Manga-inspired theme park to be built near Paris

Three theme parks will be built near Paris as part of a €6bn (£5.13bn) deal agreed between France and Saudi Arabia. The new development is expected to include a manga-themed park, inspired by the popular Japanese franchise Dragon Ball Z. French President Emmanuel Macron hailed the move as on a scale not seen "since Disneyland Paris", and added "you know my interest for manga". An opening date for the parks - which will be built near Cergy-Pontoise - has not been set by the Élysée Palace, but they will open in stages and construction is expected to take years. The project was given the green light during a two-day state visit to France by Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. It stemmed from a previous discussion between Macron and bin Salman about their shared passion for Japanese comics, "in particular Dragon Ball Z," advisers to the president told reporters on Monday. Macron is known to be a manga fan and earlier this year ended a press briefing with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi by doing a hand gesture from the Dragon Ball series. The project will be led by Qiddiya Investment Company (QIC) - part of Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund - which previously reve