Author: Editorial Team

RIYADH — Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman said Saudi Vision 2030 has maintained its development momentum and delivered major achievements despite global volatility and economic and political disruptions over the past decade. The Crown Prince, who also chairs the Council of Economic and Development Affairs, said the Vision’s progress was driven by strategic planning and disciplined fiscal policies built on flexibility and a proactive approach to future challenges and opportunities. His remarks came as the council reviewed the achievements of Vision 2030 on Monday as the national transformation strategy enters its third and final phase in 2026.…

SK Group recently entered into agreements with Vietnamese partners to build data centres and develop the country’s AI ecosystem. A move that is certain to expand the company’s AI strategy internationally. Through subsidiaries SK Telekom and SK Innovation, the conglomerate struck memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with the Vietnam’s National Innovation Center (NIC) and the Nghe An Provincial government. The deals cover the potential buildout of an AI data centre project in Nghe An, Vietnam’s largest province located on the northern coast. SK Innovation will first assess feasibility around the facility’s energy supply, potentially exploring a link to the Quynh Lap…

ARAR— The Jadidat Arar Border Crossing in Northern Borders Region received on Sunday the first groups of pilgrims arriving from Iraq to perform Hajj 2026. This was under the supervision of Emir of Northern Borders Region Prince Faisal bin Khalid. Pilgrims’ entry procedures were completed smoothly and efficiently through integrated services provided by the relevant government entities at the crossing, ensuring orderly movement and swift processing.The relevant entities are also mobilizing their capabilities to serve pilgrims by providing health, security, and organizational services and supporting transportation and logistics, implementing the wise leadership’s directives to enable pilgrims to perform their rituals…

Saudi Awwal Bank (SAB), one of the leading banks in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, announced the signing of an agreement with the Environment Fund (EF), under the patronage of His Excellency Eng. Abdulrahman Abdulmohsen AlFadley, Minister of Environment, Water & Agriculture. The agreement was signed by Munir bin Fahd Al-Sahli, Board Member and Acting CEO of the Environment Fund, and Tony Cripps, Managing Director and CEO of SAB, to provide credit facilities to beneficiaries of the incentives and grants program. The program aims to offer financing solutions to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), mid-sized companies, and large corporates operating…

Google recently commenced construction work on its first data centre in Austria. The project is pitched as a boost for AI capacity and regional digital infrastructure, with heat reuse and water restoration initiatives baked into the project. The tech giant stated the data centre will support growing demand for Google’s AI capabilities and digital services including Search, YouTube, Maps and Workspace across Europe. Once complete, the site in Kronstorf will create 100 direct jobs, with thousands more expected through construction, suppliers and local businesses. The facility is being built heat recovery-ready, with a green roof and solar panels. Google explained…

In a significant advancement for the region’s healthcare sector, Dr. Soliman Fakeeh Hospital in Madinah has announced the launch of the first Radiation Therapy Center of its kind in the region. This milestone enhances access to advanced oncology care and eliminates the need for patients to travel outside Madinah for treatment.The establishment of this center addresses a long-standing gap in cancer care services, as patients previously had to seek radiation therapy in other cities—often facing considerable physical, emotional, and financial burdens alongside their families.The center is equipped with state-of-the-art radiation therapy technology, including the Varian TrueBeam LINAC linear accelerator, which…

RIYADH — Saudi Arabia has recorded significant progress in the healthcare sector over the past decade, reaching 97.5% beneficiary satisfaction with healthcare services, according to the Ministry of Health (MOH). The figures, released alongside the Vision 2030 annual report as the Kingdom enters the program’s final phase, highlight key achievements across healthcare access, quality, and outcomes. Among the milestones, more than 3 million beneficiaries have been reached through early detection screening programs, contributing to 70% of cancer cases being diagnosed at early stages, while 6 million people have benefited from premarital screening programs. The Kingdom has also achieved notable reductions…

Governor of Madinah Region Prince Salman bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz received at his office Director of Civil Defense in Madinah Region Major General Ali bin Abdullah Al-Qarni. During the meeting, the governor reviewed the Civil Defense Directorate’s annual report, including performance indicators and efforts in safety and prevention, development initiatives, and service improvement. The meeting also covered ongoing preparations for Hajj season 1447 AH, including field plans and precautionary measures to ensure the safety of pilgrims. The governor affirmed the importance of enhancing readiness and raising the level of coordination among relevant entities, particularly during the Hajj season, to strengthen the protection…

CMC Networks, Africa’s premier networking provider, has partnered with AVANT Communications, a leading IT decision-making platform and technology distributor, to support enterprises with connectivity across EMEA. The partnership provides AVANT’s global partner network of advisors and enterprises with streamlined access to CMC’s ecosystem of AI-powered network infrastructure and industry-leading customer support, with local operations in 64 MEA markets. AVANT’s enterprise customers can now leverage CMC’s extensive coverage across a pan-regional network, supported by Africa’s first AI-enabled core, to enhance service resiliency and simplify regional expansion. The partnership also empowers AVANT’s Trusted Advisors to provide enterprise connectivity across the region at speed…

N’DJAMENA — At least 42 people were killed in eastern Chad after a clash over a water point escalated into a cycle of reprisal attacks between rival ethnic groups, officials said late Sunday. The conflict in Wadi Fira province, initially between two families, is said to have spread over a wide area, with villages burned down. Chadian authorities saida delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Limane Mahamat had been sent to the area and the situation had been brought under control. Mahamat said during a visit to the village of Igote in Wadi Fira near the border with Sudan 42…