Author: Editorial Team

JEDDAH — Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman received a written message from President Ramzan Kadyrov of the Chechen Republic. The message was received by Minister of State and Cabinet Member Prince Turki bin Mohammed bin Fahd from Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Physical Culture and Sports of the Chechen Republic Akhmat Kadyrov during their meeting in Jeddah on Tuesday. During the meeting, they reviewed bilateral relations and discussed topics of mutual interest. Source: Saudi Gazette

The replacement of the Kaaba’s Kiswa (cover) is drawing near, heralding a scene that unfolds each year with the start of a new Hijri year and is eagerly anticipated by Muslims around the world.  Skilled Saudi craftsmen step into the spotlight to carry out one of the most sacred tasks associated with the Grand Mosque, completing the final stages of replacing the Kiswa. The field operation marks the culmination of months of meticulous craftsmanship, culminating in the Kaaba being draped in its new garment.  Moreover, as the moment approaches, the area surrounding the Kaaba transforms into a carefully coordinated workspace…

Lula Mohanty, Managing Partner, Middle East and Africa, IBM Consulting. New research from the IBM Institute for Business Value shows 89% of surveyed regional organisations are embedding AI across multiple workflows, with two-thirds now appointing a Chief AI Officer. A new global study from the IBM Institute for Business Value, drawing on insights from 100 surveyed CEOs in the Middle East, finds that the accelerating pace of AI is pushing chief executives to redesign how C-suite roles are structured to drive greater business impact across the enterprise. Across the region, organisations are accelerating digital transformation and embedding AI into core…

LISBON — Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Portugal’s Minister of State and Foreign Affairs Paulo Rangel signed an agreement on the mutual exemption of entry visas for holders of diplomatic and special passports in Lisbon on Tuesday. The agreement comes within the framework of strengthening bilateral relations between Saudi Arabia and the Portuguese Republic. It aims to facilitate travel and communication, enhance joint coordination, and expand areas of cooperation between the two friendly countries. Prince Faisal also held extensive talks with Paulo Rangel and that covered regional and international developments, including efforts to de-escalate tensions…

Under the patronage of Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, King Salman Energy Park (SPARK) signed an agreement with Pan Kingdom Real Estate, a subsidiary of Pan Kingdom Holding Group, to develop a complex of ready-built energy-related industrial facilities at SPARK.  The project forms part of the energy ecosystem’s efforts to strengthen local content, support energy supply chains, expand the localization of energy-related products and services, and advance the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 to increase the energy sector’s contribution to the national economy.  The development will provide ready-built specialized industrial facilities designed to attract global manufacturers…

The UK government has recently announced its plans to ban under 16 year-olds from social media and impose wider restrictions on gaming and live-streaming platforms in a landmark intervention to protect children online. The measures would cover social media platforms including Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and X, but exclude messaging services such as WhatsApp and Signal. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the move would “give kids their childhood back”, adding it represents “a line in the sand” as “tech giants had their chance and failed”. The government is also considering overnight curfews and breaks in infinite scrolling for…

RIYADH — Saudi Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Al-Kheraiji met with Qatari Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Mohammed Al-Khulaifi in Riyadh on Tuesday. During the meeting, the ministers discussed the latest developments in the region, particularly the US-Iran agreement, as well as recent developments in Syria, Sudan, and Somalia. They expressed satisfaction with the agreement reached between the United States and Iran to cease military operations and ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. They described it as an important step toward consolidating lasting peace and promoting regional and international economic growth. Saudi Arabia and Qatar…

CAIRO — Saudi Minister of Justice Walid Al-Samaani chaired the 76th meeting of the Executive Bureau of the Council of Arab Justice Ministers held at the headquarters of the General Secretariat of the Arab League in Cairo on Monday. In his presidential speech, Al-Samaani stressed the importance of continuing to enhance judicial and legal cooperation among Arab countries and following up on the implementation of the council’s decisions in a manner that supports the effectiveness of its work and strengthens Arab judicial integration. The meeting discussed progress in implementing resolutions adopted during the 41st session of the Council of Arab…

Jewels of the World has officially opened its doors at the Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh, unveiling an extraordinary showcase of high jewellery, fine jewels and precious gemstones. Running until 19th June, the event brings together over 100 celebrated jewellery maisons and an exceptional display of creations from all over the world.  As Saudi Arabia continues to strengthen its position as a regional hub for luxury retail, Jewels of the World has become a must-visit highlight on the annual calendar for jewellery enthusiasts, collectors and luxury connoisseurs. The exhibition offers a unique opportunity to discover exclusive creations, emerging trends and the…

Salesforce has recently entered into a deal to acquire AI customer service specialist Fin for around $3.6 billion. This move is calculated to bolster the organisation’s ability to help companies quickly deploy agents across communications channels. Fin’s main product is a customer support AI agent which uses its proprietary Apex model. It is marketed as resolving queries across numerous channels including live chat, email, WhatsApp, SMS, Slack and over the phone. Salesforce plans to use Fin’s offering to compliment its Agentforce platform. It noted the combination of assets would provide fast “time-to-value options” for businesses, citing SMBs and those which…