JEDDAH — Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan received on Tuesday a phone call from Secretary General of the United Nations António Guterres. During the call, they discussed a number of regional and international developments of common interest. Areas of cooperation between the two sides were also figured in their conversation. Source: Saudi Gazette
Author: Editorial Team
Meta Platforms recently entered into a partnership to the use solar energy collected in space to power its AI data centres. This announcement aligns with the company’s plans to develop new solutions to support rising demands for the technology. Meta stated it has struck a deal with Overview Energy for up to 1 gigawatt of space solar energy to support data centre operations, making it one of the first technology companies to secure capacity reservation. Overview is developing and testing its underlying technology, with plans to conduct an initial orbital demonstration in 2028. Meta expects it will have access to…
MAKKAH — Hajj Security Forces arrested a Pakistani resident for violating Hajj regulations by transporting five residents of the same nationality and attempting to enter Makkah and remain there without a Hajj permit. They were referred to the Public Prosecution after taking the necessary legal measures. The General Directorate of Public Security urged all people to comply with Hajj regulations and guidelines for the 2026 Hajj season and to cooperate with relevant authorities to ensure the security and safety of pilgrims. It affirmed that violators will be penalized.The directorate called for reporting violators by calling 911 in Makkah, Riyadh, and…
HSBC Saudi Arabia has expanded its existing fund administration capabilities to include private assets, in a move that supports the rising allocation of asset owners, asset managers and financial sponsors towards private markets. For more than two decades, HSBC has been a leading provider of fund administration services to Saudi Arabia domiciled funds. As investors worldwide diversify into private markets, Saudi Arabia’s asset managers are evolving their offerings to cater for increased demand. With the inclusion of private asset solutions on its platform, HSBC becomes one of the few global institutions in the Kingdom to offer fund administration for clients…
RIYADH — The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has outlined the regulations and conditions for employees to be eligible for availing of Hajj leave. The ministry clarified that employees are entitled to paid leave ranging between 10 and 15 days, including Eid al-Adha holidays, provided they have completed two consecutive years of service with their employer. The ministry also noted that employees are entitled to avail of paid leave to perform Hajj only for one time during their entire employment period if they have not previously performed the pilgrimage. It further stated that employers have the authority to…
As part of a plan to develop the social media platform X into an ‘everything app’, the company is reportedly preparing to roll out X Money, a digital payments and banking service. Bloomberg reported X will provide initial public access this month, however some users are already using the service, reporting features including 3 per cent cash back on eligible purchases, 6 per cent interest rates on savings and direct debit card links offering free peer-to-peer transfers. X Money will also include a personalised debit card and an AI-powered concierge developed by Elon Musk’s xAI venture, designed to track spending…
JEDDAH— The Cabinet session, chaired by Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah on Tuesday, commended the accomplishments of Saudi Vision 2030 throughout its first and second phases as it approaches its overarching objectives.The Council of Ministers reviewed several reports concerning domestic affairs and the various accomplishments achieved under Saudi Vision 2030. “These achievements bolster the development process and establish a more diversified and resilient economic model by increasing the contribution of non-oil sectors, expanding the production and investment base, launching specialized national programs and strategies to optimize resources and wealth, and enhancing the Kingdom’s capacity to…
Saudi Arabia has been appointed as Vice-Chair of the ITU Council, represented by Eng. Mansour Alqurashi, the Deputy Minister for International Cooperation and Partnerships at the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology. This followed the conclusion of the 2026 Council session held in Geneva, Switzerland This appointment reflects the international community’s trust in the Kingdom’s active role and its contributions to advancing the objectives of the ITU, as well as its leadership in shaping global digital policies and regulatory frameworks. The appointment also builds on the Kingdom’s longstanding and influential role internationally, having been a member of the ITU Council…
RIYADH — Saudi Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Al-Khereiji and Deputy Foreign Minister of Türkiye Ambassador Musa Kulaklikaya co-chaired on Tuesday, via videoconference, the second meeting of the Political and Diplomatic Committee, under the Saudi-Turkish Coordination Council.During the meeting, the two sides discussed ways to further enhance bilateral relations. They also discussed intensifying bilateral and multilateral coordination on issues of mutual interest in a manner that meets the aspirations of the leadership and peoples of both countries.At the conclusion of the meeting, the two officials signed the minutes of the meeting. Source: Saudi Gazette
Core42, a G42 company specialising in sovereign cloud and AI infrastructure, recently announced the appointment of Emma Cloney as Senior Vice President, International Sales & Strategy and General Manager, Ireland. In this newly established role, Emma will lead Core42’s international go-to-market strategy, support commercial expansion across key global markets, and help scale the company’s sovereign cloud and AI Cloud offerings as demand grows for trusted, high-performance AI infrastructure. Reporting to Sherif Tawfik, Chief Business Officer, and based in Dublin, she will also oversee Core42’s Ireland operations and help advance the company’s European footprint from its regional headquarters. The appointment follows…