Heavy rain fell today over the capital, Riyadh, amid cloudy conditions and noticeable wind activity. The weather system was accompanied by fluctuations, including reduced visibility, the formation of rain-bearing cumulonimbus clouds, and chances of hail and flash floods in several areas, particularly low-lying zones and valley channels. The National Center for Meteorology had earlier warned of continued moderate to heavy thunderstorms over Riyadh, urging the public to follow updates and adhere to safety guidelines. Source: Riyadh Daily
Author: Editorial Team
JEDDAH — Saudi Arabia and Switzerland signed an agreement on the promotion and reciprocal protection of investments during the official visit of Swiss Confederation President Guy Parmelin to the Kingdom. The agreement was signed on the Saudi side by Minister of Investment Fahd Al-Saif and on the Swiss side by President Parmelin. The pact aims to strengthen and stabilize the investment environment, protect investors’ rights and support the flow of mutual investments between the two countries. In Jeddah, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Al-Saif also took part in the Saudi-Swiss Investment Roundtable alongside Swiss State Secretary for…
RIYADH — Saudi Arabian Football Federation announced on Thursday the appointment of Georgios Donis as head coach of the Saudi Arabia national football team on a contract running until July 2027. Donis succeeds Hervé Renard after the federation confirmed a mutual settlement had been reached to end the Frenchman’s tenure. The Greek coach brings extensive experience in both European football and the Saudi Pro League, having previously managed AEK Athens and PAOK FC, as well as Saudi clubs Al Hilal, Al Wehda, Al Fateh and most recently Al Khaleej. His familiarity with Saudi football is expected to help accelerate the…
On a breezy April morning — 7.30 am, to be precise — Jumeirah Beach Hotel is buzzing with activity. Hordes of fitness enthusiasts, dressed in the most stylish athleisure, make their way to the sprawling lawns of Janat Al Bahar. They are here as much to work out as they are here to see Rio and Kate Ferdinand. The former Manchester United defender and his wife, a famous TV personality and host, have close to 100 people moving constantly with squats, press-ups, jumping lunges and other exercises. Even though the attendees are here for community workout, for movement, their gaze…
Saudi Red Crescent Authority (SRCA) signed a cooperation agreement with Almarai Company to support the authority’s volunteer initiatives during the 1447 AH Hajj season and boost its humanitarian role in providing emergency medical care and volunteer services to pilgrims. The agreement aims to support volunteers participating in the SRCA’s activities in Makkah Region by providing high-quality food products within the company’s social responsibility programs, empowering volunteer teams and enhancing their readiness during the season. The agreement includes providing 60,000 food products, supporting the sustainability of volunteer work and reinforcing the authority’s field efforts in serving pilgrims. This agreement is an…
TEHRAN — A senior Iranian parliament official said on Thursday that Tehran has received the first revenue from tolls it imposed on the strategic Strait of Hormuz in its war with the United States and Israel. Hamidreza Hajibabaei, the deputy speaker of Iran’s parliament, the first revenues from Iran’s new tolls on shipping transiting the Strait of Hormuz have been deposited into the state’s central bank account, according to the semi-official Fars News Agency. “We have control over this Strait,” Hajibabaei said, speaking at a public gathering in the western city of Kuhdasht.“If the United States continues on its current…
BRUSSELS — The flow of Russian oil to Slovakia through the Druzhba pipeline that crosses Ukraine has resumed, allowing Hungary to lift its veto on a EU loan urgently needed by Kyiv. The European Union has given final approval to the €90 billion loan for Ukraine after Hungary lifted its veto, ending an explosive saga that saw Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, in his last months in office, push the bloc’s internal norms to the breaking point. The internal procedure was launched by ambassadors on Wednesday and finalized on Thursday. No objections were raised, and the last pending regulation, which needs…
Amazon recently announced plans to invest up to $25 billion in Anthropic as the pair deepen a partnership focussed on developing large scale compute infrastructure for generative AI. The deal includes an initial $5 billion investment, with a further $20 billion contingent on commercial milestones. The commitment adds to the $8 billion Amazon has already invested in the AI company. As part of the agreement, Anthropic will spend more than $100 billion over the next decade on the tech giant’s cloud platform Amazon Web Services (AWS), securing up to 5 gigawatts of compute power using Amazon’s Trainium chips to train…
Like any other weekend afternoon, diners at a Dubai restaurant on Saturday, April 18, were browsing menus, enjoying the view and placing orders—until the emirate’s ruler himself, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, casually walked in. As Sheikh Mohammed, who also serves as UAE Vice President and Prime Minister, entered the place, guests soon noticed his presence and quickly raised their mobile phones to take selfies to mark the occasion. Guests and the eatery’s staff clapped to welcome the Dubai Ruler and thank him for this special visit. They stood up while Sheikh Mohammed, who was accompanied by a few…
RIYADH — Saudi Arabia has secured top global rankings in the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) 2025–2026 report, reflecting a highly competitive environment and reinforcing its position as a premier global hub for entrepreneurship. The Kingdom led all high-income economies in Entrepreneurial Finance, highlighting the efficiency of its financing tools for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Additionally, Saudi Arabia ranked third globally in the National Entrepreneurship Context Index (NECI), cementing its status as an elite destination for entrepreneurial investment and growth. Total early-stage Entrepreneurial Activity (TEA) has seen rapid expansion, jumping from 12.1 percent in 2018 to 28.9 percent in 2025.…