WASHINGTON — Saudi Assistant Minister of Defense for Executive Affairs Dr. Khalid Al Biyari visited the United States to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral defense cooperation and expand collaboration in military industries, technology transfer and regional security. Al Biyari began his visit with a meeting at the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency, where he met Director Mary Morgan to review defense industrial cooperation and discuss issues of mutual interest. During separate meetings at the Pentagon, Al Biyari met Michael Duffey, U.S. Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment; Elbridge Colby, U.S. Under Secretary of Defense for Policy; and Gentry…
Author: Editorial Team
RIYADH — Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan held separate telephone calls on Saturday with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah as part of ongoing consultations to contain regional tensions and support diplomatic efforts. During his call with Fidan, the two ministers reviewed the latest regional developments and exchanged views on the situation, emphasizing the importance of supporting all diplomatic initiatives aimed at de-escalating tensions and containing the crisis. Prince Faisal also received a call from his Kuwaiti counterpart, during which they discussed regional developments and underscored the importance of continued…
JEDDAH — Dust-stirring winds, rainfall, and rising temperatures are expected to affect several parts of the Kingdom on Saturday, according to the National Center for Meteorology (NCM). Temperatures will rise across parts of the Eastern and Riyadh regions, while rainfall is forecast over their southern areas as well as parts of Jazan and Asir. Dust-stirring winds are also expected to affect parts of the Eastern, Riyadh, Jazan, Asir, Makkah, and Najran regions. Over the Red Sea, southwesterly to southeasterly winds are forecast over the northern part at speeds of 10–25 km/h, while westerly to northwesterly winds will prevail over the…
AT&T recently completed a $23 billion acquisition of spectrum assets from EchoStar, the company went on to highlight an enhanced ability to meet emerging AI use cases and an expected improvement in 5G capacity across the U.S. Closing the deal struck in August 2025 and approved by the US Federal Communications Commission in May adds around 50MHz of spectrum covering almost every region in the US. The purchase comprises 30MHz of nationwide spectrum in the 3.45GHz band and around 20MHz in the 600MHz band. In a short statement announcing completion of the deal on the 28th of July 2026, AT&T…
As Saudi Arabia’s technical and vocational sectors rapidly expand, national youth are transforming a passion for car maintenance into viable careers and investment opportunities, aligning with Saudi Vision 2030 goals. The Technical and Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC) saw enrollment exceed 12,000 trainees in automotive mechanics and electrical systems during the 1447 AH academic year, graduating over 2,000 specialists. Supported by government stipends and SME funding, technicians are turning hands-on skills into successful enterprises, with specialized technicians earning monthly incomes between SAR10,000 and SAR15,000. Industry specialists, including Engineer Mohammed Abdullah and workshop owner Nasser Al-Nasser, highlight that modern vehicle maintenance now…
RIYADH — Saudi authorities arrested 14,154 violators of residency, labor, and border security laws during nationwide joint inspection campaigns conducted between July 23 and July 29. The Ministry of Interior said the campaigns resulted in the arrest of 7,103 violators of the Residency Law, 3,654 violators of the Border Security Law, and 3,397 violators of the Labor Law. Authorities also arrested 1,418 people attempting to enter the Kingdom illegally, of whom 54 percent were Yemeni nationals, 45 percent were Ethiopian nationals, and 1 percent were of other nationalities. Another 23 people were arrested while attempting to leave the Kingdom illegally,…
JEDDAH — Saudi Arabia is expected to experience warmer-than-normal conditions across most regions from August through October 2026, with rainfall forecast to become more widespread toward the end of the period, according to the National Center for Meteorology (NCM). The NCM’s seasonal outlook indicates a 60 to 80 percent probability of above-normal surface temperatures during the three-month period, with temperatures forecast to rise by as much as 2°C above the climatic average in parts of the Kingdom. The center’s long-term climate analysis also shows that August is typically the Kingdom’s hottest month, recording the highest average, maximum and minimum temperatures…
When Dubai resident Devyani’s second child developed epilepsy at six months old, the seizures set back his development significantly. He was non-verbal, and he was diagnosed with autism. “I didn’t know what autism was,” she recalled. Years of struggle followed. Her son couldn’t cooperate with treatments because loud noises and overstimulation caused him distress. By the time his seizures stopped, precious developmental years had been lost. So, when her third child, Aaron, was born, Devyani watched closely. By age two-and-a-half, she noticed he was terrified of new people and places, uncomfortable at birthday parties, and resistant to anything outside his…
BRUSSELS — The European Union has confirmed plans to establish a Maritime Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC) in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi as part of its strategy to manage migration along one of Europe’s busiest routes. The announcement was made by EU Ambassador to Libya Nicola Orlando, who emphasized the role of this initiative in enhancing maritime safety while curbing migrant arrivals. Libya, where control is split between rival western and eastern factions, has been a major transit route for migrants attempting a dangerous sea crossing to Europe since a 2011 NATO-backed uprising that toppled Muammar Gaddafi. The funding…
Meriam ElOuazzani, Vice President – Middle East, Turkey and Africa, Censys and Ryan Elzein, Regional Director for Europe and the Middle East, Rilian. The initiative identifies and addresses sensitive assets in government, civilian, and humanitarian agencies, strengthening cyber resilience in the country. Dubai — Censys, the authority for Internet intelligence and insights, is partnering with Rilian, a technology provider of agentic AI solutions, to launch Operation Digital Shield in the UAE. By combining cybersecurity intelligence and automated cyber defense strategies, the initiative intends to strengthen the protection and integrity of cybersecurity assets across Critical National Infrastructure (CNIs) in the UAE.…