Author: Editorial Team
Each year during Hajj, the Holy Sites undergo a remarkable transformation, emerging within days as one of the world’s largest seasonal smart cities capable of accommodating millions of pilgrims through vast networks of energy, water, transport, communications, and digital services. Behind the scenes, an around-the-clock infrastructure system operated by government and service agencies manages crowds, ensures smooth mobility, and maintains high standards of safety and comfort for pilgrims, before the sites return to their usual calm following the end of Hajj rituals. Kidana Development Company, the executive arm of the Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Sites, continues to implement infrastructure…
RIYADH — Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan received on Tuesday a phone call from Kuwaiti Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. The ministers discussed recent regional developments. They exchanged views on these developments. Source: Saudi Gazette
What will Saudi Arabia’s new cultural sector offer to its audiences? While vistas of cranes and pile drivers sketch the scale of new infrastructure, does recent programming offer a taste of the future experiences? From the pulsating Tunnel of Calvin Harris’ DJ set at Sound Storm to the wonder of the Islamic Arts Biennale (with loans from the V&A), to Noor Riyadh (featuring Random International), and Thikra (with Manal AlDowayan). And who could forget Sir Anthony Hopkins’ composition, ‘Life is a Dream’, staged for a live broadcast with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra under a floating dreamscape made of silk. Will…
As part of early preparations for the 1447 AH Hajj season, the Ministry of Health continues to strengthen its digital healthcare ecosystem by expanding virtual medical services. The initiative aims to improve the quality of healthcare provided to pilgrims and enhance the efficiency of medical responses in line with the Health Sector Transformation Program under Saudi Vision 2030. Seha Virtual Hospital supports the healthcare system with a comprehensive package of virtual medical services that improve diagnostic efficiency, accelerate response times, and help pilgrims access care without the need to travel. The services include supporting medical diagnoses through virtual radiology technologies and artificial intelligence-powered…
BEIJING — Russian President Vladimir Putin has hailed the deepening ties between Moscow and Beijing as a “stabilizing” force on the world stage ahead of talks with Xi Jinping, less than a week after the Chinese leader received US President Donald Trump during his high-profile visit to the country. Putin is traveling to Beijing on Tuesday in his first foreign visit of the year with the war in Iran offering an opportunity to deepen energy ties with China. Russia hopes the turmoil in energy markets from the Middle East conflict will make China more flexible in negotiations on a contract…
BRUSSELS — European law enforcement authorities have dismantled a large-scale online propaganda network linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), as part of a coordinated crackdown targeting extremist content across digital platforms. Europol, the EU’s central hub for fighting serious international crime and terrorism, said it took down more than 14,200 online posts, accounts and links tied to the IRGC after the EU designated the Iranian organization as a terrorist group in February. It also restricted the IRGC’s main X account, which had accumulated more than 150,000 followers. The operation, carried out by Europol’s EU Internet Referral Unit between…
Swiss watchmaker Swatch and luxury partner Audemars Piguet are betting big on a Gen-Z “product drop” culture — buzzy, often limited launches that have helped spur sales from Labubu dolls and Nike trainers to Popeyes chicken. The maker of popular colourful watches has stirred debate — and seen some punches thrown — with a product launch of its Royal Pop pocket watch collection with Audemars Piguet, which forced it to close some stores and limit queues. In Milan shoppers outside a Swatch store ended up in a scuffle, to get their hands on the Pop Art style watches blending the…
AlfaNow, a cross-border payments platform built for how the world moves money today, has announced its official expansion into the Sultanate of Oman through a partnership with First Exchange, approved by the Central Bank of Oman. Through this collaboration, AlfaNow’s services are now live across all major cities of the Sultanate of Oman through First Exchange branches. This rollout enhances access to reliable, convenient remittance services for customers across the country. Oman remains a key remittance hub in the Gulf region, supported by a diverse expat population and strong outbound flows to major corridors. AlfaNow’s entry in the market aims…
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…
Netflix, in partnership with the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture (AFAC), has announced the launch of the third edition of its regional Women in Film program, continuing its commitment to supporting and developing emerging women filmmakers across the Arab world. The program will provide training and development opportunities to 35 participants in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Jordan, and Kuwait. Building on the success of previous editions, the Women in Film III: Training Through Practice aims to nurture the next generation of creative talent, while supporting women’s representation in the film industry and strengthening the region’s creative…