SYDNEY — Australia is taking the encrypted messaging app Telegram to court over its alleged failure to remove “pro-terror” material, including video of the Christchurch shootings, at a time when the country faces heightened security risks from online radicalization. On Thursday, Australia’s eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant alleged the Dubai-based social media company that runs Telegram, faced a fine of up to to A$54.6m (£28m, US$38m) for failing to comply with its safety obligations under the Online Safety Act. She said the platform, visited by Australians on average 1.5 million times a month, had “failed to detect, deter and disrupt…
Author: Editorial Team
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has concluded its 2026 Article IV Consultation with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, highlighting the country’s strong economic fundamentals, resilience amid global and regional challenges, and the continued progress of Vision 2030 reforms. The IMF praised Saudi Arabia’s sound macroeconomic management, fiscal and financial stability, and ongoing structural reforms, while emphasizing the importance of sustaining reform momentum to support long-term growth, economic diversification, and investment. The following highlights summarize the IMF staff’s concluding statement from the 2026 Article IV Consultation with Saudi Arabia: 1- The IMF 2026 Article IV Consultation Report affirmed the resilience of…
Dr. Najwa Aaraj. The world’s largest powers now treat cryptography as critical national infrastructure. We cannot afford to be spectators. In June 2026, the United States issued two executive orders that accelerate the nation’s transition to post-quantum cryptography while expanding investment in quantum technologies. Together, they send a clear message: computation has become an instrument of national sovereignty. Just as nations protect their airspace, energy grids and telecommunications networks, they must now protect the cryptographic foundations that make the digital economy possible. For decades, national security was measured primarily in physical terms – territory, military capability and economic strength. Today, however, one of the greatest strategic…
WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that his administration is considering was considering AI “controls,” following OpenAI’s disclosure that one of its AI systems escaped containment during a security test while OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said he was meeting with US senators to talk about his company’s upcoming models “We’re looking at controls,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office in response to a question about OpenAI’s rogue agent, adding that he did not want to “restrict” AI developers from building new products. Asked about OpenAI’s tools being responsible for improperly breaching the private technology of other…
DUBAI — The US military said it began launching air strikes on Iran early Thursday in “a powerful response” to Tehran’s attempted surprise attacks targeting American forces in Jordan and ships in the Strait of Hormuz as the war reignited and again drawing in the Islamic republic’s proxies. The latest hostilities came a day after the conflict expanded with the first publicly announced joint US-Saudi strikes, which targeted Iran-aligned militias in Iraq, dashing hopes of a return to negotiations after a nearly week-long lull in fighting “The strikes are a powerful response to yesterday’s attempted Iranian attacks on US forces…
Madinah Dates Season 2026 is attracting growing numbers of visitors, offering a seasonal celebration of the region’s renowned date varieties, including Ajwa, Safawi, and Barni, while highlighting Madinah’s economic and cultural significance as one of Saudi Arabia’s leading date-producing regions. The season provides visitors with the opportunity to explore a wide range of date varieties and value-added products in an experience that reflects the quality of local produce and the hospitality for which Madinah is known. It also supports local farmers, producers, and entrepreneurs in the date industry, strengthening appreciation for the region’s agricultural heritage. Among the event’s key attractions is the…
Sachin Nayyar, CEO of Saviynt. New customer acquisitions grew more than 80% as organisations increasingly adopt new identity security solutions designed for the age of AI Dubai — Saviynt, a leading provider of identity security solutions, announced significant business momentum, surpassing $300 million in annual recurring revenue while growing bookings by more than 80% and maintaining a leading 96% customer retention rate. The company also announced the launch of Zuma, a complete AI identity security platform that provides organisations with an innovative, agile, and effective solution to adopt, deploy, and scale AI solutions. Saviynt’s financial achievements reflect the growing demand for modern identity…
NEW YORK — The US man who stabbed and partially blinded author Salman Rushdie at a speaking engagement in 2022 was found guilty on Wednesday of additional charges, including providing material support to a terrorist group. Hadi Matar, 28, already serving a 25-year prison term on state charges of attempted murder for the knife assault, now faces a maximum penalty of life behind bars when he is sentenced on his federal conviction, scheduled for November 3. Matar was convicted in a New York federal court on Wednesday of providing assistance to Hezbollah, the Lebanese armed faction which is designated as…
ATHENS —Three Greek firefighters died battling blazes during high winds on the island of Crete and the mainland as wildfires spread across Europe on Wednesday after days of devastating fires in Spain and France. In Crete, gale-force winds whipped up flames prompting the evacuation of several villages, and two firefighters died after becoming trapped near the village of Krya Vrysi while they were driving between fire fronts when the blaze swept through the Rethymno region in the island’s west. Another firefighter died in a separate fire after being found unconscious near the southern Peloponnese port town of Gytheio. Residents and…
RIYADH — A penalty of up to SR100,000 will be imposed on Hajj and Umrah service companies that fail to notify authorities of pilgrims or Umrah performers who overstay their authorized period of stay in the Kingdom, Saudi Public Security warned. Public Security said the fine applies to companies and establishments that delay notifying the competent authorities of any Hajj pilgrim or Umrah performer who remains in the Kingdom after the expiration of their authorized period of stay. It added that the financial penalty may reach SR100,000 and will be multiplied according to the number of violators. Authorities urged the…