MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold talks on Tuesday with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who is visiting Russia, state news agency TASS reported.
Putin to hold talks with Palestinian president Abbas on Tuesday, says TASS
Updated 4 min 59 sec ago
With gavel in hand, Trump chisels away at the power of a compliant Congress
- Republicans in control of the House and Senate have shown an unusual willingness to give the president of their party what he wants, regardless of the potential risk to themselves, their constituents and Congress itself.
WASHINGTON: “Mr. President, this is the gavel used to enact the ‘big, beautiful bill,’” House Speaker Mike Johnson said at a White House signing ceremony on the Fourth of July.
“I want you to have it,” he said.
Handing over the gavel delighted President Donald Trump who, seated behind a desk outdoors, immediately tested it out with a few quick thumps.
The moment left a memorable mark on a historic day. The gesture reflected a traditional nod of honor, from one leader to another, a milestone of the Republican Party’s priority legislation becoming law. But the imagery also underscored a symbolic transfer of political power, from Capitol Hill to the White House as a compliant Congress is ceding more and more of its prerogative to the presidency.
Congress gives Trump what he wants
Since Trump’s return to the White House in January, and particularly in the past few weeks, Republicans in control of the House and Senate have shown an unusual willingness to give the president of their party what he wants, regardless of the potential risk to themselves, their constituents and Congress itself.
Republicans raced to put the big package of tax breaks and spending cuts on Trump’s desk by his Independence Day deadline. Senators had quickly confirmed almost all of Trump’s outsider Cabinet nominees despite grave reservations over Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as health secretary, Pete Hegseth as the Pentagon chief and others. House Republicans pursued Trump’s interest in investigating his perceived foes, including investigating Democratic President Joe Biden’suse of the autopen.
But at the same time, Congress hit the brakes on one of its own priorities, legislation imposing steep sanctions on Russia over its war on Ukraine, after Trump announced he was allowing President Vladimir Putin an additional 50 days to negotiate a peace deal, dashing hopes for a swifter end to the conflict.
This past week, Congress was tested anew, delivering on Trump’s request to rescind some $9 billion that lawmakers had approved but that the administration wanted to eliminate, including money for public broadcasting and overseas aid. It was a rare presidential request, a challenge to the legislative branch’s power of the purse, that has not been used in decades.
The pressure on Republicans is taking its toll
“We’re lawmakers. We should be legislating,” said a defiant Sen. Lisa Murkowksi, R-Alaska, as she refused to support the White House’s demand to rescind money for National Public Radio and others.
“What we’re getting now is a direction from the White House and being told, ‘This is the priority. We want you to execute on it. We’ll be back with you with another round,’” she said. “I don’t accept that.”
Congress, the branch of government the Founding Fathers placed first in the Constitution, is at a familiar crossroads. During the first Trump administration, Republicans frightened by Trump’s angry tweets of disapproval would keep their criticisms private. Those who did speak up — Liz Cheney of Wyoming in the House and Mitt Romney of Utah in the Senate, among others — are gone from Capitol Hill.
One former GOP senator, Jeff Flake of Arizona, who announced in 2017 during Trump’s first term that he would not seek reelection the next year, is imploring Republicans to find a better way.
“The fever still hasn’t broken,” he wrote recently in The New York Times. “In today’s Republican Party, voting your conscience is essentially disqualifying.”
Seeking a ‘normal’ Congress
But this time, the halls of Congress are filled with many Republicans who came of political age with Trump’s “Make America Great Again” movement and owe their ascent to the president himself. Many are emulating his brand and style as they shape their own.
A new generation of GOP leaders, Johnson in the House and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, have pulled closer to Trump. They are utilizing the power of the presidency in ways large and small — to broker deals, encourage wayward lawmakers to fall in line, even to set schedules.
Johnson, R-Louisiana, has openly pined for what he calls a “normal Congress.” But short of that, the speaker relies on Trump to help stay on track. When Republicans hit an impasse on cryptocurrency legislation, a Trump priority, it was the president who met with holdouts in the Oval Office late Tuesday night as Johnson called in by phone.
The result is a perceptible imbalance of power as the executive exerts greater authority while the legislative branch dims. The judicial branch has been left to do the heavy lift of checks and balances with the courts processing hundreds of lawsuits over the administration’s actions.
“The genius of our Constitution is the separation of power,” said Democratic Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California, the former speaker, in an interview on SiriusXM’s “Mornings with Zerlina.”
“That the Republicans in Congress would be so ignoring of the institution that they represent, and that have just melted the power of the incredibly shrinking speakership” and Senate leadership positions, “to do all of these things, to cater to the executive branch,” she said.
Confronting Trump comes with costs
Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., endured Trump’s criticism over his opposition to the tax and spending cuts bill. The senator raised concerns about steep cuts to hospitals, but the president threatened to campaign against him. Tillis announced he would not seek reelection in 2026.
Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, voted against that bill and the rescissions package despite Trump’s threat to campaign against any dissenters.
One Republican, Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, appears to be pressing on, unphased. He recently proposed legislation to force the administration to release the Jeffrey Epstein files, something the president had been reluctant to do.
“Nowhere in the Constitution does it say that if the president wants something, you must do it,” said Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, in a Senate speech. “We don’t have to do this. We don’t have to operate under the assumption that this man is uniquely so powerful.”
Updated 20 min 14 sec ago
Syria interior ministry says Sweida clashes have ‘halted’
DAMASCUS: Tribal fighters have been evacuated from Syria’s southern city of Sweida and violent clashes have ceased, the country’s interior ministry said late Saturday.
“After intensive efforts by the Ministry of Interior to implement the ceasefire agreement, following the deployment of its forces in the northern and western regions of Sweida Governorate, the city of Sweida was evacuated of all tribal fighters, and clashes within the city’s neighborhoods were halted,” interior ministry spokesman Noureddine Al-Baba said in a post on Telegram.
In Washington, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called on the Syrian government’s security forces to prevent “jihadists from entering and ”carrying out massacres“ in the conflict-stricken south of the country.
”If authorities in Damascus want to preserve any chance of achieving a unified, inclusive and peaceful Syria... they must help end this calamity by using their security forces to prevent Daesh and any other violent terrorists from entering the area and carrying out massacres,“ Rubio said in a statement posted to X.
Sectarian clashes between armed Bedouin forces and the Druze in the community’s Sweida heartland had drawn in Syria’s Islamist-led government, Israel and other armed tribes.
US-brokered negotiations have sought to avert further Israeli military intervention, with Syrian forces agreeing to withdraw from the region.
“The US has remained heavily involved over the last three days with Israel, Jordan and authorities in Damascus on the horrifying & dangerous developments in southern Syria,” Rubio said.
He called for the Syrian government to “hold accountable and bring to justice anyone guilty of atrocities including those in their own ranks.”
“Furthermore the fighting between Druze and Bedouin groups inside the perimeter must also stop immediately,” Rubio added.
Once in control of large swathes of Syria, the Daesh was territorially defeated in Syria in 2019 largely due to the efforts of Kurdish-led forces supported by an international coalition.
Violence between the Druze and Bedouin groups that began on July 13 has left an estimated 940 dead, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor.
The count included 326 Druze fighters and 262 Druze civilians, 165 of whom were summarily executed, according to the Observatory.
The monitor also included 312 government security personnel and 21 Sunni Bedouin in the toll.
Updated 56 min 16 sec ago
Team Spirit crowned Dota 2 champions at Esports World Cup 2025 after an unstoppable run
- Team Spirit lost only one match on their road to the Championship and overcame challenges from the reigning champions Gaimin Gladiators and Ƶ’s Team Falcons
- The Dota 2 tournament featured 16 teams competing for the $3 million prize pool
RIYADH: Team Spirit have stormed to victory in the Grand Final of the Dota 2 tournament at the Esports World Cup 2025, defeating Team Falcons 3-0, to secure their first Esports World Cup Championship win.
Team Spirit have been dominant throughout the tournament, losing only one match in the opening round of the group stage against Xtreme Gaming, with the game ending 1-1. Team Spirit went on to claim a 2-0 victory over Talon Esports and a 2-0 win over Navus Vincere in the group stages before defeating Gaimin Gladiators 2-0 in the Quarter Final and winning 2-0 against PARIVISION in the Semifinal.
In the final, Ƶ's own Team Falcons couldn’t stop Team Spirit’s momentum as they roared to a 3-0 clean sweep to win the Grand Final and secure their first championship at the Esports World Cup.
“There is not really much emotions as the Grand Final was not that hard,” admitted Captain of Team Spirit Yaroslav "Miposhka" Naidenov.
“I enjoyed to play in this tournament, every player in my team is the best of the best. There was a lot of fans here also, thank you everyone so much for your support.”
Team Spirit players Yaroslav "Miposhka" Naidenov, Illya "Yatoro" Mulyarchuk, Magomed "Collapse" Khalilov, Denis "Larl" Sigitov and Aleksandr "rue" Filin overcame challenges from 15 other clubs to win a $1 million prize and secure 1,000 Club Championship points.
Magomed "Collapse" Khalilov was also named the tournament MVP in Dota 2 winning $10,000 for his outstanding performances throughout the Esports World Cup 2025.
Team Spirit’s win is their first championship at the Esports World Cup 2025, taking the title from Gaimin Gladiators who won the tournament in the inaugural edition of the Esports World Cup in 2024.
“It feels amazing of course, I’m very happy,” said Aleksandr "rue" Filin. “It was an amazing tournament and thank you to everyone for supporting us and watching us.”
Showing no lack of confidence about Team Spirit’s dominant win, Illya "Yatoro" Mulyarchuk said: “I truly think we are the greatest Dota 2 team of all time.”
The second week of EWC 2025 continues until Sunday 20 July with finals across competitions in League of Legends and Free Fire.
For more information and tickets, including access to all tournament days and festival experiences, are available now at esportsworldcup.com.
Updated 20 July 2025
Ten-woman Germany in Euros semis after stunning shootout win over France
- Ann-Katrin Berger was the hero by saving Amel Majri and Alice Sombath’s penalties to secure a last-four clash with Spain to Germany
- France have now fallen at the quarter-finals stage in eight of their last 10 Euros after losing a match in which they had two goals ruled out for offside
BASEL, Switzerland: Gritty Germany reached the Women’s Euro 2025 semifinals on Saturday after prevailing 6-5 in a penalty shootout against France after playing with 10 women for almost all of a gruelling match which finished 1-1 after extra time.
Ann-Katrin Berger was the hero by saving Amel Majri and Alice Sombath’s penalties to secure a last-four clash with Spain to Germany, who will take on the world champions in Zurich on Wednesday.
Germany maintained their record of having never lost to France in a major summer tournament after battling back from going a goal and a woman down in the first 15 minutes to win a bruising encounter in Basel.
“I would have loved to have had the game in 90 minutes and done and dusted,” Berger told reporters.
“I did my part of the game. In 120 minutes they (the team) worked incredibly hard and I think all the credit should go to the team, not me.
“Maybe it was the decisive moment in the penalty shootout but everyone here should talk about it with him (coach Christian Wueck) now about the performance of the team because that was amazing and incredible.”
St. Jakob-Park was dominated by fierce German support which flocked over the nearby border with Switzerland and roared their team on even after Kathrin Hendrich was sent off and gave away the penalty from which Grace Geyoro opened the scoring.
Sjoeke Nuesken — who also missed a penalty in the second half — levelled the scores 10 minutes later and, after a long battle to hold off France, Berger sent the majority of the crowd wild with her shootout stops.
France have now fallen at the quarter-finals stage in eight of their last 10 Euros after losing a match in which they had two goals ruled out for offside.
“I don’t think it was down to character, you have to remember that Germany are third in the FIFA rankings. They sat back and it was hard to break them down — they put in a huge effort against us,” said France coach Laurent Bonadei.
“We couldn’t make the difference, we had two goals ruled out for offside... it’s a lack of being clinical in front of goal.”
Germany came into the match already missing key defenders Giulia Gwinn and Carlotta Wamser, to injury and suspension respectively, while star striker Lea Schueller was also surprisingly left on the bench.
And the Germans’ task was made even harder in the 13th minute when Hendrich was rightly dismissed for inexplicably pulling Griedge Mbock’s hair while defending a free-kick, and giving Geyoro a chance to score she didn’t pass up.
But out of nowhere Nuesken drew a huge roar from Germany fans when she rose, completely unmarked, to glance home Klara Buehl’s inswinging corner.
From there Germany were content to sit back and hold France off by fair means or foul, and they were saved from being behind at the break by Delphone Cascarino needlessly straying offside before she flicked home Kadidiatou Diani’s low cross.
That was one of the few decent attacks France managed to conjure up with an extra woman, and they continued to struggle after the break.
Even when Geyoro had the ball in the net for the second time, lashing home on the rebound after a fine save from Berger, the goal was ruled out as Maelle Lakrar impeded the Germany goalkeeper while in an offside position.
And Pauline Peyraud-Magnin saved France’s skin when she kept out Nuesken’s awful penalty in the 69th minute, given for a soft foul on Jule Brand.
But it was Ann-Katrin Berger who made possibly the save of the tournament 12 minutes into extra time when she somehow clawed out Janina Minge’s inadvertant header and stopped Germany going out to an own goal.
Berger could only watch as Melvine Malard shook the crossbar with almost the last kick of the game before the shootout, but she stepped up in the shootout to allow Germany to win against all odds.
Updated 20 July 2025
Reforms, incentives paving way for Ƶ’s rise as logistics hub
- Kingdom’s logistics market projected to hit $38.8 billionn by 2026, growing at a compound annual rate of 5.85 percent
RIYADH: Ƶ’s logistics sector is emerging as a magnet for global investment, powered by regulatory reforms, incentive schemes, and its alignment with the ambitious Vision 2030 agenda, according to industry experts.
As the Kingdom pushes ahead with economic diversification, strengthening its transport and logistics infrastructure has become a central pillar of the program.
The National Logistics Strategy aims to transform Ƶ into a global hub by integrating multiple modes of transport, expanding connectivity, and stimulating economic growth.
Speaking to Arab News, Paolo Carlomagno, partner at Arthur D. Little, said global logistics players now view Ƶ not only as a high-growth market but as a strategic regional hub for multimodal operations — spanning the Gulf Cooperation Council region, Red Sea basin, and East Africa — anchored by the Kingdom’s expanding port, airport, and inland logistics network.
“The Kingdom has opened its logistics ecosystem through full foreign ownership allowances, streamlined customs procedures, and the development of strategic economic zones such as King Abdullah Economic City — collectively reducing barriers for international firms seeking to establish or expand their presence,” said Carlomagno.
He added: “With a population of approximately 36 million, Ƶ offers significant domestic demand, which — combined with rising trade volumes — is helping transform the Kingdom into a central logistics node for both regional and global flows.”
In January, the Kingdom introduced 15 new incentives under the Authorized Economic Operator program to bolster its export competitiveness. These included streamlined administrative processes, dedicated account managers, and liaison officers to support investors.
Carlomagno said upcoming global events such as Expo 2030 and the 2034 FIFA World Cup would further accelerate the Kingdom’s logistics transformation. Both events are expected to drive infrastructure development, accelerate foreign investment, and unlock new trade corridors, he added.
Andre Martins, head of transportation, services, and operations for India, Middle East, and Africa at Oliver Wyman, echoed this view. He highlighted Ƶ’s scale, infrastructure investments, and strategic location as key advantages.
“Ƶ’s position as the largest country in the Middle East, combined with significant plans to upscale infrastructure and logistics capabilities, creates a strong foundation for becoming a central logistics hub,” he said, adding that the Kingdom is establishing multiple logistics zones while continuing to upgrade ports and increase rail connectivity with potential east-to-west connections under Vision 2030.
Martins also pointed to the strong domestic demand, particularly in Riyadh, as a growing force behind the Kingdom’s logistics ambitions.
Government support
According to a December report by the General Authority for Statistics, the number of logistics facilities in Ƶ has surged 267 percent since 2021. A separate report from Maersk in November projected the Kingdom’s logistics market would hit $38.8 billion by 2026, growing at a compound annual rate of 5.85 percent.
Carlomagno pointed to the broader transformation strategy being implemented by the government, particularly the development of logistics zones designed to lower costs, boost connectivity, and drive industrial expansion.
“Recent ZATCA regulatory reforms — notably around less-than-container load handling in seaports — are increasing operational efficiency and making logistics more accessible for small and medium enterprises,” he said.
The Arthur D. Little partner added: “Additionally, the rollout of a national logistics platform (Single Window) is streamlining communication between logistics players and government entities, consolidating permits, customs, and approvals into one digital interface.”
Carlomagno also emphasized growing transparency, citing publicly available data on land, logistics zones, and shipping routes.
“Collectively, these initiatives reflect a coordinated push to make Ƶ a modern, investor-ready logistics ecosystem,” he said.
Martins noted the government’s proactive efforts to attract global firms, offering tax breaks, incentive packages, and access to a large captive market.
“The Kingdom encourages these international companies by facilitating access to captive demand while providing specific incentive packages and tax advantages to encourage market entry and expansion,” he said.
In December, Saudi Transport and Logistics Minister Saleh Al-Jasser announced plans to increase the number of logistics zones from 22 to 59 by 2030. This includes 18 new zones, backed by investments exceeding SR10 billion ($2.66 billion).
UNCTAD’s 2024 report also highlighted Ƶ’s growing global role, noting a 231-point rise in the Liner Shipping Connectivity Index and the addition of 30 new maritime shipping lines.
In August, Ƶ approved an updated investment law to improve transparency and streamline the investor journey. It guarantees fair treatment, protects intellectual property rights, and enables seamless fund transfers.
Leveraging geography and megaprojects
Ƶ’s geographic location — at the crossroads of Asia, Africa, and Europe — positions it advantageously on the global logistics map, but Carlomagno said this natural strength has historically been underutilized.
“Targeted infrastructure investments — such as port automation, integrated rail and road links, and inland logistics zones — are now enabling the Kingdom to fully harness this potential and position itself as a global logistics hub,” he said.
Martins noted that megacity developments are driving up logistics demand, not only during construction but throughout their operational lifespans.
“The construction and deployment periods require significant flows of goods and materials, while operational cities with resident populations create ongoing logistics needs. With expected continued population growth, demand for logistics services will only increase,” he said.
Carlomagno pointed to NEOM’s Oxagon as a prime example of logistics integration, describing it as “being developed as a next-generation logistics hub.”
He added that it will blend automated ports, AI-driven supply chains, and advanced manufacturing in a single maritime-logistics ecosystem.
“Supporting this is the new NEOM International Airport, which is strategically planned to handle both cargo and passenger volumes at scale, and NEOM Airlines, a new carrier designed to integrate seamlessly with smart logistics and cargo distribution infrastructure,” said Carlomagno.
With e-commerce surging, the Arthur D. Little partner said demand is also rising for fast, tech-enabled logistics services — especially in last-mile delivery, smart warehousing, and fulfillment operations.
A report from Research and Markets in April projected the Kingdom’s e-commerce market, valued at $24.67 billion in 2024, will grow to $68.94 billion by 2033 at an annual rate of 12.10 percent.
Addressing the challenges
Despite the momentum, experts warned of challenges that need to be addressed to sustain Ƶ’s rise.
“While Ƶ is moving in the right direction at a good pace, other countries are simultaneously investing in their logistics infrastructure, airports, ports, and platforms. The key challenge is ensuring that market demand, supply, and economics remain commercially viable for all players,” Martins said.
He added: “Additionally, geopolitical uncertainty presents potential risks to plans, and so many players are deploying a certain level of modularity to mitigate geopolitical risks while maintaining competitive positioning.”
Carlomagno pointed out that a shortage of specialized talent — particularly in digital logistics — could pose a hurdle, calling for more training and localization.
He also stressed the importance of sustainable logistics practices to align with global environmental, social and governance standards.
“Addressing these challenges demands a systemic approach that aligns infrastructure, policy, and human capabilities,” he concluded.
