https://arab.news/mp7nu
RIYADH: Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel Al-Jubeir has received in Riyadh a delegation from the US Congress headed by Andre Carson, a member of the House of Representatives.
The parties discussed relations between the two countries and cooperation in various fields, as well as developing regional and international issues.
Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to the US Princess Reema bint Bandar also attended the meeting.
RIYADH: The Islamic Military Counter-Terrorism Coalition and the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism signed a memorandum of understanding in New York to bolster international efforts against terrorism and promote global security and stability.
The MoU aims to unify efforts in addressing terrorist threats in line with the regulations of both parties, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.
The coalition was represented by secretary-general, Maj. Gen. Mohammed Al-Moghedi, and the UN office by under-secretary-general Vladimir Voronkov.
The MoU will support joint counter-terrorism projects focusing on capacity-building, training, awareness initiatives, and tackling emerging challenges.
It also outlines strategic cooperation in areas such as specialized law enforcement training and tailored technical assistance to member states.
Al-Moghedi emphasized that the MoU highlights the coalition’s commitment to combating terrorism and enhancing international cooperation for global security.
He added that working with the UN will facilitate the exchange of expertise and strengthen member states’ abilities to address security challenges effectively.
RIYADH: The Saudi Fund for Development has signed its first concessional loan agreement with Suriname, allocating $20 million to expand the country’s electricity transmission and distribution networks.
The agreement was signed by Sultan Al-Marshad, the fund’s CEO, and Kermechend Stanley Raghoebarsing, Suriname’s minister of finance and planning, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.
The project aims to expand the electricity network in the capital Paramaribo, and the city of Nickerie, improving energy accessibility and grid efficiency.
It will also extend electricity to farms and factories across multiple regions, with transmission lines covering approximately 50 km, the SPA reported.
This agreement marks the first collaboration between the Saudi fund and Suriname, reflecting the former’s 50-year commitment to supporting developing nations’ economic, social, and developmental challenges.
The project aligns with the fund’s ongoing efforts to enhance infrastructure and economic prosperity worldwide, the SPA added.
RIYADH: On Tuesday, the third day of the LEAP Tech Conference, the Saudi Ministry of Communications and Information Technology announced that 685 technology researchers had been granted distinctive residency in Saudi Arabia.
Specialists in 5G technology topped the list with 16 percent, followed by cloud computing specialists with 15 percent. These fields are the cornerstone of digital infrastructure, positioning the Kingdom as a leading country in adopting modern technologies, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The distinctive residency was also granted to experts in artificial intelligence and machine learning, who constituted 12 percent.
These fields are a priority in the Kingdom due to their role in contributing to the development of many sectors such as healthcare, education and digital industries, according to SPA.
Also, experts in Big Data sets comprised 13 percent of those who received the distinguished residency.
The program also attracted professionals in smart technologies, financial technology, and advanced computing, fields essential in supporting the growth of the Kingdom’s digital economy.
Among the experts granted residency are researchers from the US, the UK, Australia, Germany, Brazil, India, Pakistan and Egypt.
The Kingdom’s residence visas allow skilled professionals in health and scientific competencies to apply for residency for up to five years depending on their monthly income.
Visa holders can reside in the Kingdom with their families, conduct business and own real estate properties, and cooperate with government agencies, among other advantages.
RIYADH: The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) continues its aid initiatives with the distribution of medical aid, food and winter kits in Sudan, Gaza and Pakistan.
In Port Sudan of Sudan, KSrelief launched the third phase of the Food Security Support Project which aims to distribute 30,000 food parcels to displaced persons as they return to their homes in the states of Al-Jazirah, Khartoum, Red Sea, Sennar and White Nile.
In southern and central Gaza Strip, the aid agency – in cooperation with the Saudi Center for Culture and Heritage – continues to provide emergency medical supplies to hospitals and health centers to enhance their capability in providing healthcare services to displaced Palestinians.
Dozens of trucks loaded with Saudi aid arrive daily in response to the health sector’s urgent appeal, which has suffered severely from over 15 months of war, in keeping with Saudi Arabia’s role in supporting the Palestinian people in times of crisis.
In Pakistan’s Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces, KSrelief distributed 1,050 winter kits which benefited 5,243 individuals in areas affected by floods and extreme cold as part of a project to provide shelter materials and winter kits to the country this year.
Meanwhile, KSrelief Supervisor-General Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Rabeeah met with Iraqi ambassador to Saudi Arabia Safia Taleb Al-Souhail to discuss possible areas of collaboration.
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is making strides in AI technology, said Abdullah Al-Swaha, the minister of communications and information technology, during the ministry’s flagship conference LEAP.
Responding to a question from Arab News, Al-Swaha told the press about his vision for the future of artificial intelligence in the Kingdom in the next five years, highlighting some of the country’s most notable achievements so far.
He spoke about the decision-making AI platform provider Intelmatix which he called “the No. 1 startup in the region, (with) $20 million of funding.”
Al-Swaha also highlighted the Saudi startup NanoPalm, which aims to tackle sickle cell disease by using nanoparticles, and Fathom.io, a platform that enables organizations to accelerate decision-making.
“When it comes to autonomous AI, we have Dr. Khaliel doing the first fully robotic heart transplant,” he said, referring to King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center’s Dr. Feras Khaliel who, in 2024, used robotic technology to replace the heart of a 16-year-old.
“So, we are making strides and rest assured we are committed, with royal guidance and support and in partnership with all of the global innovators, and the Kingdom will continue to be the hub for generative AI, GenTech, and autonomous AI, powered by talent and technology.”
He also noted his admiration for the leadership skills of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, adding: “I have the humble pleasure of learning from him; have the ability to anticipate market transitions; and be able to decisively allocate resources and have a wonderful opportunity to zoom in and zoom out. These are the three traits that I am learning from our royal highness.
“When we first pitched to him all of our ambitions in artificial intelligence, he said it’s not only about hardware, but it’s about applications and services.
“It’s not about models, as some of them might be commoditized; it is about the diffusion of these technologies across industries.”
He added: “Fast forward to today, and the DeepSeek moment, the ChatGPT moment, have shown us that it is hardware and software, applications and adoption, and the Kingdom is already making strides in generative AI, GenTech AI, and autonomous AI.”
Boasting the theme “Into New Worlds,” LEAP 2025 aims to expand business networking and investment opportunities in the tech sector.
The event, which runs until Feb. 12 in Riyadh, plays a critical role in Saudi Arabia’s ambition to become a global technology hub, aligning with its Vision 2030 plan to diversify the economy. As part of this initiative, the Kingdom has pledged $100 billion toward advancing its technology sector.
LEAP 2025 is co-organized by Tahaluf and the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, in partnership with Informa PLC, the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming and Drones, and the Events Investment Fund.
This year’s LEAP is expected to host more than 680 tech startups, 1,100 speakers, 1,800 technology brands, and over 170,000 visitors.
