The Presidency of Religious Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque held its annual closing ceremony for 1447 AH, attended by its President Sheikh Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Sudais, senior officials, and representatives of partner organizations. The event highlighted the presidency’s achievements and honored entities and individuals who contributed to serving pilgrims and visitors to the two holy mosques. The presidency reviewed its key programs and initiatives in religious guidance, Islamic scholarship, translation, digital transformation, media, and communication, as well as its efforts during the Ramadan and Hajj seasons. Al-Sudais reaffirmed the presidency’s commitment to enhancing its religious and enrichment…
Author: Editorial Team
EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey — Kylian Mbappé delivered another World Cup masterclass, scoring twice as France overcame a sluggish start to defeat Senegal 3-1 in its opening match of FIFA World Cup 2026 on Tuesday. After a quiet first half, the France captain took control after the break to guide Les Bleus to victory and launch their bid for a third World Cup title. Mbappé broke the deadlock in the 66th minute when he burst past Senegal captain Kalidou Koulibaly, collected a pass from Michael Olise and calmly slid the ball beyond goalkeeper Édouard Mendy. The Real Madrid forward celebrated…
FOXBOROUGH, Massachusetts — Erling Haaland announced his arrival on the World Cup stage with a brace as Norway opened its FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign with a commanding 4-1 victory over Iraq on Tuesday. Playing in his first World Cup match, the Manchester City striker scored twice to inspire Norway’s first appearance at the tournament since 1998 and underline why the Scandinavians are considered one of Europe’s most dangerous dark horses. Haaland opened the scoring in the 29th minute with an improvised finish from David Moller Wolfe’s cross, delighting the sea of red-clad Norway supporters inside the stadium. Iraq responded…
Salesforce has recently entered into a deal to acquire AI customer service specialist Fin for around $3.6 billion. This move is calculated to bolster the organisation’s ability to help companies quickly deploy agents across communications channels. Fin’s main product is a customer support AI agent which uses its proprietary Apex model. It is marketed as resolving queries across numerous channels including live chat, email, WhatsApp, SMS, Slack and over the phone. Salesforce plans to use Fin’s offering to compliment its Agentforce platform. It noted the combination of assets would provide fast “time-to-value options” for businesses, citing SMBs and those which…
Ambassador of the Republic of Mali to Saudi Arabia Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Dahirou Dembélé and his accompanying delegation today visited the headquarters of the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC). The visit aimed to enhance cooperation and coordination in counterterrorism and countering extremism efforts. The ambassador was received by IMCTC Secretary-General Major General Mohammed Al-Moghedi. During the meeting, the two sides reviewed the coalition’s efforts, programs, and strategic initiatives aimed at supporting member states and building their capacities in the intellectual, media, and military fields, as well as in combating terrorist financing. They also discussed prospects for cooperation with Mali…
King’s College Riyadh is giving families in the capital a glimpse into the future of its highly anticipated SEDRA campus through the opening of its new Parent Experience Centre at ROSHN Front — an immersive space designed to bring the school’s vision, facilities and educational offering to life. The opening comes as King’s College Riyadh, one of the Kingdom’s most well-regarded British schools, prepares to expand into ROSHN’s landmark SEDRA development in north Riyadh, bringing with it 145 years of British educational heritage and a future-focused learning experience for a new generation of families. Building on the success of its…
Lula Mohanty, Managing Partner, Middle East and Africa, IBM Consulting. New research from the IBM Institute for Business Value shows 89% of surveyed regional organisations are embedding AI across multiple workflows, with two-thirds now appointing a Chief AI Officer. A new global study from the IBM Institute for Business Value, drawing on insights from 100 surveyed CEOs in the Middle East, finds that the accelerating pace of AI is pushing chief executives to redesign how C-suite roles are structured to drive greater business impact across the enterprise. Across the region, organisations are accelerating digital transformation and embedding AI into core…
The replacement of the Kaaba’s Kiswa (cover) is drawing near, heralding a scene that unfolds each year with the start of a new Hijri year and is eagerly anticipated by Muslims around the world. Skilled Saudi craftsmen step into the spotlight to carry out one of the most sacred tasks associated with the Grand Mosque, completing the final stages of replacing the Kiswa. The field operation marks the culmination of months of meticulous craftsmanship, culminating in the Kaaba being draped in its new garment. Moreover, as the moment approaches, the area surrounding the Kaaba transforms into a carefully coordinated workspace…
LISBON — Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Portugal’s Minister of State and Foreign Affairs Paulo Rangel signed an agreement on the mutual exemption of entry visas for holders of diplomatic and special passports in Lisbon on Tuesday. The agreement comes within the framework of strengthening bilateral relations between Saudi Arabia and the Portuguese Republic. It aims to facilitate travel and communication, enhance joint coordination, and expand areas of cooperation between the two friendly countries. Prince Faisal also held extensive talks with Paulo Rangel and that covered regional and international developments, including efforts to de-escalate tensions…
JEDDAH — Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman received a written message from President Ramzan Kadyrov of the Chechen Republic. The message was received by Minister of State and Cabinet Member Prince Turki bin Mohammed bin Fahd from Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Physical Culture and Sports of the Chechen Republic Akhmat Kadyrov during their meeting in Jeddah on Tuesday. During the meeting, they reviewed bilateral relations and discussed topics of mutual interest. Source: Saudi Gazette