Author: Editorial Team
Saudi Arabia launched the second gateway of the Makkah Route Initiative in the Kingdom of Morocco at the initiative’s hall at Rabat-Salé International Airport. The launch was attended by Saudi Ambassador to Morocco Dr. Sami bin Abdullah Al-Saleh and Moroccan Minister of Endowments Ahmed Toufiq. The Makkah Route Initiative aims to provide high-quality services to pilgrims from beneficiary countries traveling to the Kingdom. It includes receiving pilgrims and completing procedures in their home countries with ease, starting with electronic issuance of Hajj visas and collection of biometric data. Procedures continue through the General Directorate of Passports to finalize entry requirements…
Meta Platforms recently completed its purchase of Assured Robot Intelligence, a startup developing AI models for robots, as part of a major initiative focused on building humanoid technology. A representative for Meta told Mobile World Live it closed the acquisition on the 1st of May 2026. Financial terms were not disclosed. “We acquired Assured Robot Intelligence, a company at the frontier of robotic intelligence designed to enable robots to understand, predict and adapt to human behaviours in complex and dynamic environments”, Meta stated. The representative explained the Assured Robot Intelligence “will bring a deep expertise in how we can design…
LEIPZIG, Germany — At least two people have been killed and several others injured after a car plowed into a crowd in the eastern German city of Leipzig, local authorities said. Emergency services workers said about two dozen people were hurt in the incident, which happened at about 4.45 pm on Monday. The area had been full of shoppers and cafe patrons on a warm spring afternoon. Leipzig Mayor Burkhard Jung said the suspected perpetrator, who authorities have confirmed is a 33-year-old German-born resident of the Leipzig area, was arrested. “The police have apprehended the suspected assailant,” Jung said, adding…
Manish Malhotra turned his second Met Gala outing into a heartfelt love letter to Mumbai and the people behind his label, walking the carpet in a black bandhgala and an intensely worked, architectural cape that quite literally carried his ‘work family’ with him. The designer took to his social media to share, “Fashion is Art/Artisan. Our atelier at The Met.” In his words, the ensemble was meant to be “deeply personal” and an ode to Mumbai, the city that has shaped his journey, his cinema and his design language, and of the atelier that translates his vision into clothes. For…
The Ministry of Interior confirmed that expatriates who violate the requirement to obtain a Hajj permit will face a fine of SAR20,000, deportation, and a 10-year ban from entering the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It stressed that obtaining an official Hajj permit is a fundamental condition for performing the pilgrimage. The ministry urged everyone to comply with regulations governing the 1447 AH Hajj season and to cooperate with relevant authorities to ensure the safety and security of pilgrims. It noted that violations will result in legal penalties. It also called for reporting violators by calling 911 in Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh,…
First-of-its-kind national facility to test, validate, and certify AI models, agents, and applications against UAE cybersecurity policies and global standards. ABU DHABI — The UAE is setting a new global benchmark for the secure and responsible adoption of artificial intelligence (AI). As the nation accelerates its AI adoption, the UAE Cyber Security Council (CSC), Open Innovation AI, and Cisco, working in strategic collaboration with Emircom, today announced the establishment of the National AI Test and Validation Lab. This is a first-of-its-kind facility to help UAE government entities and private sector organizations test, validate and certify AI models, agents and applications…
LOS ANGELES — Britney Spears pleaded guilty on Monday to a charge of reckless driving following her arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence, sparing her from any jail time. The pop star, who was initially charged with driving while under the combined influence of alcohol and at least one drug, did not appear in court in California’s Ventura county. Erik Nasarenko, the Ventura county district attorney, confirmed she made the plea through her lawyer, taking responsibility at the “earliest stage”, and had agreed to continue to undergo treatment. She will be sentenced to a year of informal probation,…
WASHINGTON — More than four years after a Boeing 737-800 passenger jet plunged 29,000 feet and crashed into a mountain in southern China, killing all 132 people on board, newly released data appears to indicate that someone in the cockpit may have intentionally cut off the fuel supply to the engines. It was China’s deadliest air disaster in decades, but the cause of the incident has long remained a mystery. The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has not addressed the crucial question of what had prompted the deadly nosedive of China Eastern Airlines flight MU5735 in March 2022 in…
Two hantavirus cases have been confirmed and five others are suspected among people on a cruise ship stuck off Cape Verde, including three who have died, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said Tuesday. “As of 4 May 2026, seven cases (two laboratory confirmed cases of hantavirus and five suspected cases) have been identified, including three deaths, one critically ill patient and three individuals reporting mild symptoms,” the World Health Organization said in a statement. Three of the people are no longer on the ship and four remain on board. Passengers and crew desperately hunkered down in isolation on a ship…
The Misk Art Institute, an affiliate of the Mohammed bin Salman Foundation (Misk), has announced the launch of the third edition of its Solo Exhibitions series, to be held at Prince Faisal bin Fahd Arts Hall from May 6 to August 1, featuring 71 artworks by pioneering Saudi artists. Beyond displaying artworks, the exhibition includes dialogue sessions with the artists, specialized workshops, and developmental courses, reflecting the institute’s commitment to nurturing the art sector and strengthening the Kingdom’s cultural standing. Source: Riyadh Daily