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NEOM Forms its Global Advisory Board

Visitors watch a 3D presentation during an exhibition on NEOM in Riyadh. (Reuters)
Visitors watch a 3D presentation during an exhibition on NEOM in Riyadh. (Reuters)
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NEOM Forms its Global Advisory Board

Visitors watch a 3D presentation during an exhibition on NEOM in Riyadh. (Reuters)
Visitors watch a 3D presentation during an exhibition on NEOM in Riyadh. (Reuters)

NEOM, the destination for the future of living being developed in the Northwest of Saudi Arabia, announced on Tuesday its global Advisory Board. The Board brings together experts in key sectors to provide industry insight, advise on key milestones and forge strategic connections for NEOM.

Nadhmi Al-Nasr, CEO of NEOM, said: “We welcome the global and diverse expertise of the Advisory Board and are confident that each of them will make huge contributions to the development of NEOM. The Advisory Board will help shape NEOM’s future through its detailed knowledge and connections with potential long-term strategic partners.”

The members of the Advisory Board come from backgrounds in urban planning, architecture, design, technology, sustainability, energy and manufacturing. Those members have previously been engaged with NEOM in a meeting held in New York, USA in August 2018 to review NEOM’s strategy and discuss updates on the project.

Each of the Advisory Board members has been carefully chosen for their expertise and has demonstrated relevant experience, a global business background, familiarity with large-scale projects, senior board-level roles, international influence and enthusiasm for the aims of NEOM.

The members of the Advisory Board are:

- Sam Altman, President of YC Group and Co-Chairman of Open AI. Altman is an American entrepreneur, investor, programmer and blogger. He was named the top investor under 30 by Forbes in 2015 and one of the "Best Young Entrepreneurs in Technology" by Businessweek in 2008. Altman is also the Chairman of two energy companies, Helion and Oklo.

- Marc Andreessen, Co-Founder and General Partner of Andreessen Horowitz. Andreessen is a pioneer in the tech world. He founded software companies like Opsware, Mosaic, Netscape and Ning. Andreessen sits on the board of directors of Facebook, eBay and Hewlett Packard Enterprise among others. Andreessen was one of six inductees in the World Wide Web Hall of Fame announced at the First International Conference on the World-Wide Web in 1994.

- Tim Brown, CEO and President of IDEO. IDEO focuses on the value of design thinking to business people and designers. Brown discusses this around the world, including at the World Economic Forum in Davos and through TED Talks. He is an industrial designer by training and has earned numerous design awards, as well as advising senior business leaders.

- Timothy Collins, Founder and CEO of Ripplewood Advisors, L.L.C. Collins founded investment firm Ripplewood in 1995, with previous experience at Onex Corporation, Lazard Freres & Company, Booz Allen Hamilton and Cummins Engine Company. He has served on a number of corporate boards and is currently Chairman of the Yale SOM Advisory Board.

- Alexandra Cousteau, Senior Advisor to Oceana. Cousteau is an expert in environmental issues and is currently a National Geographic Emerging Explorer, filmmaker and global oceans expert.

- Dan Doctoroff, Founder and CEO of Sidewalk Labs. Before taking over Sidewalk Labs, Doctoroff was President and CEO of Bloomberg L.P., with previous roles including Deputy Mayor for Economic Development and Rebuilding in New York and Managing Partner of Oak Hill Capital Partners. He serves on the boards of the University of Chicago, World Resources Institute, the US Olympic Committee, Bloomberg Philanthropies and Human Rights First. He also helped found several charitable organizations.

- Lord Norman Foster, Founder and Executive Chairman of Foster + Partners. Foster + Partners is a global studio for architecture, urbanism and design. Notable projects include Reichstag in Berlin, the Great Court of British Museum, Boston Museum of Fine Arts, Headquarters of Apple, Bloomberg and Comcast and airports in Hong Kong and Beijing. He is also the President of the Norman Foster Foundation.

- Jean Fréchet, Distinguished Professor of Chemistry. Fréchet is a Professor emeritus at the University of California, Berkeley and Vice President for Research at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Saudi Arabia. He is a leader in developing strategies and managing resources to support interdisciplinary, collaborative research bridging science and engineering. Professor Fréchet is the author of over 800 publications with more than 106,000 citations and 200 patents.

- Travis Kalanick, CEO of City Storage Systems, a holding company focused on redeveloping real estate assets to fuel urban job creation and neighborhood rejuvenation. Kalanick is also Co-Founder and former CEO of Uber. During his seven years leading Uber, the company grew to operate in more than 70 countries, employed over 15,000 people and provided 3 million drivers with flexible work opportunities to complete over 5 billion rider trips. Prior to Uber, he founded Red Swoosh, a networking software company.

- Neelie Kroes, Former Vice President of the European Commission. Neelie is a former EU Commissioner, the first term as EU Commissioner for Competition Policy and the second term as Commissioner in charge of the Digital Agenda for Europe. In the last term, she was also Vice President of the European Commission. Before that, Neelie Kroes was Minister for Transport, Public Works and Telecommunication in the Netherlands. Currently, she serves on various international company boards.

- Andrew Liveris, Former Chairman and CEO of Dow Chemical and Executive Chairman of DowDuPont. Liveris ran Dow, a producer and marketer of chemical, materials, plastics and specialty chemicals for over 14 years and was responsible for transforming Dow and DuPont into the largest chemical company in the world. He has advised two US presidents, written a seminal book on the criticality of manufacturing to economic development and is on the boards of Saudi Aramco, WorleyParsons and IBM, and an advisor to the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia.

- Ernest J. Moniz, President and CEO of the Energy Futures Initiative. Moniz served as the 13th United States Secretary of Energy from 2013 to January 2017. He is the Cecil and Ida Green Professor of Physics and Engineering Systems emeritus and Special Advisor to the MIT President. Dr. Moniz is CEO of the Nuclear Threat Initiative and of the Energy Futures Initiative and the inaugural Distinguished Fellow of the Emerson Collective.

- Marc Raibert, Founder and CEO of Boston Dynamics. Raibert leads the development of some of the world's most advanced robots. Before founding Boston Dynamics in 1992, he was a professor at MIT and Carnegie Mellon University, and is a member of the US National Academy of Engineering.

- Carlo Ratti, Professor of Urban Technologies and Planning Director at MIT’s Senseable City Lab. Ratti is an architect and engineer by training and currently teaches at MIT. He has co-authored over 500 publications and patents.

- John Rossant, Founder and Chairman at the NewCities Foundation. Rossant founded the NewCities Foundation in 2010 with an aim to shape the future of urban projects. He was previously responsible for the production of global forums, such as the e-G8 in Paris and the World Economic Forum in Davos and is also the CEO and Chief Curator of LA CoMotion, the annual conference and event on future mobility. He is a board member of the Fondation Tocqueville in Paris and Humanity in Action in New York.

- Masayoshi Son, Chairman and CEO of SoftBank Group Corp. Son founded SoftBank, a global technology company that aspires to drive the Information Revolution in 1981 and has expanded its business to cover a range of technologies, including telecommunications, AI, smart robotics, IoT and clean energy. In 2017, SoftBank announced the first major close of the SoftBank Vision Fund to support the transformational companies at the forefront of the Information Revolution.

- Rob Speyer, President and CEO of Tishman Speyer. Speyer has grown Tishman Speyer into a leading global real estate company with $50 billion in assets. He is the Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City, and in 2013 became the youngest-ever Chairman of the Real Estate Board of New York. He currently serves on the advisory council of EXOR as well as several charitable ventures.

- Peter R. Voser, Chairman of ABB Group. Before taking up his position as Chairman of the Board of technology giant ABB, Voser served as CEO at Shell, amongst other positions with the company. He currently serves as a board member at Roche, IBM and Temasek, as well as several non-profit organizations.

Additional members of the Advisory Board will be announced as they are appointed.

NEOM’s emphasis on sustainability and innovation makes it a core pillar of Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia’s ambitious blueprint to diversify its economy and enable wider societal transformation. NEOM forms part of the Saudi Giga-Projects Investment Pool for the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia. The giga-projects are integrated economic ecosystems that will support the economic transformation of the Kingdom and act as a catalyst for investment across various sectors, and in addition to NEOM include The Red Sea Project, and Qiddiya.

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Oil Prices Rise 2% as China Suspends Fuel Exports

The Klesch oil refinery, formerly BP, produces petrol, diesel, and jet fuel in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, one day before the German government starts a fuel tax discount, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
The Klesch oil refinery, formerly BP, produces petrol, diesel, and jet fuel in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, one day before the German government starts a fuel tax discount, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
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Oil Prices Rise 2% as China Suspends Fuel Exports

The Klesch oil refinery, formerly BP, produces petrol, diesel, and jet fuel in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, one day before the German government starts a fuel tax discount, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
The Klesch oil refinery, formerly BP, produces petrol, diesel, and jet fuel in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, one day before the German government starts a fuel tax discount, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Oil prices rose around 2% on Thursday after China suspended oil products exports, potentially tightening fuel markets already coping with supply shortages globally, while investors continued to assess renewed diplomatic efforts to end the US-Iran war.

The new front-month December Brent crude futures contract traded at $100.09 per barrel at 0829 GMT, up 2.1%, or $2.06, from Wednesday's close, Reuters reported.

The November contract expired on Wednesday, settling at $103.50 per barrel, marking a monthly gain of around 14% in September for the front-month contract.

US West Texas ⁠Intermediate crude was ⁠up $2.06, or 2.28%, to $92.48 a barrel.

Prices were volatile on Thursday, having slipped more than 1% in early trading, before rebounding.

Chinese refiners have suspended exports of oil products to regions beyond Hong Kong and Macau until further notice, four people briefed on the matter said on Thursday, a move that will further crimp war-constrained fuel markets.

"The Chinese export ban suggests concerns about domestic product availability," UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo said, adding that it remains to ⁠be seen whether the measures will support higher crude imports after recent drawdowns in Chinese crude and fuel stocks.

Global diesel supplies have tightened as a result of falling refining capacity due to attacks linked to the Middle East and Ukraine wars, raising pressure on governments to intervene to shield consumers.

The Trump administration has told Germany and France to draw down emergency diesel inventories to help ease global fuel prices or face a potential US diesel export ban, three people close to the discussions said.

European diesel refinery profit margins were trading at around $80.05 per barrel at 0829 GMT, down around 4% from the previous session. The margin hit an all-time high of $95 per barrel on September 23.

Investors ⁠continued to watch ⁠diplomacy efforts and oil exports in the Middle East.

Saudi Arabia resumed oil tanker loadings from Yanbu, Reuters reported on Tuesday, after earlier restarting operations on its East-West Pipeline.

Iran said on Wednesday it had received a US response to its latest proposal to resurrect the collapsed ceasefire in the Gulf.

However, US President Donald Trump denied reports by Axios and CNN citing US officials as saying he was willing to give Iran sanctions relief and release frozen Iranian funds in return for "concrete" steps by Tehran on its nuclear program.

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Trump Unveils $200 Billion South Korean Investment in US; Seoul Hedges on Alaska Pipeline

US President Donald Trump (L, sitting) makes an announcement in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, USA, 30 September 2026. EPA/YURI GRIPAS / POOL
US President Donald Trump (L, sitting) makes an announcement in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, USA, 30 September 2026. EPA/YURI GRIPAS / POOL
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Trump Unveils $200 Billion South Korean Investment in US; Seoul Hedges on Alaska Pipeline

US President Donald Trump (L, sitting) makes an announcement in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, USA, 30 September 2026. EPA/YURI GRIPAS / POOL
US President Donald Trump (L, sitting) makes an announcement in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, USA, 30 September 2026. EPA/YURI GRIPAS / POOL

US President Donald Trump unveiled plans on Wednesday for South Korea to invest some $200 billion in US projects, but Seoul quickly suggested one key element, a $54 billion pipeline for an LNG project in Alaska, was not yet set in stone.

The announcement from the White House amounted to the first set of major projects under a broader $350 billion strategic investment package South Korea made as part of a trade agreement with Washington last year. The package included $150 billion for shipbuilding and $200 billion for strategic investments.

"Thanks to the agreements my administration has secured with the Republic of Korea, they will invest up to $200 billion," Trump said from the Oval Office.

According to Reuters, he said the investment would include the construction of eight large-scale nuclear power plants, a natural gas pipeline and a 6-gigawatt power generation facility in Texas.

The announcement is the latest in a series of economic and investment deals Trump is highlighting ahead of November's midterm elections, as he seeks to reinforce his economic ⁠record amid voter concerns ⁠over the Iran war and high gasoline prices.

The pipeline project could carry political significance in Alaska, where Republican Senator Dan Sullivan faces a competitive reelection race against Democrat Mary Peltola. Sullivan attended Wednesday's announcement.

South Korea's government, however, said the pipeline project would only go forward if certain commercial and legal conditions are met. Seoul confirmed other elements of Trump's announcement, saying it would invest $22.3 billion in a Texas gas power project to power AI data centers, as well as $120 billion to build eight nuclear reactors.

South Korea will begin reviewing the Alaska LNG project to assess its commercial viability and compliance with legal procedures, Seoul's industry ministry said in a ⁠statement.

"No decision has been made on whether to invest or on the size of the investment," it said.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung also said in a post on X that the commercial viability of both the LNG project and the nuclear reactors must be confirmed before they proceed.

Any differences between Seoul and Washington over details of the deal could lead to disputes between the allies over its implementation, analysts in Seoul said.

The Alaska LNG project, if it ultimately goes forward, includes an 807-mile pipeline carrying natural gas from the North Slope to a liquefaction facility on Alaska's southern coast, allowing the fuel to be shipped to Asian markets.

The project is designed to transport about 3.9 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day and produce up to 20 million metric tons of LNG annually, according to the White House.

Trump has repeatedly promoted the project as a way to expand US energy exports and strengthen ties with allies including South Korea and Japan.

But the project has faced years of ⁠uncertainty over its cost, financing ⁠and commercial viability.

South Korea's industry ministry said last week that a more than 6-gigawatt gas-fired power plant in Encinal, Texas, was the first project selected under the $200 billion strategic investment program.

Japan's two biggest LNG importers, JERA and Tokyo Gas, have signed preliminary agreements to buy a combined 2 million metric tons a year from Alaska LNG if it is built.

Glenfarne, the project's developer, welcomed Trump's investment announcement. It has lined up commitments for 13 million tons a year, but needs another 3 million tons to support a final investment decision and make commitments binding.

"Glenfarne will work with the US and Korean governments to finalize the investment structure and complete the remaining steps required to reach FID," it said in a statement.

The eight nuclear plants would form part of Trump's effort to expand US nuclear generation as electricity demand rises, including from data centers and manufacturing. South Korea has been discussing a potential investment in US nuclear projects as part of the broader package.

The Texas gas-fired power project is expected to supply electricity to energy-intensive facilities, including semiconductor plants and data centers. South Korean officials have said the project was selected after reviews of its commercial viability.

Business

Asian Shares Mostly Rise amid Market Optimism about AI, Despite Iran Worries

A financial data screen in the dealing room of Hana Bank shows the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) after South Korean shares closed higher in Seoul, South Korea, 23 September 2026. EPA/YONHAP SOUTH KOREA OUT
A financial data screen in the dealing room of Hana Bank shows the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) after South Korean shares closed higher in Seoul, South Korea, 23 September 2026. EPA/YONHAP SOUTH KOREA OUT
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Asian Shares Mostly Rise amid Market Optimism about AI, Despite Iran Worries

A financial data screen in the dealing room of Hana Bank shows the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) after South Korean shares closed higher in Seoul, South Korea, 23 September 2026. EPA/YONHAP SOUTH KOREA OUT
A financial data screen in the dealing room of Hana Bank shows the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) after South Korean shares closed higher in Seoul, South Korea, 23 September 2026. EPA/YONHAP SOUTH KOREA OUT

Asian shares mostly rose in early Thursday trading amid investor interest in technology-related issues, despite ongoing worries about the war in Iran.

Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 jumped 2.4% in morning trading to 68,355.81. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 lost 1.7% to 8,638.10. South Korea's Kospi edged up 0.5% to 6,873.06. Hong Kong's Hang Seng added 0.4% to 24,613.27, while the Shanghai Composite gained 0.3% to 3,842.19.

In Tokyo trading, issues expected to get a boost from the solid demand in computer chips and AI-related growth have been rising in recent sessions, including Advantest Corp., Tokyo Electron and SoftBank Group Corp.

US stocks mostly fell Wednesday, despite indications that the US economy remains strong. On Wall Street, the S&P 500 slipped 0.3% to close out its third losing month in the last four. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 443 points, or 0.9%, and the Nasdaq composite added 0.2%.

The report that said inflation wasn’t as bad across the United States last month as economists expected. It said the cost of living for US consumers was 3.4% higher overall in August than a year earlier. That was not as high as the 3.7% inflation rate that economists expected, even if it remained worse than the Fed’s 2% target.

In energy trading, benchmark US crude lost 0.56% to $89.91 a barrel. Brent crude, the international standard, fell 0.35% to $97.69 a barrel.

Oil prices have been swinging wildly in recent months amid uncertainty about when the war with Iran will allow the flow of crude to be fully restored. Iranian officials indicated Wednesday they have received an official US response to Tehran’s latest proposal to end the seven-month war. The officials did not say what the latest response contained and whether it was a rejection.

US President Donald Trump publicly rejected Iran's proposal just days earlier to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within a week if the US meets certain conditions.

The yield on the 10-year Treasury, which is the centerpiece of the bond market, rose to 5.29%, up from 5.26% late Tuesday, and it’s back to where it was more than two decades ago in 2002.

The 30-year Treasury yield, which takes into account expectations for inflation and economic growth many years down the line, climbed to 5.64% from 5.59% late Tuesday.

All told, the S&P 500 fell 19.30 points to 7,651.54. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 443.87 to 50,906.05, and the Nasdaq composite added 63.52 to 26,861.06.

In currency trading, the US dollar rose to 158.17 Japanese yen from 157.33 yen. The euro cost $1.1328, down from $1.1334.