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First of Iranian Hajj Pilgrims Arrive in Saudi Arabia

Muslim pilgrims pray near the Kaaba, at the Grand Mosque in Saudi Arabia's city of Mecca. (AFP)
Muslim pilgrims pray near the Kaaba, at the Grand Mosque in Saudi Arabia's city of Mecca. (AFP)
    Mecca: Tarek al-Thaqfi
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First of Iranian Hajj Pilgrims Arrive in Saudi Arabia

Muslim pilgrims pray near the Kaaba, at the Grand Mosque in Saudi Arabia's city of Mecca. (AFP)
Muslim pilgrims pray near the Kaaba, at the Grand Mosque in Saudi Arabia's city of Mecca. (AFP)

Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dr. Mohammed Benten revealed on Sunday that the first Iranian pilgrims had started arriving in the Kingdom to perform the annual Hajj rites.

He stressed that the ministry has completed preparations of all Hajj services for the pilgrims, including Iranians, who started arriving in Saudi Arabia.

The Iranian pilgrims landed in Medina.

Preparations to receive pilgrims from Qatar are also complete, said Benten.

The minister had inspected the contract signed between the south Asia company and the pilgrims affairs office, as well as the contract signed between the company and the Qatar pilgrims affairs bureau.

In addition, he toured the civil institutions for non-Arab pilgrims from African countries and South Asia in order to present the operation plans for the 2017 Hajj season.

The presentation included several of the programs, goals, and execution, assessment and supervision mechanisms.

He also presented the food, transportation, awareness and accommodation services and efforts to improve them in line with the directives of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz.

At the end of his tour, Benten stressed the importance of providing quality services that reflect the hospitality of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques towards the pilgrims.

He highlighted the importance of Hajj organizers exerting efforts and bolstering cooperation to offer the best services and ensure the success of this year’s pilgrimage.

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Technology

Neuralink Plans ‘High-Volume’ Brain Implant Production by 2026, Musk Says

Elon Musk steps off Air Force One upon arrival at Morristown Municipal Airport in Morristown, New Jersey, US, March 22, 2025. (AFP)
Elon Musk steps off Air Force One upon arrival at Morristown Municipal Airport in Morristown, New Jersey, US, March 22, 2025. (AFP)
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Neuralink Plans ‘High-Volume’ Brain Implant Production by 2026, Musk Says

Elon Musk steps off Air Force One upon arrival at Morristown Municipal Airport in Morristown, New Jersey, US, March 22, 2025. (AFP)
Elon Musk steps off Air Force One upon arrival at Morristown Municipal Airport in Morristown, New Jersey, US, March 22, 2025. (AFP)

Elon Musk's brain implant company Neuralink will start "high-volume production" of brain-computer interface devices and move to an entirely automated surgical procedure in 2026, Musk said in a post on the social media platform X on ‌Wednesday.

Neuralink did ‌not immediately respond ‌to ⁠a Reuters ‌request for comment.

The implant is designed to help people with conditions such as a spinal cord injury. The first patient has used it to play video ⁠games, browse the internet, post on ‌social media, and ‍move a cursor ‍on a laptop.

The company began ‍human trials of its brain implant in 2024 after addressing safety concerns raised by the US Food and Drug Administration, which had initially rejected its application in ⁠2022.

Neuralink said in September that 12 people worldwide with severe paralysis have received its brain implants and were using them to control digital and physical tools through thought. It also secured $650 million in a June funding round.

Entertainment

‘Zootopia 2’ Breaks Record to Become Top-grossing Disney Animation Film

FILE PHOTO: Moviegoers hold character cutouts to pose for a photo at a movie theater on the release day of the movie Zootopia 2, in Shanghai, China, November 26, 2025. REUTERS/Go Nakamura/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Moviegoers hold character cutouts to pose for a photo at a movie theater on the release day of the movie Zootopia 2, in Shanghai, China, November 26, 2025. REUTERS/Go Nakamura/File Photo
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‘Zootopia 2’ Breaks Record to Become Top-grossing Disney Animation Film

FILE PHOTO: Moviegoers hold character cutouts to pose for a photo at a movie theater on the release day of the movie Zootopia 2, in Shanghai, China, November 26, 2025. REUTERS/Go Nakamura/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Moviegoers hold character cutouts to pose for a photo at a movie theater on the release day of the movie Zootopia 2, in Shanghai, China, November 26, 2025. REUTERS/Go Nakamura/File Photo

Walt Disney Animation Studios' "Zootopia 2" surpassed 2019's "Frozen 2" to become its highest-grossing film ever, the company said on Wednesday, marking a bright spot in a year when global box office continues to trail pre-pandemic levels.

The animated sequel is the fifth Walt Disney Animation Studios film to cross $1 billion globally, ⁠grossing around $1.46 billion at the box office after its strong US Thanksgiving weekend opening, Reuters reported.

The film's success has been fueled by an extraordinary reception in China, where "Zootopia 2" has grossed over $560 million. ⁠The sequel dominated its opening weekend in China, capturing approximately 95% of all movie ticket sales.

"Zootopia 2" launched Hollywood's crucial holiday season with an estimated $556 million in global ticket sales in the opening weekend. The film reunites rabbit police officer Judy Hopps and her fox ⁠partner Nick Wilde in a new adventure through the bustling animal metropolis.

With global box office still falling short of pre-pandemic 2019 levels, the sequel's success has been a welcome relief to the studio and theater owners banking on packed shows during the year's second-busiest moviegoing season.

Arab World

UN Chief Condemns Israeli Law Blocking Electricity, Water for UNRWA Facilities

A girl stands in the courtyard of a building of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in the Askar camp for Palestinian refugees, east of Nablus in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, on December 31, 2025. (AFP)
A girl stands in the courtyard of a building of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in the Askar camp for Palestinian refugees, east of Nablus in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, on December 31, 2025. (AFP)
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UN Chief Condemns Israeli Law Blocking Electricity, Water for UNRWA Facilities

A girl stands in the courtyard of a building of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in the Askar camp for Palestinian refugees, east of Nablus in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, on December 31, 2025. (AFP)
A girl stands in the courtyard of a building of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in the Askar camp for Palestinian refugees, east of Nablus in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, on December 31, 2025. (AFP)

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned on Wednesday a move by Israel to ban electricity or water to facilities owned by the UN Palestinian refugee agency, a UN spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said the move would "further impede" the agency's ability to operate and carry out activities.

"The Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations remains applicable to UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East), its property and assets, and to its officials and other personnel. Property used ‌by UNRWA ‌is inviolable," Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the ‌secretary-general, ⁠said while ‌adding that UNRWA is an "integral" part of the world body.

UNRWA Commissioner General Phillipe Lazzarini also condemned the move, saying that it was part of an ongoing " systematic campaign to discredit UNRWA and thereby obstruct" the role it plays in providing assistance to Palestinian refugees.

In 2024, the Israeli parliament passed a law banning the agency from operating in ⁠the country and prohibiting officials from having contact with the agency.

As a ‌result, UNRWA operates in East Jerusalem, ‍which the UN considers territory occupied ‍by Israel. Israel considers all Jerusalem to be part ‍of the country.

The agency provides education, health and aid to millions of Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. It has long had tense relations with Israel, but ties have deteriorated sharply since the start of the war in Gaza and Israel has called repeatedly for UNRWA to ⁠be disbanded, with its responsibilities transferred to other UN agencies.

The prohibition of basic utilities to the UN agency came as Israel also suspended of dozens of international non-governmental organizations working in Gaza due to a failure to meet new rules to vet those groups.

In a joint statement, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Japan, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom said on Tuesday such a move would have a severe impact on the access of essential services, including healthcare. They said one in ‌three healthcare facilities in Gaza would close if international NGO operations stopped.