(MENAFN - Khaleej Times) Civil aviation regulator in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia has issued new directives to all airlines operating at the Gulf state's airports regarding carrying portable chargers ...

MAKKAH — The General Authority for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque announced the implementation of a geographic coding project for columns inside the Grand Mosque aimed at improving navigation and helping worshippers and visitors move more easily within the mosque.The authority said the initiative is part of ongoing efforts to…

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,…

GAZA CITY: Saudi Arabia’s aid agency KSrelief has recently provided 24,000 hot meals to vulnerable people displaced by conflict in Gaza’s central and southern areas. A central kitchen was established by KSrelief in Gaza in February to provide the food. In Khan Younis, 820 food baskets were delivered, benefiting 4,920 people. This aid is a…

NEW DELHI — Two years after ChatGPT took the world by storm, China's DeepSeek has sent ripples through the tech industry by collapsing the cost of developing generative artificial intelligence applications.But as the global race for AI supremacy heats up, India appears to have fallen behind, especially in creating its own foundational language model that's…

(MENAFN - The Peninsula) The Peninsula Online Doha, Qatar: As the first group of Qatari pilgrims arrived in Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj, Hamad International Airport has extended additional support ...

RIYADH — The national integrated Tawakkalna application has enabled pilgrims to view Hajj permits through the app, allowing beneficiaries to access permits easily during the Hajj season and facilitating the spiritual journey of pilgrims while enhancing the efficiency of the digital services provided to them. Beneficiaries of this service also include workers participating in the…

The General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque has launched an interactive 3D maps initiative to facilitate navigation and enhance services for pilgrims. Integrated into the…

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia and Russia’s mutual visit visa waiver agreement has entered into force to boost tourism and cultural exchange between the two countries and support broader people-to-people engagement. The Kingdom and Russia signed the mutual visa-exemption agreement on the sidelines of the Saudi–Russian Investment and Business Forum, held in Riyadh on Dec. 1, 2025. …

NEW YORK — Google announced a deal Tuesday to buy rapidly growing cybersecurity firm Wiz for $32 billion. It would be the tech giant’s biggest-ever acquisition.The all-cash takeover of privately held Wiz represents a big bet by Google on cloud security and cybersecurity in this period of explosive growth for artificial intelligence.The Wiz deal, which…

(MENAFN - Khaleej Times) This year, the Hajj rituals will take place between May 25 and May 27, and Dubai has put in place dedicated services to assist pilgrims and ease their travel By: ...

MAKKAH — The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing has completed preparations for the road and infrastructure network in Makkah and the holy sites for Hajj, implementing more than 11 million linear meters of roads. The ministry achieved the completion through a package of development works and field interventions aimed at enhancing traffic flow and improving…

Hertfordshire Police shared a video on social media of a driver who could have caused a collision after placing an unsecured football net on top of his car. The video showed the incident, where the…

MAKKAH: The Presidency of Religious Affairs at the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque has launched the Dalalah wa Tibyan program as part of its Hajj season plan. The program aims to raise religious awareness and support pilgrims’ educational and spiritual experience by distributing guidance booklets and awareness materials in several languages throughout the Grand…

PHOENIX — Chris Pelkey died in a road rage shooting in Arizona three years ago.But with the help of artificial intelligence, he returned earlier this month at his killer's sentencing to deliver a victim's statement himself.Family members said they used the burgeoning technology to let Pelkey use his own words to talk about the incident…

(MENAFN - Khaleej Times) Every summer, thousands of UAE citizens and expatriates travel to Oman during the khareef season to enjoy the cooler weather, rainfall, and scenic natural beauty By: ...

RIYADH — The Royal Commission for Riyadh City announced that the Western Station of the Riyadh Metro will begin operations on Friday, marking the completion of the project’s four major iconic stations.The launch represents another milestone in Riyadh’s expanding public transport network and reinforces the capital’s transformation toward a more integrated and sustainable urban mobility…

The Monday market in the governorate of Uyun Al-Jiwa, north of Qassim Region, stands as one of the oldest traditional weekly markets, enduring through changing times while maintaining its role as a vibrant economic and…

RABAT: Saudi Arabia concluded its participation in the 31st Rabat International Book Fair, held from May 1 to 10, highlighting the nation’s cultural and intellectual ties with Morocco. Abdullatif Al-Wasel, CEO of the Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission, said the participation reflects the relations between the two countries and aims to introduce Saudi literary and…

WASHINGTON — Billionaire SpaceX, Tesla, and X owner Elon Musk says he plans to sue Apple for not featuring X and its Grok artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot app in its top recommended apps in its App Store.Musk posted the comments on X late Monday, saying, “Hey @Apple App Store, why do you refuse to put…

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has enhanced direct communication channels with pilgrims through a unified number, 1966, available around the clock in 11 languages. The ministry said the service allows pilgrims to obtain information, request assistance and report service-related issues, with systems in place to ensure swift responses and efficient handling of various…

RIYADH — The Transport General Authority (TGA) announced the readiness of more than 33,000 buses and 5,000 taxis to serve pilgrims during the Hajj season 2026. This is part of the authority’s operational and regulatory plans to support smooth mobility and raise transport service efficiency for pilgrims across all stages of their movement. The TGA…

Al-Nasb Heritage District in Abha is one of the most prominent living examples of traditional architecture in Aseer Region, preserving its long history and architectural details that embody people’s connection to their local environment and…

A number of Saudi students have achieved outstanding results in a national test recognizing academic giftedness, with several securing places at top universities around the world. This year’s students from Downe House Riyadh who were recognized for their scores in the Mawhiba Multiple Cognitive Aptitude Test include Aseel Al-Bagieh (year eight), Safanah Al-Homood (year five),…

LONDON — The number of data centers in the UK is set to increase by almost a fifth, according to figures shared with BBC News.Data centers are giant warehouses full of powerful computers used to run digital services from movie streaming to online banking - there are currently an estimated 477 of them in the…

Saudi Arabia’s Heritage Commission said it had documented an early Islamic inscription dating back to the first century Hijri along the historic Darb Zubayda pilgrimage route in the Hail region. The inscription was identified at Dhali’ al-Nis, south of Samira governorate, on one of the key routes used by pilgrims travelling from Kufa to Mecca,…

MAKKAH — A smart robot with religious services and multilingual translations has been employed by the Presidency of Religious Affairs at the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque to enrich the experience of pilgrims to the Two Holy Mosques. The smart robot provides interactive religious and guidance content through an easy-to-use interface, including services that…

JEDDAH: At just 15, Sulaf Al-Johani is the first Saudi Arabia female to participate in and win the Most Inspiring Young Leader award at the Impact CEO Awards in Dubai earlier this year, for her leadership and scientific contributions at international gatherings. She is “proud” of several projects and innovations, most notably research in the…

WASHINGTON — A court will not force Google to sell off its Chrome browser or Android, a federal judge said in a court filing on Tuesday. The decision serves as a significant win for the tech company, which has avoided the most extreme possible outcome from a landmark antitrust case that determined the company was…

(MENAFN - Mid-East Info) Seasonal rains transform Sharaan National Park into a thriving habitat for birdlife and wildlife Arabian red fox kits highlight a season of renewal in a certified IUCN ...

RIYADH — The Royal Commission for Riyadh City has completed the lifting and installation of two major overpass bridges as part of the advanced construction phases of the road network development project surrounding the King Abdullah Financial District, with overall project completion surpassing 35%.The operation was carried out using specialized cranes and engineering equipment as…

RIAYDH: Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan discussed the latest regional developments with his Iranian and Pakistani counterparts in separate calls, the Saudi Foreign Ministry said on Monday. Prince Faisal spoke on the phone with Iran’s Abbas Araghchi, during which they discussed “the latest developments related to Pakistani mediation efforts and the ongoing diplomatic talks…

BOSTON — OpenAI has announced a series of parental controls for its AI chatbot ChatGPT, which includes notifying parents when their child is distressed.It comes after a lawsuit was filed against the company and its CEO Sam Altman by the parents of 16-year-old Adam Raine, who committed suicide in April.The parents alleged that ChatGPT created…

(MENAFN - AsiaNet News) India's Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Suhel Khan, visited Makkah to review preparations for Indian Haj pilgrims and personally received the first group arriving from Madinah ...

MAKKAH — This year's Hajj in Mina is witnessing a new identity for pilgrim tents, covering a total area of over 24,000 square meters. The tents are distributed across two main locations in Mina: the upper site on King Abdulaziz Road and the lower site behind Al-Khaif Mosque. This geographical distribution aims to improve the…

GAZA CITY: A delegation from the UN’s humanitarian office has praised Saudi Arabia’s operations in Gaza after visiting projects run by the Kingdom’s aid agency, KSrelief. The delegation from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs toured KSrelief’s facilities and aid distribution sites across the enclave as living conditions continue to deteriorate amid…

WASHINGTON — A US federal court has told Google to pay $425m (£316.3m) for breaching users' privacy by collecting data from millions of users even after they had turned off a tracking feature in their Google accounts.The verdict comes after a group of users brought the case claiming Google accessed users' mobile devices to collect,…

(MENAFN - Khaleej Times) If you are a pet parent looking to travel out of the country, here's a breakdown of the process, permits required and things you should know By: Bahni Bandyopadhyay ...

RIYADH — The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing, represented by the regional mayoralties, conducted more than 1.6 million inspection tours during the first quarter of 2026. This is part of the ministry’s ongoing efforts to enhance compliance, improve the quality of municipal services, enhance the urban landscape, and protect public health in various cities and…

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Culture has opened applications for nonprofit organizations to join its “Support for Performance Program.” The program offers eligible entities the opportunity to apply for six financial support products aimed at strengthening the Kingdom’s nonprofit cultural sector.

LONDON — When actress Sorcha Cusack left the BBC drama Father Brown in January, it made headlines, including for the newspapers owned by Reach, among them The Mirror, and the Daily Express.But the story did not generate the traction the Reach newspapers would have expected a year ago, or even at the start of the…

JEDDAH — Deputy Emir of Makkah Prince Saud bin Mishaal inaugurated 10 vital road projects in the region, with a total cost of SR553 million and a combined length of 109 kilometers. The inaugural ceremony was held in Jeddah on Wednesday on the sidelines of a meeting attended by Minister of Transport and Logistics and…

RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan has arrived in the United Kingdom on an official visit, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday. During the visit, Prince Faisal is scheduled to meet with the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs Yvette Cooper to discuss Saudi-British relations and regional and international…

BRUSSELS – Don't worry too much about planet-warming emissions, the US Energy Secretary has told the BBC, because within five years AI will have enabled the harnessing of nuclear fusion – the energy that powers the sun and stars.Chris Wright said in an interview that he expected the technology to deliver power to electricity grids…

JEDDAH — A joint field campaign conducted by the Jeddah Municipality detected three illegal compounds in southern Jeddah used to remanufacture household furnishings that would later be distributed to commercial stores. The campaign was carried out in cooperation with the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority, the Ministry of Commerce, field enforcement authorities, and Civil Defense,…

RIYADH: The Royal Commission for Riyadh City has launched a tender for naming rights of five main Riyadh Metro stations — Al-Murooj, Al-Nuzha, King Fahd District 1, Al-Rabie and Jarir District — with 10-year contracts available for the first group. The commission has invited local and international private sector investors to participate under regulations aligned with…

WASHINGTON — US scientists have, for the first time, made early-stage human embryos by manipulating DNA taken from people's skin cells and then fertilising it with sperm.The technique could overcome infertility due to old age or disease, by using almost any cell in the body as the starting point for life.It could even allow same-sex…

MAKKAH — Kidana Development Company, the executive arm of the Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Sites, has completed phase two of the shading and cooling project surrounding Mount Arafat for the 2026 Hajj season. The project increases the utilization of shaded and cooled areas for pilgrims fivefold compared to last year.**media[2702511]**The project, across…