Source: Al Arabiya
Security & Justice
Defense Minister, Army Commander, and Chief of Staff Discuss Security and Ceasefire Implementation in South Lebanon
Defense Minister Maurice Sleem met with Army Commander General Joseph Aoun and Chief of Staff Major General Hassan Aoude at the Yarzeh headquarters to review the country's security situation, with a particular focus on developments in the south.
Friday, December 13, 2024
Lebanese Troops Deploy to Khiyam After Israeli Army's Withdrawal
The Israeli army confirmed its withdrawal from the town of Khiyam in southern Lebanon, in accordance with the recently established ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah. Despite this initial move, the Israeli army remains deployed in other parts of southern Lebanon and has asserted its commitment to continuing operations against any potential threats.
Thursday, December 12, 2024
Opinion
Assad’s Fall in Syria Will Further Weaken Hezbollah and Curtails Tehran’s ‘Iranization’ of Region
The fall of President Bashar Assad will not only affect the 24 million Syrians who lived – and largely suffered – under his brutal rule. Over the border in Lebanon, the impact will be felt, too.
Thursday, December 12, 2024
Lebanon’s Biggest Problem Is Not Israel
The first time I went to Lebanon, I was nearly blinded by the excitement of finally seeing the home of my ancestors. After all, every Sunday for 16 years, I had heard Melkite and Maronite masses in Lebanese, Greek, and ancient Aramaic, and sung hymns I didn’t always understand but felt a deep connection to — music that took me somewhere beyond the walls of the West Roxbury parishes. At coffee hour after mass, or at hafles on the weekend, the old-timers would recount the beauty of their villages while munching on the delicious Lebanese treats of the day. The scents of za’atar, rose syrup, and coffee mark these memories. And a sense of longing to see for myself what they were talking about.
Thursday, December 12, 2024
Sports
FIFA Confirms Saudi Arabia as 2034 World Cup Host
Fifa on Wednesday confirmed that Saudi Arabia will host the 2034 World Cup, underlining the Gulf kingdom's growing influence in world sport despite criticism of the country's human rights record.
Thursday, December 12, 2024
Alonso 'Still Dreaming' of Third World Title
Fernando Alonso is considering his past, present and future in Formula 1 - and most of all his thoughts on his prospects of winning a third world drivers' title, even though he is 43 and it's 18 years since his last.
Wednesday, December 11, 2024
Thursday 12 December 2024 16:06:19
Cristiano Ronaldo Says World Cup 2034 in Saudi Arabia Will Be ‘Best’ Ever
Superstar football player Cristiano Ronaldo said the FIFA men’s World Cup that will be held in Saudi Arabia in 2034 will be “the best World Cup ever.”
FIFA confirmed Saudi Arabia on Wednesday as the host of the 2034 men’s World Cup, making it the second Middle Eastern nation to host the tournament after neighboring Qatar staged the 2022 edition.
“It’s amazing! The infrastructure, the stadiums, the conditions for the fans. And after what I see I’m more convinced that 2034 will be the best World Cup ever,” he said.
“One or two of these kids that I will be together with today will play in the World Cup. I believe that they will continue to grow, especially the women as well, that they grow very well too. We have to grow together in everything. Not only in football but in life and I will motivate them to work hard, believe in that,” he said ahead of his meet and greet with young Saudi footballers.
A recent FIFA Bid Evaluation Report awarded the Kingdom’s bid to host the World Cup 2034 a rating of 419.8 out of 500, which is the “highest technical score awarded by FIFA to any bid to host the World Cup in history,” according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
Saudi Arabia’s bidding campaign slogan, “Growing. Together,” unveiled plans to host the world’s first 48-team FIFA World Cup in one country. The proposal is that the matches be held across 15 stadiums in five host cities: Riyadh, Jeddah, Khobar, Abha, and NEOM, in addition to 10 other host locations across the Kingdom.
“The country is unbelievable. The Saudis are very good people. Every year, they do big events, football matches, boxing - entertainment is very high. The future is very bright in my opinion. And I am happy to be part of the success of this country and I will be here for sure to see the World Cup,” Ronaldo said.
Speaking on the growth of the Saudi league, the Al Nassr player said: “The league has grown so fast in the last year. If you see the difference, it's amazing. You have like seven or eight big clubs right now in the league that are very difficult to beat. The evolution of the players, for example, my teammates and the other teams too, that Saudis grow so fast and are becoming better players.”
