Saudi Govt Approves Establishment of Higher Council of Space Headed by Crown Prince Mohammed

King Salman chairs the cabinet meeting in Riyadh on Tuesday. (SPA)
King Salman chairs the cabinet meeting in Riyadh on Tuesday. (SPA)
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Saudi Govt Approves Establishment of Higher Council of Space Headed by Crown Prince Mohammed

King Salman chairs the cabinet meeting in Riyadh on Tuesday. (SPA)
King Salman chairs the cabinet meeting in Riyadh on Tuesday. (SPA)

The Saudi government approved on Tuesday the establishment of the Higher Council of Space that will be headed by Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister.

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz chaired the cabinet meeting that was held in Riyadh.

The government also approved an amendment to the name of the Communications and Information Technology Commission, changing it to the Communications, Space and Technology Commission.

The cabinet was briefed on the talks Crown Prince Mohammed held with the president of Senegal and prime minister of Pakistan.

It was also briefed on the work of the Sub-Committee of Saudi–Pakistan Supreme Coordination Council and the Saudi-Chinese High-Level Joint Committee.

The government highlighted Crown Prince Mohammed’s announcement last week that the Public Investment Fund (PIF) will establish five companies that will invest in Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Oman and Sudan.

The companies will seek to invest up to SAR 90 billion (USD 24 billion) to help build lasting strategic economic partnerships, growing PIF’s Assets Under Management, and diversifying Saudi Arabia’s sources of revenue, while underscoring the objectives of Vision 2030.

The cabinet highlighted the recent 6th Future Investment Initiative forum that was held in Riyadh last week. The event addressed several issues and solutions to challenges facing the world.

A number of agreements and memorandums of understanding were signed at the event that also witnessed the launch of many local, regional and international initiatives that support the investment sector.



UAE Says It Rescued 22 People after Cargo Ship Caught Fire in Sea of Oman

The Chinese-flagged container shipping vessel Hui Fa transits the Gulf of Oman off the coast of Khor Fakkan in the emirate of Sharjah in the east of the UAE on October 13, 2026. (Photo by AFP)
The Chinese-flagged container shipping vessel Hui Fa transits the Gulf of Oman off the coast of Khor Fakkan in the emirate of Sharjah in the east of the UAE on October 13, 2026. (Photo by AFP)
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UAE Says It Rescued 22 People after Cargo Ship Caught Fire in Sea of Oman

The Chinese-flagged container shipping vessel Hui Fa transits the Gulf of Oman off the coast of Khor Fakkan in the emirate of Sharjah in the east of the UAE on October 13, 2026. (Photo by AFP)
The Chinese-flagged container shipping vessel Hui Fa transits the Gulf of Oman off the coast of Khor Fakkan in the emirate of Sharjah in the east of the UAE on October 13, 2026. (Photo by AFP)

The United Arab Emirates National Guard said ‌on ‌Sunday that ‌it ⁠has rescued 22 ⁠people, all of ⁠whom are of ‌Arab ‌nationals, after ‌a ‌fire broke out ‌on a cargo ship ⁠in the ⁠Sea of Oman.

It added in a statement posted on its X account that the rescue operation followed a distress call from the vessel’s crew reporting a fire on board. Coast Guard teams immediately launched a response, located and reached the tanker, and rescued all 22 crew members.

They provided first aid before handing them over to the relevant authorities. All crew members were in stable condition, it said.


Coalition Destroys Missiles Fired at Riyadh, Eastern Region, Southern Region

Spokesperson for the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen, Major General Turki Al-Malki. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Spokesperson for the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen, Major General Turki Al-Malki. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Coalition Destroys Missiles Fired at Riyadh, Eastern Region, Southern Region

Spokesperson for the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen, Major General Turki Al-Malki. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Spokesperson for the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen, Major General Turki Al-Malki. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Official spokesperson for the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen Major General Turki Al-Malki said Sunday that air defenses intercepted and destroyed two cruise missiles launched by the terrorist Houthi militia toward Saudi Arabia's Riyadh and Southern regions. 

The spokesperson said earlier that a ballistic missile launched by the Houthis toward the Eastern Province was also intercepted and destroyed. 

Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defense stated early Sunday that the threat had passed in Dammam, Dhahran, Buqayq and Al-Hofuf, after an emergency alert was issued through the National Early Warning Platform. 

On Saturday, Al-Malki said that air defense systems had intercepted and destroyed a cruise missile launched by the Houthis group toward the Riyadh region. 


Saudi FM Holds Separate Calls with His Qatari, Egyptian Counterparts

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi FM Holds Separate Calls with His Qatari, Egyptian Counterparts

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah held a phone call with Qatari Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani.

They discussed the latest regional developments and efforts to de-escalate tensions and strengthen security and stability.

According to SPA, he also received a phone call from Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Egyptian Expatriates Dr. Badr Abdelatty, with whom he discussed regional and international developments and efforts to support security and stability.