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Aramco Signs Agreement with Pasqal to Deploy 1st Quantum Computer in Saudi Arabia

As per the agreement, Pasqal will install, maintain, and operate a 200-qubit quantum computer, which is scheduled for deployment in the second half of 2025. SPA
As per the agreement, Pasqal will install, maintain, and operate a 200-qubit quantum computer, which is scheduled for deployment in the second half of 2025. SPA
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Aramco Signs Agreement with Pasqal to Deploy 1st Quantum Computer in Saudi Arabia

As per the agreement, Pasqal will install, maintain, and operate a 200-qubit quantum computer, which is scheduled for deployment in the second half of 2025. SPA
As per the agreement, Pasqal will install, maintain, and operate a 200-qubit quantum computer, which is scheduled for deployment in the second half of 2025. SPA

Saudi Aramco announced on Monday that it has signed an agreement with Pasqal, a global leader in neutral atom quantum computing, to install the first quantum computer in the Kingdom.
As per the agreement, Pasqal will install, maintain, and operate a 200-qubit quantum computer, which is scheduled for deployment in the second half of 2025.
According to the statement, the quantum computer will initially use the "analog mode" approach. Within the following year, the system will be upgraded to the more advanced hybrid "analog-digital mode", which is more powerful and able to solve even more complex problems.

"Aramco is delighted to partner with Pasqal to bring cutting-edge, high-performance quantum computing capabilities to the Kingdom. In a rapidly evolving digital landscape, we believe it is crucial to seize opportunities presented by new, impactful technologies and we aim to pioneer the use of quantum computing in the energy sector,” said Aramco Executive Vice President of Technology and Innovation Ahmad Al-Khowaiter.

Pasqal CEO and Co-founder Georges-Olivier Reymond said that the era of quantum computing is no longer "confined to theory, it is transitioning to real-world applications, empowering organizations to solve previously intractable problems at scale.”

Through this agreement, he added, the commercial adoption of this transformative technology in Saudi Arabia will be accelerated.

According to the statement, Pasqal and Aramco intend to leverage the quantum computer to identify new use cases, and have the ambitious vision of establishing a powerhouse for quantum research in the Kingdom. This would involve leading academic institutions with the aim of fostering breakthroughs in quantum algorithm development — a crucial step for unlocking the true potential of quantum computing.

The agreement also increases Pasqal's activity in Saudi Arabia; it established an office in the Kingdom in 2023, and in 2022, Aramco and Pasqal signed an MoU to collaborate on quantum computing capabilities and applications in the energy sector. In 2023, Aramco's Wa'ed Ventures also participated in Pasqal's Series B fundraising round, said the statement.

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Business

Sydney’s New International Airport Opens to Passengers

A Jetstar aircraft departs on the inaugural commercial service from the newly-opened Western Sydney International Airport in Sydney on October 25, 2026, marking the start of regular passenger operations at Australia's newest international gateway. (AFP)
A Jetstar aircraft departs on the inaugural commercial service from the newly-opened Western Sydney International Airport in Sydney on October 25, 2026, marking the start of regular passenger operations at Australia's newest international gateway. (AFP)
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Sydney’s New International Airport Opens to Passengers

A Jetstar aircraft departs on the inaugural commercial service from the newly-opened Western Sydney International Airport in Sydney on October 25, 2026, marking the start of regular passenger operations at Australia's newest international gateway. (AFP)
A Jetstar aircraft departs on the inaugural commercial service from the newly-opened Western Sydney International Airport in Sydney on October 25, 2026, marking the start of regular passenger operations at Australia's newest international gateway. (AFP)

Sydney's new ‌A$5.6 billion ($3.94 billion) airport opened to passengers on Sunday after more than a decade of planning, in what Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said was a milestone for the country's most populous city.

The new Western Sydney International Airport in Badgerys Creek, about 60 km (37.3 miles) west of central Sydney, will operate 24 hours a day, ‌giving airlines ‌access to a fast-growing and ethnically ‌diverse ⁠population center.

The current ⁠airport, located closer to Sydney's central business district, can host takeoffs and landings only until 11 p.m. and after 6 a.m., limiting airline scheduling options relative to other major Australian cities like Melbourne.

"For ⁠the first time in more ‌than 50 years, ‌Australia is opening a major new airport. It’s ‌a milestone that has been decades in ‌the making," Albanese said in a statement.

"I’m very proud to officially open it," he said.

Qantas' budget arm Jetstar was due to ‌operate the first outbound flight to the Gold Coast on Sunday, ⁠the ⁠airport said in a statement. The airport has capacity for more than 80 million passenger movements annually, it said.

The start of passenger services comes after cargo flights commenced at the facility in July.

Located on a 1,780-hectare (4,398-acre) site purchased by the federal government in the 1980s, the airport was completed in July 2025 after a seven-year build and 15 years of planning.

Business

Trump Says Audi to Invest $4.2 Bn in Its First US Auto Plant

US President Donald Trump looks on as CEO of Audi AG Gernot Dollner speaks at a midterm election campaign rally at Guardian Centers of Georgia in Perry, Georgia on October 24, 2026. (AFP)
US President Donald Trump looks on as CEO of Audi AG Gernot Dollner speaks at a midterm election campaign rally at Guardian Centers of Georgia in Perry, Georgia on October 24, 2026. (AFP)
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Trump Says Audi to Invest $4.2 Bn in Its First US Auto Plant

US President Donald Trump looks on as CEO of Audi AG Gernot Dollner speaks at a midterm election campaign rally at Guardian Centers of Georgia in Perry, Georgia on October 24, 2026. (AFP)
US President Donald Trump looks on as CEO of Audi AG Gernot Dollner speaks at a midterm election campaign rally at Guardian Centers of Georgia in Perry, Georgia on October 24, 2026. (AFP)

US President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that German automaker Audi planned to invest $4.2 billion to build its first factory in the United States that will produce 200,000 vehicles a year.

Audi confirmed the investment in a release, saying the plant would create about 4,500 jobs.

"I'm thrilled to announce a massive auto manufacturing investment in the great state of Georgia by a fantastic company," Trump said at a campaign rally 10 days ahead of the November 3 midterm elections that will determine control of the US Congress.

"Audi has just committed to invest $4.2 billion dollars in nearby Macon, Georgia, to begin the construction next month on a massive plant that will produce 200,000 cars a year," Trump continued.

Audi, which is a unit of Volkswagen, said in its release that construction was scheduled to begin next year and production in the early 2030s.

"The planned investment intends to mark a long-term commitment to the United States and to establish North America as a third major pillar of Audi's global production network alongside Europe and China," it said.

VW, long a titan of German industry, has struggled with US tariffs, Chinese competition and patchy demand in Europe.

About 50,000 job cuts have already been agreed across the 10-brand Volkswagen Group -- mostly at VW, Audi and Porsche -- but the company has said another 50,000 could be required worldwide to slash costs.

Business

Saudi Arabia’s Bahri Signs $451 Million Deal to Build Three VLCCs

A Bahri vessel (company website).
A Bahri vessel (company website).
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Saudi Arabia’s Bahri Signs $451 Million Deal to Build Three VLCCs

A Bahri vessel (company website).
A Bahri vessel (company website).

The national shipping carrier of Saudi Arabia, Bahri, has signed a contract with International Maritime Industries (IMI) to build and deliver three very large crude carriers (VLCCs) for a total value of about $451 million (1.692 billion riyals), the company said.

Each vessel will have a capacity of 320,000 deadweight tons, with the three tankers scheduled for delivery in phases during 2029 and 2030, Bahri said in a disclosure published on the Saudi Exchange (Tadawul) website.

The financial impact of the contract will be reflected in the company's financial statements after the vessels are received and begin commercial operations. The contract will run until delivery of the final tanker, it added.

The agreement is part of Bahri's strategy to modernize its fleet and expand its long-term operational capacity, strengthening its ability to respond to changing requirements in global energy and shipping markets.

It also supports Saudi Arabia's efforts to develop a globally competitive maritime sector by localizing shipbuilding capabilities and related maritime supply chains, in line with the objectives of its Vision 2030 economic transformation program.

With the signing of the agreement, the number of vessels being built in Saudi Arabia for Bahri will rise to nine, comprising six dry bulk carriers and three very large crude carriers.

Bahri said it would finance the contract through a combination of internal cash resources and bank facilities.