Saudi Arabia was announced as the host of the 2034 FIFA World Cup, the only bidder for the tournament. The controversial selection has drawn criticism from human rights groups due to the country’s leadership being accused of serious human rights violations. The decision was part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s efforts to rebrand the country. The selection has raised concerns about potential abuses faced by migrant workers needed to build the infrastructure for the event. Additionally, the joint statement from 21 human rights groups expressed concern about hosting the event in a country with weak human rights protections. The selection of Saudi Arabia was a result of FIFA rules that disqualify bids from the continent that hosted the previous tournament.
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Norway’s oil fund calls for urgent reform of European capital markets
The world's largest sovereign wealth fund, Norway's $1.9 trillion oil fund, is urging urgent reforms in Europe's capital markets to enhance competitiveness against the US and Asia, noting a decline in its European equity share from 26% to 15% over the past decade. The fund's market strategy chief, Malin Norberg, emphasized the need for harmonized tax and insolvency laws as barriers to investment opportunities persist, with a significant drop in listed companies in Europe contributing...
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