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Reuters is taking note of the PIF’s shifting game plan in the sports world. After making splashy investments in men’s soccer and golf — think Newcastle United, LIV Golf, and Neymar — the newswire sees PIF’s sports M&A strategy getting “smarter” in 2025 by targeting smaller but faster-growing leagues such as women’s soccer and rugby.
While these might seem too niche to move the needle, they fit the fund’s broader strategy of scaling back foreign investments from 30% to about 20% of its portfolio. Smaller investments with higher growth potential could be the winning formula, the newswire writes.
IN DIPLOMACY- The Jerusalem Post is spotlighting the Kingdom’s firm stance on potentially establishing diplomatic ties with Israel, writing that Saudi will not entertain normalization talks until the war in Gaza ends, government officials reportedly told members of US President-elect Donald Trump’s Middle East team, including incoming envoy Steve Witkoff.
MEANWHILE- Haaretz alleges that behind-the-scenes talks led to a tentative breakthrough, with Israel allegedly agreeing to a vague “path toward Palestinian statehood” rather than explicit recognition, in a bid to secure domestic and political support on both sides. The proposed framework reportedly ties normalization to a two-phase hostage agreement with Hamas, potentially unlocking Saudi-led Gaza reconstruction efforts backed by international coalitions.
