Yemeni separatist leader.

🚨 Saudi Arabia launches new air strikes on southern Yemen as STC leader fails to travel to Riyadh for talks aimed at ending the crisis.

🚨 Saudi Arabia launches air strike on Yemen’s Mukalla port, accuses UAE of “pressuring” separatist southern group to conduct military operations on the kingdom’s borders.

Saudi complaints over social security benefits lead to arrests and fines: blog.alomran.me/2025/12/29/saudi-complai...

Saudi complaints over social security benefits lead to arrests and fines: blog.alomran.me/2025/12/29/saudi-complai...

🚨 Saudi Arabia calls moves by Yemen’s STC “unjustified escalation”, urges the group to withdraw forces from seized provinces —foreign ministry statement.

“While Saudi’s reinvention has left scars, in the form of budget overruns and scaled-back projects, the country has breezed through its own 2030 target and is set to generate an estimated 57 per cent of economic output from non-oil activities this year.”

Black and white photo of Saudi write Ahmed Abodehman who died 14 December 2025.

Cover of the book “La Ceinture” by Saudi writer Ahmed Abodehman.

Saudi writer Ahmed Abodehman dies at age 76. He was known for his semi-autobiographical novel “La Ceinture”, first published in French by Gallimard in 2000.

Saudi Arabia plans expanding access to alcohol with two more liquor stores in Jeddah and Dhahran catering to non-Muslim diplomats and Premium Residency holders.