KSA AI
There have been significant investments in AI (especially Arabic LLMs) in KSA as Saudi Arabia attempts to position itself as a key tech hub. Google is opening an AI...
X Saud Al Qahtani (updated)
Guardian, X admits ‘error’ led to reinstatement of key suspect in Jamal Khashoggi murder, 22 Oct 2024“Hours after the Guardian reported on the account being reinstated, it was suspended...
Yahya Assiri Spyware Allegations
Reuters, UK-based Saudi dissident can sue Riyadh for alleged spyware use, court says, 21 Oct 2024 “He [Yahya Assiri] is suing Saudi Arabia at London’s High Court, saying the...
KSA e-payments
Nadin Hassan, Arab News, From cash to clicks: Saudi Arabia’s e-payments revolution, 28 Sep 2024 ” Imagine a bustling Riyadh souk where every transaction is just a tap away —...
’Illegal’ Hajj (update)
‘Illegality’ is probably in the eye of the beholder here: AFP/France 24, Hajj on the cheap: off-the-books pilgrims hide out in Mecca, 5 Jun 2024. “Living on canned beans...
Moonsighting (again)
There is some controversy about moonsighting. This should not come as a shock. It comes around on the calendar every year. New Crescent Society said it hadn’t been spotted...
KSA Manahel al-Otaibi
Kieren Williams, Sky News, Saudi activist sentenced to 11 years in prison ‘over choice of clothing’, 2 May 2024 “Human rights groups have called for the release of Manahel...
KSA Robots
Rizwan Choudhury, Interesting Engineering, Sara: Saudi Arabia’s first humanoid robot reflects national values, 24 Mar 2024 “Saudi Arabia has unveiled its first humanoid robot, named Sara. Developed by the Riyadh-based...