Author: Editorial Team

OpenAI recently secured a record $122 billion in fresh capital, lifting its valuation to $852 billion. This move comes as the AI player continues to accelerate spending on chips, data centres and enterprise growth. The funding round, OpenAI’s largest to date, was led by Amazon, Nvidia and SoftBank, which Bloomberg reported together contributed $110 billion. According to the publication, Amazon committed $50 billion, while Nvidia and SoftBank Group each invested $30 billion. Other backers included MGX, D.E. Shaw Ventures and TPG. OpenAI also opened the round to a limited pool of individual investors, drawing in around $3 billion. In a…

JEDDAH — Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman received on Thursday a phone call from Russian President Vladimir Putin. During the call, they discussed the rapidly evolving situation in light of the military escalation in the region. In this context, Putin affirmed Russia’s support for safeguarding Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.The two leaders discussed the negative repercussions of the escalation and its impact on maritime security and the global economy. They also exchanged views on a number of regional and international issues and topics of common interest. Source: Saudi Gazette

RIYADH — On behalf of Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Al-Kheraiji attended the ministerial meeting to coordinate the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz via video conference on Thursday. The meeting, chaired by the United Kingdom and attended by ministers from 35 countries, discussed joint action to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. In her presidential speech, British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said Iran’s “recklessness” in blockading the waterway was “hitting our global economic security.” The meeting emphasized that any infringement upon freedom of navigation constitutes a serious threat to international…

The third edition of the Umrah and Ziyarah Forum concluded on Wednesday. The forum was held under the patronage of Governor of Madinah Region Prince Salman bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, and organized by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, in partnership with the Pilgrim Experience Program.  The event took place from March 30 to April 1 at the King Salman International Convention Center in Madinah.  The Umrah and Ziyarah Forum saw broad local and international participation over its three days, attracting more than 50,000 registrants from 165 countries. This participation reflects its growing status as a leading global platform advancing…

According to recent reports, Apple is testing a major upgrade to Siri which would allow the voice assistant to handle multiple commands in a single request. This update looks to bring the voice assistant closer to the capabilities of AI assistants. Bloomberg reported the feature being tested would let users bundle tasks including checking weather, creating a calendar event and sending a message into one prompt, rather than issuing individual commands. The feature is part of Apple’s broader effort to modernise Siri and make it more context-aware by comprehending personal data and on-screen content. Bloomberg stated Apple is developing the…

MAKKAH — The General Department of Education in the Makkah region announced that the new summer timing for all schools in the region will take effect from Sunday, April 5. The department said that the morning assembly in morning shift schools will be at 6:45 a.m., with the first period of classes beginning at 7:00 AM. This is aimed to contribute to creating a more suitable learning environment for students and school staff, in alignment with the climatic changes during the summer season. The department also stated that classes in the Continuing Education Schools will begin at 5:00 p.m. for…

Abu Dhabi’s newly opened biobank is expanding beyond traditional blood and DNA collection to include a wide range of biological materials, from eye samples to fertility and IVF-related tissues, as part of a broader push towards predictive and preventive healthcare. Officials said the facility, launched by the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi and M42, is designed to collect, store and analyse diverse human samples to better understand disease patterns and improve health outcomes across the population. “The Abu Dhabi Biobank can store a wide range of samples, including cord blood, stem cells, eye samples, fertility and IVF materials, as…

RIYADH — Officials from the National Program to Combat Commercial Concealment (Tasattur) have carried out as many as 2,611 inspection visits across various regions of Saudi Arabia during the last month of March. During these inspection visits, 71 cases of suspected commercial concealment were detected. The violators were referred to the competent authorities to complete the investigation procedures and the application of deterrent penalties against those involved in the crime. The inspection raids were conducted on the basis of indications and evidence of suspected concealment activities. These visits aimed to verify the compliance of the regulations from the part of…

The Traditional Arts Festival 2026, organized by the Ministry of Culture, is drawing strong crowds of visitors and tourists in Diriyah amid pleasant spring weather.  The festival, held from March 26 to April 8 and from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m., features a range of performing arts from across the Kingdom. Live shows in a dedicated traditional performance arena allow visitors to explore those traditions and their varied forms, reflecting the depth and diversity of Saudi cultural heritage.  The event is part of the Ministry of Culture’s ongoing efforts to support the national cultural scene and highlight traditional performing arts…

Stronger sound, smarter noise control, and a more refined design make the Galaxy Buds4 Series a compelling choice for Galaxy users seeking an everyday premium audio companion. Samsung’s Galaxy Buds4 Series arrives as more than a routine refresh. Positioned alongside the Galaxy S26 line, the Buds4 and Buds4 Pro reflect Samsung’s effort to make audio feel like a natural extension of its wider AI-led device ecosystem. Strong focus on comfort, sound quality and convenience gives the new range broad everyday appeal. Design stands out as one of the biggest strengths of the new series. Samsung says the range introduces a…