Author: Editorial Team
Swiss watchmaker Swatch was forced to shut stores and cap queues after the launch of its Royal Pop pocket watch in collaboration with Audemars Piguet drew large crowds and triggered brawls among shoppers. The watches combining Swatch’s 1980s pop-art style with the Audemars Piguet octagonal bezel sell for $400 to $420, far below the many thousands of dollars commanded by Audemars Piguet’s luxury watches, leading many to buy and then flip Royal Pop timepieces online at inflated prices. Social media posts and video showed queues of shoppers at stores in New York, London, Barcelona and Dubai at the weekend, with…
The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance received the first group of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ Program for Hajj, Umrah, and Visit. Several program officials welcomed the pilgrims upon their arrival at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, where arrival procedures were completed smoothly and with ease, after which the guests boarded equipped buses to their accommodation. The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance completed all procedures ahead of time by providing the necessary support through its service committees, including administrative, reception, transportation, guest affairs, media, accommodation, religious, and holy sites committees. This forms part…
Cisco recently announced the Cisco Universal Quantum Switch, a critical milestone in quantum networking that addresses one of the most fundamental barriers to building a quantum network. As a working research prototype, it is the latest proof point in Cisco’s accelerating full-stack quantum networking program, built on years of foundational research, real-world demonstrations, and a growing ecosystem of strategic collaborations. Quantum computers encode information in different ways, and until now, no switch could accept and translate between all major encoding modalities without destroying the quantum information in the process. The Cisco Universal Quantum Switch is designed to address this challenge…
RIYADH — Saudi Arabia and Britain signed on Tuesday a joint declaration of intent aimed at supporting children injured as a result of the military escalation in the Gaza Strip. The support will be in the form of provision of emergency surgical care and treatment for the injured. The signing ceremony took place during a meeting between Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, Supervisor General of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief), and Jenny Chapman, UK Minister for International Development at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, on the sidelines of the Global Partnerships Conference 2026 held in London. During…
RIYADH — Saudi Arabia’s non-oil trade surplus with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries reached SR4.47 billion in February 2026, representing a 7 percent increase compared to the same period in 2025. According to the data released by the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT), total Saudi non-oil merchandise exports and re-exports to the GCC countries rose to SR12.4 billion in February, representing a 29 percent year-on-year increase. Non-oil merchandise exports during the period include SR9.3 billion in re-exports and SR3.1 billion in domestic exports. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s merchandise imports from the GCC countries totaled SR7.9 billion during February, marking a…
Swiss watch giant Swatch said Monday insufficient organisation by shopping centres contributed to scuffles at around 20 stores worldwide over the weekend as clients raced to buy a limited-edition timepiece. Hundreds of people waited through the night or longer hoping to get their hands on the “Royal Pop” timepieces, billed as a “disruptive collaboration” with the luxury watchmaker Audemars Piguet. But things turned ugly in New York and several European cities as well as in Thailand on Saturday, with fights breaking out and some security gates vandalised at some of the 220 stores offering the watches. In France, officers fired…
The Presidency of Religious Affairs at the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque announced that the Day of Arafah sermon this year will be translated into 35 languages and broadcast via its digital platforms and affiliated channels. These efforts aim to deliver the sermon’s themes to Muslims worldwide and convey Islam’s message of moderation. President of Religious Affairs at the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque Sheikh Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Sudais stated that the translation initiative reflects Saudi Arabia’s commitment to serving Islam and Muslims and highlights the leadership’s care for pilgrims. It also helps maximize the global impact of the…
Marked on 20 May under the theme ‘Empower People to Lead Change’, International HR Day 2026 highlights the growing role of HR in building trust-driven leadership, human-centric AI adoption and continuous learning cultures. International HR Day, observed on 20 May, is being marked in 2026 under the theme ‘Empower People to Lead Change’, with a focus on future-focused leadership, human-centric AI and continuous learning. The official 2026 theme highlights how rapidly changing workplaces require trust-driven leadership, responsible AI adoption and inclusive upskilling systems. Across the MENA region, HR leaders are being called upon to do more than manage people processes.…
•stc group has completed preparations for Hajj 1447 AH, with a comprehensive plan to enhance network efficiency and expand coverage across Makkah and Madinah. •The readiness plan includes more than 450 outdoor network expansions deployed along the pilgrimage route to ensure seamless connectivity for pilgrims. stc group, Saudi Arabia’s leading digital enabler, has completed its preparations for the Hajj 1447 AH season through a comprehensive operational plan designed to enhance network efficiency and expand coverage across Makkah and Madinah. Leveraging advanced infrastructure and the latest technologies, stc group is ensuring a reliable and seamless connectivity experience for pilgrims from around…
RIYADH — The Saudi Heritage Commission announced the discovery of a collection of Abbasid-era gold jewelry at the archaeological site of Diriyyah in the Qassim region during the fourth season of excavation and survey work. The discovery includes 100 gold pieces adorned with floral and geometric motifs, along with architectural remains from the Abbasid period, including stone foundations, mud walls, pottery, and metal tools. The findings indicate human settlement dating back to the late third Hijri century and highlight the site’s historical importance along pilgrimage and trade routes. The discovery reflects the Heritage Commission’s ongoing efforts to document and preserve…