Author: Editorial Team
RIYADH — Saudi Arabia’s armed forces, in coordination with the United States Central Command (CENTCOM), carried out precision strikes on Wednesday against Iran-backed militia targets in Iraq linked to recent drone attacks on the Kingdom’s oil facilities, the Ministry of Defense announced. Defense Ministry spokesperson Maj. Gen. Turki Al-Malki said the operation followed attempted drone attacks on oil facilities in the Eastern Province and Riyadh region on Monday and Tuesday, which Saudi air defenses intercepted and destroyed. He said those attacks originated from Iraqi territory and were carried out by Iran-backed terrorist militias. Al-Malki said the military operation was conducted…
RIYADH — Saudi Arabia said its air defenses intercepted and destroyed several drones over the past few hours after they attempted to target oil facilities in the Eastern Province on Tuesday, blaming Iran-backed militias operating from Iraqi territory for the attacks. Defense Ministry spokesperson Maj. Gen. Turki Al-Malki said the latest attempted attacks were launched from Iraq by Iran-backed terrorist militias. He reaffirmed the Kingdom’s inherent right to defend itself and its critical infrastructure, adding that Saudi Arabia reserves the right to respond at a time and place of its choosing. In a separate statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs…
Minister of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance and General Supervisor of Local and International Quranic Competitions Sheikh Dr. Abdullatif Al Alsheikh launched the new phase and regulatory guide for the 46th edition of the King Abdulaziz International Competition for Memorization, Recitation, and Interpretation of the Holy Quran, which will be held from Safar 23 to Rabi’ Al-Awwal 6, 1448 AH. The current edition has set a record, with 334 male and female contestants representing 133 countries, marking the highest participation since the competition was launched. The competition aims to encourage Muslim men and women to engage with the Holy Quran through…
Ookla, a network performance measurement company, recently shared research which found network responsiveness for AI applications varies significantly by location. Geography, fibre routing and hyperscaler infrastructure were found to play a bigger role than population size or the presence of local data centres. The research by lead analyst Mike Dano compared cloud latency, the round-trip time between a user’s device and major cloud data centres run by Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud, Oracle and Microsoft Azure, across a mix of large and small U.S. cities. Dano noted the gap between the fastest median latency of 104 milliseconds (ms) recorded…
RIYADH — Several Arab countries and regional organizations strongly condemned the attempted drone attacks targeting oil facilities in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province and Riyadh. The eight Arab countries and two regional organizations reaffirmed solidarity with the Kingdom and support for its measures to safeguard its security and stability. From regional organizations, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Arab Parliament both condemned the attempted UAV attack, describing it as a flagrant violation of international law, and a direct threat to the security and stability of the region. GCC Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi condemned the attempted UAV attack, saying it was launched by…
RIYADH — Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan participated virtually on Tuesday in a consultative meeting of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) foreign ministers to discuss regional developments and efforts to strengthen coordination among member states. The ministers exchanged views on the latest regional developments, ongoing negotiations and efforts to advance practical understandings aimed at reducing tensions and strengthening regional security and stability. The meeting also reviewed ways to enhance coordination among GCC countries on issues related to freedom and safety of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, ensuring the rights of passage and transit and the uninterrupted flow of…
PARIS — Zinedine Zidane was appointed as France head coach on Tuesday, fulfilling a five-year dream to take charge of the national team he helped lead to World Cup and European Championship glory as a player. An emotional Zidane said becoming France coach was “the happiest day” of his managerial career after French Football Federation president Philippe Diallo confirmed the appointment at the federation’s headquarters in Paris. “I’ve waited five years for this chance, so that’s why I’m a bit emotional,” Zidane said. “The France team makes you dream. We have extraordinary players, an extraordinary team.” The 54-year-old has signed…
The U.S. recently threatened sanctions against Chinese AI companies over allegations they misused American models to train rival systems. In response China has issued a warning that it would take “all necessary measures” to protect its interests. In a statement, China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) criticised the U.S. for “politicising and weaponising technology and economic issues”, accusing it of using “unfounded allegations to stigmatise Chinese companies and impose sanctions”. It warned that if the U.S. takes “any action that materially harms China’s interests”, it would act to “firmly safeguard its legitimate rights and interests”. China hit back after U.S. Treasury…
King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center’s (KSrelief) Masam Project for Clearing Landmines in Yemen removed 1,367 mines from various parts of the country during the fourth week of July 2026. The total included 73 anti-tank mines, 13 anti-personnel mines, 1,275 unexploded ordnance items, and six explosive devices. The number of mines removed since the beginning of July has reached 5,653, while the total number cleared since the launch of the Masam Project has risen to 576,778. The mines had been indiscriminately planted across Yemen, posing a threat to the lives of innocent children, women, and the elderly, while spreading fear…
TOKYO — Saudi Arabia and Japan reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening their strategic partnership during deputy foreign ministers’ talks in Tokyo, while calling for an immediate de-escalation in the Middle East and the protection of maritime navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. The meeting was co-chaired by Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Eng. Waleed Elkhereiji and Japan’s First Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs and diplomatic adviser to the prime minister, Hiroyuki Namazu. Saudi Ambassador to Japan Dr. Ghazi Binzagr also attended. The two sides reaffirmed their determination to deepen bilateral cooperation across a range of sectors, including political affairs, security, energy…