World

Meet the Saudi clubs chasing AFC Champions League glory

It has been just over four months since Al-Hilal supporters were heart-broken in the AFC Champions League (ACL) final, as a 1-0 win by Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds denied the tournament’s most successful club a record-extending fifth title.

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However, Al-Hilal has proved persistent over the years in this competition and will unquestionably be among the contenders again when this season’s ACL group stage begins on Monday.
The Saudi Arabian giants are one of 40 teams across Asia hoping to be crowned the continent’s best club, with reigning Saudi Pro League champions Al-Ittihad, 2022 King Cup winners Al-Fayha and Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr being the Kingdom’s other representatives this year.

Al Nassr’s Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring their third goal. (File photo: Reuters)

Three of the four – Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr and Al-Ittihad – will face Iranian clubs. After a historic agreement between the respective countries’ football authorities, the games will take place in Saudi Arabia and Iran for the first time since 2016, when strained diplomatic ties led playing matches on neutral territory.
Here’s Al Arabiya English’s preview of the Saudi clubs’ prospects in the 2023-24 AFC Champions League.

Al-Hilal

Group stage opponents: Navbahor (Uzbekistan), Nassaji Mazandaran (Iran), Mumbai City (India)
It is impossible to talk about the AFC Champions League without mentioning Al-Hilal, who has been historically and also, in recent times, the competition’s dominant team, winning four titles and finishing as runners-up five times.

Al Hilal's Aleksandar Mitrovic celebrates scoring their first goal. (Reuters)

They have made it to four out of the past six finals, winning twice – most recently in 2021, when Portuguese coach Leonardo Jardim led them to a famous 2-0 victory over South Korean side Pohang Steelers at the King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh.

Al-Hilal now has a new Portuguese coach at the helm in Jorge Jesus, and given the quality of players they have added to the roster – Malcom, Aleksandar Mitrovic, Ruben Neves, Kalidou Koulibaly and, of course, Neymar – over a sensational summer transfer window, they will surely be among the firm favorites to win the trophy when they begin their campaign against Uzbek side Navbahor.
It is a highly favorable group for Al-Hilal, with Navbahor and Nassaji Mazandaran both making their debuts in the competition, while Mumbai City only made its first appearance last year.

Al-Hilal should have a smooth passage to the knockout stage as group winners.

Star player: Neymar – Although concerns about injuries persist, there is no doubt that Neymar is a genuine global superstar capable of winning any game. Fresh off breaking football icon Pele’s international scoring record for Brazil, Neymar has his sights set firmly on breaking new ground in club football, too. If his UEFA Champions League scoring record is anything to go by – 43 goals in 81 games for PSG and Barcelona – Neymar could be the player to propel Al-Hilal to its fifth ACL trophy.

Al-Ittihad

Group state opponents: Sepahan (Iran), Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya (Iraq), AGMK (Uzbekistan)

Domestically and continentally, Al-Ittihad has long played second-fiddle to Al-Hilal. Still, last season’s Saudi Pro League title victory could be the turning point as they look to chase down their rivals.

N'Golo Kante holds his Al-Ittihad team jersey. (Twitter)

Al-Ittihad also has its own history in the ACL, claiming back-to-back triumphs in 2004 and 2005 and famously winning their first crown by overturning a 3-1 first-leg defeat to Seongnam Ilhwa with a stunning 5-0 victory in South Korea. However, the club has not reached a final since 2009.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side will be desperate to compete after administrative failings saw Al-Ittihad refused an AFC license to play in the last edition of the ACL. That embarrassment now appears firmly behind the club, and like Al-Hilal, a host of summer arrivals – including Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kante and Fabinho – will give Al-Ittihad the belief that they can win the ACL for a third time.

The club’s group includes Sepahan, who is an old stager in the AFC Champions League but has only made it through the group stage three times in 13 attempts.

The Iranians will likely be the toughest opponents in a group that includes Uzbekistan’s AGMK, the visitors to King Abdullah Sports City on Monday in what looks like a winnable first game, and Iraqi club Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya.

Al-Ittihad is a favorite to progress as a group winner.

Star player: Karim Benzema

Welcome ceremony for Karim Benzema after joining Al-Ittihad - Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Reuters)

Welcome ceremony for Karim Benzema after joining Al-Ittihad – Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Reuters)

Behind only Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Robert Lewandowski on the list of all-time highest UEFA Champions League goal-scorers, Benzema is a player for the biggest stage. He won Europe’s most prestigious trophy five times with Real Madrid. He has shown his quality against Asian opponents, scoring in the FIFA Club World Cup final victories over Japan’s Kashima Antlers in 2016 and Al-Hilal in 2022.

Al-Nassr

Group stage opponents: Persepolis (Iran), Al-Duhail (Qatar), Istiklol (Tajikistan)

Al-Nassr looked down and out, trailing 2-1 in their ACL qualification playoff against UAE side Shabab Al-Ahli last month. However, goals in the 88th, 95th and 97th minutes saw the team scrape through the group stage. This means that Cristiano Ronaldo and Co now have the opportunity to win the continental championship for the first time in the club’s history.

Al Nassr’s midfielder Marcelo Brozovic (L) vies for the ball with Al Shorta’s forward Idrissa Niang during the 2023 Arab Club Champions Cup semi-final football match between Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr and Iraq’s Al Shorta at Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Stadium in Abha on August 9, 2023. (AFP)

It has been 28 long years since Al-Nassr reached its only ACL final when a golden goal winner in extra-time by Ilhwa Chunma’s Lee Tae-Hong silenced the King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh.

However, Ronaldo’s arrival has rejuvenated Al-Nassr. Though it was pipped to the post in last season’s Saudi Pro League title by Al-Ittihad, the arrival of reinforcements such as Aymeric Laporte, Sadio Mane and Marcelo Brozovic means that Luis Castro’s side is better equipped now than ever before for a shot at continental glory.

Al-Nassr’s campaign begins with a mouthwatering clash with Persepolis at the iconic Azadi Stadium in Tehran on Tuesday. The Iranian giant has never won the ACL but has reached the final twice in the past five years.

Qatari champion Al-Duhail, powered by ex-Liverpool and Barcelona playmaker Philippe Coutinho, will also be a challenging prospect. Though Tajikistan’s Istiklol appears as a more straightforward opponent on paper, the team must upset Al-Hilal 4-1 to top the table on an impressive ACL debut in 2021. It’s a tough group for Al Nassr and progress – whether as the first or second-best side – should be celebrated.

Star player: Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo celebrating after scoring for Al Nassr. (Twitter)

Could it be anyone else? The five-time Ballon d’Or winner and UEFA Champions League record scorer finally had his first taste of silverware with Al-Nassr last month, bagging both goals in the final as they won the Arab Club Champions Cup against Al-Hilal. Ronaldo’s knack for grabbing important goals will be vital if he is to add an Asian Champions League title to his five European winner’s medals.

Al-Fayha

Group stage opponents: Al Ain (UAE), Pakhtakor Tashkent (Uzbekistan), Ahal Änew (Turkmenistan)

Shockwaves were sent through Saudi Arabia when Al-Fayha beat Al-Hilal on penalties to win their first-ever King Cup in 2022. Nearly 18 months after that groundbreaking triumph, they are finally being rewarded with another first – an inaugural AFC Champions League appearance.
It is fair to say Al-Fayha’s was a pretty uneventful football history until that victory over Al-Hilal, but it is a fitting time for them to flourish, given that the club is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year.

Theirs is a team, rather than a patchwork of stars, led by Serbian coach Vuk Rašović, who will be happier than most to make it to the ACL. In 2020, Rašović was denied the chance to lead UAE side Al-Wahda in the competition after the club had to withdraw following a COVID-19 outbreak.
Al-Fayha’s group is tricky, with 15-time Uzbek champions Pakhtakor a perennial presence in the ACL and set to make their 19th appearance in the competition. The UAE’s only ACL winners, Al Ain, will also be expected to advance. At the same time, Turkmenistan’s Ahal Änew represents the best possibility of points for Al-Fayha, for whom progress from the group stage will be a significant and surprising achievement.
Star player: Fashion Sakala

The Zimbabwe striker scored in three of his first five Saudi Pro League games after moving from Scottish side Rangers this summer. That included the opening goal in a morale-boosting 1-1 draw with Al-Hilal. Al-Fayha will need Sakala to replicate that league form in the ACL this season if the club stands a chance of reaching the knockout stage.

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Original Article

World

Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi meets with CEOs of leading Norwegian companies

H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, has met with a group of CEOs from leading Norwegian companies, as part of their participation in the UAE-Norway Investment Forum, held alongside his official visit to the Kingdom of Norway.

During the meeting, H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed underscored the UAE leadership’s commitment to strengthening economic cooperation with its international partners.

He highlighted that investment in innovation and knowledge is a cornerstone for achieving sustainable development, noting that enhancing collaboration with Norwegian companies across key sectors will open new avenues for mutual economic growth between the two countries.

The UAE-Norway Investment Forum, taking place in Oslo, aimed to highlight available investment opportunities and strengthen trade relations between the UAE and Norway, fostering shared interests and supporting innovation and knowledge-based economic visions.

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World

At the Indonesia International Book Fair 2024, TRENDS inaugurates 10th global office, releases four books

As part of its Asian research tour, partnership with Aletihad News Center, and
primary sponsorship of the Indonesia International Book Fair 2024, TRENDS
Research & Advisory inaugurated its office in Jakarta, marking its 10th location
worldwide. It also released four books in Indonesian.
The inauguration event was attended by ambassadors of the UAE, Bahrain, and
Jordan to Indonesia, chairpersons of the UAE and Indonesian Publishers’
Associations, the Director of TRENDS’ Jakarta office, and a group of researchers
and academics.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali, CEO of TRENDS
Research & Advisory, stated that TRENDS’ international offices—set to reach 15
by the end of 2024—aim to enhance the Center’s research efforts and deepen its
role in disseminating knowledge, thus serving as a global knowledge bridge.
He emphasized, “At TRENDS, we believe in the importance of cooperation
between think tanks and prioritize this endeavor. We believe the TRENDS office in
Jakarta will enhance the exchange of knowledge and ideas between think tanks in
Asia and the Middle East, opening new horizons for collaboration in various
fields.”

Four books in Indonesian
As part of the Jakarta office’s inaugural activities, four books were released in
Indonesian, including the 11th and 12th books of the Muslim Brotherhood
Encyclopedia and Global Trends in AI and Automation and the Future of
Competition between Man and Machine: An Analytical Forward-looking Vision.

Hostility to Arab states
The 11th book of the Muslim Brotherhood Encyclopedia, The Concept of the State
According to the Muslim Brotherhood, highlights its hostile stance toward Arab
states since its inception. The group views them as an obstacle to its ascent to
power. It opposed the modern principles upon which these states were built,
considering them incompatible with the group’s unique interpretation of Islam,
which it claimed to embody exclusively.

Exclusion of nonconformists
The 12th book, The Muslim Brotherhood: Rejection of Tolerance and Exclusion of
Nonconformists, examines the Muslim Brotherhood’s stance towards
nonconformists, individuals, and entities. The book reveals the group’s binary view
of the world, categorizing others as allies or adversaries. It ties these relationships
to the Brotherhood’s internal power struggles and self-serving interests.

Global Trends in AI
The third book, Global Trends in AI, explores significant developments in AI and
its impact on various aspects of life, including the economy, society, and
governance. It also offers a comprehensive analysis of technological advancements
in AI, its applications across sectors, the ethical and social challenges it presents,
and its future trajectory.

Automation

The fourth book, Automation and the Future of Competition between Man and
Machine: An Analytical Forward-looking Vision, addresses the growing challenges
faced by the human workforce in the face of widespread automation and AI
applications. The book concludes that while automation presents a significant
challenge to the labor market, it simultaneously creates new opportunities. It
emphasizes the importance of preparing for this shift through skills development,
continuous education, and adopting economic and social policies that support the
workforce.

Prominent pavilion and active presence
The TRENDS’ pavilion at the Indonesia International Book Fair has attracted
numerous visitors, including academic researchers and officials, such as the
ambassadors of the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan, and Turkey. Additionally,
chairpersons of Arab and Indonesian publishers’ associations, authors, publishers,
and students visited the pavilion. All were impressed with and praised TRENDS’ diverse, valuable publications. They also commended TRENDS’ active
international presence and ability to address global developments with rigorous
analytical research.
Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali honored the esteemed guests, including
ambassadors of the UAE and Bahrain to Indonesia, Wedha Startesti Yudha,
Chairperson of the Indonesia International Book Fair Committee, Arys Hilman
Nugraha, Chairman of the Indonesian Publishers Association, and others,
presenting them with TRENDS’ publications and commemorative shields.
Additionally, he awarded TRENDS’ Research Medal to Ni Made Ayu Martini
Indonesian Deputy Minister of Marketing, Tourism and Creative Economy
It is worth noting that during its current Asian research tour, TRENDS announced
the launch of the TRENDS Research Medal, awarded to individuals who make
significant contributions to the development of scientific research and promote collaboration with TRENDS in strengthening a culture of research across various fields.

World

US determined to prevent full-scale war in Middle East, Joe Biden tells UNGA79

US President Joe Biden highlighted the US Administration’s determination to prevent a wider war that engulfs the entire Middle East region, noting that a diplomatic solution “remains the only path to lasting security to allow the residents from both countries to return to their homes on the border safely”.

In remarks he made today before the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA79), the US President said, “Full-scale war is not in anyone’s interest,” adding that a diplomatic solution is still possible.

He also touched on “the rise of violence against innocent Palestinians on the West Bank”, and the need to “set the conditions for a better future”, which he said featured “a two-state solution, where the world — where Israel enjoys security and peace and full recognition and normalised relations with all its neighbours, where Palestinians live in security, dignity, and self-determination in a state of their own”.

President Biden underscored the ceasefire and hostage deal put forth by Qatar and Egypt, which the UN Security Council endorsed. He said, “Now is the time for the parties to finalise its terms, bring the hostages home,” adding that this would help ease the suffering in Gaza, and end the war.

-WAM